When I was fifteen, the harvest that year was richer than in previous years. Old Shu even seemed to grow younger with so much joy, and realized we needed a bigger barn. He and Jacob asked for the Mage’s aid. Two days later, they roamed the village. 

I was summoned to be the cook’s helper for the day. After chopping tons of onions, carrots, tomatoes, and kale, I sneaked to the outskirts to watch them in action. 

The rapid hammering guided me to their working site. Beams and planks moved in the air. Like a centipede, in which every leg is synchronized with all others, they moved, swift and strong. As the thudding noise intensified, the building took shape and left a strong impression on me.

At the moment, my heartbeat mimicked that same sound. The cadence of my breathing followed, rushed, and uneven. My life events flashed through my mind: the first time my dad swam with me in the lake; a winter morning, playing hide-and-seek with my friends; when I was able to work with the other men in the harvest, carrying baskets full of corn; my father’s constant prayers to the Goddess for my protection. I saw all of this.

The Lady of Time followed her own designs. She listened to years of burning desire instead of a parent’s meek requests. Turned out that fervor had little to do with how many times you wish; it resonated with how much you’re willing to give for what you pray for. That’s why the Mother was the only one who could’ve set up the perfect sequence: my instant attraction to the Rainbow Mage, my yearning to be by her side, and the swift courage that possessed me to approach the tent. They were proof of Lossar’s interference.

Unlike me, Anahí moved with steady confidence. Her steps warped the surrounding landscape, and time slowed as she passed. The silver dagger in her left hand reflected my powerless self at a short distance and glimmered with an ominous aura.

Get up and run, you fool. My body shivered; there was no strength to respond to my plea. Icy chill and warm lust collided in my core, desire still running through me.

What a weird combination. I would have laughed, but my jaw was clenched, growing tighter with her every move.

As she loomed over, close enough to smother the moonlight, her gaze pinned me to the ground with calculated pressure. I panted through my mouth, my throat dry. She raised the blade and pressed it against my cheek. That was a taste of the Queen’s overwhelming presence.

“This is your last chance to change your fate, Alessio.” Her voice pierced me with a glacial tone. “You’ve heard the tales about my predecessors and are witnessing a fraction of my power. What is it you really wish? To die?”

That was nonsense; nobody would choose their own demise. I recalled the life I had so far, peaceful and unchanged, and she was the person who could give me what I longed for. Giving in to that dull stillness frightened me more than death itself.

Our gaze remained locked for a long, silent minute. Not a cricket dared to sing, nor did the wind carry its whistle. I swallowed hard and gathered the courage to speak.

“You misunderstood it, my Sovereign. I crave the woman who lit my most passionate feelings. I want the knowledge she can offer me. To my surprise, she’s also the most stunning person I have ever laid eyes on.”

“Is that your decision?”

“If dying is my fate after fulfilling these wishes, I will gladly abide.” My hands trembled, and my shoulders were rigid.

“You are terribly hard-headed.” She scoffed, another foxlike grin sliding across her lips. “Very well.”

The tip of the dagger bit into my skin. I winced at the pain, and a thin line of blood ran down my face, straight onto the iron. With her left hand, she maneuvered the weapon off its spot and pierced her index finger. She cut herself slightly. A red droplet emerged, and she combined her vital fluid with mine.  

Her right hand traced the back of my neck. The gentle fingers tipped my necklace, and she took it off. She rested it in her palm and spread the mix on the amethyst pendant. A faint glimmer came from it.

“Oh, Lossar, benevolent Mother. Through your children, the alliance shall be restored. I am Anahí of Lostany—your vessel, medium, and honored daughter.” She reached for me and helped me to my feet. The glow in her palm intensified. Neither of us broke our stare.

“I am Alessio of Sur Nam Khaar, your humble son.” The chant swelled within me. I closed my hands around hers. “Precious jewel, take me as your offering.”

A flash escaped through our grasp. The night creatures that witnessed the scene resumed singing, celebrating the moment.

“It’s done. You belong to me.” Anahí slipped the necklace over her head. I could’ve sworn a shadow of relief crossed her eyes.

“So… what will you do next?” My voice cracked.

“I’ll fulfill the wishes of a very stubborn man.” She threw me a trickster’s gaze. “You seek a kind of knowledge that would be a sin if you weren’t mine, don’t you?”

“You mean…” A spark lit in my core.

“That’s right. Are you ready to see what lies beyond the veil?”

She caught me off guard. My heart thumped in my chest. There was no record of men being able to cross it. I wondered if others before me had died after witnessing those mysteries.

“Yes—” The word slipped out too fast. “I am.”

With my destiny sealed, I decided to enjoy my last hours to the fullest. My Enchanted One nodded and stepped forth, toward the bright sands that glistened under the moon. She extended her arms outward and recited divine words I didn’t understand.

The beautiful scenery I was staring at wavered, then split into two. The sand below it was grinding; a metallic smell filled the night. It sounded like a piece of fine cloth being torn, but looked organic; flesh forming out of thin air, big enough to swallow us. A dim red light came from inside.

“Come on,” she called. 

As our fingers intertwined, dread took over me, and I felt dizzy. Her grip tightened, and she slid her other arm around my waist.

“Alessio, what’s wrong?”

“Is that alive?” I faltered.

“Everything on this planet is,” she chuckled. “But this rift will do you no harm, I promise.”

“I trust you. We can move on.” 

“I’m here to guide and protect you.” She squeezed my hand and smiled, “Don’t let go, okay?”

I nodded and took a deep breath. Anahí moved onward and went through the rift. Being taller, I had to lower my head to fit. A warm gush of air swept through my hair, forcing me to squint. The short woman ahead of me advanced like one of the expert hunters I admired back in the village; unshaken and resolute.

We stopped after a while. Though my lids remained closed, I sensed the environment’s colors had shifted. 

“The wind is calmer here. You can open your eyes.”

When my sight adjusted to the clarity, it was hard to discern the shapes in front of us. I blinked and hoped it would solve the issue, but I was wrong. Nothing prepared me for what I was about to discover.