12 I expected barbecue hands, not all of them kneeling.

MAGNUS

I shake the whispers out of my head. Still they persist. Until I can see an apparition. A makeshift – in the image of my mother. Smiling at me with her hands outstretched. The words, 'It's alright my child' swept over me. All of a sudden my legs step forward. My fears slowly driven away. I'm left with longing – so raw I only want her to wrap her arms around me again.

I stood on my feet and tread forward. The meteor stone as big as the Rank Leader's two heads combine. Plus the intimidating blue flame. I steeled my nerves and stretch my fingers.

Getting my mind and body ready for the pain. Making her words my source of strength. I have many things I need to prioritize. My fallen Rankers… suffering under the mana of that Dark Elf. I take a deep breath. I must do this.

I hovered my hand above the flame. The fire tickling my palm.

"Touch the stone." One Rank Elder commanded.

After our conversation earlier, I still can't believe how they have the nerves to order me around. Treat me the same. Not caring to give me explanation about my parents. Heck, they never bother defending themselves from the accusation.

The flame is sending heat all over my body. Beads of sweat start to trickle my forehead.

"The Prophesied Deity Stone that split the sky a week ago, dividing the night and day, the moon and the sun. The foreshadowing of what happened three thousand years ago will once again take place. The gates between realms will open… and demons will lay waste on the land." My mind is too muddled to tell whose voice is these words coming from.

"The Beasts easily crossed our borders because the Prophesied Deity Stone weakened the blessings of the Rank Elders. It's a sign. The Eklektos are really here. They will eradicate these Beasts hunting our land. Obliterate the Faeries whose 'mana' overpowered us. Our hope has come at last." Another guy said after him. Almost like chanting than a whisper.

The urge to just grab it, have my hands burned and get this over with came to me. But I shouldn't. This was still the relic of Deities. My existence is already detestable as it is. No need to make the prejudice worse.

"Holy stone of the Deities. I'm aware you detest me."I whispered. The blue fire got brighter. I immediately put my hands on my heart to steel my nerves. It's not like me to chicken out easily.

"I know you won't choose me, but please, let me accompany you're chosen Seeker. I promise I'll aid him to the best of my abilities. I'll travel the realms with him. Gather the Eklektos and protect them in the name of the patron Deity of our Rank - Thotheka."

I closed my eyes and took the stone to my grip. With or without fire I'm prepared to withstand the pain.

I was ready.

I really am.

But then, something happened. A strong wind carrying a woman's cry blasted from the stone, blowing me off my feet. Luckily, I pick up my balance rather quick. And just have staggered two steps back.

"Did you hear that? –"

"From the stone?"

"Look, the flame –"

The last sentence was from Roland, staring at me with mouth wide open. His finger is pointing at what's in my hand. I look down and to see what he's referring to and saw the stone shrink.

From the size of two bubble heads of Rank Elders combined, it transformed into ordinary palm size crystal blue. Almost like sapphire.

Different lights crawled around the twelve pillars surrounding the stone circle. The small one where the stone rested crumbles, shaking the ground violently. Once it stopped. The ceiling in the High Altar glowed in purplish color. An indication that the barrier at the desert is back..

"Our blessing... is back." Someone from the Rank Elders behind me whispered. I watched in awe at their shining bracelets, the carvings danced in colors at the surface of gold. And the gems - I gulped the fly who went in my mouth. The gems shone like little stars and it shoots laser light to the intricate drawings of the stone table, joining with the twelve pillars.

My eyes transfixed to the different light dancing around me I didn't notice the Rank Elders dispersed themselves and stood beside every twelve pillars. My other nineteen teammates did the same. And all of them started kneeling. I'm still standing rigid, goosebumps crawling every part of my skin.

I think I know where this is going. I think I know why pain didn't come to my hands. Why it still looks the same and unscathed. I think I know why the blessing is evidently back and firing steam on the Rank Elders bracelets.

As ridiculous and absurd as I think it is...

I think the Rank Elders knew it too. My very existence...who received nothing but scorned and abhorrence from the people who knew my birth parents... I think I found the reason why the Rank Elders separate me from my parents. Why they forcedly brought me up in the lost parts of Maelnir Island - the home of hideous monsters.

Why they imprisoned me in their 'Sanctuary' to read their collection books about history and every creature living in magical realm. Why they always ordered me to venture into the hives of oversized creatures to retrieve some lost treasure I found out as 'trash' or purposely planted beforehand.

I think I know why kidnapping and dragging that Rank Elder to the pub to obtain the information of my 'Aegis' is so easy. And why neither of them accused nor uttered a word at my hearing before the Rank Ruler. Pardoning me of my crimes.

I think I know why... they spent so much effort to strengthen my 'koha technique'. Why they trained me how to bend the koha technique to see past the mana and blessing. Why they teach me different ways on how to properly harness blessing - torturing me in the process.

The years I spent with sweat and blood and brain wracking readings with them...It was solely for this day.

"The Prophecy." The Rank Elder said. And each of them removed the white masks they decorated on their faces. For the first time in my life, I got to see what they look like...

"The mentor of the Twelve Eklektos, the gatherer, the quester of blessings, the traveler between realms. All Hail Magnus Klaus, the chosen Seeker of the Twelve Deities."