Hey there everyone! It's finally done! This chapter took longer than I thought it would between research and my computer needing to be fixed. Thank you for your patience and enjoy!
Mai's POV
I was nervous to hear what Orion had to say. There were to many blank spots within my memories. I knew something was wrong with the retelling of my dream when almost everyone one had an odd look on their face and Stephen was about to say something.
"In the beginning, before Earth was created and the gods and goddesses still existed, seven beings were created by the god of the universe. Five were males and two were female, each having an element they were responsible for."
Elements? Does he mean something like the Chinese Elements?
"When you say elements are you meaning the Chinese Elements?" Lin asked from where he sat.
Orion hesitated a moment before saying, "The Chinese Elements are: Wood (mu), Fire (huo), Earth (tu), Metal (jin), and Water (shui) correct?" At Lin's nod he continued, "Yes and no. Many cultures have different elements that represent that culture. I've seen many forms of the elements and I can guarantee that there are way more than five, there are even more than seven. The elements I am referring to are Fire, Water, Earth, and Air, which are the most common of elements. Light and Dark, which are neutral elements that tend to balance each other out most of the time. The last element isn't really considered an element as it encompasses all of the elements."
I looked at Orion puzzled. I was wondering what this had to do with my earlier question. I didn't have to say anything as Gene did it for me.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but what does this have anything to do with what Mai asked earlier?"
Orion gave a slight smile before replying with, "I'll get to that in a second."
Orion didn't talk just to hear himself speak. Whatever he said always had some meaning to it. Even though this story is so far bizarre and doesn't seem like it has anything to do with what I asked I trust Orion enough to be willing to listen to him.
"The god of the universe created these seven beings to protect the universe from evil. Their names were Cassandra Nona, Daichi Farrell, Gareth Xylander, Ignacio Ciro, Kayla Alohi, Tate Kaden, and Zain Lucian, and as I said before each one was and is responsible for a certain element. Cassandra was over water, Daichi was over wind, Gareth was over earth, Ignacio was over fire, Kayla was over all of the elements, Tate was over light, and Zain was over dark. The purpose of these seven beings was protection of the entire universe from the god of the universe's brother the god of absolute evil."
Gene had a look of confusion on his face before he spoke up and asked, "People couldn't have come up with better names than the god of the universe and the god of absolute evil? Do they have different names?"
Something about what Gene had asked sparked a memory. I knew their names. How I knew their names I wasn't sure, but I did. "The god of the universe's name is Ace meaning 'unit, number one, or the best'. He was named this because he is basically the heart of the universe. The god of absolute evil's name is Doran which means 'exile'. He is also known as Duncan which means 'dark warrior'. Doran chose self-exile over being within his brother's company because he was jealous of the attention his brother got.
One day Doran had had enough and started a war with Ace. The war lasted for a long, long time before the god of the universe decided that enough was enough and ended the war. As a consequence of starting the war Doran was exiled for real. Ace knew that that wouldn't be the last that any of them would see of Doran so the seven were created to keep peace. And they did for thousands of years making sure that Doran never escaped his prison. It wasn't until the second war of the gods broke that things went downhill."
Everyone was looking at me odd and I knew it was because of what I had just said, but I couldn't muster up enough emotion to care. Orion was the only one who was looking at me differently from the others. He was assessing me rather than looking at me like I'd lost my marbles.
I was starting to feel light headed and somewhat drained. I don't know what it is about the story that Orion had started, but it was familiar as if I had lived through it. With that thought something clicked within me and made me think. In the past was I either Cassandra or Kayla. Was I reincarnated?
"Mai, I want to ask you a couple of questions and I need you to be honest with me. Can you do that?" Orion asked.
Why wouldn't I be honest?
"Uh sure," I said in response not really wanting to, but knowing I needed to.
He gave me a smile before beginning, "Are you feeling light headed?"
A blinked in surprise wonder how he could possibly know that. "Yes."
He nodded while Naru scowled. Madoka had a look of concern on her face along with Naru and Gene's mother. Lin and Martin had a blank look on their faces they were not going to make a judgement one way or the other. Gene had a far away look that made me wonder if he was having a vision.
"You're feeling drained, as if you've lived through this before and are looking at it from an outsider's perspective."
"Yes, but how do you know this?" I asked astonished. I didn't think I had allowed for my emotions to show through that much.
He smiled at me and I could tell that it pained him to do so as the smile did not reach his eyes, there was only pain there. "Personal experience."
"What do you mean by personal experience?"
"When the second war of the gods broke out the god of the universe demanded that the seven protectors were not to get involved with the war. He'd said that the gods and their creations needed to work things out amongst themselves. The seven didn't understand why, but they followed his orders at least for a while."
Terror gripped me making it hard to breath. I knew what was going to happen next. One of the seven betrayed the group causing it to fall apart. Someone died, someone from my past, someone I cared for deeply. I'd apparently stopped paying attention long enough for Orion to stop and stare at me with a concerned expression. Mumbling an apology, I nodded for Orion to continue.
"What you need to understand about the protectors is that Daichi and Kayla were mates…"
"Mates? What do you mean by mates?" Madoka asked. She'd scooted to the edge of her seat as if anticipating his answer.
Tilting his head slightly to the side Orion blinked at her for a couple of seconds before a look of understanding crossed his facial features. "I'm sorry it seems I forgot to clarify a major part if the story at the very begging. When the seven were created the god of the universe gave them a unique trait, the ability to shift into one specific animal. Shifters have mates and humans have soulmates which is essentially the same thing.
"Despite mates being a permanent thing Ignacio fell in love with Kayla. Well more like he fell in love with what she could do. Kayla felt only friendship with everyone, but Daichi. At first both Daichi and Kayla fought their attraction to each other not realizing that they were mates. I'm not sure when they realized it, but when they did the two became inseparable. Instead of leaving things be or trying to win Kayla's heart Ignacio allowed Doran to influence him. Doran had convinced Ignacio that if Daichi were to die then she'd have no one to go to, but him.
"Well it didn't work out quite like what Ignacio wanted. He had successfully betrayed everyone without them realizing it and helped kill Daichi. The thing is no secret stayed hidden from Kayla for long. She found out about Ignacio's involvement not to long after it happened and well let's just say things didn't turn out well for him. In the end Kayla was the one to kill Ignacio.
"The betrayal left the five remaining protectors reeling and struggling to keep up with their duties. Eventually they were cursed and dragged to Earth where they were no longer immortal. Fearing for the universe Ace twisted the spell placed on the protectors. Yes, they were still mortal in a sense, but were reincarnated."
The word reincarnated doesn't sit well with me. Something wasn't right, the word just didn't seem to fit. I wasn't the only one who seemed to think so as Naru spoke up.
"What you're saying seems so farfetched. Are you saying that Mai is the reincarnation of either Cassandra or Kayla? Does that mean that you are also a reincarnation?"
Orion looked tired as he smiled at us while running a hand through his hair. I felt a pang of sympathy for him. This had to be hard for him.
"Yes and no. We are more than mere reincarnations. No, I guess reincarnation is not the right word to say. We are more similar to phoenixes than anything. We're not reborn in the same sense, but something similar. When we die or are body is damaged beyond repair time is turned backwards for us and we become a babe once more. Our memories are blocked until we are reminded of them through similar situations or when someone is telling us about them. Like am doing right now."
I was surprised that Naru wasn't arguing with Orion. Out of everyone I would have thought he'd be the most likely person to disagree with something like this.
"I hate to point this out to you Orion, but I am no shifter. I think I would have known if I was one. So, I can't be one of the protectors," I said.
Orion looked at me and started to laugh. "None of us are shifters anymore. Shifters have almost become extinct. It's rare to see a shifter, but they still exist. No, we became human since it would help us blend in easier."
I gave a small smile trying to imagine what being a shifter would be like. Then again, I wondered if it would be harder to be a shifter because of having another presence within your body.
"You said each was given a unique gift. Does that mean you guys were different types of shifters?" Madoka asked with a notepad and pencil in hand.
She's actually taking notes! I knew she enjoyed researching, but this was a little much. Does she even believe everything that's being said?
"Yes, each one of us was a different type of shifter."
Lin, Gene, and Martin looked like they were still skeptical over the entire thing. Not that I could blame them as I was still skeptical. This all seemed to be a fantasy tale, one that should not exist.
"Who was what kind of shifter?"
I wasn't paying attention, but I could have sworn that it was Naru who asked that question. If it was Naru then I'd wonder if he was sick. Naru never questioned anything without having solid facts, not that I was going to complain as he'd asked the very question I was thinking.
"Well…let's see. Cassandra was a leopard shifter, Daichi was a greater sooty owl, Ignacio was a phoenix, Gareth was a gray wolf, Kayla was a kitsune, Tate was a unicorn, and Zain was a fennec fox."
I blinked in surprise at the diverse species that we were. I was even more curious to see who I was in the past. I was beating on the leopard.
"I'm guessing Mai was Cassandra the leopard shifter," Madoka said with a smile, while others nodded their heads.
"Why do you say that?" Orion asked.
Gene was the one to answer instead of Madoka. "Mai is fierce, sly, and sometimes lazy when she wants to be. She just has the personality of a cat."
I could feel my face heating up and I was pretty sure I was bright red. I never thought that I gave off the vibe of cattiness. The only one who seemed to disagree with this statement was Naru and I wasn't sure if I should be grateful or disappointed.
"Noll, you don't seem to agree with your brother. Why?" Madoka called out no doubt trying to embarrass him.
"Mai doesn't portray likeness to a cat. If anything, she's more like a kitsune. Kitsune are fierce warriors whose main ability is illusion. If you remember whenever Mai was hurt, sad, or upset she would hide it away giving us the illusion that she's okay. Kitsune tend to only get involved in what they deem important and if you ever noticed that's what Mai would do. Lastly a kitsune is fiercely loyal and will do anything to ensure the safety of those they are loyal to or care about. Sound familiar?"
I knew my mouth was hanging open, but I didn't care. I had no idea that Naru thought of me like that. Nor did I realize just how much he paid attention to me. Maybe he does love me, but was afraid. Just as that thought crossed my mind I threw it out Naru wasn't afraid of anything.
"I have to say I've never met anyone who could summarize Mai to a t. Mr. Davis you're correct in your assumptions of Mai being Kayla the kitsune shifter. Mai you're Kayla our beloved leader. I know it's a lot of information to process, I too was overwhelmed when it was first revealed to me. Over time your memories will return to you. They'll return to you in many different forms such as visions/dreams. I suspect your dreams are memories trying to return to you. Don't ever hesitate to reach out to me if you have any more questions."
When Orion was finished speaking he left the building in a puff of glittery smoke.
"He was Tate the unicorn shifter," I said absentmindedly.
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