It reminded him of the thin needle which the village healers use for their treatment. They produced a pain that traveled to every part of his body and was sure to leave bruises.
But despite the odds, a little part of him was excited. Jinta, the master mage, always tell tales of how he had lost the softness of his palms to climbing up a mountain. It was an exaggeration Bola knew, but he was pleased to be passing through the pain.
This would serve as his own battle scar. After today, he would tell his own adventure stories.
It would save him the stress of paying unending attention to Jinta, who always ranted like a drum about the war of the Kingdom and the elves.
Their lofty appearances towered over everything that stood in the village square, with swords, spear, bow and arrow, ten times any weapon the strongest warrior in the whole three kingdoms could bear. They were well equipped and looked dangerous even from the light of the moon. Like the taskmaster, they wore the same blue uniform with red cuff and stripes strolling its side. Their gauntlet and armor were tattered. It was worn out from days of ridding none stop under the wheel of harsh weather.Bola rested his hands on his waist—where his magic porch was—and stopped when he was sure that he was close
Now nemesis was about to catch up with him.The green vial spilled on the grasses as he hurried to rub them on his palms. His hand was shaking, not just his hands. His entire body was trembling.The creature walked out from the back of the palm tree, and it face sent more frightful fire down Bola’s spine. It had a human face, but its fang was three times longer than a python’s. It was hard to make out the entire body, which seemed to be formed from the smoke of darkness.“Let…” Bola trembled and fumbled with words as he tried to remember the right spell.
“You think your little tricks can work on me, mage?” The creature staggered slowly towards him. Its cloth was made from the shadow of darkness and was swerving behind, “Try something less amusing. You have to yield and save your weak bone the inevitable. But, I would like it if you try to put up a fight, it would only make your blood more pleasing and appetizing for my refined palate.”Bola uncorked the vial, frowning at the fowl odd. He applied the fluid on his palms, not bothering to wipe away the sands and dried blood. His hands were still shaking, but unlike the first time, it became stable when he focused his mind on the magic words.“We have fed on anima
“Hear my cry!” He screamed, with every air that was inside his lungs, “and let your light shine in the darkness!”A bright green light shot out from his hands and blast the vampire on the chest. The creature screamed in agony as it disintegrated into nothing, leaving the sparks of yellow lights to announce its existence. The blaring teeth of the still registered in Bola’s memory, it would take long before he forgets.Tears pour out from his eyes as his mind weigh everything the creature had said. They were too bad to be true, even though he tries to deny it, he knew the creature was telling the naked truth.
“Stay where you are, or I will destroy you?” Bola threaten and held out his hands, “Who led the war against the children of the night, and in what city were they destroyed?”“No one led the great war. The three kingdoms fought together and destroyed the vampires in the city called the city of gods.” The man’s answer left Bola with wide mouth. No children of the night could have known that answer, besides, they can’t say the word god without chocking. “Quit being a child.” The wizened old man said and walked pass “We have more serious matters to attend to,” It was then that Bola lifted his head and saw the surviving me
Bola grumbled but tried to remain calm. He met the man’s eyes once and looked away. Uche was the one that had sheltered him when he lost his family. But the man was behaving like a fool, now especially.“Please, let’s iron this matter without tearing ourselves apart.” Pa Uta whispered, “Bola,” he called, and the mage raised his eyes to meet the older man.“We are not saying that going to rescue Ginika is a bad idea, but the odds of getting him back without jeopardizing the status of the village are slim. You are a member of the council; you know too well how the emperor had written a decree that we are not to leave this field for any reason. Do you
Her words swerved in the cold air for some time. But not able to contain it any longer, Bola burst with hot laughter. It was good to see a child with a strong ambition, but the funny part was meeting a foolish one by chance.“What makes you think you will be a plus in such a dangerous mission?” Bola asked in between chuckles. The innocence in his eyes said that he was waiting for the girl to say something else that would make his lungs explode with laughter.“Because I am a seer, of course,” She replied softly, with eyes full of determination. That was it. Bola was already clothed with laughter as he bent over and laughed. He laughed so hard and did not stop until tear
The floor was rigid against his skin, and the air smelled was like straws that clogged together in wet soil. He certainly was not in the soft hands of his bed. ‘But what is this place?’ He thought as he licked his dried lips. It was impossible to tell time, but from the rays of light that tubes in through some tinny holes, he could tell that it was day time already.He tried to sit up, but something slammed his head, and pain shredded his forehead. Tears formed in his eyes as the agony traveled throughout his whole body, making him clench his teeth. Reflexively, he tried to touch
The calmness was alluring, and the serenity so great that she felt she could remain here forever. Nothing seems to exist. It was just as if she was just being born. There was no trouble, no worries, and certainly no death. But where am I?“My sweet child,” Someone said, and the girl could feel the hands that patted her forehead.Abigail opened her eyes, just in time to see the beautiful face of Queen Isabel, as she pulled away from her. The rich lemon fragrance covered Abigail’s nostrils lurking around the fresh morning air that was rushing into the room from the window at the far end.“Mother?” Abigail called. Even her own voice was new to her.“Rest, my child, you need it.” Isabel smiled weakly and stroked Abigail’s forehead.“What happened?” Abigail asked as she sat up from the bed. She was totally found. No part of her body ached from the training, and she was more at ease and…“By the heavens,” Abigail screamed when her fair skin. She stroked her head and laughed from the rich bl
Gen jumped on top of the watchman and ripped his throat out, feeling the sweet savor of the metallic taste that came rushing into her palate. She was careful not to bite off his head as that was a disgusting way to feed.She wiped her mouth with the back of her hands and stood up. She was not satisfied, but she must try to be on mission. Maybe she will come back and finish him off when she was done.A ray of sun tubes in through the roof, and Gen laughed. It was still a wonder to her that she was walking in daylight. She had been in the dark for about 50 years, but now, walking under the light made her realize that there is more to life that the ugly face of darkness.The hands of the sun spreads through the whole earth, blessing everything that stood in the vast distance with its grace. From this place, she could see everywhere in Arkenta. Even the border of Landevia spread out and seemed to be touching the sky. She was supposed to monitor the Cavaliers from this Watchtower, but stand
Vera nodded to Gareth and walked out from among the shadows. She followed behind the cavalier, who was totally oblivious of her presence. The man was about to round the bend when she held his mouth from behind and traced the sharp end of her dagger around his neck. She held his mouth tightly as he convulses but released him when he finally became still.“That’s thirty-two,” Gareth whispered as he walked towards her.“You have been keeping counts?” Vera asked and wiped her dagger on the body of the fallen guard.“A total of sixty-six. You are a warlord mother,” “Which way?” “There,” Gareth pointed to another metal door. The torches flickered with the little wind that walked in the air, revealing the emptiness that lies on the other side of the door. It was day, and the sun was at its zenith. But its hands have failed to touch any side of the dungeon. Dar
“Emm…guys, I hate to break the reunion, but I think we are in trouble.” A girl that was twice as tall as any of them in the arena said. Behind her were two other girls whose eyes were wider than the lens of Victoria.“Olivia? We are friends now?” Dodo suddenly asked as she, Abigail, and Victoria turned to the other girls. The looks on their faces told Ginika to keep off. He wasn’t ready to meddle with women’s affairs.“Ginika!!!” Someone screamed. “Pa Bola?” Ginika’s brow elevated to his skull at the voice of the man who was running into the arena from one of the metal bars. Behind him was a strange-looking woman, in breeches and some yellow shawl hanging loosely on her shoulders.“You must get out of here, now,” The man said. The looks on his face were covered with so many expressions that Ginika could not place a hand on.“Bola,” Dodo called, turning away from the girl she had called Olivia. “You are alive.” “Yes, but there is no time, we must hurry, follow me.” Bola pointed to the
A sweet air bashed Abigail’s face when she finally walked out of the burning hallway. The metal bars shut behind her, leaving her and the other children at the mercies of the crowd and their frenzy. The walls of the arena were high, more than thirty feet away from the dust and sand.“Now what?” Dodo asked as she steady her hands on the pan. Her composure was laudable, and it made Abigail want to run into her arms. The girl was showing no sign of weakness or fright. It was as if she had anticipated all the event and knew what would happen.“How long can you last out here, Victoria.” The voice of Olivia came fluttering with the numerous screams of the crowd. The mockery in them was annoying. The girl was acting as though she had everything under control.The metal door at the other side of the arena opened, and some six boys came jogging out of it. They were also Vesslers who had come to transition. Unlike the girls that were given pans, the boys held the sword, spears, shield, and other
The voice of the metals continued to scream as the hammers of the blacksmith descended upon them. The screams only stopped to a hissing sound when the men imbued them into the water pan beside the metal table, and resumes their previous beating. Those clatter and noise from the anvil could cause the ear to bleed. It’s been hours since they came here, yet none of the three blacksmith had fashion any reasonable weapon. It was as if they were toiling in vain, or were they doing this as a hobby?Abigail wiped her brow for what seemed to be the tenth time that morning. If the sweat had anything to do with the heat of the furnace, then she would have taken solace in the metal door whose air was blocked by the girl’s that clustered on it.
“This is ridiculous.” Richard chuckled, “The funniest joke in the history of the empire.”“You are a coward Richard. And your strength Is in your tongue. The only thing you are good at is staring up strife among brethren.”“Is that what you think,” Richard flared and hurried up to Gabriel, but the other children where just in time to hold the two from ripping their throats apart.“Richard.” Ginika said, and all eyes turned to him. “I don’t care if you hate me
“You ruined our lives. I said it before, you are nothing but trouble,” Richard shouted.Ginika’s stomach tightened as he studied the other children who were staring at him like some kind of god. Betty had hidden them in the forest, the same forest which was becoming like home ever since he was kicked out from the brotherhood. It was easily to see through the expression that lurked in the face of the children. They looked haggard and frightened and five years starving.“You hear me?” Richard’s voice rung in his ears but he tried his best to ignore the boy. “You are nothing but evil. Nemesis will fall on yo
Bola wiped the tears from his own eyes, not able to hold them back any longer. Seeing the reunion between the mother and son made his chest ach. He just could not shut the doors of his emotions as his mind flashback into the past, in that night when his whole family was destroyed by the children of the night. His clan had been so weak to defend themselves. They had been so powerless.“Here,” Vera’s word brought his wandering thoughts back into his body. She had was holding a small book in her hands now, a book which she gave to Gareth.“It contains my memory.” Vera smiled and parted Gareth’s cheeks, leaving a smear of red trail on them.“Please don&