11 The JUNGLE of NARRA (2/2)

The grand wide room proved to be clean and spotless which is extremely commendable - taking the fact that she's the one cleaning it all herself. Even if she have had left the room for about two months or so, it stayed the way perfectly as it was for she made sure to cover all holes making the room airtight, free from dust and speckles and everything from the outside, maintaining the light sweet scent of perfume brewing continuously on the side of her bed.

”You may lay me down gently on my bed Karr,” ordered Prodea sipping some drink in her fine sparkly crystal glass that Zeba fetched her earlier on.

”Yes, your highness,” replied Karr giving his signal to the guards carrying her.

The guards gently lifted her and fashioned her to her bed sitting pretty at an angle with her still sipping the red liquor in her crystal cup that she swirls every once in a while.

”You may all go now and take your rest, you deserve every single second of it,” declared Prodea waving her left hand gently making her fine statement somewhat an order, ”except you, Zeba.”

This startled Zeba for she's still standing with amazement at the center of the room perusing all details, small or big, taking a mental picture of the room as if she's never going to see it ever again. With her being busy with the magnificent scenes of the room, gazing at the weird stuffed beasts situated precisely between posts, she forgot to notice that she's the only one left standing there. The guards she was with walked, swiftly as they are, gently closing the big double doors making a squeaky click on contact.

”So... impressed?” exclaimed Prodea breaking the buzzing silence of the room with her voice reverberating to every corner.

”oh, uh - right. Well, it's really amazing - what you have here, I mean, your highness...” replied Zeba walking to a table on Prodea's far opposite side with stacks of vials neatly stacked in a metal rack. She picked one, a reddish liquid with a blue swirl persistently not mixing with the solution, and curiously shook it.

”Stop that!” shouted Prodea grabbing the mixture.

Zeba jumped, startled to Prodea's sudden appearance in his right, leading her to trip landing on the floor with her scared wide eyes looking at Prodea.

”This is a very valuable solution Zeba! I did not give you permission to go and rummage my important alchemical mixtures!”

”Your Highness --- You're - f-floating!”

”What an astute observation!” answered Prodea looking at the floor sarcastically, ”Do I appear to be on the floor? Of course, I'm floating!”

Zeba still looked at her confused with her brows furrowing ever so obvious by the second.

”Oh, right. You didn't know. Everyone in this pathetic excuse of a Palace doesn't know,” she said with a sad face as she hovered to the table, gently returning the vial in its place at the metal rack and then floated back close to her. ”Yes, I have somewhat mastered the art of free floating.Don't you know that only the ones with the wind-fire combination, also known as the Fire Storm Demons, can conjure a powerful wind pressure that can make one defy gravity itself?”

She floated up almost touching the ceiling and pulled an old notebook out of a black sealed cabinet. She then moved down to Zeba who is now standing, puzzled as she still is, and showed the dark blue notebook that she took.

”I know it's theoretical, but I do hope to research some more on that matter. I've read this technique on that and I must say, whoever wrote that thing must've been insanely silly or brilliantly smart. I've never actually thought of using my wind elemental powers up till I've read that. I guess the Fire Storm Demons really concentrates their energy mostly on fire that they forgot to use the other one that still matters, what a shame.”

Prodea rambled on about how the Wind-Fire Nagozulians take the wind part for granted and that their dwindling concentration ultimately leads to them conjuring big balls of fire but Zeba didn't take heed to listen. At one point, she didn't have the capacity to understand and actually maintain a level with her pace mainly because she has the knack of getting technical as her speech intensifies and deepens. Prodea isn't really much of a talker, well at least when she's surrounded with a lot of people she doesn't know - and by that it means that she's just this talkative when its Zeba. Prodea doesn't really need the attention and she doesn't need her to understand, it's just her way of reciting and exercising her mind. Talking with yourself all day long really gets boring after a year or so, much more when compared to her lifetime of being in solitude - what with her brilliant mind keeping her busy.

She opened the book as Prodea gives her long points of view. On that blue notebook filled with scratches at the front hard covers and tiny rips at the pages, she found handwritings of a person that really needs to repeat his calligraphy classes. He assumed it's a man because statistically, women are practically patient when it comes to writing. Only men scribble on their parchments in a hurry.

The book is written unevenly with a lot of arrows points and directs to something unreadable with a huge number of formulas too complicated to ever understand, not to mention the many erasures that's been scratched all over. This created a slight uneasiness to Zeba for the curious side of her isn't evidently satisfied with the pool of suspects in her mind until she saw a royal insignia on the end page of the book with a seal bearing the Royal Emblem.

”Your highness!” exclaimed Zeba interrupting her long narrations. ”I know this seal! Isn't it -”

”Artemus, yes I know! I've read that a hundred times you know. I'm just not ruining the surprise. Don't you just love it when you feel that tingling moment in surprises?” She hovered back to her bed with Zeba following her and continued as she sat almost as if feeling a bit off. ”To know such magnificent fact and not share it with everyone is totally inconceivable and selfish! I know that it's more of a thesis paper than a book entry but still. I know there's a lot more like that secretly lying around in this Palace but to be honest the records regarding the matter have been said to be deleted by someone. I sure know that it is to be passed on to some seer for evaluation twenty years ago, I just don't seem to know who.”

”Seer?” asked Zeba, ”How'd you figure out it's to be passed to a seer?”

Prodea chuckled as she swiped the book from her. She flipped the book as she replied, ”Oh, Zeba, the power of your observation really astounds me.” She reached the first page then opened it wide in front of Zeba.

”Oh, the Seal of the Royal Seers.”

”Yes. There are only seven, always, at any given point of time; in which, if someone drops out, or dies - you know... of old age, another one will be chosen to replace the position.”

”But Grand Princess, it's forbidden to know the records of the Royal Seers. How will you weed out who's who?”

”That's where you'll come in.”

”But what can I do? You have more rights in this Palace than I have so I think you're most qualified to perform this kind of task.”

”Oh, Zeba, once again, you're completely ignoring your potentials. Why, you're the greatest fawner here at the Palace!” she reached out to fix her cloak into place leading her insulting remark to give a lesser impact. ”If you do this for me, I'll make sure that even the old queen will bow before the great powerful Queen Zeba in no time.”

Zeba immediately forgot Prodea's mockeries and began to dream agreeing with the thought of her replacing the queen, making her the most powerful woman in the Lands of Bathala. She just snapped when an idea sprung to her out of nowhere.

”Prodea, may I ask why you need to know all of this information? You can fish it out for yourself if you want to. Some of the seers are in your payroll I presume. And of course, the fact that you have that book means clearly that you have yourself a valuable copy of one of Artemus' notes so that means you have everything you need to search the others.”

”Zeba,” replied Prodea, laughing to hide her frustration, ”were just circling around. Indeed, I have revealed a litany of things that I want to do earlier that you forgot to listen. I need to know Artemus's master and his connections in these theories he's been doing for the past thirty-five years. You know I can't ask around for this kind of sensitive information. They might ask me why and I might not be able to resist telling the truth thus revealing my intents. You wouldn't want me to reveal my intents, now would you?”

Zeba replied with her head shaking in agreement.

”I'm only doing this for you and your husband, my lovely brother whom I love very much. That's why I'm thankful that you've been here for me for the past five years. We've been planning this for a very long time and all I'm seeing is me doing everything,” she paused for a second to grab her hands firmly holding it and looking straightly in her eyes with her sincere almond red eyes. ”Not that I'm complaining, I love helping my brother out and I like helping you out too. I've even studied black arts to ensure your ultimate success. All I want now is for you to do your teeny tiny role in this whole affair and help me figure this dilemma I'm in. With that information, I ensure you that I can strengthen your rule in this kingdom and that neither Artemus nor his wife, Anagea - that wretched Daomagar, will stand in your way. You know that this is only for your benefit, wouldn't you agree?”

Zeba again shook her head in agreement almost frightened to lose her part in the plan.

”And you know that I can't rule Nagozul because I'm barren, right? So only Sarram and Kuya-Artemus can sit on the throne. I'm sure you're well aware of that fact. We're all rooting for my dear brother Sarram, but you can't always do the cheering part. Sometimes, you have to take certain little steps to help me out too. Isn't that what we agreed a long time ago?”

”Yes, of course,” she said with conviction. ”I will do my best to do my part, don't you worry.”

”Then it's settled!” she clasped her hand in excitement. ”I will hear from you in three days and see if you've done some progress. I'll just wait here in my labo - I mean quarters, doing more research and planning for the arrival of the Leonus Empire's Griffin Workers which, I think, will arrive after two months or so.”

She floated again and led Zeba to the door which she did hurriedly.

”So soon!? Sixty days!? I thought...”

”Yes, two months or less, I know! Bathala seems to be favoring our side, right?”

She opened the door slightly making an opening as wide as a foot and a half for her to pass through which she obliged to take almost jumping in haste.

”Remember, it is pertinent that you seek this Royal Seer as soon as possible,” Prodea whispered for the last time.

”Yes, Your Highness,” she replied whispering after which Prodea closed the door gently to a kiss.

-------ooO0Ooo-------

It took the cheerful party two weeks to arrive at the base of the mountain on the other side. The chefs and the four princes most enjoyed the journey making a bond that connected them even more because of their midnight storytelling and fascinating revelations of weird ghost and demon beast encounters. The only ones who are feeling a bit off are the Daomagarian merchant, who is now seen a bit tired and frustrated considering that they normally travel that great a distance for about three days only; and Narra, who - in spite of his delight to see his grandchildren happy - found their trek rather long. Their long journey has surpassed his expectations even in his most generous estimate which frustrated him a bit more considering his obsessive compulsion on the idea and importance of time. Artemus and Anagea must've been walking in circles wandering where they might be being this late, Narra thought. He didn't have the time to reveal their position and scouts have been avoiding the Dark Jungles of Narra, so their location is practically a mystery from everyone.

Narra looked at the sky and saw the red orange sea of clouds engulfing the horizons. Night is clearly approaching and, he thought, it is better for them to stay where they are on the clearing at the foot of the mountain than to challenge the wrath of the night in the dense jungles up ahead. He's a Daomagarian Warrior but he certainly wouldn't want to risk endangering his grandsons.

”Okay!” shouted Narra unpacking his huge lumpy backpack slamming it to the ground while shaking his shoulders to release the strain it's been put to. ”We finally arrived at the second phase of our journey! Behold, the great Jungles of Narra - Where the beasts of the Holy Lands of Bathala roam free.”

Upon hearing this Yosh's face turned to purple walking so slowly ultimately finding his way at the back of Kayzar.

”Hey Yosh,” grinned Karus as he unloads his pack, seeing as Narra gave the insinuation earlier that they're putting up their camp at the clearing, ”now you're going to be really acquainted with Grog. Hope he likes cats.”

”Shut up Kuya-Karus!” shouted Yosh with a broken voice hugging Luna tightly.

”Hahaha, don' 'cha worry, Yosh. No, one'll hurt yer friends,” assured Kudos laying Reus gently at the ground.

”Not while we're around,” added Madj walking right past him.

”What!?” whispered Karus after seeing Kayzar with a sharp look, ”I was just joking! You know that I was joking, right Yosh?!”

Yosh just turned his back and sat on his own near Kudos and Madj.

”Oh, now you're turning away. Great!” whispered Karus mostly annoyed but feeling little guilty deep inside for playing around with Yosh's fear.

Night inevitably caught up and the black veil of the night sky engulfed the whole clearing. The travelling party camped at the foot of the mountain near the edges of the jungle. They created a huge bright bonfire to scare away other beast and give clear warning of their presence.

The moon shied away from the sky revealing its gloomy and lonesome look without its lovely comforting waxing half-moon glow, leaving the thick dark angry clouds to have dominion over the night skies, grumbling on its wake, perfectly shrouding the wide array of stars that should lay magnificently scattered across the heavens for this unlucky evening. The Princes noticed this gloomy feeling as they stand watching the dim jungle right in front of them seething in its hazy fog-enriched mystery as if giving off an almost superstitious effect on them making them shiver, especially Yosh who hasn't relaxed his grasping hand for hours.

Even though this unfavorable instance was evident, it didn't stop them from having their merry chat that even Narra, who is apparently growing concerned for their safety, loosened up and told some of his escapades in his early years before retiring which the group - especially the chefs - found extremely thrilling.

It didn't take them long enough to stay up because Narra became rather worried about their situation and told them about his unquestionable hunch. He feared that luck isn't on their side that night, so he considered ending the evening's merriment early. Though the princes would like to hear more, the firm old retired general commanded them to have their early rest in order for them to move out, away in the jungle as soon as possible. No one wants to get whipped by Narra, they thought, he's one of the strongest in the Daomagar Clan after all so they saddled up and grabbed their sleeping mats then lied down gazing in the growing sea of dark clouds that whispers a grumbling melody, almost lulling them all to sleep.

The night grew surprisingly fast as the wind began to blow continuously cold. Though this spine-chilling scene could make one become disturbed and awake, it didn't prevented the princes, and also the merchant, to achieve their deep sleep, soundly being tolled away in the whirring rivers of the world of fantasy - except Yosh who is snoring like an old man but otherwise looking serene. This made Narra smile a little bit as he stopped cleaning his sword for a while to watch his grandchildren on their mats.

”Ah! Time...” whispered Madj as she sat near Narra who came back to his senses after her final words. ”Look how rapid it flows. Like the rushing rivers returning to the vast oceans, it's, somewhat frightening, disturbing even, and at the same time satisfying, wouldn't you agree sir?”

”Hmn, yes. It is but a year ago when they were so frustratingly difficult to teach to. Now I see them evolve into something even I can't comprehend.” Narra took his sword back and sheathed it away. ”It only took them two years to mature which is a great accomplishment for them.”

”But I 'tink, 'dey still retained 'deyr yout'ful cheer, don' 'cha 'tink?” joined Kudos while sitting to the other side of Narra, giving the two their cups of hot teas to sip.

”Yeah, at least they've enjoyed their childhood experience, that's what counts,” added Madj sipping in her hot tea.

”Well,” uttered Narra, ”I think they quite enjoyed their training even though I have become quite harsh on them. I wouldn't want to push them at their early age but sometimes you have to do what you have to do to preserve the future.”

They paused for a while after hearing Narra's statement until Kudos built the courage to ask.

”Whad'ya mean abou' 'dat boss?”

Narra remembered what he said and snapped again to reality. He smiled for a little bit, impressed by his unnatural behavior of rambling on almost divulging personal secrets to somebody. It seems that this might be the rise of a new personality, a manifestation that he is growing older. A challenging thing that is inevitable and also a thing that he should control and watch out for.

”Mraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaooooooooowr --- kishhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” roared Luna raising her tail up high while all her fur went haywire making her defensive stance, waking Yosh and the others in their sleep.

”Oh, no,” mumbled Narra with his eyes suddenly widening as he jumped near Yosh at incredible frightening speed using the Great Dash leaving him to appear before him in just a split second covering almost thirty feet of distance. Kudos and Madj, upon seeing this for the first time, was stunned at his speed. They know for a fact that he is widely known for his title as the Unrestricted General, because of the way he circumvents any act of impossibility, but seeing this in person clearly diminishes any thought lingering in their minds disputing the idea whatsoever.

The rustling of the bushes, together with a strong breeze of wind that immediately killed their ever so blazing beacon at the center, startled the two chefs. They hurriedly went rushing to the princes who are currently still enjoying their sleep unaware of their surroundings.

”Wha- what's happening, Gramps?” Yosh asked waking up with a little scent of fear looking at the smoking cinders of the once great bonfire that they created hours ago, leaving him to look around, anxious to what could spring at any moment. ”Why's Luna freaking out?”

”Karus, Kayzar!” roared Narra, ”GRAB YOUR WEAPONS! DEFENSE FORMATION! NOW!”