Welcome to Gaia! ::

Amalia had been about to leave him be when he spoke and she turned to him. Her blue eyes were a bit tired, as they usually were and she walked a few paces into the room "You are. But, living in Gaia my whole life and seeing as many children grow up as I have taught me something. Those that are different usually go on to do great things, because they were treated differently as they lived their lives, whether good or bad.There's more to you then being smart and having a healing factor, Erik, something that runs deeper inside and that'll be yours to figure out and use as you will. No matter how you grow up, in this place or with a family...you have control over what you want to do with your life, even if you leave this place at 18 and have little to start with, don't let people like George or the other cruel folk you'll meet in life have you forget that. Does that make sense?" she asked, hoping that she hadn't been too preachy, and that her words had some impact.

Erik listened to what Amalia had to say in reference to his question but frowned at the end. He had been hoping for something a bit more concrete and a little less like something out of a happy go lucky movie. But he nodded politely and mumbled a word of thanks before picking up his book again.

The years moved forward again and as they crawled by Erik became even more adept at hiding. However hiding wasn't the only skill that increased within the boy. His uncanny ability to see within the souls of others that first presented itself with George increased as well. It had developed to the degree that with a few well placed whispers he could have the average bully on their knees weeping as their most buried and complex emotions and burdens were dragged to the surface of their psyche.

The last time this had happened was when Erik was 13 he was less frail then and his reflexes had developed to lightning quick speed. A older child had come running at him with a butcher's knife open learning that an interested family had dropped interest when the woman had become pregnant. Erik had grabbed the boys wrist and sent him slamming face first into the table. Taking the knife he slammed it into the table so it stuck up. Leaning in he whispered only three sentences into his ears The boy had fallen into the fetal position and begun to sob uncontrollably. Erik had collected his book and walked into the next room whistling with a self satisfied smirk on his face. Few dared raise their hands to him after that.

But now the boy was 15, having read every book the staff could provide him with he frequented the public library often spending whole days there. At his early age he had already completed the remedial education the orphanage could provide so he attempted to further quench his thirst for knowledge until he was old enough to peruse a higher education.

He was on his way home to the orphanage book bag strapped around his shoulders. He was whistling a classical piece he had been listening to while reading. His head was tossed up staring at the cloudy sky which soon promised rain, his favorite weather. He arrived at the orphanage about to step inside when there was a loud crack looking up he actually saw the lightning crash done on his forehead. He stood perfectly still his hair burnt then after a moment he fell backwards and blacked out.

His heartbeat slowed during his unconscious state. It slowed with every beat growing until it stopped. The instant it stopped Erik awoke though he remained conscious. He was floating naked within a unknown void. As he floated he looked around confused but not panicked. “Hello!?” he called out the sound echoing in the void. Just when he was about to call out a second time he jolted his feet resting on a surface. Now standing in the void Erik sighed. “Slight improvement.” he commented with disappointment. He stood looking around. Suddenly two purple balls of flames appeared. Erik leaned in to examine them then noticed they weren't flames at all but eyes.

“who are you? Scratch that where am I?” asked Erik folding his arms quite unconcerned by his nudity. “The outskirts.” came the voice of the servant whom had helped his master create Erik all those years ago. Erik frowned the voice familiar although he didn't know why. “Outskirts of what, exactly?” he asked narrowing his eyes. The voice laughed. “Our master was right about you. You grew faster and stronger then most Gaians could ever dream of.” the voice responded. Sighing Erik looking into the eyes deeper trying to penetrate the beings mind like he could other gaians. He expected it to be harder due to the fact this creature was obviously of another world, but found instead that he sunk into the servants mind as easily as if it had been guarded by warm butter. Thus it was he shot in too far too fast and found his body being flung backwards by the shock. Incidentally as he flew backwards in what ever world he was in now back in gaia his empty corporal body flew back crashing into a wall.

The servant laughed following after him in the total void. “The master has truly bestowed upon you great power young one!” he commented impressed. “What the hell are you!” Erik demanded staggering to a stand now looking shocked but not scared. “Fearless!” shouted the servant happily a mixture of pride in his voice as well. Erik was breathing heavily he suddenly realized he might as well play along with this damned game. “What do I have to fear? As long as I have the will to live it would take total dismemberment to hinder my regeneration. Even that's has no guarantee to work.” he pointed out pulling himself up to high full height. The voice laughed. “You've lived in gaia over a decade now. Can it be saved?” the voice asked. The only thing that surprised Erik about this question was how remarkable natural it felt to be asked it. He opened his mouth to tell the voice it was a rotten hell hole with nothing to save but then stopped and thought of Amalia's kindness. “I..don't know.” he confessed realizing now he had never left Durem and barely got to leave the orphanage as is. “I need more time. To see more.” he told the voice. The next thing he knew total darkness consumed him again.

Erik's corporal eyes shot open and he was back in Durem. Breathing heavily he clasped his chest his start suddenly bursting into life again. The voice of the servant echoed in his mind. “return to Gaia, with my gift this time.” Not knowing what he meant Erik simply staggered to a stand. He turned looking into a window seeing his charred cloths and how his hair had been burnt off though his skin had recovered from the burns already. Turning not even acknowledging Amalia's presence he saw his books burning. Crying out in anger he ran over but just as he did so the red flames turned purple and flew to him. Stopping Erik shot his arms up to defend himself. Blinding after a moment he let his hands fall he looked down seeing his hands were encased in the purple fire. He lifted his hands to his face and turned pointing his hand at a small weed like a gun a small fireball shot from his finger and hit the weed burning it to a crisp. He turned back to Amalia the flames in his hands dieing. “don't tell anyone about that part.” he commented frowning. “I, don't want anyone to know. Not even the government.” he stated looking down at his hands now.

The ambulance wasn't coming and Amalia remained calm as she made sure that Erik was still breathing, he looked uninjured as well, or his healing factor was keeping him alive. She reached out to steady him and looked him over quickly he was alive and awake. Thank God. Watching the purple fire dance around his arms, she looked tired and older now, mouth tight. "No, there'd be too much attention to this place. Are you alright?" she asked, "I called an ambulance, I'd want them to check to make sure you're completely alright." she added.