CHAPTER 20

“As long as your faith in me exists,

I will walk with you to the end of times.”

An evening gust of wind blew on Raviex’s face. There was urgency in the air, forewarning the Prince of the looming danger. Opening his eyes, he saw that it was night. Feeling hoarse, he sat up and poured himself a glass of water from the jug which was placed beside his futon. Draining down the plain water, he felt refreshed.

He rubbed his temper, recollecting his last memory. It rushed at him, engulfing him with details recorded by his mind. He brought his hand to his left cheek as he remembered the sweet, comforting feeling which lingered there when caressed by a loving hand. He was right all along. Strangely, there was another occupant in Christine’s body.

She calls your name so dearly, Father .Who is she? Why does she seek you so?

A voice in him (perhaps it was his boyish self) whispered and wished that the action was done by the girl herself. It was then when it came to his mind that it was too quiet. He was alone. He pulled off his blanket, grabbed Letaikno from the head of his futon and began making his way out. He halted abruptly after stepping on a piece of wet cloth with his bare foot. He gazed down and with the help of the moonlight, saw that it was a white piece of cloth most probably used by Christine to cool his fever down. Instinctively, he knew something was wrong.

Raviex tore out passed the wooden gates after putting on his boots. He recalled hearing part of the conversation between the Fierell sisters and Christine about their suspicions on the Himeans while dozing on and off. Not to mention… Estelle, the one who resided in Christine’s body and also the one who claimed to know his father intimately, had warned him of being in a ‘monster’s lair’.

He made a promise to himself that he would ask Christine regarding the existence of Estelle in her. He wasn’t planning to let her off easy on the matter the next time he questioned her—IF he would have to chance to question her!

Lorenne dropped to the ground in darkness, defeated, her back propped against the cold wall. Sunset had passed and only dim moonlight shimmered through the small square windows above the wall. How long they had been cooped up in the forbidden library, she had lost tracked. Every passing second dragged on like an hour.

The elder sister observed her. Sonia was sitting cross-legged, meditating, regenerating and conserving her strength. She saw the signs of breaking down from Lorenne. She was worried for her but she maintained her cool. After her overexertion of force, there was nothing she could do until she regained her former energy.

“Lorenne, calm your breathing. Don’t lose yourself,” advised Sonia, her eyes closed. “Reserve your energy for the right time to utilise it.”

She hugged her knee helplessly. “What’s going to happen to us, Sonia? What about our friends?” she cried, the fear building in her.

“You are Jerusyn’s Yamist, Lorenne! Stand by the Light!” growled Sonia. Lorenne sucked in a breath sharply. “Your fear is comprehensible. You are powerless within these walls. That is why you are afraid. But being powerless doesn’t give you a reason to cower before your enemies. Like our parents who died fighting for the Light till their last breaths in the Civil War of Ignorance, we must do the same.”

Her sister’s words struck deep in her, giving her a quick boost of courage. ‘She’s right, we cannot surrender so easily like this,’ she chided herself. They still had their duties to their master, to the Prince and to the Light. Everything was yet to be accomplished. She remembered supporting Christine back in Little Dai Town, telling her not to give up. It was her turn to gather her faith.

“I’m almost fully restored. This is the only plan I could come up with, Lorenne,” said Sonia, much softly. “I will break down the doors with Piercing of Heaven and when I do that, go find Raviex and the others immediately. They must know the truth. It is our responsibility that the Prince remains unharmed and safely escorted to Master.”

The other stared at her, disbelief. “Piercing of Heaven? But I thought you have not perfected the skill. It’ll be dangerous, won’t it?” she blurted, then protested, “We don’t have to resort to that, Sonia!”

“We have no second a choice,” reaffirmed Sonia with a tone of finality. “Sorcery doesn’t work in here but it does out there. Your sorcery is unrivalled thus far and Maya Hidaka will not be your last opponent.”

She understood clearly the consequences of using an imperfect skill forcefully. It could cause mortal death. Nonetheless, she would rather take up this gamble than wait for their fate in this prison. She had already made a mental preparation for it whatsoever.

Sonia slammed a palm on the ground, throwing herself into the air in a somersault. Her extended spear vibrated intensely in her right hand as it felt immense power flowing into it. She landed metres away from the doors which determined their prison. She inhaled deeply, praying to the Light to grant her a successful trial on her meant-to-be ultimate move. Lorenne fidgeted, unsure if this was the right thing to do.

Just as she was about to launch into the skill, they heard a sort of scraping sound… and then a loud crash! It was coming from behind the doors. Lorenne quickly went to her sister’s side. Sonia had not expected the Himeans at the time. She was not discouraged. Instead, it gave her a glimpse of hope. It might heighten the chance for them to escape when they were taken out from the library.

The doors creaked open and a long shadow fell in front of them.

“It’s… Miyoko!” said Sonia. Miyoko stood alone, beckoning them to come out.

Lorenne hugged her, thanking her for taking the risk to free them. Miyoko shook her head lightly and smiled. As Sonia had called her using her real name, she knew they had found her diary. She entrusted a piece of paper with olden Haikenese words written on it into Lorenne’s hand.

“What is it that is written on it?” questioned Sonia, getting annoyed at the fact that she couldn’t understand the Haikenese language.

“Sonia, our friends are in danger! The ceremony has begun!” exclaimed Lorenne in distress.

“Then let’s get going to the ceremonial site!”

Raviex’s pace paused for he knew he had arrived at his destination. He gasped, awestruck. The town square, which was situated at the very centre of the territory, was transformed completely, looking like a ritual site. A terrorising, hellish black-green fire towered before him with flames that scorched the skin without touching. Six colossal earthen pillars with cryptic symbols and inscriptions carved on them surrounded the fire, marking a circle.

He reckoned that all the Himeans were present. All eyes were on him, as if they had been expecting his arrival for some time. Hidaka was standing in front of the fire, dressed in her high priestess’ outfit, heavily accessorised with gold and precious jewels; her staff loyally by her side. Unlike the rest, she wasn’t looking at him. She was gazing upwards, above the fire.

He stepped towards her until he was a few feet behind her. She did not bother to give a response. Raviex heard the sound of someone weeping. He identified the source as the girl who was with Kyoden last night. Even more surprised he was to find Kyoden himself kneeling on the ground with his head bowed in a subjugated manner. One day had barely passed and everything was spiralling out of his senses.

His sight swooped around in search of the girls amongst the sea of faces but found none of them. He felt his stomach fell into an endless pit as he followed Hidaka’s gaze. Now that he was looking carefully, he saw a small cage, fit for a person or two, dangling magically, also treacherously around thirty feet above the ground and metres away from the fire.

“Make any wrong moves, and I assure you, you’ll be losing a bloodline in your family, Cedric,” warned Hidaka haughtily.

She made it as clear as crystal that it was Christine who was in the cage. But it also means that the sisters are not in there, thought Raviex. Right then, he couldn’t really be concerned regarding their whereabouts, not when Christine was in direct danger. If they weren’t present, it was safe to say that they were fine.

“I honestly doubt your connection with this girl, Cedric. I’ve never known cousins to be as willing enough to die for the other. While you were vulnerable and resting, she protected you passively by building a shield over you, giving you all the time you need to recover. As long as you do not walk out of that guarded area, you cannot be harmed,” said Hidaka, her tone was a mixture of admiration and repulsion.

Shield…? Ryn couldn’t have possibly been able to do that. It must have been Estelle!

“What is it that you want?” asked Raviex, keeping his composure.

“My dear boy, I do not think you understand your place in this whole scene. I only kept your cousin alive to because I know you would come for her. You are at zero negotiation ground because I… am the puppeteer here,” she sneered.

Christine kept to the centre of the cage in the attempt to get as far as possible from the blazing heat. Her soul was shrieking in pain and agony, dying too slowly. She would have her life ended swiftly then and there than to undergo the torture. When she had gotten the control of her body back, she was already seized and thrown into this cage.

For once, she did not blame the other resident of her shell and did not shun her to the furthest edge of her mind for overriding her. On the contrary, she was grateful for having Estelle with her. She, like Lorenne, was a sorceress and more of a defender.

In order to weave the shield charm around Raviex’s resting place, she had stalled Hidaka’s warriors for time single-handedly. Although her sorcery lacked on the offensive side, she fought long enough for the charm to be completed and activated. Her defeat was not a total lost for she had accomplished her aim, providing him the temporary immunity he needed. Her only hope was that he could successfully escape after he was well from his sickness.

“Release her,” requested Raviex quietly with his eyes closed. He was the reason they were plunged into this journey, into this misfortune. He couldn’t let them die here because of him too.

Hidaka threw her head back and laughed scornfully. “How could you be so thick in the head? I thought I have stated out clearly what position you are in.”

“And what if I present to you the true descendant of the First King?”

She stared greedily at him. “I believe Ijal would be delighted if he could taste the blood of the Royal Family. Oh, I do hope he’ll make me even more lovely and stunning!”

“Then, release Ryn and my other friends,” he said, striking up a lethal deal. “I am Prince Raviex Katelion. Free them for I am using my life to exchange for theirs.”

Hidaka narrowed her eyes suspiciously, “How do I know you are not an imposter?” she queried distrustfully. “Why would the Prince be on the Blessed Land?”

“Letaikno,” he muttered. Instantly, the linen cloth burst apart as a bright line radiated from the legendary sword. “This is Letaikno, Sword of Katelion. Only the King of the Kingdom and his crowned princes are able to wield it. It is all the proof you need for my identity, Maya Hidaka.”

She cackled, savouring her timely fortune. She snapped her fingers and in a flick of an eye, she was holding Christine by her neck. The red-haired girl was confused at the sudden change of scene but almost immediately knew what was happening. She tried to struggle free but found her body frigid.

“Do I have your word that my friends will leave here unharmed?” asked Raviex. Christine was horrified at his question. It confirmed her fears doubtlessly.

“Raviex, if you dare do anything on your own to save us, I will not forgive you, ever!” she choked but winced in pain as Hidaka tightened her clench over her neck to silence her. She was near to suffocation.

“You have my word, Prince,” Hidaka gave a wide leer. She bit her thumb and let a few drops of blood dripped on the ground. It was a universal sign of a solemn oath on Senadon.

Seeing her gesture, Raviex nodded in acceptance and began his grave march towards death. Every step he took brought him one step closer to the fire of damnation, making his skin and flesh felt like melting; every step he took became heavier and heavier with remorse and grief. He would like so much to remain in the world of the living. So many matters he had left uncompleted. His Kingdom, his throne, his duty, his quest, his vengeance, and there was also… Christine.

“I’m sorry I have to disappoint you, Ryn,” he breathed, though it was already inaudible to her.

Christine could only watch weakly, feeling each step of his then, was a cruel and excruciating stab to her heart. Tears gushed out from the brim of her eyes as she pleaded for someone to stop this instance of madness for her. Nothing came out of her no matter how many times she tried to shout to make Raviex stay besides strangled words.

“Ra…viex!”

Sonia and Lorenne arrived just in time to witness Raviex trudging off towards the pillar of black-green fire. Despite the heat, he did not bow down to it. Instead he walked on gallantly, with the aura of courage and strength around him. They tore after him, hoping to stop him, but were also frozen up by Hidaka. Before their very eyes, the Prince of the Kingdom vanished into the flames of hell.

Following his sudden depart; a sick silence befell on them. How could it be that the Prince was gone? How could Raviex possibly leave them simply that way? It wasn’t a fact anyone of them had ever thought of preparing to face. Now that it was happening, none of them was able to believe it, moreover to digest it.

With the deal fulfilled, Maya Hidaka let out a piercing laughter, a conceited look on her face. She released the girls from her spell haughtily and was ready enough to let them go free. She was satisfied for the deal was worth the trade. She would not want to break a blood oath in any case too.

Feeling her body and limbs returned to animation, Christine threw a blow at the high priestess’ chest in a bleary move. Despite her speed, Hidaka caught it with her palm. Countering her move at the similar level of agility as hers, she pulled Christine towards her and delivered a rapid blow on her left shoulder with the other hand. Her physical strength wasn’t any weaker than her sorcery. The impact caused her to shuffle a few feet backwards.

Christine fell to her knees, not out of pain from the blow she received from Maya Hidaka, but the pain tormenting her inside. Smashing the earth with a fist, she let her anguish and anger overtake her. The red-haired girl cried uncontrollably, as though it was the only way to lessen the ache inside her.

Lorenne hurried to her and held her in her arms, comforting her. She laid her head on hers emphatically, shedding tears with her. The Himeans, with the exception of Hidaka and her subordinates, lowered their heads in culpability. Yet, there was nothing they could do. It was already a part of their obligations in order to preserve their selfish existence.

Meanwhile, Sonia stormed towards Kyoden. She yanked him at the neck of his sleeveless overcoat and pulled him up to his feet. “Why did you not protect him, Kaneshiro?! How could you let him walk off just like that? He’s gone now…” She sucked in a breath sharply, suddenly realising what she was saying was the reality. “Prince Raviex Katelion is dead!”

“Leave him alone!” Aiko abruptly shouted and pushed her away from him, her eyes red and swollen from crying for so long. “You can’t imagine the pain he’s going through right now!” she croaked, defending Kyoden.

Aiko turned to him shamefully and held up his face with her hands. Needles pierced her soul when she saw the blank expression on his face. His black eyes were lifeless; an empty shell. Sonia felt it eerie to see him like that since he was normally so full of energy.

“I will free you, Junnosuke. I cannot betray my love for you and keep you as a prisoner of your own body,” she wept, embracing him. Aware that this embrace would be their last, she whispered a farewell into his ear. With dreadful grief, she muttered the incantation to reverse the spell on him.

Once he was set free, Kyoden’s emotions rose and instantly drowned him. Not even bothering about Sonia’s presence, he fell to the ground and cried fiercely to the moon. The friendship he shared with Raviex was brief, but their bond was as tight as a pair of brothers’.

When he saw Raviex moving towards the fire, he was driven to insanity in his own mind. The control over his body was out of his reach despite how much he willed it to move. He cursed himself harshly for his helplessness, the inability to save the Prince. Aiko could only hold him and blamed herself for his anguish.

Sonia had never seen this side of Kyoden. His mourning was filled with so much sorrow that she had to turn away. She hid her eyes with her right hand as she began to feel her grief for Raviex overpowering her.

“Look at these weaklings, Ijal! They are spared of their miserable lives, yet they’re now wishing that they were dead instead, simply because they lost a friend,” she mocked them aloud. Her followers sniggered behind her.

“You heartless, wretched fiend!” bellowed Lorenne. “Have you no humanity left in you?”

“Humanity?” snarled Hidaka. “There was no humanity shown to me when I was born an ugly child. My own mother abandoned me. She wouldn’t even recognise me as her daughter, the child she bore in her womb! I was a demon to her and a demon I am today!” she shrieked.

Hidaka whimpered as images flashed past her mind. There was the image of her parents chasing her out of their doorsteps, slamming the door at her. She remembered how people ignored her, cursed her, beat her… Then, there was the memory of her looking into the pond, screaming with horror at her own reflection. Her face was disfigured and mutated. One of her eyes bulged from its socket; her skin looked as if it was burned before, red and raw.

“I’m beautiful now, that’s all in the past…” she reassured herself, her eyes closed.

Her chest suddenly stung as a stone was thrown at her. Her eyes flew wide open to see Miyoko, who had arrived at the scene much later than the sisters due to her limping. Their eyes met, their strong and spiteful hatred exposed their thoughts and emotions to one other.

You are no more beautiful than the day I gave you that face, Maya.

-Shut up, you old hag!

You only look beautiful outward but your heart is as rotten as a corpse!

“I should have killed you two hundred years ago,” she hissed. Miyoko gasped as she saw what was coming. Hidaka jerked her staff once and a second later, Miyoko’s head lolled on the floor, her eyes wide open. Her body collapsed moments after that. The Himeans were white with fear, backing off tensely.

“Those of whom I despise will not share the immortality given to us from the god, Ijal,” murmured Hidaka. “Minako, get rid of the foolish foreigners. I want them out of my sight.”

Minako received the order and obeyed her. But before she and her fellow comrades could make their way to the four, a ferocious gust of wind stirred, as if coming from the breath of the Light, roaring in wrath and fury at their sinful acts.

In the wind, strangely, it carried a musical sound of a flute. How beautiful it rung in the air. Its wordless notes spoke differently to each person; comforts to the inconsolable; howls of rage to the wicked. Tears stopped flowing and the noise of crying ceased. There was a new strength that flowed in the four warriors of Light, a renewed hope that strengthen them.

Lorenne’s ears pricked in alert as she searched for the flutist. She could recognise the flute’s sound anywhere at all. She heard an echo of a verse of a hymn in her head which could be memorised and sang by every believer of the Light in the Kingdom,

“Listen to the winds whisper

The sacred sound of the flute,

Evil shall cower and take flight

For the god of Righteousness

Is by his people’s side.”