The Mystic Academy

Chapter 14

(Urania's POV)

"Joel, I don't want to be out here in the forest. I know it's hard for you to lose me after losing your mate and daughter, but I know you are ready to accept this. Please, I need to be with my family. They need the closure of seeing me die peacefully so they can move on." I begged Joel, praying he would turn back around. I needed him to bring me back to the Academy, I needed him to stop stomping his way through the forest. For once, I wished it wasn't such a task to get him to listen.

"I will have them join us, Urania. I cannot take you back to the Academy though." Joel spoke tightly. I knew my death was getting to him and knowing today was my last day wasn't helping. I felt the essence draining slowly from my body, my soul getting ready to make its grand exit. It was my time.

Joel could tell the second I glanced at him. He was becoming to know me better than others. I only hoped he was as ready as the Goddess seemed to be. Joel breathed heavily before looking down at me. " You need to be under the moon, the Goddess needs to be able to see your soul when it finally descends from our world. It is time for the world to watch you shine, Nia. I have already linked your family. It seems Uriel and Umbrielle were already searching for you."

I knew they would be on the hunt for me. Their counterparts could feel me dying, as I was a part of my brother and sister. I prayed every day that the Goddess spared them the pain of our triplet bond breaking apart. No one deserves to feel that type of pain and emptiness.

"Thank you!!" I whispered with gratitude as I glanced up at Joel. Before any more could be said, I saw the breathtaking clearing we had arrived at. It was a grassy clearing shaped like a crescent moon. Trees surrounded every side, creating a serene security that seemed to wrap itself around my soul. The slab of stone glistened in the moonlight as it seemed to call my very being.

This was where I was supposed to be. This was where my body needed to be. This was the exact spot where my soul would be reunited with the Moon Goddess.

"Something about this clearing told me it was as special as you. I knew this place would make your departure memorable." Joel spoke quietly as I watched the sadness creep over his features. A small tear ran down his cheek. I reached my hand out as soon as he placed me on my feet and wiped his tears away.

"Don't cry, Joel. Today is a day to celebrate. Today is the day I will join our Goddess. I will become pain free and at peace." I spoke softly as I reassured him that this was for the best and I was accepting of my own fate.

"Urania, how could you go all the way out here and not link us? Do you know how worried my counterparts have been? Why didn't you answer my link?" Uriel exclaimed in a panic. I swear he came out of nowhere. Maybe my senses were dulling, only the Goddess would know.

"Urania, what are you doing out here? It is near midnight, the chill at this hour will cause you to become ill." Umbrielle exclaimed in horror. Her face would be comical if I knew she was freaking out for no reason. I knew it was time to tell them.

"I'm dying..." I started before Uriel cut me off with his annoyance clear from his tone.

"We know that, Urania. That doesn't mean you should do reckless things to speed up your departure!" Uriel's annoyance confused me more than I would like to admit. I knew his counterparts were testing his patience and snapping at me was the only solution he could come up with right now. I would allow him to vent any way he needed, because tonight would be stressful for all of them. I also knew not being able to find me put all of his counterparts on edge.

"Listen to all of my words to understand what I am trying to explain to you. I am dying. Tonight I will leave and soar off with the Goddess. It is my time. I wanted you both here so I could say goodbye. I will watch over you two and I will always be a part of you. Umbrielle, please calm your anger and evaluate the situation before reacting. You will be amazing when you find your mate. I love you more than I can express. Uriel, take care of mother and father, but always remember to put yourself first. The kingdoms are changing and a war may be on the rise. Be careful and attentive. I trust in you both. May the Goddess forever bless both of you." I said softly, a single tear for each of my siblings fell down my face before they fell to the ground. A tiny green sprout rose in each spot my tear had landed. I had never seen something like that happen before.

"You don't want mother and father to be here when you go on? I am sure they both would love the chance to say their goodbyes, just like uncle would as well. They will all be devastated." Umbrielle stated in confusion. She couldn't understand why I wouldn't have asked everyone to be here. She couldn't see that everyone else would try to prolong what was about to occur.

"It is too late now. They would have taken me to the hospital and tried to prolong my death. Here I am at peace, I can feel the Goddess close to me and I know tonight is the right night for this. I don't need my pain prolonged any longer. No matter what happens, I will finally be at peace." I told them both as I felt the pain slowly fading away. I lied down on the grass, turning my attention to the full moon above me. I could feel my sibling's pain and I only hope they could find it within themselves to heal quickly and move on. There was no need for any of them to grieve over my loss. We had been prepared for many years, knowing that tonight's events were coming some day soon.

Joel turned away, as if he was watching the woods for any unwelcomed guests, but I knew his heart was breaking all over again. I could only hope everything I had done for him would help him cope through my death.

"Joel?" I questioned right before he turned a disapproving glare towards me. I knew this was hard, but I never thought he would regress this much.

"Don't Urania. I don't want to hear it. You talk about your death as if it is a one - time festival no one would want to miss. Well you are wrong, Nia. I would rather see you live out the rest of your life painless and happy. No one can accept this but you," Joel exclaimed before marching off to the other side of the clearing.

"Please, I know you two don't like Joel a bunch, but I need you to both keep an eye on him until he seems alright. He doesn't deserve to be hurt again or to not move on and find happiness in life." I pleaded with my siblings. Uriel didn't even think as his head began to nod in acceptance. I appreciated him placing my needs before his own. I know he doesn't like Joel very much, but I was glad they could protect a hurting man before deciding to be vindictive. I sighed in relief before gazing back up at the moon.I could feel the Moon Goddess calling me home to her, as my body seemed to slump in acceptance. The constant ache dissipated, as my breathing slowed. My body was falling into a peaceful, resting state as my soul began to drift away from the shell of myself that always failed me.

"Mate." A male's voice filtered through the drowning of my very existence. The voice seemed to call me, but it was too late. I couldn't come back when I was already so close to being free. The confusion and pain in his voice twisted my very soul. I wasn't sure I could be at peace when he was near by. Why wouldn't everyone just leave me? Why can they not leave my pain - free soul alone? I just wanted to be at peace.

"You're Urania's Mate? That can't be happening. Urania has been hiding her pain all her life. She is finally free, she is finally at peace. Let her pass on as she wishes and then move on while finding a chosen mate." Uriel spoke sternly, as I was visibly shattered by his harsh tone.

"She's dying," The man claiming to be my mate whispered painfully to himself. We didn't know each other, so maybe he would be able to move on peacefully with little to no effect on him. "How could the Goddess allow me to find my mate as she is on her death bed?"

His statement went unanswered as I knew he was questioning his own mind and not everyone around him. I can't blame how he felt. Who wants to find their mate and watch them die?Who wants to wonder why the Goddess would torture them in that way instead of letting them not meet each other at all? I had a feeling this was a lesson for me and not him. He was just placed in the crossfire.

"MY BABY, WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH MY BABY? WHY WON'T SHE WAKE UP? WHAT DID YOU GUYS DO TO HER? URANIA, DARLING, PLEASE WAKE UP. YOU NEED TO COME BACK TO ME." Mother shouted in horror, as she shook my body in exasperation. Her pleas were haunting anyone who heard them and this was why I didn't want her to witness my departure in the first place.

I really wish I could mother. I wish I was able to take away your anguish and make you whole again, but I couldn't give up being pain - free for anyone. This time, I had to be selfish. I only hope you can forgive me and hopefully move on from all of this pain you seem to be having to experience. I couldn't imagine what it was like to lose your own child.