Rayna's Sacrifice (The Katori Chronicles Book 3) by A. Lombardo (intellectual books to read .TXT) 📗

dew-covered trees. From a distance, Kai watched the newly reunited sisters. Imani closed her eyes and took several slow breaths. Her face began to change colors; green and yellow on one side and brown, and gray on the other. The texture also evolved. The green and yellow became soft moss. The brown and gray turned rough and craggy like bark.

Rayna followed her sister’s example. Kai looked on with amazement as the bark and moss flowed down their clothes. “How is this possible?” Kai asked.

Imani opened her eyes. “We become nature itself. Our power starts as a golden thread, same as you. Only we are connected with the plants, where you embrace the nature of animals. What is important for all of us is to know how to let go and embrace the light. The light of our crystal is our touchstone. Without it, we are lost.” She shuttered her shoulders and shook her face. The plant growth stopped and receded.

Imani coaxed vines out of the ground. Each one wrapped around Rayna, pulling her downward. Interested in seeing the use of energy, Kai gleaned their interaction. The magic flowing around the two girls was mesmerizing. It seeped out of the soil, plants, and air to mingle with the power radiating from their skin.

Rayna emanated a small surge of light, and the vines released her. With a wave of Rayna’s hand, the tall grasses picked up Imani and passed her around the glade. Kai had never seen anything like it, and his imagination burst with the possibilities. All day the two girls giggled and played. Imani delighted in Rayna’s development, teaching her how to borrow energy to run faster, create structures out of nature, and blend into the environment.

When Mina approached, Kai eased closer. He knew what they planned to try today. After weeks of learning the basics, Rayna’s aunt hoped to teach Rayna how to become a tree without fear. The pressure on Kai’s heartfelt unbearable. He wanted to watch, but he feared losing her again. For days, Mina spoke of the risks. There was no way to know if Rayna was ready for this transformation.

Clear of the others, Mina stood firm on a small knoll. “Each of you take a spot on one of the other mounds. It takes a gentle spirit to guide someone and not lose them. Focus on my voice, glean to see the flow of magic. We Kodama have the advantage of drawing power from the ground and from plant life. Our anchor to the earth strengthens us in a different way. The very sun on your face gives you energy. Young Beastmasters pull from their internal core, and for one like Kai, it often results in passing out when he transforms back. Learn to let the sun and nature empower your shift, and you too will get a better result.”

Kai shook his head. “Thank you for the advice.”

Imani took her place and spoke to Rayna. “Now that you can understand your connection, and know how to reverse it, you can become one with nature. Remember to maintain the border between yourself and nature. Or, like weeds, they will take over. Plants do not have minds like animals; they are more free-spirited life elements.”

“Let’s begin.” Mina waved her arms around her body, and roots began to snake through the green grass. Her once green dress morphed into craggy brown bark, climbing halfway up her body, and stopped.

“Rayna, my dear, this is just like transforming your skin, only you must go deeper. In your mind, see the golden thread of creation. Wrap your mind around it while keeping a grasp on the light of your crystal. Push your roots deep into the ground and pull energy from the soil, not too fast. Borrow—don’t steal. Remember, you are in control. Do not let the magic overwhelm you.”

Both Imani and Rayna mimicked Mina. Kai wondered what it felt like to be a plant. He knew he enjoyed being a dragon. The thought of his mother all these years without her crystal worried him. He knew well enough the light grounded his mind. It was essential in letting go of the dragon form. Without her crystal, how would she ever be able to return to her human form? Would she stay a manta ray forever?

He sighed. There was nothing he could do until the manta rays migrated closer to the Mystic Isles. For now, he tried to put the thoughts out of his mind. All afternoon he watched them. He was most amazed when the branches of Mina’s tree moved without wind. Her limbs creaked and groaned. Just as quickly as she became a tree, her branches receded, her trunk shrank, and her roots curled back into the ground. Mina dropped to the ground and walked around Rayna’s tree.

“Very good, my dear. Hear my voice. See the glade in your mind. Feel the life here. Use it to sense Kai’s location.” Mina glanced over her shoulder.

Without warning, roots burst from the dirt beneath Kai and propelled him upward. The root basket cupped around him, and the exhilaration thrilled him. Rayna was getting stronger.

“Well done, Rayna. Now come back to us, nice and slow. Ease out of the change. The more you practice, the quicker you will become.”

The root-basket holding Kai dropped downward in a staccato motion. Jolted, Kai hopped to the ground and stepped away. Ever so slowly, Rayna’s wooden exterior softened into cream-colored skin. Transforming back into her true form, she ran her hands over her body, arms, and face.

“That was a much better experience.” Rayna moved to Kai’s side. “Sorry, Kai, still getting a handle on my magic. Seeing the world as a tree is nothing like seeing as a person. Every part of me was able to see, from the tips of my leaves to bark on my back. But it was more shades of light. Not sure I can put it into words.”

Happy to be part of her experience, Kai pulled her in close. “Mina, I