Put Out My Fire

The barrier was put back up again, covering the habitual side of the moon. From inside, Christopher could see how the skies looked like a luminous blue with a mix of green cruising around the barrier. It reminded him of the northern lights of the earth. 

Abasi and Christopher landed their feet as Agatha used her magic to cover their habitat.

Meanwhile, Matilda kept reminding their supreme of her full responsibility, "Agatha, you have to listen to me! You can't go back to your family - "

"Your opinion is not warranted! " Said Agatha coldly after learning Matilda had created poisonous white snakes to attack her son. 

Agatha had earlier put a hand on Matilda's forehead, ultimately seeing the truth of what happened through her magic. 

She did not only seek the certainty of what happened recently; she saw through all the lies that and schemes Matilda had also done behind her back. She saw how she had created a spell inside the castle of Aeros, making them speak ill about her beauty. 

Not only that, she saw that in the distant future, Matilda will betray her, helping a creature from earth who was holding six powerful crystals and teaching the earthling how to defeat her. 

Being the sovereign white witch, she had the gift of foresight and in that future; she saw her entire clan die in the hands of the adversary. Even Matilda died from the attack in the future, she saw. 

It bewildered her who was her eventual enemy, but for now, she needed to take care of Matilda. by doing so, she could still change the future. 

"You don't understand! I did it to protect you - our world!" Matilda tried to reason, walking closer and closer to Agatha.

"Ughhh!" With one thrust of her hand, a force sent Matilda flying ten meters away from Agatha. "You - you dare hurt my son?! Preventing me from going to Pelagy is one thing, but hurting my son is another story!"

Christopher saw his mother chant words while her hand remained raised in the direction of Matilda. He could make out it was another spell. 

The two masters clearly saw roots come out of the ground, slowly trapping Matilda, starting with her feet.

Her screams could be heard as the roots gradually covered her torso, then up to her face. Just before the sealing inside her face completely, Matilda gasped as she called out her name, "A-aga-tha."

Agatha cried outright, feeling her chest heavy. She could not believe that her most trusted servant had betrayed her and will continue doing so in the future. 

Christopher's mother continued to chant words. The log of wood that started to form from the roots grew in height, more of its mass widened, and not a moment too soon, it turned into another one of the land's high trees. 

Abasi's immediate reaction was to look around the hundreds of trees around them. His eyes widened as he softly said, "What are the chances that these are all - "

"Yes, they are. Most of them are over a hundred years old," revealed Agatha. "She looked at the trees around her and told, "Once every few years or decades, there is always one from our faction that makes a mistake."

Turning to Christopher, Agatha said, "Son, I am sorry."

The great white witch suddenly ran in his direction and hugged Christopher tight. She said, "Christopher. How I longed to embrace you this way. I miss you so much, son."

Agatha had mixed feelings earlier. It crossed her mind to deny everything, but hidden joy from inside her heart overpowered. How could she refuse such an opportunity when Christopher was in her line of sight?

When Christopher did not answer, she did not care. She continued to hug him. 

After minutes of being in his mother's embrace, Christopher noticed how his heart was beating faster. He no longer noticed how a tear fell down his cheek. He wanted to act tough in front of this woman who left them, but he also could not defy the cry of his heart. 

He suddenly howled in tears and hugged Agatha back. 

Water easily drenched the mother and son as Christopher's crystal manifested, but no matter, Agatha cried back and remained to hug her son.

Regret easily filled her thoughts. 

The two did not know how long they hugged each other, but after some time, they started wiping the wetness on their faces. Agatha put both her hands on her son's face and pecked on his cheeks. She said, "I miss you so much."

"There is so much I want to talk about. So much I want to ask, but it is best that we go to my home." Agatha held Christopher's hand and said, "Let's go."

***

Agatha's home was enchanting. It was a huge stone house, six stories in height with vines crawling up to the roof. It was obvious that it was made with magic, as it has no signs of binding whatsoever. The structure was pure and solid stone. 

Yet, from the inside, it was equipped with chambers, doors, and other furnishings. 

Several other white witches guarded her home, but Agatha momentarily blinded them upon her arrival, casting another spell. Only after walking to a private chamber did she undo the magic. 

The guardians of the supreme questioned not her decision, nor the reason for blinding them. They knew exactly where they stood and respected Agatha completely. 

After sitting in front of a table, Agatha said, "So, where do we start? Can we start by how you found Akurra?"

Christopher started by carefully introducing Abasi and his newly given powers, the blue crystal. They told of the coming threat to their lives which led them to seek other powers, including that from Solaris, the world surrounded by water. 

After the brief tale of Christopher, Agatha realized she was familiar with the enemy they spoke of. Still, she let them resumed their story. 

"Akurra offered to be my master. He sensed me outright, saying that I am a man from the moon. It was the sea serpent who hinted you may not be dead," told Christopher. "I - we, me, and Abasi came to find out if you really are alive."

"I see," said Agatha, half-thinking of thanking the serpent. "So, it would be safe to say that Aeros have accepted magic to possibly be good?"

Agatha always remembered Aeros to be doubtful of supernatural powers, especially those that did not come from the healers. That was part of her reason for hiding her true identity from her husband. 

"Yes, mother. In fact, they accepted all of us - the masters of the earth, even my wife. I am married, mother and I have a son coming too," revealed Christopher with a smile. 

The white witch's beautiful face suddenly turned emotional. She was going to be a grandmother and how she wished to be there when it would happen. 

Agatha smiled and put a hand on her chest. She said, "I hope I can meet them."

"You should," said Christopher. "Now, mother. Can you tell me please what drove you to the point of leaving us?"

Agatha reached for his hand and said, "Let me tell you everything from the very beginning."

***

It was nighttime when Theo heard a knock on his chamber. He frowned and said, "Wonder who would be seeing me this late? Maybe it's my son."

Truth enough, it was Christopher. When Theo opened the door he said, "Son? What brings you here so late? Where did you and Abasi come from?"

For some reason, Theo could not help but look past his son. A figure of a woman in a white cloak was looking in the opposite direction. His expression softened as it reminded him of his wife. 

"Who is that, Chris?" Theo asked. 

"Father, before that. I wanted to tell you. Me and Abasi, we came from the moon that orbits the earth," told Christopher. "I met the moon's most powerful being and apparently, she could not age."

Theo frowned. He looked at his son but failed not to glance at the figure behind him. He asked, "And?"

"She left her family for the fear of being judged about her youthful face and the truth of her lineage, but she loved her family so." Christopher felt a lump in his throat but still resumed his tale. He said, "Her family also loved her and I sincerely think she should see her family - tell the truth about her."

"Christopher, what is this all about?" His father asked, trying to walk past him and looking at the figure in white. 

"Father, she is the same person I am talking about," told Christopher before repeating his earlier tale. "What do you think, father? Do you think she should tell her family the truth about her?"

Theo suddenly felt uneasy. He thought, 'What was the reason for all this? And why am I feeling this way?'

"Father, answer me - "

"Of course she should! Her family deserves to know the truth! If her family truly loves her, then they will accept her, just like how I accepted your fate - you and Amanda!"

"Theo, it's me.." The woman in white finally turned around to face him, already crying.