Anorems are taught to hate Darynem by default. Not that they did not deserve it. They do. These people invaded our lands, killed our people, tried to take over our forests and seas, assassinated our king, the list is endless, so yes, no matter how beautiful these people are, we can never ever be friends.
"Even if their blood runs through your veins?" the silky voice in my head echoes again
I press my hands against my ears and scream out in frustration "Shut. Up!"
"I guess you have unlocked your Paliar", Yoda says calmly. Even if I do not like these people, I am in their land, in their beds, eating their food. I might as well gather as much information about them before getting out of this place.
"What is Paliar", I asked, half expecting her not to answer as I snapped at her earlier
"The voice in your head?" the condescending voice who speaks to you like he's better than you?
"Yes, she invades my senses whenever she wants to" I confirm
"Wait, your Paliar is a woman?" she asked intrigued, stepped into the room and reached the bed in just a few steps.
"Y-yes, I suppose?" I stutter, confused
I watch as Yodah's eyes widen, and then her brows furrow a bit, looks away from me as if she's in deep thought, and then she stares back at me, her eyes widening even more. I didn't think that was possible.
"The only Paliar who's a woman is Gaia! Are you sure she's a woman?" she says
"Yes, I am sure. She has only spoken a bit but I'm pretty sure she's a woman." I respond
"Of course, you can never mistake me for a man" the voice in my mind echoes.
"Let me out, I want to show myself" she says again.
"How do I do that", I say out loud
"You don't have to speak, I can hear your thoughts, she echoes again
I suddenly begin to lose control of my body again. But this time, I did not hurt anybody. I watch as my fingers extend, a little bit longer. My skin begins to emit a soft golden glow, my chest gets a bit more voluptuous and my silver hair slowly changes to a rich burgundy color. On my left side is a full-length mirror. I stare back, shocked at the reflection I see. It is not me. I am a completely different person. A woman. So beautiful, it feels unreal. Her skin glows like a candlelight, her lips and fingernails red like blood. Her cheeks are rosy and plump. Looking at her, I felt a warm sensation between my legs.
"I know… I am Gaia after all" my lips move to speak these words. But I know that this is not me.
A small squeak from Yoda reminds me that I am not alone, and I turn my head to face her again.
Her mouth is wide agape. Her skin is extremely pale, and she looks like she would be out of this room if she had the strength to move her stunned body. The room began to smell like immortal roses. The flowers I loved so much back home. But how? The whole room had a presence to it. A presence that told me that the being in the mirror was no ordinary being. And she was… in me? Or was it me? I am confused.
"With time, you will understand, my love", my lips move again.
I feel my body begin to morph again back to my old self. As I look back into the mirror, I look more…. Healthy? My skin looked shinier, like Yodah's, my silvery white hair had a bounce to it that it had never had. My cheeks weren't so sunken anymore. It was as if Gaia had… revived me.
"Oh My… Gaia appeared" Yodah let out
"Gaia is your Paliar! And y-you could take her form?", she let out so fast I barely made out her words.
"What?" still very confused at what happened, I asked
"Us Darynem, when we are of age, we are gifted with the power of nature. We gain a strong sense of stewardship and affinity for the world, which is why Daryn is such virgin land. We cannot hurt nature" she explains
"And your Paliar is Gaia…. Arina… Gaia is the earth herself! All other Paliar fall under her!" she exclaims.
This was too much for me to process. If Darynem had it in their nature to never hurt nature, why would they wage wars and cause destruction in Anoryl? It just didn't make sense. And with all this talk of Gaia, what does this make me? Lord of the Darynem?