Chapter 3
Cassie, Sara, David, and Amy all ran to meet each other. As they looked at the five armored warriors in confusion, Cassie was the first to speak, "could someone please explain to me what in the world just happened?"
"I think it would be better if I explained it," an etheral voice replied.
Cassie, Sara, David, and Amy turned to see what looked like a Shinto monk with long white hair carrying a staff.
"Ancient One," the red-armored boy said, "I didn't think you would come."
"I must come," the monk said. "These four must be trained in their powers. I did not think that the next generation of Seasonal Armor Bearers would be found so soon, so I have come to be their guide. They must not be corrupted by Talpa's evil."
"What do you mean by powers?" Cassie asked, "and what does that have to do with those four armored nutcases attacking us, the tourists, and the other Olympiads?"
"Do you any of you know the myth of the Nine Armors?" The monk asked.
"I remember studying it in my Eastern Mythology class," Amy said. "What about it?"
"Your four are part of the myth," the Ancient One smiled.
"How?" David asked.
"Do you remember the four virtues of the seasonal armors?" the monk asked Amy.
"Yes," Amy replied, "there's Loyalty, Obedience, Piety, and Serenity."
"Then look to the light," the monk said.
As the staff began to glow, a light was emitted. Soon, the Kanji of the four virtues began to glow on the foreheads of the four Olympiads.
"Loyalty," Amy said.
"Serenity," David said.
"Piety," Sara said.
"Obedience," Cassie said.
When the light stopped, the virtues stopped glowing. "We're part of the cycle," Cassie realized, "we're the next Seasons."
"Then I guess we know what we have to do," Amy said.
"Wait a minute," David said, "we still have to compete. It was the reason we came to Atlanta in the first place."
"And it would look suspicious to our coaches if we disappeared," Sara said.
"You will compete," the Ancient One replied, "but when you are not competing, you will train."
"Fine," Amy said, "but we still have the other obligations, such as the opening ceremony and closing ceremony."
"You will perform those duties, when that time comes," the monk assured the four Olympiads, "but until then, you must rest and reserve your strength." With that, the Ancient One walked away.
"Weird," Sara said.
"Don't worry," the boy in red armor said, "he may seem a little odd, but he's very wise. By the way, I'm Ryo, the one in dark blue is Rowen, the one in green is Sage, the one in orange in Kento, and the one in light blue is Cye."
"Pleased to meet you," Cye said.
"I'm Amy; this David, Sara, and Cassie. Thanks for saving us."
"No problem," Kento said.
"By the way," David asked, "do you know why those Warlords were trying to attack the Olympiads and everyone else?"
"Nope," Rowen said, "but that's one of the reasons why we came to America, to find out for ourselves."
"What's the other reason?" Sara asked.
"To watch the Olympics," Rowen laughed.
"So, the next generation of Seasons has been found; this will prove to be very interesting," Talpa laughed.
"Master, I do not understand," Cale said.
"Once we have taken the gold, silver, and bronze medallists, my army will be complete. And once we have the next generation of Warlords, we will crush the Ronin Warriors and conquer the mortals' world."
"But, Master." Sekhmet asked, "why do we need them? Shouldn't we just eliminate them as possible threats?"
"They are the strongest Olympiads and the heirs to each of the armors. I expect you to train them well."
"Yes, Master," the Warlords spoke together.
"Because they are strongest Olympiads," Talpa continued, "I want those four alive to be in my army."
"But, Master." Anubis asked, "what if they cannot be turned to our side?"
"I have ways to ensure that they will turn and serve me," Talpa said. "You must not all attack at once or the mortals will be suspicious. I want the medallists and those four armor bearers brought here alive, do you understand?"
"Yes, Master." The four Warlords bowed and left the throne room.
Cassie, Sara, David, and Amy all ran to meet each other. As they looked at the five armored warriors in confusion, Cassie was the first to speak, "could someone please explain to me what in the world just happened?"
"I think it would be better if I explained it," an etheral voice replied.
Cassie, Sara, David, and Amy turned to see what looked like a Shinto monk with long white hair carrying a staff.
"Ancient One," the red-armored boy said, "I didn't think you would come."
"I must come," the monk said. "These four must be trained in their powers. I did not think that the next generation of Seasonal Armor Bearers would be found so soon, so I have come to be their guide. They must not be corrupted by Talpa's evil."
"What do you mean by powers?" Cassie asked, "and what does that have to do with those four armored nutcases attacking us, the tourists, and the other Olympiads?"
"Do you any of you know the myth of the Nine Armors?" The monk asked.
"I remember studying it in my Eastern Mythology class," Amy said. "What about it?"
"Your four are part of the myth," the Ancient One smiled.
"How?" David asked.
"Do you remember the four virtues of the seasonal armors?" the monk asked Amy.
"Yes," Amy replied, "there's Loyalty, Obedience, Piety, and Serenity."
"Then look to the light," the monk said.
As the staff began to glow, a light was emitted. Soon, the Kanji of the four virtues began to glow on the foreheads of the four Olympiads.
"Loyalty," Amy said.
"Serenity," David said.
"Piety," Sara said.
"Obedience," Cassie said.
When the light stopped, the virtues stopped glowing. "We're part of the cycle," Cassie realized, "we're the next Seasons."
"Then I guess we know what we have to do," Amy said.
"Wait a minute," David said, "we still have to compete. It was the reason we came to Atlanta in the first place."
"And it would look suspicious to our coaches if we disappeared," Sara said.
"You will compete," the Ancient One replied, "but when you are not competing, you will train."
"Fine," Amy said, "but we still have the other obligations, such as the opening ceremony and closing ceremony."
"You will perform those duties, when that time comes," the monk assured the four Olympiads, "but until then, you must rest and reserve your strength." With that, the Ancient One walked away.
"Weird," Sara said.
"Don't worry," the boy in red armor said, "he may seem a little odd, but he's very wise. By the way, I'm Ryo, the one in dark blue is Rowen, the one in green is Sage, the one in orange in Kento, and the one in light blue is Cye."
"Pleased to meet you," Cye said.
"I'm Amy; this David, Sara, and Cassie. Thanks for saving us."
"No problem," Kento said.
"By the way," David asked, "do you know why those Warlords were trying to attack the Olympiads and everyone else?"
"Nope," Rowen said, "but that's one of the reasons why we came to America, to find out for ourselves."
"What's the other reason?" Sara asked.
"To watch the Olympics," Rowen laughed.
"So, the next generation of Seasons has been found; this will prove to be very interesting," Talpa laughed.
"Master, I do not understand," Cale said.
"Once we have taken the gold, silver, and bronze medallists, my army will be complete. And once we have the next generation of Warlords, we will crush the Ronin Warriors and conquer the mortals' world."
"But, Master." Sekhmet asked, "why do we need them? Shouldn't we just eliminate them as possible threats?"
"They are the strongest Olympiads and the heirs to each of the armors. I expect you to train them well."
"Yes, Master," the Warlords spoke together.
"Because they are strongest Olympiads," Talpa continued, "I want those four alive to be in my army."
"But, Master." Anubis asked, "what if they cannot be turned to our side?"
"I have ways to ensure that they will turn and serve me," Talpa said. "You must not all attack at once or the mortals will be suspicious. I want the medallists and those four armor bearers brought here alive, do you understand?"
"Yes, Master." The four Warlords bowed and left the throne room.