The Stonekeeper...

34

Your P.O.V
We sat in a command room. We watched Vigo and Ronin fight. I sighed and slammed my hands on the table, gaining their attention.

"Fighting isn't going to help! Now. Stop fighting, and let's go onto the next step of our plan." I said sternly. Everyone looked at me in shock.

Bren, West, Lia, and Janis. You four will come with me. Ronin, Vigo, and Trellis will be on Standby if something goes wrong." I said. Ronin looked at me with a proud smile.

"I guess I don't need to be your teacher." She said. I shrugged. Soon enough, we gathered everyone in the centre of Cielis.

"We begin with a meditation to pay our respects to the stonekeepers who came before us. Without their sacrifice, we would not be standing here at this moment. Without their knowledge, we would not know our path. Close your eyes and begin focus. Release anger. Release pain. Find your centre." Ronin said. I knelt down and closed my eyes and focused.

"Do not push. Do not reach. Let the power come to you. Catch your power like a wind in your sail." Ronin said. I then sensed West's trouble.

"You must trust each other. You must know that others are at your side. We are masters of destiny for only a moment, so we must be willing to let ot pass through us. Prepare to let go." Ronin said.

'Something is wrong...' I thought.

"Let go. Let the power wash over you. Become one with the stone's power." Ronin said.

"What? Who said that?" West said.

"Stay focus, West! Channel your power through your thoughts, not words! Remain calm." Ronin said. I then became one and turned into a huge dragon. I opened my eyes and saw through the stone's power.

"Beautiful, Hydra!!" Ronin smiled with amazement.

"They really are in command of their gaint forms! How did you do it, Ronin?" Vigo asked with amazement.

"By giving them the space they need to trust themselves. Without belief in their own abilities, they lose control to forces that seek to take away their agency. I considered myself to be among those forces. They know that I can not do this for them. As teachers, we must learn when to step aside." Ronin said.

"West?" Trellis looked at West. I grumbled to West, trying to get his attention.

"West! Do not push yourself over the edge! Stand down and regroup!" Trellis yelled out. I roared and covered everyone from West's outburst.

"Stand up, West!" I yelled out. West began to cry.

"We can help you find your way back - but you must try to suppress that power!" Ronin said.

"Get a hold of yourself, West! Don't let the power out of your grasp!" Bren said.

"Bren - I can't! Something is here with me! Agh!" West managed to say.

"We'll get you out of there, West! Just hold tight!" Bren said.

"My stone is saying some really creepy stuff! Make it stop!" West yelled out.

"It's Ikol..." I hissed. Vigo stepped towards West.

"Leave him alone." Vigo said. "Take me instead."

My eyes widened. "Vigo! No!" I yelled out, but it was too late. Ikol came out and took Vigo. VIGO!!! NO!!" I screamed.

"Trellis... what was that?" Ronin asked.

"Ikol... a malevolent force that uses our emotions against us. You must keep your guard up around him. Vigo has given his life to buy us time. We must not waste it. I will guide Cielis back to its proper location, but I will need your help and the help of everyone here in the city. Every citizen, including the children, will help us land the city safely. We are going to do this the old-fashioned way. Through communication and working together. We will not lean on uncomfortable power, so I ask you all to revert to your natural selves." Trellis said. I turned to normal and picked up Vigo's hat.