The Moon Symphony

Container

"Okay, listen to me, Ayari. I'll tell you what we are going to do." Ingo said. 

"Okay, got it," I said. 

Ingo told me to sit down in the middle of the basin, which I did. The cold water rushed through my skin, and I feel like I was freezing. I don't know, but the water was giving off a cold temperature. After a few seconds of being in the water, the temperature began to be tolerable. Ingo sat down as well in front of me. The sight of a nude man made me nervous and embarrassed. I'm not really used to this. I need to focus on the ritual, not the things that I see. 

I placed the brooch underwater beside me. Ingo told me to move my hand and put it on his shoulders, which I followed. He also did the same thing. 

"Okay, Ayari. I'm going to site an incantation to manage the flow of energy. Then focus on gathering the natural energy from the surroundings as I adjust your spiritual prowess. Just a fair warning, you will feel pain during the process, but please endure it." Ingo said. 

Wait, What? Oh my goodness. I guess I have no choice and endure it. 

I closed my eyes to focus on the ritual. Ingo started to hum a lovely melody, signaling the start of the ceremony. I was surprised that both siblings were blessed with singing prowess. It was calming and, at the same, captivating. 

As soon the first tone came out from his mouth, the spiritual energy around us intensified. The wind began to blow as if it was dancing around us. I can also feel minor tremors coming from the ground. 

"Spirits that guide the world give us your presence. 

The fire that burns bright, water that runs deep, gather.

Howling wind, might earth, grant us your power. 

Give this person what he deserves, 

return what has been his. I ask you, 

as I am the Eye of the Seas." 

After the incantation, the energy around us was reacting violently and was unstable. I don't know, but I suddenly felt worried, but I felt that Ingo tapped my shoulder to focus on the ceremony. 

"Ayari, imagine that you are an empty container, and let nature's spiritual energy gather within you. Absorb everything, but don't rush things. Take it slowly, and once you feel that you are on the brim, seal the powers within you." Ingo said. 

I tried to imagine what Ingo told me. I pictured that there was a huge jar in front of me. I slowly receive the spiritual energy, but as soon as I did that, a stabbing pain hit my body. 

I was about to scream, but I stopped myself, remembering what Ingo said. This was just the beginning, but the pain was really unbearable. I was just at the tip of the container. 

I tried to control my breathing and focus on the spiritual energy. I slowly took in the force of nature. I saw that the container was slowly filling up. 

I continued what I was doing, and the pain was slowly subsiding. Suddenly, the energy changed its colors to red, and everything began to feel warm. My body was getting hotter than usual. Then, here goes the intense pain again, but I feel like I was being burned this time. 

I felt like I was about to pass out, but I tried to stay focused, ignoring this sensation. It was excruciating as if I was being skinned alive. This continued for a few minutes until I noticed that the jar was filled in the middle. 

This process continued for a few moments, the energy changing its attributes, and the pain was still there. It was so painful, I am losing my consciousness, but I have to keep on going with the ritual. I need to do this, not for myself but for the people that I care for. I need to endure this, and I am almost there. The container is almost complete. 

I continued focusing the spiritual energy on the jar until I saw that it reached the brim. The spirit started overflowing, but I heard the familiar melody from Ingo, and the container locked itself. 

I suddenly felt a surge of spiritual energy running throughout my body, as if nature itself was within me. Everything was so new to me, and when I opened my eyes, I was surprised by the surroundings. Different colors of lights were radiating from my body as if it was dancing. I also noticed that there were sigils that appeared on the body, extending from the mark of the moon. I feel so light, and everything around me was radiant. I looked up in the sky, and I just noticed the massive magic circle that was about to disappear. 

I looked at Ingo, and he was smiling widely, saying that everything was okay. I felt happy too, and I just hugged Ingo out of nowhere. I whispered in his ear and told him that I was so thankful for restoring and amplifying my energy. 

"It's my pleasure to help you, Ayari. So how are you feeling now?" Ingo asked. 

"I feel like I was a new person, but the process was so difficult. I almost lost consciousness because of the intense pain that I felt, but there was something that was holding on to me, telling me that I should endure the pain." I answered. 

"I see. That was the work of my sister's brooch. This helped you alleviate the pain that you were supposed to feel. Without this, the excruciating pain will be doubled, especially for the capacity of your spiritual energy." Ingo said. 

I see. This must be the reason why Makiling gave me this. I need to thank her properly when I go back to their place. I am really grateful for what the siblings did for me, now is the time to pay them back. I need to face the Lobo in the Cordilleras so that Ingo can restore the once abundant Pin-atubo. 

The fatigue was starting to hit my body, but Ingo suggested that we should rest first. He told me to enjoy the scenery too, which we did. I will never get bored of this pretty view. 

We bathed in the sunlight, played in the water for a while, and talked about random things. Ingo also told me that he accidentally took a peek at my memories when trying to adjust my capacity. Those memories were when I was still Peter. 

He was trying not to ask me, but I told him the truth since he saw most of it. Ingo was one of the few people who knew about my real identity. I told him that I was reincarnated in this body and come from a different world. I also said to Ingo about my encounter with the deities and my struggle here when I just came to this world. 

Ingo told me that he was in a position too. He would be anxious about what he will do in this unknown world. Ingo also asked me if how it was to live in the world that I came from. 

I told him that it was okay, it was fun too, but I would prefer living here over technology if I had to choose. It still depends on the life of the person there. I told him that I was not that lucky when it comes to people. 

Ingo told me that he was amazed by those tall skyscrapers that he saw from my memories. He said to me that what if there were also buildings here in Orient Seas. I told him that this world is already beautiful, and I told him that I envy them living in this world. Everything was simple. 

After a few moments of random things, we decided to go back to his house. I picked up my clothes from the stone near us and wore them. I also placed the brooch back to my dimensional storage. 

As we walked back to the path, I noticed that there was something weird happening. I'm hearing buzzing sounds coming from everywhere as if they want to communicate with me. When I looked around, the creatures were following us. 

I think I know where these sounds came from. It was from these animals. Did I acquire new abilities during the amplification ritual? 

I picked up the rabbit below me and checked it if it could communicate with me. I started hearing weird noises, then after a moment, it cleared up. I was surprised but what happened next. I was able to understand what the rabbit was saying to me. I looked at Ingo with a happy expression, and in return, he just smiled at me. He must have the grasp of what was happening already. 

The other animals began to gather around me, saying this that they want to say. I was surprised that they even lined up to tell me about their concerns. I asked Ingo if it was okay to talk with them first before going back to their place. He nodded his head in approval. 

It took me a while after talking with every animal that came towards me. I did not notice that it was already late in the afternoon, and I feel sorry for Ingo waiting for me this long. I told him that I was embarrassed and I'll make it up with him the next time. Ingo told me that it was okay and just laughed at me. 

After talking about a lot of things again, we did notice that we reached his house already. I told Ingo that I will go first to Makiling's room to return the brooch that she gave me and tell her about the good news. Ingo nodded and said to me that he will head to the kitchen. I waved my hand and went to Makiling's room. 

As usual, I knocked first before going in. When I heard her approval, I opened the door and went towards Makiling. I can see that she was smiling, and maybe she was already aware of the results. 

Makiling told me to sit down on the chair that she was pointing at. I took out the brooch from my storage and handed it back to her. 

"Thank you so much, Makiling. The brooch was really helpful during the ceremony." I said. 

"No problem, Ayari. So how are you feeling now?" Makiling asked. 

"To be honest, I feel worn out from the ceremony. The pain was too much, I almost passed out, but thanks to you, I survived the ritual without any problems." I said and bowed my head. 

"Please, don't bow your head. Like what I said, Ingo and I were glad to help you in any way that we can." Makiling said. 

"Also, I have discovered new abilities, and why was that? I know that my elemental affinity was with light and ice. Why did I have the ability like yours?" I asked Makiling. 

Makiling smiled before giving me a response. 

"It's because the nature element was abundant around the waterfalls, and also because of my abilities. The brooch that I handed you was originally infused with my powers. During the ritual, your body adapted to the other elements around you, together with mine." Makiling explained. 

"I see, that explains why I suddenly have this power. So you mean I am compatible with every element that is around us?"

"That's right. You have all of this spiritual energy, actually, but you can't use those that are the opposite of the ones you have, like fire." Makiling added. 

"I understand. It feels like I am back at square one to discover things with my new powers and develop them in the way I can think of." I said.

"Yes, but I believe you will not have any difficulties in controlling your abilities. Just believe in yourself; everything will be fine." Makiling said. 

"Thank you so much, Makiling. So how about we plan the ways on defeating Lobo and his minions?" I said. 

"Of course, that's what I'm about to tell you.