The Whispers of Arcanum
Chapter 2 ~ “The Power Within”

Maya could feel thousands of emotions bubbling inside her as she made her way to the meeting place. She had been looking forward to this day for months, ever since Nico first mentioned the idea of bringing together people like them, the ones with special abilities.

She wasn’t sure what to expect, but she knew that there was power in numbers, especially when one-self actually has powers. Maybe together, they could make a real difference, stand up against the large amount of discrimination that they unfairly experienced every day.

As they approached the meeting place, she could see that she was definitely not one of the first to arrive. Others were gathered around everywhere, looking just as excited as she was. There was Eden, the healer, with her long, silky, black hair and easily noticeable smile. Tempest, the weather manipulator, stood nearby, her arms folded across her chest as she surveyed the area. She stood tall and broad-shouldered And then there was Phoenix, the shapeshifter, her orange-ish, red hair shimmering in the sunlight from the window near her head..

When she walked into the room people stopped and turned to look at her, even if they were in the middle of their conversation.

Maya walked over to them, feeling a sense of camaraderie that she hadn’t felt before. They were all different, but they shared a bond that was stronger than anything else.

“Hey guys,” Maya said, a wide smile spreading across her face. “It’s good to see you all.”

“Likewise,” Eden said, giving her a warm hug.

For some reason Eden’s hugs tended to help people in any emotional situation. Everyone said it was thanks to her powers but Maya believed it was thanks to her loyalty and friendship.

“I can’t believe we’re finally doing this.” Eden exclaimed.

“I know, it’s amazing,” Tempest grinned. “I can’t wait to see who else shows up.”

As they waited for the others to arrive, they talked excitedly about their powers, sharing stories and tips on how to use them. All of them loved hearing about the different ways that they could positively and effectively manipulate the world around them. It was like they had all been given a secret gift, something that made them special in a way that others could never understand.

Before long, more people began to arrive. There was Orion, the teleporter, who appeared out of nowhere in a flash of light. And then there was Kai, the cold-sweater, who walked up with a swagger that made half the people in the building roll their eyes.

“Hey everyone,” Kai said, smirking. “I see the cool kids club is already here.” He fronted, filling the room with sarcasm.

Maya bristled at his tone, but she knew that he was just trying to be funny. She had known Kai since they were kids, and he had always been a bit of a joker. Plus, his ability to control ice was pretty cool, even if he was a bit of a show-off.

As more people arrived, the group began to take shape. They were all different ages, races, and genders, but they all shared the same thing: a special ability that set them apart from the rest of the world.

Finally, when everyone had arrived, Nico stepped forward to address the group.

“Welcome, everyone,” he said, his voice strong and confident. “I’m so glad to see so many of you here today. We all have something in common, something that makes us special. And today, we’re going to use that power to make a real difference in the world. Yet before, we have to make sure we understand what our powers are and mean. Without that then we wouldn’t even know what we are capable of—”