Isabella thinks it's time to start spreading the word. Before she ascends to Archangelhood. She'll have more work on her plate, then, and it will be easier if she can trust more people with the details of how she's carrying it out.
Alleluia should be the one to tell Delilah. But she's going to tell Serah herself.
"I have been thinking about telling your auntie Serah about magic-and-everything," Isabella says to Damaris one morning. Magic-and-everything has been a term unto itself; it encompasses the magic, and where it is from, and the nature of Jovah and Jane. "Do you want to be there when I do?"
Generated:
Post last updated:
preces meæ non sunt dignæ
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
small belldaughters
carillons
"Yeah!" says Damaris.
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
"I might bring Keziah, too."
small belldaughters
carillons
Damaris shrugs.
Some Daughters Of Some Bells
campanas
Keziah is excited to get to tell Auntie Serah!
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
And so the three travel to Auntie Serah's, while little Gideon is in school and Daniel at work. Serah greets Isabella with a hug, and exclaims over the girls, and gives them each a sweet.
small belldaughters
carillons
A sweet! This occupies Damaris thoroughly.
Some Daughters Of Some Bells
campanas
Keziah agrees: sweets are delicious. She sits in Serah's lap, when Serah sits down across from Isabella and wants to know what the visit is about.
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
Isabella says, "I have something to tell you. I've kept it a secret from almost everyone for a very, very long time, and it's going to be hard to believe."
"Well, now you've got me curious," laughs Serah. "Go on, what is it?"
"There's a few parts to it," says Isabella. "First of all - magic exists, and I can do it."
"Well, now you've got me curious," laughs Serah. "Go on, what is it?"
"There's a few parts to it," says Isabella. "First of all - magic exists, and I can do it."
Some Daughters Of Some Bells
campanas
"It's true," puts in Keziah when Serah doesn't reply immediately. "We've seen her do it."
small belldaughters
carillons
"Mom is very magic," Damaris corroborates.
Some Daughters Of Some Bells
campanas
"We're not supposed to tell people but now we can tell you!"
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
"But what can you do?" Serah wants to know.
"Almost anything you can think of. Not quite, but almost," says Isabella. "...This is how I healed Ithiel."
Ithiel is a perfectly healthy angel around Damaris's age, and there is a certain amount of hubbub surrounding him; it comes and goes. His father has never been identified. He doesn't have any younger siblings.
"I thought Jovah - I thought you prayed and -" Serah breathes.
"Almost anything you can think of. Not quite, but almost," says Isabella. "...This is how I healed Ithiel."
Ithiel is a perfectly healthy angel around Damaris's age, and there is a certain amount of hubbub surrounding him; it comes and goes. His father has never been identified. He doesn't have any younger siblings.
"I thought Jovah - I thought you prayed and -" Serah breathes.
small belldaughters
carillons
Damaris shakes her head. "Magic," she says.
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
"But - but then why would Jovah have, if he were willing that Ithiel be healed...?"
Isabella bows her head. "He was willing; it didn't matter to him either way. It was not something he could do."
"You're saying you can do things Jovah can't do. I can't believe I'm hearing this - you're to be Archangel - the spiritual leader of the entire world!"
Isabella bows her head. "He was willing; it didn't matter to him either way. It was not something he could do."
"You're saying you can do things Jovah can't do. I can't believe I'm hearing this - you're to be Archangel - the spiritual leader of the entire world!"
small belldaughters
carillons
"Mom is smarter than Jovah," says Damaris, indelicately.
Some Daughters Of Some Bells
campanas
"Jovah can do what Mommy tells him, and only some of those things," says Keziah, nodding.
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
"What they mean," says Isabella quietly, "is that Jovah isn't, exactly, a god. He's technological - from such an advanced civilization that we can't tell the difference from down here unless we're told. Without magic, anyway."
"One of - of Caleb's inventions?" says Serah. "I can't believe I'm hearing this -"
"Caleb didn't invent it. Our ancestors did, and they destroyed almost all of the other technology they had," says Isabella. "But it's in the sky, and it can respond when we pray for weather, or seeds, or medicine."
"Where does it get those things, then, if it can't just will them into existence divinely?" exclaims Serah. "Jovah is a much simpler explanation - remember you taught me about simpler explanations -"
"Jovah is a simpler explanation for what you have seen," Isabella says. "But not for what I've seen, and not for everything I can show you if you'd like me to."
"One of - of Caleb's inventions?" says Serah. "I can't believe I'm hearing this -"
"Caleb didn't invent it. Our ancestors did, and they destroyed almost all of the other technology they had," says Isabella. "But it's in the sky, and it can respond when we pray for weather, or seeds, or medicine."
"Where does it get those things, then, if it can't just will them into existence divinely?" exclaims Serah. "Jovah is a much simpler explanation - remember you taught me about simpler explanations -"
"Jovah is a simpler explanation for what you have seen," Isabella says. "But not for what I've seen, and not for everything I can show you if you'd like me to."
small belldaughters
carillons
"I've seen where Jovah keeps all the plants that make the seeds," Damaris chimes in. "There's these huge rooms with special electric lights and plants growing in long troughs and machines that take care of the plants and harvest their seeds to send them down when we pray."
Some Daughters Of Some Bells
campanas
"And he talks!" adds Keziah. "If you get close enough. He'll say right out what he is."
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
"But this is all impossible," says Serah.
"Not really," says Isabella. "I would have said it was unlikely, too, but - Alleluia knew before I did."
"Alleluia?" asks Serah, scandalized. "But she's an oracle!"
"That's why she knows," says Isabella. "The oracles at Sinai always know. That way if something goes wrong with the sky ship, they can go up, and fix it - it can instantly transport people from the Sinai oracular chamber to itself, although the way I do it with magic is more comfortable. Alleluia knew Jovah hadn't healed Ithiel and wanted to know how I did it - I wanted to know how she knew it wasn't him. We traded secrets."
"Not really," says Isabella. "I would have said it was unlikely, too, but - Alleluia knew before I did."
"Alleluia?" asks Serah, scandalized. "But she's an oracle!"
"That's why she knows," says Isabella. "The oracles at Sinai always know. That way if something goes wrong with the sky ship, they can go up, and fix it - it can instantly transport people from the Sinai oracular chamber to itself, although the way I do it with magic is more comfortable. Alleluia knew Jovah hadn't healed Ithiel and wanted to know how I did it - I wanted to know how she knew it wasn't him. We traded secrets."
small belldaughters
carillons
"And now Alleya's our friend and she knows all about magic!" says Damaris.
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
"Caleb knows, too, and their children know - and Micaiah, of course, learned everything when I did. Ariel and Peninnah are too young to keep it discreet - and the reason I had you babysit those two and not these, a few months ago, was because we were going to a party where there was a lot of magic."
"I had wondered," murmurs Serah.
"Is this too much revelation for one day already or do you want to hear the rest?" asks Isabella.
"I - I don't know."
"I had wondered," murmurs Serah.
"Is this too much revelation for one day already or do you want to hear the rest?" asks Isabella.
"I - I don't know."
small belldaughters
carillons
"Maybe you should do some magic, Mom," Damaris suggests. "Just a little. To show it's for real."
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
[I think that's a good idea,] Isabella agrees to everyone in the room.
Serah lets out a soft cry.
Serah lets out a soft cry.
Some Daughters Of Some Bells
campanas
[It's okay! It's just the brainphone!] says Keziah encouragingly.
small belldaughters
carillons
[I like the brainphone a lot! You can use it to talk to anybody who has it, no matter where they are! But if you don't want to be talked to you can make it say you're busy instead!]
Some Daughters Of Some Bells
campanas
[Not quite wherever they are,] corrects Keziah. [Uncle Nathaniel is too far away now.]
small belldaughters
carillons
[Well, if they're in the world,] says Damaris. [But he's not.]
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
"If they're in the world," says Serah blankly.
"That's the rest of it," sighs Isabella. "I got the magic from another world. There are many, and I've been to several. It used to be that anyone who knew how to ask could go to any world they liked, any time - but the machine that used to do that has broken. Nathaniel was visiting another world at the time, and he can't come home until the machine is fixed."
"I thought you said your magic could do anything."
"Almost," says Isabella. "Only almost."
"That's the rest of it," sighs Isabella. "I got the magic from another world. There are many, and I've been to several. It used to be that anyone who knew how to ask could go to any world they liked, any time - but the machine that used to do that has broken. Nathaniel was visiting another world at the time, and he can't come home until the machine is fixed."
"I thought you said your magic could do anything."
"Almost," says Isabella. "Only almost."
small belldaughters
carillons
"And almost anything is still a lot of things!" says Damaris. "But it's not always all the things you want."
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
"So that's what you meant when you said he moved out," says Serah faintly. "Gone as far away as the Samarian settlers went -"
"Farther," says Angela. "In a way. The settlers came from another planet. You can travel there, by moving through space. The other worlds can only be reached by magic - not the kind I have; a sort that acts randomly - or with the help of the machine I mentioned, which is a person where Jovah is not, and which is broken. It has broken before, and come back; but it may take a long time. It was a decade, last time."
"Randomly?" says Serah.
"It doesn't scoop you up and deposit you," Isabella puts in hastily. "It offers you a door, that normally leads someplace in your own world, and makes it lead to the hub between the worlds instead. You don't have to go if you don't want to; you can close the door without going through. Although if you ever do find one of these, please tell me by brainphone, right away."
"Farther," says Angela. "In a way. The settlers came from another planet. You can travel there, by moving through space. The other worlds can only be reached by magic - not the kind I have; a sort that acts randomly - or with the help of the machine I mentioned, which is a person where Jovah is not, and which is broken. It has broken before, and come back; but it may take a long time. It was a decade, last time."
"Randomly?" says Serah.
"It doesn't scoop you up and deposit you," Isabella puts in hastily. "It offers you a door, that normally leads someplace in your own world, and makes it lead to the hub between the worlds instead. You don't have to go if you don't want to; you can close the door without going through. Although if you ever do find one of these, please tell me by brainphone, right away."
small belldaughters
carillons
"The hub is called Milliways!" says Damaris. "It's really busy and it has a huge window all down one side that shows stars exploding."
Some Daughters Of Some Bells
campanas
"And there is a bar who is a lady and she can't talk but she can write!"
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
"Sweet Jovah singing," murmurs Serah. "Or - maybe not. I had wondered why you became so suddenly noncommittal about the faith. I don't remember what excuse you gave."
"I told you," murmurs Isabella, "that I thought everyone would come to understand Jovah in due time and there was little point to my rushing things."
"Why didn't you tell me then?"
"I didn't know how you'd take it. Or if you could keep it secret."
"What am I supposed to tell Daniel?"
"You can tell him the truth, if you like. I'm ready for more people to know. No singing it from rooftops, but individual people - can be told."
"I told you," murmurs Isabella, "that I thought everyone would come to understand Jovah in due time and there was little point to my rushing things."
"Why didn't you tell me then?"
"I didn't know how you'd take it. Or if you could keep it secret."
"What am I supposed to tell Daniel?"
"You can tell him the truth, if you like. I'm ready for more people to know. No singing it from rooftops, but individual people - can be told."
small belldaughters
carillons
"And you're an individual person and Daniel is an individual person!" says Damaris.
Some Daughters Of Some Bells
campanas
"And Gideon! But he is only Ariel's age and she isn't big enough to know."
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
"We'll tell Ariel soon," says Isabella. "When she's six or seven."
Some Daughters Of Some Bells
campanas
"Maybe by the time Jane is back again there will be another Ariel how there is another me and another Dars!"
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
"Excuse me," says Serah, "what?"
"...Oh," says Angela. "In these other worlds... sometimes there are copies of people. If there are more of you, I haven't encountered them, but there are several of me, and of Micaiah, and some of them are also together, and one of those sets has two daughters. The eldest looks like Damaris, only older and not an an angel - the younger is like Keziah in the same way."
"...Oh," says Angela. "In these other worlds... sometimes there are copies of people. If there are more of you, I haven't encountered them, but there are several of me, and of Micaiah, and some of them are also together, and one of those sets has two daughters. The eldest looks like Damaris, only older and not an an angel - the younger is like Keziah in the same way."
Some Daughters Of Some Bells
campanas
"The other me is called Céleste and she has a pet griffin because in her world they can do as much magic as they want in front of anybody!"
small belldaughters
carillons
"The other me is called Dominique - I mean Yseult," says Damaris, "and she's an enchantress!"
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
"What odd names," murmurs Serah.
"Most of me are named Isabella, but when we are all together we use nicknames; they just call me Angela," says Isabella. "The Micaiahs have all sorts of different names. But of course in all these different worlds they don't speak Samarian, so there are many different names as well as some that are similar."
"Most of me are named Isabella, but when we are all together we use nicknames; they just call me Angela," says Isabella. "The Micaiahs have all sorts of different names. But of course in all these different worlds they don't speak Samarian, so there are many different names as well as some that are similar."
small belldaughters
carillons
"People in other worlds have weird names," Damaris asserts.
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
"But of course I have only your word to go on," says Serah.
"Mine, Damaris's and Keziah's, Micaiah's if you like, Alleluia and Caleb and their children," says Isabella. "And any magic you'd like to see done, and a visit to the spaceship, if you want, and I hope that suffices to convince you about the worlds and the alts - the other versions of people."
"Mine, Damaris's and Keziah's, Micaiah's if you like, Alleluia and Caleb and their children," says Isabella. "And any magic you'd like to see done, and a visit to the spaceship, if you want, and I hope that suffices to convince you about the worlds and the alts - the other versions of people."
small belldaughters
carillons
"And you could ask Nathaniel if he was here but he's not 'cause he's in Aurum," says Damaris.
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
"Aurum?"
"One of the other worlds. This one is just called Samaria."
"I... suppose that makes sense."
"One of the other worlds. This one is just called Samaria."
"I... suppose that makes sense."
Some Daughters Of Some Bells
campanas
"Uncle Nathaniel went to go visit another Joker! Daddy is one of those."
small belldaughters
carillons
"But they mostly don't have brothers," says Damaris. "Nathaniel is special!"
Some Daughters Of Some Bells
campanas
"And we have little sisters but Yseult and Céleste don't!"
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
"...I think I need a while to think about all this," says Serah. "The... brainphone?... will keep working, yes?"
"Of course," says Isabella.
"Then I suppose I can let you know if I have more questions, when I'm ready to absorb anything else," laughs Serah faintly.
"Of course," says Isabella.
"Then I suppose I can let you know if I have more questions, when I'm ready to absorb anything else," laughs Serah faintly.
small belldaughters
carillons
Damaris nods.
Isabella ♪ "Angela"
jovahs_heiress
"Let's go back up to the Eyrie and let Auntie Serah think, treasures," says Isabella, and she leads the girls out of the house.