29. Container

When the new protectors were twelve years old, they were told about the beginning of their change. Coming from the four biggest cities of the island, they were gathered in some government offices where were surprised with The Protector’s presence. Being still kids, they were too excited to even ask why they were there.

“Ok, now listen to me,” said the protector after they introduced themselves, saying which was their dream job or plans for the future. “You’ve been chosen, since your birth, as the new protectors, your powers might start to present from this day onwards.”

That was the most difficult part the protector had been fearing since his trainers told him about him being the one to deliver the news. When he became the protector, it was said to him by voices of the death, giving him a prideful duty he would never be thankful for, so he knew that if they were to hate the news, they would hate him too.

Nevertheless, after almost half a minute since he said it, the four kids stood up from their chairs looking so flabbergasted that he thought they could faint, however his fears went away as his heartbeat, when they yelled with too much excitement.

“Are you serious?” “Is this some kind of joke?” “Are they filming us?” With him being serious, and a lot confused, they believed him, so they started to yell even more. None of them was scared or angry, none of them had any regrets at that moment.

He told himself that they were kids, not evaluating the meaning of something that important, not knowing the heavy burden it meant or how much their lives were about to change. Because of that, when they calmed down, he told them. “You need to understand that this title comes with so many responsibilities, its not only being a powerful being over the rest of the people in our island, is having to be the person who defend the lives of all of them, giving every piece of you to them, giving your life for their protection and safeness. Smile so they feel safe again, fight so they can carry on with their peaceful lives, train so you can have all their trust. Do you understand?”

“We might not understand it completely, yet,” said one of the girls in the group, she was the more composed, always the first one to be calm after every outburst. “But, at least me, I’m in your care, I wanna carry this title with pride and do everything I have so I can become as great as you.”

“I promise I’ll understand someday, but that won’t take away the happiness for this huge opportunity that just a few in this island have, I’ll work hard so I can reach you.” The second was a boy, the shorter but with the bigger lungs.

“I don’t know how strong I’ll become but for you and for my family and for the rest of the people, I’ll try my best and follow your teachings.” The third one was the second boy, the taller and who looked could built up so much.

“And for me this is such a big honor, as many others, I’ve been admiring you since I remember, your kindness, your strength, your intelligence and diligence, everything! So I won’t disappoint you, never!” She looked as a cleaver girl and a bit shy, still he felt her words true.

They decided to keep their powers in secret as them being the new protectors until they turned fifteen, all in order for them to keep growing in an, almost, calm life. But once a month, after their powers manifested, were to go to the Protector’s House to receive a quick training to control their powers, and they could call the Protector anytime they needed if it was for a power’s problem. Although everyone thought they should had waited more because they four wouldn’t stay silent, they really keep the secret when the Protector told them “This will be something only you four, your family, and me will now, so lets share this secret for three years more, ok?”

With that, he gave them a container with only a piece of paper in each one of them, the same they couldn’t open until they get to home. Because those were some embarrassing words he wrote for them, after reading about how they were; they might had it easy to say those promises to him, but he couldn’t do it, so he wrote it.