"...Hmmm"
Waking up to the pungent smell of alcohol, covered in bandages, Aric eyelids slowly opened.
"Khh..."
Looking up at the white ceiling illuminated by a white fluorescent light, Aric felt a throbbing sensation on his right temple causing his face to crump up.
After a couple of seconds, and after the pain passed away, trying to sit up straight, Aric suddenly felt a sharp pain coursing through his body almost resulting in his screaming.
-Pomf!
In the end, he could only helplessly lay down on the white hospital mattress. Once again staring at the white ceiling above him, Aric truly felt helpless.
Everything felt like a blur to him. Fragmented memories of what had happened before waking up here appeared in his mind.
The images of him almost dying at the hands of Tony constantly replayed in his mind.
...it was only after a couple of seconds that Aric fully understood what had happened.
At first, he couldn't quite place his finger on the emotion he was feeling, but as time passed in the white hospital room, he finally could taste it.
The bitter taste of defeat...
'Ah...'
He, who thought that he was better than most others almost died at the hands of a Fallen human.
It was strange, for the first time in his entire life that Aric was this close to death and who was responsible for all of this? Tony, of course.
Arc thought he was strong but that illusion was broken by Adrian when he came to Nove.
So what he did do to catch up to him? He trained every single day.
So why he still hasn't caught up to him? He didn't know.
From a young age, he wanted people to idolize him more. He wanted them to know just how strong he was.
He was getting stronger at speeds that were thought to be impossible for someone his age.
Soon, he started beating ranked heroes who had been training for years without much effort.
"I thought... I thought I was invincible," Aric admitted, his voice hoarse with the rawness of his emotions. "But I was just fooling myself. I've never felt so weak."
Adrian walked closer, taking a seat beside Aric's bed. There was a moment of silence before Adrian spoke softly, "Strength isn't just about physical power, Aric. It's about resilience, learning from failures, and finding the courage to stand back up."
Aric clenched his fists, grappling with the conflicting emotions swirling within him. The pride that once fueled his determination now felt like a distant echo.
"I don't know if I can face everyone at my home. They all saw me... saw me fail," Aric confessed, his vulnerability laid bare.
Adrian placed a comforting hand on Aric's shoulder, "We all face defeats, Aric. It's how we rise from them that defines our true strength. Don't be too hard on yourself."
Aric nodded, a gesture of gratitude and bitterness in his expression. The journey ahead was uncertain, filled with the need to rebuild not just his physical strength but also the shattered illusions of invincibility.
As the tears dried on his cheeks, Aric began to grasp the complexity of true strength — a lesson learned through the bitter taste of defeat and the genuine support of those willing to help him rise again.
***
After spending a bit of time with Aric, Adrian left the infirmary so Aric could rest in peace.
"Fuuuu..."
Taking a long breath, Adrian decided to head out to get some fresh air.
The longer he stayed in this place, the worse he felt.
He needed to get his mind off of things.
'Perhaps the best place is the rooftop'
A quiet place with no one to disturb him. The rooftop was the perfect place to clear his mind...
-Tap, Tap, Tap!
With that thought, Adrian decided to head toward the rooftop.
As Adrian made his way to the rooftop, he noticed a familiar figure already standing at the edge, gazing at the cityscape below. It was Lucas, another classmate who had been part of the recent events.
"Lucas," Adrian called out as he approached. The wind carried a hint of tension as he joined Lucas on the rooftop.
"Adrian," Lucas acknowledged with a nod, his eyes still fixed on the city lights.
The two stood in companionable silence for a moment, both lost in their thoughts. The events of the recent battle and the aftermath weighed heavily on them.