The Magic Within ↠ Once Upon A Time

[Chapter 80] Banishment

Surely, there's no fruitful ending for an ex-Savior, none for a killer like her. She already has bodies piling. First being Sabor, then tons from the humans she's touched or had a helpful hand in their demise, and lastly, Kala—her most innocent victim. Blood already fills her hands, and the stains won't be flushed away. The marks are on her body.

She must stop herself before the bodies can stack into a mountain.

Without much thought, Tarza rises to her feet, an act that her own body barely feels yet shouts in anguish with stiff muscles. On her feet, she gets a rush but not because she rose too quickly. Her body comes back to life when it's been destroyed. A new mission makes her alive like a zombie.

Then, she takes a meager step forward, a true plan barely on her mind. Tarza looks ahead, then down, then back up again. She sees nothing, like she's staring into a future that she can't imagine or no longer see. A mere step doesn't accumulate anything.

Even when a blank canvas is in her view, she doesn't look away. Can she even dare to look back? As a matter of fact, looking back is what lead her to now. Everything that's behind her holds her like a leash to a tree. Nevertheless, back is where the real picture is at. Damn if curiosity is the true killer.

With nothing to control her impulse—as if a mindless corpse—Tarza turns her head.

She means to make a quick glance, but a figure in the trees catches her eye. Then, she turns her body so that her ends could be at the trees and the cliff, as if each setting could pull her arms to either direction. Anything to get a better look. Though the fog that blankets the air around her clouds her pristine vision, the broad figure is wider than the slim trees, and far too short to tower them.

Seeing the unknown spirit, the familiar sight forces Tarza to remember. Her mind plays back the actions she committed. Her body quakes—as if it'll break down once more—and she takes another step. The plunge of the cliff beckoning closer.

Anything to prevent another mistake.

The figure doesn't move, but it whispers her name, muttering something incoherent soon after.

Tarza barely registers the voice.

What could've been a minute—or an hour—flashes over Tarza, and the one figure grows into more. It's as if the bushes came alive and started to multiply. The jungle behind her moves on its own. More figure grow into more until it looks like a clan. That is until one figure starts growing taller, and broader, than the others. Even at the distance from Tarza, she knows the figure grows far above her. Now, the leader poses larger than most of the living creatures at this cliff.

"Tarza," Kerchak calls. His voice quiet, but his tone still as a poising leader.

Although her father's voice should be a long awaited comfort, Tarza drowns in the dread filling her lungs. Her knees start to buckle.

"Tell them we've found her," Kerchak commands another, his voice drops lower but Tarza still hears him.

The girl looks to her feet in shame as if it's a normal procedure. She doesn't expect to be scolded, but Tarza can't dare to look at Kerchak. Even her father has become a tragic reminder.

Kerchak does not notice her behavior. The fog blinds him more than Tarza's fuzzy vision. "Do you know how long it's been since I last saw you," he knuckle-walks closer. For once, Kerchak actually shows worry in front of others, especially Tarza.