‘Oh! and Earth has changed since the last time you were there!’ Enjoy the ride!’ she wished me happily. With that, we bade each other farewell and she gave me a tight hug and she wished me a safe journey.
With a blink of an eye, Dea had transported me to the place I had passed on. When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw lush green fields. The spot where Agrona had burned my body into ashes was nowhere to be seen, ‘hidden by the shrubs. It’s been too long’ I thought to myself. What was once dense forest opening were now fields used for agricultural purposes. ‘Ok, when Dea said ‘changed’, I expected something more than this. But, let’s see’ I said to myself.
I then looked at myself and found myself naked. Dea didn’t say anything about my clothes. I looked up to the sky and shouted, ‘Dea!!! You could have clothed me! I remember dying with my clothes on!’ I shouted at the sky as I stood up, only to crouch down as I realize I didn’t have any clothes on. I could hear laughter from the skies and a Dea saying, ‘Aidan, men don’t wear tunic and cloaks in the twenty-first century!’
St Just, Cornwall County, 2013
‘Very funny, Dea!’ I shouted back to the sky as I then envisioned myself in black jeans and casual short sleeved black shirt. I leave the first two buttons unbuttoned, careful not to reveal my pale golden skin. I continued making my journey on foot to Cornwall, a village which was once known as Kernow, in my time. As I make my way to Cornwall, cars were zooming past me at breakneck speed, while there were some vintage cars which moved at the pace of a tortoise. Some drivers offered me a ride to my destination, mostly female drivers, some old, some young and some out to have fun with me. I declined all of them as I continued walking. I arrive in Truro, just before sunset, the capital of Cornwall County and find that it’s pace was hectic. I was turned off by its geographic location, which was a city, with very little fields or open lands, something which I had grown accustomed to. That night, after a dinner at a local diner and then I found a bench and slept on it for the night.
The next morning, I then make my way to St Just. St Just was non-existent during my times as a mortal Aidan Connor. As I walked towards St Just, I walk into open lands and picture postcards beautiful landscape, which reminded me of my time in the Realm of the Gods. What I loved about St Just was the fact that it was surrounded by parklands and lush greenery everywhere, which reminded me of my growing up days when I used to gather firewood for our home. St Just had a smaller population and the city had a much slower pace than Truro. After exploring St Just, I felt that it was the place for me. I made my way to Cape Cornwall, hoping to find an establishment to my liking. As the days passed, I conjured valid currency which I used and the balance I would invest in stocks and shares. I used my ability to foretell the future and built a considerable amount of cash as I invested in some stocks, which were profitable. Thus, I had managed to lead an easy life with no financial worries. I was contemplating buying a car, but I was also happier walking. I had read about road rules and had learnt driving through reading, but I felt like driving hands on. But, first, I needed to get a place to stay.
As I spent more time in St Just, I began to fall in love with the place. St Just-in-Penwith was a town with Cornish character. It also had the largest concentration of ancient sites on the British Isles. Other than playing in stocks and shares, my days were spent in obtaining a place to stay. I walked on and on until I reached St Helen’s Oratory on Cape Cornwall. Cape Cornwall was a hump-back headland jutting out into the sea which divided the Celtic Sea and the English Channel. As I sat near the St Helen’s Oratory, I heard a male voice, ‘Welcome Taran!’ I looked around and saw no one there. ‘Thank you. Who is there?’ I asked, while looking out into the ocean but not seeing anyone or anything.
‘I am Poseidon, God of the Sea. My brothers are Zeus and Hades. Dea had informed me of your arrival’ the voice continued. Just then, a figure holding a riding a chariot of horses holding a trident in his right hand appears before me. I say a hymn to Poseidon and end it with ‘I make peace Poseidon’. He was as commanding as he was in the pictures I had seen of him.
‘I make peace Taran. Call my name and make your bidding and my waters shall arise to assist you whenever in need’ Poseidon continued further. With that, he then vanishes into the sea.
After walking about a mile from the Cape, I come across the Cape Cornwall School. Out of curiosity, I entered the school and was greeted by the headmistress. I was told that this school was the smallest secondary school in Cornwall with four hundred and fifty students. This school specialized in art, photography and music. I was taken around the premises and asked if I had any children who I would like to enroll. The headmistress was disappointed when I told her that I was considering about future enrolments. After watching the students in their artwork and watching them with their musical instruments, I make my way out of the school and continue exploring the lands. After taking in the beauty at St Helen’s, I slowly made my way to the forests nearby. I had never entered the forests and I missed the smell of the wet ground, the trees in all their mighty forms greeting me as if they knew I was coming, the dew on the grass swayed as if welcoming me back home. I had walked further into the thick dense forest. There were no other mortals around me. ‘I have come far, but this place feels like home’ I thought to myself as I sat on a rock, contemplating and enjoying the scenery which I had grew up with, as a child.
I then made my way to a lake. The lake had crystal clear waters. I splashed some water on my face and as I turned around, I saw a white mist appeared between the trees and coming out from the mist, a lady in white holding a cetra appeared. She looked radiantly beautiful with a slim slender figure and a sweet melodious voice.
‘Welcome Taran!’ the sweet female said. I looked ahead and said, ‘Thank you but who are you?’ I asked.
‘I am Erecura, the Earth Goddess of Cornwall. Dea had informed of your arrival. I make peace and will provide assistance when you so require. Call my name and your bidding will be fulfilled’ ‘I make peace Erecura’ I say in a grateful tone.
Erecura then disappeared into a cloud of mist and I was left alone to absorb the peace and serenity that surrounded me in the woods. After having rested, I made my way into what was a small village on the outskirts of St Just. There, I met a little boy sitting and crying on the rock. I approached the boy and asked, ‘what is your name and why are you crying?’
The boy looked up at me, wiping his tears and said, ‘I’m Michael and I’m not crying’
‘Ok, if those are not tears, what are they?’ I asked Michael curiously. ‘I’m making rain as we have not had any rain these past few months and our crops are dying. If there is no rain, our crops can’t grow and if our crops can’t grow, we can’t sell them at the Farmer’s Market’ Michael tells me as he continues wiping tears from his cheeks.
I felt a sense of empathy as Michael continued crying and wiping the tears from his cheeks at the same time. I could see this boy had suffered as it was obvious he hadn’t eaten for days, as I read his thoughts. Michael’s only meal had been bread and mushroom soup. ‘Where do you live? I’ll take you home and I’m sure by the time we reach home, it will rain and your crops will blossom and your parents will be able to sell at the Farmer’s Market this week’ I said with a knowing smile as I wiped tears from his right cheek. I took his right hand and we walked to his home, located just outside St Just.
As we continued talking and walking to Michael’s home, I looked up to the skies occasionally with visions as the clouds began to converge and darken. Michael was amazed too, at the drastic change in weather. Michael was talking about how much he missed school. I learnt that he was a student of Cape Cornwall School and Michael was interested in photography and wanted to be a National Geographic photographer when he grew up. It was sweltering hot when we met and now there was a drizzle. Michael had occasionally looked up to the skies and noticed the change in weather. He was surprised but didn’t say a word. When we reached Michael’s home, I was greeted by Mic
hael’s parents who were running, singing and dancing joyfully outside their home, in the rain. The much awaited rain had come. I could see some of the villagers holding out their hands in disbelief, raindrops fell over the village, giving life to the almost barren farmlands. I visualized heavier clouds over the farmlands. I could see dew falling on the leaves while the leaves drank it in, every drop, gave the crops a little life. We reached Michael’s home as the rain subsided. Michael was beside me, all soaked from the rain, hugged and kissed his parents.
Embarrassingly, Michael’s parents looked at me and Michael who was now smiling and jumping for joy said, ‘Mum, dad, I met this uncle just now and he said it would rain by the time we reached home and it did!! Thank you so much Uncle Rain!!’ I introduced myself as Aidan Connor but Uncle Rain was the name Michael remembered by. I smiled and we exchanged pleasantries. As they were all wet, Mr and Mrs Carter, Michael’s parents excused themselves to freshen up. I was taken in by the fact that this poor family had welcomed me with open arms into their home and offered me whatever little they had, a hot mug of tea, cakes, apple pie, scones and some sweet and savory pasties. I ate what was offered to me heartily. We then spoke about the crops. They told me that with the rain, they would have crops to sell, not this week but sometime next week. I was relieved that I could help a village. Rain had meant so much to them and their livelihood. All this while, as a mortal, I was destroying villages, but as a God, I helped a village in what little way I knew. I felt a sense of peace and happiness. I also spoke of my intention for a permanent place to stay and was told to look out for Boswedden House Bed and Breakfast. As it was getting late, I made my exit bidding this family well with a special message to Michael, ‘If you ever need rain, just call your Uncle Rain’, I said with the widest grin.
I soon made my way to Boswedden House Bed and Breakfast Bed and Breakfast was just at the outskirts of St Just. I immediately fell in love with. Boswedden House Bed and Breakfast was a beautiful Georgian house just a few minutes’ walk from the town of St Just and walking distance to Cape Cornwall. It was an eight bedroom house which could easily accommodate sixteen people at any one time. What I loved about this place was, other than the large garden, was the heated indoor swimming pool. The Boswedden House Bed and Breakfast had several ocean view rooms while other rooms faced the moors. The Inn owner lived with his wife, Mr. & Mrs. Smith. They were a happy couple and although they didn’t have kids, they filled their time by doing charity work for various organizations around St. Just. As I told them of my intention to be a long-term guest, they were delighted at that idea and I was soon shown to my room. I choose an ocean view room. I was told by Mr. Smith that the house was built at the beginning of the nineteenth-century. It was just a walking distance to the South West Coast path and also Priests’ Cove. Their Inn had an old world charm and intimacy to it with its brick walls giving it warmth. The interior design of the tavern had been fit with oak furniture with a fireplace in the centre of the hall. The dining area was rather small but complete with cedar wood furnishings. I made an agreement with the owners to be a long-term guest with all facilities provided. This was a close I could get to feeling at home. I felt that the house was sufficiently equipped with modern facilities, yet retaining its traditional charm. Just as soon as I had secured the place, mother came to visit me in my room as I stared out to the ocean, admiring the view. I was delighted. ‘What do you think, mother?’ I asked, hoping that she would like my residence.
‘I like this place Aidan, it’s so warm. I love it! How have you been, my son?’ mother told me as we hugged each other tightly. ‘I’m good, how is Father?’ I asked.
‘Father is good, still awaiting reincarnation’ Mother answered. ‘So, what have you been up to these days?’ Mother continued to which I replied ‘I have been exploring the place. I haven’t been to London yet and hope to make a trip there tomorrow; just now sure whether to fly in an aircraft or mysteriously appear there. I’ve met Poseidon and Erecura and also Michael’ and proceed to tell Mother the story of how I became Uncle Rain. Mother was glad, ‘you must introduce me to Michael and his family’ to which I replied, ‘sure will, we’ll make a trip to the Farmer’s Market this weekend, they should be there’. We continued talking, laughing and updating on new events that had happened on the Realm of the Gods. I had gathered that Dea, Agrona and Mars missed me. I felt a sense of sadness overcome me, as although I had made new friends here on Earth, they were the first three people I had come in contact with and assisted me to who I was today. The rumor of demons overthrowing the gods to take possession remains a rumor. I then asked mother, ‘will you stay with me, now that I have a place of my own?’
‘No, Aidan, it’s your place but not one you can call your own. You have it on lease from the owners. Your time will come and you will obtain a place of your own. Until then, I’ll continue visiting you’ she said as she kissed me on my cheeks and disappeared into a cloud of white mist.
London
As planned, I decided to experience flying in an aircraft and took the next flight out of Cornwall and headed to London the next day. It was the most nerve wrecking journey I had ever taken. Due to sudden turbulence, the aircraft fell a few feet below and on arrival in London, the pilot made a missed approach, which frustrated me, even further. I decided that I would use my God abilities to transport myself until I was familiar with the transportation man had invented. ‘Why couldn’t man have just stick to horses?!’ I thought to myself as the aircraft finally touched the tarmac at Stansted Airport. I was gripping in my seat until the aircraft came to a halt and the stewardess came to me and said, ‘mister, all passengers have alighted from the aircraft. Please proceed to the departure gate’ she said with a smile as I rose, took my luggage from the baggage compartment and walked out. ‘Even as God, I have never prayed so much in my life!’ I continued thinking to myself.
Londonium, as I knew it back then had changed tremendously. It was unrecognizable. Previously, it had a population of sixty thousand people but today, it was bustling metropolitan city with a population of fifteen million people. As I walked the streets of this vast city, I felt suffocated, the air was polluted and there were cars and the famous black cab and red double deck buses passing through. I had read and read about the London Underground. I had explored the first section of the underground, from Paddington to Farrington. The London of today boasts of a multicultural society with more than three hundred languages being spoken, from Cockney English to multicultural London English. The people all wore black overcoats with huge black umbrellas. The already gloomy weather didn’t make things any brighter. The medieval city which I knew was now known as “the City”. I make my way to the small sections of the Roman walls which remained till today. I touched the wall and immediately I am overwhelmed with images of the Romans who built these walls, they were strong men who toiled day and night with minimum rest.
After absorbing London, hunger pangs set in and I look for an eatery. I read towards Amaya. I had read so much about Indian cuisine that I wanted to try it out. As I headed towards Halkin Arcade, the aroma of spiced masala wafted through my nostrils. ‘This curry thing sure smells good’ I thought to myself. As I entered, the restaurant had a modern swish to it. It had an open kitchen concept, gorgeous terracotta statues, its dark wooden fittings and glimmering chandeliers gave it a warm and cozy feel. After ordering dori kebabs, seared tandoori broccoli and chicken briyani with mango lassi. While waiting for the food to arrive, I get a whiff of lavender hits my nostrils. The scent was enticing and every bit attractive. I ignore the scent as my food arrived. I tucked in heartily, enjoying the food to its last morsel. After complimenting the chef and staff for their excellent service, I decide to walk out and explore the place. While exploring, the lavender scent hits me again but this time, in my visions, I see a woman with a ghost friend surrounded by four acrid smelling demons disguised as men. The woman was scared, as her ghost friend, expressed fear, but what intrigued me about her was the fact that
I could not read her mind. I had to see this woman for myself and save her and her friend from those demons.
‘I think we should be getting away from here, these guys don’t look friendly’, the ghost friend said as he whispered into the woman’s ear.
‘We can kill the ghost friend but this mortal woman, she is too much. Her scent! It’s amazing, I could eat her now’ one of them said. I envisioned them in their full demon form at the alley nearby and they are lower level demons, the one Dea had told me about. I wasn’t the only one which found the woman’s scent attractive. I made my way to where they were. As I had entered the alley, all six of them, turned to look at me, the demons immediately sensed my powers although they didn’t know I was and moved aside.
‘What do you reckon we do?’ asked the ghost friend to the lavender scented woman.
I waited for the lavender scented woman to answer, but all I got was a blank. I didn’t understand. I tried hard to read her mind and tried to see her and eventually her image appeared, vaguely. This lavender scented woman was mysterious. I had to see her for myself.
I walked into the alley confidently and greeted, ‘There you are!’ to the woman, who looked at me, wide-eyed. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She had a slim slender and athletic figure. She did look tough. Her wavy and curly black tresses fell softly on her shoulders. I made my way closer to this mysterious woman, who looked at me, confused. She was dressed in a light knee-length colorful floral dress with heels as high as four inches.