Bang Bang

  Damon watched the colorful fireworks add more color to the blue sky as he stood with everyone who had awakened on the only remaining platform that was placed right below the balcony where the Governor was currently standing giving a speech.

  Damon couldn’t focus on the speech as butterflies filled his stomach as he watched the stadium break out in cheers. He still couldn’t believe that all of this was true. Everything he wanted to happen came true. He hoped to Awaken and it happened. He hoped that he could Awaken with Rodrick and he did. Everything felt too good to be true for Damon as he took the time to scan the people who were lined up beside him as a way to show off the record breaking amount of Awakeners.

  Regretfully, no one else after Amelia was able to Awaken. So there were only six people on stage beside the Lt. Governor who stood on the opposite end of the line right beside the red haired girl named Kira who was attempting to keep a calm facade but her trembling legs gave her away. This tale wouldn’t have been told if not for Miles who stood next to her, sacrificing a hit to the arm for pointing it out resulting in everyone letting out smiles. Everyone except a red haired boy. The boy stood out even with a gaudy merchant’s son and lady of a noble house standing on either side of him.

  Draven Lyle. Red haired with red silk robes over a black tunic and black pants that matched his boots. One red eye and another brown but both filled with confidence. Everything about him screamed special.

  Damon always wanted to meet descendants of the famous heroes he read about. Wondered what they were like and how they looked. Draven answered all his unanswered questions without uttering a word to him.

  “Careful, you might just burn a hole through his head” Rodrick muttered.

  “Tch” Damon let out scoff and quickly shifted his attention away from Drayven after hearing this. Damon focused his attention back to the Governor who was wrapping up his speech to the masses with a big grin on his face that Damon never saw leave his face after the merchant boy named Miles Awakened.

  “The Spirits have blessed us.” Holding up six fingers to the crowd he said “ Six.” He emphasized the number of Awakeners with a grin. Clearly very happy at the result.

  “Six Awakeners have had their eyes opened today. A record, the city has not seen for centuries. Take a long look everyone, for these six awakeners are our future heroes. They will be the ones to guard the southern borders from those traitorous bastards of the southern kingdoms. They will be the ones to protect our shores from the greedy pirates of the Eastern Isles. They will be the ones to keep the monsters from the Dark Forest from crossing over. They will be our guarantee of a future.” A proud look replaced his wide grin as he scanned the crowd before shifting his attention below to where the six Awakened stood.

  “They will be our Heroes of Tomorrow”

  ***

  While walking back home Damon felt giddy with excitement that he practically skipped his entire way home. A sight that he hoped no one saw. Or at least anyone he knew. Both parents held back their smiles seeing their eldest son like this with his shoulders squared and chin up. Damon spoke of his future accomplishments with them and little sister to the point where even his little sister’s energy was drained after listening to him, leading Lisa to carry her the rest of the way allowing her to sleep and escape from her brother’s tales of fighting monsters. Both parents inwardly jumped with joy after seeing their home come into view.

  As they got closer, they found a small crowd of people standing in front of their house. Both parents took a moment to glance at each other in confusion before warily making their way to the crowd.

  The crowd must have heard their footsteps as they turned around and immediately bombarded the Beaumont family with congratulations. The whole neighborhood must have heard the news as Damon recognized quite a few faces from the crowd even the grumpy old man from a couple houses down who scolded him and Rodrick a few times for laughing too loudly by his house was here replacing his usual frown with a smile.

  Damon, not used to the attention, quickly hid behind his mother with flushed cheeks and folded arms. Laura, witnessing her son’s reaction to the crowd, grabbed her son’s hand and kept a tight hold while holding her now awake daughter who bore a look of confusion and slight fear as they weaved through the crowd following her husband.

  “ Congrats Robert. You birth yourself a fine son”

  “ Looks like your eldest is soon to be a hero, Robert.”

  “You raised a good kid Lisa”

  The crowd showered the Beaumont family with compliments. Robert simply nodded his thanks to everyone he passed with a tight-lipped smile while leading his family through the small crowd to enter their home. Robert finally reached the door and ushered in his family before turning around to address the crowd.

  “ We thank everyone for taking time off their busy days to offer their praises and well wishes to my family. But my son will be leaving tomorrow and I hope that we can have some alone time as a family to celebrate this lifetime achievement from my son.” Robert’s stern and loud voice let the crowd know that it was time to go home. Robert entered his home ignoring the grumbling from those who hoped to get closer to his son for whatever reason.

  “Are they gone?” A worried voice welcomed Robert into the home.

  “Yeah, they’re gone.” Robert answered his wife with a smile before scanning the room.

  “The kids are in their rooms.” Lisa answered the question posted on her husband’s face.

  Looking up the stairs to make sure the coast was clear, Lisa asked the question that has been on her mind since they left the arena.

  “Well was he one of them?” Laura rolled her eyes in exasperation at the confusion on Robert’s face before continuing “ The boy that the Wind Whisperer talked about. The grandson of your boss. Did he awaken?” Robert grimaced before nodding his head.

  “You know what this means don’t you? What happens when a Wind whisperer gives out visions? Our son-”

  “I know what it means” Robert cut his wife off before brushing through his brown hair. Rubbing his face, Robert turned to his worried wife and pulled her to his chest.

  “ Don’t worry. our son only needs to stay away from that kid and the troubles of the world won’t bother him.” Robert attempted to reassure his wife only for her to scoff at the statement.

  “ You think our son who has been reading books about heroes since the day he learned how to read would just turn around at the sight of trouble. Do you not remember the amount of times we had to visit his school because he got into so many fights because he was trying to protect people from bullies.” Laura reminisced with a smile that carried both pride and worry.

  “We can only hope he listens to us.”Robert carried a proud smile of his own at the memories before releasing a sigh.

  “Wait, did you tell Kaden?” Laura tilted her head up to see Robert wince at the question. Smacking her husband’s chest in disapproval. “ How could you not tell him? He was the one that told you all about the Wind Whisperers.”

  Releasing his wife he explained “ I was planning on it. But the celebration from last night that Mr. Briggs threw. I couldn’t get myself to walk to Kade’s house drunk. And with the Awakening ceremony, I was waiting for a time when we weren’t surrounded by a bunch of people and we entered indoors. But with the whole Awakening Ceremony and Damon Awakening…”.

  Massaging his brows he said “ “It must’ve slipped my mind.”

  “Well, you have to tell him now.” Laura said to him with her hand on her hips.

  “ Now?” Robert asked befuddled. Robert turned his head to the small window in the kitchen to see the outside darkening. “ But it’s about to get dark. The city becomes an entirely different place during the night, especially with today being Awakening Day.”

  “Well, I guess you have to hurry then. And you can use this time to pick up a cake on the way back.” Laura turned and headed up the stairs.

  “Wait, what?. You didn’t pick up a cake this morning?”

  Without turning back she sarcastically replied

  “It must’ve slipped my mind”

  ***

  Lisa stopped right outside her eldest child’s door and took a deep breath before she reached up to knock on his door.

  “Come in,” Damon shouted from the other side of the door.

  Lisa popped her head in with a big smile that mirrored her sons’. Closing the book on his lap, Damon got up from his bed.

  “Where’s dad?” Damon tilted his head to look behind his mother.

  “He went to pick up something from work.” Lisa gave her husband an excuse.

  Lisa paused at the doorway to take a few moments to scan her son from head to toe with growing tears in her eyes. Remembering the first time she held him. The immense joy and love she had the moment she set her eyes on him. Her eldest. Her first child. Reminiscing the times she had with her son over the years led to her eyes welling up with tears. The first time he walked. The moment she finally heard him speak coherent words. The moment he called out to her.

  “Mom” The memory of a small chubby Damon soon merged to present day Damon who stared into his mother’s teary eyes with worry.

  “Mom. You okay?” Lisa shook her head with a sad smile.

  “I’m okay.” Reassuring her son she looked behind him at his closet before turning her attention back to her son. “How about we start packing things up so we don’t have to worry about them later.” Damon nodded at his mother with a smile.

  ***

  "I’m back.” Robert entered his home and announced his presence to his family. Hearing the incoming giggles caused a small smile to find its way onto his face as he yanked his shoes off quickly knowing what was coming.

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  “Dad!!!” Opening his arms wide to welcome his youngest barreling out the kitchen straight to his arms. Stifling a groan, Rob picked up his growing youngest. Brushing away the blonde hair that covered her face.

  “Where did you go?” Were the first thing his youngest said once he brushed the hair from her mouth.

  “Yea dad. Where did you go?” Robert saw Damon standing a few feet in front of him trying his best not to look like he was searching for something. Holding back a smirk, Robert reached down behind him and pulled out a familiar white box.

  “Cake!!” Riley’s shriek of excitement cut off his well thought out story.

  Damon quickly ran towards the box and grabbed it.

  “Thanks dad” Damon didn’t forget to thank him before scurrying back into the kitchen. Riley attempted to wriggle herself free from her fathers arms before he let her down with a laugh. Shaking his head, he followed his children into the kitchen to find his wife already making Damon’s favorite meals.

  “No dessert before dinner” His wife’s stern reminder to the kids was what welcomed him. Robert let out a chuckle as he made way to his wife passing his frowning kids.

  “Need any help?” Robert asked with a smile.

  “What did he say?” Laura ignored the question and went straight to the point. Robert’s hopes that he could ease into it were shattered.

  “ Nothing” Laura raised a brow at Robert who shrugged before continuing “ All he did was nod. But his face, his face told a story” Laura’s only response was a sigh.

  “I think it would be hard to explain all this to him” Robert whispered as he watched his son set the table whilst watching over his younger sister salivating at the cake they were told not to eat.

  “We still have to tell him. He could be endangered if we don’t tell him.” Laura challenged her husband in a hushed tone. Robert wasn’t sure how to go about this because on one side he didn’t see the need for his son to know about how the world moves in the shadows. He believed that if Damon should know he should first experience it himself to truly understand. And on the other hand, he was afraid his son without sufficient knowledge would make mistakes. Maybe even fatal ones.

  Knowing his son, if he ever saw someone in need he wouldn’t hesitate to save them and that worried him. If the stories Kaden told of Wind Whisperers were true then he would be in agreement it would be best if his son stayed away from that Miles kid from the Briggs family. Only he had no idea how to tell his son.

  “Don’t you think he would do the opposite of what we told him if we asked? Damon would become curious and that will lead him to doing exactly what we told him not to do.” Robert glanced over his shoulder to see his son keeping his eyes on his little sister who kept side-eyeing the cake.

  “That won’t happen because we have never made a request like this before. We have never told him not to talk to people or help people before and that will let him know how serious we are.” Finally shifting her attention away from the pot in front of her to her husband she continued.

  “He will listen.” Robert stared into his wife’s eyes for a few seconds before choosing to side with his wife for this.

  “What about Kaden? Is he planning on telling his son about this?” Robert nodded. Once he told Kaden the news he saw an emotion that hadn’t crossed his friend’s face in years. The last time Robert ever saw a similar expression was their first battle at the borders they shared with the southern kingdoms where they were ambushed by hired mercenaries.

  Fear

  Death was all they could think about as their battalion was constantly shrinking. It was only thanks to their Commander who sacrificed himself that they were able to survive.

  “He said he will tell Rodrick.”

  “Good. See? We should do the same” Grabbing the pot she shoved it in front of Robert. “ Now take this. C’mon everyone, dinner is ready.” After handing off the finished food she announced it to the house.

  ***

  After a scrumptious dinner and an hour of fun games it was time to call it a night. Robert followed his son up the stairs. Halfway up the stairs he felt a tug at his shirt. Turning around to see his wife holding a sleeping Riley in one arm and Sparky in the other. Nodding her head at Damon, Robert understood what she meant.

  “Damon, let’s have a talk.” With a sigh he said.

  At the top of the stairs Damon turned around with a look of confusion on his face but still nodded his head. Following his son to his room he all of a sudden forgot the speech he had memorized.

  “Dad. I know what this is about.” Quickly turning his head to his son he questioned him. “You do?” A skeptical look on his face. The skeptical expression remained on his face after seeing his son’s blushing face.

  “ Yes I do. And I just want to say that I already know all about this.”

  “You do?” Robert carefully made his way to his and sat on his bed next to him. Watching his son nod his lowered head slowly not daring to make eye contact.

  “How?” Confused at how his son has heard of a secret only known to the Great Houses and other major powers of the world.

  “Well, Rodrick told me about it before.” Robert was confused because he knew his best friend Kaden and he would never tell his son something he has no business knowing about. Especially if it were secrets privy to the major powers.

  “When did he tell you this? How does he know?” Robert was now extremely curious how Rodrick got the slip on his father.

  “Well, us and a few others were talking about marriage. And a little later the “birds and the bees” topic came up so…” Robert’s look of confusion slowly morphed into realization after seeing his son with a red face whisper the last few words under his breath.

  “ I know I’ll be gone for a while but you don’t have to worry. I plan on waiting until mar-”

  “Hahaha” Robert hearing this could only let out a roar of laughter that lasted for a solid minute.

  “ You done?” Damon frowned at his father wiping his tears

  “ Sorry kiddo. Its just...I’m not here to talk about that.” Robert calmed himself before letting his son know that they were not having that type of conversation.

  “You’re not?” Embarrassment made its way onto his face after seeing his father nod.

  Adopting a serious look, Robert stared into his son’s eyes whose shaky pupils already announced his nervousness.

  “Have you heard of the Wind whisperers?” Robert asked Damon.

  “Of course I’ve heard of them, dad.” Damon answered with certainty before continuing “They’re from the Windy Pavilion. Not a lot of people talk about them because of the rumors that they can talk to the wind. And the wind talks back. They can hear secrets drifting towards them simply by listening to the winds. And some secrets come from the future.” Damon finished telling his father what he knew.

  Robert, noticing the skepticism on his son’s face, asked “What? You don’t believe the stories?”

  “Nope” Damon shook his head slightly. “If they could tell the future then why didn’t they stop the Quint Empire from falling? Why didn’t they stop the invasion from the Starry Palace during the Rising Era. What about the Quint Royal Family invasion of the Golden Era? Or even the Traitors’ War. They should have taken the Southern Kingdoms out before they could even backstab us.” Damon shook his head in disbelief. “ All these wars and they couldn’t stop it from happening. There is no way they can tell the future.” Damon ended his rant with a resolute expression.

  Robert shook his head at his son’s black and white view of the world. And yet he felt envious that his son still saw the world this way. After his son leaves and truly experiences the world, Robert was sure his son’s view on the world would carry more gray than black and white. A world similar to his own after returning from the southern borders.

  “Damon,” Robert grabbed his son’s shoulders. “ This world isn’t like your books.” As he faced his son he happened to see the stacks of books on a table behind his son and one particular book stood out: The Republic’s Heroes.

  After seeing this book he continued “ I want you to know, son, that the titles of Heroes and Villains aren’t so straightforward. A hero can be a person who killed a thousand enemies to achieve victory for his country. But...”

  Robert sighed as he stared out into space “ But on the losing side they are seen as villains or in the words of the thousand broken families- Monsters." Robert could still recall his memories from the borders vividly. The waft of iron scent mixed in with human waste still hits his nose randomly. The screams could still be heard. The bodies holding broken shields and armor still visit him when he closes his eyes. It was like he was still there.

  “Dad?” Hearing his son’s concerned voice brought him out of his reverie.

  Bringing his attention back to his son. “ I just hope you remember this conversation.”

  Robert hoped that this lesson would stick with his son. He knows what type of kid his son is but he hoped that his son would remember this conversation and would think twice before jumping into situations without knowing everything just because someone told him to do so..

  “Anyways, let's go back to the Windy Pavilion members. You said you’ve never seen one right?” Robert continued after seeing his son nod his head “ Well, what if I told you I know someone who has?”

  “Who?” Damon exclaimed in excitement.

  “Do you remember that Miles boy? The one who awakened with you?”

  “Yeah, I remember.” A chubby kid with slick brown hair wearing gaudy robes and a cocky smirk entered his head.

  “His grandfather was the one who met a Wind Whisperer. He told the old man that his grandson will Awaken.”

  “Really?” Damon asked.

  “Yes and not only that Miles, was not the only grandson to Awaken. He has another one from last year- ”

  With eyes filled with shock Damon cut his father off to question the story’s validity “Last year? Oh yeah, the fourth Awakener wasn’t it? He didn’t take the Briggs family name. Wow, I forgot they were related. Wait, how do you know all this? Did he tell you?”

  “Hang on, hang on, let's slow down now.” Robert unknowingly took his revenge on his earlier cutoff from his son by stopping the barrage of questions.

  “You remember this morning when your mother almost killed me for having a hangover?” Damon nodded with an amused smirk.

  Robert choosing to ignore his son’s smirk, he continued “Well it was because I was with Miles grandfather celebrating his grandson’s Awakening, a day before the Awakening Ceremony. Everyone was confused on why they were celebrating until the old man got a bit too drunk that he started telling everyone about his meeting with an Apostle of the Windy Pavilion. It was then when I found out.”

  “Wait but I thought only descendants of the Great Houses could give birth to more than one Elemental in the same generation.”

  “There are exceptions and the Briggs family happen to be one.”

  “So they really can tell the future?” Damon became dazed from the realization.

  “That’s not the point.” Bringing his son out of his dazed state he continued.

  “ The point is that the Briggs family is an exception known to the Windy Pavillon. The visit of the Windy Whisperer being the glaring tell.”

  “Why is that a big deal? They must have done it hundreds of times before. Especially since that’s their power.”

  “It’s different this time. Wind Whisperers majority of the time would tell the future of someone within their Windy Pavilion. It is why thousands visit the Windy Pavilion in the Capital to have their futures told. Only in special cases would Wind Whisperers travel outside to tell someone’s future.”

  “Special Cases?” Damon inquired what his father meant by that

  “ Future Divine Generals…” Robert stared into son’s widened eyes. Taking a deep breath he continued “Or Lords of Elements.”

  “So…. you’re saying-” With his jaw dropped Damon had a hard time forming a sentence.

  “No Damon. What did I tell you? This world is not like some hero book. They don’t tell you the full stories. They don’t tell you the horror stories before the happy endings. And some don’t even have happy endings. Especially for those around them.” Robert explained to his son once again hoping it would pierce through his world of fantasy.

  “Damon, you have to stay away from him. Chosen ones like Miles attract danger from all around them. Staying too close to him would mean you could get hurt. Your mother and I do not want to see that happen.”

  Grasping his son’s shoulder, he looked into Damon’s eyes to let him know how serious he was. “We have never made a request like this before Damon. And I hope you could do this for us. We can’t have anything happen to you. Do you understand?” Robert watched his son slowly nod before releasing his hold on Damon’s shoulders feeling that was the best answer he could get.

  “Wait, what about Rodrick?” Damon remembered his best friend who also interacted with Miles.

  “No need to worry. Where do you think I got this information?” Robert faced ahead as he answered Damon.

  “Uncle Kade?” Damon received his answer in the form of a nod from Robert.

  Robert quickly turned to his son “Don’t mention this to anyone. Don’t even talk about it. Even if it’s with Rodrick, okay?” Mirroring his fathers answer from before Damon nodded in understanding.

  With a sigh “ With that conversation over,” Robert side eyed Damon with a smirk

  “ How about we continue that Birds and the bees talk you were talking about earlier?” A groan of despair and a laughter of joy echoed throughout the room.