Awakening 18

Awakening 18 is the eighteenth episode of the Awakening animation series in SapphireFoxx. It was released on April 17, 2023.
== Synopsis ==
“Alistair and the gang take refuge in a familiar location. Along the way we run into some old faces, and some new ones as well.”
== Production ==
* Producer: Sam Mokler
* Writer: Paul Sell
* Animators: Mimi Alves, Hector Amavizca
* Artists: Jeremy Pursell, Gabriel Carroll, Fil Romero
=== Cast ===
* Alistair – Ricco Fajardo
* Isabelle – Sarah Wiedenheft
* Sylvana – Miranda Greene
* Chris – Matt Shipman
* Jessica – Leslie Burk
* Claire – Brittany Lauda
* Ashley – Ashley Sahler
* Sebastian – BJ Hunter
* Gaela – Leslie Burk
* Zack – Aaron Dismuke
* Shane – Brandon Winckler
* Natalie – Morgan Laure
* Jackie – Yaddle
* Ricky – Aaron Dismuke
* Sophia – Baku Satsu Ho
* Henry – Bryson Baugus
== Plot ==
The Sapphire Legion has taken refuge at the home of Zack and Gaela Houlton after the destruction of Alistair's Island. Jessica, Claire, and Alistair heal the wounded as Gaela and Zack do what they can to make them comfortable. Sebastian and Ashley are hurt but are awake and mostly healed of any major damage. Chris however remains unconscious and while Alistair has healed most of his serious wounds, he says he took major damage and will need more time to recover. Ashley says they need to move against Sylvana soon after Alistair has explained what's happening all around the world now that the curses have been unleashed. Gaela and Zack think back and feel that this is very similar to the T1-G1 virus they experienced when they were kids. Alistair points out that its far worse because it's not only the transformation aspects but also the mind control curse that is now spreading on a global scale. Despite Ashley's protests that they need to take action and Sebastian saying they should send Alistair out to face Sylvana the Legion decides it's better to rest and that even with Alistair's strength and human body restored he is unsure he can handle Sylvana alone. Sebastian and Claire take Chris upstairs to put him to bed and prepare somewhere the rest of them can sleep as well. Leaving the others in the living room with Gaela and Zack discussing if they actually have a plan or not.
After a moment the doorbell rings and it's revealed to be Natalie and Shane who have arrived with both of their kids Sophia and Henry as well as Gaela and Zack's kids whom they were looking after, Rickie and Jackie. The Houlton's already called Natalie and Shane about Alistair's visit and filled them in as best they could. The Quad is reunited, but the kids are left oblivious to the existence of magic and are left in the dark of the real situation. After catching up with their parents a bit Jackie questions them on who the others are. They introduce them as "Al" and his family who are staying with them for a few days because their house is "flooded". While the kids stay with Natalie and Shane the Legion will stay in the kid's rooms. The cousins are all a bit curious and confused but agree to grab a couple things and then head out with the Gardeners. Alistair has a brief reunion with the Quad who are happy to see him in flesh and blood.
Later that night Jessica is still healing Chris who has yet to wake up and the others plan to rotate healing him throughout the night until he regains enough strength. While Ashley, Jessica, and Isabelle focus on Chris, Alistair is off to the side when he hears Sylvana's voice in his mind. Sylvana begins to speak to him through their soul bond they formed on their wedding night. While she can't tell where he and the others are she can sense they are alive. Alistair says they shouldn't abuse their bond like that, but Sylvana just retorts him saying even if he is the only one who can hear and see her in spectral form, she can still make things difficult for him. Sylvana's projection then brushes her hand over Alistair's right eye and causes a Ruby Mana Mark identical to hers to appear. Ashly is quick to notice this, and the three girls confront him on it. Sylvana laughs seeing that she's stirred up more trouble for Alistair before her specter disappears. Alistair claims he lost control of his mark for a moment, but Isabelle confronts him on the fact it's ruby colored and on the wrong eye. With no alternative Alistair begins to explain the truth he's held back from them all. He explains that centuries ago he and Sylvana experimented with extensive blood magic to increase their own power. Through these practices they were able to graft a second mana mark onto each other. Alistair has a duplicate of Sylvana's Mana Mark and she has a copy of his. This is why the two of them are so incredibly powerful compared to so many other sorcerers even in their cursed forms. The girls then question him on why he would use blood magic so carelessly considering the corruption side effects are the reason Sylvana is as mad as she is and what drove her to create the Gender Curse to begin with. Alistair then admits that the story he's told them was only half the truth and in reality, he helped Sylvana create the very curse he has spent centuries trying to stop. Isabelle and the others are left shocked that their master was partially responsible for such a thing.
== Trivia ==
* This is the first time Alistair's Ruby Mana Mark is revealed since its brief appearance in the comic "Fractured" nearly eight years prior to this animations release.