26 Revived hope

"What?"

"Ark, this is crucial information, but who were your parents."

"I-I..."

"Actually, just tell me your family name."

"I'm an orphan."

The instructor froze and gave Ark a look of sympathy.

"I'm sorry, that was insensitive of me."

His face immediately morphed into one of determination.

"However, I think I know your family name."

Ark froze and stared into the eyes of his instructor.

"How?"

"Your bloodline, I saw a glimpse of it yesterday night. It belongs to a specific clan. A clan whose members have a mysterious pattern in their eye which gives them special abilities. The oculi of the Krusader clan."

Ark tilted his head down in deep thought. He reached towards his neck and lifted the white sun up.

He traced the scratches that formed his name.

"Ark Krusader. So that's my name."

Ark smiled.

Finally I know my name.

The instructor waited for Ark to absorb the information he gave him before speaking again.

"But do not disclose this information to any person you do not trust."

"Why?"

"Your family is currently in prison locked away by Holy Emperor Drake."

The whole room sank ten degrees as Ark venomously spat out.

"Why?"

"The Emperor was afraid of them getting to powerful and created false charges against them and then rallied the enemy clans of the Krusaders and fight them."

The Instructor looked me in the eye and said.

"If it makes you feel any better, your family took down one third of the army before being inevitably captured. This shows just how powerful you bloodline is. It also shows how strong your enemy is.

"How do I use my ability?"

"I don't know, you have to figure that out yourself, however-"

The instructor stopped as if recalling something.

"Don't use you ability unless you are in a desperate situation."

"How strong is Drake?"

The instructor gave me a sad look.

"Don't think about it. You can't beat him."

"You said that my ability has incredible power, I can wait until I am able to fight him."

"Holy Emperor Drake... is also a Krusader and he has one of the strongest Oculi the Krusaders have ever seen."

Ark spoke in a voice filled with detest.

"So you are saying the ones who imprisoned my family was one of our own."

"Yes."

Ark closed his eyes feeling anger and hatred for the family he had always looked for as a child.

A toddler, too young to remember his own name none the less his home, walking through the streets without shoes in the winter, shivering. Too scared to call out for help yet intelligent enough to hold in its tears. Just walking forever looking for his family that he didn't remember, hoping to see a familiar face in a world of white.

A little boy under a tree all alone still waiting for his family, living off of food given by kind strangers, running away from men and women who give promises of a better home. Still holding back his tears.

A young boy who was finally caught and was taken to an orphanage, screaming the entire way. Screaming about waiting for his family, too dumb to realize reality but intelligent enough to understand that giving up was for the best.

"I am going to leave you alone Ark. I know you feel angry, I know you want revenge. But you can't beat him."

"... I will find my family. I've been waiting for too long."

"... Drake is currently a rank 7 swordsman."

Ark gave the instructor a gaze full of thanks.

"Thank you instructor, you have given me something I can't seem to repay."

"Just call me by my name or old man, I don't care."

He turned around and stared at the ceiling with a gaze full of melancholy.

"I didn't tell you about them for you... it was for me."

"What do you mean instructor."

"Not yet. You are still too weak."

The instructor turned towards Ark.

"Don't be an idiot. Calm down before acting. Always doubt the absolute."

The instructor stepped out into the hallway looking like a man who carried many hardships.

Ark gazed at the back of the instructor.

"Thank you instructor Reeves, for helping me find a goal to strive for and a hope that I had lost a long time ago."

Ark stepped out of the room and began walking towards his dorm.

"Hey Dawn. Text James that I am going back to the dorm and I want to be alone for a while."

(Dawn) Yes sir. Message sent.

Activate my bloodline? Since it's ability is in my eyes, do I just have to focus mana into my eye?

Ark focused his mana into his eyes causing his pupil to become black with a white circular pattern that resembled a swirling vortex.

Lets test my limits shall we.

Ark then disappeared into a wall. The only difference that could be made out was that the shadow of the wall became darker than any other shadow in the room.