After signing the mountain of papers stacked to the side of his bed and having an elderly nurse remove the spiraled mass of bandages from his right side, Riarshi gingerly changed into a pair of shorts and a t-shirt Khohn had brought him. 

He took the time to wash his face in the bathroom. The cold water helped stimulate him and wake him from the dreary fog brought on by three days of bed rest and the natural healing process.

Splashing one last handful of water, he glanced up at the mirror before heading out to The Divinity Rise. Seconds turned to minutes, but he maintained his stare at the reflection.  

A long, twisting scar travelled from his hand, to his arm, neck, cheek, and ended just above his right eyebrow, splitting it in half. He assumed the original wound must have been horrid if his natural demon healing and the care from a five-time Spiritfield Hospital Doctor of the Year couldn't fully cure it.

He frowned. There was no way to cover it. It was too easily seen with its pure white tone and bumpy texture standing out against the darkness of his olive skin. A shiver shuttered down his spine. He knew he'd have to carry it for the rest of his life. 

His eyes withdrew from the mirror, and he promptly left the hospital bathroom.

***

Traversing the dense woods and steep hill which led to The Divinity Rise was harder than Riarshi expected. The afternoon sun was falling in the sky, his strength hadn't fully replenished, and his right arm was still as sore as ever. 

Dry branches and dead leaves snapped and crunched under his feet as he marched, occasionally steadying himself against a tree trunk with his left arm. A chilly breeze caught the sensitive skin around his scar. He silently cursed.

This was only the third time Riarshi had visited the massive hill which overlooked all of downtown Spiritfield.

The first was during the third practical exam of the Hero Program. On the overlook, Hara had used a wide-scale intel spell to detect the location of the spell dog Khohn had tasked them with capturing. Before she did that, she gave Riarshi a small, unintentional history lesson about the beautiful rise. 

She stated that this hill housed a massive stockpile of divine magic, which supposedly had given life to the surrounding city. Riarshi assumed this was why high magic users were primarily found in the city, but neither he, nor anyone else to his best knowledge, had actual evidence to support this claim.

Despite having nothing but negative thoughts and opinions about Hara at the time, the look of pure happiness she wore as the sun shined off her face had brought a foreign warmth to Riarshi's chest - a warmth he had craved ever since. Blindly captivated by her love for history, it was the first time Hara revealed even the slightest sign of vulnerability.

The second visit was just a week ago, when Riarshi and Khohn reunited for the first time in eight years. When he buried his head into the man's shoulder, he too displayed a side of vulnerability on the ledge.

Because of the crazy, unpredictable events that had transpired on that beautiful overlook, an odd feeling told Riarshi something fantastic was about to happen that night.

This feeling of elation instantly faded once Riarshi found the tree line which led out to the wide clearing. He spotted two silhouettes standing at the edge of the reach, shadowed by the red glow of the dying sun. One was Khohn, his glasses and hair instantly recognizable in the fading light. Riarshi squinted to get a better look at the second, but his eyes shot open almost immediately. He sucked in a sharp breath.

Standing next to Khohn was a gray-haired man with a long red and blue cape draped over his shoulders. His yellow eyes glimmered in the red-orange sunlight, and shadows darkened the deep lines of his ancient face.

It was Commissioner Aryl.

A sick feeling slithered through Riarshi's stomach and climbed up his throat. According to Khohn's dream message a week ago, Aryl was the one who took Khohn off the job as his caretaker and threatened to persecute both of them if he ever intervened in his life again. 

This man was not only a danger to them both, but to the secret bond they held. He knew the truth behind Riarshi's past, and thus was too big of a threat.

So why were both men standing together, meeting him here at The Divinity Rise?

Nervous thoughts spun through Riarshi's mind before he shook them away, swallowed, and puffed his chest toward the men. He dared not step closer. He had to appear strong and unwavering, despite his fragile body tipping on the scale of exhaustion.

Aryl, surprisingly, was the first to speak. He cleared his throat. "So, this is Rollan's child. By the gods, he truly looks exactly like them, even more so in person," said Aryl, his voice soft and mellow, somewhat reminiscent. It was as though the sight of Riarshi relieved him, but this must have been Riarshi's imagination. "He has his eyes and hair, but her face and stature."

"What's this all about, Khohn?" Riarshi asked sternly, addressing Khohn and ignoring the old man. He kept his mind and body on guard. "Why did you call me out here? And what's he doing here?"

"Just following the commish's orders, bud. He wanted to talk to you," Khohn said plainly, somewhat business-like.

Riarshi sent a nasty look toward the commissioner, his face twisting with obvious disgust. Rage almost overtook him, but he swallowed the emotion. He felt like he had every right to violently and cruelly push the old man down the hundred foot drop, but he quickly threw the thought away. For all he knew, Aryl possessed some type of mind reading magic behind those unwavering yellow eyes.

"What does he wanna talk about?" Riarshi snarled, his voice dripping with ice cold venom. "Gonna threaten to execute me, or throw me in prison? Not like he hasn't done it before. I'm an evil demon, remember?"

"Hey!" Khohn shouted, taking a step toward Riarshi and pointing a warning finger.

"I don't care, Khohn!" Riarshi yelled, finally releasing his self-imposed restraints. His blood was boiling, and he felt a fiery rage steaming from his pores. "I failed the internship, so he has no say over me anymore! This asshole took you away from me, forced you to seal away some of my memories. Do you know what it's like to not be able to remember your parents?" he asked. "He's the reason I was alone for so long!"

It was simple. Riarshi wanted to hurt Aryl. He wanted to cause this old man pain.  Everything that happened to him throughout his dark childhood was this man's fault. 

But to Riarshi's surprise, Aryl's yellow eyes sparkled above his lids. Something collected at the corners.

"Riarshi!" Khohn snapped. "That's en-"

Aryl threw a hand out in front of Khohn to silence him.

"No, Khohn, let him..." said Aryl, instantly collecting himself and puffing his chest with conviction. "He has every right to say what he wants to me."

Riarshi, however, had nothing more to add. His mouth couldn't properly form the words his brain wanted to say. He pressed his lips tightly together and swore cruelly with his mind's voice.

"I called you here tonight for an important reason, Riarshi," said Aryl. "I should have come to this realization many years ago. Please forgive this old man's stubbornness and his never ending plethora of stupid mistakes." Aryl sighed and pinched the wrinkles between his brows. "Tonight, if you'll allow me the chance, I wish to apologize to you... and discuss matters of extreme importance."

Riarshi's tensed muscles released, and he straightened himself up.

Aryl nodded, sensing the silent confirmation.

"Even an old man, who has lived for as long as myself, can be of poor judgement," Aryl contnued gloomily. "I should have listened to Khohn many years ago about the kind of child you were. And I should have had more faith in the child my stepson would raise with his demon wife. But I suppose I was blinded. Blinded by fear and stupidity."

Riarshi stood motionless at the edge of the woods, stunned and silent. He couldn't believe his ears. It must have been a joke.

"Stepson?" he finally mumbled.

A soft smile ran across Khohn's face. "Yessir, Aryl was your father's step-father."

"It's true, my boy," Aryl nodded, his grey beard shifting in a passing breeze. "Allow me to tell you the history. 

"Your father's father was not ready for the commitment and time constraint of a child once his infrequent love fling fell pregnant. He inevitably walked out of Rollan's life at a very young age, despite for the affection your father had for him. Your grandmother raised your father as an only child, and as a single mother. Some time passed and your father gradually forgot about your grandfather, though the scar of abandonment remained.

"I met your grandmother when Rollan was about sixteen. I was just a mere Silver Rank Hero at the time, and she was a commoner woman trying her best to care for her child. I fell for her instantly. Eventually, the love become mutual, and we married. She passed not too long after our marriage due to a genetic heart defect, a few years before you were born. May the gods bless her soul."

His eyes, for a moment, glanced up longingly to the orange and yellow sky, then he continued. "Without a father figure for most of his life, your father acted out and was rather... shall I say... most rebellious. His magic had amazing potential, and I tried my hardest to keep him in line by convincing him to join the POH once he turned eighteen. He was extremely reluctant at first, citing repeatedly that I was not his real father, and that I couldn't tell him what to do. But over time, he gradually loosened up to the idea of becoming a Hero. And finally, with one last push from me and your grandmother, he signed up.

"He joined the Hero Program when he came of age and instantly outshined even the brightest of students. However, once he finally completed the Program and became a full time Hero, he fell back into his rut, never fully applied himself, and failed to ascend past Bronze Rank."

Aryl's wrinkled face hung amongst the sky. The orange in the clouds now had tints of bright indigo, and a stray, glowing star floated lazily in the East.

"But one day," Aryl continued, "before you were born, a band of demons captured each member of the Top Ten - me and your father included. We were still in the middle of a war, and the demons took advantage of one of our publicized board meetings in an attempt to demoralize our front lines and eliminate the biggest threats. We were kidnapped and brought to The Underworld, where we were subject to torture, abuse, and the threat of death. 

"We were the strongest in the country, yet they had us in the palm of their viscous, evil hands. If we fell, or if any of us fell, the country would have surely been doomed. But right when we all thought there was no hope left... when we thought the POH and Aginem would crumble to bloody bits... he - a Bronze Hero - unleashed his Magic Breaker and saved us all from captivity."

Riarshi glanced over at Khohn, who stood at the edge of the hill with a distant look on his face. He had been a Top Ten member in the past, and must have been reliving this fateful day as he watched the passing clouds, now just thin wisps of purple and grey.

"So he gave up his magic to save everyone?" Riarshi asked, directing the question to Khohn. "He was left powerless. Is that why he retired out West with Mom, like you said in that dream?"

Khohn silently nodded. 

"Then, how did he meet Mom? Was it down in The Underworld?"

"That's another story for another day, bud," said Khohn. "Let the old man finish his first."

Aryl cleared his throat, then continued, his voice now slightly hoarse. His eyes glistened as he spoke.

"My biggest regret in life was not being able to save him that day thirteen years ago... when he and your mother sacrificed themselves, yet again for the fate of the country." A single tear dropped from the old man's eye and down his cheek, glittering beautifully but sadly on its descent. Riarshi watched on in awe.

"Riarshi, you are now fully aware of the dangers present with being a Hero. Three of your classmates and one of our very own Heroes were killed in that attack earlier this week. You saw so for yourself. There are times this old man believes he cannot handle witnessing any more loss in his life.

 "This feeling has held true in the past. When you were younger, for some idiotic and idealistic reason, I believed it was best to keep you away from the Hero life, ban you from it. Was it my fear that you would turn into a monster because of your mother's heritage? Or was it my desire to keep you safe from harm by damning you to the simple life of a commoner?" Aryl chuckled to himself shamefully and shook his head. "Even I don't know the answer to that question. I still don't, and most likely never will.

Aryl glanced up from the ground. "But you, Riarshi-" he continued, pointing at the teen across the small field and finding a new energy in his voice, "-you found your way into the Hero Program and fought through to the Tryout... despite the seemingly impossible odds I stacked against you. And after being just mere inches away from accomplishing your dream, you were fully dedicated to throwing your power away to save the people you cared about. You were willing to accept the burden of living the rest of your life without magic... all to ensure that they were safe. And in that moment - when you raised your arm in triumph - you were a splitting image of your father from the day he sacrificed his own magic."

Riarshi didn't know what to say. His body felt rooted to the ground, just like the towering tree to his right.

Aryl looked at Riarshi with a thin stare. "I have a question for you, Riarshi." His eyes suddenly glowed a bright yellow. "Why do you want to be a Magic Hero?"

One week ago, Khohn had asked Riarshi this same question on this same hill. His answer then was that he wanted to prove everyone wrong... that he wanted to show the world he belonged. Even Riarshi knew this desire was selfish, as he only wished to make himself feel better due to his extreme insecurities.

But now, Riarshi couldn't answer. He felt as though his lips were sealed shut by glue. For a moment, a blanket of light enveloped his brain, and all he could see was yellow. The light brightened slightly, turning sheet white, then vanished, leaving Riarshi swaying back and forth on his feet clumsily. His vision returned after a few rapid blinks.

The men at the grassy edge of the overlook smiled and shared a look. The sun continued to drop.

"That is an excellent answer, Riarshi," Aryl said proudly with a grin that folded even more wrinkles across his face. "You passed the final test. Your mind may not yet know the answer to the question I just asked you, but your heart certainly does."

"My heart? Wait, what was my answer?" asked Riarshi in a curious voice, still slightly dazed.

"That is for me to know, and for you to figure out," Aryl smiled. "No one can tell you what lays dormant within the depths of your own heart. That is something you must reflect on and learn to accept on your own. But I will tell you this... Your parents would be very proud of the young man you've become." A small grin played at his lips. "In fact, I believe they would be even more proud now that you are a Hero Intern."

Riarshi's eyes popped open. "I'm a what?"

Aryl slipped his hand underneath his cloak, into the pocket of his shirt, and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper. He unfolded it and stuck it out in front of him for Riarshi to see. 

Riarshi couldn't read the text from the distance he was at, but what he could read was his own name written neatly on a dotted line.

"Once a year, I receive a power called the Commissioner Recommendation," said Aryl. "Some may believe that the Hero Program is unfair, and expels too many of its students. I also believe this notion, sometimes. And because of our high fail rate, there are times a student may have a bad day and fail an exam they otherwise would have passed. The power I hold allows me to bring back one Hero Program student that failed. One who I believe still displays the characteristics of a true hero." Aryl turned his head to Khohn, who had the biggest, smuggest look on his face. "My... I haven't seen this power used since old Giradin messed up his own Tryout."

Both Aryl and Khohn shared a roaring laughter that echoed over the hill.

Collecting himself, Aryl returned his gaze to Riarshi, who stared blankly at the two men. "However," he continued, "they must pass an exam that I, myself, created. That is what that question was-" his eyes glowed a bright yellow, blending effortlessly and magically with the falling sun rays, "-and I have a gut feeling that you were telling the utmost truth."

Aryl lightly slapped his forehead with his palm. "My, my..." he sighed, "I feel like my age makes me ramble even more than I have in the past. Let me get to the point. What I'm trying to say is... I will use this power on you today, Riarshi." Aryl spread his arms wide. "No place more fitting than the 'Hill of New Beginnings', correct?"

Aryl's soft eyes glittered between his wrinkles. "Welcome, Riarshi, to the Aginem Professional Organization of Heroes."

Unable to speak, and feeling as though he had a golf ball lodged in his throat, Riarshi fully let down his guard. Shattered his walls. He slowly and gingerly stepped through the damp grass toward the men standing at the edge of the overlook. He fell into their arms. They enveloped in a long embrace, just as the sun finally set over the blurry city horizon, subsequently sending the hill into night.

Releasing their embrace and wiping their eyes with their sleeves, Aryl raised the paper he signed into the air. It shined briefly, then dispersed into a cloud of yellow sparkles, blowing away in a wind to nowhere. 

"Check your phone, Riarshi," said Aryl.

Following the orders of his new boss, Riarshi took out his phone and unlocked the screen. To his surprise, there was a news alert blinking on the screen as an urgent push notification.

BREAKING NEWS: We have found that Riarshi - the boy who defeated the demon at the Hero Internship Tryout - has not used his Magic Breaker. He is in full health and has been granted the Commissioner Recommendation to be officially reinstated into the Hero Program.

As he finished reading the vivid news update for the third time, Riarshi felt his phone vibrate in his hands. A message notification popped up in the top left corner of his screen. He clicked it, and his eyes widened upon reading the words.

1 New Message from Hara:

Meet me and Tabito tomorrow at 11.

Wait, that's it? Where? What for? So many thoughts bounced inside of Riarshi's head. He was back in the Program, he still had magic, and Hara texted him. All this was almost too much for his recovering brain and body to handle.

"News travels quick, eh?" smirked Khohn.

"Indeed," Aryl nodded. "You'll learn that soon enough in the POH, Riarshi. It seems the media has its own style of magic, whether that be for greater good of timely information or for ratings."

Riarshi suddenly remembered something. His heart nervously skipped a beat. "Wait, does everyone know that I'm a demon now? I used my power in front of all those people, and I had this weird black coating on my limbs."

"Don't worry," said Khohn. "Your eyes glow blue when you use your power to that extent, remember? Everyone associates demons with having red eyes. Your magic has also been classified as storm magic... according to the news, that is," he added with distaste. "The country believes your magic creates a dark cloud around your body when you power up. Your secret is safe."

Riarshi nodded. "This new fame is gonna be weird."

"Welcome to the life of a Hero, bud," said Khohn.

"Anyway, Riarshi," Aryl chimed in calmly. "You should head home and get some rest. Your body must barely be holding you upright right about now."

Riarshi took his eyes off his phone and looked at the men. He hadn't even realized how tired he truly was. He felt as though his legs were soft jelly and his eyes were weighed down by heavy sandbags.

"You're right," he said with a yawn, stretching his arms out to the side. He winced from a sharp pain in his right. "I'll head out."

Riarshi turned around to leave, but stopped. He had one last thing to say before he disappeared into the woods. "Thank you, both of you."

The two men smiled warmly, nodded, and waved. Once Riarshi faded into the darkened woods, and the sound of shifting leaves vanished, the smiles on the men's faces quickly melted into concerned frowns.

Both men kept their eyes fixated on the spot of the woods Riarshi left through. For a long time. They had to ensure he was out of earshot. 

"Tomorrow night at midnight, correct?" Khohn asked curtly.

"Yes."

Khohn shifted to look at the old man, whose yellow eyes still had a faint glow to them. "Your magic is showing," Khohn teased.

Aryl spun and gazed out toward the shadow-stricken city. He reached into his pocket and took out a beautiful blue crystal with over a dozen sides.

"I know," Aryl said flatly, inspecting the crystal with an expert eye. "I have to go. I have some important business to attend to tonight. Things I must do before it runs out."

With one tap to this crystal, Aryl vanished, leaving behind a light, cold breeze that flowed through Khohn's loose, shoulder-length hair.