Chapter 2
988 Words
"My palm has the answer, my love." She struggled to put a weak smile.
"Farewell."
She shed her last tears then took her last breath.
"May you rest in the God of All's light, mother."
I snivelled, hanging my head low. My chest felt heavy as I tried not to lay off another single drop of tear. There was just no time to mourn. Everyone had an arduous time fighting the sorrow circulating inside the chamber.
Everyone inside mother's chamber shed tears. Now, our High Elder passed away. Their faces mirrored storm clouds; dark yet ashen.
I grasped mother's soft, now pale, left hand for the last time. I straightened my head and glanced at my mother's ashen face; she was smiling. I reminisced the moments when she used to sing me a lullaby.
Having nightmares used to scare me, and mother would always accompany me in my bed and wrap me around her. She would serenade me with it and drive away from my fear. I would look at her and smile and sing with her. She would smile back. She would caress my dark brown hair with her fingers until I would fall asleep. Those have become memories. They would stay as memories now. I could only treasure those moments.
Elder Ban along with the village healer hobbled towards me. He put his hands on my shoulder. I turned my head towards him.
"It's time to let the High Elder have her peaceful eternal rest."
I nodded at him. I kissed the back of mother's hand and let it rest on to her stomach.
I stood up, exhausting my remaining strength. I whispered my last goodbye before leaving her chamber.
"Young master, why don't you head back to your chamber? You looked like you need to take a rest for a while. Let us take care of the High Elder's funeral," Elder Ban looked at one of the villagers. "Accompany the young master to his chamber."
"Please follow me, young master," the villager said.
Before I could pass through the doorway, I stopped and turned back to look at Elder Ban and the others. I called the elder's attention.
"Is there something you wish to ask, young master?"
"Mom loves white tulips."
"Then we shall surround her with them," he said.
"Thank you." I smiled. As I was about to turn around, an aureate light glowed on mother's left hand.
I walked back to my resting mother. "Why is mother's left hand glowing, Elder Ban?"
"What do you mean, young master?" Elder Ban furrowed his eyebrows and looked at my mother.
"There. The light. It's glowing."
"Young master, there's no light. This might be because of your exhaustion. I suggest you rest in your chamber."
"Can't you see it?"
I looked at everyone but they shook their heads.
The light was blinding. How could they not see it?
"My palm has the answer, my love."
I grabbed mother's glowing left hand, careful not to strain her body.
Could she be the one?
I turned mother's hand over. Her palm glowed, blurring my vision. After a few seconds, the glow dimmed and a familiar mark bared itself on her palm.
Could I have guessed it right?
I rubbed my eyes with both hands. The mark did not disappear.
"Pisces," I whispered.
I stared at the two fishes imprinted on her palm.
"Elder Ban, I want to stay by my mother's side for a moment."
"But you need to rest, young master."
"You need not worry about me, Elder Ban. I am fine."
He bowed at me.
"Just give me a moment," I said.
I sat at the side of mother's bed. I held her palm on my left hand and touched her mark with my right.
I couldn't get over the possibility that she was a Zodiac Bearer. Why would mother keep it a secret from me?
I stared at the mark on her palm and touched it in a circular motion.
Then, her palm started to glow again. I fell from the side of her bed. The golden light began to expand, enveloping the inside of the chamber.
I raised my left arm and covered my eyes.
What's happening?
The light shone brighter and ate everyone and everything inside the chamber.
"Efton." The voice echoed.
I looked at all directions. Could this be the God of All?
The voice continued to call my name over and over.
"Have mercy, my lord! Please let my mother live once more!"
I continued to beg but the voice only repeated my name. I knelt on the floor and hung my head low. My eyes shed violent tears.
"Are you really powerful?! Why can't you grant my desire?"
"Where are you, my lord?"
I kept on looking everywhere, tilting my head from left to right. I couldn't find any trace of the voice's origin.
"Young Efton!" the God of all repeated still nowhere to be seen.
An invisible hand touched my broad shoulder and shook me.
"Wake up, Young Efton."
"Wake up?"
"Young Efton, wake up."
"I am awake, my lord." I closed my eyes.
I could still feel someone trying to shake my entire body. The hand tightened its grip on my shoulder and I winced. It moved to my neck.
I opened my eyes. A dark entity stood before me, choking me.
"Who are you?" My voice came out laboured. My insides panicked.
I grabbed both of its hands from my neck. My strength drained. My hands shook. My vision started to blur.
Is this how I'm going to end? Is this my fate?
See you, mother.
My vision went dark. I felt a strong slap om my left cheek. I opened my eyes and Elder Ban stood in front of me. My body bathed with sweat. My chest rose and fell.
"What happened?" I asked him, still catching my breath.
"You were having a nightmare, Young Master."
- Writer
