A Mother's Gift

Pandrea is stunned as she looks into this woman's eyes. Her mother's sister, her aunt's eyes. Tears began to form in Pandrea's eyes, and Ki'Rena stepped forward and wrapped her in an embrace.

"It's ok. I know this is all so much for you to take in. First, even before talk of family, I will explain my skin and horns. Let's sit down on the couch here, and we can talk. You too little one," Ki'Rena spoke as she gestured to the couch.

"My skin, if I were full Majestech, it would be are has metal with the flexibility of your thin epidermis. The people of the Majestech race are very secretive and rarely come down from The Expanse. Our bodies are like machines that repair, enhance, and compute information faster than any other race. My red horns are just a product of being the King's daughter. This is also why my skin isn't as strong."

Ki'Rena made a face to say that wasn't something she was proud of admitting.

"Do just people who are related to your father have those horns?"

"Yes, but only our bloodline has such neat and small horns that never grow bigger. Others of Gra'Nixhas have large horns and some that even cause them medical problems, such as neck problems and ingrown horns."

"Does this mean I will grow horns?" Pandrea asked, interested.

"Very likely. If you were a boy, then it might not pass to you, but mothers always pass the short horns to their daughters. They are a unique and vital part of our demon culture. Every culture has types of magic they can use. Most have three types, but some have more."

"In the Demons culture, the shorter the horns, the stronger the magic type. For the other races, it varies, and we will talk about that more another time. The point is that when you can access your Chaos magic, energy waves, or spiritual chakra. Whatever races term for the energy inside you decide to use, your horns will appear once you discover it."

"So I will be able to cast a spell and throw 'Bolts of Chaos'? Will that be the same for my dad's side? What will happen then? Will I grow sharp teeth?"

"No, silly girl, but all your hair will turn as white as snow," came Calimus's voice as he rose from Pandrea's shadow cast from a hanging light.

"Look at this. You haven't changed one bit, brother, still stiff as ever."

This decidedly female voice came from above this time. The girls looked to see a snow-white wolf leaping out of the light of a glowing fixture fix from nowhere.

Aquina squeaked as the wolf landed beside Ki'Rena and sat looking at Calimus.

"Little sister, it has been so long. I had no idea that Greyson would give you to Ki'Rena. When did this happen?" Calimus began to fire questions, but Ki'Rena put her hand up.

"I know you too have a lot of catching up, so head in the back and talk while I explain this to our prominent guests."

The Black and white wolves headed to the backroom as Ki'Rena turned back to Pandrea and got back to the topic of magic.

"What Calimus said was true, your hair will also turn from black to white when you discover the magic inside of you. The storm is the element you will wield from the Wolfven line."

"So, like the crazy storm power, like Dalphia's Shyft Deviolen has that he can barely control??" Pandrea asked dazedly.

"No, our power and Shyfts powers are different than ours. They draw their power from the Aether. You will have more control over it and not a storm circling you like that power thing, but that doesn't mean your abilities won't be dangerous—that why I am going to train and give you a present. I missed more Naming days then either of us wants to count."

"Present? Naming day? You don't have to give me anything, Aunt. I'm just happy that it's you as my trainer, and I can find out more about my parents and what happened."

"This is something your mother would have passed to you, and I have kept this hidden from the world since your mother died. Lunaro was gifted to your mother by your grandfather Primos, and she should have passed this to you. Your father, King Greyson, helped me escape from Gra'Nixhas's capital city of Hellenbach."

"Why were you trying to escape from the city anyways? Isn't your father the King?" Pandrea asked as Aquina slipped off the couch and head to the back room where the wolves were talking.

"When he found out my sister died, Your other grandfather went into a fit of madness. The King was still under the impression that my sister had become a spy due to Morenki's planning, and the King didn't know it was he who slew her. Shortly after, my stepmother released her two Elder-Shyfts and walked out of the tallest tower in the castle."

"Your grandfather's last words before he closed his door for 16 years were: "Burn the world and wake me when it is done." He left me and his kingdom going into a suspended state. The general Morenki took over from there, and even after the betrayal made its way back to the capital, no one could wake the King from his meditation."

"Morenki visited Heavenfall Bog, the land underneath Hallen-Gra. He must have done this before the war started and had the witches there make him a poison to inject the King to keep him weak and asleep. That brings us to the present day, all three nations are still holding back, but the front lines on all sides are weakening," Ki'Rena explained.

"So, what am I supposed to do?" Pandrea asked.

"In time, child, you will learn and become extremely strong. We need to deal with Morenki. Your grandfather is not an evil person, nor is the demon race. Morenki has brainwashed them all. Only if we can wake up father and take out morenki can the kingdoms relax. You and your friends will need to do this. All the kingdoms will help you get ready to go with your father to end this all, but your father has no followers. He hides now, waiting for you to get stronger. With both bloodlines, you have the greatest chance of stopping this war."

"What? You mean, I'm not just training to be able to find my father?"

"In time, you will understand what I mean, and you will soon experience Gra'Nixhas troops to see what they are capable of doing. The last sixteen years, Drawlgon has remained only to support the FAE and The Three King to hold back Morenki, but now news of you being here has leaked. So it is only a matter of time before he gets here to invade Drawlgon," Ki'Rena finished explaining and stood up.

Pandrea's head spun. She didn't think she was going to get dragged into the war. She knew she wanted to avenge her mother and all the rest that had lost everything to this monster. Pandrea made a choice then. She would fight and take down Morenki.