by C. Louis S.
Leon didn’t practice his powers in the basement. Instead he listened to Micaela. He was on the basement steps where no one would see him, of course. He had started practicing, with the door open since it wasn’t a secret anymore, but because of that he could hear their conversation and it caught his attention.
“Have any of you ever lost anyone?” Micaela asked.
“No,” said Kali.
Yes we have. Nona and Papa.
“You were too young to remember it, Kali, but she lost her grandparents when she was just a baby,” said Mother.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” said Micaela “I’m sorry to bring it up, but do you remember what it was like, Mrs. Torvell?”
“Yes, unfortunately. It was a terrible day for us all.”
“Could … could you tell us about it. How did they, um, pass?”
Leon pictured in his mind the day that they became mist and floated away. He tried not to remember the vision he had after eating the fruit from the white tree in the castle, but those feelings of anguish and joy returned. Luckily, no one could see him. Tears formed in his eyes. I miss Nona and Papa. They would be able to fix the mess I’ve made of things.
“Well, just like anyone dies. They got sick and one day they just turned into mist and floated away with the wind.”
“That’s not how real people die,” said Micaela.
Real people? Excuse me?
“What do you mean?” Father asked.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that. Oh, I’m so sorry.” Micaela sounded muffled like she was covering her mouth.
Mrs. Sol said, “What Micaela is trying to say is that people only die that way because the Dark Void is in control of the world. When you are a follower of the True Light, your body remains on the earth after you die. We have a ceremony and bury them in the ground because we know we’ll see them again some day.”
That’s weird. How can people stay after they die? Why does following the True Light change anything? And why bury them in the ground?
“What do you mean that the Dark Void is in control of the world?” Father asked.
Kali said, “Dad, True Light was almost extinguished from the Earth, like forever. People followed the Void so much more that True Light had little hold on people’s hearts. Flynn, the guy I told you about in the castle is the descendent—”
She paused to think.
“No wait, I mean his father is the descendent of generations of leaders of the True Light. With his hard work it started to come back. People started to care about the purpose of life. But the Void would not be stopped and in order to win the war, the nine superpowers were created. It would seem like they are good, because like just like white light is made up of all the colors of the rainbow, it makes you think that the colored powers come from True Light.”
Micaela shook her head and continued. “But they are really just mockeries of it. Dark has tricked the world into forgetting about this war that is raging. All they care about is staring at their phones so they can have stronger superpowers and they don’t see that the Void has lied to them.”
There was a short pause.
“That’s a lot to take in,” said Aidan. “How can we know that that is true? I mean, not to doubt you, but if that’s true, it means we need to change the way we’re living.”
“I understand your concern, Aidan,” said Mrs. Sol. “And it’s okay. You don’t have to just believe us. Listen to the music.”
“Music has always been a sign that you are fulfilling your purpose, that you are on the right path,” said Kali with a chirp in her voice.
Leon put his head in his hands. The soft song played quietly in his ears. It felt as if it were far away and at the same time inside of him. It was undeniable. It felt comforting and peaceful.
Leon tried with his whole being not to hear it. Because even though it brought peace and comfort to one part of him, to the other part it brought despair and strife. He wanted to be powerful, to be cool, to show the world that he was amazing. He thought it was his purpose to know all the powers and to use his special green ability.
But the song…
chapter 23
Revenge