Project Partum Veritas Chapter 8, Where Lucy and Grace Received a  Letter.

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“With God one day is a thousand years and one thousand years is one day.”

~ 2 Peter 3:8

With a hint of concern creasing her brow, Grace surveyed their surroundings. As much as she  was anticipating seeing Ray and Sonya right away, she was delaying the inevitable moment that held  both excitement and uncertainty. She was trying to think rationally and be composed, while in the  Kingdom every decision was guided by clear purpose. Feeling lost, she didn’t want to show her  inner turmoil to Lucy. To lighten the mood, she decided to play their favorite game, I Spy.

“Honey, let us search for some clues that could lead us home? I am sure there must be some,”  Grace suggested, her voice brimming with hope. Just then, a glimmery golden mailbox caught her  eye; the box established its shining presence out from nowhere on the lonely, old oak tree, the one  that stood up majestically among the other forestry. Grace could swear it was not there just a  moment ago. “I spy something new and shiny!” Grace exclaimed, her brows raised in surprise.

“You did?” Lucy joined the game, joyfully. It did not take her long to discover the new thing  too.

“A mailbox! I spy a mailbox! It was not there before, was it?”

The mailbox bore a number, just just like any other mailbox would. Large, metal numbers,  stated 12.

“Yes, princess, you are right, it was not there before and, obviously it is there now for a reason!”  Grace affirmed, her smile reflecting her excitement. “So . . . do you think we shall check the mail?” Lucy asked, her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

“Yes,  Lu. You absolutely have to check the mail,” Grace approved with a smile. With newfound  energy, Lucy dashed towards the mailbox.

There was a knob on the door of the mailbox. She turned the knob and the door opened. Lucy  swiped the insides of the mailbox with her palm, but did not find anything. She stretched her arm  further, all the way into it. Nothing. The tips of her lips curled down. She turned her pretty face to  Grace for an answer and was startled.

In a sudden burst, a shock of blinding light exploded out of the mailbox, as if someone had  flipped a switch inside. Lucy jerked back in fright, her heart racing. The intensity of the glow made  the surroundings irrelevant, engulfing everything in its brilliance. Grace instinctively moved closer  offering her comfort and reassurance. Then, like a mesmerizing display, the magical radiance  swirled and cascaded out of the mailbox, resembling an avalanche of popping popcorn. Moreover,  it made the same popping sounds Pops! Pops! Pops! – spiced with more splashes of magical light. And  then, against the symphony of the illuminating pops, a familiar young voice rang out into the air,  “Queen Grace and Princess Lucy, you have got mail!”

“Ellin!” Lucy and Grace exclaimed simultaneously, swiveling their heads in search of the doe.

“Ellin! Are you here?” Grace called out, her voice echoed through the forest. But Ellin remained  hidden from their sight.

Gradually, the luminosity inside of the mailbox dimmed, allowing them to see  a long white envelope at the  bottom.

“Wow!” Lucy gasped, in awe, her eyes fixed at the letter. “A letter!” she exclaimed in delight,  her anticipation soaring.

She reached out, carefully retrieving the envelope. Its seal, a golden clay impression, displayed  a striking image of Ellin.

Kingdom of Grace’: Lucy read the wordings around the seal and handed the envelope to Grace.

“Mommy, look, this is Ellin’s portrait!” The enigmatic connection between the seal and Ellin  intrigued them both.

They looked for Ellin again but the deer was nowhere to be found.

Lucy, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, pleaded: “Mommy, please let me open the  letter!” She eagerly awaited Grace’s permission which was granted with a smile. Grace handed the  letter back to her daughter.

Without hesitation, Lucy expertly broke the golden seal, retrieving the cream-white paper  enclosed within.

Clearing her throat, Lucy began reading the contents of the letter out loud:

“Your Majesty, Queen Grace, and Princess Lucy,

Welcome to the Kingdom of Grace!

This Kingdom is an ultimate gift to your beautiful family. I, Ellin, took great  pleasure in guiding you through the 12th portal today, and I hope your stay in  the kingdom will be a joyful one. Allow me to shed some light on a few details  for you.

Our kingdom is graced with twelve splendid portals, each offering a unique passage. Gate 12 opens exclusively for travelers during the month of  December, and its key is the Faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer.

The guards of these portals, our loyal servants, diligently safeguard our  kingdom’s entrance, ensuring the safety and security of all within.

And here’s a little tip: no matter which path you choose within the  kingdom, you will never regret your journey. However, should you venture  South, you shall find yourself in a perpetual summer.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas filled with joy and wonder.

Yours sincerely,

Ellin”

Lucy’s eyes widened, absorbing the enchantment of the letter’s words. The possibilities and  adventures that lay ahead beckoned them, filling their hearts with excitement and anticipation.

Grace cupped her palms together, forming a makeshift trumpet and yelled into them: “Thank  you, Ellin! We are truly grateful for the letter and we would love the chance to talk to you in  person!” Her voice echoed through the forest but Ellin offered no response.

“I am sure she can hear us,” Grace called out once more, her voice filled with hope:

“Merry Christmas to you, Ellin, and to the guards of the 12’s Gate!”

“Merry Christmas, Ellin, and the guards!” Lucy chimed in joyfully. Carefully she folded the  letter and returned it into the envelope, joined with the golden seal. Placing it into the purse, next  to Miss Sunshine, she addressed her beloved doll, “Miss Sunshine, I trust you take care of the  letter, won’t you?” Miss Sunshine blinked in agreement.

Lucy spun around, excitement sparkling in her eyes, “Mommy, there are so many reasons to  wonder what is awaiting ahead! Whatever direction we go, we will reunite with my dad and Sonya,  and we can even choose the desired season!” – she twirled around again. “So . . . if the Summer  time is in the South, it shall be exactly in the opposite direction from the North Pole, where the  white bears live . . . and it is . . . right there!” Lucy’s tiny finger pointed towards the southern  horizon.

Grace interjected, her curiosity piqued, “Please dear daughter, tell me if we were to seek out the  autumn season, where should we head?”

“Most likely, west, mommy,” Lucy responded after a brief pause, her grasping of the letter’s  contents, impressing Grace. “Since the East is for the spring time, because the time starts at the  east, and the sun rises at the east, therefore spring is in the east direction, as in Spring the nature  starts to blossom. On the other hand, autumn should be in the west … – right there!” – she spun again  and pointed to the direction of the autumn time.

Grace couldn’t help but smile at Lucy’s thoughtful analysis.

“I have a feeling you and miss Sunshine both want to explore the direction of the Summer, don’t  you  Lu?”  she inquired, anticipating the answer.

“Don’t you think so too, Ms. Sunshine?” Lucy asked with a hint of doubt in her voice.

Miss Sunshine blinked again.

“I think Ms. Sunshine agrees with me, mommy, or, pardon me, Your Majesty!” Lucy  chuckled,her voice sounded comically.

She extended her hand to Grace and together they set off towards the south – in the direction of  the Summer Time. Through the shimmering snow, covered the lawn they ventured, forging a path  into the winter forest, and the dancing northern lights illuminated their way forward.

While Grace and Lucy embarked on their journey toward their dream, I will tell you more about  time in the Kingdom of Grace. Briefly, time in the Kingdom of Grace had no rules. Or, if there were any rules, they were disregarded, because there was no need to plan, to schedule, to be  concerned if it is too early or too late. Everything in the kingdom happened with perfect timing and  harmony.

There was no need to look at the watches, and why would you need to look at the watches if  there is no need to hurry and whatever you do falls at the right time anyway? Clocks and watches  were considered sentimental objects rather than practical timekeepers.

The Kingdom of Grace had a close connection with Outland – the world from which Grace and  Lucy hailed. Though most Outlanders had no idea about the magical kingdom, the Kinners, as the Kingdom’s residents were known, were visiting Outland very often, compelled with the genuine  desire to help their less fortunate friends to learn about the kingdom, in the right way.

If there are reasons for everything, then in the Kingdom of Grace the reasons were always kind  and good and important, though the Kinners didn’t think of any reasons. However, whatever they  were doing was meant to help Outlanders in one way or another.

For example, if one of the Kinners happens to get an idea that there is a new star that shall be  discovered, this lucky star-catcher would get a telescope or go to the community observatory and  quite easily create the new star in the sky, then give it a name. People in Outland simultaneously  would discover the star too, straight after the Kinners, with the difference that they would put in  their registers the exact date and time when the star was discovered.

Scheduling was virtually nonexistent in the kingdom, as everything transpired spontaneously.  Just as the idea to help Mr. Chevrolet had come to Grace, inspiration struck the Kinners prompting  their extraordinary journeys through time and space or, in regards of time and space, guided only  by a purpose. In this domain, trains, cars and planes were rendered useless, as reaching any  destination on time was effortlessly achieved.  Moreover, as you know, Kinners possessed the  ability to manipulate seasons to suit their needs.

Grace did not yet comprehend all the possibilities that lay ahead of them. As someone who  tended to think rationally, she had yet to fully embrace the shifts in time and space.

If they were on the other end, in the Outland, it would take them days of walking or a few  hours by car to travel from the winter-cold Arizona mountains to the everlasting heat of Phoenix.  Yet, in the Kingdom, the climate changed instantly, as soon as they stepped into the southern forest.  The air became thick, milky white and misty, and Lucy noticed its sweetness, as she licked her  moisten lips.

Neither Lucy nor her could see, through the thick fog, where the shift occurred exactly, but even  if they did, it wouldn’t happen at the same spot in the next time, as the shifts in seasons and time  were achieved in the Kingdom by a decisive act or determination.

As the air thickened around them and became sweet, Lucy, being fond of sweets, and always  creative, attempted to eat her way out, but trying to consume something as airy as a cloud was as  futile as trying to sit upon one. Initially, it appeared easy, as the air resembled cotton candy, but in  reality it was nothing else but air, albeit incredibly dense.

Tired of wandering aimlessly through the fog, Lucy implored her mother, her voice tinged  with weariness, “Mommy, how far is it until we reach the summer season?”. In the effort to  disperse the fog encompassing them, she mimicked the motions of a determined swimmer pushing  through the water, unaware of the incredible truth that physical exertion was unnecessary when the  very fabric of their surroundings was undergoing a profound transformation.

Grace, not wanting to be trapped in the fog either, t on a brave tone, “The change in the  atmosphere is a natural occurrence when you travel great distances within a short period of time.  Don’t worry, my princess, we are going to be at our destination in no time. Besides, you have  mentioned being here countless times, so no need for questions. Everything will turn out  wonderfully soon.”

With Grace reassurance Lucy calmed down and sighed, “Sorry mom, for worrying you. Yes, it  will turn out wonderfully, soon.”

The air thinned and lightened. Finally, when it gradually cleared, the family found themselves  in a breathtaking garden.

Grace gazed at the breathtaking garden that stretched out before them. It was a realm of wonder  and tranquility, a place where nature’s beauty thrived harmoniously.

The sky painted in vibrant hues of the Northern Light, mesmerizing them both. Splashes of  green, pink, blue, and lilac danced across the endless canvas, illuminating the garden below. The  air was scented with a delightful medley of sweet and spicy fragrances, creating a rejuvenating  concoction.

On their right, avenues adorned with blossoming cherry and apple trees opened the enchanted  path. To their left, lemon and orange trees flourished, filling the air with their citrusy perfume.  Amongst the sea of the flowers, rose bushes bloomed, releasing their captivating scent. Rows of  lavender and an array of aromatic herbs perfumed the atmosphere, while towering eucalypts and  majestic pine trees behind them stood securely in the distance.

The garden was alive with chattering birds, each one whistling its own unique melody. Clear  waters flowed through intricate trails, nurturing the rich foliage and forming gentle waterfalls down  the hillsides and fountains in the plains. The entire scene resembled a luminous maze, with trails  and side roads, weaving through the meticulously crafted landscape.

As Grace and Lucy took in the extraordinary view, they were faced with a decision – where to  go next?

They found themselves instinctively following the path opened in the cherry and apple trees  alley.

The path led them through an arch adorned with vibrant climbing roses. Beyond the arch, a hill  emerged, crowned with a majestic waterfall that broke into numerous sparkling streams. Grace and  Lucy descended the hillside steps, captivating by its mesmerizing beauty.

As they made their way past the hill, they came across a serene pond, adorned with floating  water lilies and occupied with elegant pink flamingoes, walking peacefully at the shore. And to  their astonishment, nestled at the edge of the pond, stood a peculiar house, on a small elevation.

Draped in climbing honeysuckle and roses, the house possessed an unique charm. The vines swirled their ways up the walls, framing tall windows and doors, reaching up to the glistening  golden tiles of the roof. While not as grand as a castle, the house boasted several towers, completed  with balconies and connected bridges. A spacious terrace graced the front, inviting them to explore  further.

Yet, the most extraordinary surprise was when from one of the doors of the magical house  emerged little Sonya, her cheeks rosy, dressed in a light pink gown, and smiling from ear to ear  with joy. Bursting into gleeful cries of “Mommy! Lucy!” She raced toward Grace and Lucy,  accepting joyfully first Grace’s and then Lucy’s loving embrace.

Shortly after Sonya, Ray stepped out from the house, tall and composed, beaming the most  enchanting smile Grace ever remembered. Nervously adjusting glasses on his nose, he paused on  the terrace, adoring his family for a moment.

When Grace and Ray remembered their reunion later on, they both agreed, the moment when  their eyes met again after long separation, was as sweet, and was marked with such extraordinary  rejoice of their souls, it had to be a turning point of many events that most certainly changed their  flow in a new direction since then and would never happened otherwise. They could say a thousand  words to describe their feelings, yet, it would not be enough, however, in the sacred moment when  their eyes and hands intertwined, no words were needed. Their heartbeat in symphony, a sheer  presence of each other, an affirmation of the depth of their love, and the power of their connection,  they were together again.