Chapter 3: The Ascendants

Key for this chapter:

___________________

                                                  *Rinzen's Thoughts*

                                             \\Anyone Else's Thoughts\\

                 'Old dialogues memories, spoken out loud thoughts, the past in general...'

                                                      ///Memories///

                                                              POVs

                                        ""Not an Actual Speech or Thought""

                        *************************************************

Warning: Alternative POVs

                        *************************************************

                                                                                                                          1-04-2113

                                                                                  (It's 10 AM—somewhere in the world!)

                        *************************************************

"Holy Cow!"

Rinzen stared unabashed, "I think I found my favorite place on earth", he swooned dramatically.

Ash nodded speechlessly beside him, Ray whistled low and appreciatively, Bell stared open-mouthed and nodded wordlessly, Zee blinked owlishly and then rapidly utterly awed.

Jasmine grinned ecstatically, and Red squeaked and swallowed audibly mentally agreeing along to what Rinzen said.

"So worth it", Rinzen gushed at James, eyes wide spinning in a circle to take in every angle of the large space.

The room they stood in, had floor to ceiling tall windows, that showcased the brightest morning light, seeping through, the that James had switched on, had the blinds still moving upwards, allowing more light to creep in, showing a high ceiling that continued on without an end in sight.

On its adjacent sides stood large bookshelves on the remaining walls, filled with books, and books, and more books. Along with journals, scrolls, parchment from God knows which era or timeline, scattered elegantly, and in some places organized fully, as if the last Ascendant class had left them, just so.

There was a spiral staircase leading to another two levels, that they could barely discern. To the left of the windows and a large conference table in the middle of the room, adorned with charging points, lamps, and sturdy but cushioned straight back armchairs.

"This is amazing", Red whispered walking towards a seating area to her left, hidden behind the door, almost creating an alcove-like space, which was actually sat in each corner of the room, heavily adorned with cushions, pillows, comforters, and side tables. "I could forget time just sitting here reading or studying", she whispered quietly.

"Or just get lost in the scent of books here"; Bell whispered, her fingers walked tracing the names of several books, as she ran them down their spines.

"Not to mention, it's as if the previous occupants left it like this", Ash started, "Mismatched and organized chaos—this is really potent history", he gushed.

"Ascendant History", James corrected, "And only Ascendant History", he stated simply.

Rinzen who without anyone noticing called down from the second floor, "About that", he said, "Are we ever going to find out what that means?" he asked loud enough for the dead to hear as his voice echoed.

"Inside voice kid!" James yelped cringing at him.

"Sorry", he apologized not sounding sorry at all, voice filled with laughter.

"Come down here so I can tell you lot, what an Ascendant is", he huffed amused.

"Sound carries, carry on dude!" he called from farther away.

James sighed heavily and shook his head, "One; don't ever call me dude again—"

"As you wish Dude", he answered, "Oh wait, Pajamas is the genie for today", he called down.

*

Ray snickered, "I stand corrected, Scarfy is not the worst nickname ever", he said laughing harder as Jasmine scowled at him.

Whatever or if he presented a defense went unheard and Jasmine glared at all of the remaining seven, "If anyone of you tries to call me that, I will get someone to hex you or curse you", she warned.

Ray snorted, "Is he exempt from this warning?" he asked pointing at the rafters.

"It's Zen", she huffed, "At this point, I think even if I cursed him, I'd still be called Pajamas", she smirked then oddly charmed.

"I know that feeling", Zee teased poking at her cheek, draped over her, "Helpless indulgence", she named, "He's like a cheeky toddler you want to both strangle and protect", she laughed amused.

"Toddlers don't give off killer instincts slash predator vibes", Bell stated arguing the statement. "He's like a wolf pup, they may look adorable, and cute, and like you want to just pat it on the head, but never forget wolf cubs have fangs", she said, "Those things will pierce your skin and leave indents behind", she promised.

Ash nodded, "He does have that vibe", he agreed, "You should probably start telling us what Ascendants is before he gives you a weird nickname next Bossman!" he said and turned to James.

*

James rolled his eyes and sat down on a couch, "Gather around children, and deviant", he called up smirking at the teen who laughed and peered down at him, already with three books in his lap, as he sat down cross-legged, "Let I James, regale you with some history", he stated head tipped back staring up at Zen and then down at them.

Ash grinned and plopped his butt down in front of James, Red sat down next to him, Bell sat on her knees, and Ray and Zee pulled up adjoining chairs, whilst Jasmine sat down on the spare armchair opposite James.

"To begin with Ascendants have existed for centuries. It's one of those well-kept secrets no one wanted to be associated with", James joked, licking his lower lip. "Every country has one ascendant born every seventeen years", he paused, "Eighteen years", he eyed Zen, "Rare but not impossible", he murmured, "Only seven of the strongest are chosen, those chosen negate the choice for others. If you hadn't chosen the gift, it would have been passed onto the next candidate in waiting", he stated, "My group didn't choose it, of the seven people I met, only three decided to stay", he informed them, "We were introduced to the other candidates seven days later", he informed them.

"The number seven seems to come up a lot", Ray noticed warily.

"Because it's a magical number, it has powerful properties", James hummed, "Mysterious properties. It hasn't been made clear why seven are chosen, it just is", he stated, "Like the sky is blue, water is transparent, the grass is green, the sun is hot. The Ascendants have always been seven chosen warriors", he said simply.

Bell raised her hand, "Those candidates we overruled, are they forever human?" she asked quietly.

"Not all of them", James assured, "However the ones with the highest potential to keep balance will always be human", he stated weakly.

"So Ascendants I'm assuming is some kind of magical gift?" Ash asked baffled.

"Not quite", James answered biting his lip, "Ascendant; is both an adjective and a noun, as an adjective it means, a progenitor", he said, "Or someone from whom you are descended the most powerful or important or influential. As a noun it means, a position or state of being dominant or in control", he explained.

"In control of what?" Red asked quietly, warily.

James nodded holding a hand up and continuing, "Power, very old and very powerful Ancient Blood Magic. To be very blunt, you attain the most powerful magic the world has forgotten", he said biting his lower lip again warily.

"I don't understand", Zee said confused. "What could we possibly have forgotten?" they asked quietly.

"The world has forgotten The Ancient Ones. Magical creatures that existed for ages before man woke to his powers, powers in general", he said pointedly.

Ash laughed, "What like dragons and unicorns?" he asked amused.

"Exactly like dragons and unicorns", James answered, "Not just dragons and unicorns though, creatures like Sphinx, the Firebird, Kappas, The White Tiger from Japanese lore, the Giant Turtle, The Chinese Zodiac animals, Fenrir, Cthulhu, The Kraken, etc." he listed and then continued, "It's not just creatures of the Old Ones, but gods and goddesses of the world, plants, trees like Yggdrasil", he informed them, "An Ascendant through meditation, meets the one that has chosen them, in this meditative state, these creatures guide you to who you will Ascend and become", he informed them.

Ray blinked at him, "Are you saying one of us is going to become a unicorn? Or a dragon?" he asked, "No offense but I don't think I'm ready to spit fire", he swallowed weakly.

James laughed, "That reaction never gets old", he snickered amused shaking his head, "No you don't spit fire or transform into the Ancient Creature", he huffed, "If that were true, you'd have heard about dragon sightings long before you were chosen or awakened or anything else in general", he rolled his eyes, "It doesn't quite work like that, there'll be no transformations. I don't think anyone wants to be rooted to the spot and become a tree, do they?" he mocked, "You as Ascendants are imbued with the power and ability of the ancient creature, but it doesn't change your biochemistry. You don't suddenly grow scales or a horn in the center of your forehead or leaves all over your body", he snorted, "No, you get the intelligence of how a creature like dragons survived, you get their abilities of fire breathing or flying as elemental powers such as fire manipulation or wind manipulation, or both", he exemplified, "You get their hoarding problems to boot, their strengths and weaknesses", he explained, "You become them, just not physically", he said simply.

"But what are we?" Zee asked. "I mean what did we become?" they asked confused.

James shrugged, "I don't know. Only you do", he answered, "That what you need to find out. It took me six months to figure out what I was, it took half of my comrades a year and then some", he informed them, "Once that comes to you", he shook his hand, and pointed, "This library has journals and books and so much more", he informed spreading his hands out wide, "Study it. Study who you become, what your power is, hone it, practice it, believe in it, become the Ascendant you were born to be", he urged gently. "And then, train, train harder than anyone you know. Work hard, have fun, enjoy your life, because you are soldiers, warriors", he exhorted, "This world may not have been kind or worth it, to you, and you may owe its people nothing", he said, "But it's the only home you have, and there are innocents yet to be born, you're the only ones who can protect it", he implored quietly.

"How do we start?" Rinzen asked eagerly.

"Well first–", James stated leaning forward grin a tad evil, and as they all leaned in, "–we visit your families", he smirked sharply.

They all groaned in unison, and he continued;

"And then you move into the dorms, well The Seven's Dorm—affectionately dubbed—Septimus", he said and laughed at their expressions.

"The seventh son?" Ray asked exasperated.

*Seriously?!*

~*~

TBC...