Chapter 161 - The Last Gathering

Eleven years passed.

"Orion! Teach me how to hold the sword!" Ordered, a young boy, holding up a wooden sword in his hand. His face was fierce yet blessed with beautiful blue eyes and golden hair. 

"That's an older brother to you, Zander!" Reminded Orion, shaking his head at his nine-year-old brother. 

Right after giving birth to the twin girls, Amanda and Christopher attended the wedding of Taara and Brody, expecting another baby. They named him Zander. 

If not for the fact that Orion was older, Zander would have been named as Orion's twin! He looked so much like him and just like their father. 

"Brother! I also want to learn how to fight!" Said Clara, holding a wooden sword. She ran in circles, with her caramel hair tied in a pony tail. 

"There is no more war in Pelagy, you should just play princess," ordered Orion before he looked up to the sky, determining the time. 

They were all at the courtyard, chasing after Orion, for they knew he was going to spend another week on earth, watching over the girl of his dreams. 

"Orion, are you leaving again? Stay with us and bring us to the skies!" Said Cora, Clara's twin. "I want to ride Vermithrax!"

Shaking his head, Orion told, "Vermithrax is not a pet! He is a beast god of the dragon star! We should not call him for a petty ride to the skies! Besides! We all have wings!"

Both Cora and Clara were now eleven years old and looked so much the same as Amanda. Clara was a little boyish, having spent most of her time with her father's guards. 

Cora, on the other hand, lingered with the maidens in the land. She preferred to play with girls rather than with swords. 

"Stop bothering your brother. He is coming with us," Revealed Amanda. Her husband, Christopher, followed behind her. 

With a little tinge of magic from Agatha, both Christopher and Amanda looked younger than their age. Both already in their mid-thirties, they looked like they just turned thirty altogether. 

The masters of fire and water remained to fulfill their duties, but over the past two years, their powers have slowly dissolved. They knew it was about time for new masters to be awakened. 

"What? Why am I going with you, father and mother?" Objected Orion. He meant to see Esmée that day and officially introduce himself for the very first time. 

Because of his persistence, Agatha even created a gate from Aeros to Paris, just for her grandson. Years had passed and Orion was still determined in choosing Esmée as his future bride. 

"Relax, Orion, Abasi can take you to Paris and to our home there," said Christopher. He put a hand on Orion and told, "Today may very well be the last time we meet with the rest of your aunts and uncles." He shrugged and explained further, "In the most convenient way that is."

"Our powers are depleted. We need to meet with them at the cave for," reminded Amanda. 

Christopher turned to the maids and to his loyal servant, Martin. He said, "Please take care of the kids for us, while we are away."

"Certainly master. Please take care of yourselves," answered Martin before gathering up the children. 

In the middle of the courtyard and standing next to Orion, Amanda and Christopher called, "Abasi, you can take us now."

All three of them were easily sucked in a wormhole, reappearing within the cavern of Brazil, the masters' place of gathering. 

Everyone was already there. Even Trisha came to witness their very last assembling. 

With a smile, Abasi said, "Good day, masters. Come closer." Glancing at Orion, he said, "You too, Orion.. You might as well join our circle."

"But, I'm not a master, Uncle," said Orion. 

"Well, son. We can't leave you out," told Christopher. 

When all the masters have gathered in a circle, Abasi said, "Masters. this may very well be our last year of being the masters of the earth."

He glanced at Trisha who smiled at everyone. She added, "I can't believe that we all have known each other for about twenty years now. I am so happy to have met you all."

"We may not have the luxury anymore of traveling to each other's place in minutes and speaking to each other's heads, but we all know where we live." Abasi shrugged and said, "Maybe, we can visit each other soon via normal means of transportation."

Right then and there, Christopher gave a charm to both Abasi and Brody. He said, "Here, mother gave this to me. You can call upon this and mother will hear you. As necessary, my mother can take you to our world."

Brody smiled. He glanced at Christopher and said, "I will miss the people of Aeros."

"And I will miss everybody, reading my head and easily travelling through space," added Taara.

"I will miss our bantering, our adventures together, and I'll miss the power that we could do," told Amanda. 

She glanced at her husband and son. It was funny how she was the most powerful in their family, now Christopher is the strongest of them all with a natural capability to call on water. Moreover, he could already summon Akurra's brother, Awanyu. 

It took Awanyu over two years to acknowledge Christopher, but eventually, the serpent saw Christopher's pure heart and the will to do good for the moon and the people of Pelagy. He gave him his blood on the third year of Akurra's passing. 

Orion, on the other hand, could summon two great beasts and the Venusian Sword remained in his hand. Moreover, he could see at 360 degrees. 

When the red crystal would leave her completely, she would simply be just a regular woman. 

As if reading his wife's mind, Christopher grabbed Amanda's hand and said, "You led the way for us to be strong, my love . For it was you who held first Orion's sword. It was you who sought Orion's gifted sight, and it was you who awakened me as a master of water."

"You may turn powerless after this, but in my eyes, you made me into who I am today, including Orion."

With watery eyes, Amanda sniffed, "Geez, I will really miss being the master of fire, but I know it's time that we all live our lives. Grow our family." 

"Yes," Taara nodded. "Mind you I have two young boys."

They all laughed while Trisha said, "Ah, glad I have three princesses!"

The masters have started to build their own families, and admittedly the call of duty often disrupted the flow of their lives. They knew it was only right for a new generation of masters to come about.

"Masters, it had been a long and fruitful years. For the very last time, let us show the power in our hands," instructed Abasi. 

Eeach one of them raised their hands. Only the yellow crystal was no longer with them. A new spirit of the heart will soon awaken, but they knew not who. 

The green crystal of time and space in Abasi's hand. 

The red crystal of fire came out of Amanda's palm. 

The blue crystal of the water revealed itself in Christopher's hand. 

The brown crystal of the earth glowed brightly in Brody's hand. 

The white crystal of the wind came out last in Taara's palm. 

The crystals that used to be nearly three inches in height were all now in the size of a pea. It was slowly transferring its strength to the new masters of the earth. As to who? They do not know. Only the future will tell, and they certainly hope that a new spirit of the heart will awaken soon. 

Knowing their powers will disappear soon, they flaunted the powers in front of them, even if was no longer the same vigor as before. Only after some time that they all took turns in clenching their hands. 

One by one, gone was the power in their hands. 

"Masters, thank for your service. This is the last time that I can take you to your homes. I will miss you all, my friends," said Abasi. 

Teary-eyes, Amanda said, "I'll miss you guys." 

She acted to hug Taara and Trisha, who stood in front of her, and only then did the rest of the masters join in to embrace the group. 

Christopher pulled Orion together, and he would up complaining. 

Pulling away, Taara sniffed and said, "I will definitely miss Orion's cute arrogance."

They all laughed except for Orion. He said, "It's really not my fault I am so great. I try to be humble. I really do."

The masters of the earth hugged each other before Abasi sent Taara and Brody to their home. She then sent Orion to Paris for him to act on his chosen bride. Amanda and Christopher was sent back to Aeros. 

For the very last time in their heads, Abasi said, "Goodbye, masters. This is not the end, but a new beginning to our lives."

***

Author's Notes:

Thank you very much for having supported this novel. This was my first attempt at fantasy. It may not be the best yet, but I'm working on improving my craft. Thank you for your love. The next Chapters will focus more on Orion.. Hope you'll enjoy his story. :)