The Destineds

TD- Lie&Secret - Arna

It wasn't long before 8 years rolled past. Arna was a twelve year old girl about to turn thirteen, intelligent and eye-catching already. She excelled in her studies and was respected and loved by the entire Deity society.
It was one week until her birthday when her parents summoned her into their room.
"Your mother told me that you still haven't discovered your powers.", said Arna's father, Sahn Lilag.
"Yes, father. That's right.", replied Arna, standing near the door with her gaze cast down.
"Have you tried different techniques of power awakening?", asked Sahn.
"Yes, father. I have", replied Arna.
"Well. Then WHY haven't you discovered your powers yet?", roared Sahn, furiously.
Arna flinched at the sudden outburst of her father.
"She still has a week left dear. Let's not pressure her please.", intertwined Arna's mother, Futi Lilag. "Calm down"

"You do know that you have become a matter of laughter in Deity society, right?", questioned Futi to Arna.
"Yes, mother. I do.", said Arna. "I'm trying my best to learn about different powers and try to see if I..."
"SHUT UP! How dare you talk back to us?", said Futi.
Arna stopped speaking. She was used to it. Always getting punished for things she didn't do. Why? Because her own parents didn't listen to her side of the story and always believed the other kids. Again, Why? To maintain the beneficial relationship with the parents of those children.

"You are a disappointment, Arna. No one in the entire Lilag clan from centuries have taken this long to discover their powers. 7 years of age was the maximum.", said Sahn, disappointed.
Arna remained silent, battling her tears.
"Do you have an answer or should I make you answer?", shouted Sahn.
"Yes, father. I understand that I'm letting our clan down.", replied Arna, in a broken voice.
"What's hindering your already lazy self?", demanded Sahn. "Has your interaction with the other kids of your age become too much that it distracts you?"
"N-no, father. I'm doing all I can.", stammered Arna.
"Oh! look who's talking. Who hasn't awakened her powers even though she is thir-teen years old.",said Sahn, while hitting on Arna's forehead with his forefinger at each syllable of 'thirteen years old.'
"You are grounded.", declared Sahn. "No meeting friends, no fancy food and no luxurious bed and quilt for you this entire week."
"But it's my birthday after this this week. I have to prepare for it.", Arna blurted out. And regretted it instantly.
Sahn stared at her furiously.
"Stop running that rat-hole of your and GET OUT!!", shouted Futi, pushing Arna out of the room.

*One week later*
It was Arna's birthday. Arna was all dolled up, smiling and greeting the guests.
A few minutes pass. All the guests were at the venue, enjoying the snacks and drinks.

"Attention please everyone. I have an announcement to make to all the respected guests present here", said Sahn.
Everyone there turned towards Sahn.
Sahn turned towards Arna and called her on stage. Futi too went on stage and stood next to Sahn with Arna in between then.
"Our daughter right here, Arna, has discovered her powers.", the crowd applauded.
"It's the power of location", continued Sahn.
Everyone there gasped in shock. After a few seconds of silence, the gathering started cheering and praising Arna.
"That's one of the rarest powers out there", said a man in the gathering.
"Exactly. It's no wonder that a Lilag family member got it.", said another man.
"Now it all adds up why Arna's powers took so long to awaken.", said another.

The event continued without any further discussion about the matter. Sahn and Futi had expected some people to question the reality of the announcement and test Arna. But the truth was that no one in the entire society dared to doubt the Lilag clan.
No one asked Arna for proof and just congratulated her.

*Flashback*
"We have to come up with a plan", said Futi. "We can't embarrass ourselves saying that our daughter has no powers"
"You're right. We'll think about some way to hide Arna's incompetence", said Sahn.

Both Sahn and Futi went about their works. But their search for a solution kept eating them.

At night, both Sahn and Futi came back to their room. They were determined find a solution right then.
"I have a way, but I'm unsure about its competence", days Futi.
"What is it?", barked Sahn.
"There is this power called Power of Location", said Futi.
"It's a VERY RARE power", said Sahn. "Tell me further. What about it?"
"It will be certain to disguise Arna's lack of power", said Futi.
"How, do you mean?", questioned Sahn.
"I request complete attention to what I say now", said Futi.
"Firstly, this power doesn't exactly need magic to fake. We can feed Arna with information about people's whereabouts and she can act as if she is using magic.
Secondly, as the Power of Location is a very rare power, it will explain the delay in discovery of Arna's power.
Thirdly, if Arna does discover her actual powers, we can call this as a strong intuition which came as a precedent to her actual powers"
There was silence in the room for a few minutes which successfully felt like an eternity.
"Impressive", said Sahn.
"Of course", said Futi.
"We'll now go and start training Arna", said Sahn.

They went to Arna's room, where she was grounded for the week.
They explained the entire plan to Arna and started training her.
They fed her all the latest news about where some of the foremost people of the Deity clan were. They gave her books about the location of the shrines of the True Deitys. They also told her the locations of the huts of ascetic magic practitioners, who have dedicated their lives to pray for the welfare of the people. Sahn and Futi taught Arna everything they could.
"You have to be keen and alert and pick up on every single talk and discussions going on. You should always grab onto every single chance you get to know the locations of people strong l around you.", said Sahn.
"Don't be lazy and miss on information. You are like an undercover spy now, but only for your own sake and not for anyone else.", said Futi.

Arna thought, So, I'll become a living lie to the world...