" What's wrong with your hand? "
Thunder mentally cursed at Cyclone's question. How he dreaded this very moment. How could he be so careless as to let them find out? He stayed silent.
Cyclone frowned at the lack of his friend's answer. " Thunder, what happened? " he asked worriedly but in a calm tone.
Thunder looked away from Cyclone. He harshly removed his hand from Cyclone's grasp. " It's nothing to worry about. Don't worry yourself with it, " he plainly said.
Cyclone was surprised at Thunder's bland attitude. " W-wait! What are you talking about! Those black markings aren't normal! " he said.
Thunder stopped in his tracks, only to cover his marked hand. " It is none of your concern. You mustn't worry about it, " he said.
Quake, who was very worried, put a hand on Thunder's shoulder. " Thunder, I'm very worried here. What's wrong? " he said calmly, but the worry was obvious in his voice.
Thunder took it to no mind, and took Quake's hand away from his shoulder. " I told you to not be worried. I'm fine, okay? " he reassured.
Without waiting for Quake's answer, he turned away from his worried gaze. " We have what we came here for. Let's return to the village now, " he ordered, already walking away from the tree.
His friends watched him walk away, their eyes full of worry towards the man. But Quake knew that he wouldn't be easily convinced, so he sighed heavily.
" Let's go, " he said, walking to the front and tailing Thunder. The others followed him, but only Cyclone went to walk beside him.
They stayed gluing their eyes on the man walking in front of them, their brows knotted with worry. They walked in silence, returning to their village.
.............
They arrived at their village safely and was greeted warmly by many friends of theirs. The masters waited for them at the entrance of the academy.
" You have succeeded! What good news! " Koko Ci praised, nodding in approval of their hard work.
Kaizo walked to them and pat Fang's head. He smirked at them, pride radiating from his being. " I'm proud of you all, " he said. Fang smiled at Kaizo at the compliment.
Cyclone and Quake put their hands on their leader's shoulders. Without looking at them, Thunder knew what they wanted to do.
He walked forward to the front of his team, and saluted to his three masters. " We thank you for trusting us with this difficult mission, my masters. We appreciate it wholeheartedly, " he payed respect to his masters.
The masters nodded in approval. " You are most welcome, our soldiers. You are mighty to take on the mission, " Tarung said. Thunder nodded in behalf of his team.
" Now, how about a celebration? To congratulate you on your success, " Tarung suggested. The teenagers beamed at him as he smirked at them. " The great hall is open to the lot o'you starting 8. We'll be there. "
The teenagers smiled and once again, saluted the master.
" Thank you, Master! "
...........
Cyclone, Quake and Thunder had returned home a few hours ago to rest before the celebration. Thunder said no words as he immediately closed himself in his room.
Cyclone and Quake frowned at each other. " I'm worried about him, " said Quake. Cyclone nodded.
" I am as well. But I guess I was a bit to pushy about the situation. Thunder isn't an open person, and too pushy questions don't apply, " he blamed himself, caressing the freckles on his skin.
One of Quake's cheeks puffed up with air, symbolising his minor anger.
" It's not your fault, Cyclone. You were just worried about him! " he sat back down in his chair with a sigh. " He just doesn't want to worry us, and sometimes it's a problem. "
Cyclone sighed as well but after that was just silence. Ever since they were little, Thunder hadn't been the talkative type. Most of the time, when it's out of duty, Quake and Cyclone would handle the talking. But since Thunder is the leader, he must also speak up sometimes.
Quake shook his head. " We should rest up before the celebration. I'll read the book that you bought for me during my free time, " he said, smiling at Cyclone in thanks for the book.
" Hehe, no problem. I'm gonna take a bath as well. I feel sticky after that mission, " Cyclone seconded. They both got up and were off to their respective tasks.
...........
Thunder watched in pain at the black markings covering his hand. His fingers were still trembling, and it had never stopped since they returned home.
His mouth closed up tight, he let out a low grumble. Now that his friends know, his mood had darkened in disappointment of himself.
He sighed. Eventhough it is no longer a secret, he still didn't want his friends to worry. After all, it's not like it was there very since he was born, it only started a few days after he turned 18.
" I do not care. No matter what it is, I will deal with it on my own. "
...........
At nightfall.....
The hall was wide, and a portion of it was taken by the masters for celebration for their students.
Their dinner was served like a buffet and there was plenty to go around. While Fang, Yaya and Ying chased Gopal around to make him stop hogging all of the food, the Seven Boys with No Last Name sat with their masters and Fang, chattering away.
" I remember when we used to run around this huge hall when we were little. Blaze and I loved to race each other! " Ice reminisced, with Blaze agreeing with him.
Kaizo let out a breathless chuckle.
" You two were indeed a handful. I had to stop Fang from joining you guys as well, " he joked, ruffling Fang's spiky hair into a mess.
Tarung laughed heartily. " Ah, those were the days. That was a few days before Leaf found Solar as well. Oh, I have yet to forget that innocent face of yours! " he said.
" I was just four! You had your eyes closed so I thought you were dead and I cried! " Leaf defended, his cheeks turning an embarrassed red. Solar chuckled and rubbed his head on Leaf's in reassurance.
" Yes, I remember when Cyclone, Thunder and I found the twins in a ditch those years ago. They looked so hungry and so frightened, it's hard to believe that you guys are those two now, " Quake said, looking at the twins.
The twins smiled. " Time flies and the person changes with it! " Blaze quoted no one in particular.
Tarung noticed the silent lightning mage beside him. " What do you think of the celebration so far, Thunder? " Tarung spoke, making Thunder glance at him.
" It's enjoyable, though the ruckus behind us is slowly testing my patience, " answered Thunder, bobbing his head towards the ordeal that's happening behind them, Gopal's voice in the background.
Tarung chuckled. " They have never changed. But I can see that you have. You used to be more hot tempered, but I see that that's changed, " said he. Thunder looked at him, straight face as usual. " Like Blaze said: the person changes with the time, " Thunder quoted Blaze.
Tarung sighed with a smile. He patted Thunder's back. " I know you're sick of hearing this after all these years, but you can tell us anything okay? You don't have to do this on your own, " said Tarung.
Thunder's gaze at Tarung momentarily changed to his comrades in front of him. His mouth parted for a while. " I know, father. "