Chapter 26: rún

It has been a week since we decided to go to the land of Danu, ask for reinforcements and maybe get some training and learn more about how to deal with having these beings inside us. The last time I travelled there with Carol, it seemed desolate, like a person hadn't even lived there, no trace.

Carol and I hadn't spoken about it all but there is still that disturbing prophecy about her death, I wonder what exactly that has to do with anything, I think to myself as I slash an Oak tree with Excalibur. My form has been improving over the past few days, I can feel my body bonding with the blade, like growing a third arm. My connection to Abhartach has been growing as well, the darkness feels warmer and warmer with each passing day, I felt myself relax in the feeling made my arm intangible, even Abhartach did not know that was possible.

The last time I was in these woods, Carol kicked the shit out of me, not my best moment, normally when people say you got beaten by a girl, that is not what I usually have in mind. I'll ask her to spar when I gain a little more experience, I need to get her back for the loss.

Carol.

"I have to do this, Cernunnos, I need to do this," I say to the voice in my head.

"Why? It is completely stupid for you to put yourself in mortal danger just so you can save that boy."

"He's my teenage boy," I retort.

"That was excessively cheesy, I never thought I would ever say that but in this case, I'll make an exception.

"What do you see in him? Mere weeks ago you treated him unfairly, why do you suddenly care now?"

"I've always cared, Cernunnos, I just tried my best to keep him away because I thought I'd hurt him, I thought I was not good enough, that he needed someone better and I led him on for a little."

"Carol, that's-" I interrupt Cernunnos before she finishes.

"It is unfair, I know. I was selfish and insecure and instead of protecting him, I am sure all I did was hurt him, I want to do it, not because I feel indebted to him but because I love him."

Cernunnos remains quiet and I know where she stands. She is not the biggest fan of my idea but she supports my decisions.

I read over the extra piece I decyphered with Max that Sam has not seen yet.

'The blood of the lover'

It all makes sense now why Albert wanted me to join his side, why Unknown was friendly with me. I can be a catalyst but so is Sam and I will die before I let anything like that happen. I have been linked for years and no better time than the present to finally make use of it.

"Reveal, rún," I chant. I feel the wind flow into my body, the energy from all around me, I feel the life, connected to the wild, peace. My mind wanders through the forest, it whispers to me, "Find the Aberuk,"

The feeling subsides and I and return to my senses. How ironic, distant place of the heart.

Sam.

I yell into the mic on my headphones, "No, no! Just one more hit and you would have died, how does that even happen?!"

"What can I say? I have been training a character that punishes your main, can't have you being the fighting game king in our group," Max taunts through the com.

"Ugh, I'll get you next time, I need to train, I haven't played since the last time you came over with your ex."

"A lot has happened in the past few weeks, you are lucky summer break began just as your problems began, it has already been half a month too."

"I hope we deal with this without too many complications, last thing I need is to ditch school. How are you doing, Max?"

"I don't know, Sam, sometimes I find myself feeling like I am not enough, weird, I know but.."

"Max, you are enough, more than enough. What makes you think you are not?"

"I feel like a burden sometimes-" she cuts off and I hear voices in the background calling for her. "Sorry, I have to go, we can talk later,"

That was strange, I wonder what is troubling her. I sit by the window, the rain falls heavy and quiet tonight with droplets violently crashing onto the window. Two months ago, I wouldn't have imagined all this happening to me. Maybe I would have, I like daydreaming and thinking of fantasy elements but I have never been a big vampire fan. Ironic, I used to mock twilight and here I am. I hate it but oh well, a call to adventure is a call to adventure.

I stare at the pencils on my desk, I haven't drawn or written anything in a while, afterwards, I should write a comic about all this.

Max

Carol and I walk through the woods early in the morning, I can't believe she convinced me to go through this. If Sam finds out, he is going to kill me.

"Are you sure you want to do this without telling Sam?" I ask hesitantly.

"I am sorry to have to ask you to lie to him but you are the only person I can trust."

"We don't talk much, Carol. We get along but I would not call us friends," I say matter of factly.

"I get that, I did a lot of questionable things to Sam and I know you were against us being together after what I did but He trusts you with his life, he loves you and that's enough for me, you are also the only one I know with that level of magic literacy."

"Alright, this spot seems good enough."

We stop in a small clearing between enormous oak trees. A reveal spell of that scale would require both of us to be linked to the forest directly, she caught a glimpse and a clue but maybe this way, we will get more. "Take off your shoes and sit down cross-legged. I will draw up the conduit," I say and she grabs her staff, helps her focus.

"Ready?" She gives me a worrying glance, I was born ready. I nod and I take a seat across her.

We close our eyes and she quietly chants, "Reveal, rún." The air gathers around us and forms an ominous swirling gust. "Fumura," I chant in a whisper and the air calms.

I see the universe, the stars, the valley that leads to my ancestors, the denga realm. I see only their eyes and feel their presence as I float through the cosmos. I see a tree on a small patch of land a few metres from me form magically. Here we go.

I float towards it and gently take my first steps. The lush green grass brushes against my feet soothingly. I walk towards the tree, acacia tree on closer inspection.

"Welcome, daughter," A disembodied voice speaks. The echo spreads strangely out here with no walls. "I need your help, please grant me knowledge, forefather," I plead with my hand settling onto the tree.

"I can see that your friend remains on the Earthly plane, she has no connection with us."

"Please, let her come, just this once."

Carol materialises next to me and her eyes open slowly. "Wow," is all she manages to mutter.

"What do you seek, young one?" He asks.

"Answers," Carol responds as she falls to her knees in respect. "I wish to know how to break the bonds of an ancient binding prophecy."

"Destiny is difficult to change, especially a long one set in stone. Improbable but not impossible. I can see it on your being, the destiny tied to you, the one you want to break. I can see it already unravelling, like a spider weaving its nest your two strings connect."

"Does that mean you can help me?" Carol inquires eagerly.

"I can but not in the way you seek. You want answers that I cannot give, all I can do is point where the answers are, I should not, cannot and will not interfere. You need to find the Aberuk."

Carol made an exasperated moan and her face turned salty as the words echoed. "I keep hearing the same thing everywhere I turn to. Is that the only way?"

"There are a couple that you could stumble on but this is all I can give.

"Max, I am the grandfather of your father's father, I died young, I left my family just as it began but I see now that everything turned out great. You are here and I am proud of the woman you are turning into, find your path," He spoke as his presence faded. The ground we stood on blurred and vanished into the cosmos and we were sucked inwards back into our bodies.