ROTU: Chapter Forty-Three
The warriors sat together with the Conduits and humans for the morning meal in a large open tent the next day as the Lumaña readied the city for their most treasured holiday to celebrate the changing seasons.
Kaelon and Jalena sat side-by-side on the ground with no gap between them as they watched numerous Lumaña hurry in and out of the area with decorations and props in hand.
"This year is extra special," Semansa explained, "because we have so many guests. We are not only celebrating the changing seasons but the awakening of the Conduits also."
And the return of love, Shamira added to Jalena.
Jalena smiled.
"And the presence of the greatest and most likable human ever to visit Asteria," Lyons said as he held up his glass. "You're welcome."
A group of young girls giggled nearby.
"Did you get in touch with your family, Lyons?" asked Kaelon.
"Yes, in pretty much the same way we would talk online on the surface, except no need for as much hardware here. These Lumaña have impressed me with how cunning they are in blending technology with the natural energies." He grinned. "I know they can't wait to have me back."
Later that afternoon, Lyons forced Kaelon to come with him to explore more of Asteria as Shamira and Jalena trained.
"You can see her later," Lyons said, giving him a knowing look. "I want you to familiarize yourself with some of this new stuff I'm learning so you can be my partner in fighting bad aliens. We have to rebuild a new headquarters to help train the new Conduit recruits. It will be our base for an army of evolutionary initiates!"
As Jalena and Shamira sparred, Shamira didn't waste any time teasing Jalena about the changes occurring within her. You are happier now than I have ever seen you, even on Elsaria, and I don't think it has anything to do with your new Earth abilities.
Jalena smiled. In a way, Gyan is responsible for initiating it all. Understanding his role in it all makes me feel differently. On Elsaria, I felt like our connection would hinder my abilities, not realizing at the time what it may gain me despite Gyan asserting that it wouldn't limit what we could be.
I like it, Shamira replied. I think because of this newfound clarity, you have unleashed the power within you that will amplify all of the rest of your abilities. For this reason, I know we will win against Drasúl. Whether Gyan wakes or not before then doesn't matter. I have no doubt.
Jalena grabbed Shamira's hand tightly and turned to face her fully. I want you to know that your sacrifice in coming here on this mission with me—being away from Anon—I will never forget, Shamira. I would have become lost without you. I know that I have not reminded you enough of your importance.
Shamira's eyelids fluttered as her tears gathered. I am the one honored, Jalena—despite any sacrifices.
Jalena grabbed Shamira's other hand and brought her forehead to Shamira's. She closed her eyes. Can you believe we are nearer home in this moment than we have ever been?
It feels like a dream.
Then bring all you got at me, Jalena said as backed away and lowered her stance, so I can prepare for the last event that buys our ticket home.
Shamira narrowed her gaze, and threw a strike.
Jalena thrust out her hand instinctively.
Shamira's eyes widened as she slid back several feet from the force that pushed her. "That's strange. You didn't hit that hard."
Jalena straightened and frowned thoughtfully as she thought of the similarity of her moves to Tarak's charisma. Another strange new energy moved through her. Her eyes lit up as she felt the pulse of fire within her, different than the piercing energy of the dragons'. She met Shamira's eye.
I feel it too, Shamira said as she put her hand on her stomach.
Jalena narrowed her gaze as a swirl of different colors appeared in the halo of her eyes and flamed markings spread to her temples. She snapped her fingers and flames lit her fingertips.
Shamira gasped. She held her palms face down over the ground as the halo within her own eyes turned green. Glowing vine and thorn markings appeared across her cheeks and on her forearms. The ground began to shake.
"This is Jarek's…"
"Valora's and Brogan's…"
"…charismas." they finished in unison.
Are you confused? a deep voice said telepathically. He chuckled.
You finally reach my level of warrior, and you can't even handle it, another voice said.
What he means, a higher-pitched voice said, is that you have integrated our charismas.
Just like the rest of your team, said another.
You still have some work to do, though, if you ever are to get as powerful as me, the second voice finished.
Jalena's and Shamira's eyes shone as Brogan's large frame stepped from the trees outlining the clearing.
Emotion overtook Jalena as she stared at the group that followed him. She put a hand over her heart, breathing deeply. She shook her head, hardly believing what she saw was real as tears slid down her face.
Shamira rubbed her eyes in disbelief.
Brogan grinned widely as, one by one, the rest of the master team came within sight alongside Tau and a group of Lumaña warriors.
I know you barely made it without me, said Jarek. You missed me so much that you forgot who you were and almost got yourselves killed before we could even get here to save you.
Jalena began to run as fast as she could with Shamira on her heels. They both disappeared in a burst of light and reappeared at the other side of the clearing before the group.
Brogan, Danika, Valora, Hoshi, Lorcan, and Jarek sped to close the rest of the gap, and the separate parties collided in the middle of the clearing.
Jalena's leaped into Brogan's large arms, wrapping her arms and legs around him. He squeezed her to him tightly. Hey, sister.
You don't know…how happy…she dropped from Brogan's grasp and grabbed Valora and the others in turn.
"Geez, Master Jalena," Jarek said as Jalena kissed his face. "This is the most emotion I have ever seen you display. Going full human mode has made you soft."
Jalena smiled through her tears and pulled him to her again.
Jarek blushed and cleared his throat. "I think you may be even more dangerous—scarier now. It's unpredictable." He turned to Lorcan, who was grinning from ear to ear. "She's weirder now," he whispered.
Jalena took a deep breath and put a hand on her chest again. "Please tell me, Sade and the others…"
"They are back safely in the Anethian," Valora assured. "We negotiated their release in exchange for some rare goods they coveted from Suál."
"More like demanded it," said Lorcan.
"Tell us everything," Shamira said.
She and the other masters dropped to the grass in the clearing as the Lumaña left the group alone to catch up on events that had transpired since Shamira and Jalena left Elsaria. Jalena sat between Valora and Brogan, resting her grasp on their forearms as the group shared their story.
"When we finally found each other while in the Realm of Illuse, we somehow integrated all the frequencies of our charismas," explained Hoshi, "though the power remains strongest within the one who was born with the charisma."
Jalena smiled as her thoughts surfaced what Malik would have said if he were physically present. "The forest must have been prepared with the Spell of Varoneise."
"What's that?" asked Jarek.
"The Glisayan spell of acceptance, honor, compassion, and valor. When your actions combine the qualities, then a power that embodies the four is granted to you as a gift in return for the behaviors you display. You must have demonstrated great skill and respect during the forest trials."
Brogan cleared his throat as the others dropped their gaze.
"What was the test?" asked Shamira.
"Whether or not we would sacrifice our power and often our lives for another warrior," Hoshi said quietly. She quickly wiped her eyes. "I can't even think about it."
"Essentially, it mimicked what Gyan did for us," Valora said as she put a hand on Hoshi's shoulder. "I think it was to help us understand why he did what he did from a different perspective."
"Now all the masters have access to the power of those on our team," Danika said.
"But we aren't on your incarnate team," said Shamira.
"Aren't you?" said Valora with a sly look. "You were there as one of us in the Illuse."
Jalena chuckled. "According to how we feel, yes, and based on the integration, our energies would agree."
"It's strange that we don't have your ability to direct internal energy, Jalena," Lorcan said. "We thought it may be because you weren't physically undergoing the trials in the Illuse with us, but you have integrated our power, so it doesn't make sense. Just a bit ago, I tried to make Jarek hit Hoshi. It still didn't work."
Jarek scowled. "Unfair if you ask me."
Hoshi shoved Lorcan, who fell into Jarek as he laughed.
Jalena smiled, taking her time to appreciate each in the group before her. After all the years she spent without them, she treasured their playful and teasing nature even more now.
"We don't have Gyan's charisma either," said Danika, "so maybe Jalena's charisma, since she now has Gyan's, just can't be integrated with ours."
"Probably because she is a Light Queen," Lorcan said.
"She doesn't like that label, Lorcan, even the Lumaña treat her as royalty now here," Shamira said with a grin as she nudged Jalena.
Jalena smiled politely and shrugged.
"Leader-warrior-weird-light person?"
"Much better," Jalena said.
Jalena caught Shamira's eye and smiled. "By the way, regarding Gyan's charisma, it seems that I don't really possess it as my own. I was just carrying it for him—borrowing it rather than owning it."
"What do you mean?" Valora asked.
Jalena turned to Jarek. "You were right, Jarek...in a way."
"Of course I was!" He smiled. "Eh, about what exactly?"
"We have something important to tell you about Gyan."
Jalena relayed her story from the time she had met Kaelon and what they had learned from Malik about the truth of his identity. No one spoke or moved during her story. When she finished, the entire master team stared at her in wide-eyed shock.
"I can't believe it," Danika finally whispered.
"So, you were just carrying a part of his spirit within you as I suspected," Jarek confirmed.
Jalena nodded.
Valora stood, her eyes shining with tears. "I want to see him."
"You have to remember that you cannot let him know who he is, Valora," Jalena reminded her. "He has to figure it out on his own."
Valora plopped back down next to Brogan with a sigh. "So, you think the reason we can't produce a light shield is because Gyan isn't awake to his truth yet?"
"It is likely."
"Tarak doesn't remember everything, and we have his ability to direct energy," Danika said.
"I think it is because Tarak still knows that he is a warrior even though he can't remember all of what has transpired," said Jalena. "Gyan's loss of identity is embedded in his soul's incarnation."
"As I said before, things just keep getting weirder," stated Jarek.
"Well, maybe your arrival will help trigger something." She stood. "Come on. I will take you to him."
As the others stood to follow, Kaelon stumbled through bushes marking the edge of the clearing. "Jalena, I finally escaped him," he called out with a laugh as he brushed off his jeans. "Lyons is obsessed with the Lumaña's technology—" he stopped short as he straightened and caught sight of the warriors. "Eh…"
Hoshi and Danika gasped audibly.
The warriors shifted uncomfortably as they stared at Kaelon in awkward silence.
"Hey," Kaelon said with a small wave, "I'm…" he glanced at Jalena in confusion and then looked back to the team, who were all still staring at him as if they'd never seen anything like him, "…Kaelon."
"These are the other light warriors on our team, Kaelon," Jalena explained. "They just arrived." She introduced each one.
Hoshi was the first to step forward. She grabbed him into a tight hug. "Nice to meet you, Kaelon."
"Woah," Kaelon said as Hoshi tightened her grip and let out a sob.
"Easy, Master Hoshi," Shamira whispered as she pried Hoshi's grip from Kaelon and gave him an awkward smile. "Sorry," she mouthed.
"Yeah, how's it going?" Jarek scratched the back of his head, "Eh…Kaelon?"
"Wow," Kaelon chuckled as Lorcan grabbed him and pounded him on the back. "You guys are really friendly to strangers."
"Hey," Valora mumbled as Lorcan released Kaelon. She quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, stared at the ground, and crossed her arms.
Brogan kept one hand on his sister's shoulder. He gave Kaelon a quick nod and looked up to the sky, blinking rapidly. He ducked his head and cleared his throat. "Sorry, something in my eye."
Jarek gave Gyan a nod and took a step back. He stared at the ground and sniffed.
Danika waved from where she stood and smiled softly at Kaelon as her tears dropped freely.
"Why are you crying?" asked Kaelon. He looked at Jalena. "Why are they crying?"
"We, eh...love meeting humans," said Jarek quickly. "They're considered special where we come from—never seen one in real life."
Jalena elbowed Shamira as she tried unsuccessfully to suppress her laughter.
"Oh yeah, we're probably like fascinating specimens to you or something," Kaelon said with a grin.
The group nodded.
"That's it," affirmed Jarek.
"Okay everyone, let's go get ready for the festival tonight," said Shamira in an attempt to break the emotional tension. "I'll show you where to go."
Brogan threw an arm around Valora as the group moved past Jalena and Kaelon. I thought I was gonna lose it.
"See you soon, Kaelon," Danika called as the group walked away.
"Your light warrior friends are strange," Kaelon whispered to Jalena after he gave her a quick kiss.
"Yes." She laughed. "Yes, they are."
Long after the sun had set, the festival celebrations remained at large. Ceremonial drums beat loudly as those with painted faces and costumes danced throughout the festival grounds.
Up on the hill, the master warriors gathered—tired, happy, and covered in glitter and paint. They made themselves comfortable as they watched the festival below them, undisturbed.
"This place isn't that different from Elsaria," Brogan said as he stared at the flow of nearby waterfalls. Multi-colored, glowing nocturnal bugs floated about lazily throughout the area.
"Where is Gyan?" Lorcan asked.
"He went to change clothes," Hoshi said. "Lyons dowsed him with so much paint that he was soaked through."
"You'll confuse him if you call him Gyan," Shamira said.
"I've accidentally done it a couple of times even before I knew who he was," confessed Jalena. "Even though he understood after I explained why, it makes him uncomfortable."
"I can't believe that, as a human, he knows your true identity and hasn't freaked out," stated Hoshi.
"I think it's soul recognition," said Shamira, "but he did freak out the first time he saw me teleport."
"Have you tried, you know, triggering him with old memories?" Brogan eyed Jalena with an amused look.
Hoshi and Danika giggled as Jalena dropped her gaze and smiled.
"So, you've even kissed him, but he still didn't wake up?" Jarek asked in surprise. He sat up from where he lay against the hillside. "Maybe you're losing your queen power."
"Jarek!" exclaimed Hoshi.
Jarek groaned as Hoshi elbowed him in the thigh. He smiled. "Well, he is obviously stuck in the dark. Jalena's love may be powerful, but if Gyan still didn't wake up after meeting me, he must be too far gone."
Valora and Hoshi pushed Jarek at the same time.
"Hey!" he exclaimed with a laugh. "Easy!"
Jalena stood.
"Oooh! Are you going to try some sexy time triggering again?" teased Jarek.
"Sexy time?" Danika questioned.
"You know," Jarek pursed his lips and made kissing noises. "All the good stuff."
Danika rolled her eyes.
"He's been learning human slang from Shamira," Lorcan said.
"I think you teaching Jarek English slang is going to backfire, Shamira," said Valora.
Shamira smiled. "At least it isn't too different, but some of their phrases are funny."
Jalena's eyes lit up. "To answer your question, Jarek, I'm going to check on both Lyons and Kaelon. Besides, he is looking for me. I can feel it." She disappeared in a burst of light.
"Anyway…" Jarek continued, "…isn't she damaging the bond with her twin if she makes out with Kaelon? Gyan could be jealous."
"Kaelon is Gyan, Jarek," said Valora.
"Not yet. He is still human. What if, you know…his sexy time is different?"
"Stop saying sexy time!" Danika said.
"It's Gyan, Jarek!" Hoshi said.
"What if his memories don't return?"
"It's still not damaging anything, assjack," Hoshi retorted.
"It's jackass, Hoshi," Shamira corrected.
"Jackass?" Lorcan questioned.
"It's just an insult for being stubborn like a donkey—an animal like a horse. People use it when someone is not so nice either…I don't know what it means exactly," Shamira finished with a sigh.
"Can we just go back to normal Elsarian language, please?" Danika said. "You guys are driving me crazy."
"Don't you mean cray?" Jarek said.
Danika rolled her eyes and teleported away from the group as the entire party burst out laughing.
"You lost aura points with Dani," Lorcan said making Jarek laugh harder.
"I don't think you had many to begin with," Brogan said.
"She misses him," Valora said.
Hoshi nodded. "Yeah, I wish Tarak were here, too."
"Why?" Jarek said. "He never talks. He just stands around like a big silent giant."
Lorcan burst out laughing again and shook his head.
"Ow!" Jarek laughed as Valora punched him in the shoulder. "I'm kidding!"
Below, amid the festival activities, Jalena checked in on Lyons, happy to see him engaging so freely with the Lumaña as he ran and danced among them. She found Kaelon and watched him from her place at the edge of the trees as he searched the crowd for her, appreciating her uninterrupted view of him.
"Looking for someone?" she called.
Kaelon rushed over to her and scooped her up in his arms. He smeared the blob of paint that rested on her upper arm onto his own. "I've been dying to get you in my arms all day. I need to practice some moves." He pulled her in and kissed her deeply. "When do we train?"
Jalena smiled and shook her head. "Well, you and I have a very tight schedule to maintain." She raised an eyebrow. "You are slotted for physical training twice a day and private personal development sessions every afternoon."
Kaelon leaned toward her again. "As the weaker species, I suppose I have no choice."
Jalena nodded as she smiled. "Absolutely none."
"I confess that I will voluntarily attend. I am experiencing Stockholm Syndrome and fear that I am already in love with my captor," he stated before kissing her again.
When they broke apart, Jalena grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him back to her. "Then my plan is working," she whispered, "Abducting you and turning you into my lover is actually my mission—what I came to Earth for."
"Holy shit," Kaelon whispered back as he grinned. "Mission accomplished."
Jalena pulled back again, noting Danika walking alone through the trees. "Hang on."
"No."
She smiled. "It will just be a moment."
He sighed. "A short one?"
Jalena winked. "Promise."
He held up a hand with his pinky straight out and looked at her expectedly. She hooked it with her own and gave him a quick kiss before teleporting, reappearing near Danika.
"You miss Tarak," she guessed.
"I know it's selfish, especially when you have lived so long without Gyan. The elder masters thought the dimensional shift might delay his memory restoration or make it worse. That's why he didn't come." Danika sighed. "He just stabilizes things. It feels…off without him."
Jalena smiled. "Remember that you are saying this to someone who lived without all of you for many Earth years."
Danika winced. "That's part of the reason it feels so selfish."
Jalena put a hand on her shoulder. "The time that I missed Gyan the most was when I needed resilience and commitment to keep moving forward. I had come to rely on his energy for those things. Tarak helps you to feel stable, but you have that ability to remain so when he is here and when he is not. Malik said that we serve as a beacon that calls truth to surface and you are that source of stability for Tarak. Your connection will help him return."
"Never thought of it like that."
"That star wizard has always had a way with words. Besides, things we admire in people are aspects of ourselves that need recognition. Tarak serves as a reminder of what is within you, Dani. He is a great warrior, and despite the times some of us have forgotten, that truth alone will also inspire that power back to the surface."
Danika nodded. "I know you're right." She glanced behind them to where Kaelon waited. Do you believe Gyan will remember?
Jalena nodded. The synchronicities that we saw so readily occur on Elsaria occur here also. Gyan will wake within Kaelon when the time is right, even if he must return to Elsaria to do so. The same is true for Tarak. Based on all the synchronicities of what has transpired here so far, of this I am certain.
