It's been a year and a half living with Mr. Martel and his two princess- Naiyah and Iris, whom I've both grown close to. Within the period I was free from my work as an Adventurer, I thoroughly solidified my foundation before making a breakthrough to the fourth level. Now being a Magus. Not a fast development but a steady one.
Distracted for a moment, thinking about my progression, I got hit by Astragal's enhanced wooden stick. I barely dodged the hit to my face, raising my hands as a shield.
The pain from the hit bringing my focus alive. I was sparing with Astragal - a level six warrior. A Knight close to becoming a half-step General. I was barely keeping up with his massive strength, reflexes and battle skills as I relied on my agility and swiftness to invade attacks.
I used to forget that I once bathed in the blood of my enemies but a spar with Astragal was a short more nicer version of those days.
Damn, this old man is good.
Thinking I could land a swift punch on Astragal's smug face, I made a move to attack him, changing trajectory and leaping into the air and aiming a swift punch at his face.
Oh, how wrong I was. The moment he caught my punch, I knew I would eat some dirt again. I'm a lower level mage! this is unfair!
It was like a flash of death as I was thrown across the area like a ragdoll, knocking over a few trees before finally landing on the ground with a loud bang. Dust rose in the air as I laid motionless, unwilling to lift a finger.
"Are you dead?" I heard the voice of demonic Astragal shouting from afar.
"You can try!" I shouted back in my depressing state.
"Stand up, Nefari. Training session is not yet over." Said Astragal as he appeared before me with his wooden stick, poking my head.
I wish he wasn't so fast... then I would get a few more seconds of rest.
And there goes my small moment of peace...
I stood up slowly, ignoring the pain and burning sensation all over my body. I tensed my body as I prepared for another round of fighting, getting into a stance and watching my mean opponent; Astragal.
****
After being thrashed so roughly by Astragal, I took a shower to clean myself of the sweat, blood and dirt acquired from training.
I got dressed in an oversized white t-shirt as I made my way downstairs taking notice of the mood in the seating room.
Is there something I should know? the atmosphere was unusually different. Something was up and destroying the peace the house held.
Astragal and Naiyah seemed to be discussing something important, sitting in one of the corners of the room. And their expressions were not hinting to anything nice. Another situation, Iris was not in the living room. She normally watched thd TV for 48 of her 24 hours a day.
"What's wrong?" I asked to no one in particular.
Naiyah replied, seeming somewhat lost.
"The seal between Hell and Gaia has lessened. And not just that, an ancient revolutionary cult has spread it's root across Naza, recently announcing their alliance to all powerhouse of the continent including Royal figures. They call themselves Cythradel."
"Since when?" I asked, raising an eyebrow on the sudden turn of events. I stared at Astragal wanting more information.
"Grandpa just received news from his alliance." Naiyah replied again.
It didn't take long for me to digest the information...
Then if that was true... simply state, Gaia is in grave danger. The demon world commonly known as Hell has barred it's fangs once more. Previously when the seal was weakened, a level two demon emerged and annihilated my past self along with a few mighty figures. And now... I can sense the incoming damage.
But what is this Cythradel? I cannot recall a thing or clue.
I sat by the window side on a stool, looking at the beautiful nature through the window.
"You must be wondering," Naiyah approached me.
"Why the sudden emergence of Cythradel?" I heard her voice from behind.
I turned to her and she gave me a mug of hot chocolate which I gladly accepted.
The weather was quite cold today.
"Thank you," I muttered.
Then she sat on the stool opposite me, near the window while I watched Astragal take his exit.
"I'm sure Naiyah will explain everything to you. I'm going to check on something." Mr. Martel said with his back turned, leaving the house.
And with those few words, he was gone. Mr. Martel exited the room. I could see him through the opened door, he stumped on the ground with massive strength and leaped into the air with the momentum. The wooden door creaked and the ground trembled.
He was out of sight in less than a breath's time.
"So...?" I turned back to Naiyah.
She said, "Yes, as I was saying; Cythradel, the mystery, right? I have answers to your questions. Though not completely sure, it is something."
Naiyah paused with a grin, taking a sip of her own hot chocolate. Intentional or unintentional dramatic pause.
After a few seconds, she said, "Your mother; Queen Nazia was once the successor to the cult."
My full expression should represent how unsurprised I was of this statement. I knew mama was in deep sh!t a long time ago.
"And...?" I pressed further. " -- Wait, how sure are you of this?"
It was very suspicious. If it was the truth, then so be it. But if it is the truth, why so? this was exactly what I wanted to know. What is the connection?
I took a sip of my choco and watched Naiyah talk.
"It's just the conclusion of I and Grandpa's guesses. Not so sure but it likely is."
Seeing me stay silent, she continued.
"Before your past self received the Hero's mark, do you recall the period where those phenomenons happened? three days of acidic rain which could penetrate a level five warrior? Bloody mists, red moon and so forth. Well, it all has to do with you, the cult and your mother."
"Now, I am very confused." Nothing clicked in what Naiyah told me. How am I and mother related?
"I won't tell you."
I stared at the mermaid girl. Why was she sprouting nonsense?
"Read it yourself." Naiyah brought out a book from her inter-spatial ring then gave it to me.
The book... was odd. No, it wasn't dusty like some ancient book. No, it wasn't giving any aura of a demonic or divine book and no, it wasn't sealed.
It was a journal. One that should belong to a seven year old girl and her barbie products. Pink, glitter, stickers and so much more... This is a bit overboard.
"What do I do with this?" I asked.
"Read it. What else?" I was tempted to ignore Naiyah's sarcastic remark.
"Burn it could be an option. Or use it to smack someone's face." And the next moment, a book descended on Naiyah's head.
"My hand slipped." I never bothered to make a good lie.
Unsurprisingly with Naiyah's character, she calmly dropped the mug of hot choco on the window side and grabbed the book from my hand, giving me a hard hit.
I grabbed it back and hit her, she grabbed it back and hit me with even more strength. And back and forth it went till we remembered we were adults... Are we really? To Magus Lords and Titans who lived up to hundreds and thousands of years, in their eyes, we're genius babies.
"Nefari, don't you think this is silly?" Naiyah asked.
I slowly retracted my hand that was raised in the air, aiming to hit Naiyah with the book but unfortunately, was stopped by her sudden question.
"We're not up to a hundred years, what's the rush?" I replied lazily.
Naiyah looked at me with a dull expression equalling my everlasting blank one.
"Just read the book." And I nodded to that, agreeing. I have important things at hand.
I flipped open the book on my lap, taking my hot choco from the window side I dropped it earlier during our small fight.
I took a sip and within the first few lines and seconds, I realized I was in much more than I thought.
The mug slipped from my fingers as a reaction to my shock -- I couldn't comprehend this so easily. But between the millisecond that it all happened, I already stilled the mug in the air and moved it away.
I closed the book.
Naiyah watched me intensely. My reaction reflecting in her sea blue eyes.
"Surprised?" She asked.
"Rather, I'm more unfortunate. Cythradel is no truffling matter." I sighed.
Naiyah nodded to that, stood up and walked away, leaving me to my thoughts and the book.
I watched her blue hair cascade down her back to her hips, her figure reminding me of a certain figure.
Queen Alyssa's image flashed before my eyes. My mother's sworn sister.
"When Astragal is back, you can talk with him." Naiyah said without turning back, her figure slowly disappearing as she climbed up the stairs.
"I have soo many problems..." I muttered to myself.
Stingy heavens could not bless me with peace for two years straight!
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A/N: Not exactly my actual plot line, just that as a writer with itchy hands and lots and lots of imagination, I tend to deviate from plotlines due to new imaginations. (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)
And... sorry for the long wait to any devoted reader, Author-chan is lazy. She warned you... But thank you for reading this.
EHEM! ANNOUNCEMENT!!! THIS BOOK IS RATED MATURE, I PLAN TO GET DARK AND VIOLENT WITH A MIX OF HORROR. SWEARING AND SO FORTH NOT FOR TEENS BELOW 18. YOU! HAVE! BEEN! WARNEDDD!!! My first intro will be changed. Not too late to leave.
SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT!!! AUTHOR-CHAN NEEDS COMMENTS. OR I'LL MURDER A FAVOURITE/LOVED CHARACTER LATER IN THE NOVEL. THAT'S RIGHT, AUTHOR-CHAN JUST THREATENED HER READERS CAUSE SHE'S BORED AS A WRITER AND COMMENTS CAN BE ENTERTAINING. HMPH!
Thank you.