The Awakening

Chapter Nine

Sam led me out towards the meadow once again.

"The first thing you should know about power is that it takes energy, just like everything else you do. You may be powerful, however you'll also need endurance so as not to exhaust yourself. The second thing you need is control, and I'd say that's something you in particular need the very most. Luckily, these are two things I can teach you, with some practice." I nodded. "Those are just the things that I can teach you however, you're going to need more."

"More? What exactly do you mean by that?" I asked. "There are things you can't teach me?"

"Yes, I may have been cursed for a good number of years, but I'm still figuring out how to use even my own powers, and mine are not nearly as strong as yours." He replied. I stared at him nervously. What help can you give me then?! I didn't exactly enjoy everything I touched exploding... "Don't be worried, if a little luck is on our side, I have something that hopefully will be able to teach you much more than I ever could." He pulled out an object, a large book. It looked very old, worn out and torn up in some places. "Excuse it's appearance, I've preserved it as best I could." He said.

"What is that?" I asked. I'd seen books before but I'd never owned very many... How was this going to help me with my powers?

"This book is called the vade mecum." He announced, holding it up for me to see.

"Vade mecum?" I repeated, unfamiliar with the term.

"It's like a handbook," he explained, "You see, this book has a huge amount of magical energy. I can sense it. The thing is, when I, James, Lita, or Kira try to read it, we see the page as blank, it contains no words or pictures whatsoever. My theory is that only those with... natural, I suppose is the right word, abilities can read it. Only of which we know of being Thanatos, and you. If this really works I believe it will help you immensely." I gave him a look of uncertainty, but he held it out to me. "Just come here, let's see if you can read it." I came closer, taking the book from him. I opened it, and like he said, the pages were blank.

"I don't see..." I hadn't finished when there was a huge bright flash that blinded me temporarily. I blinked over and over, starting to see again though dark spots that still clouded my vision. Words slowly began to form along the blank page, being blurry at first, but slowly became clearer. The very first page had a bunch of symbols that I didn't understand, which were wrote out as if they were a language. I furrowed my brow and turned the page, in search of something in English. The next page read only one word; Awaken. I turned the page again, but the same word was written on there as well. I began rapidly skimming through the books, but each page continuously had the word Awaken on it. Eventually I felt as if I were hearing someone whisper awaken over and over again. My head began to spin, for some odd reason I was beginning to feel nauseated.

"Leila!"

"Huh?" My eyes opened, and I found myself staring up at the sky. Sam was looming over me, with a worried expression on his face.

"Is she alright!?" I heard someone yell. Looking over Sam's shoulder, I saw Kira, Lita, and James running towards me.

Groaning and rubbing my head, I asked, "What happened...? I was just reading the book and..."

"You passed out," he said, putting the back of his hand against my forehead, "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah I think so..." I replied.

"Are you sure?!" Lita asked. No...

"Perhaps you've overextended yourself..." Sam suggested. "Exactly how hard were you three working her?" They all glanced away, not answering. He closed his eyes and sighed, "I was hoping that this book would have at least some answers, but if you didn't see anything-"