Destiny's Awakening

4. FOUR

FOUR

Istood at the center of a crossroads, looking up at a signpost that was completely useless, thanks to the illegible writing on the arrows. Paths branched off the center where I stood, like the spokes of a wagon wheel. With a sigh, I looked at the paths: one of black rocks through burnt ground, another of sunlit cobblestones, a third through flowery hills, a fourth with windblown cypress trees, and the last made of sparkling blue-green stones.

By the time I'd turned to the last path, I knew I needed to choose which path to take.

Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I waited for my intuition to kick in. After a long moment, my feet moved, pulled forward by an unseen force. The texture beneath my feet slowly changed, and only when I felt the heavy mist on my skin did I open my eyes—Indra's territory.

I journeyed deeper into Indra's territory, following the aqua and green pebbles until they became buried beneath sand. Clumps of beach grass sprang from the dunes. My fingers brushed over the silky tufted ends as I crested a small dune, and I froze, mesmerized.

Before me, spanning as far as my eyes could see in every direction, was the ocean. It was the first time I'd ever beheld the sea, and I cared not one bit that it was happening in the ancestral realm. The beauty of the scene before me was indisputable, as was the humbling sensation of my smallness compared to the vastness of the horizon at the sea's edge.

"Always dawdling," a raspy voice observed from behind me.

When I turned, I found the Mothers comfortably sat atop blankets on the sand. A canopy shaded them as if they were on holiday, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling. I made my way to them and sank onto a blanket.

"How are you feeling, Aster?" Indra asked, her voice rippling like the water she controlled, and I answered, "Resolved to enter the bargain."

"Then let us begin," Nahara said, inviting me to sit before her.

After I settled in, with my knees nearly touching Nahara's, her hands joined in the space between us. When she unfolded them, an orb of amber light appeared, cradled in her palms. It wasn't any larger than an apple, shining with enticing warmth. I leaned in to get a closer look, gasping when I spotted miniature figures inside its depths, scenes appearing and vanishing in rapid, blurring succession.

"Contained in this orb is the history of your people since they first set foot on Monari. If you accept, you'll be free to access it as needed," Nahara's soft, barely audible voice explained. "Do you accept?"

I nodded, “I do, Mother.”

"Offer your hands, child."

I did as bade, cupping my hands between us, and she tipped her own, the orb rolling into the cradle of my palms.

"Don't fight it," she instructed, and I had only a fraction of a second to wonder at that before I watched the orb gradually melt into my skin.

Warmth traveled up my arms as the orb melted—soothing at first, then turned scalding as it progressed through my veins. Heat coalesced deep within my skull, the pressure excruciating.

"Don't fight it," Nahara repeated, voice barely registering through the pain.

I closed my eyes—breathing measured and slow. My heart's racing slowed, and movement flashed behind my closed eyes. Men and women exploring the mountains and valleys of Monari. Ancient forests, tall and proud, welcomed them; their shade offering respite while shy wood and water spirits watched the first men with caution. Villages and towns grew from the earth.

The pressure in my skull was fierce and persistent, bending my body beneath its force. Faster and faster the images flashed, speeding up as they drew closer to the present, and slowly the pressure let up. By the time the images receded, the pressure had eased enough that I could sit up and open my eyes.

I may have been free of the pain, but the images didn't cease, nor did the constant hum of voices just beneath the surface. My fingers pressed into my temples, then my ears, as I grimaced.

"You'll learn to quiet the noise, child," Nahara assured, her hands disappearing into the sleeves of her robe.

Not even a beat later, Zephyra gripped my wrists and pulled me to my feet, a wild smile on her face. "My turn."

She all but dragged me along, leading to the next dune, then shifted me, positioning me exactly where she wanted me. A powerful gust of wind blew past us as she pressed her brow against mine, my nightdress wrapping around me and my hair whipping about my face. I struggled, uncomfortable in Zephyra's tight grasp, but she squeezed my shoulders tighter.

"Do not let go, sister," she warned, and I held fast, even as the gusts grew stronger.

Unable to hold her feral eyes, I glanced to the side and lost my ability to breathe. I could see the wind. Truly see its physical form as it moved around us—glittering in trails of light and smoke. Then came the roar from my left, where a cyclone was barreling toward us, sucking all the air from the world as it picked up the detritus from the beach line and summarily spat them out. As it drew closer, it pulled the air from my lungs, slowly turning the edges of my vision black.

Then the world stilled. Driftwood, kelp strands, even my hair froze in midair.

For an agonizing moment, I looked into Zephyra's golden eyes—surprisingly still for once—pleading for her to save me. She smiled, wide and wicked, then whispered, "Now."

In an instant, the world kicked into motion once more.

The cyclone that had robbed me of my ability to breathe now unwound, driving the wind into us. Their force was violent as they slammed against my skin and invaded my lungs. I was no longer desperate for breath, because now there was too much air in my lungs, overwhelming my senses. My fingers dug into the flesh of Zephyra's arms as I felt my feet lifting from the ground.

My consciousness was slipping, my knees threatening to give out. The wind was relentless.

My head lolled back as my vision blurred. And then a song penetrated my dwindling awareness in a language I didn't understand. As the winds calmed, so did the song, and I knew they were the same.

A soft tingling bloomed on the skin of my forearms, just above the seam of my wrists. When I looked down, four swirling cyclones, joined at their middle, were inking themselves into my skin.

"Elementai," Vahni explained. "A declaration of the power you possess."

"It's beautiful," I murmured, watching the winds swirl and shimmer beneath the finger I passed over them.

Zephyra's grip on my shoulders returned, turning me toward the calm ebb and flow of the waves along the coastline. She pointed at them. "Drive the waves to us."

I stared at her dumbly.

She smirked, patting my arm. "Listen to the wind. It will tell you what to do."

As if heeding her words, the song in my mind grew louder, and I focused on it, following the voices to their source. They led me deep within myself, straight to a lockbox. When I lifted the lid, that same glittery haze danced inside, and I coaxed it out, drawing it to the surface. It coiled around my hands and arms. Turning my attention to the horizon, I pushed my hands out from me and willed the winds to do as Zephyra had instructed.

I felt the wind race toward the waves, then beyond them, delighting in being set free. When I felt they'd gone far enough, I pulled them back. Hard. They resisted at first, but then I saw why. A massive wave built and built, surging toward the shore. By the time it had fully crested, it was at least ten feet tall. It crashed violently against the rocky shore, sending mist and spray into the air.

Zephyra clapped enthusiastically, unfazed by the soaking of our clothes, as the four winds lazed back to me—tired and eager for rest. Zephyra's face was proud as she looped her arm through mine and led us back to the others. She pushed me down before Indra, and a quiet dread settled in my gut.

There was only one Gift remaining.

I braced myself for Indra's declaration, but it was Vahni who said, "A word of caution, girl."

My head turned to look at her. Dark eyes, like coals awaiting a spark, met mine.

"Our Gifts are not without their conditions. If you misuse our gifts, we will not hesitate to strip them from you or anyone else. They are tools to build a better world for your people, not weapons. Do you understand?"

A shiver passed through me.

"Of course," I agreed.

Their warning delivered, Indra waved my attention back to her. A coy smile was on her face, as if she had a secret she couldn't wait to tell me. And despite myself, I felt a ripple of excitement as I settled my hands into hers.

A stranger's face took shape in my mind—sun-kissed golden skin, light brown hair, deep blue eyes.

"Your intended Chieftain is unknown to you, Aster. You must find him and return with him to your village."

A whisper floated through my mind, carrying a name. Lysander Crofter. It repeated over and over, ensuring I'd never forget it before going silent. The sense of longing I felt as his face faded away surprised me.

"Once you've returned with your Chieftain, you'll be ready to ascend," Indra told me, her hands pulling away, leaving me to contend with the spiraling of the world around me on my own.

Apart from the handful of times we'd gone to visit an uncle, I'd never traveled beyond Granger Falls, and certainly not alone. Knowing I had no other choice was both daunting and thrilling.

"But how will I find him?"

"You'll know," was all Vahni said, allowing the finality of those words to settle before asking. "Questions?"

What a silly question, I thought, but I only shook my head. "Not at this time," I told her. "Thank you for, well," my hands lifted and gestured widely, "for everything."

Vahni only dipped her head in answer. Her fingers snapped, and then they were gone.