Visit From An Angel

My next major move is to meet with those who made the decision to decide that I am no longer dead to them. I left them the time and place but I have to get ready. With the many news stations and now podcasts, entertainers, and so many others are trying to get a hold of me to speak with me. A lot of these are asking that I meet with them in person. As much as I would love to, that's a huge risk for me.

I've already called out the people who want to capture me. At this point, I'm almost certain that they just want to silence me. They were a bit too late on that. I've already spoken. People are now aware of what's going on in the world around them. The only thing they can do now is kill me and then try to restore the silence that was there before. They don't understand how hard that will be to do.

The next three days are filled with two to three interviews per day. Some of them are with news stations. Two of them were with occult and spiritual podcasts that were probably not the best to go with. They have this wild misconception that magic is for those who are in touch with themselves. They seemed rather peeved that I brought up that it's a matter of skill and ability. Some just cannot perform magic and there is nothing wrong with that. Everyone is different. I expressed that my goal is to allow everyone to discover their ability no matter what they may be.

It all derailed when they started getting into potion-making. I repeatedly had to say that potions are not magic. Some magical elixir that grants everlasting life does not exist. A love potion is not a thing. Anything they can create is just chemistry in action. You can accelerate reactions with magic but that does not turn a bottle of water into something that can make you levitate. Because I reset the expectation of what magic can do, they were quite upset with me. But that's one thing people will have to learn. Magic is not a cure-all for any ailment. There is still work that goes into every aspect of it.

I wasn't too worried about those interviews. They were with very small-time podcasters who have a niche audience. It did open my eyes a little. It showed me what kind of misconceptions I'll be going up against. Spreading access to the base knowledge about magic will help prevent this from happening. It's going to take time.

I'm starting to get comfortable with how things are progressing. The newscast where they were able to produce water became a phenomenon. As predicted, some used that to prove that what I had said was accurate. Also as expected, some claimed that it was nothing more than a trick. There have been a lot of influential figures who are pushing that this "prank" has gone too far. What they chose to ignore is that more people are coming out of the woodwork to show these abilities in public.

You can pick and choose the information you want to support your point however you see fit. It doesn't change the fact that these people exist, these abilities are real, and they are out there. We have a team of followers who are grabbing articles from the internet, both good and bad, so we can come up with ways to support and disprove points that people are making. The fear is real though. Some folks have taken advantage of this to use their magic for nefarious purposes.

It's ironic to me that there are people who will say that magic isn't real but turn around and shout that these mages are causing fires and robbing stores using these tricks. It boggles my mind. I've publicly stated multiple times that those who are using their abilities for crimes and violence are not supporting the ideals that I have been saying. There's just a long list of things I'm going to have to deal with and that's one of them.

These days have been wearing me down. I've been cooped up in the house we've been using for so long that the cool, desert air is refreshing. Even though I am this all-powerful being, my followers are sticklers for knowing where I am and where I'm going. I recently found a nice little spot just outside of town that allows me to truly relax. I found a rock that allows me to see out into the vast darkness of the desert around us.

I get out of the house again tonight to head to that spot. I watch the sky go from the fire-orange blaze to the darkest blue. As the darkness spreads across the sky, lights begin to flourish. It reminds me of living at the cabin behind Madam Odette's manor. We were far enough out of the city that we could see the stars clearer than I had ever been able to before.

I often wonder how things would have gone differently had I not left there. I often question a lot of the decisions that I've made. It's getting more frequent. But I've made my decisions. And I deal with the consequences. That's what life is. A series of decisions and dealing with them.

I kick my feet off the edge of the rock to let them dangle. The extreme change from the heat of the day to the chill of the night is welcome. The past few times I've come to visit, I've wished I had someone here to share this with. This is a beautiful view to watch from sunset to the shadow of night. Tonight, I did get a guest.

I let out a sigh as I relax. There's a familiar feeling around me that I haven't felt for quite some time. It would normally bring a smile to my face but she seems to have a more demanding demeanor than normal. "I was wondering when you might make an appearance." Her heels click against the stone. There's no need to hide anymore. I don't think there was a reason for her to hide in the first place.

I pat the rock next to me to offer her a seat. "I think I will stand." I just shrug my shoulders. That is her choice. I look over my shoulder to see Madam Odette standing there. She looks as she always has. Her signature red coat and all. I look forward again out into the vastness of the sky. "Have you come to lecture me or tell me what I've done wrong?"

"No. You're an adult. You can make your own decisions."

"But you are unhappy with them."

"Very."

I feel like I'm being scolded by my mother. With just one word, she cut deep. Everything has already been set in motion. There's not much I can do about it now. I can't bring it back. I can just let it go naturally or I can help amplify it. She steps forward taking my offer to sit next to me. It's been so long since I've seen her face that she looks like a new person. But I remember her face.

Her eyes look tired.

"Did you come to lecture me? Warn me? Catch up for old time's sake?" She continues to look forward as I try to maintain eye contact. I join her in looking out over the vast desert to the horizon where the stars meet. "Red, I'm worried. About a lot of things. The world is changing but I'm not sure the world is ready for this change."

I understand this concern. It was something that I struggled with for a while. "I wondered about that as well. We are adverse to change. We always have been. We always will be. We fear what is different. This is an adjustment for everyone but I have to look at the good it can do and push towards that."

"You've been preaching about mages being stuck in the shadows. Yet until a year and a half ago, you didn't know that magic was real."

"Yes. And I can only imagine what it's like to be forced to live in secret for your whole life. What about you, Madam Odette? Do you wish to be able to use your abilities at will?"

Her answer surprised me. "I do not." She seems steadfast in her answer. "When I was growing up and learning to use my skills, my father emphasized the destructive power that magic can conjure. I use my skills as I need. Otherwise, I keep that to myself. You are among a very select group of people with that I can use magic. And the only one who knows that kind of magic it is." That's a deep trust. Alchemic magic is considered very high level. Those who can use that type of magic are considered masters. She already has enough of an aer about her that anything more might just suffocate her.

"Red, do you remember what you told me your goal was?"

"To advance magic and push it forward."

"Do you honestly believe that this is the way to do it?"

I pause but I am confident, "Yes, I do."

She stands up dusting off her coat. "I cannot stop you. But I can advise that you look deep inside yourself while you look around at the world. There are many things to come with this. And now I have no choice but to trust that you know what you are doing or what you are aiming for."

"Madam Odette, why don't you help me?"

"Because this is not something I can support. I'm sorry, Red."

I look back as she walks away. She steps down the rocks that she used to climb up her. Once she's out of sight, she's gone. It feels like she took a little piece of something with her. I understand that this path isn't easy. She is entitled to make her own choices as I have with mine. But there was still hope that she would support this. There is so much good that can come of this and I will push to ensure that the full benefits are obtained.

I look back over the horizon one more time before I head back. The sound of the sand and dirt crunching under my feet help fill the air with sound. I step into the front door of the house to find that everyone is in the living room surrounding a new but familiar face. One of the rats pipes up, "She claims she knows you."

"She does. Let her be."

They all step off of her. She looks terrified. On the other side of things, she stepped into what was supposed to be a secret location that the only ones who knew are the ones who are there. I motion for her to follow me without saying a thing. She picked up the need to be quiet and just followed me to the master bedroom.

I offer her a seat where she can relax. I do a quick ping of the house. The curious ears are trying not to be conspicuous. Well, sound is just vibrations in the air. I set up a small area around her and I so we can talk without them. "Anne, what are you doing here?"

She looks around as she tries to figure that out herself. She grabs her light purple dress, "Madam Odette said she was coming to talk to you. I wanted to come with."

"She left. Did you decide to stay?"

"I did."

I stop and stare. "Anne, I have to ask why."

"I support your cause."

"Are you a magic user?"

"I'm not but I know you are. And what you say makes sense."

She has too good of a heart for this. "Anne, I don't think that you should be here. I appreciate the support but this isn't the place."

"I want to help. Specifically, I want to help you, Red."

"But why?"

"Because you are pursuing something special. I've always been a bystander when something happens. Even if I can't directly help, I want to be able to."

I am about to start a war with the world. I might be starting an actual war with the US Army. I cannot have this woman caught in the middle of this. Do I scare her off or let her be? I don't think I'll be able to reason with her. At least not tonight. It's late. I'm tired. She looks like she's been up for some time. "Let's call it a night. The other will get you set up with somewhere to sleep. We can talk about this tomorrow. OK?"

"Thank you, Red."

She stands up with a slight bow before she leaves the bedroom. I release the soundproofing on the room as I follow her out. I give the order to get her settled for tonight. We will adjust plans as we see fit. We still have a few days before my demanded meeting. There's still time to redirect her.