In a hallway near the top of the temple stood Tai. He stood in front of a door nervous to go in. It had been a little over a month since he arrived here at the temple.
"I wonder why they called me here, I hope the head monk hasn't found out I've been skipping out on independent training," He thought. "Well I guess it's too late to worry about it now."
He entered the room, I was a large room, The walls were covered with countless paintings and there was a Sofa with a long table in front of it. On the Sofa Tai seen someone very familiar.
"Princess!" He called out to her.
"There's no need to yell out, we're in the same room...and I said not to call me Princess" Norina said as she took a sip from a Tea cup in front of her.
Though they were a bit at odds with each other. Tai and Norina had become pretty good friends during their time at the temple.
"Ahh sorry about that It was kind of a force of habit."
"Well just don't let it happen again."
Tai walked over and took a relaxed position in the seat next to her. He surveyed the room taking a close look at all the paintings. They were paintings he had never seen before, some were of women and some were men. Each painting was different but they were also a bit similar as there was one central person as the focus in each of them, whether is was a battlefield, a Throne room or just a simple garden.
"I See you like the paintings." Norina said to him.
"I wouldn't say like but....they all do seem interesting." he answered
"I see, sounds like you don't know who they are do you, should I tell you?"
"Sure."
Norina looked up and pointed at one of the paintings. It was the biggest one in the center of the wall. It was a man in silver armor sitting in front of a tree with children playing around him.
"That one right there is The Knight of the Willow, Protector of lost children," She then pointed to another. This one looked like a teenager but they had a mask covering their face and what looked like a hunting outfit made of wolves pelt.
"That one is The Immortal God Hunter." Then she pointed to more of them speaking their titles as she ran her finger through the air tracing along the line of paintings.
"The King of Reapers, The Spirit Guider, and Witch of the Library," She turned and looked at Tai. "Now do you understand."
Tai nodded his head as these were all names he heard during his time studying here.
"These are all past inheritors of the Grey Spirit," He said aloud "Thats amazing, I've studied them but didn't think i'd ever get to see what they looked like."
"The temple has always been devout followers and excellent record keepers." Norina grinned.
Tai took another look around then asked "Norina, which one is your favorite?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean I'm sure that since you know so much about them you have one you really admire don't you?"
"I mean... I do but it's kind of embarrassing you know...my parents always discouraged looking up to hero's," She slightly blushed as she said it. "Worshiping others accomplishments gets in the way of your own." She said in a mocking voice. Then they both started laughing.
"Hmm I see, well how about I tell you mine first then."
Tai got up from his seat and started surveying through the paintings looking at the titles of each one. "Found It!" he said. Norina walked over to him to see which one he was looking at. It was a boy in the middle of field, he had claws for hands and large wings on his back.
"The Last Dragon." Tai said pointing to the title.
"Why him?"
"Well I just think dragons are cool that's why."
"Hmm you would pick a lame reason." Norina Mocked.
"Huh? Then which one is your's?"
Norina didn't hesitate and pointed to a painting that was above the door. It was a girl in a gold and white dress with a blindfold over her eyes, her body was covered in chains and shackles but she also wore a crown on her head and surrounding her were 13 shadows that seemed to have the shape of people all varying in size.
"Who is that? I don't remember reading about one like her." Tai asked
"The Cursed Princess."
"What's her story?"
"She was the 14th princess of Soluna, when the kingdom fell all of her family were executed and she was the only one of her sisters to survive, The say the 13 abilities she had were curses from her executed sisters all based on the ways they were killed." Norina turned to see Tai's uneasy expression.
"Well don't worry too much, eventually she was able to reclaim the kingdom and became The Queen. She's actually one of my ancestors. I admire her for what she did for the kingdom and what she sacrificed."
Norina turned and seen Tai staring at her intently "What?"
"Uhh nothing it's just you kind of look cool talking about someone you admire."
Her faced blushed then she shoved him back and walked back to her seat.
"I can't believe he would say something like that" she thought to herself holding back a smile.
Suddenly the door opened and Cylo walked in
"Hey Cylo!" Tai ran over to him and the two proceeded to do some kind of elongated fancy handshake.
"I hate to interrupt your male bonding but can you explain to us why we were called her Cylo?" Norina asked
"Oh yeah I forgot, the Head Monk says its time."
"It's time?" Tai questioned.
"Yes, the Grey spirit is awakening."
Cylo led the other two children out of the room and down the hall until they came to a large Wooden door. The entered and before them stood all the monks of the temple even the young ones still in training to become monks. At the end of the room was an altar made of marble draped in Blue and Gold fabric and on top of it was a small wooden box next to the altar was the Head Monk in his usual blue uniform but with a necklace made of Large black beads.
"Well...lets go guys." Cylo said as he walked towards the altar with the other two tailing behind him till they all stood in front of the altar.
"Welcome," The Head Monk proceeded, " Today is a day we've all been waiting for, I've been using techniques to measure the spiritual power and the hour of awakening is upon us." He turned toward the crowd of people. "The Protective Spirits are said to show when we humans will need their guidance, The Spirit of Will is to be inherited by the body of a human while the Spirit of Wisdom and Life will guide him," He turned to the kids once more. "I know that which ever of you are chosen will achieve great things and for those who aren't chosen stick together, the path of a Chosen is a lonely one." He put his hands on the shoulders of Norina and Cylo who were standing on the sides of Tai.
Suddenly the Box made a sound. It broke open and a dim grey light appeared from the box. Tai looked in awe as the light ascended into the air and slowly floated towards him and the other two children. Tai was mesmerized by the light not taking his eyes off of it for a moment. The light stopped about a step in front of the three but for some reason Tai took a step forward as if it was calling to him. He reached his hands out the spirit and it settled into his hands.
BOOM. BOOM.
Tai's heart was pounding through his ears, the warmth from the light was comforting but at the same time he felt the immense pressure it was giving off. It was an unimaginable feeling that Tai himself couldn't explain. He was hesitant.
"Is this fear?" He thought. "I can't move an inch, This pressure... its... too much." He began to breath rapidly. "I can't do this I have to-" "Don't let go."
A voice spoke to him. It wasn't a voice he didn't recognized but he felt compelled to listen to it.
"What am i supposed to do with it." Tai was questioning himself suddenly he took notice of his surroundings. Norina with slight tears in her eyes and Cylo watching nervously, The Head Monk not turning his gaze away for a moment.
"Accept it." Tai heard the voice once more. "Accept it huh? Does that mean something like this?' He pulled the light towards him and embraced it into his arms.
"What is this feeling?" Tai's body bent forward as a warm sensation permeated through his body. He didn't understand it but he felt it, The amount of power he had just inherited. Tai's face was uneasy he turned towards the Head Monk.
"Everyone out!" The Head Monk yelled at the top of his lungs. In an instant everyone made their way out of the room without looking back. The only ones left were The three kids and the The Head monk. He made his way to Tai trying to settle him down. He had seen the face Tai made when he looked at him, It was a face of pure terror.
"Tai! Breathe" He yelled holding the sides of the boys arms.
"Tai?" Norina reached her hand out. "Don't." The Monk stopped her
"Cylo, you guys go, Let me speak to him for a moment."
"Alright Master, come on Norina."
The two made there way out of the room.
"Cylo," She spoke.
"Yes?"
"Did you see his face, he was..in pain"
"Yeah... I can't imagine what he's going through but I think my father will be able to help him," Cylo gave Norina a slight smile. "Lets go wait for them in the other room."
"..ok."
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