Amethyst

Chapter 7: The Merging

Chapter 7: The Merging

   The Amethyst Sage lead the way, motioning the swaying crystal lantern on a golden chain, as smoke and oil cleared the path I walked in following.  Behind me on either side, both the Elder High Sage and the Aquamarine Sage chanted in the old forgotten tongue of ancient Medurian.  It was supposed to be something all Sages were to learn in order to become a sister of their order.  I used to think it was a wonderful privilege and used to want to be one myself, the intensity and amplification that their additional rituals’ game them was part of what made slightly wary of them. It had done the opposite for me and etched my ideals of them as brave and noble in their dedication to the earth goddess.

  If they wanted, with their additional abilities they could choose to reverse what they’re birthstone gift could do to people and were often a last resort if criminals refused to give Overseer’s information. Though they couldn’t read minds, they could read aura’s and emotions and that was close enough for me.

  We had began in the opposite direction from the one Rose had walked. Through a smaller open archway, through a series of doors, down some steps and into a passage way carved with statues of goldhorn antelope, with a glow stone held between their antlers and jackguar growling and holding a glow stone in its mouth.  They were ordered interchangeably and helped mark how long we had walked this passageway.  Towards the end, it began opening into a room that was unetched other than the floor, a natural decent sized underground spring that bubbled occasionally before a brilliant statue of the Goddess. 

  The facing wall was a very raw sheer face of the limestone cavern. Where a towering statue of the Earth Goddess that was carved entirely out of in Opal, greeting all of us as we entered. Amethyst’s were placed in holding sections marked out at the front base of her statue. The goddesses large hand’s cupped but held nothing, that when my eyes noticed the roughly carved stairs leading up and round onto her arms.

   The Amethyst Sage stopped and holding one hand up, with her strange lengthened fingers, motioning us to stop.  We all did. She broke off and headed over to the amethyst stones laying the goddesses base and began anointing the area as she done while we walked here. Once complete she went to the rough stairs at the side, they didn’t look very safe and not for someone of her age, and began anointing the entire statue.

   “Welcome to the Earth Goddess’ Opal Heart within the Opal Cathedral.” Chimed the Elder High Sage, who was moving out from behind me and towards the natural spring pool.  She seemed to be checking the pool.

   The only light in the room emanated from that very spring – it took some moments for me to realize the edges of the pool were naturally smooth opal, running out from under the limestone and sandstone.  

   It was the Aquamarine Sage who stood beside me and began to explain, “You must follow Amethyst up to the goddess’ palms now, as she took my hands and began to unwrap them still in front of me and holding my birthstone which now felt oddly warm and seemed to pulse since we entered this room.  Almost as if my birthstone was alive itself! “You must go and place your birthstone in the hands of the goddess, wrapped in the amethyst silken.”

   “You must first shed you’re ceremonial robes and walk through the Goddess’ Opal Heart,” I realized they meant the pond. “ As you are stand facing before her, you will have your back to us. Never turn your back to her as we begin and remember to curtsy-.” The Elder High Sage strolled back towards us cutting herself off and correcting what she had said, “… or bow before her as you address your Goddess. She shall surely give you her sign. We shall all see it, though you shall see far more that we. You may glimpse parts of your future passage to come – and you may not. While in her hands, you shall witness her shaping you’re design before you’re very eyes.”  

   “Are you ready to begin… Ame,” Asked the Amethyst Sage, in her delicate voice.

   I nodded and stepped forth to the front of the underground spring. Shedding my ceremonial robes, they lightly fell to the ground around me, as a reptile sheds it skin. I could feel the eyes of the Sage’s on me as I did, and there was a notable amount of self-consciousness… but this was how the Merging was to be done.  Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I then pushed forward. Wearing nothing but my naked, carbon, flesh I waked into the spring, which was surprisingly and pleasantly warm! Walking all the way through and over to the goddess and out to the other side. The water had never deepened enough to touch my hair – more perks for girls with short hair!  Which I could not help but smile over that little triumph. As I stepped out, the air surrounding me was far colder. Heat swelled across my face as I realized my n*****s had perked up from the temperature change.

   It grew easier as by the time I reached the rough steps, my bare feet were dry. No longer carrying water. The Amethyst Sage gave me a small smile and greeting nod as I climbed up to the goddess’ hands.

   Doing as the Elder High Sage, Opal, and Sage Aquamarine had said, I placed the rough version of my birthstone between the heels of her palms. Always facing her, I inched back I stopped on the third line of her pinkies.

   The Sages’ began to chant again. This time it echoed, filling all around the room.

   Suddenly the opaque eyes of the statue began to brighten to glow and spark with shades of purple. An amethyst fire. Veins of a similar color creeping onto the edges of the statues face. Even if I had wanted to, I could not break away from her gaze. I fell forward onto my knees with the intensity and weightiness of the aura being omitted and the sense that emanated from all over the statue.

    All of my doubts about our Earth Goddess were gone.

    My birthstone began to lift into the air right before me, all by its own accord. Pulsing with a rhythmic glow accompanied by a high pitch.  It began pulsing to from within its wrappings, which seemed to merge with the stone itself. Splitting off into clumps, which split off again into three groups above her palms.  These began to be molded into dozens upon dozens of, not one as usual, but three different cuts: Carre cut, asscher cut and oval cut. Unifying into a single group, they began organizing into the sacred design intended for me.  My unclothed skin displayed for the Earth Goddess to merge me with my intended destiny, only my sealed betrothal necklace remained.

   I attempted to stand but could not.  Between the chanting and the aura emanating off or the Goddess statue, I could not rise to my feet. The weight of my body was heavier than I had ever felt. I could not move a limb.  It will not be on my legs, I realized. As I wondered if I would get a design focusing on the heart as Turq had the shaped gems hovered towards me. Turq’s was a brilliant design, perhaps that is what I would be adorned with.  

   Something bit my sternum, between my breasts the area flared with a searing heat. Crying out I was about to look down to see… stopping when all at once, the gems began firing at me. Still keeping gaze with the Goddess each bulleted into my skin. Scorching my very being.  Tears bubbled into my eyes as I tried to bite my lip, to hold my breath to stop my shrieks. Those attempts were futile and lasted a little more than seconds.

   I knew I was screaming, with the combined agony of hundreds of gems merging into the surface of my skin. Each one sending blazing sweeps through my interior, but cries were barely audible to my own ears.  The bouncing echo of the Old Sages increased in volume. 

    My vision in front of me began to fog in a lilac haze, which deepened to violet to dark purple to black. Falling forward, blinded by the clouding fog I broke the goddesses stare collapsing onto the cool opal of her hands as all conscious awareness slipped into darkness.