“Gus,” I called to the old man. “Can you come here for a sec?”
“Ah.” Gus looked over my shoulder as he approached. “Full moon? Yeah, that’s tonight. I was just talking to Chuck. Don’t eventhinkabout attending the gnome ceremony. That whole thing is just a schtick to eat and drink all night. It’s not real magic.”
“It’s not?”
Gus rolled his eyes. “It might technically be rooted in real history, but over the centuries it’s devolved into an excuse for the gnomes to indulge in their favorite hobbies. All-night parties. The true meaning has been lost over the years.”
“Chuck told me they still offer sacrifices?”
“A couple of bananas doesn’t count as a sacrifice,” Gus drawled. “I get that it’s all pomp and circumstance, but really, the ceremony is not going to bring you any enlightenment. Might bring you heartburn, though.”
“So I hear,” I agreed. “Although, I’m putting my money on indigestion.”
Gus gave a short, coughing laugh.
“Are there any other full moon celebrations?” I asked. “Besides the gnomes?”
“It’s really a lost art. The Fae Queens have always been more connected to the spirit realms than any other kinds of magic creatures. That’s how you have the kind of power to place wards around an entire island without depleting your magic. You tap into this... higher flow. A source nobody can really explain. Maybe your ancestors? I am not the guy to be asking, but that’s my best guess.”
“Yeah.” The disappointment sank into the pit of my stomach. “That seems to be the trend. A lot of knowledge seems to have been lost with the destruction of the Fae Queens.”
These were the moments when it felt lonely, even when I was surrounded by help. There was no one I could really talk to for specific guidance on Fae rituals and magic. And the one person who was supposed to help me even marginally was currently refusing to see me at all.
“If nobody else celebrates it,” I said slowly, “then going with the gnomes might be my only chance to experience a full moon celebration of any kind.”
“Suit yourself,” Gus said. “Just don’t drink too much. You’ll need a clear head.”
“Is it dangerous?”
“What’s not dangerous?” Gus echoed Lily’s words from earlier. “You’re going out all night with a bunch of drunk gnomes. Yeah, you’ll want to be thinking straight.”
“Do you know what this spell does?” I pressed my finger to the book.
“That’s not a spell.”
“It’s not?” I frowned. “Then what is it?”
“I don’t know,” Gus admitted. “But it doesn’t look like any spell format I’ve ever seen.”
I considered Gus’s advice, but something in my gut disagreed with his conclusion. To me, the markings on this page looked like a spell, felt like a spell. I couldn’t explain why, but I wassure of it. I didn’t know what it did, only that it was something I should pay attention to.
“Okay,” I said hesitantly. “Well, thanks for these books. Do you know anything about the spirit realm being closer on a full moon? Are the veils really thinner between worlds? Are there even spirit worlds that exist?”
“I’m just the assistant.” Gus sounded a little weary. “I can’t say I’m an expert on spirits.”
“I am sure you have valuable insights. Everybody does.”
Gus did a double take at my reply. Then he gave a subtle nod, like he didn’t want to agree, but couldn’t argue either.
“In that case, yeah,” Gus said. “In my opinion, there are spirit worlds. All of them souls in the underworld, they’ve gotta exist somewhere, right?”
I thought of the Furies. Of the Darkest Lord. Of the strange new creatures appearing on The Isle.
“Somewhere,” I echoed. “Somewhere is right.”
