Maya of Rigel. Circe of Helios

"Does she really have to come with me?" It was early in the morning. Breakfast hadn't been served yet, and Hilda was already shouting and having a tantrum.

Cristina was just finishing brushing her hair. Inspired by her sister's magazines, she wanted to create some of the hairstyles shown in the photos. Her long, wavy hair was ideal for some extravagant styles. There was only one problem: she didn't have any hair accessories to decorate it. So, for that day, she decided to leave it as it is.

"Tomorrow will be a good day to take her. It’s Lunaris, which means you can take her to one of your places."

"But tomorrow I’ll have a date with Ricardo... I couldn't take her," Hilda complained. Usually, on Lunaris, she went dancing at a club for teenagers.

Ricardo was one of the most popular inhabitants of the Delta. The son of the Minister of Education of Espliego, Ricardo enjoyed power, money, and privileges that others could hardly have. He traveled constantly to any part of the region. Even to the Thousand Islands, an archipelago of over 15,000 isles, which would take at least two days and a half from the furthest tip of the continent.

Hilda had no choice but to invite Cristina to the club she visits. At breakfast, the girl was angry, and she made it known through her attitude. She chewed with her mouth open and made the cutlery clang too loudly. Neither Javier nor Dolores bothered to correct her.

After breakfast, Hilda warned Cristina not to expect much. Hilda didn't like her "sister's" way of dressing. It was outdated, unfashionable, and her hair clearly lacked care, although she had to admit it was noticeable that she was reading the magazines she had lent her.

"We’ll have to improve that outfit of yours," Hilda told to Cristina. They both went to Hilda's room, and she searched through her closet.

There was a considerable amount of clothes, accessories, shoes, and some forgotten magazines. Hilda, despite being 16, had developed a bit faster, and her body had taken on a triangular shape. Although her hips weren't as pronounced as those of adult women, a certain tendency to highlight that part of her body was already noticeable.

Her bust, still growing, was at least a cup size larger than Cristina's. At 15, Cristina was a little slower. Her body was more rectangular, flatter. This made it difficult to lend her clothes, but she managed to find something she could give her. It was also out of trend clothing, but it was much better than what Dolores had bought her. The outfit for the outing consisted of a pink crop top and a pair of denim jeans, which were torn.

"These are torn," Cristina commented before putting them on to see if they fit.

"It's fine, they still work," Hilda said with a mocking tone. She was enjoying Cristina's reactions to the clothes she hadn't worn in a long time.

The pants were a bit big, but it was solved with a belt. She felt a bit embarrassed wearing Hilda's clothes; at the same time she didn't dislike it. She also didn't love showing a bit of skin. At the same time Cristina wasn't used to a crop top. Hilda laughed a little to see her somewhat embarrassed.

"That's what you'll wear tomorrow when we go out. Consider it a gift."

Later that day, Cristina was left alone at home. For the first time, and thanks to her interaction with Caleb the day before and with a little less fear, decided to leave the house. Javier had given her a set of keys and even gave her some cash so she could go out and buy whatever she wanted.

She left the house determined to explore on her own. Upon closing the door, she found herself in a dilemma. Where to start? The building had a rooftop, she had the idea to go up there. She was surprised. It was also a common area for the inhabitants of the Delta. There were planters with small shrubs with flowers, also there where some small blossoms could be seen decorating the place.

Big and large pots with small trees and seats with umbrellas decorated the place. These were placed to overlook the landscape, no matter where you looked. In the middle of the building was a fountain and some tables where people could share moments. She didn't see her at first, but as she explored, she found the only other person who was there.

The woman was wearing a cyan-blue summer dress. It had no sleeves, just straps to hold it up. On her right arm, near the shoulder, she had a tattoo: a butterfly with blue wings and a brown body. Her shoes were beige, and she wasn't wearing socks.

Her hair was loose, a deep, intense bluish-black. It fell over her back and covered it entirely. She was singing, and it seemed that butterflies were fluttering around her while she danced. The music from a recorder was playing.

In addition to the butterflies, it seemed that the rays of Rigel emanated blue sparkles around her. With movements of her hands and arms, she moved the sparkles, shifting them back and forth in rhythm with the woman's dance.
The dance ended. At the same time, the woman stopped singing and dancing.

The music also stopped. The sparkles disappeared, but not the butterflies. The woman fixed her hair and, upon turning around, saw Cristina. Approaching, the girl introduced herself:

"I am Maya of Rigel." They shook hands, and Cristina also introduced herself. If you could see both girls, you could conclude they’re friends from long ago. 
Maya spoke with unusual warmth. It was as if she had known her all her life and was seeing her after a long time of not seeing each other.

"Is my name that strange?" Maya asked. She wasn't offended, but the reaction did make her watch Cristina with curiosity.

"It's the first time I've heard that someone has the surname of a star."

"Actually, it's not that rare," Maya explained. She invited her new friend to sit at one of the tables. "I hadn't seen you before. Are you new around here?"

"Yes..." Cristina confessed, sitting down across from Maya. "I arrived here several days ago. With Dolores."

"Really?" Surprised, Maya opened her eyes wide and spoke a bit about Dolores.
She had always been a lonely woman until two years ago, when she met Javier and managed to marry him. They call her "Old Dolores" because she is already in her 40s and was single. No one expected her to change suddenly.

"Is it so strange that she was single for so long?" Cristina remembered her grandmother.

"Usually, women marry around 22. It's the tradition," Maya stated. "Women like Dolores are strange, and they are the ones we could only see in the capital or in big cities."

The friends continued chatting for a while longer about other topics. Finally, Maya commented that she was hungry. She invited her to have milkshakes at a place near the Delta.

While walking, Cristina realized that the butterflies were still fluttering. They weren't common butterflies; they looked like illusions, a kind of illusion that seemed like it could be touched.

"Can you see them?" Maya knew she was delighted with her attitude. "The butterflies, I mean."

"Well... They are butterflies, of course I can see them," Cristina replied, confused by the question.

"This type of magic only appears to those who believe in it," Maya confessed with a sense of satisfaction. 

The friends arrived at the milkshake shop and stood in line. It was Maya who paid for the two milkshakes, as an invitation to continue sharing the day with her new friend.

"Does magic exist?" she asked with some shyness combined with excitement.
Cristina was enjoining not only the chat with Maya, also the flavour of the milkshake. Was the first time eating one.

"It's real," Maya confirmed. "Although I would have liked it if you believed in the magic of Rigel."

"Does magic come from the stars?" Cristina asked, somewhat amused. Maya just nodded. Cristina was happy about this.

"Why did you choose Helios star?" Maya asked her.

"It was because of my grandmother," Cristina confessed. She had already finished the milkshake and now they were just chatting. "She told me that Helios is a benevolent star that could hear me. But... how do you know which star I chose to believe?"

"I am studying to be a clairvoyant," Maya confessed with an air of pride. "It’s been my favorite subject since I was little."

Cristina remained silent for a while. She was surprised by the subject and wanted to learn more. She stopped smiling for a moment.

"How does clairvoyance work?" Cristina asked.

"I can basically see and know the person through some valuable object or, in some cases, with a simple handshake," Maya replied, smiling.

"And the blue butterflies? What are they?"

"This is the most complex subject," Maya stated as she moved her hand and made some butterflies dance. They are the protectors of the city. Remember this: not all magic is to help or to heal. Many stars will try to cause harm, but thanks to the butterflies, we can stop them."

Cristina listened attentively. What kind of stars could want to bring chaos? Maya finally decided to leave the shop. It was time to return home and rest.

"The second type of butterflies," Maya explained seriously, "are basically illusions that I create thanks to my magic. They activate when I start to sing. They appear and move to the rhythm of the music. Depending on the goal, they are just decorations, or they can be used to defend or attack."

Maya didn't want to continue and remained silent while both girls kept walking. Cristina didn't ask any more questions. Upon arriving at the Delta, the friends said goodbye. They lived in the same building but on different floors. Cristina was thinking: magic was mysterious and interesting.

That afternoon, promptly at 5:30, Hilda and Cristina left the condominium and took a taxi to the club, a popular place for middle school students.

They arrived, and several people were at the entrance with a sign that said: Odinar 4x2 Cocktails. There were several people Hilda knew, and they were surprised to see Cristina. Somewhat embarrassed, she introduced her as her sister: Cristina Fablet.

"Old Dolores is moving fast," one of them mocked.

"She did want a family and children after all," someone else added, and the laughter didn't stop. "Since she's too old to have children, she adopted two orphans."

The person who mentioned the word "orphans" felt Hilda's hand on his right shoulder. He knew perfectly well that he should never make his friend angry, but in the heat of the moment he had forgotten. Hilda wasn't an orphan; she still had her father.

The group of five people, kept laughing at their mistake. Upon entering, loud music began to be heard, the lights illuminated the dance floor. The group ordered a round of drinks. Since she didn't know anything, a person from the group ordered for her.

Cristina tried an alcohol-free michelada, and it tasted a bit bitter to her. Out of obligation, she drank the whole beverage and was invited by one of them to dance.

"It doesn't matter if you don't know how to dance," the boy she was dancing with pointed to the other people. And it was true. Cristina noticed all people were dancing erratically, only worrying about having fun.

Hilda and Cristina walked home after a few hours. Hilda looked satisfied. Cristina didn't embarrass her, and no one mocked her again. The sisters arrived home, and surprised by the closeness of both, Dolores and Javier were happy. It seemed they were getting to know each other better.

Before going to sleep, the sisters chatted for a while. Cristina was very excited about the new experience. The fears and doubts she was having upon arriving in her new city were dissipating and being forgotten.

The month was finally ending, and the new school year was about to begin. Cristina was visiting her school for the first time. It was a building with a fairly large plot of land. Full of green areas, exercise areas, and several attached buildings: a large library, a theater, and several laboratories.

The Azulona school had and prestigious educational system. Being so close to the Provinces of Quetzal and Eastern Birc, several foreign students came to study there. From children of politicians, famous actors, heirs to fortunes, and future businessmen, they came from many cities to study at that place.

In addition,  the school had opened a public section. An option for the "less fortunate" to be able to get a good education. With the difference that the students of the public section could not access the extracurricular activities that the school offered in its private section.

Hilda and Cristina will go to the private section. That day, Caleb accompanied them for their enrolment. Hilda and Caleb, being a year older, were in a grade above Cristina's.

Cristina, with the help of a teacher, he was able to see the building. At that time. Only then was he able to understand how big his new school was. When the tour ended, Cristina returned home. She was exhausted with all the information she received. At the same time, she wanted to continue exploring the grounds of the condominiums. She decided to went down to walk for a while in the park where she had already been with Caleb a few days ago. When she arrived there she saw a woman no older than her was sitting, reading.

Her long hair in a dark brown in color, it seemed to shine with the rays of Rigel in a golden tone. Her white skin seemed to have no defects. With an oval face and cheekbones that were barely noticeable, she seemed like a kind woman.
Her presence seemed to bewitch anyone nearby, as if she used some kind of magic; she attracted people with her presence alone; she seemed like a sorceress. The woman smiled while she continued reading and began to speak without interrupting her reading.

"I'm no sorceress, child," the woman closed her book and tucked her hair back to reveal her face.

Her pale skin contrasted with the color of her hair. She wasn't wearing makeup, and her deep golden amber eyes seemed to read her soul and her thoughts. She felt vulnerable before her.

"Come closer, child, I don't bite," the woman invited Cristina to approach, and drawn by her presence, Cristina came closer and sat with her. "What's your name?"

"Cristina Fablet," answered, somewhat nervous. Her personality was so captivating that she approached her without thinking.

"Nice to meet you, Cristina Fablet I am Circe of Helios," she introduced herself, smiling.

"Of Helios?" Cristina felt a knot in her stomach, remembering what Maya had told her.

"I am a Solar Witch, a soul collector, and I study to be able to read people's thoughts. Did I surprise you?"

"How does it work?" Cristina was curious to meet a second. And not just any witch. One that has the name of her favourite star, the one she always prey at nights.

"Don't think I do it always, the mind-reading thing. At least not in the way you think." Circe showed her a small bottle with a transparent liquid that was similar to water, but upon getting closer, she saw the liquid in more detail: it seemed to have a light yellow color; it had bubbles that were rising. The bottle was half full when Circe showed it to her.

"Anyone who takes this potion will be able to hear people's thoughts," Circe put the bottle away again. "There are other, safer ways to read people's minds, but they are more complicated. My own mind is chaos. I prefer potions."

"And the 'soul collector' thing?" Cristina asked. Talking about magic was becoming her favorite subject now that she could confirm it did exist.

"It's my specialization," Circe stated while putting her book away as well in a medium-sized cloth bag which was hidden between the table and her legs. "I can see the spirits of the dead. It's the advantage of belonging to a white or blue star; you can specialize in a subject and learn it."

Circe explained she could see the people that died recently. She helped calm them down so they could take the next step toward the tranquility of death.

"I also know you have been praying to Helios for several years," Circe said calmly. "Even though you have met a Butterfly of Rigel, you have decided to continue believing in my Father Star."

Cristina seemed happy with Circe's words, and the witch was happy to be able to chat with someone who wasn't people from her own clan. After a while, Circe said goodbye. She was renting an apartment in the Beta building.

"If you need my help, you can look for me in apartment 4b of the Beta building. You know it now, beautiful." Circe walked away without looking back.