Chapter 3

I awoke to the sound of knocking on the door. I sat up the bed sheets falling from my chest and onto my lap. "Come in." I said rubbing my eyes trying to wake up. In strode a Corpus crew man adorned in a golden suit, his helmet bore a weird structure of a half-circle and golden energy. He was holding a tray of food and walked towards the bedside. He set the tray down on my lap and bowed before leaving the room only for him to be replaced by the Lotus.

She smiled when she saw me looking at her, "I hope i didn't wake you child."

I shook my head, "You didn't, i was having a hard time sleeping anyway."

She walked to the bed and sat at the foot of it staring out into the void. I wondered to what she was thinking about but i didn't say anything. I moved my gaze down to the tray of food sitting on my lap, it was simple enough just a couple eggs, bacon, and some kind of meat i never noticed before. The glass on the corner of it was filled with water and a small roll with butter on it sat alone on a smaller plate to the side of the main course.

She turned her attention back to me, "I hope this suits your needs."

I couldn't reply i already had a mouthful of food not realizing i was being impolite with the way i was eating but i hadn't realized just how hungry i was. Upon noticing this she gave a soft chuckle and told me to slow down before i choked. I stopped for a second composing myself and swallowing the food i had just inhaled.

"I'm sorry," i apologize, "I didn't realize how hungry i was until i saw the tray that was brought to me. I gave a sheepish smile feeling embarrassed by my actions. She put her hand on my leg, "It's ok go on and eat i know that you need it."

I didn't need to be told twice i scarfed down the entire tray without second thought. I let out a sigh showing my hunger was curbed. It was quiet but i noticed she was staring at me the entire time. I turned a slight shade of red again realizing i had forgotten my manners. "I'm sorry Lotus, i keep forgetting my manners."

"Don't worry child, like i've said before it is fine you needed to eat just as you need regain your strength." She replied. "There is something i'd like to show you if you'd follow me."

I nodded in agreement throwing the covers off myself and swinging my legs to the side of the bed. I hesitated before my next motion, i remembered how i became disoriented when i moved too fast or too much. I slowly stood making sure i had my balance before taking a step, but none of the symptoms of before had risen yet. I took a few more steps and found I was fine to continue. "This way Jason." She said again in her motherly tone.

I followed without second thought. We strode across the room side by side but both of us were quiet until we passed through the doors into the hallway. "Lotus i was still wondering, you said you helped my mother to hide my powers, so how well did you know her?"

She let out a sigh, "I knew her but not all that well, i knew your father more as he had the same powers you possess and i was there to help guide him just as i do all Tenno."

"Do you know what happened to him?"

We passed through the hallway door and into a giant open room covered in brilliant colored flowers in golden pots, a stream of water flowed beneath the glass flooring showing all sorts of aquatic life thriving within it. Corpus crewman in the same golden clothes walked around maintaining the fauna or cleaning the floors and windows. They bowed as we passed not making a single noise.

"I wish i did Jason, he disappeared one day leaving no trace of himself anywhere, I feared the worst i thought he was one the of the prophecy but i suppose the universe picked a different individual to be so."

I thought on that for a minute before i asked my next question, "Lotus do you think that i am the one who is this chosen one that's been prophesied?"

She stopped walking clasping her hands together, "I don't know child part of me does hope so that no more of those i try to protect will stop dying by the hands of the those trying to exploit them, but another part is saying no because i know the the hardships you will face will be nothing like anything you've ever faced."

I went quiet but she continued, "Jason so much has happened in your life to shape the man you've become today but i know there's more yet to happen and it could be both good and bad. I just want the best for you as i do for all those i consider my children. No more turmoil, unnecessary death, and the fighting i see more and more of you become scarred and injured and i just can't take it."

I looked at her and noticed the little streaks of tears flowing down her cheeks condensing on her chin and dripping to the floor. I took a deep breath before asking my last question hoping not to upset her more, "Is there anyway i can see this prophecy?"

She turned toward me i was expecting her to answer no or start possibly yelling at me but she surprised me with her reply, "Are you sure you want to see it Jason?"

I bit my lip did i really want to or should i just wait i thought to myself, but i wanted to know, i needed to know before i made my decision, "Yes i think it will help me make my choice."

She called to a crewman in its weird broken gibberish and it bowed before leaving the room. She turned back to me, "Jason i need to ask one more time are you sure that you wish to see it?"

I nodded in agreement. She took a shaky breath, "Alright when the crewman returns you may take a look and read it."

It went quiet again after that except for the sound of the flowing water beneath our feet. It felt hours had passed before the crewman returned holding a scroll etched with patterns of cherry blossom trees losing their petals and a dragon coiled around the trunk of the tree. He stepped in front of m dropping to one knee and holding up the scroll in both hands. I picked it up and gave my thank you with a bow. I watched him stand and bow once more before turning and leaving both the Lotus and I.

I looked to the Lotus and she gave a nod showing that it was okay once more to read it. I pulled the top and bottom watching the scroll unroll in front of me. I began reading the writing on the paper;

The worlds shall fall to greed and evil

The darkness shall make way toiling all it touches

One shall rediscover the lost light and light the way

Night shall be overcome by day

And the world's shall know prosperity

I darted my eyes back towards her before continuing,

The remaining light will face many trials

The final battle shall come with prices to pay

On that ground shall both light and darkness either prevail

The light may burn away the dark or the dark suffocate the light until extinguishment

I had finished reading and closed it and thought to myself, "For a prophecy it sure didn't give much to go on but the last line if it is me and i fail everything will fall."

I took a breath and looked at the lotus, "That was a bit to take in especially the last line, but i think i know what my decision is."

She looked at me, "Jason are you sure you want to decide now, once i awaken your powers there won't be any going back."

"Yes i want to make my choice now and i want you to reawaken what apparently sleeps within me."

She nodded and walked closer to me, "Jason close your eyes and empty your mind find a meditated state allowing you feel peace."

I sat down and closed my eyes taking a breath, clearing my mind looking for a state of serenity. I felt myself lift off the floor and my mind and body empty of all thought and stress. I could faintly hear the Lotus speak in a language i never heard before then a slight pressure on my chest. The from within the darkness of my mind there was spark that erupted into a giant white flame. I could feel the warmth and i felt calm and relaxed then a voice echoed all around me, "CHOSEN"

The flame remained and i opened my eyes setting my feet to the floor and looking at the Lotus, she gave a nod and put her hand on my cheek smiling but i could sense her worry.

I looked down at myself and almost jumped through the ceiling. My body was surrounded in a brilliant white flame. I could still feel the warmth of it but it did not injure me. I was still shocked at this new discovery how could this even be possible i was literally on fire.

The lotus spoke, "Your powers are something special that no one else possesses you are one of the selected few who were born with the sacred flame burning within them. This allows you to wield more than just your powers associated with your warframe and then some never even seen or heard of before."

I continued to study myself turning my body everyway i could trying to understand it while she spoke more, "I wish i could help you learn to control these powers but i do not know how they are used nor how to activate them that is something you must learn for yourself."

I finished my observation of myself and looked at her as she finished speaking, "I'll get a hold of these powers but i'm still awestruck by the flames."

"The sacred flame is something that once it has found its bearer does not injure them but instead shrouds them within its warmth helping to heal wounds and give the bearer powers beyond comprehension." She replied.

"So I was born with this but how does it choose its bearer and even though it was put to sleep why hasn't it ever shown any signs of being there?"

"The sacred flame chooses its bearer by looking at the bearer's heart, if it is pure and can sustain the power it gives it will burn within them giving them new abilities never seen before and it has risen within you once but you didn't know it if you think back on it you will know when and where it did."

I thought about it for a second but couldn't place it, "So what now, it has been reawakened but i have no idea on how to continue from here."

"From here i will return your soul to your body and you will pick up where you left off. The rest is up to you to find out, your path, the discovery of your powers and how to control them will stem from within you."

I went quiet and felt her arms wrap around me, "But Jason be careful and protect those that are close to you. I will still be here if you need me providing guidance and assistance not only to you but to all of the Tenno."

I returned the hug, "Can i ever return here to see you again?"

"I'm sorry my child but that I do not know, i was able to do it this once since you were close to death but maybe you can find a way to return here without such a prerequisite."

I gave a small chuckle, "Goodbye Lotus." I watched as reality was blurred and the feeling of her embrace fade as my soul was returned to my body.

I opened my eyes and found myself lying on a makeshift bed, a heart monitor beeped systemically to the rhythm of my heart. The top half of my under armour was removed exposing my tan skin to the air, a thick bandage was wrapped from my shoulder to my hip and stained with dried blood. "Well that's a major difference from waking up on that golden bed." i thought to myself. I pulled off the sensors attached to my chest and jumped out of the bed. I clenched and unclenched my hands and wiggles my toes making sure that i was fine. I reached up and undid the bandage looking at my body. There wasn't a single wound or scar in sight. "Guess those new powers really do you heal me faster."

I looked around the room i was in, it wasn't anything fancy just a small wooden room, a couple of small window were thrown around letting moonlight into the room. A light on the ceiling was dimly lit barely causing any shadows to be created. A single large piece of cloth was being used for the door allowing the warm air to enter in the little wooden room. I walked toward the door pulling the cloth to one side and continuing on my way. I exited the room and realized that it was a small shack. I looked around noticing that i had stepped outside. Before an extremely large clearing was littered with torches lining pathways from shack to shack. People both in warframes and not were walking around in the torchlight. A few were engaged in conversation while others were standing looking out at the distance various weapons held in their grasp.

I heard something drop and shatter to my right, i whipped my head in the direction only to see a woman with brown hair, brilliant green eyes reflecting the moonlight in them, she stood a few inches shorter than me, her mouth was agape. I recognized her immediately, Breana was out of her warframe, she had dropped something made of porcelain on the stone pathway causing it to shatter. "J...Jason?" She stuttered.

I turned to her a smile forming on my face, "Yeah it's me." She wrapped me in a hug crying, "We all thought you were dead, I mean were going to die you almost dead with barely any sign of hope that you would wake up." She sobbed into my chest. Breana was hysterical but this girl was like a sister to me and i could understand why she was so scared, i shuddered at the memory of the Grineer fighter pods opening fire on me. She must've felt my shudder because she looked up at me, "Are you could let me get the top to your under armour." She ran off and quickly returned holding the skin tight clothing we wore when we were using our warframes. I took it graciously and slipped it over head.

The black and gold under armour that i wore still fit fine around my toned body giving me reassurance that i hadn't lost any body weight from being out. I was snapped back to reality by a swift punch to the shoulder, "What were you thinking trying to take on a whole Fomorian fleet by yourself?" Breana asked a stern look appearing on her face.

"I wanted to give you all enough time to escape but i guess i didn't really think it through." I replied rubbing the back of my head giving a small one-sided smile.

"Jason everyone thought you were dead until we got you here, you've been out for almost six days."

"Six days?!" I exclaimed, "That can't be true." Breana shook her head, "It's the sixteenth of december and the fleet came on the tenth." I went quiet still trying to wrap my head around the information. I was only gone for one in the void with the Lotus there's no way that was true.

"No matter youre fine now and seem in good health, there's also something different about you but i can't place it." She said studying me.

I quickly gave her the rundown of everything that happened with the lotus, the prophecy, and the new power i had acquired. She looked at me like i was crazy, "If that really happened then prove it."

I was taken a bit back like that, how could i prove it when i had no idea how to activate my powers yet; maybe there was clue from my experience with the lotus. "I'm waiting." Breana said tapping foot and crossing her arms. That's when it clicked the warmth maybe if i imagined it and pictured the flame in my head again it would activate. "Ok just give me one second." I told Breana closing my eyes. I imagined a spark giving way to a brilliant white flame, I imagined the warmth enveloping my body once more. I felt a sudden surge of strength erupting in my body. I opened my eyes to see Breana awestruck in a brilliant white light. I looked down at myself and once again my body was covered in the white flame. "I...you… but how?" Breana tried to formulate a sentence but couldn't. I laughed and told her what it was and how it didn't hurt me or those that i willed it not too.

I gave myself a pat on the back well summoning my new powers was easy enough but wielding it was going to be something a bit different. "We have to show Jax, he's gonna flip when he sees this!" Breana exclaimed. I smiled, "He most likely let's go find him."

In the shadows of the forest surrounding a clearing

A lone hooded figure was observing a small settlement people were walking along pathways lined with torches, both in warframes and not. Some stood sentry various weapons held in their grasp as they peered out into the night and watched the forest for any sign of danger. The figure had his sight settled on two were talking one was embracing the other. He watched as they continued their conversation and noticed the female of the two had released the other and was tapping her foot and crossing her arms. The male went still for a second then erupted in a what appeared to be a white flame. The figure smiled under his facemask, "Well Jason looks like you've taken the first step but this is just beginning. I will let you discover more of your power before i return until then rest easy little hero." He erupted into laughter fading into the shadows leaving nothing but a faint echo of laughter that turned to the sound of the nightlife of the forest.