Facing Consciousness

There is still a lot we don't know about ourselves, we are quite literally strangers to ourselves. Even till the end we learn so much we never quite knew about, and hopefully what we do learn can lead to a more fulfilling life we lead before, whatever that may be for you. -Demeter Crey, Journal of a Thousand Journeys.

-=+=-

"Goddess, Eleusis!" The scene in front of me changed, now it showed a young woman, but it looked like she was painted into the scene. Her figure was so colorful, filled with emotion I could not put to justice through any retelling.

She walked up to me, "I am Eleusis but no need for the goddess part, I am about to become your adopted mother after all."

I was shocked that she would just accept me like that, "Why are you willing to take me in, I have nothing to show for myself, I am spoiled and know nothing in particular." I was very honest with her, she was after all a god, she could see through me even if I lied.

She in return was also honest, "I don't have any criteria for who I welcome as my daughter or son, I would welcome anyone, murderer or saint. It just depends on who the Priestess, Cleo, brings to me."

"What kind of people have you raised then?" I was curious to see who else had received her knowledge, who else was able to be saved by her.

"Over the few thousand years I have been active I have seen every type of person." She focused on me, "Even people like you, royals, who have had their life flipped upside down, or royals who just wanted new perspectives, monarchs, princesses, and princes."

I breathed a sigh of relief, "So even people like me have a chance."

"Not so fast, just because I have seen them through, doesn't mean they succeeded in what they hoped to gain." She was frank with me, "You must put in the effort, I can only encourage you to come, your own life depends on you and you alone."

"What exactly do I gain from being adopted by you?" I at least wanted to gain something if I was going to go through this, more than the orphanage that is.

"The first thing you gain is my world's magic! when you perform whatever magic you use it will be through this world you are standing in right now." She explained that the god's world is different from a human and that by learning magic here I can channel it into the magic down on the Earth.

This made my eyes sparkle, "That is something amazing!" My magic as it was then was above average at best, it could be said that I excelled more than the majority but it wasn't anything to guack at.

"The second thing, and really the final thing is whatever you want it to be," she wasn't very specific and just smiled.

"What exactly do you mean?"

"Many people take different things from a gods lesson. For example, Leda, who came before you, lacked confidence in who she was, after all everything was taken from her before. Through meditation guided by me, she gained confidence filled with humility." She sat back in the air reminiscing, "She learned what it meant to be a true leader."

I never had guidance before in my life, at least not proper guidance where the person wasn't trying to please me all the time. I didn't where to begin, "Any ideas on where I should start?"

Not judging me for asking she responded, "I'd be happy to give you ideas, looking through your mind I see your uncle," she slowed her words at the end noticing my face twitching. "I'll call him murderous king for now on, while he might have been a horrible person with a twisted personality he had good points. You want to be the person you truly want to be, self-reflect, and be truly aware of who you are, only then can you change."

Taking what she said to heart I made my resolve, "I will follow you!"

She smiled, "That's the spirit, but you won't follow me, I am your mother, I will guide you to where you want to go."

I smiled back, it was good having this caring god here, "So uhhhh, what do I do now?"

She clapped her hands, "For now we will finish the ceremony and tomorrow we will begin our training at night again, maybe not starting so late."

The 'paint' around me turned into colorful flames and swirled around me, flinching I take a step back but Eleusis stops me, "You must stay, you will be fine accept my flames."

I relaxed my body and fell into the world, it was colorful and I absorbed it all. It stretched out for miles and it felt as though an infinite potential existed here. I voice came into my ear, "To complete this ceremony, do you accept me as your mother, I will give you all my love and in return, you must give me all your heart."

Feeling the compassion, feeling the air, feeling the warmth in my heart I grabbed out and whispered, "Yes, Mother." I fall back into a dream-like state and slowly my consciousness slips back into sleep.

"I welcome you to a new world, my dear daughter Andromeda Eleusis."

I wake up to my stomach growling, I open my eyes and find myself back in the small bed. Sun broke through the curtains, a small fire going. The smell of food aroused my nose, I uncovered myself and found I was in new clothes. I saw Cleo cooking in the kitchen, "Cleo?"

"Well good morning, you slept like a log even after you meditating!" Cleo teased me, she finished stirring her pot. She scooped out two heaps of oatmeal, put some cut fruit in and some meat on the side, "I think it is time for a proper meal!"

My stomach stopped me from thinking of anything else, I learned right then that a hungry stomach can control you, and you could do nothing to stop it. I brought the bowl over to the tables by the couch but finished it before I even sat down. I felt guilty for not having any manners and looked at Cleo apologetically.

"Bahahaha, do not worry my dear," she scooped some more and brought it to me, "I know how it feels to be starved for many days, I have plenty of oatmeal here." She smiled at me and went back to cleaning the kitchen.

After scarfing down the next bowl, I went to the chest next to my bed looking for any clothes to wear, inside a pair of plainclothes sat, a long sleeve shirt that was colored grey and white, long pants that were also grey, and some garments.

Cleo sounded behind me, "I have some money for you, use those clothes for now and I will take you to the market to get some more that fit you better."

Even though these clothes weren't the prettiest in the world, I could still make them work as extras, "Cleo, do you have a needle and some thread?"

Surprised initially Cleo didn't respond right away, "Why yes it is in my chest, use as much as you need!" She was happy to lend out whatever helped.

Finding the needle and some thread I went to work on the clothes. I cut off the sleeves as they were a bit long, then used some fabric that Cleo had to create a cute-looking end of the sleeve, more dress-like... kind of. Next, I did the same for my pants, I made them a bit shorter for the boots Cleo had for me. I added some embroidery along the shirt to make it a bit neater to look at. 'It would work for casual working,' I thought at the time.

Cleo was done cleaning and helped me finish any extra details, I was still no match for someone who had been doing this for most of her life. I slipped on my new outfit and was ready for a brand new day.

My boots were leather and would last me a while. Cleo and I walked outside, "By the way, who carried me to bed." I still felt guilty for making someone carry me to bed, I wasn't a princess anymore.

Cleo chuckled, "That was Demeter, she knew you were still tired and so stayed out while you finished your meeting. She even changed your clothes for you."

I blushed, I was used to maids who had no emotional attachment to me changing my clothes, but for some reason Demeter stuck in my mind.