The Shamanic Billionaire

THREE: ELEVATED

As soon as Cai opened his eyes, he knew something was off. The world seemed to have shifted beneath him. His vision felt clearer, like a fog had lifted, letting him notice the tiniest movements of dust dancing in the air.

He could hear the hum of the hospital's power supply and even the frantic heartbeats of patients three floors down.

But the strangest sensation was that of his skin; it felt like there was a current pulsing through his veins, something he couldn’t quite label.

The agonizing pain that had haunted him just before he lost consciousness, the snap of bones and the sting of ripped muscles, was completely gone.

It wasn’t just that it faded; it was like his body had rewritten its own history.

“See him? Talking about all sorts of strange things... Is he even listening to me?” Amelia's voice grated against his nerves. She hadn’t stopped talking since he woke up, her words dripping with resentment.

It was clear she wasn’t just upset; she felt threatened. The Patriarch.. the same man she and her son had been trying to win over for years, had bypassed her to bring this “outsider” back.

“He just woke up, Amelia. You shouldn’t—” Grant's attempt to speak was weak.

“I shouldn’t what?” Amelia shot back, turning on her husband. “Do you have any idea what I’ve been through today? Bringing this boy here is a total disaster, Grant. He was born out of wedlock. The family is going to freak out when the press hears about this mess.”

A dry scoff escaped Cai as he watched her through narrowed eyes. To him, she was a desperate woman clinging to a status that felt like it was slipping away.

“Who told you I was born out of wedlock?” he interrupted, cutting through her rant. Even though he was young at that time, he remembered clearly how the story has started.

He tried to sit up, but Grant gasped, reaching out. “Hey! Your injuries! Someone call the doctor! Where are they?”

Ignoring him, Cai focused entirely on Amelia. “From what I know, my mother was legally married into the Arrows family long before she passed. You were just the side piece Grant Arrows had. After my mother vanished and I was left on that mountain, you wormed your way into the family.”

Amelia turned pale. She hadn't expected the “mountain boy” to know about the family's dirty laundry, let alone confront her. She’d heard he was stubborn and defiant, but now he was on a completely different level.

Just then, the door swung open, and Dr. Vance rushed in, breathless and holding a file. “I’m sorry for the wait, Mr. Arrows. We were… uh… uh… rechecking the results.”

The doctor began examining him, his confusion deepening with each check. “This doesn’t make sense,” he murmured. “The three security personnel in the car with you are in critical condition. You came in hemorrhaging. We had to perform emergency surgery to stabilize your organs.”

He pulled back the gown, staring at the bandages. Beneath the gauze, Cai’s skin was smooth. The monitors beeped steadily like a calm heartbeat.

“You’re a miracle,” Dr. Vance said, his voice shaking. “According to these scans, it’s as if the accident never happened to you.”

A heavy silence enveloped the room. Grant stared at Cai with a mix of awe and fear. Amelia, regaining her composure, crossed her arms. “He’s from that mountain where they do all sorts of weird things, including sorcery. Why are we surprised he’s some sort of freak?”

Cai looked at her intensely, focusing on the space near her skin. “I see something behind you. Those little hands... they’re touching your cheeks right now,” he said softly. “They enjoy it when you radiate that much wickedness. It feels like home to them.”

Amelia let out a choked sound, her gaze darting around the room as an irrational chill swept over her. Without another word, she dashed out.

Dr. Vance cleared his throat, looking keen to escape. “With these scans looking this good... you’re free to go. I’ll prescribe some vitamins and painkillers, though I doubt you’ll need them.”

Grant thanked the doctor, who practically rushed out the door.

Once it clicked shut, a heavy silence fell. Grant didn’t move. He stood at the foot of the bed, hands shoved deep in his pockets, trying to hide any tremors.

He looked at Cai, then away, and back again. “Kyle... the guy who was sitting next to you,” Grant began, his voice heavy. “He’s still in the ICU. The doctors said he took the brunt of the impact on your side. He must have... must have shielded you somehow. That’s got to be why you’re okay.”

It doesn't really make sense to him but that seems to be the only plausible explanation.

Cai met his father’s gaze. He remembered the moment of impact… Kyle lunging across the seat, a desperate instinct to protect someone he barely knew. But he also remembered the golden surge that had repaired his bones while Kyle lay broken.

“Kyle is a good man,” Cai said quietly, his voice carrying a seriousness that wasn’t there when he talked to Amelia. “Better than the company he keeps.”

Grant reached for a chair where a black duffel bag sat, likely stuffed with new clothes by a panicking assistant just an hour earlier. “Amelia is... she’s a bit high-strung. She has a hard time with everything.”

He cleared his throat, unable to meet Cai's eyes. “Take your time. There’s a car waiting downstairs when you’re ready. Your grandfather... he’s been asking for updates every ten minutes. He just wants to know you’re safe.”

Grant paused at the door, hand on the handle. “I’ll be waiting in the hall. Just... don’t mention the ‘small hands’ thing again, Cai. For your own good. The family’s complicated enough without them thinking you’ve lost your mind.”

He exited before Cai could respond.

Left alone, Cai stood up. His feet hit the floor, and for a moment, the “surge” returned. It wasn’t just physical strength; it was a keen awareness.

He could sense the sorrow in the oncology ward, the fear in the ER, and the shadows lurking in his own room.

He pulled on the black hoodie and joggers from the bag. They fit perfectly and felt soft against his skin. Catching his reflection in the window, he noticed he looked the same but yet completely different.

The “average” boy from the mountain had disappeared. Something had really changed.

Cai walked toward the door, not because his grandfather was waiting but because he was curious about what else lurked in the city’s shadows.