I woke up. Like last time, no dreams haunted my sleep. It always felt empty when I woke up without any dreams, but, I had gotten used to that emptiness.

I got myself up from the bed and proceeded to walk to my moving bag, which I had been filling up with clothes for the last week. Today was the last day of the week I had agreed on with Martel. Today was the day I had to say goodbye… I was going to try to discuss if I could visit my family from time to time, but, it would be hard to make that possible. I went to my closet the last pack of clothes that I would need, placing them on my packing bag. I lifted it up and placed it over my shoulder. As I walked towards my door, I turned around, taking one last look at it. I smiled at it one last time, to then go out of it, turning of the lights before getting out. I locked the door outside and took the key to it, placing it in the packing bag under my clothes. I went down the stairs while holding the bag.

I slid down the railing of the stairs, when I almost landed on the ground, something held me from falling down. I smiled as I looked to my right, seeing my mother hold her hand out, a blue aura coming out of it

-Colin, I know it’s the last day here, but, you could at least use the stairs normally- She said this in a joking tone as her hand went down, making me fall on my butt. I slowly lifted myself up and looked at her, still smiling

-Well, I thought I could at least head out with a good memory out of this- I said this in a joking tone as I walked over to her to hug her -Good morning mom-

She hugged me back with a light smile on her face to then walk back, letting go -Colin, could we talk about something before you go?-

-Sure. What do you want to talk about?-

She proceeded to walk towards the sofa, sitting down as she patted the seat right beside her. I sat down at the spot she pointed. She then looked towards me with a sparkle in her eyes, her smile slowly disappearing from her face

-So, your going to start having to fight, right?-

-Um, yeah, I explained it to you-

-Well, you do still remember when you come from?-

-Mom, of course I remember… wait, you don’t want me to-

-Colin, listen to me. You’re going to go against many strong monsters, and you might run into many situations where that bracelet might not be enough. So, I implore you… could you please just train it?-

-Mom, please, you know I don’t like using them. They remind me of that moment-

-Colin. Please, I need you to train your Sylph magic and abilities-

-Please, I don’t want to. I barely had the grasp after not using–

-Wait, you already used them again?-

-Well, I mean, yeah, I did, but it was on accident, and I was in trouble-

She was smiling all the way through that with a sparkle in her eyes -Even if it was by accident, you started using them again. Even if it was just one time, you might get back into your nature… although, you do need to keep your power in check.-

-Mom, I don’t want to talk about it-

-I know, I know. But, just promise me that you’ll at least try to use them-

I sighed for a bit, lowering my head a bit, to then lift it back up -Fine… I will. But, as soon as I find James, I’ll come back with him and will not fight anymore-

-I accept your condition- My mother answered this with a smile on her face as she hugged me again, holding me tightly in her arms -Just please, both of you come back in one piece-

-We will mom, we will- I hugged her back tightly with a smile on my face, closing my eyes gently, to then be quickly lifted up by a shadowy arm from the back of my shirt, lifting me up into the air

-Hey, if you’re going to ask him to use Sylph abilities, I might as well ask him to train Hunter abilities- My dad said this from behind a wall, his hand glowing in a shadow aura as he moved me close to him, plopping me down in front of him

-You could at least wait for our hug to be over before you lifted me up- I said this in a joking tone.

-Yes darling, we were having a moment-

-I know all about your moment- He said this with a cocky smile as he lifted his head up, pointing at his ear -Hunter skills, remember?-

-Dad, please, no need to remind us- I said this with a laugh as I hugged him tightly -But, well, if I am going to use Sylph abilities, I might as well also use Hunter ones… Once I learn them- I said this while turning my head down a bit

-Hey, kiddo, don’t worry about it. I know that they did not come naturally for you, but you can learn them, you do have hunter blood in you.- He patted my head with a warm smile on his face as he lifted me up with a hug -We will miss you kiddo. Come back in one piece-

He said this in a tone he had never used before, as if he was melancholic. He seemed to be sad about all of this, and I had never heard him sad before

After a few seconds of us hugging, there was a ring sound, our doorbell had been used. I let go of the hug and proceed to open the door. As I opened it, I started to see Martel by the other side of the door. I imagine she would arrive without giving me enough time to eat breakfast. I closed the door quickly on her and turned around to look at my parents one last time

-Well, it seems like my time here has come to an end-

-But, you haven’t even eaten- My mom said this in a worried tone, as she stood up from the couch

-Yeah, yeah, I know, but, the quicker I go, the quicker I come back, don’t I?- I said this in a happy tone, trying to cheer both of my parents up to not leave them with a sour memory

Both my parents walked towards me and grabbed both my shoulders/

-Colin. Just, be careful out there, okay? Promise us to come back in one piece- My dad said this, once more, with his melancholic tone.

-I will dad- “I hugged both of them, holding them tightly in my arms, a tear flowing down my face -I will-

-Oh wow, I did not expect this from the same guy who staked me to a wall- This was said by a different female voice than my mother. I turned my head towards the living room, where I saw Martel sitting down, drinking from a glass of red whine.

My dad, by instinct, backed up from us and pulled a knife from his pocket, throwing it right at Martel’s glass, flicking it from her hand.

-How the hell did you get in here?!-

-Dad, calm down… She’s my boss-

-Well, now I see where your son got his violent impulses- She said this with a laugh as she stood up and started to walk towards us, holding her hand out -But, as you know, he only agreed for one week. I hope you understand this- She then jumped behind me, almost touching my shoulder, to then be pushed back onto the wall by my dad’s hunter hand

-Well, at least I did get to meet you in person, that way I can threaten you fully- He said this in a more serious tone as he started to get close to Martel

-Oh wow, as if I was scared of a simple hunter- Martel said this in a cocky tone as she got herself off the hand and pushed my father back into the kitchen. To then touch my shoulder -But, I guess I must bid you farewell. We have been running late for quite some time- As she said this, the usual white glow started to cover us -Goodbye… Strikers-

I tried to reach my hand out towards my mother for one last moment, but, as if she knew, my hand was the first one to go. My mother started to look sad for this, but she tried to smile. I could see it in her eyes. My body continued to disappear quickly from my house, until, like the first time, I lost consciousness, with the last things I heard were my mother crying, and Martel’s voice saying -Welcome to my world-

END OF CHAPTER 5