Closing a door on the past

The car ride is quiet, not surprising considering your passengers. Kali is there, of course. And Maya insisted on coming along to protect you, though you repeatedly said you would be fine.

“My Josh, last time you said that, you got your rib cage crushed. I’m coming with you.”

**** to concede the point, you agreed, and Maya joined the trip. It turns out that Kali was operating not far from you, in a simple abandoned storefront converted to a base.

You walk in, surprised how small it is for an organization that was until earlier today, your biggest nemesis. There was a main room (empty), a bedroom (trashed) an annex to the main room which was clearly essentially a waiting room, and a room with a barred steel door. This, you assume, is where the portal was.

“So, after all this time, I finally get to see a portal. Kali, what do you know about them?”

Kali shakes her head. “Very little, sadly. Father kept people in the dark about what he knew. All I know is that they are one way, and that they can be closed by destroying the framework around them.”

Kali reaches out and places her hand on the door. It unlocks and swings open, revealing a small room. The only thing inside is the portal, a construction seven feet tall and maybe three wide, seemingly made of blackened metal. The space in the center glows green, and you cannot see through to the other side.

“Kali, can he observe through the portal?”

She shakes her head. “I had a communication mirror for that, but...I broke it...”

“No problem, I just want to make sure he can’t see what I’m about to do.”

Maya steps closer. “Is this safe? You won’t hurt your mind doing this?”

“No, I won’t risk anything, if it’s too much strain I will stop. However, things have changed since...Dimitri. I haven’t told anyone yet, but I think between that and my bonds to you girls strengthening me, something about my powers has broken. That or the AWIO doesn’t understand absorption mages as well as they thought. The biggest change is that my powers don’t fade anymore. I can keep them in my mind without effort. I’m still limited in number of powers, but that’s growing too.”

Kali gasps, “You mean that if you absorb the portal, it’s yours for as long as you want? That’s insane!”

You nod. “It is. That’s why I keep it quiet. I’ll tell the other girls when we get home, but no one else can know, got it?”

Kali and Maya nod, wide eyed with the implications of your growing power. Turning, you place your hand on the frame of the portal. You concentrate, and within seconds, the light of the portal winks out. You stagger for a second, then turn to the girls.

“Ok, so that’s new...it took up extra space in my mind. The portal is taking up what would be three power slots, for lack of a better term.”

Maya puts her hand on your shoulder. “Forget that for now, how do you feel?”

“Fine, actually! I was dizzy for a second, but fine now. I think something else unlocked in my mind, storing stronger powers by using more space in my mind...this is crazy. Kali, is there anything you want to take with you before we go?”

Kali quickly shakes her head. “I don’t want anything to remind me of what I was here.”

“Kali, you can’t just forget who you were. It’s important to remember, so you have a reason to be what you’re becoming. It’s unfair, and it’s hard, but it’s a burden you owe to the people you hurt in the past.”

Maya nods, “We forgave you, others may not, and by remembering what you were, you will be able to accept that and not become bitter or slide into old habits.”

You smile, “Don’t worry, Kali. We will help you along your path. Now, enough serious talk, I need to go home and get back to the cuddling that was so rudely interrupted this morning!”