Awakening

[Michael Vellas]

“Well the bairns certainly step lightly.” She watched as at the incline of Michael’s head the kid was granted permission to flee, however much he shrugged off the title of commander. At that age Morven had been a defiant bundle of independent trouble, refusing authority she did not first have cause to respect. Though given recent circumstance, perhaps not much had changed in that regard.

She appreciated the civility; realised she had been expecting something more confrontational, or at least dubious. Either Michael truly did respect the man he served, enough to take him at his word, or he was just genuinely curious at what landed on his doorstep. She didn’t dwell on which, since the outcome was the same.

“Aye, fish and birds. But I fly well enough already,” she assured. That had been the way Sören had first phrased it – a good many years ago now. What she knew came from instinct and necessity, but she’d been a similar age to the boy Michael dismissed when she first discovered what made her different. A damn sight longer than most of the men here, she’d warrant. On her registration she’d cited her sister’s healing as the moment she sparked, but it was not strictly true. The flows which stitched a man together could also be used to tear him apart. As the Atharim who gave her sister that wound had understood firsthand that same night.

“Custody agents made an offer I couldnae refuse. And you can ask Taicheschski about my talents.” She gave a quick grin, being as he’d already dispensed with the formality. The Dominion had deserved the punch, and since she’d used it to demonstrate said gifts, she felt no guilt. Guy was a royal dick, and Morven wouldn’t brook the nonsense.

“I was an ER doctor before. Had a penchant for miracles, if ye ken my meaning. I work in the Facility now, and the Ascendancy attended one of my healings. So I used the opportunity to tell him he was remiss to have no women around him – especially after what Rikovi told me about the damn creature that used a woman to attack him. None of you would have seen the flows like I can. None of you would have even known she had the potential to go from risk to threat.” By now her arms had folded, though it was the ferocity of allegiance she offered and not an indication of criticism.

Michael had no idea what a bairn was, but soon was used to the cadence of her voice. He took hold of the Power and took control of half of what he could, just enough for his experiment but not enough to alarm the students. He had from Karim that holding his full power caused...tension among the students if he did so outside his usual hours. He was sure the child would not hold his tongue and did not want the whole damned place thinking there was some kind of confrontation. 

Her stories made him smile. "Ah, Taicheschski... I hope you left some bruises. Whatever recklessness got him injured was likely self inflicted. An unfortunate trait among our kind. Some seem to believe they are indeed gods. And you know Rykovi as well? Something to talk about another time." 

He turned his attention back to the matter at hand. "Healing," his next smile was bitter. "Miracles. I envy you it. My *miracle* was boiling a man's blood. In all fairness, he was an agent of the Atharim who had come to kill a godling. It did not end well for him, and I was chased all the way to Moscow leaving a trail of dead assassins." 

Michael shook his head. He had grown since his time at the Garden. No more tempestuous rage that had consumed him for so long. "So, you can handle yourself, but Nikolai sent you here instead of keeping you by his side. As for why he sent you to me, the Rods of Dominion as they are so declared are my students. They answer to two people, Nikolai Brandon and me. This is my domain. While neither of us can teach each other, we can find out if there are ways to work together, and how to combat each other's powers. From what I know, the fundamentals are the same." 

"But more than that, I expect Nikolai wants you to help train women who come here. No woman with any experience has stepped forward. Until now."