Chapter 7. The Disappearance of Ruan (IV)

Ruan looked at the diamond in his chest, as he lay on the wet grass near a cave, in one of the surrounding forests.

Still relatively close to the city of Saraf, but still far enough away, assuming that since the city of Saraf is a city adjacent to a desert and now he is nestled next to green trees and vegetation.

It was the first time he had ever been exposed to any of the forbidden substances his grandfather kept in his old lab.

As a little boy, he didn't quite understand what he was seeing.

What is forbidden. What is allowed.

He didn't realize he was seeing one of the three forbidden diamonds. Diamonds, of which the majority of the public has no information at all about their existence. The only reason he is aware of their existence is because of his grandfather. To this day, he does not know how he obtained all these materials, and how many of them he had in his possession.

Mada was not the chatty type of guy. It took him from that day, two more years, until he revealed to Ruan the true purpose of his research.

Ruan could understand him. It could be that Mada was afraid that someone would kidnap him and use him to extract information.

Therefore, only as soon as Ruan was mature enough in his eyes, he was able to share it with him. Much to Ruan's surprise, it didn't take long.

Ruan matured faster than others. His life from a young age was independent. In the absence of his grandfather, he had to be the one to prepare his own meals, manage his own schedule, and fight his own wars. And he had many.

As a curious boy with a hot temper, he was unable to remain obliging. When he stopped coming to school, he would spend most of his time on the streets. Sometimes even in questionable bars on the outskirts of his neighborhood.

Mada didn't know about it. He was in the lab. Many times, he would not return home at all, falling asleep on one of the cold iron tables loaded with piles of papers.

Although to Ruan, it seemed that his grandfather was completely unaware of what was going on in his life. On the contrary, Mada knew. Rather, he assumed, what was going on with him. But, according to his belief, this was the best way of education he could give Ruan.

Mada believed that no matter what Ruan's life path would be, he would eventually come to the conclusion that our reality is war. "Why should I protect him from reality from a young age? He needs to understand how the world works, the sooner the better." he thought. "I'll let him experience for himself. Even if he fails. Get injured. Run into trouble. Eventually, he will learn from it. He will move on. As it was with his father, and as it was with me." And in the end, that's what happened.

In Mada's eyes, it was required.

Those who grow up in a difficult neighborhood, into a difficult reality, become difficult themselves, regardless of their age. He knew it firsthand.

"How long has it been since then?" Ruan asked himself, looking at the sun at its peak, realizing that it was noon.

"Two weeks?" he wondered to himself, looking up at the treetops at the blue sky. "It's hard for me to say. All this time in the cave disrupted my sense of time." He thought to himself.

He swung his body forward and sat down with his legs crossed.

"What happened there was dangerous." He said to himself, remembering the wild fight that had taken place right after he had merged with the stone.

"Despite everything. Even though I won... I realized how much, I'm not ready. I got used to living without Energia. So much so, that I almost forgot how it works." Ruan thought to himself as he looked at his palm.

"Thinking back, it was reckless. This time, my preparation will be different. So that once I return –" Ruan called out in his head, as he looked forward to the horizon with determination. "I'll never have to back down again. You'll be proud of me, grandpa." He promised in his mind.