The Legend of Azhakkstadd

CHAPTER LXXI : NATURE HAS MEMORY

-Kurezma-

            We continued to walk towards the forest to start looking for the statue of the Legendary Earth Metal Guardian. The forest seemed to be so silent and peaceful. I think no person has ever lived here, the ambience of the forest feels so comfortable. The air is fresh and the leaves are green.

            Nature never fail to make me feel so good. As we entered the forest, there were no signs of markhors everywhere. It’s as if they are all hiding from us. But anyway, this island is quite large that it’s impossible to be overpopulated by markhors that we would just see them everywhere though.

            It’s not that large either that keeps us from meeting one of those markhors. I wanted to see one. I haven’t seen a markhor before, I really wanted to see a real one not just an image from a book and from statues. I bet it would be a very wonderful creature. I can’t wait to see one of them.

            “What’s that?” Eeya asked as we all suddenly heard rustling noises coming from the bushes. It’s so loud that I’, so sure that we are not mistaken. I wish they’re markhors… please, let them be markhors I want to see one right now. Suddenly a group of markhors jumped right towards us.

            See! I knew they’re markhors… they really are so beautiful. But something’s not right… we all avoided them as they jumped right at us drastically. They’re like attacking us. What’s wrong? We’re not threats. Maybe it’s part of the challenge, they must have been alarmed since we came here looking for a shrine.

            “What’s wrong? Markhors don’t attack that easily!” Harald exclaimed as he blocked a markhor who came attacking him. He used his sword to keep the markhor away from him. The other markhors started attacking us too, yet we couldn’t afford to hurt them

            “What’s happening? Is this not normal? I mean, we came here to find something, they must be alarmed” I said as I kept avoiding the markhor attacking me. It’s twisted horns looked very strong and sturdy, it would kill me if it stabs me. I can’t use my power on it either.

            “No, this isn’t normal!” Harald said answering my question “I came here several times before, and never have I been attacked by these” he added as he kept hopping away from the markhor attacking him

            “These creatures are known to be aggressive!” Hazol exclaimed agreeing with Harald as he covered himself with a force field and some markhors try to break in. What’s happening, then? Does the guy out there know what’s happening here and What’s happening with the markhors?   

            “Look at their eyes!” Vedasto screamed pertaining to the markhors’ eyes. We all looked at the markhor’s eyes in front of us. Their eyes glow in dark energy. Their eyes are all black as if they’re hypnotized or something. So maybe this explains why they are attacking us right now

            “Something’s wrong with them… we can’t hurt them now” Hazol said as he walked towards all of us to put us inside the force field he made

            “What are we going to do…?” Harald asked worriedly as he looked at the markhors raging at the moment. It’s like they could kill everyone in sight

            “Let’s know first what happened here…” Hazol answered him as he held his shoulders trying to comfort him. He seemed to be so worried about the markhors.

            “How are we going to do that?” Eeya asked him while looking at the markhors misbehaving outside the force field. Good thing Hazol can hold the force field longer without it bothering him. If not, we don’t know how to deal with them.

            “There’s this ball in our country which tells what happened in the past and tells some hint for what will happen in the future. We can go and ask the Ordo king for that…” Hazol said suggesting we go back right now

            “Isn’t there other way to do it quick than traveling back to Psychic Nation? We’re thousands of miles away from it” Vedasto asked as he sat down and looked at Hazol

            “I don’t know any other way…” Hazol said silently shaking his head off

            “Wait…” Eeya said as she paused for a while thinking about something “I have done this before… but I’m not sure” she continued remembering something

            “What is it? is that something that we don’t have to go across the globe to find answers?” Harald asked Eeya as she still try to remember the process

            “Yes…” she shortly answered “Once, I tried to do this. Nature has always been here since the very beginning. It has witnessed everything that has happened, what is happening, and what will happen in the future. This principle was taught to me by my mother…” she started explaining

            “I used ice to see what happened when I was born. And I clearly saw what happened, it was so amazing! Our only problem is that, we don’t have ice in this area… ice wasn’t present here when things with the markhors happened” she continued talking as she looked at me intently as if she wanted to say something

            “Even Vands can do it, water also has memory. Now, since the only thing here who witnessed what really happened here are the trees, the rocks, the grasses, and the ground itself” she added and smiled at me, and I know now what exactly she wanted to say

            Hazol looked at me as if he got what Eeya wanted to say. I just smiled at the two of them awkwardly.

            “And I know one person who can do it right now…” she added as he gazes went stronger to me

            “Tell me, what should I do?” I asked her immediately so that we could start whatever we have to do to know it right now. Everyone looked at me as they finally understood what she meant. Harald looked at me right through my eyes as if he’s begging me to save these poor creatures.

            “What’s amazing about this Kurezma, is that you don’t have to train for a long time to learn it” she said consoling me that this technique is instant “All you have to do is to feel you power and its very essence. Let them be your eyes and ask them what had happened here in your mind” she added

            “Focus… and you will find answers” she continued smiling at me nodding her head to convince me that it’s that easy. I nodded at her as my response trying to absorb what she said

            “Just remember, let them be your eyes… and you will see” she continued as she backed a little allowing me to do it. I just smiled at them, since it’s my first time doing it, and it’s the earth element. I kneeled down on the ground and touched it as I started to feel the ground as if it’s my own skin.

            I focused myself for a while trying to connect with the ground so that it will show me what really happened here in this place. Little by little I can feel the ground and its power all over me. I can feel the wind touching every trees and plants and carrying them along with it.

            I can feel these markhors’ heavy and harsh footsteps trampling down the ground as they go wild losing their control over themselves. I can feel my team mates’ feet laid calmly on the ground and can even see all of that in different perspectives though my eyes are totally closed.

            I guess this is what Eeya had been talking about. Nature have eyes, nature can see, and nature can remember. Now, please let me look through your stream of memories and scan what had happened upon your watch. Let me see through you monitor about thigs that went on in this place.

            Let me please connect with you more so that we all will have the sanity and the clarity of all things that bothers us right now…

            I opened my eyes after saying those words in my mind.

            “Is this the island?” we heard someone speaking, at first we thought there was someone coming. But it turned out that the element of earth is showing us the exact scene that happened here.

            We looked at the figure that the ground created, he looked like a man covered with his cloak, holding a staff and walked further along with his men.

            “This is the Vikhar island, the island of Markhors under the power of Leif, the Legendary Guardian of the Earth Metals…” one of his men spoke answering his question

            “Who are these people?” Harald asked observing them. Though we only see the color of the ground portraying the scene, I can clearly identify these cloaks…

            “Periits and Umbras…” I whispered though they heard me

            “Are you sure?” Vedasto asked making it sure that I really do know them

            “The cloaks, the dark energy… if not them, then who?” I asked him back answering his question

            “Now… under my power, you will all obey me!” the man said raising his staff unto the air as his voice was as loud as deafening as it is. Though only shown by soil, forces of dark came out of his staff and attacked the poor and helpless markhors penetrating their heads.

            The scene showed how the markhors tried to run away and to escape yet his power is quite strong that it still got them. We saw how these poor markhors struggled to help themselves but it was of no use. Soon after they all stood up, hypnotized, their eyes were all black glowing with dark energy, and had gone savage.

            We then, heard a loud sinister laugh resounding the whole place as the Periits and Umbras walked back disappearing, leaving these markhors raging and out of control.

            “So that’s what happened here….” Hazol whispered as he understood all that had happened. That man must be their leader, and that’s what they have been up to. After causing chaos upon each tribe, they went to small island where creatures peacefully lived and caused them turmoil as well. These people really are so evil.

            “The Ordo king should know about this… let me report this to him first before we do something” Hazol spoke once more and held his head as if he’s communicating with the Ordo king in his head. After a few seconds of doing that, he opened his eyes and looked at us.

            “I have reported this to them… and it’s alarming, since the island where the other team went also had the same situation like this. The Aszyrdonia Island, where the Sherdals dwell also undergone with the same situation” Hazol spoke again informing us

            “So what are we going to do with this creatures, we can’t just leave them under the influence of the evil… let’s help them” Harald said reminding us about the condition of the markhors

            “I know…” Zexal snapped out as he suddenly thought of an idea “Water has the ability to cleanse and to purify… I can use it to help these markhors out of the Periits and Umbras’ influence” he added