She had only begun picking up her pace through the trees when she slowed down. Close to the other side of the forest line, tools lay around a large hole in the ground. Past the line of trees, in the distance, a crowd dispersed.
Small groups banded together to chat and whisper, "are you attending the blessing ceremony tonight?"
"Perhaps tomorrow night."
"I want to go but I have a club meeting at the same time as the ceremony. Though I will try to make it later."
While the seniors discussed their schedule, the newcomers like her were a bag of emotions. A bright eyed man said to his friend, "she is a marvel, a beauty."
"That's as close to a seer as a witch can come." another group gossiped, "no wonder she holds such a strong aura."
"My sister is in her coven and says the priestess is one strict woman but looking at her, I didn't see any of that." another said while his friend sighed, "I wish I was a little closer."
Ash hurried past the crowd and saw a small podium to the side, recently abandoned as other priests and priestess in training cleaned up. She walked up to one of them and asked, "excuse me. Would you happen to know in which direction the high priestess went?"
The woman with her arms full of small boxes smiled at her, "the high priestess went to her office. DO you have an appointment?"
She shook her head, "how can I get an appointment?"
The witch smiled wide, "the front desk can do that for you but for today just come along with me. It's the first day of uni, she should be free right now."
"Thank you very much. Can I help you with some of these boxes?"
"Thank you for offering but I can manage."
"Give me a few. These are too many."
While witches were excellent in control of magic over some things, their physical constitution wasn't that strong. Ash took half the boxes into her own arm. "Lead the way please."
The woman thanked her and led her to the nearest building.
"The offices are on the ground floor and the other two floors are classes for sirens and storage for goblins. There is one floor underground that works as a goblin workshop."
She wondered if the sirens took their little treasures from goblins or elsewhere. She knew goblins to be fierce when it came to their treasures. Occupied by her own thoughts and her guide's simple chatter about the structure of the building and the classrooms, they reached a plain door decorated with a dreamcatcher.
"Give them to me now. You go ahead and talk to the priestess."
Ash passed the boxes, helped open the door and let her guide in. The high priestess was a tall woman with white hair that reached her neck and an elongated face that was bent over some ink and paper. Her pen was frozen, eyes down.
"High priestess, we have a human looking for you." The other witch said, putting down all the boxes in one space. The priestess looked up, a little surprised. The boxes staggered to fall. She held onto them while the other witch fixed them with some wind magic.
Done in a moment, the other woman took her leave and the priestess motioned for her to sit.
"May I know the purpose of your visit?"
Ash didn't know where to begin or what to ask for but she knew what had to be done.
"I want to gain a blessing from the moon goddess."
The high priestess blinked a couple times, her expression innocent. "Why? You already have the blessings of the night goddess, even though you are struggling to come into full power, you still have something substantial."
Surprised at the straighter shooter instead of a political answer, she found herself at a loss for words.
The priestess continued, "you seem to know that your blessing extends far beyond the moon goddess. And you are a human too. Are you from the island of Kalai?"
Ash smiled uncomfortably.
Realization dawned on the high priestess' eyes. She smiled, something sad and deep in her eyes before she spoke, "all of us are aware of the recent developments on the island. No offence to the moon goddess, rather she'd agree with me on this, it was a poor decision to remove you from the running and pass the throne to your brother."
Ash took a deep breath. She thought so too, but for different reasons. However, she could never say it out in the open. "The island and its people need the faith that healing abilities bring to continue to keep the island safe and healthy and to keep its social standing in the supernatural world. Both of those are within my brother's capacity."
The high priestess looked at her confused. "Don't you want the throne? Isn't that why you need the moon goddess' blessing?"
Ash stopped breathing. No. Yes. She wanted that throne but not with the power of the blessing. Rather, the two were not connected in the way the priestess implied. She wanted the moon goddess' blessing. Yes. She wanted the throne? Also yes. Even if she got a blessing, would she get the throne? Would the moon goddess even grant her a blessing? And if did get the blessing would it drive her to take the throne from her brother? Did she have it in herself to take the throne? What kind of power will that take to make that move on her brother without hurting him.
Ash closed her eyes. These were the questions she had pondered before. But the power it would take to usurp the throne would leave their small island vulnerable and someone from the outside already had their eyes on Kalai for a long time.
"Not really the throne. Kalai is also being threatened by a few other tribes and kingdoms that have their eyes on the island for obvious reasons. With my mother gone and father coming down, and my brother with weak healing magic, the island lacks leadership in protection. A blessing from the moon goddess will solve that, or so I hope." Ash bit her tongue. Why did she say, 'I hope'? It would weaken her appeal.
The high priestess smiled a little, "you are very well spoken for a young lady. However you are still a young lady who hasn't had a chance to expand her horizons. First, no matter what the blessing of any goddess might be, it is us, her children who determine how to use it. There is no category for abilities. Even healing magic, though considered nurturing, soft and supporting, can be used for offense purposes. Your mother is the best example."
Ash breathed deeply, "but my brother is not my mother. He is… he will make a kind king and a country doesn't run on kindness alone."
The high priestess smiled again, sadness too apparent in her eyes. "I am unconvinced. I will agree to help you with a blessing some day, it may be from the moon goddess or the night goddess but for now, I am unconvinced. Come back with a reason more sound. There are too many unknowns in the future for which you lack the conviction."
Ash couldn't take the meaning behind those words. She reasoned more strongly. "I simply want to support the people and protect them."
The sadness in her eyes deepend, bordering on pity. Ash wanted to turn away from it. "Think again, What are you asking for? Give me a reason that will not change until the end of your university term and you have my word."
End of term? That was too long. If any thing she knew about herself was that adaptability was the way of survival because nothing could stay the same forever. Change was the only constant. Only those who adapted to change ever survived.
Ash pressed desperately, "Kalai could be attacked any time, if I don't receive a blessing soon…"
Ash couldn't bear to think of all the people who would suffer. The priestess's hand extended and enclosed over hers. She had long limbs- long arms, hands and long fingers, even sharp and long fingernails. "The answers to war are not always on the battlefield. A princess trained to be queen must surely know that."
Of Course she knew, but why was the priestess reminding her?
The priestess patted her hand twice, "the answers are here in this university. The night goddess' blessing on you is stronger than you give her credit for. It is almost as if you are her favourite child. Trust the direction your life takes you in or in the least, trust your old seer. She brought you here at the cost of her own life because this is where you need to be, to solve all your problems."
Ash's heart hammered. Was it possible that the tribes and leaders who had their eyes on Kalai were connected to the university somehow? It could be. The supernatural university was the largest in the world and stood as one of the prominent schools for high leaders in the supernatural world. Lady Bree's face rose to her mind. Though the wolf king rarely travelled by sea, the idea of living on an isolated island was a peaceful one. While their father was open to the idea, her mother was not, for the fear of wolves having a trade control over many of the unique things found on Kalai. That would disbalance the power between vampires and werewolves. After her mother's death, the alpha of the MoonBlessed had made one too many visits to their island and she did not like that one bit. When she thought it was a trade matter, turned out the wolf king had other matters on his mind. She could barely hold herself back from marching into the room when she overheard them talking.
The high priestess patted her hands and broke into her thoughts. Unable to keep pressing on the matter, she fell silent, comforted and anxious, all at once. The brightly lit room felt gloomy and dark.
"You feel lost dear girl, not only has your purpose of life been taken away from you but your emotions are in turmoil too. While everyone around you worships the moon goddess, you have been singled out by the night goddess." Ash felt as if the fog in her mind had been put on display and the priestess was reading it like a book. The priestess had all knowing eyes. "Among humans, you do not fit, nor do you see a place among us, among your own unique brethren, you are outcast and do not know where to go. But here me this dear girl, you will find a place soon. It will not be the place you envisioned but it will be better, you have the power to make it better."
Ash closed her eyes, far too uncomfortable to remain sitting. There was a slight buzz in her hands and her entire body felt hot and cold.
Silence fell between them, thick as water drowning her, darkness engulfing her. Slowly, the priestess let go of her hands.
Ash took the chance to leave. "Thank you for your kind advice. I should get going."
The priestess nodded out of the corner of her eyes and she hurried off.
Outside, in the corridor, she stood still for a few breaths.
Unknown to her, inside the room, the priestess shook her head, holding her temple, pressing her fingers into it, eyes pinched. A heaviness was settling over her too, and she felt it far more pressing than the human.
For a moment she regretted her decision. Should she have given that blessing after all?
Her limbs shook and breath came harder. She spoke out loud. "If she comes back to ask again, I will try to do what I can."
The pressure in the room reelected and the priestess took a deep breath, eyes wide. She pressed her hands on the table and bowed her head, "greetings to the night goddess. Bless us all with faith in your plans for our destiny."
The last of the feelings lifted from her chest and she promised hurriedly, "I will always guide your children in the right direction like my mother guides me."
Satisfaction fell over her and she knew that the night goddess had left, satisfied.
Surprised and fearful, she stared at the door, unsure if she really wanted to get into the life of the princess or not.