Méah almost crawled on her way to the small cabin. Every step she took was a torture. The way the dried leaves and the little twigs crunched under her bare feet gave off a resemblance to what her bones and veins felt like right now. She had Keir's uninjured arm snaked on her nape while she's supporting him underneath his shoulders. Cold sweat from her forehead were pouring down, glistening on her struggling face.
At last, for like eternity, Méah arrived on the small cabin's cobwebbed porch without stumbling down on her way. The small cabin looked very old and shabby. The deep brown color of it's wooden wall, emitting a strong musky smell that seeped right through her nares, and the wild vines crawling all over its surface said it all. Almost every kind of dirt and nature's trash were in there. Dried, brown leaves were scattered everywhere. Patches of tall yet yellowish green grasses depri
After a long day of work, the place was already tidied by Méah except from the kitchen and bedroom stuffs because she can't find any source of water to wash or clean them. And besides her condition won't even let her do it even if a river is running just right outside the small cabin. However, this doesn't include the surrounding area outside; it was still a mess that blended well with the forest itself. Méah dropped herself carefully on the floor beside Keir's bed, avoiding to disturb her injuries. She's extremely exhausted and drained that she immediately closed her eyes the moment she leaned her back on the wooden wall behind her. Suddenly, she felt her stomach grumbled in hunger. Beside her was a small pouch which she made from her robe. Inside it were few wild berries that she found nearby when she went out this afternoon to look for something to eat. It has been three days since she woke up in an unfamiliar place and didn't remember consuming anyt
Eyes snapped open, Méah rose up, freaking out the moment she heard a soft, agonizing groan that awakened her drifting soul. Her feet trembled as she took the distance between the wall and the bed with a long step. In less than a second, she's already looking down on Keir's uneasiness with his eyes still closed, face crumpled in an unexplainable way. He looked like he's having a nightmare or just feeling the effects of his injuries. Méah panicked. As what she expected, after drinking thrice of the medicine she made, he really woke up. It was really a good idea that she was able to woke up last night. She didn't know what to do; her mind just stopped working abruptly. She felt so overwhelmed and relieved, just staring down at Keir. But when Keir was about to touch his forehead, Méah quickly snatched his wrist off. There was a bandage made from her stripped robe wrapped around his forehead. Underneath it were l
After Méah left, Keir felt like dying. Why did it have to come to this? All he wanted was to be alone because with Méah, it was like his life was always on the brink of death! Now he's completely tied with her! She even threatened him! Before, all he wanted was to get out of here. But now, there's another prison that he needs to get out first. But is there really a way to get out of it? What mess did he just got himself involved with? However, the only thing that he's sure of is that he's not going to die, not in this place, not in Méah's hands. And so he have no choice at all but to play along with Méah's deal. Keir didn't realize that he already dozed off amidst his messy thoughts. But it seemed like it only took him a few seconds since he closed his eyes when he felt something moving on his forehead. His eyes automatically opened. The figure moving behind the blurriness
As the blazing sun grew its fiery flames hotter, spreading its scorching temperature in the middle of the cloudless sky, Méah woke up as she felt its unnatural strike of humidity on her sweating body. She then remembered she had fallen asleep after treating her all her wounds except for the ones that were on her back because she couldn't reach them. A relief escaped from her mouth after realizing that she don't have to worry a lot on herself anymore. It was like huge thorn was pulled out of her chest. However, there's only one thing she's left wondering about–the wounds on her back weren't going any better. It's still sore, itchy and stinky. She don't have any idea how and how long she got it but the worst thing she could think about is that maybe she's cursed by someone she have owed something. The moment she looked at the open door, she could only thought anyone else but Keir. She immediately wondered what the hardheaded person was
Méah couldn't believe what she just saw. Her mind and emotions were suddenly stirred into a complete mess. She have never felt so relieved as this as far as she can remember. But there's this thing that bugged her despite the rejoicing, making the newly found hope inside her slowly vanish into thin air. This is why she hated assuming. But even then, the damage is done and she could only blame no one else but herself. But how...how in the world did this happen? It was like she just blinked for a second and everything went even more confusing. Well, who wouldn't be confused if Keir's wounds would disappear like that? There aren't even any traces of them it on the part of his forehead where he had the wound. But she's absolutely sure that there was a wound right there because of the dried blood surrounding the area and on the bandage as well. Yesterday, it was still swollen although it had stopped bleeding after being treated and now it's completely gone!
Everything seemed too surreal to Keir. He wanted to make sure if he's already recovered from his wounds and injuries, he rose from his bed in excitement and curiosity that he forgot Méah was still there. It only took him a second after he have settled himself up when a sudden whack of pain struck the bottom left of his waist. His knees trembled as he threw himself back into the bed. With his face disfigured from the intense feeling, he failed to hide it from Méah. But there's only one thing he had in his mind right now–she lied to him. Even though he has warned himself that she might be lying, he still bought it. And now there's no one else that he could blame but him. "A-are you alright?" Méah hesitantly asked. She didn't know what to say or how to react. But she wondered whether why Keir's face twisted in pain when in fact, he's already healed. "Shut up," Keir said, not in a shouting manner but a low, serious yet threatening one.
Méah was staring at the peaceful and serene scene of the forest; her hand was clutching the soft fabric of her dress where her heart lies underneath. Amidst the silence that embraced the place was her raging emotions. Tears kept forming on her swollen eyes, giving her a blurry vision, sparkling like clear crystals as it trailed down her wet cheeks under the guidance of the light coming from the mid afternoon sun. The people dying and the gruesome events from the past kept replaying in her mind. But there are only two people that she cannot just ignore easily. These are her parents. They looked exactly like the nightmare she had before. And its just too painful for her to accept that they also died the same way they died on that nightmare that she thought maybe it was easier if she didn't remember them. However, their death would go in vain is she didn't because she have to give them the justice that they deserved. On top of all, she was devas
Méah was now on her way into the deepest part of the forest. She still has the hangover of what happened a while ago. The gigantic trees were towering above her. As they got richer and thicker with leaves, the path that she was taking to her destination was also getting darker. Insects are still lively singing their melodies just like they always do every time the darkness crawls on the earth. The cool breeze blow into her exposed skin giving her chills, making her hair sway along rhythmically in its presence. As she was wondering about the weird things, a disturbing noise brought her senses into the present. She just heard a loud, crispy crunch of noise behind her. Her head automatically looked back to find out what is it but her soul almost jumped out of her body when she saw Keir walking in her direction. She found out it was his footsteps on the dried leaves and tiny twigs along the path that made the noise. Méah's hand directly flew on her chest as
The golden rays of the sun broke out through the thick, dark clouds that were slowly dissipating away. The sun sat above the golden capped mountains in the west, about a few minutes before it would rest from a long day of work. The bright light vanished and the small crystal ball fell on Keir's chest. Then it slowly disappeared as soon as it touched his skin. Kalen was greeted by the silence of the world. The thick fog was cleared and the sky was full of hope. But for him, it wasn't the same sky anymore. It was the sky of new life and new beginnings. He looked around and everyone was lying on the ground. There was no trace of Purple Smoke. But he recognised Méah's figure lying ahead of him for half a mile away by her clothes and armour. However, as much as he wanted to check on them, he would have to chose his brother first who was lying right next to him. But judging on Keir's injuries, Kalen decided not to touch him. The arro
"Useless!" Purple Smoke screamed in both fury and disappointment. She hated it when someone fails her and had a long history on it. To her anger, struck Méah with her palm on the chest. Méah flew a few yards away from where she stood. But she didn't complain. For Purple Smoke was her master and the only one who has the authority to do anything to her. She rolled on the ground for a couple times and spat out black blood. She was on knees but her face was still blank and didn't show any hint of pain. Purple Smoke faced Keir and the princess's body. Her vision quickly darkened. "Love. This is what love bring to people. What a pity. They're even willing to die because of it." She grinned. While she was feeling the moment of victory, she heard a swooshing blade coming from behind her. She quickly avoided it and saw Kalen. "Oh, another silly boy. But I like you already. You're braver than your brother." "I w
After they ran away and the battlefield was almost emptied, Purple Smoke was furious when she saw Méah kneeling on the ground, frozen like a statue. She couldn't believe a simple trick could affect Méah. "Come, my dear." Purple Smoke walked in front of Méah. She bent down and held Méah's chin up. Black and purple veins appeared on her neck down to her arms. Then all of it crawled into Méah's chin down to her neck, spreading towards her back. Her injuries were healed and the arrows were burnt into ashes. Méah stood up straight. "Avenge yourself. Kill them all. Kill." Purple Smoke whispered to her ears. "But first, I want you to do something." Then, Méah suddenly disappeared in Purple Smoke's eyes. She was now off to do what she's told to do. Purple Smoke burst into a boisterous laughter. But she eventually stopped when a loud blow of horn was caught in her ears. Among all the four kingdoms, only one would use horn
The three of them were in utter astonishment when they saw the enemies were swarming again. They had no idea where they came from but now they seemed stronger than those that they fought with earlier. King Astius shoulders dropped. At the other end, he saw the Deep Caves and everyone struggling to defend it. The enemies were about to break in. "What the hell! They're like locusts!" Keir cursed under his breath. Suddenly, they heard screams coming from behind them, the main gate from the city of Noartias. As they turned around, they saw the remaining of their soldiers, the war veterans and majority of Eastian soldiers who were assigned to defend the city. They were rushing to the battlefield, ready to give their life for the sake of the world. And then, they joined them to launch an attack on the battleground. Weapons clashed hard against each other. Some tasted flesh, blood and bones. Blood were splattered everywhere, leaving a crimsom
"Oh no! They're here! They're breaking in!" Queen Jainah cowered into the corner of the room in the royal underground where they were hiding. Princess Jiyanah sat down with her, arms snaked on one arm of her mother. King Ambrose wasn't there with them because he was out in the battlefield. Unlike Noartias, Eastias don't have any shelter like the Deep Caves but they have a vast underground shelter that they called as the Underground Shelter, enough to cater the whole kingdom's population. It has one entrance which can only be found in the secret chamber of the royal hall. The five exits extend in five directions away from the kingdom's borders. Four of it share the same distance while the other one was the longest which almost reaches the border's pf Noartias. King Zarduz was the first kingdom to surrender to Purple Smoke. Being named as the weakest, poor kingdom, King Zarduz chased the opportunity to get power, enough to purge a strong kingdom l
Ferlah brought King Astius to the Deep Caves. After that, she left back to the battlefield outside. More enemies were coming. They don't seem to decrease at all. The more of them die, the more of them come. Prince Zaeius and the mysterious woman in red were trying hard to defend the door of the shelter. General Kapono was defending the walls together with the rest of the soldiers since the enemies were trying to climb up through tall ladders. Seeing all of these, King Astius didn't think twice to carry out his responsibility. He climbed to where the archers were stationed on the walls. "Aim for the enemies! Kill them! Leave none of them alive!" He shouted. Upon seeing his presence, the soldiers' morale was boosted. Their spirits soared high and their hearts filled with hope. From afar, Ferlah could be seen battling alone. She couldn't risk to transform herself so that she won't get exhausted when it was time to go
When King Astius and the rest of the troops arrived at Noartias, they were flabbergasted by the army of the enemies flocking inside. Only a few of the war veterans were left standing, fighting bravely despite being outnumbered. King Astius was suddenly eaten by guilt. He blamed himself for not seeing the trap ahead of them which made him led the whole Noartian army into deception. The moment they stepped a foot inside the kingdom, the bloody clash began. The enemies looked like a swarm of locusts, attacking them in every possible way. There were clamours of death and courage as well as the shatters and clatters of weapons. Blood were spilled everywhere and the parched ground quenched its thirst through it. While King Astius was slaughtering the enemies, he suddenly remembered the prince. Fear struck him hard. He wished his son was safe in the royal underground as it was difficult to find. But judging from the prince's behaviour, he probably
"Méah!" With eyes closed, Prince Zaeius screamed in terror and sat up from his sleep without even knowing. He just had a horrible nightmare about Méah dying, covered in blood and vanishing into thin air. However, even though it was just a nightmare, he began to pray to himself that it would only remain as a nightmare. As his breathing slowly calmed down, the throbbing pain came raging from all over his body, starting to penetrate deeper into his senses. He let out a painful hiss with a twisted expression as he went weak and limp, slumping himself back into the soft mattress of his bed. An agonizing groan followed that made him shut his eyes in a tight manner. With this, it all came back to him. But despite after being rescued and seeing the woman he loved in that situation, the flashes of tortures that he had gone through in the hands of Purple smoke held a consistent spot in his memory. That no matter how hard he tried to set
The awaited dawn finally came. It was summer but the breeze, though it blew calm and gentle, felt like a touch of a blizzard's chill. Passing through the steep trails of well-tilled earth, forests, rivers and marshes, a couple of hundred thousand men set off from Noartias to the battlefield under the command of King Astius. This was the last number that he could bring with him. And not all of them were soldiers. Some were mere folks, men and women but brave and courageous, who voluntarily swore to protect their kingdom, their homes and their families. Every abled person in no particular age requirement were allowed to go to battle with them as long as they can walk at such distance and can ride on horses and fight with willingness. However, as he couldn't leave the kingdom and the people alone unguarded, he left this task to the war veterans of less than thirty thousand. Half of them guarded the kingdom with Kalen among them and Bek was told to stay with o