In the days that followed, Deidre found herself exploring the Temple and learning about the Land of Eden. Turns out, all areas of Hiraeth were carefully gerrymandered according to their perimeter, surrounding establishments and the population that resides in each plot of land.
Eden was a vast area surrounded by the River of Fates - between the Streams of Laima and Ragana. Everything pertaining to the Temple and the key governance of Hiraeth was located in Eden. One way or another, at least - there seemed to be intricate details that got swallowed during conversations and maps that were squirrelled away from Deidre’s field of vision. She knew there was more to it, yet came to accept that the high krivi would let her in on these secrets whenever she was deemed worthy.
Deidre succumbed to the busy schedule enforced upon her. Enforced, because no one cared to discuss if she felt fit - or ready, for that matter - enough to dive into the intricacies of Hiraeth, studying the laws of Heavens, and the Underworld and deciphering the differences between all sorts of (un)godly creatures.
Alchemy, Conjuring, Heavenly Laws, Summoning - those were just a few of the courses the young woman found herself immersed in. Despite realising the flow of time, Deidre was unable to grasp how long had it been since she’d arrived at Hiraeth.
And despite all the perceived freedoms and luxuries, she was very much bound - existence spent in countless libraries at the Tower as well as the main building, study rooms, archive dungeons and memorial hallways. Not to mention portrait rooms containing masses and masses of Nuotraukas - August told her there would be a day when her own would find a place on one of those walls.
Isolation and lack of earthly pleasures - no binge-watching Netflix, no Webtoon scrolling, definitely no Instagram and even the BBC was out of reach - led to dedicated studies.
Deidre was a sponge thirsty to soak in any knowledge and experience available - no matter how saturated she felt in the evening, the morning sun would dry it away and she needed more. I know nothing of this place yet, I need to study more, I need to have a deeper understanding so that I would have a fair shot of making it alive - if that’s what I am even - she thought.
Ocean blue eyes closely observed her efforts, scoffing at Deidre’s frustrations when things didn’t go the way she planned. Wielding magic turned out to be more difficult than she read in the countless fantasy books whilst living as Lina - burned eyebrows, water turned acid, objects randomly exploding in front of her face and tutors hanging heads-down from the ceiling when the next levitation spell didn’t quite go as planned.
Heavenly laws and the history of humans and magical creatures turned out to be the safest disciplines. August anticipated that much - Deidre’s life on earth entailed gobbling up documents, soaking in information, making connections, analysing strengths and weaknesses of her company as well as benchmarking the goods and services available in the market.
She had the brain, she only needed to tap into her magic.
On the other hand, Elijah was frustrated. He didn’t support this isolation - the Commander openly barked out his opinions of August and the Temple’s regulations. It was his belief that Deidre should have all the help and support, forging emotional connections to guide her through this adaptation and learning process.
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Yet there was nothing the Commander could do - the high krivi is undoubtedly the patriarch of the temple, as well as the whole of Hiraeth. August’s word is law.
And so she was - isolated and alone, following the will of the high priest - studying for something she did not understand yet. It might have helped to adapt to Hiraeth - a better comprehension of the ways of living surely guided her and started to make sense.
Yet still, she was lost.
In fact, more lost than ever - there was no clear goal and the young woman started doubting the meaning behind it all.
Deidre waltzed the airy corridors of the Temple, observing the tall Oak trees shooting up to the sky. No matter how many days had gone by, it never stopped mesmerising her - these trees served as columns enforcing the structure of this heavenly building.
Her studies revealed that the Oak tree symbolised the God of Thunder and since it was the supreme deity in this otherworldly pantheon, it only made sense to embed Oak into a glorious structure such as the Temple.
That being said, her still earthly-bound brain gaped at the sight of strong, healthy trees willingly - she knew they were very much alive - incorporating into the Temple, seeking to shield and protect, as well as to channel energies.
Deidre was far from proficient in her studies, but many things came together and she felt how the Universe, maybe the Void even, started to make sense. The same way these glorious Oak trees did.
It was difficult to say how big or how tall exactly the Temple was. Deidre had not been given the privilege to access all floors or enter each corridor at will, yet she believed that some of the structure was magicked according to will, need or some kind of Hiraethean law.
She could swear the corridor she’s walking down had blue marble flooring, yet it was very much white today. And she knows it was the left turn that she took after passing the main hall. No doubt it was the same as yesterday or the day before, but why is the flooring different?
Many things didn’t quite make sense, yet they did. As she explored the Temple and this new world unravelling in front of her eyes, she practised channelling her negative thoughts, biases and insecurities and conjuring them into something new - positive, at least.
Her body - or whatever this jar containing her being was - had been taken good care of here in Hiraeth. Deidre had a little army of blue-dressed maids, always there to support her needs and wash her with love, affection and the finest of essence oils, of course. All jokes aside, she felt how much care and consideration the Temple offered her.
Yet physical comfort does not necessarily translate into psychological well-being. She knew that all too well - Lina’s life, Deidre’s earthly experience, taught her to appreciate comfort, yet seek beyond it.
Sure, all things being even, it’s a happier life when your tummy is full and the bed is fluffy and warm, yet one might feel entirely content even if there is a hole gaping at them from their stockings.
She scoffed at the thought - how funny it seemed to her - as the corridor came to an end and a tall arched door came into vision. I knew it was a different corridor! - Deidre’s victory glimmered in her eyes, yet the hand was reluctant to push the door handle.
I’m not sure I know where I am, or if I’m even allowed to be here - she thought to herself as the door suddenly opened as if it read her worries and had a mind of its own.
“Come in, don’t be shy,” a woman’s voice spilt into the corridor and echoed through the white - not blue! - marble floors. “I’ve been dying to meet you.”