learn the truth until much later."
"It was the arrogance, you see. Many used magic as if
it was the air itself, never realizing that it would not last forever. As they
fought, they used up much of the magic and destroyed many of the things that
could replace it. So, the magic waned, and most of us had less and less power.
When The Fall occurred we were no match, even for the humans, who always
outnumbered us. Then even man forgot about us for a time and the magic dwindled
even more." She lowered her head.
"Wait a minute. There is obviously still magic, or how
did all of his happen? I am not sure I understand."
"Hand me that bottle," she said as she stood up.
I did as she asked.
She took it and held it up in front of me. "This bottle
contains liquid."
I watched as she emptied what was left in the bottle,
pouring the beer onto the deck.
"Now it does not. The bottle, once full, was like the
earth when it was young; full of magic that we could access and use in our
daily lives. As we fought, we drained the earth of its magic, just as you drank
the liquid that once filled this bottle."
"Okay," I said. "If the bottle was empty, it
must have been filled again, or none of what has occurred could have
happened."
She put the bottle down on the table. "Exactly. But it
takes a very long time to replenish what was lost. Magic comes from all around
us; the trees, the water, and especially the belief of man. It has taken many
years for a semblance of our past abilities to manifest itself. That is why we
have been so cautious. Never revealing ourselves unless it was necessary, for
fear of further losses. That brings us to you and your situation."
"What exactly is my situation?" I asked, hoping to
finally discover what was going on.
"When the magic dwindled, we distanced ourselves from
others who would threaten us. I suppose we also did it to hide. We had to do
this, as well as take other measures to protect ourselves." Cacilia sat
back down, continuing to talk.
"We've seldom involved ourselves in the mortal world
since The Fall ; but it and our world are intertwined. The forests near
our home have sheltered us since those times and we have always strived to
protect them. We are daughters of those trees and we must protect them to
protect ourselves."
"One moment," I said. "I thought you said the
magic came from other places, not just the trees."
"Indeed it does, but the primary source of our family's
magic is the trees. Just as the primary source for your new friend is the
water. That is where we derive our power from. The ability to harness the rest
comes from that source." She pointed to the oak tree in the yard.
"Why do you think I sent you those trees? Through them you are still part
of us. We can use them for other things as well. This you have already
seen."
"All right. I have seen all that," I agreed,
looking over at the oak tree. "But where do I fit in with all this?"
"This will be difficult, my son." Her face became
solemn and she grasped my hands again. "As you know, Maria, your
grandmother, loved you very much. It was her decision to place you under the
spell that both protected you and hid your magical line. She did this
willingly, although I can tell you now that it came at a great cost."
"I am not sure I understand," I said. "At
what cost?"
Cacilia stood up, and turned away from me, looking toward
the oak tree. "Her immortality," was all she said.
"What?" I cried out. "What the...? Why would
she do that?" I stood up and turned towards her. "That doesn't make
any sense!"
It had been a crazy week, but this was more than I could
take. I still didn't understand half of what I'd stumbled into and all the
explanations and magic stories in the universe didn't compare to the thought of
losing my grandmother.
Charlie chose that moment to go back into the house. He
could tell I was upset and you know how dogs are. They think when you get angry
that you're mad at them. I guess he calmed me down, because his act of
"It was the arrogance, you see. Many used magic as if
it was the air itself, never realizing that it would not last forever. As they
fought, they used up much of the magic and destroyed many of the things that
could replace it. So, the magic waned, and most of us had less and less power.
When The Fall occurred we were no match, even for the humans, who always
outnumbered us. Then even man forgot about us for a time and the magic dwindled
even more." She lowered her head.
"Wait a minute. There is obviously still magic, or how
did all of his happen? I am not sure I understand."
"Hand me that bottle," she said as she stood up.
I did as she asked.
She took it and held it up in front of me. "This bottle
contains liquid."
I watched as she emptied what was left in the bottle,
pouring the beer onto the deck.
"Now it does not. The bottle, once full, was like the
earth when it was young; full of magic that we could access and use in our
daily lives. As we fought, we drained the earth of its magic, just as you drank
the liquid that once filled this bottle."
"Okay," I said. "If the bottle was empty, it
must have been filled again, or none of what has occurred could have
happened."
She put the bottle down on the table. "Exactly. But it
takes a very long time to replenish what was lost. Magic comes from all around
us; the trees, the water, and especially the belief of man. It has taken many
years for a semblance of our past abilities to manifest itself. That is why we
have been so cautious. Never revealing ourselves unless it was necessary, for
fear of further losses. That brings us to you and your situation."
"What exactly is my situation?" I asked, hoping to
finally discover what was going on.
"When the magic dwindled, we distanced ourselves from
others who would threaten us. I suppose we also did it to hide. We had to do
this, as well as take other measures to protect ourselves." Cacilia sat
back down, continuing to talk.
"We've seldom involved ourselves in the mortal world
since The Fall ; but it and our world are intertwined. The forests near
our home have sheltered us since those times and we have always strived to
protect them. We are daughters of those trees and we must protect them to
protect ourselves."
"One moment," I said. "I thought you said the
magic came from other places, not just the trees."
"Indeed it does, but the primary source of our family's
magic is the trees. Just as the primary source for your new friend is the
water. That is where we derive our power from. The ability to harness the rest
comes from that source." She pointed to the oak tree in the yard.
"Why do you think I sent you those trees? Through them you are still part
of us. We can use them for other things as well. This you have already
seen."
"All right. I have seen all that," I agreed,
looking over at the oak tree. "But where do I fit in with all this?"
"This will be difficult, my son." Her face became
solemn and she grasped my hands again. "As you know, Maria, your
grandmother, loved you very much. It was her decision to place you under the
spell that both protected you and hid your magical line. She did this
willingly, although I can tell you now that it came at a great cost."
"I am not sure I understand," I said. "At
what cost?"
Cacilia stood up, and turned away from me, looking toward
the oak tree. "Her immortality," was all she said.
"What?" I cried out. "What the...? Why would
she do that?" I stood up and turned towards her. "That doesn't make
any sense!"
It had been a crazy week, but this was more than I could
take. I still didn't understand half of what I'd stumbled into and all the
explanations and magic stories in the universe didn't compare to the thought of
losing my grandmother.
Charlie chose that moment to go back into the house. He
could tell I was upset and you know how dogs are. They think when you get angry
that you're mad at them. I guess he calmed me down, because his act of
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