A boys burden.

“You know, our world, the Kuru life was never easy. Men, women, beastlings, and elves, everyone who lived on this planet, they all go through things some can’t even imagine. Death, kidnapping, slavery, hatred, and so much more. Things will never be easy for our people, but people live their lives even though there’s so much bad and evil in this world. And even so, they try to live it to the fullest, but this world is full of evil and so much hardship, it's almost unimaginable. Death was certain for everyone, no matter the age, no matter how kind-hearted you might be. There’s always someone or something that's gonna try to take us out, stripping us from things we love. Our ancestors turned to the gods. But even so, they gave us what we wanted: peace, control. But that doesn’t mean we never struggled again. Our world is big, with people who are going through stuff even this very second. People die every second, Carlos, and people have their purpose and their roles in their life. I know you're young, but soon you will be the one to protect our family and the people of the Kuru. People will look up to you like they did to your dad and grandpa. You will be stronger, better, faster than them both, too. Hardships are normal for us humans. But you can't let one thing set you back. Be stronger, be nicer, be dependable so you can be the one to make others happy and help make their problems better.”

The woman chuckles and pats the boy's head, and with that, the boy leans into her touch while nodding, using his hand to clean his eyes, which are teary.

“I know you have potential. I see how much you study, watching your dad train, and I know how hard you work. And I bet Eusebio is just as hurt as you, but he's out playing with Isabel. Arabella wouldn't want you to be down like this, would she?”

The boy nods again, sniffling a bit, then looks up at her, hope in his eyes. His mood is now visibly better than before.

“She wouldn't. I promise, Mom. I'll make the Raios even more popular than they already are, and I'll be stronger, stronger than anyone in this family,” he says confidently. The mom pulls her hand back and rests it on her lap.

“That's all I want, to be better than your dad.”

She chuckles, smiling at Carlos, although her smile doesn't match her eyes.

“You know your eyes are special, too. Blue and grey, beautiful. Your dad's are orange and grey.” She points at Carlos' eyes, with the faint hint of a smile.

“That’s the mark of the Raio. Those eyes are what defines you as a Raio. Anyways, stop being a crybaby and go play.”

She motions him to go, and he steps back and walks out the room.

The woman tears up, covering her face, her nails scratching her forehead.

“Fix the Raio name, Carlos.” Her fingertips turn white as tears fall down her cheek.

“You're the last hope for us, you and your brother.”

During this, Carlos head is hanged low, he looks out the window. His eyes widened at the sight of his grandpa and dad standing outside the house, his grandpa still holding that metal pole. They both get in a fighting position, and the older man with the pole rushes in, swinging it over his head, the pole clashing with the younger man's forearm, a shockwave flowing through the air at the collision.

his eyes light up with a little excitement, his old sadness seeming to wash away as he finds his own distraction. He yells out to them, then tries mimicking their movements.

“Grandpa, Dad.” He keeps following their movements, but it's sloppy compared to their advanced attacks.

“Has Carlos awakened it yet?” the grandpa says, pushing the pole harder on the dad, and he grunts, pushing up harder, pushing the pole away as a flicker of some white light emits through his legs as he pushes the pole upward and knees the grandpa right in his stomach, pushing him back, his feet sliding on the ground.

“Not yet. He's a late bloomer. I think me and you were both younger when we unlocked it.”

He rushes in and throws a punch, which is dodged by the dad, and he swings his pole to counter, but the man blocks it and tries to sweep the grandpa's legs. But the man jumps up and slams the pole down hard again, hitting the man right on his head, making him try to get distance, jumping back but stumbling with the landing, falling on one knee.

“Agh.”

“That boy, something is off with him. I know he has the potential, but he should be training to use it by now!” The grandpa rushes in, jumping into the air, swinging the pole again, but the man pushes back again using his foot. Then he flips as the grandpa's pole crashes with the ground. The man heads side up from the ground, plants his hand on it, and pushes forward, kicking the old man back in the stomach again.

“I'm trying!” Dad says with a bit of hurt in his tone, his expression showing some worry.

The grandpa grunts and rolls onto the ground, catching himself as the dad flips again, getting back on his feet.

They stare at each other for a little bit, then the grandpa rushes in again, feinting an attack from above, but then releases one hand from the pole and uppercuts the dad, which he stumbles back from and is staggered for a bit. The grandpa wastes no time and grabs his leg with his free hand and starts spinning while holding onto the man's leg, throwing him as hard as he can. The dad flies, skidding onto the ground, then hits his back onto a tree, cracking it in half, leaves falling from it.

“His training on the fundamentals… are going great… ugh, it's just the boy's property has not awakened yet,” he says while standing up, holding his side.

“He better awaken it soon. You're already running out of your reserves, and you're really losing your step. The thing is, maybe little junior will actually unlock his own property so I don’t have to be the one protecting this family.” The old man stands over him, looking down on him as he swings the pole.

“Unlike your brother!” The man rolls under the swing. He attempts to get up again, but the grandpa kicks him away and, again, wasting no time, rushes in. But the dad skids his feet and uses his right hand, swinging it at the grandpa's face as he charges in. But the grandpa stops, seeing his attack, and backs up, smacks his hand away with the pole. But the dad read him. He plants his feet and wraps his arm around the pole, shooting that same white spark that turns out to be a small amount of white lightning through it.

“AGHHH!” The grandpa screams, his grip on the pole tightening due to the lightning tightening his muscles. The grandpa thinks in his head.

“Damnit, I wasn’t ready for this,” the grandpa thinks as the dad starts talking.

“Even though he hasn't awakened his lightning, he knows almost everything about it!” He speaks through gritted teeth, then pulls the pole forward, and the dad with him, then headbutts him.

The grandpa groans and swings his arm, grabbing the man by the head and thrusting him down, throwing him into the ground, making a crater.

“You're a damn liar!” The man dusts himself off and sighs.

“I asked him if he barely knew anything. It's supposed to be your responsibility as a father to tell him these things!” The old man backs up, looking pissed off.

“And you're wasting your reserves on sparring. You truly disappoint me.” Before the dad can defend himself, the grandpa keeps going.

“That's enough, I'm done here,” the grandpa says, spinning the pole with practiced ease, setting it to his side.

“Right… Thanks for the sparring, Dad.” The old man sighs and shakes his head.

“Whatever, you used to be stronger, you know. That woman's holding you back from your training, isn't she?” The man sighs.

“Come on, Dad. I wanna spend time with my kids and her. She's so demand—”

“I don't give a damn! You should always put your training first.” The man turns around fast, talking sternly, scolding him.

“What if something happens and you're too weak to protect them?” The old guy pats the pole on his head, and the man winces, brushing it away with his hand.

“I know, I know, but Lilly said she has not seen anything yet. We are in the clear, I swear. Like, damn, old man, ou—” The old guy smacks him across the face.

“I'm your dad! Not your old man. Address me with respect.”

“R-right, sorry, Dad.”

A day later, Carlos and Eusebio are playing outside, laughing, chasing each other, Carlos grabbing a stick, holding it like a sword, while Eusebio grabs an even bigger stick, which surprises Carlos. Eusebio was always stronger than Carlos, even though he’s a year younger than Carlos. Carlos runs away while Eusebio chases him, laughing out loud.

“I surrender, I surrender!” Carlos says while running.

“No, come back here! Dad always said to face your challenges, no matter if you're gonna lose!”

“I don’t wanna get hurt, though!” They keep chasing each other, them both getting tired and stopping for a breath.

“Ugh, I'm not done,” Eusebio says while he struggles to catch his breath.

“You look done.” Carlos smirks, crossing his arms, smirking.

“Carlos, come here,” their dad says suddenly, making Carlos jump and look over, then back at Perdido, who looks kinda jealous while still trying to catch his breath. He sits down to relax as Carlos waves bye and walks over to his dad.

“What's up?”

“It's training time. Let’s get to work.” Carlos shakes his head, stepping back.

“I know, but I wanted to spend more time with Eusebio. I'm always training on days he wants to play,” Carlos says, kinda sad, but his dad shakes his head and kneels down a bit, grabbing his shoulder softly.

“I know, I know, but sometimes you need to push away what's not to be prioritized so you can focus on what needs to be done, and right now you need to prioritize training.” He points at Carlos' chest.

“And with my power in you, you have big shoes to fill. Having the Raio name isn't easy. I'd know that better than anyone. Well, except your grandpa.” He chuckles softly and rubs the back of his head, kinda giving Carlos a sheepish look, which he tilts his head at.

“But now you have to train to be stronger than me.” The dad smiles, rare for Carlos to see in serious moments like now.

“Right, I will. I'll be stronger than you, Dad. I promise.”

“Let's go now. Let's work harder today, yeah?”

“Yeah!” Carlos says while walking next to his dad, who’s walking over to some flat land kinda far from the house. Perdido watches them and sighs, but their sister comes and grabs on his sleeve and tugs at it.

“I wanna play. Grandma and Mom are napping. Please.” She gives him a sad look, and he smiles and nods.

“Sure, let’s go.” She smiles wildly and tugs him away.

Meanwhile, Carlos and his dad are talking more.

“Remember, Carlos, as the firstborn, you carry a lot for the Raio family. You remember the origin, right?” Carlos nods as they keep walking.

“I'm gonna tell you anyways. Me, your grandpa, and his dad, we were all firstborn like you, and with that comes a huge responsibility. You carry the Raios' legacy inside you. The power of lightning.” As they get to the field, as he was talking, he holds out his arm, white lightning sparking from it, and he shoots it at some dirt, making it explode, dirt flying everywhere, and Carlos looks at his dad with admiration.

“When will I be able to do that?” Carlos asks excitedly.

“When you're older. It might take some time.”

“I cannot wait for the time I unlock my lightning. I promise, I'll be the one to protect our family.”

Carlos' dad smiles, and they start their training. Carlos' dad makes him lift heavy things, run with those same heavy things, like boulders, a lot of rocks, tree trunks, but Carlos' dad still has a lot to teach him, especially with the awakening.

As Carlos is training, sparring with his dad, who's only using one arm, he keeps a watchful eye on Carlos's technique. His dad makes sure he's using his fundamentals right. But Carlos's eyes drift to the gate.

“I think it's about time I tell you more, but focus on my voice while you're training, son.” He smacks Carlos, who whines and looks up at him, but not too focused up again.

“Yea, okay.” Carlos says, trying to stay focused.

“Before my lightning was transferred onto you, you know that over time the lightning inside me recharges, but it's different for you. It’s gonna be different since you haven’t even awakened it because it’s different during the awakening process. Your lightning would charge at an extremely fast rate. You know what happens if I were to overcharge at that time?”

“No, what?” Carlos asks, slightly panting as Carlos's dad starts speeding up.

“The energy inside me would build up and eventually, you’d explode. And that's why when you wake up, I need to be there so I can teach you how to use it properly.”

Carlos nods, and then his dad trips him, putting his foot behind Carlos's leg, making Carlos fall on his back with a thud.

“Ow.”

“You're losing focus. Your technique is starting to get sloppy.” His dad sighs, then follows Carlos's gaze.

“You know what's the difference between you and your brother? You watch and try to copy what others do, and you actually sometimes do a great job at it. You're an observer, and that's good, but in overall strength and talent…” He takes a deep breath and crosses his arms.

“Is way outclassed by your brother. He's also surprisingly bigger than you, but you can't let that stop you. I train you both equally, but I am rooting for you to be better than him. Your ability to watch and copy what I do, you're already mastering those techniques and moves. You're just not in the right headspace right now, especially with what happened with Arabella.” He whispers the last bit to himself.

I guess, but I need you to work harder and be better so that your lightning can flow within you and be powerful when you unlock it.”

Carlos looks a bit hurt at being compared, but he nods.

“I understand. I'll work harder for you.”

“Good. I want you to know your skills are better than Eusebio, but your overall strength isn't—”

“Stop rubbing it in, I get it, geez.” Carlos' dad looks down at him and, with a slight hint of a smirk on his face, pats his head kinda hard, ruffling his hair.

“Don't give me attitude. Now let's go again. I'm moving faster.” Carlos nods and gets into his fighting stance and rushes in, throwing a punch.