Post by Silver_Highwind_Magician on Apr 22, 2010 0:48:04 GMT -5
Come with me, let us travel to Elmira, New York --- to a school within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester. Notre Dame High School, a ministry of the Sisters of Mercy. The motto of this prestigious school --- that will one day be known for some famous, notable alumni --- is “Ego Sum Lux Mundi”. Translation: “I am the Light of the World”. Such is the bright, yet strong hearts of the students that have attended this school since 1955. After 40 years of service to the community of Elmira, Notre Dame is noted as “a world of the promised future” by some of the residents of this area. One such student --- a 14-year-old named Elizabeth --- lives with dreams of becoming a professional wrestler and entertainer… Her heart is the strongest of her classmates… Thus, she too is incongruously placed within the fantastic storyline of the chaotic fate of the prophesied one.
Right now, she is currently attending an Interpretive Art class under the instruction of Sister Mary Aetna --- a recently transferred nun from a remote convent in Warsaw, Poland. Today, Sister Mary Aetna’s class must draw a picture of the first thing that comes to their mind. Elizabeth, who is not the most imaginary girl, begins to draw a picture of a sun within the sky. In the midst of the picture of the sunlit sky, you can see a beautiful woman wearing a glamour masque, descending within the sun’s rays and lit with a luminescent red light. Sister Mary Aetna passes by Elizabeth and marvels at the sight of her unfinished beautiful drawing.
“And what do you call this exceptional drawing, Elizabeth?”, impressively questions the elder nun. Elizabeth is startled, but laughs because she realizes that she was concentrating really hard. Mary Aetna giggles and says, “You concentrate more that a silversmith busy at his craft, young lady. You shouldn’t strain yourself so much, my dear.”
“Sorry, Sister --- I’ll try to be a bit more alert this time.”, smiles the teenage hopeful. She looks at her drawing and begins to think about a perfect name. After a bit of thought to it, she happily says, “Lady of the Morning Sun --- that’s what I’ll call this piece. I don’t know where this image came from. I just started drawing it, and this is what I’m coming up with.”
Sister Mary Aetna --- giving a brief analysis of the picture --- says with great impression, “She appears to be full of light and hope, just like our students here at Notre Dame. I have great visions for this work of art. I’m pretty sure our Reverend Mother would marvel at the sight of this.”
To hear such words come her way… Elizabeth takes comments very well, especially when it has something to do with things that are girly and feminine. Young Elizabeth is much more stronger that most girls, both in body and heart. It is because of this strength that she chose to become a fighter as her career. But, it is little things like this that set her apart from most tomboys --- she is both creative and self-expressive, looking at all things as either logical or illogical. It is the way that she was raised to think, and she personally chooses to not revert to any juvenile means of thought and analysis. However, on the inside, she somehow feels… Inferior.
(“Even though I am stronger than most girls, that is all that I am --- a girl. How am I to compete with these boys on a weekly basis? It’s not like I’m Ms. Marvel or Wonder Woman! I guess I should remain a lady, especially since women don’t make it too far in this country because of these chauvinist men. But, I’ll show them --- someday --- that the fire burning inside of me cannot be put out, no matter what the opposition may be!”)
This hidden passion within the young girl’s heart is like a flame --- it can expand with power or it can remain calm and peaceful. Only a selected few can expand the flame within the girl’s heart, especially since she is not the most dedicated girl. Elizabeth notes this as her biggest flaw, humbly and shamefully. However, although this may be her biggest weakness, Elizabeth’s strengths are about to be put to the test. For you see, there is a new student in her class --- a young Chinese boy with the most mysterious disposition.
For the past thirty minutes, the Chinese boy has stared at Elizabeth like a snickering gargoyle with malicious intentions. The boy has stared at Elizabeth so much that the young gentleman has not completed his drawing as of yet. Elizabeth does the polite thing and waves at the boy with a nervous smile --- the boy waves back with an eerie grin. Elizabeth is just more crept out by the boy now, especially since he’s acting about as disturbing as Wednesday Adams. Poor Elizabeth. To be dealing with such a strange boy… One would think that a girl like Elizabeth would consult Sister Mary Aetna, but no --- she chooses to remain silent and mentally battle herself through the situation like a real fighter.
Elizabeth looks down at her paper and continues her drawing. She refuses to acknowledge or notice that the boy is still staring at her. Never has Elizabeth dealt with such an ogling individual --- never in her life. Something doesn’t feel right to her. The last time something like this happened, Elizabeth ended up having to fight a guy after school…just to get home. But, during this case, something just…doesn’t feel right --- better yet, it doesn’t feel normal. The room gets a cool chill from the air conditioning being on high because of Mary Aetna’s menopause. This just adds on to the anxiety that Elizabeth is attempting to not feel at the moment.
(“Great! Just what I need --- another weirdo to deal with. And this one has been staring at me for the past few minutes. And this damn A/C unit is far too high today! What is the Sister trying to do --- freeze us to death or something? But, wait a second… Something isn‘t right here. Why isn‘t everyone else getting cold?”)
It’s frighteningly true! The rest of the class seems to be normal and enjoying the class session, while Elizabeth is practically freezing her butt off. All of a sudden, in an act of desperation, Elizabeth raises her right hand up to call upon the Sister. Mary Aetna calmly approaches the young lady, instantly noticing Elizabeth’s bodily tremors. She places her right hand upon Elizabeth’s forehead and instantly feels that a cool chill has come upon the young lady’s entire being.
Mary Aetna hands Elizabeth her Rosary and calmly says, “You will be escorted to the nurse, my dear. You seem to have come down with the shivers --- a rare case among young girls, especially one as athletic as you are.”
“I’ll take her to see the nurse, Sister Mary Aetna.”
Mary Aetna turns to the Chinese student, smiles and says, “You’re nobility is appreciated, Mr. Huang. Be sure to keep our young sister safe.”
“No harm will come her way, Sister.”, smiles the Chinese student.
A few minutes later, Elizabeth is wrapped up in her jacket --- the weird Chinese student accompanies her to the nurse’s office. Their walk is not long, but it feels as if they’ve been walking forever. Surely, if she’s correct, they’ve been walking for the past 10 minutes. It doesn’t take that long to get to the nurse’s office, since its located down the hall. All of a sudden, Elizabeth begins to feel a wet sensation coming upon her body. It feels as if she’s submerged in cooling waters --- like she’s freezing in an ice bath. She’s not suffering hypertension or any form of the sense, but her entire body is cold --- cold to the point of suffering.
“Wh-wh-why is my entire b-body f-f-freezing like th-th-this?”, questions the shivering young lady.
“Huh! Such is the power of Ripple, human --- one suffers until they’ve gained complete control over it.”
“Why are you t-t-talking about, man?”, giggles the shivering Elizabeth.
“It was only expected --- a strong girl like you would be able to wield the power of the legendary deities. You are truly one to be envied, Elizabeth Carolan.”
“What?!? Ok, you’re not making any sense, Huang!”, snaps the shivering and short-tempered Elizabeth.
The weird Chinese student walks in front of Elizabeth and blocks her path --- the freezing student stops walking and looks at Huang with confused eyes. And then, something begins to happen to Huang… He is engulfed in a geyser of magma that forms from thin air. The magma dematerializes and reveals the true form of the slender Chinese student --- a Herculean man with an intimidating figure and presence with a mismatched jovial expression upon his face. Elizabeth backs away from the man, as she knows that she is no match for a man that big with her current weight and body class. The intimidated Elizabeth begins asking questions out of fear. The Herculean man answers her back with a towering and deep voice…
“Who are you?”, asks Elizabeth.
“Huang Cheng Ke, the Devil of Jiang Mountain. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Elizabeth.”
“What do you want with me?”, nervously questions the shivering teenage girl.
“I want you to become stronger --- I refuse to engage in combat with such a weak and frail martyr who cannot even control her own Ripple powers. It‘d discredit my revered merit.”
“What the hell is Ripple powers?”, asks the confused Elizabeth.
“A spiritual substance from one’s soul that is actually ectoplasm turned into a freezing liquid sensation upon one’s body --- it can heavily damage one’s opponent. If one masters the power of Ripple, their bodies will be able to control the legendary Greater Arcana Spirits. You, my young girl, are one of those people who are destined to control a Greater Arcana --- a fate that ties you to The Prophesied One of Legend.”
“Greater Arcana --- Prophesied One of Legend?”, confusedly questions the young teenage girl who slowly loses the freezing sensation in her body. She begins to calm down and looks at her hands --- a thick, yet clear frame of ruby ectoplasm forms upon her skin. She questions in awe, “Is this Ripple --- the stuff that you’re talking about?!?”
“If you can master your Ripple power within five years, I will return and challenge your might. Until that time, young warrior woman, brace yourself for the challenges to come. By the way… What is your name, young warrior woman?”
“Elizabeth… I prefer not to say my last name.”, answers the young lady with authority.
“Elizabeth… Such a beautiful, yet strong name. Well, Elizabeth, you must follow my demands. My master will not be pleased to deal with a little girl who cannot put up a good fight. Farewell, Elizabeth. And remember, your training never ends from this day forward.”
With his last word said to her, Elizabeth watches as the behemoth warrior --- Huang Cheng Ke --- fades away into burning ashes before her very eyes. The ashes are carried away in an ominous wind that trails out of an open window to the student’s left. In silence, Elizabeth watches the ectoplasm upon her hand fade away into nothingness. A ghost always fades away, even if it wishes to be within this world forever. We must all say “goodbye” to such things… But, in Elizabeth’s case, she must convey a warm “hello” to a fate that she will soon see as her greatest challenge…ever to be given to her. In her mind, she ponders on what has just happened to her in silence and nervousness…
(“I can’t believe that I’m about to say this, but --- I’m scared. Whatever that guy was, whether he be good or evil, he’s telling me that I have to train this strange substance that’s coming from my body into a force that I can use to fight with. But, I’m scared. What will happen to me if I die in battle against that man? Huh… Cheng Ke… I’m never going to forget that name for as long as I live.”)