The Freedom of a Goddess
Azuriel reappeared near a large lake in Scotland. The lake was beautiful, it glittered in the midday light, the sun bouncing off the ripples making it sparkle like thousands of diamonds. On the other side of the magnificent lake a cliff stood, high and mighty. Azuriel blinked as a vision assaulted her mind. There, on that cliff, a Majestic Castle was to stand, a home and school for Witches and Wizards to practice their magics. Azuriel shook the vision away as she paid more attention to her leaking wounds, Golden blood dripping everywhere. Stumbling her way into the forest behind her the Goddess’ limbs started to grow stiff. Looking down at her limbs she realised they were growing small crystals on them, the gems winking at her, laughing at her struggle. She had to find a place to rest soon otherwise she would crystallize in place for the next few millennia.
A few more minutes of stumbling and being pushed forward by tree branches and caught by others she broke out of the thicket into a large clearing. The sunlight broke through the canopy of the overly large trees, meeting the moss-covered forest floor in a perfect circle just large enough for her. Smiling and silently thanking the forest for its help she carried on, stumbling only once as her left foot gathered crystals. The sunlight was the centre of her gaze, the warmth was calling to her, begging for her to rest in its presence. Stepping into its heat she sighed, the crystals growing a little smaller. Sighing, she raised her tattered and broken wings. Sadness overwhelmed her, it would take ages for them to heal properly. Looking up she got a face full of sunlight, closing her eyes she tilted her head downwards before raising her hands as if she was cupping something delicate and precious within her palms. She wrapped her wings around her arms, leaving her arms on display. Eyes still closed, she breathed into her palm, white pearly mist curling into it. Watching it with half closed eyes, exhaustion suddenly seeping into every cell of her Godly body, she watched as the mist swirled and writhed to form the shape of a dipyramid prism. The prism expanded around her, Azuriel still as stone, her limbs stuck in the position she had placed herself in. Once it had enveloped her entire body, wings and all, crystals grew in rapid succession all over her body, bursting from her skin and feathers until they hit the mist where they smoothed out to create one large crystal. Azuriel closed her eyes as the crystals grew over them. Her hearing went and her lungs stopped working, completely calm she breathed her last for a while.
Entirely enclosed in a shimmering rainbow crystal, the Goddess slept.
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1,875 years later, a small boy with hair reminiscent of our favourite demon, is seen running through the forest, grinning and laughing at all the creatures he passed. Strangely enough, the further he got into the forest (And, unbeknownst to him, the closer he got to the Goddess’ resting place), more creatures appeared. Slowing to stare at the pretty fairies that drifted around the air like tiny little stars he fell over a tree root into a large clearing. In the middle of the clearing, in the centre of the sunlight circle, stood a pure crystal, the bottom point embedded in a nest of fluffy green moss. Newt scrambled to his feet; the scarf wrapped around his neck in a dishevelled state as he tripped on it. Once he had gathered himself and stood straight without falling over, he cautiously creeped towards the huge crystal, surrounded by fairies. Walking around the structure the young wizard gasped as he realised there was someone inside the crystal. Stumbling back a few paces he gazed up at the frozen face, a picture of tranquillity. The figure inside the crystal gave off an extremely powerful magical aura, their wings wrapped around the majority of their body, leaving only their face and hands on display.
The person in the crystal was beautiful with a sort of ethereal brilliance, their eight, yes eight, wings a mix of Raven, Phoenix, Snowy Owl and one other pair he just couldn’t place. Newt unconsciously raised a hand to the surface of the crystal and placed an open palm over where the figures lowest wing rested. He pulled his hand back as he felt the crystal heat up beneath his fingers. Newt watched in fascination as the crystal started to melt like ice from where he had touched it. The person who was trapped inside the crystal opened their eyes and unfurled their wings as the crystal freed them from its shining prison.
Azuriel’s feet hit the ground for the first time in nearly two centuries. She looked down at her body. Her clothes had changed into a ballgown like royal purple dress with golden laces and a silver trimming on the bottom. Her wings were as perfect as the day she was created, and her body was perfect. Her hair was silky smooth and flowed down her back in a loose plait of obsidian black, the occasional gem or golden ring braided into the tresses. Whipping around, she caught a glimpse of a young boy sitting on the ground in shock. Or horror. She couldn’t quite tell. Azuriel crouched down, trying to seem as friendly as possible to the possibly spooked boy.
“Hello there dear. I suspect you’re the one who released me from my Crystal?” Azuriel cooed softly.
Newt simply nodded his head. His mind was going a-mile-a-minute. Who was this lady? How did she get inside the crystal? Why did she have so many wings? Newt just didn’t know. His train of thought was interrupted when the strange crystal lady patted his head.
“Thank you dear. I don’t know how much longer I would have stayed in there had you not freed me.” Azuriel spoke, entirely truthful.
She genuinely didn’t mean to sleep for so long and it was a daunting thought, how long she might have spent in there had this boy not released her. Kneeling down in front of the boy she spoke again, careful not to speak too loudly, he seemed to be a little overwhelmed.
“What is your name, dear?” She asked.
Newt stuttered a little before forcing a sentence through chattering teeth. He kind of reminded her of Aziraphale when they first met… Again.
“N-Newt Scamander. W-Why are your e-eyes white and glowing? A-and why—” Newt clamped a hand on his mouth as he seemed to realise that he had just asked an unknown entity a rather invasive question.
Azuriel smiled softly at the boy, reaching out a hand before thinking better of it.
“My name is Azuriel. You may have heard of me, probably by a different title. I was well known back in the day as “The Protector” Or “Azira”. I believe those names were passed around back then.” Azuriel commented, finger on her chin as she thought.
Newt gazed up at her in newfound respect.
“I’ve heard of you! You’re in our ‘History of Magic’ Books! You were known for saving people during the flood and protecting children and the vulnerable from otherwise unavoidable situations. My teachers always said you never existed. Well, all of them except Professor Dumbledore. But he doesn’t count, he believes anything.” Newt had lost his fear, now full to bursting with unanswered questions.
Azuriel hummed. She had heard of the Dumbledore name somewhere… Oh that’s right! She snapped her fingers, bringing up a catalogue of the children she had her Saviours help during her time inside the crystal. She didn't really mean to do it but she accidentally created humanoid beings with purple wings called 'Saviours' that sprung from her golden blood that had mixed with the earth. Before slumbering she had sent them to help those she could not, occasionally she cast her consciousness from her slumbering body and possessed one of her servants. What? She couldn't let them have All the fun. There, near the bottom was a single name. Aurora Morganis Dumbledore. She was such a bright young sorceress. Looking back at Newt she caught his eye before snapping the catalogue back to her pocket Realm.
“Yes, Dumbledore. I seem to have rescued one of his ancestors from the pyre in the early 15th century. She was a lovely young sorceress.” Newt simply watched in disbelief.
Azuriel looked up at the sky. It was starting to get dark. Looking down at the child she stood, nudging the young wizard to his feet as well.
“Let me walk you to back to the castle? Or at least to the edge of the forest. The forest can get rather… Unsettling at night. And rather dangerous.” Newt nodded as they started their trek from the clearing to the lake. They chatted amicably as they bypassed a gaggle of fairies, encountered a few unicorns which eagerly trotted up to Newt and Azuriel to Newt complete joy and even met a centaur or two. One unicorn even offered to take a rather sleepy newt the rest of the way to the lake. Azuriel relayed the message to Newt who practically lit up like Christmas had come early. She helped the young boy onto the majestic creature’s back. Newt fell asleep halfway to the lake, Azuriel leading the unicorn forwards. Too soon they reached the bank of the lake. Gently she shook the boy awake. Helping him get off Newt bowed to the creature who bowed back and cantered back into the forest.
“Now, I can’t walk you back to the castle, you’re going to have to make that journey alone. I have encased you in magic that will last until you reach dry land again. This magic will allow you to walk on the surface of the water.” Newt looked flabbergasted.
Deciding to try it out he stepped tentatively onto the water’s rippling surface, and it took his weight. Looking back at her he smiled so brightly Azuriel thought the sun had come back out again. But then the expression faded and Newt turned back to ask her timidly
“Will I ever see you again?” Azuriel smiled gently at him.
Cupping her hands together gently she conjured a silver pendant shaped like a Thunderbird in flight. Walking forward onto the water herself, she took his hand and pressed it to his.
“When you wish to visit me, stand at the edge of any body of water and cup your hands around this pendant and whisper my name to it. It will teleport you straight to me. You don’t have to be at the edge of the lake but it’s much easier for the magic imbued in the necklace if you are. It will also act as a communication line of sorts. If you prick your finger on its beak and let a single drop of blood rest on it, it will open a line directly to me. It will also alert me if you are in danger. I have its twin after all.” Azuriel grinned as she pulled out a golden Thunderbird pendant, hanging on the same leather that Jesus’ star clung too.
Newt laughed and engulfed the Goddess in a bear hug. Azuriel blanched for a moment before wrapping him in her arms and wings.
“Promise me, Newt, that if you ever get into any sort of trouble, you’ll call me? Your necklace will call me if you’re in pain anyway but promise me.” Azuriel whispered into his freckled ear.
“I promise, Azuriel. I promise.” Newt spoke into the bodice of her gown.
Squeezing him one last time she let him go. She watched him until her reached the castle where Dumbledore was waiting for him, having suspected that he would be late. She continued watching as Newt entered the castle. Dumbledore winked at her before re-entering the castle.
Azuriel supposed that she would have to meet this intriguing Professor at some point.