HUFFING, Saiya turned back and puts her arms on her waist. From where she is standing, catching her breath, she can see the small lights coming from the village a few kilometers away.
Yes. As soon as the clock struck two in the morning, she decided to leave the village. It was really hard for her but she needs to leave for the sake of the people she has learned to love; for Erie whom she didn't expect to love her back.
Until that very moment, she still could not believe what just happened between her and Erie a few hours ago. She had given herself to him without hesitation and she doesn't feel any regret by doing so. What makes her feel sad, though, is the thought that Erie will wake up on her bed alone.
She even remembered his sleeping face when she woke up earlier. It feels so natural for her to wake up beside him.
Saiya heaved a sigh to stop herself from thinking of going back and started walking again to the opposite side of the village.
It's a good thing that it is a full moon that night so walking in the woods is not that hard. Even though Greyn is staying alert of her surroundings, they both know that even though he is a skilled warrior and she is good at being an Archer, if they encountered a Light Oracle, they will both die. No, she will die, Greyn will fade and vanish. That is why they decided to walk without any light to signal the enemy of their location.
"Let's stop for now, My Lady. You have to rest."
"That's a good idea, Greyn," She tiredly said as she sat down on a big rock on the side. She massaged her aching feet while looking at the village from afar.
Her tears almost escaped her eyes. She's missing them already. She wants to go back and stay with them but that would be too risky.
Saiya pulled herself together and breathed in deeply to shoo her thoughts away. She was about to turn her back from the view of the village when something caught her attention. She immediately turned her gaze back to where the village is when she noticed a few lights in the sky just above the village. From three lights, it became six, then nine.
She suddenly felt a chill down her spine. Nervously, she slowly stood up from the rock she was sitting on without taking her sight away from the village.
When the light became eleven, the news they heard about the Akashia Village immediately appeared in her mind. Then Cicila, Virache and Erie's smiling face flashed on her mind as well. Breathing hard, as if her body has its own mind, she started running back to the village.
"No. No. No!"
"My lady!" Greyn shouted but it did not stop her.
Fear started eating her; fear for the ones she loves and fear for the village who took care of her.
Without thinking and not minding anything, she ran as fast as she can as if her life depends on it.
"Erie! Cicila! Chief!" her mind shouted.
But then, before she knew it, she's been lifted from the ground. Saiya only noticed what was happening when she saw the village getting further.
"I'm sorry, My Lady. But I cannot allow you to go back."
"Let me go, Greyn! I'm begging you!" Saiya shouts with tears in her eyes while looking at the huge fire that started engulfing the village where they came from; where she lived for five years.
Different dragons with metal armors ridden by gold-plated knights kept burning and circling the whole village like they are just burning a big bonfire. Loud shouts and screams from the villagers echoed through the sky and it still reached her ears even though they are already kilometers away.
She wants to go back and help them even though she knew that she is powerless against the Light Oracles as she is now. But if she will die, she wants to die with the Kardama Tribe.
"Greyn!" She begs, punching his back. But the shadow did not listen.
He continued running away while carrying her on his shoulders.
"Listen to me! I am your liege! I am your master! I command you to let me go!" She shouts angrily.
"That is precisely why I am not listening, my lady. You are my master. I must protect you no matter what is the cost. I can even give my life if you wish to."
Clenching her fist, she grits her teeth. Screams and anguished shouts keep echoing in her head. Until all her rationale fades from her mind.
She decided to leave the village for their safety; for their peace.
Why did they have to die? What have they done wrong?
"It's because of you."
Her mind suddenly went blank as the deep voice echoed in her mind.
"Azul," She whispered remembering who owns that unique voice.
Greyn stop running when he heard Saiya. He immediately put her down and tried to return to her shadow to stop Azul from whatever he would say. But as soon as he attempts to merge with Saiya's shadow, a barrier constricts him.
"Azul!" He hissed.
Saiya, on the other hand, could not hear anything anymore other than Azul's voice. It was like he silenced everything and concentrated her attention on him. It was one of his powers; The Supreme Authority.
He could not do it since Saiya started having connections with other people because the darkness in her mind is being lightened by her surrounding. But now that she is being engulfed with mixed emotions such as hate, sorrow, and confusion; darkness had been eating her heart once again.
It was his only chance to make her his after training her to be able to contain his powers. If he succeeded with his plan, he doesn't need Saiya to break the shield anymore. Merging with her can make him free from the shackles of the Oracles. He doesn't need to be the ruler of the Shadows once again. Just being free from that dark room made by the Oracles and being able to transfer his full power and will to his successor would mean that he wins his battle with them.
Smirking, he continued talking.
"It's because of you that your Tribe is being wiped out from the face of the earth. You're right. They did nothing wrong. But they did one thing that led to this; they took you when you escaped your first death. They cared for you.
Have you forgotten what I told you years ago about your power?
You and I share the same fate. You are the chosen successor of this power; the power to control the dead. You will be the Lord of Shadows and the Conqueror of the Dead whether you like it or not.
And acquiring the full potential of that power will only mean one thing; no one shall remain beside you other than the shadows.
And loving others will only lead to their death."
"So, you're saying that I should have not cherished them? Love them?" Saiya asked as anguish eats her.
"You are a living person, Saiya. That is normal. Caring for them is normal. Loving them is normal," Azul said, and for the first time, Saiya heard loneliness in his voice.
Sobbing, she closed her eyes from the realms of human and that made her eyes in the realm of darkness open. As soon as Azul came into her view, their eyes met. Without any doubt, she saw regret in those sharp eyes.
"You should have pushed them away."
"Is that what you did when you we're the Lord of Shadows?"
Azul did not answer. Instead, she saw his jaw clench and his fist tremble. She felt his power all over the place and it made breathing heavy for her.
"I should have stopped you from having any connections with them. Now you are suffering and you will continue to suffer."
"Azul."
"Tell me, Saiya. Do you want to save them?" Azul asked while looking into her eyes.
Again, she saw the darkness in his deep blue eyes that penetrates her heart and it only wants to say one thing; he wants to be free.
"Yes. Please, Azul. You can do whatever you want with me. Just save them," She begged; kneeling before him.
Then before she knew it, she was lifted from the ground; Azul's right hand carrying her and his left hand behind her head pushing her forward.
When she opens her eyes, she saw him staring directly at her. His face was so close, she can feel his breath.
And when she felt power coursing to her through her lips, that's when she realized that Azul was kissing her.
Right there and then, someone's memories flood her mind.
From the childhood of the person until he had grown old, it passes through her mind at a speed she could not comprehend. She felt all his emotions from the moment the person was born to the day he was chosen to be someone he doesn't like.
And as his life passes through her mind, his pain and suffering engulf her heart as well. All his battles; friendship and betrayal. It was too painful for her, she cannot take it anymore.
Saiya's mind and emotions are on a rollercoaster and on the verge of falling apart when suddenly she felt peaceful.
In a blink of an eye, Saiya found herself standing under the bright sunlight, in the middle of a sunflower field. Confused and crying, she looks around for Azul but there is no one.
"Azul!" Frightened, she called out but no one answered. Again, she turned around only to find someone sitting under a big oak tree.
The woman with long blond hair wearing a white floral dress was smiling down at someone. Curious, she made her way closer to them but did not notice a big rock on her way. When she passes through it, the realization hits her. She was in a spirit form because the rock that she was supposed to stumble upon did not hurt her at all.
"Hey! I told you to not stare at me like that, Azul!"
Saiya's confusion over her form suddenly vanishes after she heard the sweet voice of the woman calling the name of the man who kissed her earlier.
When she looks back, she saw the person who is with the woman.
He is, indeed, Azul without the scars on his face. His built is skinnier than the person she met but is still muscular. He is wearing a white tunic and black trousers paired with black boots that enhanced his built. He is lying on the grass; his head on the thighs of the woman staring lovingly at him.
"It's Azul's memories," She whispered after she remembered every bit of his memory like it was hers.
As if her body has its mind, she moves nearer to them when suddenly, a light catches her attention. When she moves closer she saw a gold ring on his finger which is the same as the ring the woman is wearing.
They look so happy, peaceful, and relaxed; unlike the Azul, she knew.
There and then, she realized who is the woman in Azul's life. She is his wife.
"So, you even reached as deep as this, huh? I didn't realize that my connection with you is already this deep," Azul whispered to himself when he finally found where Saiya had been since they connected to the outside world.
He stared at her as long as possible until Saiya turns to him.
"Azul!"
"Stop peeking on my past, you stubborn child. Come here and I will take you outside."
Saiya walks towards him and loneliness starts to engulf him, "Tell me, w-why do I see this? Why is my memory filled with yours?"
"To be able to give you all my powers, you need to have my memories. That is how a Lord of Shadow is born. You have to have all the pain and suffering of the previous lord to be able to wield and enhance your power."
"Is that what you did in the past?"
"All Lord of Shadows did the same thing, Saiya," He answered as he holds her hand and leads her to the exit.
"Then, with the power that you are giving me, will I be able to save my Tribe?" She asked as tears starts filling her almond eyes once again.
"Yes. But you cannot turn back the time and save those who are already dead."
"Then I have to hurry."
"We're here," Azul whispers as he covers her eyes.
When Saiya opens her eyes again, she is back in the village. She almost got caught with the fire breath by one of the dragons who are destroying the village but shielded by someone.
"You must be kidding me, kid? I thought you already escaped!"
Saiya's suddenly looks at the person who shielded her from the dragon's fire breath; it was Virache.
"Chief!"
"Why did you come back?" She yelled as she kneels after the dragon melted her shield made of dragon's skin; the only weapon she has that had been protecting the village since she became the Chieftain.
Saiya immediately grabs the Chieftain by the shoulder as the dragon flies above them.
"I cannot leave knowing that you are all being killed, Chief! If I die now, I will die with all of you!"
"No one wants you to die, Saiya! Compared to the salvation you will be giving to all the necromancers who died in vain, our lives do not compare. We knew from the very start that we will be attacked because we are hiding you. We are all prepared to die!" Virache said with determination. She even harshly held her by the shoulder, "No one in this village will live tonight. We will fight them for the lives they have taken from us. If we will be able to bring one oracle with us, that would be enough. And if you are the only one left, please, Saiya, use us as your army."
Confused, Saiya looks around. One by one, the villagers she knew came closer with determined faces and resolve. Even the baker who smiles a lot whenever she buys bread from him for the past five years she had been in the village, had the determined look on his face.
By then, she remembered a scene from Azul's memory.
He was facing some kind of war and he was the only one left alive. Through the mask that he is wearing, black flame fumes. It engulfs him and he shouted in agony as if it was his last cry. Then after a second, he fell in silence. Just when he was being attacked by some people who looks like the Light Oracles, Azul stood up and raised his hands.
In a deep, scary voice, he ordered, "Rebirth."
When Saiya's mind returned to the present, she was shocked by what's happening all around her; shadows from the dead villagers starts emerging.
TO BE CONTINUED