M-rated: Implications and innuendos in violence.

(Suggested ost to listen: NIER ost- Song of the Ancients ~Devola)

Phantom Scars

The worst kind of scars are the ones that can't be seen.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked apple pie stirred me awake as I heard the sounds of the bird neighbors on their nest, perched in the tree near my window. I got up from my small bed as I went to get ready for school. We are introducing ourselves to the class and I was nervous yet eager to meet my classmates and make friends, but mommy and daddy always said to keep my head high. I heard noises and laughter coming from Miss Rachel and dad's joint coffee-bakery shop from downstairs as I put on my uniform, shoes, and backpack. A long line of individuals stretched to the outside of the shop awaiting the delicious goodies that the shop had to offer.

My dad hugged and picked me up as he finished serving a large man with two sharp horns and a wire-like tail. There were all kinds of people with many types of features, but mommy said it's okay for people to look different, as long as they're friendly and nice! Dad looks different too. He has a white halo and bright, white angel wings. His silvers eyes can also glow white, but that is only when he gets mad at a customer who's being bad. He has dark steel hair and lighter skin than my own, as well. Daddy told me that while I have mommy's looks, I have his wings and eyes. I don't get why he tells me this, since I don't have cool silver eyes like he does, neither do I have bright, white wings like him, but murky black ones instead. What makes dad the coolest, is that he also has a glass cabinet filled with really cool things inside, and an outfit I've never seen before, but it's locked. He said it was from his home, and he won't show me until I'm older.

Dad put me down and gave me a photo of our family in front of our shophouse, as well as a packed lunch of freshly made lunch and other sweet delights to share. He also gave me a notebook to write down how my day went so I can show it to mom when she gets back. I wasn't able to say good morning to mom. She works a super important job for the queen, but I have to stay quiet about it because mommy said she would be in trouble if I told.

Miss Rachel, our neighbor, patted my head and said good morning to me as she put her recipe cookbook into my backpack before returning to bake more delicious sweets. I asked her if I can borrow it to introduce it to class today, since I want to be baker like her and a barista like my dad when I grow up! Miss Rachel has always been a nice old lady. Her cool, blue feathers that stuck out of her gray hair and the gentle smile puts everyone at ease. The times when she would babysit and take me out for ice-cream and watch as I play at the park while my parents had work would always put a smile on my face.

I quickly rushed out of the shop and onto the stone streets after waving goodbye to everyone inside. The slightly cloudy day never dulled the heat from the sun hitting my skin, I walked by the wooden and brick made houses until I arrived onto the main pathway and made my way towards the school, which was located in the upper district. Like always, while heading towards the center of the city, it is very crowded and always moving with all kinds of people. I walked by a large variety of vendors and merchants from across the land to sell and barter to one another as the crowded streets carried the weight of dozens, if not hundreds of people walking to work or daily chores.

As I walked over the marble bridge heading towards the upper district level heading towards the school, I notice several large mysterious people in strange armor and weapons walking the opposite way from me in a gallant pace. They were big, strong, and scary looking. Their thick and broad armor was enshrouded with black cloaks and their weapons larger than me, but if the guards patrolling didn't do anything to stop them, they can't be bad, right?

Where the school is located, I can see the valley that surrounded the capital. Besides the many paved roads and statues, there are also more houses and many vineyards and breweries for the extremely popular Kazdelian wine. I finally arrived and many kids my age were standing around. Some nervous, some happy, but everyone was eager for the day, just like me!

…

It was finally lunch time and I already made so many friends! There's Lorain, Kaiden, Sonya, Brayden, and Thomas! We all looked different because of our races, especially me, but it didn't matter to anyone! We were playing with a ball on the court after eating and sharing our lunches with each other… until the bell rang. Not the bell to tell us that lunchtime was over, but the city bell. My friends and I looked at each other in confusion and we looked at the duty teachers, and they had looks of panic and shock on their faces. Almost as if they're scared from the roaring bells. Suddenly, a shadow appeared in the sky, quickly covering us, and escaping our view as we looked into the sky too late to see nothing…

*BOOM*

A loud noise was heard. The sounds of stone breaking.

*BOOM BOOM*

More noises were heard. Louder, more frequent than the last.

*BOOM BOOM BOOM*

More and more noises were heard as flying, burning pieces whistled in the air. The screams of men and women, the crackling of stone falling apart as the teachers scrambled to get us inside the building. Kids were crying, covering their ears as the noises and explosions was too frequent and too loud. My ears rang as I quickly grabbed my backpack before covering my ears and rushing inside. I didn't know what was happening. The teachers told us to calm down and said it would all be fine. I trusted the teachers. That's what mom and dad said for me to do.

*BOOM*

*CRACKLE*

*SCREAMS*

It was all in an instance. I found myself laying on the floor all of a sudden. I felt the pain on my right side, just above my hip as I felt something sharp pierce and impale me to the floor. Under the rubble I shouted for help, feebly trying to move the stone with my cut and bruised arms. I screamed in pained terror for my mother, my father, someone to save me. I could only see the malicious black flames engulf the trees, buildings, and the very world I knew as I was stuck under the rubble of what I once knew was the school. I could hear the screams of teachers, friends, classmates crying… everyone in the city panicking for their lives. I can hear the clanging of metal hit one another. I could hear people begging for their lives. I heard glass breaking and explosions everywhere around me. I heard the beating footsteps of people, good or bad, run across the stone steps.

I began to lose all hope and felt like closing my eyes, letting the darkness take me, hopelessly crying for help. I didn't know how long I've been trapped. Seconds, minutes, hours even as I was losing my frightened and lost voice, growing dizzy and frail. I suddenly hear a loud noise, a noise I've never heard before. It wasn't as loud as before, but much sharper and it rang through the demolished walls and through my ears. Coming in bursts, coupled with screams and roars of the unknown, it came closer to me, but I no longer had the strength to care. The strange sounds no longer could be heard. My kindled spark of retaining consciousness fading away. The darkness engulfed more of my vision, and right as I finally succumbed, I saw a shining light that broke the shadows that had invaded my eyes. I felt the weight of the stones being lifted from my battered body and I myself was lifted to the sight of an angel. White wings. White eyes. Glowing halo. Mysterious glowing items held in both hands and on its' back. A strange gold, white, and black outfit, the being donned. I saw not the reaper of death that collects the fallen. I saw the protector of the living, the guardian angel.

"Father…"

I awoke, gasping for air as I lunged upwards from my bed in a cold sweat, a sharp pain near my right hip. I grasped it frantically and looked down to see the wound from the impalement.

Nothing. Not even the scar, a reminder of that day, had disappeared long ago. I can still feel it every time I relive that day.

Looking up and focusing on the glass panes leading to the balcony of where I was living, I saw the downpour of relentless rain fall and the roars of thunder and the flashes of lightning brighten the sky briefly before returning to darkness.

*Beep beep* The sound of my phone receiving a message stirs me out of my post nightmare state. Reaching for my phone on the nightstand where my sword is rested on, I read the message sent.

'Return the favor for Lungmen. Stand by…'

Feeling cold chills going down my spine and my heart refusing to calm itself, I quickly grasped my sword and brought it close to me, coddling it as I laid back to bed.

The sword… the symbolism of chaos and the instrument that terrorized my past, now the tool to preserve the peace and elucidate my future.

I wish you were here to protect me…

And there we go… I can make this dark if I must.

I'm simply holding back my fire, ladies and gents. *Self-confidence rises to dangerously cocky levels*

… I know it ain't the worst thing out there, but I'm just joking, please laugh. *Humbles himself*

A nice change of pace. Something to tease and make you more interested as I write up the next one!

RR (Reading Reviews):

Kelgar04: Glad you find it interesting! And don't worry… I have reasons.

DraconixVargas: Happy you enjoyed it! The amount of trial and error that went into chapter 3 made it all worthwhile in the end!

Goqqi: Oh my goodness, thank you so much for the kind and thoughtful review (Had me all giddy while I was at a family party)! It can't be expressed how grateful and humbling I get from receiving such praise! Makes it all worth it and drives me even more to continue the story (Hopefully at a quicker pace), and don't worry, your English writing is perfectly fine, and I understood it all! It's even better than people who speak and write English (and only English) all their life (I put myself on this list too, and don't get me started when I'm trying to learn another language lol).

Thanks for reviewing! I hope you continuing reading!

Author's notes:

I kind of based the capital of Kazdel (I'm trying to wait as long as I can to avoid making a name for the capital because I feel like the devs would do it soon) a bit like Minas Tirith.

I officially decided to bump up the rating to M (Mature), since I'm going to cover topics such as this (though not as explicit nor would I write anything I'm not comfortable with).

Fun fact from previous chapter: When writing about the 'closet' scene and the awakening of Lyle's arts. I loosely based it off of the scene from Man of Steel, when Superman had the same problem when he was adapting (but my Lyle ain't no boy scout lol) to his abilities/senses.

…yes, I took a jab at Superman.

Other side stuff: I'm glad that those who are reading are enjoying and anticipating the story! Also, I got my first clear and earned all the medals for CC#3. Late saying this, I know, but still great to feel after getting that Risk 18 after SIX LONG HOURS STRAIGHT OMG… I'm fine. Now we wait for Mansfield break on the 22th.

Well anyways. I'll see yall in the next chapter! Don't get your hopes up that it'll be posted within a week like this… or should you? *confusing grin*