The days after the gym were quiet. Too quiet. Damon and his friends walked with their heads down, their eyes darting away from mine in the hallways. They knew who I was. But I wasn't done with them. My revenge wasn't about hurting them with my hands. It was about taking everything they had. Their false power, their easy lives, their fake smiles.
Aura was my tool, a silent ghost in the machine. I used the system to slip into the school's network. Not to hurt it, but to show it the truth. Damon and his friends had built their good grades on cheating, on stolen answers and bought homework. I took all of that information and made sure the teachers saw it. It wasn't a sudden, loud change. It was a whisper. A bad grade here, a failed test there. Soon, their perfect scores were gone. The teachers who once looked at them with pride now looked at them with a cold, angry light in their eyes. I watched them fall, piece by piece, and it was the best feeling in the world.
A few days later, while I was in history class, a message came to my phone. It was from Alex. The text was short and sharp. "New mission. Security escort. Get to the rendezvous point at 18:00 sharp. No questions."
My mind went back to business. My payback was on hold. I left the school and walked to the meeting spot. It was a fancy Italian restaurant, the kind of place with a big, gold door and a man in a clean suit who looked like he owned the whole world. A monocar, black and quiet, was waiting there for me. I got in. The driver said nothing. He just drove. My mind raced, trying to figure out what this mission could be. Who was I protecting? I had no information.
When the car stopped, it was not at a company building. It was at a beautiful house on a hill, its warm lights glowing against the early evening sky. I got out of the car. Alex was standing at the top of the stairs, a big, honest smile on his face.
"So, the new mission," he said, his voice full of laughter. "Did you think I was going to send you to another country already?"
I just looked at him, confused. My heart, which had been in mission mode, was suddenly lost.
Then I saw it. On Alex's shoulder. It was Sky. He had grown so much, his body fuller, his feathers a darker black. He looked at me, gave a happy squawk, and launched himself into the air. He flew to me, his powerful wings beating the air. He landed on my shoulder, his talons holding on. He was heavier, stronger, but I didn't care. I felt a wave of happiness so strong that it almost made me cry. I had not seen him in weeks. My new life had been good, but it was not complete without him.
Alex came down the stairs, his smile never fading. "Happy 17th birthday, Balen," he said. His voice was soft, and his eyes were kind. "The mission was a cover. A lie. It was just a way to get you here. I wanted to make sure you had a real birthday this year."
The inside of the house was warm and bright. There were balloons—shiny silver ones—and a long table covered with food. Not the kind of food I was used to from the wilderness, but sweet cakes, colorful drinks, and plates of hot, delicious things I couldn't even name. Alex had a small group of friends there, laughing and talking. They were all around my age, and they looked at me with curious, kind eyes. No one called me "Bhosty." No one looked at me with hate.
Alex handed me a small box. "It's not much, but I thought you'd like it." Inside was a brand-new, sleek, black watch. It wasn't just a watch; I could feel Aura already linking to it, a subtle hum of power. A proper piece of tech, a perfect companion for my system.
We played silly games. We ate too much cake. Sky, perched on my shoulder, even managed to snatch a piece of fruit from a plate, making everyone laugh. For the first time in my life, I truly celebrated. I wasn't on guard. I wasn't running. I was just... happy. The warmth in the room, the sound of laughter, Sky's soft chirps, Alex's genuine smile—it all filled a hole in my heart I didn't even know was there.
As the night drew to a close, and the last of Alex's friends left, we stood on the balcony, looking out at the city lights. Sky was asleep on my shoulder, a small, warm weight.
"So," Alex said, his voice soft, "how was it? The birthday mission?"
I turned to him, the words catching in my throat. My eyes were burning. I had never felt this. Never. My childhood had been a dark room. Elen had given me a window. Alex had given me a light. I reached out, and for the first time, I hugged him. I wrapped my arms around him, feeling the warmth of his body, the true friendship. I didn't say much. I didn't need to.
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for everything, Alex."
He just patted my back, a silent understanding passing between us. In this new life, with this new friend, I finally felt like I was truly alive.