"No! No! No! Nothing is working!" Gwydion yelled and her voice echoed in the entire covenstead. Her face grimaced by the failure of her search. Her forehead crumbled in despair.
She was formulating a spell in search of her foolish daughter who disobeyed her creations to achieve. The recreation that was bound to already happen, all fell into tiny pieces as her elder daughters ceased to function her simple request. That is, to find Maurelle.
How could she betray her, when all she did was make her stronger and more powerful day by day? She doesn't understand it at all.
Upon her wrath, she now loathed her even useless daughters.
"Ravyn and Glinda! This is all your fault!" She yelled to her daughters that were just standing from afar. "If you haven't let her escape, this wouldn't have happened. You both are a disgrace!"
Ravyn jolted and Glinda as well.
"But, mother! We can still find her." Glinda said with a dramatic face.
"How so? Her heartbeat, I can no longer feel it in this world. She must have used her spells to cast herself into the land we don't know." She angrily uttered, slamming her hands on the table.
While she roamed her eyes somewhere, it was brought to a still and landed on Ravyn. "You," she called out with a trembling grasp in her voice. "How could you ever let this happen?" She asked in fury.
Ravyn was silenced.
"After all I've been through to raise such a failure as you, you still have the courage to face me with no use?" Gwydion yelled as she went closer to her.
Ravyn had her head down and it made her mother even angrier.
"Answer me!"
"I have a plan mother. If you would just lend me an ear to this. We can find her and bring her back. And the recreation shall begin." Ravyn blurted out.
Gwydion looked at her and stared with terror in its eyes. She was thinking twice about whether to hear from her or should she not?
"Time is running. Spill the plan, Ravyn, and if I ever hear this as nonsense. You can never see the last of me."
—
Maurelle covered her nose as she sneezed. It was a quick sneeze and Logan glanced at her because of that.
"You should be careful. You might grab a cold." He said to her.
She rubbed her nose and thought that perhaps someone must be talking behind her back. 'Oh, well. Who might that be?' Although it was raining hard outside and thankfully, the woman had a spare blanket that she could cover herself with it.
She hates using her spells. It feels like she's a truly mad one witch and the idea of it is making her remember all the treacherous things she did when still under the mother's hold. Truly regretted it. Naive and innocent was she, back then.
"Even though you're one of them, it feels like you are a normal one. You get sick and feel cold. Despite who you are, you never fail to be kind." Logan uttered in a low voice. He was standing near the window, observing the weather. "Now, I know why I probably fell—"
Maurelle looked at him confusingly. Asked what was he about to say. Looking at the man, he seemed so red and his ears as well. Maybe, he's the sick one.
"Fell? I don't understand." She asked, brows met and one eye narrowed.
She saw how it shook its head as if removing some aQ out of it. What is wrong with this man? Does he have a hobby of cutting his own sentences?
"Never mind it. Anyways, when is the rain going to stop? We haven't even set course in fixing our village." He changed the topic and scratched his head.
Maurelle looked at him. Thinking about it, they do now have their own village and a village should have a chief. Someone who would lead them, take charge in arranging the future dilemmas and crises. Someone who would be a leader, someone who's great and retains an open mind. She stared at the man. The man was already red with all her staring, she doesn't even notice her actions. Nevertheless, she thinks that Logan is the best fit for the part.
"Logan," she called out to him.
"Hmm?" He hummed without looking at her. He was still embarrassed with all her staring.
She sat down and leaned on the wooden walls of the house. "The goddess has brought upon us a home. This village. We may be facing a lot of issues in the future as the population grows. We may need a chief or a leader, Logan." She blurted out and suggested. "That's just my opinion, you do have to listen to it. This is your crew after all."
They were in silence for a while. Maurelle was starting to regret that she open her mouth. It probably was not a big of an idea. But, oh well, at least the word was out.
"Who do you think it should be?" Logan asked hoarsely, this time he managed to look at her straight in the eyes.
She looked at him and thought that he really is such a good man. Even listening to what she has to say. "I— uh— I reckoned that you would be a great leader." She said while stuttering. Avoided her gaze from the man as she fixed the bristles of her hair and pushed it to the back of her ear.
Logan walked towards her and it made her gulp greedily. Why is this man suddenly walking near her? Did she say something wrong for him to get near her?
It was a hurdle meeting the man's eyes and asked him straightforwardly.
Since she was sitting on the ground with only a mattress keeping her untouch to it. The man, Logan, squatted to level her face.
"Why do you think so, Maurelle?" He asked looking straight at her.
Even though she is not looking at the man. In her peripheral vision, the man was not even embarrassed to look at her like he was just a while ago. He is one odd man, indeed.
"You are a captain yourself. It's just fair that you would fit the part right. Don't you think? The crew also trusts you. This would probably be the best." She said quite out loud.
Logan was about to say something when the door slammed open and it revealed three people. Zergee, Hermes, and Verra. Their faces were filled with optimism. Although, the three were soaked wet for some reason.
"She's right, captain. You should be the chief of this village!" Zergee said as if persuading the man.
"Also, remember when you made a huge fuss about starting a legacy? Away from that cruel palace? Isn't this the time already to lead one yourself?" Verra squealed as she nodded multiple times.
Now they all stared at Hermes waiting for her to say something as she was also very pursuing when they slammed the door. Logan raises one of his brows to her.
She leaned on the sides of the door wall and smiled lopsidedly. "As you should, chief Logan."
Maurelle smiled as she saw how supportive his crew were to him. Despite all that, Logan was truly respected and atlas, she seem to have finally grabbed their trust. At first, it was hard for her to voice out what she had thought in mind. Maurelle was indeed very thankful for Verra, too. She was the whom told her not to get things all at heart and it work quite well for her.
Now she is glad that they have come to agree that Logan should lead the village.
"Then, we should call out another gathering!" Zergee said he was about to get out and do as said when Verra stopped him by grabbing and embracing his arm.
"Where do you think you're going, big guy? Can't you see it's raining hard outside? Don't be stubborn and set yourself inside." She scolded the man.
Zergee somehow frowned but stayed silent.
Hermes laughed as they were at it again. Even though Zergee was huge and can absolutely disagree with the woman, he chose to follow her. The reason? Who on earth knows?
"Listen to your woman, big guy." Logan teased him and it made him blush thoroughly.
"Oh, knock it off," Zergee said as his brows furrowed.
He talks big but the arm that was embraced to his wasn't even removed. They all shook their heads in altogether.
Thus, they stayed inside. Covered their body with blankets and dozed off. Maurelle was the last one to sleep. So when he saw the man, Logan, lying right next to her, she stared at him deeply.
"May you be happy, Logan." She whispered as her lips touched his forehead.
Then, the woman decided to head and sleep. What she didn't know was that Logan was still wide awake. He witnessed what she did and took him long before he could sleep right back. It stayed inside his head. That what if? The woman was also feeling the same way?
And so, he was the one who slept last.
—
Daylight soon came. The sun rays brightly shine through the wooden window and it reached through her face. Maurelle woke up and saw that she was all left alone in that house. She slowly sat down and fixed her hair. She stood up and took her cloak with her.
However, as soon as she opened the door. Everyone was all over the place. It was early in the morning and all were filled with sweats and heavy breaths.
What is going on?
They were carrying woods and heavy logs as for the men. Women with their children were holding buckets of water, women carrying white wide fabrics, and other's had axes on their shoulders.
'What are they up to?'
She went to a passerby and asked her. "Why is everybody in a rush early in the morning?" Maurelle referred the people.
"Oh, captain Logan, we heard he was announced chie. That dedicated young man has instructed us to now fix this small village. We are now put to work." She responded.
"What about these men carrying axes and where did these logs come from?" She followed with another question, with her forehead now creased. She does not like how this looks.
"I'm not sure, milady. But I know that this was also instructed by captain Logan. We saw it here already when we woke up." The woman's shoulders shrugged.
She heaved a sigh and slowly shook her head. "And perhaps, do you know where they are?"
"He's with the crew, they are down the mountain. Probably, looking for some logs."
"Oh, I see, thank you." She thanked the woman and it went away.
As soon as they were done talking, Maurelle run as quickly as she can to look for them and especially Logan.
She doesn't understand. Logan was with her and knows about what the goddess of the forest, Aranyani, wished for them upon entering this enchanted land. One was simple, it's to take good care of the forest and yet, what are they doing the first day they'll spend? She had a hunch of what were they doing but her mind kept reminding her to calm down.
"Logan, please don't make me think like this." She said to herself, trembling.
Unconsciously, she used her magic spells to find out where were they. Gladly, she was able to feel their location. They are alive!
Maurelle runs fast, even if the possibility of stumbling is high because she came from the top and rushed to the bottom. While she was running, she bumped into someone s hard that they even rolled over downhill. Her eyes were sealed close at that moment and all she felt was the embrace of a man trying to protect her head. They rolled down and a tree made them stop.
She heard the man groan. "Arg— that hurts— ouch."
The man's voice was typical to her ears. Despite her back throbbing like a nightmare. She stood up and saw herself above the man's chest. It was Logan. And the man was alive and breathing!
"Thank goodness, you're alive, Logan!" She accidentally hugged the man tight.
It groaned and so she loosen it up a bit. "Arg— why do you think I was dead?" He asked while coughing.
They were still embracing each other like there was no tomorrow. Maurelle's nervous heart still was not able to settle down. She pressed her eyes closed.
"Why? You are asking me that? I thought that the ground would have already swallowed you to death. The goddess Aranyani told us to take care of her forest. The logs and those axes were enough proof that you were trying to cut trees and destroy this land. What were you thinking, Logan? What if the goddess knew about this? What if she has already seen it and is waiting for the right timing to slaughter you? The fact you are still alive is maybe because she's still unaware. What now, Logan?" She uttered hastily. The woman was out of breath and is now panting hard.
"Calm down, calm down! I am not going to get killed, Maurelle." He replied. "Those logs and woods. They were all found blocking the river flow. And since that's bad for the forest, I and the crew decided that we would carry it all away from the river and made use of it. And the goddess wouldn't be mad if we take a single log, we could replant want again, we are here for a good reason, Maurelle. Do you really think so low of me? I wouldn't make a decision so reckless and brought our people nothing but trouble, you hear me?" He explained his side of the story.
When Maurelle heard all that, the fast throbbing of her heart slowed down and she was able to calm herself, also with the help of Logan caressing her back.
Caressing her back...
'Wait, caressing my back?' she blushed hard with that thought.
"You were worried about me, don't you?" Logan asked her with his deep voice.
With her lying on the man's chest, she can clearly feel its heartbeat and his voice was even more vivid than usual. All of this narrative was making her face red.
"I-I wasn't!" She opposed and as she was about to get up, Logan held her tighter.
"Oh, don't stand up yet. Stay like this, my back would hurt if you move." Logan muttered.
Somehow, she feels like she's being played at. They stayed like that with her confused. She does not know what to do, she was stuck at that moment.
However, it was not Logan's luck.
"Ehem, Chief, you seemed to be feeling it, milady's being fooled at with your scheme, huh?" A man uttered.
Soon after they heard laughs. Maurelle widened her eyes and stood up, giving her weight to Logan and it made him groan even more now. She felt so embarrassed that she avoided their gazes.
"Don't uh— listen to them, Maurelle," Logan said as he tried his best to stand up. He even holds onto the tree to support his throbbing joints.
Maurelle was worried for him and yet was too embarrassed to even head closer to him.
"Our apologies, milady. We didn't mean to embarrass you out. Our chief here is just too slow." The same man said.
"Oy! Don't bring me down like that! I'm your chief, you should listen to me." He shouted and pointed at them.
They all stifled their sneers and did a stance. "Aye, Chief!" They all exclaimed.
"Anyhow, why are you here, milady? Aren't you suppose to be in the village?"
Maurelle looked at Logan and looked at the man. "I was uh— somehow concerned that you were probably cutting off trees, that's sort of uh— violation inside this forest." She responded stuttering.
The crew indicated an "oh".
"Don't you worry, milady. We did no such thing as a violation. Your worries are off. You should worry more about the chief's back though," he pointed at the man, Logan, who was frowning at them.
Soon enough they all head together back to the mountain. Maurelle was assisting Logan way back as his back was hurt.
For Maurelle, she felt relief that they were safe. Anything could have happened to them. But, the man was right, she should trust Logan. From this day on this is what she will do. Trust him.
"You were right, Logan. I was worried. Very worried, to be precise." She admitted, whispering it to the man.
Logan bit his lip as he madly wanted to smile. "I knew it."
"Is your back alright? I didn't mean to hurt, you probably feel in much agony right now. I put my weight on you. Sorry about that."
Logan truly feels the thumping of his back but he currently feels amazing as the woman was very concerned for him. He's a bad one for teasing her but this is a one lifetime chance. She takes it.
"Oh, no. My back it hurts even more. I need an embrace, Maurelle." He dramatically said, closing his eyes.
When he thought that the woman would fall for it, he was wrong. When he opened his eyes, Maurelle was glaring at him. The crew was also hiding their touches of laughter.
"I know you hurt but lessen your drama. Be the chief that you are." She exclaimed ad continued assisting the man again.
"Right, I was just joking." He laughed awkwardly.
The crew finally wasn't able to hide their waves of laughter and burst it all out. All he could do was frown as Maurelle was also laughing with them.
'What luck!' he thought and scowled in irritation. But deep inside him, he was grateful. That the woman she found so down and living in despair was not smiling in happiness. Her joyous face made him want to protect her and cherish her for eternal life.
This woman. She was the one. It can't be any other but her. She might not know it, but she was the one that lifted him up in the lumps of his pain. The one he would call a MIRACLE.
He smiled warmly.
On the other hand, Maurelle was surprised as to how happy she was early in the morning. It was refreshing. It was all thanks to this man.
In the end, they went home and made all the things and materials needed. Not only for their needs but also for their safety in the future. With all their cooperation, they've to built eternal stone of promise, that from that day on they will rise from despair.
———————
ABYSSCESS