A/N- Shoutout to Tannermals for the three power stones!
18 years had gone by, and it was exhausting. Though cooking at the Barrel Haven never got old, it was getting harder to find things to do. My stats for example had stagnated, no matter how much training I did they wouldn't rise any further, when I asked the system it told me that since I was now 'technically' a normal human, my body no longer had the ability to contain all the power and thus it had plateaued and now looked like this.
Name:Carter Bate
Bloodline:Nightwing(100%),Icewing(100%), Seawing(38%) (ALL LOCKED)
Quirk: Half Cold-Half Hot
Stats:
Health: 57
Str:60
Agi:61
End:57
Vit:55
Abilities: Heat Resistance, Cold Resistance
It was about 5 times the strength of an average human, but compared to the power my human form had before the stupid restriction, it's vastly different.
Since I couldn't just brute force my way through things as easily now, I focused more on technique. Starting with my quirk I managed to get the flames to cover me like a suit of armor, but only on one half of my body since the other side would get covered with frost. I also tried to refine my control, using my flames like a flamethrower to short bursts that would fly further like bolts of fire. The same was with the ice, I was able to cover my body with it but since it was more solid than flames I tried making weapons with it instead.
It took almost a year but I managed to get it down to where I could make things like knives and swords in a few seconds though I could make a spear if I concentrated for a full 5 seconds. Lucius and Rose had yet to find out about my quirk but I'm sure they've got their suspicions since even after 18 years they keep an eye on me.
We get along well though, Rose has made a small fortune for herself and Thorn by racing cows of all things, it blew my mind but it had become quite the spectacle in the area with tons of people coming to bet for or against the crazy woman. Lucius had gotten bigger with time, though he had also aged as he head had but a few wisps of white hair, he still ran the Barrel Haven though, he had even taken a young man named Jonathan in to help him manage the bar, we got along just fine as he was a simple village kid who was happy to have work.
Rose had also aged but despite her reduced size and grey hair, I was still wary of her. Numerous times I had seen her rip trees out of the ground with her bare hands, lifting things that several grown men struggled with. She even fought off a rat creature attack a few times during the cow races, the poor bastards ran off screaming the next year, running from 'the old cow woman' as they called her.
Thorn had also changed, gone was the small quiet child, now she had grown into a mature young lady, though she didn't train much, since Rose would always have excuses for her to not go out and train with me. But on the days that she either sneaked out or convinced Rose to let her go, she always paid attention to my lessons. From things like how to train physically to wielding weapons and moving silently if she needed to escape.
Despite how strong her grandmother was, Thorn didn't show any signs of that monstrous strength yet, but I had noticed how sometime she would stare at me or into the eyes of others, sometimes even getting a dazed look during our spars, though she usually performed better as if some unseen thing was guiding her feet and hands.
Today was a slow day in the Barrel Haven though that was quickly broken as Thorn entered with Rose and they went around greeting people. "Good morning Carter!" Thorn greeted me "What's on the menu?" Rose asked, despite our tense relationship, Rose appreciated my cooking just as much as Katsumi and my classmates did, so I was always happy to cook for them. "Does it matter? You'll eat anything I put on your plate, Rose." I jab before running to the kitchen as Rose swings a chair at me as Thorn laughs.
After I serve them their food Thorn pouts "You're going out today right?" she asks and I sigh already knowing where this is going. "Yes I'm going outside the valley, no you can't come with me." I say as Rose nods her head but Thorn just complains more "Every year you go out, and every year no matter what I say I never get to go with you. I train, eat, laugh and spend time with you, but can't follow you?" Every year since I told Rose and Lucius about why I was here 'mostly' I would go up to where I buried Thorns parents and pay my respects. Thorn wanted to go, but Rose wouldn't let her out of her site, she hadn't told her about her lineage yet either so that was also an issue.
"I'll take you when it's your time to go, but that is up for your grandmother to determine." I say leaving to pack my things as Rose scowls at my back as Thorn bombards her with questions.
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As I trek through Dragon stairs, I kept my eyes open. Though I am much stronger than the average person and possess a strong and versatile quirk, I never let my guard down when I'm outside the valley. It always feels dead out here in the desert, no life is visible for miles past Dragon stairs and where I buried Thorns parents is probably the farthest out any living creature has been from the valley.
As I clear up the graves I feel my skin tingle, same as usual, something out here is watching me. It showed up the third year I came out here. Nothing around for miles, no cover, no nothin, yet there was always something watching me, sometimes it was by itself, other times it felt like several were there, but always watching, never interacting though.
Putting aside my discomfort, I finish cleaning then start to tell the dead royals all about what their daughter is doing. It feels strange to speak to graves and the open air like this, but it feels right so I continue to do it, just in case they are listening. As I get up and make my way back up the mountain towards Dragon stairs I stop, hearing something. Snapping around I see a moving cloud, not a swarm of insects moving violently across the landscape 'the hell?' I ready my fire just in case they get closer but instead they swarm around a ridge before going down a ravine, as if chasing something.
I stay a few hours longer in the desert looking for clues, but I find nothing. No dead bugs, no footprints, no signs of where the locust came from or where they went. By the time I'm finished it's already dark but I start heading back up the mountain anyway since the dark doesn't bother me much.
I'm halfway up the mountain before I freeze and duck down 'fire' Up above closer to the stairs I see a flame, like a torch though I can't make out what is carrying it, I make my way further up keeping an eye on the flames before they suddenly die out, as if dropped. I stop, waiting to see if they light the torch again, instead a few sparks light up the night, as if someone is lighting up a match, but they fade as well. Deciding not to continue since I can't see much in the dark, I find a nearby cave and sleep through the night.
As I climbed back up I reached where the fire was coming from last night, and I just thought I found a burnt out torch and a couple of matches on the ground. 'So the locusts were after something' I realize as I follow the tracks left behind, as I reach the top of the mountain, I hear a voice talking so I freeze and dive for cover. "oh MAN , this ain't gonna cut it." I hear a voice say, I creep forward and find the Dragon stairs empty, looking around I see a strange bipedal white humanoid on a ledge above the stairs, on a path that leads to the waterfall.
"I actually thought this map would take me through th' mountains to the waterfall on here . . ." the creature complains as I follow from a safe distance. The mention of a map in concerning though, if there are other creatures outside the valley, they may see the peaceful place as ripe for the taking.
I follow the creature but have to pause when it stops mid sentence 'must have found the view' I think fondly remembering my first view of the valley. I follow the creature as it makes its way down the mountain haphazardly as it stops every once in a while to pick up what look to be cigar butts, how those got here I have no clue.
As it stops to pick up another one I watch in amusement as it meets Ted, the little bug had been helpful during my stay here, but it looks like the creature might be in for a fight, Ted's brother had appeared and he doesn't look happy. Surprisingly Ted's brother backs down and walks off and Ted says something about Thorn, so I keep following the pair before I stop. I relax a bit though seeing what is happening, the creature has been captured by a pair of rat creatures, fortunately these two are known for not being the brightest as I watch them argue letting the creature get away.
"Heyya Carter! Howa doin!" Ted says as he pops up my shoulder, "Doing just fine Ted, tell me about your new friend here." Me and Ted follow the rat creatures as they chase the creature but then start arguing again. "Yeah, his name is Phone Bone! Says he's from Boneville, lookin for his cousins." So there's more of the creatures, these 'bones' that could be useful. We follow the bone a bit longer as he stops to get water, "Well Ted, it's been nice but I gotta get back to the Barrel Haven before the snow hits." "Alrighty! Seeya Carter!"
I didn't make it to the Barrel Haven before "WHUMP!" The snow sets in . . . looks like I'm headin to Rose's farm, it's closer to the falls anyway. . .