Babcia wiped a bit of ash off of her wrinkled hands and onto her apron. The smell of baking gingerbread and cinnamon wafted through the halls of their house. My grandmother was busy stuffing herbs into a small leather pouch— frankincense, rosemary, and sandalwood. On the hearth were two crystals. I recognized them as pyrite and bloodstone.
We’d more or less paused my Unseelie lessons since the mess with the trial. With school starting, I’d been too stressed to concentrate clearly. But now I was ready to get back at it, and Babcia promised that today would be exceptionally important to my journey as the Worldweaver.
Bapa stuffed more tobacco into his pipe as Arthur and I sat cross-legged on the rug in front of the fireplace at their house, waiting for instruction. Puck the dog laid at our feet, snoring loudly. The big white dog had been given an assortment of treats by Arthur, and was now snoozing without a care in the world.
Babcia waited until she got a roaring fire going before she turned to me. “Many fae believe that in order to travel to Edinmyre, you must cross physically through a portal.
But that’s not true. There is a way for the spirit to travel to Edinmyre on its own, in a process called journeying.”
“You mean, we can get to Edinmyre without actuallygoingthere?” Arthur asked in surprise.
“Yes,” she replied. “Your soul can travel there while leaving your body behind. It’s not ideal, but it’s helpful for quick trips, or when you need to access Edinmyre while leaving your body in one place.”
My heart started, thinking of all the possibilities. I could access Edinmyre with my powers, and with the help of the Crystals of Harmony, but being able to go back and forth seamlessly would be a rare gift. No doubt it would help us find the rest of the stones.
“In Edinmyre, illusion magic is as easy as breathing to us. You merely have to think, and it appears,” Babcia explained. “It is one of the astral worlds, a spirit realm.”
“What’s an astral plane?” I asked. I’d heard of the term, but was never sure what it meant.
“An astral plane is known as an afterlife. In the astral realm, multiple afterlifes reside,” Babcia said. “Edinmyre is the only astral realm that supernaturals can access freely, although the Great Hunting Grounds further within the realm are barred to us until we pass on.”
“Is it exclusively an Unseelie power?” I asked.
“Any fae can do this. You don’t have to be Unseelie,” Babcia said. “Journeying is a lost art amongst the fae. It’s only gotten more difficult since our separation from our homeland. Most fae aren’t strong enough to make the journey, and as such, believe that all access to Edinmyre has been cut off. But even the weakest fae can get there with enough practice. Most fae don’t have the patience to practice the art, so it’s fallen by the wayside, as old knowledge.”
“Do you think it’ll take years for me to get there?” I asked. As the Worldweaver, I didn’t have that kind of time.
“Oh no, Emma. You and Arthur are very powerful. I have no doubt you’ll accomplish it on your first try,” Babcia said. “But journeying is intoxicating. It can be addicting. I mean to train you very slowly on it, so when the time comes when you must use it, your spirit won’t be tempted to stay behind, and not finish your time here on Earth.”
“Other supernaturals can journey to Edinmyre as well?” Arthur raised an eyebrow.
“Edinmyre isn’t exclusive to fae, as the Seelie would like us to believe,” Babcia said. “Any supernatural, and even some humans, may be able to meditate themselves into Edinmyre— though this is much easier for them if they have the help of a fae leading them in. It is a seductive land, however. Fae can resist the pull of Edinmyre with relative ease— many other supernaturals cannot. More than a few hours spent in Edinmyre will cause other supernaturals to fall into a trance, and be enchanted by the land. If they’re not drawn out at this point, they’ll be stuck there. Many faekin who exist in Edinmyre would like to feed on their energetic currents. Which is why you must take care, if you decide to take anyone with you to Edinmyre during your trance who is not a fae.”
Babcia sat back in her rocking chair. “I will lead you through your first trance. Afterward, you should be able to do so by yourself with enough practice, though I advise you don’t travel there alone until you feel strong enough to resist the pull.”
Bapa sat forward. “A few rules. You must take care not to eat or drink anything you find there, unless you prepare it yourself,” Bapa said. “Otherwise, your spirit may remain trapped, and we cannot get you back out. Remember to never accept any gift or offering from a faekin while in Edinmyre, such as on Earth. You don’t want to get your spirit compromised in a bad deal.”
Babcia placed the pouch of herbs, as well as the crystals, in front of Arthur and I. “These are protective herbs, and protective crystals. Journeying, especially if you are a novice, is best done with these safeholds in mind. It will be harder for Edinmyre to lure your spirit in if you have these boundaries in place. Now, close your eyes.”
I did so. I concentrated on the crackling of the fire, and on Arthur’s gentle breathing beside me. “Clear your mind, and focus on your breath,” Babcia began. Take several deep breaths, in and out. Relax— let go of your physical body, and focus inward on the spirit.”
I followed her instruction. I meditated inward, to the sacred ball in my chest that I knew was my magic. It hovered there like a ball of radiant light, and I focused on absorbing its vibrant energy.
“With each breath, you sink deeper into the spirit realm,” Babcia continued. “As you go further in, your spirit will begin to transition. You will feel energy around you, pressing in on our form. Don’t be afraid. This is a natural process. Resist it not, and continue onward.”
I didn’t feel anything, at first. Long minutes passed, until I was certain we’d been sitting there for a half-hour. I was beginning to doubt this would work.
Then divine energy began to press in around me, like it was compacting my form. It felt claustrophobic, and stifling. The feeling that overtook me was one that I usually got when Milonna was in my presence, but she wasn’t here, and that frightened me. I felt the energy pressing around me in a circle, and slowly began to panic, even though nothing was really happening to me.
“Don’t fight it, Emma,” Babcia said. “Let go.”
The divine energy was bouncing off my magic, making electricity buzz over my arms. It nearly felt like I was drowning. I wanted to halt the meditation, and wake up.
But I decided to trust my grandmother, and the overwhelming feeling overtook me. I sunk into the light, absorbing the divine feeling like breathing water into my lungs, and that’s when everything shifted around me.
I opened my eyes. Amazement took over me as I turned in place, witnessing the incredible scene. The golden grass and large flowers were utterly familiar, and there was a lavender scent on the wind that nearly made my mind buzz.
Above me was a beautiful display of space. Edinmyre’s night was dark and purple. There were three moons above it. Two appeared far away, but one was very close to the surface, its massive violet appearance larger than a mountain on the horizon. Comets and asteroids whizzed through the sky so quickly, I didn’t have time to count them all before they disappeared. I heard a croon, and looked up. Some sort of faekin creature soared by, its feathery essence drifting on the air. It was a type of reptile, a furry white animal that was almost like a dragon in appearance. It crooned a low song, and from its claws emitted a trail of stars, which remained in place against the atmosphere as the creature sailed by.
