Although he knew that Emerald was in a deep sleep and it was impossible for her to wake up, Dmitry still moved silently. He walked out of the cave the same way he entered it earlier. The barrier, which was made up of fiery strings, opened a doorway.
As Dmitry stepped out, he commanded, "Salaknib."
The fiery strands glowed more intensely until it turned into a wall of fire.
He vanished as he walked through the thick forest. His presence went not unnoticed by those he met along the way. There were grazing night creatures who made sure to make a path for him. Then there were also souls of the dead, Kaleshing, who are on their journey through the Takang. Although it was their first time meeting the young man, there was this sense of danger that made sure they do not cross path with him.
Dmitry walked calmly and unhurriedly under the two mooned night sky while dismissing the various reactions he is getting from the beings around him. It was as if he knew the place well. But perhaps it is the void that was accustomed to him.
He again went through an area covered with numerous trees and shrubs. He smiled as he knew what he was to expect at the end of this part of the forest.
There was a concave covering made from coiled branches of trees. Oblivious to the two-unconscious people inside the shelter, they were already surrounded by six Kaleshing. Their mouths wide open and grinning. It was so rare, exceedingly rare for living human beings to roam the void.
Dmitry stood there staring at the scene before him. It is not the first time for him to meet a Kaleshing, neither was it the second time.
Furthermore, this type of Kaleshing is not the benevolent one. It is common knowledge among his people, that there are two types of Kaleshing. Two types of dead souls: those souls from those who died peacefully and only desire to journey on the afterlife and then those souls from people who died by suicide, with regret, or without accepting death.
This type of malevolent Kaleshing sometimes sip out from the void. They look for bodies to possess that they may live as mortals once again and accomplish unsatisfied desires when they were still alive. That is why summoning a Kaleshing is dangerous. One cannot assure that the dead soul summoned is good or evil.
The group of Kaleshing glided towards Ivan and Hannah. But before they could reach the pair, one of them suddenly disappeared within a flash of light.
Though they were already dead, the remaining five Kaleshing still felt the dread of an impending doom. Their confident grin earlier turned frantic. But the fear also made them glide faster toward the human bodies in their sight.
Dmitry stepped forward and calmly said, "Kafe"
As soon as he mentioned the old word, light appeared from the ground and this light started to engulf the five Kaleshing altogether. For a while, there was screaming, groaning, and wailing coming from them. Then, there were none.
Unruffled, he went into the shelter where the two unconscious people were. He knelt and assessed them. As he expected they were in a deep slumber just like Emerald.
It is a general rule that living human beings are not allowed to come in the Takang but not many know why. Although there are many dangerous beings within the void, there is something else graver.
If they do get stuck within, they shouldn't stay for so long. The longer the time a human being gets caught within the void, the higher the risk that he will lose his soul. In the void, souls become fascinated by immortality and pain free existence. The physical body goes to sleep and dream until it ages and rot within the Takang. For normal humans it happens fast, but for humans who have connection with the unseen world, like members of the clans with the gift, the process is slower.
Dmitry felt disappointed with these two. But he can't help it if they were not strong enough to control their own souls within this void. The efficiency is not in their blood anyway.
He pointed his index finger at Hannah's forehead and from it a luminescent silver bluish sparkle appeared. The sparkle buried itself underneath her skin. He did the same with Ivan. Then, not a minute passed, the two woke up.
Dmitry stared down at them and asked, "Had a good dream?"
Although, both expected him to come, it was not the plan that Dmitry would find them this defenseless.
Ivan stood up first and held Hannah's arms to help her stand as well. They bowed their heads slightly, sensing that Dmitry was frustrated.
The chauffer spoke first, "Forgive us. It seems that we failed you. It was wrong for us to assume that we were capable enough to accompany the young miss."
Hannah nodded in agreement.
Dmitry chuckled and turned his back. The trio came out of the shelter and walked towards Dmitry's original destination, "Forget it. Although you came in the void a couple of times, that doesn't give an assurance you can overcome it. Although, you have the blood of the Vanished Ones flowing in you, a half breed will always be a half breed. Besides, it looks like that both of you used a lot of energy trying to avoid the crash."
Ivan and Hannah who was following Dmitry from behind kept silent. To others, Dmitry's words might be insulting, but both understood that this is a fact and it disappointed them as much, as they were not able to keep an eye on their mistress.
"You don't seem worried. I guess, she is, okay?" Hannah asked.
"I met an old friend a while ago. There is a prior agreement that he'll make sure she'll get through this." Dmitry replied.
They continued to walk in silence. They stopped until they saw a large, white, glowing horned creature lying on the floor, in front of the entrance to a dark ravine where a loud crying was coming from. The creature lifted its head, sniffing a familiar scent. True to his senses, he saw the source of the scent with two other people heading towards him.
The large deer made a sound. Ivan and Hannah bowed their heads and kept a distance away from the creature. Dmitry on the other hand, smiled and with his palms caressed the deer's nape. To the pair of servants, there was only silence between the deer and Dmitry, but they knew well that Dmitry was conversing with the creature with his mind.
"A while ago, I had to make sure it was you. You look slightly younger, child." The deer commented.
Dmitry chuckled, "I had to make sure I look 21. "
"How shameful."
Dmitry laughed at the offence, "I really have to hear that from you, a thousand-year-old geezer?"
This time the deer laughed. Both strolled closer to the entrance of the ravine. The wailing was not heard as frequent as before.
"You left that girl in the cave. How clumsy of you. Are you that impatient to see this one?"
Dmitry smiled, "Besides the fact that those two needed my help before a Kaleshing takes possession of their bodies, I was curious to see how she would handle this."
The deer scuffed, "It is even clumsier to leave the little one in there. But you look confident that she is not in danger at all."
"The truth is beginning to claw its way into her now. I have learned from my predecessors, that lies, no matter minute they can be, are like termites that eat away wooden homes. People living in that home, ignorant of the insects' existence, proceed with their merry lives while the mites grow in number slowly eating away their strongholds."
The deer fell silent. He has been living in this realm for thousands of years along with dangerous beings. It still surprises him how this young man, like any other of his ancestors he had met, was able to make him feel what dread is like.
"She must be done." The deer inferred as light suddenly travelled out from the ravine and the wailing was not heard anymore.
Upon seeing that light, Dmitry gestured Ivan and Hannah to go into the ravine. The two obeyed and went rushing in the dark to look for their mistress.
The deer and Dmitry turned around and walked through the forest. They were headed back to the cave.
Along the way the deer was curious, so it asked "How does it feel to be near her again? I am sure it satisfies the curse in you somehow."
Dmitry just replied with a smile. A smile that the great deer has seen so frequent. A smile that resembled so much of Dmitry's father's smile that would be carved in his lips at the mention of Dmitry's mother's name.
They reached the mouth of the cave covered with a wall of fire blazing threateningly. But Dmitry and the deer were not the only ones who arrived. Again, there were Kaleshing who sensed a warm and living body inside. This time around, there were more than ten. Naively, the malicious spirits were waiting for the barrier to fade but their focus suddenly was distracted as they sensed a mighty presence.
They turned and their hungry appearances turned to fear as they saw the great white deer before them.
One by one they shouted, "Kalanay! Kalanay!"
At the mention of his name and the fear that came with it, Kalanay stomped his hooves on the ground and light rose on its surface. One by one the Kaleshing disappeared.
"Thank you." Dmitry said in gratitude for saving him the effort.
Suddenly, light flashed, and rumbles soared louder and more frequently once again from the night sky. The Takang is being forced opened. Dmitry and Kalanay knew that their rare meeting is about to end.
Kalanay bowed his head and before he walked away, Dmitry finally answered his previous question, "My father said to me once, it's excruciating to be near but not able to touch."
Kalanay laughed and he looked at the young man's eyes and replied, "You are looking more and more like them, child. How pitiful."