The King's Beloved

Chapter 24 - The Gift

"Good night everyone!" Rania bid them to sleep. Just a few minutes passed and everyone was already deep in sleep … yes, everyone except her.

Ever since the trapdoor was revealed to them, and they decided to enter it, she had been contemplating a lot. About the world, about the other candidates, her friends Azalea, Selena, Rose, Iris and Lily, and now, with her new friends, the sprites, Elliot and Ducis … and the fact that they have to journey to who knows where.

She wanted to go with everyone, that's an irrefutable fact - but ... will she be of any help at all? After all, she was merely a human with no powers.

"I've been ... having these weird thoughts lately," she said as she prayed to her God. She was now standing at the balcony, staring at the stars. "All these things that are happening ... me being here at the center of it all ... what is my purpose here?"

Rania sighed heavily.

"It's - good that I was able to save Selena and I'm happy with that. And to be able to at least cheer the others up but ... Lord, this coming journey that we have to take ... should I even take it? Should I join them? Will I not be a burden?"

Rania began to clench her tiny fist now, against her chest. Her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes lost their brightness, as they got clouded with tears.

"These Magi and their world ... everything about them is new and there's a lot of uncertainties. Now, we discovered different dimensions that we need to travel to. As to why, I don't know. But one thing's for sure - it's dangerous out there and we need to learn how to fight! But then again, with my current state, I ... I don't know if I could help at all. I don't have powers like them. I barely know any martial arts. All I could do is talk but ... what will talking do during the journey? What if there are monsters that we have to fight? Or areas humans can't cross?"

Rania sighed again. "I'm sorry, I'm rambling on and on ... but I know, You know what I mean. I simply think that I'm not fit for this. I'll definitely be a burden to them. Imagine, always trying to protect someone. It would be a lot easier for them to just do it on their own. And the sprites, too. Ducis mentioned that they have low tolerance to concentrated magic. I don't want them to be harmed."

And with the last deep sigh, Rania ended her prayer. "Show me the right path, my Lord".

She walked back to bed and finally managed to get some sleep after her long prayer. As the night went deeper, Rania got disturbed by a sudden dream.

"Ugh," she grunted as she tried to open her eyes. But the lights were so blinding that she had to cover her face in an attempt to hide from it.

Then suddenly, all the light was gone and there she was floating in the middle of the galaxy. In front of her was their planet, Earth. It looked small from where she stood but close enough to see its current state. The once beautiful planet filled with blue waters and greenery, was now covered on fire and darkness.

Rania was appalled by what she saw. She knew right away that she was dreaming because she had dreamed of this very same thing twice already. Every 7th year, she would dream of the world in chaos. First, on her 7th birthday, then, on the 14th ... and now, yes, she just turned 21 as the clock struck 12. It was her 21st birthday.

But then, something NEW happened this time.

A few moments later, someone appeared in front of the planet. It looked like a man except he was so big that he was as big as the planet. He was shining brightly and only his aura could be seen. You couldn't make up his face, or even any of his features. He stood there hovering and looking at the planet as his white robes flew and danced with the wind. He was so magnificent and bright that Rania couldn't even bear to look at him.

Then, he gently raised his arms and held the planet as if caressing it. With his thunderous yet warm and gentle voice, he started speaking.

"WHOM shall I send, and WHO will go for us?"

Large droplets of tears suddenly fell from Rania's eyes as they widened themself after what the man said.

She KNEW those words!

At once, she recognized who the One before her was. Trembling, she immediately dropped on her knees as her strength left her. With bawling eyes, Rania braved herself and answered Him, with her heads bowed down.

"Here I am ... send me".

The Shining Being smiled and came near her. Bright light followed Him wherever He went. Alas, He was now in front of her, colossal yet magnificent and awesome.

He extended His hands towards the small girl, and a radiant, warm light came from His hands. The light began to cover Rania from head to foot as she felt her body shiver.

Rania felt her strength coming back to her. She lifted her hands and stared at them as she continued to bow her head. On her palm burned a sign of a cross which faded afterwards. Her body continued to glow and sparkled.

Then, the Shining Being spoke again.

"Here is my gift to you. Now go in the strength I gave you!

I will be with you ... as I have always been"

Rania wiped her tears and smiled.

"Thank You!"

While Rania was dreaming, Elliot, Ducis, and Luna suddenly woke up after feeling an unknown tremendous aura emanating from somewhere. They all woke up simultaneously and to their surprise, they saw Rania glowing in blinding light! She laid on her bed still sleeping but golden sparkles enveloped her all over. Her whole surrounding was shining! Their eyes widened as they saw this unexplainable thing happening, and to a human, at that! They could only stare at each other in bewilderment. Even Ducis was unaware of what exactly was happening.

And they were not the only ones who felt the tremendous presence.

Even the king, his four Judges, and the twelve Generals, felt the same unexplainable aura. They immediately teleported to the Forbidden Forest to check what it was. There, they all stood, covered in dark cloaks, with only their shadows showing as the blinding light from the chambers overshadowed their bodies.

Curious as they may, they could not enter the chamber.

"What is the meaning of this?" the king asked his Judges and Generals.

"Probably the guardian inside, wreaking havoc," one of the generals answered.

The others agreed with him.

Only Clavis was left staring at the window of the chamber, with a hint of certainty in his light blue eyes.