Nights and days washed away whilst waiting. The high krivi wandered through the priesthood whilst questioning the passage of time as well as his own sanity. He was a patient being, yet the longing was slowly taking over him. August felt himself slipping into the abyss. Or the Void…

The Void was always there and as many immortal souls, August could not ignore, nor defy it. It was a part of him as much as he was a part of it too.

She is also a part of it - he thought. And if she’s a part of the Void, it means she’s a part of me. No matter how tiny or insignificant of a particle it may be.

Going about his existence and serving the mighty creatures that oversee the universe, the high priest went through his days trying to tuck the longing away. What is meant to leave, is bound to return. And what is lost, shall be retrieved - a mantra continued in his mind.

You see, time passes differently in Hiraeth. One being such as a humble human might not even realise the passage of time here - as if the concept did not exist any longer. Time was boundless as well as it was painful. For those who had been longing, for those who had been waiting… Hiraeth was an eternity in itself.

Funny enough, the mighty gods were creatures of harmony - the universe balanced on precious little scales and they played with it, pouring grain to one side only to remove particles from the other… And then start all over again. No balance, no harmony in the daily workings of how the worldly existences were managed. But here you have it - the irony of all: eventually, everything had an equilibrium. Forces and beings alike.

For every creature, Laume Verpeja hung a star in the night sky. And the old man living on the moon tied threads between two stars-beings to ensure no one is bound to suffer the journey alone. There’s balance in this chaos of intertwined threads… And the witches continue to weave the cloth of one’s Life - whatever being they might be: human as well as god.

Through this boundless eternity, August was wandering lost - in time and space. Lost in himself. The high priest could barely remember when and where his other star went. But however lonely, long and dark, the high krivi knew: what was lost, will be found.

Pacing inside his moonlit tower, August observed the ethereal skies. This crystal prison - or what others called his residence - was located at the top of the temple. Beautiful white columns stretched towards the sky where intricate magic weaved stone and crystal, combining a sturdy structure. It was strong enough to withstand godly outlashes of thunder and lighting, yet offered just enough transparency to observe the inner workings of the universe.

It was a well-coveted room - quite like the position of the high priest itself. In fact, many desired to take this place - it was a well-respected rank not only in Hiraeth but across the realms. But whilst many saw prestige and proof of ability, boundless honours and unlimited opportunities, August saw a prison. It was a crystal cage - the most intricate and beautiful kind, but a prison nevertheless.

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Very few knew: stonemasons embedded vast amounts of mana and infused the structure with protective barrier magic. Sure, a position such as one of a high priest must be well-defended. However, the reasoning behind such vast efforts lay entirely elsewhere - high power came with high risks. And no one in their right mind would ever want to risk a powerful being - such as the high priest - going berserk.

The tower contained August’s magic and made sure that any outbursts of power - or possible mania - would be strictly contained within the premises. A brilliant cage, indeed. One that only ever comes with incredible privilege.

The crystal clear roof fell upon the high priest with its enormous weight of the endless skies - the boundless Void was keeping an eye on every single move. Nevertheless, it was a two-way street and throughout this eternity of existence, August learned to notice even the smallest of changes. As if the Void could speak to him, the high vaidila could tell the most subtle of movements between the shadows and all the particles within.

Stars… Too many of them to even grasp!.. Too many, yet irrelevant. They were lovely to observe, beautiful to admire, but that was pretty much the extent of it. None of those beings served a purpose.

Only one star was ever shimmering and glimmering in the corner of August’s eyes - only one that mattered. It was the furthest of them all, yet of a being closer than anyone could ever be. No matter the time, nor the distance, the high krivi was waiting.

Any day now - he could feel. Just a bit more patience.

***

The Awakening was one peculiar kind of event - its essence pertaining to the returns of beings who once departed as well as security risks associated. After all, returning following the refinement of one’s soul through earthly experiences, as well as undergoing the cleansing of the Void, was no easy feat.

As such, the priesthood as well as dutiful holy knights could never take a breather - beings needed to be inspected as no one could ever be sure about the soul that had returned.

The Altar served as an entrance point and freshly refined souls would materialise back into the realm through the blessings of this sacred masonry. Stone pillars surrounding the holy Altar formed a magic-infused barrier. Of course, it was linked to high officials across Hiraeth. If someone had the audacity - or misfortune - to covertly trespass through the sacred Awakening ritual, their thread of Life would be cut short without much consideration. But should they be expected to return, the Awakening itself would trigger the threads of fate - after all, the stars are bound to accompany one another…

The time has come. Tingling electricity ran through August’s back as if a colony of ants rushed through the sandy grains. Ocean blue eyes were hazy no more - no, they were eagerly searching through the night. Passing the gates, floating through the endless woods. The mountain. The stone pillars. The Altar.

Closer. I need to get closer - anticipation was getting the best of him. After centuries of waiting, you finally return to me.