Legends of Amacia The Awakening

Late that evening after dinner, Hanna wandered the Red Tower alone pondering the events of the day. A nagging fear kept eating at her...the fear she’d never be able to free Hannibal from the prison she’d inadvertently locked him in. She knew what she had to do, but didn’t know if she could. A troubled sigh escaped her lips as she walked out onto the top of the Red Tower. Walking amongst the spires, Hanna came to the eastern edge of the Tower. Looking out over the sea, she saw the sky twinkling just as Hannibal saw it in Khitia when he first saw night sky in the caverns. The waves roared below her on the rocks as a stiff breeze blew from the east. A feeling of sudden desolation fell over her. The urge to end it all by jumping arose.

A soft voice filled with malevolence whispered in her ear, “Go on...jump. Haven’t you suffered enough? Jump. End it all. You didn’t want this to begin with. No one will blame you for jumping after everything you’ve been through.” The voice was smooth and cunning, incredibly persuasive despite the malice Hanna felt from it.

Looking down into the sea from the very edge of the Tower, Hanna abruptly saw the largest liopleurodon she’d ever seen jump from the water crushing a sixty-foot megalodon shark in its massive jaws. A gasp escaped Hanna’s lips as the unexpected sight made her step back from the brink. The one hundred twenty foot long liopleurodon’s roar echoed over the landscape as it fell back into the sea with its prey. The roar sent chills down Hanna’s spine. It reminded her of how dangerous the caverns of Amacia really were.

“Ah, the Sea Rex shows once again why he’s the undisputed master of the sea,” a deep reptilian voice rumbled from the shadows.

The voice startled Hanna, making her jump with fright. Turning abruptly to the voice, she saw Aeolus lying fifty feet away, looking out over the sea like a giant gargoyle. “Oh, it’s you, Aeolus,” Hanna wheezed in fright. “I thought I was alone up here.”

“You’re very troubled, Hanna,” Aeolus observed. “I can tell. The fact you didn’t sense me until I spoke speaks volumes. Something is distracting and deeply troubling you. What is it?”

“That’s just it,” Hanna admitted, walking over to Aeolus. “I’m not entirely sure. This feeling of doom fell on me a few minutes ago out of nowhere. Then, something told me to jump...to end it all because I’d suffered enough. If the Sea Rex hadn’t startled me, I might have done it.”

“Oh,” Aeolus rumbled. “I see. A malicious spirit from the Emperor is influencing you, Hanna. I can sense it. It’s trying to steal your hope again. Don’t let it.”

“Of course,” Hanna cried as she realized what had happened. “It’s another trick of the Emperor. He’s trying to trick me into giving up.” Her face flushed with anger. “Damn him!” she cursed. “Damn him to Hell! I should’ve known better than to even let that little shit near me.”

“Well, no harm was done,” Aeolus stated. “It seems the Sea Rex’s appearance drove away the spirit. But you’re still troubled. Care to share what’s troubling you, Hanna? Maybe I can help.”

Hanna smiled soberly. “I might as well stop hiding it,” she admitted. “You can see it for yourself as easily as Selina can. I’m afraid, Aeolus, very afraid.”

“Hmmm,” Aeolus murmured. “You’re not sure if you have the strength to release Hannibal, do you?”

“Yes,” Hanna replied, starting to cry. “I know what I have to do, but I’m not sure if I can. I’m not sure if I have the strength to take that last step.”

“I see,” Aeolus rumbled thoughtfully. “And what do your friends say about this?”

“They tell me I can do this,” Hanna stated. “They say I shouldn’t doubt myself and that I have the strength to do this. But I’m just not sure. Everyone says Hannibal is my warrior self and that I should become him by practicing my martial prowess. Can I truly reach him through the force of my martial prowess? I didn’t realize how deeply I secured Hannibal when I did it. I didn’t mean to lock him away like that. Now, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for me to remember him. I love him, Aeolus, but I’m not sure if I can break the chains I forged when I was mutated. What do I do? I don’t want to lose the most important part of me, but I fear it’s becoming a distinct possibility that it may happen. It’s like a cancer eating me alive.”

“Calm yourself, Hanna,” Aeolus cooed. “I understand your plight better than you may know. You will not lose Hannibal, nor will you lose yourself. Try to understand, Hanna. You and Hannibal are two sides of the same coin. You are the same being in one body, only one is male and the other is female. This is the great mystery of life, Hanna. The Ancient of Days has been trying to show you the truth of this mystery with your mutation. You and Hannibal need to become one. He’s your strength, power, skill, and instinct. You’re his compassion, love, life, and inspiration. As long as you and he remain separate, you’ll be weak and vulnerable. Only together are you strong. It’s the riddle of the completed soul. You must lure him out and become one with him. You know how to do it. Believe in yourself and in the Ancient of Days, Hanna. He will show you how to make this happen. When it happens, and it will, you will most likely laugh at yourself because of how simple it really is. So, your fear is misplaced. Believe me when I tell you that you have the strength to do this. All you lack is the will. Believe, and you will find the way out of your trap.”

“That’s what everyone else is telling me, including Selina,” Hanna stated. “I can’t understand why I keep on fearing this. Being free of this mutation is the one thing that has kept me going. Why do I continue fearing the mutation reversal?”

“Maybe because you’re not sure who you really are,” Aeolus stated. “I’ve heard the reports of your genetic structure being significantly different from normal humans. And I know you greatly fear the elemental power that’s growing within you. It’s a reasonable fear, to be sure. But you mustn’t fear who you really are. I’m certain your unique genetic makeup is what allows you to channel these elemental powers without them damaging you. It’s a mighty gift very few beings in this universe are ever allowed access to, so you mustn’t think of it as a curse, but a blessing. Moreover, you’ve only seen the destructive aspects of the elemental gift you have, not the other side of that coin. The elemental Earth can not only destroy, but also heal, lift up, even restore and create when properly applied. You only need to discover how to apply that power as a force of light, life, restoration, and creation. When you discover the secret of using those powers for good, you will not fear the power the Ancient of Days has set at your fingertips as the Caverias.”

“Whoa,” Hanna breathed, feeling icy chills racing down her spine at Aeolus’ words. “I truly didn’t know I could use that power for good. But I should’ve known it was like that. You can’t have light without darkness, destruction without creation. All forms of energy in this universe are polar with positive and negative attributes. Maybe this elemental power is the same way. If I could just figure out how to access the positive side and not just the negative side, I could discover why I’m able to use it the way I do. Still, I’d prefer not to have such phenomenal power. No human should ever be allowed to exercise the power I have. We’re not ready for such power as a species. I know I’m not.”

“And that’s why you are ready,” Aeolus insisted. “The Ancient of Days chose well to let you wield this power. You’re keenly aware of how dangerous it can be in the wrong hands.”

“Indeed,” Hanna replied with a troubled sigh. “Maybe my unique genetic structure does allow me to safely channel this power you speak of. It still doesn’t mean I should. After all, I’ve been deeply scarred by the Darkness throughout my life. The berserker rages that plague Hannibal and I are a throwback to our days as a 7th level dark wizard. I nearly lost myself to that rage when I rescued Selina. I’ll always be wary of wielding the elemental power because when the Rage gets on me, I often time lose my ability to distinguish between friend and foe. I fear I might kill a friend with that power while in that rage. I’m just not strong enough to tame that beast. That’s why I fear the elemental power. It fuels the Rage.”

“I see,” Aeolus rumbled, looking Hanna directly in the eye. “That’s a very good reason indeed. But you just missed something very important.”

“What’s that?” Hanna asked innocently.

“Just now, you didn’t speak of yourself as an individual,” Aeolus replied with a wry grin on his draken face. “You spoke of yourself and Hannibal as one being. It wasn’t me. It was us, our rage, our days as a dark wizard. You’re so close to letting Hannibal out, so very close and don’t realize it. What did your friends say about this?”

Hanna’s face opened in surprise as she felt Hannibal surging to surface. “Oh, my god,” she breathed in awe. “They said for me to become him, to release him through practice of my martial prowess. They said Hannibal is my warrior side.”

“Then that is what you need to do,” Aeolus declared. “Hannibal awaits you in the Arena. Go, practice your combat skills and you will find the key to releasing Hannibal from the prison you inadvertently locked him in. And don’t fear your battle rage. It’s who you are. You may consider it a curse, but it isn’t. Both Thoth and his son Beowulf had the very same type of battle rage. They fought with it as you do and found the secret to taming it.”

Hanna’s face exploded with surprise. “You’re kidding,” she cried. “You must be jerking my chain.”

“Not at all,” Aeolus replied insistently. “Both of them fought with and tamed the Rage. The Rage you so fear run through their entire lineage. It made the Caverias line formidable in battle. The Rage you thought was a relic of your time as a dark wizard is not a result of your exposure to the Darkness. It’s genetic, literally going back to the beginning of the Caverias line. It endows you with incredible strength, speed, skill, and cunning, making you a deadly threat to the Darkness. It tried to use it against you, but you have taken at least partial control of it at this time. When you finish what you started with Hannibal and become the completed soul the Ancient of Days decreed you would become, then you will be able to tame the beast and not worry about killing friends by accident.”

“My god,” Hanna breathed, staggering at the news. She suddenly dropped to her knees in astonishment. “You mean our berserker rages are not instilled by the Darkness, but it’s a genetic marker of who we are?”

“It is,” Aeolus declared. “Beowulf had it. His father, Thoth, had it. So did his grandfather and his great grandfather down the line back to the beginning. It’s a distinctly Caverias trait. I’ve seen berserker rages on other beings and it inevitable destroyed them. They were not able to tame the rage and it led to their destruction. Only those of the Caverias line have been able to successfully tame and utilize the Rage. It’s an awesome weapon of devastating power; one they used only as a last resort.”

“How did they tame the beast?” Hanna asked.

“I think you already know,” Aeolus replied. “Let’s just say don’t underestimate the power of a Lynxian soul mate, or any other soul mate for that matter. Thoth would have never mastered the Rage without Ariel. That’s what so grieved me when I heard Bolthor killed Ariel in front of him. Ariel was the calming influence on him, just as Selina is the calming yin to your raging yang. Believe me when I say you are closer to taming the Rage than you realize. But it will take both you and Selina to tame it.”

“Whoa,” Hanna breathed. “That’s the answer to the riddle of our Rage. That’s why the Almighty allowed us to be telepathically fused by the Teacher of Tiamat. It’s my fusion to Selina that will tame that beast. On repeated occasions when we’ve had the rage on us, only Selina has been able to safely approach us and dissipate the rage.” A gasp escaped Hanna’s lips as she had an epiphany.

“You understand now, don’t you?” Aeolus chimed, pleased at Hanna’s response.

“Yes,” Hanna replied, rising to her feet. “Selina has always been the key to my very survival. She alone possesses the key to controlling not just the rage, but my baser instincts as well. She’s my Ariel. God, I wish I were Hannibal again. I ache to be her man again.”

“You will be, my friend,” Aeolus rumbled. “Patience; your time will come. Everyone on this island knows preparations are being made for the reversal of your mutation. In two days, you will find the answer to the riddle of the completed soul and a new you will come into being.”

“What do you mean?” Hanna asked.

“You know very well what I’m saying,” Aeolus answered narrowly. “It’s been foreordained that this will happen. But fear not. You’ll not lose your identity as Hanna or Hannibal. You will become both and remember both. It will give you great insight into the needs of both men and women, and will make you a better person for it. It will also give you the strength and wisdom you need to discover your true destiny. You will find out who you really are and why you’re here. Isn’t that what you’ve been searching for?”

“Indeed,” Hanna agreed. “It’s what I’ve been searching for all my life; the answer to why I’m so different from everyone and where I truly belong. I just hope this answer doesn’t drive me mad when I find out.”

“Trust me,” Aeolus rumbled. “It won’t drive you insane. When you discover the truth of your existence, everything in your life will suddenly make perfect sense. You’ll see the plan and path the Ancient of Days has set before you and walk it without reservation, as your forefathers did. You’ll do it because you want to, not because someone is forcing it on you. I have faith in you, Hanna, and in the Ancient of Days who has His hand on you. He’s not going to let you down.”

“Your words and wisdom have pierced my wounded heart,” Hanna whispered. “I’m so humbled by your faith in me, a mere human who has lived but blink in your immense lifespan. I can only pray that your faith isn’t misplaced. But I shall try to live up to your expectations. Maybe, if the Almighty is merciful, I’ll finally find the peace I’ve been searching for.”

“He will give you the peace you yearn when you reach your goal,” Aeolus stated. “The peace you crave awaits you at the end of your journey, as it is with all of us. But until then, bask in the brief moments of peace the Ancient of Days allows you to experience. Treasure them. They will give you the strength you need to embrace your destiny. Treasure friends, family, and the peace they give you as well. It’s in our ability to help and love one another that we can fight the Darkness that surrounds us. The love and light we share with one another holds the Darkness at bay. Share it with those around you. We find peace by sharing our love and light with one another, by sharing our very souls with one another. It’s okay to show us your true light, the true you. Only when you do that will you start to make peace with yourself. The multiverse must see who you truly are before it will accept you. Reach down inside yourself and discover the truth of your existence. Only then will you find the peace you so covet. I know this from brutal experience. All beings go through this trial of discovering who we are, even me. Heed my words, my friend. I know how difficult it can be to discover who you are. But once you uncover that truth, then nothing will be able to steal your peace away.”

“I am awed by your wisdom, Aeolus,” Hanna murmured emotionally. “Never did I even consider what a treasure a draken’s wisdom could be. You have shown me the way out of the Darkness. Thank you.” She abruptly kissed Aeolus on his snout, and then hugged his massive head. “Between your words and what I’ve heard today from my friends and family, my hope is restored and my fears subdued,” Hanna cried softly, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I’m so blessed to have such noble friends who wish to help me in my time of need.”

“You are most welcome, little sister,” Aeolus chimed. “I can sense your peace and focus have returned now. Sometimes, it just takes an impartial observer to see the obvious. Now, may I give you a bit of advice?”

“Absolutely,” Hanna chimed.

“It’s getting late,” Aeolus stated. “And you’re exhausted from dealing with this crisis. Go get some sleep. When you wake on the morrow, I suggest you spend time in the Arena practicing your combat skills. That’s how you will finish releasing Hannibal from that prison you locked him in by accident. I know you didn’t mean to do it, and so does he. He’s not going to fault you for what you did. He just wants out so he can bond with you as your partner. Since Hannibal is your warrior instinct, combat training is the way to bring him out. Push yourself to your limit, but not beyond it. By testing your limits, you may find the way to break the chains you placed around Hannibal. I suspect Nemesis may be able to help you with that. He’s both wise and powerful with knowledge that will be very useful to you.”

“I know,” Hanna agreed. “I plan to spar with him at some point in order to test myself. But first, I must train. I’m not confident in my ability enough to go one on one with Nemesis right now. He’s been fighting longer than I’ve been alive by some time.”

“True,” Aeolus stated. “He is indeed a formidable warrior that you should respect at all times. He will make an excellent tutor for you because his loyalty to you is beyond reproach. Given the chance, he will teach you all he knows and make sure you’re ready for the task ahead of you. Now, enough talk little sister. You should really be getting to bed. You’re exhausted.”

When Hanna yawned, she knew Aeolus spoke truly. “You’re right,” she murmured. “I really should get some sleep now that I’m not so wired. Thank you for everything, Aeolus. Your wisdom has calmed my mind and brought peace to my heart concerning what I must do. I will start practicing in the morning and maybe, if the Lord is merciful, be able to break Hannibal out of the prison I mistakenly locked him in.”

“Never fear, little sister,” Aeolus chimed. “You’ll free Hannibal and become one with him. We all have faith in you. Now, go to bed. Get some rest.”

“Thank you, my friend,” Hanna replied, kissing Aeolus on the snout. “See you in the morning.”

“Good night, little sister,” Aeolus rumbled as Hanna walked away. “Rest well.”