Omnira, Marley, and Raeni sat around the glowing pool drinking tea as Omnira filled Raeni in on what had gone on while Azaacar was in her body. Raeni nodded as she sipped her tea before turning to Marley saying, "I'm sure you have questions." Marley smiled slightly, feeling that was the understatement of his life. "Too many to speak." he began, "But none more important than this. Who am I?"
Raeni beamed. "That is exactly what I was hoping you would ask." She set her cup down and stretched her arms wide. She took a deep cleansing breath then dipped her fingers in the glowing pool. Slowly images rose up from the pool like a hologram, the images moved as she spoke.
"Long ago Azaacar, the spirit of nature, was grieved by the hearts of the people of this world. Her desire was to destroy the corrupt society and have nature retake the planet. Before she could a young man of war rose up and completely overturned the system. He raised a massive army, then razed the three oppressive kingdoms that were the source of the corruption that he had once protected and installed himself as the new ruler, King Ray the Kind. He created a society of peace and sharing from the rubble of the old society and all was well with the people of this world. He met a beautiful young woman and instantly fell smitten with her. She and her two brothers invented Rhythm, what you call music, and shared it with the world. They knew love and she became his queen, Queen Mara the Most Beautiful. Azaacar saw this and was pleased. She blessed them and their people and granted them a great gift. A portion of her power that made them sturdy, very strong, and granted them control over an energy of the like the world had never seen. Other nations came to sac King Ray's kingdom, but he repelled and conquered them all with the power of Azaacar's gift. One by one each nation came, fell and bent the knee to King Ray the Conqueror. The Queen became the first High Priestess of Azaacar, and the world was united under the rule of King Ray the Magnificent and was once again at peace. It remained this way for generations, and the children of the King and Queen ruled after them in peace and wisdom. But in peace Azaacar's gift waned from lack of use and became known as the old power. We, the descendants of the old kingdom are naturally sturdy and strong as the remnants of the old power still flow through us. When the invasion happened, we were caught unaware, our senses dulled by generations of peace. The then King, Nigel the Third, had the captain of his personal guard take his wife and new child and run, hoping to save their lives before being killed in the invasion himself. The queen and the guard were separated in the chaos, and she was captured and brought before the leader of the invasion. As insurance against immediate rebellion, she took the child to raise as her own and forced the queen to be his wet nurse. Once the child was weaned off the tit the mother was executed. But there was a prophecy. My grandmother's mother saw that our great nation would be brought low by an evil from the sky, that we would be defeated and subjugated. She said in our hour of need, one would raise up that was of the blood of the first King and strong in the old power, and he would free our people and drive the evil from this world."
Raeni returned her hands to her side, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She slowly opened her eyes and watched Marley's expression as the light from the pool faded. Marley was lost in thought. He knew every word of Raeni's story was true. There was something inside him that resonated with the truth as if it were irrefutable. It had confirmed many things he had always suspected to be true, that everyone in his life refused to talk about, as well as things he had found out on his own through years of quiet research.
It also explained something he has always wondered about. He lifted his fist and studied it as it glowed bright blue. The Old Power, inherited from his ancestors. It had been his strength since his childhood. It had helped him secure a seat he never wanted. It had helped him defeat all challengers. It was the reason he was so powerful despite shirking his training. It was the reason he was lauded and feared throughout LaStirk Prime. It would be the reason his "mother" would fall. His body began to glow as he thought, and his eyes became fiery. A whispered question interrupted and invaded his thoughts.
"Will you help us?"
He looked up slowly at Omnira, then turned his gaze to her mother. They were both looking expectedly at him. He still shuddered at the thought of betraying everything he had known, but everything he had known had been a lie. He was the prince of the wrong nation. He was in line for the wrong throne. He now sat among his true people. People that needed him to step up and be the champion, the king he was born to be. He could not, he would not allow them to continue to suffer any longer. His gaze steeled.
"You are my people." he began. "My true people. I will lay down my life to free, and protect you. All of you."
Omnira couldn't help but smile. She wasn't sure if it was the situation or the man that excited her so much. Her heart was going a mile a minute and would speed up even more when she met Marley's eyes. These were definitely exciting times. Their freedom was so close she could taste it, and Marley was promising to spearhead the effort. She felt insane thinking that she wanted to be both behind him, and on top of him. Azaacar help, she had not ever had feelings like this before. She sighed inwardly, all of that would have to wait. The people and their freedom had to come first.
"I will be with you every step of the way."