167 Chapter 167 (1/2)
In an unknown place of the Forgotten Moon Continent, two souls were conversing in whispered voices amidst the inky darkness of the night. In the background, heavy snoring noises could be heard.
No shades was seen as only the utter gales of cold caressed the vicinity of these wanderers. They have long been used to spending the eve alongside its natural guise.
This was the fate of those who had wished anonymity above all. Within this blanketed view, an illusion of escape was provided to the few.
At least, for a time...
”We should go towards the Central Continents, Princess. Staying here would only entail our eventual doom.” a mature voice spoke its sound advice.
”Is there really no other way, Keeper Lara?” a more childish voice asked.
This princess was probably 18 or so yet at this point of her life, she had already witnessed how evil the hearts of men and women truly were.
For power and riches, murder was the least of all fears that the greedy would all but creatively deliver unto the unprepared.
As this princess recalled the fate of her family, fresh tears began to flow once more upon her flushed cheeks.
”Ahhhhh...” Lara, the Keeper, sighed deeply before answering. With all the power in her command, she was still proven helpless by the forces that destroyed the Runeblade family from within and without.
”If you are satisfied to spend the rest of your life in hiding, never to exact revenge to your fallen kin, then we could stay here indefinitely Princess.
This continent is huge but...” Lara paused and gazed at the moonless sky overhead.
”...it would also serve as our cage since our cultivation would halt as consequence.” she finished her thoughts after the second beat of silence.
The more they shy away from civilization, the more the resources would go extinct from their reaches also.
The mysterious supplies needed for growth and cultivation don't grow from just any trees in these wastelands after all.
They had to be cared for and nurtured quite tediously in order to have a chance to gain some bountiful harvests in time.
And in this uncultured and deserted lands that they were in right now which was teeming with wild monsters and epic creatures,
it would be a miracle to see a heavenly plant or fruit that was not guarded by the same magical beasts.
”I am not willing to forget what happened. Those murderers must pay! Please help me, Keeper Lara.” the princess felt how powerless she was at the moment.
If she could, she would have chosen oblivion and death rather than reminiscence the memory of what has been over and over again.
Her happiness was no more.
The fantasy, shattered.
But even that silent and cowardly retreat was nowhere to be had.
Not that she hasn't tried. The Keeper was an ever vigilant companion that prohibit such possibility.
”Maeve...” Lara muttered in response to the weeping disenchantment of her ward. She was about to stand up and bridge the gap between them with a hug but something held her in place.
A drastic change that was so obvious in its advent.
”Do you feel that, Keeper Lara?!”
”What is happening?!” Maeve stood swiftly and searched for the origin of the change.
”GROWL!!!” a deep sound of surprise rose from nearby. It did not take long for a humongous horned head also followed suit towards the source of the disturbance.
”Do you also feel that, Elder Draconus?” Maeve whispered in the dark.
”Hush, child. This power brings savagery in its core...
And...
great... evil...”
”ROOOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRR!!!” a crimson shade parted the starless night in its brave colors. After a breath, a gigantic creature was seen slowly levitating upwards like a mighty ruler of the skies.
A pair of large wings unfurled and the momentum that showered this unknown part of the world with blood magnified until thunderous roars from the heavens echoed out the feelings of this gargantuan serpent.
It was as if it was readying itself for a last charge unto chaos and depravity.
”Draconus! Stop!” a barely audible voice countered the creaking of the heavens and the earth but the same could not be said to the mystique that drowned the bloody world in silvery radiance.
The luminous outburst flowed entirely unchained unto the pandemonium that ensued without cause. In a breath, a blinding light manifested the alluring figure of an unmatched goddess.
She was garbed in purple and the long gown that cased her skin manifested what beauty truly meant in its simplicity. She exuded elegance that could only be had with untold years of living.
But though her eyes spoke volumes of the vicissitudes of the lengthy past and its memories, the ephemeral mystery was still vividly showcased within those two orbs of shining splendor.
With the burning of gray alongside her lovely figure, this woman appeared like a fairy in the flesh that existed only in the fancy of mortal imaginings.
”ELDER DRACONUS!”
”KEEPER LARA!” Maeve was stunned by how quickly things had escalated to this point. Tried as she might, her calls was only a drop in the ocean of noise that surrounded this place.
In the end, just like the umpteenth time since forever, only her tears comforted her in her weakest of moments.
”BOOM!” a huge distortion eviscerated time and space to another form. Within moments, a million kilometers parted in the wake of a winged dragon.
Mountains vanished to dust and oceans rerouted to fill the unnatural gap amidst this violent flight. Behind it followed soft mantras that created words of power to existence.
Since Lara was not intending to slaughter Elder Draconus then the best method available would be a binding formation of sorts.
To kill was easy but to motivate calmness amidst hysteria was another thing entirely. Especially when her skills were most effective in moments of slaughtering rather than peaceful mitigation.
She took 60 breaths from onset to finish and uttered the last phrase of the spell.
Beads of sweat has now marred her flawless countenance due to the extreme concentration applied to something she was at best a beginner.
”...revincio!” the last word of the lengthy spell was cast and the shining brilliance over her body dimmed significantly thereafter.
”HAH!”
”HAH!”
”HAH!” Lara breathed heavily and gazed at the distant horizon to where an endless gash of destruction pointed mercilessly. It would not take long for their pursuers to get ahold of this disturbance.
Thus, they would have to travel once more. She was tired and exhausted but it seemed like misfortune had totally joined their plight still.
Lara teleported below and held a sorrowful girl in her arms. This was a sheltered princess that knew not of hardship until recently, life has opened her eyes to reality.
”We all have our brief moments of heaven, don't we?” Lara thought and smiled at her own dark humor.
A sense of melancholy shaded her eyes for a second or two before it was once more covered with firm resolution.
”Will Elder Draconus die, too?” the pitiful query surfaced from amidst the sporadic sobbing. Lara comforted the princess and held her ever tightly to give what little security she could offer.
”He's a tough old monster, Princess. He won't die that easily.” the Keeper whispered to the broken princess.
”We have to go. Or we shall have to face some unwanted company soon.” Lara stood up and said no more.
Although she could be a stalwart wall that Maeve could rely on this troubled times but true strength has to be nurtured from within one's self.
If not, then it would be akin to building majestic castles in the sand.
”Okay, Keeper Lara.” From folded knees and face buried between as if to hide from the rest of the world and its sorrows, Maeve unsteadily rose.
The two women saw eye to eye and in fact, their heights weren't that much different. Both were the pride of Eve and had been blessed beauty beyond their peers.
7 foot tall with all the right curves that would drive any man insane. Unfortunately, their spirit couldn't have been more different than their statures.
One breathed fortitude while the other was an insecure glass that has already shattered beyond recognition. Still, since fate had brought them together so shall they travel hand in hand also.