Zodiante: All of the Stars

Chapter 10: Riddle

Chapter 10: Riddle.

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Jamnia's Point of view.

"Any updates Austin?" Aliah shouted at the tall trees surrounding us not able to pinpoint his location.

"Four of them are already inside the temple." Even meters away I can feel Austin's pursuit to win.

We're currently hiding our presence in this overgrown forest as Austin scouted the place. Luckily Austin's power can sense other people around the place, it's a great help in situations like this. Near the mountaintop an ancient temple can be seen, surely what we have been looking for is there but we might have a hard time doing so since Clim's team is already there.

"Clim, Jared, Roje and Alora are already searching for it."

"Shumay, we're gonna lose this!" Aliah almost burned multiple trees with her magic but Austin's eyes made her stop to the extent of making her laugh.

"We can't defeat them by force how about we just steal it from them?"

"Spill it."

I gave Aliah a mischievous smile, she smiled back at me. I wish it could give us a greater chance of winning we'll see who has the last laugh.

Third Person's Point of view.

"I'm going crazy finding that stupid map! Who wants to fight?! I'm all in!"

"Shup up Jared, you're tantrums aren't helping!" The annoyance in her voice change as she giggled while staring at someone.

"Alora, can hatred be the answer?"

"I don't think so Clim, but let's try." Her scarlet eyes is calm as the oceans, she tried to answer the riddle as calm as she can.

"Riddle, riddle can hatred be the answer ." The map glowed a peculiar light, the both of them hoped but nothing happened.

"Will search the other places here Clim, we might find something."

"Now we'll now who excels on both in brains and power, I will be the strongest."

"On the brain category you could never Jared!"

The silent and peaceful temple isn't the same anymore, the screams around the place awakened those who are in deep slumber. They're all busy solving the riddle of the temple not knowing the danger they'll face.

"Stay silent and stick to the plan."

"Of course, I really hope Jamnia's plan will work." A yellow haired girl smiled brightly as she can.

"Let's hope so."

Three individuals secretly infiltrated the ancient temple, lurking like spies. It was like an antique store, many old yet artistic pieces of architecture surrounds the area. Everyone was in awe as they silently roamed the place, they tried not to get distracted by all that's happening.

"Shumaaay." The yellow haired girl screams as the ground slowly.

"What's happening?" They we're all shocked by how strong the earthquake was, it was the strongest they've ever encountered.

As the ground continued to shake, all of them tried to hold onto the strongest foundation they can find. On the otherhand two individuals again still tried to solve the riddle but they failed to.

"What's happening?" The girl with the scarlet eyes asked as the place shook.

"Idiots, you don't deserve me." The girl looked around but saw no one, her haired swayed as the map slowly sucked her in.

"Cliiiim!"

The teenage boy tried to help the poor gril but it was futile, she disappeared in thin air. All that's left was the map, Clim was about to reach for it but a force pushed him away. The map slowly took form of the girl, it's pale colorless figure smiled. He was unweary of what's happening and back off by his instincts, he doesn't what to do. Alora, his teammates became pale certain markings was all over her body.

"Alora?"

"The puny human you talk about is no longer here. I'm Marina, the guardian of this temple and you shall fall like the weakling you are."

The pale colorless girl dashed to Clim's direction, he became alert and used his power. Balls of lava was thrown to it's direction, the girl didn't even dodge she knew how superior she was. With just a single touch of her skin the hot melting lava lost it's redness and became pale. The colorless lava changed it's direction towards Clim, the teenager tried his best to avoid it all but his clothes got hit. Like earlier it slowly became colorless which forced him to strip off his clothes, he was standing there with little garments on. The lady smiled upon seeing the young boy, she will have time playing with him.

The fight went on as the shaking stopped, while the others didn't waste time and immediately continued the search for the map.

"We need to find them, it looks like they already found it."

"Don't worry I already sense them, follow me." The guy with the golden hair replied for the two to nod following him.

They took several turns and stairs not bothering the hardships. They were stopped on their tracks as they felt their steps to be heavier, the guy with the golden hair was the only one who seem to not be affected.

"Weapon Magic: Executive Barrage." A voice casted as the place suddenly was covered by raining sharp weapons.

Austin acted fast, using his power he strengthens and agiled himself letting him carry the two effortlessly towards safety. The barrage of raining weapons stopped as a devious laughed engulfed the place.

"It looks like the battle of the fittest will be finally start, I shall shattered you all." He said trying to make his entrance dramatic as he can.

"You sound like a villain Jared, stopped will you?"

"I was waiting for you all this time, my BFF Aliah." A girl added as it's sarcasm could be enough to kill someone.

"Likewise, my beast friend!" She replied and gave her signature smile, an irritating one.

"Jamnia, find a safe place to hide." The guy with the golden hair suggested as he knew she will be a burden in the battlefield.

"We can handle this girl, try finding the map for us."

She did not waste anytime as Jamnia sprinted away from the fight that's about to happen. The opposing team didn't gave her an easy time as they casted multiple spell towards her, Aliah used her sunlight to somewhat protect the powerless girl.

"You won't escape us! Gravity Magic: Heavy Burden."

Jamnia couldn't stand will the pressure on the gravity, she tried multiple times to stand but she couldn't. Slowly she had a hard time breathing, the burden in her back intensifies with made her scream in pain.

"Pakawalan mo siya Roje! Helio Magic: Sunlight Beam!" A beam of sunlight streamed to Roje's direction, the girl evaded the critical attack deactivating the gravity magic on Jamnia.

With the young lady unloose her eyes found a perfect spot to hide. Her shaking was a hindrance to that but she did her best to overcome it but an unexpected thing happened.

Jamnia's Point of view.

I felt an eiree feeling as I ran hallway towards the room then I was pulled by a certain energy force. I just saw myself in a middle of a peculiar scenery, the whole place is pale and colorless.

"Hallelujah!" I immediately covered my unholy mouth as I saw Clim almost naked.

Damn it, the perks of being a virgin!

Even with his r-rated situation Clim had the nerve to smirk at me upon hearing my reaction. It didn't even lower his guard as he was able to evade every attack that Alora launched towards. By the way, what happened to her? She's like the place so pale and expressionless, I can't sense the sweetness in her. She seems to have lost her sanity as she continues to attack Clim with the intent to kill him. Which is the perfect time to scout for the treasure!

"Lava Magic: Hotter Than Hell." Clim's body was immediately covered in red burning fire.

Luckily his remaining clothes was unharmed unlike the colorless attacks that Alora throws at him, they turn to ashes before even reaching a meter of distance. I took that opportunity that I should've done from the beginning, that was to find a safe spot. I could feel Clim's radiation from where I'm standing, ugh he's too hot for me!

"It looks like you still have tricks on your sleeve, Child." Alora smiled faintly as a voice of an old woman came out of her mouth. "It's futile for me to kill you but let's see if I can kill her."

I gasped as her hands stretched widely, going fastly to my direction. I stood up panicking, trying to run away but her elastic hands was to fast. With how far we are from each other it's amazing how it's about to reach me in seconds. ong distance is  it was about to reach me. That faintly smile turned into a smirk as I was within her reach then it was suddenly decapitated. It was Clim's doing, holding a flaming sword he seems pleased of the result. He gestures asking me if I'm fine a simple nod was my reply.

I'm thankful that he save me again but the question always follow, why? We're enemies but what he's doing is contradicting to that.

My eyes widened as I saw Alora's left hand suddenly rises from the ground, Clim was alert but it wasn't enough for Alora to touch his arm. Alora's remaining hand retreated as Clim tried to fight back but the arm that was touched lost it's color second by second. I screamed upon seeing how bravely Clim cut his lifeless arm with no hesitation, luckily no blood came out of it that would've kill the heck out of me.

"Losing an arm for a girl? So you can be stupid like others, Child."

"Yeah, I'm stupid." He still had the nerve to be sarcastic at this point.

"Hey, I'm worthy enough to be saved!" I screamed, looking pissed off.

"Let's see, if you're not all just beauty my Child. If you can answer the riddle correctly, you shall have my respect and I shall be defeated."

"I accept your challenge..."

"Remember, your fate will be the same as this girl if your is wrong my Child." She gave me a teasing smile but I didn't give in.

"Fire away." I replied, it's not the time to chicken out.

"I'm always there but never here.

I live to love but hate to live.

I feed off passion but I'm always hungry.

I'm ever seeking but never finding.

I wait and wait but it's always too late.

I am finite."

Those words hit me, I live to love but hate to live?

I think I have a clue what it suppose to mean but I can't seem to find the right words. I already have it on the tip of my tongue, this is frustrating!

"Faster, time is ticking." I was starting to panic as Clim didn't even care he stood here waiting, he sure likes seeing me in pressure.

"J-jealousy?" I answered as her face looked more pale as ever. "Yeah, jealousy is the answer!" I shouted in victory.

I was in pure bliss upon seeing how her body slowly faded in thin air, she still had that faint smile she always wear.

"I underestimated you, my Child." Her last words was sad, it's like she wanted to say something to me but couldn't.

The position where she stood after fading was the most crucial part of this test, there a mysterious treasure chest conjured. Clim and I stared at each other ready to run or do anything just get hold of that treasure.

I can do this, Clim has several wound I'm pretty sure I have the advantage!

"I'm sorry Jamnia, but I have to do this." I saw doubt in his eyes before throwing lava in my direction.

I was too shock at the moment, I never thought he'd do such thing to me. I felt the raging heat in my skin, I screamed in agony and rolled on the ground. I know this ain't real but what Clim did to me isn't acceptable. My virtual self slowly faded as Clim has already reached the treasure chest. I guess we lose this time but I'll make him pay next time.

Not in my sane state of mind I was already inside the Astro Dome, Clim's team was celebrating while us tried to cheer up. I only felt the disappointment and thoughts of what could have beens. My legs felt weak which made me loss my balance, why does it feel that I was the one to blame? 

I failed them.

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