Chapter. 22
The Lost
Ackerley felt his breath at the end of his throat. He felt relieved, finally able to melt in the power of the ancestor, returning to the place of origin. Death caused by the power of his clan became the last gift of life for him.
His existence which was removed from his homeland and community paid off today. But, just before Ackerley's soul left his body, he felt something dark enter every pore in his body.
A piercing chill froze the flames that momentarily devoured Ackerley's heart. The icicles creaked quickly, chasing the last breath that remained in his body. Ackerley froze for a moment, as Kiera unleashed the full moon's power.
Kiera's eyes darkened completely. Lush anger and heavy pain engulfed her heart at the time Kiera's eyes fell on Bianca's body lying in a pathetic and dying condition.
The hatred that had never filled Kiera's soul before, now fill full her heart. Coldly, Kiera looked at Ackerley. She would not let the man go peacefully.
Without blinking, Kiera reached out towards Ackerley. All the power that flowed from the blood of her mother and grandmother melted and she into the punch. The blue light flowing from her fingertips moved steadily toward Ackerley.
Even Ackerley's discolored eyes seemed to be screaming a desperate dance. When in the last second of his life a reality entered Ackerkey's consciousness that he would die and be trapped in the cold shackles of the moon's power.
Ackerley's last breath left the body the second Kiera reached out to embrace her grandmother's body. Ackerley left mortality with his eyes open and filled with despair.
"Grandma!" Thousands of words that were in Kiera's mind couldn't come out of her lips. She could only sob silently. She gently grabbed and kissed Bianca's fingers which were getting colder.
Kiera never imagined that her return to the White Stone would only be met with such pain. The deep regret plunged deep into the recesses of her heart. Perhaps if she had come sooner, she would have been able to protect her grandmother.
Meanwhile, Kiera's three of companions were still at the edge of the Forest of Prohibition. They were unaware of the tragedy that was unfolding at Bianca's hut.
Aaegon, Adam, and Keannan deliberately let Kiera dart in front to give the girl a chance to meet and release her longing for her grandmother.
They walked leisurely while enjoying the atmosphere of the Larangan Forest which was much different from the forest in Red Land. At that moment, they were surprised by the lightning that thundered above them even though the sky at that time was brightly lit.
They looked at each other anxiously. Then jump after Kiera. But, they get a surprise, they found the scene in front of Bianca's hut.
The place looks to have suffered great damage in several places. It was like a violent storm had just ravaged Bianca's hut. On the front and side yards, the corpses of several men were strewn, charred.
Anxious, their eyes roamed looking for Kiera's figure. They saw that, behind the pillars of the side of the hut which had partially collapsed, Kiera was sitting on her knees while holding Bianca's body.
Slowly Aaegon, Adam, and Keannan drew closer to Kiera. But, they were unable to interrupt they both's final moments. Bianca looked so pale in Kiera's arms, she was starting to have trouble breathing.
Bianca's right hand tried to grab Kiera's face. Trembling, she tried to wipe away the tears that were flowing on Kiera's face. Through the curtain of tears that also rolled down her cheeks, Bianca tried to record Kiera's face in her mind.
Bianca realized that her final time of had come. However, Bianca was relieved, she could feel such a strong atmosphere from within her daughter. Bianca was relieved that her job was done. Now she only wanted Kiera's face that ushered her departure into eternity.
"Don't cry, Kiera. Grandma's princess, you still have a long way to go. Find your father." Bianca paused for a moment. Her breath started to hitch. "Grandma loves you, Kiera. Thank you for coming home. Let Grandma rest, your mother has come to pick you up."
"Grandma, don't go, Grandma. Don't leave Kiera."
"Grandma!" Kiera's body shook when Bianca's hand slipped from her grip. Trembling, Kiera's lips called out Bianca's name who closed her eyes with a smile on her pale lips.
"Kiera!" In an instant Adam jumped at Kiera and took the girl in his arms. But, Kiera just didn't move, her eyes looked blank, there was no sign of life there.
Adam didn't care if he had to die one more time, even multiple times if necessary, as long as he could tell Kiera that she wasn't alone. He will always be there for Kiera.
Adam didn't realize at that time there wasn't any power from inside Kiera that came out as usual. The girl just froze in his arms.
Even the traces of tears on Kiera's cheeks had dried up. Anxious, Adam looked at his teacher who was laying Bianca's body on the remaining bales.
A moment later, Aaegon approached Adam and Kiera. He placed both thumbs, one each on the right and left side of Kiera's forehead. However, as he feared, Ackerley found no sign of life in Kiera's soul. Silently he keep his worry feeling.
Aaegon knows that he must quickly help Kiera's soul, who seems determined to follow Bianca. Aaegon rushed to invite Adam and Keannan to clean Bianca's hut from the remnants of the fight so that when Kiera woke up, she wouldn't be trapped in sadness anymore.
At the time of cleaning up the remnants of the mess, they were shocked to see Ackerley's corpse. Keannan and Aaegon confirmed that it was indeed Ackerley's body.
Now they knew that Ackerley had been close to White Stone and the Red Land all along. Maybe Ackerley had been thrown into the same place as Keannan. But, the strange power of the Red Lands had prevented Ackerley from entering the place.
Although Aaegon and his two students felt anger towards the people who had taken Bianca's life and caused Kiera's soul to be lost. They still buried their bodies, however, far from Bianca's hut. All the bodies were buried together in the same pit.
After that, Aaegon decided to take Kiera to the Red Land. There the circumstances and conditions are more supportive of the recovery effort against Kiera. They left after performing a proper funeral for Bianca who was buried next to Anyeelie.
Adam and Keannan delay their departure to Shinny. They insisted that they did not want to leave Kiera because the girl seemed to have been trapped to the world of the dead. Both wanted to wait a while, as long as it was possible.
Several days had passed, but Kiera was still unchanged. Aaegon purposely placed Kiera inside the Jade Cave where Kiera usually resided. He hoped that the power of the stones there could guide Kiera's soul to return soon.