Mangalay

And there she was, at the foot of snowy pine tree forest again. Her safe place. She knew this forest very well, as if the back of her own hand. Because she created this forest to be her safe place. She started climbing from the small footpath which was circling around pine trees coated with a white blanket of snow. She looked at every familiar tree, every rock and boulder she placed and every bird she knew singing merrily despite the snowy weather, since it was a dream land everything was possible.

Some days it was snowy like now, sometimes a thunderstorm hung on the forest. A slow and steady rain or a snow storm. She enjoyed every one of them. She liked winter the best. And after a small walk, finally saw her cottage she placed here. She swiftly closed the space between herself and cottage. The cottage had simply one room build from rocks and a small window as her family's home. She extended her hand onto her familiar door knob. Felt cold metal inside her palm. She went in this cottage a million times. Every time since she started managing successfully meditate like Manday taught them.

She taught all of them to create a safe place to go when they meditate. She knew she would go to that cottage from the first moment Manday said that. And every time she went in, she felt like her sisters would come at any moment. But when she felt the cold door knob this time, she hesitated. As if she needed to stay out. As if something tugged her from her navel and pulled her back from the house. She remembered Manday's words during class. Whenever you go in the deepness of your souls, always trust your intuition. Okay, she thought. It's easy enough. Stay outside.

So, she needs to complete the summoning outside then. She picked a stick out of a bush. She stabbed the stick to the snow and looked at its shadow. Put a small stone to the end of the shadow. This was her first mark. She knew she needed to wait a little for a second, so she continued. Since today was a snowy day, there was no need to find water to honor the water souls. And since it was a pine forest, there was no need to find something to honor the tree souls also. So, she just needed earth, fire and metal materials to honor their souls.

She dug the snow with her hands until finding the soil. The soil under the snow was frozen. She took off the knife she hid in her belt and plunged it on the ground to crack the frozen surface. When she managed to reach the soil, she took a handful and tossed it aside. She would place it after placing the directions. She went into her small cottage and brought a candle and matches for fire.

She went near the stick again and looked to its shadow. Now the shadow was ending another point. She put an another stone to the ending of the shadow and draw a line between two stones. She stepped to the left of the line and turned her face to the line. Then she knew she found the north. Used the stick on fresh snow to draw a giant pentacle as the top pointy end of pentagram would show NorthEast. Completed the drawing with a circle turning around the pentagram. She went back to the pentacle and marked the directions that were easy to find after it. She marked four directions as North and East will be the upper right and left of the pentacle and South and West will be at the bottom right and left.. and looked at the pentacle again. It was all okay. Now, there was only placing the offerings to honor the souls left.

She went to the South first and placed the candle inside the snow. Lit it with matches she brought from the cabin. Then took a handful of earth she dug earlier and placed it to the center of the pentacle as well as the North. She didn't place anything to West and East, represents water and East represents air. She stepped into the center of the pentacle, turned her face to the north. She grabbed a handful of snow from the top of the ground and squeezed between her alms to melt it. And it was time to chant the old words that have been taught.

I call to you, O power bright,

With circle's strength and soul’s pure light.

With earth and sea, with sky so high,

I summon you—hear my cry!

The source of love, of joy and might,

That wraps us all in shining light.

Where eagles soar and doves take flight,

A sacred force both strong and right.

The gods’ great shield, the will so true,

The walls of words that guide us through.

To work in peace, both free and bold,

To walk between the worlds untold.

I call upon protection’s grace,

Where pride and power lose their place.

In God's own name, I make this plea,

I honor you—blessed be!

Then she turned to the South. Meanwhile the snow in her palms melted to a cold water. She dug her index and middle fingers together into the water then flicked it to the South for three times. Then she turned to the West and said,

“Air bound to the fire.”

Then she flicked water to the West for three times and turned her face to the East,

“Fire bound to the water”

Then she flicked water for three times to the East as well and turned her face to North again

“Water bound to the earth”

She flicked water for three times for the last time and closed the chamber as saying

“Four directions, forever entwined,

All powers in one circle aligned.

Air, fire, water, and earth,

Elementals of astral birth.

I summon you—heed my plea,

The circle is cast in harmony.

From sorrow and curses, it stands apart,

I call to you—hear my heart!

From caverns deep, from dunes so wide,

From rolling seas and hills with pride.

I summon you—come to me,

With wand, with dagger, and pentacle three.

Let it be joyous, bright, and free!”

She completed her words and started waiting for something. She wasn’t sure what she needed to wait for. Or what kind of signal that she needs to receive but was pretty sure that something should have happened.

She kept gazing around with squinted eyes due to bright lights reflected from the snow. After a minute or so, she squatted on her legs and dipped her fingers into the freshly settled snow, it was soft like it was just poured from the clouds a moment ago. She smiled with recognition of the joy the winter brought to her. She grew up in an island village and it was generally milder winters. When they brought her to the continent for the temple, it was the first time in her life she saw snow.

She remembered the day she saw the snow for the first time. It was a cold night. She left her bed to go in Manday's bed as usual. When she was crossing the room passing by the window, a glimpse of white has caught her eyes. She turned back and froze. Everywhere was covered with a fluffy white blanket. It was still raining with fat snowdrops gently swelling in the air reflecting temple guards torch lights, almost lazily. She woke Manday urgently to show what she was seeing. Manday gave her a genuine smile and explained her the snow. And she couldn't help and agreed to sneak out from their room for a night time snow fight. She wasn't know the snow fight of course when they left the room as wrapping their thickest caftans around them and went out to the frozen night. But when Aru was gaping to the snow as her mouth open, suddenly a snowball hit her head from behind. When she turned back to see the attacker, Manday was smirking to her with an another ball in her hand and instantly on Aru's face. Aru giggled and sweep a handful snow from floor and throw back. It was one of the most happiest days of her life. She smiled to herself and gazed around again.

Then something caught her attention. She knew every tree and every creature in here, and she was sure she didn't know that small shape in clouds getting bigger and bigger any second. It looked like a kite with a long tail. A kite? Or maybe a kind of bird. A big bird. Very, very big... and tall... and a furious and red, giant... What?

Aru froze. The shape in the sky was getting bigger every second and she knew what she was seeing now. But, she couldn't explain to her own mind what she is seeing. It was an enormous, intimidating, flame red... Dragon.

A dragon! she thought. She tried to wrap her mind around this piece of information. A dragon, giant, flame red and smoking furious dragon, was coming to her. There was no time to grasp the idea now, it was right above her. He halted in the mid air as suspended. There wasn't any wings visible. No, it was simply floating in the air, with the ease of a fish in the sea. Its long, long tail swirling and circling behind him. Him, Aru knew it was a male, didn't know how but she was sure. His two long whiskers were curling out before his giant nostrils and was dangling down through his horrific jaw. He swiftly turned around Aru, as if examining her. Aru was nervous. She knew nothing would harm her in here, it was a safe place. It was in her mind. But it took all of her will not to freak out. She stand there and wait to dragon to complete his circling. At last, he stopped again in the sky before Aru and started descending to the ground. His tree trunk sized four legs tossed onto snowy ground. The closest trees shivered with the effect of this landing and snow on the trees fell to the grounds. And finally his melon sized hazel eyes met Aru's dark eyes. His slid like pupils expanded and narrowed again as if focusing on Aru.

"Hello?" said Aru tentatively. She lifted her hand as she wanted to wave to the dragon, but she halted and lowered it again. Maybe she should bow. Or maybe grovel before him. She had no idea. She wasn't even sure what to do with her nervous arms moving meaninglessly at her sides. Then decided to bow. She slowly, as keeping her eye contact, lowered her back to a half bow and straightened up again. Dragon huffed, a dense steam came out from his nostrils and showered Aru. It was almost... a laugh.

Aru felt more confident. Still keeping her eye contact, she dared to talk again;

"My name is Aruengir, it means -"

- Pure night!- a voice roared. She instinctively covered her ears with her hands but then recognized the voice was inside her head. The dragon was directly talking into her mind.

- Never try to teach anything to a Dragon!-

Noted, she thought. "Okay... S-sorry" she said, stuttering. She stopped for a moment to read the room, should she continue talking? He growl in an agreeing voice. She understood that it was expected.

"Well, you can call me Aru. And I am sixteen years old and I am a shaman. Or at least I am training to be."

- I know everything about you - he said with a deep voice in her head. He was calmer now. At least it wasn't roaring.

"Well, I don't know anything about you. Would you mind telling me your name?"

- I want to set some ground rules before giving you my name. Once I give you my name, we will be bound. I will be your spirit guide from then and will be your mentor. -

Spirit guide... A dragon? She knew it was generally animals, like birds, wolves, horses etc. She never heard a dragon. But maybe it was usual, she had no idea.

"Okay..." she said tentatively again.

- Every time you summon me, you can ask one question and one question only. I never give wrong answers but you have to be specific. Or you may not be satisfied with my answer but you cannot ask any more questions to make it clarified. So, ask wisely. Ask in details and live with the answer. - Aru noded. Her mouth went dry and gulped. Dragon continued,

- You have the chance to reject me. You can choose to bind another guide. But, no guide will ever give you answers as I can give to you. - well, it did sound a little bit arrogant to her. But, she had no intention to trade him at all. She had a dragon now, she was keeping him.

- And I have the chance of rejecting you- He said lazily again. He eyed Aru from head to toe as if evaluating her value. Aru felt an instant fear. She didn't want to lose the Dragon. She wanted to be worthy for him. But how?

- So, I am giving you my last rule. I don't give, if I don't get anything in return...-

" But, I don't have anything to offer "

- Don't you?- He paused again and brought his nose closer to her as if sniffing her.

- I will give you knowledge, and demand knowledge in return. You will give me information about you every time I give you one. -

"What kind of information? You said you know everything about me already."

- I know everything about you, but I don't know anything in you, what is in your mind. -

"So you want my thoughts?" He nodded, hardly visible.

- One thought for one information. -

"You are literally in my head now, I hear you in my head, yet you cannot hear my thoughts?"

- I am the one having the ability to penetrate my thoughts into your mind. Not you. You need a voice. Too human...- he blinked but it reminded Aru more of an eye roll.

"Okay..." she said. Aru let out a big breath with release. At least he didn't demand something impossible. She could give him one of her million thoughts. It was easy.

- So, give me one thought in return for my guidance. If I like the thought, then I will accept to be your guide.-

Aru's relief was stuck in her lungs.She should have given him a 'thought,' but it had to be an important one. To be worthy to this ancient dragon. But what she could give? What kind of thoughts a sixteen year old girl has to offer to deserve a dragon's trust. She was puzzled and scratched her nose while thinking. Dragon's eye was watching her intensely, as if recording every movement of her.

"Well, I am excited to be a shaman and help people."

Dragon growled with displeasure. - Is this your best, human? -

Well, it was a cheesy one. Aru felt it too. She was kind of trying to butter him up with -I want to be useful- message. But, of course he didn't buy it. Think, Aru think, she talked to herself.

" I believe in reincarnation."

- Like almost every other shaman - he sighed again.

"Is it true though? I mean reincarnation?" she couldn't help but ask and instantly regretted it.

- you don't get the questions yet -

"Oh yes, alright. A thought... A thought..." She started patting her foot to the ground with an unknown rhythm as holding her chin between her index finger and thumb. Dragon looked bored. It was the first time Aru saw a dragon and she managed to bore him. He growled again and turned around, Aru startled. Dragon was getting ready to leave. He turned his giant spiked tail to her, slowly sprung on his four feet as if getting ready to take off. The snow light was reflected on his red scales like fires. Aru felt the panic filling her instantly. She had to offer something, anything...

" I like winters more than summers " Dragon didn't stop.

" Sometimes I sneak out from the temple to go to the woods. " no retreat. He was about to take off now.

" I don't have any friends!" Dragon halted. Or at least Aru thought she saw hesitation. But Dragon didn't return. Aru continued blabbing,

"I don't have any friends. Not a single soul wants to be friends with me. My teachers, the nuns, think that I am special, but I know deep down in my heart, I am not. I am worthless. I am just deluding them with my hard work but I am not special. When I saw you, I thought if you choose me, maybe I can let myself believe that I am not that much worthless. And other girls don't like me, but I am not able to hate them for this because I don't see anything to like in myself too. "

Dragon was standing still now. For a heart beat, Aru was sure, this was not enough to keep a Dragon. But, he started returning slowly. When he faced Aru again, he lowered his head to Aru's eye sight level. His Melon sized Hazel pupils were burning with an eternal flame. Then he said,

- My name is Mangalay, and I don't have the habit of bounding with worthless people. -