Darklight: Journey To The Empyrean (Completed)

CHAPTER 9

With the air as my elemental ally. I open my palms and let the wind whisper in my ears. A whistling sound that keeps me calm throughout the years.

Matapos nang komprontasyon ko kanina kay Larco ay mabilis siyang umalis sa inn. Left alone with sleeping people I decided to stay in the rooftop of the inn where the night sky is just above me.

I savor the feeling of being a care-free soul far from the responsibility and war. Nakahiga ako habang pinapakinggan ang bulong ng hangin nang makarinig ako ng kakaiba. I open my eyes and look for any possible threat.

Using my vision I focus on the vampires in their fast pace approaching the valley. I jump from the rooftop to the terrace of the room.

"Wake up everyone. Vampires a few miles away." Malakas kong sigaw na nagpabangon sa kanila.

I look for my twin and Larco but they are still nowhere in sight. Mabilis kaming lumabas ng inn, wala na ang babae kanina sa front desk. Bumungad sa amin ang tahimik at abandonadong komunidad. Malayo sa Belheim na una naming nasilayan.

"Wait. Nasa Belheim paba tayo?"  usisa ni Verleen na nakakunot ang noo.

"We are under an illusion." siguradong saad ni Jay habang nakamasid rin sa tahimik na paligid.

"Are we under an illusion now or a few hours ago?" tanong ni Demor na naging katanungan narin sa aming lahat.

With Larco and Angus out of sight. I look at the people in front. Aside from me, Eulises is here and I know he's a great help when it comes with tracking. He may look like someone so childish and bubbly but he lead a thousand men to war victorious.

Bago pa ako makapagsalita ay itinuro na ni Eulises ang daan na tinahak ng dalawa. We run in fast pace until we arrive at a cliff a few meters away from the inn. Now, I know we are inside someone's trap.

Nang makarating na kami sa tinuro ni Eulises ay hindi namin makita ang aming hinahanap. Eulises is a great maybe the best tracker of the city and never did once falter when it comes with tracking.

"Shit. This an illusion. We must find a way to get out before they kill our bodies." malakas na saad ni Eulises habang nakadungaw sa bangin na may malalakas na hampas ng alon sa ilalim.

A huge wave of water towered in front of us. A woman in her aqua blue hair appear in top of the huge wave. Nanglilisik ang mga matang nakatingin sa amin habang may asul na usok ang lumalabas sa kanyang mga kamay.

Isang malakas na pagbagsak ng tubig ang nagpabuwal sa aming kinalalagyan. I swim in the waters that tried to kill me. Hindi humupa ang tubig gaya ng aking inaasahan. Wala akong makitang ni anino ng aking mga kasama. Then, I realize I am alone inside a circle of water.

Isang pwersa na galing sa tubig ang pumulupot sa aking leeg. Bubbles come out from my mouth. Isang pigura ng babae ang lumabas. She look at me with a pity look in her eyes like she already forsee my death in her hand.

Isang matulis na bagay ang dumampi sa aking pisngi. Kasabay nun ang paghalo ng aking dugo sa tubig na gawa ng majika ng babae sa aking harapan.

I let my elemental gift protect me, giving my body extra air to be able to breath underwater. Just as I found a way to cope up with her magic, she release a force that grip my neck giving me lesser chance to breath.

"Look how vulnerable the great priestess of Vilmore is. How the realm found your city indestructible. Looking at you now, I doubt it." she said with a sarcastic tone in her voice.

"Any last words?" dagdag niya na may asul na liwanag sa kanyang mga kamay.

"I found y...ou." mahina kong saad na ikinataka niya. Kasabay ng pagpalabas ko ng aking ng isang malaking buhawi gamit ang kanyang sariling kapangyarihan. She must have forgotten that air is a great manipulating element. Mabilis na nabiyak ang kanyang bola ng tubig na nagpabagsak sa akin sa sahig. Bago pa makapagpalabas ng panibagong kapangyarihan ang babae ay sinasaksak siya ni Eulises sa puso.

"Wake up Agnes." malakas na sigaw sa akin ni Eulises bago ako tinangay ng hangin paalis sa nakakamatay na ilusyon ng babae.

Mabilis akong bumangon galing sa mahimbing na pagkakatulog sa rooftop. We have outsmarted the woman in her own illusions. I was about to get up when a hand extended to mine.

Larco.

"Good. You're awake now, sleepyhead." saad niya habang nakahawak sa aking mga kamay.

I look at his bruised face makes it look like he's from a battle against someone or something. Nang makatayo na ako ay bumungad sa akin ang mga nakahilerang bangkay sa labas ng inn.

I saw my brother struck his final blow to a man making him knock down dead with Angus's knife stuck in his head. Mabilis itong hinigot ni Angus at inilagay ang kutsilyo sa loob ng kanyang coat.

He look at my direction and gesture his hands wanting me to go to the room we rented from that witch. Tumalon ako patungo sa terrace ng kwarto at naabutan ang kakagising ko lang na mga kasama. Si Demor na may sugat sa kanyang braso, si Verleen na may konting galos sa mukha at si Ophelia na may sugat malapit sa leeg. Mabilis na tumayo si Eulises na bahagyang nag-unat pa ng mga kamay na parang nasayahan sa kanyang paggising.

"That was fun." Eulises and his boastful self said.

"Good. Everybody's awake." saad ni Larco habang papalapit na sa amin at ibinuklat ang mapa sa ibabaw ng kama. Nakasunod si Angus sa kanya na mabilis na lumapit sa akin at yumakap ng mahigpit.

"I know you'll be back." he whisper against my ears.

I was about to answer his words when I saw Larco look at us in a serious manner. Mga emosyon na ni minsan hindi ko naisip na igagawad sa akin ni Larco o nang sino mang lalaki dahil isa akong priestess na sumumpang walang ibang iibigin at paglilikuran maliban sa syudad at konseho. A foreign feeling, strange but fascinating.

"Someone's jealous." Agnus said silently. In a way that only my ears has the only access to his hear words.

Bahagyang napatingin sa akin si Angus at tumaas ang gilid ng kanyang labi. I just raise my brow to his remark. I should really look for a spell to shut Angus out of my head.

"Try harder sister." saad ni Angus na lumapit kay Larco sabay tapik sa kanyang balikat na nagpabalik sa ulirat ng lalaki.
He turn his gaze away from mine and cleared his throat.

"We'll be riding west towards Cohen City." saad niya habang turo sa isang lugar na ilang oras ang layo mula dito sa Belheim.

Cohen is a city govern by a former priestess of Silleret named Orellis. Train by the council in terms of skills and combat. Won a thousand wars but was dethroned because of her affair with a priest and decided to built a their own civilization, protected the outcast humans and built their walls.