Culture and traditions are at the core of Heleian Encanto lifestyle and rituals plays an important role in maintaining the social orders the early Encantos—and their divine parents; Mael and Mira—has established so long ago. One ritual in particular involves the whole community to hear out a bereaved individual, make amends if another is involved in their grieving, and reclaim them back to the community. The event is called Redemption, and will usually involve a feast at the end to celebrate the renewed conscience of the individual concerned.
Redemption usually takes half of the day, with each family in charge of a particular task for the day: preparing the communal bonfire, foraging ingredients for the feast, singing songs... with so many things to do around Hele, latecomers; whether deliberately or accidentally, are often left behind. Such is the case for Rai Juni's Redemption. Everybody has risen before the sun had the chance to bless the sky with its bright rays, save for Aiden Maris and Mirano Suri; the two young boys lodging with Rai in her family tent the previous night for their little bickering has turned to a full-fledged brawl after dinner that lasted through dawn.
Checking on the two boys messily sprawled among the cushions and blankets, Rai laughs amusingly to herself in amazement as to how she was able to steal a snore in the middle of the cacophony. In the guide of the dim sky, Rai has no problem navigating around her family tent and she quickly snatches her beret and comb. She settles on her legs by the doorway, gently combing her hair across the last moonlight, her mind drifting away to what she is about to reveal in today's ritual. Upon slicking her fringes in her beret, Rai stands up and moves to where the two boys sleep. Watching their chests softly rise with every breath, the Lightning's Mistress finds peace in their presence and her resolve has been strengthened.
"For the fulfillment of your will, old K'raas," Rai whispers then disappears to the waking Hele.
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"It's over?!" Aiden hollers sadly to one of the Encantos he meets outside of Rai's tent.
The Encanto nods in affirmation, which did not sit well with Aiden. He storms to the graveled area of camp where the communal bonfire sits. There, he finds much of the other Encantos cleaning after the feast. The annoyance wells up in Aiden's chest, but he finds the lost chance pitiful that he wishes to bawl. It's partly his fault why he overslept, but he soon realizes that half of that fault is not his.
"Where is he?" he asks no one in particular, looking around with furrowed brows. "Where is that boy?" His self-pity turns to a burning passion for revenge. Clenching his fists, he bolts back to the Juni family tent, looking for the boy with the ebony hair.
In his search, he finds his mother traversing the paths between the family tents and in a spur of adrenaline, Aiden approaches Loire, desperately asking for the boy's location.
"You mean, Mirano Suri?" Loire repeats in a brief moment of confusion. Realizing who her son means, Loire points to the direction with her golden staff. "The boy is with Rai, out by the banks of the Naga River."
"Huh?! He woke up earlier than I did?!" Aiden asks in disbelief.
Loire, not understanding the surprise in the statement, simply nods and watches Aiden run towards the riverside.
Running with the cool wind riding his sea hair, Aiden is still at awe as to how and why the boy with ebony hair has had the privilege to sit in with one of the most important Encanto ritual while he didn't.
Between the roaring currents of the Naga River and the Western Encanto Capital of Hele, the grasslands stretch wide; following the length of the riverside. Much of the wild grass that grows near Hele is tall enough to obscure any child's view of the banks, and Aiden is fueled by rage that he pushes his way past the blades with ease, muttering about how he will clobber the boy with the ebony hair for stealing his "spot" in the Redemption ritual.
As he arrives in the area where the tall grasses thin out, Aiden witnesses Rai and the boy with ebony hair in a stand-off, both exchanging fiery glares, as if either is prepared to strike the other to the ground. Aiden gulps at the premonition. He has come to realize, at a heartbeat, that he has never seen Rai's elemental skills. His knowledge of the Lightning's Mistress' battle prowess is mainly from hearsay and feedback from Rai's fellow warriors. Armed with the weapons from the sky, Aiden plants his feet on the ground, anticipating the exchange of blows.
Like most of the bearers of the title, Rai masterfully commands lightning to strike in a variety of ways. Rai raises both of her index fingers to the air, drawing both towards the boy's direction, at which point, two thin streaks of white lightning manifest from her fingers and shoot towards Mirano. Thunder booms at the impact, making Aiden gasp.
While the sound has amazed Aiden, it has elicited a disapproving click of the tongue from Rai. She follows it up with multiple thin streaks, carefully approaching the boy's position with each raise of her fingers. Smoke and residue has emerged from the lightning strikes, momentarily obscuring the Lightning's Mistress' view. At her next attempt to release an attack, Rai hears the distortion in the lingering echo of the last thunder shock and hops to her right. Just in the nick of time, because a thin white streak of lightning; much like what she has been manifesting, cuts through the smoke and flies to her initial position, hitting the trunk of the nearby tree and burning part of its tough bark.
Aiden is equally shaken of the feat and immediately gazes to the boy's direction with an open jaw. He blinks upon noticing that the boy has mimicked Rai's stance. The Lightning's Mistress flips her hair to the back of her shoulder, smirking. Seeing her expression, Aiden deduces that both of them has come to the same realization.
"Mirano, did you made that lightning because you have seen me do it?" Rai asks as she rushes to Mirano, clenching her fists in an attempt to land a punch to the boy's cheek.
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Mirano is quick to deflect the punch by hopping to his left. He hums in affirmation, his bloodshot eyes carefully following the Lightning's Mistress' hand and leg movements.
Rai chuckles in amusement, shifting on her heels to quickly drive an uppercut on Mirano's gut. The boy has also foreseen the attack, gliding on the Lightning's Mistress' arm length and getting a few good steps away from her back. When Rai faces Mirano, the boy has his fists up to his face, charging towards her on full throttle. She finds the boy's quick wit admirable. Raising both arms up in the air, Rai lowers both to her chest level. Pulling back her left arm reveals a thicker streak of lightning sparking gentle blue light.
Aiden hollers at the majestic appearance of the lightning. It seems that his intel is true: The Lightning's Mistress utilizes a move reminiscent to that of a bow and arrow and can cause long range damage. More than amazement, Aiden gulps at the thought that Rai is using it against the boy with the ebony hair.
"I-It's too dangerous!" He calls out, jumping out of the grasses and rushing towards the center of action.
Mirano doesn't seem to hear him, though. He continues to charge; eyes fix on the tip of the lightning streak. His boldness has resonated in the Lightning's Mistress as well, as she pulls her arm some more, with the lightning streak sparking greatly at the tautness of the pull.
In the heat of the moment, Aiden pours much of his Mana on his palms, sending the largest and most powerful stream of water he has made towards Rai and Mirano. The sudden release of such immense power has caught the Lightning's Mistress off-guard, making her disperse her lightning all at once as she and Mirano got carried away by the attack. Rai lands on the muddy grasses, barely missing the roaring waves of the Naga River. When she looks to her side, she finds to her horror that Mirano has fallen to the waters.
"Mirano!" Rai scampers on her feet, one hand stretching out for the child to grab. She looks over to her shoulder. "Aiden! Call for help, please!"
The attack has drained much of Aiden's stamina, but hearing the distress in Rai's scream immediately sparks Aiden's adrenaline. He looks around in confusion; his body turned to Rai's direction, ready to sprint and help her, but his mind is demanding him to bolt back to camp to call for assistance.
On the other hand, Rai begins to propel herself to the air, landing on every exposed stepping stone to catch up with the Naga River's currents. Ahead, she watches Mirano flail his arms, sputtering at the cold and wicked waters getting in his mouth and nose. Rai clenches her jaw. To think that there is a chance for her to lose the boy with ebony hair after all they had learned from him in the Redemption Ritual...
Finding the thought unforgivable, Rai dives to the waters, swimming quicker than the currents to grab Mirano's arm. Resurfacing and finding the boy gasping, Rai is momentarily relieved. She swiftly holds on to the next exposed stone, planting her palm on it to propel herself and Mirano out of the waters and on the opposite river bank.
"Are you okay, Mirano?" Rai gently taps the child's cheek, encouraging him to cough out all of the water he had taken in.
The boy blinks weakly, groaning to acknowledge the Lightning's Mistress' inquiry. He sits up, coughing some more before plopping on the grass with a soft thud.
Rai did not find the gesture pleasing. From a distance, she hears Loire, Aiden, and a couple other Encantos approaching. They cross the river with ease and arrives to Rai's side.
"Thank K'raas! Assist us, Loire. He must have taken in a good amount of river water. He has cough out some, but I worry he still has some in his system."
Loire crouches down to Mirano's side and places the tip of her golden staff on the boy's stomach. The gem emanates a deep bluish light and patches of areas in Mirano's skin appear. Aiden gasps at the sight of the largest patch in the skin near Mirano's chest.
"Quite a lot remaining," Loire remarks as she lays her palm on the glowing gem and slowly moves the staff up.
Aiden and the others watch as the patches follow the gem's direction, getting expelled in a great big cough as it reaches Mirano's throat. The boy lurches forward with a grunt and Rai rubs his back to get the last of the water out.
Rai embraces Mirano in a wave of relief. Aiden exhales in assurance that neither of them are hurt.
"It is with great relief to find you both safe," one of the Encantos relate with a bow of their head.
"Yeah, I never thought that my water spout attack will be that powerful..." Aiden adds while scratching his arm.
"Please exercise that move with great caution next time, Aiden." Rai nonchalantly comments as she picks Mirano on her arms.
As much as it is surprising, Loire finds the cause of the unusual occurrence infuriating. She drives her golden staff on Aiden's head, bonking it with a sufficient blow that even the other Encantos accompanying her flinch in surprise.
"Ow! I just created a great move that I bet our family will be proud of!" Aiden shouts angrily, cupping his head, cautious of any other impending blow.
"That is no showmance of greatness!" Loire retorts with the same childish fury. "Any use of your skills to endanger other people is not fitting to stand in the same pedestal as the Maris Family."
Aiden blinks at the statement. Endanger? He thinks to himself. Back at that moment, he found the current status of the battle dangerous for both parties. If Rai releases the lightning streak, it will surely fry Mirano the instant it hits him. Despite showing the ability to copy the Lightning's Mistress' moves, Aiden is unsure if Mirano will be able to dodge such a powerful attack. His mother has mistaken his concern into something negative.
The Water's Son clenches his jaw, fighting back the sobs welling in his throat. His mother has accused him of numerous things in the past; half of it were true mischiefs, but this one has struck his heart to the point that he is desperate to explain his side.
"Aiden is simply erring on the side of safety." Rai's statement rings in Aiden's ears and he immediately looks to the Lightning's Mistress, who has given him a reassuring wink. "I believe our small sparring session has taken a dangerous turn." Rai meets Mirano's bloody eyes and nods.
"Covering for Aiden again, Rai?!" Loire retaliates angrily.
"No, I--"
"Awa'a." Mirano cuts off Rai with a clear voice that has taken everyone's attention. "We safe. Aiden of help." He adds, pointing to the Water's Son.
The gesture has taken everyone aback. Loire and her companions look at each other for a moment. With a big sigh, Loire seems to release all of her anger away. She sashays past Aiden, who glances at her silhouette nervously.
"Come home for dinner. I shall impart to you the details on how to recap the Redemption ritual you have missed earlier." Loire says as she walks away.
Her companions watch as Aiden Maris' face lights up in joy. They gesture for the boy and the Lightning's Mistress to hustle back to camp.
As they trace the path back to Hele, Mirano, who is still cradled by Rai on her arms, looks up to the Lightning's Mistress. From his view, the afternoon sunrays bounce back on Rai's hair and skin, brightening the smile plastered on the Lightning's Mistress' lips. Rai notices the boy's stare and returns his curious gaze with a knowing wink. In a short period of time, Mirano and Rai share an understanding unexplained by words. They both knew, at that face-off, that Mirano will be able to dodge that powerful attack.
Rai looks on. "You truly miss a lot when you're absent on a Redemption."
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To be Continued...