IRIDA

5 Years Earlier

Sitting on the highest branch of Drus I can see the first rays of sunrise break through the sky, like I do everyday at dawn. Areti's going to arrive any second now with her priestesses trailing behind her for their morning devotions. She was often grumbling about me sneaking out of the house before dawn but those hours were my favorite, my personal time without interruption. Well, except for the birds. I always came to the great Drus that sat near Naos, the main temple. The branches are strong and thick and the view of the sky was the best there was in all of Ayia.

Areti's tall, cloaked form comes into view as she walks briskly towards the temple, no doubt with her signature scowl under the hood of her cloak. I giggle quietly as I watch her stop at the entrance for a moment before going in. I can never tell if she's trying to sniff me out or if she's saying a prayer when she does that. It doesn't take long for the other priestesses to join her, it never does.

Rumor is that Areti found me in a basket in a clearing in the woods at the end of a rainbow near the border of Ayia. Every time I ask her about it, she scowls and tells me it's not time yet. She never elaborates. Grumpy as she can be I know she means well but that doesn't quell my curiosity or the questions that seem to be a constant stream in the back of my mind. Today's supposed to be my thirteenth birthday and given that Areti was the one to give it to me and she happens to be a seer, it doesn't feel fake and made up. I can't help but feel like she knows more than she tells me, which is mostly close to nothing.

"Irida! You can come down now!" Areti's voice snaps me awake and I crash down onto a branch with a thud.

Was I just floating? Wait, was I asleep? How did I even fall asleep? I never fall asleep here this early. I look down to see the priestesses disappearing into the treeline that surrounds the temple and Areti at the foot of the tree with her hands on her hips scowling up at the thick branches of the Drus. Her gaze searches my face silently for a moment when I finally climb down and I fight the urge to squirm.

"Are you alright, ???????? (dear)?" She asks with a strange glint in her eyes, rubbing her thumb over the spiral symbol between my eyes and I nod. She stares at me unnervingly before she grabs my hand firmly and starts walking towards the treeline.

"Ma, where are you taking me?" I ask as my short feet struggle to keep up with her long strides. She stops suddenly for a second and turns to me with a grim smile.

"It's time."

"Here! It's here!" Areti exclaims coming to a stop near the foot of the waterfall at the border of Ayia and I look up from my sightseeing to see a beautiful rainbow that stops just in front of us. My chest feels like it's going to burst and I bring my hand up to my chest to hold it in.

"I-is this where..." I start but my words die in my throat.

"Yes," Areti answers quietly knowing exactly what I meant to ask.

"Come on, sit!" She orders, tugging me down as she plops onto the thick blanket of grass under her.

I can feel the heat of her stare searing into the side of my face but I'm too focused on the blood roaring in my ears as I stare at the rainbow. It's not like I've never seen a rainbow before but this one looks different, it feels different.

"Ma, why'd you bring me here?" I ask my gaze still fixed on the rainbow before me.

"Sshhh! No questions, just relax!" Is all I get from Areti. Well, okay, then. I guess we'll just sit here and stare at the rainbow. I take a deep breath and focus on the rainbow.

Everything happened so fast. One minute I was seated, staring at the rainbow and the next I was lifted into the air and towards the middle of the rainbow by an invisible force. I barely had time to panic before I fell into a trance. Before me I saw a man and a woman in the woods looking at a baby in a basket before them, their faces streaked with tears and painted with sorrow. Looking into the baby's gray eyes tinted with blue and I immediately recognize myself. I freeze, holding my breath, unsure of how to react to the scene before me.

"I'm sorry, my ?????? (heart). Whatever happens to us, please know that we love you and we didn't have a choice," the woman says in between heart wrenching sobs while the man holds her, briefly screwing his ocean-blue eyes shut before he looks around as if expecting company before he looks back at the baby.

"You'll be safe this way. I hope one day you'll come to know how much we love you," the man says before turning to the woman in his arms.

"It's time, ????? ??? (my love). We have to go before they find us," he says urgently. The woman picks up the basket by the handle and places it at the end of the rainbow, watching it lift from the ground and disappear.

"Irida! Irida! Come on, wake up!" I hear Areti's voice in the distance, growing closer by the second. My eyes flutter open to find Areti hovering over me and I realize I'm laying on the ground.

"Ma, what happened?" I ask on a groan as I try to sit up, the last thing I remember being the vision of my parents.

"You were high up in the center of the rainbow then there was a blinding light and you fell. I eased your fall with my magic. Are you alright?" Areti asked with a frown and concern shining in her eyes.

"I think so, I just feel strange," I respond, flexing my fingers on the grass beneath me and wiggling my toes before I hug my knees.

"They loved you very much," Areti says as she settles next to me.

"I know, I felt it. Did you know them?" I ask.

"No, but I saw them in my visions before I found you. Still do, every now and then," she says quietly.

"Will you show me?" I ask, my gaze finding hers.

"Of course, if that's what you want," she answers, her hand grasping my shoulder and squeezing.

"How about now?" I ask, sitting up straighter. Areti searches my eyes silently for a moment before holding her hands out towards me and I scoot closer and place my hands in hers.

"Close your eyes," she says and I do as she says, eager to see more of my parents.

Scene after scene of my parents and their messages to Areti flashes behind my lids, my heart clenching tightly in my chest as I watch them. By the time we're done I'm sobbing in Areti's arms, overwhelmed with a mixture of emotions. It would have been easier if I was just abandoned, it would have been less complicated. Nothing could have prepared me for the sadness, the grief and the rage that swam in my being, squeezing my heart and clawing at my belly. Areti held me, rubbing her fingers on my back until I was done.

"I want to train with the Alala," I said, pulling away slightly so Areti could see the determination in my eyes.

Areti opens her mouth to say something before loud shrieks pierce the air and a creature lands in front of us on the other side of the waterfall with a loud thud. The creature looks like a huge lizard with splotches of red and green scattered across its uncharacteristically smooth slimy skin that's painted with flaps of skin hanging loosely.

"Goddess! That thing is ugly!" I say, my automatically nose scrunching up in disgust as I regard the creature.

The creature shrieks again loudly as if responding to my comment, its distorted face twisting horribly as it bares its razor sharp teeth at me, crouching as if to pounce.

"Irida, run! I'll make sure the border is secure!" Areti says firmly, waving her hands in the air and the border glows, the glow spreading upwards shimmering with different symbols.

I turn to find the Alala warriors scattered across the space behind us, getting into position. The Alala is an order of female warriors that live in and protect Ayia and the priestesses who live here. They're highly skilled in combat and war and have different magical abilities that they use in battle.

It's no surprise that they're here, they always seem to be lurking in the shadows. A loud thud that shakes the ground breaks me out of my train of thought and I look up to find three creatures swiping at the glowing dome and suddenly I feel a sense of panic rise up and lodge itself in my throat. I find myself frozen to the spot, my eyes blurring, my breath coming out in short sharp gasps and blood roaring in my ears. Suddenly I feel searing heat shoot up from my belly and I feel the urge to scream and then my vision fades into pitch black darkness.

"Is she alright?" A voice echoes in the dark.

"She should be," another voice echoes.

"Is she going to wake up soon?" Another voice echoes. I struggle to open my eyes but they feel glued shut.

"Come on, let's give her some space," another voice echoes, sounding even further than the others and then there's nothing, just silence as I drift in the darkness. Suddenly there's a warm golden glow in front of me and my mother appears.

"Hello again ?????????? (darling)," she says softly with a warm smile walking towards me. I don't even realize I'm holding my breath until she wraps me in a warm embrace and I release a shaky breath.

"A-am I dead?" I ask, confused.

"No, little one, just unconscious. Do you remember what happened?" She responds and I shake my head.

"We don't have much time so I need you to listen to me carefully. You have a great affinity for magic and great power lies inside you. This is just the beginning, it will show up more and more with each day now that you've come of age. Trust the high priestess, she will teach you how to harness it," my mother says, her hands holding mine tightly and her grey eyes serious. She falls silent for a moment, her eyes scanning mine before roaming my face. "You've grown so much, I'm sorry I wasn't there for it. I love you and I'll see you again. Now, time to go," she says, her voice thick with emotion.

I open my mouth to respond but suddenly I'm yanked away and my eyes snap open as I wake up with a start. I gasp for air as I look around in silent panic. It's not until I spot Areti at the foot of the bed that I start to calm down, realizing I'm in my room at our home.

"Breathe, ???????? (dear), you're alright. You're safe," Areti coos softly, rubbing my feet reassuringly as I try to steady my breathing. "Twice in one day, I don't like this new habit," she says after a moment of silence, the corner of her lips lifting ever so slightly in a barely-there smile as she scans my face. Despite her attempt to lift the mood I can see the worry in her eyes.

"Someone has to keep you in your toes, Ma. I'll try to stick to my usual trouble making," I fire back softly with a gentle smile so she knows I'm alright.

"Any more and I'll have stubs for toes," she grumbles under her breath, shaking her head as she gets up and walks to the table by the door and grabs a cup before walking towards me. I take a sip of what tastes like one of her herbal teas, grateful for the lack of bitterness and lean back on my headboard.

"What can I say? I aim to excite," I say with a cheeky smile and she chuckles lowly.

"Since you like excitement so much, you can start your training in the morning," she says, shifting on the bed and I almost spill my cup of tea from excitement.

"Really?! You really mean that?" I shriek and she nods with a chuckle.

"Let's see how much excitement you can handle," she says before standing up and walking towards the door. "It's almost sunset, eat your food and get some rest. You'll need it," she says jutting her chin at the plate of food on the table there before she walks out.

Present

I smile as I recall the day everything changed for me. I'm much stronger now, stronger than most of the Alala warriors. I've traveled in and out of Ayia plenty of times, I've gained a lot more experience than I had five years ago. And I know where I come from. My chest tightens ever so slightly at that last thought. I still get to commune with my parents every now and then, but that doesn't make me miss them any less, make me wish they were alive any less.

"Irida, you're up!" Areti shouts from across the field and I shrug the thoughts off and walk to the center.

I'm immediately surrounded by six of one of the strongest warriors we have. I close my eyes and put on my blindfold, taking a deep breath and waiting. Whoosh! I hear a spear moving rapidly cutting through the air around me and I duck and catch it, smiling at the amount of fun I know I'm about to have and I let my inner beast take over and I feel my magic flow into my hands with ease.