Oja's Vision

Oja Diamond was standing outside his Great Catin Gifts classroom with two of his usual best friends- Gile Veda and Ronan Gaubert. He had an hour to kill before his next class (Advanced Catin History) so he decided to get into a discussion with some of the other students who were still hanging around. This class was fairly small, with only about 12 people, since it wasn't officially part of the history curriculum at University of Baydi, Tarra; it was more of a "bonus class" which was taught by Professor Breckenridge, a grad student with a love for the ways of Terabi and Osai who was working on his doctorate and looked hardly older than any of them (though they all knew he was really 32). The look on his face when he read Oja's name on their first class meeting was absolutely priceless and one that nobody would soon forget.

This class took place in a small wing of the history building that was most commonly used for tutoring or small group studies but had decent classrooms for small lectures. This particular class was started a year earlier as a club but "Brecky" as he was called, with his charming personality and wonderful persuasion, managed to get the class to count for credit, and with its wild success in the following year it was well on the way to being an officially registered class. It was held upstairs in a small classroom but was often so full that students had to stand. Nobody minded at all and learned a ton more in depth about the two Great Catin Gifts- Terabi Tana and Osai Naori.

Today they had talked in depth for most of the hour about a question asked by Kelsey Montàlo: "What exactly is an Aikada?"

A vary large and informative discussion followed, in which they all learned or were reminded that Aikada is a somewhat untranslatable Catin word that, loosely translated aurally, means "one who can recognize and call forth gifts." They were people, some born and some given this power later in life, who could call forth the defining marks of the two Great Catin Gifts and could identify a whole host of not only other gifts but curses as well. The discussion was filled with much awe and soon they were out of time and forced to splinter off and continue the discussion on their own time.

The people that didn't have class right away stayed and continued to ask questions. It was well known to all of them that Osai's Gift, the powerful gift which Oja possessed himself, was always confirmed by the town Aikada and that every single one of them had done this. It was the Aikada usually who submitted the names of newfound Osanokai or Terabikai to the official presidencies of both. Oja had obviously met one, as it was the Aikada in Tarra that happened to overhear his mother talk about his fast healing and no need for sleep and suspected correctly that Oja had Osai Naori. As he thought, he realized he knew another one- Hector Peak, the father of his pair Jeffrey Peak, was an Aikada also and discovered his own son.

"So wait-" started Kelsey Montàlo, "it's true that all Osanokai and Terabikai are inherently Aikada themselves, right?"

"Yes," said Oja, smiling, "As I am an Osanokai, I am an Aikada by birth. This power is one given by Osai and not Terabi, although Terabikai can obviously pick up the auras of their kind and us and therefore have been given this power as well, of Terabi, with Osai's permission. That's how I understood it when Osai showed me anyway."

"So if you're neither, how old do you have to be to be called to be one?" Kelsey went on, enjoying learning about this with eager eyes.

"Well I've thought about that myself. I mean, I'm not an official Aikada of Tarra yet although I'm sure there's a point when we come of age and I've always been wondering when Osai decides when it's time to choose someone. I mean, someone's got to be called sometime soon from our generation, or someone we know, or-"

Oja suddenly stopped short, his eyes wide with surprise, his mouth open. His hands flew to his mouth as he gaped in total surprise and shock. It was very clear to everyone that his deep, dark brown eyes were glowing brightly with that unmistakable mark of Osai and that he was, right at that moment, receiving some obviously very important information from Osai himself. He just sat there muttering "Osielo idanda... osielo idanda! Furil na!..." under his breath.

"What is it!" exclaimed Gile.

"It's ok," said Oja still in shock, "It has nothing to do with any of you and nobody's in peril..."

Even though he did not verbally speak his next thought, it carried through just the same to Osai, an unmistakably clear vision of someone he knew extremely well who had obviously just been bestowed the Aikada gift blazing in his mind. He couldn't believe his eyes but knew that Osai was smiling down at him as he showed him this small vision and realized that he knew someone close to him who would be receiving that ability. He and Osai began conversing back and forth in Catin:

Can I tell them?

Not yet Oja. Wait until he finds out himself, which he will tonight.

By the Darkness! I never would have thought... Can I tell him?

Yes of course you may tell him. He'll get the call shortly after anyway.

By the Darkness Osai, thank you for making this known to me!

With a smile, Osai concluded the vision and left Oja standing in front of many curious friends.

"Whoa! A real vision from Osai! That's awesome! What did he show you?" asked another wide-eyed girl.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that until after tonight," he said with a smile, as if bursting with pride, "but as I was sitting here just now wondering if anyone I knew would become an Aikada, Osai told me that it just so happens that there is! Obviously he hasn't found out yet and Osai has told me to tell him first before any of you but if you check my facebook page later tonight you will most likely find the answer in your status." he paused, letting these words sink in, before continuing. "So I guess the answer to your question is whenever Osai decides the time is right... or... 21 and up?"

At this, everyone was satisfied and parted ways, excited and curious as to who Osai had shown Oja. They didn't want to eavesdrop on him and once he was alone, in an empty classroom, he got out his phone and called someone he knew wouldn't be expecting but would answer no matter what, for he just had a brief flash that told him this person was walking to the station and not in the middle of a final exam.

"Oh my goodness it's Oja!"

He fumbled in his pocket for his bright green phone and, putting it to his ear with as much extra motion as possible to look overly important and for a laugh, smiled and said "Mah-haaaaaaaaliiiiii!!"

"Thank goodness you answered. I have something important to tell you!" Oja said, breathless with excitement.

"Uh... I didn't have a... problem... that I didn't notice, did I?" asked the man on the other end, humor in his voice.

"No!" said Oja, trying not to laugh. "This time it's for something different! I've just received an extremely important vision about you from Osai that he has given me permission to tell you. Today in class we were talking about Aikada and what exactly they do and..."

Oja began a quick explanation and recount of events before finally reaching the big moment.

"...and there emblazoned in my mind was the clear description of someone who is going to become an Aikada!"

"I'm... I'm not sure what this means. Who did you see anyway?" asked the voice, as if not quite sure what would come out of his moth next.

"By the Darkness Lesko! Don't you see?? The person I saw was you!!"

It was now Oja's brother's turn to stop dead in his tracks, his eyes wide with shock and his mouth open. "Are you serious!!" he shouted, a strong Catin accent suddenly present in his voice. "Me? An Aikada?? What an amazing honor! I- I can't believe it! This is amazing! Oja! This has got to be one of the best days ever! But are you sure? Me? Is it possible for someone with my... condition?"

"Oh Lesko you don't see things do you?" Oja asked laughing.

"Well no. I see your point. But me? An Aikada? Wow! The honor! ...I'll be getting a call tonight won't I?" asked Lesko, beaming. Eric and Rebecca, who had obviously overheard and knew what was going on, were staring at him in awe.

"Yes you will, but I'd suggest telling your wife first," Oja said with another laugh. "she would love to hear this bit of news. I know Eric and Rebecca ought to have heard it just now?"

"Yeah they're looking at me in awes now. Thanks so much for telling me this Oja!"

"No problem Bro, and I'll be seeing you very soon."

Lesko could literally hear the smile in Oja's voice. As he hung up, he looked at two of his best friends and all they could do was embrace in a big group hug and smile all the way to the trains.