Yla

Chapter 3: It Started as A happy day

Ten years passed and the baby Yla wasn’t a baby anymore, she grew into  a very happy and active child, she was cunning and shared her father’s interest with hunting, she was also sweet like her mother but at the same time would rather go out into the forest and go shooting birds and rabbits to bring home. Adda was a bit concerned but they did live in a rural village and it was never a bad idea to be always ready. 

She developed accuracy with the use of her bow and her father had just began introducing her to the knives to help her with cleaning her spoils. Her mother didn't want her to be a tomboy so she was also taught on how to cook, clean, and flower arrangement. Yla was born a wielder like her mother, she received tutelage from the village healer to use her magic for healing and other practical uses. Being far away from the capital of Auburn it was impossible to have a formal studies in magic. She used her skills to hunt down her prey, make quick kills, silence her steps and patch up small scrapes she gets. Unlike Adda, Yla’s magic didn't allow her to have dream of things to come, but both Cana and Sivelle believed at in time she will develop it as well, but Yla doubted it. 

“Good morning mama”, said Yla as she walked down to the Kitchen yawning.

“Good Morning”, Adda responded, Yla looked around noticing her father was nowhere in sight

“Did papa went on a hunt early?”

“Yes”, Adda placed a plate of eggs and bread in front of her, there were also a small pot of blueberry jam that her mother made for her, “he wanted to finish early, the deer season is about to end, and he wants got get one for us for dinner to salt and keep until the end of the month.”

Yla nodded to her mother and began eating, she loves how her mother prepares her favorite things in the morning, she looks at her mother and be at awe on how beautiful and strong she is. She is one of the village healers and she was able to see things in the future and had given the village elders warnings in the past, she was just amazing. 

As Yla was finishing her breakfast the door burst open and a man came in with a large deer on his back, it was her father. The mother and daughter went to welcome him home as he put down the buck on the floor.

“I had a difficulty scrubbing the blood off of that floor”, Adda said as she gave him a peck on the cheek.

“Wow! This is amazing papa!” the child’s eyes were wide with awe she stared at the dead dear twice her size.

“Yla, get your father some coffee please”, her mother asked as her husband handed her his bow, smiling in gratitude. Yla ran back to the table and poured his father a cup of coffee before carefully running back to hand it over to her father. Nivek took a sip and said, “with this size it would be enough for a month or more of meat, and I wouldn’t need to go hunting for a while, I can focus on the orchards and the crops by the valley”

“That’s good,” said Adda finally finished putting away his weapons, “but Amadeus sent a messenger, he says he has a job for you.”

As the conversation of her parents continued about work Yla began clearing the table, today was a free day and she didn't have any lessons. She promised her friends that they will be playing by the lake today would want to make the most out of it. She went up to her room after the chores and opened her window, the whole village of Fadia was already bustling, people has been moving around doing their chores and basking in the early morning sun, this is home she thought.

By the time she has finished changing her clothes Yla was about ready to leave the house when her mother stopped her.

“Are you going to the lake today?” Adda asked, she nodded, “would you mind picking some herbs for me, I’m afraid we are running low and you father has a few scrapes that I need to mend. And we need some for our cooking too”. She handed Yla a small list of herbs that she needed. WIth the sudden changes of plan Yla went back to her room to get her bow, because some of the places where the herbs her mother is asking for are located deep in the forest and a bow may be useful to protect herself and her friends.

She got down the living room and found her parents again waiting for her, “hunting?” Nivek asked, Yla just smiled and told him about the errands and that she might shoot some birds for soup.

“Well you should be careful, nymphs are being seen in the forest recently”, said her father

“I’ll be extra careful and besides, Archeon and Mionette are with me,” she responded with a smile

“But just to make sure,” Adda took off her necklace and placed it around Yla’s neck, “ this will always protect you and keep you safe, sweetheart”.

Yla’s hand unconsciously went to the pendant, it was a crystal as big as her mother’s thumb, it was cold to the touch and it had a small glow about it when she brought it up to her eye inside there what looked like a shimmering liquid, “Mama, this is grandma’s necklace”, she said still mesmerized by the crystal in her hand.

“Yes, it was, but it's yours now, it's been in our family for generations and it's time for your to have it. It will protect you always”, responded Adda as she hugged her daughter, Yla felt a slight sense of worry, but ignored it seeing her father giving two big thumbs up behind her mother’s back.

Yla placed the necklace inside her clothing and kissed her parents goodbye as she ran out of the house to her two waiting friends by the edge of the forest.

Adda watched as Yla and her friends disappeared within the trees, Nivek called her into the house, when she saw her husband he was already gathering supplies and weapons. “We need to get ready,” he said  to her, she merely nodded and began putting things inside their hidden compartments under the house, along with it a letter for Yla. 

“Adda, it's not too late, you can still leave with the others, most of the women and children has hidden in the forest, and Cana has already placed an enchantment to prevent them from being found. I can take care of things here, she needs at least one of us,” Nivek said to her.

“No, I’ll stay here, with you. You need all the help you can get.” Adda’s eyes were filled with resolve, despite the fear of what will happen, she showed him a strong face. 

It has been many nights that Adda had dreamt of tragedy befalling the village, lead by a dark figure seeking the Light of Fadia, and in that dream, she saw her daughter crying over two bodies, one of it was her own. Today was their last day together with their little girl, and she will do everything in her power to prevent it from happening. 

“It's going to be okay, we’ll see her again”, it was Nivek holding her hand tightly.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

An ear splitting scream echoed and shattered the quietness of the village. Nivek rushed to the door and  what he saw stunned him, like rain men and monsters were falling out of the sky. It was monsters that only existed in nightmares, and on the forefront Agima stood as if leading them. NIvek shut the door and told Adda to run, men and women who were unable to hide in the forest were running for their lives, but they weren’t fast enough. The beasts struck them down like flies. 

The men that came with the monsters were equally strong they didn't show mercy to anyone in the village. Only a few men were able to stand up to them and kill some. Agima himself was killing without remorse or second thought - he was enjoying it. Adda and Nivek fought their towards the forest, saving anyone they can, killing as many monsters and invaders as they can. Adda enchanted all of Nivek’s blades and weapons to help with the battle, but unknown to her Nivek carried Agima’s knife, the one he used to kill Lady Reeves, even after ten years the blade remained enchanted and poisoned. Blood watered the earth and the foul smell of death was in the air, Adda and Nivek was almost to the forest edge when they came face to face with Agima and a woman.

Away from the tragedy from the village Yla and her friends Archeon and Mionette were deep in the forest collecting the herbs her mother wanted, unaware and safely hidden away from harm. All Yla thought was that her mother will be proud and happy to have her spoils for the day, she was even able to shoot down some birds that will be good for soup. Finally when they believed

they had enough they made their way to the village only thinking about the faces of their proud parents as they bring home prize kills.

Clash after clash Adda and Nivek fought against the monsters until they faced a woman they assumed was his commander. She has a strikingly beautiful face, a golden mane and an armor that flowed like cloth and the protected and her from any attack,  it was stained red with blood. Adda fortified their weapons to even stand a chance against them, she recited a incantation and together they charged on. They were the only things that stood between them and the safety of the forest as Cana had enchanted a barrier against any enemy. 

Nivek shot arrows which were deflected by her cloth-like armor, Nivek pushed Adda away when their swords clashed, she swung her sword with strength that even Nivek had a difficult time blocking, Adda used her magic to try and shield him from her attacks but they were easily broken. She had incomparable strength, you can see the evil in her eyes when she finally was able to to held Nivek by the neck. Adda rushed to his aid luckily stabby the woman by the arm releasing him, she cried in pain as if it was a foreign feeling. Adda aided Nivek off the ground and ran towards the forest and the woman pursued them and as they were about to enter the forest, in front of them stood the last person they wanted to see in the battlefield - it was Agima.

He smiled at the sight of them, as if he was amused to see them bloody, he watched the dread covered their face when they saw him, he relished the moment. But underneath all the fear and dread, there was pity towards him, despite their derelict appearance they pitied him. He felt their gaze bore through his core.

“I want the Light of Fadia, Adda,” he said.

“No,” she spat at him, over my dead body she thought

Nivek pulled out his knife the one he used to kill Lady Reeves and stabbed Agima on the shoulder, the man howled in pain, the wound didn't only bleed but it began to fester just like Lady Reeves. His commander was running towards them but instead of killing Adda and Nivek she went to the aid of her master. Pulling out the enchanted blade, she then used magic to try and heal him but it wa not working, out of options she channeled magic through the earth prevent it from spreading.

 The couple took the chance to run away, as long as they can enter the forest they are safe but alas Agima caught up to them hitting Nivek with magic on this back. Agima walked towards as Adda tried to heal him. Nivek told her to run and save herself but she couldn’t find it in her to leave him. Adda shielded Nivek from Agima but he with a move of hand Adda was flicked away.

“You bastard!” he held Nivek by the neck, the man didn't have any energy to fight back. Adda we wanted to run back to him but she was confronted by the general who held her back, but with what little strength she had she used her magic to break free from her and as Agima was to crush Nivek’s windpipe, Adda stepped beside of him, “Stop! Don’t kill him please Agima!”

It was the first time he heard her call his name after all this time, his clutches loosed and he fell to the ground gasping for air. 

“Please, spare him, I’ll do anything,” she said as she went to the aid of her husband, “please”

He looked at her soft and gentle features, she has always been the only person that he loved and here she is willing to do anything just for him to spare Nivek. 

“Anything?” begrudgingly Adda nodded, “I want you and the Light of Fadia”.

“No Adda”, Nivek coughed, “don’t do it”

Adda looked at the battered Nivek and at Agima and then back to her husband, she smiled a pained smiled and nodded to Agima.

“Permilia!” he called her whispered something and then, he held out his hand to Adda to take her away. Reluctantly Adda took his hand and turned her back away. Permilia stood in front of Nivek, preventing him to run after Adda, but soon as he saw an opening he broke for a run hugging Adda from behind. In pursuit Permilia took out her blade and stabbed Nivek. 

The blade pierced through Nivek and Adda, saw blood dripping from her stomach, Agima was stunned as he watched Adda and Nivek fell on their knees.

As they reached the edge of the forest Yla saw her parents on the ground with a sword through them. Her prized kills dropped to the ground, her village was in shambles and her parents gravely wounded. There were monsters everywhere and everything was ruined

“Mama! Papa!” she called out to them, and  the man that stood over her parents stared at her, and  Yla ran to her parent side. Nivek pulled out the blade and more blood rush out of them. 

“Adda, can you hear me”, Nivek whispered as he faced Adda, Agima knelt beside them trying to to heal both of them, but Adda pushed him away. They were both sprawled on the ground bleeding and dying. Adda couldn’t heal herself or her husband. But out of the din they heard a voice that made Agima’s blood turn like ice, he looked back and saw a child running towards them. He called all of his men and minions, a dark wind rushed through the village and all the monsters and invaders had vanished.

“Mama!” she cried as she held her mother, “papa”, her father laid beside her mother, both looked at her smiling, “Papa”, she enveloped them into hug, she tried to heal them with her magic but she couldn’t heal them as her magic wasn't powerful enough to stop them from bleeding.

“Yla”, he father held her hand, “I love you, so so much sweetheart...” he whispered, Yla cried as she hugged her father, but he has breathed his last.

“Yla...” Adda called to her, “my baby is all dirty”, she held her face, “wash up later okay?” Adda smiled but tears ran down her eyes, “take care of yourself, we love you...remember that...” Yla