Chapter 1: Loss of a Mother

In a city hospital, there was a young man at his mother's side just a few moments before she left this world.

It was a bright and clear day, one of the clearest and bluest skies Kenan had seen in a long time. "Doesn't it usually rain in movies whenever someone dies? That makes reality feel all the more real. One would think that the world would stop and cry for the ones you loved, but it doesn't. It keeps going and moving regardless of who's here or not." He says, clenching the hand of his lifeless mother. He continues to replay the conversation they just had in his head.

"Kenan…" his mother paused, wiping a tear from her eye. My boy, I have lied to you for too long." She struggled, lifting herself in the bed to meet her son's eyes. He quickly helped her up and propped her up comfortably on the bed.

Even with his mother knocking on death's door, she was still a beautiful woman. She had bags under her eyes like she hadn't slept in days. But they were still a rich brown that felt like they were looking into the depths of your soul. Kenan always had trouble lying to his mother because her eyes looked like they always knew the truth, even before she said it. Her skin was black without blemish, like rich black soil. Kenan wasn't as melanated as his mother was, but he was always envious of her complexion. He thought people with his mother's complexion were the most beautiful people in the world.

Kenan's mother grabbed his hand and looked into his eyes. "Your father is still alive." Her eyes began to water as she continued talking. "He's in a land far from here, his ancestral home where the origin of his clan began. Kenan, he has responsibilities far greater than we can imagine."

Kenan lets go of his mother's hand and looks towards a window in the room. "It must be pretty important for him not to be here right now. I'm going to graduate soon. Ma, I haven't seen him since I was eleven years old. Even if he is alive, he might as well be dead to me."

Kenan's mother quickly grabbed his face and turned it towards hers. Without her mouth moving, he heard her say in his mind, "He is the man that I love with all of my heart and the father of my child; you will not disrespect him in my presence. Do you understand?"

Kenan realized he said too much against his father whenever she used her telepathic abilities to talk to him. Overusing these same abilities is why she's in this condition now.

Kenan nods his hand. His mother grabs his hand again and speaks this time. "If your father could be here, he would Kenan. He would have just as if he could have been here for you. I pray you understand this someday."

There was no point in arguing about it; they always had conversations like this when Kenan's father was mentioned.

"Your father, Malachi, is a man far beyond your reach, my reach, and almost everyone in this city. But as far as family goes, he will be your only living relative, at least in my eyes, excluding your auntie. Please try to get along with him, at least for my sake. His mother said softly.

"How do you know I'm gonna go look for him?" Kenan asked.

"Because it's my last wish. I don't want you to grow up alone as I did. I never knew my parents and didn't understand the importance of family until I fell in love with your father and had you. It's what makes us strong; it's the foundation that makes us so. Find him, Kenan, and you will gain a piece of yourself that you never knew was missing." His mother said as he squeezed his hand for the last time."

Only a few minutes had passed, but it was the longest minutes of Kenan's life. He has seen dead people before at funerals and such, but to see the soul leave the body through the eyes of another is a completely different matter, especially that of your mothers. He knew then that it would be impossible for him not to fulfill her last wish. It would haunt him if he didn't.

"So how hard will it be to find my old man anyway? Kenan says, turning to the other person in the room. A woman was in the corner of the room, wiping tears from her eyes. She wore circle glasses and had short box braids that went down to her shoulders. What always caught Kenan's attention the most was that she always had a lab coat on.

"Aunt Aria! Kenan says, waving his hand in front of her face. "Did you hear my question?"

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Aria takes in another deep breath and starts weeping again. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's just so sad. I'll do my best to care for you as if you were my blood. She says, hugging him tightly.

"She's always like this. My mother's been sick for years. It's about time she left this world and not live in pain. I'm glad she can finally rest. Kenan thought.

Aria takes in another deep breath and weeps even louder. "But if I didn't know the situation, I would think that she's the one that just lost her mother. Kenan thought about trying to free himself from her hug.

"Auntie, please listen. What do you know about my dad? How hard will it be to reach him?" Kenan asked.

Aria sniffles and wipes her nose with a handkerchief. "About a one in 300,786 chance. But that's if everything goes well and you can absorb the elixir successfully and join the Shepherds." She said, sniffling again.

"Those are terrible odds. I should leave that old man to rot! Kenan sighs. "Whatever, that old man can taste my fist for leaving me and my mother. That's as good a reason as any to go and find him," Kenan said.

"What elixir? You mean like the Superior Drug that gives people abilities?" Kenan questioned.

Aria nods her head. "There's a lot more to it than that, but yes, you were supposed to get this gift on your 16th birthday, but with your mother's Illness progressing, everything was put on hold. We'll talk more after the funeral. But listen, Kenan, after you take this elixir, you will be far more extraordinary than any Superior you know.

***

Kenan was currently in his room at his Aunt's house. He's been living with her since his mother was on life support. Kenan and his mother lived in many different places in the city, so he had no ties to where he laid his head. His Aunt Aria had a nice condo, and he came to call this place home for the last two years.

Kenan continued holding the note while holding a vial-like tube glowing slightly purple. He read over the note again. ("My son, now that you have come of age, I want to give you this gift. Your mother knows not to give you any Superior Elixir than this one. This is one that no one on Bethal Pasture can produce by normal means. With this, your chances of finding me will increase dramatically. I'm sorry for not being there for you. Please forgive me and find me. Never forget, my son, that I love you and your mother more than I can ever express.)

Kenan read the note 3x already and still couldn't believe the words. "Where did that old man even run off too? Aunt Aria said everything would make sense after I took this elixir. But that sounds oddly suspicious. Does it have to do with becoming a Superior? Kenan thought.

Superiors were humans who had extraordinary powers, from super speed to turning invisible. The elixir would activate current cells in the body to grant that person an ability; it was completely random sometimes for most but people with the same bloodline typically got the same ability; none knew what ability they would get. Others in the past have tried to take a second elixir and literally exploded, so gaining more than one ability was completely unheard of.

"So what makes this Superior Elixir so different?" Kenan wondered. He then gets up and heads to the living room to ask his Aunt. She was on the couch watching a crime show, as always. He sat on the other end of the couch and raised the elixir. "Do you know what this is? Like exactly?

Aria's jaw dropped, and she put her popcorn on the table. "So you're finally going to take it, please, take it in front of me. I want to see what ability you get. She said, her eyes not leaving the vile".

"What makes it so special?" Kenan asked again.

"Oh right, this is an SSE, a Superior Sentient Elixir. This grants you a superior ability and awakens you as a Sentient." Cynthia said.

Kenan's eyes got wide. "Awake me as a Sentient!? But how is that possible? Getting a superior ability is one thing, but awakening was on a whole other level." Kenan thought.

The Sentient were beings that harness Ruah, which allowed them to wield psionic energy. They were vastly more powerful than the Superiors. It was like comparing a pocket knife to a nuclear bomb. Some people said. They were the real protectors and Sovereigns of the planet.

"I thought you had to have some divine intervention or revelation to become Sentient?" Kenan said.

"You usually do; revelation is usually the most common, which is why artists (Orcales) have become some of the world's richest people. Whether through a painting or music, they will get recognition beyond measure if they get someone to awaken. But there is a secret that the flock are unaware of." Aria said.

Kenan raised an eyebrow. "Which is?"

"After a Sentient reaches a current Realm, they can pass on their Ruah to a blood relative. Ensuring their bloodline always has a Sentient in it." Aria explained.

"What are Realms? Realms in what? Is that what my dad did for me?"

Aria nods her head. "Yes, plus mixed with a Superior Elixir, it makes it the most valuable elixir a person could ever have."

"That old man must be pretty powerful. It's good to know that no one will hunt me down for this since it's catered towards me. Kenan says as he opens the vile and consumes the purple glowing liquid.

Kenan didn't feel anything at first but then started to feel like he was on drugs, something like a tickle on his brain. Then it suddenly stopped, the room became clearer, and his body felt abnormally lighter. He could react to anything, but his Aunt tossed a writing pen directly between his eyes before he could react. Before it could touch him, he caught it in his hands.

"It worked! Aria says, clapping her hands in excitement.

"Since when could you throw a pen so fast? That could have drawn blood," Kenan complained. He then looked at his hand, which was covered in silver. He then realized it was the rest of his exposed skin. "Oh, what happened to me?"

Panic started to set in as he realized he could potentially be stuck like this . "Am I going to be a trapped in this metal skin suit forever?!" He thought

"Relax, it's your superior ability! Aria said, pushing her glasses up and nodding her head. She gets up from the couch and starts inspecting Kenan. "Wow, it looks like you completely covered yourself in this steel. This is a pretty high defense ability. I can't wait to see what you can do with it.

Kenan started to calm down once he realized it was his ability that was the cause of him being covered in silver. "Now that I think about it, I think this ability will serve me well. It does feel like it was custom-tailored for me. He says as he grips his fist. He then exhales, and his dark brown coco-like skin returns.

"That's was scary for a second I thought I wasn't able to control it at first"

"His ability is complicated from the look of it, but he controls it pretty easily just now. Is that just off of pure instincts? He sure is his father's child. Aria thought.

"Let me remind you that becoming a Superior is nothing compared to being Sentaint. Which you now are. Have you noticed? She asked.

Kenan looked up from his fist and gave a small grin.