12 Chapter 7: Desert Requiem (1/2)

Chapter 7: Desert Requiem

Part ONE

”What are you waiting for? Get inside!”

I felt a hard shove on my back.

As a door slams behind me.

”Aerra!”

I blinked twice and realized I was on my knees, staring down the floor.

Oh. I lost balance when someone pushed me from behind.

I looked up and realize I'm already inside the bedroom. I saw Nora striding towards me. Aeron is down on one knee, looking at me worriedly. ”That bastard—!” he cursed under his breath.

How odd.

How did I got here?

I remember walking out from Cerguz's quarters. And I remember looking at Aeron's back...

Everything else is a blur.

I pushed myself up and eyed Aeron. ”Aren't you suppose to ignore me?” I murmured. He flinched and stood back up. ”I can't ignore you when you're letting people just push you around like that.” He murmured almost inaudible but I heard it anyway. He then turned around and marched away.

I looked at the door behind me.

Did I walked all the way here?

How come I can't remember?

”Are you alright?” Nora wraps her arm around mine. I nodded at her. ”What happened? What did Cerguz say?”

I side-glance Aeron who was already climbing up his bed. Stray walks up to us and crossed his arms. ”What did the old fart wants?”

I remembered what Cerguz told us... but I want to talk about it with Nora first.

I shook my head. ”It's nothing.” I bowed my head down. Stray turned to Nora as she just shrugged.

”Well, at least you both returned here in one piece.” he says as he went back walking towards where the rest of the children are.

”Nora,” I whispered. ”I need to talk to you”

She nodded in a frown. ”I have a bad feeling about this.” she says sighing. ”Go ahead. What is it?”

I told her everything Cerguz told us: about the collector, the negotiation and the condition he left us with.

I can see Nora's eyes widened in shock. She looked wan with her lips apart. ”Nora???” I grabbed her shoulders and shake her a little. She snaps and rubs her temples. I can see her jaw tightening.

”What if our powers awaken during our birthday? That's only two days away!” I murmured, letting her go.

She shook her head. ”Don't worry. Just because you're turning ten doesn't mean your powers will necessarily awaken instantly. I awakened mine at age of eleven. Ten years old is just the average minimum age for awakening but it still varies with people.”

”But what if either one of us or both do awaken our powers then?”

She took my hand and dragged me gently along with her as she made her way towards my bed. ”You need to rest for now to calm down.”

She made me sat down my bed as she got on her one knee and combed the side of my hair. ”I promised myself, I will be the one to kill Cerguz. I won't let him do to you what he did to my sister. Not to you, not to Aeron, not even Stray. He would have to kill me first if that happens”

I looked at her in surprise.

Did Cerguz killed her sister then?

”You're not alone in this. I'm sure even Stray won't allow anything bad happen to both of you. Okay?”

I don't think asking her now what happened with her sister would do me or her any good. So I just took a deep breath and laid down as she pulled a blanket over me.

”Nora!!! Sing to us!” One of the children demanded as she stood back up and nodded.

”Just rest for tonight. Everything will be alright.” She assured me as she went to her bed and began to strum her instrument.

'Everything will be alright'

But— such words we both know means nothing here in Ouboros. Not unless someone arrives to rescue us.

We all listened in silence as she sang her usual melody.

I closed my eyes as that scene replays in my minds. How Cerguz said it as he stared at us with his leering eyes as if he's enjoying telling us that one of us will be sliced and sold away.

Cutting children into pieces like some meat... yet he can offer negotiation from it as if it's the most natural thing to do? What a sick twisted man...

It's plastered in his eyes, the way he stared...

Wait a minute!

Now I know why he seemed so familiar—

I bumped into him in Osteell during Levi's announcement of succession!

It makes sense—! That ever since I left Osteell I started feeling that someone is watching me every now and then, even if I was in closed spaces.

It was him. He was watching me.

Maybe I am his primary target.

I did heard how one of his men rejoiced when they got the two of us Arcanian kids. It was because of me Aeron was taken too...

He's not suppose to be here.

But if I'm his primary target, it would only make sense that he would have to choose me first if ever our powers awaken at the same time, right?

Soon, Nora's song ended and the entire room was in hollow silence. I shifted to my side and stared blankly to the wall.

Even if Nora told me everything is going to be alright, its hard for me to easily swallow it just like that.

I kept shifting from one side to another as the silence went on.

I'm not sure how long I have been awake but when my eyelids finally closed...

~~~~~~~

I found myself in that dark abyss again.

A red framed mirror in a distance.

Standing solemnly like a door.

As if inviting me in it's eerie silence.

Oh god. Not again...

Please, Aerra wake up!

I shut my eyes close

Aerra, wake up now!

I chanted in my mind

Wake up—!!!

~~~~~~~

I gasped.

Opened my eyes and found myself panting as I sat up from my bed.

Thank god I woke up.

I can't watch that horrible reflection again.

I... don't want to sleep anymore.

That morning, we were led back to the pits outside the Ouboros' base after breakfast.

I stared blankly at the sands on the ground while the gusting dry wind envelops around me. I honestly don't feel like training today. Not when I feel like we're pending to be sold like meats.

”Let's begin.” hollered Stray as I grab any blunt sword lying around. ”Show me what you can do first” he says as he tried to attack me. I tried to parry but my sword drops on the ground instantly. ”Tighten your grip. Plant your feet on the ground. Brace yourself!” he says, as I picked it up and we went on again. Same result ensues.

I picked it up the third time and glanced to where Aeron is. He's climbing the ten foot wall with Nora watching over from below.

He's already nearly half the height already.

I can't even reach that far yet but he manage to climb it the first time he tried.

Aeron really is amazing—

”Hey!” stray hollered as I turned and faced him. ”You're out of focus.” He grumbled, standing impatiently before me.

I separated my feet apart and planted my foot down. I need to do my best somehow.

I need to focus.

But my body defied my thoughts.

My hands felt rather limp.

I bit my lips in frustration.

Stray studied me in silence. ”You're bleary eyed. Did you even sleep last night?” He grunted and heaves a sigh in annoyance. ”Just go back and climb that wall”

”What?” I stood back up

”You're mind is elsewhere. Just go build your grip and stamina for today.”

”But I can....”

”No, you don't. Your brows are furrowing ever since we began. You look as if you just witness an entire nation burned overnight. I don't think you're conditioned today.”

I wanted to protest but then he walked towards me and patted my head, ”But if you manage to climb the wall, we can resume immediately... but only with your sword swings.”

I nodded in silence. ”Just be patient, kiddo.” he uttered as I turned and went to where Nora is. ”Done already?” she asks, looking pass me to where Stray stood. ”Oh... okay, I see.” She added even before I could even reply anything at all.

I stood at the feet of the wall, in exact alignment where the flower I aimed for before is growing high in much vertical extent.

I hear a shuffle and some noises. I looked to where it was coming from and saw Aeron on the ground. Sands and dust covering him.

He fell down...

He cursed under his breath as he panted.

He then charges and went for another try but he slips down instantly. He cursed again. Kicking at the ground impatiently as Nora tried to calm him down.