8.Casualties
1000 Words
Invicta pov.
I run out of the house opening my wings in the process. I push myself up and fly after my after.
My sister was running in the same direction.
I could see the flames swallow the Sacred Chamber. People were screaming even if no one was hurt or in any danger. They were afraid. Afraid to lose their most precious thing. Nibira's Heart.
"General! Here!" Octava shouted from the ground.
My father follows her voice, and I did the same.
"How can this happen? Who did this? Was the Molox?" my father asks in a deadly voice.
"All I could say is there was no Molox, general. I couldn't find out who is responsible for this. But I promise you that I will do my best to discover."
"I'm sure you will, Octava. Now. What are the casualties?"
"It seems that the Elders were holding a meeting at the time the fire started. Three of them are dead, and a fourth badly injured."
"I'm sure Samoa is fine!" I said sceptically.
Octava stares at me surprised. "How do you know that?"
"You wouldn't dare suspect my daughter, would you now, Octava? She was with me and Calista all day." My father interrupts our stare contest.
"No general! Of course not! I was just purely curious. Maybe your daughter wasn't part of this, but I'm sure she knows more than us."
"Is that true, Invicta? Do you know anything about this?"
"No, father I don't know! But I can see Samoa running towards us."
"General! Octava! You need to do something! Nibira’s heart will be destroyed!"
The realisation came upon them.
"You are right! If the fire gets to the tunnel, the crystals might be affected. We need to save it!"
"But father, when the Molox attacked us, they used fire. But our swords were not affected. I think Nibira's Heart is immune to the fire. "
"You might be right! But, still, we need to stop the fire from spreading to the other buildings."
"There is a small river, a few minutes away from here."
I look behind me to see Zariel and my sister. He was talking about the river that I use to visit every evening.
"Good! Let's gathered the soldiers and anyone else able to transport water. We need to stop this fire quickly!" My father said loud and clear!
"Calista, you stay here! Make sure no one is trying to go into the flames!"
"Yes, father!" She answers.
"Invicta! You should also stay behind! Just to help your sister." he added without leaving any place for questions.
I wanted to protest, but I knew my sister won't be able to fight in her state. So I nod my head.
Everyone flew to the river. It was just me and Calista now.
"So? What should we do?" I ask already feeling bored?
"Maybe we should listen to our father for once, and stay here."
"Yeah, why not? I mean is not that bad after all. Everyone we know is helping and we just stood here. "
"Don't try to tempt me to do something stupid, Invicta!"
"But I'm not! Why would you say that?"
"Because I know you too well! What is going on in that small head of yours?"
"Mmm, nothing?"
"Sister I know that you are thinking about something that we both will regret later. So what is it?"
"Are you that curious, Calista? I thought that you are not interested in finding out."
She keeps her serious face for a moment, then starts smiling sheepishly.
'That's my sister!'
"Well, I want to know only if is sometimes really interesting."
"Hmmm. I don't know, Calista!" I said, pretending that I'm thinking about telling her or not.
She slaps my hand, looking annoyed.
"Tell me already!"
"Ok. What do you say to go check the secret tunnel for ourselves?"
"What?! Are you crazy? What if anyone sees us? Think about how mad father will be. Not saying about Samoa. He already looks like waiting for an opportunity to punish you."
"Yeah, you're right!" I said.
"What? Did you just agree with me?"
"What?! Of course not! I agreed with the fact that Samoa doesn't like me at all."
"Ohh. I see. I'm sorry, sister, but everyone can see that." Calista said in a somewhat sad voice.
"It's fine. I don't like him either!" I reply and we both changed a glance, then start laughing.
After a few minutes of continuous laughing, we finally stopped.
"So? What do you think, Calista?" But she didn't reply as hundreds of wings could be heard cutting of the wind. The soldiers were coming back.
"It looks like you got yourself an answer." She said pointing at the flying soldiers.
I nod looking to the dark sky.
As they get closer, I could see everyone was carrying buckets or different barrels with water. One by one passed by us and poured it over the fire. I realise that the flames weren't any bigger, which means they have been gone only for a couple of minutes. I could have been caught trying to sneak into the secret tunnel.
After they put off the fire, my father asked them to wait for new orders. Samoa was amongst the last ones to come.
"My dear fellows, today it could have been another bad day for us. Having Nibira’s heart destroyed will be worse than any Molox. You can all go and rest now, but, please be here at seven in the morning. The training will be postponed for an hour or so. I have an announcement to make. Thank you all for helping stop this madness. Have a nice and uneventful evening! See you well!"
"See you well!" Everyone says in unison, then made their way to their homes.
"Come on, my girls! Let's go home! I'm starving! We will have enough time to deal with what happened tonight." My father said.
"Am I still invited for dinner?"
- Writer
