ENSHROUDING LIGHT

THE LESSONS

CHAPTER 27

THE LESSONS

'I'm so proud of you, beautiful,' Adaeze said as she entered Nevaeh's room the next morning.

A lump swelled in Nevaeh's throat. 'I'm so sorry!' She stepped towards her and Adaeze opened her arms. She smiled and sank into the hug with ease. 'I've been so disrespectful to you so many times and—'

'There, there.' Adaeze patted her back. 'It's the things we don't understand that make us act irrationally.'

Nevaeh retreated. 'Adaeze, I still can't allow Tom—'

'I know, beautiful.' Adaeze stroked Nevaeh's cheek. 'I said it wouldn't change you.'

'I can't fight this mind or its instincts to protect, yet I know the Designer never goes back on her word...my word!'

'Even though you now accept why Tom had to be the one to do this?'

'Yes. I know his light is stronger than anything we've ever seen. But there's no way I'll ever start seeing him just as the Bright One. Even if I could, I now remember he only agreed to this mission for the greater good, which makes me want to protect him more.'

'You also must remember that there was no other need for Tom to rise from the core fully learned, apart from being the Corrupter's nemesis.'

'Yes, I remember thinking it was obvious, as bright as he was, that's what he must have been born for.' Nevaeh frowned at how bizarre it was to have the memory. 'But I still can't see him in harm's way. The thought of Tom being born just to fulfil a purpose he didn't want makes me feel ill. He was forced into this mission, told he was the only hope of saving the universe because of his unique light. He only agreed for the highest good.'

'Only the most selfless, magical being would agree.'

'You're right, but I'll make sure he dunt have to.'

Adaeze sighed. 'You know your power must be unyielding to fight the Corrupter yourself. If he finds the last guarded gateway, and gains the gift of creation in this last life of his—'

'He will become omnipotent. I know he has to leave this life without that last gift. I don't care what powers and gifts he got, I'll train as hard as I can with mine.'

'You don't know how difficult it became for the Moderators to stop him.'

'I don't need to know. I only need to know my own conviction...and work hard with the power and gift I have.'

'If we couldn't stop him then how can you? The creative power is a good gift for sure, but we mainly use it to combine our other powers into new and novel ones. It's not really useful on its own.'

'I've already used it on its own to pull someone from the transporter. Maybe I'll find all sorts of new ways to fight dark powers with it. Maybe that's a good thing, the element of surprise and all that!'

Adaeze raised one eyebrow, her eyes shining with a mixture of hunger and delight. 'I was astonished at your ability to use your gift in that way. The creative gift doesn't work like that for us. Moderators can only use it to combine others. It certainly surpasses anyone's I've ever seen, but Tom possesses the brightest light. And seven gifts. Which will be more potent in Tom than in any Moderator before him, too. Only he stands a chance of stopping the Corrupter.'

'I will do my best for that not to be necessary.'

'I know, but...'

'And I now have the power of light! It dunt matter what strength it is or if it matches Tom's or not, I'm willing to use it more than he will ever be! Maybe I can combine my gift with the light once I get used to it, who knows, and above all, I'll have you and Mark! Tom's not fighting, get over it and get behind me!' Nevaeh gazed into Adaeze eyes for a moment, unblinking. Would it make her look as convincing as she was trying to sound? 'Look, I know I'm not the Bright One, but I have more reason to beat him than Tom. I've got conviction and a motherly instinct to protect my child!'