Realm of Gods and Gems

Two

I sit up on my bed and listen for any sign of my mother being up and about. Silence greets me, she must've gone for her morning errands to keep herself occupied. Not that I minded, it made what I needed to do much easier.

I get up from my bed and roll my head to help ease the stiffness from sleeping crooked. My room was small but was just enough for me to grow with over my time. In our cottage, we didn't have floors, so soft dirt met my bare feet as I walked to my rack of clothes. Floorless homes were seen as a sign of low status, but I enjoyed being connected to the earth at all times. It allowed me to feel rooted and calm, even though certain times called for otherwise.

I took off what I'd been wearing and exchanged it for a pair flowy pants and a long loose top. Most of my clothing consisted of both white or black flowy tops and bottoms, it was custom, and I loved it. I grab my knitted bag and fill it with a couple of clothes, making sure to leave room for the rest of the essentials. I open my door and look out to make sure the coast is clear.

Even though I'm a hundred percent sure I'm alone, I can't help but walk faster than normal in fear of getting caught. Reaching our kitchen, I head to the pantry to grab a few items and stuff my bag with as much as it'll go. I probably won't need much, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Walking back to my room, I look around my small space. I'll need a place to hide my bag while I'm gone for a bit, which turns out to be not many places at all.

Everything was out in the open and my mother might nosy through everything. The only other place is ... well... hiding it in the floor itself. I place my hand on the ground right beside my bed and close my eyes. A bad habit my mother says, but it's never done any wrong, so I haven't bothered controlling it. Plus, it helps me concentrate.

A flow of coldness moves from my heart, ebbing its way down my arms and to the edge of my fingers. My breathing turns ragged, and a single shock emerges from my hand. All at once, the feeling is gone, and I open my eyes. My jaw drops as a very, very deep hole in the ground entered my line of sight. It appears to be a little deeper than the length of my entire lower body which alone is pretty long.

Well, my magic isn't quite there yet, since it's rarely used, but it'll do for now. I don't want to waste any more time on this and just throw my bag down the hole. I quickly reseal it and am satisfied when it goes back to normal. I leave my room and make sure nothing is out of place. I'm jittery with nerves and feel incredibly jumpy at even the slighted noises or movements. I'm about to commit to something that'll change everything, and I can't help but feel excited and terrified at the same time.

Nevertheless, I'll finally be free and out exploring on my own. I wish my mother would support me, but I don't know what's got her all twisted and turned.

I leave my cottage and make my way towards its rear, where the woods begin a few feet away. Entering the line of trees, I glance behind me and make sure I'm not being followed or seen. I'm alone.

A breeze rustles my loose hair as I walk on through the towering trees. The crunching of leaves sound with my every step as carve marks begin to appear on the trees. A simple carved line, barely noticeable, even if you knew where to look. A small, rounded clearing comes into view. It's perfectly hidden from my village, deep enough in the woods and just inside my mother's magical border.

I step into the clearing and walk to its center. Here, the sun illuminates every inch, and the grass reaches my mid-calf. I sink to my knees and raise my head up to the sky. It's quite saddening that I'll be leaving this beautiful place behind since it's really only ever been mine.

I glance around, partly covered by the tall grass. I place my hands on the ground and concentrate on feeling its energy. On my first magic lesson, my mother told me that we get magic from the earth itself. All I had to do was feel for it. When I first tried, all I felt was the cold grass, due to it being nighttime. But soon in that coldness, a very light pulse could be felt. Ever since then, I've practicing secretly on my own to better myself.