THE LOST GOD OF CHAOS

Chapter 7 – The Girl Who Inherits a Magical Orb

AS NYSSA continued to speak incomprehensible incantations, plants sprouted from the ground. It grew so fast that it immediately bore fruit. The cave was suddenly filled with different fruit-bearing plants and trees.

“Holy shit!” Jie was astounded by what he had just witnessed.

The unexpected growth of greenery outside their lair appeared to have stunned even the dragon in its slumber. It persisted for a short while, altering the scenery entirely.

When the villagers became conscious again and saw Nyssa, they rushed forward and bowed down as if she were a deity.

“The goddess!” a villager almost cried as he exclaimed. He quickly grabbed a fruit near him and ate it.

The cave rocked hard, and some had lost their footing. Nyssa continued to levitate and motion her hands. Suddenly, the familiar roar of the dragon resting atop it echoed. It hung around a few times until it landed on the main entrance of the cave.

Unlike before, when the creature was wild and untamed, it appeared menacing. Now it looked curious, staring at Nyssa.

Aelec and the hunting team prepared themselves to defend, just in case the fire breather became aggressive.

“Take it easy. I don’t think it will attack. Look at its eyes.” Jie weighed his decision to stop his companions or if he would just let them. However, based on his observations, the beast seemed to be attracted to Nyssa’s magic.

Jie was right. It was not long before the dragon bent its massive feet as if bowing down to Nyssa.

Meanwhile, Nyssa, who seemed oblivious to her surroundings, persisted with her chant as she slowly soared towards the dragon.

Everyone gasped when Nysa patted its head as if she had already tamed it. Then it growled and went back to its feet as it stepped backward and flew up in the sky.

The ground shook again, more violently than before. It continued for several minutes until it stopped, but Nyssa passed out. If Jie hadn’t been fast enough, the little girl would’ve fallen hard to the ground.

“Nyssa!” Jie lightly tapped her plump cheek.

Kali and Tarian rushed to check on Nyssa.

“She’s just unconscious. But her vitals are stable,” Tarian said after checking her pulse.

Kali was still taken aback by Nyssa’s extraordinary magic. She gazed around the cave, full of edible fruits.

“I didn’t believe it when Nyssa told me she acquired a magical orb accidentally. And it’s so strong!” Kali exclaimed.

“Yes, it’s so strong that her small body could not hold it. Please let her rest somewhere safe,” Tarian requested.

Jie put her down on a soft bush that was a little elevated. The blue fireflies swarmed above Nyssa again.

“Please look after my sister. We will just check the vicinity outside this cave.” Jie stood and turned to Aelec. “Let’s do some reconnaissance.”

Aelec nodded. “Sure!”

“I’ll come with you!” Finn hurriedly ran towards the two. “Magic is amazing, isn’t it? I wonder if I’m lucky enough to be a holder of even a minor magical orb.”

The three young girls, who were eager to see the stars before, came to them as well. They were cousins named Aundre, Yera, and Trada. They all had distinctive tangerine-colored hair.

“Can we go after you check if it’s safe? We’re dying to see the sky outside,” Aundre said.

Aelec veered toward the girls. “You may, but it’s not guaranteed.”

The three scowled at him.

Jie and his companions went out of the cavern. It was already nighttime, and they were still wary of the dragon’s fire strike. Fortunately, it appeared that Nyssa had succeeded in taming the beast. It drifted around but did not attack. They waited until it went back to its nest.

“Oh, goddess! What kind of sorcery has she acquired that is capable of this?” Finn could not believe his eyes.

Although Jie was equally surprised, he didn’t show emotion. Just like Finn, he also wondered what sort of orb could perform a miracle of this kind.

“Everything shifted,” Jie murmured.

Everyone gasped as they witnessed the spectacular changes. The landscape outside was altered. Different kinds of trees stood mightily around the rock formations, creating a dense forest. A lake was also formed, coming from a waterfall.

The same blue fireflies swirled above the lake. For Jie, it was the definition of magical. A series of vegetation was planted around, and everything bore fruits and colorful flowers. Luminous, multi-colored butterflies could be seen around, as if enjoying the sweet nectar of the rare flowers on every side.

“How is this even possible?!” Herlan and Zuri couldn’t contain their excitement.

Jie continued to carefully examine the area for a possible threat. Even though he was also speechless about the sudden change in the surroundings, he managed to stay rational.

“I bet Nyssa obtained more than just an ordinary orb,” Aelec said while gazing around. “It appears she couldn’t wield it yet, which resulted in this, and the consequence exhausted her small body.”

“Magic, indeed.” Jie breathed out. “Aelec, can you teach Nyssa how to harness her power? While she could be helpful for our survival, it’s evident that magic would take a toll on her health. There must be a way to wield it without this kind of drawback.”

“I wish I could help. But my knowledge about magic is very limited. We Ardhians only relied on our physical strength.” Aelec sauntered to continue his survey. “This small forest is abundant in food; if we could stabilize the outside threat, we could live here in peace.”

“How about we find someone who can teach Nyssa to properly wield her magic?” Jie thought. He was sure that there must be that kind of person in this world.

“The surface world is vast. According to what I heard from the village chief, the surface was divided into several islands after the great catastrophe.”

“Interesting, an archipelago.” Jie nodded his head and added, “We must scale the entire desert as soon as possible. I’m starting to wonder if this is an isolated island because we have not encountered even a single human being aside from us.”

“I share your sentiment. If you still have your memories, then you’d understand why we are all ignorant about the surface. Our ancestors kept us isolated, maybe for a reason.”

Jie chuckled. “Isolated for what? To be food for those monsters?”

Aelec did not say a word. He kept on studying the new landscape around them.

WHILE inside the cave, Kali lets Tarian check on Nyssa. However, the apothecary seemed disturbed.

“What’s the matter, Tarian? Is she all right?” Kali checked Nyssa’s pulse on her wrist; it was steady yet very slow.

“The magic has drained her energy. I’m worried about whether her body can withstand it.” Tarian gazed down.

“I’m sure she will. Maybe her magic can help.” Kali remained optimistic even though Nyssa’s condition seemed worse than she imagined.

Tarian heaved a weary sigh. “If only our people were taught about magic, our knowledge wouldn’t be limited like this.”

“It is what it is, Tarian. Let’s do our best to help Nyssa. She had been sick since she was born. Look at her, she’s already nine but her body seemed to be of a seven-year-old.”

Tarian nodded and gently held Nyssa’s pale face. She wished her knowledge of medicine would be enough to cure her.

It was not long before Ethros and the hunting team got back. Finn’s face radiated exhilaration as he greeted the three girls, who were patiently waiting.

“It’s safe outside, and it’s so magical!” Finn’s eyes couldn’t hide his emotions. “You all deserve to see it!”

The girls restrained themselves because they were waiting for Aelec and Ethros’ go signal.

Aelec spoke. “It is safe... for now. You can see and watch the night sky, but with guards. We can’t be complacent in this hostile environment.”

“Aelec is right. Always take extra precautions,” Ethros said. He came to his sister in haste after he noticed that Nyssa’s skin was still pale and almost translucent.

The girls went out with Finn and the others. Kali had no choice but to watch everyone, unsure if Nyssa’s magic was a miracle or a curse.

“Can she make it?” Ethros worriedly asked the apothecary.

Tarian lowered her gaze. “Her condition is critical.”