Sitting on his bed with the afternoon sun shining through the window, Andy tried to slow down his racing thoughts. It was all so overwhelming. It had been fun to think of himself as Chosen when that just meant he felt special. Now, however, he wasn’t sure. It sounded like a whole lot more than just retrieving a red dragon scale was about to happen. The weight of it all pressed hard. He was scared. He felt alone. For the first time since he had arrived in Oomaldee, he missed his home, his parents and (he couldn’t believe he was thinking this, but… yes…) even his big sister! He punched his pillow hard once, and then again and again and again. He stopped only when feathers began flying everywhere.
Why me? he thought. There’s no way I can do to this!
“You’re right, Andy! You can’t do this on your own. ” It was his inneru. “You need help.”
As his inneru said this, a second amethyst-colored stone landed on his bed, barely missing his head.
“Hey, watch it! You almost hit me in the head!” Andy said. As soon as he had said it, he felt stupid for yelling at no one. Where do these things keep coming from? he wondered. As before, he picked it up and it started pulsing. Then he heard a trumpet blast.
“Methuselah has appeared to you, Andrew Ferrin Smithson. It is the sword of your forefathers. You will become known by it. It is time that evil is extinguished from the land. This will be accomplished by your hand.”
“My forefathers? What do you mean?” Andy interrupted. The message paused.
“Your ancestors are from the Land of Oomaldee.”
Really? Andy thought.
“It is not I who gives Methuselah, but One far greater. It is given and taken as the times require,” the message continued. “You have been appointed to wield it for such a time as this.”
But I’ll screw this up. I know I will, just like I did when I almost tore the castle down. Whatever kind of evil this message is talking about sounds really bad. There’s no way I can do this, even with this sword, Andy whined.
“Stop!” Andy’s inneru interrupted.
Andy sat up, startled.
The message continued, “Take courage. You do not yet see your own abilities because you have never been tested. You have never demonstrated to yourself or anyone all that you can do. Put your fears aside and trust that you can succeed in the challenges that lie ahead.” The message completed and the sphere disappeared, once again, giving no indication who had sent it.
“This is not about you,” reminded the inneru.
I know… thought Andy. It’s about all the people in the Land of Oomaldee. It is about the King, Mermin, Alden, Marta, Hans and everyone I’ve come to love here.
“You don’t usually think about others first,” replied his inneru.
Maybe this is my chance to change that.
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