Earth's Alpha Prime (a LitRPG System Survival)

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝟚𝟝𝟙: 𝔐𝔯 𝔥𝔬𝔫𝔢𝔰𝔱𝚢

After the elevator doors closed, Jay stopped pulling Lokesh and let go of his arm. Lokesh looked at Jay with confusion.

"Why didn't you let me tell them about your martial arts skills?" he asked, panting slightly. "If they knew, maybe we wouldn't have to worry about Rohan anymore. Having someone like Udhay on our side could make all the difference."

Jay shook his head with a firm expression. "Udhay's too unpredictable. Things could go sideways in so many ways. It's better to have one enemy than two; especially if the second one has more power and connections."

He didn't say everything he was thinking. Deep down, Jay had his doubts. To him, the way Udhay acted, like he knew more than he let on, felt off.

Jay thought quietly to himself, 'I wouldn't be surprised if Udhay's father, the Chief Minister, is involved too.'

Lokesh, not aware of the precarious situation since he hadn't been conscious for most of the debacle with Rohan. He hesitated for a moment, then sighed, his shoulders dropping.

"Fine. Leave it." He looked around and asked. "But this isn't our floor. Why did we get off here?"

Jay glanced at a nearby floor map. "If Mom sees me like this, covered in bruises and blood, she'll panic. The infirmary's on this floor. I'll get patched up before heading home. I won't be fully healed by tomorrow, but the bruises on my face will fade. I can cover the rest with long sleeves."

"You and that weird recovery speed of yours," Lokesh said, managing a small smile.

Jay gave a slight nod. Since childhood, he'd always healed faster than anyone else. Cuts, bruises, even sprains, he bounced back in half the time. The family had always chalked it up to his uncanny ability to learn physical skills incredibly fast.

As they walked down the hallway, Lokesh grew quiet. Jay noticed the change in his expression.

"What's on your mind?" Jay asked.

Lokesh didn't answer.

Jay leaned in slightly, keeping his voice soft. "Come on. Seriously. What's bothering you?"

After a pause, Lokesh finally spoke. "Thinking about your recovery and your abilities brought back some memories."

His eyes looked distant, as if lost in memories from his past.

Jay raised an eyebrow. "What kind of memories?"

Lokesh sighed, his voice tinged with sadness. "There were times when the family would praise you three for your abilities. You siblings always seemed so perfect, and I... I felt overshadowed."

Jay blinked. He hadn't expected that at all.

"I didn't know you felt that way," he said quietly. "I never meant to overshadow you or make you feel less important."

Lokesh gave a small shrug and looked away. "I know that now. But back then, it was tough. You three were the golden kids. And I was just... there. So, I carved out my own niche by being the one who always tells the truth."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Jay stopped walking and turned to face him, "You're not just there, Loki. You're my cousin. My family. When Sana left, when my own friends turned their backs on me... you didn't."

He looked straight into Lokesh's eyes. "That means more to me than you know."

Lokesh nodded, and there was a moment of silence between them. Then Lokesh frowned slightly, curiosity replacing the old bitterness.

"What exactly happened with Sana?" he asked. "And what did your friends do? I didn't get the full picture."

Jay didn't answer. Instead, he looked away and changed the topic.

"You might not know this, but growing up, I often wished I could be more like you than my siblings."

His eyes softened as he spoke, and for a moment, there was a faint trace of nostalgia on his face.

"When I was younger, I had a really hard time understanding things that came easily to others. I couldn't learn basic math until I was twelve. Reading social cues, knowing how to talk to people... I just didn't get it back then."

A small, rueful smile appeared on his lips. "To escape my deficiencies, I threw myself into the only things I was good at: sports and martial arts."

He paused, then added, "Kay and Qew are both smarter. But they each have their own battles; Kay with his weak body, Qew with her paralyzed legs. From where I stand, you were the perfect one among us. I wouldn't be surprised if they thought the same thing at least once."

Lokesh stood frozen, the words hitting harder than he expected. His eyes welled up. For the first time, he saw Jay not as someone ahead of him, but as someone who had fought through just as much.

He wiped his tears with the back of his hand, then stepped forward and hugged Jay tightly.

"Thanks, Jay," he said, his voice a little shaky. "I needed to hear that. And... I'm sorry. For keeping you three at a distance."

Jay didn't expect the hug, but he didn't push Lokesh away either. He smiled and patted his cousin's back.

After a short silence, Jay's received a call.

"Jay, where have you been?" his mom asked, her voice filled with concern. "Have you found Lokesh? Your aunt is worried sick."

"I found him, Mom. He's heading back now," Jay replied. "I'm stopping by the house to grab medication for Kay and Qew. It's getting late for them. I'll be home soon."

He ended the call and looked over at Lokesh, a playful smirk forming on his face.

"Look what you've done. Your shirt's stained with blood. What are you going to say when they ask, Mr Honesty?"

Lokesh grinned, clearly amused. "Who said I was going to lie? I'll tell the truth; I leaned against a freshly painted wall on the 7th floor and ended up with red paint on me."

He casually pointed toward a nearby wall, marked with a bold Do Not Approach sign and a fresh smear of red paint.

He walked over with a smirk and gave the wall a quick, exaggerated hug.

Jay let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. He remembered how Lokesh had pulled something similar before, back when Rohan offered to spare him if he turned on Jay. Lokesh hadn't said a word. He'd just nodded. Not a yes. Not a no. Just a nod. Technically, it wasn't a lie.

"You always find a way around things without breaking your principle," Jay said.

Lokesh shrugged. "I've got to do what I have to do. If I don't want to be taken advantage of... even if it's a bit unorthodox."

Jay thought about Kay. He wished his brother could learn to think like that. But he pushed the thought aside and turned to Lokesh.

"Alright, go on then. I'll head to the infirmary, get patched up, and head home."

With a final nod to each other, the two cousins went their separate ways.

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