Murmur noise lingered in the air, so I tried to raise my eyelids. However, intense light shines, hurting my eyes. I closed them again and tried to agape.
A shadow above my face felt like it was circling in the air. At that moment, I knew she was here, calling out my name.
Observant, I try to open my eyes. A hazy figure was there, slowly becoming visible to see. There she is, levitating in the air before my eyes. Sensing my gaze, she came near me and touched the tip of my nose with its tiny head.
'ah... she is so warm', in a tender smile, the corner of my lips rises.
"Welcome, Arya", she exclaimed her joy, adding she asked in a sweet voice, "You called me; why?"
"I'm scared, Leve. The changes are scary. Why me?" with a sad voice, I express.
"Three questions, remember?" it's eyes convey impair.
"The sword," raising my right hand in the air, gripping in a fist and then loose, again I repeat my actions, "When I held it, the influence I sense. what was that? "
Ostensibly, she might meant to solace me; she rubbed her tiny nose on my cheeks, "The power of the fifth Arya", softly she said.
The moment I heard that answer, I felt cold water was poured on me. My shock is visible to the naked eye.
'what? The fifth? Then what am I?'
"Explain this to me," I demand, horrified by its answer.
"I'm afraid I can't." my request was denied.
"Why?" My tone was quaver; I was desperate.
"Because of the seal. If I say more than allowed, there will be a price to pay." saying that it twirls in the air and takes the shape of a bird. It was like she has embrace the fire itself, burning herself with it yet living within it. A fire so beautiful, it takes away ones breathe, mysteriously charming, powerful so much that would bring down even the huge mountain down beneath it's feet, yet one can not avert their eyes from her. Her feather sparkles as sparks drifting upward, embers glowing, a majestic bird of fire.
"But if you promise to come, I can help. Though this will weaken me, come find me before the third sunrise." she flaps her wings, looking at my eyes, and I nod.
As the white space started to form into an opera where, I found myself seated in the middle row. With joyous melodic music, the show begins. The music is played adagio with very slight dynamic change as the curtains lift. With a voice full of sorrow and suspense, the tale started.
"It was quintuple mass as she came
Embrace by the world
Yet abominate by its populace
She was the ray in the era of darkness
While she prays for mortals to live
They sin her espousing the blackness
Ignorant to her pure soul
They push her into the black abyss
Being kind as she was
Couldn't bear the sight as they suffer
She begs god for recrudescence
With all her might
She summoned the spirit of time
But time is a disruption to play
The price must be paid for it to lay
Thinking zillions a bond was a tide
For that, the soul core has to die
But as her core was firelight
The run was such a slight
For the deal to stabilize
The spirit pays a hefty price
Blade, as keen as her
Will be given to us as an offer
With hope for better days
She smiles as she pays
As the price was paid
Her soul came under the shade
Thus, the time was reversed
As the fourth you appear.."
As the latter part changed from a sad tune to a hopeful voice. Although it was an opera house, the show was like a puppet theatre; an image came to me as she spoke. A beautiful girl with black hair flashed before me with a smile as bright as late spring sunshine. Finish telling me the tale; I noticed her light was becoming dim. She falls in my palm, only saying one word, she disappears, 'promise.'
I wake up, sunlight coming into my room, crossing the window through the gap in the curtains. Welcoming another day into my life. Yet, not knowing of my hurts.
I got my answer regardless of the consequences. My desperate self led her to that state. No matter what, I have to save her. The way she vanished, I could not help but think things were becoming more severe. It's already the first sunrise.
There was no time to delay. I rang the bell, and then Miya came in.
She bows, "Good morning, madam," saying so raises her head.
I exited my bed, still wearing the nightgown with a shawl covering me. I walk towards the fireplace. The fire reminds me of Levana, ignited in its high, even so, mellow with its beauty. If I stay still, nothing will be solved.
'Be it her or me, we both needed each other support to survive in this brutal nature. As much as I'm desperate, she is in great need of me too. We fill each other plates, so I guess it is even than; She uses me, I use her.
Bringing me back from trance, "Madam, the duke will go into the forest." With a slight long pause, she continued, "Should I prepare something as a token?" hesitation was evident in her tune when she mentioned the token.
"No, there's no need." Waving my hand, indicating her to leave, I add, "Bring my breakfast here; it's cold outside." with that, I dismissed her.
I went near my cabinet and pulled the both handles, a cabinet full of clothes for winter. I put some warm clothes in the bag; I need to pack those to move quickly. Ivan will leave this afternoon. I should prepare the necessaries.
I tried to convince him, but that did not work; any further delay and I might lose her. After breakfast, I went to the library. My eyes fell on a familiar corner, 'good thing she isn't here,' the reception was empty.
I hurried to find the book we last researched, and along with the book, with some papers, a map was placed on the table, which we marked together.
Arranging all these in this manner, it's like she knew I would do this. I felt guilty using her this way; without being able to say thanks, I left. Time is fleeting.
I wore a maid outfit and went to bid farewell to the duke. It seemed like he was waiting for someone. Often, he would glance at the maintenance and tap his feet on the ground. He did not notice my presence; 'I suppose the outfit did its trick.' Taking this chance, I hop into a wagon. I peeked to see if anyone was around when I caught him talking with Miya, although I could not hear the contents.
"Where is she?" He asked through, gritting his teeth.
"I am sorry, your grace. But madam won't come out of her room," looking down, she replied.
"Tsk.. we will depart now," he announced to his man.
I have already changed my clothes with the spare one I had. I wore a long-sleeved white linen shirt with a corset and black pants. I took some mana stones to keep me warm from the cold. And a long woolen coat in walnut colour.
The wagon started to move; it was a bit shaky, not a comfortable one, it seemed. Ivan will reach the forest today using the portal, but to reach where I want, traveling with a carriage or a horse is not an option. I assume I have to walk there.
I took some food from the wagon and warped myself with a blanket. In four hours, we reached the portal; it was near a valley on the north side. 'This sickness. I'm grateful that the time was cut short, but I don't think I can ever get used to this feeling.' It was already sunset, and the night was falling, but this man did not stop; instead, they continued their journey. 'Well, at this rate, I can get there faster.'
I slept the whole ride, and suddenly, the wagon stopped. As the wagon shook, I was wide awakened from all that.
I heard someone's footsteps approaching the wagon. In a hurry, I hid behind a box; fortunately, they only took some water from there.
I heard the men talking to each other - "The northeast side of the jungle is piling up with new monsters." "Yeah, we don't even know what kind they are." "Well, we don't have anything to fear." They glanced at Ivan. "That's true" "there's a monster that we are traveling alone," they laugh as they chat.
'Northeast? That's no good. The cave is in the opposite direction. Shit, it's still far away. If I start walking now, I will arrive there at sunset', pounder in thoughts, 'if that's the case, I will only be left with one night to find her. What great luck,' Arya cruse herself.
She sneaks out of the wagon while everyone is distracted and takes a short glance at her husband, hesitating but with determination, she starts walking toward the northwest.
'Hang in there, leve...' As she walked, she prayed that in her heart.
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