YULLI alertly positioned himself beside the commander. He counted the guards surrounding them. They were twelve, and they appeared to be possessed. They only stared blankly, as their eyes were entirely white.
“Are we allowed to kill them, Commander?” Yulli asked. They were surrounded, and everyone was standing still in a circular pattern waiting for Alleki’s command.
“If they attempt to harm us, we don’t have a choice but to defend ourselves. For now, find the one controlling them.” Alleki ordered him.
Yulli nodded and quickly shifted to his wolf form. He jumped high to avoid the possessed guards as his fellow warriors helped him out.
He quickly vanished into the thick smoke, and he howled aloud as he heard the approaching footsteps based on the crushing of twigs and leaves on the ground. Then he ran in a circular motion, jumping from one tree to another until the enemies revealed themselves.
ALLEKI waited until every member of his squad ran in a different direction. They had to take cover for now since it was the most sensible to do than fighting with all these magic users. He knew it would be a suicide considering their small numbers.Yulli stood beside the commander. They only moved until Kane and Luan passed from sight. It appeared that Luan was assisting the whale shifter, since his attribute was useless on this battlefield.Kane had to rely on the speed of his ride, unlike Luan, who could immediately shift into his lion form in case something happened to his halan cheetah.“Let’s go!” Alleki commanded before the swarming enemies reached them.He was in a defensive position before moving. They ran with the cheetahs and vanished into the thickness of the Vergifa forest.After an hour, they were regrouped as planned. All were startled to witness the heavily torn land bridge on their way. As if an exp
MALAIKA’S temperature went high, and she was in a convulsive state. Helga panicked as Frode kept on telling her to calm down.“This is my fault if only I hadn’t forced her to learn magic.” Helga held Malaika’s forehead, and her body temperature would not subside despite giving her a cold compress.“Take it easy, Helga. Mala couldn’t properly harness her powers yet. That’s why it happened. At least now we know she’s special.” Frode stretched his arm and held his wife’s hand.“I-I must be imagining, but Mala could summon the water without incantation. How can it be possible?”Frode heaved a sigh. “I don’t know. But it’s dangerous to keep her here. Everyone in this village has heard about the melting of the lake.”“What are we going to do?”“Once the snowstorm abated, I’ll hide her. Don&rs
THE generals of two territories fought with the swarming of enemies near the Bridge on the border of Hala and Axum. The Halan guards on border patrols were dumbfounded by sudden attacks coming from the other side.General Iljun of Hala immediately came to the rescue when the shifter from Valin’s squad, who happened to be one of the aerial guards of the delegates, reported that they were ambushed only an hour after they had sent the warriors to the border. They even assumed that the representatives led by Commander Alleki were in danger as they traveled to Baraf.The aerial squad did not cross the Bridge since they didn’t have a proper invitation to go to Axum.They were severely wounded, and Iljun’s army tended them until they fully recovered.“Let’s finish this, General Rikrus,” Iljun murmured to the elf general who stood beside him.Rikrus had already been fighting when he arrived along
MALAIKA spent the whole day practicing with Helga and Frode. And her progress was quick. The frozen pool was already in its liquid state that Xoxo enjoyed swimming there.The magical creature kept on congratulating her, and it was happy with her improvement. “Let’s go hunting, Mala. It’s a good exercise, and you can try to use your water summoning.” Frode said the following day. “I would love to!” “Be careful, be sure to be back before dusk.” Helga reminded them. “See you later, my love.” Frode kissed his wife before going out with Malaika. The two went outside the cave. They were immediately greeted by the frigid blast of the icy wind. Xoxo rested under Malaika’s thick fur cloak, not giving them warmth unlike before. They were on their own to survive in this freezing temperature. They walked for three long hours until they found a lone moose that seemed lost. It was massive, and its lo
“FIGHT!” the announcer was more hyper than usual when he gave the signal to start the skirmish. The crowd was delighted at placing higher bets on the two champions.At a glance, they presumed that the challenger teams were weak because they were not as muscular as the shifter defeaters. Darkis attempted to fight, but Seti held his arms to stop him.He slowly lay down his sword.“You are getting us killed, Lioness!” There was a panic in the horse shifter’s eyes.“This is going to be over quick. Don’t move.” Seti was confident.“You are right, lady. This match will be over in a blink of an eye. We will ravish your body to satisfy our thirst, then you and your companions’ blood will spill here along with these weaklings!” said one of their opponents with a towering height. Probably around seven feet. He pointed out the dead bodies inside the cage, with their still
MALAIKA gasped as she awoke near Helga, who was in her deep slumber. Bright purple flowers surrounded her body as she lay to rest on the sacred ground of the cave.“Xoxo….” She tried to look for her magical creature. It was on her shoulder as if studying the dead body of Helga.“H-Help her, please. Give her a speck of your power and make her heart beating again.” She pleaded.No amount of magic can revive the dead, princess.Xoxo’s voice was unmistakable.Her eyes welled again. She walked towards Helga and kneeled. Her hands touched her pale face, and it was still warm.Malaika began to sob.Helga’s neck was surrounded by thick tiger fur, and her wound was not visible.It was her fault. If she didn’t get involved with her, they might be living in peace in their village until now. But because the couple helped her, their life was jeopardized. S
MALAIKA and Frode reached Ethera after two days of travel. He suggested dropping by the market before proceeding to the stadium where the fight would be held.“Stay here. We can’t attract crowds in this clothing.” Frode jumped down from the saddle of his elk. He walked towards her and helped her remove her thick fur cloak.“Thanks. Please hurry. I’m getting impatient.”Frode nodded. They traveled continuously with only minimal rest to reach here immediately. However, Frode would train her magic control along the way.And she was glad to learn the basics of manipulating the water to harden it.Malaika looked at Xoxo, who was asleep, curling in her neck. The magical creature had been a great help to her. The lady who gifted it was so generous. She must be an ancient cave-dweller, and her magic remnants remained.She noticed the temperature in Ethera was warmer yet colder compare
“I HAVE seen a lone fighter. I was shocked to see she was a young girl! She only entered the tournament yesterday, but she had been fighting non-stop!” Hadir exclaimed to everyone. He was tasked to gather information in the stadium.Seti and Pierre glanced at each other. The lioness could not hide her excitement. “Have you seen her? Tell us what she looks like.”“She looked innocent yet mystifying. Her emerald eyes contain unfathomable hatred. She had been killing her opponents.”Valin dived in. “What’s her name again?”“Alfreda Herfst from Northern Axum. You guys should be wary of her. She’s a beast hiding in a young girl’s body. She is merciless. Even her magic is godly. She must be an offspring of royal blood out of wedlock!” Hadir’s eyes were wide. He had seen the battle on the second floor, and now the girl quickly advanced to the third floor to fa
PIERRE’S group would take off after meeting General Iljun and the trackers to really information they gathered. The deliberation did not take long. And when they were dismissed, Pierre talked with his father.Raev gazed at his son, cheering in silence. “Be careful son. Always remember everything I’ve told you. However, you and your squad’s life will be the top priority.”“Yes, Father. I will not go back until I find Lazir’s whereabouts.” Pierre was determined despite his father’s warning.“We will wait for your return, son.”“Please look after Seti while I’m away.” Pierre’s face softened. He didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to his lioness since Seti’s team was already on the move. Pierre knew that this hunt would end in an expedition.Pierre’s squad left immediately on foot. The lynx twins were unusually quiet as they tracked Lazir’s scent. Kane was at the back and checking for a possible ambush. They rested after three hours of searching nonstop. Finally, they reached the cliff ne
CHIEF ZUYESH had an emergency council meeting because Lazir was nowhere to be found. The aerial army checked thoroughly around Hala, but there were no signs of the black wolf shifter. A whole squad of trackers was on the ground. Everyone was waiting to hear some good news, yet the search yielded an unfavorable result. It appeared that Lazir suddenly vanished out of thin air. “It’s unfortunate that our best warriors are still recuperating in the infirmary. They could easily track Lazir,” Raev said. He was seated on the first row facing Atekun, while Zuyesh was in the center. “Did you notice anything weird, Chief? Why would Lazir suddenly ask for a Hafukana and display his magic while everyone is watching? Then he is suddenly gone.” “That puzzled me, too. But I have a hunch as to why he did it.” Zuyesh looked calm. No one could notice that he was restless. “Lazir had been a member of this council for ten years, and we all know that his sharp mouth always put him in a tight spot. I won
THEY dropped by Niusa’s class, and the black elf seemed thrilled to see them. She hurriedly went out of her room to meet them in the hallway. “Whoa, I can’t believe you are here. Do you need help with schoolwork?”“Let’s talk in the garden. I don’t need many elf ears hearing about this crucial information.” Malaika strolled, and Niusa followed.As usual, they ignored the discriminating glances given to them. It was not Malaika’s concern at the moment.“Something wrong?” Niusa began to wonder because she wouldn’t talk until there were no elves nearby.“How well-versed are you in Tuara? How about Aigavan? I need your water healing ability and water purification magic,” Malaika said in a low voice.Niusa was confused. “My water healing magic is intermediate, but with Aigavan….” She hesitated, “I know only the basics of water purification. Why?”“Do you know other healers? I need them badly, Niusa. There’s a plague in the East, and Baraf turned a blind eye despite its plead for help. Time
YULLI spoke to ease Malaika’s worries. “There are a lot of things you need to know outside the wall barrier, Princess. I hope you’re ready once we set foot in Eastern Axum.”“Then tell me everything! I deserve it, don’t you think?” She clenched her jaw. “It’s been a while since I was taken away from Hala, and I don’t know how to get back without facing the consequences of breaking the sacred law. Hell is an understatement of what I’ve been through, Yulli. What other secrets are you hiding away from me?”Yulli gently shrugged. “Since you ask, the world is huge outside this island. However, the way life is a lot different. I heard that there is extreme drought, and water is a precious commodity. There is information that every water mage is captured so they could provide for the needs of the royalties.”“Are you certain?” Malaika seemed to doubt Yulli, only that the wolf shifter was serious.“I can’t be sure since the information came from my adoptive father. The chief and everyone in t
MALAIKA was too stunned to speak when she opened the door. She heard loud knocks earlier, and Xoxo gave her a signal that it was safe to check it out. They made a pact that they shouldn’t just open the door with random knocks knowing they were hated in this place. Dealing with another death threat would only bring more stress instead of focusing on their studies.“Oh, goddess! What happened?” Malaika gaped.Yulli carried an unconscious woman. It was almost daybreak, and the wolf shifter was worn out, trying to catch his breath.“She needed immediate medical care.” Yulli peeked inside. “Where is Xoxo? The healers I found along the way wouldn’t help us. I guess a traditional healer can’t aid her terrible condition.”“Get in! I have been practicing my mana control all night because I cannot sleep while waiting for you, Yulli. Our kind is being hunted in this elf territory!” Malaika assisted them inside the house.Xoxo was so engrossed in making a potion in the kitchen, but as soon as she
“WHERE is my horse?” Yulli came to them unbothered by the intimidation they were showing. He had no plan of getting into trouble, but it seemed inevitable, especially since he saw his horse a few meters away with a female tied in it.At a glance, Yulli could identify the female was not an elf. Her tangerine-colored dress matched the thick fur scarf covering her neck. She was muddy, especially her feet, which had one shoe on. These elves probably had fun chasing the poor lady. Based on her scent, she had a faint smell of being a shapeshifter. “This one is more valuable!” One of the elves shouted. Among these brigands, he had the biggest physique and blade scars on his cheeks. He might be the leader in the way he gave an order. Everyone laughed. “We can sell him at a high price! This night is indeed auspicious for hunting!” said another who could not contain his excitement.“Hey, Scarred Face! Give my horse back, and that lady or I will kill all of you without a trace,” Yulli turned
“D-DID I summon you?” Malaika finally got back to her senses and asked.The goddess shook her head. “I came out on my own. But because of my depleting spiritual energy. This is the form I can sustain for a short while.”“I am not dreaming this time, right?”The goddess smiled. “What do you think?”Malaika slowly motioned her hand and touched the translucent form of the goddess. Her hand went through, feeling like cold water had slipped into her skin. “You are real.”“I can take any form I want. But since we are one, we have to be in sync so that we both live without harming each other, even unintentionally. I will guide you with your mana control. You must quickly learn because if you fail, both of us will cease to exist, along with the people of this island.”“I understand. I am at your disposal, goddess. I will serve you until my last breath.”Malaika thought that mana control would be the easiest part of learning since she had already wielded powerful types of water magic. But now
WHEN Malaika and Yulli entered their special class, they were not spared from the discrimination as soon as they got inside. All eyes were set on them, sharing bothered expressions. But everyone immediately shrugged them off, which Malaika found amusing since no one had uttered a word, and they continued to their usual chats and ignored the two of them completely.Malaika made a quick mental count of how many students belonged to the class. There were approximately twenty, including her and Yulli.“Don’t mind them. We are here to learn,” Yulli said. They were seated on the last row, and no one wanted to be acquainted with being with them.“As if I’m bothered. I’m expecting the worse, and I’m starting to like this class.” Malaika silently winked to make Yulli feel at ease.Yulli gave him a nod of approval. “I’m glad to hear that from you, princess.”Malaika thought of the positive side of the indifferent treatment towards them. It could work to their advantage since she could fully con
THE crowd started murmuring again when the chieftain announced that the warrior delegates that gave honor to the tribe would face one of the heaviest sanctions due to negligence and insubordination.“Warriors, be ready!” Alleki faced the members of his squad.“Yes, commander!” Everyone said in chorus.When Alleki turned around, he started walking on the part of the battlefield that was not affected by the destruction from the chieftain’s attack earlier. It would take time to rehabilitate the damage since magic was forbidden, and they’d all resort to physical labor, which was mainly the cultivator’s job.Despite the commotion created because of Lazir’s use of forbidden magic, the warrior delegates were not exempted from the rough treatment. And although some of the spectators from the royal clan had already exited, many people still left to witness them receive their punishment.One of the elders came to them. He was Carius, the head of the council of justice. The man was a little youn