Nyxara
12:00 pm
My thumbs up gesture was met with soft chuckles. Azrail patted my head, then sat on his pillow. With a snap of his fingers, the barrier was reformed. "We will now begin the purification and strengthening of your soul for astral travel. We will chant, and you will just let the essence in. You are not to join us in this invocation. Just focus on letting the essence of the spell in. If you get too sleepy, that is okay. Go ahead and let yourself rest. Sons, let us begin."
I took him at his word and let the muffled rhythm of the invocation lull me to sleep. I dreamt of a bridge being built towards a tall pagoda tower. I could not move, so I watched as the bridge was built piece by piece.
I sensed the essence of my family cocooning me inside and out. When I let go, I could faintly hear the chanting of Nimra and Aunt Zira hum along my skin. I could feel the vibration of the bass tones of Korran and Uncle Cor on my tongue. The whispered voices of my brothers and Azrail echoed from my center.
I felt like a tuning fork being adjusted to harmonize with each layer. A sudden clap of hands snapped me completely awake. When my eyes focused, a mosaic ceiling came into view. After a moment, I turned my head to the side trying to figure out where I was. I met Keir's gaze as his fingers finished a glyph. Vel'thirra (Thread)floated over to me, then split into two glyphs. One sank down into my body, and the other floated over to Aspen. It sank into his chest. I instantly felt a soul-connection between us.
"Close your eyes, Little Wolf. We will smudge you to complete the ritual." I closed my eyes. From three different directions, I heard something being set on fire. Then the smoky scent of roses, bay leaf, hyssop, and mugwort began to encase me. While I was enveloped in smoke, another set of hands placed a circlet around my head. Next, two necklaces, a bracelet for each wrist, and an anklet for each ankle were put on me.
My eyelids and lips were painted with something that smelled indescribable and dried quickly. My eyes were still closed when hands pulled me into a standing position. "Little Queen, you are now ready physically, mentally, and spiritually as we can make you for your part of the Working. You will have one last meal that should sustain your body for the duration of your whole journey and the time it will take you to integrate the memories once your soul returns."
I blinked a few times to adjust to the bright sunlight now shining through the windows. My body felt empty and light but not particularly hungry. Before I could muse more on my body's oddity, Lux and Aspen took my hands. I smiled up at my twin big brothers, and they smiled back with amusement. Keir then Azrail kissed my forehead before stepping back to let Aspen and Lux guide me out of the room.
We walked hand in hand towards the front doors of the residence. I was swinging their hands with a big smile until my eyes locked onto a pair of smiling amber eyes. I stopped swinging our hands and tried to pull my hands away, but my brothers did not let go. The traitors held on tighter. Elias watched our antics with a raised eyebrow and smirk. Uncle Hael took in everything with a curious expression before it shifted to something more serious. "We will take over from here, nephews. Go prepare."
Lux and Aspen kissed my head, then released me into Rhodri and Taen's care. They took my hands, then with Elias leading and Uncle Hael close behind us, I was taken around to the backyard. My cousins pulled me towards a beautiful gazebo placed amongst Uncle Hael's tea bushes.
2:00 p.m.
My cousins seated me between them. Elias sat down next to Taen, and Uncle Hael sat down next to Rhodri. There was an open chair across from me, but I wasn't sure if we were expecting another person. I got the answer to that unasked question when Zen arrived, pushing a cart of food our way.
Uncle Hael and Elias stood up from their seats to help Zen place our lunch on the table. Everyone except me had chicken pasta with veggies. My lunch consisted of a soup, a salad, and a sandwich with a large mug of some kind of steaming brew.
"Leave the brew until you begin eating your sandwich. It will help you return to your half-state so you will be ready for the Working once you are done eating. Start with your soup." Uncle Hael instructed, then turned his attention to his kids to make sure they didn't need any help with their food.
Over the course of the lunch, we talked about light topics. It was relaxing and delightful to get this chance to spend time with my friends and the family members I've spent the least amount of time with. I learned that Taen was a music instrument prodigy. He hasn't discovered an instrument yet that he couldn't play. He made me promise we would play music together after I recovered from the Working.
Rhodri brought me up to speed on her dream to become a combat healer. She wanted to combine her parents' paths of combat fighting and healing into one path. She wouldn't be the first, but there aren't many who succeed since the disciplines conflict in multiple aspects. Regardless, I encouraged her to take her time in building her path and not to rush.
She was especially pleased as I gave my honest suggestions about how she could build her foundation. I admit, my advice came from various books I've read here and in my past life but since none of the more experienced cultivators disagreed with my advice I guess those fictional books from my past life had some merit to them.
This was an important cultivation period for Rhodri since she just started her true cultivation journey as a Seed Tier cultivator. Zen and Elias offered suggestions as well to her complete delight. I would not be surprised if in the next few years, Rhodri's actions create a movement of cultivators becoming combat healers.
When I asked, Zen let me know that everything was going well with her family. She has even started working with Florien and her father on a company order. What her words didn't say, her tone and expression did. She was very excited to get to work with her brother and dad. I smiled until my gaze locked once more with amber eyes.
He didn't give me any kind of update. He was just present in the way he was always present. He truly makes me be protected and seen. The wink he sent my way had me ducking my head as I reached for the mug of brew. Listening to the chatter around me, I felt myself sink back into a half-aware state. I slowly ate my sandwich and finished my brew. I got comfortable in my chair while the others chatted.
At some point, my head was placed on a shoulder that smelled of tonka bean and vanilla. When I woke up from my doze, I felt myself being carried. Through half-lidded eyes, I saw nothing but trees around me. Looking up, I would have ended up knocking my head into Elias's chin if he hadn't shifted me in time.
Uncle Hael was walking on the path in front of us, holding hands with Taen and Rhodri. Beside Elias and me, Zen walked in step with us. My sleepy mind zeroed in on her attire. She was wearing a similar attire to mine in white. My heavy head thunked back onto Elias's chest. I inhaled his scent, noticing that I could fully scent him and was not just catching whiffs of him.
Rubbing the fabric under my head, I recognized that he too was wearing a tunic similar to mine. The only differences I noted were that his was sleeveless and beige. We entered through a stone gate, and soon a circular building came into view once we were inside. I recognized that we had arrived at the sacred ritual hall.
Taen and Rhodri suddenly were right in front of me. They each gave me a kiss on my cheek, then stepped aside. Uncle Hael came forward to take me out of Elias's arms, but at the last second, Elias had somehow dodged the attempt and carried me into the ritual hall. I could hear Uncle Hael chuckle and say something about how Elias reminded him of his own courting days with Zira.
When we entered the main ritual chamber, I saw my family and Zen making last minute adjustments. Before anybody noticed our arrival, Elias stepped into a darkened corner, then tipped my face up. "You better come back safe. I still have lots to teach you, and I would like the chance to properly date and court you once you are ready to consider me. Plus, I really, really don't want to explain to the dragon that he will never get the chance to be properly introduced to you. So please come back safe for my sake if nothing else, okay?"
I heard his words, but I stored them away for later consumption and understanding. I gave a small, serious nod in agreement, hoping I hadn't just agreed to something I shouldn't have. His forehead touched mine with a sigh. "You understood nothing I just said. That's okay. If I have to, I'll come pick you up if you get lost in the Astral. It's almost time for the pre-Working to be initiated. I'll be outside protecting the building in case anyone wants to interrupt the ritual. See you later, Sharii."
He looked at me with so much affection, with a touch of worry that I couldn't help comforting him. I licked his nose. He almost dropped me in shock. "Did you just lick my nose? What are you, a dog shifter now?"
I couldn't help laughing and barking so hard I almost rolled out of his arms. This, of course, brought us to the attention of the room. Elias sighed as he pressed his forehead to mine once more before walking forward under the various stares of my family. He placed me on the bed in the center of the very large ritual circle that encompassed the majority of the hall. He tucked me in, bowed to me, then to the room, before he walked out without another look back.
I felt eyes on me for another moment before they went back to the last minute preparations. I was shifting to lie on my side when I was pushed to lie on my back. "Little Queen. Behave and lie as you were positioned. We will begin as soon as the others finish the final adjustments and we do a last check-up on you. Don't fall asleep. You still have a task to do. While we wait, do you want to talk to your Azrail about what is going on with you and Elias Cress?"