Chapter 14: Concert

“Ceella, seen Tyell around?”

“Nah,” I replied while laying on the grass outside. Doing some midday stargazing 

My eyes allowed me to see past the sun’s rays to watch the stars.

The sun was a star, so worked with [Gazing Upon The Stars] but that skill worked better when I stared at multiple and changed which ones I was looking at. Absorbing Starlight also was an issue as it would only fully form once separating from Sun energy. Which was impossible to do within a solar system. I tried making it work, but my control over [Sun] to separate it mustn’t be good enough. I theorized if I could get a skill that stores Sun energy that might be the extra bit I need to fix the issue. But it wasn’t that important, it would only make my Starlight recovery rate 0.01 faster maybe.

“Damn,” I heard Mella mutter.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I just realised I haven’t told Tyell about the concert.” She had told me when I asked her what she was doing for the next week, a couple of days ago.

“Do you need to tell him?”

She sighed, “It’s not like I normally tell him when I’m going places,” she sent a message to his phone but wasn’t getting a reply “but I won’t be home until tomorrow morning, so it’s just easier to let him know.”

“Where is Tyell anyway?” I replied.

Mella said what I assumed, “Working I believe.”

“Correct” mother walked in after cleaning the hallways–we had robots that could do it, but she like to move–“He apparently wants to take a holiday soon, so he has been working long shifts every day. He should only be doing these shifts though for one more week.”

“So that’s why I haven’t seen him much.” I said, “Huh, good luck to him.” 

“Well if he hasn’t gotten the message, tell him when you can.” Mella began walking to the door, “Take care, see ya.” Mella waved goodbye, going to meet with her friends.

I changed the TV to the live broadcast of the concert–currently 5 pm. I didn’t enjoy the band or anything, but it could be fun to watch it and comment on some moments later with Mella. Not that I was doing anything else anyway. 

“Do you know the people she’s going out with mum?”

“Irene, Elka, Sam and Mike. Friends from school.” She then asked concerned “Do you not remember them?”

“...I remember Irene… but I’m pretty sure I haven’t met her and Mella only spoke about her once to me. The others I need to see, Sam and Mike… Wait! I remember Elka now. Kindergarten right?”

“Yes! You used to tease them, good memories.”

“Yeah…” I didn’t remember the teasing part.

 

---

“I did it, I actually did it.” 

It was currently 9 pm, and Tyell had to place down every device. It was stressful as he was only allowed to enter the mall at 8:30 and every device had to be placed before nine.

Currently, he was just laying on a wall resting in an alley near the mall. He left his phone at work which was normal procedure. But meant he couldn’t distract himself.

“With this no more dangerous jobs for a long while…” He looked down dejected, “I should just say ever…” He put his hands over his face, tired thanks to the adrenaline leaving his system.

He knew he shouldn’t keep up this kind of work. It wasn’t as dangerous as some other illegal jobs but he could still get hurt. But the pay was good and with money, he could ensure some level of stability even if tough times hit…

Time passed and he just sat there. Debating going back to his workplace early even though he shouldn’t. 

But then, he felt a wave of warmth and the smell of smoke fill the air.

He jumped up, and instinctively looked to the mall. Flames and smoke were pouring out of it.

“... Did something go wrong?”

He did remember them saying whatever was buried was ‘ready to go off’, but…

“... W-well I’.mm glad I wasn’t in there…” He tried looking at the only possible bright side of this situation.

 

He wanted to puke.

His gut was twirling.

Emotions, feelings and thoughts all clashed. 

This is partly your fault.
People are dying.
I’m glad I’m safe.
Why did I have to be a part of this?
You could’ve stopped at any time.
It was a necessary job.
Don’t you hear the screams?
I didn’t know this would happen.

He began to drown in his own sorrow but managed to stay afloat in his mind by thinking about the family he needed to return to.

For the moment let’s return to the bar… He decided, he wobbled to his feet and trudged back.

 

---

The time was currently 10 pm, and the concert had been going strong. People had come and gone. But the music! It stayed in their hearts!

 

“My Heart Is Blazing!”

 

The concert ring was massive, with five levels which people could watch from.

Mella and her friends were on the second level, one level from the floor.

“YEAH! GO ALUBER!” Irene shouted. While Elka, Sam and Mike were air guitaring.

Mella wanted to laugh at her friend's silliness but didn’t due to thinking it would be inappropriate in this setting. So she just continued to do what she had been doing and hummed to the music.

 

“My Emotions Raising!”

 

“Hope Ceella is enjoying this from home,” she whispered. Knowing Ceella, Tella and maybe even Tyell was watching as well from the couch.

Then suddenly. There was an itch within Mella's soul.

The heat’s rising?

Her worried eyes looked at the floor below and within a second a section of it started to glow. Before the worried screams could start. “Get down! Elka.” Yelling at her nearest friend, she tried pushing her back.Fire erupted out of the floor from multiple areas, torching the majority of people on the first floor, and sending people flying everywhere else.

Mella’s body went flying forward, falling down to the first level. Smacking her head, causing everything to go dark for a couple of moments.

 

---

“Fuck fuck fuck fuck!” It all happened in an instant. Flames erupted and the feed crashed. Mother fumbled with the remote trying to switch to the news

“Mum!” I yelled, “Stay here!”

“You’re going to the concert!?” She tried running after me as I blitzed to the backdoor.

“YES!” I ran through the door, “Try contacting Mella if you can!” I jumped into the air, before activating [Burst].

People were screaming in their homes and I could hear the siren from the emergency response echo throughout the city.

I didn’t need help, but any edge to ensure my sister’s safety I would take, so I grabbed out my phone while flying trying to call Mern and Ketty, but neither answered.

“Fuck both are on the stupid mission!” I left a voice message explaining the situation hoping they might see it. Afterwards, I shut it down, shrunk it and threw it far, right back into the yard–would probably break if I kept it with me.

“[Star Mapping].” I needed to know the situation first. Using the skill, I focused in on the mall and it wasn’t looking good. 

Fire and smoke reached for the sky, escaping from any window or hole they could. The building stood strong beside the one massive hole in the centre with was further crumbling apart. People were running out of the building, but there was no sign of Mella! 

As I neared I saw the nearly invisible dome blocking my path.

“Forgot about the stupid barrier!”

Certain areas in cities had high-level barriers around them–meaning people had to travel through the proper terminals. Done to ensure safety for certain buildings and track those who pass through.

“I’ve no time for this, [Disruptive Starlight]!”

Punching a hole through the barrier was possible but would take too much energy, so I used my skill specialised in dealing with all things annoying. 

[Disruptive Starlight] weakened–tracking, barriers and hiding–skills, while also messing with nearby technology. The only issue, it was expensive–when used for long periods of time. The only exception was when dealing with tech, as the skill could do that with minimal effort.

Focusing a large amount of the energy around me, I pulled my way through the barrier. Now closer I went higher into the sky, to get a different perspective. I was still using [Star Mapping] but was using that to see if I could find my sister within the hole.

Scanning the area from a bird's eye view, I notice an extra detail I missed earlier. Multiple figures wearing similar gear were sitting in locations around the burning building.

An angry growl came from deep within, “Dominous Hood.”  

I could see their wretched existence on a few rooftops–guarding the area. So I decided to head for them first, and deal with them before they could cause more trouble.

“Things went to shit fast. I’m shocked, how could they fuck up so badly?”

“Stop complaining and keep up the perimeter, we need to be ready to escort are guys ou–”

DIE! I crashed from above, with flame covering my leg as it collided with the bastard’s neck.

“Thanks for telling me you fucks are at fault! [Incinerate]!!”