Mikleo 3

8

“Flower gleam and glow.

Let the fullmoon shine.

Red is the key reversed.

Bring back what could be mine.”

Chapter 8 ~ Mystic Bloom

The mystical Red Moon Flower can be find in the highest points of the cold mountains, which apparently located at the edge of the world. Gramps show them a map that can direct them to the path to the cold mountains. According to him, the journey will take at least a few weeks to reach.

It is not until much later that day that Sorey arrives at Elysia, and the villagers use this chance to properly welcome both of their own by throwing some large feast for all to participate. The seraphs work fast, using each of their elements to their own advantage, making the preparation process even faster.

Nayla takes a closer note in awe watching them at work. She sees a fire seraph bursting out an onset of flame to burn the raw meat to crisp. A wind seraph activates his wind magic at the other end to cut up a large chunk of meat into smaller, more suitable proportions. Water seraphs uses their magic to mix up some warm drinks for all to enjoy. An earth seraph accidentally spills some ingredients to their soup, but he quickly uses his magic to retrieve the unintended ingredients. It is a very festive and collaborative series of activities.

Everywhere she can see, people chat and laugh at jokes. It is a very peaceful and enjoyable gathering. Everyone looks so happy, and Nayla can not help but to feel elevated by the festive environment also.

Mikleo directs her to seat beside him, where there are a bunch other kids waiting. Nayla insists on helping the others, not wanting to be the only one watching, but Mikleo disagrees.

“Oh, come on, Mikleo. It’s not like she is helpless and all,” Zaveid says, carrying a shack of heavy ingredients on his shoulder. “Let the girl do her own thing.”

“Yeah, what he says,” Nayla agrees.

“And who do you think is going to take care of you if you collapse again, huh?” Mikleo folds his arms under his chest, and the motion causes the girl to picture just what he is hiding underneath. The motion doesn’t go unescaped by the flirt, and Zaveid grins knowingly at Nayla, who blushes in return and abruptly look away.

Mikleo, who doesn’t know what transpire and only see the girl blushing because of another guy, scowls on his face and puts his arms around her shoulders to direct her closer toward him.

“I’m not made of paper. I can at least take care of myself,” Nayla continues.

“Tell that to the numerous times you got bedridden. Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

“Why you—”

While the two bicker like a pair of old married couple, the villagers talk behind their backs.

“Are they really going out?” one girl asks awkwardly.

“Who knows?” another guy answers.

And back to the squabbling couple . . . .

“Can’t you be a little bit more considerate?” Mikleo huffs out.

“Can’t you be a little bit less controlling?” Nayla shoots back.

“I won’t be if you can stop doing worrisome things.”

“I would if you stop acting so overly protective. I am my own person, you know.”

“Well, you’re my girlfriend, so let me take care of you.”

“Just because we’re in a relationship, doesn’t mean you get to control me.”

“Stubborn girl.”

“Insistent boy.” She puffs her cheeks.

They stare at each other intensely, none willing to back down until someone break it off for them.

“Alright, alright, I know that you guys like to fight and all, but tonight is about celebration. Can’t you put your differences just until this is over?” It is Sorey who becomes their mediator.

“I will, but I want to help out as well,” it is Nayla who speaks first.

“I’m sure everyone appreciate the offer, but as you can see, we all got this.”

Mikleo glances at her with a side of, “I told you so.”

Nayla just shrugs her shoulders, suddenly disinterested.

“Now, I don’t want any of that sour faces. We’re gonna have some fun tonight, so I don’t want to see any of that for at least the rest of the night,” Sorey demands.

“Dang, Sorey, when did you get so bossy?” Nayla comments, but does as he told anyway.

“Why do you think? Since you two happened, of course,” he answers with a duh expression.

After everyone enjoys their meal, they move on to taking photos. Nayla has never had one done on her before, having only see the final products in books she could get her hands, and she is pretty excited about being photographed.

They do a bunch of them, some while they are still in the middle of cleaning up or eating. Some with larger groups, other with only a few people in it. And for the big finale, they will all gather at the center of the campfire. One of the villagers sets a timer, and she quickly rushes toward the group before finally making it in time for the picture to take.

It is plenty of fun, and Nayla can’t wait for the next time she gets a chance like this again, especially when Mikleo pulls her into a half embrace in one of the photos.

They get into bed very late, but wake up really early. By the time Nayla wakes up, Mikleo is already sitting in his Gramps’ library, a pile of books neatly stacked on the table he is currently occupying, with a thick old book carefully held at hand. His expression is serious, diligent, with an unbroken concentration. He has a reading glass on, which is something she failed to notice before. He also looks damn good in them. Just looking at him makes her heart pounds faster as she makes her way toward him. She never knew this side of him, but he looks very attractive with a glass on.

Nayla never said it, but she secretly admires smart people. Just the sight of a handsome young stud reading, surrounded by books, does something to her.

Her amber eyes appear wide and a little bit dazed, her breathing slightly fast, her movement unnerved. By the time Mikleo looks up at her, he is greeted by a very flushed Nayla, and seeing her like this makes him wishes that they are in the privacy of his room, instead of the library, where anyone can just walk in if he goes as far as to—

“Have you find anything?” she cuts his train of thoughts.

Mikleo flushes a little bit as well, his cheeks turning pink at the thought of being caught having inappropriate kind of thoughts of his own girlfriend. “Ah, yes, you might want to take a look at this,” he says. Gramps had woken up even earlier this morning, just to how the white haired boy the books that he knew were related to the mystical flower they are searching for, only to retire back to his room to continue his rest not so long after. Mikleo was left alone to figure out the rest, but if his Gramps had left him alone like that, the boy knew that it was only a matter of time before he found the answers.

While Mikleo was not as much as an avid reader like Nayla, he can work hard and succeed if he just puts his mind to it — and there is nothing more important than finding a cure for the girl he loves. And sure enough, after searching from book to book, Mikleo had finally find some relevant answers to what they seek. One book had described the characteristics of the flower, as well as where it would likely grow. Another shows a map of where one can get to the cold mountains location, inscribing any sort of challenges one might face when doing so. Mikleo explains all of that to the brunette in a matter of minutes. Those two books appear to be the only ones that show any importance, but he and Nayla make sure to read the rest, just in case.

Edna and Lailah pops in in another half an hour. They exchange some greetings. Sorey and Zaveid join them not so long after that. They sit together in a table and Mikleo begin revealing his findings to the rest. The water seraph shows them the map, of how they can reach their destination. It takes some time to study the routes from the map. Then they begin preparing for another journey, gathering resourced, which mostly consist of dried meat, some clean drinking water and plenty of thick large coats to warm them all up by the time they reach the mountains.

Zaveid and Sorey are in charge of the preparation. Edna consults with the local healer in hope to find some temporary remedy for Nayla’s condition, just in case if the inevitable happens. Lailah joins the couple in studying the map, having been venturing nearby that particular area before.

“There are three different routes we can take to reach the area,” she explains, “but there is only one safe way to get there. The obvious choice will be the shortest route, which will take about three days hiking through up through the mountains.”

“But if we choose this one, we might be forced to continuously face the ice monsters that live in that area,” Nayla supplies.

“Yes, which is why we can’t take that route. We’ll get tired out before we reach the destination if we pick that one.”

“So that leaves the other two. How about through the white forest?” Mikleo supplies.

“We can, but that area also has its fair share of beasts inhabiting the place,” Lailah says. “The best way is to actually take the longest route. It will take us more than a week to get where we want to go, but we won’t encounter much monsters in that area. Though what we will have to be concerned more is the atmosphere over there. The winds are harsh, and there is a huge risk of snowstorms coming down.”

“Then why are we picking this route?” Nayla asks.

With this question, Lailah grins at the brunette girl. Mikleo joins the fire seraph when he finally grasps her train of thoughts.

“Did you forget? You’re traveling with seraphs. That means you got us to protect the group.”

Ah, yeah, she forgets sometimes. The seraphs must be able to use their elemental magic to ward any danger that comes their way. Like using water or wind to control the climate around them, or even melt down the snow with heat. Those are really convenient skills to possess. Just thinking about it makes Nayla wishes that she can use hers to help as well, but she can’t, because the more she uses it, the more sick she will get.

They continue to discuss some more. By the time it is close to afternoon, the group is ready to take their depart. The entire village gather near the main gate to bid them goodbye, with a promise to welcome them again for their next visit.

Their time in Elysia might be sort, but they can always come back to visit some time later. They have such a nice experience visiting the small village, it will be nice to be able to make a pit stop over there for a bit more time. Plus, there are a lot of skilfull seraphs that can help teach Nayla once she is cured.

Lailah and Edna seem to look forward to this as well, having found kindred spirits in their favored field of studies through some of the village folks. There are still so many things that they can ask from the elder Zenrus. Edna had confided with a group of Elysia’s healers, who in turn thought her some new ways to make use of wild herbs.

The two girls are not the only one who finds something to get back to. Even Zaveid has his own fair share of potential new women to flirt with. Even though they know that he is just fooling around, it does not seem to stop all the single women from laughing at his attempts to garner his attentions.

His efforts did bare some fruits, even though he attracted the wrong kind of audience. Zaveid had accidentally gained the attention of some of the . . . um, older women. Nayla doesn’t even want to ask what happened, but apparently it was embarrassing enough that the shirtless wind seraph blushes every time Edna teases him about it.

“Alright, alright, can we go now?” Zaveid asks, a little bit too impatiently.

“Hahaha, alright, let’s go,” Edna says, laughing all the way while the others exchange their goodbyes.

“Take care, and visit soon. Though I also do have a question of my own. I want to meet my great grandchildren. When can I meet them?” Gramps asks outright.

“Gramps!” Mikleo protests, blushing madly. “We just started dating. I don’t even know when we’ll get married!” Or if they’d ever do that.

“Hohoho, it’s good that you already have a plan. But how about you, Nayla? What do you think of my older grandson?”

Nayla can feel the heat coming up to her face, but has no words to respond to it, so instead she asks, “Older?”

“Ah yes, you didn’t know yet, did you? Sorey is actually my other grandson. He’s the younger one,” Zenrus explains.

“What? Really? You guys are siblings?” Nayla is not the only one who is surprised. The two supposed brothers can not be any different.

“We are raised together, but I’m still human,” Sorey says.

“Besides, seraphs are created, not born, so technically none of us are blood related. What makes a family is not just blood relation though, but love and caring,” Mikleo explains.

“Love and caring? Seems like our Mikleo is turning mellow,” Edna teases, grinning from ear to ear like a cheshire cat. “Could it have something to do with your girlfriend?”

Mikleo looks like he is about to say something, but Sorey pushes him away.

“Alright, if we continue to talk like this, we’ll never take our leave,” Sorey interjects, pushing his brother towards the carriage. “Come on, guys, you too. We need to depart soon.”

Nayla bids her goodbye to Gramps and the others and turns her heels to catch up to the two brothers. The other seraphs quickly finish up and follow their friends.

Zaveid, who takes the reins this time, pulls it up, allowing the carriage to finally run free. Edna sits beside him for assistance. Inside the carriage, Nayla and Lailah sit at one side, while the brothers take the other side. They all still wave at the villagers, watching until the crowd disappears through the growing distance.

. . . . .

Tethe’alla. The cold mountains. They have to travel heading north west from Elysia. Since it is located in another island, they will have to cross the ocean through Tethe’alla’s bridge from Meltokio city. The city is small but crowded, more so because of its strategic location, where merchants often travel.

When they are nearing the city, Nayla and Sorey have to switch up with Zaveid and Edna, so that passersby will not be surprised when they see the carriage being ride by its down. The two also have to put on some cloaks low enough to cover their faces, not wanting to put themselves at risk against bandits if they see two mere youngsters pulling a carriage at that size. They don’t want to give the wrong impression, so they disguise themselves, blending in to avoid garnering attentions to themselves.

It is already very late by the time they find an inn to stay in. The girls and the boys each have their room rented. They have seven more days before the next red full moon. Time is in the essence. They need to keep up to their schedule, or they will miss their opportunity. The inn is the only chance for them to get decent warm meals. After dinner, they retire to their rooms, only to wake up early in the morning and prepare to continue their journey. Though not without buy some more fresh food.

They need to pay a certain fee to cross the bridge. Mikleo or Zaveid would have been able to freeze the ocean themselves to create a path for the carriage to pass through, but it’s a bit risky, as the ice might c***k or melt during the way. Not to mention if they will be any waves coming their way. It’s all just too complicated, so they opt to using the bridge. It might be a bit pricy, thirty two silver for an entire carriage, but thanks to the pocket money they had earlier received from Alisha, they are able to pay up the fees at ease.

Thirty minutes later, and the bridge is behind them.

There are several other smaller towns they will have to pass before they can reach the winter lands; Mizuho, Altessa and Ozette. Mikleo offers to change seats with Nayla, not wanting the girl to overwork herself, but the girl refuses. They are only two humans in that carriage, and she can’t risk switching up, only to have some passerby see a figureless cloak sitting beside Sorey when Mikleo takes over her seat. The towns are too close to each other, and plenty of other travelers use this route.

The boy doesn’t want to argue with the girl again, only muttering something that she can make out sounding like a, “Stubborn girl,” before passing some snacks to the girl instead, not wanting her to feel fatigue during the ride. Nayla accepts the food, but not without sharing it with her seatmate. They need two people at the front to make the carriage move with more balance, thus allowing it to move faster. And since Sorey is the one who actually pulls the carriage, he needs more nutritious that she does.

Nayla doesn’t really have anything much to do, so she asks Sorey to teach her how to steer the carriage, never having the chance to do so before, only seeing how other people do it in front of her. The girl is a natural, having already some prior knowledge from riding horses before. It doesn’t take long before she can official be the assistant rider.

As the more they move up, the less crowded does the town become. They rest for the night at Altessa, camping out in the bordering woods. They continue their journey the morning after. When they reach the last city, Ozette, most of the other travelers are already long gone. No one plans to travel as far as their group. Mikleo and Zaveid uses this chance to switch up with the two humans, allowing them some rest. There is another much smaller town up ahead, Flanoir, but they are not going to pass it by, and instead are going to circle outside from it.

Since they have decided to use the longer and most suitable route for them, they will have to round around the outer circle of the mountains, making the horses run through snow and ice. They spent three more nights sleeping in the carriage, having not the proper location to camp outside in the cold snow. After passing Flanoir and the Temple of Ice further north, they have to abandon their carriage at some point, going by foot and carrying their luggage.

Each of them carry their own bags. Even Nayla is insistent for at least carrying her own luggage. Her duffle bag is old, but it’s tough for still withstanding throughout all of the journeys she had went through.

Footmarks are left on the snow from where they pass through, looking like ants from the distance. Even after walking for almost half an hour, they still can not see anything but white.

“I know that this might sound annoying, but are we there yet?” Zaveid asks, clutching to this cloak.

Lailah has used her magic to warm up their bodies within this small circle of people, but the wind seraphs still feel the need to warm himself up with his cloak. He is usually so tough even despite the coldness (which is why he always go about shirtless for most of the time) but something about the cold winds of winter makes him want to dress up for the occasion.

“Well, let’s just say that we’re not even halfway to Tethe’alla,” the fire seraph says.

They have formed an aligned circle. Lailah leads the group at the for direction, while Mikleo and Zaveid each take the sides for safeguarding any incoming threads. Nayla walks at the center, while Edna and Sorey have her back. It is the perfect safety alignment.

“Please remind me, what’s Tethe’alla again?” he asks.

“The area where Red Moon Flowers are known to bloom,” she answers in a heartbeat, having been to the place before.

“And how to we know if we are there yet?”

“If you see any sharp-angled cliffs.”

“Oh.” And suddenly, he doesn’t know if it would have been better if he hadn’t asked.

“Are you okay, Nayla?” Sorey asks her from behind, noticing the way she keeps freezing up.

The others turn her way.

“Yeah, you don’t look so good. Need more heat?” Edna asks.

“It’s okay, I’m just not used to this kind of place yet.”

Everything is still so white up ahead. Even the sky is the same clear color, sometimes looking up confuses the mind, making it hard to tell which way is up and which way is down. Nayla accidentally looks up too long, and she can feel her legs wobble thanks to that. The girl begins to sway to one side, but a strong arm catches her before she can hit the ground.

“Do you need to rest?” Mikleo asks with a frown.

“No,” she says, “but can you please hold my hand? Looking at this place makes me woozy.”

The corner of his lips curve into a smile. “Sure. Stay close to me.”