Chapter 72

Generational Talents

(Drava)

All are welcome to awakening ceremonies.

The reason why so many came to these ceremonies could change, based on the doctrine of each clan.

For Drava, one thing that was undeniable was that when you had one representative who had a tie to a great ancestral spirit, that ancestral spirit would be present. Following this logic, the more people you have related to one particular spirit type, the more powerful that ancestral spirit’s presence would be in a particular area.

This was why inviting an entire clan for an awakening all but ensured that the ancestral spirit would appear and offer their bonds to those who were found worthy.

Long ago it was deducted that only one blessing could be provided by an ancestral spirit to one body. The logic being that the mortal shells were too weak to handle any more power than the one blessing, as such no one even tried to gather more blessings as it was seen as an impossibility.

This was why no one even tried.

If something happened over and over the same time to hundreds of thousands of people over generations, it would be assumed that this was the only course of action. None even daring to try further, knowing that this was the case for everyone.

Such knowledge was akin to saying that the sun rose in the east and set in the west because that was how it always happened. No one questioned why, just noted that this was the only course of events that would happen.

Then after time, the number of people that received blessings became fewer and father between. While everyone received the presence of great spirits, that is the ability to bond with powerful spirits, those that were blessed by the Great One began to disappear entirely.

Occasionally those noted as being a Generational Talent would appear and then be further blessed by a new or great spirit wishing to tie their own power, their own legacy to those blessed by the Great One.

These blessings were important, for they often showed generational power, for often the children of those that were blessed by the Great One, would be born healthier and often receive a lesser form of the initial blessing. Ensuring generations of prosperity and power.

This was why there was concern when the serpentine tribe appeared.

Broadine was a monster, from birth he was powerful and stronger. News of his exploits reaching the winds and then being carried out to the aviary tribe all the way out here.

Once news and information made it to the aviary tribe, it was expected that they would then share this information with the other tribes.

For that was their job, their purpose.

As the fastest, and most mobile of the tribes, they were the information distributors. This task was both a blessing and a curse.

Being the information distributors, it was expected that members of the Aviary tribe would be knowledgeable about all aspects of the other tribes. They would know who the leaders for each group were, any new power dynamics, and most importantly they would know who the next legacy would be in a coming generation.

The Serpentine tribe was powerful, made even more so, given the odd rituals and powers that the serpents were able to milk from the unworthy.

It was from their processes, that all minor awakening ceremonies were met with at least one or all represented spirits being visible for any given ceremony.

This was why, it was customary to invite the serpentine tribe to all noted awakening ceremonies. Though one could not stop with just the serpentine tribe, for everyone would then feel slighted, if they too were not invited.

For all these reasons, it was Drava’s clan that had all but summoned this fate to happen.

While it was customary for the Serpentine clan to take charge of a noted awakening ceremony, particularly when a favorite child would also be awakened. This one rose to a whole new level, unseen by Drava.

Though a quick look around showed that she was not the only one incensed by the sudden shift, for even the wolf tribe members seemed to be incensed by these acts.

However, no one was able to speak out.

The markings of Sarla, the Serpentine Queen were undeniable.

Sarla was well known for her exceptional talent and blessings by the Great One. For she was the last known tribal member to see and experience the Great One directly. Even when unawakened, her son had shown signs of the blessing’s manifestation.

It was only a matter of time before even Broadine would awaken, and either meet the Great One directly, where his own blessing would be enhanced, or strengthen due to the processes of the Awakening Rituals.

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At least, that is what everyone thought. Why not, after all, everyone of Broadine’s older brothers and sisters met similar fates. While none met with the Great One, it was noted that their powers had increased through the awakening rituals.

Then karma struck.

A boy capable of changing the very land beneath his feet appeared as if out of nowhere.

From her very first time seeing the odd outsider, Drava was drawn to him.

Well not him, but the power that all but radiated under his skin. As the Shaman’s daughter, Drava had been subject to her own form of awakenings. As an aviary, it was expected that her eyesight would be beyond compare, and it was.

From an early age, she could see the power within others.

This was why she knew that Broadine was a generational talent of the Serpentine Clan, being even more powerful than his formidable brothers and sisters right from the start.

Yet, none glowed as brightly as this stranger, this Frank.

The three others who followed Frank all glowed with powers as well, but their energy wavered and was close to being entirely extinguished. Whereas Frank’s only stayed the same bright intensity, even brighter than Broadine’s own light. A light that Drava had long ago thought was the most powerful she would expect in her generation.

Seeing the difference between the two, there was no real comparison. One was an intensity of a hearth fire, that is one bright enough and powerful enough to warm an entire house. By comparison, Frank’s power would be the equivalent of a bonfire, one capable of warming entire fields with its mere presence.

Drava was not along with her sight being an inherited trait. Her father, the Shaman of the Aviary tribe also had the same ability to read the power of others.

This was why neither she nor her father spoke out against the challenge posed by Broadine.

Ravena looked like she wanted to protest, but a subtle calming hand by Prentip on Ravena’s arm stopped her from erupting.

While Drava had expected a victory by Frank, she had not expected such a lopsided victory.

He won.

He didn’t even have to throw a punch, nor allowing his opponent to get within six paces of him. He just focused and caused the earth to open up right before him and swallow his victim whole.

The entire thing was frightening and mesmerizing.

As an aviary, Drava expected, no, hoped that she would be able to avoid such a similar attack. But that would only be possible if she was fully shifted, which would have been nearly impossible given the speed with which Frank caused the earth to swallow Broadine whole.

Seeing the lopsided victory, Drava let out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding. A breath that spoke to the moment finally being over.

While it had gone as Drava had expected, how the powers all but dictated, there as still an off chance that Frank could have lost. That he could have been unable to see the importance of this moment, to not hold back, for it was a fight to the death.

With horror, Drava saw it all. Event he moment liquified dirt seemed to spring right into Broadine’s open mouth, right before he was sucked under. That look of horror on his face was intense that Drava knew it would haunt her. A memory for her mind to latch onto. The memory of how seemingly passive Frank could be absolutely merciless when needed.

That act alone solidified Drava’s thoughts for Frank. While she had been mostly assured of his prowess and ability to protect future offspring, that act alone solidified Frank as being the only mate worthy of her attentions.

Even as Broadine fell and his hands wiggled loosely over the rapidly solidifying dirt, Drava was more convinced than ever to continue her pursuit of Frank.

Then like that, the duel to the death was over.

Best of all, Broadine’s hands were still up, meaning grabbing his overpowered essence would be easy. And if any extra was available, it would go to the clan of the spirit that was most chosen by those gathered.

Just thinking about the power of the serpentine clan finally being distributed to others made Drava’s heart pulse wildly with anticipation.

Only for her heart to stop.

There was yelling, as was often the case in such events.

The family of the fallen soldier cried out, not uncommon of an occurrence but it often reflected poorly on the parent if they let the spectacle go on for too long.

Things looked like they were going to go badly, but her father and Prentip were both here, meaning rationale should be upheld.

Should, but then rage took over, as a deep resonating and debilitating grinding sound could be heard.

The vaunted death rattle of the Serpentine Queen herself.

A move so powerful and debilitating that Drava could not move, only her eyes and mind could react and process what was happening around her.

Drava watched on in horror as she felt her body being paralyzed by the powerfully mesmerizing rattle of the monster before her.

Yet, even as the Queen moved, there as an odd calmness to Frank, who seemed to just stand there. For a moment she thought he wasn’t paralyzed by the sounds, for he seemed to shift his feet slightly. Seeing the movement, Drava was certain that Frank would move, that he would shift out of the way at the last minute.

Even as the Serpentine Queen used her heightened powers to twist and shift her form at near lightning speed, going from almost walking to slithering within feet. Then Drava watched on in horror as the Queen’s normally angelic face elongated into a vicious snarl with large fangs that protruded.

She watched as the Queen lunged forward, maw open ready to strike.

Again, there was the pacing of feet, as Frank clearly was able to move. But rather than dodging, of avoiding the blow, he braced himself? At least that is what it looked like, for Frank stood there, bent his knees slightly as if anticipating the pounce, and just waited.

Snap.

With horror, Drava watched as the serpentine maw of the Queen lunged out and bit Frank right on his exposed neck and shoulder. Honestly with the scaled hood of the queen extended, it was hard go gauge exactly where the bite landed. For a moment Drava could swear that Frank had shifted his body to the left, not enough to avoid the blow, but enough to avoid taking the blow on his neck.

There was a pause as the world seemed to hold still for a moment as Drava felt her heart pulsing in pain at the sight before her.

In shock she wanted yell, to scream out.

Despite all of this, the oddly echoing grinding sounds continued to come, as the queen kept shaking her now fully visible tail.

Yet, that wasn’t the only movement, for Frank too moved. His large and powerful arms moved up, and seemed to grab the queen.

For a moment, Drava thought he would try to rip her off, to tear her away from him. However this was not the case, as his hands seemed to open up and then pull the hooded creature closer to him.

That’s when Drava saw the power of the uncorrupted.

A bright green light glowed in the night, offering an odd hue to the world that was only being illuminated through a bonfire that still glowed brightly in the background.

Yet that was far away, hidden by black and diamond hard scales. Scales that were capable of resisting the sharpest of weapons and ballistics capable of being used by any of the different factions.

For a moment, it looked like this was just a mistake, a desperate attempt to stave off death, if only for a little while longer.

Then Drava saw the impossible. The Serpentine Queen began to fight back, to try to break away from the intense embrace, but her smaller sized reptilian arms were unable to generate enough force to push away.

Instead, Drava watched as green light began to glow brightly and seemed to penetrate the dark scales of the Queen. Scales that seemed to all but melted and flaked away.

Then as more scales molted away, the form of the twisting and gyrating serpent began to shift back into her typical human form.

With her arms back to their normal size she was able to put up more of an effort. Or at least, she should have been able to fight back. Even in her mortal form, her base form that allowed her to enter the human realm, she was powerful.

Yet, there was clearly something wrong.

Her fighting was basic and weak at best.

Drava watched as the fangs that had been wedged deep into Frank’s shoulder suddenly began to retract, allowing her head to lean back and try to get away from Frank.

Yet he wasn’t done, not yet.

With horror, Frank still gripping the Queen’s now mutated form to his body with his powerful right arm, reached up with his left and held his hand up and over the head of the Queen.

Then he seemed to pull?

As a dark black aura seemed to rise up from within the queen.

Frank held his hand in the air, and seemed to summon the dark power. The power of the Great One directly out of her body and force it straight to his hand.

Convulsion.

There was a look of pain, terror, and fear that filled the Queen’s normally perfect face.

Seeing the moment, Drava looked away, not wanting a second nightmare to be burned directly into mind from one day.

OHHH.

As she turned away, she knew she was not wrong to do so, as seemingly everyone who still looked on, let out gasps of horror and awe.

Finally, after it seemed that the crowd had calmed down from the horrors they were witnessing, she turned back, only to be shocked by what she now saw.