《Lost in Hiraeth》 Foreword: The Cloth of Life The Balts believe: threads of Fate accompany one through their eternal journey. The vivacious linens crawl into every nook and cranny, weaving a fateful maze, or rather a collage of Life. Little beings might twist and turn, desperately seeking to free themselves out of these shackles, Yet, Fate offers no hope. Neither does it extend any sympathy as there is little to no remorse. The Universe ties all things and beings together. There is Order in the subtle Chaos of intertwined threads. Three Witches weave the cloth of human Life. When a person is born, Laume Verpeja starts spinning the thread. She looks into the depths of one¡¯s soul and carefully chooses a star from the vast black skies. The First Witch then ties the ligament of one¡¯s being to the tail of this chosen star. The Goddess of Fate - Laima - carefully weaves new threads into the linen of Life. Her hands cup success and sorrow as it is poured into the Destiny of a new being. As Laima assigns one their Fate, she makes sure all creatures follow the path given. Throughout the journey, the Goddess of Fate oversees the humble sufferings as well as the great achievements of every living being. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The Last of the Witches resides in the realm of darkness - Giltine shall cut off the thread of one¡¯s existence. As her shinigami escorts the chosen soul into the Afterworld, a lonely star shall lose its magic shimmer. Once the essence of Life is no longer, the star is bound to fall into the Void. The last moment of glory in a celebration of Life well lived - it shall shimmer and glimmer beautifully, collapsing into minuscule pieces, dragging their tails of fire through eternal skies. The Chaos of the Universe has its beautiful Order. As the three sisters oversee one¡¯s Life and Death, an ancient God ensures the journey is never to be lonely. An old man is said to reside on the Moon. When Laume Verpeja ties a new thread to a human star, he happily giggles as his moment arrives. This Wizard of the Skies carefully examines the glittering diamonds of the Void. Finally, a fateful encounter is decided upon!.. The mortal realm is graced with his presence as the old man descends from the heavens. Two babies are visited - these souls shall be linked by the red thread of Fate. Many challenges and adventures await them, but these destined souls are, no doubt, bound to meet¡­ 1. The Broken Thread Crisp air and gentle breeze forced itself into the freshly cleaned flat. It was bringing in the smell of an early autumn. A faint sensation of an upcoming rain mixed with the notes of freshly cut grass and the slightly coloured - soon to fall - leaves. It was crispy and gloomy enough to anticipate mid-October, yet somehow still warm in reflection to usual seasonal temperatures illustrated by cheerful laughter and echoes of a bouncing ball whilst - one could vividly imagine - lightly clothed youngsters ran through the court in cheeky attempts to score yet another goal. Cars were rushing past as distant strangers urged back home - shower, family dinner, casual talks over tea and painless scrolling through social media whilst vegetating in front of Netflix, HBO - or whatever their current obsession might be. The evening was falling upon the city - it shall soon be covered under its thick starry mantle. And the fresh air rustling through the impeccable cleanliness of the rooms starts to bring its chill. It will eventually bite Lina¡¯s toes and her barefoot self will waltz through the oak floors - towards the open windows. ¡°Clack, clack¡± - one by one they are finally closed. She is alone yet again. Coffee mugs and fluffy blankets got tidied away. Books and magazines - instead of being scattered on the living room table - were finally hidden in shelves and drawers. Not a single speck of dust could be found - perfectly clean. Now that the evening was upon us, the rooms became dark and odd shadows flickered in the candlelights. A thin snake of smoke slithered itself towards the ceiling. ¡°Forest¡± - her favourite incense, filled in the lungs and lulled the house into serenity. And a sense of serenity it was. Pampering baths and nourishing masks. She meticulously applied her makeup and spared no effort in arranging her hair. Extra silky, well straightened¡­ She fished out her special jewellery - for occasions only - and slipped into the most beautiful - favourite, of course - black dress. Stockings for a better look. The best - or the most expensive and ridiculously uncomfortable - pair of heels. The young woman glanced at her perfectly manicured nails, carefully evaluating if the intense cleaning session prior that day caused any damage, and curled a satisfied grin. Still intact. Still perfect. A generous spray of Chanel ¡°Chance¡± and she is finally ready. ¡°This is perfect,¡± she mutters to the reflection in the mirror. ¡°This is exactly how I want it¡±. A young woman - maybe twenty or twenty-three - looks back at her. Green eyes carefully evaluated chocolate brown hair cascading down her body. A tall slim figure wrapped in a gorgeous black dress. She pinched her cheeks to give it a bit of red. The final note - a gentle touch of lipstick. Brick brown or brick red - she wasn¡¯t sure. Nor that it mattered. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Yes, this is exactly how I want it,¡± a last glance and a confident turn - in those fancy heels - she was waltzing towards the kitchen. Red wine generously poured itself into the glass. She savoured the rich fruity smell whilst inhaling the music filling the Void of her house - Ziegler always touched the depths of her soul¡­ A sensory indulgence - candlelights, her favourite music, the rich taste of red wine, the smell of ¡°Forest¡± and wooden floors cracking below her feet. ¡°This is how I want it,¡± said to herself. ¡°Freedom is to live on my terms and to leave on my own accord as well. This is how I want it.¡± Later - seconds or minutes, hours or eternities, who could possibly tell? - the world began to spin. If she had danced - but did she? - or if she had cried - she wasn¡¯t sure - sensations slipped away. Fever spread through the vessels, numbing the body, yet bringing up the last kick of Life - all at once. If Life is a comedy, then Death serves as a tragedy - or so most humans believe, - she thought. If Life is but a tragedy, might as well ensure Death is a happier occasion. At least for once, I get to choose the genre. Another glass of wine as she waltzed through the rooms soaking each and every corner of her beloved house. Beautiful candles flickered as the young woman floated past them. Familiar music hugged her tired - exhausted even - body. She shot a glance through the window - possibly the last one - and slowly faded into the depths of the living room. As she comfortably lay down on the deep-red chaise longue - it was the most dysfunctional yet incredibly adored piece of furniture in the house - Lina took a look around the living room. Tall bookshelves were climbing towards the ceiling. A gorgeous fireplace crowned with a massive mirror. A second-hand leather sofa she proudly found as a bargain. Tall - no, massive - arched windows adorned by jacquard fabrics fell from heavy metallic curtain holders above. A few other pieces of furniture and elegant floor lamps stretched close to the coffee table, just in front of Lina. The very last few sips of wine and she saw her hand extending towards the table placing the glass on top. Her being fading - Is the glass on the table? - and music filling her lungs with the smell of autumn breeze. Incense carrying warm sensations of flickering candle lights. Wooden floors anticipating to crack, waiting for a lost soul to yet again wander through the labyrinths of her Life. When the candles finished burning away, her consciousness had already slipped into the abyss. It would take hours or possibly a couple of days for someone - anyone - to find the half-empty bottle of wine generously infused with sleeping pills. As well as the very few words Lina had written before her departure. Make no mistake: this is exactly how she wanted. Leaving on her terms and finally going to rest in peace. But there is no peace. For peace is but an unattainable luxury for sinners who abandon themselves. 2. The Void Lina went through Life as if it was a funeral. Every single day she wore a body bag - black dresses and muted tones were unmistakingly the colours of her soul. Of course, to many onlookers, these aesthetic choices might have given the wrong impression. But no, Lina did not consciously seek to create an expensive-looking, classy image - her choices of fashion were merely reflections of the sadness and despair within. No doubt, she enjoyed the elegance and mystery pertaining to it, however, it was not the reason - merely a very welcome side effect - why life got painted in dark. Every day was a Void. Breaking dawn dispersed the dark mantles of the night, yet it also brought new struggles. Silence continuously screamed at her whilst Lina climbed towards the top of Life Mountain. Resilient and patient she took knives out of her back - one after the other - and continued climbing. Good things only ever come through blood, sweat and tears - nothing worth having ever comes easy - Lina was convinced. Standing alone against the world was a burden. But it was one she chose and was happy to accept. Our heroine was ready to do everything and anything as long as it aligned with her values and beliefs. Her goal - no, her Dream - was simply bigger than her. Greater than anything else. And even though it consumed the very essence of Lina¡¯s being, she climbed her mountain nevertheless. Every day was her last, and thus there was no place for regrets or could-have beens. Lina only ever knew how to accept - I know this was stupid, yet I¡¯m happy I did it nevertheless. She was someone who preferred to regret silly mistakes in the landscape of her entire Life, rather than wondering what and how it could have been if she had taken her leaps of faith. Or, well, sometimes dived head-first only to wonder if the parachute was included in the package when signing up for the aeroplane jump¡­ Regrets meant nothing. If anything, they made Lina bolder and even stronger. She walked through her Purgatory of a Life refusing to be trapped in Labyrinths of overthinking, underestimating herself, feeling lonely, upset or pathetic. She was a bulldozer tearing the hedges down and running across the maze - barefoot, laughing, with a healthy dose of craziness in her eyes. Now, you might wonder how and why a strong - seemingly strong - person like that could have possibly ended up like this? Fate enjoys a good game of chess. And while many travel through their boards of soldiers and horses whilst clinging to rebellion and hope, the Tower is bound to fall. And inevitably, changes - or demise - will sink in along with the rubble. Seeping in through the cracks. Slithering, slithering¡­ Fate enjoys chess, but who said it ever played fairly? Fate does not know defeat. * The Void sucked her in and as consciousness slipped away, Lina felt relieved. The agony, the screaming silence, the breath painfully leaving her lungs and crushing - what an excruciating pain! - her heart - it all abandoned what was left of Lina. Was she still here or already there? She felt as if she was Nowhere and Everywhere - a strange, yet familiar omnipotence filled her soul as grievances washed away in the waves of Light and Thunder. There was no river, no boat - tales of humans crossing to the Afterlife flashed through her mind. It was but a Void - a fine mixture of particles - cold and hot - gushing by in an odd storm and mixing with her being. Was it bright or was it dark? Or, by any chance, was it colourful? Lina couldn¡¯t tell. Explosions of gas and matter, fractures of something once dear yet bound to be forgotten - Lina couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on it, yet instinctively understood: Life, as she knew, is finally over. But if this is Life no more, what - or where? - is it? ¡°And what does that make me?¡± - she heard herself mutter as her voice got swallowed by the hungry abyss. Sometimes the End is a Beginning. And some Beginnings are those of the End. But what if some beginnings never ended? I am Nothing, therefore I am Everything. Because I consist of Nothing, I can become Anything. There is Nothing more than Anything. * Energies charged and stars exploded. Those who were meant to leave were also meant to return. The Void concentrated all sources of Light and Dark, the sleepwalking soul had been successfully refined. The pain was no more, yet worldly attachments still lingered - bulldozers are known not to let go easily¡­ Lightning and Thunder came to subside whilst a sensation - long forgotten - steeped into her bones: hard and cold. Hard and cold, cold and hard - how welcome! - a solid rock was causing discomfort to the ribcage, lower back and heels. Lina wasn¡¯t sure if it was a hallucination or some sort of wishful - or remorseful - thinking, reminding her of the pains - or rather the joys - of Life. Was it haunting her? ¡°Life is haunting me,¡± she scoffed at the thought, only to be surprised by the sound of her voice. A voice, not necessarily hers, though she wasn¡¯t - she couldn¡¯t be - sure. A voice. A sound. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. The Void deprived Lina of her own noises. It was but a continuous orchestra of explosions - lightning and thunder¡­ Not a single cry or a scream of despair could leave her constrained body - or being. The Void was no longer. She was able to escape the oblivion. In some shape or form she was yet alive - how uncalled for, how unexpected¡­ Yet how incredibly precious. ¡°Is this Life?¡± she muttered again and words splashed into the air, wrapping around her and penetrating the depths of what - she believed - was lost. Something warm ran through Lina¡¯s cheeks. A distant memory of emotion - supposedly joy - touched her cold heart as she attempted to feel her limbs and possibly move her hand towards what she expected to be her face. Nothing happened - just the cold stone piercing her from within. Did I become a vegetable? - thoughts started rushing through Lina¡¯s mind. Did someone have the audacity to save me? Was I - am I - in a coma? - at this point, Lina was starting to panic as her body - it was her body, wasn¡¯t it? - refused to budge. Did I die and get reincarnated into a bloody Puntukas? - the ridiculous thought of becoming an enormous stone was ironic, yet scary enough to raise proper panic. Why can¡¯t I see anything? - she thought. Where is this? - a waterfall of emotions washed over Lina. ¡°If you are to pull through this, I would strongly recommend calming down,¡± - a shock wave ran through her body. ¡°If you can¡¯t calm yourself down, you are bound to have a heart attack and die - in vain, I must add - once again at this rate,¡± a warm, yet unmistakenly demanding male voice commanded me as something - I would guess a palm of their hand - landed on my forehead. ¡°Pabusk,¡± an unknown tongue was spoken upon me whilst a mixture of warm joy and boiling panic ran through my existence - or what was remaining of it. And somehow I knew the voice invited me to awaken, called upon me, and brought back some sort of Light, Life and Meaning. ¡°...so mote it be,¡± upon the last breath of his words - never-ending chants and comforting warmth gently caressing this stone-cold existence and wrapping around it, nourishing, elevating - it all suddenly made sense. I found my eyes. * Lina woke up to an endless sky of stars. In the maze of shadows and unknown surroundings, she found herself blinded by the platinum moonlight. I¡¯ve missed that - she thought to herself whilst greedily inhaling fresh pines and late summer airs. The bones still seemed cold and she barely felt her legs, hands or any of the fingertips. Gazing at the Void of her sky was the most she could do, but it was enough to feel grateful. At this point, she had completely lost track of time, yet was conscious of her existence that did not end - or for whatever reason could not end. This - whatever it is - is another form of being - she thought to herself. ¡°Let¡¯s cherish the moment,¡± Lina said out loud. ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that,¡± an almost familiar voice responded making Lina jump - as much as someone stone-paralysed could attempt. Her puzzled face came down to a realisation that a strange force or body - possibly the palm of someone¡¯s hand - was still leisurely - was it? - resting on her forehead. A pale face with ocean blue eyes came into her field of vision as long silky hair - threads of gold - cascaded over the shoulders of what seemed to be a young man, possibly in his thirties. The moon adorned his transcendent beauty and it was close to impossible to gaze elsewhere. I sure hope he is naive enough to believe I¡¯m too stiff to turn away and not just idiotically staring whilst completely mesmerised - she thought. To Lina¡¯s horror, her cheeks turned red and she felt a warm sensation running up her neck, reaching the face and tingling the earlobes. This is too embarrassing, I need to get the hell away from him - desperation ran a whole marathon through her mind. Seconds later, Lina found herself flying - no, falling off! - some sort of an unstable platform and digging her nose into the cold grass sprinkled with fresh fresh dew. This further embarrassment kicked her to the bones and Lina immediately found the axis of a body once forgotten. As Lina - almost gracefully - jumped up to straighten her back, she took in whatever surroundings could be captured in this moonlight forest - or what it seemed to be. An amused face - almost familiar - stared at her. Hot flushes - of adoration and repeated embarrassment - rushed through her as blue eyes pierced into her heart. Or soul. Or whatever she had now. The godly being snickered as his gaze - obviously entertained - continued to evaluate. She chose to take a moment and observe the environment, yet could barely look away from this tall figure, clothed in odd long robes and adorned by gorgeous belts and knots. Even whilst sat, he seemed awfully tall and despite emitting warm calmness - somehow dangerous. As her eyes finally adjusted to the night, the cold stone this man sat upon - and she miserably threw herself off just seconds ago - came into vision. And what hell of a stone it was!.. Not even close. As Lina felt the panic once again rushing to her temples, her blood boiled and froze simultaneously. Her heart - oh, poor heart! - sank to the feet as the stone, no, unmistakenly, an Altar, revealed itself. Still amused, he continued observing Lina¡¯s behaviours. How adorably human - he thought to himself. Every panicky glance and hot flush made him giggle. Before he knew it, his lips curled into a naughty grin. Not malicious, no, but the type of a grin a parent has when their cute newborn discovers the fluffy tail of a cat and seconds later grabs it - only to be smacked and hissed at. Unexpected, with no harm, yet pure confusion and curiosity mixed with cautiousness. He found it adorable and cute. And most of all, he found it entertaining. In his book, ¡°entertaining¡± was quite something. Whilst contemplating if to indulge further in this little play or if mercy should be shown, he realised the soul had already drifted from the Altar. She was wandering around the surrounding pillars, curiously exploring - possibly accepting? - and taking in all the rich surroundings. This is going to be a lot of fun - he thought to himself gracefully slipping off the Altar and following in her confused footsteps. ¡°Welcome to Hiraeth, Deidre,¡± she suddenly heard from behind her. As her perplexed eyes met his gaze, further words echoed through the night air, ¡°From now on, you are Deidre Oleander. I welcome you to Hiraeth¡±. 3. Lost in the Woods ¡°Lina, I¡¯m Lina,¡± she murmured, the shadow of confusion descending upon her. Without even blinking she stared into the starry night - no, into the Void - thoughts rushing through her crazed head. This is utter madness. I ended up failing and this - whatever this is, - no doubt, is surely but a sick prank of the Universe - everything washed through her as she gasped for air. Heart pounding in her chest, someone lightly grasping, clenching it¡­ A bit more, just a bit - and it will explode¡­ More air. Hot flushes ran throughout her cold - she could still feel the stone altar in the bones - body. I failed. And as a result, I¡¯m now a vegetable, lying somewhere out there connected to countless electrodes and cables in the maze of life-supporting machines. Wherever and whatever this is - it¡¯s a dream. A drug-induced coma that at best I brought upon myself, or at worst was pushed through by someone playing chess with my life and dragging this unwelcome charade even further - reasoning continued as she finally found her breath. A strangely familiar hand was resting over her forehead once again as Lina realised a pair of blue eyes was staring at her. ¡°I must apologise, Deidre,¡± a kind voice echoed through the Void. ¡°You see, one of my gifts is empathy,¡± his face tilted and for a second - just a split moment - the figure in front of her seemed less condescending. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t quite stop there,¡± he continued. ¡°I can not only sense one¡¯s emotions, I can also alter them. To an extent, of course,¡± - there was a faint smile looking at me. It seemed warm and kind, yet there was something unmistakably sad about it. ¡°You will learn about it soon enough,¡± my forehead suddenly felt oddly naked and exposed as I realised the absence of his hand. ¡°I¡¯m August Evander, the vaidila or krivis supreme. Please feel free to call me August when it¡¯s just the two of us,¡± he continued as I attempted to digest what meaning his words held. Quite frankly, nothing made sense at this point. I reckoned the so-called vaidila was somewhat of a priest. ¡°This is Hiraeth,¡± something within me hit a cord as August continued. ¡°This place is your sentence as well as your new abode. From now on,¡± a meaningful pause accompanied by a deep look, ¡°you¡¯re one of us.¡± * It¡¯s been a while since she last felt anything - walking through the path of her life Lina kept emotions and feelings at bay. They seemed to be useless assets only hindering the achievement of her earthly goals. You see, she was one of those success-hungry, yet deeply moral and hardworking individuals. Success was attained through dedication and hard work and as it happened to be, emotions had no part in it. Since there was no contribution, emotions had to be cast aside. Of course, it¡¯s not entirely possible, but people like that - people like Lina - found a way to successfully compartmentalise them. A vault full of hidden traumas and emotions - shoved aside in a rush only to enable further survival. Or ensure unavoidable future demise¡­ The world trembled and as unstoppable tremors continued, the source of it all expanded. Crawling deeper, seeping in through the cracks, slithering into the vault. It was decaying, rotting away - the walls of this prison for unwanted memories and emotions. At some point - inevitable, we all know, - it all came down. Was it an explosion? Did it melt down like an iceberg? Was it a tsunami crashing?... It only took but a split second, yet her carefully crafted vault crumbled apart. It vanished. The collapsing tower brings ruin. Yet ruins can bring liberation. Maybe, just maybe, I can afford a bit of emotion in this place - she thought to herself whilst firmly walking towards the strange man. ¡°Vaidila Supreme, I expect to know more about this strange place soon. If this is to be my sentence and my prison, I better make myself comfortable,¡± the Void in her eyes was no longer as Lina locked her gaze on him. ¡°I am pleased to make your acquaintance, sir August Evander,¡± she continued as a faint smile ascended from the young woman¡¯s lips. ¡°If you so kindly permit, I shall be more than happy to address you as August when in private,¡± a sudden pause fell as Lina carefully examined his expression. ¡°Yet I am deeply confused as to why my humble self - subject to sentencing in this odd prison - would ever enjoy the company of someone unmistakenly great and of high importance,¡± she finished. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. As tension grew thicker, August leisurely paced around the area. Circling in on her - she felt it was deliberate, aiming to patronise or at least to study her further - he leaned towards her and smiled. ¡°It is far too soon for me to give away all the answers. This is not a simple place,¡± the high krivi sighed. ¡°Hiraeth is not like any other. As such, whilst embedding yourself into this place and trying to become a part of it, you shall unravel its secrets,¡± his tone was comforting, yet something unmistakably eerie floated in the air. ¡°One after the other,¡± he smiled. ¡°For now, accepting Hiraeth as your new home - your forever home - will be more than enough,¡± the emphasis on forever somehow ran shivers down her spine. ¡°I will make sure you adjust to Hiraeth as soon as¡­humanly possible,¡± - the sincerity in his voice made August less intimidating, gentle even. ¡°Is this my punishment? For ending that life?..¡± words slipped out of me, I could not grasp them, it was stronger than fear or the confusion I felt ever since opening my eyes. Hesitation was easy to notice. August took a few steps further and as I unintentionally adored his long silky hair, shimmering in the platinum moonlight, his gaze turned distant. Clear ocean blue eyes fixated on the Void in the sky and I could sense a hint of pain, nostalgia or longing¡­ The high priest was gazing at someone or something - possibly somewhere? - incredibly far away. Maybe unattainable. No longer there. Or never been there in the first place¡­ Maybe the Void showed August the impossibility itself. ¡°Hiraeth is many things to many beings,¡± he finally spoke. But it was as if the high krivi talked to the Void, not me. ¡°It might be your punishment,¡± he took a deep breath. ¡°But it just might be your destiny,¡± I felt his gaze on me and something within my stomach twisted. I visibly flinched. ¡°You, Deidre Oleander, are no longer bound by the earthly burdens, so shed away your worries and pain,¡± his eyes pierced through me. ¡°Cast away what, how and why you were as Lina. That person is no more. You are now an entirely different existence and the circle of life shall continue yet again¡±. Silence fell as the weight of his words came down looming like heavy clouds of a storm ready to burst. A different existence - she thought. A different life or a form of being - her mind could not stop at this point. This is both a punishment and a form of destiny - cogs kept turning. ¡°I assume I¡¯m not lucky enough to have ascended to Heaven. And this looks far-fetched from what I would imagine to be Hell,¡± she was now thinking out loud. ¡°Is Hiraeth the equivalent of what humans call Purgatory?¡± the young woman was digging holes into him, curiosity seeping through her very existence. He scoffed. ¡°I suppose, you can think of it as a form of Purgatory. For now,¡± a sigh echoed. ¡°Hiraeth is not something a fledgling like you is capable of understanding just yet. But if it makes matters easier, think of it as a place in between - an existence or a realm in between, to be precise.¡± ¡°Why was I sleeping on a stone resembling an altar?¡± another thought voiced itself before I could properly process it. ¡°It is an altar indeed,¡± August grinned. ¡°Yet, you were not exactly sleeping. Nor were you awake either,¡± his words only offered more confusion and made little sense. ¡°You will come to understand in due time, Deidre,¡± August¡¯s tone got softer. ¡°I believe it is time for us to leave the sacred circle. Let us return to the Temple,¡± - he gestured towards the forest, inviting me to follow. A gentle touch as slender fingers slipped through the palm of her hand. Seconds later she was absent-mindedly following the tall figure, guiding them through the night. Lina, no, Deidre, felt the soft lullaby of the wind leading the choir of leaves, This gentle psithurism caressed her soul. She felt very much alive and present in this very moment. How long has it been - she was wondering. How long has it been living a lonely life, not a single person to rely on? - a warm feeling tingled her skin as thoughts chased one after another. I suppose this is what people mean when they say something touched their heart¡­ This is what it feels like to be grateful to another being - a faint smile painted Deidre¡¯s face. Be it Heaven, Hell or Purgatory - whatever this place is, I suppose it¡¯s not that bad - thoughts continued pouring as two figures struggled through the deep woods. ¡°I shall accept Hiraeth,¡± - her sudden declaration killed the silence, disrupted only by the songs of chirping birds and the movement of tree branches, cuddled by the wind. ¡°I¡¯m glad you came to welcome this new reality,¡± August¡¯s voice was soft. ¡°Yet I¡¯m unsure if it was ever a matter of choice,¡± I could feel the soft kindness as the words left his lips. Maybe it was the heavy atmosphere of the unfamiliar dark forest or the Void still hanging somewhere up in the sky, but my insides made a painful twist. I knew there was nothing else and no one else for me out there - whatever there or here even meant now. Yes, it was not a matter of choice, really, but a mere necessity, inevitability even. Something heavy embraced my heart. An unforetold fear seeped in¡­ But I just followed. 4. The Gates of Thunder I can¡¯t quite grasp how long we wandered through these enchanted woods. No matter the dreary, no matter the wet discomfort whilst rushing through squishy moss, the security of holding onto the ethereal figure leading ahead washed everything away. Eventually, the gnarled branches and rustling leaves came to an end. Chirping birds and murmuring streams were but a distant echo as this new mesmerising landscape revealed itself. Soft, ethereal light fell upon an opening in these thick dark woods. Common folk could have passed by without a second thought, but often the most valuable of treasures remain unseen by the naked eye. Tall pillars of stone - or possibly dead trees even? - stretched towards the Void through the vast skies. One could not necessarily view it, but no doubt felt it arching somewhere high above. ¡°It¡¯s a gate,¡± words slipped through my widely gaped mouth whilst I still wondered if it was a statement or merely one of many questions circling in my - almost crazed - mind. ¡°You can sense it,¡± the high priest grinned, I could oddly tell he was a little - just a little - proud. ¡°Many only ever use their eyes, but the greatest of priests see differently, Deidre. Oleander does bring hope indeed,¡± his grin turned into a kind smile. As I pondered about the deeper meanings of my newly found name, we slowly walked up to the celestial gates. Up close they resembled elegant yet unbreakable needles, piercing the fabrics of starry skies. Or - who knows - maybe they were the pillars of Heaven, deeply rooted deep beneath our feet and meeting with their counterparts on the other side - Hell. ¡°Now listen carefully,¡± the seriousness in his deep voice woke me up from the maze of thought. ¡°When normal humans die, they cross a river,¡± the high krivi started explaining. ¡°This journey washes away earthly pains and desires. When the soul is cleansed and memories are no longer a burden, a new journey will present itself,¡± the high priest made a meaningful pause. ¡°Previous memories might be gone, but the gods are omnipotent and thus sufferings or wrong-doings will never be truly forgotten. As the journey of Life begins yet again, one shall live according to the fabrics of their previous Life. Good shall be rewarded and malice will return tenfold. You see,¡± August chuckled, ¡°gods are insatiable for Harmony.¡± There was something bitter in his voice. Or maybe moonlight seeping in through the trees cast an odd shadow onto the high priest¡¯s smile. It painted the scene in ominous, dark shades. ¡°How long does this cycle of death and rebirth continue?¡± I asked. ¡°Until the soul is cleansed and its properties are refined. It may take centuries or millennia - impurities in souls highly differ,¡± the high vaidila shrugged. ¡°But once the unnecessary particles are vanquished, the spirit can move onto its new form of existence,¡± a subtle change of tone. ¡°Where exactly this may be - Heaven or the Underworld - might not be up to the individual. One¡¯s essence pertains to their natural attributes. More frequently than not it is up to Fate,¡± August¡¯s eyes suddenly pierced through me and once again I felt a sense of awakening - from the thoughts within. ¡°Can I ask you,¡± I started thinking out loud yet again. ¡°Why did you describe this cycle of existence whilst attributing to normal people, normal souls?¡± I could not help but stare at him. ¡°Oh, dear Deidre,¡± the high priest walked up to me and as I was about to take a step back, gently - yet firmly - cupped my face. ¡°Because we¡¯re all but normal,¡± blue eyes were staring deeply into my Void as golden ribbons of sunshine shimmered through his hair. I was cold, a sudden shiver ran through me, yet I could barely move. Or open my mouth even... I stared back at the high vaidila , hoping to see through his Void only to realise there was some sort of closeness and kinship. Stolen novel; please report. ¡°Did you just?..¡± I gaped at him. ¡°Apologies, Deidre,¡± he smirked. ¡°We have many things to do and unfortunately can not have your emotions running havoc.¡± Deep breath. Long sigh. Three steps away from him. The soothing touch of the ethereal gate. It¡¯s powerful. I don¡¯t know how, but I can feel it. I look back at the high priest, ¡°I suppose you will tell me everything when the time is right?.. And when you feel me ready.¡± ¡°I shall give you my word,¡± the high krivi stepped towards the gate and placed his palm on the remaining pillar. ¡°This is how it should be,¡± he whispered. ¡°All things in the Universe need to have a balance,¡± August was looking at me. ¡°For now,¡± a new thread of thought started, ¡°just know we are the same. And as like attracts like, others shall come,¡± the high priest continued talking, ¡°We are not human,¡± August looked lonely leaning towards the heaven-piercing gates. ¡°Our existence walks a different path from that of a typical human. Yet, we¡¯re not deities, angels or demons. We¡¯re but unlucky travellers confined in between. We can indulge ourselves in the wholesomeness of all existences, yet can not truly walk any of the paths shown to us,¡± I could tell the high priest was once again gazing at the Void. ¡°The time has come,¡± August¡¯s voice pierced through the night. ¡°We shall pass through the gates - it¡¯s midnight,¡± the high priest tilted his head and I could see a soft smile. I knew: more was coming. So, I kept quiet and patiently waited for him to explain further. ¡°You being at the Altar is proof of belonging to this realm. The likes of us use the Great Stone in order to enable earthly experiences. When the journey is completed - or sometimes unexpectedly disturbed,¡± I could tell by his glare that the high krivi wasn¡¯t pleased with me, ¡°the being awakens in the same spot they departed. All high-ranking priests and priestesses are able to sense both the Departure and the Awakening, but only the Awakening requires our presence,¡± August stopped for a breather. ¡°For the time being, you only need to understand that each of us senses a particular calling - it¡¯s how we know that our time has come to oversee the Awakening and guide the being back to their realm,¡± the high priest was examining my face, making sure I followed. ¡°Some beings are easy existences to identify. One feels particularly cold or hot, full or empty, light or dark. Some smell of forests or water, some carry a musky weight to them, whilst others seem but a breeze. One could occasionally hear cogs of machinery, maybe the songs of birds, possibly people talking or maybe the magical psithurism of a forest at night,¡± I was grasping every word, but the exact meaning behind this detailed explanation was yet unknown to the confused mind. As if following the thread of my thoughts, August continued. ¡°All of the mentioned characteristics, amongst many others, of course, indicate the innate traits of a being. This is also reflected in one¡¯s physical appearance,¡± he gave me a cheeky grin - awfully confusing, but here we are... The mind was too occupied by the matters at hand to give that odd grin a second thought. ¡°To sum it up, all these little details are incredibly important. This is how we know where to escort the being awaken,¡± yet another meaningful pause in this long perplexing monologue. ¡°However, some cases are special - those beings are either too full and carry the weight of many¡­ Or completely empty and resonate to the Void. This is what makes them out of the ordinary,¡± the high priest was kindly smiling at me. ¡°I believe, and please correct me if I¡¯m wrong, but this is why you said that both you and I are anything but normal?¡± I asked whilst more thoughts were knitting inside my head. ¡°Am I allowed to know¡­¡± I was thinking out loud. ¡°...can I ask which being am I - am I completely full or too empty?¡± looking up to the blue eyes of the high priest made me feel - I swear I could sense it - it was a question or rather the answer of great importance to my being. ¡°You¡¯re full of emptiness,¡± the high vaidila responded in a kind voice. Once again, I felt the palm of his hand on my forehead as he extended a beam of warm light piercing through the depths that were left - or newly found - of me. I could not fully - or at all - grasp the meaning of what was just revealed. I was sure it was of significant importance and pertained to the profound workings of my existence, yet it was all too much. I tucked my thoughts away and locked all unanswered or worrying questions in the hidden vault of emotions. At this point, my sole existence is a miracle. That is enough to keep my mind busy, everything else shall wait for the right moment. 5. The Sun’s Square ¡°Because of your unique disposition, I am bound to believe you are one of us - like me. Hence, we find ourselves at the Gates of Thunder,¡± the high priest looked up towards where the needles of these gates pierced the sky. ¡°You see,¡± August grinned, ¡°these are the First Gates of Thunder. And only a few who are destined to serve our gods are able to cross them,¡± the high krivi was studying my reaction. ¡°What happens if someone who is not a priest steps through the gate?¡± I cautiously asked, tilting my head and suspiciously staring at him. ¡°Who knows?¡± a cheeky grin elevated August¡¯s face. ¡°Maybe they are simply sent to where they belong to¡­ Or maybe a divine punishment befalls their audacity and they are bound to perish amongst the storms of thunder and lightning?..¡± Great - I thought to myself, choking on the prospect of getting pulverised. Cold sweat - wait, is this even possible, I should be living no more - embraced my shoulders and ran wet fingertips through my forehead. ¡°Is this a test?¡± I asked. ¡°It might just be,¡± a nonchalant answer followed. ¡°One where you have no such thing as a choice,¡± the high vaidila added. Silence. My heartbeat. Silence. My breathing. ¡°Now now, dear Deidre, you might never know how far you could go if you never try,¡± I was not sure if he was trying to ridicule my confused self or if it was a unique way - his way - to comfort me. ¡°You are here now,¡± August spoke more softly. ¡°So take a deep breath and let it go. Step into the gate - and mote it be,¡± I felt his hand on my shoulder. The high priest was indeed comforting me. Only that it wasn¡¯t clear if his mixed approaches - or mixed way of being - was any good. Or any good to me. Whatever or whomever I was in this time and space. ¡°Come, it¡¯s time,¡± the high krivi gently pushed my being towards the pillars. ¡°Fear is for the fainthearted, Deidre. And we are anything but weak,¡± his strong, encouraging tone echoed through my ears. Or thoughts. I wasn¡¯t sure anymore. But it was¡­ Overpowering. Pushing forward. ¡°I¡¯ll be right behind you,¡± August¡¯s voice was sinking in the Void, or maybe time and space absorbed it as I felt my feet slowly moving towards - and through - the Gates of Thunder. Was I cold or was I burning as the gates wrapped around my very core?.. Light and dark, distance and vicinity were all caressing my skin. Was it still skin or did this new form of existence change my anatomical, no, biological structure?.. What were these gates, exactly? And if they were marked as the first, there were bound to be more - second, third¡­ How many? Dozens or hundreds?.. Thoughts spun the threads of my sewing machine. A kaleidoscope of life choices and proper, beautiful moments as well as those of sad significance. Shattering. No, maybe exploding. Yes, that¡¯s it¡­ Light. Once again, I found myself floating in the Void - a feather of light and a mantle of shadow. It all came to me before I was completely abandoned yet again. ¡°Full of emptiness¡­ You shall now awaken,¡± my eyes opened to the kindness of the high priest¡¯s voice. Bright sunshine blazed upon us. I couldn¡¯t control the unconscious tremor as my body suffered through the shock of recent changes inflicted upon it. ¡°Breathe,¡± August said gently. ¡°You made it.¡± * It was a contrast of sensations - Deidre could feel warm sun rays kissing her skin, yet the bones still carried a soft chill from before. The young woman could sniff the lingering scent of fresh pines soaked in her hair. Deidre¡¯s dress still carried the starry breeze of the night. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. A dissonance of emotions, feelings and sensory stimuli overwhelmed her, yet it was a kind reminder: in some shape or form she was still here. Or there - anywhere. Her existence continued. And it was quite enough¡­ The previous life she led - it can be put to rest now. Whatever this is, Lina, no, Deidre, will give her all. She was determined. Rustling sounds - shimmering leaves, squeaking gravel as countless feet found their way towards the high priest and an unknown woman. A private moment of comfort lasted but a few seconds, though it was enough to come back to senses, take grasp of the situation and calm down a frightened heart. Thunder Gates led to the centre of the Sun¡¯s Square. From a bird¡¯s flight, an omnipotent being could indulge in its intricate sunray-shaped patterns. These beautiful shapes took the form of healthy, thick green hedges. Tall impenetrable plant walls formed a natural fortress or, essentially, a labyrinth: one would need perceived knowledge to enter such a maze, much less leave it unscattered. Of course, there were hidden doors, traps and underground passages. The Sun¡¯s Square served both as an entrance-exit point, as well as a security measure ensuring that no unwelcome being could enter the realm. Who knows how many magical beasts and what other unknown poisonous plants or heavenly beings are hiding here? And who could tell what secrets are rattled deep into the soil of this ethereal maze?.. ¡°Stomp¡±, ¡°stomp¡±, ¡°stomp¡± - the rushing feet were just around the corner. Moments later the field of green was flowing with Holy Knights. The soldiers of Thunder wore heavy silver armour embedded with protection magic. Carefully engraved thunder crests pridefully glimmered in the golden sunshine adorning every shield and breastplate. Intricate details ran through the lengths of their swords and arrows which, of course, were infused with spells to enhance their offensive power. However, these seemed but mere decorations as the sole presence of each and every knight made the air flicker. These men and women carried themselves with immense dignity and dominance. No doubt, their aura alone was more than enough to ward away your usual wrongdoer. One needs guts to mess with those guys - I was thinking as I suddenly found myself standing. I was dedicated to keeping my head high, convincing myself - and, of course, everyone around me, - that this is not all that intimidating. I heard August scoff and did my best not to blush, deeply focused, committed to ignoring him. I was fighting the urge not to kick that annoying priest. A tall sturdy man took a step forth. It was impossible not to notice a slight difference in his armour - the shade seemed darker, and even the material might have been different. This well-built soldier had raven black hair and deep red - bloody? - eyes. Surprisingly, despite his frightening appearance, I could feel a sense of calmness and security emitting from his body. ¡°I welcome thy, August Evander, our holy Krivi Supreme,¡± a deep voice echoed through the Sun¡¯s Square. ¡°Welcome back home, welcome back to Hiraeth,¡± both the articulation and the perfectly executed body language left me convinced: he was the commander of this extremely strong battalion of soldiers - the Thunder Knights. ¡°We¡¯re finally back home,¡± August replied and a warm smile washed over the high priest¡¯s face. ¡°Our Deidre is finally back to Hiraeth,¡± blue eyes found my gaze and I realised myself walking towards the crow-looking soldier. ¡°Deidre Oleander,¡± the high priest introduced my hand to the tall figure before me. ¡°Please kindly meet the chief commander of the Thunder Knights - Elijah Crimson. You are now under his direct protection.¡± I gracefully - or I would like to believe so - curtseyed myself towards the commander. Strong yet slender fingers suddenly wrapped around my manual extremities. Unexpectedly, a kiss landed on the back of my hand. ¡°Enchanted, lady Deidre,¡± Elijah spoke in a softer tone. ¡°Welcome back to Hiraeth,¡± an honest smile flashed at me. * Deidre was too lost in the maze of her thoughts (Why did everyone welcome her back to Hiraeth?) to register the happenings throughout the actual maze. The Sun¡¯s Square was filled with heavily armed soldiers, all dutifully bowing heads and bending their knees whilst surrounding the actors at the centre of this ethereal scene. The golden-haired man nonchalantly observed his surroundings, not a single care in the world was showing on his immaculate face. On the other hand, red eyes were glimmering with excitement as the black-haired figure took a stronger grip on the fragile wrist, carefully attempting to slip away. A confused woman stood in the centre of this scene, desperately weaving the cloth of her thoughts and trying not to lose it. It¡¯s too late to be scared, get cold feet and give myself up - she thought to herself. I shall prevail - a mantra was repeating in her mind. Countless soldiers washed away in the background as birds chirped and warm breezes flew left and right between them. The Void was no longer there, but Deidre could still feel the missing parts of herself floating somewhere out there. Through this trial, I shall prevail. 6. August Evander Nights and days washed away whilst waiting. The high krivi wandered through the priesthood whilst questioning the passage of time as well as his own sanity. He was a patient being, yet the longing was slowly taking over him. August felt himself slipping into the abyss. Or the Void¡­ The Void was always there and as many immortal souls, August could not ignore, nor defy it. It was a part of him as much as he was a part of it too. She is also a part of it - he thought. And if she¡¯s a part of the Void, it means she¡¯s a part of me. No matter how tiny or insignificant of a particle it may be. Going about his existence and serving the mighty creatures that oversee the universe, the high priest went through his days trying to tuck the longing away. What is meant to leave, is bound to return. And what is lost, shall be retrieved - a mantra continued in his mind. You see, time passes differently in Hiraeth. One being such as a humble human might not even realise the passage of time here - as if the concept did not exist any longer. Time was boundless as well as it was painful. For those who had been longing, for those who had been waiting¡­ Hiraeth was an eternity in itself. Funny enough, the mighty gods were creatures of harmony - the universe balanced on precious little scales and they played with it, pouring grain to one side only to remove particles from the other¡­ And then start all over again. No balance, no harmony in the daily workings of how the worldly existences were managed. But here you have it - the irony of all: eventually, everything had an equilibrium. Forces and beings alike. For every creature, Laume Verpeja hung a star in the night sky. And the old man living on the moon tied threads between two stars-beings to ensure no one is bound to suffer the journey alone. There¡¯s balance in this chaos of intertwined threads¡­ And the witches continue to weave the cloth of one¡¯s Life - whatever being they might be: human as well as god. Through this boundless eternity, August was wandering lost - in time and space. Lost in himself. The high priest could barely remember when and where his other star went. But however lonely, long and dark, the high krivi knew: what was lost, will be found. Pacing inside his moonlit tower, August observed the ethereal skies. This crystal prison - or what others called his residence - was located at the top of the temple. Beautiful white columns stretched towards the sky where intricate magic weaved stone and crystal, combining a sturdy structure. It was strong enough to withstand godly outlashes of thunder and lighting, yet offered just enough transparency to observe the inner workings of the universe. It was a well-coveted room - quite like the position of the high priest itself. In fact, many desired to take this place - it was a well-respected rank not only in Hiraeth but across the realms. But whilst many saw prestige and proof of ability, boundless honours and unlimited opportunities, August saw a prison. It was a crystal cage - the most intricate and beautiful kind, but a prison nevertheless. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Very few knew: stonemasons embedded vast amounts of mana and infused the structure with protective barrier magic. Sure, a position such as one of a high priest must be well-defended. However, the reasoning behind such vast efforts lay entirely elsewhere - high power came with high risks. And no one in their right mind would ever want to risk a powerful being - such as the high priest - going berserk. The tower contained August¡¯s magic and made sure that any outbursts of power - or possible mania - would be strictly contained within the premises. A brilliant cage, indeed. One that only ever comes with incredible privilege. The crystal clear roof fell upon the high priest with its enormous weight of the endless skies - the boundless Void was keeping an eye on every single move. Nevertheless, it was a two-way street and throughout this eternity of existence, August learned to notice even the smallest of changes. As if the Void could speak to him, the high vaidila could tell the most subtle of movements between the shadows and all the particles within. Stars¡­ Too many of them to even grasp!.. Too many, yet irrelevant. They were lovely to observe, beautiful to admire, but that was pretty much the extent of it. None of those beings served a purpose. Only one star was ever shimmering and glimmering in the corner of August¡¯s eyes - only one that mattered. It was the furthest of them all, yet of a being closer than anyone could ever be. No matter the time, nor the distance, the high krivi was waiting. Any day now - he could feel. Just a bit more patience. *** The Awakening was one peculiar kind of event - its essence pertaining to the returns of beings who once departed as well as security risks associated. After all, returning following the refinement of one¡¯s soul through earthly experiences, as well as undergoing the cleansing of the Void, was no easy feat. As such, the priesthood as well as dutiful holy knights could never take a breather - beings needed to be inspected as no one could ever be sure about the soul that had returned. The Altar served as an entrance point and freshly refined souls would materialise back into the realm through the blessings of this sacred masonry. Stone pillars surrounding the holy Altar formed a magic-infused barrier. Of course, it was linked to high officials across Hiraeth. If someone had the audacity - or misfortune - to covertly trespass through the sacred Awakening ritual, their thread of Life would be cut short without much consideration. But should they be expected to return, the Awakening itself would trigger the threads of fate - after all, the stars are bound to accompany one another¡­ The time has come. Tingling electricity ran through August¡¯s back as if a colony of ants rushed through the sandy grains. Ocean blue eyes were hazy no more - no, they were eagerly searching through the night. Passing the gates, floating through the endless woods. The mountain. The stone pillars. The Altar. Closer. I need to get closer - anticipation was getting the best of him. After centuries of waiting, you finally return to me. 7. Hiraeth Walking out of the maze proved to be quite an experience. Deidre could barely remember the countless twists and turns whilst navigating the intricate structure, yet she desperately tried to soak in the new surroundings. Beautiful greenery formed an impenetrable defence mechanism where hidden passages and booby traps came out of nowhere and otherwordly creatures revealed themselves to distract, mesmerise and eventually lead one astray. This was more than just a typical maze. A labyrinth of gnarled trees, intricate patterns weaved of flowers and magic, sorrows of past and possible futures floating in the air scattered as fairy dust. Like the Void, it was a place in between. Deidre could vividly hear the aroma of lobelia lulling her into a sweet trance through this maze of new experiences, memories and emotions. Who knew confusion could smell so sweet?.. She could inhale the songs of beautiful tiny birds whose feathers shimmered in the rainbows of the tingling warm sunlight. ¡°Stomp¡±, ¡°stomp¡±, ¡°stomp¡± - they were pacing through the gravel, getting further away from the centre of the Sun¡¯s square and navigating towards what seemed to finally be an exit. How many are there? - Deidre caught herself contemplating as the stones were crunching beneath her feet. Is this the only way out? Ten steps forward, taking a turn to the right, twenty-five steps straight and a sharp turn to the left. The sharp, not the bent one. Then go as far as the corridor continues and take a turn right. An owl nest will mark the path and five more steps will be taken until yet another turn to the left. It is important to remember that a right turn could potentially send you flying - as Elijah kindly pulled her away in but a short moment of confusion, warning not to wander off¡­ Of course, after such an exciting discovery -Who wouldn¡¯t want to blow up as a bloody firework?! - Deidre quite lost her footing - she was no longer sure of the directions, nor was her mind registering any noticeable details. Perhaps this labyrinth is not even a stable configuration - Deidre thought to herself. I sense something different, something changing. My gut is telling me that there is more than meets the eye. Maybe - just maybe - remembering is worthless. One crosses the maze utilizing their skills, not the usual human vision. A deep sigh filled the ever-green walls of the labyrinth. An entertained chuckle echoed from the back. She turned her head towards a broad smile beaming at her - the high priest was obviously enjoying himself. ¡°Don¡¯t mind me,¡± - August was looking at her apologetically. ¡°Your emotions are all over the place. Yet, this time, I find it quite interesting - moments ago, back in the woods, you seemed horrified by the Awakening experience. Your eyes looked at me with fear and distrust, Deidre, you were floating all over the Void. But now¡­¡± August placed his hand on my shoulder, ¡°...now you are present. And you are taking in your surroundings, exploring, speculating, trying to memorise and reason. This is great progress, I could not be more proud of you.¡± At this point, I¡¯m very much aware this person is quite something. I appreciate his kind words - I believe they¡¯re not easy to obtain - yet it somehow ticks me in the wrong direction. Don¡¯t patronise me, August - I think to myself. Who do you think you are - or want to be - to be able to be proud of me? Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Easy now,¡± - the high priest shot a quick glare at me. ¡°I¡¯d better think twice before unleashing my emotions in the presence of an empath.¡± Great. Even my emotions and feelings don¡¯t seem to belong to me only - I sighed. At least, he can¡¯t read my mind - I took yet another deep breath, petrified by the idea of August - or someone else for that matter - potentially having the ability to peek into my head. ¡°Don¡¯t daydream and stay close to me,¡± Elijah¡¯s voice cut the thread of my hectic thoughts. ¡°This last bit can get a little intense,¡± he grinned. ¡°Let me know how to proceed,¡± I replied automatically whilst a strong grip wrapped around the palm of my hand. ¡°Stay alert and no matter what, don¡¯t let go¡± the commander demanded. And then we went into an oak tree. Or rather through the tree. Roots and branches were entangling around me, grasping and sucking into the wooden embrace of an intricate cage. I could sense that slipping out and being lost was but a moment away. I can still feel the touch of Elijah¡¯s skin - the heart seemed eager to jump straight out of my throat. I need to hold on to him. It will be fine - a deep breath, a few maybe, and the aching sensation pressing the chest faded away. I will be fine. But a blink of an eye, yet somehow eternities passed until Deidre realised herself finally out in the open. The impenetrable walls loomed behind her as she gaped at the structure in awe - both astonishment, adoration and¡­ frightening sense of respect? It¡¯s safe to say: I definitely don¡¯t look forward to coming back anytime soon - the young woman thought to herself. ¡°You did great,¡± - Elijah¡¯s smile was beaming at her. ¡°Don¡¯t wander off until you¡¯re used to this place. The Sun¡¯s square is but one of the many dangerous objects around here. It will do you no good sniffing around unsupervised.¡± Brilliant, another patronising figure ruffling my petticoat - I barely held back a scoff. It seems that beings around here know exactly what I¡¯m thinking. ¡°Your thoughts are written all over your face,¡± August crept in on me as a form of confirmation. ¡°Then would the great krivi please be so kind as to give me face and stop examining every expression and thought that might be rushing through my humble existence?¡± - my mouth spit the words before I could impose any sense of censorship. ¡°She seems to be getting more comfortable around here,¡± - Elijah swooped in, not a single worry in that relaxed face of his. ¡°We ought to be moving, there¡¯s still quite a walk¡±. Off he was, the masculine tower-human figure marching ahead, dragging me and the high vaidila behind him. I greedily drank the fresh air of sunshine and blue skies above me. The taste of crispy green leaves and blooming flowers nourished the tired soul and I felt as if every step elevated the body. It was heavy. Lina¡¯s life - my life - was dragging my feet down and even though I anticipated this new existence - or the promise of it - the birdsong made my heart flutter with distant longing and sorrow. ¡°Time passes differently in Hiraeth,¡± August whispered softly. ¡°With time, you will learn to let go. Not forget, no. Let go,¡± the high krivi was gently smiling. I suppose it was one of those moments where he looked at the Void and not necessarily at me. ¡°How much time..? How long has it been for you, August?..¡± I knew it was a tough one, one of those questions he might not answer or might not want to answer, but still, here I was, looking at him. ¡°Centuries, Deidre. It has been centuries,¡± a sad smile and a shimmer in his eyes cut the thread of my thought. I knew: It was better to stop now. In time, this person will let me in on the things he deems me fit to know. And in time I will become stronger and will find ways to unravel all the things this place does not want me to learn about. 8. The River of Fates Eyes on the path, - or more likely on Elijah¡¯s back, - I giggled to myself. It was all quite a sight, really, as every step unravelled more and more miracles of nature - or possibly magic, who could tell?.. Leaving the Sun¡¯s square and its horrendous labyrinths behind, I realised thick dark woods surrounded the area covering our back and tightly hugging the maze. A river nonchalantly glided through the valley on the left side of our trail and the overwhelming smell of water told me: there was more of it to come. ¡°This path walks along the River of Fates,¡± like any good guide Elijah beamed a smile at me. ¡°This part is pretty serene, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°It seems like a lovely walk,¡± I agreed. ¡°Let your eyes not deceive you,¡± a cheeky grin, ¡°as it flows down the hills and washes these magical shores, the River of Fates picks up scattered particles of energy. Once enough mana is accumulated, the waters spin and churn - one could stumble upon gorgeous waterfalls or even an occasional abyss or two,¡± - Elijah¡¯s excitement got onto my nerves. Is every creature out of their goddamn mind here? He¡¯s excited about a bloody abyss!.. At this point, I could somehow anticipate August¡¯s behaviours. Even before the high priest opened his mouth, I was already glaring at him. Don¡¯t - my eyes were telling the high krivi to stop. August scoffed in excitement - that damn psycho - took a breath in and changed his expression. ¡°The River of Fates is one of the magical aspects of Hiraeth. It surrounds this land and ensures a continuous flow of magic throughout. It¡¯s a source of energy as well as a scale ensuring ever-lasting balance. You will soon come to learn the significance of water and the ethereal powers it contains.¡± ¡°How much learning we are looking at here?¡± - I blurted a question whilst contemplating the purpose of this newly found education. I noticed the path was now taking a turn and it seemed that the River of Fates divided itself into two. The labyrinth was nowhere in sight, only the stream followed. On the left, a vast field of green and yellow - tall gorgeous sunflowers were raising their crowns towards the Void. And on the right - the newly found branch of the river of Fates was flowing like the vivacious threads weaving into the linens of one¡¯s Life. ¡°Everything,¡± - the high priest smiled at me. ¡°You will have to dedicate yourself to honest all-consuming studies - and discover what you really are¡±. The path was becoming more uneven and I realised we were slowly descending from a hill of sorts. The river seemed to be struggling with a similar problem - or maybe a rocky? - bed as it was churning and foaming below us. As my thoughts wandered off contemplating the prospects of discovering a new version of myself, I noticed an odd structure on the other side of the river. Massive rocks came together forming a never-before-seen ornament at the bottom of a hill and I could half-see half-imagine tall wooden beams at the peak of this earthly bump. Swear to gods, those pillars further away remind me of the Thunder gates - I swallowed my curiosity and was about to let it go when Elijah caught my gaze. ¡°What we see there is the Alkos Kalnas, Deidre. It¡¯s too early for you, but think of it as a place of worship,¡± he smiled, telling me that this short introduction has unfortunately come to an end. ¡°We are getting closer to our destination,¡± August interrupted. ¡°The river next to us shall divide into three - each stream represents a thread of the goddess. The first one flows on behalf of Laume Verpeja - the goddess who ties the thread of one¡¯s Life to a star upon their birth. The second stream represents Laima - the goddess of Fate who oversees all living beings. The last stream churns on behalf of Ragana - the goddess of the Netherworld who cuts one¡¯s thread at the end of the earthly journey.¡± Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ¡°As such, the River of Fates divides Hiraeth into different areas. For example, now we are walking on the land of the Sun.¡± ¡°Is it because the Sun¡¯s Square is located on this shore?¡± I asked. ¡°Most lands are named according to their functions as well as the most important landmarks. As such, the Temple raised its walls in Elysium,¡± the commander patiently explained. Drawing a mental map seemed but a useless exercise due to all the lingering questions and - what a joke! - overflowing or lacking pieces of information. Nevertheless, I was flipping the imaginary pages of facts and little curiosities collected so far. At least, the terrain was becoming more even and I soon found myself engulfed in all things water - the panorama before me offered three wide streams running across alleys and mountains as far as the eye could see. Birds happily chirping were cutting the fabrics of ethereal skies and fresh breezes filled in my lungs. Sunflowers were still draping the fields behind us, but a whole new horizon was now in sight. ¡°You are weak, therefore we are crossing by foot,¡± the high krivi¡¯s voice woke me up from a daze. ¡°The Temple is just there,¡± I suddenly realised August was standing behind me, extending his arm to point at the land in between the waters.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite a walk,¡± I sighed at him. ¡°You said I was weak, then could you please kindly advise why there was no other way of transportation?¡± ¡°Oh, there was,¡± he grinned. ¡°But I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s too much magic for someone like you right now,¡± a clear mockery in his face. Let it go, just let it go - said to myself as I stomped towards the first stream right ahead of us. A beautiful wooden bridge arched over the waters and I stopped at the peak of it - how peaceful and glorious this place is¡­ ¡°The first stream is one of harmony, it welcomes new Life and promises an abundance of adventures,¡± the commander brushed right past me as he playfully marched towards the other shore. ¡°I welcome thy to the land of Fire, Deidre,¡± I grinned at his mannerisms as Elijah held his hands towards the sky. I found myself thinking how quickly all this started to make sense to me - two condescending figures seem less scary, sometimes funny even, and I¡¯m waltzing through the shores of this River of Fate as if it was your typical Sunday afternoon. ¡°Unfortunately, there¡¯s no time for exploration - you must be exhausted and we have a schedule,¡± August didn¡¯t take long to interfere. ¡°Wait, what schedule?¡± I glared at him, hoping that my eyes could manage to convey all the dissatisfaction I wanted to express. ¡°Yes, a schedule,¡± he cut me off, no room for further enquiries. ¡°Let us be on our way,¡± the high vaidila rushed ahead whilst grabbing my hand. I could barely catch a glimpse of a stone structure somewhere far away, but we were already heading towards the other direction. No sunflowers in sight, this place seemed rather flat and only vast fields and the rivers could be seen. The stream of Laume Verpeja was behind us and we were heading towards the river of Laima. Can this be considered the same river - unnecessary thoughts washed through me as the sound of water seemed to engulf my very existence? Instinctively I knew: this was a shortcut through the Land of Fire and it awakened my curiosity - I felt the need to explore. Yet August steadily dragged me away, rushing through the fields. Soon enough we found ourselves by the stream of Laima. ¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± Elijah¡¯s excitement somehow got on my nerves. ¡°You see those tall trees on the other side of the river? That¡¯s our destination!¡± I swear, something¡¯s definitely wrong with the two of them - I battled my urge to throw out a rude remark. I was not sure how long we had walked here, it seemed the flow of time was different in Hiraeth, but it surprised me how light and energetic I felt. Considering the amount of experiences I had to endure ever since opening my eyes at the Altar, I should be famished, sleepy, faint even. I¡¯m irritated, but I suppose it¡¯s a personality trait, or maybe just a side effect of being exposed to both August and Elijah. Nevertheless, it¡¯s surprising - and very welcome - to think how much alive I am feeling right now. 9. Prison of a Tower It¡¯s a wonder how we managed to reach the Temple of Thunder - I have sore swollen feet and bruised dignity to prove it, yet famine and exhaustion run through my veins. Little to no recollection as we crossed over the stream of Laima. Yet I can vaguely remember August mumbling about the cleansing and something pertaining to the purest state of one¡¯s soul. I shall hold on to it. But at this moment, in this joy of having reached our destination - whatever this destination is, wherever this is - I feel relieved. And I can¡¯t wait to put my head on a pillow - or a rock for that matter - and close my eyes. Maybe a bite or two, or a glass of cold water¡­ This damned body was screaming, demanding even. Does that mean I¡¯m still human? Long intricate corridors. They didn¡¯t seem airy or light, yet I could not call them murky, or uncomfortable. I suppose one develops a sort of tunnel vision after crossing the realms, refining their soul in the Void, experiencing the Thunder Gates and being paraded throughout the maze of the Sun¡¯s Square as well as crossing this unknown land - Hiraeth. It¡¯s just walking - a continuation of walks and more walks - annoyed and tired I just kept mumbling in my head whilst unknown figures escorted my shadow to what I expected to be a bedroom. Any room, any space, as long as it has where to lie down and contains a door that would allow the privilege of shutting this whole world - and everyone within it - out. A sharp turn to the left, ¡°stomp¡±, ¡°stomp¡±, ¡°stomp¡± - our feet echoed through stone-paved corridors. A few seconds later an arched entrance with double oak doors presented itself. It was adorned with intricate metalwork of suns and moons, and an unknown symbol - or heraldic - welcomed visitors, possibly informing them about the owner of these chambers. To my surprise, the servants briefly kurtzed as they passed me in pursuit of opening these gates of a door. ¡°Creaaaaaaak!¡± - the old yet surprisingly well-kept hinges cried as heavy wooden wings opened to offer a glimpse into this new space. ¡°Sveika sugrizusi, vaidilute Deidre,¡± a small maid dressed in pale blue binged at me. She was smiling with the purest of hearts and I could easily tell: she meant well. Yet that did not offer any form of translation. But I¡¯m not sure one was needed - I could feel how welcome and appreciated my existence is here. We stepped into the room and as I sleepwalked myself through the mushy carpets towards the massive white oak bed, countless hands brushed through me, untangling, unbuttoning, brushing off the dust as well as the worries accumulated, robing me in the mushiest of fabrics. Seconds later I was tucked between clouds and the softest of silks whilst these maids of fairies or fairies of maids hummed sweet lullabies in a language I never heard of, yet found mesmerisingly familiar and calming. And then I fell. There¡¯s nothing quite as sweet as a deep dark night. And there¡¯s nothing as sweet as a deep slumber after an exhausting adventure. *** Fabrics rustling and feet quickly moving around the room whilst silent chatters and little giggles echoed in my ears. The curtains spread wide open baring the merciless rays of sun beaming through the crystal windows. Towards the bed, they go. Straight into my face. One could go blind from all this light, and my eyes aren¡¯t even open yet! - I sent curses to the busybodies around me, now eagerly extending their arms towards this still stiff and sleepy body. ¡°Laikas keltis, mieloji vaidulute,¡± sweet voices were singing to me and I knew: they were here to help me. Wake me up. Get me ready. For what? What is happening? Am I going somewhere? What time is it now and how long have I been sleeping? Wait, is time even a concept in Hiraeth? I wove my threads of thought as excited fairy-like maids waltzed me to a lavish bathroom. Still struck by the sleeping spell I could barely appreciate the intricate ornaments embedded in the ceiling. Blue and gold, depicting stars and the sun, a silver moon and delicate threads connecting throughout, extending towards me. Or the world. It was all-consuming. And I could swear - my crazed mind could swear - it was moving, and shimmering, glimmering¡­ buzzing, even? I¡¯ve experienced Hiraeth long enough - or should I say, strongly enough? - not to discard myself as a total nutjob. It might just be something here¡­ Let¡¯s keep our mind open. Whilst I drank the rich surroundings of tall white marbles and steps - or layers - of this outrageously beautiful bright bathroom, soft hands caressed and washed, soaking me with the utmost of care, respect and¡­love? Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! This feels awfully odd - I was thinking to myself as my exposed shame got scrubbed by total strangers. Yet it¡¯s somehow familiar, comforting even. These fairy-like girls sang and hummed - melodies and tones I¡¯ve never heard of, language I could not understand. But it was all too magical in this sun-light airy sauna of a bathroom where the tub seemed more like a swimming pool more suited for several people rather than someone like me. Nevertheless, I decided to swallow any protests - or pride - and let it all pan out. The smell of chamomile, honey and¡­amber? It tickled my nose, drowning me in a symphony of comforting sensations. Soaps and body scrubs, a pond full of colourful bubbles and beautiful fairies. This was so far the best that had happened ever since I¡¯ve awakened. Deep breath. ¡°Mieloji vaidulute, vonia baigta, eisime rengtis,¡± - a sweet voice whispered into my ear and the figure on my right gently encouraged to finally get up and climb the stairs out of this massive pit of a bath. Two fairy-like maids wrapped me up in fluffy towels whilst someone gently whisked up my hair. The maid from before was now standing in front of me - a satisfied look in her eyes. She held a bottle of thick liquid - I would presume it was oil or perfume, something for my hair or to moisturise the body. Who knows, maybe both?.. Her face lit with a gentle smile as she approached my squeaky clean self and gently applied the orange-like liquid - it melted onto my dry skin, evaporating an already familiar smell of honey, chamomile and amber. A weird combination, but I liked it. Seconds later I found myself being dressed in the softest of fabrics - a white long gown wrapped around me and silver belts and sachets found place around the waist. There were intricate threads and decorative pieces woven into the white fabrics of my dress - they shimmered in both silver and gold when rays of sunlight caressed their surface. It was the most beautiful tapestry I¡¯ve ever laid my eyes on. ¡°Mieloji vaidilute, mums laikas eiti,¡± - one of the girls at the back said as I felt my hair was somehow dry and beautifully brushed with a small braid capturing loose strands of my hair; tied in the back, falling on top of the waterfall of loose long hair underneath. I knew it in my heart: we were going somewhere. I took a deep breath as August¡¯s face flashed in my memory. ¡°Let us be on our way,¡± I said. *** Lost in my thoughts I could barely notice how I found myself in front of the high krivi. It was half walk and half transportation if I could recall it correctly - too many confusing figures and surroundings, too many twists and turns. However, it was impossible not to notice how high up we were - this place seemed like a tower. If I had to bet, I would say we were at the top of the temple. Beautiful white columns stretched towards the sky where intricate magic weaved stone and crystal, combining a sturdy structure. Yet it was openly exposed to the Void - or the sky. A roof of crystal offered a glimpse of the ethereal tapestry consisting of sun and moon, somewhere far away the stars hid folded in the pockets of these vast skies. Or perhaps the Void was observing anyone - or someone? - inside this unusual space - if it may be even called a room. Something unsettling, something constraining, a sense of heaviness floated in the air. ¡°Welcome to my humble residence, Deidre,¡± August¡¯s voice echoed through the white marbles and unexpectedly hit her being, robbing her of the thoughts within. ¡°This is my crystal prison,¡± - he curled a devilish grin whilst the right eyebrow rose in scrutiny of my new appearance. ¡°Well done, I see you have had a healthy rest.¡± ¡°What do you mean when you say prison?¡± - I gawked at him more eager than I would care to admit. ¡°Great power comes with great responsibility. Both of these things are well-coveted - no matter what realm you reside in,¡± August¡¯s expression turned into a gentle smile. ¡°But at the same time, great power is frowned upon - not because of considerations who should be offered such blessings, but more due to the primal fear of those who are stronger than us¡±. ¡°You occupy an important position in this place, I take it is as well-respected as it is deeply coveted?¡± - my eyes offered August a sense of endearment and consolation. ¡°This certainly serves as proof of ability, yet prestige and honour should not be taken for granted. Everything in this world has a price - be it magic or a rank of power. You shall learn of this soon enough,¡± there was sadness in his tone, but I chose to ignore it. ¡°Essentially, this room - this tower - is my prison,¡± I felt puzzled as August¡¯s laughter echoed dancing its way through the marbled columns and bouncing back from the crystal roof of a sky. ¡°This room is embedded with vast amounts of mana and spellwork, making sure it withstands even the harshest of lightnings and the heaviest of thunders. In and out, that is¡­ This is a beautiful crystal cage for one of the most feared entities in Hiraeth.¡± ¡°Why am I allowed here?¡± my stream of thoughts naturally flowed out into the open. ¡°Because we¡¯re alike,¡± the high krivi tilted his head. This habit of his was something I already got accustomed to. I was starting to find comfort in his oddly familiar body language. ¡°And because you are bound to face this soon enough.¡± *** Our chit-chat ended swiftly as August introduced my humble self to this - as I was told - prison of a tower. We explored generously sunlit rooms and passages, finding our way through the scent of old books filling ancient-like libraries and archive rooms. The high krivi guided me through the portrait room where entire generations of high priests and priestesses smiled from above. ¡°A day shall come where our portraits will be hung on these walls - we shall observe the younger generations in an imposing and threatening manner, emitting some sort of magical power - demanding utter respect and adoration,¡± - his voice was calm, but I could sense a good amount of irony and - is it possible? - self-loathing. ¡°I am sure one day you shall find a sunny place to rest on one of these walls,¡± ¡°We both will,¡± August bounced back faster than I could even begin to argue. ¡°But before that, there¡¯s something we need to do.¡± 10. Nuotrauka I found myself standing by one of the arched windows in the tower library. ¡°Turn left¡­ No, that¡¯s not right, turn to the other side and lift your chin up¡­ Smile, will you?!¡± August commanded me around as I paraded myself following his ridiculous instructions. Surely enough, it¡¯s evident why he¡¯s the High Priest - this was a job for Elijah. Yet August seemed to take great joy in this charade, so I continued to humble myself with little to no information about what was actually happening here. ¡°Crossing the River of Fates reveals the essence of one¡¯s soul,¡± the high krivi explained to me as we were headed to the library moments before this hell was unleashed upon my unsuspecting self. ¡°This means, no matter where you come from or who you might think you are, crossing the stream of Laima will ensure you obtain the appearance of your true self. Purity, and kindheartedness - these will be expressed in soft features and light colours. Maliciousness and deception, or maybe the fierness of a soldier or a warrior will often reveal itself with sharp gazes and features resembling those of the shadows and dark pits of the night.¡± I followed him as I followed his thread of thought. ¡°Can one be entirely one or the other?..¡± ¡°Perhaps. But maybe not?... It would be a deeply confusing matter - what features would such a creature possess if the intent of Hiraeth is to ensure that a clear subliminal message is sent to those around them: this is who and how I am, be aware. You see, this is a place where each being is bound to wear their soul - or as the human world calls it, their heart - on their sleeve. Forcibly. For the sake of justice. For the sake of balance. This is one of the basic rules of the land of Hiraeth.¡± I chewed on this conversation as August paraded me around - shifting and turning, offering different angles of my being and desperately trying not to bear my teeth as this was nothing short of ridiculous. An odd being - or a device? - was floating several meters away from me. It was a big white box - August called it Camera Lucida. Its edges shimmered in silver as it bathed in rich rays of the sun. The thing was floating in the air as a pair of small see-through wings relentlessly beat the airs of this room. It was funny to think it managed to keep that massive thing afloat. The Camera Lucida spun around me, emitting odd giggly sounds and flashing here and there. I could see bright purple gems for eyes and a nose - or was it a mouth? - as deep and as dark as the Void - hungrily gaping at me. ¡°Relax, don¡¯t be so stiff,¡± August scoffed as I fiddled around and dug my fingers into the rich fabrics of the white beautiful threads of my dress. ¡°I appreciate that accepting this unexpected experience - the Void, the Awakening in Hiraeth, this ethereal existence, much less inspecting your surroundings and trying to understand the beings, our behaviours and how we maintain order is overwhelming enough,¡± - the high krivi carefully studied my face as his lips weaved new sentences. If this was his way of small talk - he utterly failed. But I suppose, it kept me distracted enough so I would avert my attention from Camera Lucida to him. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°What I seek right now is to show you how you¡¯re reflected in my eyes. In the eyes of Hiraeth.¡± It¡¯s true - I haven¡¯t seen myself ever since I woke up at the Altar. There was not a single mirror and the river of Fate was too busy, too foamy to decipher my ownn image within its waters. If everything that August told me was true, I must have taken a different appearance. My stomach clenched as I entertained the thought and I felt a warm wave - soothing, endearing even, emitting from somewhere where August stood. ¡°Calm down, there is no need to worry,¡± his voice hypnotised my being. ¡°Your appearance is nothing new, in fact, it is the reflection of your soul. It means the Deidre, no, Lina, you used to see in the mirror was but a mirage bestowed upon you for the purpose of earthly experiences.¡± August opened a lid - there was a lid?! - situated at the top of camera lucida, and fished out a piece of paper. I was sure it would be something resembling a photograph. ¡°This is who you truly are.¡± I looked at the photograph and an odd sense of familiarity washed over me. Yet I could not shake off how disturbing it was - my thoughts ran a marathon per second and this existence, this body¡­ It was a mismatch. I felt like an intruder, an impostor in my own - everyone said it was my own, didn¡¯t they? - skin. A tall slender figure was beaming her emerald green eyes at me. She had long silky platinum hair cascading down her shoulders and it was difficult to tell - was it ashy blond or did it remind of fields and straw, and perhaps nature itself? Gone were the chocolate brown flocks and dark bags beneath her eyes. Gods, at least my eyes are still green. Sort of. ¡°This is not a typical photograph,¡± - I suddenly felt August closer. ¡°I¡¯m glad you come from a highly developed worldly experience - technology does not take you aback, hence you have the capacity to understand - and accept - magic. This,¡± he was pointing at the image on my lap, ¡°is a Nuotrauka¡±. ¡°What does that mean?¡± I have never heard such a word before, yet it somehow resonated, though I could not put my finger on it. ¡°A Nuotrauka is something quite similar to a typical photograph you¡¯re accustomed to. Yet, it¡¯s entirely different¡± - the high krivi smiled. You sure like to get on my nerves - I thought to myself. Does this man ever stop talking in riddles? - at this point, I was glaring at him. ¡°Nuotrauka captures more than just your physical appearance. You see, the magical device performing this sacred art observes its object and seeks to capture its whole being. Drawing with light, but gathering each thread of shadow, sorrow, joy, earthly and ethereal experiences, hidden talents and even thoughts buried deep within¡­¡± he sighed. ¡°Nuotrauka takes in who we are in our entirety, it captures our very essence. No wonder, because that is the meaning of Nuotrauka - to pull a part of one¡¯s self and capture it in the shape of a photograph¡±. ¡°Does this mean I am who I see in this image? And I will remain in this form?¡± I pierced August with an intense stare. ¡°You are who you see. Nuotrauka reflects your essence. But whom am I to say you¡¯re bound to stay this being that you are? Some of us have vast capabilities, Deidre, and Hiraeth offers an abundance of opportunities,¡± 11. The Temple In the days that followed, Deidre found herself exploring the Temple and learning about the Land of Eden. Turns out, all areas of Hiraeth were carefully gerrymandered according to their perimeter, surrounding establishments and the population that resides in each plot of land. Eden was a vast area surrounded by the River of Fates - between the Streams of Laima and Ragana. Everything pertaining to the Temple and the key governance of Hiraeth was located in Eden. One way or another, at least - there seemed to be intricate details that got swallowed during conversations and maps that were squirrelled away from Deidre¡¯s field of vision. She knew there was more to it, yet came to accept that the high krivi would let her in on these secrets whenever she was deemed worthy. Deidre succumbed to the busy schedule enforced upon her. Enforced, because no one cared to discuss if she felt fit - or ready, for that matter - enough to dive into the intricacies of Hiraeth, studying the laws of Heavens, and the Underworld and deciphering the differences between all sorts of (un)godly creatures. Alchemy, Conjuring, Heavenly Laws, Summoning - those were just a few of the courses the young woman found herself immersed in. Despite realising the flow of time, Deidre was unable to grasp how long had it been since she¡¯d arrived at Hiraeth. And despite all the perceived freedoms and luxuries, she was very much bound - existence spent in countless libraries at the Tower as well as the main building, study rooms, archive dungeons and memorial hallways. Not to mention portrait rooms containing masses and masses of Nuotraukas - August told her there would be a day when her own would find a place on one of those walls. Isolation and lack of earthly pleasures - no binge-watching Netflix, no Webtoon scrolling, definitely no Instagram and even the BBC was out of reach - led to dedicated studies. Deidre was a sponge thirsty to soak in any knowledge and experience available - no matter how saturated she felt in the evening, the morning sun would dry it away and she needed more. I know nothing of this place yet, I need to study more, I need to have a deeper understanding so that I would have a fair shot of making it alive - if that¡¯s what I am even - she thought. Ocean blue eyes closely observed her efforts, scoffing at Deidre¡¯s frustrations when things didn¡¯t go the way she planned. Wielding magic turned out to be more difficult than she read in the countless fantasy books whilst living as Lina - burned eyebrows, water turned acid, objects randomly exploding in front of her face and tutors hanging heads-down from the ceiling when the next levitation spell didn¡¯t quite go as planned. Heavenly laws and the history of humans and magical creatures turned out to be the safest disciplines. August anticipated that much - Deidre¡¯s life on earth entailed gobbling up documents, soaking in information, making connections, analysing strengths and weaknesses of her company as well as benchmarking the goods and services available in the market. She had the brain, she only needed to tap into her magic. On the other hand, Elijah was frustrated. He didn¡¯t support this isolation - the Commander openly barked out his opinions of August and the Temple¡¯s regulations. It was his belief that Deidre should have all the help and support, forging emotional connections to guide her through this adaptation and learning process. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Yet there was nothing the Commander could do - the high krivi is undoubtedly the patriarch of the temple, as well as the whole of Hiraeth. August¡¯s word is law. And so she was - isolated and alone, following the will of the high priest - studying for something she did not understand yet. It might have helped to adapt to Hiraeth - a better comprehension of the ways of living surely guided her and started to make sense. Yet still, she was lost. In fact, more lost than ever - there was no clear goal and the young woman started doubting the meaning behind it all. Deidre waltzed the airy corridors of the Temple, observing the tall Oak trees shooting up to the sky. No matter how many days had gone by, it never stopped mesmerising her - these trees served as columns enforcing the structure of this heavenly building. Her studies revealed that the Oak tree symbolised the God of Thunder and since it was the supreme deity in this otherworldly pantheon, it only made sense to embed Oak into a glorious structure such as the Temple. That being said, her still earthly-bound brain gaped at the sight of strong, healthy trees willingly - she knew they were very much alive - incorporating into the Temple, seeking to shield and protect, as well as to channel energies. Deidre was far from proficient in her studies, but many things came together and she felt how the Universe, maybe the Void even, started to make sense. The same way these glorious Oak trees did. It was difficult to say how big or how tall exactly the Temple was. Deidre had not been given the privilege to access all floors or enter each corridor at will, yet she believed that some of the structure was magicked according to will, need or some kind of Hiraethean law. She could swear the corridor she¡¯s walking down had blue marble flooring, yet it was very much white today. And she knows it was the left turn that she took after passing the main hall. No doubt it was the same as yesterday or the day before, but why is the flooring different? Many things didn¡¯t quite make sense, yet they did. As she explored the Temple and this new world unravelling in front of her eyes, she practised channelling her negative thoughts, biases and insecurities and conjuring them into something new - positive, at least. Her body - or whatever this jar containing her being was - had been taken good care of here in Hiraeth. Deidre had a little army of blue-dressed maids, always there to support her needs and wash her with love, affection and the finest of essence oils, of course. All jokes aside, she felt how much care and consideration the Temple offered her. Yet physical comfort does not necessarily translate into psychological well-being. She knew that all too well - Lina¡¯s life, Deidre¡¯s earthly experience, taught her to appreciate comfort, yet seek beyond it. Sure, all things being even, it¡¯s a happier life when your tummy is full and the bed is fluffy and warm, yet one might feel entirely content even if there is a hole gaping at them from their stockings. She scoffed at the thought - how funny it seemed to her - as the corridor came to an end and a tall arched door came into vision. I knew it was a different corridor! - Deidre¡¯s victory glimmered in her eyes, yet the hand was reluctant to push the door handle. I¡¯m not sure I know where I am, or if I¡¯m even allowed to be here - she thought to herself as the door suddenly opened as if it read her worries and had a mind of its own. ¡°Come in, don¡¯t be shy,¡± a woman¡¯s voice spilt into the corridor and echoed through the white - not blue! - marble floors. ¡°I¡¯ve been dying to meet you.¡± 12. Audra Three figures sat under the crystal roofs at the top of the tower. August leisurely swirled the ice cubes - or rather the amber liquid in his short round glass. Elijah seemed visibly annoyed, choking one glass after another whilst shooting murderous glares between the High Priest and the Void. ¡°Tone it down, will you?¡± August spat through clenched teeth. ¡°It¡¯s not as if you¡¯re the only one here who¡¯s concerned about her wellbeing.¡± ¡°Concerned?¡± red eyes were blazing. ¡°That¡¯s one strong understatement. Who knows what that lunatic will do to her?¡± ¡°Now now, we all ought to calm down,¡± Alaric slithered his way into the tension. His mismatched eyes shimmered in cold silver and deep violet, bringing out the rich purple tones of the magicians'' mantle. Short dark brown hair contrasted with pale skin and his tall fragile figure moved across the room with impeccable grace and elegance. A gorgeous walking contrast he was, so brittle, so innocent looking. But Alaric might just be the deadliest being in the High Priest¡¯s quarters right now. Immediate and merciless, the Silverthread was known to be a ruthless magician and advisor to the Temple. No doubt, all beings gathered here today were one of a kind. ¡°I should have gone with her,¡± remorse washed over Elijah as another mouthful of mead poured waterfalls down his throat. ¡°One of us should have been there for her.¡± August scoffed. He sat back and made himself more comfortable - if that was even possible - in the deep blue chaise longue. ¡°Deidre¡¯s a big girl. You both know what I mean. She¡¯s not to be trifled with, have some more faith.¡± ¡°Oh, no doubt, we have faith in Deidre. What we do lack, however, is a good track record for the wench she¡¯s meeting with.¡± Over the centuries, Alaric seemed to have acquired peculiar tastes. ¡°I¡¯m glad at least one of us finds this entertaining,¡± Elijah mumbled as another glass of mead found itself to his lips. ¡°Well, would you say it¡¯s not?¡± the High Priest raised an eyebrow as a malicious smile stretched through his handsome pale face. ¡°I¡¯m plenty entertained!¡± ¡°You might just be more sick than he is,¡± Elijah pointed his head towards Alaric as swearwords cascaded from his mouth. ¡°I¡¯d say it comes with age, dear friend. And as someone civilisations and millennia behind, I believe you have not yet had the brilliant opportunity of abandoning the path of chivalry and virtue.¡± August grinned. ¡°But fear not, it shall come. It always does.¡± ¡°And we¡¯ll be here to support you - front row audience and applause when appropriate!¡± a pat landed on Elijah¡¯s back as Alaric brushed behind him, rummaging through the snack table and desperately looking for sweets. ¡°Well, that would no doubt come as one humbling experience, one I shall do my best to avoid,¡± Elijah snatched a pack of dark chocolate from unsuspecting hands. It was accompanied by a purpled-silver glare. ¡°I¡¯m sure Deidre¡¯s having one right now,¡± August interrupted. But a smirk was finding its way onto his face. ¡°But who knows, Audra - and all of us - might just be in for a surprise. No, I¡¯m sure of it.¡± Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°The bastard¡¯s smiling,¡± Alaric¡¯s teasing met no resistance. ¡°Our girl will do just fine,¡± the High Priest concluded. The sound of mead pouring and men making distasteful remarks about females in the Temple¡¯s premises echoed throughout the High Priest¡¯s quarters. The Void soaked in the alcohol-dampened chatter as well as their selfish and heartfelt concerns. It observed them for a half second and decided to shift its hungry black-hole eyes to something more delicious, a delicatessen of sorts. *** ¡°Come in, don¡¯t be shy! I¡¯ve been dying to meet you!¡± a velvet for a voice spilt throughout the airy corridors and echoed as it fell on the white marbled floors. I pushed the heavy arched doors as a pair of gorgeous purple eyes pierced into what seemed the depths of my inner being. Her strong features were framed by gorgeous silver-grey hair, cascading in luscious big curls and covering the shoulders, falling as waterfalls over her full breasts and reaching towards the abdomen. She might have been shorter than I was, after all, there was quite a distance between her and me, and I could not tell. But the creature in front owned this room. She owned me. And sure as hell seemed to own the whole damn Temple. If not Hiraeth, for that matter. ¡°You may call me Audra,¡± deep purple eyes narrowed as they peered into me. Full lips curled into a cheeky grin. As if mocking, or maybe just playful - the so deeply lost me could not tell. ¡°You may talk, you know?¡± Audra tilted her head and the beautiful waterfalls of hair cascaded down the shoulder. She was a force of nature, I could tell. A strong creature. But above all, she was a gorgeous woman. ¡°I¡¯m Deidre,¡± I wiggled myself towards the centre of the room. ¡°Apologies for disturbing you. I swear I took the left turn as I always do when heading back to my chambers. But you see, today the marble flooring was white. And it¡¯s usually blue.¡± I felt overpowered. This encounter didn¡¯t quite make sense and I wasn¡¯t sure I could hold her piercing gaze, so I stared at the mahogany flooring instead. The room seemed similar to mine - it felt similar, yet somehow I could tell it was not. ¡°It¡¯s about time we met, little girl,¡± the mockery in her voice was real. ¡°Like everyone else, I¡¯ve been dying to meet you.¡± Something hit a nerve. I was in an unknown room with this condescending figure, openly seeking to entertain herself at my expense. As if finding myself in Hiraeth was not challenging enough. As if the gruesome scolding and lessons did not serve me well. Heck, I¡¯ve even died once!.. For all I know, might not have been just once - August sometimes acts as if he had known me for a lifetime¡­or two?.. So this being - this - is not something I¡¯m willing to deal with. I might be in her room. And I might have just walked here myself. But sure as hell I can show myself out too!.. I¡¯m not taking it. ¡°You don¡¯t seem much older than me,¡± I was burning holes into her face. ¡°For all I know, and do kindly correct me if I¡¯m wrong, after crossing the River of Fates we all succumb to our true nature. How we look, how Hiraeth reflects our appearance, is in accordance to our being, What and how we are.¡± I continued rambling and each word was a breath of confidence as my eyes sent daggers to this arrogant creature. She did not blink, not that I expected it, but that didn¡¯t stop me. ¡°You don¡¯t look that much different from me.¡± I¡¯ve done it. Don¡¯t know how, but I could tell. It was instantaneous. The room went white.