13. Aftermath
1233 Words
"We are under attack! Take shelter! Every soldier needs to come out and fight! The rest go to the Sacred Chamber building! Our Elder, Samoa will keep you safe!"
I heard the voice of a soldier that was flying around.
"It seems like that's why it was glowing. To let you know the danger is close." My father said. " Zariel and Invicta, you go ahead! I'll make sure that Calista reaches the Sacred Chamber safely. Whatever you do, stay together! Am I clear?"
"Yes sir!" Zariel answers, while I just nod my head.
We took off right after that. Several Molox we're throwing fireballs in the direction of our houses.
Flames were consuming everything. I fly towards the closest one pointing my spear to his head.
The red tip was glowing even brighter. I lift my hand putting all my power into my next hit. I push the spear forward taking off the head of the Molox in one move.
"Whoa! Impressive! You were born for this!" Zariel said with a puzzled look. "You didn't even complete your training."
"Well, thank you!" I respond with a small bow.
Then I see it. Another Molox that look different from the others. He was exactly like the one I killed when they attacked us for the first time.
"Zariel! Look!" I said pointing at that Molox.
"Ahh... A leader!" If we kill him, the others will retreat." He said avoiding the attack of another Molox.
"A leader? How do you know?" I ask slicing in half the one that tried to burn us.
"You see how the others are positioned in a semicircle in front of him, even if they are at a considerable distance? It is because they are protecting him. It is a war tactic. Always protect your leader."
"So that's why they retreated last time? Because I killed their leader?"
"What?! Did you do that? Alone?"
"Mmm... Yeah?"
"Wow! Watch out!"
He pushed me just in time for me to not get roasted.
"Excuse me a second!" I said and went to the Molox that almost killed me. I try to stab him but he stepped away. He was smart. It makes me believe that they are not just a stupid bunch of charcoal.
He positions himself in a defensive position.
"So you wanna play, don't you? Come on! Show me what you got!"
"Invicta! Don't play foolish games! You can get hurt!"
"I would worry more for him, Zariel!" I said referring to the Molox in front of me!"
He clenched his fist and start running towards me.
I fly higher just to come behind him with the intent to stab him in the head. But he leans forward and I hit him in the back with my foot!
'It didn't feel hot! If they can throw fireballs, how it came that my boots didn't melt by now.'
"Invicta! What are you doing?" My father voice bought my attention to the Molox that was running to me.
Everyone, pax-els and Molox were watching us. But the one that grabs my attention is their leader. The way he looks at me... Is so different from the look of the first one. Hate and anger were clear in his dark red eyes! He screams death!
Just when the Molox that I was fighting was at the point of giving his blow, my father pushed me away!
"Get out of here! You can't fight when are distracted! What are you thinking about?"
He kills the Molox with a single blow. Then came backs to me.
"Remember, soldier! In the battle, you don't have time to think or feel! Do it and you will be good as dead!"
"Yes, general! Forgive me, sir!"
My eyes were glued to the dark red ones. Something was intriguing about them. He was looking at me, in anger and... desire? How does a monster like him can feel anything else apart from hate?
"Invicta, you're zooming out again! The general will get very mad at you if he notices you again." Zariel said approaching me.
I look at him for only a moment, before I hear a loud whistle. The Molox we're retreating. I take another glance at their leader before he disappeared in the dark.
None of us follows them. These were the general orders.
I turn back at Zariel and push his shoulder slowly. "So much for our celebration."
"Yeah! But we still have time, you know?"
"Zariel, Invicta! Come here! We need to do the aftermath. I and Octava will help the injured and you two count the losses." My father said and left.
"What does he mean count the loses? All that's left is ash. Is not like someone usually dies and we pick up the ashes. This is a mess!"
"He meant to go to every person alive and ask for any relative missing. Unlike last time when everyone was taken by surprise, this time only the soldiers were outside. So we will check the family of every soldier."
"I see..." I said in a low voice, thinking about how I wasn't able to find my mother ashes. " Zariel? If I die first I want you to break the tradition for me! I don't want my ashes in the sky! I want them in the river."
" What are you talking about? You won't die before me! I won't allow you to!" He said hugging me from the side.
I smile at him, resting my head on his shoulder for a moment.
"How many pax-els lives in your house, sir?" Zariel asks the old man who looks at us with admiration.
" Five, young man!"
"Any of them were fighting today?"
"Yes, my daughter Merina." He said, sounding a bit sad. " Is she... is she alive, son?"
"I don't know, sir! I'm sorry! We are going to check in a bit. You are the last family that we need to visit for this reason."
"I see... well, taken care then and thank you for risking your life for ours! I was once a soldier, I know what you feel like! You don't need to blame yourself, remember that!"
"Thank you, kind sir! We appreciate your words!" I said with teary eyes.
We went to the Sacred Chamber to check the list with the ones alive, injured or not! It was 5 am. We should have started our training by now.
"I'm so tired, Zariel!"
"I know! You can go rest if you want to. I will finish here." He said with compassion.
"I appreciate your offer, but I need to refuse! I won't abandon you, it is my duty too. Besides, I won't get any sleep if I don't find out if Merina is alive."
He chuckled a bit but resumed his actions, without saying anything.
Two hours later, I was fighting my sleep.
My eyelids feel so heavy, and my eyes were burning.
"Just two more files and we're done," Zariel said.
I try not to think about my bed or the food.
"Here! She is alive!" he shouts.
"What?! Who? Where?"
"Were you asleep?"
"Me?! No! Zariel, how can you think like that about me?"
He started laughing placing the last file down.
'When did he finished them?'
"She is alive! Merina is alive, just a broken arm, otherwise nothing too bad."
"Yes! Now I can take some rest!"
- Writer
