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She could feel the heat of the flames nearing her feet. Staring out at the crowd, fear was clear on her face. She saw some of them turning away, refusing to look at what they started. She could hear chants of burn the witch mixed with screams begging for this to stop. She knew that the begging would do nothing. She glared at the sky, cursing herself for staying too long in one place. She wanted to scream, to cry out and beg like the kinder villagers, but she was gagged. Tears started to stream down her face.
“Burn the witch,” the chanting was overpowering, each time louder than before.
“Kill her and end the curse on the land,” she could make out the voice this time. The village leader, the same one she’d brought food and water too earlier in the week. She’d prepared for the drought and poor harvest the town hadn’t. She helped them and they still blamed her. She watched in fear as the town leader lit a torch and threw it to the top of the pyre. The flames erupted under her and she finally screamed in pain. The bright fire consumed her vision.
She jumped up in bed soaked in a cold sweat. She could just barely feel the heat fading. The sun was rising, she likely had until evening before she’d be captured. She had to finish her business and leave quickly. She rose to throw on her simple black tunic with her dark blue cloak. It helped in some cases and hurt in others, this was probably a hurtful one. She put on her bag and went out to her yard. Step one was to gather vegetables.
Focusing on the world around her she felt the land respond to her call. Slowly plants of all kinds began to grow more than enough to fill her basket. She grabbed the basket from next to the door and started to fill it. This would be enough for a few days each and by then she’d be gone. If the village was lucky the land would retain her wishes and there would be more here when they investigated. She hefted the basket up and made her way down the hill quickly. Most of the villagers had gotten used to seeing her in the mornings, receiving food she claimed she found out in the woods. She didn’t understand why she could make plants grow, but she made use of it.
Her basket was emptying quickly as she made her way through town. They knew what was planned and wanted to make sure they had enough once she was gone. She kept a kind smile as she met their eyes. They would feel guilty enough if she didn’t escape her fate. She was shocked that her basket even had enough for all of them with the amount being taken, but was relieved to see it only emptied at the last home. Then she sought out her main reason for being here. A young intelligent child who had a promising future only if they escaped this village. Many of them here were kind, but they looked down on children who acted differently. Placing her basket down near the city well she moved quickly towards the shadowed allies.
“My lady,” the young voice called out in a harsh whisper, “you mustn’t stay long. The village intends to harm you for our recent plight.”
She smiled at them, calmly sitting on the ground where they hid.
“I’ve come to help you escape. I will survive any plans they have, child, do not worry,” she said, carefully slipping her hand into her bag and pulling out her coin pouch. She opened it relieved to see it filled with gold. She always had a full coin pouch, a gift she made sure to be careful with. She held out the weighty pouch to the child. She smiled as they started to panic, calmly grabbing their hands to place the bag safely between them.
“My lady you need this much more than I do, I’m just a person from a poor village,” they tried to force it back into her hands.
“You are someone with a great future, use this to follow your dream. Leave now, you will be safe I am sure,” she pulled her hands away leaving the coin pouch. The youth stared at her for a few moments before hugging her tightly. She froze, contact wasn’t common in her life anymore.
“Thank you my lady,” they tightened their hold. “Please come find me in the town I will give you shelter after you’ve escaped.”
She carefully freed herself from their hold with a smile still on her face. She gave a light push signaling for them to go. They had tears in their eyes as they stood, making their way out of the village in the safety of the shadows. She stood up dusting herself off. A steadying breath and she returned to the village. A number of the villagers were milling about by the well. She knew they were waiting on her as well. She walked up confidently, ignoring the fear some villagers sent her way. She went to the well, sending the bucket down to the darkness. She wished for water the same as she had the vegetables outside her home, relieved when she felt the bucket gain weight. This would be enough for a few days, it usually was. She pulled the bucket up, taking her drink to show the safety then leaving.
She grabbed her basket that she’d no longer be using and began to leave. Often she would stay and read in the center of the village, offering services of all kinds. Most commonly she would soothe the ill sharing a vision of happiness for themselves or those they worried over. She was nearly out of town when things took a turn. She heard a ruckus and turned to see the same youth she’d sent off with the money brought to the center of the crowd. They were being manhandled by the village guard.
“Where did you steal this gold from?” the guard yelled as they were thrown to the ground. They were crying, but she saw the bruises they’d received. They weren’t saying she gave it to them, too good for their own life. She started to move forward as the village leader came out to face the youth. He grabbed the coin pouch from the guard. It seems no one realized she was still there.
“This matches the clothing of the witch.” he said, showing the pouch to the crowd. “Did you steal from her and that’s why our harvest has failed and rain stopped? Did you bring the curse on us?”
There was murmuring in the crowd as the youth continued to keep their mouth shut. The guard who’d brought them forward kicked them, hard, in the stomach. They were sent rolling into the other guard who had remained silently seething this whole time. She knew many of this village were good people, the leader abused his power. She couldn’t change that though, the villagers would need to do that themselves. The seething guard went to help the youth up, but the glare shot at them halted the attempts. Fear was a powerful tool for people like this leader.
“This is proof enough we’ll punish you to subdue her curse as we had planned for her,” the leader announced. She almost wanted to laugh. Changing her own future was always so much harder than changing another’s. She watched as the rougher guard moved forward to grab the youth and she finally made her presence known.
“I assure you there was no thievery involved in receiving that gold.I expect you to return it as well,” she shot a glare at the village leader. He quickly threw the pouch back to the youth. She smiled at them again, before returning to her stern expression. “I can assure you there is no curse from my end either. A curse would be counterintuitive as I’ve continued to aid you since this began.”
The village was silent and she sighed. She would need to take the punishment to assure this youth had that bright future. She entered the small circle of the villagers helping the youth to their feet. She carefully checked that they could walk, placed the pouch she recovered back in their hands. Quickly she gave them a shove and they nodded running off. The crowd parted in fear of angering the ‘witch’. She turned back facing the two guards and the village leader once more. She wasn’t happy with this outcome, but that youth would help far more people than her being delayed for a few weeks.
“Now that that’s settled,” she announced, her air of confidence not faltering. “I believe if you have an issue with me or some curse you feel I’ve cast it would be best to go straight to the source, yes?”
This seemed to be their go ahead. The guards quickly seized her, holding her hands tightly behind her back. The sneer of the village leader already blending into the faces she’d seen in the past. They pulled her to the town center and tied her to the well. Briefly she wondered if they’d change their minds and planned to drown her, then she’d be upset. That could poison their water. Instead they got to work setting up a pyre and steak to burn her on. She hadn’t burned before, based on her dream she didn’t want to burn at all. There weren’t any options out of this though. She just hoped that child would in fact make it safely. She decided to check, having nothing better to do while waiting on her death. Closing her eyes and focusing her will towards the youth.
She was running quickly. They needed her immediately. This patient was ill and needed her steady hands. This new method of treatment was still risky, but so far she’d lost no one. She said a silent prayer as she entered the room. Seeing someone barely six laying on the bed had her pause. She silently thanked the saintly traveler who set her free from that village years ago and began to work. The process was slow, but without failure the child was already showing improvement. A lower body heat and breathing easier. She left the room with a smile, praying once more that she was forgiven for the sacrifice she had let happen to get here.
She was woken with a slap across the face. She glared at the village leader as he gave her a grotesque smile. She started to consider where she’d go next after all of this. The leader didn’t seem happy by her calm attitude, grabbing her hands and roughly pulling them free. She yelped in pain, she couldn’t hold it back with the unexpected action. He pulled her up to her feet and over to the stake standing tall in the center of the pyre. He tugged her along trying to make her seem to be stumbling. She kept her poise and happily annoyed the man more. A guard was waiting at the stake grabbing one of her hands, pulling roughly to tie it. They would tie her hands around the stake so she couldn’t free herself.
“Damned witch you deserve this,” he spit on her as he spoke. She tried to respond, but quickly had a gag shoved in her mouth. The guard and village leader quickly left, lighting a circle of fire that surrounded the pyre. The fire was just far enough it wouldn’t light the pyre accidentally. It also kept others from interfering without injuring themselves. The vision she saw earlier began to play out in reality. The screaming, the yelling and finally the village leader preparing to throw the torch. She would stay stoic as they thought she died for the real one though. Her tears were not something they deserved.
“Die damned witch,” the leader shouted. He held the torch to the circle of fire lighting it. Finally silencing all the surrounding villagers as he threw it to the pyre. She closed her eyes prepared for the pain she’d felt this morning. Instead a loud boom echoed through the village. Following that was the beginning drops of rain. She tilted her head up to the sky and slowly opened her eyes, thankful for the gag silencing her scream as she met the eyes of a colossal being. She stiffly moved her head down, staring straight ahead terrified by the hand in front of her. The best she could already see it was partly in the ground. The villagers were staring as well, but they were clearly not focused on the giant above her.
She heard the rope tying her hands snap and turned slightly. There was a being at least three times the height of a human there, with a matching sword. She stumbled backwards, falling on the now slick pyre. She tensed preparing to hit what would now be mud, but met something warm and soft instead. She was staring up into the brown eyes of the being again, the thing she landed on started to move and fear overcame her. She was on their hand.
“Go, protect the one the little seer sent away,” the being said. Their voice was soft and stern. This couldn’t be real. It had to be some strange dream, she was still tied to the well. She heard thumps from nearby, the villagers shrieking as the thumping grew louder. She couldn’t bring herself to move, completely frozen in fear. A memory flashed through her mind, a warning from her childhood.
“Child, always avoid the anger of the gods,” she was told. “You have been gifted power, and those beings are angry and vengeful. They can easily end the life of a mortal like you. Your power lets you do things only a god should, do not take risks.”
“Halt,” a different voice stated. It was harsh and booming, like thunder at the height of a storm. “None of you mortals should move. It has not been decided what will happen to you.”
The words alone terrified her more than the beings. She’d tried so hard to protect this village, they may have turned on her, but that wasn’t something she cared about. It was far from the first time after all. There were a few more thumps and she was met with another colossal face, green and blue eyes staring at her. One of the hands from the new being began to move towards her. She jumped, attempting and failing to scramble back on the hand holding her. She saw their expression falter before dropping their hand. They crouched to be eye level with the hand she was in.
“Little flower, how would you like the mortals punished for this?” the thunderous voice was quieter with the question. She’d not even removed the gag and was asked something like this. She ripped the gag out with more force than she’d meant causing a small coughing fit. The two faces loomed closer. She saw the blue and green eyed one turn with a glare towards the villagers. Concern replaced her fear almost immediately.
“S-stop,” she coughed out. “Th-they don’t deserve punishment. They were suffering the consequences of a spell cast by a conniving mage for a different village. They were scared, that’s all.”
Both giant beings shared a look before turning back to her.
“Are you saying you wish to just have the water and harvest restored?”
She nodded, worried her voice may make the beings doubt her. She wasn’t sure she could keep her fear from leaking out. The blue and green eyed giant sighed, the gust blowing her hair back. They stood back to full height causing her to gasp, even in the hand of one the other was huge. The one holding her pulled her close to their chest. Cupping their other hand around her like a wall. She wanted to scream, fight back, something, but once they started to stand she froze once more. She felt her heart racing, they were taking her somewhere. The being holding her must have started walking as a force pushed her down. She wanted to stay and see the village was safe, but her fear wasn’t letting her move.
“You have been spared from punishment this time,” the thunderous voice boomed. “The harvest will start like normal in the morning, should I learn you treat people this way again, I cannot promise she will be able to convince me you deserve lenience.”
She heard a crackle like lightning and that was it. She hoped that wasn’t the being breaking their word. The one holding her was murmuring the whole time, but she couldn’t understand a word. She was surrounded by a warmth that could be comforting in a different circumstance, and a heartbeat from a heart that must be larger than her. She was overwhelmed and felt like the world might go dark, but she had to stay strong. She would talk her way out of this or find some chance to cause a false death and restart somewhere else. She wouldn’t be captured.
She couldn’t stop the thought these were the gods she’d been warned against. Her parents were terrified they’d find her once her visions started. It got worse with her other abilities. They begged her not to use any others. She’s lucky she hadn’t caught their attention before, defying death like she does shouldn’t be possible. She had to pretend she didn’t see things, she didn’t do anything with nature, and most importantly she didn’t survive if something killed her. She could play this part, she could escape.
“We’ll be home soon, little seer,” the being said. She gave up planning something when she heard that. She had no idea how her recovery worked and she might just be trapped if it seems safe even if she doesn’t feel it. She started thrashing, kicking at the hand cupped around the one she was laying on. She quickly managed to get to a sitting position, banging fists and kicking the hand even more. She might have been screaming too, she honestly wasn’t sure. Her only focus was getting out of this and somewhere safe. They called her seer, that means they at least know of her visions. She might be able to get away with claiming she was a witch who used fate based magic.
She could feel the being slowing their pace momentarily, only to seem to start running a second later. The force threw her flat again, she felt tears stinging her eyes. She wouldn’t let the gods stop her from helping people. Her decision on how to use the power she had been given wouldn’t end here. She doesn’t care that she gets hurt or they think they kill her fairly often, she wants to help. She could barely breathe at this point, feeling a crushing weight in her chest. She knew the being stopped and the hand moved, but she didn’t have a plan. A desperate run once she’s freed is her only hope. The cupped hand surrounding her was slowly moved, light seeping in. She tensed herself ready to jump.
She froze when she saw trees, ones that were as big as she was used to, and a cliff. The hand was tilted so she could safely slide off. She pushed herself up quickly, getting back on the ground and stumbling away from the hand. The being who brought her here lowered themselves slowly to the ground sitting in front of the cliff. When they sat there was no reaction from the world, no tremors or noise, making her shudder. If something so large could be so quiet, she had slim chances of getting away.
The cliff was still lower than the being’s chest, but she finally got a good look at them. She froze, they were beautiful. Their hair was the same shade of blue as the night sky. Their eyes were brown, but had a warmth she hadn’t seen in a long time. They seemed to glow in the darkness of the night, soft features highlighted with every small change in their face. She was entranced, which left her easily surrounded by those large hands once again. Fingers longer than she was tall blocking her in. She watched as the sad, kind eyes studied her. Waiting for the plush red lips to finally start speaking.
“Little seer,” they said. Their voice sounded more song-like now. A part of her just wanted to listen to them talk. “Was there an issue with returning home? It’s been some time, I thought you’d feel better there.”
“H-home?” she asked. She hadn’t had a home in a long time. She had gotten severely ill and lost the only one she’d known. She shouldn’t have survived the illness, her parents hadn’t. The people she’d spent her life around until then claimed her heart stopped. She was thrown in the river under the crime of nefarious witchcraft. Some witches were fine, but they assumed she dealt in magic of the dead and used her own parents to save herself. She passed out under the water, when she woke she was in a field. That happened far too long ago, even if she went back no one who knew her would still be there. She had no real home and didn’t like the idea of being told she was being brought to a place she should consider one.
“Yes home, Lord Life and Lady Death have been worried horribly since we lost track of you,” the being seemed to be growing increasingly concerned. “We’ve all been worried honestly, I won’t lie pretending Ash and I haven’t been frantic in our searching. My little seer.”
Her fear skyrocketed. This had to be some ploy they were using to trick her. She’d go along and face punishment for breaking the laws they’d set in place. She defied Lord Life and Lady Death each time her heart paused only to continue beating a few hours, or days, later. She probably angered others just considering what she can and does do. Her thoughts were cut short as the being placed a finger under her chin.
The being gently turned her face up. Their eyes met, and she was frozen again. There was something familiar about their gaze. She studied them desperately trying to understand what they meant, the truth behind their words. The moment was ruined as she heard a crack of lightning. She stumbled away from the finger holding her head, jumping forward when she touched the hand still blocking her in. She looked towards the sound she heard, her breath hitched as she saw the other being from the village. Their blue and green eyes locked on to her form immediately.
They looked at the one who had carried her off, following their example. They slowly sat near the cliff, this one seemed to let the world respond. The tremors as they sat almost had her shaking. They were looking at her and she tried to calm down, letting her mind focus on anything else. She tried desperately to ignore the fact they seemed to be a full head taller than the first one too. Their almost buzzed brown hair that reminded her of tree bark. Their eyes were more shocking now, the blue one as clear as a lake and the green like a field in the sunlight. Their expression seemed to be fearful as they met her own.
“Little flower, the village will be safe now,” they said. The thunder in their voice was almost calming. She was tempted to close her eyes and pretend they were just the ending of the passing storm. The one closing her in moved the arm closest to the blue and green eyed giant. Leaving her completely exposed to them. “Is there something else you feel you must do?”
She took a deep breath to steady herself, pretend it’s all fine and speak with authority. She bowed slightly, placing a hand over her heart. She would play dumb, misunderstand them. It may still be the best way to get out of this. They clearly seem to think of her as someone they know. She wouldn’t read in to the emotions she felt upon seeing them and just find her way out. She was good at using words to escape.
“I deeply appreciate the saving of the village and myself,” she was shocked by her own confident tone. “Assuming you have nothing more either of you need of me, I will be on my way. I do not currently have a home to be taken to, although the offer was appreciated.”
The giant beings shared a look, “My little flower, do you not remember us?”
“I’m sorry I’m afraid you have made a mistake in who I am, I am no seer and I feel doubtful I am the flower you speak of,” she tried desperately to sound sincere. She had to hope gods couldn’t see through lies. “I am merely a traveler, one who tries to soothe the ill and help those who need it.”
“My little flower..” “My little seer…” they said in unison. They turned to each other and she started to back away. There was space she could leave through since the brown eyed one took one of their hands. She just had to back away slowly. If she could get to the woods she could protect herself and with the plants and trees. She’d be safe once she made it there. They seemed to be having a silent conversation. Revealing what she could do was a risk, but she couldn’t just wait and hope their patience didn’t run out. She didn’t want to receive their punishment in the middle of nowhere. She was just about past the hand when she gave up the slow approach.
She turned on her heel running full speed. She’d made it to the trees before either had a chance to do more than call after her. She was running past each tree willing them to help as she ran. She heard the trees moving with each step, branches covering the empty space around her. She couldn’t pause to look back or consider how they would respond to her running. She just had to get away, she silently thanked the trees for helping as her need to tell them dwindled. She would escape, she wouldn’t be captured by these giant beings so easily.
Crashing into something solid had not been in her plan. She stumbled back, glad she’d caught herself before hitting her face. She assumed she’d caused a tree to move too much, but seeing what truly blocked her filled her with dread. A shoe was in her path. The same simple boots she’d seen most villagers wear, but much much larger. She scrambled back, turning to run the other way when she saw the two giant beings back where she’d run from. That meant this was a new one. She backed up further, begging the trees to protect her. She didn’t like revealing her stronger abilities, especially if they were gods, but she wasn’t going to go down easily.
“Are you all right, little heart?” a new voice asked. She looked up terrified to see the new giant already focusing on her. Bright pink eyes staring down, the color slowly fading as their eyes met. A deep blue replaced the pink and she started to back further into the trees that responded to her pleas. She asked the trees to hide her, relieved as branches formed a canopy to hide her from view. She gave the trees some extra strength, hoping it would keep the giants out. She watched as the foot in front of her lifted and slowly was replaced by a knee. It seemed this one could stifle the noise of their movements too, maybe the other one just was choosing not to. Slowly a hand joined the knee and a shadowed face filled her view. She gripped the tree behind her the best she could.
“Please come out, you don’t need to be scared,” they said. She dug her nails into the tree. Of course the one in control of the situation would think she should feel safe. She needed to find a way out of this and quickly. In the worst case they were the gods and she would be punished, slightly less worse they were just giants and would trap her, in the best case she’d wake up from this awful nightmare. She begged for them not to be the gods at least.
“Brother she doesn’t seem to remember…” the thunderous voice trailed off. She could see the eyes in front of her widen, they had to have the wrong person. This could also be another trick thought. She couldn’t have forgotten anything, there isn’t a reason for her to forget anything. That’s been the worst part of when a village decides to execute her for any reason, she gets to remember everything that happens until her heart stops.
“You have the wrong person, I haven’t forgotten anything,” she called out. She just wanted to be left alone. She watched as the giant face moved away from her opening. She squeezed her eyes shut, expecting fingers longer than her to snake in and grab her. She must only be making them angrier by defying them like this. Instead she heard silence for an extended time. She almost thought they left, but the start of tremors told her otherwise. She couldn’t try anything while she didn’t know where they were.
“Little seer, you have a home in the realm of the gods. You disappeared quite some time ago, we’ve been searching for you,” the melodic voice said. Names would be nice to know, they weren’t even using her name. She paused, she hadn’t considered that she hasn’t used her own name in a long time. What was her name?
“You were gifted powers by fate, ones that could rival any of the gods. After seeing the purity in your actions, Lord Life and Lady Death reached out to you,” the thunderous voice continued. “They had wanted to give you a safe place, and people to watch over you. They’d watched you for most of your life, your entry in the registries of life and death constantly changing drew their curiosity. Lord Life and Lady Death considered you their child even though you had never met. At first you outright refused the offer, but they kept trying. You eventually agreed because they promised ease of travel to more destinations, you could act on more visions. After some time we had all grown to care about you, of course some of us more than others…”
She felt the warmth of a blush creep up her cheeks. How could a comment like that from a stranger make her blush? Even then, that comment didn’t say anything about what they meant. It could just be family. Something about it felt like it had a special reason. She still couldn’t remember her name. Things weren’t right. She could remember her parents somewhat, things they taught her, falling ill, waking up and the village thinking she was using death magic. In all the realms, her name should be easy to remember.
“You left for a more dangerous village, and refused help from all of us. It didn’t help that there was enough war at the time most of the guardians were busy too. Then you didn’t come back. We’ve been searching for you for a long time, most times we find where you were too late. Either you moved on or the village acted drastically. We’ve missed you…I’ve missed you,” that melodic voice alluring and familiar said. The sadness she could hear in the words, she wanted to comfort them. She shouldn’t be feeling like comforting giant beings, ones who are most likely gods, who wanted to kidnap her. She couldn’t have really forgotten her own name.
“Everyone is worried, we should head home, they’d be relieved you’re safe. Some of the others worried you’d truly died although your name hadn’t solidified in Lady Death’s registry,” the newer voice said. She didn’t know how to take that. Her name, her name, she couldn’t remember her own name. That doesn’t make sense, names are important she had to have used it at some point in the last century or so. So why couldn’t she recall her damned name?
“What in the realms is my name?” she murmured. She hadn’t meant to speak, but the thoughts in her head were getting overwhelming. Familiarity in the voices and eyes of the giant beings, her name missing no matter how hard she tried to remember, the calmness she kept fighting as they tried to soothe her. The feeling that they were telling the truth. The two they kept mentioning, Life and Death, she felt some connection there she was fighting off. This was a mistake; she was a mortal with a multitude of curses and blessings. She was warned of the danger she faced if the gods found her after her first vision. She could even manage to remember the fear from her whole village the first time she convinced the crops to grow during a drought.
“Little heart, did you forget your own name?” the voice was teasing. Something in their tone made her almost annoyed. She wanted to say something, but anything her mind thought of would be a risk of making things worse. She’d definitely pushed her luck in regards to leniency if these were the gods. She had to play this off, test them rather than reveal they had any ounce of truth about her.
“No. I am asking all of you what is my name?” she said, she felt more confident bluffing while they couldn’t see her. “This entire time you’ve used nicknames, assuming the best of intentions, so prove to me I am who you have sought after. What is my name?”
There was a moment of silence before all three answered in unison, “Delphia.”
Delphia. Delphia. Delphia. Delphia. Delphia. Delphia. Delphia. The name kept echoing in her head. She was in pain, everything was spinning. She was losing control of herself and her will. She felt energy seep out and tried to stop it, but pain overcame her. She let out an ear piercing screech, the trees, following her outburst, sent the branches making her canopy in all directions. She was out in the open now, all three giants had moved to sit near her during that silence, she could see now she was blocked from making a more discreet exit on any side. She didn’t have time to care about that, pain causing her head to throb. She collapsed, grasping her head tightly. She started to draw blood in some spots. That name was still echoing in her head. Delphia. Delphia. Delphia. Delphia. Delphia. Delphia. Delphia.
“Delphia!” they screamed as she ran. These people knew she was connected to the gods, that they had decided to offer her solace. They wanted to trap her, use her against them. She had to get away, make sure this couldn’t happen again. She wouldn’t put them in a situation they’d have to pick her or mortals, she knew what they’d pick and how it would hurt them. She ducked down an alley taking turns randomly. A sigh of relief as her pursuers took a wrong turn.
She had to find the witch in this town, she had to forget the gods. Once she forgot there’d be no concern. They would forget about her too, mortal lives were short compared to a god’s after all. Hopefully her luck would make them all assume her seemingly eternal life ended. She knew a witch who specialized in memory spells was in this town. She just had to find them, without being captured. The last run in with the guards here was far too close.
She wandered for what felt like hours before finally stumbling upon the shop. It was easy to confuse with a normal apothecary, but the symbols carved into the sign told the truth. If you read the symbols and recited the phrase, you would be brought to the back room and could request your spell. She mindlessly gripped the dagger on her hip, the one Rhys had given her for safety against mortals. It hadn’t been easy to get the protections he’d placed on it off. She sighed, returning her focus to the present. Gripping her bag of gold tightly she pushed open the door.
Inside was an elderly couple, the two happily working away. For a second she thought she may have been in the wrong place after all, but one look showed herbs a normal apothecary wouldn’t dare keep. She walked up letting the confident persona she used most times take over. This would be a tough negotiation, the spell she needed was powerful. It wasn’t just taking her memories, it was locking them away, removing them from others in the world, and helping to hide her from those involved. It’s the only way to make sure they never have to choose the mortals over her. She knew they cared about her like one of their own, but the gods existed because of mortals. They couldn’t pick her over them and they’d feel like they betrayed her after it happened. It didn’t matter how much she would tell them she understood.
“How can we help you my lady?” the man at the counter asked. She could see him eyeing her bag, good. If he was interested then they both would be. A witch’s partner knew when the risks were high, gold helped keep that in check.
“The help I need can be hard to explain with my memories as they are,” she replied. It wasn’t the best phrase she’d seen used, but it was mundane enough no one would question it. The man who had been sorting herbs stood straight and faced her. He was the witch then. She kept reminding herself this had to happen.
“Ah in that case please follow me to the back,” he told her. He gestured towards a curtain and she followed slowly. Eagerness would make getting her spell more difficult. There was a simple table, but she could see it was well worn. Spots where herbs have been ground, burned, and all manner in between clear if you knew to look. A true witch’s craft table, there was no doubt that this was who she needed. The man took a seat at the farther side, leaving her to have her back face the entrance. She didn’t like this, but a powerful witch would never deal otherwise. They wouldn’t risk an attack. Even with a customer who appeared alone there was no guarantee of safety.
“So what can I do for you, miss emissary of the gods?” he asked. His demeanor had changed. He was a far cry from the shy herb sorter he’d played the part of. This was a witch who knew how to avoid poor deals. He would see through any lies if she wasn’t careful.
“I need to forget my connection, for everyone to forget it. I know a mortal spell won’t touch the gods, but the spell I want should still hide me from them. I will pay what’s required and should have the materials ready-” she started to explain.
“What makes you think I’ll do it?” he asked, a mirthful anger in his tone. “Why would I want to have their anger directed at me?”
“They have no idea I’m here. I left on a trip to a different village from their realm, then collected materials and traveled here by mortal means,” she saw his eyes light up. He was interested now. Someone like her covering her tracks so much meant she must be expecting an expensive and strong spell.
“Then little miss god, why would you want to cut ties?”
This was the harder sell, it couldn’t be for them, it had to be selfish. She had to pretend the kindness of the gods didn’t exist. That Lord Life and Lady Death didn’t feel like parents. She had to convince herself that Rhys only treated her like a sister because it was expected. Most importantly she had to force her feelings out for Alessia and Ash. She had to tell herself then tell him the gods didn’t care about her. Her constant insecurities were a help here.
“They treat me like a toy, I get let out on walks then return to a damned cage. I want my freedom back. I will pay any price,” she emphasized with a desperate look. She spent a while testing this interaction through her visions. This is how she gets what she wants. She just had to forget the times she had fun. Remember how the ones she wasn’t as close to tended to grab her without warning. Bring her along for anything they felt she should do. Even though it was spending time and trying to connect, as far as she interpreted. She could be wrong, they could just think she’s a fun toy or some good entertainment. The man scrutinized her, she didn’t break eye contact.
“You’re an awful liar, give it here,” he sighed, motioning for her bag. She quickly handed it over, happy this seemed to be working out. He started to pull out the ingredients she gathered, shock growing as he saw the components. Of course he didn’t know she knew of this spell, it was only told to memory witches, something to offer to unique clients. She could find out anything she needed if she tried hard enough. It wasn’t a spell most could use and live either.
“You, how do you?” he stumbled over his words.
“I have my ways, now will you do as I request? This pouch is filled to the brim with gold. It’s all yours if you set the spell.” She placed the bag on the table and pulled her dagger from her side. He was a witch with specialties considered dangerous and worth execution and he knew the worth of his own life if captured. The full pouch of gold would be hard to deny, it holding enough to protect him three times over, but she had to get by this next question without trouble.
“You know this spell requires the person of focus to be killed, it means you need to die. It will erase your name and the memory of your time with the gods from the world, including your own mind if that whole business about you not dying is real.” She could hear the reluctance. This was a spell you only cast once and a mess up was never truly known. She knew it would work, and he knew if it didn’t she’d come back.
“I already know it will work. This is what I want.” He studied her for a few minutes, trying to decide if she was serious and worth the risk. He seemed to finally agree and began to prepare the ingredients. The dagger was her most prized possession, it would act as a conduit. She didn’t want to hand it over until he was ready to set the spell, mindlessly running over the intricate design of the handle. She’d forget the importance once this was over. He worked wordlessly, his husband poking his head in for a moment mostly to ensure no one died.
“Based on what ya brought you know a lot. So you know you need a sealing term for when I bind it to the conduit object. This will bring back the memories forgotten if someone connected to them says it. So what is your sealing term?” he asked. This was the part that took her the longest. Someone connected to the memories had to say the word, most were too easy, but one would be no problem. All mortals would forget her and her name after all.
“Delphia,” she said. She could see understanding slowly dawn on his face. He understood it meant only a god could reverse it. He held out his hand and she placed the dagger in his palm. He made her look away, then attached the spell speaking her name to bind it. When she woke up she’d forget her name and time with the gods. They’d know her but she was sure they’d give up on her soon enough. The rest of the world would follow suit, forgetting all about the immortal seer surrounded by the gods. He handed her the dagger, grabbing the pouch before letting it go. He looked in and was content with the amount.
“So you have to die by that dagger now. Sorry to say neither of us are in the business of killing so you’re on your own there soon to be former miss god. Also if the gods do catch up with ya I better not get any problems my way. Be sure this is what you want before you act, I can’t take it back once it’s done and you know it better than anyone.” He started to leave, turning to face her once more. “I do have to warn you, I have no idea how this spell breaking will react to someone who can do what you do. Normally it restores the memories of the one who heard the sealing term, for you it may do more.”
She nodded the risks clear and they both left the back room. She knew how she was going to die with this dagger. There was a flower field she had visited near here with Ash and Alessia. Ash had made the flowers bloom, Alessia grabbed a handful using them to shower her with blossoms. She’d erase her memories there, when she woke up she’d have the barest knowledge of the gods. She may not be as happy in her daily life, but this was better for everyone. She was still mortal after all, she would die eventually. At least she most likely would. Disappearing now when everything was still new, while they all still were happy to see her, would be best. While they weren’t bored of her either. She kept telling herself it was for them, but she knew it was her own fears pushing her forward.
She hadn’t foreseen a thief watching her before she entered when she held the ornate dagger. She hadn’t predicted they would follow her, and fight her for it. She certainly hadn’t expected to have her life ended in the back alley of that awful town, barely a few buildings from where she got the spell. It was a slow death with the thief running off once she’d been stabbed. Clearly just a down on their luck desperate person. She felt the world fading out and had memories disappear as things grew dark. Just before the world was gone and she woke up a nameless seer she smiled seeing the flowers she’d wanted to be surrounded with as her memories faded.
“Goodbye Ash, Alessia I loved you with all my heart,” she murmured. “Rhys, please don’t blame yourself. Lady Death, Lord Life, thank you for giving me a family for a while, goodbye.”
A few minutes later she woke up surrounded by flowers she didn’t recognize. A dagger she’d never seen on her chest. She grabbed it as she stood, brushing the petals from her cloak. She had to find shelter before night, sure she’d have a vision in her dreams. She felt tears sliding down her face. She rubbed her eyes, brushing off the feeling and leaving the clearing. The flowers started to wilt behind her, mourning the losses she couldn’t.
She was gasping as the world came back. Memories still flooded her mind. She felt tears running down her face, she slammed her fists on the ground. She paused, it wasn’t ground, she was being held. She’d recognize the hands of Ash anywhere now. A voice like thunder, eyes of lakes and fields, one of the ones she’d fallen for, the deity of nature. They were holding her, probably watching her with fear or anger. She could feel the energy still pouring out of her, all three of them probably saw it. She saw Ash’s fingers curling around her, she couldn’t tell the reason behind it.
“My flower, why…” they said. She didn’t have answers. If they saw her memories, they saw why she did it.
“You really thought that we could, that we would…” Alessia tried. She knew Alessia would be hurt, but she just wanted the spell back or to not have forced her own memories on them all. Alessia took everything on herself. The worst trait of the goddess of protection and guardians. The melody of her voice meant to calm the people she protected, also help the guardians know her orders over any others. She’d been the first to suggest the gods could love her back. The first to admit her own feelings. They weren’t supposed to find her, she was supposed to be gone and disappear for them.
She heard Rhys make a noise. He was probably the angriest here. The god of love who showed his emotions in his eyes. He’d treated her like a sister almost immediately. Far less careful about her size, but more protective if any of the gods seemed to see her as less than an equal. She could picture the fiery red eyes staring down at her, she couldn’t blame him. He knew she was up to something and asked her to talk, but she refused it each time. Sensing emotions meant he knew what she’d been feeling, but it couldn’t make her talk.
She still couldn’t think straight. Centuries of memories flooding her own mind. Stories she’d heard told about herself during that time. The plots she’d barely avoided being caught in to try and use the gods. The fears they’d act brashly to help her, or her bigger fear that they would just abandon her. This is all falling apart, she should have just left with the person she’d sent off. She ruined everything. She was aware of Ash moving their hand, but couldn’t tell the direction. The cliff would make sense, she’d get what she wanted at the start of their reunion, but be trapped with all the memories she hadn’t known then.
She was pressed against something hard and warm. She stared up, seeing the green and blue eyes staring down at her. Ash had pressed her to their chest, holding her gently. She couldn’t understand their actions. They should be angry, hurt, they should hate her. She abandoned them, they saw the memory and heard her thoughts. She was struggling in their hold, pushing away from their chest. This was wrong, they shouldn’t comfort her.
“My little flower,” they whispered, the thunderous tone making her freeze. “I’m sorry you felt that way, made that choice. We would pick you, Delphia. You are one of us, even if your blood is mortal.”
“Ash, give her to me,” Rhys said, his tone unreadable. She felt Ash tighten their hold, and watched them look at Rhys. She patted at Ash’s chest, forcing their attention back on her. She nodded and she could see they didn’t want to listen, but they would never force anything on her. She’d been so terrified of them at first, she messed with nature after all. She never expected them to love her, she expected it even less when her own feelings bloomed. Ash slowly pulled her away from their chest, holding their hand flat out to Rhys. She stood, expecting to walk over to his hand, yelping as a fist grabbed her instead.
“Don’t follow,” he grumbled. Pink petals the size of her head obscured her vision as he took off. She wanted to believe he wouldn’t hurt her, but she’d seen him angry before. He wasn’t always calm or rational. She had been helping him manage it better, the guilt he felt at her fear had been tearing him up inside when they met. She kept telling herself this was the same Rhys who cried the first time she didn’t get scared at his raised voice. “Here is good.”
The fist she was in was brought up slowly to his face. She tried to keep her head down, avoiding reading his feelings in his eyes. He didn’t stop when she would have been eye level, he raised his hand faster so she wouldn’t have time to look away. She was staring straight into the darkest blue she’d ever seen in the god’s eyes. Everything in her mind shut down at that moment, how hurt was he by her actions?
“Little heart, no,” he started, flattening his palm and holding her at eye level rather than above his head, “little sister, I’ll make sure that none of us can find you again. I’ll help you set a home that is safe somewhere and never reveal it or return. Just tell me what you want and I’ll help. You’re right in your thoughts, we live far longer, we’ll even outlive you one day.”
His eyes darkened more as he spoke. She could see it clear as day how painful it was for him to say this. He lied about as well as she did. She could see him trying to play it off, he probably thought he was showing a completely different emotion. Probably his neutral color gray. She let out a watery laugh.
“You’re an awful liar you know?” she told him. “Your eyes are the darkest blue I’ve ever seen. Don’t pretend I didn’t hurt you. I hurt all of you, don’t protect me.”
“No, we hurt you. None of us considered how being with gods, actively seen with us, would change your life. You don’t have to come back. I’ll tell Lord Life and Lady Death that we couldn’t find you this time. I’ll convince Ash and Alessia to help. You don’t have to stay with us, they won’t know so there’s no temptation to interfere in your life.”
She smiled, a bitter smile. She had to decide now, and tell them all herself. She could go home or go back to the mortal life she thought she wanted. She would have to explain to everyone what happened if she went back. If she took Rhys’s offer she wouldn’t have to face anyone, tell anyone her choices from back then. She could keep being the nameless seer traveling and helping. Sometimes paying prices she shouldn’t pay. She knew the choice.
“Rhys, we need to go back to them. You all get to hear my choice this time,” she told him. She saw his eyes darken even more, if she didn’t know better she’d think they were black. Ash probably already thought they were black, she had no idea what that color even meant for Rhys. He nodded, hugging her to his neck this time instead of gripping her in a fist. His hold was tight, but gentle at the same time. She could tell he was sure what she’d choose.
“Rhys, where is she?!” Alessia shouted. She shook her head, she was far too quick to assume the worst. Rhys pulled his hands away and held her out. He barely stopped Alessia from grabbing her. She stood, walking to the tips of his fingers, it was practiced between them. When she had to talk about something to more than one or two of them he always did this, letting his hands be a platform for her to speak on.
“I made a choice on what I intend to do from here,” she started. She watched Ash and Alessia falter, the fear she’d disappear again so clear on their faces. “I’ll go back, but I have to tell them all what happened, what I did. Especially Vitus and Dabria. I’ll stay if I’m still welcome.”
Alessia scooped her up, planting a kiss that pushed her into the goddess’s palm. She laughed and kissed back as best she could, this was something that she hadn’t known she was missing so deeply. Alessia held her close to her nose after the kiss, the two staring into each other’s eyes. She always found it funny how much more open the goddess of protection was compared to the god of love about emotions. She hugged the nose she was held against, willing to accept this for a bit longer. She tapped her nose three times, their signal that things had to move on. Alessia sighed, her breath blowing her hair out of her face.
“So we should go back and talk to Lord Life, Lady Death, and the others,” Alessia whispered, her voice soft. The other two nodded and summoned the door to the gods’ realm. The three slowly walked through, reluctance fitting itself into the group. She was right, she had to admit to them all the things she’d thought. It didn’t make it easier to admit you didn’t trust people who cared about you. She was almost positive she wouldn’t be staying with the gods after this. She knew they’d never do more, but maybe Vitus and Dabria would take away whatever power kept her alive and young. She had always wondered if they could do that.
The four made their way through the home of the gods, shocked to find it empty. Even she knew things weren’t as bad as during the wars when she’d disappeared. They had no reason to be gone. Whispering was heard as they approached the kitchen, curiosity and fear spiking in her heart. She couldn’t back out now, she was in the hands of Alessia held close and protected. She wouldn’t just disappear on them again.
As they rounded the corner a cacophony of names were called out. The names every god had given her, no one could settle on a single nickname and hated only using her given name. At first she thought they just hated having to learn a mortal’s name, but she overheard them talking about it one day. They were trying to avoid making her feel unwanted, they thought a nickname could help. Not a single one could pick one they liked of her name and all picked something related to them they’d seen in her. She smiled as the memory played out in her mind. Jumping back to the present as hands cupped around her pulling her away from Alessia, away from Ash, away from Rhys, away from safety. She was quickly brought to the center of the group, of course Dabria, maybe she should be saying Lady Death, had grabbed her. The goddess of death moved like smoke most of the time.
“Our little raven is finally home,” she announced. Holding her up higher, and able to see the change to the paths they’d made for her when she’d first agreed to live here. They had left them waist high back then, feeling it was safer if she ever fell. She never bothered to ask for it to change, but now it was at eye level of the shortest god. Not only that, but covered in a manner that she couldn’t just be picked up so easily. If a god wanted to carry her she’d need to walk out for them. She turned to face Lady Death. The beautiful woman with ebony hair that seemed to never end and red eyes that held a loving warmth looked bashful and hopeful. She didn’t understand.
Lord life stepped up clearing his throat, “We saw the memory little light, if you’re here to come back we all intend to make sure you understand how we see you much more clearly. It seems that the spell had built up with each death since then and we were the only targets for it left at this time”
He reached out holding his palm flat for her. She chuckled as Lady Death pouted before flattening her own hands. She stood, slowly walking over to Lord Life’s palm. The moment she was in his hand he cupped it, having her fall flat on her back. He pulled her close and she stared up into his emerald green eyes. His white hair framing his face fell just slightly into his palm near her. She was confused and scared, they knew, they saw, they probably felt it too. They did all that and still wanted her around.
“You are family Delphia, you never have to do something drastic if you choose to leave no one will stop you, and you can return any time if you choose to stay,” he told her. She couldn’t help it, tears falling as she realized they at least wanted to understand if they didn’t already. She hugged the finger closest to her tightly. She was angry with herself for trying to give this family of her’s up.
“Even if Vitus and I didn’t love you like our own already,” Lady Death added, “it would be hard to deny someone loved so deeply by everyone here.”
Her crying grew heavier, but she spoke up as loud as she could, “Th-thank you, I’d like to-to come home.”
She saw the relief on Vitus’s face, Dabria grabbing her again already and hugging her tightly. The gods gathered had varying levels of apologies and questions. They offered forgiveness of their own for her disappearing, understanding the fears she’d built after so long alone. Some of them hugged her as well, only once Rhys stepped in was she allowed to rest, the god happily carrying her to the room she’d abandoned. She knew Rhys could tell she was overwhelmed, forcing Ash and Alessia to stay back with the others. He gently placed her on the platform they’d set up in front of her door.
“Welcome home little sister,” he said while pushing her into her room.
“Rhys wait,” she called and pulled the dagger from her side. “Can you fix it?”
He nodded and held out his hand. She dropped it in his palm and she saw the smile he was trying to hide. She was positive he’d be in his room all day after this. He quickly walked away, leaving her to settle in again. She’d been so sure she was going to face another death only this morning. Exhaustion and relief overwhelmed her after everything she went through with three over protective and amazingly caring giant gods. She climbed into her bed, leaving the door of her room open, something she’d never done before she left.
Delphia was finally home.