Chapter 47: Destruction
A few months passed peacefully, as Arora continued training her newly discovered power.
Luckily, they hadn't encountered those three Tarokians from months ago in a while.
After the initial manifestation of her ability, she had worked day and night, trying her best to understand it.
They had discovered that she was capable of essentially erasing almost any form of matter.
Not burning, breaking, or even blowing them up. Just wiping it away, as if it had never existed in the first place. No explosions, no debris, just a clean cut of pure annihilation.
Arbus had found this hard to comprehend at first. It was the first time he had ever seen an ability so strange. He had eventually come up with a theory for what her ability was.
Destruction.
Pure, unadulterated destruction.
Her power basically made her a human eraser, capable of wiping almost anything out of existence.
Over the last few months, as he helped her train, Arbus had often found himself wondering if he was doing the right thing.
He wasn't sure how to feel about Arora's ability. The only reason he'd agreed to help her in the first place, was so she could learn to protect herself.
Her new ability went far beyond simple protection. She now had the potential to reach the level of a Sentinel, at the very least. He thought about what would happen if she couldn't control it. Or worse, if things... Changed.
He unconsciously thought back to everything the commanders had told him about Reincarnators. Still, he pushed his doubts away, deciding to put his faith and trust in his one and only friend.
Arbus sighed as he ran a hand through his crimson hair. He was currently sitting on a patch of grass, watching as Arora soared just above the trees, practicing her ability with full concentration.
Her ability to fly had manifested a few months back, when she fell off the treehouse during her first attempt to climb it alone — just like she'd predicted she would. Arora had slowly become more confident and ruthless overtime,thanks to her newfound abilities. Arbus wasn't exactly sure how, but he was certain her powers had also unconsciously affected her personality in several ways.
She floated just above the treeline, making sure not to go too high. That was due to Arbus's warning about flying high enough for the Tarokians to spot her with their powerful eyesight, which would lead to the commander above the planet descending to apprehend her, or worse.
Arora was no longer the same person she had been months ago. Most of the fears and beliefs that had held her back had slowly crumbled away, piece by piece.
She was now stronger, faster, more agile, and far more ruthless than her past self.
She was far bolder, as well.
She glanced over at Arbus, then looked away, blushing slightly. 'Well, maybe not that bold just yet' she thought, returning her concentration to the new technique she was trying to learn.
The only memento she kept from her past were her glasses, which she couldn't bear to part with.
Suddenly, her eyes snapped open as the color of her iris and pupils switched places, like they always did whenever she channeled her power.
A sphere of pure destruction materialized in her palm as she did her best to control the output. She gritted her teeth, as she put all her focus into splitting the volatile energy apart, and slowly condensed each fragment until they were the size of marbles.
Finally, she stretched out her arms as rays of destruction shot from her fingertips, each finding their intended targets.
ZING!
A group of Tabbits a kilometer away, resting peacefully, suddenly bolted alert as they sensed the volatile energy racing toward them.
A second later, the beams pierced through their skulls, too fast for them to avoid. The upper halves of their heads were erased instantly, as if it had never been there.
Arora smiled as she watched the scene, thanks to her new amazing eyesight that allowed her to see clearly over five kilometers away.
"Yes!" she screamed joyfully, grinning from ear to ear that her new technique had worked flawlessly.
"Be right back!" she shouted to Arbus as she flew over to the Tabbits location.
She returned seconds later with ten Tabbits in total. She floated over to Arbus and held them up proudly.
"We can eat these, right? I developed this technique just for hunting, so you don't have to stress yourself anymore."
Arbus stared at her silently for several moments, then smiled. "I'm not sure yet. We have no idea how your destruction energy interacts with its targets. We'll have to make sure they aren't poisonous first."
Arora's expression fell.
"Really? Then this was all for nothing," she groaned, puffing her cheeks in frustration.
Arbus smiled as he reached up to pat her head awkwardly. "No, it wasn't. I appreciate you trying to help me, truly."
Arora stared at him with a blank expression, then giggled. She didn't know when, but it felt like her and Arbus had switched roles at some point. He was now the one always left in awe by whatever she did.
"I'm happy I could help. Especially since you've been helping me so much over the past few months. I'd still be lost without you."
She smiled warmly as her hair fluttered in the wind.
"Thank you for everything."
Arbus stared at her, stunned. At that moment, she looked like an angel that had descended from the heavens.
He coughed awkwardly, his cheeks flushing slightly.
"It's, uh, no problem. That's what friends are for. Best friends, even... I hope," he said, changing the subject.
Arora held back a chuckle at his expression as she rolled her eyes.
"Yes, I like you more than Santa Claus. Happy now?"
"Wha–what? Why would I care about that? It's not my business who you like more," he scoffed.
"...But I suppose that's nice to hear," he added shortly after.
Arora burst into laughter at his response as she floated toward the treehouse.
"H-hey! What's so funny, weird girl? Come back and answer me!" he shouted, chasing after her.
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Later that night, Arbus and Arora laid down on a patch of grass near the treehouse, gazing up at the brightly lit sky.
Thanks to Arora, most creatures in the forest had quickly learned not to approach this area, whether it was day or night.
Arora smiled as she watched a shooting star streak by, memories from her last night on Earth flooding her mind.
She remembered writing a letter to Santa and how much she'd looked forward to his replies. She remembered her little wooden box that had served her well for several years. She remembered the shooting star she'd wished on, hoping for the best year ever. Despite how she'd gotten here, that wish had technically been granted.
"Who'd have known that I had to die to finally live the life I've always wanted." she muttered, moving closer to Arbus and resting her head on his shoulder.
Arbus looked down in a daze, flustered at first, but then slowly relaxed.
"Funny, isn't it?" she asked, her expression somewhat somber.
Arbus frowned.
"Not to me, it isn't. If I could, I'd go to Earth myself and hunt down whoever killed you."
Arora giggled.
"Honestly, I'm quite thankful to them. When I first arrived here, this all felt like a surreal dream. Now it's my past life that's starting to feel like a dream."
She paused, then continued.
"I've slowly adapted to life here. Now I can't even imagine going back to that orphanage and being that weak, defenseless little girl."
Arbus's frown deepened.
"I disagree. I don't think that description ever fit you. You were never weak."
Arora glanced at him with a puzzled expression.
"Aren't you the one who always told me I was?"
Arbus sighed.
"Obviously, I didn't mean it. In fact, I think you were always stronger than me, even before you got your powers. Like I said before, I don't know what I'd be without my parents, if I'd been alone from the start."
"You've had to face that for as long as you can remember. No one weak would be capable of something like that."
Arora remained silent for several moments, then smiled.
"...Thank you. That really means a lot."
She stopped herself from crying as she looked up, watching another shooting star fly by.
"My dream now is to travel the cosmos, and explore this vast and strange universe. I'll also do my best to slowly bring peace between humans and the countless species living here."
She shifted uncomfortably, then continued.
"I'd like to have you by my side during all of this, as well. If you'd come with me... of course," she said nervously.
Arbus thought about it for a few moments. He wondered if he could leave the only planet he'd ever called home. He looked down at Arora as a smile appeared on his face unconsciously.
"Of course I would. I already told you we'll end this war together didn't I? Besides... There's nothing here for me anyway... Apart from you, I guess."
Arora didn't respond for a while.
"Hehe... is that so? That's nice to hear, then."