A Crumbling Society

Part 1-24

The house was lit up like a work of art, lanterns around certain entryways and the sunset peaking just enough to give an aesthetic feeling. Fireflies danced around here and there moving out of my way as I got nearer. A midnight blue front door opened for me as I reached the last step, and the smell of dinner was flowing out of the house in the current. Sounds of conversation filled the rest of what was missing, it was Liza, she sounded different than she had before back in India. More confidence came out of her, she seemed like a different person altogether. I didn't dare walk by the doorframe in hopes to not interrupt her speech. It wasn't at all wrong to listen in because I kind of had to, but it helped to know that she was doing this on her own, which I sort of told all of them they had to. She was beginning to finish up with the tone in her voice, "I'm glad we are all back together, and I'm glad we can be the Warrior Legion again, we have a lot to make up for and it will take time but together we can do it. Together, we are strong!". "Woah, woah", The group began to call out, I rushed in, Liza caught herself on the wall behind her, some of them were standing to help catch her. I got to her first and she began telling me she could feel it, she could feel him, Archaic. "He's waking up, I can sense it now", she said looking at me, then glancing over to everyone else. Then, by turn, each member began to look around aimlessly as they too began to feel him. "I take it you all solved your differences then?", asking aloud and the group all nodded. Jace and Ana were holding hands now. This was good, this means business and that they can be a whole team once more. "Each of you get rest and tomorrow we head out early, if he's waking up then he'll need all of you there with full energy", I announced helping Liza back on her feet. "A good meal and some rest should do everyone some good", Reena said, giving the notion dinner was ready. They all trailed off and Liza kept me from leaving, waiting for everyone to exit the room she held me in place. Once we were alone, she spoke, "thank you she said, for real this time".

"What do you mean?", I asked her.

"For pushing me to be the leader they once had, and not the whiney girl that wanted to give up easily".

"Oh, it was nothing, it's honestly all you, like I've been telling you this whole time"

"I know, I just wanted to put it out there, things haven't been all that great for some time and it felt right, necessary even", she finished with a big smile.

"Well, I appreciate it", I told her stepping out of the way and suggesting we join the others.

We both headed to the kitchen where everyone was waiting for us to join. It was nice to have a good moment with everyone before things got serious. The laughter was good as well, it was like no time had passed at all. Josie spent some time showing everyone pictures of her kids and talking about how proud she was. Then, Mason cracked some jokes and Jace got offended but started laughing when everyone stared at him for a second. Reena seemed happier now that everyone was back and having a good time. This was nice, something good to see all of them doing, they're my friends too, but I couldn't help feeling a sense of loneliness come over me. Dinner ended a while later and everyone went to bed. I climbed my way up the hideout to my room and went straight for the bed. It felt nice to be fully healed and relaxed finally, I drifted away thinking about tomorrow and what it could mean for us, maybe we could win.

The sun beamed into the room and crept up over my eyes telling me it was time to get up. I changed my clothes from the ones I left on and headed back down to the living room where everyone was waiting. We all greeted a good morning and then they began asking me about when we were leaving and if we needed to do anything beforehand. I asked if they were all ready, to which they each replied yes, "okay then, suit up!", I commanded. Each one of them had their suits appear in flashes of lights and magic and others changed in stealth and mist and even the wind. My suit did the normal with black flames swirling around me, now we were all ready to go, as superheroes. "Everyone grab a hand, Reena, you stand as best you can across from me", I told them, and they began to shift for her to fit. Pawn was on my left and Whirlwind to my right as we clasped hands together. "Now, do not let go, otherwise you're lost, and it'll take some time to find you!", I expressed great caution. "Reena, you know the spell, once we chant enough, you'll know where we're going as well", I told her. "Ana, the same goes for you, your gray magic will help boost the range to get everyone in the spell", she nodded back at me.