The Rise of the Enhancer

"Feel the resonation," Arakh muttered under his breath. "Imagine the body, the structure, the bones, the veins." 

*Spark

The purple thunder crackled around his body, crawling over his skin like living veins of light. A fiery current coursed through his veins. His limbs felt like lead. He coughed as his body smoked. He shook his head, "Well that was a load of bull."

"Again," he closed his eyes. Then his body got zapped again.

"Ah!" he cried out as the resonance sent sharp jolts through his arms, forcing him to clutch his elbows.

"DDDDDamnit!" another attempt left his legs quivering as if they'd been struck by lightning.

He gaped his mouth and faced the ceiling. "Ah damn it, I want to give up."

He got up with a struggle. His breath smells like something was burnt inside his body. He read the page again, "Am I doing something wrong?"

It is recommended for beginners to enhance parts of the body rather than all at once since it takes careful control to balance the resonance of the whole body, and it is incredibly hard without proper knowledge of gauging the body's limit beforehand.

"Oh," Arakh raised his brows before flipping another page. "Pro tip: enhance the five senses first."

Arakh pondered, "But the risk is also high, that old man said something about blindness, and probably deaf, can't smell, can't touch, are also part of the deal, perhaps."

He shut his eyes, his mind wandering to the faces of Reikh and Hayam. Their laughter echoed faintly in his memory, a sharp contrast to the deafening silence of the dome. "They won't believe this," he whispered, clenching his fists, "but I'll make sure they see it."

He sat back down. He could hear his heartbeat and the blood coursing through his veins. The purple thunder surrounded him. It zapped him but he pushed through. He corrected his breathing and took control of his nervousness.

Just a little, let me enhance my eyes.

His eyeballs pulsing from within. He could feel something was happening. Then, it stopped.

"Did I do it?" he opened his eyes slowly. The gaze was a bit blurry at first before focusing. He stood up. "Well, it doesn't look like I did... though... that's funny, the wall seems like it had some creases."

"Huh?" Arakh raised his brows. "I could see it from the altar, wait a minute." He lifted the book and gently balanced it vertically by spreading the book into a half-circle. He made a run to the wall, every step bounced his excitement. He paused in front of the wall, his breath was slower than his rapid heartbeat as he turned around with a snap. 

Arakh pressed his hand against the wall, his breath heavy but triumphant. From the altar, the letters on the page blurred into focus. "It's a success," he muttered, his voice quivering with disbelief. Then, louder, "I DID IT!" The dome echoed his cry, his grin as bright as the sparks still flickering around his fingertips.

"Soon, Soon!" Arakh stepped forward, every step filled with determination. "I will get out of here!"

---

Soon was not soon, however. In the serene forest near Kairan Village. A little boy was running to pick up a ball. He hugged the ball before throwing it away again. His innocent chuckles between the throws were wholesome, but predatory eyes under the bushes were about to change the scene.

The ball was thrown and rolled between the small grasses only to stop at the wall of stone. The little boy picked up the ball but was startled when he heard a menacing growl that shook his spine. He turned around and his face darkened, and his hands shivered.

"F-Forest wolfiee?" the little boy muttered as he saw the beast that looked like a dog but meaner and bloodthirsty. The fur of the wolf was brown with a green sheen, yet it was rather small compared to a normal one.

However as the wolf took its step forward, the ground trembled and the wall behind the kid shimmered the all-familiar vortex pattern. The giant wall separated once more. The forest wolf panicked and hid.

"Ah, fresh air!" Arakh's voice, for the first time in forever, didn't echo. He closed his eyes as he basked in the first ray of sunlight through the holes in the leaves above.

*thud

"Aw!" the kid tumbled.

"Huh? Sorry kid," said Arakh as he offered his hand. "Are you alright?" but before the kid could answer sounds of rumbling came from the altar. The dome was breaking apart. Arakh's gaze was locked at the scene as the wall slowly reunited to close the path. Once the wall was sealed once more, the vortex pattern gradually faded out.

I guess, that's that.

Arakh tightened his hand that held the enhancer codex.

"Ah! It's back!" said the kid pointing out.

"Huh?" Arakh followed the gaze and found the forest wolf. His brows furrowed. "Why are you here in the forest alone, kid? It's dangerous here; Thankfully this one is a pup though and not an adult one."

"I-I don't know, I was playing ball."

"Heh," Arakh was reminded of his younger self. "Well, stand behind me."

"En!" the kid nodded and stood behind.

"It's not my first time hunting a forest wolf, I did it a lot when I was young and inexperienced!" Arakh stepped forward and spread his arms. "Come here!"

"Grr!" the forest wolf lunged forward.

"But the difference is, I'm a resonator now," Arakh moved one step forward, "And then some," his fist met the wolf's snout with a resounding crack.

The young forest wolf sprawled on the ground with its tongue resting on the side of its teeth. Its eyes rolled up and breathing no longer. 

"Woah..." the kid looked at the dead forest wolf before gazing back toward Arakh. His heartbeat no longer beats with fear but with reverence.

"Are you all right, kid?" asked Arakh. "I haven't seen you before; you must be new here, huh?"

"I... thank you for helping me, big brother," said the kid.

"Don't mention it," said Arakh. "Come, let me escort you back to the village."

The two walked toe to toe. Their boots kicked specks of dirt, and the rustling leaves welcomed their ears. 

"What is your name kid?" asked Arakh. 

"I.. am... Malfoy."

"Malfoy? That's a nice name," said Arakh. "Where are you from?"

"Kairan Village," said Malfoy.

"Hmm? Then why have I never heard of you?" asked Arakh.

"Where are you from big brother?" asked Malfoy.

"I'm from Kairan Village as well, everyone knows my name," said Arakh.

"Not me though," said the kid before he hurriedly changed his tone, "B-But, you are awesome big bro, you finished that wolf in a single hit!"

"Hahaha," Arakh's laughter trailed off before his stomach growled.

"Big bro, you should eat soon!" said the kid.

"Yes, you're right," Arakh rubbed his stomach before his brows raised. In that place, I never felt hunger at all, and time passed. "Hey, Malfoy."

"Yeah?"

"Where were you born?" Arakh gulped. 

"In Kairan Village," said Malfoy. "I never stepped outside, wished I could see Elabra though."

Arakh paused. "I... how old are you?"

"Seven years old."

Arakh scratched his head, "What year is it?"

"490 RE?" answered Malfoy.

Arakh had cold running up his spine. His goosebumps shot up as if being electrocuted by his element. His pupils trembling, "Ten.. years... has passed?"

Malfoy clutched his ball tightly, "What's wrong, big bro?"

"Impossible..." Arakh muttered as he continued to walk in a daze of disbelief. His boots stop as he arrives at the village. He gulped. 

"Malfoy! MALFOY COME HERE YOU RASCAL!" a lovely lady called out with a tone of tough affection.

"Mama!" Malfoy clutched his ball and ran toward to hug his mother. Though, "Aw Aw Aw!" his ears were his mother's target.

"WHERE WERE YOU?!"

"T-There was thiz forest wolf in the forest, and I, and I, and big bro over there kill the forest wolf with a hit."

"WHAT?!" the mother immediately looked up and saw Arakh who was still dumbfounded. However, as she approached Arakh her pace slowed down.

Arakh met her gaze, "Huh?"

The mother gasped, "That... are you...?"

"What's wrong mother? Jeez, what's wrong with everyone?" asked Malfoy.

"But that can't be, that can't be you right?" asked the mother.

"Big Sister Lia?" Arakh tilted his head. "Of course it's me, Arakh!"

"Arakh Xei?! Y-You're alive?!" Lia exclaimed as she rustled her hair, "But that can't be, it's been more than ten years, yet, you haven't grown one bit. And... you didn't have golden eyes before."

"What? Golden eyes? Excuse me," Arakh ran up toward the nearby river, near the watermill. He peeked up from the side of a short bridge. There his eyes only shrunk. His eyes were now yellow gold, yet his body was still the same.

One year has passed for me... but outside that cursed place, ten years have passed instead.

His fingers were on his face, gripping the new reality.