~~~~

Austin's POV~

I can't believe what's happening! How can those people say such things about my sister? How could they judge her so easily and accuse her of such wicked intent. I thought to myself as I bore every single agonizing second of that torture.

Those two girls were with Marc-san and the others during the fight with Alieus Academy, I knew they were great players but I never imagine them run their mouths like that. I thought they'd be nice and welcoming like the rest of the team, but it turns out I was wrong.

I never thought it would turn out to be like this, I never expected something like this to happen. One thing led to another and the next thing I knew, I was suddenly having trouble sorting out my emotion. Why?

Because I was mad and scared at the same time.

I was mad because of what those girls said back there, how the press saw my sister and how horrible their claims were of her. And I was mad because I couldn't do anything about it.

For one thing, I wasn't that interested about Alexi being the said 'Oracle'. I was completely satisfied with her training me and Caleb and just being there for us. I didn't care about titles or anything, I was just happy people acknowledge my sister and her talents. But I never knew they could see her gift, her talent that way. It was painful to see people staining my sister reputation as the 'Oracle'. She doesn't deserve that kind of treatment.

I was so angry that I almost told them off. I was so close to telling them the truth about my sister, I wanted to tell them that they were all wrong, that my sister isn't like the monster they described her to be. But I had to keep my mouth shut, I wasn't supposed to reveal her identity that easily. Caleb warned me about that before we started training camp; and yet, I was so tempted to forget that warning.

It was hard for me to stay silent during a time where I am needed to speak. I know the 'Oracle' better than anyone here; if only I could, I would've revealed the truth and stop this whole argument. They needed some answers and I was the only one there who had them...the only problem was, the thing they needed so badly was something I'm not allowed to give.

When Axel said those things about 'doubting what we already know is right just because of some rumours', I knew he was trying to stop me from believing those things I heard about my sister. He didn't just said those words for the team, but also for me.

Sad to say, I almost doubted my sister. Almost.

I was almost convinced that my sister was a horrible person just because I heard some stories about her that I hadn't heard before. But that was only because I was scared.

I was scared that if people believed those stories, they'll see her as a completely different person and treat her like a monster....a monster who's capable of creating other powerful, uncontrolable monsters like Zeus Junior High. If that happens, we'll be all alone again and everyone will keep their distance from us.

Luckily for me, Axel was there to stand up for my sister for my sake. Sadly, that wasn't enough to ease the pain of it all. So I excused myself, just to get away.

When I got out the door, I bumped into someone only to find out that it was Alexi.

She's crying...

From the looks of it, she was there the whole time and heard everything. I just gaped at her, forcing myself not to cry at the sight of my sister's tear-stained face. But I couldn't. Tears started flowing down and I didn't want her to see me like this, so I ran.

I ran and ran until I reached the riverbank and sat near the flowing water. I was out of breath and was really tired, but I didn't care. At that moment, the only thing that kept crossing my mind was the look on my sister's face- the devastation and pain she felt because of what she heard- and I couldn't help but cry.

I usually never cry, but when I do Alexi would pull me close to her and calm me down.

'Don't cry Austin. I'll be here, alright? Stay strong Tiger.' She told me once when we were kids. At that time, I got a scratch on my knee because I tripped on a rock while playing in the backyard. We were both on the ground with me sitting on her lap crying like the kid I am, she then took out her handkerchief and wiped my tears away and gave me a sincere smile. After that, I stopped crying and stood up and held out my hand to help her get up, then we went inside the house where she treated the wound.

'Stay strong...'

I pulled myself together and stopped crying.

This isn't the time to falter. I need to stay strong and prove to them that what they said wasn't true. Or better yet, I'll be the proof. I'll show them that not all her trainees are power-hungry monsters. I'll show them.

Just wait and see...

~~~~

Caleb's POV~

Great. Just great.

As if I didn't have enough trouble in my hands, now I come back to the compound to see that both of my cousins are crying probably because of what those two girls did. I knew I shouldn't have left them here alone, I should've taken them with us. But if I did, something unpleasant might happen to us considering the news spreading about Alexi's other identity. There's only so much a guy can handle.

After the game, Coach Travis alerted me of a News Station in the city that wants to have an interview with him to confirm the rumours about the "Oracle" joining the team. I was absolutely panicked-ridden, I had no idea how that info got out and I had no idea what to do to protect Alexi from the things that might happen once the press finds out about her identity.

While the others were taking a shower, the Coach pulled me and Alexi aside and talked to us about the spreading rumour. Since we don't know what to do at that time, Coach Travis told us that we'll have to talk about this matter with Coach Hillman.

On the bus ride home, I could see Alexi trying to hold it together. She noticed me looking at her and so I gave her a smile that says 'everything will be fine.' She smiled back at me and then continued to listen to Austin.

I then noticed how pale and stressed out she looks. Her eyes looked so tired and restless that it made me feel sick to my stomach how much pressure she had to take taking care of the team and whatnot. And now with the whole 'Oracle' news circulating, it only means double the stress for her.

The other thing that worries me are her eyes. I don't know if anyone has noticed that her eyes changes colour every so often. I'm not surprised if Coach Travis is trying to get used to it by now. But if the others see it, how will they react?

During the match, as Alexi was writing down her predictions her eyes visibly changed from blue to violet and then back to blue. When Jude was injured, her eyes changed again, this time from blue to red and then back to blue. And then for the period of the last moments of the match, just as the ball touched Axel's feet, her eyes transformed from blue to gold and then to blue.

I wonder if anybody else saw them. If they were intently watching her, it's pretty hard to miss. Usually her eye colour changes in only a split-second and it doesn't happen that often. But ever since she joined the team, it's getting more and more noticeable and the transition from one colour to another is taking longer. It's only a matter of time before everybody notices it.

After arriving at the training grounds, Coach Travis asked me to come with him to Coach Hillman's shop to discuss the whole dilemma. Upon arriving there, Coach Hillman said that it's about time to let the team know about Alexi's current situation.

"Are you crazy? If the others find out about her, they'll freak out! They won't accept her!" I reasoned. Coach Hillman saw the worry in my face as he held my shoulders to calm me down.

"Caleb, we know how much you want to protect her from other's criticism, but I think you can't do it alone. What's happening now concerns the whole team, we need to let them know that they can trust her." he said softly.

I looked at him and noticed how concerned he was for us which ultimately made me feel bad for talking to him that way.

I owe Coach Hillman a lot. Not only did he scouted me and Austin for Japan's representatives, but he also saved me and Alexi from Ray Dark and helped me protect my cousins from more harm. I would always be indebted to him.

So I reluctantly nod and let him usher us outside the shop. But before we could get out, his phone rang so he immediately answered it. His eyes widened as he heard the news from the other side of the phone.

"Alright. I got it. We'll be on our way." he said while putting down the phone, he then turned to us looking really, really pale. "Caleb, we need to go see your mother."

~~~~

"No matter what happens, I have to stay strong."

Those were the words I'd hear from my mother often when I was still living with her. I'd always see her sitting on the foot of her bed every night, chanting that same mantra over and over again. She never notices me peeking on by her door, maybe because of the constant tears in her eyes. Who knows?

I have to say, things weren't always so hard for my family.

I grew up with a loving mom and a great dad. They taught me, raised me up well, loved and cared for me because I was their only son. For some reasons, mom couldn't bare another child. Even so, they were content on raising me to the best of their abilities.

They'd often let me play with Alexi and Austin when we were kids. They allowed me to learn how to play soccer and supported me in everything I've done. Seeing as I was a very curious kid, they sat with me on countless nights teaching me things that were too advance for my age. They'd make some time for us to go to the park where we could have a picnic together; then afterwards, they'd let me play off with my soccer ball until dusk.

Yeah, I had an amazing family. Great parents, awesome cousins to play with on weekends, thoughtful grandparents who'd take all three of us to their art shows or sometimes, to our favourite ice cream parlour... what more could I ask for?

I was pretty contented with my life growing up.

I was happy.

But that all changed when my dad was murdered.

I was only six years old when I noticed my mom and dad talk about dad's job at nights when they thought I was asleep. Dad said his superior blames him for all his damn screw ups, but even so, he managed to suck it all up for the sake of keeping his job. That was until one day when my dad was fed up with cleaning up after his boss.

Of course, his boss was furious and threatened to fire my father but in the end he never did because my dad was doing exemplary well. Also, because the higher-ups from my dad's company knew what he was going through with his current superior, so they threatened to fire him instead. 

Mr Ugliano, my dad's boss was furious so he hired a gunman to kill my dad.

I was at school that same day, and I could remember everything so well.

The teacher called me out during a test and asked me to go to the principal's office were they told me the horrible news. I blacked out and couldn't make out the words my teachers tried to console me with. Back at home, I found my mom crying her heart out as the police told her how my dad was assaulted in an alleyway and was finally shot, ending his life.

At the funeral, mom held me tight and told me that I had to be strong to make sure I won't get hurt when I'm older. "Get strong and be powerful, don't let anyone hurt you or the ones you love." And that's exactly what I did. I did everything I can to get stronger and smarter... but with that endeavour, I made wrong decisions that almost cost mine and Alexi's life.

But now I have a chance to make things right, I'll protect them and make sure nothing takes me off this team. I'll be stronger. I'll be quicker and smarter. I won't let anything bad happen to Austin and Alexi especially now that the rumours started circulating.

I'll worry about those stupid rumors later. For now, I have to go see my mom.

~~~~

We arrived at the hospital after 10 minutes of driving from Coach Hillman's store. We took the Inazuma Caravan and asked the driver to park it for the mean time. We made our way to the 2nd floor, in room #29. There, an elderly man wearing a business suit was talking on his phone.

"Grandpa!" I yelled across the hall and sprinted towards him with Coach Hillman and Travis following me from behind.

"Caleb," he said as he approached me in a hug with the phone still on his hand. His stormy-grey eyes were wet with tears and grey hair was a bit messier compared to his usual hairstyle. He looked at me with a sad expression in his eyes, "I'm sorry I had to call you here just after your game." He said then he gave me a weak smile, "You'll do better in the next game. I'm sure you'll be able to play by then."

"Thank you grandpa." I answered with a forced smile. "What are you doing here? Where's grandma?"

"We came back as quickly as possible because we had a feeling something like this might happen. As for your grandma, she's checking up on your mom inside."

He then turned back to his phone and then handed it to me, "It's your aunt Audrey. She wanted to speak to you."

I took the phone as grandpa approached Coach Hillman and Travis, and thanked them for bringing me here. I turned to the phone again and then took a deep breath to calm myself down. I knew that grandpa asked aunt Audrey to tell me what happened because he couldn't do it himself.

"Hello?" I said, my voice cracking as I did. "Aunt Audrey?"

"Hey, Caleb." A female's voice said from the other line. Aunt Audrey was my mother's twin sister and Alexi and Austin's mom. She and Uncle Alexander are working in America right now and are busy most of the time; even so, they manage to call us every once in a while. "How are you? Are you're cousins alright?"

"We're doing fine Aunt Audrey." I answered, "I supposed grandpa asked you to break the news to me?"

"I'm afraid he did." She said in calm but sad voice, as if she's trying to stop herself from crying which I guess she probably is. "Caleb, your grandpa called me a few moments ago and alerted me that Cassandra had a panic attack because she woke up with the room in total darkness." She said in hushed tone, "The problem was that the room was completely lit, even the windows were open. They soon found out that she's now blind because of her ailment."

She paused for a while to let me sink in the fact that my mother was not blind. Hot tears ran down my face as I continued to stare at the door in front of me. I didn't sob, I just let my tears flow down and my breathing turn shallow. I never expected this to happen.

"Caleb? Caleb, honey? Are you alright?" Aunt Audrey asked from the other end of the line and I could tell, she was crying now. "Honey, I'm so sorry. I wish I was there to comfort you, but this is all I can do."

"I-It's alright Aunty. It's alright, we'll just both have to stay strong." I answered. She only sobbed and apologized over and over again.

The door suddenly opened and behind it was grandma wearing a plain blue blouse and a long white skirt that reached her ankles. Her brown eyes were just as wet as grandpa's and her long grey hair was kept in a messy bun. She and grandpa were in their late 50's but because of what happened, the stress made them look older.

"Caleb, come here sweetie." She said as she captured me in a tight hug. When she pulled away, she ruffled my hair and gave me a tired smile, "Your mother wants to talk to you."

I nodded and handed grandpa the phone. The Coaches and grandpa noticed the tears on my face as grandma ushered me inside the room and then went outside, probably to talk to Aunt Audrey.

I dried off my tears though sad to say, they kept on flowing. My eyes scanned the room; there was a window on the far off side of the room where light blue curtains draped along its side. Beside the window was hospital bed crowded with nurses and doctors treating the brown-haired lady laying on the bed. On the foot of the bed was a bed tag with the name "Cassandra Stonewall". I guess I should be used to this kind of sights.

After my dad's death, mom has been working herself to the bone just so we could get by. Her salary as an editor was enough to support both of us. Even with all the pressure she's going through, raising me by herself and all, she still managed to make it seem like nothing really changed. She would still take me to the park for a picnic and would let me hang out with my cousins at our grandparent's place because at that time, Alexi and Austin's parents were already abroad. And sometimes, she'd treat us all for dinner at our favourite diner when we get great marks on our tests and quizzes.

It's been like that for 2 years. Not only did she raise me by herself, she also made herself the mother-figure Alexi and Austin looked up to while Aunt Audrey was away, which wasn't so hard since she and my mom looked the same.

Little did we know that during those 2 years, mom has experienced enough stress and fatigue that it somehow resulted with her being diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematous. It's an autoimmune disease wherein the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues, affecting the skin, joints, kidneys, brain and other major organs. I'm telling you, this is just as bad if not, worse than can cancer. One of the worst part is that it's never the same for most people.

It started with her having fevers for no reason, sensitivity to light, chest pain, and mouth sores. We only found out that the lupus is continuing to affect almost all of her organs when the doctor asked to confine her in the hospital for treatments, which were the only things keeping her alive for now. Since then, I've been living with my grandparents and my cousins, visiting mom as often as I could. The nurses and doctors made their way outside, some even greeted me and smiled sadly as they passed by. Once they were gone, mom sat up from her bed and sighed, she then reached for the picture frames on the drawer beside her. One had a picture of her and Aunt Audrey, both wearing identical clothes and identical smiles as they linked their arms around each other; the other one was a picture of me, my mom and my dad on our first picnic together; and the last was me, Alexi, Austin and her sitting on the dinner table for mine and Alexi's 7th birthday with a huge birthday cake in front of us. It was the 2nd birthday we celebrated together; since coincidentally, me and Alexi were born on the same day.

A tear fell from her stormy-grey eyes as she wiped her long brown hair out of her face. Her eyes used to have a glow in them, a glow full of life. Now, it became dull as those once, lively eyes lost their sight.

"Mom?" I asked as my voice cracked, "It's me Caleb."

"Caleb?" she shook her head around trying to find out where my voice was coming from, so I stepped closer and held her nice, warm hands. She then smiled, "I'm glad you're here son. I'm sorry if I didn't get to see the end of your game. I got a bit tired and fell asleep."

I smiled as I gazed at her "butterfly rash" by the bridge of her nose, it looked like a giant white butterfly landed there and won't get up. It's another side effect of her ailment. "It's ok mom. I didn't get to play anyway. On the bright side, we did win."

"That's great to hear!" she said as she pulled me into a hug, she smelled like cinnamon. "I'm so proud of you. I really wished I'd seen you play before-"

"It's ok mom, as long as you're alright." I said cutting her off and hugged her back tightly. I just didn't want to hear her admit that she's now blind. She must've noticed what I was trying to do and smiled lovingly at me.

"I'm sorry you have to go through this Caleb." She said as she stroked the top of my head while she still kept me in her arms, "I never wanted you to experience this sort of pain, the pain of fear of losing a loved one l. I never asked for this ailment. I wanted to give you everything you deserved and raise you to the best of my abilities. Instead, you're forced to mature earlier than you should and-"

"Mom." I cut her off again, this time I was hugging tighter than before. "You are the best mother I could ask for. I love you so much, remember that."

She started to sob as she rested her head on my shoulder. Neither of us dared to speak, we just enjoyed ourselves in each other's company in silence.

When we pulled away, mom gave out a soft giggle, "How are your cousins by the way?"

"They're doing fine." I lied. I knew Alexi was troubled by the sudden rumours and Austin felt like we were drifting away from him but I didn't want to tell mom or else she might get stressed out more. "I let them stay at the training grounds because I figured they were tired. Oh and by the way, Aunt Audrey called me, she wanted to be here but-"

"Say no more." She said with a half-hearted smile, "I know how much she misses us, she probably wants to come home and see her kids again. But because they're paying for my medical bills and helping your grandparents financially for your sake, they haven't got a chance to even visit them."

I shifted closer to her and kissed her forehead, it was a gesture she often made to ensure me that everything was going to be alright. I figured she might need it now more than ever.

"Thank you sweetie, I don't know what I'll be able to do without you." she said as she caressed my face lovingly as tears started to flow from her eyes again. "Whatever happens, you'll always be my little baby."

"I know mom." I said as I wiped the tear off her face. Grandma came in with the phone in her hand signalling me that Aunt Audrey was still on the other line. I nodded to grandma and said my good bye to my mom before I walked out her room. "I love you so much mom, I always will. Please, always remember that."

"I love you too Caleb, I always will." She answered before I closed the door to her room.

Then and there, the tears suddenly started to just burst out of my eyes. I didn't stop them and just let them flow while my Coaches and Grandpa started to calm me down. They didn't know that it's not the same for every patient...

No words can express the despair I was slowly sinking into as I watched my mother struggle in darkness. Why did she have to face such trials? She was great person and a caring mother... she didn't deserve this.

Lupus didn't have a cure. Her eyesight is already gone. What kind of pain does she have to endure?

No matter what happens, I have to stay strong.

I willed myself to stop crying and let my Grandpa dry off the tears on my face. Afterwards, he gave me a hug to comfort me before bidding me farewell. Coach Hillman held my shoulders as he ushered me outside then to the Inazuma Caravan.

The ride back was a blur. I can only remember myself wiping off the extra tears off my face. Dark clouds started to gather and the weather didn't help with my mood. When we arrived at the training camp and I see both of my cousins crying...

It broke my heart.

Alexi ran off after Austin bolted off to who knows where, but the brief time I saw their faces was enough to tell me that something bad happened.

While Coach demanded the others to tell him what happened and why those two were crying, I looked at all of them in the eye full of worry and rage.

They should know to never push a monster to his limits... or else.

~~~~

Yey!!! I finally finished this!!

I'm so sorry guys for taking too long, school already started and I had things I had to go through and... yeah...

I'm really sorry if I altered the story too much and if this is a bit too...uh dramatic? Let's just say that I have first-hand knowledge about what Caleb's mom is going through soooo yeah... anyway, if the story got too confusing, just comment your questions and I'll do my best to answer them!

I'll try to update faster so don't worry my lovely and supportive readers! I won't let you down!!!

Btw, thanks a lot for all your support and for being so patient with me. You guys are awesome readers and I love the living daylights outta ya!!! Haha seriously, thanks a lot!

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