Return of the Angels
The dawn approaches, Mai clarified and looked over to Celine who sat crossed legged on the sands.
Her eyes were closed, her breathing steady and calm, silent against everything. Her mind was clear and focused, her heart had recovered from its turmoil and the tempest within her blew down to a breeze and then nothing at all. The balance within herself had been restored. Mai knew not of the details that encase her master's mysteries, but she respected privacy and she would never dig too deep where she is not wanted. They shared a life together, have become the closest of all beings, shared more than companionship with each other; they have shared their souls to one another. It was not something that could be done easily. But Celine had created her and that was enough to state of their connection.
But their relationship grew constantly.
Mai, she looked over at Terror. You're going to have to explain to us what she's doing.
She turned to face him. She's maintaining her inner peace.
As if he could understand that one sentence he nodded and focused back on her before his eyes went out to his surroundings. He was going to protect Celine with everything he had. Shadow would always remain by Celine's side until he is able to return to Raven when he's successfully back to normal. For now, there was no disloyalty in those blue eyes of his. The black organoid was welcome amongst them as long as he wanted. Terror approved of him, had no choice at first, but he was able to understand that Shadow was just like any other organoid. Whilst Mai was not!
"I can clarify that everything is back to normal now, right?" the organoids turned towards the speaker. Herald was striding up to them and stopped short. He looked at Shadow who was looking at him distrustfully. "Ah, the protective one, and yet Celine is not your master, correct?" Shadow growled at him. "I may not be able to understand your words, but I can easily tell how organoids react."
"Don't pester him, Herald."
"Focusing for inner peace?" she nodded as she stood up, wiping the sand from her butt.
"I've spoken to Van, we've discussed what we needed to, but for now we're keeping a distance from each other. He needs to calm and I still need room to accept that even humans, friends, have problems accepting things."
"As long as you're talking to each other." he looked out to the distance. "Dawn's approaching…"
That's what I just said! Mai growled and he looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
He pointed at her and turned to face Celine with a questioning gaze. "It's because you repeated what she said." He formed an 'o' with his lips but it didn't come out as a sound.
"We best get started, first of all, have you even accepted yourself to be what you really are?" she nodded. "That's the first step done. Do you believe in yourself?" no reaction and no words, he took that as a no. "Celine, if you're struggling to believe in yourself, then everyone will lose faith."
"I do believe in myself." She was such a terrible liar. He couldn't help but smile. The only way for her to believe in herself is to give her time to practice her powers so she can feel confidence in them. Without that belief she is able to use her abilities, then it's no doubt that she's struggling in confidence. He should have started the training as soon as she was found.
"Our first step is to create light, it's a really basic ability and until you do this, you can't go any further." He could feel her confidence wavering. Creating light was only easy when in the angel form, but since she had not yet discovered her wings, she couldn't become what she truly is. So to create light in a form this weak… it's going to be really difficult. "You have to channel it through your angel form, and since you have only discovered who you really are, you're not used to coming into contact with the real you. So before even creating light, you're going to have to find who yourself."
"And if I can't?"
"Then not only will you be stuck in this disguised form for the rest of your eternal life and you will not survive the battle." He turned and walked away. "Find yourself, my little Celestial, find yourself." And then he disappeared into the base.
"Find myself…? Yeah I can do that." She sat down on the sand again and closed her eyes to go searching. But a moment later she opened them and growled in frustration. "I so cannot do this!"
Calm, Celine, you must centre yourself. She turned to Mai.
"And you're an angel since when?"
I know you're frustrated, but don't take it out on the wrong people.
"Sorry, Mai…" she turned her eyes towards the sand. "I shouldn't have become an angel if this is all I can do."
That's nonsense! Mai growled angrily. You've done more good than anyone else I know.
"You're my creation, Mai, there's no doubt you'd feel that way."
Since when am I compelled to always believe that my master is correct in all she does? Is that what you programmed me to do? Silence greeted her words. You see, you're placing yourself in the wrong place. You need to calm yourself and concentrate.
Celine nodded, straightened her back and closed her eyes. She took deep slow breaths and gently released them out of her mouth. Soon, she breathed them out of her nose, recreating that silent breathing she had been doing before. Mai watched with satisfaction lighting her core and the other two organoids watching curiously. Unlike them, Mai could feel the calmness that now took place within her master. Sometimes, even her master needed scolded. One day, Mai alone will not be enough. Celine needed someone who could relate to her, but it can't be Herald all the time. Even he has something to do.
Mai's attention shifted to the skies. She sniffed the air and she instantly knew. The wind breezed through, ruffling hair and slightly disturbing the sand's dust. Clouds quickened their slow pace, passing through the sky but moving nowhere near the sun. Almost like there was a block there that was forbidding them from entering the radiant space. She swapped her attention again and focused back on Celine. The wind had picked up speed and now her hair was flying with it. The concentration was definitely there, but there seemed to be some sort of struggle. Perhaps Celine was hesitant and reluctant to rely on her more powerful self. With her current skills and abilities, she would be ready for anything humane. But she was not facing something human, she was facing something abnormal that disturbs the very air space they're in and around.
Celine was definitely concentrating as Mai had suggested, so hard in fact that something was definitely responding to her. It was faint, but Mai could definitely see it. Surrounding Celine's body like an aura was a gentle glow something that soon manifested into an even stronger glow, becoming nearly solid as a ribbon. But this was a ribbon of light that was definitely manifested from Celine's own body. She could definitely tell what this was. It was Celine's own body manifesting from deep within. It was definitely telling of the connection that Celine was trying to invoke. But the glow was flickering like a light. Attempting to connect to her own power was difficult for her.
"Oh my god…!" Celine's focused faded fast and she dropped to the ground, hitting her butt hard on the sand.
"Ouch, damn it." Celine rubbed her butt as she gathered herself to her feet. She turned towards the speaker and saw the girls. Storm, Moonbay and Fiona! "What are you doing here?"
"Well, we were coming to get you," Moonbay replied but she looked up towards where Celine had been 'floating' and then looked back at her. "But that was just…"
"That was amazing!" Storm squealed, surprising the three of them.
They all looked at her as if she hit her head, hard.
"So, Celine, what exactly was you doing?"
"I was concentrating…" she replied, blinking her eyes a little confused on their actions. Since when did they ever look freaked out around Celine? Shouldn't they have expected something really strange to happen?
"On what…?" Moonbay exclaimed. "You were glowing and you were floating in the air!"
Celine rubbed the back of her neck and seemed to wonder on how to explain that. She couldn't tell them about Herald, so she'd have to make something up. "I was getting in tune with my abilities."
"So angels do have abilities?" Celine nodded at Moonbay. "Well, any other abilities we need to know about?"
Celine shrugged. "I don't know what abilities I have. That's why I'm concentrating, getting acquainted with them and practice on using them."
"That looks like it will be a while, because if your concentration is easily breakable… it'll take a while."
"I agree Moonbay. So what did you want to come get me for?"
"Wondering if you wanted to come to the City with us to get some new clothes." Fiona spoke up.
"Sorry, I can't, I really need to focus on getting the hang of my abilities first."
"It's the one chance in a lifetime. Who knows when you're going into battle again! Besides, you could use the time out for once. Because girl," she walks over and places her arm over her shoulder. "It's time to get some bond going on between the four of us." She grinned and looked to the organoids. "You can come for protection if you really want to."
Damn right we are! Moonbay could only hear Mai growl but Celine looked at her and smiled.
She's right, Celine, you need some girl time, create friends and bonds. Terror said, walking over and then passed. He stopped, turned and waited for the lot of them to catch up.
Celine could definitely tell that this was going to be a long day.