Gap Between Destiny

On her way to the Academy, Maya realized she was supposed to be working there anyway. She clocked in with her supervisors and sneaked off to the tower.

As she ascended the worn, spiralling staircase, the musty scent of ancient wood enveloped her senses. Stopping at the top level, she watched the diminishing light from the horizon that left her in a faint blueish glow. The wind gently howled, whistling through the cracks in the old wooden structure.

"You came," Anastasia appeared.

"Is it true? I am a Spirit bender?" Maya confronted her immediately.

Anastasia averted her eyes. "I wished to tell you…"

"But you didn't. Have you known from the start?"

"I—I—You weren't ready. I—I couldn't…" Anastasia was distressed.

"What does this mean? What am I supposed to do?" Maya was fighting tears.

"Save the world."

Anastasia's words felt heavy. It was further highlighted as she seemed to fight an invisible force wanting to cast her into oblivion, to relay this message to Maya. She would disappear and instantly appear in a slightly different spot.

Maya chuckled emotionlessly. This felt like she was a protagonist in a story having a wise sage sending her on a vague grandiose mission. But Anastasia was a very old and unstable spirit who lost her life 'saving' witches. Could it be possible that she felt compelled to fulfil her unfinished business although it has already come through, and now wishes to hand over the torch to the next in line?

No. Maya wanted answers, not more confusion.

"This world? It seems fine to me."

What an absurd thing to ask of her.

"I've been dead for a long time. Things fade. I—I don't know…" Anastasia was truly pitiful. "This world wasn't meant to last. I never built it that way. I was tricked. Betrayed… killed." Her voice became smaller and smaller. She continued to fight the unseen force while she spoke.

"Killed!?"

Maya was shocked to hear this. But somehow, it began to make sense. Maya always thought Anastasia's re-enactment of death fitted more with being hanged. Just like the persecuted medieval witches were executed.

"They have woven it with lies," Anastasia continued. "Stories… It's not true. It's not true. Things they tell you, don't believe them," she grabbed Maya's shirt, "Don't trust anyone!"

Anastasia's erratic behaviour put Maya in a lot of distress. She wasn't scared of Anastasia but felt pity for such a great mage to be reduced to this. However, the things she spoke about were world-crushing knowledge that did put her mind into turmoil.

At this moment, she didn't see Anastasia as some omnipotent mage who was in the realm of gods, but as an innocent and exploited young girl who knew too much. And who was concerned about Maya, believing the world was in danger.

Maya didn't want to believe it. If all of this was true, Elena was on the right track. Being dead for a long time must have murked her mind, resulting in her being so unstable.

"Things will fall apart," she continued prophesizing, her eyes staring into empty space without focus.

"Then… I should inform the Headmistress—"

"NO ONE!" she suddenly bellowed.

Maya jumped back. Anastasia was becoming scarier with each minute. It was best to calm her down.

"Lady Anastasia, the world isn't falling apart. There's nothing wrong."

Anastasia looked at her with clarity returning to her eyes.

"There's plenty wrong. But it may not have started yet. I don't know what will happen. That means you have time," she pondered.

"Time for what?"

"I knew it would happen. I took precautions. I left clues for my successor to be able to rectify it. I must have. I had to. I—I definitely did."

It was saddening to think how much suffering Anastasia went through. She could no longer remember events of her past clearly, but the urgency in her voice was convincing. The world must truly be in danger.

"I—I knew you would come. I hoped… I am sorry, Maya. The world has changed so much. I didn't count on still being around. Souls have a fleeting existence and erosion works its way. I know I am useless, but please…" Anastasia had a painful expression as if she was somewhat embarrassed.

She took a deep breath and regained her composure.

"I know it is selfish of me to ask, and I hate to place this burden on you — I truly do — but you are the only one who is capable of rectifying my past mistakes. I have no other means to right my wrongs, so I am kindly asking you to save the world I have ruined on my behalf."

"Anastasia…"

"I won't force it on you. You may take time to think about this. But, Maya, I want to tell you that it means a lot to me that I have found you. And I wish for you to live."

She was sincere.

Maya felt a tear roll down her cheek. Not even realizing she felt so much for Anastasia that her tears flowed out of their own accord. It was difficult to comprehend her request, but Maya had a gnawing feeling she wouldn't be able to refuse.

"I can't properly reward you if you agree, but I will be there with you, assisting in any way I can. I'll try…"

To Maya's surprise, Anastasia brushed her cheek with her palm and affectionately wiped Maya's tears.

"I know it may be difficult to understand as I am so unreliable, but some truths can't disappear over time. I am helpless in this form, but I promise I will make you strong," she spoke as she held Maya's face.

Somehow, Anastasia now felt more tangible and stable. Through her touch, Maya felt the air of familial bond they were forming.

"Although I am unable to provide you much, I have something for you."

Anastasia turned Maya's head upward, until her eyes landed on something pinned to a wooden beam, gently swaying in the draft. She let her go as Maya reached up for it.

It was a necklace, hanging on a rusty old nail. Maya never noticed it before, but she couldn't say that she was gazing at the rafters when there was a spectacular view opening up from the tower. It was clear it hung there for a long time. It may have not been for centuries, but time had forgotten it at some point.

Maya had to jump up, lifting herself with air further to reach it. Tugging to unhook it from the nail, her eyes caught the distance of the ground through the tower opening and shivered. Child of Air or not, she ought to be careful not to carelessly plummet down.

"It belonged to me. Now it belongs to you."

Anastasia stated as Maya looked at the pendant nesting in her hand. The dusty old golden necklace with a beautiful eight-pointed star pendant hanging from a long chain felt cool to the touch. The chain itself was patched in a couple of places and the metal of it was mismatched with the pendant itself suggesting it wasn't the original pair.

However, the pendant was the most intricate piece of jewellery Maya had ever seen. The four-pointed star with its dainty cut-out floral design and a green sapphire gem in the middle was met with a smaller, onyx-filled four-pointed star rotated in the way that the smaller points were in between the bigger star points, resulting in it looking like an eight-petal flower.

Maya glanced at Anastasia. It looked old and handmade, but could Anastasia truly be the owner?

"It's beautiful. But it couldn't have belonged to you. That was centuries ago. How did it end up here?"

"It had its course in life. It was passed down and had many different owners after me. Then, it found its way through fate to you."

Anastasia looked at Maya with intensity, as if she was struggling to stay in one place, but still smiled gently.

"That's incredible."

Maya thought about a piece of jewellery passing through time, like a silent witness to history.

"Is this your anchor?"

Besides the rich history it went through, Maya became hopeful she could finally have an easier way to communicate with Anastasia. If this is her anchor, like the silver rose necklace was for Leo, it does explain why she had a stronger pull from this tower where the pendant silently hung, undiscovered.

"Not quite. I'm afraid you won't be able to use it as you do with that friend of yours, but it can help me find you easier. I left it as a Key for my successor. I don't remember how to use it, but I am sure it has to serve you in some way."

Maya looked down. "How much do you remember?"

Was it the erosion she mentioned before? Anastasia seemed to have very little knowledge of what this important mission even ensued.

"I don't know much about my past. And my knowledge of magic is only rudimentary. But if we follow the clues I left for you while I was still alive, I'm sure we can figure it out."

Of course, it couldn't be that easy. If Anastasia knew exactly what she needed to do, she wouldn't be so desperate. She would have most likely done it already. Although Maya was unsure if ghosts can use magic.

A sudden thought made Maya glance at Anastasia with a sorrowful gaze. 

'Her memory loss… I wonder if she did it to herself.'

If she was so paranoid and distrusting, and spells for conjuring spirits like the one Elena tricked Maya with to make her admit seeing ghosts truly existed, it could be possible that she had to prevent her knowledge from falling into the wrong hands. For a mage that could create worlds, it must be plausible she would be able to take such measures. She constructed a path only a Prima could follow and then handicapped herself not to be its undoing.

"Maya, no matter what you decide in the end. You can't let anyone discover you are a Prima. It will put you in danger."

"Why? Wouldn't it be a relief to know someone can save us if the world truly is coming to an end?"

"People here are living a lie," her voice was stable and calm. "Even the most well-meaning ones are capable of bad things when their beliefs are challenged. You have to be cautious. I can't protect you from the real world." Anastasia placed her hand on Maya's shoulder. "I'm sorry for placing this burden on you. I know you didn't ask for this—"

"But I did," Maya interrupted her.

Anastasia's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Maya looked away with a hint of shame.

"Ever since my parents died, I wanted it to mean something. But just coming here didn't seem enough. I… wanted something more meaningful. It might be selfish, considering everyone else has suffered as well, but… I called this upon myself…"

Maya didn't expect Anastasia to say anything to this, but the silence still worried her. When she looked up, she realized she was alone.

Somewhat expecting it, Maya sighed. Even knowing Anastasia wasn't completely in control of it, and that she had lasted miraculously long so far, it still stung in her heart.

Alone in the tower as night slowly began to spread where light had faded, she pondered about all of this. Idly playing with the new pendant in her fingers, she couldn't return to the world having this much on her mind.

This was a long day.

Even though they argued earlier, there was only one person who could quell the storm inside of her. Before she can confide in him, she needs to rectify the situation.

Maya took a deep breath and pressed her palm on the silver necklace.