By the Grace of Blood, Part IX

An explanation was needed. A way to record a gift as mighty as blood magick. A way to obscure the truth. Gods replaced the Nesseri as creators of the blood magick. Gods were worshipped for their gift. As the Nesseri were forgotten, so too were the old guard of life. The Sacred Sanguinate became responsible for life, purpose, ethics, and magick. They became far more than originally devised. These beliefs birthed new truth into the universe. Gods were made real by their praise, by their worship, by belief. Belief is a magick of unique power and possibility. Unhindered by rules of nature or science. Belief is a weapon. Belief is dangerous. Belief must be changed.

~

Mother and Father linked hands. They’re eyes turned a bright white and glowed like small suns. They looked to Clym. “When you were left at our door as an infant, we knew we had discovered the key to fulfillment. We had been empty, all of our initial functions had been completed. We looked as human as anyone else, but something was missing. That missing piece was and still is you. You, Clym, are our greatest treasure. You are that which made us the most we could ever be, and the happiest we have ever felt. We are proud of you, and our changing will be the ultimate fulfillment of our lives, to assist you always. Beyond the limitations of life and un-life, we will guide you, protect you, and fight with you. Remember daughter, you are strong, you are beautiful, and you are good,” they said.

Clym cried. “You have told me this day would come, that you would change, to expect it, but what does it all mean? How is this even possible?” she said.

“Do not fear, daughter. This is the path true to us, regardless of the path we have made true in our time here in Harbin. We have kept these customs first out of imitation, and later out of fondness for this community and those within it. Lean on these people, they will be there for you, and so will we, in our own way. We were born of light, and assimilated into human society. Now, we return to light and reforge ourselves as artifacts of love,” they said.

“I never asked enough questions, I should have learned more! Can’t you just wait? Can’t you teach me more before you change?” Clym said.

“The change has already begun, daughter. We have told you most of what we know, but there are many things of our own nature that we do not understand. Should you truly wish to learn more, seek out the light-masters after you complete your challenge, they can tell you more. Now, we must say goodbye,” they said.

Clym went to them and held them. Their bodies grew brighter and brighter until she had to avert her eyes. The light went out. She turned to look and found them gone. In their place lay a cloak that shimmered with starlight, and a silver necklace holding a stone that glowed with sunlight. She put the necklace on and held the cloak up to her face. She sobbed into it. In her head a voice said “We are with you, daughter, and you are loved.” The changing was complete.

A knock came at the door. Clym looked to the door. The knock came again, three taps at the door. Clym grabbed the starlight cloak and put it on. “I am with you, daughter,” said a voice within her head. She fastened the necklace around her neck. “And I,” said another voice. Mother. Father. You are with me.

Another thrice knock came at the door, louder this time.

“I’m coming! Just a moment!” Clym called.

Three knocks hit again.

Clym rolled her eyes and swung the door open.

Two guards stood in front of her. They looked at her with narrowed eyes and then nodded.

“Can I help y-” she stopped. These guards looked familiar.

“We thought we noticed ya up on the stage. Had to be sure, so we’s followed ya after the feast finished. Sure ‘nuff, here ya are. Ya won’t escape us this time. We made sure to alert the rest of the guard that yer a possible suspect, after we ‘eard them say yer name. Yer comin’ with us, blood-master Andros.

Damn. I don’t see A way out of this one. Even if I escape these two, I’ll have the rest of the guard after me. She slammed the door shut. She raced to the back bedroom. The two guards burst through he door. Clym pulled out the final potion she had left; a transformation potion. Each guard took a room. The second guard found her drinking the potion.

“Quick! In here! She’s drinking a potion!” he said.

He charged forward and tackled Clym. She hit the ground hard and gasped. Her eyes flashed red. She tried to roll away but the guard grabbed her arms and held them down. He raised his sword and swung its pommel down toward her head. Clym snatched her head to the side and kicked the guard in the stomach. He stumbled off of her. The other guard entered the room and righted his companion.

Clym sprung up to her feet and cursed. Close your eyes, daughter. Clym hesitated and then did as the voice said. Sunlight blasted out in an arc from her necklace. The guards staggered back, blinded. Clym opened her eyes and dove beneath the men who swung their weapons wildly. Her slide collided with the dining table and knocked a chair over. Clym grunted and got up. The guards turned, their eyes still closed. She tiptoed to the door. The guards crashed into the dinner table and hacked at it. Clym opened the door and dashed into the streets. Her blood was warm and surged with power. She ducked into an alley where no one could see her. She looked down to see her legs shrink and curl into bird ones. She looked to the side and her arms shrank and sprouted feathers. A beak stretched out where her mouth and nose once were. She was a crow. She tried to speak and all that came out were caws and squawks. He clothes were gone. She flapped her arms in frustration and accidentally threw herself into the air. She flew into the wall of the alley and plummeted to the ground. The two guards lumbered into the street. Their eyes were open again.

“Look for her! She can’t have gone far!” one said.

“I’ll go this way. Meet back up at the guard house if ya can’t find her,” the other said.

One of the guards rushed down the alleyway Clym was in. Clym flapped into the air and the guard shooed her away before continuing down the alley. “Stupid bird,” he said. Clym squawked in relief. She flew up and out of the alley. The buildings fell away and she climbed into open air. The wind ruffled her feathers and she looked down at the town beneath her.

This is…incredible. Everything seems so small, so…insignificant. The feeling of the crisp air, the lightness of my body. It’s magnificent. Beautiful.

She soared high above the town and then circled back to her house. The guards were no longer there. Will this still be home, when I return? Do I truly have a home anymore? What will the town do with it while I am gone? How will I explain mother and father? She flew over the town center and admired the banners and festive colors of the feast. She dashed up and down in the sky, practicing her flight. A while later, her blood began to cool. She felt the power fading from her. She flew back towards town center. She swooped down to the shops and glided to the curio shop’s windowsills. She tapped on the glass with her beak. Tap tap tap. Tap tap tap. Halma came up to the window and looked at the bird there. She tapped back at the glass. Clym tapped again. Tap tap tap. Halma opened the door. Clym flew in and landed on the counter. Her wings turned into arms, her claws into legs, and her beak into a mouth. She transformed back into her natural body and sat upon Halma’s counter. Her clothes were wrinkled, like they had been crushed into a ball, but otherwise the same as when she transformed. She blushed.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t think about where I’d end up when I transformed,” she said.

Halma smiled. “Don’t worry spring-flower, I don’t mind. Were you experimenting some more before you have to leave?” Halma said.

Clym shook her head and frowned. “No, some guards were after me. They recognized me at the feast and followed me home to arrest me. I got away, but only because of the blood magick. What should I do? They are going to get the rest of the guard to search for me!” she said. She lowered her feet down from the counter and stood.

Halma frowned and paced back and forth for a while.

“Halma?” Clym said.

“Just a moment dear. I’m working it all out in my head,” Halma said.

Clym fidgeted with her new necklace and leaned against the counter.

Halma paused at the window. Two guards walked past and up to the door. “Get behind the counter,” Halma said. Clym hesitated, looked at Halma who nodded, and then walked around the counter and lowered herself out of sight.

A knock came at the door. Halma opened it. “Can I help you neran guardsmen?” she said.

“Hello neran. We’re searching for a young woman, of house Andros. She is one of the two challenging for yer shop position. Is that correct?” one of the guards said.

“That is correct. What do you want of her?” Halma said.

“Well, ya see, we had an altercayshun with ‘er a few days back and she used blood magick against us. There’s a chance she might be involved with the goings on lately,” the other said.

“Is that so? Didn’t the Lady and Lord already announce that they found the culprit?” Halma said.

“Well, yes neran, but-”

“Then why bother the young woman right before her challenge? Surely you have better things to be doing?” Halma said.

“Listen, neran, we have to follow up any lead we have and-

“Did she harm you when you first encountered her blood magick?” Halma said.

“Well no, neran, but the second time we found ‘er she attacked us when we entered ‘er house,” the guard said.

“And did you have permission to enter her house? Hasn’t the writ of search been suspended?” Halma said.

“Well no, neran, and yes the writ of search has been suspended, but-”

“Then it seems to me that you have invaded someone’s home without permission, she defended herself when you tried to take her, and the only thing you have against her is blood magick used in self defense. Is that right?” Halma said.

“Listen, neran, she’s a blood-master she is! She’s dangerous! She was chasing a boy and he told us she was a blood-master, she might have tried to kill him!” one of the guards said.

“Do you know why she was chasing the boy? Perhaps he was a thief? Anyone would yell out such a thing to escape blame. It just so happened that she did have blood magick potions and used them to escape you. Does that sound like a particularly good case against her? It seems she has the better case against you. Blood magick is not illegal. Guards forcing their way upon the average citizen? That is,” Halma said.

The guards looked at each other nervously. They looked to Halma and nodded.

“Please, neran, don’ report us. We need our jobs. We…we’ll this case rest. We don’ mean to be a bother, promise,” the said.

“Good. Tell the rest of the guard and stop preying on young women. There’s enough of in this town already,” Halma said. She shut the door. She walked to the window and watched the guards walk away. When they were out of sight she turned around. “They’re gone,” she said.

Clym stepped out from behind the counter.”How did you do that? That was amazing!” she said.

“Pressure in the right situation can yield promising results,” Halma said. She turned away from the window. “I was part of a large family. I had six siblings. The only way to get a word in was by providing the right pressure and then making sure each word counted. It challenged my wit and made me calculating. It’s helpful to have, but can make me selective in what I tell people, as you’ve seen,” she said.

“Well, this time it saved me, so thank you,” Clym said.

“Of course Spring-flower. Now, let me grab you the collection of potions I’ve prepared. You’ll need all the help you can get if this Jera challenger knows anything about the true nature of my position,” Halma said. Clym nodded. Halma went to the back of the store and lifted the hatch to the basement. “Come, it’s time for you to see more of the craft. I expect you to win the challenge after all, so don’t let me down,” she said.

Clym beamed. “Really? Wow, I mean, great!” she said. She walked to the hatch and followed Halma down into the basement. This is…this is…amazing, terrifying, beautiful? All these jars, are they all activating ingredients? She walked along the rows of shelves and peered into many of the jars.

“Yes, those are all ingredients. I have been at this for a long time,” Halma said.

“I see that. These cauldrons, are these where you make the potions?” Clym asked.

“Yes. And over there is where I store the blood of many different creatures,” Halma said, pointing at the iron box next to the workbench. “In the future I will show you some of the exact combinations for certain potions, ones that are the favorites of buyers or particularly useful, but for now I will give you a collection of ones I think will be helpful in your journey,” Halma said.

Halma walked to the workbench and waved Clym over to join her. Clym touched the iron box and then retracted it quickly. “It’s so cold!” she said.

Halma smiled. “Yes, the blood needs to be kept frozen to preserve it’s composition for the mixing process. The cauldrons over there are simply more effective for large batches of mixing, the mixture does not require heating,” she said. Halma opened the iron box and pulled out five vials of blood. She set them on the workbench and gathered five activating ingredients from the shelves across the room. She mixed together five bowls while Clym watched, enthralled by the process. Three turned red and two turned blue. Halma bottled the blood magick into potion bottles. She carved a symbol into the cork that stoppered each bottle. She turned to Clym and handed her the potions. “Take these for your journey, Spring-flower. Here’s a list of the symbols. Memorize them so you can determine the best occasion for each potion,” she said.

Clym took the potions and list. She put them in her satchel and looked at Halma. “Thank you Halma. Your help, well, it means a lot,” she said.

“Tell me, Spring-flower. Where did you get that necklace and cloak? They are rather…unusual,” Halma said.

Clym looked at her apparel and opened her mouth slightly before closing it. “Well. They are gifts from Mother and Father. They gave them to me as departing presents. To help me on my challenge, much like you are helping me now,” Clym said.

“Is that so? They are rather unique gifts. The light in them reminds me of something I haven’t seen in many years. Do you happen to know where they got them?” Halma said.

“Not really. I mean they said something about their traditions. They weren’t from Andora. Truthfully, I don’t know as much about their past as I wish,” she said.

“Well you could ask them, could you not?” Halma said.

“Well, I’m not sure I can. Maybe?”

“Light-masters then?” Halma said. She looked straight at Clym. Clym started.

“Uh, uh…” Clym sighed. “Yes. I don’t know quite what it all means. They said the light-masters had something to do with it all. They said I should seek them out after my challenge. How do you know about them?” Clym said.

“Light-masters and their creations are a subject not often discussed in Andora. A foreign country and its mysteries are regarded much like mythology here. I, however, have traveled. I have met people of other countries, learned from them, and seen their successes and failures. Blood magick is the way of Andora’s people. But light magick, well that is of Marathan’s people. That and dark magick as well,” Halma said. Her eyes flashed black and the candles flickered.

Clym shivered. Her face contorted. “Light and dark magick? You mean other magicks exist beyond blood magick? But what of the Sacred Sanguinate? Are they not our gods? If they are in possession of our lives, why would these other things be absent from their teachings and our learning?” Clym asked.

“Good questions Spring-flower. They are not easy to answer. Life is not as simple as people are taught to believe, and what we are taught is not always correct or the whole canvas. More lies beyond. I can tell you what I know, and I will, but we should do as your Mother and Father have suggested. Focus on the challenge. Then, we will explore the rest,” Halma said.

“Halma. Why did your eyes go black? Is that dark magick?” Clym asked.

“Dark magick…is unpredictable. We will discuss it. I promise you this. Just not now. We need to get to the gate and get you on your way. Are you ready?” Halma said.

“Yes. I’m ready,” Clym said.

“Good,” Halma said. She climbed out of the basement and Clym followed. They closed the hatch, covered it, and exited the store. Halma locked the door with an iron key and placed the key within her own satchel. They proceeded to the West Gate. A crowd had gathered. They watched Halma and Clym approach. Jera waited at the gate. She narrowed her eyes.

“I forgot to tell you to arrive after me, for the sake of appearances, but it’s too late now. Prepare yourself. I won’t see you or be able to help you until you return,” Halma whispered.

“Thank you Halma. For everything. I’ll do my best,” Clym said.

“Neran of Harbin, watch as witnesses. The first challenge begins when the gate is opened. The two challengers must do whatever it takes to reach Aredvale, find an item of significant cultural value, and bring it back before the week is up. As said before, the winner will be determined by their speed of retrieval as well as the item acquired. Let the best challenger win, and the true path show itself before us,” Halma said.

“Let the best challenger win, and the true path show itself before us!” the crowd chanted.

Halma looked at Jera and Clym. She nodded. Clym smiled. Jera smiled and glared simultaneously. Halma raised her hand. Two guards readied themselves by the gate doors. The rest of the guards were noticeably absent. So were the Lady and Lord. The crowd held its breath. Halma lowered her hand. The guards opened the gate. The crowd bellowed, cheered, screamed. Clym and Jera ran. They dashed along the western trade road to Aredvale. They passed farms and houses on the edge of the town’s territory. Soon, everything Clym knew was behind her.