Just then, both Xavier and Ace bowed their heads and said in unison, "We want you to protect the universe. You are our only chance to protect the Heart of the Universe. Letting it fall into the hands of those vile creatures because of our failure would bring mass destruction and death more than the universe has ever seen. Whoever controls the Heart holds every life in the palm of their hand. Although it connects all life, the Heart cannot protect itself. That's why it needs a guardian."
For a moment, I thought I was seeing things these proud beings, bowing their heads to someone like me. The weight of that moment sank into me like stone. The responsibility of protecting the one thing that must never fall into the wrong hands… it was overwhelming. But when I thought about it more thought about going to the afterlife and facing my family with the truth that I'd done nothing with my life but hide in a shell I realized just how pathetic that would be.
In the end, I gave in and said, "Okay… I'll try."
Both Ace and Xavier, still with their heads bowed, shook them slightly. "Trying won't do," they said. "If trying was enough, we could have picked anyone."
That made me pause again, truly thinking about what I was getting myself into. I was meant to stand against anyone seeking to take the Heart. That meant the entire demon race.
"Okay… I'll do my best… No " I took a breath, straightened up. "I'll make sure nothing gets past me. I accept the responsibility of inheriting your DNA and being your chosen."
I bowed in return.
"Nothing would make us happier, kid," Xavier said with a wide, boyish grin, like a kid who'd just gotten his dream toy. Even Ace had the faintest hint of a smile.
"Now all that's left is to let your body heal," Xavier continued. "That part is easy. But your soul… well, that's a different story. It's been damaged by all the pain and trauma you've endured. That will take more time. Say, about twenty years."
"Twenty years?!" I blurted out. "Why?!"
"If we let you return now without properly tending to your soul," Xavier explained, "you'd be vulnerable. Your soul is both your greatest strength and your greatest weakness. A damaged soul is more susceptible to corruption. And we can't take that risk."
"Okay… I understand." I sighed. "So what am I supposed to do for twenty years? I can't just sit around doing nothing."
"We would like to train you," Xavier said, "but soul healing requires deep sleep. Your conscious mind needs to rest. As for your body we could heal it instantly, sure. But that would be like killing you. Your body isn't ready to handle our full power yet. So we're amplifying the healing factor in your DNA. It will heal you gradually, at a pace your body can handle."
"Speaking of your animal DNA," he added, "we were thinking of removing them."
"What?! Removing them?!" I shot back. "Not happening. Not on my watch. Not while I'm still alive!"
"Yeah, we figured as much," Xavier said with a laugh. "We decided against it in the end. Judging by your reaction, it would've been a bad idea. You looked like you were about to have a heart attack, Hahaha!"
"The real reason we kept them," Ace added, "is because you won't be able to use our abilities right away. You'll have to train and master your new powers for both offense and defense. Until then, having access to your transformations will give you a fighting chance. Though, in time, you may not even need them."
"Now," Xavier said, grinning again, "let's change the scenery a bit."
Ace snapped his fingers, and the darkness around us vanished. In its place, a beautiful meadow appeared. I felt a soft breeze brush against my skin. The flowers were vibrant and gently swayed. The peacefulness of it all made me want to lie down and sleep for eternity.
"You enjoying the view?" Xavier asked from behind me.
I turned around and froze in surprise. They were both wearing bright beach shirts and shorts. That's when I noticed I was too.
"Is this place real?" I asked, blinking.
"No," Ace replied. "This is just a memory a place I loved when I was alive. Its peace and quiet helped me reflect. I thought it would calm you… especially before we start telling you more."
"It is calming," I admitted.
"Here," Ace said, "we'll teach you everything you need to know about the new Earth you'll be returning to. The only thing we can't predict is how far the races have advanced technologically. But their magic structure… that hasn't changed. Of that, we're certain."