Awakening

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

~ Lilac's POV~ _________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mason carried me as we walked through the portal using the vortex to get to the designated place. "Close your eyes and hold on to me tightly!". I obeyed him and clung onto him, shutting my eyes. "You know, your so adorable when you just do as I say. I just want to lock you up for myself!". I blushed burying into his chest. I could hear him laugh.

They always told me to close my eyes when I enter a portal, as it is a space where there are a variety of places that you can reach as long as you have been there before. You just need to envision the location where you want to head out to, however, since I'm new to this place, I do not know many places. If I entered the portal alone, I could get lost or break away from Mason, landing in a far away place.

As soon as we reached the place, Mason put me down. I opened my eyes to see a landscape that I wouldn't have known actually existed in this world. The sunlight shimmered on the lake as fishes leaped, dancing in the water. Tall coniferous trees surrounded us on all sides. The wind blowing through them weaved through my hair, whispering sweet things. It was truly beautiful.

"I can show you more places like these. If you would allow me to!" Smiled Mason at me.

I was probably too engrossed in the scenery painted in front of us to notice him speaking. "I would love to go to those places with you." I spoke putting my head down and playing with my fingers shyly. Although, it is true. I really liked Mason. He was sweet, kind, and funny, although he loves teasing me from time to time.

"Oh ho! I would be honored my lady!" He kissed my forehead as I touched the spot where his lips met, looking at him in disbelief.

"That's the look, I love!" He laughed making me angry. He was just playing around with me. Huffing, I looked away from him.

"Lila!" Rosie waved at me from some distance with Yukio behind her, once again throwing daggers at Mason. I looked at Mason who also seemed to be throwing daggers at him. They really didn't like each other. I sighed.

Lucky for me though! I have a friend. "Rosie, over here!" I smiled waving back at her.

She ran towards me smiling. "Do not run, Rosie. Everyone is going to kill me if you get hurt!" Yukio ran catching up to her.

We connected our hands and talked about different things. I learnt that Rosie could communicate and command beasts to do things for her. Her power was that of a Class One, but she didn't like forcing beasts to do things for her, against their will. I nodded in understanding. I also got to know that she grew up in the capital. After discovering her powers, she was sent here at the academy. She invited me to her house in the capital city too. She said we could go shopping for clothes or even accessories. I think I could get used to this kind of life.

"I wonder what kind of power I have." I smiled sadly looking at the sky which was now painted in bright orange as the last few rays scattered the sunlight.

"Lila..." Rosie looked at me with worried eyes. "I'm sure you will find it out soon." She squeezed my hands in reassurance.

I nodded smiling to not let her worry.

A loud boom was heard, interrupting our conversation. In front of us, beasts ran away towards the Academy.

"Rosie!"

"Lila!"

Yukio and Mason stood next to us in a defensive stance.

I squeezed Rosie's hand. "What is happening?"

"The beasts say that there is a dark energy emanating from over there!" Rosie pointed out just as a tall creature almost 15 feet tall arose from the shadows of a tree. An aura of black colour surrounded it. Every step it took, the earth shook and the plants surrounding it turned into ash. The sun was almost completely gone with only a few rays creating a light blue sky.

I trembled in fear. What sort of oppression feeling was this? It had pitch black eyes. After scanning its environment, its eyes locked with mine.

"Shit! Rosie, take Lila and run away." Spoke Mason.

"We'll take care of it. Just run!" Yelled Yukio.

What?

Rosie pulled me along with her. "You two take care!" She yelled as tears ran down her cheeks.

"Rosie?"

She smiled back at me and brought her forefinger to her lips, telling me to keep quiet. I nodded and quickly followed her, occasionally turning back to see if they were okay, but they had long disappeared into the trees behind us.

After running for a good 15 minutes, we hid in the bushes to catch our breaths.

"Rosie, would they be, okay?", I asked.

"I hope they are! If they do, they will find us!"

I nodded as we sat next to each other.

"I already mind linked my other three mates about our location and situation. They are coming with your... ahh... roommates too."

"Mind linked?" I asked curiously. I knew a little about them from reading about it in novels and stories back in my world.

"Mind link is a telepathic connection that can be created between two people or a group of people, if they are close. Ah, but they have to be mates."

I nodded in understanding. "Mates as in soulmates?"

She nodded blushing. "Soul mates are like your other halves. They will protect you, care for you and love you forever Lila! In this world, for a girl there are always multiple soul mates because of the ratio between men and women."

Oh, I understand it now. The headmaster spoke about it earlier too.

"So, your roommates are your soulmates?"

"Yes. They treat me like a princess. We are best friends too. Although, they can really get on my nerves at times." She laughed nervously.

"Thank you, Lila!" She smiled at me with adoration.

"Why? I didn't do anything."

She shook her head. "Our conversation just now makes me feel better in this kind of situation!".

I smiled at her.

"Do you think I have soul mates too?" I asked curiously.

She looked at me like I had grown two horns on my head. "Of course, Lila. You never know, they may be around you. Play close attention to your surroundings. Those who love you for who you are would be your soulmates." She smiled. "Although sometimes they can be possessive, controlling or even annoying, depending on their true nature. But they only wish the very best for you."

My eyes glittered. "So, you could be my soulmate too?" Curiosity peeked inside me.

She laughed so loudly that tears left her eyes. I pouted confused.

"Lila! When you meet your soul mates, you will know. Although you and I are not soulmates, we could be best friends who do things together."

"How so?"

"You will just know. They can give up everything to just be with you. They will care for you and do anything for you. When you meet people like that, you know you have met your soulmates."

I smiled agreeing with her. "Do not forget me at that time okay Lila?"

"I won't! Promise Rosie."

A roar was heard a few feet away from us. The creature from earlier showed up in front of us. But how? We would have heard him come. His footsteps... They rattled the entire earth. We gulped in fear holding hands with each other, cowering behind the nearest tree. If the creature is here right now, that means Mason and Yukio... I shook my head. They should be alright.

I peeked behind the tree as his barely noticeable black eyes narrowed down at us.

Rosie let go of my hand and stood up.

"Rosie, what are you doing?" I tried holding onto her hand, but it slipped through.

"It was really nice to know you, Lila!" She smiled back at me with tears in her eyes. "You are my best friend."

"Rosie!" My voice trembled screaming her name. She paid no heed to me and continued to walk towards the creature. "Run far away Lila! I will protect you. This is the last thing that I can do for you!" A pink glow from her body emanated.

"No! Rosie!" Tears ran down my face.

All this time, the place that I was looking for to call home. I have found it, the place to call my home. God! Please, I do not want to lose them. Do not do this to me! I have found the people who actually cared about me. Rosie, Darius, Octavius, Orion, and Mason. I want to live with them. I'm so useless. I cannot do anything but be protected by those around me. My fists clenched as pain tugged at my heart, threatening to kill me.

I want to protect them too. I cannot live like this cowardly. My friend is out there fighting for my life right now and sacrificing hers. How could I let that happen?

I stood up and walked towards the creature. A surge of confidence within me showed up as I felt a surge of a strange kind of power emanating from my chest. I envisioned myself in an aura of purple.

As the creature advanced towards Rosie, I felt myself levitating. Rosie looked back at me. "No! Lila, run away!".

I was far too gone. My mind became hazy. My right hand pointed towards the creature that seemed to tremble at the sight of me.

"Lila..." Darius' voice rang in my ears. "We can take care of it! So, please, come down. Will you?"

Focus Lila! The creature. I closed my eyes imagining it turn into dust as I clenched my fist pointing at it. The creature groaned in pain as his body started turning into ashes. A black ring of portal opened behind it as it sucked the creature inside it, right before it could completely disappear into ashes.

Through the portal, I heard a thick accented voice, which made my skin crawl. "Interesting girl! I will be back for you." The portal disappeared along with the creature as I was surrounded by silence.

I looked down at Rosie who had fainted with a badly hurt, but an alive Yukio next to her. Mason was next to them with an arm over Orion to support himself. They both were bleeding heavily. My eyes widened at the sight.

A gust of wind carrying the scent of Lilacs invaded my senses. Lilacs... I waved my hand in the direction of the scent as a breeze carrying petals of Lilacs flew in. Raising my hand up, the petals exploded in the sky. Purple coloured glitter scattered around me, blowing over the wounds of the injured as I saw them heal quickly on Mason and Yukio.

They looked astonished at me. My mind was becoming hazy.

"Lila!" Octavius yelled right below me as he held his hands widely open. "Come here!". His eyes held so much worry. For me?

I remembered Rosie's words... "If you ever find people who care for you... Those who love you for who you are would be your soulmates."

Darius, Mason, Octavius, and Orion, they all looked at me with worry, urging me to come down.

I think I met them. My soulmates!

I smiled looking at him with tears in my eyes. I felt the power leave my body. Reaching my arms out to him, I fell down as he caught me. As I slipped into unconsciousness, I could hear him call out to me, but all I wanted to do was fall into a deep slumber. I was too tired to keep my eyes open.

A dream sounds like a good idea to me!