2.1 CHAPTER SIX: THE REALITY
Aaryaa ran.
She ran as fast as she could.
As far as her feet could take her.
The image of the child crying replayed repeatedly in her mind.
The pleas of the people she had just killed echoed in her ears.
The sight of a mother shielding her children from her recurred over and over again.
She saw the fear reflecting in their eyes as clear as a sunny day.
None of them tried to defend themselves from her using black magic. She had found no traces of it. The intel the royal duke had partaken in the king was false. She could not think why the duke accused them of dealing with the forbidden. But the one thing she was sure of was that he wanted them dead.
And Aaryaa had just unwittingly become his assassin.
He had not even known she was the Sifr, yet he still managed to make her life a living hell.
Her foot got caught in one of the tree roots in the forest she was running at. She fell face-first to the ground. She sat down and looked around. The sky was turning dark, and with all the tall trees, it looked darker than it should have been.
Something stopped Aaryaa. She had no idea what it was, but–all of her feelings caught up with her when she tripped. Tears started falling down the side of her face. Her chest began to constrict as audible sobs escaped her lips. She couldn't stop.
Her feelings overflowed.
She cried her heart out in a place no one could hear her or see her. The faces of the children she had been forced to kill returned to her mind. And she screamed.
"Karme," a voice called from behind her.
Karme shook her head as she continued to cry. She hid her face in her hands with her head bowed low.
"Karme," Celeste called once more as she slowly walked towards the younger woman.
Karme heard the leaves rustle as the royal mage proceeded toward her. She felt her presence in front of her, and the older woman knelt down to her level. She put a hand on top of Karme's shoulder and squeezed.
"I'm sorry!" Karme cried out, facing her savior. "I am so sorry, Celeste. But I can't. . . I can't," she sobbed continuously as she shook her head adamantly. "I can't do it anymore,"
"Oh, child," she murmured softly as she pulled Karme into her chest. "You should not be the one to apologize. I should be the one asking for your forgiveness,"
She caressed the back of the younger woman's head as she repeatedly apologized. Karme's tears continued to fall until strength left her body. She fell to the ground, her knees unable to support her anymore. But Celeste allowed her to lean into her.
"I apologize, Karme. I thought that you would be free by teaching you how to fight. But I, regretfully, was the one who trapped you in another hell. I am so sorry, child,"
The two of them cried. With tears silently flowing down from her eyes, Celeste affectionately kissed the top of Karme's head. The forest turned black as night came. The only light that could be seen from where they were was the shine of the full moon. It illuminated them like a mysterious aura–surrounding them with its protective nature.
Celeste gently pulled away from Karme and stared at her in the eyes. With a smile, she raised a hand and cupped the younger woman's tear-stained face.
"I, Celeste, hereby dismiss you from the Kifo. I disburden you of a heavy duty placed upon your shoulders. I thank you for your service,"
Karme's eyes widened as Celeste's galaxy orbs started glowing white. She knew the royal mage was removing the binding spell on Karme when she took her oath as a Kifo. The light slowly faded from them as soon as she was done.
"With this, child, you are free to live life as you see fit," Celeste started, caressing Karme's cheek with her thumb. "I must apologize once more for saving you from your father's clutch only to imprison you in mine,"
Karme shook her head once more. "No, you saved me,"
Celeste smiled at her. "No, Karme. You saved yourself. Even if I had offered you a hand, you would not have taken it if you did not have the courage,"
"But what am I going to do now?"
Celeste slowly led Karme to her feet. "You tell me. You have always, and I say always, exceeded my expectations. But keep in mind, do it for yourself this time. Live the life you dreamed of,"
Another kind of sadness crossed the younger woman's eyes as she stared at the moon.
"For the past few years, only one man frequented my dreams. I saw the life we could have lived if we had not been both victims of my father,"
"You can still live that life, Karme," Celeste stated, squeezing Karme's hands. "I have seen that his is to return in the future. Welcome him home, Karme,"
Karme shook her head. "No. He deserves to live a life with no connection to my father. Karme de Serin is dead, Celeste. And with my demise comes his freedom. It is my debt to him to pay for choosing me,"
Karme sniffled. "Thank you for reaching out to me that day when I was at my weakest. The knowledge I have gained from you, I shall forever treasure. Thank you for everything, Celeste,"
Celeste shrugged. "You do not have to thank me, child. But why does it sounds like you are saying goodbye?"
"It is not a goodbye," Karme answered, staring down at their conjoined hands. "I learned plenty of things during my days as a Kifo and Aaryaa. But I realized that I barely knew myself. I would like to go alone. And maybe. . . Find out who I really am,"
Celeste nodded as she pulled Karme into another hug.
"I understand," she whispered in the younger woman's ears. "Take care, child. But I implore you to remember, you will always have a place with me,"
Karme nodded into Celeste shoulder as she returned the hug. The two of them stayed like that for a minute before they pulled away from one another. With a smile, Karme stared up at the sky once more. It was full of stars, twinkling so brightly. While the moon was perfectly round and was fully visible from where they were standing.
She closed her eyes, spreading her arms to her side as if savoring the illumination of the pale, round shape in the midst of tiny, glittering stars.
A spell came into Karme's mind. With no doubt whatsoever, she started it chanting it. Her eyes glowed, and Celeste watched as Karme continued to surpass everything she thought she knew. A gush of wind started out of nowhere. Caressing Karme's hair, making it appear as if she was on fire.
At that moment, Celeste shivered at the absolute power of the child she had taught.
"Bring me to a place where weary souls come to rest. Where even nature moves at my behest. Down by the sea where there is no rising sun. A little or a hundred miles it can span. Only those who truly needed shelter shall see the path that is laid down by thee,"
Her voice echoed as the moon's glow shone brighter and brighter until Celeste could no longer keep her eyes open. Panicked, she threw an arm toward her face and covered her eyes. And out of the silence of the forest, Celeste started hearing the calming sound of the waves.