Here's chap 41, which was finished over a week ago. Not sure why I didn't post it....
Chapter Forty-One
Awakened
"First," Bahadur was saying, "what are your names?"
Everyone eyed each other for a brief moment, wondering who should go first. Then Eirren sighed and said, "Eirren Silvia O’Conner."
The boys eyed the girls, and so Mabyn continued. "Mabyn Jian Navarre."
With an eye roll at her stupid first name, Kana said, "Sarien Kana Rossi."
"Christopher Johnathon Moore."
"Ahdahm Tilason."
"Doal Lonenson."
"Duvaghal Tilason."
"And you’re all going to be awakened?" The Maj asked, glancing at Nivan, who nodded, just as the kids were. "Well! I must say, we’ve never done such a large group all at once before. Nor have we done anyone as young as you, Duvaghal."
"He’s twelve," Junior assured the old man, who nodded.
"Now, do you…seven," he’d paused to briefly count them, "know what’s going to happen?"
They all shook their heads.
"What do you know?"
"That you’re going to awaken our powers and turn us into majs," Eirren said.
"And make us star warriors!" Dug added excitedly.
Everyone smiled.
"Yes," the maj said, smiling also. "But do you understand what that means?"
There was a brief pause, as everyone contemplated what he was saying.
"It means," Kana ventured, "that we’re going to be helping people. That…we’re going to be putting our lives on the line for people we don’t know. That we have to take a stand against people like Isevio."
"Wherever we’re needed," Eirren added. "That we have a duty to others."
"That we’re honor-bound protect people," Chris said.
"We’re more than just knights," Ahdahm went on. "We’re knights for everyone, everywhere. Not just our countries."
"Yes," the Maj agreed. He looked at Doal and Dug expectantly.
"It means that we’re giving up our lives, our futures, to do this," Doal said.
"And we’re doing this for the rest of our lives," Dug said. "We’re never gonna stop being star warriors."
"That’s right," Bahadur said. He looked at the men again. "This is a good group," he praised.
"Yes, they are," Old Man Joe said.
"You did well." Bahadur looked at the kids again. "So, you know what you’re doing?" Everyone nodded. "Very well. Do you know how we’re doing this?" Once again, the shook their heads. "I’m going to call you up one at a time, we’ll talk briefly, and then I’ll awaken your powers. Who wants to go first?"
Another silence.
"Come, now, no one?"
"I’ll go first," Eirren said. She looked nervous as she raised her hand.
"Excellent, a volunteer! You’re the impatient type, ain’t cha?" Bahadur’s eyes twinkled as he eyed her.
"No," she said. "Well, yes. I just want to get it done."
Bahadur snorted. "Impatient. Alright, missy. Have a seat."
With a wave of his hand, a chair that had been behind the group flew over their heads and sat down in front of the Great Maj’s chair. Nervously, Eirren did as he asked.
"Okay," The Maj said, leaning forward. "Now, you’re full name again?"
"Eirren Silvia O’Conner."
"You’re parents?"
Eirren sighed darkly. "Ralph and Silvia O’Conner."
"Don’t like them much, eh?"
Eirren shook her head, her brown eyes dark and her face closed.
"Abusive?"
She nodded.
"Hmm. Both of ‘em?"
The brunette paused and thought about it, before saying, "Mostly my dad."
The Maj nodded, his face also closed, and his dark eyes sad. "Alright. Do you have any serious questions about your life?"
Eirren blinked. "Questions about my life?"
"Yes. Any serious burning questions you’ve wanted answered?"
Eirren thought for a second before slowly shaking her head. "Not really…"
"Alright, don’t worry about it," Bahadur assured her. "What kind of maj do you want to be?"
"You can choose?" Mabyn asked.
"Up to a point," the Maj said. "Do you have preference?"
"Well," Eirren hedged, suddenly turning shy. "I would like to be…an elemental."
"Elemental?" Bahadur’s eyes twinkled again. "A fancy one with all the complicated majek?"
Eirren nodded, smiling. Bahadur smiled too. "Okay, Eirren Silvia O’Conner, who has no questions and wants to be an elemental maj. I’m going to turn you around, you’ll be first."
Eirren’s chair turned around, startling a laugh out of her and the others.
"Now, for the rest of you," Bahadur said as he stood up behind Eirren, "you’re going to be quiet. Keep your hands in your laps, your head bowed. What I’m doing is serious, so no fooling around, or I’ll throw you out until it’s your turn, if it comes at all." He eyed all six of the kids until everyone nodded.
Then he placed his hands on Eirren’s head, and spoke in a clear, slow voice. Kana folded her arms, bowed her head, and closed her eyes, listening intently. "Eirren Silvia O’Conner, you have come here today because you have a desire in your heart to become a star warrior, and stand with the heroes of every age on every world. This desire is a righteous one, and your prayers and questions have been heard, and today they will be answered. By the powers given to me by the Creator, I awaken your majek, and gift you the gifts of a star warrior.
"Your power is greater than you know, Eirren, and you have been blessed with more than any maj before you. You shall be an elemental. The powers I call upon you are Air, Earth, Fire, Lightning, Sound, Space and Time, Telepathy, and Water, as well as increased stamina, and the ability to withstand great pain. And I want you to know, Eirren, you are the greatest elemental maj to come, perhaps in all of time. When your powers develop, you will be able to do the impossible, even destroying worlds with only your will and strength.
"As all majs, this power is a gift, and can be taken from you if you use them for selfish, unrighteous desires. And you will be tempted. But if you control yourself, you will stand as the leader and warrior that you are meant to be.
"Life is full of unexpected difficulty. You have already seen horror in your life, and will see more. There will come a time where the darkness will seem as if it has won, and all your hopes and dreams are destroyed. But if you remember the light, remember what you are meant to be, what your power is supposed to be use for, you will come out stronger, and that strength will be the light that guides many others.
"Eirren, never forget this day. Never forget what you are meant to do. You are to stand as a light for others, and strength and rock that your friends and family can lean upon. Forgive your brothers and sister, forgive your mother, and forgive yourself. Family is a bond that should not be shattered so easily, and the sins of one do not transfer to others.
"There will come a day, Eirren, when the man that you are to spend eternity with will come into your life. You will bear children, and be an even greater mother and wife than you believe.
"You will gain many little siblings just as you have gained your sisters who are here today. You will be an aunt, sister, and daughter to many, and they and you will be greater for it.
"This I seal upon you. Amen."
"Amen," the men echoed, and the Great Maj removed his hands from Eirren’s head.
Eirren opened her eyes, and Kana saw that she’d been crying. She wiped her tears as Chris stood up and kissed her cheek and hugged her.
Kana wondered suddenly about what the Maj had said about her future husband. It sounded like he was coming, not that he was here. I guess Chris isn’t him.
But neither person acted liked they’d paid attention or cared.
"Alright," Bahadur said, rubbing his hands together, "whose next?"
Everyone looked at each other again, and Ahdahm said, "Me."
"Then sit down, son." Ahdahm did so, and the chair flipped, facing the Maj’s seat, which he’d taken again. "Okay, name?"
Ahdahm’s said that he wanted to be a warrior, and he also didn’t have any questions. After a couple more questions, his chair turned around again, and it was his turn.
Ahdahm was a warrior, with powers of conjuring, attack, shield, water, telepathy, healing, and had agility, strength, and pain endurance. He was also told not to "let others lead him into misusing his powers," and that his telepathy would be stronger than most and it would important to protect others using that power.
Dug followed his brother and was indeed made an elemental, like Eirren. He didn’t have as many powers, only Air, Earth, Fire, Sound, Telepathy, Agility, and Stamina.
While Ahdahm’s had been like Eirren’s, telling him to never forget his family and keep a good relationship with them (although his mentioned his dad while Eirren’s did not), Dug’s didn’t really talk about his current family. It was more specific about his future wife, though.
"There will come a time in your life when young woman will catch your eye. Although you may doubt her, I encourage you to follow your heart, as well as the advice of your brother. You will not be led wrong."
Then, it was Mabyn’s turn.
The beginning of hers matched the others. But the rest was very different.
"Mabyn, I awaken the powers of a healer within you. You will have the powers of healing, as well as using that power to harm and fight others. With this, you will be able to control water, and have a strong sense of telepathy. Your stamina and pain tolerance are also increased.
"Mabyn, your family will be a light to you, and I encourage you to follow the advice of your teachers. Forgive them, and reconcile with them. If you do this, you will be a better mother and wife, when the right man comes into your life.
"As a healer, you will be called upon to save your brothers and sisters gathered here, as well as many others, sometimes against their will. Never doubt that when you know to aid someone, you must do it. You will also see many terrible things, but be strengthened with the knowledge that you have been blessed with the ability to heal most hurts, the seen and unseen.
"There may be times where you cannot heal someone, or do not make it in time. Do not be discouraged. A healer cannot heal all, and no one can be in two places at once, even with the ability of time travel. Those who pass on, pass into the Creator’s care. This is a part of life, for all things come to an end."
After Mabyn, Doal went. He also became a healer, with the powers of healing, harming, telepathy, strength and stamina. He also could control air and water. His warnings were similar to Mabyn’s, although he was told to keep a good relationship with his family, instead of healing one.
Then it was Chris’s turn. He too became a warrior, with the powers of attack, conjuring, shielding, earth, agility, strength and withstanding pain. Out of all of them, nothing was said about his future as a husband and father. Though he was told to be a good influence on his little brother, and to never forget where he came from, and those his choices affected.
And last of all was Kana. She’d listened with awe as each person received their individual advice, which was similar, but always very different. So she was excited, and very nervous, sitting down in the chair after it turned back to the Maj, who looked very tired but was smiling brightly.
"I forgot your name, sweetheart," he told her.
Kana licked her lips and answered, "Sarien Kana Rossi, Old Guy."
The Maj grinned. "Ah, a fiery one."
"Yup." She smiled at him.
"Good. You need to have spunk to do what needs to be done. What maj did you wish to be?"
"Warrior, like Chris and Ahdahm."
"Hmm. You certainly have the temperament for it, I think. Any questions you wanted answered?" His dark eyes searched her face. Everyone had said no, but Kana…
"Yes," she told him after a pause. "I want to know why my life’s been so difficult. Why I was stuck with such a sucky family. And if I have to have a relationship with them."
"Good questions," he approved. Her chair spun around, startling her. "Let’s see if we can find some answers."
"Sarien Kana Rossi," the maj said in the same, clear voice that had awakened the others, "you have come here today to seek answers, and to be awakened to a star warrior. By the powers gifted to me, I awaken your powers."
A warmth spread from the top of Kana’s head where the Great Maj was touching her and filled ever fiber of her being. All the stiffness from sitting in the same chair for several hours was washed away, and an energy filled her. The hairs in the back her neck stood up, and she got goosebumps all over. But she made sure to keep very still.
"You are warrior, Kana, and are gifted with the powers of such. Yours shall be attack, conjure, shield, agility, great stamina and strength, and the ability to summon and control fire. You already bear the gift of foresight, but I strengthen it, as well as the ability to fight long after pain has overcome others.
"Kana, not only are you a star warrior, but you are The Warrior, the greatest warrior to come, perhaps in all time. You stand with your sisters Eirren and Mabyn, as the third star, foretold of long ago, with powers and strength and abilities not given to anyone else. Together, the three of you are unbeatable. Together, you can face any foe and overcome any obstacle.
"Your life has not been an easy one, and you have faced challenged and made choices that most would balk at. But you have not given up your heart and your light. It is sometimes necessary that terrible things must come to pass so that the good things can be appreciated, so that light may truly shine. Your struggles in this life have strengthened you in a way so that you could be prepared to do what you must. The experiences that have shaped you into The Warrior will also give you the strength to protect others in a way no one else can.
"Your family is like the others. There is no love in your home, and I advise you to stay away from them. But you must forgive. Not for them, but for yourself. You cannot let the darkness of your past haunt you, or your future will be darker for it.
"Kana, you will be a great mother and wife. Your husband will be made known to you, and together, you will lead others and be one of the greatest women of all time. Your children will be a light and strength to you. Your love will spread, and many lives will be better for knowing you.
"I urge you to learn to control your temper, and to never forget the little people that much of the universe does not recognize or care for. If you do these things, you will become the great woman you are meant to be.
"This I seal upon you. Amen."
"Amen," everyone echoed.
