Episode 7: Strange disease

Episode 7: Strange disease

                     As soon as we reached Cabuyao forest, I extracted a single drop of my blood to an ayusip gem then tossed it in between the gaps of two gigantic pine trees. Ayusip gems were pygmy rare stones that turn from blue to red when it absorbs a tiny amount of blood, and only Sinandaya territory has this kind of gem which we constantly use to enter the portal. Sinandaya has long been hidden from the rest of Claveria by the help of sorcery and one can only enter when a vampire’s blood drips down the ayusip gem.

“Stop!” thundered a voice. It was from Tyler, the current brigadier in charge of the regiment. “A deadly strange disease was spreading throughout the capital and the other districts. Commander Felipe has ordered everyone in confinement, thus he said that the combatants led by Gaia must stay outside the borders for safety. Here is the letter.”

                    He tossed the scroll from his hands to the air that floats as soon as I lift my hand. It was indeed Felipe’s writing stating his orders for us to stay at the borders. There were even barriers in between, parting the entire kingdom. From the highest mountains that we’re standing, we could see how devastated the kingdom is.

                    Blood and dead bodies were scattered on the ground and so was the foul and rancid smell of rotten flesh. Vampires were running wildly, ravishing on cadavers on the left side like they haven’t eaten anything these past few days. While on the right were the remaining ones who still have their sanity. This is crazy, really crazy.

“Have you figured out the cause of this?” I asked Tyler behind the transparent barrier.

“It’s a disease caused by until now an anonymous food someone consumed. Commander Felipe concluded it can be cured by an antidote, tests were currently running but we’re missing several components which are only found on the Aramoor part of Claveria. Specifically, the Pinansey-angan kingdom of the Contejo family.”

                     I simply nodded at him, “Where is Felipe? Can I talk to him right now?”

“Yes, you can but with a limited time to prevent possible exposure.”

                     Mayari handed me clean linen to cover my face before Tyler let me inside the barrier. The right-wing is where he let me pass through and enter the castle where Felipe was. The moment I stepped into the hall, it was full of vampires who protests and complains about the current situation. There I saw Felipe tightly massaging his head in aggravation.

“Any updates?” I started which Felipe quickly turned facing me.

“None, not even a single piece,” he replied anxiously. With a certain distance between us, I managed to comfort his flustered side. Felipe was only a couple of years younger than me, yet he got this amazing intellectual capacity on both military and political issues. And seeing him this troubled means this is a serious issue.

“How about I personally go to Pinansey-angan and ask them for the missing components we needed for the antidote?”

                      He just shrugged and led me to another room full of different chemicals and herbs, there were also the sorcerers currently testing and examining. “We need the Masaplora and Gobbayas berries that only grow on the southern part. I’ve already sent them a letter—”

“You exposed us?” I blurted surprisingly which he quickly answered.

“I have to, there is no other choice. I did this for our kingdom’s survival.”

                      My eyes shut tightly, He’s right. We need to sacrifice this thing for us to thrive. “Do they have their reply?”

“The envoy still hasn’t returned, they must’ve arrived there any minute from now.”

“We’ll wait then, Mayari and the troop will be guarding outside the barrier. Please be safe, Felipe.” With that, I nod before turning away, leaving the castle.

“Set up the camps, we’ll be staying here,” I commanded when I step out of the barrier still holding the fabric wrapped around me. My feet directed the way to the gushing Amtala river. With no hesitation, I dived right in that crystal-clear water which I don’t mind swimming with its cold shivering temperature.

                  As soon as I lift myself, I started to remove my clothes and flipped them on the large stone just beside me. My gaze automatically traced down to my skin tinted with marks left by that vacuum-headed Alpha. I touched my neck for any signs of the mate’s mark but found nothing which I sighed and maybe thank him for not doing it.

                 I was about to plunge the second time but my senses suddenly detected a motion from behind the tall trees. My body stayed calm and alerted as I brush my hair backward when a dark blue wolf leaped down and suddenly shifted to her human form.

                  

“Oh, vampires really were an easy prey,” she blurted.

“And werewolves really were nude kind of creatures.”

                 She has this long hair tinted with bluish color, and her complexion doesn’t differ from the she-wolves I’ve already seen. And also like them, she’s now naked without anything covering her. They really are nude.

“Is it? Or you are just jealous? Because I’m much sexier than you.”

                  My eyebrow raised, and a smug smile automatically formed as I stand up with only a thin fabric covering my body. “You’re comparing me to you? What a shame… I can see you’re the jealous one,” I uttered closely as I kept a meter distance to her and simply clipped both of my hands at my back.

“Presumptuous, heh. By the way, it was nice finally meeting you. They call me Denise,” she introduced with her hand stretched out.

                   I plainly stared at her before deciding to regard her… courteousness perhaps, “Gaia.”

“No, you’re not.” With a pompous chuckle, she swiftly flipped me over as soon as she grabbed my hand crashing the tree on my back. My eyes turned red, and in a flash, I tightly snatched her neck which she quickly dodged.

“Such a weakling,” she uttered which irritated me more that I attacked him at a sudden speed using my ability. Kicks, punches, and strokes cause chaos between us by the riverside. I wouldn’t deny, she got that extraordinary strength that matches my level. A she-wolf like her belongs to a high rank perhaps.

“Then you’re a wimpy pathetic dog,” words that slip off my mouth when I finally struck her jaw causing her a fall over.

“Not bad.” Denise wiped the blood on her lips which I only lifted an eyebrow as I step back. She doesn’t seem to pick me up in a fight, but in competition instead. She may be up to something.

“What’s your intention?”

“Plainly coincidental, I just saw someone dirtying the river thus I’ve decided to scold you.”

                    My eyes then rolled at her senseless reply and decided to just walk away but she again strikes an attack that I deeply sighed. What’s the problem with her?

“Don’t you wanna stimulate your fighting skills? Seems like you’re getting weaker.”

“Revive yours first.”

“Huh, don’t be so imperious you bloodsucker!”

                    All of a sudden, a sword was hurled in front of me and I also feel how this Denise directed another sharp blade on my neck. Now she wants a real fight, who am I to refuse? I profusely kicked her backwards in able for me to grab the sword she had thrown. Facing her, I was kind of shocked when she now wears clothes. Where did she get that?

                    Nevertheless, I liked her outfit. A warrior’s dress which hugs hips perfectly and a slit on the sides, enough to let massive movements and strokes. It has the color of ginger and fewer adornments. Those ties adds up the spice look. “Then don’t cry if you lose,” I muttered as I clashed the sharp-edged sword down her waist which she swiftly blocked.

“You must be referring to yourself,” Denise replied and swung her blade in the air. With a leap from flickering, she clattered the sword. I hastily diverged around, letting her drop down and forcefully kick her back which she then sensed. She bolted away followed by a backstroke with her sword that I didn’t expect.

“You play foul filthy.”

“Remember there’s no clean battlefield, Adira.”

                   My mouth swung open when she mentioned my name. Left unalarmed, she took the opportunity and hit me in the head. Enough to knock me down at my knees.

“No matter how astounded you are, never let your defenses down. You don’t want that to be the end without knowing everything, right?” she exhorted before pacing backward. Waiting for me to get up and attack her mayhap.

“Tell me! Spill everything that you know,” I challenged as I rise and darted a ferocious glare at her.

“Defeat me first, and I’ll tell you what I know.” She again attacked with her sword pacing me, I aggrievedly snuffed as I constantly block her and propelled the blade to her every move. This is really a fun game, I like her agility. I was about to pierce her nape when someone’s voice stopped her and dodged the attempted attack.

“Alpha! We need to go!” shouted a dark-haired girl across the river which makes my eyes narrow in curiosity. This woman is an Alpha? With no words, she shifted to her wolf form and left like she didn’t cause a disturbance. Tch, how arrogant.