Chapter 33: Gifted

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The world rippled like that of a fun-house mirror above him. Not a sound, except for the muffled splashes. Just the way he liked it. Laval found that a swim in the pond outside the Lion Temple relaxed him (a surprising discovery for the Lion Prince).

Which he needed after last night's encounter with Lu'lura.

How he came from the cave under Everflow Falls to Lion City was still a mystery. The memories of last night swirled together like a big bowl of Cole's stew. Giant mice, multicolored portals and objects, the ability to rip items out of other dimensions, it all seemed so other-worldly.

And yet still possible.

Laval remembered about the middle of the Hunter War, when Lord Vortech struck the 16 realms and other dimensions. Understanding the powers of the Keystones located in the Vorton were crucial to defeating the villain.

But what if those powers were not just associated with the keystones? What if those powers were within somebody and the Keystones were just physical manifestations of those powers? What if--

"How's the water?"

Laval bolted upright out of fear, shaking his wet mane from his face and glancing wildly for the voice, sighing with relief when he locked eyes on the source. "Oh. Just you, Dad. And it's great."

"You seem to be on edge lately, Son." King Lagravis approached the shoreline, a suspicious expression on his face. "Are you alright?"

No, but Laval dared not bring up the encounter from the night before. He had two reasons: One, he had no control over this gift, these powers. Two, Cavora knew what would happen if word got out about these powers. Laval couldn't let anything happen to those he loved. He couldn't put himself or them through that kind of trauma again.

Wait a minute.....

"You just scared me," Laval admitted as he waded ashore dripping wet. "I'm freaking out because I don't know if that's really you or not."

"Is this still some trauma from the abduction?" Lagravis asked.

"Yes. I can't lose you." Golden eyes met golden eyes. Even now, the thought of losing the Realm Elders to another abduction scared Laval to the point of doing everything in his power to prevent it, such as installing security cameras at the Realm Elders' haunts (not that they knew that).

Lagravis put both hands on Laval's shoulders. "You don't have to worry about that, Laval. We got out. Tucci helped us, remember?" A soft smile blossomed on the king's face. "What reason have you to be afraid? I'm right here, always."

Laval let a matching smile slip at the words he hadn't heard since he was a cub. "Thanks, Dad."

Lagravis chuckled, "Glad to hear that. Now hurry up and towel off. The Realm Elders have asked you to represent the Realm Heroes at the meeting today."

"Really?" Being asked to speak at the Realm Elder meeting was literally impossible, even for a Realm Hero as highly ranked as Laval.

"Positive. I cleared it with them the other day." Lagravis nudged his son gently. "Go dry off. You have about fifteen minutes until they arrive to prepare notes and get dry."

A cloud of dust and a trail of water droplets remained where Laval had stood as the Lion Prince sprinted away.

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Something was off. Lagravis knew it.

That fake smile plastered all over Laval's face, the jolt, the way he glanced around in a threatened matter, all signs of something wrong.

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