••••••
"Hey North, how do you feel?" The Doctor asked.
That question kept popping up. I didn't know how I felt.
*Please stop asking me this.*
"We didn't aspect you to wake up anytime soon, it must be a miracle" he said.
"Yeah, I'm fine, just a little bit hungry" I replied with an enfeebled voice.
"The impact you had when you fell, broke few of your bones and split a little hole in your head, only through our experts were we able to stop the blood that was constantly flowing out, leaving in mind that you would be in a coma for Atleast 2 months" he said, forcing my mom to break down in tears again.
"It truly is a miracle. Maybe someone up there doesn't want you to go just yet" he chuckled.
I gave him a faint smile and asked, "when will I be ready to leave?"
He replied after going through the clipboard he held.
"Well honestly, you could leave by tomorrow, because you are already healed. Your body temperature seems fine and your vitals are alright. And you bones.... are looking okay, but are still showing little fractures. And we still need to run few more tests, so it is save to stay for a couple of days."
"Yeah he will, he is gonna stay." My mom quickly responded with an imposing tone, looking at me with an eye that yelled; "North Davison, you don't have a choice!"
Oh well, I didn't want her more worried than she already was. So I did not impose.
••••••
Three days later
Back to school, back to the same place that almost killed me.
"How in the world is he alive?"
"Bro, it's that guy"
"Hey look!"
"Oh my gosh, how is he not dead?"
These were the voices I heard as I walked through the hallway.
"Can't they just be quiet" I mentally wished as I attempted to focus on getting myself to class.
As I stepped into class, I heard it. The voice, that voice that makes your heart pound faster the moment you hear it. The voice that places radioactive butterflies into your stomach.
"North?" The voice called.
Yep, it's Ashlyn, my crush from 6th grade, the same person I stopped from taking her own life, that Ashlyn.
"Oh my God! North, you're okay" she said, her voice laced with concern after running to give me a hug.
"Hey, Ashlyn. Yeah I'm okay" I replied with a faint smile.
*She's okay, thank God!*
"I went to the hospital the other day to check up on you and your mom, but I heard you woke up and have been discharged. I didn't have your number to call, so I just prayed I would see you in school to know if you were really fine. So are you, really?"
"Yeah. I feel good" I replied with a smile.
"Great! I was so worried the whole time. And North"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for what you did for me that night. I... I don't.. I'm really sorry for putting you through all this" She said, as tears began to drop from her eyes.
"It's okay Ashlyn. I am fine now, you do not need to worry. And thank you for visiting me and my mom. She told me a girl had been coming to visit when I was asleep to check up on me. I figured it was you" I said, giving off a warm smile.
"Okay. Mr Davis and Mrs Hoods, you can have your seats now, class is about to begin. And Mr Davis, we're glad you pulled through" Mrs Olivier said while entering the class.
"Hey, did little birdie try to fly!" Jake, one of the class jockey asked me when I tried taking my sit.
Jake and I didn't see eye to eye. He felt like because his dad owned part of the school, he could do whatever he liked.
What a dump question anyway, so I ignored him.
••••••
The bell rang, signaling the first class was over. It was boring, mainly because I knew everything about the topic.
Programming languages. The topic I have been studying since when I was 9. I developed interest in programming languages because I saw how much programmers get paid. Getting that kind of cash would make life easy for my mom, and I could get a job at an early age, maybe working for the big companies like Microsoft or Apple.
"Hey, birdie!" Jake yelled from his seat.
"You didn't like my joke?!" He asked, his tone laced with mock offense and a hint of playful indignation.
"That joke was a masterpiece! Your lack of laughter is a travesty" he exclaimed, leaving his friends, Max and Nate laugh out as they all walk closer toward me.
"Sorry, I didn't hear you that time, my mind was clouded" I replied with a lax expression on my face.
"Oh clouded, huh? Because of how Ashlyn's tits were all over you" he sneered.
"No, other stuff" I coughed, still with a lax expression.
Clearing his throat, he took few steps forward, leaving him an inch or two away from me.
"Look birdie! Do not think because you became a little celebrity you can put your hands all over my girl, better know your place!" He said, then he bumped me out of the way to leave the class.
"Ugh...." I sighed. "Your girl? Ashlyn wouldn't date you even if you were the last guy on earth" I muttered. "Little Birdie? You are just taller than me with a centimeter"
I sighed again.
It was then time for music class and I knew I was gonna be late. I rushed to class, but got there late.
"Good morning Mr Alfred" I greeted while stepping into class, a class filled with teenagers that kept staring like they saw a ghost.
"Morning Mr Davison, you are late!" He stated with a face that looked like it needed a good sleep.
"Sorry sir, I was...." I replied, trying to find an excuse.
"No need for an excuse, I'll let it pass! Go take a seat" he uttered.
I walked over to my seat at the far right side of the class, grabbed it and sat.
But something was wrong.
Then I realized I forgot my instrument.
"Crap! Home? No, still on the roof. Shit!" I muttered.
*How can I forget! If I ask Mr Alfred for time to go get it, I'm definitely getting detention cause he does not like when anyone disrupt his class.*
I stared out the window, mentally wishing he doesn't call for a union play.
"Ugh...." I sighed.
"Hey, I noticed you aren't with your instrument. You can use mine, we play the same instrument" someone voiced.
"What?" I responded, turning to my right to see Michael, whose seat was next to mine.
"You didn't bring yours, right? So you can use mine. I am not too good with it. I brought my flute anyways, so Mr Alfred won't mind. Here" he whispered, lowering his instrument towards me.
"Oh waw, thanks!" I whispered back, but this time not silent enough.
"Mr Davison! I see you want to volunteer to play" Mr Alfred exclaimed with a high tone.
"Oh, no sir, my hands weren't up" I replied giving a worried smile.
"Oh no, I insist. Get your violin and come over here to play this beautiful piece made by the famous Ikimono Gakari - Blue Bird" he now demanded.
I sighed, then picked Michael's violin and went to the front of the classroom, to now see Mr Alfred on his bench, ready to play the keyboard.
"Okay Davison, go ahead"
•••••

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I stood before my classmates, violin tucked under my chin, bow poised. The lecture hall fell silent, anticipation building. My heart beat steady, focused.I closed my eyes, letting the music take over. The bow danced across the strings, coaxing out the melancholic notes of "Blue Bird." The melody flowed from my violin, weaving a sonic tapestry of longing and nostalgia.My fingers moved with precision, guided by the emotions pouring from my heart. The music swelled, filling the room with its poignant beauty. I was now lost in the sound, my soul resonating with every note.Time stood still as I played on, my eyes remaining shut. My classmates were entranced, their breathing synchronized with the rhythm. Some swayed gently, swept away by the haunting refrain.Before hitting the last string, I felt a surge of energy that resulted in me cutting all the strings and breaking the class windows. "My ears!" Everyone screamed. The broken glass shattered and pierced few students that were close
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••••••The bell rang, signaling school was over. I go meet Ashlyn who was waiting for me at the school's football field."Hey, Ashyln!" I waved while approaching her."North! Hey" she smiled."Did I keep you waiting?""Oh, no. I just got here""Okay""So remember when you saved me, you dropped something" she said, her voice laced with excitement. "Uhmm..." I hummed, thinking of what she meant.She grinned. "Yeah, I'm sure you must be worried, so I have it!" *Is she talking about my violin? Please let it be my violin.*"I took it home with me after you got taken to the hospital" she said, then squat to take something from a bag I had just notice."It's your violin!" She smiled. "You dropped it on the roof when you saved me. So I figured I would be the one to keep it save for you. So here! It had a crack but I fixed it, hope you like it""Ashlyn! Thank you so much! This means alot!" I exclaimed as my heart eased up with relief to finally see it. To see the violin I got from my dad."
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SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 6• I Remember: Two
•••••"If your Angel doesn't permit the usage of your abilities, then you can not access it" she replied.Tengen sneezed and explained, "Okay, let's say you can control gravity at a point you focus on, and you get pissed off by your mates or neighbors. So you want to use your powers on them, now that would be bad and selfish, so your Angel won't let you"He elaborated. "Your Angel is always with you, you just can't see it, in this realm that is. Even though we are good, we still get selfish sometimes. So if you want to use your powers with bad intent, you won't be able to access it cause your Angel won't let you""Unless if it is self-defense. Your powers just activates on it own" Claire added."Now, the whole purpose of the deal is to stop evil from filling this world. As you know, we have Good, Evil, and we have the Balanced. In the other realms I mentioned, there is just the Good and the Bad, there is no thing like a mix called Balance. Now this Evil want to make this world its own
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••••••School bell rang, signaling the school day was over."Hey," Michael calls. "Hey, North, wake up" he said while poking my arm."Bro, wake up, class is over" he exclaimed."Class? I wouldn't even call that a class. That was a free period of torture" I sneered while packing the book off my desk."Yeah, she went on and on about Prom. No wonder you fell asleep" he chuckled."Yeah. When is Rachel gonna realize that after graduation, life is gonna be sticks and stones. She shouldn't get too excited" I uttered while exiting the classroom with Michael."But you are coming for Prom next week, right?" Michael asked."Maybe" I replied. "Hey, did she come?""No. I didn't see her today either" "Oh" I said, my voice laced with disappointment."I still can not believe she is moving to Australia" Michael voiced as we walk down the hall."Well, her dad isn't really in the best position to be called a parent. After all, he did just got arrested. So, she will be staying with her aunt in Australia
SoulBond: A Beacon Of Hope 10• Confession: Two
•••••Immediately she uttered those words, it felt like my heart skipped a beat, and all senses were gone. I then shift my gaze toward her, my eyes meet hers. It took a second to reply, then I said,"Yes""Oh" she uttered, her eyes now towards some distant point."Since when?" She asked."Since the 6th grade" I replied."Why didn't you say anything?""I tried. There were times I wanted telling you, but I was scared. Scared you would say no, and that could put any form of relationship we have or could have in jurperdy. Or scared you would say yes, cause if you do say yes, then what's next? what would be after that. I did not see myself good enough. What was my worth anyways. So I kept a distance, a distance that made me love you from afar""North, we are graduating next week, and after that, we get into a college. When did you plan on telling me?"I slowly turned my gaze towards the clouds, and then towards some distant point, and sighed."When I found worth"Everywhere went silent fo
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71• Noticable Growth
••••••Professor Patel stands at the forefront of the lecture hall, surveying the room with an air of authority."Today, we delve into Rankings, Classes and Grades" she announces, her voice commanding attention."Before us, we have the Avatar Rankings, a classification system developed to categorize reawakened humans, known as Angel Avatars. The rankings are: Z, SS, S, A, B, C, and D."She gestures to the diagram projected on the screen behind her."The Avatar Rankings signify the level of divine influence within an Angel Avatar, with Z being the highest and D being the lowest.""Conversely, demons are classified using Grades," Professor Patel continues. "Ranging from Special Grade, the most powerful, to Grade 5, the least."The screen behind her updates to show the Demon Grades:Special Grade - Highest tier, extreme threat Grade 1 - High-tier, significant threat Grade 2 - Mid-tier, moderate threat Grade 3 - Lower-tier, minor threat Grade 4 - Low-tier, minimal threat Grade 5
70• Entangled Threads: iii
•••••I nod, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation."Tell me more about these encounters," she asks, her eyes filled with curiosity.I recount the moments with A, from the initial contact to the recent conversations.She listens intently, her expression thoughtful."When did you first notice this connection?" she asks."After Ashlyn's death" I reply, the memory still piercing.Her gaze softens. "I'm sorry again for your loss, North."She pauses, collecting her thoughts."Your ability to communicate with A is remarkable," she says. "But I suspect there is more to it. Something triggered this connection.""I don't really know what it could be. But A mentioned something about past lives" I say.Patel leans forward, her brows narrowed. "Past lives, right? I've been considering various explanations for your Angel communication. One possibility stands out: residual energies from past experiences.""Past experiences?" I repeat, intrigued.She nods. "Unresolved threads, North. Fragments
69• Entangled Threads: ii
•••••To master our abilities."Alright, let's go again!" Saint declares, as he wraps his blindfold around his eyes."Right!" Michael, Claire, and I exclaim in unison, our determination palpable.We give some some distance from him."Begin" Saint utters.We charge into the fray, blindfolds secure, senses heightened.The sound of our footsteps echoes through the room.Saint's giggles resonates, taunting us. He is having fun.I track his movement by sound.A faint rustle of fabric.A soft creak of the floor.A subtle shift in air pressure.I fire blindly.A paintball whizzes past Saint's ear.He spins and returns fire.The paintball explodes against the wall.Michael's gunfire intensifies.Claire's shots ping off the floor.Saint dodges using echolocation to evade our shots.He leaps over a stray paintball an lands softly.He fires a paintball, it grazes Claire's arm.She gasps, adjusts her aim and fires back.Saint's grunt confirms a hit.Michael seizes the opening and release shots ag
68• Entangled Threads
••••••The school bell rings, signaling lunch break.Michael, Claire, and I drop our lunch trays on the table where Phillip and his teammates are seated."Hey, guys" I say."Oh, hey!" Phillip voice with a smile."How have you guys been?" He asks, his brow furrowed.Michael shrugs. "We are still alive."Lora chuckles. "So okay?"I nod. "We almost drown to death, but yeah, okay"Henry's curiosity is piqued." 'Drown to death'? What happened?""The 'leap of faith' exercise was quite the experience" Michael says touching his wrist.Claire chuckles.Phillip leans in. "Tell us"I grin. "Imagine jumping off a cliff next to a waterfall, trusting your instincts to save you."Michael chimes in."Yeah, and all for the purpose of having faith in our abilities."The group falls silent, captivated by our story.Phillip breaks the silence."Saint's methods are certainly... unconventional."Lora nods. "But effective?"I exchange a look with Michael and Claire."Yeah, we were able to summon our wings
67• Leap of Faith: iii
The drive home begins.••••••I enter the house, trying to hide my limp."Hey, mom" I greet."Hi, baby. Welcome back," she says, removing muffins from the oven.Her eyes sparkle as she turns to face me, stopping from rushing up the stairs."So, how was camping?" She asks.I attempt a nonchalant smile."It was great. Saint and the others were awesome."Mom's gaze drops to my ankle."Awesome, huh? And what's with the fancy ankle wrap?"I chuckle, caught."Oh, uh, just a little mishap."Mom's eyebrows rise."Mishap?"She sets the muffin tray down, marching toward me."Let me see."I hesitate, but she's determined.She gently unwraps the bandage, revealing a bruise.Her expression changes from curiosity to concern."North! What happened?"I shrug."Minor slip during a hike. No big deal."Her hands on her hips."Minor slip? Saint was supposed to keep an eye on you, not turn you into a human sling."I laugh."Mom, it's really fine."She sighs. "Get ice on that. Now."As I obey, Mom mutters
66• Leap of Faith: ii
As we sit, the sound of Claire's laughter and Saint's encouragement carry on the wind, a reminder of our shared journey.•••••2:00 pmMichael and I sit, our backs against each other, eyes closed, focusing on our inner energy. The gentle breeze carries wildflower scents, and warm sunlight casts a comforting glow.We've been practicing Mana control for hours, striving to contain its flow within our bodies. Our breathing slows, reflecting our growing mastery.Claire's screams and laughter echoes through the air, mingling with Saint's screams and encouragement. They've been airborne for hours, refining her wing control.Occasional breaks punctuate their aerial training. They descend, sharing smiles and praise, before ascending again.As we meditate, I sense Michael's Mana flow stabilizing. His aura, once turbulent, now resonates with calm intensity."Your control is improving," I remark, opening my eyes.Michael's gaze meets mine, his eyes crinkling."Yours too," he replies. "We're getti
