Kalon

Chapter One-Hundred-Fourteen: Alakin

Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant

Ruling Government: Talum Merchant Federation

Solar System: D-447

Planet: Ora

Location: Research Facility

I move through the rubble-laden halls. Most eyes that find me are hollow. Some still speak the phrase. Chosen by the Gods. Amara and Leora move with me. There is more grace in Amara. A gentle reverence as she walks. She lingers in front of those who pray, even though they do not whisper her name. Leora's eyes do not linger on the damned, she does not give pause when her name is said.

Seeing her indifference, it builds spite in me.

Leora turns, eyes narrowing at Amara who has stopped in front of a small child holding her mother. My face flinches at the familiar sight.

Amara seems to think it prudent for you to practice on the ones here before we attempt the others from Ravena's house. A view I do not share.

Leora's tone is sharp like her sisters, no longer hiding behind the mask of being benevolent. Amara's hooded head turns to me. She wants to help them, I can feel it in her stance. In the way that her hand almost reaches out to them. Perhaps not all the gods are vile. It does not surprise me though that Krotha's sister is callous. This much, I expected.

I think on Leora's words, others from her house… so, there is more than Fennec that needs healing. She must mean Salia, which means she is alive. There is relief in that at least. Though I fear the sight of what she has become. I can only hope she fared better than Fennec.

Dust coats the air as I step through a broken section. I move toward the light I feel. The pulse of Etheric Maka. It is easier to feel now. After months of being deprived of Maka, it feels like I am basking in it now. It fills my muscles, or what's left of them.

There is weeping in the distance. Ralia. A deep breath restores the calm as I approach.

In her arms she holds her sister, I can only tell from the hair. Her eyes have been carved out, her ears and her tongue taken. Even her nose. Daki is shaking as he stares up at me. Etherium in both of his hands, his runes burning bright, but these are not wounds which he can heal.

There is much Etherium here, hundreds of shards in crates, more than my old Clan would collect in a season.

Kneeling before Salia.

Leora's voice slithers into my mind.

While her bond to Ravena is not as strong, she is still bonded to her house. I agreed to help one, not all of them.

As she stares down at me, I get a flash from the golden eyes, they hunger to see her burn. I turn to Amara, she is right behind me, a nod from her tells me she is with me. The golden eyes do not seek her.

"I will begin here," I say, turning to look at Salia. Rage stirs as I witness the cruelty carved upon Salia's once beautiful flesh, "She is not of my people, but she has suffered as they have suffered. If my hands can help her… then they will."

Ralia looks at me strangely. Daki peers up from his despair, grasping my arms and placing the Etherium in my hands. The swell of Maka swims against the currents of weakness from my withered frame. I feel Amara's hand touch my shoulder. Warmth begins to spin as meaning spills from it, drawing the Etherium into my body.

Images of patterns… thousands of them coalescing into more complex runes. The Etherium crumbles to ash in my hand, but I feel it spinning around me, trapped in the vortex of her will. I feel her guiding my hands toward Salia's flesh. Graceful and sweeping torrents of Maka weave into beautiful patterns from my hands, light wrapping Salia's face.

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Something pushes back, a presence that does not like the light. Something strong. Ravena… I can sense her, though the connection is weak, I feel it. Energy spirals up and Salia's runes activate suddenly, it ricochets inside of me. I feel Amara pulling the unbalanced power from me, shifting more light.

"More Etherium…" I say to Daki.

The brothers both bring shards to my flesh. Each turning to ash as they are pulled within me, the Netherium that lurked in them circles to my core, disappearing into the depths. I feel another pulse from Ravena's will. What god would wish for their disciple to suffer such a fate? Anger spurs, I feel Amara's hand tighten on my shoulder, calm flows into me and it loosens. We're winning, Amara is winning.

The light fades, and my body steams. My hands still glowing. As they fall from Salia's face, despair falls too. Ralia pulls her closer, running her hand through her hair, touching Salia's restored ears.

"Hempki be praised…" Daki says, pushing the hair from her eyes as they flit open.

People are gathered now, many beginning to kneel. Holding Etherium in front of them, showing me their wounds. I turn my head to Amara, her hand, the silver skin is burned, all the way up her sleeve. The runes no longer dance as they once did, they have slowed. She pulls her hand behind her back to hide it from me. Showing me her other hand is still fine. She motions to the ones that seek to be healed using her power, nodding to me.

Why do I feel wrong about her pain? Why is she so familiar? Why does she care when the others do not? She puts her good hand on my shoulder and I feel the warmth and power spreading again.

So many eyes that seek her, who am I to deny them…

***

More than a hundred have been healed with Amara's help. I begin to understand some of the movements. At first, they were too complex to grasp, but she slowed them. I think she wants me to learn the art. There is only warmth from her. From the one that my people often spurn because she is the Goddess of Death, and yet she is the only one willing to give them life.

So many lips whisper prayers to Leora, Hempki, and Kuwathi… yet I see none of them helping. Only Amara. Perhaps that is why my mother prayed to her. My mother was wiser than her years. People often sought her out, because she could heal. Because she was kind. I can't help but wonder if Amara did not help her back then. I wonder if she has been helping those around me. I know that she wished for the Cursed Edict to fall into my hands, but I sense it is for a different reason than Leora. Korra spoke of Goddess Amara often. I wonder if she truly answered her prayers.

The feeling that stirs in me, gratefulness. Something I did not think I would ever feel for a god. When I hear them give thanks to Leora who stands above them with disdain. It angers me.

It is a child that grabs my hand now, the same who clutched their mother and reminded me of my own.

"Alakin, which god should I pray to give thanks?"

They all have begun calling me this, Chosen. She asks a simple question, yet it will be the first time I have ever told anyone to worship, let alone who. The name falls from my lips though. How could it not, there are more than a hundred now who she has healed. Her arms bear the marks of her work.

"Amara."

There is a hush in the room as I utter her name. Most fear the name. Most are prejudiced against it. Leora's eyebrow twitches at my proclamation. As though her presence alone should require their worship. As though it should be her name upon my lips. She has helped me before. She guided Luna's hands to heal me once. Yet, it was not to truly help me. For months I resented Amara, now I wonder if she tried to help me but was unable. Blocked by Krotha, or even Leora. Only allowed to come when she was needed to further Leora's plans for me, whatever they may be.

There is something so familiar about her, even the way she moves. The way she does not turn from pain and ignore it. She reminds me of my mother, I know that she is not, but it feels so similar.

"If you choose to worship any, it should be her."

The little girl smiles, embracing me tightly before returning to her mother. They both kneel and pray together, Amara's name upon their tongues.

"Alakin, surely there is another god?" one asks.

My head turns slowly to them, until their eyes move down from my piercing gaze.

"She is here now, guiding my hand, do not insult her by praying to false gods."

"Apologies, Alakin," the same one says with a bowed head.

Leora speaks into my mind now.

I am no false goddess.

"Prove it," I mutter.

Her hand joins my shoulder as I heal the next. Her energy is not as smooth as Amara's, but I welcome the guidance. Even if it is from her.

***

An hour later, I stand above Fennec, his body removed from the hooks and placed upon the ground. I wanted to heal him sooner, but Amara wanted me to practice first, or so Leora said.

Many wished to witness it, wishing to give him thanks, but I told them to wait outside, and to help with other things. They all speak highly of him. Saying he was a protector. The ones that shared the room with him especially. They said he would anger Mallock to draw his attention.

Those who can work still are now clearing the debris from the shuttle area. As soon as Fennec can manage, we will take him and leave this place.

Amara's hand finds my shoulder, she feels much weaker than before. I don't understand how it works, gods giving energy and guidance. From what I can feel though, it has taken a toll on her to work so many miracles. Yet she did not complain, even when I felt her hand shaking from the strain.

"I am ready," I say.

Haki and Daki stand over the crates of Etherium. Ralia still tends to Salia, who only now has stirred from her slumber. She seems confused. Having spent so much time without her senses, having them returned, it will take time to recover.

I take the energy from four shards, drinking them dry. The air pulses with Etheric authority. Kneeling next to Fennec, I place my hands upon him. Leora's reluctant hand finds me before her words do.

This will be different. He has kneeled before her altar and received her minor blessing. If I know her at all, she will fight this. We are drained from healing those…

My eye turns to her. She stops, weighing her words.

We may not win, manage your expectations.

"There is only one path we will walk, the one which is carved."

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