The Keeper Of The Light
By Chang Liko
Chapter Five - Duo
Disclaimer: Don't Own.
A young boy sat on the steps of a huge house, one that was owned by the richest, most caring family that the small town had ever before seen in its entire existence. The boy, although appearing to be a girl with the long chestnut braid that hung down his back, was clothed in a pair of pure white pants, white leather sandles, and a golden medallion that hung around his neck and rested on his bare chest. In his hands, he held a tiny bird that had been injured. Smiling down at the bird, the young boy clasped the bird to his chest, while clasping the medallion around his neck with his other hand.
"You shall not die just yet, my friend. 'Tis not your time."
A healing light began spreading from the medallion enclosed in the boy's hand, seeping through his fingers and gently bathing the young sparrow in a warm, caring glow. As the glow began to soften and spread over the tiny sparrow more, the tiny bird let out a happy, pleased chirp, telling the boy that it was grateful for the help that it was getting.
Chuckling, the boy let go of the medallion and smiled down at the tiny bird, saying, "You are welcome, my tiny friend. But from now on, please be careful of where you are going. Flying into a training session like you did was very unsafe and extremely dangerous, for both parties involved." Setting the sparrow on his knee, he said, "Off with you now. I'm sure that your mother is worried about you. And be careful."
For a moment, the young boy watched as the sparrow soared into the sky. Sighing, the boy stood and ran into the house. Sighting a worker down the hall, he smiled and waved, calling, "Serene! Have you seen Mother and Father anywhere?"
Smiling back, Serene called, "I think that your parents are in the library, trying to decide on a topic for their next book, Master Duo!"
"Thank you!" With that, the young boy, Duo, raced towards the library.
As the library door appeared, Duo opened it and ran inside, asking, "Mother? Father? Did you wish to speak to me?"
Just as the woman facing Duo began to open her mouth, a boy about Duo's age stepped into sight, startling Duo. Smiling at the stranger, Duo asked, "Who are you?"
"I am the bearer of the Keeper of the Light. I am sure that you know of the battles that went on with the four gods of the elements. I have come here to ask of you a favor. As you well know, unless the powers of the four earthly elements have a keeper, then they will end up being destroyed, along with the planet that they are supposed to protect. For that not to happen, I have been given the task of going to a previously chosen few to request that they hold the powers of Earth, Fire, Wind and Water, until the time that they are needed once again. Duo Maxwell, of the Wind Clan, you have been chosen to receive the powers of the Element Wind. If you agree to receive these powers, you will be responsible for all the good and bad that comes with holding these formidable powers. Also, with these powers, will be granted immortality. You will never die; you will never age; you will never change from the appearance that you hold now. But, once you receive these powers, all memory of this conversation, along with all memory of the powers, will have to be erased from your mind. Do you agree to my request?"
Tossing an uncertain glance at his parents, Duo took a step forward and said, "I will agree to what you ask. But I ask one thing. Do not trifle with my healing powers. You can hide them when you think that the time is right, but you may not touch them at this time because they are of great use to me at the moment. I use them to help the injured."
"It is agreed," the young boy replied.
Closing his eyes, the young boy bowed his head as an invisible wind started to swirl around him, lifting him into the air, along with Duo. As the wind surged around them, Duo began to glow a pale blue. As the glow around Duo intensified, the swirls of wind became visible and surged towards Duo. Just when Duo's parents thought that the wind would rip him to shreds, it slowed and seemed to comfort Duo, almost seeming to caress him, before slowly entering his body.
As this happened, his hair lightened, almost to a blond, and two pale blue streaks appeared in his hair, interwoven amongst his braid. As his hair finished changing, Duo curled up until his forehead touched his knees as a huge set of Falcon wings sprang out from his shoulder blades. The wings were a dark blue in color and filled the huge library entirely.
The glowing dimmed as Duo was set gently to the floor, along with the young boy, the Keeper of the Light.
As Duo opened his eyes, his newly acquired wings flexed before folding as best they could to settle along his back. Looking back at his wings, Duo grinned. "Cool!"
Laughing, the young boy smiled in the direction of Duo's parents, saying, "I think that the right choice was made when Duo was chosen for the powers of Wind. He is best suited to them."
Nodding, Duo's father smiled, saying, "I think that you are right. He is best suited to them."
Glancing at his mother, Duo smiled at the shocked look on her face, asking, "What is wrong, Mother?"
Smiling, Duo's mother went to Duo and wrapped her arms around him, careful of his new wings. "I'm so proud that you were chosen to receive this honor. Even though you will not remember this, you have made your father and I so proud. I know that you will carry these powers well, and use them only for good."
Hugging his mother back, Duo looked to the young boy and asked, "I know that all memory of my new powers will have to be erased, but do the wings have to be hidden also? Or can you just plant some memory of them in my mind so that I can keep them?"
Smiling, the young boy went to Duo and placed a hand on his shoulder, saying, "I knew that you would ask that. I will allow you to keep the wings, on one condition. You must never allow anyone from the surface to see them. There have already been tales of mystical creatures with strange abilities and forms. I do not need you getting captured and risking the secret that you must not even know about. Promise me this?"
Nodding, Duo replied, "I promise. If I use my wings, I will always use the clouds for cover, otherwise, I will always have them hidden, deep within my soul. I vow never to let anyone catch me, or to never let anyone inadvertently know my secret. I swear it upon my honor as a member of the Wind clan."
"Thank you, Duo Maxwell. I will leave now. When I disappear, you will remember nothing of me, or your new powers. I will see you when you are needed most. Until then."
With those words, the young boy disappeared, leaving Duo standing there, his wings not bothering him, since the young boy had implanted the memory of having them since he was a little boy.
"Mother? Father? Selene told me that you were working on an idea for a new book. Have you thought of anything yet?" Duo questioned, his voice happy, never knowing what he would have to go through later in his never-ending life.
To Be Continued…
A/N: I hope that you all liked this chapter. Trowa's story is up next. I like Duo's story best, because in it, I gave him a family, instead of having him stay an orphan. Please Review