Chapter 8: New Discoveries

A few weeks past since the inspection Nea did on Gala's naked body. She personally seems interested in those strange grey markings on her skin. Meanwhile I've been noticing I'm becoming more..motherly towards this little creature. Just the other day I noticed Gala walk right through a wall and not break it.

Not only that but she some how manage to get stuck in a really tall tree without making a sound. Momma thinks its just Gala being..well Gala. Mischievous and curious of everything and adding the fact she has no clue what a tree even is due to her years in the Nameless Realm. I walk outside today to fine her coloring in a old dusty journal. She sees me and hides it immediately giggling nervously. "What ya got there beautiful? Can Mommy see it?" I asked. Usually she talks before doing anything,this time though she floats in the air and flies back into the palace guarding her journal close to her chest.

I sit in the chair and start to meditate on all that's happen so far. Amazed and confused I just keep on going with the flow. There's just Gala and her origin. It bothers me that she is a being that is truly last of her kind and yet so little and innocent. I tell Papa about what's on my mind and usually he's a wise intelligent guy but he even doesn't know the complete history of Galastrom and the Drenukks as a race of people.

"Maybe in time Gala will open up more. She already accepts us as family and you as her mother. Maybe shes adjusting physically and definitely mentally. Its a lot to take in when you find out your deceased parent was a hero who gave her remaining power and life just so you could live. I'd do the same for Azou and you. You are my kin and my blood." Papa says sounding wise as always.

I brush off the thoughts on Gala for now and go back to my bedroom. A missed call from Clest I see on my phone. I call her back and asked what she needed." Remember that book on the Drenukks? Yeah apparently Ember has said Nea herself came by and delivered a whole new part shes here now and ya may wanna bring Gala." She says. I knock on Gala's bedroom door and wait before she opens it. Once she does she is happy as usual and hugs me. "Gala was busy today Mommy. Gala wanted to make sure Mommy didn't know what Gala was doing hehe." She giggles. I pick her up and put her on my back. She has a little book in her hands and smiles failing to keep it away from me.

We leave the palace and head back to the Brigand Base. Once we get there things already look polished and new Dalistad had people working on the buildings and constructing new roads and even an homeless shelter. Most people cheer when me and Gala walk through. Happy as ever I smile and realize I helped get a old city back on the map. When we get inside the other Brigand members had a special box sitting in the dining hall. Ember and Clest welcome us both back in as if we never left.

Winlow has a crowbar and Mei has the book Clest mentioned over the phone. "Now before you ask. This is a time of celebration hehe. We are getting to know more about our little coal buddy here Gala. So Nea personally before she left given us the second version if the book to learn about the Drenukks. Not only that inside that box over there is the new armour from this day on and forevermore,

Of the Brigands of Dalistad. We have our Aether to thank and Gala also hehe. So without further ado. Open the box girls!!" Clest yells. Gala was given milk and a toy to satisfy her boredom meanwhile as the box was open the lid flied off heading towards Gala's head. Without even noticing it. She caught it and started playing with it as if nothing happened. We were all astonished by her reflex speed. Winlow and Kay decided to throw more things at Gala. She expertly catches,dodges and even jumped over all that was being thrown at her. Clest was showing a smug smile to Ember she gave her a few coins that I presume was a bet.

One more thing they did want to see was if Gala had the durability to withstand something bigger than her. "Its time.Gala don't move if you can withstand this massive hook heading towards you then you gotta be special." Ember said while she and a few other Brigands hurtled the massive stone hook at Gala. When it landed the sound was so loud I thought Gala was injured until." CLAAACCCKK!!!" The hook broke into tiny pieces by this one little girl's presence. Its almost as if the object was afraid of her.

Than again I realized this is the same girl who runs through walls with out a scratch and could probably survive being submerged in lava or shot into space. "Gala think that tickled hehe. What in box Cwest?" She asked being curious and walks over to it. Clest pats her head and puts a shimmering purple armor set on Gala. The ooohs and ahhs began and there was a lot of em. Gala was also adorned with a masked helm,some shinguards,boots and a chained link sword. "Oooooooh. Gala remembers this."

She says nonchalantly but it surprised me. In my dream she used this very weapon to kill my current nightmares how on Neo was she able to recognize that weapon. "Gala sweety. That's not possible. There is no way that chained link sword or whatever it is. Is the same one in my dreams you used. Unless something familiar about it can be proven it has to be a coincidence." I tell her. Ember giggles and pats me on the back. Gala tests out the weapon and swings it striking a nearby practice dummy. Intrigued by this. I watch as this girl decimated the poor dummy in front of her. "Clest, Ember now about the book lets observe how Aether can summon a Drenukk.

Ah here it is. Aether was a name used for a prophesied being so powerful they would defy our own reality. Legend says Aether was a idea or power Nea once had before she became the goddess we know today. It dispersed into nothingness and was forgotten until one day a child will be born with unimaginable power capable of summoning the last of the nameless realm dwellers." Mei read.

I was creeped out by how eerily close that was to our reality. Ember grabbed Gala's hand and brought her over to me. The others read the book more and I meditated again seeing that sapphire form again. My own power was enough to bring someone who was a part of a ancient race to my time. I opened my eyes and steadily looked at Gala. Those markings could only mean she had to be hundreds if not thousands of years old. I wondered what she may have written in that journal.

Before I could get up. Ember reads some crucial information. " It says here that Drenukks were in fact a race once before becoming warriors of that same name. Galastorm was both and wrote in a old journal the events of her life in the Nameless Realm even before she died. She explain that Drenukks were ageless and at random may develop mentally and physically. Once this happens the Drenukk will unlock new abilities and powers they did not know they had.

In addition if a Drenukk is to ever be free from the realm they will mention things they saw there and possibly have a journal strongly guarded by them. Unless the trusted person who freed them can convince them to look in the journal no one will ever know about this ancient race. I look at Gala and she looks at all of us knowingly angry,confused or just upset. She walks away with her gear and weapon in toll. I go after her and sees what's up.

The others keep talking and looking into the book. I find Gala sitting on the ground upset. "Gala? Gala Baby..Gala bearrrr? What's wrong talk to Mommy" I say gently. She looks at me sad and starts crying. "Why Mommy gotta tell me about Momma again? Gala no like hearing about that pwace either. Gala...Gala was so lonely...scared and wanted a famiwy...Gala never wanna go back there ever!!!" She says.

The others hear her and comfort her. Ember smiles and hugs her. "Hey it's ok little one. Hehe your safe now. We're sorry if we upset you. That was my bad. I..i didn't think it'd hurt you since its been years for us but..weeks for you." She says cautiously. Gala wipes her tears and snot in a tissue i give her. She giggles softly her grey markings start glowing faintly. No one except me notices. Later in the night back at the palace I have a dream were I meet a older version of Gala. She still is shorter than me about four foot eleven or five feet even.

She hugs me while wearing a coal black tattered dress with some beige cloth stitched in. I giggle and hug her warmly. This older Gala spoke in third person still and used her newfound strength to take down a monster made of mist. I can't remember anything more than that as I'm awaken by a scream that belong to Gala. I got up and rushed to her bedroom along with Momma and Papa. We each saw Gala in a corner. Her eyes began to glow and her body started to move sporadically. I walked to help Gala but Papa stopped me. He said she was becoming something more. "I read this part Drenukks usually go through puberty like humans do. But Gala..shes technically a god. Her eyes and markings glowing IS in fact the puberty at work.

Lets give Gala privacy. It's said to take three days for them to grow and transform. Luckily Gala is unique. Give it a few hours." We leave and all sit downstairs reading the book of the Drenukks Nea loaned to Papa. He giggles and mentions he once knew a Drenukk girl named Olanga. She was Papa's first girlfriend and almost my Mom.

According to Papa she didn't hold a candle to Momma's looks. He mentioned she loved her race and heritage. She died when volunteered to be apart of the God-Light War. He role was to be a watchman. She was shot in the neck with a arrow killing her instantly. When word got out Papa was devastated.

Even more so he was becoming the Lord of Death. It brought him little peace when he saw her soul and sent her to paradise. When he finished this story. Mama was crying and hugged Papa. Azou walked in and hugged Papa with her furry hands. After a few hours of family time we all wanted to see what was up with Gala. Her bedroom door was shut. Azou opens the door slowly. Blue fog burst out from the opening of the door. We cautiously walk in Papa hides in one corner,Mama nearby Gala's dresser,Azou under her bed and me behind her door. Once we all clear the fog. A seemingly taller female shadow walked towards us. Her eyes glowing yellow in the dark blue room. She walked emitting a vibrant purple aura. Once she stopped the light turned on catching us off guard. "Uh?....What you all doing in Gala's room? We playing a game? She says confused.