[color=gray][indent][indent][color=darkgray][i][color=#ffffff]“How is he settling in here?”[/color] Jonas asked, taking a seat beside Aiden on the large wrap-around porch. Behind the house, the waves of the ocean inlet lapped up against the rocking shore while the porch looked over a large yard, the Alumni Village sitting on the horizon.

[color=#a64d79]“He’s adjusting, misses the noise and liveliness of the campus though,”[/color] Tori replied to Jonas’ question, placing a cold glass of iced tea down beside the Chancellor.

[color=#ffffff]“Miss Clarke is working out as a tutor then? No incidents?” [/color]

[color=#ef5e49]“Lorcán seems quite fond of her,”[/color] Aiden replied, [color=#ef5e49]“Perhaps a tad too fond, but he’s working hard and his control is on par with students nearly five years his elder.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Boy does love a redhead,” [/color]Jonas replied with a knowing wink, as Aiden choked on his drink.

[color=#a64d79]“Jonas!” [/color]Tori scolded with a smile, [color=#a64d79]“No spoilers, you know that.” [/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Apologies, I couldn’t help myself.”[/color] The Chancellor chuckled, [color=#ffffff]“He’s a remarkable boy, an even more remarkable young man, I consider myself very honoured to be his honorary grandfather.”[/color]

[color=#ef5e49]“Yes, we’re very proud of Lorcán, he’s growing up so fast now. Seems like just yesterday we were watching him fight for his life in the NICU, now Lion Lungs has his H-Gene active.”[/color]

On the grass below, plasma clashed against plasma as Lorcán focused on maintaining his blade while the older redhead agilely danced around him. Aiden, Tori and Jonas turned to watch as the pair of teenagers continued to spar.

[color=#d9d2e9]“You’re doing well, little dude.”[/color] Ryan complimented, [color=#d9d2e9]“But you’re still overthinking.”[/color] She reprimanded feinting an attack only to come from a different angle which caused Lorcán’s blade to falter. It shattered upon impact from Ryan’s own, sending Lorcán tumbling into the grass outside of the Roth’s new family home in the Alumni Village. 

[color=#d9d2e9]“You need to stop thinking and start feeling, let your abilities be as natural as using your hand is. It should be instinctual to dodge using a boost or to block a surprise attack with a generated beam.”[/color] Ryan explained, [color=#d9d2e9]“You’ve got a lot in your arsenal, definitely one of the broader abilities I’ve come across.”[/color]

[color=#ef5e49]“Keep in mind,”[/color] Aiden interjected, standing up from his seat and approaching the pair. He placed a hand on Lorcán’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

[color=#ef5e49]“Unlike Ryan or I, you’re not limited to one method of using your abilities. Ryan creates her plasma blades exclusively, and my abilities only manifest in optic blasts, but you have the ability to manipulate heat. It gives you versatility and an edge.”[/color] Aiden reminded Lorcán while watching the two train, [color=#ef5e49]“You have the element of surprise because you can opt for a different method of attack.”[/color]

Gripping Lorcán’s shoulders, he turned his son towards a scarecrow standing in the nearby garden. [color=#ef5e49]“Go ahead, try and create a heat blast using only your eyes. Think where you want the blast to go, blink, check again to make sure there’s no one in harm’s way then release your blast.”[/color]

Aiden gave Lorcán a pat on the back before stepping back.[color=#ef5e49] “Just remember, visualize, blink, check and then release.”[/color]

Taking a deep breath, Lorcán nodded. Concentrating on the air in front of him, he pictured two beams of fire before closing his eyes and steadying his stance. Opening his molten-coloured eyes, Lorcán watched with a smile as a pair of blasts erupted from in front of his face, spreading across the yard and igniting the scarecrow.

[color=#ef5e49]“And that’s how the Roth men do it.”[/color] Aiden celebrated.

[color=#ffffff]“Congratulations my boy,”[/color] Jonas shouted from the porch, “We will be watching your career with great interest.” 

[color=#fe650d]“Couldn’t do it without my Dad,” [/color]Lorcán replied while sheepishly rubbing the back of his head, desperately hoping his cheeks weren’t as red as they felt.

[color=#ef5e49]“Or Ryan,”[/color] He hastily added, this time turning a shade of beet red.

[color=#d9d2e9]“That was so good, dude.”[/color] Ryan added.

[color=#d9d2e9]“Now let's try again with sustaining those blades.”[/color][/i][/color][/indent][/indent][CENTER][COLOR=#AC0D01][sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5504477][img]https://i.imgur.com/7BWn8qb.jpeg[/img][/url][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=#E64C09][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]Southern Plateau[/I] - [I]Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=#E64C09][b]Hope In Hell #2.047:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Lose Yourself[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=#AC0D01][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][INDENT][sub][color=#E64C09][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I]None[/i][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=#E64C09][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Duality[/I][/right][/SUP]
[INDENT][i][color=#8ecdb7]"Lorcán!"[/color][/i]

Aurora’s voice felt simultaneously near, but distant. It wasn’t the cry of the doppelgänger above him, no Lorcán knew that to be his Aurora. Watching Raze’s cruel face above him, Lorcán knew he would have only one opportunity. His grip was beginning to slip, sweaty palms, weak knees and his arms heavy.  

[color=#8ecdb7]"Lorcán, please!" [/color]

[i][color=#fe650d]Snap back to reality.[/color][/i]

Her scream of desperation echoed across the chasm beneath Lorcán as he continued to hang. Every muscle in his body ached, strained and pushed to their limits as only the dull, constant throbbing of his body kept him focused. 

[color=#c7500c]"Don't worry about Aurora,"[/color] Raze sneered, watching Lorcán's ears perk at her scream. [color=#c7500c]"I'll make sure she's well taken care of, in time she may even come to love me."[/color]

Raze’s words burned in Lorcán’s ears as molten eyes turned upwards defiantly. Embers flared brightly as a new flame ignited within Lorcán, the hungry fire crying out for oxygen. Summoning his strength, Lorcán pulled himself upwards,  but his efforts were to no avail, he was too weak.

He was running on fumes.

Then, he felt [i]her[/i], his pain, his torment beckoned for her to heed his cry. Stolen glances flashed before his eyes, full lips and raven-coloured hair. He could feel her in his arms again, the smell of the forest around him. As Lorcán hung defiantly, tendrils of crimson and silver flew from the abyss below. They crawled over his skin, wrapping around every limb, digging into his pores and sending a shiver of familiar pleasure up and down his spine. 

His skin felt alive and electrified as a new power flowed within him, amplified like he had never been before. His toes curled and his eyes closed, he could practically feel her tracing his back, marking him as her own while he harnessed the unforgiving chaos gifted to him. It brought renewed strength that flowed through every muscle, the strength not of just one, but the strength of two. 

Letting go of the girder from which he hung, Lorcán's hands flew to his sides. A wave of heat radiated from him, explosions erupting from each palm, launching the molten-eyed young man into the air as he agilely somersaulted over his darkly mirrored counterpart. 

[color=#fe650d]"You will not touch [i]her[/i]."[/color]

A blazing beam of crackling crimson plasma exploded from Lorcán's hand, the blood-like colour casting an ominous hue over Raze as the near identical man quickly retaliated, his own blade of red pale in comparison to Lorcán’s.

[color=#c7500c]“You’re going to need to be more specific,”[/color] Raze taunted, [color=#c7500c]“Your thoughts betray you, they dwell on not one, but two.”[/color] He grinned like a Cheshire Cat.[color=#c7500c] “There is much conflict in you. we’re not that different it would seem.”[/color] Raze scoffed before lunging. Sparks flew and angry hisses echoed over the catwalk as plasma and electromagnetic fields collided.

[color=#c7500c]“Even a little boost from your friends won’t save you in the end.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“You know why I’m stronger than you?”[/color] Lorcán cried, [color=#fe650d]“Because I don't have friends,”[/color] His eyes suddenly flared, a crackle of silver and crimson danced in the corners. His father’s voice echoed in his ears.

[i][color=#ef5e49]“Visualize, blink, check and then release.”[/color][/i]

[color=#fe650d]“I've got family.”[/color]

The optic blast caught Raze off guard, obliterating the scarred half of his face. The smell of burning flesh overwhelmed Lorcán’s nostrils, nearly causing him to gag as the stunned doppelgänger stumbled backwards before plummeting over the edge and into the chasm.

Lorcán could feel the temporary boost from Amma weaning, the pain of his injuries rapidly returning. Still, the day was not yet over.

[color=#fe650d]“Hold on, Aurora.”[/color] He muttered aloud through gritted teeth. [color=#fe650d]“I’m coming.”[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“I’m right here, hot stuff.”[/color] A familiar voice suddenly called from the balcony above. [color=#8ecdb7]“You won, come and get your prize.”[/color]

[color=#fe650d]“Sorry, brah,”[/color] Lorcán replied with an apologetic but weak smirk, [color=#fe650d]“I’m not settling for anything less than the real thing, so I’ll be finding [i]my[/i] Aurora.”[/color]

The doppelgänger pouted, leaning down on the railing while her outfit threatened to cause her chest to spill out. Lorcán took one last look before shaking his head and running for the door. Aurora blew a loose strand of hair from her eyes as she watched him go.

[color=#8ecdb7]“Some gals have all the luck.”[/color][/indent][/indent][/color]