Chapter 7: Awakening
With determination etched upon his features, Scion willed his latent powers to manifest. He had felt the surges of energy in the presence of the Sun God Ra, and he was now desperate to harness that power. His mind, like a tightly coiled spring, sought to unleash his newfound abilities.
The air around him seemed to shimmer with latent potential as if the very molecules hummed with untapped energy. Scion extended his hand, fingers outstretched, attempting to grasp the radiant power he had experienced earlier. It was a moment of pure concentration, of seeking a connection with a force he had yet to fully comprehend.
But the power, like fleeting mirages in the desert, eluded his grasp. It danced at the edge of his consciousness, a tantalizing promise just out of reach. He could almost taste its brilliance, yet it remained intangible, slipping through his fingers like grains of sand.
*Goddamn, I thought Sun God Ra said I would already have these powers. This isn't looking good*
The bandits looked at each other with a confused look on their faces, then softly smiled at Sira.
"Looks like your luck's run out lady, I'm going to clobber that guy then we'll have some fun."
Sira couldn't stand to stare at the bandit's eyes, she continued to stay close to Scion.
The bandits, seizing the opportunity in his hesitation, lunged forward with malicious intent. The burly leader, a grotesque grin distorting his face, wielded a rusty blade that glinted menacingly in the dim temple light. Scion's instincts kicked in, and he raised his arm to shield himself from the impending strike.
The blade struck his forearm with a sickening thud. Pain radiated through Scion's limb, and he winced in agony. Blood trickled from the wound, staining the sandstone floor. It was a stark reminder that the bandits, ruthless and bloodthirsty, showed no mercy.
Sira's voice, trembling with concern, cut through the turmoil of the moment. "Scion!"
Her cry, a lifeline in the chaotic scene, fueled his determination. He couldn't allow the bandits to harm Sira or desecrate the sacred temple. As the bandits continued their onslaught, Scion summoned his inner strength to push back the waves of pain and fear.
But, to his dismay, the power he had longed for seemed to have abandoned him when he needed it most. His attempts to tap into the radiant energy were met with frustration and an unsettling void. The connection to the divine power remained elusive, and Scion grappled with his inadequacy.
The bandits, emboldened by the sight of his vulnerability, intensified their assault. They circled him like vultures, eager to rend the defender of the sacred temple apart. The burly leader landed a crushing blow to Scion's midsection, leaving him gasping for breath as the air was driven from his lungs.
The other bandits joined the savage dance, delivering kicks and punches that left him battered and bruised. The world spun around him, pain and confusion blurring his vision. The temple's aura of sacred protection had crumbled before the bandits' ruthless onslaught.
Sira, her eyes filled with desperation and fierce resolve, attempted to intervene and shield Scion from further harm. But the bandits, driven by their cruel intentions, pushed her aside with dismissive ease. She was left powerless to prevent the violence unfolding before her, her anguish etched upon her face.
It was a dire situation, and Scion, overwhelmed and battered, could feel the weight of his inability to protect himself and the temple. The sacred space that had been filled with ancient whispers of devotion now echoed with the chilling laughter of the marauders who defiled it.
*Not like this, it can't end, not yet. I didn't even get to help my loved ones, I couldn't even have an adventure, I won't let it end like this.*
Yet when it seemed that all hope was lost, a glimmer of salvation appeared. The relics and scriptures that adorned the temple's walls, ancient witnesses to the village's unwavering faith, began to awaken. Their weathered surfaces emitted a faint, golden light, pulsating with an ethereal energy.
Scion, amidst the storm of pain and confusion, was drawn to the radiant light. It seemed to beckon to him, offering a connection he couldn't ignore. The energy in the room shifted, responding to his presence and resonating with a power he had yet to fully comprehend.
In that desperate moment, as the bandits prepared for another round of vicious attacks, Scion reached out, his mind a beacon of determination. The relics and scriptures held secrets passed down through generations, and now, they chose to share their mysteries with him.
With unwavering resolve, he willed the power of the relics to fuse with his own being. His thoughts were a silent plea for strength, for the means to protect the sacred temple and those who sought its refuge. The golden light intensified, enveloping him in a warm, radiant aura.
The bandits, momentarily taken aback by the divine transformation, faltered, their eyes wide with disbelief. The temple, a sanctuary of faith, now housed a guardian touched by the ancient power of the Sun God Ra. Scion, his eyes ablaze with newfound strength, had become a beacon of hope in the darkest hour.
Drawing upon the energies of the temple's relics, he unleashed a surge of power directed at the closest bandit. The force was unstoppable, like a wave of pure energy given form. It struck the bandit like a battering ram, lifting him from the ground and propelling him backwards.
The bandit's body collided with the unforgiving stone walls of the temple, and he crumpled to the floor, unconscious. Scion had discovered the wellspring of his abilities, the radiant energy that pulsed through him and allowed him to defend the temple.
All of a sudden, the divine being right in front of him felt a jolt of pain through every part of his body, "Argh!"
*I can't take it, it hurts too much. But what if Sira gets hurt. I've gotta make them suffer, no matter wh-*
The strain of wielding such energy for the first time had left him drained and weakened. His vision blurred, and the world seemed to spin, the temple's sacred walls becoming a dizzying blur.
The remaining bandits assumed that Scion's scream was a scream of anger and lucky for Scion, they took the liberty of escaping. They fled from the temple, casting terrified glances at Scion, the mysterious protector who had thwarted their malicious intentions.
Sira, her concern unabated, rushed to Scion's side as he struggled to remain upright. The aftermath of his first use of the newfound abilities had left him battered and disoriented. She helped him to a seated position, her touch gentle yet concerned.
"Are you all right?" she inquired, her voice a soothing balm.
Scion, his breathing laboured and his energy spent, managed a weak nod. "I think so, but that took more out of me than I expected."
The relics and scriptures had granted him the strength to protect the temple and its inhabitants, but their power was not without consequence. It was a glimpse into his potential, but it had left him physically and mentally exhausted.
Sira, understanding the gravity of the situation, quickly collected the unconscious bandit, the sole remaining proof of the bandit incursion, and carried him outside. Her determined steps contrasted with the chaos that had unfolded in the sacred temple.
Upon her return, she approached Scion, who had leaned against the temple wall, the glow of his newfound powers dimmed but was still present. He had fainted from the strain of unleashing his abilities, and the line between guardian and vulnerable traveller had blurred once again.
The village's inhabitants, alerted by the commotion, had gathered at the temple's entrance. Their faces were etched with a mix of concern and curiosity. Scion's aura of power had been unmistakable, but the true extent of his abilities remained a mystery.
Sira, her voice filled with conviction and an air of authority, addressed the gathering crowd. "He is a friend and a guardian of the village, chosen by the divine hand of fate. But there is much about him that remains a mystery. We must tend to his injuries and protect our sacred temple. As for the bandits, they have escaped, and the threat to our village has been quelled. But be warned, the leader of their group will get information about our attack."
The villagers were all murmuring about what had just happened. Were they really going to be robbed of everything? What has this traveller done?
But all answers were cleared by Sira's confident tone "Most of you may be concerned and worried that a young traveller is the reason why we are once again a target, but this traveller was able to harness the Sun God's sacred items. This must be a message from Sun God Ra, so let us all put our faith into the young traveller."
The enigma surrounding their newfound protector deepened, and the villagers were left with more questions than answers. Who was Scion, and what secrets did he hold? Was he really going to save them from impending doom? The temple's ancient relics, infused with his newfound power, had been awakened, signalling a transformative chapter in the village's history.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone