Ficool

Chapter 23 - Chapter 22

"Wow, you're good at this..." Tharos said to Alex while looking at Alex's canvas, leaning in to examine the brushwork. 

The flower on the canvas seemed to breathe with life, each petal rendered with photographic accuracy. The way Alex had captured the subtle play of light on the flower's surface revealed an innate understanding of form and shadow that most beginners took years to develop, yet he did it within an hour. Tharos studied the technique - the confident strokes, the layering of colors that created depth, the way Alex had managed to make a two-dimensional surface appear three-dimensional. 

Alex had followed the art teacher's instructions exactly, drawing the flower just as the teacher had, matching every curve, every shadow, every highlight with mechanical precision. The level of detail extended beyond mere copying - Alex had somehow copied the very essence of the teacher's style, replicating not just the image but the methodology behind it, and at that moment, the art teacher, who was walking around to look at everyone's work, his practiced eye evaluating each student's progress, also stopped by Alex's canvas and nodded in agreement with Tharos' words.

The art teacher replied, "That's true... but it's not only good and that's about it." Alex looked at him in confusion, as he had done everything he was told to do.

The art teacher continued, "This is a perfect mirror of my work; it has no originality to it. All you did was mimic my work and do nothing to express yourself." Alex nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes as his gaze drifted to the canvas up ahead, which showed Bobby's work that he had perfectly copied.

"Tharos... try again, this time try focusing on one part of the image before looking at the whole thing," Bobby said, looking at Tharos's work. Alex looked over and was speechless at the sight. Where Alex's work showed perfect copying skill, Tharos' canvas displayed raw, unbridled energy. Paint had been applied in thick, aggressive strokes that seemed to fight against the canvas itself. The flower existed somewhere within the chaos, but it had been transformed into something primal and wild. It was like someone had tried to destroy his work, leaving it as a perfect image of destruction. 

"Yeah..." Tharos said with a light laugh, not too bothered by it. He was bad at drawing, but that wasn't enough to make him lose hope that one day, he would become good at it.

"You two are opposites. Tharos, you add too much personality into your work; meanwhile, Alex, you add zero personality into it." He said with a light smile, causing Tharos to burst into laughter, as that was true. Alex was speechless for a second, but after a moment, he too laughed and went to get a new canvas and tried drawing again, only this time, he went on to draw the flower all by himself.

This time, Alex approached the blank canvas differently. Instead of immediately beginning to paint, he stood before it, brush in hand, trying to find something within himself to express. The flower before him was the same, but now he needed to see it through his own eyes, not Bobby's. He made his first stroke - tentative, uncertain. Then another. Without the framework of copying, each decision became monumental. Where should this line go? How much paint? What color exactly? The technical skill was still there, but now it struggled against his attempt at personal expression.

Tharos watched, his expression slowly becoming weird as the drawing Alex was making looked like a dying piece of art. The transformation was fascinating - where before there had been masterful control, now there was a struggle between skill and expression. It was as if something had taken Alex's artwork and began beating it to death. The flower that emerged was technically sound in places but emotionally chaotic in others, creating a disturbing hybrid that satisfied neither approach. Alex gave the canvas an odd look before looking at Tharos. He looked at Tharos's canvas, which looked as if something had destroyed the image, turning it into trash.

"Haha!" Alex couldn't hold back his laugh, and neither could Tharos as the two burst into laughter, causing Bobby to look back at them in confusion. Seeing that, Alex showed Bobby his canvas, causing Bobby's eyes to twitch. One canvas screamed destruction, and the other screamed death.

"That's too much personality," Bobby said with a helpless smile, knowing those two were going to be a pain in the ass to teach...

The class continued with Bobby demonstrating different techniques. He showed them how to hold the brush for different effects, how to mix colors on the palette versus on the canvas, how to create texture through various application methods. Alex absorbed the technical information easily, his mind cataloging each technique with the same the skill he'd shown in his copying. But when it came to applying these techniques with his own vision, the disconnect remained. Each attempt to inject "personality" into his work resulted in technical precision warring with forced expression.

Tharos, meanwhile, attacked each new technique with enthusiasm that bordered on violence. When Bobby showed them how to create gentle texture through stippling, Tharos's canvas looked like it had been machine-gunned with paint. When they learned about color harmony, Tharos created combinations that seemed to actively fight each other on the canvas. 

So hours passed, and throughout the class, both Alex and Tharos honestly tried their best, but their work turned out terrible each time, causing them to laugh at each other every time, which caused Bobby to throw looks at them.

As the class progressed, other students began to take notice of the odd pair. Some were annoyed by the constant laughter, others were intrigued by the extreme differences in their approaches. A few even began to experiment more boldly with their own work, inspired by seeing someone fail so spectacularly yet maintain such enthusiasm.

"It was nice meeting you, that class was boring until you popped up," Tharos said with a smile, while the two stepped out of the art school, and walked towards the parking lot.

"Same here…" Alex said with a light smile, unsure if he had just made a friend or something.

"We should hang out, and get some drinks." He said to which Alex nodded while pulling out his phone and giving him his number.

"I have to stop by the shop, today I'm buying a car… wait, is that your car?" Alex asked upon seeing a pickup truck.

But this wasn't just any pickup truck. It was a monster that seemed to crouch in the parking lot like a monster waiting to explode with uncontrollable power. The vehicle's presence dominated the space around it, making other cars look like toys in comparison. Even in the fading light, the truck seemed to glow with an inner power that demanded attention.

"Yeah," Tharos said with a smile.

"That's the F-450, right? Fully customized at that?" Alex asked in shock, as a man, his dream car was a pick-up truck. The pick-up truck before him was everything Alex had ever wanted, but he didn't have millions of dollars to put into a car.

"Yeah…" Tharos said only to pause seeing the look in Alex's eyes. He sighed seeing that Alex wanted him to tell him everything about the car, so he began.

"She started as a Ford F-450 Super Duty—top-of-the-line Limited trim, of course—but what you're looking at now? It's something I upgraded to be able to withstand the apocalypse." Tharos said unable to help himself but to grow prideful.

"What's under the hood?" Alex asked and Tharos went on to open the hood and went on to show off the beauty under… and Alex fell in love.

The engine bay was a work of art that defied conventional automotive engineering. Where a standard F-450 would have a diesel V8, this had something that looked more at home in a experimental military project. Every component was custom fabricated, from the reinforced engine mounts that could handle forces that would tear a normal truck apart, to the cooling system that looked capable of keeping an nuclear reactor stable.

"What you're looking at is a custom 9.0L V12 quad-turbo diesel-electric hybrid block—yep, I had it built from scratch. Puts out just under 2,000 horsepower and around 2,700 lb-ft of torque. Torque so thick it'll pull a freight train uphill while dragging a tank behind it. It runs on ultra-refined bio-diesel, synthetic fuels, or straight-up hydrogen if I need to flip the eco switch." Tharos said proudly, all while Alex's eyes seemed to glow at just how beautiful it was.

"How about the Drivetrain?" Alex asked.

"Full 6x6 conversion. Triple-axle, independent suspension, adaptive hydraulic dampers with AI-controlled ride height. It'll lower itself for the highway and lift to crawl over boulders like nothing. And yes, the chassis is fully reinforced with nano-something tungsten steel blend." He said, smiling, seeing Alex's amazement grow.

The implications of what Tharos was describing went beyond mere automotive excess. This wasn't just a modified truck - it was a vehicle designed to survive and thrive in conditions that would destroy military hardware. The 6x6 configuration alone would have cost more than most people's houses, but the adaptive suspension system with AI control suggested technology that wasn't even commercially available.

"This is armor, right?" Alex asked feeling the car.

"Oh, it's armored alright. Level 7 ballistic panels, bulletproof glass, reinforced doors. Run-flat tires with Kevlar belts. If civilization ends tomorrow, I'm king of what's left." He said while opening the door to show off the sight inside. Alex's eyes landed on the red seats, a beautiful red that had a hint of yellow that made the seats look like flowing lava.

The interior was even more impressive than the mechanical components. The seats weren't just red - they seemed to shift and flow with an inner fire, using some kind of advanced material that created an optical illusion of movement. The car had LED lights, which at this moment were off, the rest of the car was a beautiful black, with hints of red in it, giving the illusion of sharp flames flying through the car.

"I got set-red obsidian leather, diamond-stitched with molten copper accents. Every seat's got temperature memory, massage functions, and lumbar tech pulled from Formula 1 cockpits. Dash? Forged aluminum and walnut, custom engraved. Steering wheel? Hand-stitched, heated, and digitally reactive. The HUD? Full 3D with voice-controlled everything. It watches the road, the weather, and my stress levels." He said making Alex head light at how hard it was for him to comprehend the greatness of this car.

"As for the speakers? Studio-grade, 40-speaker Dolby Atmos surround. It'll rattle concrete at 10%. And the cabin's acoustically sealed, it's dead quiet even if a riot's going on outside." Tharos said, his smile growing with Alex's reaction. He couldn't control himself and was eager to show off even more.

"The tech? Top-shelf. Satellite internet, AI assistant, lidar sensors, 360° vision with thermal and night modes. Autonomous mode drives better than most humans," Tharos finished, and looked at Alex, who sighed at just how broke he was. His dream was to make 20 million… now he wanted more to be able to buy such a beauty.

"I almost forgot, the car can change color depending on the temperature. In extreme cold, it has this beautiful blue color that traces along the body of the car. It's like lightning," Tharos said while closing the door and placing his palm on the car so that his body heat could do its magic.

The technology behind the color change wasn't just paint - it was an advanced coating that responded to thermal energy. As Tharos's hand touched the surface, the molecular structure of the coating shifted, altering how it reflected light. The effect was immediate and mesmerizing, like watching liquid fire spread across metal.

"At normal temperature like this, it looks black, but if you look closely, you can see the hints of fire sparks that cover the car… and on a hot day, you get this." Taking his palm off, Tharos showed that the spot he had been touching had turned a lava red, as if this car were flowing lava.

"It's beautiful… I have never seen anything so beautiful before." Alex said lightly.

"That's not all, there are more, but I think you got the point… You want it?" He asked stunning Alex.

"I will give it to you… I got a better one at home. I was thinking of selling it. Seeing your reactions, I'm sure you would take good care of her." Tharos said with a light smile.

"I don't have enough money," Alex said lightly.

"Don't worry, I couldn't care less about the money. Take it as a thanks for making art class so fun." Tharos said, causing Alex to almost cry. To him, it was like a father giving away their extremely hot daughter… how could he ever repay such kindness?

The weight of the gift was staggering. This wasn't just a vehicle - it was a piece of technology that probably cost more than most people would earn in several lifetimes. The casual way Tharos offered it suggested wealth beyond comprehension, but also a loneliness that made him value a few hours of genuine laughter over millions of dollars.

***

"What the hell is that?" Diana asked as Alex pulled up in her car, with a huge pickup truck following behind him… and what was shocking was the fact that no one was in the car… the car was driving by itself.

Diana had returned yesterday, allowing Alex to be able to do as he pleased again, although he had to be careful when stepping out.

"I just made a friend who gave me this truck for free," Alex said happily while stepping outside of the car, making Diana pause for a second before looking at Alex with a serious look.

"Don't take stuff from a stranger. People do not just give people stuff for no reason… please don't tell me you eat anything he had." Diana said growing uneasy, causing Alex to go quiet, while avoiding eye contact.

"He… he took me to his place and we ate," Alex said, knowing how that would sound.

The implications of what Alex was saying hit Diana like a physical blow. In her world, the world of superheroes and villains, gifts always came with strings attached. Mind control substances, tracking devices, biological weapons - she'd seen them all disguised as innocent gestures. The fact that someone had given Alex a vehicle worth millions and fed him set off every alarm in her protective instincts.

"I let you go out because you promised to be careful… where does any of this scream being careful? We have to rush to the hospital." She said quickly, grabbing Alex and pulling him into the car.

"Let's take that one," Alex said wanting to drive the beauty of a pick-up truck. But Diana just threw him a look, clearly unable to understand how he wasn't being careful.

"B-but pick up truck," Alex said in defense, to which Diana rolled her eyes while driving off in her SUV, leaving Alex eyeing his beautiful pick up truck that was calling out to him to ride her…

The drive to the hospital was tense. Diana's mind raced through possibilities - who was this Tharos? No normal person gave away vehicles worth millions. In her experience, such generosity always came with a price. Was he trying to get close to Alex? Plant surveillance equipment? The truck following them autonomously only added to her concerns. That level of technology wasn't consumer-grade.

***

"So?" Death asked her little brother, Destruction of the Endless, now going by Tharos.

"It's weird being an Uncle… But I like the kid." Destruction said while turning to look at Death.

"Yes, he is my sweet little boy. Although it sucks we can never have a true relationship since he doesn't want anything to do with the supernatural." She said putting her umbrella down and scanning Destruction's home.

"I highly doubt it, he would outlive this planet and the universe itself. At some point, he would get bored with the normal life… and shouldn't you be dealing with the person who keeps slipping from you?" Tharos asked, causing Death to sigh.

"My son is more important than that… I should go back in time and take pictures of all of his moments. That look on his face when you gave him the car, it was so priceless…" She said with a warm smile, although it was a bit bitter as she couldn't experience that moment with her son. She wanted to spoil her son senseless, but she couldn't, for her son wanted nothing to do with her.

The irony wasn't lost on either of them. Death, who was present at every beginning and ending, couldn't be present for her son's beginnings. Every first smile, first word, first step - she had to experience them from afar, through the eyes of others or stolen glimpses when he wasn't aware.

Although she could just tell her son the truth, she was scared that he would still reject her… what would hurt a mother more than that? So, she would love her baby boy the best way she could… that being helping his dreams come true.

Then again, she was annoyed with her elder brother, Destiny, who said that he couldn't rewrite fate to ensure that Alex's future would have no pain awaiting him. However, as Destiny said, Alex would welcome it all, as it meant he was living a normal life.

The Book of Destiny contained all that was, is, and would be. There would be loss, betrayal, moments of despair that would test his desire for a normal life. But there would also be joy, love, triumph, and more.

For now, though, he was just a young man excited about a truck, worried about disappointing his mother figure, and trying to learn how to paint. And perhaps that was the most precious gift she could give him - these moments of simple, human normalcy before the weight of his true nature became too much for even him to hide.

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