Monday, November 26, 2007

Chapter 35

Before I'm unable to see your figure,
why couldn’t I just say that one phrase— ‘Don't go’
? ”

“So, we are not going to leave Midas City today?” asked Raviex as he walked beside Christine on the sidewalk of a road.

Christine shook her head once. “Yexi said it was not the time. Tomorrow, we shall continue our journey to Sage Village.”

She cocked her head towards him and observed his face. “I’m sorry, Raviex. I know how important the quest is for you.”

He didn’t mean to show his reluctance. “Yexi must have her reasons,” he smiled, assuring her that he was not feeling upset about it. “But you know, Ryn, there is something about Yexi that persuades people to listen to her. Even I, the Prince (he added softly so that no one heard him) feel that it is only right to listen when she speaks.”

She gazed far ahead wistfully as she recalled a conversation she had with Lorenne. “Actually, Raviex, Lorenne and I discussed about this before. Lorenne told me about the ArchYamist and we thought Yexi might be the ArchYamist for our batch of Yamists.”

“ArchYamist?” Raviex repeated the word, frowning.

“It refers to the leader of the Yamists. The ArchYamist is responsible for gathering the Yamists when there is a need. Without the restriction of distance, our leader can summon fellow Yamists to his side on his command,” Christine explained patiently.

“So, you and Lorenne reckon she’s the ArchYamist?” he quizzed.

The girl nodded but wore the expression of ambiguity. “But… we asked Sonia and Kyoden to see if they could confirm our thinking by any chance. If she were the ArchYamist, it would have been written in the Scrolls. Sonia summoned for Lorenne’s Scroll and she has checked. It did not mention her as the ArchYamist.”

“Is that unusual?” Raviex prompted. He did not know if it was an issue to be concerned about since he was not certain about the direness of the matter.

Christine did not answer him immediately for a child had wandered to her with a basket of beautiful apricot and cream daffodils. The adorable girl with chubby cheeks broke into a large, innocent smile, showing a few missing teeth. Christine sat on her heels to smell the fresh flowers.

“Mmm… such lovely daffodils… are you selling them, little girl?” she asked with a warm smile. The flower girl’s locks of blonde curls bounced as she nodded her head twice.

The Prince stooped down too. “Would you like a bouquet of it?” he whispered into her ear.

She shook her head gently. “A stalk would do,” she answered.

Following her wish, Raviex gave the child florist a piece of bronze coin who in turn gave him his purchased item. The couple bid her goodbye as she went off to sell her flowers.

“I thought you would want a bouquet,” Raviex chuckled, offering the stalk of daffodil to her.

She accepted it, contented. “Thank you… Well, if I were back in Mabluku now, yes, I would want it but we are travelling now. I won’t be able to keep it well in a vase, plus, we have to be careful with our money. Necessities come first.”

“When I take you back to the Floating Land, I will give you a field of daffodils,” he promised.

She laughed quietly, squeezing his hand a little and said, “I can’t imagine that but I know it would be a splendid field of daffodils.”

Raviex brought her about before him, resting his hands on her shoulders. “I don’t want you to only know, I want you to see it for yourself. I will fulfill whatever I’ve promised you. Please believe me.” She gazed into his heavenly-blue eyes, mesmerised. It was a great blessing to be loved immensely by someone but a thought caused her to break eye contact with him.

“Raviex, just now you asked if it was unusual to not know who the ArchYamist was now, well, it’s not unusual after all, because normally, the Yamists will know who their leader is only after all the Yamists have received their Scrolls. For our batch, I am the one Yamist who hasn’t received my Scroll. In this case, the identity of the ArchYamist will be revealed after my sixteenth birthday if I remain as a Forsaken Yamist.”

He sighed and gently pulled her into his arms. Christine was a little surprised at his gesture but welcomed it, leaning her head on his chest. “Silly girl, I wish you would not think about it. Do you know, every time I am reminded about your unknown fate, I fear the future? I fear because I am terrified at the thought of losing you. I have the Kingdom but I don’t have the power over you. I can only entrust everything in Calith’s hands. This kind of helplessness… what can I do about it, Ryn?”

The girl unlocked their embrace to look at him. “I’m sorry, Raviex,” she murmured apologetically, “I shouldn’t have worried you.”

“It doesn’t matter. As the one who will be with you for life, I think I have the responsibility to worry about you,” Raviex grinned. She averted her eyes away uncertainly. Apparently, the Prince did not spot her faltering countenance.

“Raviex… Maybe…”

But she paused as he looked at her in delight. “Yes?”

She bit back her tongue and shook her head lightly. “Nothing the matter…”

Maybe having you by my side isn’t the best thing at all, Raviex. If I do not make it pass my sixteenth birthday, my death will only hurt you all the more…

There were moments when she really thought she would wake up one day in her bed in Mabluku Territory to find all of this—the quest for Valkyr Leo, her newly-made friends as well as her romance with her childhood crush, the Prince—only a beautiful dream. But the warmth of his hand was real…

Peeking at them, Lorenne and Kyoden were hiding behind the pillar of a building. Lorenne sighed in admiration. “They make such a lovely couple.”

Kyoden made a disapproving sound. “Tch, I’d prefer something more…‘explosive’. Their relationship is too…’mild’.”

“The word is ‘sweet’, Kyoden,” she corrected. “I hope they end up like those fairy tales I used to read as a child: happily ever after—the gallant Prince and his maiden, of course!” She covered her mouth with a hand to muffle her giggles.

“Wouldn’t you want to meet your Prince Charming too, eh?” teased Kyoden, nudging her lightly.

Lorenne reddened. “I…” A flash of long, azure hair sweeping along with the current of the wind and a pair of penetrating amber-golden eyes crossed her mind. Suddenly, the expression of her eyes exhibited dejection but an affectionate pat on her back from Kyoden snapped her out of it.

“Come now, no need to look so sad. Airemi will present to you the love of your life soon enough,” he said with conviction.

Her Holiness already did…

She put on an optimistic smile. “You’re right, Kyoden. But right now, I pray Christine would receive her Scroll so that she could lead a happy life with Raviex. She had suffered enough during her childhood, that poor girl.”

“Seriously, when are you two going to stop that indecorous act?” chided Sonia who was standing apart from them with her arms crossed.

“Aww… don’t be such a party-pooper, Sonia. We’ve got nothing to do anyway,” answered Kyoden languidly.

“Speaking of which,” wondered Lorenne, tapping her forefinger on her chin, “I wonder how Shenjoon and Yexi are doing with Yun.”

“Maybe Yexi’s finally demanded for a divorce!” he sniggered but was given a sharp knock on his head from Sonia for his nasty thought.

“Keep your brain a little cleaner from bad thoughts, Kaneshiro,” she scolded. Her sister giggled at her reproach and imagined they would make a pair of interesting couple too.

“What are you grumbling about, Shenjoon?” the Yamist of Inspiration questioned.

Shenjoon pursed his lips and ignored her. It was ridiculous, even to him, the youngest of the group, that she asked to remain an extra day in Midas City to search for Yun’s family. While they had the duty to ensure the girl’s safety before leaving the city, depositing her at a place of an official authority like the Midas City Police Central would have been more than enough.

Feeling a soft tug on his wrist, it triggered his temper. He threw up his hand, out of reach. “Stop it! Go away!” he shouted fiercely but paused when he realized Yun had fallen on the cemented pavement. Tears welled up in those pair of grey eyes which was so similar to Yexi’s.

“I didn’t mean to…” But Yun already picked herself up to her feet and ran off crying.

“Yun!” Yexi called out to her anxiously. She turned to him and fumed, “That was over the line, Shenjoon!”

Shenjoon was speechless as he watched his wife hurried after the eleven-year-old. “Grrr!” Frustrated at Yun, Yexi and himself, he stomped away in the opposite direction. Girls… Bah! They’re a whole bunch of troubles. I shouldn’t even bother myself about them!

After minutes of wandering around without an aim, he unintentionally found his way to the street where the mysterious shop had appeared and vanished from sight. He took a few steps toward the lot which it supposedly occupied the previous day but stopped abruptly. What was he hoping for? Hoping that he could discover the shop again while he could not two nights before? He went ahead anyway.

He sighed in distress, though knowing beforehand he should not have kept his hopes up too high. The shop was not there. But for Amaea’s sake, whoever heard of a disappearing shop?! A place can’t just evaporate into thin air… can it? Shenjoon gave the pottery shop which replaced the weapon shop he entered with Christine and Raviex, another good look. Nothing changed, except the pottery shop owner was beginning to label the early teen as ‘a suspicious figure’ that had been seen standing in front of his shop those two days.

Can’t I at least have my urn back? He felt exposed without it and they had quite a history together. Besides, it would have been a real comfort to him now. His urn would never create unnecessary dilemmas and bothers to him, that’s for sure.

Out of nowhere, he experienced a strong and unexplainable pulse through his body. Bewilderment overwhelmed him as the pottery shop whirled in a circular motion. The distortion was disturbing to his mind for he felt as though he was being twisted along too. Thankfully, his vision returned to normal before he became overly nauseous.

A second surprise was waiting for him because all of a sudden, the pottery shop was gone and in its place was the very shop he was looking for. Perfectly baffled, Shenjoon wanted to call out for his friends just as he did formerly but he remembered he was alone. It was perhaps the only opportunity for him to reclaim his urn and he was not about to ignore it simply because none of his companions was with him. He did not give it much of a second thought.

“Good morning, Shenjoon.”

The hair on Shenjoon’s neck stood on their ends when he heard the voice spoke in Exodian with the Flamese accent after taking the first step into the queer shop. He looked to the corner of the shop where the stairs, which led to the basement, was. The aged owner seemed as though he had been waiting for him all this while. He patted his round belly and smiled widely, making the skin of his face crinkled more than it originally was.

“Good morning, Mr. Gan-Zhang,” greeted Shenjoon. He couldn’t explicate the edginess he was encountering. Was it because he was feeling vulnerable? What nonsense was he thinking about? Why would he do any harm to him? Yet, which other shop owners could perform disappearing acts with their shops?

“That’s a lot of questions in your mind, young one.”

He really didn’t want to think that he was capable of mind-reading. It would only make him feel even more nervous. “Mr. Gan-Zhang, I… accidentally left my urn here, when I was here…two days ago.”

Mr. Gan-Zhang chuckled. “And you came here just to want it back?” He stroke on his white beard which hung a few inches from his chin. “Can you not hear the soul of Green Dragon calling out to yours?”

Green Dragon…!

“You know that I am not a normal person and you are right. I am not a human.”

Shenjoon gasped and staggered backward. “Then what are you?!”

From the other side of the shop, he suddenly appeared behind the boy. “Please do not fear me, dearest Shenjoon. I do not have any plans of harming you.”

Shenjoon had lost count the times he was startled ever since he woke up on this day. He definitely did not expect the old man to speak in a woman’s voice. The Flamese accent was totally removed from her intonation. His body turned rigid as she placed her arms over his shoulders and chained together on his chest.

He saw hair darker than the night as she lowered her head to his and whispered into his ear, “I can see the future you, Shenjoon, standing on this exact spot, obtaining the Green Dragon from me… that spirited, powerful, vengeance-filled you…”

“What vengeance? Why should I want revenge?” he asked boldly yet stiffly. He couldn’t deny that he was afraid of the lady but his curiosity was sharply pricked.

The boy gulped as she slid a slender finger along the side of his face; goosebumps popping all over the surface of his skin. Shenjoon involuntarily flinched at her touch, though it was no more different than a human’s. Unwilling to be toyed around anymore, he swiped at her hand and spun around to confront her.

However, for a split second, he caught his breath as his eyes captured the sight of her seraphic beauty. Although there was no wind, her ebony hair was flowing in a supernatural but enchanting way. Her close-set bronze eyes were not as large as Yexi’s but far more alluring. Her eyebrows were well defined, arched in a perfect symmetry above her eyes. It was obvious that she was a full grown lady, unlike his teenage wife.

Embarrassed to catch himself ogling at her, he tore his eyes off her, determined to return to his friends. “If you will not give me back my urn, then I am leaving,” he said in an unwavering voice.

“Ah… the irony, Shenjoon, how the older you will persist to not leave until you possess what you desire from me,” she chuckled in amusement. The boy was utterly befuddled at her very much riddled words. “But before you go, don’t you want to at least know who I am?”

It did not really matter to Shenjoon regarding her identity at the moment because for one thing, his fear for her was mounting tremendously. The words that she spoke… her inconceivable transformation… He honestly just wanted his urn back. He did not ask for a supernatural experience like the situation he was in now.

“I’ll… I’ll be leaving now,” he reaffirmed his wish.

She laughed at his fear for her. “Remember, Shenjoon, when you are ready, come and seek for your loyal servant, Green Dragon. He will be waiting for you…” Shenjoon saw a conceited smile on her flawless face but everything started to twist at one point, just like how it did before he found himself in Mr. Gan-Zhang’s shop. He had to remind himself that the owner was no longer a ‘mister’.

When his vision cleared, he realized that he was standing inside the pottery shop, facing one of the shelves of pots. By now, the vendor was a step away from confirming that he was a threat to his business. He eyed him over his crooked nose and his pair of old-fashion thick rectangular glasses.

Shenjoon glanced around frantically. Meeting the wary eyes of the shop owner, Shenjoon hastily turn to rush out of the place but he was called to a stop. He wondered if he had accidentally broken any of the pots.

“This is not mine. I did not make this,” the potter declared.

He yelped in joy when he saw the object which the potter was pointing at. Sitting at the foot of the counter was the urn that he had been looking high and low for. Round and stout, it looked exactly how it was the last time he saw it. Shenjoon scrambled to fetch it. “It’s mine, mister!” he managed to say.

To Shenjoon’s full-blown surprise, the urn seemed to have put on some serious weight. While he could stil carry it, it was taxing on him. It was a few times heavier than its original weight. He was unable to swing it or move around with it as freely as he was able to previously. What in Senadon…? I didn’t over feed it… What am I talking about?! It can’t eat in the first place!

“Are you sure this is yours, boy?” The alarmed owner watched him walk a little unsteadily among his pots. Both his arms were supporting the weight of the urn.

Through gritted teeth, he made a sound which could barely be interpreted as a ‘yes’ and a ‘thank you’. He half-dropped it on the ground outside the pottery shop. He wiped the sweat off his forehead as he searched the vicinity for familiar faces.

Maybe I should go look for Yexi now…

“Do you understand now, Yun?”

The mute child nodded twice as she fixed her sad childish eyes on the Yamist of Inspiration. Yexi held back her tears; instead she put on a comforting smile. Her destiny was already decided the day she began breathing. She knew it earlier than any of the Yamists. Elinas had showed her the future and she was given the choice.

And I chose to shoulder this onus.

“You must not tell anyone what I have confessed to you. Please keep this secret of mine,” she pleaded. As an assurance, Yun hugged her dearly despite their short time of acquaintance. Yexi heard a faint whispering in her mind, filling her with warmth. At the same time, she was being persuaded to refuse her calling, not through words but through emotions. The girl emitted a fervent sense of reluctance which moved her, even though it was just a bit.

“No, I have to carry out what I am sent to do, Yun and you, you must carry out what you are sent to do as well… in time,” Yexi sighed.

Abruptly, she gasped sharply. “Shenjoon…!” She trained her grey eyes around her anxiously. An identical pair of grey eyes was studying her with concern

“Come, Yun, we must find Shenjoon.” She took her by the hand and led the way. For the second time in two consequtive days, she lost the living presence of her other half. She had no doubts where to search for him. The pottery shop…!

They were not too far from there but Yexi felt dazed and dizzy as she scurried off, fleeting past numerous people and shops. Her bells which were hung around her waist chimed loudly. She almost collided with an old lady who was carrying her grocery basket and brushed past a few strangers who scoffed at her despite her hurried apologies. But it was urgent. Who was it that was ensnaring Shenjoon into that dimension spell? What was caster’s purpose? She simply had to get to him immediately!

She sucked in a breath sharply again but she soon exhaled with ease. The beating of his heart… she could hear it. He is safe! She was nearing the pottery shop too. Yun was panting heavily beside her by the time Yexi released her hand and rushed forward to meet her husband. Shenjoon beamed when he saw the two girls. “I was about to go look for you, Yexi!” he said.

“Are you alright? Oh, why do you have to do this to me?! Why did you enter that realm alone?” reprimanded Yexi. But beneath her anger, there were only worries.

“I… I just wanted my urn back,” stammered Shenjoon guiltily.

“Didn’t you realize the danger? You could’ve been trapped in that dimension and never get out of there. We don’t even know who is behind this and the person’s purpose.” Her stern countenance softened nevertheless, after having said that. The boy had stayed quiet, head bowed, acknowledging that he was at fault.

Yexi sighed, “I’m just glad that you’re unharmed. I see you have managed to ‘rescue’ your urn, Shenjoon.” Queer it was to her that it was placed at his feet. Normally, it would be in his hands. The boy nodded enthusiastically, his mood changed quickly. “You will tell me what happened after we find Yun’s family.”

Shenjoon noticed Yun peeping at him from behind Yexi timidly. Taking the lead, the brown-haired Yamist smiled and beckoned the girl to come to the front. She laid both hands on her shoulders and eyed the boy while saying, “Yun, I think Shenjoon has something to say to you.”

He cringed at her words and was reluctant to speak though he clearly knew what she meant. His reluctance prompted her to repeat his name sternly. He gulped. “Yun…!” Shenjoon started but paused, undecided with his speech. His eyes flickered nervously when he saw Yun’s large gray eyes. “Yun, I’m… sorry I yelled at you.” He made a deep bow of apology to her.

The boy felt a tug at the end of his shirt. “Huh?” He was surprised to see her at his side, smiling at him happily. Yexi chuckled, “I think you’re forgiven, Shenjoon.” Yun nodded and beamed.

He stood up, relief. Somehow, it mattered to him that she was no more afraid or hiding from him. “Thanks, Yun.”

“Yun!”

The three reacted, turning to the direction. Shenjoon watched Yun ran towards a pair of couple to the left of the street and into their waiting embrace. Instantly, he and Yexi knew they had found Yun’s family.

The man and woman looked at them, their eyes filled with gratitude. Now that they had seen her parents, it was obvious that Yun inherited her Flamese blood from her father and her Daiburno blood from her mother.

“We can go now, Shenjoon,” said Yexi.

“I guess…”

It was that strong sense of heavy-hearted emotion radiated from Yun which caused the Daiburno Yamist to give her one last look. Shenjoon noticed the gesture but he was struggling so much with his ridiculously heavy urn that he did not question it.

It was nice meeting you… Be sure to guard Shenjoon for me when it is time.

“So, Shenjoon, would you like to explain to me now, about what happened after we separated?”

“Umm…” The young teen wondered how he should begin his bizarre tale.

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