Realm of Galderia

chapter 39

That morning Gwen and Trinity were in a rush getting ready to go. It was a lesson day with Maggie. Gwen was running around looking for her shoes. Trinity was throwing on the first thing she could find.

"Come on, I want to get going." Gwen told her.

Trinity flashed her a nod , scrambling for her back pack and rushing. The two of them quickly said good morning to Sophia. The two teenage witches headed out the door and walked briskly through town before making it into the woods. It didn't take long for them to reach Maggie's country style wood cottage. Gwen knocked on the door to the old woman's' cottage. She waited, knowing her mentor all too well. It always took a little longer for Maggie to answer the door these days.

Both of the young witches were excited and ready to learn all that they could. If the two had nothing else in common, they were matched in an equal thirst for knowledge of the magical ways. Once Maggie came to the door she greeted both her young students and inviting them in. She began as always and made tea for the three of them. It was just who she was. Gwen loved her like a grandmother, and Trinity really liked visiting the old crone. There was always something new for them to learn from her, both were very passionate about the craft. Each lesson with Maggie was like a brand new adventure. The old wise woman enjoyed the company of the young women as well.

It didn't take long for the old tea kettle whistle to blow. Maggie served them, and as usual they had a bit of a girl pow- wow before the lesson would be taught. Gwen knew why her instructor did the tea ritual. It helped to relax the soul and open the mind for a different kind of education. Gwen drank hers quickly, she was eager to learn everything. Trinity couldn't wait either; she loved new experiences and her new life. She barely even remembered her old life. It had all but slipped away from her memory, another side effect of crossing portals. It would slowly remove the memories of the other realm the longer you stayed in a different one.

"Would either of you like more tea?" Maggie asked her two young visitors.

Both the two young ones nodded yes, making sure to thank the old witch woman.

She served the tea, having another cup with them. She enjoyed having both of them there for the lessons. She barely knew Trinity but the young one was starting to grow on her. For the most part Maggie had kept to herself. However when it came to the young witches, she looked forward to the company. When all three of them were finished with the tea, she started the lesson for this session. 

It was on conjuring magical protectors, which had seemed to be fascinating for both of the young witches. Maggie had the two completely focused when they tried to conjure their own protective beings. Gwen had some difficulty getting it just right, but Trinity found it quite natural to conjure her protector. Trinity watched as her protective being took shape. Standing before her was a porcelain white Pegasus. She felt a kin to this creature that felt as natural to her as breathing. Trinity had become mystified as she was spiritually bound to this creature.

Gwen was sure that she could do this, she kept trying convinced her spiritual protector was a fairy being. The second attempt nothing happened.

"Empty your thoughts and breathe dear." Maggie advised her with a supportive look.

Gwen nodded to her teacher and did exactly what Maggie had told her to do. After a few minutes her spirit protector formed. To Gwen's' amazement her protector was not a fairy at all. Gwen watched as her spiritual protection being took shape before her very eyes. As the mist cleared from in front of her she saw the most beautiful creature she'd ever seen. Standing there before her was a rather large creature with iced blue eyes. It was something she never knew existed, a porcelain white raven. She stared, fixated on this magical creature. She was afraid that if she did as much as blink, this gorgeous creature might vanish. She wanted to watch to see what would happen.

After the longest silence imaginable, the white raven looked to Gwen and spoke before fading into the distance.

"Call on me when I am needed."

Once her spirit protector was gone, Gwen had a look of confusion.

"What's wrong young one?" Her mentor asked with genuine worry.

"It's just that my spirit protector never told me his name." Gwen admitted with disappointment, fearing she had done it wrong.

Maggie started to cackle with laughter, her young students did not get the joke. When Maggie calmed her hysterics, she looked at Gwen with soft, kind eyes.

"You have to give him a name, as Trinity must give her Pegasus a name too."

"How will they know that is their name?" Trinity asked, curious about it just as much as her new friend.

"It's part of the spiritual bond, they will know it's you. They are in tune with your soul, not your words."

Trinity and Gwen both thanked her, almost at the same time. The two of them were proud of themselves, conjuring was not the easiest magic to perform. They said their goodbyes to Maggie before leaving the little cottage and heading back to the main part of town hoping to see if anyone else would be in the square. Along the way Gwen was stopped first, then her best friend. In front of her a tree sprite spoke a few inches from her face.

"Mortal where have you been?" Lily demanded of Gwen.

"Hi, there. I'm sorry I was planning to stop by soon."

Lily just glared her down in disbelief like a child not believing a bribe.

"What did you want to talk about?" Gwen asked her favorite tree sprite.

"It's nothing I just missed you and me want to learn more about your new friend."

Trinity gave her an approving look and found a soft patch of earth to rest and entertain the little tree sprite. It was adorable how fascinated the creature was with the human race. Gwen sat down with the other two and listened with Lily. It was rather entertaining; the tree sprite would ask all kinds of questions, almost like a human child around the age of five. Gwen enjoyed their talk almost as much as Lily did. It was great to see Trinity coming out of her shell, engaging in the sprite's curious nature.

All of the sudden Lily's ears perked up like a small animal listening. There was this strange whistling sound, as if played on a wooden flute.

"That's my father, I'm sorry mortals, and I have to go." Lily excused herself before fluttering away.

Gwen just shook her head. "That's my little tree sprite."

Trinity nodded, cracking a smile.

"Come on, we'll go for a walk through town before we go home, what do you say?"

"I think I would like that, sure." Trinity replied, following her friend through the rest of the majestic forest terrain until finally reaching the edge of town. The two of them walked through the square for hours, lost in conversations of magic, boys and their own dreams. It began to get late and the two raced home.