Dyani felt the cool breeze on her skin. This time, it was the same place as her dream from the other day. The forest was looking just as lovely as it had before. However, Dyani could have sworn that there were more shadows. It was minuscule and could have just been a trick of the eye but she felt that would just be a lie.

  This time, she walked through the forest of her own accord. She did not need to be led because her curiosity about the woman had her wanting to know more. The gates of the city were open this time, the tower still shining in the sun. Like before, the magic washed over her and gave her a peaceful calm. Everything that had been a tension or anxiety-based issue bled away. She felt safe for the first time in months, other than returning home for one night.

  The doors of the glass tower opened and the same woman from before stepped out. This time, Dyani felt the magic encompass her and lift her. It was like her mother had hugged her. The white dress was slightly different this time. The bottom part of it looked like it had gotten dirty. Grey tinged the edges, making the dress look like it had been through quite a decent amount of wear. There was no sign of anything black touching it, which relieved Dyani without her knowing exactly why it did. The forest's shadows could not touch the purity within the woman despite its attempts.

  The woman stepped down to meet her and Dyani felt wary but thrilled simultaneously. Something was happening that she did not understand. In a way, she was happier knowing this was more than just a dream. How could it be? This was too real.

  "Dyani Grace. You have entered my realm. I welcome you."

  Dyani smiled and moved closer to meet her at the base of the stairs.

  "Greetings. Although, I am still determining how I got here. I am glad to see such a beautiful place."

  The woman in white chuckled, "I am sure that you are. Come. Why don't I show you around and we have a discussion? Uninterrupted this time."

  Dyani's arm found its way into the other woman's and she was guided up the stairs. The closer she got to the tower, the more she felt the magic radiating from it. In a way, she felt unworthy of being in such a potent and sacred place. Something was just magical about this place beyond the magic itself. Her eyes could not stay still when they walked through the doors. It was empty yet the place still felt full of life. They passed many doors and open rooms, although the hallways branched off from the main spiral stair that wove its way up the tower.

  Without a word, she was led into a massive room filled to the brim with bookshelves. There was a breathtaking forest view on one side of the library. Dyani almost ran over to the bookshelves, some of them containing scrolls and very old books. There was a desk to the side, with comfy couches and seating for comfort. On top of the desk were papers scattered with ink and quills atop them. A book lay to the side, its pages worn and handwritten in a language she was unfamiliar with.

  "Please, make yourself at home." The silver-haired woman gestured to the couches. Dyani blushed at being caught ogling the papers.

  "Sorry. It's been a very long time since I've seen a handwritten manuscript."

  The woman waved dismissively, "Don't think anything of it. I would be interested if I were in your position. The written word can teach us many things. It's refreshing to see one hold such a love for the older knowledge."

  A set of china popped up onto the side table, within reach. The silver-haired woman settled herself across from Dyani and served her the hot beverage. Dyani raised it to her lips but was surprised to find that it was her favorite drink instead of tea. The hot cider soothed her nerves better than any drink could.

  "I am very pleased to host you here, Dyani. I was wondering when you would appear."

  Dyani set the saucer and cup down on the side table, "I am wondering about all of this. Please do not take this wrong, but who are you and where am I?"

  "No need to worry. I will explain everything to you. May I tell you a story first?"

  Dyani frowned, not expecting that answer. She nodded her head anyway, curious as to where this would lead.

  "The world is much different from what you know and understand. Not by your own doing. No, you're being kept from understanding the currents that flow through the magical world. You did not grow up with the Blessing of Magic and though it is being corrected, it is taking much too long. I will be telling you from my point of view."

  She remained silent, allowing the woman to continue. Hearing a different side would be interesting, considering that she didn't know that there were sides in the first place.

  "Long ago, the world was full of humans and creatures. Ones who dwelled side by side without issue. In the makings of this world, I had granted the gift of magic to the inhabitants."

  Dyani sucked in a breath. Was this woman insinuating what she suspected? Her answer came in the form of a nod.

  "You are correct in your thought. I am the Goddess who gifted Magic to the world. Back then, the harmony between the races was something that all thrived within. I granted my Magic to those whom I considered to be worthy. These were the creatures, the beings, and even the humans. Those who became a part of the history, the legends."

  The saucer and cup clinked together as the Goddess sipped her tea before setting it back down. Dyani frowned, "I am unsure if I believe you about being the Goddess. Please do not take offense, but why have I come here and to meet you? The Gods and Goddesses never interfere with just anyone."

  "You have every right to suspect and question me, Dyani. I may not like it but I can understand. You are correct. I would only get involved with purpose. I also would only speak with you if there were a motive. Please, let me continue?"

  Dyani nodded and sat back with her cup, sipping on the cider with relish.

  "You were not one of mine but because of a darker motive, you came under my watch. You came to understand the dark depths that magic has been taken and how it is used. I know that there must always be a balance. The balance has become skewed. My people are suffering."

  Dyani felt her throat close at the thoughts of the ritual. The smell of the blood and the piercing screams echoed in her ears—the pain of the knife and the never-ending pain of the white magic. A scowl crossed the beautiful woman's face, which had Dyani leaning back.

  "You have experienced the greedy side of magic. Of what some of the People have become in their pursuit of more of the Blessing. They have forgotten me. They need to remember why the magic was gifted. This world has much beauty and love to offer you, Dyani."

  The Goddess stood and paced behind the chair that she had recently occupied.

  "Offer me? What does this world have to offer me that I haven't already experienced? I came into this world with pain and was met with chains. With controlling and abusive powers."

  The silver-haired Goddess stopped to stare at the woman who had gone through too much in too little time.

  "It is not your fault and I will never blame you for this view of the world. Please, Dyani. Please give my world and my true people a chance. Come with me? I would like to show you something."

  Dyani stood and walked next to her as they left the library.

  "I Blessed the world with my magic when humans were just beginning to come into their developing cultures and civilizations, long after the beings had established their version. No longer were humans nomadic, but they were beginning to thrive and evolve. I Blessed some when they got to a higher thinking process and cultures were spreading through Earth."

  They took a sharp turn and stepped out of the back of the tower into a large courtyard. There was lush vegetation with waterfalls and exotic creatures roaming. Some that Dyani had never seen before either. Even with all the reading about magical creatures. The woman - Goddess, Dyani reminded herself - stopped beside a bench overlooking a natural pool. When she sat down, a bird swooped to perch on her arm. It was small and one that she had seen some of the students and professors use to carry letters. It was a unique thing, very colorful and reminded her of a hummingbird. Dyani noted that it was bright red and gold with a tail almost two to three times its length.

  "This is a Snizit. Unique, is it not?"

  Dyani could only look as others flocked over before the birds returned to the forested area. The one that had originally landed received careful attention. Instead of the high-pitched song, Dyani was greeted with a low-humming song that felt like a safe hug. The Goddess smiled and reached out. The Snizit jumped onto Dyani's shoulder and gave her a head butt on the cheek. The magic of the bird's hum rolled through Dyani and relaxed her.

  The Goddess observed the woman who had come into her domain so violently. There was a silvery-white streak within her pitch-black hair. She cleared her throat, startling both the girl and the bird. It took off with a chirp and joined its brethren. Dyani focused on the Goddess.

  "Come, I think you should hear the rest of my story."

  They walked around the Courtyard, the Goddess greeting all the creatures they encountered.

  "When I Blessed the humans with the gift of Magic, my People were no longer respected or revered. Instead, they faced ostracism and hatred. Humans hated them for the Blessings that they perceived to be greater. They believed that the creatures and beings made of my Magic would be favored. I cannot blame them for that thought. I was young then. I was Favoring them over the humans. As all Gods do when they are young. It created a poison."

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  "I was believed in for so long with both groups. Then, the humans weaponized me. They chained me to my world and destroyed my People's belief. Centuries and Centuries I have watched as my People began to lose their faith in me. They lost their love for Magic because it was outlawed. Humans chained me under their control and their belief in me but also created a perverse Blessing."

  The Goddess stopped and looked down. Then, Dyani noticed that her original observation of the Goddess must be corrected. The dress was more of a silver-white that had been originally darker. It looked faded, but looking at the bottom, the colors became more vivid. The black had become fresh and new. The white was eating away at the black rather than vice versa. She had assumed, which made Dyani feel guilty in a way.

  "I loved all of those that I gifted my magic, but I made great mistakes in my youth. I ignored the signs and the warnings."

  "How?"

  The Goddess smiled sadly at this question, "It is an easy and difficult answer. It has become my greatest mistake because I was young with great ideals when I Blessed the humans. I did not see that they held the darkness, the hatred, or the jealousy within. It's because I was naive to think the best of them. My People are not always good or evil. They just are. But they are more tolerant and accepting of those who are different. At least, they used to be. The humans have caused them to be wary and more unaccepting."

  There was a heaved sigh and the Goddess sat down on the dirt of the forested area. Her head was placed within her hands and she just sat there. Dyani watched, feeling the pain and sadness radiate from the woman. This Goddess mourned her People, the past, and how things have changed.

  "Once the humans began to grow in numbers, their new religions have taken over the world. They banished and killed my Blessed. They made themselves the pariah. Their beliefs and morals grew into things of chains for me. The Magical humans believed in me but perverted my morals. Now the Light is in which is pure and whole. They spout their ideals of Light being the Good. The Black of the magic is amoral. My own, My Blessed, have lost faith in me because I have become chained. The humans have chained me down with their ideals and I can no longer move within the Earth world. With each generation that passes, the less they believe, and the less I can do to help them."

  Dyani had sat down in the middle of her talking but found herself leaning back in shock. There were some things she had expected and others that she had not. This was not it. In fact, this was nothing like she had imagined. It did not surprise her that she had lost her following and the love of her People due to the rise of the world religions. That was something that everyone knew, at least within the nonmagical world. It was the downfall and the loss of many cultures and religions due to the surge of Christianity alone. Dyani bit her lip in thought. She had not been prepared for it, and many questions were swirling around in her head. Who was she kidding? She was not prepared to meet a Goddess.

  "I am sorry that you have lost the faith of your People. It must be difficult."

  The Goddess turned to her, giving her a waned smile, "I know, child. It has been growing worse over the centuries and is something that I have long since come to terms with. The worst has only just begun."

  "Why me? Why have you brought me here?"

  The Goddess stood and brushed the dirt from her dress. It stained the white, which made the immortal smile mournfully.

  "You were not supposed to survive, not with the magnitude which the ritual failing caused. The backlash was felt for hundreds of miles from what I observed. I admit I am being selfish. I brought you here because you are someone who understands what I am going through. At least you understand the chains that the humans have placed upon me. Much like with the Headmistress has been controlling you and so has the Government of humans. I made sure you survived, Dyani. I needed someone who could walk among the immortals and someone who could walk among the humans. Most importantly, I needed someone who could be connected to my Blessed and return their faith in Magic… in me."

  Dyani stared at this Goddess, one that had ultimately saved her life yet also did so on selfish desires. She felt the anger and turned around.

  "You want to use me just as much as they do."

  "Yes. I will not hide that from you. I want my People to be accepted. I want them to believe in me again. Can you understand, Dyani? You are my hope for reconnecting with the Earth and the Realms. With the People who have been hurt because I am trapped."

  Dyani stepped back when the Goddess turned to her, passionate and pleading. She felt the ache of wanting to help. She knew. It was the pleading of a desperate mother, yet Dyani couldn't help but feel betrayal and anger.

  "I'm sorry, Dyani. I never gave you a choice in the matter, have I? I just assumed."

  The Goddess turned away, staring up into the trees that blanketed the area. Snizits were flying with another similar one, just blue and green. Dyani didn't know what to feel. She didn't know what to do. A soft hand was placed on her, the silver eyes of the woman looking at her in sorrow.

  "I am so very sorry, Dyani. In my selfishness, I forgot the most important thing. You."

  Dyani felt her heartbreak and the pain of the situation. The Goddess wrapped her arms around Dyani and held the woman as she cried. She cried for the pain of the whole situation. She cried to release the frustration at being the one used. Dyani cried because she had been holding it in for months.

  It took time for her to calm down. To release it all and the Goddess did not waver. She did not stop consoling Dyani, running her fingers through her hair.

  "Tell me about this Light and Black. I think I understand but I am not sure."

  Dyani was guided over to a bench, where they sat down. Gentle hands cleaned off her tears and brushed her hair back from her face.

  "The Light and Black are what I refer to when I speak of the magic that is used and the belief behind it. Right now, humans have created a stigma against Black because they have the belief that Black is evil. It’s a deeply ingrained, internal belief."

  Dyani gripped her fist in anger, "Systematic Racism."

  The Goddess raised an eyebrow and Dyani flushed, "Yes. They have taught all to believe that Black Magic is evil. It drives people to do the worst of things and to harm others. They speak about how Light or White Magic is the purity. It's the healing magic that helps and is what everyone should use. You are correct. They use it as a way to continue racist ideals. When it is far from the truth."

  A blue and green-looking Snizit landed on Dyani's knee. She smiled and reached out a finger. The bird twittered and butted its head against her hand. Soft strokes against its body cause the air to be filled with a low humming song. Dyani smiled at the sound, feeling herself center and ground. Her magic calmed and she could think more clearly.

  "Magical, aren't they? The blue ones are Frizits. They are the opposite of their sunny brethren."

  "I love the sound. It is soothing." Dyani continued to give affection to the bird. It was quiet for a moment before the immortal continued.

  "When I first Blessed the People with magic, they were thankful. They followed and loved me. They practiced Black Magic. It's the magic of the land and sky. It's the magic of the people and nature. It's colorful and beautiful. Black Magic is all the colors. It's all the life that is birthed in the world. It's the self. White Magic is the lack of that color, of truth, of the people. Instead, it is the pain and anguish. It is the lack of life. That's why it was convoluted. White Magic is used from the sacrifice of not the self but others."

  Dyani stared at the woman in shock and horror. The Ritual that she had survived. It was White Magic. This is what they taught at the human school? Were they taught that the magic that they were doing was light and good? Yet another whole group believes and understands the truth. It was just the same as the human nonmagical world—systematic Racism through actions and beliefs. The Goddess pulled her feet up onto the bench, and for the first time, Dyani caught sight of what was under the dress. In fact, she heard it before she saw it. Odd-colored manacles were around her ankles.

  The Goddess was literally trapped within this world. The manacles were not attached to anything, but even Dyani could sense the magic radiating from them once she knew about them. The Goddess looked down at her feet and stretched them out so that Dyani could see. The manacles had runes from various languages etched into them. The magic within the runes and around the manacles was bright white. It shimmered in a non-assuming way until the Goddess moved. When she moved slightly, the manacles would contract ever so slightly. The Goddess chuckled. It was a light and airy sound that echoed through the area.

  "They're horrendous things, aren't they?"

  Dyani could only stare at them in horror. She rubbed at her wrists, feeling the phantom metal from her scars.

  "It's really that bad?"

  It went unsaid. Dyani knew the answer to the question and the Goddess knew she knew. It was rhetorical, but there was something that had to be said.

  "Unfortunately."

  It was silent. Very silent. Dyani did not know how long they sat there with the creatures and within nature. Nothing was said and nothing needed to be said. Dyani was left to her thoughts. She was in turmoil. What was she to do? Did she even have a choice?

  "You always have a choice with me, Dyani. I will never take away free will."

  Dyani snapped out of her thoughts and jerked away. The Goddess looked at her in sadness.

  "I apologize. Your thoughts are loud and it is hard not to hear when projected," The Goddess soothed. "I will never, ever take your choice. You can always tell me no, Dyani. I am not a young Goddess anymore. I have watched the suffering of my Blessed at the hands of the humans. They were never given a choice, so I will always allow for you to make your own."

  "It is more along the lines that I have realized the severity and complexity of this situation. It's quite overwhelming. I've realized that you could ask me to do anything for you and I could not say anything against it because I owe you my life. That is a hard pill to swallow. Despite what you would say otherwise for me having a choice in the matter. It's more complicated than that."

  The Goddess allowed her to continue rambling and understanding that listening was best. There was a lot of truth behind what her concern was. If she deemed it necessary, this girl could not refuse any request that she asked of her. There was a life debt that the Goddess could call upon and it was clear that the girl knew enough about them.

  "I swear to you, as the Goddess of Magic, that I will not ask anything of you that you disagree with. If you are against what I have asked, you are to tell me immediately and I shall find another way for you to repay it. There is a life debt that is owed and I will acknowledge it and accept it as it is. I will not call this debt to be repaid in the form of servitude. Instead, this debt will be paid with knowledge. I have since informed and given Dyani Grace the knowledge that she needs to make a choice. The debt is fulfilled. So I swear."

  A warm tingle went down their spines that caused Dyani to shift uneasily at the blatant use of magic. This was a territory that she was being thrown into, sink or swim. As of the moment, Dyani felt that she was closer to the drowning point than the swimming portion. There was a flow of relief on her. A burden lifted. There was no debt. She could freely make her choice.

  "That was an oath, wasn't it? Why?"

  "That would be the recognition that an oath was made. I swore that I would not put you in an uncomfortable position to have this debt repaid. You will be doing so on your terms. I wanted you to feel at ease with knowing that you no longer have a debt. I want someone to be my Champion. My Emissary. To help me because they want to. I want them to make the choice. It doesn't have to be you, Dyani. I can always find another way."

  Dyani sighed. More magic. This was still something she felt that would never get old for her. Magic would always provide a sense of awe no matter how it was being demonstrated or used. One thing she felt the most excited about regarding joining this new world was the possibility of learning many new topics. There was a dark side, and she had survived through it. But now she had perspective. One side, but a side that was more likely to be believable. She would need a different perspective but felt it wouldn't be what she wanted. Dyani would find out the hard way and that feeling wouldn't leave her.

  "I see that you are becoming more accustomed to magic."

  Dyani gave a slight nod, though it was still hesitant. There was still the chance of her needing to be cautious at every moment. This world would be dangerous in the newness of it. People have already taken advantage of her naivety. Dyani promised herself that she would always be aware of the people and environment around her. The Headmistress would not allow her to get away. The education was just a cover. There was something more. Something with the Government.

  Dyani's fists clenched. Her teeth gritted together and her jaw ached from it. Her eyes were bright as she looked up at the Goddess of Magic, from the fading of the Black to the manacles. This immortal was just as trapped as she was, if not more—the changes of belief and the systematic racism that is enforced. The Blessed People, the ones driven away out of hatred and jealousy.

  "I'll do it."