Repercussions

To be reborn is to suffer, to relive is to learn. -Virdu Tara, Journal of a Thousand Journeys.

-=+=-

"So you're the daughter of Frieden Mer, Eirini Mer?" The man in front of me, Haidon Hipp, asked.

"Yep!" I smiled nervously.

"You will have to come later, I have a meeting with the other officials in town." He thought for a time, "How about tomorrow when the noon bells ring?"

'Great now I have to avoid her, where does she live again?' I thought to myself.

Haidon, trying to be helpful, told me, "Go to the west district, there is cheap lodging and cheap meals there." He turned around but then said, "You might find someone new to interview as well." And with that, he left.

'Someone new, ehh?' I walked to the west district, I passed by many houses that were once dumps. I was amazed by how much had changed since the last time I visited, the west district had been developed so much since the Hipps took charge. The cobblestone streets, though rough for carriages, were better than dirt. I passed by the market, there was fresh bread being baked. My stomach began to growl, I hadn't eaten anything since last night and it was almost noon now.

I approached the baker, "Good evening, two buns please."

I gave the baker a cloth bag to pack them in. He grabbed two buns out of the stone oven, "Four shillings."

I went into my pouch scavenging for four Zeke Shillings only to discover that I had none, only money from neighboring empires. I cracked a slight smile, "You wouldn't happen to accept Tuilsan money?"

The baker gave me crooked eyes, but my savior came from behind, "Here you go Huts." It was an old woman with fair skin and a silky dress, 'Priestess from a church?'

I gave the woman my thanks, "Thanks Miss, I forgot to exchange my money for Zeke money at the border."

The old woman smiled, "No need for thanks," she passed me the bag of buns, "You sure are young to be traveling countries."

"Oh? I am just a writer looking for the best stories." I followed her, I wanted to get stories but didn't want to be too pushy, "Speaking of stories, you wouldn't happen to be a priestess?"

"It happens to be that I am dear," She pointed to a church down the street, " I serve goddess Eleusis. If you want to give thanks light an incense stick at the alter."

"Sure, I have nothing but time for a while." I was walking with her when I realized why Eleusis sounded familiar, 'Wasn't the Empress of Zeke a child of Eleusis?' My eyes brightened, 'I can interview the Priestess who raised the Empress!'

We walked up to the church while the sisters of the church were coming in and out. We were about to enter when the door was flung open and another sister came out running. She was startled by the presence of the two of us and fell down. She got up quickly and apologized, "Sorry miss and Cleo," she bowed to both of us, "Cleo after I visit Iphla, I am going to find Demeter."

The lady next to me smiled, "Got it dear, be careful next time, the day lasts twenty-four hours." The girl bowed one more time before leaving for her duties.

'Iphla huh? She must live in this district, that's bad.' We walked into the main hall, there was no seats. There were flowers along the pillars and artist painting along the walls. Realism was not what they were going for, it was purely expersionalism. The alter was simple with a statue depicting mortals trying to reach the god. I walked up to the alter took an incense out of the pot and lit it, I clapped two times and prayed. After a minute of praying, I looked back at Cleo, she was reorganizing some flowers.

She noticed I was done, "Come with me in the back, I have a small office where you can interview me."

"Excuse me?"

She laughed, "You came with me to write my story right after you learned I was the Priestess of Eleusis."

"Hehe," I scratched my back in embarrassment. I walked with her to a small office in the back, it had many books, a small alchemy set, and a desk in the center. She looked to be the messy organized type.

After we walked in, "Now, since we are alone, can you tell me why you became younger, Frieden?"

"Huh, Wha- I don-, Uh-" Lost for words about how she knew and confronted me, I just kept stuttering in front of her. "How do- do you know?"

She laughed out loud, "Hahaha, I have secrets too people don't know about." She brought two fingers out and a green flame appeared.

My mouth went agape, "A witch?!"

She sat down at her desk, "Come sit, let us answer each others questions." I sat across from her, "You go first, Frieden."

"Why did you tell me that you are a witch?" I opened with a question to clear the fog.

"I have kept up with your work, I even read the original draft of your book that Iphla gave me. From your stories, I could tell you were trusted with very secretive information and wouldn't expose too much of a person." She held me in high regard, it felt nice to have passionate readers. "My turn, why is a 50 year old suddenly in her teens again?"

"Long story short," I took a breath, "I wanted to figure out immortality and eventually found a spell that was supposed to do the trick. But it turned out it was just a spell that reversed my age, I will still get older." Cleo stroked twirled her hair while writing down notes. "Why is a witch living like a Priestess."

Cleo looked slightly offended, "First of all, I am a fully-fledged Priestess recognized by Eleusis. Second I chose this life to break the cycle of isolation in the Witch community, and who says my life journey is determined by the people I was born to?"

I guess I never really saw it that way, I always viewed people's stories from an outside perspective. I grouped people into certain cliches and generally thought they would follow that path. Witches are an anti-social group and are generally viewed with hostility from the rest of society.

Cleo asked the next question, "Does Iphla know about your, uhhhh, transformation?"

I cracked a smile, "Uhhh, nope, and please don't tell her." I put my hands together as a "please".

She gave me a reassuring nod, "Do not worry I won't tell her, but if she sees you in this situation, she will instantly know it is you, I presume you have reasons so I will not ask why." She got up and took something out of a draw, "Put this earring on."

I accepted the earring and placed it where a previous one was, "What does it do?"

Iphla raised her hand and began to enchant, "Cres na tui," she said and a green light pour out of her fingers and the earring glowed green for a second then faded. "Those who knew you in the past will see you as someone different, it will help you in your journeys."

'Such a precious gift!' "Thank you so much!" I smiled ear to ear.

"Apparently your emotional maturity also aged with you!" She sat back down, "Let us continue the interview, ask all you want, but publish it after I have died."

I continued to ask questions and write them down in my journal, time flew by and I realized that the light in the window dimmed quite a lot. I was preparing to leave for the inn when Cleo stopped me one more time for a final favor, "I want you to return in five years."

I looked at her with confusion, "Any particular reason?"

"I had a witch's premonition, you were a part of it, witches don't usually get prophecies like this. those who do are known as an Archwitch and their words are meant to be taken seriously."

I looked at her and nodded, later that day I booked an inn room and got into bed, staring at the ceiling I looked up with my hand out, "Five years from now, I wonder where I will taken along in this journey?"