“The dream of a caged bird is to soar in the sky with the wings of freedom.”
I
There are thirty of them in estimation. Damn! We should have kept on guard. I guess it would be better if we start out as manipulators if it’s going to be a fight.
“Reveal yourselves!” commanded Sonia in a loud voice.
A full minute passed before the group witnessed an exotic-looking lady walking out of thin air. Both Raviex and Kyoden quickly agreed privately that she was infinitely attractive. Her skin was perfectly tanned, bringing out the full splendour of her golden locks of hair which draped her bare chest. Her eyes glowed a mysterious emerald which swirled with a thousand secrets. Her body deserved the jealousy of every woman and the lustful desire of men. Her clothing was thin and soft like silk and it scarcely covered her exposed body.
While the guys were engaged, feasting their eyes on her, the girls were full of suspicions of her. It wasn’t helping that Raviex and Kyoden were as good as entranced by the lady. The five of them, felt their body froze as she shook the elaborated bronze staff. The many rings and bells which hung on the tip of the staff collided with one another, emitting strange sharp sounds.
What power is this? Is she a full magic-user? This strength of magic is Lorenne’s level. It might be higher. How are we going to unbind our petrified bodies?
Sonia tried to make eye contact with her sister, only to find her head hung low and her figure lifted inches above the ground. She could only assume that she was forced into an unconscious state.
“Do not worry; I am not here to harm you. I know your friend there, is a magic practitioner. I do not want any complications just in case she countered my magic. She is simply asleep,” spoke the lady. The two guys of the group felt their throat run dry upon hearing her sweet voice.
‘I think I just heard the voice of an angel,’ thought Kyoden.
“My name is Maya—Maya Hidaka.” The lady placed her steps slowly, taking a spot in front of Raviex. Christine fixed a wary look on her. On the other side, Kyoden’s eyes shone a dark red.
Something’s wrong. Kyoden’s aura is changing rapidly.
The team’s strategist quickly summoned for her silver spear to rise. Sonia wasn’t as strong in magic when compared to Lorenne but they shared the same master. It was Maya Hidaka’s fault for not knocking her unconscious as well.
With her mind, she moulded her Sacred Energy to transform into her invisible third hand. It was strenuous work but she compelled herself to persevere. For some reason, his emotions were getting aggressive. She had seen the true nature of Kyoden’s aura. It would be too dangerous if it was released here.
“What is your name?” asked Hidaka, her cool breath lingered on Raviex. An uncomfortable feeling crept under his skin as she traced the shape of his face with her finger tips. He wanted to take her hands off him but his frozen state didn’t permit him to.
“My name’s…”
A fragment of memory appeared in Raviex’s head. It was one of the discussions he had with the other four. Sonia recommended them to use an alias instead of using their real names if asked while travelling to prevent spies from tracking them down effortlessly. Everyone approved of the idea. It was currently the said situation.
“…Cedric Castillo,” was his answer.
‘Cedric Castillo… where have I heard this name before?’ Christine thought hard. The answer instantly came to her. Cedric was the name given to the late King Levon before he was coroneted. It was his first name whereas Castillo was the maiden surname of Queen Seraphina before she entered the Royal Family as King Levon’s bride.
Raviex is thinking about his parents even now…
Meanwhile, using the third invisible hand, Sonia hit Kyoden on the upper arm with the flat side of the spear. The pain, shooting through his nerves returned his sensibility and allowed his self to gain control. For once, he wasn’t mad at her for hitting him. Kyoden was absolutely surprised to catch himself experiencing green flames in him. What shocked him ever the more was the intention to kill Raviex for being so close to Hidaka.
Good, his aura is stable again.
By the time her spear retracted and was hung on her waist, the invisible third hand vanished, resembling smoke in open air. Half her energy was consumed, leaving her slightly breathless. Lorenne remained oblivious to her surroundings in her sleep.
“Cedric Castillo, what are you and your companions’ purposes for trespassing the grounds of
“We only wish to by-pass
“And who would this girl be?” Hidaka veered her attention from Raviex to Christine.
“I’m—”
“She’s my cousin, Crystal Castillo,” Raviex interjected.
“I see…” Hidaka nodded slowly. Christine could see that she was already planning her moves. Those emerald eyes were sly like a fox’s. “Very well… I will take your words that all of you are not here with bad intentions. Therefore, I will personally guide you to
Hidaka shook her staff the second time. Lorenne awoke from her slumber as her feet touched the ground. The rest were released from their paralysed state. Hidaka turned and began walking in a direction, expecting the party to follow from behind.
“Cousin?” uttered Christine while walking beside Raviex.
“I know that was a lie but my instincts are telling me it’d be better if I mentioned you as my cousin,” vindicated Raviex.
“What’s wrong with mentioning me as your friend?” argued Christine, crossing her arms, displeased. “You might as well tell Hidaka I’m your sister, Raviex.”
“Shhh! Remember, I’m Cedric Castillo now, and you’re Crystal Castillo. Keep your voice low. I told you, it’s for our own good. Why are you so worked about me calling you my cousin anyway?” Raviex frowned. Upset at his words, Christine stomped a foot and left him to walk with Sonia and Lorenne. He sighed at her leave.
It was Kyoden who approached him next. “Christine looks unhappy about something. What did you do?”
“I did nothing! I don’t understand why she’s angry at me,” said Raviex, getting a little angry himself.
“Okay, okay, but it’s my personal guess that she was pouting about the fact that you told Hidaka she’s your cousin, am I right?” deduced Kyoden.
“How in Calith’s name did you know that?” shot the other.
The brunette chuckled and patted on his shoulder. “You might be the Crowned Prince of the Kingdom but you really are terrible when comes to reading and handling girls, Raviex.”
Raviex glared at his comment. He did not appreciate him boasting about his ability to weave around the female race with natural flair and confidence right then.
One hour before the sun set, Raviex and his company entered
Suddenly, a blast of raw light blue Sacred Energy burst, driving the hyped girls away from the two guys without reservation. Raviex and Kyoden gulped. They could feel the Sacred Energy narrowly avoiding them as well. Lorenne and Sonia, however, stood aside in case they got sucked in into the whole commotion.
“Ryn…” Raviex winced.
Kyoden cleared his throat, saying to the Prince, “I really enjoyed the attention from the girls. So, please, CEDRIC (Kyoden purposely stressed on his alias name), try to control
“You really didn’t have to emphasise those words particularly like that,” Raviex whispered in a low voice to him.
“Oh, no? That’s just my way of putting my words. Besides,” he sniffed, and added proudly, “I think that’s very mature of me.”
Sonia snorted, “I wouldn’t use the term ‘mature’ on the likes of you, Kaneshiro.”
“Whatever, bossy lady,” Kyoden threw at her.
Maya Hidaka came up to Christine. She observed her keenly, fascinated. Christine wondered if she was wrong when she thought she saw admiration in Hidaka’s eyes. Oddly, the longer Hidaka eyed her, she sensed she was being read; her personality, her abilities, her thoughts, her secrets, her feelings… Yet, she couldn’t look away.
Raviex impulsively went to her, drawing her protectively behind him. He reckoned something was up. It didn’t matter what it was. He couldn’t have her harmed. “I apologise for what
Christine’s eyes flickered. The eerie feelings Hidaka gave her wore off almost immediately. She gazed at her hand which was grasped by Raviex. She then looked at his back. Behind his tall figure, she felt secured and sheltered. If only things would be this way until the end of her life.
“It is I who should apologise for the uncouth of my people, Cedric Castillo,” said Hidaka, smiling sweetly.
“You are the Lady of the territory?” asked Lorenne. It wasn’t her character to dislike another strongly but she frankly failed to convince herself to have nice thoughts about Hidaka. She concluded that Hidaka’s magic did not originate from the Light. She had noticed how her aura repelled strongly away from hers.
“That is correct. I am Lady Maya Hidaka of
Taking it as their cue, the other three gave their names. Junnosuke Arai was Kyoden’s double name. Sonia introduced herself as Maryna Fosters and Lorenne as Laurel Fosters.
Satisfied, Hidaka nodded and called forth a girl of Sonia’s age and told her to prepare rooms for the guests. To the guests, she said, “The sun will set soon, stay for the night.
Raviex knew it was courtesy to accept the invitation but the responsibility to accomplish his quest of seeking the Ultimate Praetor Valkyr Leo weighed heavier. Needless to say, the girls had no intention of staying for even one more night if unnecessary. They were going to decline the request when Kyoden took over the role of the representative of the party and agreed to join them for the festival.
“Thank you for accepting our humble invitation,” said Hidaka delightfully, bowing her head at them. Raviex sighed hopelessly while the girls glowered at Kyoden’s direction.
The assigned guide took over. The crowd went on looking at Raviex and Kyoden with extreme interest even as they were led to their designated place to stay; as a matter of fact, too much interested in Lorenne’s opinion. What exactly was this celebration? According to the calendar of the Light, there was no grand celebration in the month of Kin.
“Excuse me, do you mind telling us a little more about this celebration Hime Territory is having tomorrow night?” questioned Lorenne earnestly.
‘Trust Lorenne to go after every straw of knowledge,’ Sonia smiled.
The girl who was dressed up like a maid smiled. Every traveller who was entrusted to her never failed to ask the question. “This celebration is actually based on a two hundred-year-old historical tale.”
“Oooh! Oooh! I love story-telling! Do tell us!” exclaimed Kyoden, clapping his hands together in a girlish way. A shiver went through Sonia’s spine when she saw him did that.
“Alright, Master Arai,” promised the girl.
“Two centuries ago, there was a maiden named Miyoko Sasaki who was born in a poverty-stricken family in
As she grew older, Miyoko blossomed into a beautiful maiden. In spite of her family background, she was a lively character, sweet and caring too. She did not sell buns anymore as her mother was gone. She took over her drunkard father’s noodle stall and sold noodles. She was an innocent soul, hoping only to live a simple and peaceful life.
One day, a man walked into her life and moved her from within. Ever since he knew of her noodle stall, he came to eat at her stall daily. Soon, he confessed his feelings of affection to her and as she was in love with him too, she accepted him.”
“I honestly don’t see where this story is going,” interrupted Kyoden, scratching the side of his head.
“We all would if you’d stop interrupting her,” said Sonia, annoyed.
“Please, go on,” beckoned Lorenne.
The girl giggled and continued, “Miyoko and her lover would spend time together whenever they could. It was the happiest time of her life. Then… tragedy struck.”
“It always does! Why can’t a story be exempted from tragedies anyway?” Kyoden jumped in again. “So what was the tragedy?”
“Yes, Master Arai. Miyoko’s father needed money to support his drinking habits. Coincidentally, a rich man had his eyes for Miyoko and wanted her as his fifth wife.”
“Fifth?!” exclaimed Kyoden and Raviex simultaneously.
Christine sniffed, “Guys are indeed disloyal.” Sonia agreed with her statement, clicking her tongue at Kyoden.
“Whoa, R—I mean,
“Oh, I hope yours would be too,” said Christine flatly.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
While Christine, Raviex, Sonia and Kyoden bickered amongst themselves, Lorenne sighed and walked up to the girl by herself. “Please carry on; I am, after all, the only one who really wanted to know about the celebration’s origin.”
“Yes, Lady
Her lover’s death was a painful stab to Miyoko. They had always thought they were meant to be together. Alas, fate wasn’t kind. Even after his death, Miyoko still rejected the rich man’s proposal of marriage. Because of her persistence, her drunkard father abused her physically and there was no one to protect her.
All of a sudden, it must have been that her agony touched the hearts of the heavens as she was bestowed with unique powers. On the night when the First Moon, Arythia, was full, she went to the deserted streets and called out to those girls who had similar fates as hers, full with sorrow and anguish, in their dreams. One by one, the girls came and was led out of
Those girls, under the leadership of Miyoko, built and claimed a new territory of their own which is the present day
Lorenne processed the story she just heard in her mind, remembering every detail. “So, this celebration is held on this day annually?”
“Oh no, no, we celebrate the Deliverance of Lady Miyoko on the full moon of Arythia in the month of Kin according to history, Lady Laurel,” corrected the girl.
“I’m sorry but I have to ask how
The girl stopped and faced a single storey bungalow, separated from other houses. Its front yard displayed a neat garden and a pond. Butterflies were seen dancing in the midst of the flowers. White water lilies spread out in the pond with carps swimming gracefully beneath it. The house itself was made out of a combination of wooden materials, rocks and bricks. Its roofing arched upwards at the corners of it.
“This will be your home during your stay here. There are partitioned rooms on the right and left wings of the house. You can choose to live in any of them. The bungalow is all yours.” The girl swung open the small wooden gate invitingly and smiled. “I have to help out with the preparation for tomorrow night now. Make yourselves at home.” Before Lorenne could halt her for an answer to her last question, she went off quickly in an occupied manner.
Inside the bungalow, the party decided to use only two rooms out of the six large rooms which were provided. The guys would take the left wing whereas the girls on the right. Their dinner was prepared and delivered to their place just as they were all done taking turns enjoying a good shower. The exquisite dishes served strongly reminded Raviex of his palace chef’s cookery.
II
A small figure moved speedily amongst the trees on a mountain; his movements blur. He came to a clearing where the ground was rocky and saw ahead, the familiar cave, hoping his target had not changed his hideout. Certain that he had contained his Sacred Energy perfectly to prevent his prey from sensing his approach, he moved towards the cave.
Peeking into the cave, he felt his heart dropped. The pilot of the Ultimate Praetor Nullef Dragaina was gone! He was disappointed and crossed at the fact that Master Lazachus did not take immediate action to capture him. After all his efforts, he couldn’t give up then. He walked into the cave, hoping to find some clues as to where the target would be.
“I am here, Shajou.”
The boy wheeled around to find a tall man with amber-gold eyes looking right at him. His long stunning cerulean-blue hair flew in the evening wind. For a moment there, Shajou panicked but he was prompt to recollect himself. If a one-on-one battle was unavoidable, he might as well go for it without hesitation. Let the red setting sun be the witness of their encounter. The crystals engraved on his black fighting gloves shone a dark violet.
“Insanity Strike!”
Shajou abruptly vanished like a ghost, erasing his presence. The tall man closed his eyes, regretful that the boy chose to irrationally rush into a fight.
Underestimating me is a big mistake, mister!
As sudden as how he had disappeared, Shajou reappeared in a close range with his opponent. He began throwing heavy blows of punches 360º at his opponent less than a second later after his reappearance. There was no room for the man to neither defend nor escape. He could feel his fists smashing his body, punches after punches, for ten full seconds. The ten seconds was satisfying for Shajou. He leaped away from the man after his skill ended. He was sure he would be in too much pain to stand up after his Insanity Strike.
What…?!
The figure which he had performed his skill on suddenly melted into wisps of smoke and was brought away by an evening wind which had found its way into the cave. None of it made sense to Shajou. He was absolutely convinced that he had hit the man. He felt the contact and impact between his fists and his flesh!
“That was only my image with a small trace of my Sacred Energy,” explained the man from another corner of the cave, clearing his bewilderment.
Impossible! If that was the effect of his so-called leftover aura, which could actually project a hundred percent clone of him, what could his true Sacred Energy be like?!
“Please have a seat anywhere you feel comfortable with,” he added. He waved a hand, bringing a campfire to life in the middle of the cave.
“What makes you think I’ll stay? You are my enemy,” said Shajou warily, alert for any invisible traps and sudden attacks.
“I was never your enemy. You are the one who marked me as your enemy,” reminded the man, smiling. The boy was taken aback. There was a sense of truth in his words which got him hesitant unexpectedly.
Shajou did not understand why there was no killing intent in the man after his attempt to hurt him. Instead, he felt welcomed and favoured. “Who… who are you? Are you Nullef Dragaina’s pilot?”
The sun had set and darkness ruled again. The half-immortal whom Kaisen, the god of Prosperity referred to as Calith sat by the fire. Feeling foolish standing, Shajou ineptly sat facing him, by the fire too.
“You asked me who I am,” started Calith, “Yet; you already know who I am. The question is… do you know who you are?”
I know… I know who I am.
Then, why did he feel a strong gush of fear and doubt?
“You will call me ‘Master’ in the near future, though I am not your master.”
Shajou looked sharply at him inquisitively and in disbelief. “I serve only Master Lazachus. Death awaits me if I betray him.”
“But you are not afraid of death, are you?” Calith murmured. “You are very young and gifted. Why do you carry out evil’s biddings?”
The boy frowned. This was his first time reflecting upon all of what he had done thus far. He went through hellish trainings to reach his master’s bar of standard. Soon, he became his master’s right arm. How much destruction he had helped caused? How many had he assassinated? Why was he doing all these?
“Master Lazachus saved my life. I will obey his commands. Master also says that my Sacred Energy was touched by Mepheus, the god of Chaos, a god of Darkness. I was meant to do evil,” said Shajou.
“You don’t sound very happy being a Lundea,” commented Calith. Lundea is the term used to indicate the selected group of people who possess Sacred Energy. “Not everyone is born with Sacred Energy. Despite being blessed by Mepheus, you should at least feel honoured.” Shajou stared at him as though he was insane. Never had anyone told him that. In which case, he had all the time thought of it as a curse.
Knowing his thoughts, Calith said, “There is good within evil, and evil within good. Nothing is definite.”
“You’re making me confused,” muttered Shajou. How could good be evil and evil be good? It was simply ridiculous!
Calith chuckled. “You are an honest child. Light and darkness co-exist to preserve the balance of this vast universe. If there is only light, the balance will crumble; so will the universe. The same thing happens when there is only darkness. The ten gods of Light and the ten gods of Darkness were delivered by the Ancient Spirit for this reason.
Hence, where there is light, there is darkness; where there is darkness, there is always light,” he concluded. “You cannot deny you are blessed by Mepheus. I understand you are more prone to do evil, even more due to your… environment. However, there is nothing a little bit of strong will cannot change. You are able to choose the method you use your powers and utilize your Sacred Energy.”
Shajou was speechless. The man had given him the sense of freedom he always desired for. It was a present Master Lazachus had never given to him. His life seemed to have a bigger meaning to it now.
What about Master Lazachus?
He had spent the whole of the last two years with him. Undeniably, he had grown attached to him. Though he personally did not like what his master ordered him to do, he remained silent and fulfilled his orders because he adored his master. He was still the person who rescued him during the Kaza War.
“It’s time for you to leave. I have given you the answer you sought for,” told Calith.
Shajou nodded. Master Lazachus would not be pleased if he found him missing for a long time without his knowledge. He stood up. “Before I leave, may I know how did you escape Insanity Strike?”
Calith smiled. “If I’m not mistaken, the period of time you vanished would be 2.5 seconds. Then, the time it took you to launch your full assault after you reappeared was 0.3 second. Within that 0.3 second, I made my move of my Divine Series: Divine Flight.”
Divine Series: Divine Flight? Could he be a… No, impossible… Who am I kidding?
“Remember what you have learnt today. Remember my words when you feel helpless and lost. The day we meet again will come, Joshua.”
Shajou felt his heart miss a beat. His pair of violet eyes met the stranger’s pair of amber-gold eyes. Why did he call him by that name? That was not his name, but it somehow rang a bell in the hidden depths of his memories. Curiosity began growing in him. He quickly shrugged it off before it overpowered him and bowed respectfully to the man before him. In a flick of an eye, the boy was gone.
No comments:
Post a Comment