CHAPTER 18

“Wish to guard you, protect you, honour you, love you…”

Raviex quickly covered his mouth as he sneezed. It was the seventh time he had sneezed that night. His head pounded heavily. He tried to shake off the giddiness he was experiencing. He was in the girls’ room, without Kyoden who went out with a group of local girls, discussing with Christine, Sonia, and Lorenne regarding the route of their journey to Sage Village. Their Master had stated to the Fierell sisters that he had information on the Ultimate Praetor Valkyr Leo. That was the only lead the Prince had.

“Are you sure you’re fine, Raviex?” asked Lorenne, concerned.

“Yes, Lorenne, please don’t worry,” assured Raviex, smiling. Christine, however, was not convinced. He seemed wearied and fragile. Perhaps it was due to the day’s long hiking.

“It’s most likely that our next stop would Midas City. It might take three days. Lorenne and I will deal with the stocking up of our food and water supply,” informed Sonia.

No one made a noise to consent or object her suggestion. Letaikno had shuddered on the short, brown table. All pairs of eyes were on the four feet five inches-long sword. When Raviex reached out a hand to hold it, it repelled away and stood with its tips inches from the table, twirling in mid air. The piece of linen cloth, which was obtained from Mrs. Luwa and used by Raviex to conceal it earlier on, was stripped from it. All discussions were forgotten. A wary silence encircled them as they waited for something (though they had no idea what it was or what it would be) to happen.

“Amaea’s Ray,” uttered Lorenne softly, tranced-like. She just knew it was the right time to cast that particular spell from her Creation Series on everyone, including herself. Immediate to her casting, a bright light shone tremendously, which understandably blinded the four of them in the room.

During the seconds of their sudden temporary blindness, they were presented with a new vision, as if teleported to a different place since it felt so real to them. They were looking at a war-scarred city and it was without question, Kaza City. The damages left from the Kaza War two years ago were still obvious to be seen.

There were those repairing and reconstructing buildings which weren’t as badly touched by the hands of war; there were those building new living quarters for the homeless. Women were seen clearing the rubbers and dirt while children scavenged for things which could still be used in the remains of their ripped apart houses.

The four realised how gaunt and dishevelled the citizens of Kaza were. Their eyes were carrying a certain fire of hatred and despair. Then, they saw two men talking surreptitiously in an alley. After passing a few words, the two of them went separate ways in a secretive manner. The vision took an abrupt stop here.

Raviex was first to regain his sight. Letaikno was still hovering in mid air but it had stopped it twirling. The Prince snatched it off its handle and ran off with his emotions in a struggle. The girls who regained their sights just in time to see him exit the room understood his feelings completely but was unable to do anything for the moment.

“Give him some time alone,” said Lorenne empathetically. Sonia nodded slowly in agreement. Christine, however, kept to herself.

There was nothing that could measure the miserable and awful feelings which were gnawing the insides of Raviex. His thoughts were in disarray and he could only blame his people’s sufferings on himself. In the midst of his continuous self-condemnation, he felt a warm cloak being draped behind his back. He held onto the cloak and tugged it comfortably around him.

“Careful, the climate here is cooler than Mabluku Territory’s,” said Christine as she sat beside him on the roof of the tallest building in Hime Territory. (It was five storeys tall.) Raviex gave a weak smile. He was so preoccupied that he had neglected the cool temperature. The First Moon’s ray illuminated the night sky, overshadowing the other two moons’ which were presently half-moons.

She waited for him to say something. When he did not, she spoke again, “It’s not your fault, Raviex.” He turned to look at her, so did she. “I think it’s safe for me to say I have guessed your thoughts exactly,” she added.

He looked away. “I do not understand why the city is still in such a bad shape,” he confessed. “I have personally made sure that Kaza City received the funding to be restored to its original form. My officials also confirmed that the city had received it.” He chuckled bitterly. “Sir Damien even said I’ve issued an amount large enough to build two cities. If it is so, then where are the two cities?”

Christine rested her chin on her knees. “If that is the case, that really isn’t your fault, Raviex,” she commented thoughtfully. “Two years is quite a period of time. There should be more development than that. You’re the Prince. Shouldn’t you receive reports on Kaza City’s welfare?”

His eyebrows burrowed deeply. There was implicit truth in her words. “Lord Dymaz, the governor of the city, did not mention anything about my people’s suffering and environment in his last letter. I’d really like to hear his explanation about this.”

The girl sat back up straight. “Then, let’s pay him a surprise visit. I want to hear his explanation, too.”

“But the quest to find the Ultimate Praetor Valkyr Leo…”

“There must be a vital reason why Letaikno showed us the vision,” enforced Christine, overruling his objection. “Plus, I don’t think you have the heart to let your people suffer any more.”

Somehow, Raviex felt relieved. He smiled in appreciation at Christine. “You are right. Thank you, Ryn.”

She returned his smile bashfully, though not looking straight into his eloquent blue eyes. Blushes crept onto her cheeks as she felt his gentle gaze on her. Put aside her pride, she was ready to admit that it was most pleasant to have the Prince’s attention wholly on her.

The special moment did not last for long, unfortunately, as they were interrupted (rather rudely, in Christine’s opinion) by a shrill laughter. The duo searched for the voice’s owner below and spotted two vague figures which they recognised to be Kyoden with another girl who was obviously laughing at whatever Kyoden was telling her.

The Haikenese and his companion soon came in range of Raviex and Christine’s hearing. They had stopped in front of the building where they were on top of.

“Master Arai, I have never met a man like you. You are incredibly funny and it has been a wonderful night with you,” told the girl sweetly. Raviex could see why Kyoden was dating her. Beneath the moon light, he was able to tell the girl’s beauty was no level lower than Hidaka’s.

“I’m glad you’ve enjoyed this night, Aiko. You deserve happiness, like every other woman,” they heard Kyoden said. Christine half-rolled her eyes at him. Then, they saw the girl slowly tip-toed and kissed him on the lips. When she lowered herself, Kyoden stooped forwards to return her kiss. They looked away as the kiss quickly turned into a passionate one.

“I suggest we leave,” whispered Raviex. Since she did not like spying on a kissing couple, she stood up and left with him, leaving behind Kyoden and Aiko.

It was the next day. After a good night’s sleep, Christine felt rejuvenated and energetic for the day. A hearty breakfast was laid before them on the dining table with the aroma of fresh green tea in the air. Everyone was present and ready to take their breakfast except Raviex.

“Kyoden, where’s Raviex?” the auburn-haired girl asked aloud.

“He was still asleep when I walked out of our room,” he answered dreamily.

“And you did not bother to wake him up?” snapped Sonia tersely. It wasn’t that she was dying of hunger or anything but she was plainly annoyed by his dreamy ways ever since last night when he came back to their place hand in hand with a Himean girl named Aiko.

He glanced idly at her and grinned inanely, but gave no reply. She narrowed her eyes sceptically at him. “What’s wrong with you, Kaneshiro? You don’t look like your usual self,” she scowled.

“Her beauty beats the galaxies in the universe; her eyes sparkles like the morning dew; her lips sweeter than—”

“Shut up, Kaneshiro! We don’t need your depiction of your new lover,” barked Sonia, who was clearly restraining herself from punching him.

Lorenne shook her head and laughed silently at her sister and Kyoden. She then signalled Christine to get Raviex from his room. Giggling at them as well, she directed her steps to the left wing where the guys were rooming.

“Raviex,” she called from outside of the room. A minute passed, but the door was not opened for her. “Raviex,” she repeated. “It’s time to get up, the sun’s up for almost an hour.” Her stomach churned. It was the kind of feeling she received when something was wrong. Soon, she found herself worrying.

She didn’t bother to call out the third time. She placed a hand on the wooden door with paper coverings on each of its square columns and slid it open. Her golden-brown eyes searched the room and discovered him on his futon. He appeared to be sleeping but his face showed that he was in much discomfort. Christine hastened to his side. She laid a hand in hopes of waking him up, only to find him burning with fever.

The idiot! Why did he not tell us he was this sick?!

“Lorenne! Sonia!” she cried out.

The sisters, who heard her cry, rushed into the guys’ room as well. “What is it, Christine?” Lorenne asked anxiously.

“Raviex is having a high fever,” replied Christine, struggling to keep her voice from shaking. Soft groaning was emitted from the Prince’s lips.

Her eyes darted from her to Raviex. She noticed the fear in Christine’s eyes and the beads of sweat on Raviex’s skin. Lorenne felt his body temperature using her palm on his forehead and confirmed his sickness.

“His cold must have evolved into a fever. Lorenne might be able to cool it down.” said Sonia, folding her arms across her chest.

Lorenne nodded once and took the position before him, her hands outstretched above Raviex’s sick figure. A peaceful light green light shone from her palms which reminded Christine of her mother’s healing ability. Gradually, the girls watched his recovery. His expression of discomfort was replaced with one of tranquillity.

The Yamist of Wisdom touched his cheek. She smiled at Christine. “His fever is almost entirely gone. I’m a healer. A healer heals one’s body but he must fight the last part of the battle himself. Rest assured, Christine. He’ll make a full recovery by tomorrow morning if he rests well for a day.”

“Thanks, Lorenne,” said Christine gratefully. “His high fever really got me alarmed.” She sighed as she brushed his brownish blond-striped hair across his forehead. Lorenne retreated to leave the two alone after seeing her little gesture. Sonia echoed her.

When they entered the dining room, they found Kyoden with the faraway look still on his face. Losing control over her anger, she grabbed the seven inches silver rod from her pouch and pointed it at his direction. The rod extended rapidly by her will. The blade of the spear materialised with its tip an inch away from his right eye. Yet, he did not flinch, nor did he avoid her.

“I don’t know what love spell you’re under but I can’t believe you’re still thinking about that Aiko girl when the Prince is gravely ill, Kaneshiro!” she hissed spitefully.

“So long as Aiko darling is not sick,” he said airily.

“What happen to the part which you told us about men unable to get out of this territory alive after entering it?” she shot at him.

“They are all hearsay. Aiko’s already agreed to leave with us first thing tomorrow morning. I can’t go without her,” he sighed. Lorenne walked up to him, pushing away Sonia’s spear. It retracted to its harmless size and Sonia sullenly returned it to its pouch.

“Kyoden, can we talk?” asked Lorenne in her mild voice.

He grinned foolishly at her. “Alright, but we have to walk. I’m meeting Aiko soon.”

The girl nodded and they walked out of the house after a quick breakfast with Sonia trailing from behind under the late morning’s sun. As they strolled on, Lorenne’s countenance altered to a solemn one, alike to when one was in deep thoughts.

“I must ask this, Kyoden. Forgive me if my questions annoy you… the origin of Hime Territory is strongly related to Haiken Metropolis. Logically speaking, the history books written on Haiken would also keep a record on Hime Territory, right?” she queried.

“Hmm… I’m not too sure about that. I don’t go to the library often back at home but I quite positive that I did not learn about it in school. If the history of this territory does cast a black shadow on Haiken, I think it’s natural it wouldn’t be mentioned in any curriculum textbook. My knowledge of Hime Territory was gained from an innkeeper in Haiken. Not many know about this place anyway,” he answered truthfully.

Just as I thought… this territory is not of general knowledge. There’s even the chance that there’s no formal recording of such piece of history. No, not history. It is now more similar to a legend, where no one knows how true… or how wrong it is.

Kyoden could see she was thinking hard but he was only remotely interested to know what was on her mind. He had no idea where this conversation was heading, not that he cared. He felt the desire to be with Aiko swelled in him.

“I have another question, Kyoden. Two hundred years ago, was there any marked history which took place in Haiken?” asked Lorenne. She looked at him and caught him spacing out while walking, staring strangely at no where in particular. She held his arm and gave him a small jerk.

“Huh?” he mumbled. When he saw her gazing at him queerly, he frowned at her. “What? I did hear your question, really!” Lorenne looked away. He had been acting out of character after entering the border of Hime Territory. From Sonia, she had learnt of his raging Sacred Energy. Presently, he did not sound too friendly either.

“Why do you want to know about some stupid, old history anyway? History’s all about dead people. Hah! Like those dead victims of the gruesome plague which hit Haiken two hundred years back. 700 men died, 400 women also died, oh let’s not forget, another 400 children also wound up dead!” Kyoden let out a loud, derisive laugh which did not fit their topic.

Before she could retort his attitude of mocking the dead, they bumped into Aiko around a corner. In her hands was a picnic basket. Kyoden went off with her without as much as a word of leave to Lorenne and Sonia.

“I didn’t know I was that invisible,” said Lorenne, surprised at his impoliteness. Haikenese were well-known for their polite ethics in their daily lives.

Sonia rested a hand on her shoulder. “I heard your conversation and I trust the both of us have the same suspicion in mind. Hime territory must have secrets weaved around it. It’s time we do our own investigation, little sister.”

“Lady Hidaka, one of the male travellers, Cedric Castillo, has fallen ill,” reported the girl who led the guests to the bungalow the day before.

Hidaka admired her own reflection in a full-length mirror, posing at different angles. She wasn’t vain for nothing. She owned the properties of a beauty goddess. On that night, she would dress explicitly as the high priestess of the ceremony.

“Make sure he is kept alive until tonight, Minako. I cannot have him dead, not just yet,” she said, licking her lips maliciously. “How is the other named Junnosuke Arai?”

“Aiko has successfully kept him under enchantments, Lady Hidaka,” replied Minako coolly.

“One is enchanted, the other sick. Perfect,” she purred. “I’m sure they’ll enjoy our lovely ceremony.”

“Everyone looks like they are all leading normal lives,” Lorenne pondered aloud. “I don’t think we’re getting anywhere wandering around like this. I could fairly memorise the paths in this territory by now.”

Sonia bit her lower lip. She had stated the precise. “No one would tell us how they lived on without men. No one would tell us more about the celebration tonight besides that it’s to commemorate the Deliverance of Lady Miyoko. What worries me more is the information from Nagi the Innkeeper. There’s just this uneasy feeling inside me which I just couldn’t explain.”

“Notice that everyone in this territory is all youthful?” asked Lorenne.

She nodded, sweeping her emerald eyes over the buzzing streets. The girls in Hime territory were sharing the average age of twenty or so. Where were the older generations? Not to mention the sick and disabled? The people here were nothing less than perfect.

The sisters felt an abrupt sharp yank on their arms from behind. Both turned to find a woman in rags and her face covered with dirt. Her hair was long but unkempt. Unlike the rest of the Himean, she looked aged, perhaps in her late thirties. Sonia would have knocked her out if she had not noticed the desperation in her bloodshot eyes. The woman pointed at an alley and started limping towards it.

“I think she wants us to follow her,” whispered Lorenne.

“Let’s see where she’s leading us to,” said Sonia. After casting a fleeting look around to make sure no one was paying attention to them, the two strode furtively after her.

The woman signalled them to hurry. As they moved on, Sonia observed the surroundings. They had not explored this passage before. The alley which they followed was small and there wasn’t a lot of space to move about. It did not look filthy and damp like any other alleys. It was considerably clean to begin with, as if it was in used and cleaned from time to time.

A final left turn presented to them a pair of wooden gates. Nailed to the gates was the sign with the words ‘OFF LIMITS – FORBIDDEN GROUNDS’ in red. The woman pointed at the gates and clasped her hands together, begging. She made awkward articulations but could not speak a proper word. Neither Lorenne nor Sonia could look beyond the gates and grey walls for they were too high for them to take a peek at what they were concealing.

“You want us to go in there?” asked Sonia bluntly. The woman nodded vigorously.

Lorenne felt her heart went out for the pitiful woman. “You can’t talk?”

She shook her head this time. Her tears of fury and pain poured out of her eyes and onto her cheeks. She opened her mouth to show them two rows of decaying teeth and a severely sliced tongue.

“What have they done to you?” gasped Lorenne, tears flooding her eyes too.

“It’s the Himeans’ work, isn’t it? Those wretched beasts!” Sonia swore viciously.

“Sonia, she’s trying to tell us something.” Lorenne watched the woman’s motion. She was pressing her palms together and flapping them outwards and inwards with the two little fingers touching side by side.

“A book?” murmured Sonia pensively. The woman then pointed at herself. “Your book?” she corrected. She nodded at her guess.

Before the Fierell sisters execute any plans, they heard someone yelled, “What are you doing here!?” Sonia and Lorenne maintained their composed countenance and did not flee. The woman, however, began to panic.

“Nasha, why have you brought our respected guests here?” It was Minako.

Nasha shook her head and waved her hands. Sonia laid a hand on her shoulder to calm her down and spoke for her. “You have misunderstood her. My sister and I are lost. This kind person whom you called Nasha found us and is about to lead us out of here when you spotted us. If we have done anything wrong, we’re very sorry but please don’t blame her. She is only trying to be helpful.”

“I see. I’ll take the responsibility to escort you back if that is the case,” Minako smiled. “Nasha, return to your duties.” The woman scurried off after giving them one last pleading look.

Minako used a different route out of the alleyway. It was more complicated and longer than the one Nasha used. The bends and corners were impossible to be memorised in just one trip. Twenty minutes later, they were out in the open again.

“So, what is behind the gates back there?” asked Sonia nonchalantly when they were almost home. Lorenne knew she was trying to pry open Minako to gain information from her.

“It’s just an old and unused library, Lady Maryna,” Minako answered just as casually. She swung open the wooden gate for them. “I must advise you not to trespass the area. You would get in trouble. No one enters that place without Lady Hidaka’s permission.”

The Himean left after making sure they entered their guest house. Sonia and Lorenne went to the left wing to relate to Christine about their discovery. She listened carefully to their sharing while attending to the still sleeping Raviex, consistently changing soaked towels to be placed on his forehead and damping his lips for moisture.

“I’m terribly sorry Raviex and I couldn’t be of help,” said Christine regretfully.

“Don’t be, it’s okay. You should take care of the Prince. Lorenne and I will return to that place after lunch. I want to know what they’re hiding from us.”

“You know the paths to take to get there a second time?” she asked.

“I’ve conveniently committed to memory the way to go when Nasha took us there. That Himean attempted to confuse us but she’s unfortunate for we are both gifted with sharp minds,” Sonia grinned at Lorenne.

“I am, after all, Jerusyn’s Yamist, the Yamist of Wisdom,” ended Lorenne with a chuckle.