"Now all of you get up, there is no more time for us to keep on thinking about the past, the present is what we needed at this moment. And the future of those who will follow us. Let's leave those visions behind for now."
She clapped her hands, no matter what, they can't keep on mourning over the things that was going on around them.
They were not allowed to do so.
Yes, they have no time to do so.
And even though those visions kept appearing, it has not affected them yet, it is better to refocus for the time being.
"Saphira."
Saphira turned only to have a step back when she was met with a force.
Nope she wasn't punched this time, instead she was hugged tightly.
"Thank you… for everything. Every single secret you kept for us and every time you watch over us. Despite the fact that you too, needed someone to watch over you. You took the responsibility to take care of us."
Saphira smiled as she hugged Drake back, she felt lighter.
The heaviest burden she had been holding on until today was finally out in the open.
"I'm grateful you weren't as hurt as I feared you would be."
"No, you are wrong," Hunter spoke after she and Drake separated.
"You made all of us stronger in here," he pointed at his chest.
All the things she made them go through, all the harsh words, all the viciousness she had shown. Every single thing allowed them to grow stronger, not just in their ability or their physical strength but most of all their heart and mental fortitude.
"Now that all barriers are out, let's get this over with. I have a strong feeling that they would come for us instead of us looking for them," she told them.
They had been searching for them all this time but every single time, it was them who will come for them.
"We feel the same way," the others agreed.
It wasn't only her who was thinking of things, they were all doing the same.
At this moment, what they needed to do is to prepare instead of searching.
Saphira looked up, "Let's create a barrier around the empire."
They furrowed their brows in confusion.
Usually, they will make a barrier all over the land and not at a specific empire or kingdom.
But Saphira was specific, she wanted them to create a barrier in their empire.
"Then we will make another all over the land," she added making them even more confused.
"But why?"
"Instinct," she replied.
This time she really couldn't explain but she felt like making this move.
"Nothing to hide?" Hunter asked her.
"Nothing to hide, it was plain instinct," she answered honestly.
"Then should we do it now?" Nixon asked.
"No, before that there is something I want to try."
She pulled Hunter a few steps away from the rest.
After their talk a while ago, the beating of her heart that was different from the usual made her think of something.
"In the past I did this with our sword. But just now, when we all talked properly, I felt something else with you guys. Create your mana fire, Hunter."
Without questions, Hunter created a mana fire.
Saphira extended her own hand but instead of the mana fire of light, what she created was little specs of light that she allowed to move towards his fire.
Hunter felt a different resonance when she did this, unlike when they are creating the barriers that the light ability would simply be another layer of their own mana fire, this time, the little specs were trying to be absorbed by his mana fire.
They were integrating themselves on this mana fire.
"Very slowly, take it back inside you," Saphira said.
She, too, can feel the resonance.
It was as if the mana fire of the light ability was truly born not to stand alone but instead to give support to the rest of the abilities.
'Are you aware of this Lily?' she asked.
'No, even I am shock at what you have discovered.'
She was ashamed as she was the guardian of the light ability but she has no idea that it can actually work this way.
Hunter did as what Saphira asked, slowly he allowed the mana fire to return back inside him while taking the mana of the light ability with it.
The feeling of a powerful force invading his veins was overwhelming. It was trying to be absorbed but at the same time, fighting against the force already within his body.
Hunter gritted his teeth, it was painful but not as painful as him having to scream.
Saphira watched him with worry, the reason she started it with him was because there was a different connection between them but it seems that she was making him go through too much.
She was about to pull back her hand when he held them instead before shaking his head.
Hunter understood why she was doing this, she wanted them to become stronger but her choosing him meant that she was unsure if her speculation was correct.
And that makes him happy.
That she chose him instead of someone else. That she trusts their bond together more than with the others.
"I'm fine," he mouthed.
She smiled and held back his hand, then she allowed the specs of light to move through their clasped hands.
This time, Hunter was not simply having the mana fire but instead it surrounded his whole body like a thin layer of water while the specs of light didn't only pass through his hand but it spread all over this thin layer and entered his body through them.
It was still painful but it was tolerable.
At the same time, he can feel that his strength was multiplying.
When everything subsided, the golden color in his eyes and hair became even more pronounced.
When he felt his surrounding, he can feel that he was even more connected to the nature.
He made a slight movement with his finger and the stones on the ground moved according to his thought.
But together with it was the fast draining of his strength.
Nevertheless, he and Saphira looked at one another and smiled, knowing that what Saphira thought as a possibility became a reality.
The light ability could connect itself to the rest of the abilities.
Though since it was just a small amount, they knew they needed to nurture it more in order to make it stronger.