Priestess to some, Goddess to others, Lena to a precious few
Art is a state of mind, or so I was taught from a young age. But I suppose it shouldn't be surprising when stemming from a culture that prides itself on artistic ability. I was born into the Nyx family, much anticipated and much prized. Children are rare in my city and each birth is a treasure. I was born late in the evening after what I am told was a difficult labor. But my mother Eva considered herself blessed. Truth be told, my father Eilan was hoping for a son, but now he insists my blue eyes make having a daughter worthwhile.
Both of my parents have passed on now, moving to their next plain of existence. But their home, my family, is the firm foundation of all my hopes and beliefs.
My childhood was no different or more spectacular than any really. I excelled a my studies because that was what was expected of me. Science and math were tolerated only because they fed into astronomy and the mechanics of painting and sculpture. History I favored and too few do now a days. But what are we without our past?
My interests in history and astronomy made me an interesting pupil to the temples and the priestesses.
When I say temple, you assume religion and part of this is true, but not in the sense of gods and goddesses. But instead in reverence to our ancestors who never truly die, but pass on into the ether and night realm, an existence of spirits and memories.
I'm sure I've lost you by now. And, I apologize, I never was one for words. I express myself better in painting, but I promised myself I'd get through this and I will somehow.
Most children of my home city end their education after basic schooling and take up an apprenticeship with artisans or workmen. I'd like to say that pursuing higher education was something I desired. But really, I just couldn't make up my mind. The temples provided an excellent ground to bide my time and make further decisions about my life.
You have to understand, that as a whole, my people are extraordinarily long lived. Physical life is more transient. It's hard for me to describe. Someone once used the term "elementals" and I think that fits best.
We are very closely bonded to the world we live in, all in different forms. So families are kin to water, or to the earth, or even to the very air around us. The Nyx family is said to be born of fire, but that is another story. When a child is born, it is said to be the embodiment of part of the physical world. I don't know if that's true, but that's how the legends are told. Anyways... A child is born, grows and matures, and then can choose their path in life. Most choose a physical existence for a number of years. Choose to raise a family and choose to age. Yes, I said we choose to age. Our physical bodies are essentially timeless. Once born, our so called spirit never dies in truth. Some just choose to pass on from the physical plane of existence. Well, most choose to pass on. I've stayed hundreds of years longer than most, but we'll get to that later. So most live in a physical body until they feel they have fufilled their part in our civilization, and then pass on. It's nothing like death really. Our physical being simply disintegrates and our core, our spirit, so to speak, is free to return to either it's true nature in the balance of our ecosystem or to remain timeless as a guide. And these guides communicate through our priestesses, our temples.
I was never necessarily attracted to the temples or the respected life of a priestess. I think I was more attracted to the knowledge that could be gained through working as a priestess. The spirit guides, our ancestors, are an endless wealth of knowledge and history, some legend and some true.
It's been said that they speak more to me than to others. I don't think so, I think I just listen more carefully. But enough of that.
So I moved on from basic education to the temples and while I was in the temples as a novice, my brother Evander was born. He was the apple of my father's eye and followed his work as a stonemason. Evander and I were close when he was young. I think I finally allowed myself a real second childhood while he was growing up. For awhile I stepped away from the world of guides and ancient talk and reveled in the beauty of the moment. We used to spend days finding the best and most beautiful natural sights our surroundings could provide and even had a secret hide-out in a cave behind a waterfall. I think thats when I really started taking an interest in painting. And some of my most colorful and vibrant works were from that time. But you know what the problem with children is... even in my culture, they grow up.
Evander finished his schooling and finished his apprenticeship and sought a life of his own. He fell in love, bonded and chose to raise his own family. Including a daughter, my niece, Evangelin.
When Evander moved on with his family, I returned to the temples. Several years passed and I lost myself in a world of painting and sculpture. When my niece Evangelin was nearly finished with basic schooling, my parents called Evander and I home. They'd reached a point in their life where they felt fufilled in their existence and had chose to move on. We don't mourn passing like death. It's meant to be a celebration. I couldn't celebrate. I knew I would miss them. I still do, even though my mother remains as a guide. A priestess speaking to a guide is far different than a daughter speaking to her mother. That was years ago now.
I guess you're waiting for my life to be something spectacular, but it's really not. There are a great many people who think I'm completely crazy, Yes... I'm getting to that part.
I don't know why yet, but I'm very drawn to this physical existence. Some part of me feels like I still have some destiny to fufill. I haven't fufilled the traditional roles of society. I haven't raised a family, but then I haven't even found my bondmate. I feel that the world is changing and I don't know how or why. I feel the shadow of something looming in the future, I've heard whispers of it from the past. So I stay here, to face whatever storm the future may bring.
I have watched family and friends pass on. Even my brother Evander is gone now and Evangelin considers herself old. I laugh every time I hear her say it.
But I'm still here. i was elected to the council of elders years back. Where there are many other much older than me, but they stay to teach future generations. I stay because I'm looking for something. I think. And I would give this so called immortality just to know what I'm searching for. I'm often criticized for lingering so long... But I'm still waiting.
