by C. R. Jane
I may have had no idea, but I trust them.
That was all I could do before my mind began to fade into a quiet slumber.
Goddess Of Eternity
When I opened my eyes, I expected to the familiar plain room I'd slept in for many years. Sybil was always against me doing anything with my room, but whenever I was now had gold walls that glistened in the moonlight.
The sheets beneath me were soft and silky, and I wasn't in my long, draped dress, but a nightgown of white satin.
My hair was up in what seemed like a bun, but I didn't remember putting it up that way. Or changing in general.
Sitting up, I noticed a single butterfly lifted off from where it was sitting on the night lamp, fluttering to where I was. It flew around my head and watched it with a wide smile.
Lifting my hand, I offered a finger for it to land on, and it did just that. The butterfly was similar to the ones I created, but instead of it being a golden color, this one was a mix of orange and red.
Its presence sent tingles a calm and a boost of energy through my fingertip and through the rest of my body. With an appreciative grin, I whispered, "Thank you, butterfly,"
It rose from my finger, only to land my nose. A giggle escaped me and I remained still for the glowing creature to have its explorative moment.
"You're awake."
I tried to see who was speaking with my eyes, not wanting to disturb the butterfly still on my nose, but I was definitely in the mindset to know who that voice belonged to.
"Ansiel?"
His footsteps sounded closer and there he was at the end of the bed. He had black pants and a red-sleeved tunic. His short blonde hair was combed back, and his blue eyes twinkled thanks to the moonlight that peered into the room.
"Looks like my magic likes you'" his smile sent a thrill through me like it did since I was sixteen. Being aware of how he made me feel was rather embarrassing, but also exciting.
It made me want to explore and test the waters, though deep down, I was afraid of his rejection. Glancing at the butterfly that was still on my nose made me cross-eyed, and Ansiel began to chuckle; the butterfly lifting from my nose and flying over to Ansiel and landing on top of his head.
"You look cute when you're well rested, Princess Luna,"
"Ansiel...how?" I looked around the room once more, unsure how we'd gotten here. I'd been in the forest, leaning against Eternity. How did I land up here?
"This is called The Tower of Meridium Luxus. It attached the Luminus Palace. It's a bit of a distance from your castle, Princess," Ansiel explained.
"You brought me all the way here? Aren't you worried about my sisters?" I felt a little giddy deep down, the thought of being away from home at this length already igniting my imagination.
All the possibilities this would bring. A night away from home. Away from Sybil's shouts, Eve's tender comfort, and Ina's precautious advice.
This was my chance. My opportunity to tell Ansiel. Tell him how I feel...but what if he doesn't accept my feelings?
"It was a rash decision, to be honest. Allen and Alex won't be here in the morning. I would have requested for their assistance and taking you back home, but you didn't look well. The clinics in the square wouldn't know how to deal with your magic, especially with a future Goddess. I decided to bring you here. It is a safe place and is warded. I'm pretty confident your sisters are unaware of this place as well. It's of sacred lands if you will. Only those who carry pure hearts can enter," he explained.
Walking to the side of the bed, he sat down and pressed his hand to my forehead.
"Ah. Much better," he looked beyond relieved. "I was worried you'd spike a fever."
"You care more about me than my own sisters," I muttered, glancing away as my cheeks grew hot from his affection.
"I've watched you grow from a child who carried a heart of gold to a woman, Princess Luna. I will always care about you,"
"Even when you'll never be able to see me again," My voice was tiny.
Ansiel leaned slightly over, allowing me to see his displacement with my statement.
"Why would we never see each other?"
"You know my role," I whispered, lifting my eyes to look into his. "What I'm destined to do,"
"And that destiny is supposed to be fulfilled so soon?" he questioned.
"Yes. I think so. Sybil says I have to do the ritual this year, but I've been struggling," I closed my eyes, deciding to vent. He was the one I was able to gain encouragement from all those years ago. Maybe he'd be able to do it again.
"I'm not ready, Ansiel," I looked directly into his blue eyes, showing every bit of my vulnerability as my eyes watered.
"I've experienced nothing, Ansiel. I've never had a true friend. Never explored past that tree you met me at eleven years ago. I don't even know what the people from these other universes look like, let alone what is over and beyond in my own home universe of Luminus. I've never heard or read of this tower and palace in the few books I do possess. I know little to none of this world," I swallowed the lump in my throat, taking a deep breath to try and compose myself.
"In my mind, I see our world as a vast place, with many avenues I've yet to step upon. Yet, here I am, eighteen with no experience in anything. I've not done any of the common things a child or teen would have. I've never even experienced what it's like to...be loved by another," I mumbled the last part, feeling my cheek blush as I glanced away.
"You have a crush on someone," he whispered.
"Yes. For awhile. A very long time," I mumbled. "I thought...I'd have more time, Ansiel. I wanted to be able to approach my crush...or well...crushes when I felt confident in myself," I looked back at him, feeling even more nervous at my confession, but the words were flowing out.
"When I was little, that time when you stood up for me against Sybil...I told myself that I'd work harder. I'd study and do my best in everything I did. Even if it meant a little less sleep. I've done everything my sisters have asked me to. Trained until I couldn't anymore. Yet, I feel like I've accomplished nothing,"
With a deep breath, I continued.
"Eleven years have passed, but I feel like the same little girl you found in the forest. The only difference is now I'm a woman. Why does it matter though? A woman who has no friends, or other family members to interact with. A woman who's never experienced what the feel of kiss is like. It's embarrassing to admit how little I've lived, and what hurts the most is I've run out of time,"
My lip trembled as a tear fell down my cheek. "I'm a burden to my sisters. I'm holding them back from living their lives. Everyone...aren't there because they want to be. They see this as a duty, nothing more, and that hurts, Ansiel. It hurts to wake up at dawn to know the people who are supposed to love you don't want to be there. It makes my heart sink that I've now run out of time and have to do a ritual that bounds me to the universe until the next person shows up. That can be months, years, centuries, it could be forever. I'm the future Goddess of Eternity after all,"
Lowering my head in defeat, I sighed. "But don't I get to enjoy a bit of happiness? Or am I destined to be sad forever?"
Silence lingered between us, and I let my tears fall, tired of fighting them any longer. "I want to experience what real love. To travel and the very people who will one day pray to for help and salvation. I want to feel my strong purpose, but I'll never be able to like this. I'll never grow being stuck in the care of my sisters. Whether their intentions are pure or not, I don't think I'll ever be able to do the ritual with their guidance." I realized quietly. "To see their disappointment in me would be enough to shatter whatever hope I had left. Without hope that I can do this, where does that leave me?"
Ansiel was quiet, and the orange-red butterfly moved from his head to land on my nose once more. With how sad I was, it still made me smile.
"Thanks, butterfly," I whispered.
"Princess Luna?" Ansiel's voice was full of affection. "For tonight, can I address you as Luna?"
"Ok
ay," I whispered, the butterfly leaving my nose and flying over to sit on the lamp. I turned my gaze back to Ansiel.
Lifting his hands, he brushed away my tears and looked me right in the eye.
"Before you say any more, can I tell you a secret?"
His question brought the memories of that day, to be asked by the nobleman who loved my butterflies.
"Sure," I whispered. His eyes softened, something passing through them I didn't quite understand. My heart was beating rapidly against my chest, and my eyes grew wide when he inched closer until our lips finally touched.
The world went still as I stopped breathing, all my attention on the light touch of his lips. My very first kiss from the man I'd had a crush on for eleven years.
Did he know all along?
I had no clue what to do. To press my lips in return or to stay as still as I was now. The thought was short-lived, his lips leaving mine.
Staring at him in shock, I watched his pleased smile as he looked into my eyes.
"I've watched you grow, year after year, but it wasn't only during the times we performed,"
"It...wasn't?" I questioned, feeling confused.
He shook his head. "We are more than just performers, Luna. We are guardians sent to protect the Goddess of Eternity,"
"Protect? Me?" I couldn't believe it, but it didn't answer the questions that were flooding into my mind. "From what?"
"From those who are manipulating you. The ones who are desperate in need of you to complete the ritual," he revealed.
"What?" I was speechless. "You're referring to my sisters?"
"Sybil, yes, though your other sisters are just as guilty,"
"I'm not supposed to do the ritual?" Now I was simply lost, unsure what was true or false.
"Do you know who the previous Goddess of Eternity is?" Ansiel questioned, his thumb absentmindedly stroking my cheek.
"No. My sisters said they don't know where she is. No one knows,"
"I know," he whispered. "And so do you,"
"I do? Where?" I exclaimed, stunned that I'd known all this time. I tried to think of all the people in the square and marketplace. Was one of them the Goddess of Eternity in disguise?
"Where did we first meet?" he questioned, a glint of amusement flickered in his blue eyes. I frowned, the answer obvious.
"At the tree. I call her Eternity, but we met there. Are you saying the Goddess lives around there? No, wait. Beyond there?"
Ansiel had a smirk. "Why did you call her Eternity out of all the names you could give her?" he inquired, ignoring my questions.
"It felt right," I answered. A tree can live for eternity if given the love and care it needs from the world around it. As long as it's roots are in the soil, it can grow and last for as long as the universe permits," I voiced, remember all my studies regarding trees with magic.
Ansiel nodded in agreement. "Yes, but Eternity is not a normal magical tree,"
"She's not?" I questioned. "Then?"
"That is the Goddess of Eternity," he revealed.
Let's Start A Journey Together
"T-The Goddess of Eternity is actually a tree?" I gasped in shock. "That's horrible," I was already beginning to tear up, my eyesight growing blurry by the second.
Ansiel's eyes went wide, and he quickly spoke, "She chose to be in that form, Luna. Don't cry," he immediately comforted.
"She chose to be a tree?" I questioned, trying to hold back my tears and listen to what he had to say.
"The Goddess of Eternity has served her role for many centuries. She's taken it as her role for exactly that, all eternity," Ansiel stressed.
"Yes, I know that, but I'm supposed to take over, aren't I?"
Ansiel sighed and shook his head. "Luna. Your original duty is to travel to different universes and help spread the Goddess of Eternity's existence. You were blessed with a bit of Goddess' power to help raise the awareness of her presence. People don't merely pray to the Goddess of Eternity. Some have lost their way completely because the fewer people who kneel down and pray to her, the weaker she ends up becoming.
"What?" I whispered. "Then...if I had completed the ritual?"
"If you completed the ritual, the Goddess of Eternity would have died," he announced.
My jaw dropped as I stared at him. He carried on.
"The ritual would destroy the roots of the tree and drain the rest of the Goddess' power. Once she passed, those millions of people who do pray to her would suffer and Luminous itself would die altogether,"
I was left speechless, unable to comprehend what would have happened if I did complete the spell. I looked to him, unsure what to ask first.
"Why?" he whispered. When I nodded, he continued. "I believe Sybil wanted to gain Goddess of Eternity's power and use it for herself. We may slow in age, but we do age. What myself, Allen, and Alex believe is that Sybil wants to live forever. She wants the power to give her everlasting youth. We weren't sure at first, and we've been doing our best to try and watch everything she'd been trying to do, but with how the years have gone by and the stress on this ritual, we realized she was up to no good,"
"What do we do?" I questioned.
"Well, as of now, we have an advantage," he grinned. "They don't know where this place is, nor do they know where you currently are. They may assume your hiding for the night and will come back in the morning,"
"But I won't, right?"
He smirked. "If you don't want to. I won't force you to stay here, but now that we've revealed the truth, the choice is yours," he offered.
I already knew my answer, but this was the best time ever to reveal what I'd been holding back for years.
"Before I answer, can I tell you another secret?" I whispered. He nodded and gave me his full attention.
"I..." With a deep inhale, I gathered every bit of course to say the words. "I...like you." My voice sounded like a squeaky mouse.
Please don't reject me.
"I know."
My eyes grew wide and I stared at him as though he was crazy. "What?"
"I know," he assured me. "You like Alex and Allen as well?"
My face grew hot as I blinked back at him, realizing he was right on point.
"When?" I asked.
"For a while," he whispered with a small grin.
My face was burning up. "Why didn't you say something if you knew?!" I argued.
"We didn't want to interfere with your feelings," he smiled, releasing my face and rising up to turn and face me.
"Aren't you going to make me choose one of you?"
"Nope," Ansiel shrugged. "Allen, Alex, and I have been friends for a very long time. We've also come to care about you in return. It was first protectively, but as you grew, we began to realize we liked you a lot more than just a guardian and a princess,"
"All three of you like me," I couldn't believe. "Not only do you guys like me, but you're also my guardians, and I don't have to be bonded to the universe. I'll be able to travel? To see the other universes?"
Ansiel nodded his head. "With us, Luna, you are free to travel and go on any adventure you wish to journey on. We'll come and protect you. When you're ready and comfortable to explore more, we'd be honored to court you to emphasize our feelings."
I covered with my hands, not wanting him to see how cherry red I must have been. "E-Even if I want to explore? I've never been with anyone," I stuttered.
I felt his hands lay gently on mine, moving them away for him to see my flushed face.
"Anything, Luna. We can do whatever you wish," he concluded.
I didn't know where to start or how to feel. There were many emotions I was feeling all at once. I was definitely sure about one thing.
"In the morning, let's journey together. All four of us to spread the world of the Goddess of Eternity," I vowed.
"Sounds like a plan, Luna," he replied.
"And," I whispered, not wanting him to move away just yet. "One more thing,"
"Hmm?" he replied, his eyes telling me
he already knew what I wanted.
"Can we kiss again?" I whispered.
"Yes, we can, Princess Luna," he whispered.
"Luna," I whispered, blushing slightly. "Just for tonight," I reminded.
He smirked, inching closer until our lips barely touched.
"Yes, Luna. Just for tonight."
Tomorrow we would embark on a new journey. One that would prove who was good and evil. There were far too many questions still lingering in my head, but I had hoped I'd find those answers along the way.
My main goal was to protect the Goddess of Eternity and spread her name across the universe.
TO BE CONTINUED.
About Yumoyori Wilson
Yumoyori Wilson is a full-time author who has a “slight” addiction to bubble tea.
She previously was a Pediatric Registered Nurse, working her night shifts away and reading her kindle during her breaks. She decided to take the chance at becoming an author and is now working on multiple projects in various genres, including Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and more.
She lives in Toronto, Ontario and loves to bother her lovely Mother (also known as her Queen) and has many projects and plans for her readers.
Author’s Note
I wrote this story in part because I am intrigued by origin stories and mythologies. They reveal so much of what a culture and society values.
Plus, it tickles me to know that most of the legends and myths we hold dear likely happened to some degree. In that respect, I wholly believe that we are the heroes of our own stories and love knowing that we all are just one step away from being legendary.
To that end, please note that this story takes place in a fictional realm.
I have borrowed from many Asian myths and twisted them with my own brand of darkly magical storytelling to create the world of Flame of the Phoenix.
