Page 95 of Gift from the Source
“Ready, young Willow?”V asks.
“Ready, young owl,”I tease to lighten his serious mood.
He pecks me on the hand. Hard.
“I am not an owl but a bird of prey nonetheless. Remember that, little flying lizard.”His small, mischievous chuckle has me throwing my head back.
Even as I laugh loudly and he hoots, I find myself thinking what the hell he is if he has the fearless nerve to call me a lizard. Draken kind of put everyone in their place about referring to him as an owl or a bird, but he’s obviously in those categories. Just more deadly, I suppose.
“I’m glad to sense you’ve shaken your nerves. You learn best on two polar spectrums. Either under intense pressure or in a relaxed state. So we will stay relaxed if that’s what you need,”he says much more casual.
Which does in fact help.
“Very observant of you, V. Yes, I’d appreciate you being less intense. I know what we’re doing is serious and important, but I’d like not to be so anxious.”
“Very well. Are you really ready now?”
“Yes, I’m ready.”
“Good. This is a very simple process, but it requires a powerful being. Which you are. You have all the gifts, magic, and blood to perform this with no problem. You’ll be tired afterward and will need to spend time rejuvenating yourself, but you have nothing to worry about other than that. The purpose of opening a portal within your mind is to connect to beings from other realms. They too must be strong enough to accept this. I will guide you and I assure you she is strong enough to accept it.
“We’re first going to focus on the Angel Aura. This crystal is the ultimate form of divine connection and protection. When you hear divine connection, your mind automatically resorts to connecting to your creator. Which is what many would think, but you have to think outside of that limitation. The only being you are going to think about is the woman who gave your mother the crystal. That’s all you need to know about her.”
My mind whirls for a moment at that. It’s hard not to automatically start creating a face, a made-up name, and everything else that comes along with picturing a person. Especially since he said she’s powerful. I instantly start creating a masterpiece. I shut it all down, though, and just think of a woman.
That’s a lie.
I paint a whole scene in my mind of a warrior lady handing my mom the crystal behind me.
“That is okay. That will work. I’m going to begin loosening my hold on the crystal’s power slowly. Call forth your gift of sight and wrap it around that thought you’ve created,”he instructs.
My gift flows easily as though it’s thoroughly happy to be needed. I’m almost caught off guard by it, but I take my small win with it and instruct it to do what it’s supposed to do.
“Okay.”
“Good. Go through your preparation of opening a portal to another realm, but do not say your spell yet. I will tell you when to do so.”
I nod silently while commanding my gift to stay wrapped around my mind, then I call forth my magic. It stirs in my chest expectantly before spreading everywhere.
As it passes through my feet, I have to clutch it. It’s so instinctual to just allow it to ground itself into Elementra the second it feels her power. It’s confusing and even a little uncomfortable letting it linger in nothing but the fabric of the realm.
Then I feel the first foreign vibration.
My mom described it as alluring, but that’s not the word I’d use. The second the tie registers, it feels like Keeper is giving me a hug. Like I’m welcomed with open arms. Years spent out of the Keep, he’s not lost the power within him that flows through his realm.
It’s hard to pull my magic from it. That must be where the alluring comment came from.
The next pulse, I pass it right on by. The mere vibrations tell me it’s the nonmagical realm, so I don’t waste time lingering.
The third, though…knocks my breath away.
That level of power is the dead giveaway that it’s the Valorian Veil. It’s immense and most certainly comes close to matching Elementra’s. Almost too close for comfort honestly when I think back to my vision and the war that could be brewing there.
Regardless, I latch onto it and command my magic to connect with that tie.
I want to call the feeling of the power of the Valorian Veil mingling with my blessed power an intrusion, but that’s not entirely right. It’s different, yes, but my blood recognizes it.
Releasing a breath, I lay my palms upward on my knees and run through the instructions my mom gave me once more in my mind. Lasttime, she practically walked me through it step by step while I was doing it. I want to make sure I’ve got this down since I’m on my own.
