A P H I A
After two days of journey, we have finally reached our destination. It's a rainforest located in the western part of the kingdom.
We looked for a cave where we could stay for the night. Aloisia's knights build several tents outside the cave. The rain was pouring heavily. We made a bonfire to make everyone warm in this cold weather. They also hung lamps on the walls of the cave to lighten up the area.
"You love the rain?" Aloisia suddenly asked as I stared at the rain outside the cave while smiling. We could also hear the sound of the rippling water from the nearby river.
"I do. It gives me a comforting feeling. I don't know why." Rain is a blessing. It washes out dirt and waters the plants. It gives life.
She smiles while looking at me. "It's raining at this forest all year round. It is the main water source for our vegetables, fruits, and herbs field. Our farmers have no problem when it regards to our water source until something happened last month."
"What happened?" I asked curiously.
"A group of chimeras dug a hole at the end of the falls, preventing the water to flow at the field. They were guarding the area to prevent the human from fixing it." Aloisia explained, and I looked at her in shock.
"These chimeras are intelligent," I commented, and she nodded.
"I don't know what happened, but we think they started to evolve from a mindless monster into an intelligent one."
"How deep this hole is? I mean, was that enough to collect all the waters coming from the mountain continuosly?" I asked.
"They dug a passageway underground. The water flows on the passageway until it reaches the town residential area at the bottom of the mountain. The residential area is now flooded. The water for the fields is destroying our residential area."
"So, we need to defeat them and fix the hole, am I correct?"
"Yes, Lady Aphia. We will start our operation tomorrow morning." She declared, and I nodded. One of the knights gives us a meal that tastes like a macaroni soup in my world. It's warm and tasty. It's a comfort food match for the weather.
"Things are going to be exciting this point onward, Lady Aphia," Aloisia said while smiling at me.
"I am looking forward to it," I said as I smiled back.
The next day, it was still dark when we started our plan of ambushing the chimeras at the falls. Aloisia told us her plan and our role to defeat the chimeras and reclaim the water for our fields.
"Are you ready?" She asked, and I nodded.
"Don't worry. I will make sure everyone is safe." I said as I patted her shoulder. I wore my quiver and prepared my bow and arrows.
"So, you know how to wear your quiver?" Aloisia asked as we started our expedition towards the falls.
"I do. Prince Kalmin taught me how to wear it." I said.
"But he still helped you wore it the day we left."
I shrug my shoulder. "I don't know. I think he is used to it. He always insisted on wearing it to me, so I let him do it." I explained and a mischievous smile formed on his lips. "Why?"
She shakes her head. "Nothing. Do you enjoy his company?"
I nod. "I do. He is fun to be with." I answered, and she nodded again while smiling.
The mountain is steep and slippery due to continuous rain. Tall trees and different herbs grow everywhere in the forest. Rainforest animals like mammals and reptiles are hiding from thick bushes.
"They keep their distance from the falls," Aloisia stated as we looked at the animals hiding from us. "They are afraid of the chimeras." She added.
These monsters are not only troubling humans but also animals and nature. What is their goal in doing this? Is there someone giving them instructions, or is it just their own decision?
I want to learn more about them. I want to understand their behavior and powers.
We have reached the falls after a few hours. Aloisia signals us to hide behind the boulders a few meters away from the falls. I prepare my arrow and infuse it with earth and wind elemental magic. These arrows can pierce through any object. Aloisia instructs me to aim at their forehead.
Aloisia and the rest of her knights prepare to attack using their swords. I learned that not all of them have magic, but they are skillful in combat. The chimeras are sleeping soundly at the edge of the hole, and some of them are on the top of the boulders.
Aloisia told me to attack first, and I nodded. I climb the biggest boulder, and I position myself on the top. I can see all the chimeras from here, and it was a good spot. I breathed out before releasing the first arrow, and it hit the chimeras on the top of the boulder. It instantly fell on the water, waking up all the chimeras around the area.
Aloisia shouted at her knights to attack. I get another arrow and hit the next chimera on the top of the boulder. Aloisia and her knights slash the chimeras they encounter on the forehead. They use their shield every time the chimeras spit fire. I continued hitting them using my arrows until I noticed some of the knights got burns and wounds on their bodies.
I infuse the arrow with my prowess consecration and heal. I pointed the arrow at the ground, and it hit exactly where I wanted it to land. "Area Heal!" I shouted, and my healing magic released from my arrow, healing all humans in the area.
Aloisia and the knights looked at me while smiling. We continued killing all the chimeras in the area until I hit the last one near the falls. I get down and run towards them. I check Aloisia and all the knights' conditions. Some of them have light scratches and burns. I create a magic circle on the ground. "Area Heal!" I used it one more time to heal all of them at the same time. I sighed in relief as I saw everyone alive and safe.
I won't let a single knight die in my watch. It's what I promise to myself.
"Thank you, Lady Aphia," Aloisia said while smiling at me. Her knights are also smiling at me. Their smiles show gratitude, and my heart feels warm.
"I am just doing my duty as the priestess like the rest of you." I smiled at them. "It's my pleasure working with you all." I bowed my head, and I heard them clapping their hands.
We immediately proceed to the second phase of our expedition, and that is to fix the hole. All earth elemental magic users from Aloisia's Order, including me, stand around the hole. "Do you think you can do it?" Aloisia worriedly asked as she stared at the hole filled with water.
I nod at her with confidence. "All of us can do it," I announced, and all earth elemental magic users looked at me while smiling.
"Alright. I believe you." She said before the rest of them stepped back a few meters away.
"We will also patch the passageway that they made underground. Trace the hole on the earth's surface using your hand." I announced, and we all placed our palms on the ground.
"I have found it!" One of us announced, and I nodded.
"I have found another one too." The rest of us announced that they had found the passageway that the chimeras made in different directions.
"We will patch the passageway first and then after that, we will continue on fixing the hole." They nodded. "Let's do it!" I focus my magic on my palm and transfer it to the ground. "Earth wave!" We all shouted at the same time. The soil underground started to fill the passageway.
After a few more minutes, the water on the hole starts spilling and flowing again. We filled the deep hole with soil and rock until it reaches the surface. The entire Order including Aloisia cheered in joy the moment we completed our mission. The water from the falls is now flowing down the river and into the fields. The flood has been stopped as well. I sighed in relief.
"Archangel," I uttered, and I felt my wings appear on my back. It's big and white wings with gold dust. I looked at it with amusement, and the knights gasped in shock.
"Are you an angel?!" All of them, including Aloisia, shouted in shock, and I laughed at them.
I shake my head. "No. It's one of my prowesses as the priestess. I have to use it because I cannot use my wind elemental magic while infusing this area with the divine shield." I explained to all of them, and they all looked at me in confusion.
"What do you mean, divine shield?" Aloisia asked.
"I will fly using my wings, and I will infuse this area from top to bottom with my divine shield to protect it from magical and physical attacks. I want to make sure that the same scenario won't happen again." I explained, and they all smiled at me from ear to ear.
I fly at the peak of the mountain and locate the main source of the water. From there, I infused it with divine protection until I reached the river at the bottom of the mountain.
Later that night, the knights grilled a deer and served it to everyone. I gave them herbs that they could mix in the soup. It was the herb that could help everyone regains their energy. "The herb is amazing, Lady Aphia." The cook slash knight exclaimed, and I gladly told him how to use it for every meal.
"You are amazing, Lady Aphia," Aloisia said while we were eating in front of the bonfire.
"You are an amazing leader as well, Aloisia. I don't think I can lead a hundred knights, but you can." I complimented her.
"Prince Kalmin trained us hard to handle a hundred knights." She said with a scornful face, and I laughed at her.
"By the way, what's your power? I did not see you use it earlier."
"Fire." She answered, and I nodded. "Fire can't defeat another fire user, so I use my combat skill instead." She eats her grilled meat like a man, and I chuckled at her. "Your holy magic is unbelievably strong."
"Yeah." I nodded. "It's strong that it sometimes scares me," I said. "By the way, what are our activities tomorrow? Can we go to the fields and residential area?"
"We will scout around the forest for a possible enemy. Why do you want to go there?"
"I want to check the condition of the plants and the people."
"We will take you there after our scouting activities the next day. Is that fine with you?" She asked, and I nodded.
It's indeed a busy week for me. But my exhaustion is nothing compared to the things that I can do for the nature, animals, and people of this kingdom. I love my role as the priestess.
I can see exciting challenges ahead of us.