Gaia's Champion Ch. 39 - Teaser (Patreon)

“Is he… a Gaian as well?” the leader asked hopefully.

“Him and his family are! Well, his mother and sister, at any rate. Would you like to meet them?” the Fairy woman asked. The leader nodded as hope made her face light up like a miracle was occurring right in front of her. Daelina grinned, then made a gesture to the group of them, who then walked over to the stunned group of witches.

“They are… all Gaians?” the leader asked.

“That we are. I am Eva Marston, a druidess in training. My daughter, Amelia and my son, Darren,” Eva said, introducing them all.

“My name is Daelina. Soon to be Daelina Marston!” the Fairy said as she jumped out of the lead witch’s hand and grew back to human size. She then pasted herself to Darren’s side and smiled, sighing all the while.

“My name is Pavarti. We are the Guardians of Shiva, a coven of witches that is dedicated to preserving the balance, so that all which is good may flourish,” the woman told the group.

“I’m curious why you and yours are here, hunting down a cult of… did you say Kali?” Daelina asked.

“Oh damn! Is this some Indiana Jones level shit??” Darren asked. Pavarti got this really annoyed look on her face, but then calmed down.

“While that Hollywood representation of Kali is off by a mile, some people only look at her in such a light. Mostly those who only want to draw from the darker aspects of the goddess. Sure, Kali is the goddess of war, anger, and destruction, but there are other, more peaceful aspects to Kali,” Pavarti explained.

“Like what?” Amy asked.

“Kali is also the goddess of time, change, and creation. She also happens to be one of the Mahavidyas,” Pavarti went on.

“Mahavidya? What in Gaia is a Mahavidya?” Darren wondered out loud.

“It is… a little more complex than what you might be able to traditionally understand. It would take me a few hours to fully explain everything,” Pavarti told them.

“Time, which we don’t have much of,” Daelina told her family as a reminder.

“Yeah! Something I’m sure you and yours don’t want to waste either,” Eva said in agreement.

“So, this cult of Kali, you’ve been hunting them down?” Darren asked.

“Yes. Our coven was busy fending off incursions from Black covens, trying to poach some of our newest recruits, while stirring anger and doubt among the current members. These covens have been getting bolder and bolder as the weeks wore on. The way things were going, we didn’t see any real end in sight. Maybe that was the point, as we didn’t see the cult growing in our midst until it was too late,” Pavarti huffed.

“It’s the way Dark forces operate. They keep you busy with smaller fights of lesser consequence, while the real play, comes from the shadows, when you least expect it,” Daelina told them.

“Have some experience in dealing with such forces?” Pavarti asked with a knowing look.

“Far more than we would like. But you said you were looking for a cult of them? Are they witches like yourselves?” Amy asked.