“I am honored to introduce the new representative of South Carolina’s first congressional district, Ahdis White!”
Ahdis was overcome with emotions as she took the outdoor stage at her campaign headquarters. There was a crowd of hundreds cheering for her as hugged her campaign manager who had introduced her. And then she stood behind the podium. She wore an elegant red dress and the curls of her hair hung down past her shoulders. Her red, feathered wings were full and majestic at her back.
“Thank you. Please hear me when I say that the honor is all mine. I could not be more thankful for the confidence you all have placed in me to be your representative. As a dimensional immigrant to this country, I am overwhelmed by the way you all have embraced me as a part of this community. It is for these reasons that I am committed to doing everything in my power as your representative, and as a Supreme Mmotia of the Fonlands Disc of Agê…” Ahdis smiled through the substantial applause of the gathered admirers. “…I am committed to fighting for the continued prosperity of this beautiful community that is my home. I cannot say thank you enough, and I will continue to say it when I am blessed to stand before you, when you meet me at my offices here in South Carolina or in Washington, or if I pass you by on the streets of our community. I am so eager to serve this community and I am excited to start the project that was a cornerstone of my campaign; stabilizing the community against erosion and raising the city to reduce the encroachment of the tide into the streets. I will not let this city sink and it will be preserved so that your children can choose to have a future here as well. Again, thank you all so much for your confidence, your trust. God bless Charleston, SC, and may the Mother-Father look kindly upon us all. Good night!”
Ahdis was relieved when she finally entered her coastal home, and she kicked off her designer heels. She pulled the straps of her dress from her shoulders and shimmied out of it as it dropped to the floor. She stretched her wings and long arms then she went out to the large back porch to sit in one of the comfortable chairs that faced the ocean. She was in her underwear, which in her opinion were the most comfortable Earther clothes, and she relaxed, enjoying the wind off the ocean despite the crisp cool in the air.
She wasn’t there long before the aboatia known as Raius landed on the sand and approached the stairs that led up to the patio where she relaxed. He stripped off his clothing as he ascended the stairs and he was in a tank top and boxer briefs when he sat next to Ahdis.
“I don’t know how you wear those fabrics for so long,” Raius complained as he stretched, letting the air soothe his irritated skin.
“You get used to it,” Ahdis chuckled. “Sit, you’re just in time to have a drink with me to celebrate my victory.”
“That is why I came. Don’t tell me I’m the first one here.”
“Or dead last. The election was days ago now, I’ve been smiling nonstop since then and I am just so happy to finally have a break from it.”
“I won’t apologize because I purposefully missed all that. Tracia sends her congratulations, and Pultine has yet to emerge from cocoon.”
Ahdis nodded. “I guess Lorv is still deep in space. It’s fine, honestly, my life here doesn’t feel all that consequential, not enough that I would expect my sisters to take extraordinary measures to be here to share moments like this. Tracia will be happy to know, she was worried about Aerphim influence here, but she can let that go. Earth loves the Fonlands and despite significant support for the so-called angels, Earthers reject the thought of aliens from space coming to change things, even if they look like their angels. The coexistence we’ve found seems shaky, but largely, Eathers like us and this will not be another planet in the Aerphim Empire.”
“There are times when I look out over this ocean that I forget we are on Earth. I haven’t been to too many places in my existence, but that feels unique to this Earth, no other place fools me like this planet. Endla feels so artificial, too perfect. This place is the result of physical laws that govern it, but it still feels organic because everything here is thinking and feeling.”
“That is the feeling from most populated planets in this realm,” Ahdis explained. “Endla feels quiet because of all of the psychic barriers built into it to ensure privacy for visitors. Sensitives like us mmoatia can feel the hum of sentient life.”
“I should try to experience more, but I find it hard to tear myself away from the places I love most. I do intend to be here with you more to help however I can in your new position.”
“You are welcome whenever, brother. Your skills are the cornerstone of my plan to solve the city’s sinking problem. How is Whil? Have you convinced him to come and help? Things will go much faster with the two of you.”
“He’s still married to the swamp, just as you last saw him. You should visit him when you’re in the Fonlands. He isn’t against helping, he just gets caught up tending to the swamp.”
“Well, your help is more than enough. Thank you, for everything. I know that I am regaining control of my assets with your help and I can’t afford to lose control now more than ever.”
“I don’t even understand how you’ve contained your assets for as long as you have. I mean, you absorbed the Dark Witch Sorcerer and the Razur Wurm. I don’t think I could handle it at all.”
Ahdis sighed. “Tracia warned me long ago that I shouldn’t use absorption magic, but then I encountered bad things that resisted being drained completely enough to kill them. I had to do something, so I made them part of me, hoping that Tracia and Pultine were wrong and that I could find a way to rid myself of them in a way that wouldn’t harm anyone, but of course they were right. But thank the mother-father for you and your study. You have saved me, Raius.”
“I am glad that my knowledge is helpful, but please understand that I can’t guarantee that the work we are doing to fortify the psychic prison where you hold your assets will be able to hold for too long before they develop countermeasures. The things you have absorbed are intelligent and learning, plotting an escape. Maybe it is best to expel them, Ahdis.”
She shook her head. “The things that I absorbed would surely devastate any environment that I release them into. I would only release them to a void but I haven’t located one that seems secure enough to prevent them from finding their way to sentience that they will exploit in the cruelest way possible. My assets are quite valuable,” Ahdis said with a weak chuckle. Raius could see that she wanted to make light of her reality, but it weighed too heavily on her very being.
“You augment spells with Divine Essence,” Raius said eagerly, so desperate to lift Ahdis’s spirits that he had stumbled upon a realization. “We do it every time we engage in spellcasting, we give our own magic that is gifted by the Essence, and then we direct arcane forces through proven words and physical movements, combining the two together. We know that it is possible to join the Essence with other arcane forces, maybe you can make Essence spells and combine them with arcane forces. You are powerful enough to write your own spells, you can build onto the spells I have already shown you. I’m sure that would help to fortify your containment of the assets.”
Ahdis was delighted by the idea and she set to work with Raius to create the Mmoatia Grimoire.
“Shini spoke to me,” Ahdis said.
Gabriel puzzled at her and tilted his head. He sat across from her and tilted his head curiously, the long, thick curls of his brown hair tumbled to one side as he tried to recall the name she said. The two hadn’t seen one another in a long time, but Ahdis managed to get away from her duties on Earth for long enough spend a month with him on Endla and they had enjoyed their first day together. But Ahdis seemed troubled at the breakfast table and then she mentioned Shini. He had heard the name before, but…
“I told you about him. He was the first companion that I ever had, perished in my battle against the Death Witch Coven.”
“How did he speak to you?” Gabriel asked, suddenly jealous.
“In my dreams. We sat just like this, and it felt real until I realized that it wasn’t a memory. But it was real, only I was dreaming. I believe that it was really him.”
Gabriel arched his full lips and leaned on the table.
“So he is not perished then?”
“I think that I can bring him back. It is not an easy process, it will take a very long time, but he deserves it, and he would prefer it to the place that he finds himself.”
“Where is he exactly?”
“Another realm, very different from this one, and he wants the comforts of the reality he knew. He deserves it, Gabriel. He died to save Umuthi Omnyama. Or, not died exactly, but he has been gone for so long.”
“So he is still your companion?” Gabriel asked nervously.
Ahdis was quiet for long enough to convey her answer before she said a word and Gabriel hung his head.
“What we share is special. You are important to me. But if Shini had been here, I would not have spent this time with you. You are the silver lining in losing him, but you can admit that as much fun as we have, it is not so important to us that we would give up our lives to live one together. We love one another when it is convenient and that has served us both very well. I would like to see Shini again and I didn’t want to continue seeing you without telling you. I planned to be here for a month, and I would like to stay with you, but I understand if this changes things.”
Gabriel grabbed for Ahdis’s hand and held it with both of his.
“I cherish every moment we spend together. I’m not happy to hear that you are bringing someone you love more than me back from some oblivion, but I am happy to be here with you now. And you are right, our love is one of convenience and I will always make myself available when I can and it is convenient for you.”
They enjoyed the month together, and Ahdis returned to Earth, confident that she would see Shini again. She wasn’t too concerned with Gabriel’s feelings, he seemed satisfied when she left, but he was seething.
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