Secret Discoveries (Part 11)

Secret Discoveries Part 11 BY: SEP

Michiko was angry. She had been transported to a different place, although that was not the correct word for the void she had visited. The mere memory of the vast, black, emptiness was scary, and there was so much she did not understand. She had experienced terror, confusion, and now, despite her Aunt's welcome, she still was not being told anything. Even now, minutes after they had sat down, Aunt Morgana was staring at her over the top of a cup a tea, which she had insisted on drinking before talking about anything consequential. The pregnant silence from before was nothing compared to the venomous resentment Michiko was feeling now.

Morgana smiled at the princess, sensing the turmoil within. Michiko had had enough. "Aunt Morgana, please wipe your self-satisfied smile off your face and be kind enough to tell me what is going on."

Morgana's shocked expression revealed the boldness and rudeness of Michiko's words. Serves her right, thought Michiko.

Morgana's sudden laughter filled the room. "I should have known you would be different from Crystal." Morgana placed her saucer and tea cup upon a side table, and looked up in time to see the mounting fury in Michiko's face, but she wasn't fast enough to stop
Michiko's torrent of words.

"What do you mean by all of this?" The fury in Michiko's voice was palatable, as though her anger were thickening and heating the air within the sitting room. "You scare me half to death while talking in a cryptic manner, clearly attempting to skirt a complicated issue. Who am I if I'm not Crystal? Why did you rename me? WHAT IS GOING ON?!?" Michiko had bellowed the last question, and her own fury and emotion alarmed her.

On the one hand, she had all the memories of Crystal growing up as princess for as far back as she could remember. Now, she felt a break between her childhood and present self. How could one person change so drastically in so short a time? She could feel the difference in her very being. Her demeanor was different, she was thinking differently, and certainly she was acting differently. When had she ever shouted at anyone? Suddenly, she realized that she never had shouted, never had lost control so badly. The sudden realization cowed her, and she barely repressed the sudden desire to run from the room and hide from this nightmare, her present reality.

"Calm yourself child." Morgana looked alarmed, making a jerky movement with her arm as though she wanted to comfort her niece. "I have some answers to your questions, but not all. However, you must calm yourself before we can speak."

Michiko clamped down sharply on her emotions, and the control must have been immediately apparent for Morgana began speaking. Her words came slowly, but built momentum as magic thickened around her, supporting the momentous words.

“You are no longer yourself, ” Morgana began. The statement was strange and hung in the air between them, but Morgana continued before Michiko could make a sarcastic remark. “In essence, this change began a long time ago, when you were still a child.”

Michiko felt confused but held her tongue, watching in wonder as the magic around Morgana grew thicker, and her Aunt’s words grew stronger. “I am sure that you remember your original meeting with Merlin. That day of your fifth birthday he tested you for magic. You see, magic should run strongly in the royal family, yet none of your siblings ever had even the slightest trace. Indeed, magic is your family’s right and honor. You being the youngest child, Merlin was sure that if your siblings did not have magic, you at the very least would have some magical talent.” A cold, sad, smile appeared on Morgana’s face. “Alas, Merlin has made one mistake too many I see.” Her voice trailed off as she remembered past events. “You never were the same after that meeting.”

Morgana tried to focus on Michiko, and Michiko felt as though a weight settled upon her shoulders as Morgana’s eyes locked upon her own. “The spell was too strong,” Morgana said simply. “I do not know what transpired between you both, but the result sits before me. You are a part of Crystal, and yet you are separate. Some recent event must have separated the already damaged parts of Crystal. Do not ask me what parts. Do not ask me what you are exactly. That is something I do not know. Presently we are not in the physical world, so I do not know if you have a physical manifestation. Here and now I can say that you both look exactly alike, but you are different in some fundamental aspects, different as any two people. This is one reason why I renamed you, although I also felt compelled by a magical force to do so. Your new name is Michiko, daughter of wisdom. You must help Crystal, for you are she, and she is you. Be wise, be strong, and may your journey be swift.”

The sweeping intensity of Morgana’s odd words pierced Michiko, and she mentally recoiled, reeling backward within herself in response to all she had just been told. Abruptly, Michiko found herself floating in the black void once more, circling the hourglass and pedestal. The familiar terror filled her, but, before she was paralyzed with fright, Morgana appeared next to her – a surprisingly calm force within the pressing silence.

“My niece, I hate to leave you in this state, but I feel a pull I can no longer withstand. I must heed this call. Yet, lastly, know that you need not fear this place. It is only the void within your torn soul now empty with the loss of your other half. Crystal does not yet realize this place exists… You can help her….” Morgana’s body and voice were fading now.

“NO, Aunt Morgana, do not leave me! There is still so much I do not understand.” Michiko was trying to suppress the hysteria in her voice, but it was not working.

Softly, Morgana’s voice responded out of the darkness. “You shall know what to do child. Think. Access your innate wisdom… Michiko.”

It was then that Michiko realized she was alone. The tears upon her cheeks were as comforting as they were troubling.

*****

(Note to reader: These asterisks will signal that the story is shifting back to a different topic. Since we don’t have chapters, this is the best way to signal a change in subject.)

Next--> Part 12 Coming Soon!