Ayra stared at her packed rucksack seated atop the dressing table.
She raised her head, slowly, and faced her reflection in the mirror. Wild, unkempt hair and a restless face welcomed her. Exhaustion lined her eyes however something different shone there as well.
Desperation. Cruel desperation that seemed to say,
Finally, it's time.
She scoured her sleepless face and turned around.
Neslyn and Valda lay amidst a sea of pillows, softly tucked among the thick, warm coverlets. The wind blew inside the quiet chamber, gently dancing over their resting bodies.
They looked peaceful and deep in good sleep. Ayra almost hated herself for ruining it when they would wake up early at dawn. When they would open their eyes and see a cold, empty bed and a small, stupid note instead of their best friend.
She held the small piece of parchment in her hand. Crushed it a little and stopped herself before tucking it securely under her own coverlet.
The wind sang outside, a delicate cry against the blossoming night. It was melancholic and heavy to her ears. Ayra supposed the wing sang what her heart felt.
She pressed her lips against Valda's and Neslyn's temple, murmuring a soft, 'I love you,' and a strained, 'I'm sorry,' to them.
With her heart on her sleeve, Ayra walked out of the chambers. She paused by the doors and glanced back at her sleeping companions one last time, trying to carve their faces into her memory. For strength. For courage.
Without looking back again, she made her way out, ignoring how her heart felt heavier and heavier with each step she took away from them.
The quiet hallways greeted her. She subtly advanced towards Danelle's chambers, needing to see her before she bid a silent goodbye to her as well.
Light poured out of the open doors of Mother Danelle's office. Ayra paused in her tracks, wondering what was keeping the headmistress of the academy awake at this ungodly hour. But when Nascha's voice was interweaved with Danelle's own grave one, she realized something wasn't right.
She stood by the wall and allowed her wind to carry their words to her.
"What is it, my lady?" Nascha's voice was quiet.
A scrunch of a crisp paper and a strained sigh. Ayra could feel Mother Danella's distress all the way from her seat. She slightly peeked from the corner, her eyes zeroing on to the scroll tightly clutched between Mother Danelle's fingers. The Circle's insignia blazed against the warm glow of the lamp.
"It's from the Circle."
"The Circle? Is it an emergency of some sort?" Nascha questioned, a little befuddled.
"The Hawk brings in the letter at the dead of the night, Nascha. I'm guessing it's more than just an emergency."
The Hawks. Specially trained spies and messengers that directly take orders from the Circle itself. Ayra was perplexed. Even a Hawk didn't come to deliver the message about the First Gate. So, what could it be this time...
"What does it say?"
Mother Danelle removed her glasses, gently setting it atop the smooth table.
"It's a call for help from the north." She raised her head to look at Nascha,
"From Tyria.''
Ayra's bone chilled. Tyria. The home to the Fourth Gate.
"Tyria? You mean…"
Mother Danelle nodded, solemn.
"Is there another attack? Is it the same demons again-? But it's only been a month since the First Gate---"
"Yes, Nascha. It's soon. Too soon." A heavy pause. "And no, there's no attack. At least, not yet."
"Then.." Nascha sounded lost and puzzled. Ayra shared similar emotions.
"It's strange, this issue. And might I add, very disturbing. A day ago, at the first crack of dawn, the citizens were astonished to find walls of the city painted with fresh blood. Goat's blood, to be exact. It was smeared all over the city, carrying a deadly message--no, an admonition."
Mother Danelle opened the scroll with shaking hands,
"When the moon bears full, the Gate shall be opened once again."
Ayra sucked in a breath. The full moon is in ten days. Ten. Days.
"Just these words. All over the city. Written overnight and not a soul saw the owner of the wretched hands that did this." Mother Danelle played with her fingers, nervously muttering to herself. "Strange. Very, very strange."
Ayra stayed frozen by the wall, a million thoughts swirling inside her head.
Silence ensued. Nascha cracked it, albeit with a small, shaking voice.
"What if it's just some sick joke? Something to rile the authority or something. Or just for the heck of it?"
Mother Danelle chuckled grimly in response.
"Nobody dares to joke about the Gates, Nascha. Nobody. Especially at such vulnerable times."
"So, it's true then? Is this another disgusting play by those demons that stole the First Gate?"
Ayra couldn't breathe. Ruhnn. Is Ruhnn and his….companions the reason behind this? She didn't know and a part of her didn't want to know too.
"Maybe. Maybe not. Though, I pray it to be a sick joke instead."
Ayra hoped for the same.
"The Council is asking for our help again?" Nascha raised another question.
No answer and Ayra assumed a nod was an only response.
"What about the Guardians? Aren't they enough to tackle this problem on their own? Why need our help again?"
"The Guardians are all scattered across the map, each fulfilling their own set of important duties. The other Gates can't be left alone, especially after the First Gate was stolen. One herd of those filthy demons means nothing, Nascha. There may be more, each waiting for the right time to attack."
"So, they want our students to go carry this mission all on their own?" Nascha asked, incredulously.
"No. Not all Guardians are busy. The Viper and the Ghostsinger will be joining. Along with the White Wolf. But I'm afraid they'll have to do without us."
Ayra's interest piqued at the mention of the other Guardian she hadn't met yet but it was immediately smothered at Mother Danelle's next words.
"My lady, do you mean--"
"Yes. I have refused the Council." She huffed a laugh, humorous and cold. "Turned their plea down."
The silence was thick and sickening.
"I apologise, my lady, but isn't that done without a thought? We need all the help to do something about these strange events regarding the Gate. We can't risk the Gates being opened again and--"
"--and the world turning into a menagerie of nothing but corpses again?" Mother Danelle cut her off,
"I feel you."
"My lady--" she began.
"I understand, Nascha. I understand the weight of this situation and the silent threat that it poses to the entire world."
"But I can't risk their lives again. Not after what happened to my children."
Ayra closed her eyes, not wanting her mind to drag her back into the past events. Of an injured Valda and Neslyn. Of the Gate. Of the demons.
Of Ruhnn.
Nascha's voice softened. "They are strong and trained--training to be the best of the Astral Guards, my lady. You should trust them more."
Mother Danelle slightly shook her head.
"Trust is abundant, Nascha. I can trust them with my own miserable life too. However, it's too soon for them to be fighting such battles. They are just starting to bud, Nascha. And I will wait till they bloom."
The words settled in between them, coaxing another wave of dreadful silence again.
"This is because of Ayra, isn't it?" Nascha addressed, delicately.
Ayra held her breath when her name slipped past Nascha's lips.
"It's also because of almost putting Valda and Neslyn in danger but yes, Ayra too."
"You never talked about what happened to her."
Mother Danelle paused for a heartbeat,
"It's not my story to tell, Nascha. But I will not put any of them in such dangerous situations again. Situations that demand hearts and lives to be stitched together with death itself. Never again."
"And the Guardians are more than enough, as you just said. Or, who knows, maybe all of this is just a sick joke. However, I'm certain they can manage without our assistance."
No one spoke after that. Mother Danelle and Nascha seemed to be drowned in their sea of thoughts.
Ayra, too, was lost in her head.
It was after several moments that the wind carried Nascha's words to her, who bowed her head and without any further questions, said,
"As you say, my lady. I will respect whatever decision you take. I'm sorry if I offended you with my tireless questioning."
"I appreciate the concern, Nascha. Now, send in my reply to the Council. I want the message to be conveyed at the first crack of dawn. The sooner the better, I presume?"
Nascha bowed again, marking an end to the conversation.
Ayra stood by the wall, shaken. When the finally collected herself, she whirled on her heels and left, as quiet as the shadows.
A few moments pass by before Mother Danelle spoke,
"Did she leave?"
Nascha nodded her head.
She laid her forehead against her folded hands.
"Good. Let her go. Let her go." She mumbled, quietly and more to herself than anyone.
"Forgive me for asking this, my lady. But wouldn't it be better if you had just ordered them to accompany the Guardians. Why do this?"
Mother Danelle smiled tiredly.
"Ayra has always been bound by duty, Nascha. Every mission has demanded her to act as everything but herself. This time, I want her to listen to Ayra and not Ayra Sylvahnna."
"But you don't want her to leave."
She chuckled,
"Of course I don't but I know she would leave even if I refuse her."
She knew it the very day Ayra woke up after the attack in the Ruins of the First Gate. Saw the hunger and desperation burning behind those icy blue eyes. She did not understand that time but now, she did. She truly did.
The selfishness if keeping Ayra within her sight had blinded her eyes, almost snatched Ayra of her own life and decisions. She knew she would never forgive herself if she had done that. But Ayra's sleepless nights, her thousand visits to the library and her starving eyes pulled her out of her head, pushing her to see how fiercely this child yearned to see her best friend again, demon or not.
She realised that she would have done the same thing if it had been her loved one back at the Ruins, standing there with a tainted heart but alive--so, so alive, altogether.
Mother Danelle gently touched the ring on her finger at that.
"Do you think she'll return?" Nascha's question brought her back to reality.
Will she return?
Mother Danelle closed her eyes, slightly smiling.
"I hope so. If she doesn't, I'll tear the world apart to find her."
And Nascha knew in her heart and soul that she would. For Ayra, she would.