Finding Me

Knock, Knock, Madeline

It was a perfect place. Nature was free and far from any disturbance. Green everywhere, dense wood and huge rock of mountains. Through the rocks existed a path; a path so thin, hard to recognize its existence. After a walk through the rock was a whole new world; spring water, dense wood, vast land and caves from the rocky mountain. Even the sun feels wormer and life felt brighter.

Tyballa discovered their secret heaven and a place they can call home on earth. It was full of life and beauty incarnate. That was sanctuary for them, a place to start over. She was much calmer there and she was able to practice more with her mind calmer.

The first year without her mother and Isla was hard for her but the second she discovered this sanctuary everything seemed to fall in line; she was able to give direction and gather all their kinds first; her mother and Isla’s place from the palace was quite helping in getting the entire support they were looking for; all the necessary materials to start over with was well provided for.

She further looked into the area and the further they travel the more the discovery was. She decided to keep their kind from Axis-Mundi on an Island after a day and night travel on a boat. The new recruits of the witches; which she named, witches of the white moon, who don’t practice dark magic was to stay on the first discovered land. Everything was well sorted and Tyballa’s mind was much calmer. Isla and Audra were to pay visit to the land and how it was operated, once in six months.

Ten years since they settled in, in their new home they named, Gaghtni Yerkink’, Secret Heaven in Armenian. It was indeed a heaven for them, and most of their peoples started regaining their power; it wasn’t much but it was enough to help Tyballa with. She wasn’t alone in the absence of her mother and Isla.

She managed to give fair hierarchal division to make the administration of their new home much easier. The leader was her mother and Isla was for the witches; on the top below her mother’s rank was the balance; peoples of nature, they would keep their surroundings and home much more comforting maintaining nature, then was the generals; those who can manage those with power that can enable them to fight back when needed and arrange the guards to the gate way that leads to their home; then the tellers, they would see the future, past and present; all their power wasn’t back yet, that they would look into only on what was benefiting and it was enough to start with. They would send word to the palace; to Audra and inform her on information she would ask for. Then the keepers; they are those much knowledgeable, they keep records of history and not even one was past them; they too weren’t that fully conciliated with their power that they weren’t to function as their old self; there was some things they would miss and they would only keep records of knowledge that was significant to history.

It was stable and Tyballa was mastering her abilities on opening portals, discovering worlds. She was hardly in Gaghtni Yerkink’; she was off to another world and learn about it. When she returned, she would teach the youngsters and after days in Gaghtni Yerkink’ she would, again, open another portal to another world, sometimes another portal in the world she went to. It was like endless education; education about worlds and even discoveries of new ones, but it was all so she can find a way back to Axis-Mundi. She never gave up her hope to reunite with her sister Nata and father Kladok.

“...What is it like out there?” a young girl asks Audra who was standing before them, teaching the children about how life was like with the humans.

“It is quiet,” she presses a smile closing her eyes. “Very difficult,” she slowly opens her eyes deepening the spread on her lips. She was in wine-red floor length chiton with blonde-yellow palla. Her very long black hair was subdued in elegant braided side curls making her neck look much longer than usual. “They aren’t aware of the magic everywhere and they don’t understand us and what we stand for.”

“It sounds difficult,” a young boy shook his head a bit concerned.

“Come over,” she pressed her lips as she sat on a rock. “What seem to bother you?” she asked him as she cuddle him in her arms and on her right leg lap.

“Your greatness, today I will be named,” he shrugged making her gasp in delight. She saw her daughter in him, she left her in Axis-Mundi the day after she was named.

The naming is a ceremony to know their power and the first time they would ever get a proper name they would be called by. A ceremony done under the first half moon, mid night on earth, unlike Axis-Mundi.

In Axis-Mundi this ceremony takes place when the second golden moon appears in the sky. Here on earth they count the days accordingly just as it was in Axis-mundi and calculated the time just; when the second golden moon appears on the sky of Axis-Mundi it coincides with the first halfmoon of the new moon for earth.

It’s a big day of all days, everyone wears their best, smells good and the entire night gets brightened up with music and dance, and when time gets closer for the naming, they walk down the river with soul snatching beautiful humming songs and with lights in their palms. To feel nature, they would walk barefoot and allow their true nature revealed; order of natures would appear as they are; woods with their skin cover with woody structure, some with algae on their skin, hair of flowers. Aquatic beings waiting in the water the air beings float in the air and those with glowing skin glows brighter. The day is special; it’s a day to reconnect and harmonize with nature. It’s beautiful, peaceful and healing to the soul.

Audra took the moment to enjoy the thought of the day in Axis-Mundi. Her daughters naming and the beauty of her home world.

“Why does that worry you?” she asked the boy on her lap, after she shook her head to wake up to her reality.

“I don’t know, what if I am not important?” she shrugs again and she giggles.

“Everyone here is important,” she rolled her eyes thinking about his words. “What’s important, for you?”

“I want to be a worrier,” he jumped off her lap and picked up a branch challenging another kid before him.

“I will protect Gaghtni Yerkink’,” the other one lifted another branch and accepted the challenge. The quietness was disturbed and every child started playing, running around.

“Watch out, take care,” Audra was laughing looking at the playing children.

“Welcome mother,” Tyballa walked from behind her and Audra jumped up from her seat and turn behind her to see her. Tyballa was dressed different; it wasn’t a surprise to see her dressed odd and out of a norm; every time she has to travel to another world, she found it helping to dress according to what the majorities dressing style was a simple way to blend in simply.

“I missed you,” Audra speeds to her and hugs her.

“I miss you too, mother,” she whispered hugging her back.

“Oh, my Tyballa,” she fondled the tip of her daughter’s long hair as she looked down at her. She was in a leather pant, knee high boot and black skin bustierre on top. Her hair was curly loose and she was in a hooded long tan-brown cloak.

“Oh, mother, you’ve missed a lot,” she started a walk with her and they both smiled looking at each other.

“Would you start with where you’ve been this time around?” she giggled as she asked.

“Oh no, the start would be, my new name,” she bitten her lower lip. “It was a bit funny, I was in town three month back, before I left.”

“I didn’t know, why didn’t you tell me?” she asked her ceasing on her steps as she deepen her furrow line.

“I wasn’t there to for long, I was hoping to act like the locals.” She sucked her lips in, “And I was in Persia,” she added a bit hesitant.

“Why there? What for?” Audra shrugged back as she asked her. “And what do you mean act like the locals?”

“Human,” she rolled her eyes. “Study their behavior,” she smiled. “I just wanted to see how you managed. You know I never interact with anyone outside this wall,” she shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, I didn’t enjoy it, but an activity took my interest and I met this boy.”

“I thought you were to tell me about your new name.” Audra elevated her eyebrows smilingly.

“If you allow me, I am getting there,” Tyballa giggled. “I saw him steeling and told him that I saw what he did,” she rolled her eyes as she recalled the pleasing memory. “He was funny and he talked a lot. He can be quite crafty talking,” she smiled.

“Seems like you still meet him.”

“I do, he is after all the one who gave me an interesting name. I told him I am Macedonian and he guessed my name and i liked it.”

“What did he guess; Mila, Marija or Sara?”

“Oh mother,” she rolled her eyes, “he guessed Madeline,” she laughed.”

“Hum, woman from Macedonia,” she looked into her happy daughter’s eyes. It’s been a while since she saw her in this state and she missed her. “I missed seeing you smiling,” she added lost in her thought.

“I missed seeing you in this graceful,” she answered.

“Where were you, dressed like this, Madeline?” she asked directly.

“Oh mother,” she checked their surrounding as she pulled her under a tree shade. “You won’t believe me,” she looked up and pressed her lips. “I was in Savarálfr...”

“What? How?” Audra asked in shock.

“I didn’t plan on it; I randomly opened a portal and I was there. I am telling you something is changing, I saw some from Axis-Mundi, I think they have found a way to keep the peace.”

“Please, say that you didn’t went to Axis-Mundi, or that you were recognized by one of ours from there,” Audra pressed on her chest in fear.

“No mother, you know I blend in just fine. What do you think all this is for?” she pointed to the way she was dressed. “I also didn’t dare open a way to Axis-Mundi, I knew I would attract unnecessary attentions,” she pressed a spread on her lips to her mother’s relief. “You can’t be relived, I smelled something fishy,” she added.”

“I can only imagine the worst, but I expect much worse than my imagination, they would do anything to get back to us; what we did and what we are doing isn’t simple.” She answered.

“Yes, that’s why we need to be keen and extra careful on everything.”

“We are working on things and change is to happen soon,” Audra held her shoulders.

“Mother, you know what I mean; you have to inform the order to prepare. I am sure war is coming and it is coming quietly. Everyone should put on double... no triple the effort getting back their power.”

“Oh, you are growing fast,” Audra smiled as she imprisoned Madeline’s cheeks between her palms.

“Oh, I have to go now,” as Madeline tried to speed off Audra held her back, grasping her by her arms.

“Where to? You just got here?”

“I know, mother, but back in Savarálfr I heard that there is a way to Axis-Mundi from Purgatory.”

“No,” Audra deepen her furrow lines. “It’s dangerous there, you can’t just go.”

“I know, but I have to know, be sure if it is possible,” she looked into her eyes sadly. “I promise you, I will not go or open the gate, all that I would do will be check if the gate still existed. After all bruit in Savarálfr has it that it was destroyed.”

“I should come...”

“Mother, you know I won’t let that happen. You are needed here.”

“Can you at list stay for the ceremony?”

“The rule of triple effort applies to me as well. We have no time to go to waste,” she planted soft kiss on her mother’s head. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you,” she hugged her back. Though she proffered to keep her here she knew she was right and she had to go.

“Oh, by the way, I sent groups from nature order, knowledge and warriors to study a world. If they come back with favored study results, we may have found, Nor-Gaghyerkink’.”

“What? She asked baffled.

“Well I come up with the name and the team thought it was great. I mixed the first word and omit some... it’s supposed to resemble this place,” she utters walking backward.

“I get it. Please look after yourself,” Audra screamed as she shook her head to her daughter’s excitement.

***

Madeline walked into the deep forest and chose a quiet place to open a portal to Purgatory. She was ready for any challenge; she hasn’t left to any place that required a lot from her. She was scared but she needed check and see for herself.

She walked round and around as she forms a circle around herself.

“I conjure the circle of power, by my will and by my word,

I conjure the circle of power a boundary between the worlds,” she was working on a ritual word to start with. Without noticing it she was spilling salt out the bag she instore it into. She stood up and lit a fire and throw it to the ground. The spelt salt on the ground distorted the steps but it anyways opened a gate way and she frowned as she walked in. It was dark and there were souls everywhere, lost and there were also demons in the open.

“Goodness,” she whispered and hid behind a huge tree. It wasn’t Purgatory and it for sure wasn’t hell, but she knew she was in trouble she won’t be able to leave that easy.