Inside a Metro
While Solace was returning home. He asked the others about Principal Richards giving them the concealment artifact, and they all looked confused.
'Did they not get one?
Have I caught her eye?
I did think It was pretty weird, That she herself came to visit me. Usually, taking her personality into account, she wouldn't give a student like me a second of her day.
All these things intern were introducing more and more variables that Solace didn't know how to handle.
Not to Mention, there was one thing that was bugging solace ever since he heard what happened.
How did church know the exact location and time they would be teleported to the Dirt path?'
All this thinking was making his head spin. And for a second something strange happened.
For a second, Solace sensed various outlines surrounding him, various boundaries that formed a shape. One shape was that of a human sitting next to him, and thus various empty seats and standing shapes started appearing.
Just as he was about to see the whole of his surrounding, his focus broke and once again darkness overtook his being.
'Did I just see? I mean not see as in with eyes. But I sensed various objects and humans, like a vague outline.'
Beep Beep
Suddenly, a hand grabbed him and spoke. "Your stop, young man"
Getting up, Solace thanked the kind old man and got off the metro.
***
Dinner ended the way most dinners in the Wright house did.
Solace stayed seated longer than the others, hands resting on the edge of the table, while Celeste moved around the kitchen, rinsing dishes she had already rinsed once. Leonard stood near the sink, drying plates with a towel he'd folded too neatly. Noah leaned against the counter scrolling on his phone, pretending not to stare. Luna wiped the table carefully, aligning crumbs into her palm before throwing them away.
Normal motions. Familiar sounds.
"I'll pack the rest later," Celeste said, not looking at him. "Your academy clothes are already pressed."
"I know," Solace replied. "Thanks, Mom."
She nodded.
That was when the thought surfaced. Just a quiet curiosity that refused to leave.
"Hey," Solace said. "After this… can we spar a bit?"
Noah froze mid-scroll. Luna turned. Leonard stopped drying.
Celeste finally looked at him.
"Spar?" Noah repeated. "You?"
"Yeah."
"You can't see."
"I know."
Luna's voice stayed gentle. "Brother… are you sure you're okay?"
Solace shrugged. "I don't want to push anything. Just a light one. I need to check something."
Leonard studied him for a long second, then nodded once.
The backyard smelled like wet soil and grass clippings. A streetlight hummed faintly beyond the fence. Solace stood barefoot on the cold ground, cane resting beside him. He knew this space by memory.
Noah cracked his knuckles. "Still think this is a good idea?"
"We'll find out."
Luna hesitated, then spoke softly. "You want us to…?"
"Open your wings," Solace said. They had been bragging to Solace ever since he awoke from the coma.
Saying stuff like "Be grateful Brother! Two angels are protecting you. See how lucky you are?"
He was Curious about their power. He also wanted to try out whatever weird thing that happened in the metro.
Both siblings paused.
"… Why?" Noah asked.
"I don't know," Solace admitted. "I just do."
A soft sound followed.
Solace felt it before he touched anything. The air around Luna felt warmer, subtly pressing outward. Noah's presence was denser, pulling instead of spreading.
"Come closer," Solace said.
Luna stepped forward. She guided his hand gently.
His fingers brushed her wing.
It wasn't feather. Not exactly. It had texture, resistance, a quiet hum beneath it. Like touching something alive and ancient at the same time.
Solace frowned slightly.
His thoughts drifted without effort.
Angels.
The thought surfaced unbidden, carrying with it echoes of murals.
If angels existed…
Then what about the others?
Dragons. Giants. Elves. Dwarfs. Wolves that spoke. Beings carved into stone and sealed behind myths.
What happened to them?
Why did only humanity remain?
And why were his siblings standing here, carrying something the world insisted was impossible?
So where were they now?
Setting that aside. He concentrated once again. Instead of relying on his other senses. He tried to concentrate on a particular existence. At first, it flashed only for a second. A hazy outline of his surrounding. But gradually more and more shapes formed an outline around him.
He took some steps back and assumed a defensive stance. Leonard Wright watching his son assuming stance signaled the sibling to be ready.
"Begin"
Noah moved.
He flexed his wings and hovered just above ground. Luna too floated up in the sky, But not too high to avoid being seen beyond their compound. Noah raised his fist and with incredible speed dashed forward.
See the thing was they only recently awakened their powers, And had no abilities to speak of. They would have been crushed by a Layer 1 even if both of them worked together. That was the difference between once rank. They were not sure if they would be able even touch Solace if he was not blind, simply by the fact that as you break through your ranks, Your Strength, endurance, Durability and reaction speed doubles every break through. This was also the reason why guns didn't work on Layer 3 awakened onwards.
But this was different, their Big brother as fast as he maybe wouldn't able to do anything if he can't see. That's why they were feeling a little confident.
After a dashing in front of Solace. Noah bent a little and with a momentum tried to uppercut him.
Surprisingly enough, just before his punch landed. Solace back stepped and called forth his chains. Crawling from the ground, one attached to Noah's foot and yanked him with force.
As Noah dragged towards Solace. Solace prepared his fist and punched in his ribs with mild intensity. Noah buckled, He clutched his ribs and sprawled on the ground.
Solace then looked in the sky, where he thought Luna would be.
"Are you just gonna watch?" he said -
But before he could speak further, Luna's outline appeared behind him and with her leg raised. She tried to land a kick on his neck.
But before she could, he ducked and caught her leg midair. Just as Luna struggled to set her leg free. He yanked her and threw her towards Noah, who was just getting up.
They both crashed into the ground. After a moment, they both got up from the ground and breathed heavy.
Then Luna laughed, breathless. "That's cheating."
"I can't even see," Solace replied evenly. "You can fly."
"That's worse somehow," Noah said, shaking out his arm.
Luna then pointed her fingers towards Solace.
"How?" she said, "How the F-" But Before she could continue
"Language" Leonard spoke with strict voice.
Both Noah and Luna were truly in disbelief at what just happened.
Leonard looked at Solace and with a smile he spoke.
"You truly make me proud, Solace. I will not ask how you can see them. But I am happy to see you are not powerless without your eyes."
Acknowledging his father's compliments, He nodded in appreciation.
Noah looked at me.
"You're terrifying," He said fondly.
Luna nodded in agreement.
Seeing this Solace, chuckled. And thought
'While reading various novels and books on fantasy in the real world. I have always wanted to fight like some cool character. The one who wears dark-colored clothes and acts indifferent.'
Then a smile crept onto his face.
The others in the backyard were creeped out by his behavior.
While his inner monologue continued.
Noah in particular whispered in Luna's ear's saying "Are you sure he is completely OK? Did he hit his head again in the hospital?"
"Right" Luna said, nodding her head.