The Gray brothers were very close to each other, inseparable. Amani was 9 years old, skin brown as a warm espresso, hair dark as the night sky, strands twisted down to the top of his neck. His older brother Tree, currently 11 years old, skin a deep mahogany brown, his hair lighter and styled in dreadlocks that hung down to his shoulders.
They are currently getting their hair redone by their mother, watching the latest news on Ascenders taking on the dangerous goal of Ascending, The Silu!
“Amani, when we get older lets explore The Silu together! You and me!” Tree says to his brother, grinning ear to ear, the excitement radiating off of him, like the sun.
Amani smiles back, excited by the idea “I can’t wait!”
Their mother slaps Amani’s hand with a comb, “Didn’t I tell you not to move when I’m doing your hair.” She yanks at Amani’s hair, jerking his entire body over to her. “And neither of you boys should be thinking of going near that damn place anyways.” She says with a scowl across her face. Continuing to twist Amani’s hair, she swears under her breath and complains about the TV’s constant talk about Ascenders.
As their mother finishes with the brothers hair their father approaches, asking if the boys wanted to come shopping with him. He had broken two strings on his guitar and wanted to run out quickly to grab new ones. The boys agreed and got up to go with their father.
***
Arriving at the store they look around to see different instruments lining the long walls, rock playing softly in the speakers and people playing instruments trying to find their perfect fit. A man in a black graphic shirt greets them, their father turns asking them to give him a second and tells them to go look around. Amani and Tree walk away staring in awe at the hand crafted guitars, the lights from the ceiling giving each a wonderful glow. Amani walks over to a keyboard and starts pressing random keys thinking he sounded amazing, the other patrons did not feel the same way as they slowly walk to other parts of the store. As Amani continues he notices Tree staring intently at a weird blue guitar almost in a hypnotic like state. “Looks kind of like a Violin.” Amani remarks as he walks closer to his brother,
“W-what huh. oh yea yea.” Tree says while walking closer not giving his brother any mind.
“You okay Tree?” Amani says a worried expression emerging.
“It’s calling to me, telling me its mine. I- I need it, Amani.” Tree says reaching out to grab the guitar.
“Tree!-” Before Amani finishes his sentence his brother had grabbed the guitar, a small glow forms in front of the guitar when he touches it before turning into bright colorful lights, comparable to Aurora Borealis. The lights dance around the store its beauty catching the attention of everyone, they fade and it forms into a moon-like rock the size of Tree’s head and floats beside him. Everyone claps and congratulates him on finding his Resonator. Tree turns to his brother, a smile on his face like Amani had never seen before. “I FOUND MY RESONATOR!!” Tree proclaims to Amani as he jumps with joy, “WHEN YOU FIND YOURS LETS GO TO THE SILU!” Amani smiles back and nods.
Their father and the man from earlier approach Tree, “Congrats Tree!” Their father says a proud expression on his face.
The man congratulates Tree as well before turning to their father “Hey.. I know it’s his Resonator and all but I still need to turn a profit..” The man says, attempting to smile. Their father swears under his breath before handing the man what was left in his wallet. They rush home with their father to inform the boys’ mother on what happened.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
***
“HE WHAT!?” Their mother yelled, confused, “PLEASE PLEASE TELL ME THE OWNER AT LEAST GAVE THE STUPID THING TO YOU FOR FREE!” She says staring at her husband with murderous intent.
“I uh- he made me pay …. 300” He says while trying not to look at her.
Her eye starts to twitch as she looks at him, “AGHH, we will talk about this later! But for now, Tree what Eclectic type are you?” She says turning her attention to her son. “Eclectic type?” Tree ask,
“Yes your Resonator should have told you about them but I suppose I can, Your Eclectic type tells what power classifications you can obtain, there are 10 types in total; Element, Enhancement, Manipulation, Summon, Transformation, Manifestation, Sin, Heavenly, Cosmic and Divine. I said them in order from most common to rarest with Sin, Heavenly, Cosmic and Divine having a Limit on the amount of people that can have them at a time.”
Amani looks up to ask, “Did your Resonator say one of those to you?”
“YEA! It said Heavenly!” Tree says excitedly.
Their mothers face goes blank as she stares. “I’m sorry what? Heavenly? Then what the hell is that rock I thought you were Element. Hon what did your Resonator say your classification was?” She asks, concerned.
“Uhhhh I think something like Guardian of the Moon.” Tree says. Their parents stared at him, faces blank in disbelief. They wanted to ask more but their words eluded them.
“So, is that a part of the Moon by your head?” Amani asks, pointing at the gray rock like orb floating near Tree.
“Yea, I suppose so.” Tree says as he grabs it, rubbing the rough surface with his finger. As he let’s go, it circles around his head before resting in its previous spot.
“What does the moon have to do with that blue guitar though?” Amani questions looking at the instrument held by Tree.
Snapping out of the daze their mother continues, “Well Amani your Resonator doesn’t determine what your Eclectic Type or classification is.” She moves her hair out of her face revealing an earring. She stretches her hand out, smoke slowly arising as a flame starts to dance on her palm. The fire slowly dies down, leaving a charcoal aroma to float throughout the air.
“Now Tree, I’m going to teach you how to use your Resonator. BUT that does not mean I want you or your brother going up The Silu, I will only be teaching you so you can protect yourself and your brother.” Their mother says as her warm hand rest on his shoulder.
“And I can teach you how to play the guitar! Won’t be as useful as what your mother teaches, but if your going to be carrying it around all the time you might as well learn how to play it.” Their father says, proudly.
***
Two years had gone by, Tree trained everyday, improving his understanding of his Eclectic and how to use it. Amani used this time to search for his Resonator with their father, not wanting to fall behind, But no matter how hard he searched nothing called to him. As Tree becomes stronger, his patience waining.
Amani arrives home from school expecting his brother to be out front, training per usual, but he isn’t there. His mother, noticing the concern on his face reassures him that Tree is most likely inside resting. She unlocks and opens the door, seeing her husband sitting at the table clutching a paper in his hand looking down.
“Amani go to your room.” His mother says sternly. He runs off to his room as he calls out for Tree. “Where. is. he?” She says, her blank expression changing between anger and sadness.
“He. He left. I went out to the store and came back to a note. He said he was going to The Silu.”Her husband says, continuing to stare at the ground.
“WHY HAVEN’T YOU GONE TO THE ASCENDERS ASSOCIATION, THEY WOULDN’T JUST LET A 13 YEAR OLD KID IN!” She yells, becoming enraged.
“I DID ALREADY!” He shouts back tears flowing, “They said he completed the test faster then anyone they’ve seen, they let him in regardless of the age requirement.”
“THOSE BASTARDS DID WHAT?!” She shouts. Turning to go out the door she notices Amani standing in the hallway crying.
“He… He left me?” Amani says tears flowing from his eyes, “He said we would go together!” Amani tries to say more, choking up on his words. His mother walks away from the door to embrace Amani.
“It’s okay hon. He’ll come back, he’ll come back for you.
***
8 Years have passed since Amani heard those words, inside he knew it was a lie but still clung on to the hope that Tree would come for him. Eventually his parents let him read the note left by his brother. The only thing that mattered to him was the last part. “Come find me, Amani. I’ll be waiting for you. Near the top.”