My yelling had made a bit of a commotion. I was frustrated at everyone's attempts to pair me with Emma. I'm not interested in little girls or washboards for that matter! I thought. Right then my mother that once would have been my idea of the perfect voluptuous woman walked in groggily rubbing her eyes. The problem, however, was that she was stark naked! I, fortunately, did not look at her before Emma managed to cover my eyes and my dad came running in and covered her in a blanket. Some mental damage was done though, and I went and sat silently in the tent corner, drawing circles in the dirt. Emma was giving me a pitying pat on the back. Maybe washboards are fine? I asked myself determined not to associate women I date in the future with my mother.

All Gods watching are chuckling at your expense!

Goddess of fate says, " Glad I made popcorn!"

Goddess of Nightmares says," Couldn't have done better myself!"

These gods and goddesses found my suffering humorous! I went outside trying to find anything to take my mind away from the events of that morning. I began to think about my elemental magic and the curse that had affected Emma's fetus. If a curse was dark magic surrounded by life force, then what was light magic surrounded by life force? So I began experimenting, and I found that focusing on my work did distract me to some extent. I borrowed some life force from nearby plants and covered an orb of light with it. A prompt showed up but for once did not say what I was expecting or hoping.

Grand blessing method learned!

A non-programmed light blessing created. Blessings and curses require either a circuit, runic formation or circle, etc.

From what I could tell blessings and curses required a high level of another magical comprehension I currently did not have. If I knew a regular spell, I could probably make a blessing from it, but unfortunately, I was currently without any spells. The "etc." meant there was probably more than one way to "skin a cat" when it comes to making blessings and curses. A proper method did appear to be necessary though. Unable to think of anything else to practice I turned my attention to another matter.

Arcway had mentioned that I was ignorant of another's feelings for me. I knew Emma was fond of me, but I didn't know who she was really. I had asked her before, only to be given a " figure it out yourself" as a huffing reply. She was upset that I didn't know who she was immediate. To make matters more confusing, most women hated me. My psychologist had said it had something to do with the fact I grew up without a mother. I didn't know how to handle women is how he put it. I didn't think of women as a thing or object but on some level in my mind; I treated them like one. Don't misunderstand, what I mean is similar to object permanence. One day as an infant my mother was there and the next she was gone. Supposedly, this had a profound psychological effect on me. When my girlfriend was not around, for example, I didn't think about her.

I often went by coffee shops and got myself a coffee and never asked her if she wanted anything. To women, I guess they would call it insensitive. Heck, I was so focused and curious that I broke a curse on a rape victims fetus without asking first. I had acted on impulse without thinking, and I was lucky she didn't hate me for it. I could have turned her full Darth Vader or something and then I would have to go on an epic adventure to stop her. It might end in tragedy with me having to destroy her and her daughter while knowing I was at fault. Damn... maybe that would be a more interesting story than my actual life. Most people are the hero in their own story, but even I think I'm a jerk. The fact is I'm heavily flawed, and I know it. Who could love someone so heavily flawed? I was certain that I could never find love and I had long since given up.

I also lost a lot of points with women when it came to traveling places. I had plenty of money to take vacations before I died but I never really did. The truth is... I am terrified of heights. I got my head chopped off by a plane wing, but I'm more afraid of flying on one. I must admit I never thought it would be a plane that killed me. I could even easily escape Emma's "snuggles" by using wind magic to fly but I can't. She always seems to ambush me in such a way as if she knows that as well.

I found myself thinking about things I had long been avoiding. I missed my home and my books. I even missed my money I had cared so little about in my last life, but more so I missed the family I had. Both my parents and all my grandparents were long dead, and I had no siblings. I, however, missed my adopted son Trevor and my best friend. I guess I forgot to mention it so far, but my best friend was that famous ghost I mentioned before named Lucille. At first, she had been around for my work, but after I lost my arm, the charitable ghost took pity on me.

I know I said all women hated me, but ghosts don't have a gender. Perhaps a gender identity but they have no sexual organs/urges. Well, it does make for an efficient work environment. I'm pretty sure, however, that the only reason she stuck around was Trevor. Could you imagine a single one-armed man trying to raise a child? Although not impossible and I'm sure it's been done, but I think she wouldn't let it happen on her watch. I looked up at the receding moon feeling depressed and wondering what they are doing now.