Recap of a Day on the Town (Open In Between)

[Akirapryde]

Rebecca set in her chair as Kira recited her own childhood experiences with the Silver Ladder. For Rebecca none of this was new. Rebecca had good reason to love the Silver Ladder just like Kira did. However their two experiences were completely different. It was in that difference that made Rebecca who she was today. Where Kira's life before and after her awakening had always been filled with happiness and supportive parents. They helped guide her with a gentle hand, Rebecca's father and brothers were much more direct about training and teachings. It wasn't to mention that Rebecca's family wasn't supportive. While Kira's childhood was filled with healthy mix of play and fun as well as training.

Rebecca's childhood was filled with unbending rules and strict order. School lesson had to be learned perfectly and extremely high grades were demanded. Long before she had awoken in to this super natural world, Rebecca had already mastered many stories about famous mages of history. Such mages like Merlin, Grigori Rasputin, and Dr. Johann Georg Faust were all well known to Rebecca long before she knew magic was real. But what made Rebecca's childhood so much more different than other normal families was the competitive nature of her family. Her father actively encourage the siblings to strive to beat each other in any subject matter. First it was in school grades, then came magical arts after they awoken. It was this competitive nature of her family that drove each sibling to push themselves harder and further than any one else their age. A nature of her family that Rebecca hated.

Rebecca took note of the dishes on the counter as Kira went on with what she was saying. It wasn't that Rebecca wanted to be rude, it was just this topic gave raise to powerful emotions that Rebecca really didn't enjoy dealing with. She rose from her chair and walked over to the counter as Kira continued to explain her relationship with the Silver Ladder. Without saying a word, and more or less in her own world, Rebecca started to fill the sink with fresh steamy hot soapy water. She listened to the conversation behind her half heartedly as her hands slowly started to pick up dishes and clean them.

Rebecca's focus was more on ensuring each dish was clean than what was going on behind her. In fact her mind was hundreds of miles away and looking through the window of time. She thought of her family and her older brothers. After they had Awoken, this competitive nature was forced upon them even more than before. Anything less than perfection was never expected from any of the Pander children. And this level of intense training paid off. Each of her brothers were tested to their limits and all of them surpassed their Teachers' wildest expectations.

Then there was Rebecca who was the polar opposite of her brothers. While they thrived under that intense competitive environment, Rebecca didn't. Despite all of her best efforts, it was clear to her that she was the family's object of disappointment. She was the black sheep of the family. The one that just didn't get the skills or the spells. Rebecca looked down in to the soapy water with sadness as her mind filled with the echoes of the past. She remembered that day clearly as she almost lost it all. Even though she had been saved, all she could think of was how much of a disappointment she had been to her family.

The storm raged outside as four people set around a ranch style kitchen table. The lighting flashed as their conversation continued, "I am telling you Sir, Rebecca has failed to master even the basic initiate skills," explained Malcolm Collins. Mr. Collins, a well respected Obrimos, was the man who had been given the final task of trying to teach Rebecca how to master her magical abilities. "As I have said during my first review of her, her problem is that Magic just doesn't flow smoothly through her. She is behind even students that had started months after she did. Further lessons is nothing short of a waste of our resources."

"Sir, if I may" Hallie Younge interjected. Mrs. Younge was Rebecca's spiritual guide who had been carefully chosen from the Acanthus path to ensure that Rebecca's heart would remain pure. "I know that Rebecca seems challenged right now, but there is so much more to her then what Mr. Collins sees today. Her faith and heart has always been a source of strength for her. If she can have just more time, I am sure she will live up to her future."

"Yes yes Mrs. Younge. I have heard this before," interrupted Rebecca's own father. "In fact, what you are telling me now is the same that you told me before Mr. Collin's took over her training. But what you haven't told me is her future. Will she become the mage that we need?"

She shook her head, "I don't know, Sir. Rebecca's future is still shrouded in some kind of protection. It is still hidden from me at this time. Though not for trying. I have enlisted help but we can't see past a few years. And even in the best case situations, those glimpse are not very clear. Someone or something has ensured that no one will not be able to discern what her future holds. With that said, Sir, I believe that she is in store for something great."

The forth person at the table finally spoke up, "Father, I know how much Rebecca means to you," said Vincent Pander, Rebecca's oldest brother. "I know how much you love her. But Father, we need a strong Obrimos. And I am sorry but it isn't her. We can not waste any more time on her."

"Please Sir," Mrs. Younge said motioning with her hand to hold everyone's attention. "I don't know if we are the caused of Rebecca's magical weakness, or if this is who she really is. Either way, we owe her a level of responsibility to continue her teachings. She still needs much guidance if she is to fulfill her destiny."

Mr. Collins interjected, "We set out on a plan to find a extraordinary Obrimos. A Obrimos that is very rare indeed. Rebecca is clearly not the Obrimos we were seeking. Her skills are laughable and you" he said looking to Mrs. Younge. "Failed in your role. You were tasked with locating that special mage of the Obrimos path. Instead you found us Rebecca. Like Rebecca's own failures, you are as much a failure in this." He turned his attention back to Rebecca's father, "we have to refocus our efforts to find that one very special Obrimos before its too late."

"I did not fail you pompous ass! I warned you that her fate was clouded long before we brought here here. I warned you that you couldn't rush her awakening. That she had a unique balance woven in to her. But none of you listened to me. Just like right now, you are not listening to me. Rebecca's heart and drive are as pure as I have ever seen in anyone. Her love and loyalty is unquestionable. She has a thirst for knowledge that I rarely see. There is more to her, than what you are grading her on right here and now. Sir," she said turning back to Rebecca's father. "I beg you, please give her credit for this," Mrs. Younge countered.

It was Vincent's turn to speak up, "Father, we are ensuring the future of our Order. This is what is at stake here. We have to consider the long term effects of our choice right now. No matter how hard she tries, she will never be able to catch up to others around her. She is just too far behind. The truth is, Rebecca is not the one our Order was looking for." The sound in his voice told the story, Rebecca's own brother had given up on her. But it was his next words that stung the most, "Order above family, Father. Allow us to focus on finding another Obrimos."

"I have made up my mind!" Rebecca's father said. "Rebecca had long proven her loyalty to me and our Order. This is not questionable. I will not abandon her now." As he spoke, Mrs. Younge leaned back in her chair expecting the coming victory. "However, I can not put my personal feeling a head of the needs of the Order. Rebecca's training ends now." Mrs. Younge's smile quickly faded, "Vincent, Malcolm, work with Mrs. Younge and find us the Obrimos that we are seeking. As for Rebecca, she will go away to university after her graduation next week. This will allow the three of you the time you need to focus on your search." He rose from his chair, "As far as Rebecca is concerned. Her usefulness just might prove its self in the future. Because of this, nothing else will change for her. This is my order. Now, go.....Leave me."

High above the kitchen listening through her use of forces, Rebecca set with her back against the wall. Her eyes filled with tears as other tears had already made a stream down her cheeks. Her life time of failures had finally caught up with her. She set there shaking uncontrollably as the storm outside grew in intensity. She closed her eyes praying against hope that what she heard wasn't going to be her future. Doubt had set in once more as the question raced through her mind, 'am I truly so unworthy?' She had always been able to use self doubt as a fuel to push harder. But this time it seemed to stop her dead in her tracks. She had always been a strong student and a eager learner but the skills never really came to her easily. "Why...." she questioned softly as she felt so afraid and confused. Beyond the house, echoing in the night were the air raid sirens.

Rebecca opened her eyes and looked down in to the soapy water once more. She didn't realize that she had shivered as the memory concluded. With a heavily sigh she continued to clean all the dishes as she fought back the painful memories of her own childhood. It wasn't the only memories of her childhood. In fact she had so many mixed memories. There were both happy and sad memories. However this one was a particularly hard and painful for her. It was a defining moment of her life. While many of her Order didn't see much in her. This moment helped shaped her drive to prove herself to her family and her Order.

Yet, recently she had felt that bite of self doubt. However she had made up her mind not to long ago to prove herself to her Cabal. 'I will prove myself to them' she thought 'Aarune saw something in me, I wont let him down.' On that she once more pushed her doubt back to the darkest corners of her mind. She pushed them deep in to that place that Rebecca dares not look. She painted a smile on her face as her mind thought of something pleasant. She thought of how her father had always looked out for her. How he had never lost faith in her. On his faith alone, she could fly high above the clouds. It was these emotions that filled Rebecca with genuine happiness.