Chapter Forty-Three

The Chief sage noticed something strange about the elemental shield this morning, as he looked up to the mountains. He noticed the size of it had increased. He quickly went to his divinations to find out the cause. It was crucial that he ascertain the reason behind any of the changes because of the importance of the shield to their world.

"I knew it! I knew this would be the reason," he said to himself. "Atohmma isn't aware, but I must let her know."

The Chief went back into his tent, grabbed his coat and took a walk through the village. He was headed to pay Atohmma a visit. When he arrived at her tent, she was having breakfast.

"What brings you here my Lord? Please do come in, welcome. Would you like to join me for breakfast? Atohmma gestured. He replied, "sure, thank you, I'll have a cup of tea." He took a seat and they began talking.

Chief sage initiated the conversation while Atohmma prepared his tea. He asked, "So, how have you been my child. Since we last spoke, have you had any discomforts? Did you sleep well?"

Atohmma replied, "I have been fine, I slept well and had no discomforts. Is there a reason for your concern my Lord?"

Chief sage responded, "I came to see you, because this morning I noticed a drastic change to the elemental shield. It has become larger and brighter."

Atohmma said, "I noticed it as well, yesterday, at your place."

Chief said, "Yes! Yes! There is a reason for it. Atohmma, it's time. It's time for you to get prepared." He shifted his position on the seat and made himself a bit more comfortable. He continued by telling her that the elemental shield knew best when she was ready and from the changes he had been observing, she had been ready for quite some time now. He said to her, "Your progress, had very little to do with your transformation." It was time for them to prepare for the ritual.

He mentioned, "on the next full moon, they will ascend the mountain at midnight. That's when she will reach into the shield, to obtain the sword of compassion. In three days, there will be a full moon. The shield was larger because of that alignment. On the day of the ritual, you will be anointed with a special preparation, your attire will be given to you. Lady Petal has it. She will bring it over for you on the morrow. I will notify her. She had finished it quite a while now. She began working on it the moment you arrived at this village. You must not eat anything during the nightfall hours. Have your meals early. I will let you know what more has to be done. In the meantime, try to connect yourself to the power within you. Visit the crystal lake and meditate, it will be good for you to do."

He drank the final bit of tea and took a cookie from the jar. "Thank you my Lord, I do appreciate the visit and you letting me know this. I was aware of what was expected of me, but I didn't expect that it will be so soon. I am ready." said Atohmma.

The Chief dismissed himself, saw a guard passing and asked him to get word to Lady Petal. Atohmma stood by her doorway, trying to remain calm but within, she was nervous.

Although Atohmma needed a friend to talk to, she took the time at home to silently absorb everything that was said to her. Atohmma's moment had finally arrived. The moment she heard about all these years. There was little time to warn anyone, to complain, to hide, she even started to feel a bit nauseous. This time she had to depend on herself. Her thoughts had to make it easy for her to process everything. She didn't need to become anxious and scared, so she had to watch her thoughts.

After a few hours passed her, she took the rest of the day to sit by the crystal lake. There she allowed herself to reflect and look at herself as she was now. She saw the new Atohmma. The queen, the leader that she was. She took a good look at her reflection, to accept her role and the moment that was soon approaching. She was convinced that her return to the village would have come as a surprise to her friends and the natives. It would even seem like a deception to many of them, but she had the support of the elders. They understood the reason she had to be away, and it was obvious, that it turned out to be the best thing she could have done.

While she allowed herself to get carried away, by the beauty of the lake, the Diamond-Back oracle Cobra, appeared to her. She wasn't amazed by this, now that she understood his connection to the lake. They all wondered where he lived, but they thought he just remained in the forest, moving around, out of sight, from place to place. He was in the water this time. His head surfaced and he spoke to her saying, "My child, you have been very brave until now and you are about to conquer the greatest feat of your life." Atohmma greeted him and nodded. He continued..."You did the right thing by coming to this village for your transformation. Among the elves, is where you belong. This is your home. Here is the family you didn't have, and the support for any battles you may encounter on your journey as leader. You can build your army of elves, make a home, and transform the surroundings in any way you choose. Develop the villages, do whatever you see needs to be done. You can only do this, after you have learnt to use the 'sword of compassion'.

He slid his way out of the water and found a much more comfortable place to be. He hung himself from a nearby tree and said to her, "wielding the sword of compassion requires a technique, but only the sword, can teach you its ways. You will connect to it. After using it for some time, you will become proficient to using it wisely and correctly. Your connection to it, will enable you to understand what it will teach you. Three days from now, at the ritual, you must ensure that there is no fear within you. You must understand that the portal, will be very frightening and its power will seem too overpowering, but you must believe, that only you can enter it. In spite of how charged and relentless it may appear, going into it, for the sword, will be easy for you to do and this you must remember." He curled himself back up the tree branch and looked at Atohmma saying, "I will be watching."

Atohmma said to him, "Thank you. You always bring these messages right on time my Lord." She bowed, and stared at the water. She kept in mind everything she had just been told. It was quite a straightforward message. She recalled the day she went to the mountains and the rock that transformed following her task. She remembered being close to the shield at that time and also when she flew over to see its magnificence. There was no need for her to be afraid. The only hint of fear would have arisen, when she had to come into direct contact with the shield. "I can do this, I am Atohmma!" she convinced herself, when she heard some footsteps behind her. She turned to see it was only Frisky. He stood behind her saying, "I thought you might be here, "I just saw the Chief heading back from being at your tent, so I thought the only place you could be after his visit, was here."

She said, "It's time Frisky. It's time. In three days, there will be a full moon and the rituals for me will take place. I will take the sword of compassion and be crowned leader."

Frisky responded saying, "wow, that is news! No wonder you had to be here, thinking, planning... I am quite certain about how you must be feeling about this, but it is what you were preparing for Atohmma. Only you, were born for this. I might as well pay the Chief a visit also, maybe on the morrow, before he sends for me. He will be needing my assistance with the preparations for the ritual."

"I am guessing that he would," she replied as she stood up, straightened her dress and took a deep breath. Frisky stood up and it seemed like Atohmma was about to leave, so they both walked back to her tent. Frisky was thinking about visiting the Chief, but he stayed a while with Atohmma. She prepared lunch for Frisky and herself, then she remembered when the oracle told her, about being here among the elves. In her mind, she imagined, it meant not being able to live among Nucamma or even close-by. She made, spinach with potatoes and they had some pomegranate juice. They spoke about other things to help get her anxiety under control. His company helped her to relax and after they ate, they had some cake and then Frisky left to go see the Chief.