Chapter 2
It was different here. Instead of a thick foliage that seemed to be packed together, one on top the other, there were giant-sized trees all around us that went up further than my eyes could see. Huts of different sizes and shapes were built on these enormous tree trunks. As I looked closely, I was amazed to realized those huts grew out from the trunks themselves as if the huts were apart of the trees.
Von led me to a group gathered around an unlit fire pit. The leader, who had been with us in the forest before was there. To his left were four old men and one old woman. They looked to be in their late sixties. Beside the old woman was a much older man who looked to be in his late nineties. To his left was a woman who was around my age, in her twenties. Their features and dress were similar to the group that I had seen before. The woman who was my age walked over to Von and stood beside him. Without a word or a gesture, I could tell they knew each other very well. The eldest of the group slowly walked forward and raised his hand. A small tingle sensation passed through my body.
“I have bound us to make sure that no words spoken here today will be uttered outside of this circle. If one should speak of this meeting to anyone, the rest of us will know and punishment will be set upon that person who breaks the bind,” he recited before turning to me and smiled. “Come Cassiea, you must have a lot of questions for us. I hope we will be able to answer them all. But first, let me introduce you to us. Beside me are the elders,” he gestured to the five people to his right, “Bortish Asi of the AulTar clan, Grinfir Tia of the MiuLoc clan, Huszic Rin of the KinMin clan, Balkar Sei of the MilTork clan and Molera Cyr of the TolLic clan. To my left is Shuron Letar who is the appointed leader of the clan AulTar and also an apprentice to Zoryar Letar, the Lord of the Elvain.” He then gestured to the woman next to Von. “This is Mirra Kyre my apprentice. You have already met Von Arey. And I am called Loquis Tilet the Visor. Please let us sit and we will get started.”
They all moved at once and sat circling the fire pit. They were quiet waiting for me to speak. It was disconcerting to have all eyes on me, silently waiting for me to say something. Though I had a lot of questions, I found myself muted and anchored on the spot were I stood. I became uncomfortable and self-conscious. I was never good at being in the spotlight and tended to freeze, both body and mind, like a deer caught in the headlight. Von seemed to notice and understood my hesitation. He walked over to me and held my hand, sending a small sensation of calmness and assurance through me. I smiled at him, grateful for the little jolt of courage.
When he sat back down, I cleared my throat and asked, “How do you know who I am and that I would be here?”
“We have been expecting you for a very long time now. Though we did not know when you would appear to us,” Grinfir said.
“It was not until Loquis had his vision that we knew you would be arriving here at this place,” Huszic said. “That is why we are camped here.”
I was getting more confused by the minute. “I still don't understand.”
“Please, allow me to start from the beginning and maybe then you will understand.” Loquis said. “Many centuries ago lived a very powerful witch name Keya Terie. Most of her power came from using blood magic. She killed magical beings to posses their magic and used it to make herself stronger. The more she tainted herself with the blood of others, the more erratic her mind became. You see, anyone who works with blood magic starts to crave for more of its power. It is an addictive drug. The power is ten times stronger than any magic anyone can posses but it also fades quickly and leaves the person craving for more.
“We, along with several of our allies, went to stop her. She had become too powerful for us to destroy, but when I was able to transfer her magic into a crystal, leaving her defenseless, I was able to kill her. Since her magic was saturated with the blood of others, we were unable to destroy it. We were entrusted guard it against anyone who tries to take it and use it for their own purpose.
“A few years after Keya's death, we learned that her sister, Nara, wanted revenge for her death and her magic. To prevent it from happening, Mirtiek cast a spell on the crystal. The spell only allow the rightful owner of this magic, the master, to take it from which it resides. If others lay claim to it, the crystal will disappear and hidden in a place where magic is unknown. It will only reappear when the master, the person who is able to control it, is born once again. As you can conclude, when Nara tried to take it, it disappeared. We believed the crystal was sent to your world and for many centuries, we have been sending our scouts to find it, but was never successful. Even Nara failed to find the crystal. It was not until I had my vision, that I knew the crystal and its master will soon be reunited. And when the time was right, both the master and the crystal will find us if we waited here. You, Cassiea, is that person we have been waiting for. You are its master.”
Well, I thought, weren't they going to be disappointed when I told them that the troll had it last. “I'm sorry to say but it was the troll—the one who got killed—that you are looking for. He had the crystal. I know this because I gave it back to him when he dropped it in the park. He is the one you want.”
Loquis looked at me in amusement. “But, you have it in your hand.”
I looked down and was shocked to see that I was holding on to it the whole time. “How is this possible? I remember him taking it from me.”
“Are you sure that he had it last?”
“Yes, I'm positive. He took it from me and made a hole or a door way and we both stepped in.”
“Hmm...with your help, I have a theory I like to test out.” He took a box that was on the floor next to him. “Please, place the necklace into this box.”
I did as he asked.
“Now Cassiea, I want you to think of the necklace. Call to it as if you want to use it or wear it around your neck.”
I hesitated at first. His request was a bit strange but I figured it wouldn't hurt to humor him. Closing my eyes, I thought of the necklace and then all of a sudden I felt something heavy in my hand. I looked down and there it was. I lifted my head staring at him in amazement and confusion. They all looked at each other and nodded as if this was what they had suspected.
“We must take her to a safe place. Nara will be looking for her,” Bortish said.
“Yes, we must move quickly before it is too late,” Molera said.
“Calm yourselves. Lets not scare the girl. We still have time.” Loquis said to them before turning his attention back to me. “You must be wondering why it came back to you?”
I nodded. I was definitely interested in hearing his explanation. I suspected, after my initial shock wore off, that someone must have placed it in my hand when my eyes were closed.
“The reason why it answered to your call is because you, Cassiea, are the reincarnation of Keya. The magic in that crystal knows its master. You are the only one who can control it.”
“But, isn't this,” I said as I held out the necklace, “the reason she became evil and crazy? If I hold on to this or even use it wouldn't I become evil too?”
“No. Magic is neither evil nor good. In the simplest terms, it is a form of power that we use to mimic or change the area around us to some extent. What you have in the crystal is all the magic that Keya has collected from other magical beings during her life time. And he only way to take someone’s magic from them without their consent, is by using blood magic; through the blood and pain she inflected on her prey. It is the use of this type of magic that changed her not the magic itself. It is the killing of life that damages the soul and the mind, turning her evil. Because of how Keya acquired this magic and the way she used it to do evil things, it is imprinted with her malevolent actions. And so, if anyone who possesses and use this magic, in a short period of their life, the crystal will take hold of them and make them do terrible things. They will turn evil like her. Only you, who is the sole owner of this magic, is able to control it and change it. Because you, like Keya, is its master and can command it to do your b
idding. You can change the imprint it has to good.”
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Someone must be playing a practical joke on me or maybe this was all a dream and I was still lying in the park unconscious from being knocked to the ground by that troll. Regardless of how I came to be here, I had to leave. I needed to get back to my uncle.
“Well, thank you all for saving me. You've created quite a story. I would like to stay here and chat some more but I got to go.”
“I told you Loquis that these humans never believe in anything,” Balkar said.
“Be patient, Balkar. We have only ourselves to blame for this, or have you forgotten that over the centuries we have been collecting books, artifacts, and even lifeforms that have some magical presence in order for their existence may not be discovered by Cassiea's people.” He turned to me and said, “I know it is hard to believe our words but we are telling you the truth.”
“I'm sorry, but magic doesn't exist. And I know that you've made up that whole story about Keya. You can't possibly still be alive if it all took place centuries ago. I am not sure how I got here,” I said, meaning the whole stepping into the forest from the park, then to their campsite. “But there must be some scientific explanation for it. Could someone please tell me how I can get back to the park?”
“It is not safe for you to go back now that Nara knows of you. She will try to capture you in order to get the magic in the crystal,” Huszic said.
“I can take care of myself. If this crystal is so important, you can take it back.” I held it out to them to take. “You can protect it like you did before.”
“It will not be possible now,” Loquis said.
“Why not?”
“Because, the crystal will go only to where its master is.”
“You make it sound like it's a living thing.”
“It is alive, but not in the way you are thinking. This magic was part of Keya and it would gravitate towards her. Just as it would act out its purpose of what the owner was using it for and Keya was using her magic for evil. You are the reincarnation of Keya. This magic will gravitate towards you and will listen to you.”
“Okay, then it doesn't matter if anyone takes it, they won't have it for a vary long time since it will come back to me.”
“That is true so long as the master lives.”
I stepped back. That didn't sound so good—kind of disturbing. “So, if anyone who wants to keep this magic, all they have to do is kill me?”
“Yes, I am afraid so.”
“Well, what about the spell that was cast on it? Wouldn't it disappear if anyone tries to take it even though I'm died?”
“A spell can only last as long as the caster bids it to or until their death. Unfortunately, Mirtiek was killed when Nara discovered he had placed the spell on the crystal.”
I should be a little scared, hearing them talk about someone killing me, but strangely enough, I wasn't. They didn't look threatening. They and everything else looked like a huge production, a prank. Everyone was playing a part and I was the joke. I don't know why they would go through all this trouble, but I was done humoring them. I placed the necklace near the edge of the fire pit. As interesting as this was, I wasn't going to fall for any of their make believe. “Well this has been fun, but I really have to go. My uncle will be worried about me if I don't come home.”
“Do not worry about your uncle. He is still at the hospital. Please do not be alarmed,” Loquis quickly assured me when he saw that I was ready to bolt. “He is fine. They wanted him to stay over night for observation. He will be home by noon tomorrow.”
“How do you know that?” I said. I was upset and a bit frightened that they knew about my Uncle. “Have you been spying on me?”
“Upon our learning of your existence, we have been watching over you until it was time for you to know of us. We were all aware of your uncle is in the hospital and placed a scout there to guard him when you came to us. We were afraid that Nara will use him to get to you.”
Wow. They were good. Scary, but good. “Well, thank you. But, you didn't need to go through all that trouble. I should go and see him before visiting hours are over,” I said as I moved to leave.
“Cassiea please wait.” Von came forward and stood next to me. “Stay. Please.”
I was about to reply when Mirra stepped next to him and placed a hand on his arm. “Von if she chooses to leave, let her. We can place several scouts to guard her.”
“She will be safer here,” he replied back. “There are more of us here to guard her,” he emphasized before turning back to me. “Please, believe us. Everything you have just heard is true. It is important for you to stay with us. Your life is in danger. You must be protected until the magic within this crystal is absorbed within you.”
“What do you mean, 'absorbed'?”
“The crystal is only a temporary vessel. If a person holds onto it long enough, the magic within it will slowly be absorbed into them. Right now you are vulnerable, not just from Nara but from anyone who wants this magic.”
“Okay, I think enough is enough. I don't want to play this game. I'm not going to believe in anything you say. Now, please, can someone take me back to the park.”
“Believe us or not Cassiea, it will not stop others from killing you or your loved ones to take the magic in the crystal.”
“Von, do not frighten her,” Shuron stepped in to say before looking my way. “Cassiea, although Von's words are true, there is no need for you to worry. We will not let anything happen to you or your uncle.”
“I am sorry, but you all can't possibly think that I would believe in all of this. Do you know how crazy all of this sounds? I am not the reincarnation of Keya. There is no magic or magic powers that is stored in a crystal. I'm not the master to this crystal magic thing. I am just an ordinary person who would like to go home.”
“You can believe us or not, but if you leave now you will not only put yourself in danger, but your uncle as well. Do you really want to take that chance?” Von asked.
I looked at him and then at the others. If all this was true than I definitely needed their help. But, how could any of this be possible? There was no such thing as magic. How could I believe in something that I know does not exist? This had to be a big practical joke. My train of thought was interrupted when Von took both of my hands.
“Please, trust in me, Cassiea. I do not want anything to happen to you.”
I stared up at him, those cobalt-blue eyes, so mesmerizing, and in that instant I knew I could trust him, that everything they said was true and that he would protect me. I felt like I was where I was supposed to be.
Without hesitation, I nodded. “Okay, I will stay, but only for tonight. I need to be home when my uncle gets out of the hospital.”
The elders wanted to protest but Loquis held out his hand. “Then it is settled. I hope once you get to know us better, you will believe what was said here is the truth. In the mean time, Von will show you where you will be staying.”