"Tala we will cover you up, make your way out," said by a man holding a spear. His tattered clothes stained by blood; blood from the innumerable wounds he had on his body. Even with that state, his burning eyes did not show a tinge of fear and agony.
"No! We will all fight together." Tala stated. Her condition was not far from the man.
"We don't have time anymore. The enemy already surrounded us." A bloody man holding a shield uttered.
"In a count of three, let's do it!" A gory woman in black said.
Seven different kind of energy horizontally moved in spiral as it formed a channel.
"Then, let's go together." Tala cried.
"We need to buy time Tala. As long as you live there will be a chance of survival. Be safe!" A woman holding a scythe uttered as she rests her hands to her shoulders.
She pushed Tala inside the channel. At the same time, a man with burn-like wings arrived. His large horns stand out of his head.
Tala saw her comrades slaughtered by this being. She crawled forward to lend them a hand, but the force of the channel kept dragging her away. Her tears fall as she watched them breathe their last whilst trying to fight back. There's nothing she can do. They were already dead. A pain in her heart was all she felt. She touched her chest. She felt a cold metal that pierced through her heart. Blood flowed from her mouth. Her fuzzy sight caught a glimpse of that being before she lost her consciousness.
...
'Fuhhh! So, I was killed!' Tala thought as she sat on the bed while grasping her breath. Someone hugged her from the back while panting. She then turned her head and saw a crying Eya.
...
Eya sat down beside Tala's bed. She wanted to take care of her before she left. Suddenly, she heard a throbbing sound from Tala. She looked at her. Tala was pressing her chest hardly while crying in pain. Eya didn't know what to do.
"Tala was in so much pain. What is happening to her? What should I do?" Eya was trembling. She wanted to caress Tala's hair, but her hands kept trembling. Her eyes begin to shed tears too.
"Eya calmed down!" A soft voice traveled to her ears.
She turned her head and saw Adasa's composed self. She then calmed down a little bit.
Although Adasa looked like placid, he couldn't help but worry. 'Tala was in so much pain, that's for sure.' He thought.
A minute had passed, Tala shed tears whilst pressing her chest in pain they did not understand.
Tala opened her eyes and took a sudden seat while leaning her head to her right hand. Eya hurriedly hugged her in the back and said, "Thanks heaven, you're okay!"
"Eya?" Tala was surprised. She then looked around and saw Adasa. She looked at Eya and wiped her tears. "I'm okay. I will always be okay." She then gave her a warm smile.
"If you're in pain, please tell me." Eya said while throbbing.
"Yes..yes..!" Tala hugged her tight.
Adasa heaved a sigh of relief.
After everyone calmed down, Tala took the opportunity to ask.
"How long did I sleep?" Tala broke the silence.
"You've been asleep for almost six days," Eya stated as she went near to Adasa signaling him not to twaddle.
"Six days? Thanks heaven. I made it in time."
The two grimace, but they didn't want her to know what they have already decided. She would object for sure.
Tala felt something amiss with the two. 'Whatever it is, I know I will find it soon.' She thought.
"I should prepare. I will descend tomorrow." Tala was going to stand up when suddenly, Eya stopped her and said, "You don't need to. Head Araw already postponed it for five more days."
"Oh, I see!" Tala didn't know if she would laugh or cry. "You've already decided to change me, huh!" Tala knew from her previous life that the portal can't be postponed because it can only be open at the exact time or else it will close. Whatever they do, it can't be purposely open. It should be repaired. Problem is, they did not know how. Its blueprint was destroyed from the Great War.
Of course, Tala has her way.
"What do you mean?" Shocked, Eya asked while pressing her left palm.
"Don't play innocent Eya. I know you when you're hiding something from me. So, you better spit it out before I get angry!" Tala frowned.
Eya felt silent. Adasa stepped forward and said, "You're right Tala. We all decided to change you. Head Araw approved it too. You don't have to worry about it."
"Who?"
"I am!" Eya said proudly.
Tala was surprised. She curled her lips as if her plan had already succeeded. "It's easy then." She murmured.
'Easy of what?' Eya was silent. She thought Tala would be persistent. Who knows Tala will be this easy to deal with.
"Where are you going?" Adasa asked as he saw Tala heading to the door.
"Going to my residence," Tala replied.
"You can't. Wait for a moment. I'll call the elder." Adasa ran outside and searched for elder Lakandula.
Soon enough, he arrived with the elder before Tala could even fully prepare.
"Guardian Tala (Eya) pays respect to Elder Lakandula." They clasped their fist and bowed.
"Don't you feel any pain or fatigue?" asked Elder Lakandula.
"No. Nothing at all!" Tala replied enthusiastically.
Elder Lakandula examined Tala's condition. He was stunned by the result. 'She should need ten days, but she recuperated only within six days. My inference should be right. Am I getting old?" He then checked the bed. The gemstone was reduced to dust. 'This shouldn't be happening.' His mouth opened wide.
"Is there something wrong, elder Lakandula?" asked Eya.
"No. Nothing!" Elder Lakandula replied.
Tala bit her lower lip when she saw the intent gaze of elder Lakandula to the reduced gemstone.
"Elder Lakandula, I'm sorry for reducing that gemstone into dust. My body instinctively absorbed its energy way too fast. I...I...am truly sorry." Tala felt embarrassed.
"It's okay. It's okay!" Elder Lakandula said, stuttered. 'Her might of absorption was incredible. That might be the reason why the gemstone was reduced to that state.'
"Can I go out now?" Tala asked.
"Of course, you can!" Elder Lakandula replied as he gestured to the door.
Tala went out. Eya and Adasa accompanied her.
...
A young girl stood still on a towering building of the Head's palace that was located at the very edge of the west side. The palace was the largest, tallest and biggest land amongst all. Its own garden located at the back extended towards the horizon, where the heavenly energy was denser than the rest. The girl knew the reason, it's because the Holy Land was located there.
In front of the palace were the towering halls of the nine factions.
The east side was the school; behind it was the residence of each student.
On the north side was the Blessed Mountain. Although she could not see its overall landscape, the side she was viewing was enough for her to think how large it is.
The south side was the so-called deserted city. Instead of seeing ruin infrastructure, intact buildings with aesthetic landscapes were mounted. It was resided by a million guardians before. The surviving guardians did not want to abandon the place. With their low population now, the factions' halls and school's residence were enough places to house them all, resulting in the city being unpopulated.
The peaceful and tranquil land ignited a flame on the girl's heart.
'Tears had shed,
Blood was spattered,
People had tainted,
Death had spread,
Evil had triumphed,
World had ended.
That's the future that will never happen, for I, Tala, had returned!' her burning eyes stared at the sky. Her silvery hair flew with her dress dance cause of wind. Her eyes show a reflection of a lady that had shouldered and endured the weight of the world. Her overbearing demeanor will make one think that she isn't a 14-year-old girl.
…
Eleven guardians arrived at the south side of their tribal land. They stroll towards the deserted city. Everything is quiet, only their footsteps and the breeze of winds can be heard.
A magnificent golden wall was visible even from afar. There were two smaller walls on both sides called Tiny golden walls. Instead of calling its wall, it is more proper to call it a gate with no way to open it though.
Eya was marveled at the delicately and intricately entwined vine-like carving, creating an image of a pair of wings.
The wall emanated strong energy that disturbed the surrounding air making it hard for Eya to stand still. She raised her hands in a cross manner in front of her face as she bent her body forward with her right foot step ahead.
Her hair and dress were blown violently.
A minute had passed when the surroundings claimed its calmness.
Eya lowered her hands.
The wall wasn't the wall she had seen before.
Eya's heart raced.
Black hole-like thing replaced the wall. She felt like looking at an abyss.
'PORTAL!'