Triad's eye’s flicker open, the light from a new day creeping in from the window in his room. With a sigh, he raises his sword arm and twists it in front of him. “So it wasn’t a dream then, that all really happened last night.” He says, letting his arm drop and thump against the bed. “You’re awake.” Comes Vom’s voice from beside him. Triad rolls over to see his exhausted father sitting beside his bed, along with a bunch of empty potion bottles on the nightstand. “Hey Dad, what’s with all the potions? Were you hurt that bad last night?” Vom gives the boy a weak smile before shaking his head. “These weren’t for me, but your mother and I will explain everything to you in a little bit. First things first, we need to get you some new clothes and a scabbard for that sword arm of yours. ”Vom says, tussling the boy’s hair before getting up and heading to the door. “Honey, Triad’s awake and I think my old adventurer gear should fit him. Oh can you bring your old scabbard too, Triad just put his blade arm through the bed.” Vom yells, opening the door before returning to his seat.
Triad scrunches his face both from the sound of his fathers voice and in protest to his fathers accusations. “No, I... Oh, when did that happen.” Triad asks, finally noticing his sword arm buried into his mattress, large feathers now starting to peek out from the cut. With a jerk, he pulls his sword arm out of the mattress and buries it in the wall behind him.
“Whoa there, take it easy! Looks like someone isn’t used to their new strength yet.” Vom says with a chuckle.
“And needs another lesson about sword safety.” Zuthi adds, walking into the room with some folded leather clothes and a black scabbard. “Triad I’m going to need you to stay perfectly still for me ok.” Triad nods and lets his body go limp as his mother pulls his sword arm out of the wall and places the black scabbard over his blade before attaching some string around it to keep it in place. “There we are, now you won’t accidentally cut anything. Now then, you’re father will help you get dressed. Once you are, meet me outside and we can try to work out what your powers are.” Zuthi says, with a smile before heading towards the door.
“Mum where are you going? Can’t you do it?” Triad asks, sitting up from the bed and reaching for her. Zuthi shakes her head and gives him a smile. “You’re a bit too big for that now Triad.” She says, her expression becoming sadder as she closes the door behind her.
“Too big? I’m 9!” Triad protests, his eyes widening as he notices his more muscular arms. “Wait what? What’s happening, who’s arms are these?”
“They’re yours my boy, you’ve aged about 6 years over the last week.” Vom says, grabbing Triads sword arm and pulling the leather shirt over it.
“But I..” Triad protests but is cut off by his father pulling the shirt over his head.
“You’ve been asleep for a little over 6 days and every day it seemed like you were ageing about a year. That’s what the potions were for, you were in a lot of pain so I used some healing ones to help when things got bad.” Vom explains pulling the shirt down over Triad’s head and grabbing the pants.
“Dad, what am I?” Triad asks as his father pulls off the covers and starts to put the pants over his legs.
“Well, that’s a tough one. Your mothers people call you the fallen but mine would call you a blended. You’re mother knows more about this stuff than I do but to put it plainly you’ve been cursed because you held the powers from two gods at the same time.” Vom explains as he laces up triads pants and reaches a hand down to help the boy up. Triad raises his sword hand up to take his fathers hand before dropping it against the bed and reaching out with his left hand. With the help of his father he gets to his feet, stumbling around as he adjusts to his new body.
“Why would the gods do this?” Triad asks, swaying from side to side trying to find his balance.
No idea, My people believe it’s to keep the god of creations power pure and untainted. Your mother's people, however.” Vom says his happy face twisting downwards into a sad frown.
“Don’t you dare tell him that! You’re fathers people are right and that’s and end to it.” Zuthi says through the door startling both triad and Vom. “Now, if the two of you are done in there I’d like to see what my son can do.”
Both Triad and Vom share a smile as they listen to Zuthi’s footsteps thump against the floor as she leaves the small home. “Come on, lets get out there kiddo.” Vom says giving Triad a pat on the back that almost knocks him off balance. “Got to say though, you’re taking all of this supprisingly well. I was worried you’d freak out when you found out.”
Triad steadies him self and takes a few more clumsy steps forward. “Dad, I’m a 9 year old who has the body of a 15 year old and a cool sword for an arm. This is the best day of my life.”