As Leon floated into the sky, he tried to think about what he was going to say to Flynn. How did Kali or Randall ask to be immersed?
“Mr. Flynn, I’m ready to be immersed. When are you available?” No, that won’t—
Leon realized that he was no longer climbing higher. What’s going on?
Leon did something he wasn’t used to doing. He felt inside to check his energy reserves. His red energy was gone!
He started to call out to the dark energy in his mind, but he stopped himself. Oh no, I can’t use the Dark Void anymore. That means I can’t fly. That means I’m going to crash. Quickly remembering Randall’s trick of teleporting mid-air, Leon apparated near the ground before he had time to gather much downward momentum. He landed hard on the grass in front of Randall’s house.
“What happened?” Randall asked. Leon obviously hadn’t made it very far and Randall had still been watching him go.
Leon picked himself off the ground. He felt a little rattled, but nothing injured.
“I guess I can’t use any of my powers except for the colored light energy that I absorb now. I’m surprised I’m not back to being a plain old lantern.”
“You’re lucky you even made it to my house,” Randall laughed.
“Leon, if you still want to go to the castle, I can drive you,” said Mrs. Crespo.
“You would do that?”
“I’m coming to,” said Randall.
“No, honey, you should rest. It’s been a long day for you.”
“I need to be there for my friend, Mom.”
She nodded and they piled into her car, Randall more slowly than usual. On the way there, Leon told Randall about his battle with the Dark Void and Kaz Warwick. Then they moved on to talking about the Disciple of Light book and how Cade became The Avalon.
When they arrived at the white castle, Leon ran to the large front doors, but they were locked.
Leon called back to Randall, still in the car, “The castle’s closed.”
“That’s weird. The drawbridge was open,” Randall called back.
“Very funny,” said Leon.
“Leon?” said a voice.
Leon spun toward the sound of the voice.
“So you’re the reason I stayed.” It was Flynn. He came strolling around the side of the castle. “I was about to leave after I locked up, but I felt that I should stay here a little longer. So I walked around the garden out here for a while. I didn’t expect that I stayed for you.”
Leon smiled. “But I am very glad that you did.”
“What brings you here this late?”
“I came as fast as I could. I need something from you.”
“Oh?”
“I want to be immersed. I want to follow the True Light.”
Flynn looked surprised. He stared into Leon’s eyes, but Leon didn’t look away. He felt changed, different. He wasn’t changed as much as Randall was, but he felt different inside. He was always listening for the song.
Flynn nodded. “Yes.”
“The True Light has penetrated deep into my heart and my soul. I can feel it. Courage. Compassion. And now I want—”
“To be a warm light for all mankind to follow. I see.”
“Well, I don’t know if I can be a light to all of mankind, but at least to my friends and family. Like Randall and Kali.”
Flynn nodded, rubbing his chin. He no longer wore the white suit that Leon had always seen him wear. Instead, he was in a brown, felt suit with a white shirt and white tie underneath.
“They are good examples to you. Very wise for their age, and courageous.” Flynn looked into Leon’s eyes and smiled. “Keep following them, and soon you’ll be ready to take the steps they have.”
“Is that a yes?”
“You have a hard struggle ahead of you, but if you are persistent, you can be free of the Dark Void just as Randall is. Make no mistake. It will be painful for you.”
Leon nodded. “I know how painful it will be. Or at least, I felt it a little bit. Kaz Warwick tried to force me to follow him. I felt like it was going to destroy me.”
Flynn rubbed his chin again. “Did you know that my last name is Warwick? Flynn Warwick. Kaz and I are brothers.”
Leon’s mouth dropped open and his arms flopped down at his side. “What?”
Flynn smiled. “I know. It’s hard to believe. We are very different, but very similar in some ways.”
Leon’s mouth still gaped open. “You’re for real his brother?”
Flynn nodded. “Oh yes. We’ve chosen very different paths.” Flynn paused. “Leon, let’s sit down and talk about your Immersion sometime when it’s not so late. I’m sorry, but I’m tired.”
“Yes, right, sir. Okay. I will come by and we’ll talk.”
Flynn nodded. “And in the meantime, make sure to read the other books.”
Leon promised he would read the book and hopped back into Mrs. Crespo’s car. On the way home to Bethel, Leon rolled down his window. He stuck his hand out the window and felt the wind on his fingers and through his hair. It made him think of flying.
I can’t fly anymore. I haven’t had that power for very long, but it’s going to take a while to get used to not having it. I’m not going to have any power pretty soon. I’ll be less than a flashlight to Tommy. I never got to play shadowball after all. And now I never will.
Above the sound of the wind rushing by, he noticed a sound. It started soft, but the more he listened, the louder it became. It was his piano melody. It was now loud and full and powerful. It sung peace to his heart and wrote a smile on his lips.
It was a magical evening. Stars, a beautiful song, and the knowledge that for the first time in his life, Leon was sure that he was doing the right thing. He was following the right path. He had found what he had always been searching for. He didn’t know exactly how he could be so sure of it, but he heard it.
Turning the corner to his house, he saw flashing police lights.
His heart stopped. He jumped out of the car as soon as it stopped and sprinted to the doorstep. An officer tried to stop him, but Mother called from the open door so loudly that the officer immediately stepped aside and let him pass. Mother rushed at him and almost knocked him down trying to hug him. Father was next and when he finally broke free of their embraces, he saw Aidan and Kali smiling at him with relieved expressions.
“Where were you?”
“Are you all right?”
“What happened?”
“I’m fine. Nothing happened to me. I was with Randall. I can’t fly anymore.”
“We got so worried. Kaz Warwick was in the back yard. He said you were his again. He was going to take you back. Your father kicked him out, but he threatened us. We were so worried for you.”
“I’m okay, Mom. He didn’t hurt me. He’s never going to bother me again.”
Mother and Father exhaled in relief. The police officers saw that they weren’t needed and so they excused themselves. One walked out the door while the other teleported away. Soon enough the flashing lights that pierced their windows were gone, Randall and Mrs. Crespo left, and peace seemed to settle in their home.
“You kicked out Kaz Warwick, Dad?” Leon asked.
“You betcha, son.” He beamed with pride and ruffled Leon’s hair. “I told you that one day I’d give him a piece of my mind, didn’t I?”
Leon laughed.
They were all sitting in the living room, all smiling, all crammed onto the couch.
“This is the first time in a while that we’ve done this,” Kali noted.
“You’re right, Kali. It feels good,” said Mother.
“I like it,” smiled Leon.
“What do you mean you can’t fly anymore, Leon?” asked Aidan.
“Well, I can’t use dark energy anymore. I’m basically powerless.”
“You’re a loser again?”
“You don’t seem too sad about that, son,” said Father.
“I’m not. For the first time ever.”
 
; “Now the fun begins,” said Aidan. He rubbed his hands together with glee. “I’m going to make fun of you every day … for the rest of your life.”
Leon laughed. His family laughed.
“Guys, listen. I’ve got something important to say. Okay first of all, I need to say I’m sorry to you all. I was heading down a wrong path, but now I’m going to start doing the right thing. No more dark energy, no more powers. I’m giving them up and following Kali’s example. I’m going to be immersed.”
Mother leaned over Kali and Father to give him a hug and a big kiss.
“You know, son, I don’t think we’re going to let you be immersed,” said Father.
“What?” Leon’s voice was muffled under Mother’s embrace. Everyone looked at Father in surprise.
Father smiled and continued, “… alone. We’re not going to let you do that alone.”
“Not funny, Dad.”
“I think it’s something we all need to do, together.”
“You mean it, Dad?” Kali asked, hugging Father. “You want to follow the True Light, too?”
“Well, your mother and I have been talking about it. We’ve seen the good it’s doing to you two. You know, you’re going to think I’m crazy, but every time we think about it, it’s like there’s this banjo playing some strange song in my ear.”
Kali and Leon shared a look.
“It makes me feel good whenever I hear it, and I want to follow it with all my heart.”
The End
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To Catch A Firejelly
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C. Louis S.
A family man, Christian, inventor, and writer, I served for two years as a missionary in Chile. My day job is a software engineer. At home I’m a husband and father of four in Utah, and in my free time I’m a writer.
I also like martial arts and meditation as a way to understand oneself. My debut novel, Son of Shadow Hero of Light, was written for the teenagers I served as a youth leader but has been a spiritual journey for me as well.
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