They were waiting for me. Here, in this room, bright yet only decorated with lit candles, were sat three of the most influential people in the OtherWorld: the Sage, the Doctor of our community; The Elder, the most ancient member of the coven, therefore the most knowledgeable of us all; and the High Priestess, the Council's most powerful sorceress.

The Sage gestured me to take a seat. My body refused to move.

"Your Highness." I looked up. It was Aidan. The Priestess looked at him, sternly.

"Archer"
"May I request permission to stay during this session?"

"On what ground?"

"I am Meira's Guardian"

The Priestess, a small, robust woman with silver hair and a tired look on her face, seemed to ponder for a second. The meeting wasn't supposed to be public, due to the nature of the assignments and the rituals performed. It was an agreement between the Council and the Fairy.

"So Be It"she finally replied. Aidan looked at me, mouthing "You'll be fine."

I was trembling. Energy.
"Meira, Daughter of Elsya, you've been invited on this day to be assigned your first mission." said the Priestess.
Silence. What was I supposed to say?

"Yes" I finally mumbled "I am."

"Can you tell us about your Gift?" asked the Sage. He had a star tattooed on the corner of his left eye. I couldn't stop staring.

I heard a voice in my head. "Little boys play and rest and scream. Little girls stare and sleep and dream."

I focused. "I am a Soul Healer, Sir. I can heal human souls who appear in my dreams."

"How do you do that?" asked the Elder. He must have been a hundred years old. His skin looked like sand.

"I hear and see their souls and I heal them with my good energy, from my hands. That's how I did when I was a child, I haven't had the chance to perform it again yet."

They looked at each other. Surely they could remember the Special Day episode, many years ago. The Sage scribbled some notes. The Priestess' eyes were glued on my hands.
"How would your Gift help the Community, Meira?" she asked.

"I would calm Human souls and do good deeds with the energy given by The She. And I would help in keeping the balance between our two worlds."
I glanced at Aidan. He nodded. I was doing good.

I felt dizzy. Was it the excitement of my First Council? The pain in my head soon said otherwise. So many voices, in such a sacred room. And a song.

It was the Elder's turn to ask a question. His voice was soft. It sounded good.

"What's your biggest wish, Meira?"
"Little boys play and rest and scream. Little girls stare and sleep and dream" The song was louder, and I could see a face, and a body. And...

"Blood"
"I beg your pardon?" hissed the Priestess.

Aidan glanced at me, his eyebrows raised.
Get it together, Meira.

"My...my biggest wish is..." I couldn't think of anything. The pain in my head was too intense. Someone was screaming for help. I couldn't ignore it.
"Silence."
They all looked a me, nodded, and wrote in their books, again.

I wasn't giving the right impression.
The voices in my head fell silent for a moment. Just images, grey pictures. I hoped it would fade.

Meanwhile, two of the guards put a massive, antique book on an equally impressive lectern in the middle of the room.
The Sacred Book, where all the rituals and stories about our world were written. The Priestess lit candles on the table were the rest of them were seated.
She then stood in front of the Book and using a piece of white chalk, carefully traced a circle around herself.

It was time for the Ritual.

"Since the beginning of time, we have gathered in this season to
celebrate the rebirth of the Sun.
On the Winter Solstice, the darkest of nights,
The Goddess becomes the Great Mother and once again
gives birth to the Sun and the new yearly cycle,
Bringing new light and hope to all on Earth.
On the longest night of winter,
and the dark night of our souls,
there springs the new spark of hope,
the Sacred Fire,
the Light of the World.
We gather tonight to await the new light.
On this night, the Maiden, who is also Mother
and Crone, prepares to welcome the Sun.
Let's now prepare to welcome the new light within."

The Winter Solstice Ritual first.
To welcome the Sun back into our world.
At home, Aidan and I would just light the log and pray in silence. The Priestess's show was another level, including rosemary and cedar in the circle. I was trying to pay attention but was mostly keeping my inner voices and pictures away from my head. It was working. Just mumbles. Maybe I could perform my part of the Ritual without any incident. Maybe.

"The wheel has turned. We call you back to warm us.
Great God of the Sun
I welcome your return
May you shine brightly upon the Earth."

I felt my hands glowing brighter.
Not now.
The second part of the Ritual was mine, my introduction as a Fairy. The Priestess moved towards me and took my hands.
Bright hands.
She didn't say anything and started my introduction.

"Oonagh, Please guide Meira, Daughter of Elsya, in her Mission
Let her see the Lights, the Beauty in between, and guide her through
The stream of life"

And it came back. Louder, the voices became one. Someone was screaming in despair. A long, piercing scream. Pure pain.
I couldn't feel my legs.

"Sorry, your Highness, I think I need to sit down". I sat on the floor, ignoring the gaze of the Elder. I could see a young man sleeping, and I could see his dreams. Something violent, grey, terribly sad. The young man was now awake, and his dark eyes were looking through me.

"Can you help me?"

I was trembling. My hands were glowing, brightening the room like a thousand candles. In my head, the song was playing again and again.
Aidan rushed at my side: "Remember meditation, Meira, breathe, and focus."
And to The Council: "May I request recess?"

But the Highest Priestess refused. " It is the best way to see the Fairy's Gift in action."

The man was making his way inside my head. He was young, maybe just slightly older than I was, and his eyes were burning my soul again. I could see glimpses of his dreams, in black and white, and he was begging for help.
Just like the others, the pain was unbearable. And just like with the others, I was useless in this world.

I could hear Aidan arguing with the Council: "She can't do anything from here, she needs to meet them in their world for her Healing powers to work." And after a pause :"You don't know anything about Soul Healers, do you?"

"Neither do you." replied the Sage.
"At least I care about her. Come on, Meira, let's get out of here".
Typical Aidan. Defiance.

He carried me outside, my hands still glowing. I could feel energy all over my body, while this young man was still asking for my help. I asked Aidan to let go, and sat on the grass, ignoring the Council and the other Fairies around me. They wanted to see my Gift, after all, right?
Just like in the prairie, I closed my eyes and focused on the voice in my head. I was talking to a human soul.
" What's your name?

"Niall."
Where can I find you?"

Silence

"Where it always rains. I guess."

The wave of energy calmed down. I felt an inner calm like never before. And confidence. I knew where to find him. If my powers were still working the same way, I could heal him. I could make his pain, and mine, disappear.

I stood up. The Highest Priestess and the rest of the Council looked at me in silence. No one applauded, no one smiled.

This was awkward.

"So, I guess I am going on a mission?"
The Sage nodded.

"Good" I said. "Well, it was nice to meet you and all."
Aidan and I started walking away, to the Portal. No one followed us. No procession.

"How do you feel?" He looked worried.

I paused for a moment. Calm? Tired? Determined? The thought of saving someone was overwhelming and exhilarating all at once.

We arrived by the Portal. Memories of the Special Day came back, but this time, I - vaguely - knew what to do. That was some improvement.

Aidan looked at me, his deep voice filling the green space: "You remember how to come back home, right? One minute equals an hour, okay? And-"
I put my hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Archer, I'll find my way."

I was so eager to finally save someone.
"Meira, one last thing."
"Yeah?"
"You did real good today."

And with these words, I plunged into the Portal.

Meira, Daughter of Elsyia. I was seventeen.

Time to be a Soul Healer.