[h3][Center][color=aba400]Tales of Genosha: The Witching Hour Part II [/color][/center][/h3][hr]

Max's eyes went wide as Selene began to talk about them all being apart of a ritual. But the more she shared on it the more he became weary. He wasn't sure if it was a metaphorical meeting of the minds or literal. What's more, did he have anything worth keeping locked inside of his mind? The book on demonology? Magik? The newest edition to his growing list of strange objects with the puzzle box? [Color=aba400]"Is that supposed to be a metaphor or are we literally going to be able to see each others minds?"[/color] There was a bit of a nervous chuckle as he spoke. Then a thought crept in, [i]what if they could see all he has done and were disappointed in their so called hero[/i]

[color=CDC0CF]"Magic is metaphor,"[/color] Selene corrected. [color=CDC0CF]"Anyone who does not wish to participate is welcome to abstain. This will not be a true merging of minds, only the slightest brush - only what you are comfortable with will be shared. But know that we all have skeletons in our closets - even I."[/color] Selene then paused. [color=CDC0CF]"If you do not wish to join, please step from the circle now."[/color]

Max stood firm within his circle. Straightening up a bit as he squared his shoulders. [Color=aba400]"I wish to join, just always curious as to exactly what I get myself into when it comes to magic."[/color] He began to press certain thoughts to the forefront of his mind. Thinking of the space he created within his room back at the hellfire club, about how effortlessly he saved the president back in Wanda's World, and then of how he created the training room for them all. If any of his surface thoughts were to be seen during this, he wanted it to be these. To focus on his accomplishments and not all his failures. [Color=aba400]"So, how do we begin?"[/color]

[color=CDC0CF]"Join hands,"[/color] Selene instructed. [color=CDC0CF]"Focus on your breath. Breathe in and out. As you breathe, you are like the tides - a push and pull, an ebb and a flow. On your skin, feel the shimmering beam of Luna's light. The moon is a triple goddess known by many names. Artemis. Diana. Khonsu. Hecate. Máni. Phoebe. And my namesake, Selene,"[/color] Selene whispered. [color=CDC0CF]"I am the moon. And the moon is me. I am Selene. I am Phoebe. I am Khonshu. I am Diana. Where I begin and she ends is unclear, uncertain, ever drifting. Let the boundaries blur... Let [i][b]go[/b][/i]."[/color]

Max followed Selene's instructions, joining hands with the two others beside him. He closed his eyes and began to focus on his breathing, imagining the tides of the ocean ebbing and flowing with every breath. It was a strange sensation, being able to [i]feel[/i] the moonlight on the parts of his skin that were exposed. At first he didn't understand, but then he had decided that he didn't have to. With every passing breath he felt more and more distant from his body, was it his body? Memories were rushing through him, bits and pieces, emotions, sensations, but none of which were his. So many others had let themselves be exposed, but Max continued to keep his guard up, he didnt wish to lose himself just yet. A part of him wondered if his magic was present, manifesting itself around his body, but he didn't dare open his eyes.

Memories would begin to blur in and out of focus. Max would recall being a small child in Wales, nearly killing in an automobile accident, only to manifest wings and begin to fly. He would be a small girl in ancient times, gazing up at the moon. He was a young man in Chicago, dribbling the basketball up to the net. He was in a musty old library, searching amongst the books. His sense of self and focus would slip away more and more, until he had become just one of the many, merged entirely into this hybrid mind. Everyone in the circle was breathing as one, existing as one being. As terrifying as that may seem, it was more liberating and exhilarating than anything else - a sort of rush, a cosmic euphoria. 

And then, the next thing Max would know, he was himself again. Instead of being over a dozen people, he was one person again, one contained being and soul. 

[color=CDC0CF]"Is everyone alright?"[/color] Selene asked. While everyone else was sprawled out on the ground, feeling exhausted and drained, like they had just run a marathon, she was positively glowing, shimmering really underneath the moonlight. 

"Woah... That was intense..." Pixie breathed.

Max turned his head towards Pixies voice, opening his eyes for the first time and having the afterglow of using magic. Stars twinkled in a swirl of black, purple, blues, and pinks that's swirled where his eyes should be. Now showing only two reflections of the universe before the magic faded and his normal eyes came back into view. [Color=aba400]"Yeah..."[/color] He suddenly felt tired, as if he had expended himself just enough. Something he hadn't felt in a while if he was being honest. He had a dopey smile on his face when he turned to look at Selene, seeing how positively radiant she appeared in comparison to everyone else. One of the memories he'd seen crept back and it made Max wonder. He'd have to contact his teacher to find out more. [Color=aba400]"So this sort of thing happen often Pixie?"[/color]

"Yeah," Pixie explained, panting a bit. "Magic's like - like a muscle, y'know? I'm pretty new at it, so I always feel so winded when I'm done." 

[color=CDC0CF]"That is all for this witching hour. Blessed be, everyone. We will reunite under Luna's glow in three days time,"[/color] Selene instructed, more or less dismissing the circle.

"I'm craving sushi," Pixie then told Max. "You wanna go get some?"

Max gave Pixie a smile before nodding his head. [Color=aba400]"Sure, let's get some energy back into us."[/color]