Capture IV

It was a luminous appearance that instructed Ylva now, the voice formating directly in her head. Every third day it came, advising also exercises and tasks for the following two days. "Moira" was the name the lightning phantom wanted to be called.
One day Ylva was led to an old woman some miles up the river to learn from her all the herbs and their virtues and poisons three times a month. Another day she had to dig in a ruin until she found a book with thin metal-pages. First she had to learn reading and writing - and that was really easy before the next lesson - to commit all written word to memory. There were many unknown terms she never heard before, so that Moira always needed hours for their definitions.
Seven months long Ylva's mind was stressed in an overstraining kind, so that some hours of sword-dance in the night were really a pleasure for her. Then she noticed that all was becoming easier, and she could stay in mental concentration the whole day long without forgetting anything.
At this time the practical work began - Ylva had to apply to all the rituals, procedures and techniques she has learned from Moira and the book. That was the next big challenge, because Ylva had to open her sensitivity to the elements, to stones, plants and other physical objects, and later even to spiritual beings.
Once more it was a hard training seven months long, then she could dig the book back into the earth again. Although Moira has seemed to be not satisfied sometimes, Ylva has passed her final examinations with distinction.
From now on Ylva was free to go her own ways. Only sometimes Moira appeared for discussing particular themes of spiritual sciences.
The trees were changing their leaves' colours into yellow and red again, and some inhabitants of the village came to the cave having problems to health.
Ylva could help them, and she also smoothed some disorders of the elements at the fields and in houses. In cause of the calculation of the starmovements, she was able to do, Ylva made the correct rituals at the holy times; further she blessed the beings and knew wise words to relieve the tension of conflicts.
Acting like a priestess she was accepted in this role from all people in the village. Now she was seen as a great boon for this area. Although she was offered a big habitation in the village she prefered living in her cave further on. There she had the peace to improve herself more and more.