Soft moonlight was touching the meadow with its dark blue light. Pacing the footsteps from the girl in a blue white gown with long length silver hair touching the ground, she was walking a few steps ahead of me. The silence was frequently interrupted by the sound of a pack of wolves.
She stopped at the edge of the river. A large moon was floating in the river. The reflection was beautiful.
She looked at me.I was confused who she was. Lisa or Mona?
As I'm still at Lin's that means she might be Lisa. She is more poised than Mona. She then looked to the river as she was previously, turning her back towards me she said, 'Have we...really reached there?'
I was surprised to hear the question. I don't know the answer though.
'Yes!' A voice answered that question.
Another with the same face was standing a few steps behind me. Mona.
'Do we really have to say Goodbye?' Lisa asked with a low voice.
'It's a Goodbye...but on a promise to meet again.' That wasn't My voice.
But I could feel my voice had changed and it wasn't mine. I was watching my past memories. How strange! I could sense the feelings even in my dreams.
Their eyes were free from the blinds. I was finally able to see their eyes. Lisa had black sclera and pupil while Mona had only white spots in her black pupil.
Lisa asked me, 'For how long do I have to wait?'
I waited for the answer, to see what I said to them.
'I don't know...but you will know if I ever come back.' My heart was tightening by itself.
'There are no other ways? My first born will die...so how can you…' Lisa was interrupted, stopped.
'It's ok if I don't reincarnate. I won't have any regrets.' My voice was really calm.
'Everything will…lead him to the same Ending.' Mona said.
'I'm sorry for hiding it...I..I just..I didn't know it would…'Lisa couldn't stop her tears.
'I know Liz,I know! You don't have to apologise everytime.I chose this by myself.' My voice was breaking there.
'She feels guilty,so do I…our silence caused it to happen…but we never thought it would go wrong like this.' Mona couldn't control her tears as well even though she never cries like Lisa.
'Liz, Mona! be strong. It's just, my time has come and I have to go...so accept it,you can do nothing about it, nothing lasts forever and everybody has to say goodbye eventually…' I was trying to convince them.
'But not this soon.We were supposed to…'Lisa tried not to cry while talking.
'Lizzie…don't regret,I have lived my life fully and I'm happy that I could live it with everyone one of you...I just feel bad that those girl's lives have got entangled with mine.' I looked away.
Mona turned me towards her, 'Those humans have the worst future. They will die eventually…Hey! Promise me that you won't ever try to change it on your own, don't ever promise anyone anything…got it! Ever!'
'Mona! I don't…' I was stopped before finishing that.
'I know! Even if you don't like to promise,you have to promise me this. So, even if you want...you can't break it.' Mona insisted.
My voice pleaded, 'Mona! Don't…'
'You have to,unless you want me dead.' Lisa uttered those words seriously which made my heart ache.
'Liz!' My voice was still shaking.
'Me as well ! If you don't…' Mona as well didn't stay put.
'Ok!Ok!..I.. promise! But Liz,Mona…what if they try to change the future? You won't have…'Lisa broke down in tears and knelt down on the ground holding my hand.
I could feel her hand trembling. I have no idea what was going on. My eyelids were light and I was able to break from that dream. Tears fell down as soon as I opened my eyes. Even though I felt every emotion,I can't recall anything. Ever since I have known all of the connection, it feels as if I have lost a piece of myself. I still don't know how my past is connected with everyone here. An uneasiness was forming inside my heart. Rei was lying next to me. I was sleeping hugging him from the back. He was breathing slowly. I wonder when I will be able to make him completely mine.I really wanted to live with him forever.
It's been three days since I came here,at Lin Castle. The days were very steady and I used my time to know as much as I could. I went to the library. I strolled around through it. My eyes fell on a book. I couldn't read the name of it. But it felt as if it was saying 'Ingress'.
I felt a presence behind me. I turned back. A book was hovering by itself. I stepped back but it came close to me. It was so surprising to see. After hesitating for a while, when I touched it, it opened by itself. It wasn't a book. It's a journal. The hand writing felt familiar. Very familiar. But I couldn't recall why. Whoever this book belongs to,that person was doing research. I sat down on the balcony to read it. Reiji was practicing with his knights. I was stunned to see Rei's aggressive side. He looked up at me. It was because he felt my stare on him surely.
The knight was about to strike on him as he was distracted but he dodged that attack with a sudden move. He smiled at me. I wanted to join them but they don't know I'm a druid so I can't use spells here yet. Ginger was playing with Juko. They jumped on the table. The journal fell down with some loose papers. I tried to arrange them back.
A blueprint of a sword.
That caught my attention. It was much similar to the one I have seen in my dream and in Reiji's office. The features were very much terrifying. This blood sword is capable of absorbing and utilizing the surrounding energy, dark force,entity. This sword originally belonged to Ruan David who reigned from 820 BC till 650 AC. It was passed down to his great grandchild Ruan-Xen Bethshiba who was born in 600 AC and reigned from 650 AC till 1000 AC. After her, the heir was Ruan Erza, who was born in 865 AC and ruled from 1000-1770 AC. The current heir is Ruan-Xen Sora.
It was strange for some reason.
If it's that much powerful sword then obviously everyone would try to defeat the owner of it. But it's been passed down to the heirs by blood that means nobody could defeat these heirs. Just how powerful are they! I have never seen Sora in my life but to think she wields this type of weapon without any greed,that means she is genuinely a kind and righteous person. But why did I see it in my dreams?
There were other swords on the next pages. The rough records of Ruan clan's blood weapons. Ruan Sayo owns only one blood weapon and Ruan Siya does not own any blood weapon,only a soul weapon. Ruan Reiji has one blood weapon like Sora and a soul weapon that can cut anything.
Juko felt something and started to get anxious so I couldn't help but ask, 'Juko?! What's wrong?'
'Father! My grandfather is coming here.' Juko answered.
'Your father and grandfather?' I was really surprised. The reason was unknown, to Juko and Juko's father was here with his clan's knights.
Why would a demon tribe come here unannounced is what I was thinking? I also asked Juko, 'When did you last contact your family?'
'When I entered here.' Juko answers.
'What's your connection with Risa?' I don't know why I was having a bad feeling.
Martinez is one of their allies.
I had a bad feeling about this and it didn't take a second to prove that I was right. A winged lion that represents Lin's was burnt down by the Randy Clan. That clearly indicates a war. The Lin territory was attacked. The guards were injured. The knights were surprised but they formed quickly in their designated position. Lin Ryo wasn't here,
I couldn't suppress my shock, 'Has your father lost his mind?'
'I don't know why he is doing it. I need to stop him.' Juko ran off there.
Reiji summons a weapon. It's a blood weapon because Its flame has two colours,one green and another gold creating a light green effect on the tip where they met. It was mesmerising.
Reiji looked at me, 'Go inside and don't come out.'
Like I would ever listen. When Rei looked to the other side,I stood on the railing to jump down. I haven't tried this method of landing for a long time. I breathed in and jumped. When I was about to land I slowed down.
Reiji saw me getting down like that and ran to me yelling, 'You gave me a heart attack.'
'What's with them?' I asked, ignoring his comment.
'We don't know for sure.' He said.
'Juko is one of the heirs.' I told him.
'They don't know he has bonded with you?' Reiji was baffled.
Juko heard Reiji, 'They know but I'm not sure why they are doing it.'
'Father has gone there to talk with them.' Reiji informed me.
'Let's go and see why they are doing it.' I urged them.
'I told you to stay inside. They can't get into the castle.' Reiji was insisting.
'I want to help. Please.' I requested.
Reiji sighs, 'You won't listen even if I say!'
'No!' I could tell Reiji gave up.
Lin Ryuji was quite patient with the leader of Randy,Deo Randy but he was so impatient that he kept throwing fire here and there. He was standing on his two back legs. I was surprised to see that. Juko never did walk on his two legs or I haven't seen it, maybe.
'I told you Seigneur Randy, the half-human didn't force him to stay.' Lin Ryuji said.
'He would never bond with a half-human. Not willingly!' Deo threw another fireball. Ryuji got really angry and turned himself into a dragon.
He reached the same level of that wolf head. My feet got stuck on the ground seeing that. Lin is a dragon! He breathed fire in the air burning the fur of the wolf leader.
'Why don't you stop throwing them now!' Lin Ryuji became angry.
'Your father is a dragon?' I was left with shock.
'Descendant of a dragon…not the real one. Xen is the last clan left of a dragon.' Reiji said.
There is a possibility Reiji too is a dragon, so I needed to confirm, 'Don't tell me you too…'
'I am. We are.But we can't shape-shift. Father is the last one.' Reiji smiles seeing my expression.
'Don't force him to stay with you. Defeat us only then we will give him to you.' Deo was not backing off.
'We have no intention to fight with you. Just compensate and leave.' Ryuji was being reasonable.
'If you don't want to fight then give him back.' Deo said.
'That's not for me to decide. Ask him by yourself.' Ryuji looked at Juko.
'Go Juko!' I encouraged him to confront them.
Juko stands in front of Randy, 'Grandfather!' He bows to the leader.
'Dein Randy! I see that you have bonded with a half-human Jinn. Clear their misunderstanding that you would never bond with any half-human.' Deo was confident.
'That's not true grandpa. I bonded with him on my will. Nobody forced me.' Juko lifted his head.
Demo got really angry, 'An Amarok is saying that he has bonded with a half-human?' Without fear Juko nodded, 'Yes! My loyalty belongs to this person now.'
The leader looked at me standing on his four. Ryuji changed his appearance to his human form. Deo Randy came and stood in front of me. Reiji put his sword in front of me to shield me. It was different from before. It had only a green flame on it.
'Ruan Re. Stay out of it.' Deo warned me which irritated me.
'I will if you stay away from crossing this line.' I couldn't stop myself.
'You human! Disconnect the bond.' When Deo forced me, my mind went blank.
I knew Juko would be separated from me one day but this soon, I didn't imagine. He is really a cute friend of mine. I never felt he was a demon. Can I really let him go! I couldn't look at him, 'Juko! Whatever you wish, I will respect that…'
'I want to stay.You are a part of my soul.' Juko's words made me feel proud.
'How dare you!' Deo shoved Juko with all of his strength and he fell off the mountain.
I ran towards it. Juko was hanging holding the cliff rock. For some reason that scenery reminded me of the cliff accident that I had with Mei. I couldn't pull up Juko as he was in a large form. I instantly had to cast a spell under his feet, 'Step on it Juko!'
'I'm heavy,I will fall.' He was afraid.
'You won't. Trust me.' Even though I said that, he was right. Juko surely is heavy.
The circle brought him to the surface. As Reiji's sword was able to keep Deo away, I really wanted to kill him. But I also wanted to see how he would react if the sword wasn't there. I pulled the sword off the ground as I was getting back from there and gave it Reiji. Everyone was surprised to see the sword moving by itself. My hand gestures cleared their confusion that I was doing it. But he didn't come at me to attack. Instead he looked me in the eye.
He scolded Juko, 'Why would you bond with a half-human? On top of it,he is a Druid!'
Everyone in Lin's family knights 'Shedu' was looking at me. They whispered among each other.
'I like him,I admire him. I don't care who he is. I know what I am to him. I can't betray that love even if you kill me.' Juko lowered his head so that I could touch it.
I was happy that he didn't want to leave me. I patted him then hugged him. I felt a presence like Risa. I looked for her but she wasn't there. In the sky, I could see a vivid figure coming down from up there.
'You really didn't force him?' Deo frowned.
'I'm sure you will know everything if you listen to Risa properly.' I looked in another direction.
Risa was about to enter the gate. Her panicked face seemed fake. Lin Ryuji signaled to let her enter. Reiji looked at me. I was really feeling irritated.
'I'm sorry! He misunderstood when I said you bonded with Dein.' She said while getting in.
I couldn't stop my bitterness towards her, 'Do you really think you are a good strategist?'
She couldn't look directly at me. Though my words were not towards Risa but towards the one whose puppet she was. Her expression clearly was very different from before.
'Should I reveal the method that you executed?' My voice was much calmer than my mind.
Risa stood there silently. I don't know why I always feel so confused about this girl. She is easily swayed and what's the relation between her and the one who is targeting me? I had to know, 'What is it this time?'
'You don't know?' Her question made me look at Reiji with questions.
I forgot he has less interest in others. I was having a strange feeling. Like she is not Risa. Her expression and words didn't match.
Reiji asked her, 'What is it?'
'A letter was sent to cancel the engagement with Mei.' Her words surprised me but I could see Reiji was surprised as well.
I knew it would happen sooner or later. Risa definitely also knew it. She wouldn't try to make a mess with it when she had already understood it. That means her body doesn't have her soul. Someone is using her as a vessel. But that sounds crazy. A jinn taking another jinn's body as a vessel! Is that even possible?
'Even if it was that, I don't see any reason to send clan Randy here.' Reiji was trying to stay calm.
Risa smiles, 'I didn't send them here. They came on their own after hearing that kid took Juko.'
'He didn't force Juko.'Reiji said.
The clan didn't know I was a Druid. She didn't mention it either. That means this is not Risa. I was staring at her. If this person is my enemy then would that voice help me?
'I told you to keep Noah away from him.' Risa grinds her teeth.
How can she be so sure that Mei loves Noah! Noah definitely doesn't have any feeling towards Mei. Mei is just a kid in his eyes.
"What is it..that you see?" I heard the voice.
I wonder why and how I hear this voice.
''Vessel of Risa Martinez." The voice didn't answer when I asked. I was surprised. I waited but couldn't hear anything.
My vision became blurry suddenly. I tried to shake it off. It became clear again. I noticed something strange. A gray entity was emitting from each body and blue colour sigil was engraved in every one of them. Those seemed reminiscents of something I used to know. I began to see some flashback of Rose's face,a gold ring covered in blood in my hand, Mei's watch but for only for seconds. I couldn't capture what was the meaning of that. My surroundings become silent.
"Fayina..Fayina "
The sigil mark in Risa's entity turned into red while others were still blue. This voice tells me the weakness. But now it's telling me to control it with its soul name. That means this is her only vulnerable status. But if I reveal her name now,she will leave the body and escape from me. She may never appear in front of me again and I won't know the real body if I catch her now.
What else I can do, I have no idea. I can see everyone's soul name. Is that a good thing or bad I didn't know. They will panic if I say I can see their name's design.
As I was staring at Risa continuously she was feeling unsettled. For some reason I really wanted to tear her apart.