This chapter is dedicated to @Darkredrio. Thank you for all the power stones you've been sending.🤗＼(^o^)／ (✿ ♡‿♡)
Chapter 19: The extinct race
Pax did not expect for the sudden hostile behaviour from the Dakijen. They pushed her straight to the chief's place which was a surprisingly modern house but was slightly bigger than all others.
There, they say on a wooden bench that resembled a log as they waited for the chief.
K'e watched her carefully, watching every single twitch and turn she made. Despite the fact that she was needed to find the old man, she was also someone who had cursed most of his men with the touch of death.
Pax smiled to herself as she felt K'e watch her. She knew exactly what was on his mind as he watched her. She knew he was cautious of her and she respected. She also wondered why such a curious existence had gone extinct.
All she had heard about the creatures were wrong or well, most of them. "So tell me, why do you use bayonets as your choice of weapons?" She asked to start some conversation but K'e simply grunted, he did not have the energy to deal with her.
After a while, he responded but not with was she was expecting. "Why are you hiding your true self?" Pax was startled that he was able to see through her but it wasn't exactly as it was.
"Whatever do you mean?" She asked, curious to know what he meant exactly.
"We Dakijen can sense auras. We can sense the age of your aura. You look old but your aura is that of an infants. It is strange so I deduced that you must be hiding your appearance." K'e said all at once, assessing the woman to see her reaction.
Pax let out an "ahh" sound in realisation. Another thing about the Dakijen she had no idea about.
Suddenly, everyone went quiet and Pax assumed the chief had arrived. Her assumption was correct and she stood to greet him.
He took a long look at her and beckoned her to follow him. Pax did as she was told and followed him as he walked out of the house. They walked into an empty house beside the chief's house with no doors but curtains.
Unlike the other Dakijen, the chief's features were not as unpleasant. He did not have the exposed gums or flared nostrils. His eyes were wide like the others but his irises were clear and not shrunken. They were a clear silver that seemed to hold many secrets.
He was hunched like the others but stood up straighter but while the others were almost seven feet tall, the chief reached six and a half. Pax had to struggle to stare at him and eventually she gave up since he had not spoken and was staring at her.
"You must be Raye Pax." The man said after a while of studying her features.
Pax's head snapped back up to stare at the man who simply stared back at her with little to no emotions shown on his face.
"How- no why do you know my name?" She asked after recovering from her shock.
"The lady in the cloak" he said like she was supposed to know who that was.
"Who is that?" Pax asked and the chief sighed and sat on the ground. "Sit" he gestured towards her and she did as she was told.
"I would feel more comfortable if we talked with the real you Miss Raye." The chief said after a moment of silence.
Pax sighed. "I would need a plant or a live creature for that and your men have confiscated my belongings."
The chief waved his hand. "No need, I have plant." He reached behind him and Pax then noticed the strap around his waist. He brought out a large red plant that made Pax guilty for wanting to sacrifice such a curious looking plant.
She held into it and immediately, the plant withered as her features melted to that of a young girl.
"That is better. Now Miss Raye, let us cut to the chase. I know my race will soon be extinct and there is nothing I can do about it."
For the third time that day, Pax was rendered speechless. This was not what she had expected at all.
Without looking at her, the chief continued. "I know the cause of it and I know that if one is avoided the other will come but not as drastic. I know your reason for being here so I will go straight to my request." He paused to gauge Pax's reaction and when he found whatever it was that he was looking for, he continued.
"You must stop that child from ever meeting the Āsimati king or prince. It's worse if he meets the prince as their twisted prophecy will fall into place, triggering the end of my race."
Pax paled in fear as she knew what he was talking about. A race wiped out to save another. It was what she had heard in her vision.
" I will send you on your way as the lady in the cloak has told me I won't find that old man anywhere. I wish you the best. May the gods be with you "
With that, the chief stood and left the place, signalling the end of the conversation. A Dakijen walked in and wordlessly gave her belongings back to her. Pax knew it was time to leave.
"Raye" someone whispered her name and she turned to find a silhouette disappear behind the Chief's house.
Grabbing her belongings, she chased after the shadow but found no one there. "Raye" the wind whispered and caressed her cheek, bringing tears to her eyes but then she followed the direction of the breeze.
She knew where to go. With a sad smile on her lips, she set out to find Zola.
***
Wara woke up with a startled gasp. She frowned immediately to find Yhra hovering over her.
A tunic, skirt and combat boots suddenly hit her face and her frown deepened.
"Get dressed. We're moving." Was the only explanation the she recieved from the woman and then she left.
Glancing down at herself, she discovered the dress she was wearing had been tainted and had torn in many places. It was too beat up to be re-sown so she stripped and kept the clothing away.
Put on the clothing Yhra had given her, she found the bust to be a bit too loose and the waist a bit too tight but there was nothing she could do. She could not waste time looking for a new attire to wear when she could hear the urgency outside.
She glanced down at the boots and wondered why they were included. The one she was wearing was just fin-
Wara looked down to see the state of her boots and sighed. They had gone beyond repair. She put on the boots, disregarding how fitted and comfortable it felt.
Exiting the tent, she found that nothing remained except the shed and the tent she had slept in.
Before she could turn to loosen the pin, the tent disappeared and in its place stood Nak with a sardonic smile on his face.
She noticed a withered creature in his arms and frowned. She did not know what kind of creature it was as the way it had shrivelled, it had become unrecognisable.
"Let's get going." Nak said, dropping the lifeless creature that immediately turned to chaff as soon as he had let go.
"Go where?" Wara asked.
Nak shrugged as he spoke " Since what happened yesterday took place here, other terrible creatures will come here looking for the remains of a dead body. If you hadn't done what you did yesterday, there would've been in fact, a carcass for those creatures." Nak's voice turned stern at the end and instead of making Wara shiver, she only frowned slightly.
"Where is the child?" He asked before she could ask him something.
"Well I kept him somewhere safe after seeing - that. I almost forgot!" Reaching deep within, she searched for the child where she thought she had kept him but could not find him.
Oh no. She panicked, her mind racing a mile per minute as she recalled the spell she had said in the spur of the moment.
What have I done?