Nyxara
[Saturday, Dreyrune 20, 4310]
6:30 a.m.
I woke up to the soft whispers of Nimra and Aunt Zira. With one eye open, I pushed down the blankets enough to peer at them. They immediately stopped talking to look back at me. Nimra's warm smile bloomed, then she leaned down to softly kiss my head.
"See, Zira. I told you she would be able to hear our quietest whispers now. Little one, we let you sleep in as long as we could. It is time to begin your purification. Put this on." Nimra held out a simple silver ceremonial robe. Not waiting for me to move, Aunt Zira pulled the covers completely off of me. Why is my body and mind deciding today of all days to want opposite things? My mind was ready to move, but my body wanted another hour or two of sleep.
Aunt Zira gave me ten seconds, then she picked me up to my shock. "Wha…what are you doing, Aunt Zira! Put me down! I'm awake! Body and mind are one now! Please put me down!" I tried and failed to get out of my surprisingly strong aunt's arms. Nimra was of no help; she just laughed as Aunt Zira carried me to the bathroom like a child.
I'm being easily carried around by a woman about the same height and size as me. If my brothers find out, I wouldn't hear the end of their teasing for months. Just as Aunt Zira was setting me down, I saw Líma's eyes return to normal. Has Líma upgraded her eyes? They can record and take pictures now? What! The! Fuck!
"Líma! You crazy android! Why are you taking embarrassing videos of me? When did you get your eyes upgraded?" I realized, as I stomped my foot and her eyes became camera lenses again, that I was only giving her more ammunition. But I was about done with this mischievous maid assistant of mine.
"Am I not treating you well enough? Have I abused you in some way, and you are retaliating?" While I ranted, Nimra and Aunt Zira stepped back, and Líma stepped forward, handing me a prepared toothbrush.
I brushed my teeth, still muttering and ranting, irritated. Líma remained silent as she styled my hair into a low ponytail, exchanged my toothbrush for a warm washcloth, and helped me undress. It wasn't until I had the robe tied around me and slippers on my feet that I went silent.
Nimra and Aunt Zira were waiting for me in my bedroom sitting area when I stepped out of the bathroom in a daze. Líma guided me by the hand. She delivered me into their care, then bowed at the waist.
"I will be here waiting for your return, Mistress. You wouldn't want me to release any of the embarrassing videos or photos I have in my possession, would you?"
I did not look back, just nodded. Tears were welling up in my eyes. Aunt Zira and Nimra smiled softly as they each took one of my hands and led me out of my bedroom.
"Safe travels, Mistress." I glanced back right before the door was completely shut. Líma's lime green eyes had trickles of black tears running down her face. She winked with a teary smile before completely closing and locking the door. It would remain sealed until I was brought back. Everyone's suites would be similarly sealed until their occupants returned.
With a deep inhale and exhale, I wiped away my remaining tears, then nodded to my elders. "I'm ready. What do I need to do first?" Both women kissed my head, then silently guided me out of the residence. We followed the path until we reached the kin-branch residence.
We entered, and I was led toward an area I hadn't yet explored during my visits. When we reached the end of the hallway, four maids in ocean blue uniforms stepped forward with silver robes. I watched as Nimra and Aunt Zira undressed, handed their clothes to the maids, then slipped into the offered robes.
"Step out of the slippers. We will go down to the pool barefoot." Nimra instructed as the double doors slid open to reveal stone steps going down into dimly lit darkness. Nimra and Aunt Zira held onto the railing with one hand. Their other hand held mine as we descended. The scent of wet stone and mineral salt pervaded my senses.
The deeper we went, the more I could feel cool air drifting up. When we reached the bottom, I saw a large pool of black water carrying the scent of rosemary and lavender. Beneath the herbs lingered the ancient scent of limestone and earth.
There was no one but us down here. When Nimra and Aunt Zira dropped their robes, I followed suit when they looked expectantly at me. We walked to the edge of the pool, but before I could step down into it, I was stopped. "We must pray over you first." Aunt Zira said, then she began chanting in Vel'Sharii with Nimra.
"Ter'valis Zul'thai Tharym. Vel'thirra Thesk'kar Kael'thar Tharym. (Root this blood in the Tharym. Weave and protect this body's anchor in the Tharym.)" They continued the invocation for twenty cycles. I entered a half-aware state under their prayers. With soft humming, we entered the pool. I instinctively started humming the moment my feet touched the floor. I felt the hum vibrate through every inch of my body.
Through my lidded eyes, I would swear I saw our bodies softly glow. Nimra and Aunt Zira poured cups of scented water over me. Each cup of water seemed to coat and seep into my skin. Distantly, I heard them begin the invocation again. I joined them, feeling I too should put an effort into my protection.
Time became meaningless until I felt myself being guided out of the pool. From a table I hadn't noticed before, Nimra picked up two tied-up bundles of Mugwort and Myrrh. She handed one bundle to Aunt Zira, then in sync they spoke, "Ka'reth (fire)". The bundles caught fire, then after a moment or two, they put the flames out. They began smudging me from head to toe.
I held out my arms, letting myself become encased in smoke. My body once again seemed to soak in the element until I felt like I and the smoke were one. Together, they patted me dry, styled my hair into a bun, then dressed me in wide-leg black lounge pants and a loose black tunic. They dressed themselves in similar attire, then together we ascended the staircase. They held my hands tightly.
In my half-awake state, I registered the scent of worry and determination from them. I squeezed their hands in comfort, trying to convey my own feelings of positivity. The doors slid open as we reached the landing.
I met Korran and Uncle Cor's eyes when we stepped across the threshold. Korran kissed Nimra's head as he took my hand from her. Uncle Cor did the same to Aunt Zira. Together, they led me away down the main hallway, then down a side hallway into a medium-sized ritual room. I was seated on a pillow in the middle of a ritual square.
10:00 a.m.
When they sat down in opposite corners of the square, I realized it was actually a diamond we were sitting in, not a square. Man, this half-state is so trippy. I wonder if I'm going to be in this half-state the whole time. I don't know if I would want to be aware of my body while my soul travels out of it. That might become nightmare fuel.
I was brought back to the present when a potion bottle was placed into my hand. "Drink up, niece. This potion will help separate your consciousness from your body when your soul travels the astral. You will want to keep your mind with you so you don't forget why you are even in the astral. The potion is also so you have a starting point for us to build the bridge for you to ascend or descend into the astral."
I held up the bottle, getting momentarily distracted by the way the glass and liquid shimmered and reflected the morning light coming in through the window. The bottle was taken from my hand, and a hand held the back of my head as it was brought to my lips.
I obediently tipped my head back, drinking the potion down as Korran looked down at me with smiling eyes. When I finished drinking the potion, he placed the bottle outside the diamond, then with a snap of his fingers a barrier formed, and the world became completely silent.
Now seated comfortably on their own pillows crossed-legged, they gestured for me to position myself like them. I did, then waited drowsily for my next instructions. "Your body had been purified and made ready. Now we will purify and make ready your mind. We will begin the invocation. When you are ready, join us." Korran spoke softly, but it felt so loud with how silent the space was.
I gave a small nod, worried that anything bigger would topple me over. Together, Korran and Uncle Cor began a chant similar to the one I just did with Nimra and Aunt Zira. "Thesk'kar Cyr'eth Luskai. Crae'thar Oph'reth Myrrith Na'loren Vel'an. (Protect the mind as she dreams. Create a passageway for memories to travel the astral and return to this anchored body.)"
My gaze was drawn downwards when something sparkled to my right. Along the edges of the diamond were flat pieces of black tourmaline, obsidian, smoky quartz, and hematite. They pulsed to the rhythm of the chanted invocation. My eyes fell shut as my breath rose and fell in tandem to the rhythm. When they completed the invocation for the fifth time, I joined them.
We prayed and meditated for what felt like days. Breathing and praying as one. I don't know how much time had actually passed when I felt my body being guided to stand. When I completed the invocation, I opened my eyes. Korran and Uncle Cor looked pleased as they each leaned down to kiss my head. "Well done, niece. I'll see you later in the ritual hall." The barrier had been let down, but I could sense it wasn't deactivated.
Korran tilted my head up. He looked deep into my eyes, and whatever he saw satisfied him. "See you later, dear one. I'm so proud of you. We love you immensely." He tapped my nose, then he and Uncle Cor left the room. It wasn't even five seconds when Lux, Azrail, Keir, and Aspen entered and closed the door.
Azrail guided me back down onto the floor, but this time he had me lying down with my head on the pillow. While he got me settled, the others got situated on floor pillows outside the diamond. Ah, so that is why the barrier wasn't completely deactivated. We will do the next purification in here too. It is such a weird feeling to be here but also not feeling like I'm here.
Azrail got right up into my face, promptly bringing me back to the present moment in a way nothing else had anchored me this morning. "Ready to purify your soul, Little Queen?"