The crystal-like stone sat lightly atop the palm of her hand. It's physical weight minuscule compared to the power which resides within. Casually strolling deeper into the woods, Raella was in no rush to begin the ritual. Every now and then, she would pause, appreciating the abundant evergreens and spruces which surrounded her. Indeed, there was no hurry, none at all. Stopping by the side of a stream, the trickling water drowned out echoes of scampering critters.
It sounded an awful lot like the sea.
Where she came from, the waves would rhythmically crash against the rocky terrain, creating a sense of consistency - like the ticking of a grandfather's clock. The seaside's unique aroma combined with the crisp but gentle breeze birthed an atmosphere like none other. It brought indescribable euphoria, then, a resentful despair. Even after her mother's death, the tide continued to roll in - always regular, forever unwavering, almost as if nothing had changed. The ghost of a smile touched Raella's lips as she fell into a reminiscence. She recalled the days where she'd frolick by the seaside with the accompaniment of her mother, learning and discovering the vast world around her. They'd pretend previous night's fighting had never happened; that the damage had miraculously been undone. A childish ignorance but a blissful one. Under her mother's guidance, she learnt to utilize her powers and hone them accordingly. It was ironic, really: while the sunrise brought a growth in abilities, upon sunset, demonic energy would clash an ugly display of strength between her parents. It wasn't a perfect time but it was still magical.
Then her mother left.
And like a cliff which collapses from erosion, so did her reverie. Time waits for no man, instead, the next stage of life loomed over her like ashen storm clouds.
"Well, no harm getting answers."
Her vacant voice carried little emotion, shattering the thin coating of lingering silence. Kneeling down, Raella cupped the soil with her hands, before placing the pebble down and covering it. As she expected, a light blue projection bloomed forth from the buried pebble, slowly morphing into the shape of her deceased mother. Emitting a faint luminescence, the translucent spirit wavered unsteadily, extending a hand toward Raella. The act of merely watching this unfold caused a bitterness to fester deep within her gut, twisting and squirming as if trying to find an exit. A familiar loathing plagued her chest, descending upon her and encapsulating her in its unyielding grasp.
"Pathetic. Even I could create better illusions."
Distasteful words spewed out of her mouth, rolling off the tip of her tongue like it was second nature. Despite this, her mother's smile never flickered. Raella felt her mother place her hand on her head, fingers lightly combing through her hair before reaching down to stroke her cheeks as she would a child's. Yet her touch was cold, almost icy; nothing like what she remembered it to be. Slapping her hand away, Raella abruptly backed off. Her mind screamed at her to speak. To utter one of the countless sentences from the countless nights she stayed up, thinking about what she would say to her mother had she been given the chance.
"You left. Why?"
Raella watched her mother wordlessly inch closer to her, not offering an answer. Once again, she reached out to Raella as if hoping to establish a physical connection.
"Why?"
She repeated, this time a little louder but still controlled and firm. She came for answers, not affection. Raella refused to be weak and vulnerable, especially not in front of a mother who abandoned her own child.
"You know, I did love you. I mean, family sticks together right?" Cutting herself off, Raella chuckled at her previous beliefs. Her forced, strained laughter almost pitiful.
"Yeah, right. Clearly, I assumed wrong." Pausing once again, she closed the distance between them in a swift movement. Leaning in close, Raella tilted her head upward to meet the gaze of her mother.
"Because you clearly didn't love me."
Anguish and grief washed over her like a spiraling storm, consuming and overriding any rational thought but she refused to lose control. Not yet. Still, her mother's expression remained patient, understanding and most of all painstakingly warm. Raella felt cold arms clasp around her waist in a tight embrace. The spirit's strength was fading and so was it's being.
"I never left you. My love transcends the boundaries between us; I reside the illusions you create of me and I exist eternally in your memories."
Her mother's tender whisper though almost inaudible, calmed the brewing tempest within her. Releasing Raella, her mother flashed her a final smile as she dissipated into the surroundings. Again, time took her mother away from her.
"I'll always love you, Raella"
Her parting words lingered in the air and like the drop of water that broke the dam, Raella's scream resounded throughout the vicinity. Slamming her fist into the ground, she cursed the reality of the situation and the universe itself. Tears streamed down her cheeks, falling onto the earth like a subsiding rain while grief claimed her unforgiving heart. Eventually, that too faded into a bay of desolation and loneliness.
In the end, it was like her encounter was but one of the infinite waves crashing onto the shore; insignificant and forgotten with time, almost as it never existed to begin with.
Vi had finally worked up the courage to go to the bonfire. She'd heard the gods were doing things there at the event so that made her really nervous but there was the potential for her to see her mom or dad in the flames. She couldn't just ignore that opportunity. But then before she had gotten to look into the flames Miss November had arrived. The goddess who had accidentally been ordering Vi the last time she went to one of these god event things. The goddess was clearly upset and bothered by it, even before Vi had tasted her emotions she knew that. She would have maybe tried to tough it out if it was just her own fear but several people being bothered by the whole thing, well, it was just too much.
Aura had gone to the bonfire every night. Aside from the flames that seemed to have a bit of a draw for her, sometimes in a very sickening way as she recalled bits and pieces from her past, she had heard it was an event to commemorate those they had lost. And she had several people she had lost.