Chapter 4: Fighting Beasts can't be that Bad

I went near Zale as I was getting kind of seasick. The fishy smell of the ocean gets my nose sensitive. But the breeze helps me to calm down. 

"Hey, you okay?" Zale asked me as he puts my cloak back on my body. I smiled at him and he just stared at me and looked away. I kind of pouted in my mind because he doesn't need to act cold around me. I just stared at the wide and carefree ocean, with its calm waves hitting the boat.

I laughed because I kept saying boat, when in fact that it's a ship. We are going north, where mountains have risen and stood high. I wonder why the books want us to go there? 

"That is because..." as I heard grandpapa and Zale's mother spoke, I jumped in surprise. I wasn't expecting grandpapa nor Zale's mother to show up. "I am sorry my darling Zale, it seemed like that I, too surprised you". said Zale's mother.

"Because of what? Grandpapa?" I asked. I was getting curious as to why do the books want us to go there. "Mr. Keegan, can I explain instead?" Asked Zale's mother. My grandpapa nodded and rested on the edge of the ship. 

"The Gods wants all heirs to gather." She simply said. Zale and I looked at each other. Does this mean...

"Yes Seraphina, it means that all guardians, the gifts of the Gods, went missing right after Mr. Keegan's grandfather was beheaded. It's as if the Gods were telling that if one guardian disappears, the others will follow. My mother, together with the Fire clan's elder, Elder Fyre, has been trying to locate the guardians but failed. But one there is one thing that they found out." Zale's mother paused and looked at grandpapa saying that he should the one to say it. 

"It was to gather the heirs of each throne. The heir of the Fire's Throne, Seraphina Agni, the heir of the Ocean's throne, Zale Altan. The two of you who are together meaning that you are about to be completed." He said. I am the heir of the Fire's throne, a title that holds so much power. It's like next to being a God. 

Zale patted my shoulder and nodded at me. I looked at the scenery, there is nothing to see but the vast ocean. I sighed. 

"I just hope no one gets hurt in the process, but Grandpapa, Mrs. Chantara, does anyone knows where the guardians are located?" I asked. Because we will be back to square one. Not knowing anything about where the guardians are, will be like searching for someone with no lead. 

"That is why you are on a journey." They both said at the same time and smiled before they disappeared. They left the two of us dumbfounded. I took my book and I lit my index finger with fire and tried burning the book. 

"They got us there". Zale said and sighed getting his own book and tried to toss it in the ocean. I stopped my fire and stopped him. "Well, as we are back to square one, let's just try to gather information from the northern part," I said and smiled at him. I put my book inside my bag again. It was pointless anyway, to burn the book. It is the book of origin, a book written by the Gods, it is protected from being harmed by anything, by anyone. 

I sat down as the ship started to rock. I am not feeling well, it is my first time to ever ride a ship. I closed my eyes but droplets of water dropped on my face. Great, it's going to rain. I went inside the cabin, which I thank the Gods that this ship has a cabin. I lay down on the mattress that was inside the cabin and closed my eyes to sleep. 

I woke up when I felt something heavy on my legs. I tried to move but failed, instead turned around only to find out that it was Zale's legs on top of my legs. WHEN DID HE-?! 

I carefully moved my legs so that he won't wake up. When I successfully removed my legs I looked around the small cabin and realized that there is only one mattress. I mentally did a facepalm as I realized that I took all the possible sleeping space. 

He curled up beside me and just mumbled some words. I realized that it wasn't raining anymore, the rocking has stopped. I guess the typhoon has passed by. I stood up and went to my baggage to look for something to eat. I saw crackers and opened the small pouch. It was made by my mother before I left for my journey. I ate 2 pieces of the crackers silently and went outside the cabin. I saw the captain of the ship and greeted him. "You are one lucky lady, your lover had stopped the typhoon. He said that you hate the rain and stopped it." He said as he left and laugh.

I was dumbfounded because he stopped the rain for me. Is that why he was so sound asleep? Did he get tired and was out of mana? I heard that controlling the weather costs a lot of mana. 

I went up to the deck and smelled the fresh breeze. The night has ended as well as the typhoon, all thanks to Zale. I smiled seeing the dolphins greet me and the rising sun. I wasn't so sick anymore, unlike yesterday. 

I waked up from my daydream when I heard footsteps coming closer. I felt Zale wrap his arm around my shoulder. "Hey, you're up early." He said and yawned. I held his hand that was hanging on my shoulder and gently put his arm down, I smiled at him and greeted him "It's a nice morning isn't it."

His eyes widened as he realized what he did. He looked down on the floor, he looked incredibly embarrassed. I looked at him and patted his head, "It's okay, I am not mad." I said smiling at him and he slowly raises his head still looking embarrassed. 

I asked him to join me at breakfast, though it was just coffee and a slice of bread. I am happy to know that I still have someone to eat with even in my special mission slash journey. 

"We are near our destination." He said then sipped on his coffee. I nodded and thought that it was good news. Nearing our next destination, the valley of the high mountains lays a small knight-dom. It will be a little hassle to go there because we have to trek, but if ever we get tired, we can just fly our way there. 

When the ship reached the harbor, we immediately went to a shop to buy some food supplies. The Yuklin Kingdom doesn't have those much-transported goods from the north as the king was suspicious that it might be spies from the north. 

I saw children playing, I looked around to see how peaceful this town is. It is quite a busy town. Some fishes that the fishermen caught are being sold in the market. 

"I think it is better to start trekking, it would be a long way to get in the knight-dom of the duke of the capital of the north," Zale said and I agreed to it because it will be quite dangerous to trek when the night falls.

We started to walk towards the valley where mighty mountains stood up high, meeting the heavens. 

As the road starts to elevate, I heard numerous roars of beasts roaming around the forest. I clutched on my sword and Zale did the same. When we officially entered the forest, beasts of its kind started attacking us. 

I unsheathed my sword and swung it to the beast nearing me. I missed hitting the head but instead, wounded its hand, but its claws also wounded me on my right arm. I winced in pain but tried to endure it, or else I am dead. 

Zale was fighting some of the beasts, he is still unwounded but seeing him kind of having a hard time, I tried to concentrate on taking down my own opponent. 

I once again swung my sword using my left arm, because my right arm is damaged. I am experienced in fighting, especially using my, but Zale told me earlier to not use my magic because it is dangerous if normal people will see it. 

I used to hunt, concentrate Seraphina, you can finish this up quickly. I used full force and struck my sword on its head, and cut it off its body. Exhausted I am, I still fought some of the beasts but as a result of our victory was bruises all over us, but I got more bruises than Zale.

I guess fighting beasts like these ones ain't that bad. 

Zale put medicine on my bruises and covered them with a cloth so that it wouldn't get infected by bacterias present in the forest and also stop the bleeding, especially on my right shoulder. 

"Thank you," I said and then we continued our trekking towards the knight-dom of the duke of the north.