CHAPTER 68
Turns out that the travel through the wild was not as bad as Merck had portrayed it. It's been days since they left the arena, marching through this desert that looks anything but friendly. There was no getting us to it too. The desert seems similar to the route they had taken when Catherine kidnapped and brought him to Arthesia. Damian had asked Catherine to make sure his fears would not become a reality and twice the woman had assured him that the Founders had chosen a different route. She had even claimed that they were not on earth. Damian was finding the last part difficult to believe.
There was a sudden commotion outside which caused the traveling party to lower the palanquin. Damian tried to look outside but after so many failed efforts, he relaxed back, with the notion that the Founders were going to take care of whatever had obstructed their
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ELIXA CHAPTER 69
CHAPTER 69Tina didn't know how long she had slept and when she finally woke to the bright light of the morning, she realized that the bedsheets and the room smelled differently. Compared to the hard surface she was used to, the bed was comfortable and the softness wanted to make her lie back. But she didn't know where this is, or how she had gotten here. What had happened?She walked out of the bed, careful not to make a sound. The bedroom was not large, but better than anything she was used to. There was a screen hanging on the wall and a fridge not too far from it. The door of the wardrobe was also open and she didn't need a sorcerer to tell her she was in a man's bedroom. Everything about it was masculine, from the white paints to the celebrity pictures hanging on the wall. What was this place?She was close to the window, which open
ELIXA CHAPTER 70
CHAPTER 70EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT, from the light of the sun, shimmering in tiny tubes through the forest leaves, to the fresh morning air. It brought back old memories, one which Carlos wished had ended later enough. Two years ago, he had walked through this colorful garden with Betty. They had promised to get married and had discussed the number of kids they were going to have. She wanted four children, a girl and three boys. Carlos had wanted four as well, but two girls and two boys. Everything had been so clear those days, the future was not as hazy as they were now. He would have had the best family with Betty. They would have lived happily ever after.Carlos kneaded his nose as the memory faded and was replaced by another scene. It was the day Betty had died. The picture was so vivid that he could still smell the smoke, the stench of sweat and the fibers from the leather belt
ELIXA CHAPTER 71
CHAPTER 71When they finally arrived at the house, the foggy dust had gone down, leaving behind rubbles and shattered roofs and ceilings. The once elegant structure that had stood in the middle of the compound some minute ago, was down on its feet, with nothing to suggest how magnificent it once was. Carlos could not calm his racing heart as they watched the ruins before them. Too many thoughts went through his head, thoughts that came pouring with so many vague pictures. What had happened? Were they under attack? Who had placed an explosive in their house?His eyes searched the parameters, there was not a single soul. The garden stretched on the four hands of the compound, colorful leaves dancing with the gentle wind and the lush vitality from the sun. There was a small path on the east wind, which broke out to the main road. The gate was locked. They had been in the garden all day
ELIXA CHAPTER 72
The sun was still hanging on the other side of the world when Len announced that they would camp for the night. Damian had argued with his decision pointing to the light of the sun that still created enough detail over the horizon. But Len had a better reason for choosing the forest. He explained that it would be best to stay within the shades of the forest, with the night to hue them from the eyes of the Darkeel than to wander out of the forest only to camp in an unknown open field. Of course, the Founders were not afraid of the Darkeel—and neither did the Darkeel—both parties would avoid each other at all cost, but that did not quench the fact that they were sworn enemies and could butcher each other if the need arose. The cause of the problem was still a piece which Damian doubted he would be able to fix in a very long time. Both Darkeel and The Founders were just too irritating for his liking. They could go ahead and kill themselves over some quarrel that was about a thousand year
ELIXA CHAPTER 73
“What were you thinking? You should put those tongues of yours in the right place before you get yourself into trouble.” Catherine was saying as they finally walked back into the tent. Vick, Ygon and Meyla were no longer in the tent, which was a surprise because they had not left the tent ever since. For fear of the Founders. Catherine had also heard a whisper from Ygon as she narrated her concern to her friend. To Ygon, the founders reminded her of the Darkeel, and she had vowed to remain within the tent until the first light before they decided to leave the Founder’s camp. But where in the nine Rings were they?“Kristen Is my friend.”“Oh yeah, one you just met some hours ago.”“No,” Damian shook his head, “I understand your co
ELIXA CHAPTER 74
It was the morning hours of the fifth month, three years since she left the safety of her home, to find solace in the confines of the wall. Three years was short, yet not a day has passed without her staring blankly at the calendar, wishing that the date could run fast enough. That they had refused her visit from her father in her second year had added more salts to her injury. She was homesick and needed to get as far away from these walls as possible. The things she once found exciting had become boring and flat. From her training to her class exercise. It was a repetition, everything. The same books, the same songs, the same training and the same people. It was all a repetition, an endless cycle of stupidity and foolishness. It’s no wonder why some of the students were beginning to commit suicide. Some of them had been told they were not good enough. And the environment is not encouraging either. It would be a miracle to find a
ELIXA CHAPTER 75
EVERYTHING IS PERFECT AND BEAUTIFUL when seen from a different perspective. From this vintage, Nina could see everywhere and everything at the same time. The world rose and fell, mountains, metals, forests, hills and valleys, buildings and every structure that made up the earth. They were all tiny in her eyes, a fragment that depicts how fragile the world could be. From this level, she could also see the vast water bodies that stretched from Bel Haven to the far side of Ekron and then disappeared when they got to Fair Haven, just some distance from Freetown, her school. The sun also walked on everything and everywhere, but began to fade towards the far side of the world, towards the direction of the weeping wall. It was strange and amazing at the same time, especially since the contrast gave the world a color that made it beautiful and charming."What are these purple smokes in the air?"
ELIXA CHAPTER 76
The smell of alcohol continued to hang in the air, giving the room a hospital whiff. Tina sat on the chair nearby and was tending to Carlos' wound again. Their fight with the gang members had not gone without a scratch. She had a little cut on her shoulder, but it was a flesh wound. Carlos was the one in a critical state. He had been shot on his left side and had lost too much blood. She would have taken him to the hospital, but that would be risky as it would only lead to questions being asked. And he was a wanted man. A notorious criminal. Tina had taken off the bullet. She had masterfully stitched them some days earlier and now she was removing the wire on the suture to avoid infection. Carlos could not say if she had worked in the hospital or the army. She had perfected the skill so much that he was barely feeling any pain. How was she doing it? Carlos hissed, looking the other way. He hadn't asked the girl where she had gathered the skill. He was not going to ask her, maybe anot