18 days till full moon
Kuon: How much longer are you going to keep that smile on your face.
Zelphi: I don't know. I'm still so happy that Soren joined us on our quest.
Ever since Soren joined us yesterday, I've been smiling nonstop. I guess I'm just happy because with a tactician, our chances of winning will rise. Hang in there papa! I'm coming to rescue you.
Soren: Still, even if I did join you, we still wouldn't defeat the prince. Might I remind you that although all of us are skilled, we are only four people. At best, I can come up with a plan to save your father then escape.
Zelphi: No we have to do both.
Everyone: ???
I wish I can just escape with my papa, but Ysviel is after me. He won't stop unless I'm dead or else he can't become the next reaper king.
Zelphi: I...um...I want Kuon to get his revenge as well.
Although that's what I said, it was just an excuse. This is my destiny, I cannot avoid it.
Kuon: Well aren't you being considerate? Glad you still remember.
Zelphi: It was the main reason why you wanted to come along. How could I forget.
In the afternoon we stayed at a log cabin. Soren wanted to prepare us for the upcoming battle.
Soren: It isn't going to be easy to defeat the prince, he has an entire army behind him. Not to mention his six generals and his alliances with all the other kingdoms. For now, I suggest each of you to work on your strength and cover up your weakness as best as you can. Also, is everyone familiar with the term aura.
Zelphi: I've never actually tried to use it, but I've seen it done before.
Soren: Then I'll just briefly explain it. Aura is the energy that flows within our body. We can use this energy and turn it into power, it also helps determine how strong an opponent is. The more intense the aura is, the stronger the opponent. Not to mention there are several ways you can use your aura whether it's attacking or defending. I want you guys to learn how to use this skill, it will help you greatly.
Zelphi: I understand, but how?
Soren: I can't exactly explain it, but I can show you.
Then, Soren took out his neon green book and read.
Soren: Winds that blow across eternity, gather and obey!
The wind gathered and surrounded Soren, when he motions his hand towards a tree. A huge gust of wind blew a ton of leaves off it.
Soren: I put my aura into my spell book and it converted into wind. Depending on how much aura you put into something also depends on how strong it will be. That's the best advice I can give, sorry.
Zelphi: That's alright Soren, I'll do my best.
For the rest of the afternoon, Soren helped guide us on how to use our aura. I was able to make mine appear, but the question is, how do I convert it into power? Kuon seem to be in the same situation as I am and Sloth already knows how to do it.
Zelphi: Sloth, all this time, was the reason why you were so fast is because you used your aura.
Sloth looked at me confidently and smiles slightly.
Sloth: Yep. But I'm still fast even without using aura.
When night falls, everyone retired into the log cabin. I stayed out awhile longer to practice. Using aura can really drain your energy, but I won't give up.
Just then, I felt a large pressure of aura from the bushes, a pair of red eyes stared out from the darkness. Then a shadow darted out and attacked me with a scythe. With my scythe I blocked it with reflex.
Rajak: I finally found you! I'm going to make you pay for making me go through all this trouble finding you.
Ugh...he's strong. Up close, I saw that he was the red haired man I met at town. This isn't good, he knows for certain now. With immense power, he knocked me backwards. I stumbled but before I fell, I did a backflip in midair and landed. I put one knee down on the ground. What should I do, because of all the aura training I did from this afternoon, I'm exhausted. I also can't call my companions since they're too far away. Besides this guy wouldn't give me a break and consecutively attacks me. I did my best to block his attacks since I am in no condition to fight back. Every time his scythe cuts me, I felt my blood being drained from my body. I suddenly became light headed and unwillingly dropped to the ground.
Rajak: What's wrong? Are you dried up already? But my blood scythe didn't take out that much of your blood.
So my blood was being drain by his scythe. I looked at his scythe and saw a red liquid containing my blood located near the rod of the scythe.
Rajak: Since you're a woman, I'll be considerate and let you die by your own blood.
Rajak then used his aura and flowed it into his blood scythe. The blood (my blood) scattered out from his scythe. As if controlling it, he motions his hand and the blood shaped into a spear and hardened. He points his finger at me and Swish! The blood spear flew towards me at high speed. I had no strength to dodge this so I tightly closed my eyes. Suddenly, I heard the wind whistle. When I open my eyes, I was surrounded by a protective wind with the blood spear stopping in place.
Kuon: I was wondering what took you so long.
I looked over my shoulder and saw, Kuon, Sloth, and Soren behind me.
Zelphi: Kuon! You guys finally came. Any longer and I would've been dead.
Kuon: Then you should be thankful we came just in time.
Zelphi: Right!
With that Kuon and Sloth dashed towards Rajak. While they were doing so, Soren gave me a potion.
Soren: Here, drink this. It's an elixir that will heal your wounds.
After that Soren went and joined the fight.
Kuon and Sloth's sword clash with Rajak's scythe. Soren used his wind magic to support Kuon and Sloth. While Sloth distracts Rajak and Soren protects them from danger. Kuon focused his aura into his sword, a thick layer of transparent black energy surrounded it. Soren confines Rajak within his wind and Kuon slashes Rajak with great force. We could hear Rajak's scream echo in the night, then he fell flat on the ground with a pool of blood surging out.
After that, they came over to me.
Kuon: Are you alright.
Zelphi: Yes, thanks to Soren's potion, I'm healing up quite nicely. More importantly, how were you able to control your aura that quickly.
Soren: I wouldn't call that controlling.
Sloth: It looked more like he was coating his sword with aura. If he did control it, his sword's form would've been more solid and sharp.
Zelphi: It was still better than what I can manage.
Soren: Zelphi, it's my turn to ask you a question. Ever since I heard your story, there have been many questions that weighted in my mind. Why did the reaper prince kidnapped your father anyway? Is there some sort of connection you have with them because you are a half reaper? Lastly why did this person want to kill you? You are hiding something from us, tell us the truth Zelphi.
Zelphi:.....
He is sharp, I guess there are some downfalls for letting Soren come along. He hit all the nails in the right place. I guess I have no choice but to tell them, I don't want to lie anymore. With a deep breath I told them everything, about how I am a half demon and angel, about who my mother and father was, and about Ysviel and why he is after me. After I told them everything, everyone grew silent.
Soren: I see....but my answer still remains unchanged. I will still help you with your quest as long as I obtain knowledge along the way.
Sloth: Me too, I came along with the intention to help you since you helped me.
Zelphi: Sloth...Soren, thank you both.Then I looked at Kuon, he was staring at the ground with his black hair covering his face. Without a word, he got up and left.
Zelphi: Kuon...I, I'm sor-
Kuon: None of your excuses! I should never have believed in you anyway. How stupid was I to be laughing with the reaper kings daughter.
Then he was gone. Tears flow down my eyes, I knew this was going to happen, but...it still hurts. It's hard to believe just this morning, we were all happily laughing together.
Crack! Another crack bigger than the last, form on my amulet.