Jayden, with an air of mystery, summoned his staff and approached the Whitmores. A nod from him was all it took for his staff to envelop them in a radiant light. As the light intensified, Wayne and everyone else turned their gaze towards the tent. In a flash, it disappeared, leaving them in awe. Wayne and Sir Drealin ran back to the tent, finding them gone. Then, in the blink of an eye, a light appears again and surrounds Wayne.
They were in a room filled with light, Jayden at the center, Glen and his wife standing beside Jayden, and Lizzy and Aunty M standing beside Mary. The room was quiet yet peaceful, with no doors or windows. EJ, still a weak wood elf, tried to stand, thinking he could, but Glen smiled. "EJ, this is not that place. This is a realm different from all realms; it has no meaning for what it is. Jayden and I brought you all here for its own purpose, knowing only to you and no one else. We made the choice to select you long ago.
Glen addressed Wayne first. "Wayne, you have more to do than you think, my friend. A farmer can lead many, but you worry you are not strong enough to bear this burden. For a farmer, you can till the soil where plants can grow to harvest a good crop; it is the same thing. The seed you plant is its people. Till it well, and they shall grow, to harvest a good crop as you lead them.
"Yet these people are not from your world, and you will face many more like them as you travel. For this reason, we have given you the tools and the skills to learn so you can be a part of them, and they can be part of you.
"Your sons, daughters, and wife all have similar skills, yet you have not used or mastered them, relying on only things you know have worked in your home world. Nothing is wrong with this, but the time has come and has approached, and you can no longer rely on what has worked before to get by as people look to you for help.
"You must be able to protect what is yours, family, people, and friends. Wit is not always the answer, as Morgan knocks at your door with his minions from far and wide. Because now he is everywhere and has unleashed destruction on many worlds."
Glen turns to the Whitmore's. He called Kollie and Renee "the vein of hope and restoration for generations," recognizing their crucial role as healers for the world. "You have so much to do, and an enormous burden to carry, for you and your family are the only ones that have chosen this path of in the Light in a generation. It saddens me to see that it tires you so much, leaving you defenseless against everything while everyone around you abandons you except your close friends. For this reason, I have brought you here as well.
"Betty, Richard, and Mary, the three of you, I also brought you here to give you a gift that none other, but I can give. Margaret," Glen smiled back. "You, my dear, need nothing more except a swift kick and a hug for being so stubborn when it comes to getting things done. Now, as for the gift. Wayne, your camp is running wild, so I'll start with you because it requires your attention, and I'm sure your wife will be happy to inform you about what you missed."
Glen placed both hands on his shoulders, and his wife kissed him on the cheek. Wayne could feel a charge running through him stronger than ever. He felt changed, but he wasn't sure yet what kind of change occurred. He glowed after the kiss. Then, there was a bright light, and he was back where he had stood in the camp.
* * * *
Captain Drealin stood mesmerized, standing still as if time had stopped. "Arken are you all, right?" he asked.
"Of course, I am Captain now. What's this about fights?" They both heard the noise down the broken road, arguing who was in charge on which side. Arken stepped in, summing his staff without pause. He taps it on the ground only once. As the ground shakes, their fighting comes to a halt. "Now then! We have people with too much time on their hands, deciding which side is theirs. I say let's put them to work. I want those buildings cleaned up, cleared out, stone by stone, until there's nothing left but bare dirt. Then find another group and search for anything we might have missed last time, put it into piles, and sort."
"What about the women, sir?" Someone asked.
"I want dinner prepared for all, so find me some cooks, Captain, believe it. If not, you're doing the cooking, and tell them because of fighting and bickering, there will be no festivities tonight. I would suggest they all go to bed early because work starts at the crack of dawn. I have soil that needs planting."
Arken walked calmly among the men, watching them work, talking to Syneral Thomas about his plans, going over work details, and ensuring they covered every bit of this place for survivors. The second he came back; he knew there weren't any. "Strange," he said as he rubbed his chin.
Looking at the map, he felt a little tingle going north and then he looked south, feeling a stronger tingling there as well. That's where he needed to go, and soon. As he paced the compound, making sure nobody entered while they were gone, he also wondered about the rest of his family since they hadn't returned yet.
He didn't have to wait long, just as it seemed forever to them. It was a mere moment for Wayne. He joined his wife. This time, he placed a ward around the space himself; it was so strong, like a shield of glass, that it reflected as Drealin bounced off. It gave him a puzzled look at Wayne. He removed it for a minute, then sent him on his way.
Martha smiled as she took his hand, and EJ's as she told him. "Glen the Master of Light has given us The Light of Truth and knowledge has given us the gift to help us on our journey," Martha said with a smile as she took his hand and EJ's. We will know when and how to act around different cultures to blend in and speak their language. The darkness will not touch us, for the kiss has shielded us from it.
"Our skills and our responsibility as we teach others have increased. When we complete our journey and they return home, we will also return to ours unharmed. In time, we may come back if we wish, if that is our desire. For we will have many new friends, some we have not yet made."
Martha turned to the Whitmores. "Wayne? Kollie and Renee will not be coming back, as we are taking them to their new home. Yet they will visit when they can, but they cannot live among us anymore once they reach it."
Renee wiped a tear from her eye, trying to smile. "But we have lots to do until then, right, boys?"
"Yes, Ma." They replied.
Martha continued, "Their gift was the greatest, yet small compared to others. It was the gift of life. As they now sit together as a family, they can heal more wounds faster, giving them life once more from their hearts without drawing on their strength while their friends protect them from harm.
"They also will not be defenseless as they too can feel darkness or souls of life anywhere and when they are in tune together or meditate alone, but they are stronger together as a family. Grandma got something special that Mary thought suited her, a power all her own.
* * * *
Glen smiled and nearly laughed when she saw the twinkle in her eye, knowing she could now call forth the winds and blow a wicked storm with lightning and rain. But he also gave her hard advice about when to use it and when not. "You can easily lose it when you need it the most," he warned.
The same is true for Richard. Unlike his mother, he prefers more tack. Glen smiles, putting his hand on his shoulder and smiling, not telling anyone except him as he smiles.
Then it was Mary's turn. He placed his hand on her heart, then gave her the best gift as she smiled with love and passion. Glen whispered in her ear as her eyes lit up. Not to tell anyone. "He is coming just for you." Then he nodded with a wink and smiled. She questioned only for a minute then saw a man in White Armor a King among men. Her heart catches seeing his face and they stand looking at each other as if in some sort of trance or a dream. Then it was gone.
Glen made his way to the three brothers and three little ones, patting them on the head. He stopped, looked at Danny for a minute, held his hand, and whispered in his ear a little secret as he laughed, warning him not to tell anyone. Then Glen's wife gave them each a little kiss.
As Glen's eyes meet Robert and Will's, his expression changes to one of seriousness, showing their need for a secluded conversation in the far corner of the room. With their heads nodding in agreement, they all turned their attention back to their brother EJ, their expressions expectant. They walked back, their footsteps echoing softly, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air known only to them.
Glen then reproaches EJ, he asked. "Are you still sure of the choices you have made the last time we talked?"
EJ looked him straight in the eye. "I am and would do it. If it were today or twenty years later, my mind would not change."
With Martha's hand in his, Glen's smile is bittersweet as he gazes into the distance, pondering the boy's fate and the weight of the prophecies that loom over his future. The boy will need to make sacrifices along the path in order to fulfill the prophecies. However, these sacrifices will ultimately empower him as he grows, creating a bond that strengthens not just himself but also his family, the Downings, and their companions. He will awaken the mighty Generals of Light and set upon their path, leading a formidable army for the Light. The sheer magnitude of it will bring the Shadow of Darkness to its knees in terror. By transforming into the White Solon and having the Five Keys of Destiny, EJ will harness the power of the artifacts hidden across the realms by the Gods of Light. He will use this power to stop Morgan and his master Hess Lotti from existence, not only them, but the Shadow Realm itself."
A gasp escapes Glen as he glimpses something that fills him with a sense of dread, a portent of imminent danger. Becoming aware of the immediate necessity, he must quickly establish its validity and swiftly notify both the Council of Light and the revered High Elders. To receive advice, he must go directly to the Gods of Light themselves, on the condition that they are willing to give him an audience.
"Martha, as I look into his eyes, I can sense the intense longing in his heart to be with you and your family." In his heart, he says so. His mind dwells on the past and tries to forget, but it can't. Ultimately, you must remember he was yours and will be again.
"Love, a timeless essence, transcends the limitations of life and death. His family has shown him a love that is rare and genuine, just like the love between the two of you. It is the greatest gift I can give him, and it is that he knows more than life itself and that you all love him and will last forever. As he embarks on his extraordinary journey, you will always be able to recognize him, no matter where he is or what he becomes. In this state of being caught between two worlds, he will experience days of hardship and nights that feel unending. The love from you and his family makes his life happier and his daily responsibilities feel less burdensome."
Glen takes Martha's hand, placing it on EJ's heart. Martha could feel it beating strongly as the tears ran down her face. She whispered: "I love you so much, my son."
Glen then tenderly unites his family by placing their hands over his heart, creating a powerful bond between them. The tears rolling down their cheeks serve as a physical manifestation of the intense emotions they share. The only sound in the room is his soft, even breathing, a sign that he is fast asleep. As soon as Glens and his wife gently kissed his cheek and whispered the word "Deransta," they carefully guided him into a deep slumber, preparing him for the Awakening in the Light at the break of the New Dawn, where his true consciousness would be set free. The boy, EJ, stands on the precipice of unleashing his formidable power. Little did he and his four companions know that on this day, their thirteenth birthdays were being celebrated by the divine beings.
On the verge of unfolding is the prophecy of the Dark Prince and the White Solon. The awakening of his companions, Jeff, and four others, is imminent as the five keys, each being a different aspect of the Light, are about to converge, forming an unstoppable force in the Light. The impending gathering of these keys, a crucial step in the prophecy, will send tremors through the Darkness, heralding the awakening of Truth and Light that will bring the Darkness to its knees.
For the boy EJ, his destiny has already been written and he will soon fulfill it. The years will soon come to pass when, according to all the prophecies, 'He will be reborn with a body reforged and fortified by the knowledge of kings and wizards.' The stars of Coranera will form and reforge his eyes, while the winds of Dertna will nourish his heart and lungs. Comprising his skin and bones are the earth's soil, the hardened elements of Harden Dale, and the stone mountains of Gerlanda.
He will be from each of the rulers far and wide, including the kings of many nations throughout time. This is the prophecy written and forged upon the altar of "Truth" and the "Light," for he will judge and be bound by the "Light" and the power of "Truth" in all things, great and small. He will be the judge and king who will set things right and give freedom to all who live in the "Light" and the "Truth." For the moment, he withheld this information from the rest of the group and his family. He told only his two older brothers Robert and Will about it, and he explicitly instructed them to keep it confidential. Both had given and charged with a sacred oath.
Glen picked up the sleeping boy and gently wrapped him in a white cloth like a newborn baby. Glen handed him back to his mother in her arms. She slowly lifted the cloth away from his sleeping face. All she saw was EJ's true self as she smiled, holding him in her arms, rocking gently, letting him sleep. Unknowing, like the others, what the true reason was, but wasn't important for the moment as their destiny too would soon become clear.
Glen moved to the three sisters as the tears rolled down their cheeks for their brother. That's all they wanted was him; Glen nodded and proceeded. "Anna and Julie, your brother needs your protection. True as it may be, but who is going to protect them?
"EJ has none for the moment. He cannot fend for himself like your family can now but will soon when he is ready. All he has is courage, love, and knowledge, as his skills wait for him. The time has not come yet, but it will in due course. It is up to you to keep him safe from harm, until then when he can protect himself and others."
Anna and Julie slowly let go of EJ and nod. Anna first gained the ability to fire and defend herself against water and ice storms, which she could transform into shields in a split-second. She could detect and use any of the element's present on the surfaces, enhancing her fairy magic with plants and animals.
Julie resembled her mother when it came to her gift of sight. She possessed a unique talent that set her apart: the ability to fashion candles from unconventional materials, such as rough stones. But her true gift lay in the realm of sound. With a mere thought, melodies would materialize, filling the air, as if she conjured instruments out of thin air. In addition to her musical prowess, Julie had recently unlocked the powers of her dragon form. The magic coursing through her veins enabled her to perform the extraordinary feats associated with dragons, whether she took the shape of a human or a majestic beast.
Now, a crucial mission awaited her. She was entrusted with the task of venturing out to locate King Sly, his wife Lorna, the Moon Goddess, and Sly's missing brother Roland. Julie's duty extended beyond finding them; she was to bring them back to their group and relay the message that the time had come to awaken the Generals of Light.
Despite her reluctance to leave her family during such a critical moment, Julie understood the urgency and the miles she had to travel. She prepared herself to depart, a mix of determination and apprehension coursing through her. The sight of her family filled her with bittersweet feelings, yet she steeled herself for the journey ahead. As she bid farewell to Glen, he urged her not to linger and to soar through the skies with the swiftness of the wind.