Vortex Origins
Chapter 69: Ash’s past

Chapter 69: Ash’s past

Ash gaze dropped to the floor.

"After my mom died... everything just stopped. I never went back to the academy. I stopped talking. I didn’t even feel like breathing half the time. I just... trained. Every day. Alone. Just me and my sword. Over and over. Like if I kept swinging it, the world wouldn’t break me."

His hand moved to his side to grab the hilt of his blade—then froze. Empty.

’Right... I left it back in the room.’

Fingers curled into a fist.

"I shut everyone out. For nearly a year, I lived in my own little world—silent, angry, empty."

His eyes looked through the wall, not at it.

"my dad tried. He really did. Lectures. Promises. Even yelled once or twice. But I didn’t move."

He pulled in a breath, slow and rough, like it scraped on the way out.

"When his team got assigned to a critical mission—one that would take days, maybe more—he made a decision. Kael and Max had already joined Team Vortex by then, and while he was away, he didn’t want me left behind."

Ash paused. His shoulders lowered slightly, the tension sliding down.

"So he made a choice. Said he couldn’t leave me behind again. Not like that. Said he’d rather have me in the field than buried in my room."

A faint smile touched his lips, though it didn’t reach far.

"But there was a catch. He let me join... if I promised to return for the yearly tournament at the academy. Not just to fight—but to prove I still had a reason to move forward."

The room didn’t move. Even the smallest sounds felt distant, like the air had gone still just to listen.

Ash’s voice faded to a near whisper.

"But sometimes... I wonder if I really proved anything."

Guz’s voice cut through the quiet, calm but steady.

"You’ve been through more than most, kid. And you’re still here, still fighting. That means something."

Ash didn’t respond right away. The weight in his chest had lightened just a bit—but his thoughts were still tangled, still drifting back to the past.

Then, Zoey, who had been quiet till now, tilted her head and asked,

"So... do you have a girlfriend?"

Ash blinked, thrown off.

"What?"

She looked directly at him, her tone casual.

"You went to the academy, right? You must’ve had a girl who was close to you. A friend you cared about. The way you talk, it kinda sounds like you only hang out with boys."

Ash squinted slightly.

’Well... that’s because I’ve lived with boys all my life. Kael, Max, Dad...’

He let out a short breath.

’Only one person ever really came close, but we haven’t spoken since i left the academy.’

Then her question echoed again in his head.

’mm.. A girl I cared about...?’

He finally answered.

"There is one, actually."

Zoey leaned forward with interest.

"Who?"

Ash’s voice softened.

"She’s the same age as you. Also from the Terra family."

A faint smile tugged at his lips.

"But I see her more like a younger sister than a friend."

Zoey paused, narrowing her eyes playfully.

"Same age as me? And from Terra? So... I have a rival, huh?"

Ash tilted his head, confused.

"Rival?"

Before Zoey could say more, Guz interrupted with a chuckle.

"Alright, that’s enough teasing for one day. Don’t scare him off."

Ash stood, brushing his hands against his sides.

"I should get going. My brothers are probably waiting for me at the infirmary."

Guz nodded.

"So you’ve decided to go."

Ash gave a short nod.

"Yeah."

"Then we won’t keep you. I’m sure they’ve been worried."

Ash took a step toward the door but paused. He looked back, voice steady.

"About Geopolis... I’ll talk to Eir."

Guz raised a brow.

"You don’t have to—"

Ash cut in gently.

"No. I want to. There’s something wrong here. And it’s not right for you all to be trapped like this. Something bigger is coming. You’ve seen the signs, haven’t you?"

Guz exhaled slowly.

"Yeah. The creature waves. A small one hit not long ago. Shook everyone up. Now we’re all just waiting for the next."

Ash’s jaw tightened.

"I don’t know what’s behind them yet. But when they come... I’ll be ready. I’ll kill every last one of those things. You can count on that."

Guz gave a quiet smile.

"Good luck, kid. I hope things turn out alright for you."

Ash nodded and turned toward the door. Sunlight poured softly through the windows, casting long, warm shadows on the floor. As he reached the doorway, he glanced back one last time.

Zoey smiled faintly and gave a little wave. Nina just sighed and rested her chin in her palm, uninterested.

Ash smirked to himself.

’Guess I wasn’t the kind of charming boy she hoped I’d be.’

And with that, he stepped outside—into a world still bright, but carrying its own weight beneath the light.

The door clicked shut behind him, the sound soft and final. Sunlight hit his face, warm against the cool morning air. Clear skies stretched above Ironhold, casting beams of gold across the stone paths and rusted metal towers. The wind was lighter now, less biting, but the weight in Ash’s chest didn’t shift.

He walked with his hands in his pockets, boots scraping against the worn path. His mind wandered, lost in thoughts that weighed heavier than the air around him.

’So... that’s how I sound? Like someone who only hangs with boys...’

A faint smirk appeared at the corner of his lips, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

’Not like I had a choice. Kael, Max, Dad... always around me. Never really looked for anyone else. And yet—’

His thoughts flickered to her.

’Evy.’

He hadn’t thought of her in a while. She used to be the one who pushed him, nagging him to open up more, telling him he acted like someone twice his age. Always calling him ’Ashley’ just to get under his skin.

’Wonder if she’s okay...’

He stared at the ground, the rough stones beneath his boots. The sky above seemed to open up, clouds rushing by like they had somewhere urgent to be. He lifted his gaze, watching them move, lost in the rhythm of their pace.

’There’s something big coming, I can feel it in my blood.’

————

The sun hung heavy in the sky, casting long shadows over Ironhold’s quiet streets. Ash kept walking, the wind tugging at his hair, his thoughts tucked away behind a quiet frown. Faces passed—people lost in their routines, training, repairing, chatting—but it all felt distant.

’I really told them that much...’

He exhaled slowly.

’Maybe I needed to.’

He stopped near a rusted pipe structure, pausing as he tried to remember which way the infirmary was. Left or right? The uncertainty felt like a weight on his shoulders. He turned toward a passing worker.

"Infirmary. Which way?"

The man pointed without hesitation.

"Past that tower, second building on the left."

"Thanks."

Ash nodded, the word soft as he continued on his way.

As he rounded the corner, he spotted a familiar figure walking toward him—hands behind his head, jacket hanging half-zipped, strolling like the world had no edges.

Ash blinked.

"Kael?"

Kael’s eyebrow shot up, surprised.

"Yo. Wasn’t expecting to see you here."

Ash slowed his pace, shifting his weight.

"I thought you were with Max."

Kael shrugged, casual.

"I was. Then he started getting all emotional. I got annoyed and went for a stroll."

Ash glanced at the path ahead, eyes scanning the distant horizon.

"So you heading back now?"

Kael sighed, dragging his hands out from behind his head.

"Yeah, what am I gonna do? Can’t leave Max to tell everyone that there is something wrong in head.’"

Ash let out a short laugh.

"He’d probably do it. We should hurry."

Kael’s smile softened this time, the usual cocky edge mellowing out.

"Yeah."

They walked together, the quiet between them comfortable, not awkward—just a silence that only siblings could understand. Their footsteps matched, each step falling in time as Ironhold hummed with life behind them. The shadows of the towers stretched longer, the day moving quietly on.