The Former Priestess

Chapter 2: Nii

Nii plopped down on the ground. The grass felt like a soft green blanket decorated with specks of yellow and red. She anticipated spiky pillars. Uhh, I don't want to talk to my  friends but I don't want to be rude.  Nii tightened her lips together and tried her best to lighten up her eyes.

"I think I found out how to do a spell to make my hair purple," said Lemi. She pulled back her grass-colored hair back past her bright yellow shirt that never managed to lose its saturation even if she spent the day working outside. Maybe they won't think about my hair if they can see less of it, she thought.

"If you learn how to do it please tell me," said Kemi while she looked down at her hair.  It  reached past her hips and was as bright as a leaf with the sun passing through it.

"Both of you have beautiful hair. " Nii said in a disappointed tone.

" Nii, What is the matter?"Lemi asked. 

" Well my spell for reviving the yokaberries isn't working," she said.

"What do you mean? You tried it on the other plants, I was pretty sure it would work," asked Kemi.

"Well, I lifted my hand above a few yokaberries like I did when I healed the grass a few days back. It looked like they were regaining their life for a few seconds but then it died again" Nii said.

"That just means that you are improving. I'm sure you'll be able to heal the yokaberries in a few months or so-" said Kemi.

"I don't have a few months or so. I'm scheduled to sell my yokaberries tomorrow." Nii said.

"Tomorrow? You haven't started preparing yet " asked Lemi.

"Well, I was planning to use magic to lift the glowing bulbs off the plants. It won't work on dull yokaberries." Nii said

"I hope it goes well. Do you want to continue working on your farm?" asked Kemi.

"No, I am going to use the money I make to move to Siliand," said Nii.

"Why are you moving there? Haven't you heard Niza and Yehi's stories" said Lemi. Her face let out one of her rarely seen scrawls.

"Well, Siliand has always been interesting to me. The walls of the Silandian building are supposed to be alarming but the door looks precious. Well, and there aren't many job opportunities here." said Nii.

"What about Kieand and Terumi" asked Kemi.

"Those places are too far away. I've always had dreams of living in the place too. I feel like I lived there in a past life," said Nii.

"I know Siland is a beautiful place but, soon the beauty would become your new normal. You'll wish you lived here again," said Lemi. Nii's eyes were no longer in the direction of any of the two girls' faces. She tilted her body away from the others.

"Well, anyway, I have to get back to work," she said. Nii in a low voice. Lemi and Kemi stood up. They smiled back at her.

"Bye! Good luck with the yoka-berries but I hope you decide to stay here" said Lemi.

"Bye. I'll visit you tomorrow!" said Kemi.

"Bye, Lemi and Kemi." said Nii.

The girls left and Nii went to a small wooden storage shack and pulled out some boxes. She picked one up and walked over to the yoka-berries. She lifted her hand above one of the purple going plants. The fruit levitated in the air and she dragged the fruit towards her and gently put it in her box. She repeated this at every yoka-berry bush and put the fruit into neat little rows. She was only able to fill one a box and a half of a bottom row on another. She swung open the door to the shed and slid the boxes of fruit inside. Then she walked across the dark cabin careful not to slip on anything and placed a large banquet over the boxes. As she went back to her house she could still see a ruffled version of the bright purple glow.