Rise of the Nameless Heir-Chapter 21: A Desperate Push

When I decided to start training, I knew it’d be hard, but I never imagined that something like this could even happen to me.

I’m still trapped in this same spot.

My knees are dug into the ground. They’ve been scraped, they’ve bled. Now they ache, they ache to my bones, the pain that I feel surges through my knees toward my waist.

Ah, my waist. It hurts. It feels like the joints have been locked in place. I’ve been in this same position for hours. Unmoving.

Even the sweat that the morning and afternoon sun generated has all cooled off. Now, I kneel, my right wrist still pinned to the ground by the metallic bracelet. My head rested on the ground, on top of my left hand.

I no longer feel my wrist. The entirety of my right hand, even. It’s all numb.

Who would have known that nights in the field were as beautiful as this?

The tender, cool breeze blowing against me, the moonlight showering down on me, the rhythmic sounds that the crickets make, they’re all beautiful.

But right now, this beauty feels mocking. Because, in contrast to this calm serenity, I am boiling inside. My heart stirs up, sending hot sensations around my chest. My teeth grind against each other.

I hate this. This feeling of helplessness.

I feel caged. I can’t move.

I don’t want to feel like this. Not anymore.

But why does reality keep finding a way to force it on me?

I was caged once. I escaped that cage. And then I got thrown into another one. One that didn’t even belong to me.

But it became mine. And the burden placed on the previous caged one also became mine.

But I’m trying to do what he could never do. What I could never do.

I’m trying to destroy the cage that we both found ourselves in. That cage that we all had to ’run’ away from.

I’m not going to run anymore. I’ve done enough of that.

I’m going to face the cage head-on.

I’m going to...

"Nnng!!!" The sound of my groan echoes throughout the silent fields.

That hot sensation traveling through my chest increases. It feels like it’s burning me from the inside out.

I bulged my right bicep. The veins shoot out, and my entire right arm trembles.

That sensation travels from my chest toward the rest of my body. Moving with a speed that feels unreal.

My skin reddens, my heart drumming against my ribs. I clench my right fist tighter. More tightly, strengthening my biceps more.

My breathing changes entirely. That hot sensation swirls within my lungs, burning them. And as a result, it feels like I’m breathing fire. And every breath I draw increases that burning sensation.

"Destroy it!!!" I scream at the top of my lungs, my voice bleeding. Coming out in cracks that rebel against my congealed will.

Something snaps within me.

I do not know what it is. I have no way to identify how it did also.

But I feel it. Deep down, within my soul.

At the same time, the boiling sensation that’s spread throughout my body moves, like it’s being controlled.

They’re headed to one area. The area where I’m focusing all my strength.

"I will not stand by and let myself rot anymore! I will not keep ranting, hating and blaming the world for caging me... I will.." I yell. With all my.. all the strength my throat can gather.

My entire right arm feels... hot. It feels like it’s been lit on fire, from the inside.

All the burning sensation that’s been moving through me has gathered in it.

I grit my teeth, clenching my fists tighter until my nails dig into my palm, causing it to bleed.

Tears prick from my eyes as I groan in pain from the weight of this bracelet.

But.. I raise my head high, and I open my eyes to look at the sky.

The stars are twinkling.

–Huff– –Huff–

I raise one knee, leaving one on the ground.

"Nng! Come on, Ralyn!!"

My wrist slowly leaves the ground. Just a few inches above.

"That’s it! That’s the first step!" I yell aloud, raising my second knee.

Now, I’m crouched low. Still desperately raising my arm.

I look down at my right arm.

"What?" My voice drops low. A consternated whisper.

My arm is glowing. It’s glowing red.

What is this?

I shake my head.

I have no time for questions.

I raise my arm more, and my wrist rises more. Above the ground. Slightly below my knee.

The burning sensation around my arm heightens. And as I look down on it, I notice that the red glow has increased.

I clench my fists. Tighter!

Now I raise it higher. Above my knee, slightly below my waist.

And as I do so, I stand upright. My legs and my knees are trembling.

The insides of my stomach feel... clenched. Like it’s been grasped tightly by an unseen hand.

I struggle to continue standing; my thighs and my calves are all bulging, all tightened.

I continue raising my wrist until I raise it above my waist.

"Yes!" I scream out. Not in relief or satisfaction. But in annoyance.

–Huff– –Huff–

I can barely remain standing. And I cannot raise my wrist any further.

This is the end. This is the best I could do. Now, it feels like the moment I move slightly, I’d collapse.

My breathing slowly stabilizes, softening with my heartbeat. And that burning sensation slowly diminishes.

–Huff... Huff–

"Wh– what now?" I whisper. My eyes are weak. My vision is beginning to blur; the buildings in the distance warp in my vision. And my head feels light.

I look down on my right hand one more time.

The red glow has disappeared completely.

My lips slowly widen, forming a warm, satisfied smile.

"I did it," I say weakly. Barely.

My shaky legs and my knees finally give out as I fall to the ground.

I sleep.