Crawling on the ground for his inevitable death, the last struggling young wielder coughed a mouthful of blood. Black and crimson red liquid leaking from his ears and nose, his skin looked old as his face. The only part of his body that was left young and fine was his right limb. His voice was horrible and cracked when he tried to speak. The rest of the wielders were nothing but corpses.
"Yo-ung... ma-sters... run..!" The wielder coughed and cried blood. He started convulsioning and a black liquid came out from his mouth, it was later then that he completely died. Arexis looked at the lying corpse as he tried to initiate a conclusion.
'There is no doubt' Arexis thought and gripped his sword tightly.
"Forgive me for being rude earlier, Young master. I have no other choice but to pull you as well when 2984 shouted." Leo apologized and bowed his head towards Anthony. When 2984 shouted, Leo instinctively pulled Anthony against the light dragged him into the shades too.
"No! No! I was grateful you did that. If you didn't act that way, I would be dead by now. I should be thankful to you for saving my life!" Anthony said cheerfully and patted Leo's head. Leo felt relieved that his master wasn't angry nor upset. Grinning, 2984 looked at Arexis. He was waiting for the young master to hear his words of gratitude towards him as well. Arexis averted his eyes, he looked at the lying corpse and said: "That is your duty to protect your masters. Why give thanks all the time when you are obligated to save us?"
2984 pouted and said, "You really are an ice master"
"When someone do good things for you, you always have your defensive words. Well, I am not hoping for a word of gratitude coming from you but, you're welcome, young master" 2984 said while smiling innocently. Arexis just ignored his shameless guardian. He cleared his throat before he said something that really annoyed 2984.
"You will receive my words of gratitude when you lose your life for saving me then."
2984 frowned at how direct and tyrant his master was. He wanted to wield his sword and cut that throat off his master. He wanted to teach him a lesson for having such attitude. But he was just a mere lowlife who wished to break down the wall between the people like him and the people like his master.
'I won't loose to this brat!' 2984 swore in his mind. He was ten years old when Arexis first visited the district at the age of nine.
'It would be even better if you call me 'kuya!' ' he shouted in his mind.
"What's with the stern look?! Know your place, lowlife!" Anthony shouted and drew out his sword against 2984's neck. 2984 never removed his gaze upon the taller man in front of him.
"This is not the right time to tolerate your behavior." Arexis said calmly as he was. He looked around the stained river and the corpses.
"There are only four of us remaining. That is my servant and I am the one who should decide how to discipline him. Take away your sword." Arexis commanded. Anthony had no other choice but to remove his sword away from 2984's neck. Arexis glared at his guardian but not long enough until he noticed a strange aura coming out from 2984's behind.
"Move!" Arexis shouted and drawed his sword towards 2984. By the time 2984 saw his master wielded his sword, he instantly ducked for the fear of losing his life. A loud squeal made by an unusual creature echoed throughout the forest. Its size was identical to that of an adult cat, the squealing creature resembled the face of a hornless goat, with long sharp ears and hind legs. Its tail was wagging around as if it was using it as a defensive whip. It was struggling to be free from being stabbed by the sword of Arexis. Anthony looked horrible when he saw the creature for the first time. 2984 rolled to his side, his face hit the ground as the soil started to stick on his wet clothes.
"THANK YOU!" 2984 exclaimed, eyes bulging out as he panted. He moved beside his young master. Watching Arexis swifts his sword to the ground, 2984 stared at the dead creature. Arexis picked up the black small creature by using the spikelet of his sword. Its smell was too awful that the young master chose to throw the said sigbin across the river by swaying his sword forcefully. The tiny yet beastly animal sank into the tinted water.
"What was that thing?!" Anthony exclaimed. He was holding firmly on Leo's left arm while his other hand was shakily gripping his sword.
"I never thought that they really exist. My mother used to scare me about those creatures when I was a kid." Leo said. He was supporting his master from losing its balance, still, because of terror shock.
"These things are called Sigbins." 2984 replied. Arexis sheathed back his sword after doing another swift to get rid of the blood on his sharp blade.
"My mother always told me not to come out during late at night or else the wandering sigbins might suck all my blood from my shadow. They are invisible which make them easier to attack their prey, especially the children." Leo explained even further.
"And don't forget the most exciting part!" 2984 exclaimed.
"They walk backwards with their heads lowered between their hind legs. They live inside the caves or inside a jar made of clay. They eat children's hearts. And it's funny because the adults used to tell us that these creatures eat uling* too! Weird, right?!" 2984 always had this habit of talking loud and lively everytime he narrates about his childhood experiences. Arexis looked away as he couldn't bear to listen to his servant's noisy mouth.
[*Dialect/Native term for Coals or Charcoal]
"And! They even said that whoever captures these creatures alive will have great fortune in life-"
"Silence!" low yet absolute, Arexis shut his servant's mouth. He was trying to find where the scratching noises came from. Arexis roamed his eyes like a predator observing it's prey to run away.
"They run really fast~ And what's even funnier?~ They disguise as squash during the day~" thick headed as he was, 2984 still whispered towards Anthony. Arexis frowned as 2984's whispering voice kept distracting his concentration on tracking the noises.
"The best way to avoid it for you~, young master, is to walk in front of it~, not behind it~" 2984 continued talking in a whispered tone. Arexis clenched his jaw,and drew out his sword towards 2984's direction.
"AHHH!" 2984 exclaimed and bended his knees, making himself kneel on the ground. Another Sigbin tried to attack 2984 from behind, it was targeting for his neck, Arexis was right on time to stab the coal-eating monster. It squealed loudly and 2984 immediately beheaded the tiny monster.
"Why do they keep attacking you?" Leo asked 2984. 2984 too had no idea at the moment. The place became quieter and Arexis walked near the river.
"A-ha! Maybe, it's because I am the noisest one among us! They attacked the wielders earlier, and they were having a feast at the river. Maybe, it's because they disturbed the sleeping river and we made them mad." 2984 said proudly. He was grinning like an idiot trying to sound like an expert.
"In other words?" Anthony was starting to understand what 2984 was trying to say. Arexis gulped the lump inside his throat and frowned at 2984.
"They served as the guardians of this enchanted river" 2984 replied. It made sense, 2984 looked at Arexis who was currently holding his lap harp while facing the river.
"Hey, young master?! What are you going to do?! A-ha let me guess! You're going to call those Sigbins again by playing your harp!" 2984 guessed right as Arexis glared at him.
"Can't you shut your mouth for once?" Arexis glared at 2984. As he was trying to keep a straight face, his grip on his instrument was becoming tighter. 2984 bit his bottom lip and bowed his head, holding his laugh hardly that his tears wanted to burst out. It really makes him want to laugh everytime Arexis tries to control his temper.
'I wonder how long will this guy could keep his temper low?' 2984 thought while grinning on the ground. Arexis faced the river again and touched the strings softly.
"How about this, young master!" 2984 exclaimed while raising his right hand. Arexis closed his eyes as he clenched his jaw, refraining himself from slaying his servant.
'Never kill the innocent!' Arexis mentally reminded himself.
"Let's play the tune together so we can capture more Sigbins" 2984 suggested with a smile. Arexis ignored his servant's offer and began to play the tune. As the young master started the joyful melody, Anthony and Leo hid under the shed of the forest. Leo was keeping an eye for his master as he listened to the penetrating music in his ears. The atmosphere became livelier and the falling leaves seemed to dance along with the wind. Arexis continued playing his harp, and the black smoke that came out from the water before returned from the deepest hole of the river. The water in the river created a splashing wave towards the playing young master, luckily 2984 immediately shielded his master from the water. Arexis remained calm as he continued to play the joyful music without getting wet.
"Please stay behind me, young master" Leo drew out his sword in front of him. He would slash any monster who dares to attack his master.
"Watch my back, Leo" Anthony ordered. This is no time to play around, even a clumsy master like Anthony could get serious when life is at stake. He put on the hood of his cloak and unsheathed his sword. The cloaks of the noble families were fabricated with spells that could protect the person who wears it from bad lucks and dangers.
"Rest assured, I got your back, young master" Leo swore and focused on his surroundings. The four young men could feel the raging negative energy coming from underneath the water.
"They are coming" Arexis declared and changed the pace of his hands from moderate to strong strums. The water went back to its calm state, but not too long until almost a hundred of black Sigbins jumped out of the water. 2984 immediately sheathed back his sword and grabbed his black panpipe from the sack bag. He held his woodwind instrument tightly and played it calmly. His soft lips touched the holes of the instrument as if he was just kissing them. Along with Arexis' aggressive tune, 2984's peaceful tune blended with it --leaving the Sigbins go wild and weak alternately at the same time. The tiny monsters submerged under the water. About a hundred of Sigbins were drowned and they floated above the water immediately. They thought it was over, but the Sigbins just went weak and didn't die.
"Try to play yours in a strong pace" Arexis instructed 2984. His guardian did as he was told and played the tune in a spirited melody. All the Sigbins gathered together in the middle of the river and started attacking each other. Biting one's neck, head and other body parts, they performed cannibalism.
"Guardians! Behead every Sigbins!" Anthony ordered. Both 2984 and Leo went into the water and attacked the Sigbins using their swords. The river transformed even more into an unsightful form as the mixed blood of the dead wielders and Sigbins consumed the pureness of the water. Floating heads of Sigbins were collected and gathered on the ground. Arexis looked every piece of head despite the awful smell it brings. 2984 was also rechecking every head and looked for the 'mark'.
"What are you looking for in their heads?" Anthony asked Arexis. Arexis ignored the question and frowned. All the heads had uniform black circle stone on their foreheads.
"Their leader is not with them" 2984 said. The mark that they were looking for was the red stone on the forehead of the the leader of all Sigbins existing. The stone existed long ago and no one had the exact information why the leader of each race of mythical creatures suddenly possessed such magical stones.
'We have to destroy the stones, for it is the only way to lead the race to its extinction.' Arexis thought and gripped his sword. 2984 was wondering too why the stone suddenly existed after a long time ago.
As the day reached its sunset, two wet servants were sitting beside each other in front of a bonfire created by Anthony this time. He learned it from Leo quickly and insisted to do the fire. Arexis was leaning against a giant tree while crossing his arms across his chest. He was staring at the fire as if he was staring into an abyss. He was in deep thought of how the Sigbins returned when his mother's ability has been sealed long time ago. All mythical creatures should be long gone.
"Young master, do you think that the leader of those Sigbins was the one who is in command of the attacks?" 2984 asked his young master. Arexis ignored him and pretended to fall asleep. The servant rubbed his palm together while smiling at the fire, he placed his palms near the fire to conduct heat. The night was chilly and cold, hence, 2984 sticked with Leo for better warmness.
"Hehe, brother, let's just stay like this for awhile" 2984 grinned at Leo as the flame reflected on his pale skin. Arexis took a glimpse of the servants in front of him as the two were talking like normal friends. 2984's eyes were glimmering like the stars in the night as he watched the dancing fire. Arexis averted his eyes as he hated that he happened to witness such scenario.
"Come to think of it, if it's really possible that the leader with a red stone can control the whole race, then, if the stone will be in the hands of someone, is it possible that he could control the whole race too?" 2984 asked while putting his thumb under his chin. He clicked his tongue and looked at his young master. He knew that Arexis was listening to him even if he pretended that he wasn't.
"Or, the stone only works for the race and cannot be used by humans. Young master, what do you think?" 2984 asked Arexis. Arexis sighed deeply, and it was clear that he didn't want to talk with his noisy servant. 2984 grinned and picked up the bear skin he made as blanket for Arexis. He went near his master and offered the blanket.
"Young master, it's cold tonight. You should use this blanket, I am sure that your mother is worried about you." 2984 said with a smile and it was a sincere one. For a person who lacks maternal love, 2984 suddenly acted like a big brother towards his master.
Arexis took a glance of the clothes that his servant was wearing, the end of the cloth was still dripping wet. He refused the blanket and averted his eyes, completely ignoring his servant's concern.
"Thank you for lending me your cloak, young master. It's such a shame for me to receive such treatment." Leo said as he was wearing Anthony's cloak. It felt warm and comfortable. Leo was not only feeling the warmth of the silk but the gentle treatment his master providing him. Arexis scoffed and picked up the blanket beside him. He frowned and threw the bear skin towards 2984 who was rubbing the sides of his arms.
"You keep giving me a dirty blanket while you yourself are freezing to death, how arrogant." Arexis' low voice resonated in the dark night. 2984 smiled when he realized that his cold master was a little bit warm inside.
"Heh? Young master, you're actually concerned about me" 2984 teased Arexis which made the young master throw killing glares at him. 2984 scooted over towards Arexis and his face turned serious.
"I just wished that the stone won't really work when possessed by humans. It would be a chaos if a bad person will use it in bad ways." 2984 said and closed his eyes. Arexis frowned and mentally agreed that 2984 was right. Just as the four young men finally fell asleep, the fire went out and the charcoals produced smoke, red shining eyes appeared in the dark. All those hundreds of eyes were staring at their four shadowless preys. One of them had the red stone on the forehead, shining in the dark like fresh crimson blood.
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©The Bathala's Forbidden Vessel
Creator: Arl Hesse