Nature does nothing in vain

The boy comes out, shoulders slumped. The guards nod at Irene, signalling it’s her turn.

Taking a deep breath, she walks inside the tent. Four hooded figures sitting down on the ground greet her. Merely their hands can be seen extending from their robes. In front of them, a massive ink-covered scroll lies on the floor.

“Irene Bae. Father: Marcus Bae. Mother: Lucia Penna,” announces a Shaman. His fellow Brother and Sisters chime in.

“How interesting.”

“I remember Marcus Bae well.”

“My dear, have you unlocked your avatar prior to your eighteenth birthday?”  

“No, I haven’t,” replies Irene. Questions run amok in her head. Avatar before her eighteenth? What are they rambling about?

“Then let us begin. Sit down, listen and obey.” She lowers herself into a cross-legged position.

“Close your eyes, empty your mind.”

“Reach deep within and become one with your animal.”

Irene erases all thoughts and calms herself. Stilling all her limbs. 

Tingling sensations run through her fingers and a cocoon of warmth wraps around her hands, spreading across her whole body. Energy, raw untamed power flows, invigorating her.  

“Arise, Irene, daughter of the coyotes.” Her eyes flash open to a tawny projection of a coyote encompassing her. Relieved, she inspects her arms. She’ll take the coyote over a rabbit any day.

Flickering, the coyote morphs into a rabbit, maintaining that form for a couple seconds before reverting. Irene can only watch and the rabbit appears again. One. Two. The animal projection vanishes altogether.

“Most intriguing, Irene Bae of the coyote, or should I say, rabbit?”

“By the eights, two avatars!”

The Shaman on the far right clears his throat, hushing the others.

“Irene Bae, we shall sort you into the Vesalius tent. The guards will direct you to it. You may leave now.” Automatically, she bows and leaves, legs moving on their own. The Shamans immediately burst into conversation, distress clouding their voices.

“A changeling, there has not been one in centuries!”

“Our records hold little information on their kind.”

“What do we do about her?”

“We must closely observe the girl. The Earth Mother’s prediction has come true.”

Irene trudges to her tent, struggling to process what just happened. She has two avatars. Two. From the Shamans’ words and actions, this isn’t something that occurs everyday. Difference. Deviation. The duality straps a massive target on her back. In the Arena, being public enemy number one is not ideal at all.

The Shamans have also placed her in Vesalius, due to her abnormality.

Ingentis, the large land animals. Parvus, the small land animals. Avem, the birds. Vesalius, out of the four possibilities, it had to be this one. It’s well-known that Vesalius welcomes everyone who’s avatar isn’t a small/large land animal or a bird, accepting miscellaneous creatures. However, the poor souls without an avatar, constitute the majority of the bunch, hence a nickname was given to them. The doormats, first to be stepped on. Wiped on. Spread over the Arena in the fight between all the different animals.

She spots an empty bed and claims it as her own. Flopping onto the bed, drowsiness overtaking all senses, she succumbs to slumber.

“Ireneeee, so what’s your avatar?”

“Me? I don’t want to talk about it.”

Irene changes into the training clothes, distributed last night. A simple beige tunic, sleeves cut, a belt and a pair of caligae.

“Come on, I’ll tell you mine! I’ll even show you!” says Seulgi. The buoyant girl’s footsteps had been inaudible, perfect for an ambush. Exactly when Irene’s head was stuck in her tunic.

“Fine, you can go first.”

“Prepare yourself for the most glorious avatar you’ll ever witness in your life! Here goes!” Seulgi steadies her breathing and concentrates. Her forehead creases, tightly pressing h