Down System

Chapter 22

The classroom was no longer the same as before.

While the teacher in front was discussing, I couldn't avoid my sight from steering at Keevan's chair. I had been looking at the spot, and that was why the lesson could not register in my mind.

His birthday was the last day I saw him. Keevan had left Hades and moved to another country after celebrating with us. Was that the reason why he asked me to make his day memorable?

I let out a sigh in disappointment. I didn't give him the favor. I didn't even give his wish the chance to be granted. Well, his migration was out of my mind. Was it me to be blamed?

I was hoping time could be returned for a person to change the things he regretted. I wished I could bring his birthday back, so I could have done him the favor. I knew he was my enemy, but I still had a good heart for him; besides, he was just a human, a kid particularly, who was not perfect and could do mistakes whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Keevan's coming back was unclear to me. Would he return or not? But, whatever his family planned for him, I prayed the best for him.

It was just funny to think that the two boys who became part of my life- a friend an enemy- had finally gone by my side. My life was peaceful now. No disturbance from silence and noise. No war of feelings and thoughts. Nothing. Just me and a little sound of calmness.

I stood from my chair when Ferelith and my other friends invited me for a lunch. The morning class was already done, yet I didn't have a single takeaway. I was afraid of failing, yet I wasn't doing anything to avoid failure. Nevertheless, this would be the last time I would let myself be interrupted.

At the table, my friends were talking about Keevan, and I was just listening. I didn't want to hear anything concerning him, because I just wanted to forget him; however, there was still part of me who liked to know the reason why he left Hades.

Minutes of lending my ears to them, I had found out that Keevan departed because his father was located in the other country where he moved. I didn't hear enough, but I guessed, his dad was working there permanently and couldn't get back in Hades.

Ferelith was frowning because of the news. She couldn't accept that Keevan left without waiting for her confession. She cried over the time she wasted due to her ego.

On the other side, I couldn't stop my palm from slapping my forehead because of my friend's behavior; we were only twelve, yet she looked differently at the word crush. Ridiculous.

"Stop crying, Ferelith," I said, hugging her shoulders. "It's just Keevan, okay? Maybe he'll come back soon."

Ferelith shook her shoulders. "Guys, it seems like Aleera didn't hear anything from him," she told our friends. "He won't come back again. He will be staying in Shekihah forever."

"F-forever?" I stuttered.

"Yeah... for a lifetime. He will be pursuing his dreams there. If only I knew he will leave, I should have said my admiration to him," Ferelith pouted. "But, after ten years, if I still didn't see him, it's much better to forget him."

"She's damn serious with Keevan," one of my friends said, laughing. "Admiration is different from interest, Ferelith. You don't admire him, you like him, based on what you're showing."

"Can you please stop pushing her to Keevan, guys?" I asked. "We're too young for this."

"It's okay, Aleera," Ferelith said, smiling at me. "I know this matter is not right for this age. But, mark my word, I'll still be waiting for Keevan's return, and I will make him fall in love with me."

I wanted to laugh at Ferelith, but she might find me rude, so I just remained silent. Besides, I didn't know perhaps one day, she would be fulfilling her promise. Well, who knew?

When the class continued, I fixed myself and made sure to pay attention to the discussion. Besides, I didn't want my parents to notice I wasn't learning anything because of random things running inside my mind. My education would still be useful in the future, so I had to put myself into this.

Fortunately, before being dismissed, I had learned a lot from the lesson. When I went home, I excitedly told Mommy and Daddy about my takeaways; they were so proud of me, and that gave me a reason to do more.

The sun was melting in the dark sky little by little. After dinner, Namika already left the house. She lied when she told my parents that her house was just nearby, and that was why they were letting her go, even the road was being ruled by obscurity.

"Mommy, are you free?" I asked when Mommy Morrigan finally brought me to bed. "Do you mind telling me about Gandor?"

"Don't you wanna hear other stories than him?" Mommy questioned, dripping her fingers in my hair. "I'm not sure if you'll understand."

"But, you've told me about him once, right? At that time, I don't still understand things, Mommy. How 'bout now?"

My mother let out a sigh. "Okay, since I promised, here we go..."

"The image of the red dragon you saw at the temple... it's Gandor. He's the god of all gods. He's the highest among all because he is alive."

"And, we, humans, are alive, too," I said. "Then, what makes him higher than us, Mommy?"

"My baby girl, Gandor's personality is no joke. He's the only dragon who exists. And, what makes him the strongest is his magical power. He is good at protecting us from the enemies."

"Who are the enemies?" I puckered my eyebrows.

"It's a belief that humans are rivals to demons. And for us to be safe always with their black potion, we have to have faith in Gandor."

I turned my gaze at the window, trying to receive answers from the wind entering in.

Demons were just fictional creatures of humans for their beliefs to be valid. No matter what kind of demon Mommy was talking about, it wasn't existing. However, unless the believers had their definition of this immortal. I wanted to know, but since the said enemy was not my interest, I just forget about it.

"Have you seen Gandor, Mommy?" I asked, turning my sight back at her.

"In person? Not yet. No one has seen Gandor. Besides, when a human has contact with him, he will die."

I stopped for a moment. If a person died by just actually seeing Gandor, then, might it be possible that Ferno's death was because of his contact with the dragon?

The soft wind caressed my hands that went berserk with the thought of how careless their god was. If the dragon really assured the safety of the people, then why would he let them die just because of personal seeking?

"It's because he's powerful," Mommy answered after I asked her the question. "He gives what a person takes. According to the elders, it's a disturbance to Gandor when someone tries to find him and see his face."

"I don't understand, Mommy," I said.

"I knew it, you won't fully comprehend the logic. Gandor's identity is too wide that it would be hard for you to know everything about him. When the right time comes, you'll eventually understand things. Let's just cut it off for this time."

Mommy kissed me on the forehead and said to me goodbye. She was about to leave, but I stopped her saying,

"How about you, Mommy? Do you know your god well?"

"I think so," she answered without looking at me, and left.

I walked towards the door and locked it because Mommy didn't do so. When I went back to bed, the thought of finding Gandor's image had brought in my mind. The library under my bed was wide. Was it possible that there was a book about him?

For months of staying in the house, I didn't wander yet the whole shelves. Due to numerous books, I was having a hard time checking them all one by one.

I was about to go down when rustles coming from the tree outside my room rang in my ears. I stood and peeked over the window to see if anyone was there; unfortunately, none.

"If you're behind the tree, please show up," I said, clenching my fist.

My brows were folded when I had a glimpse of a shadow at the back of the trunk. I couldn't recognize what the hell it was doing. Even though I asked it many times to display its face in front of me, it wasn't responding.

I opened the window and got out of the room through this. Controlling my breath, I slowly and silently walked towards the tree. And when I finally got there, my eyes grew bigger with what I had seen.

"Namika!" I shouted. "What are you doing?"

The old woman was sitting on the ground while seriously cutting off the twigs. She didn't answer the first time I questioned her, so I had to repeat it for her to steer her attention to me.

"Quiet," she said without looking at me.

"My gosh, Namika! You've scared me to death. What brings you here at this point? A-and, what is that?"

"You can obviously see what I am doing. No need to ask."

"I mean, for what is that?"

"I'm doin' some magical potion through the twigs. I can't focus well, young girl. Please, be silent for a moment."

I didn't speak, just looked at her performing the whatsoever thing while puckering my brows. I couldn't understand her; she told me she wasn't a witch, but she was making potions.

"Are you a half-seer and a half-sorcerer?" I asked.

"I said, quiet."

Again, I didn't talk. I waited for the old woman to accomplish her task, and it was about ten minutes.

Namika carried the potion with her when we go back to my room. She showed me it and said, "I'll teach you how to make potions and, of course, how to use them."

I looked at her in disbelief. "Are the potions related to the plan?" I asked.

"Definitely! I won't waste my time to nonsense things anyway. Just prepare yourself. Few days remaining, then straight to the purpose."

"You're so dedicated. Are you even sleeping? And, why are you performing the potions here? You have your place, right?"

Namika nodded. "It's actually an on-the-spot potion-making, that's why. I got disturbed by this beautiful tree from going home," she said. "And, yes, I am still sleeping, usually for only an hour. Expect this to happen to you."

"The what?" I raised my brow.

"The one-hour sleep or no sleep at all," she shrugged her shoulders.

"Do you think I can do that?"

"Yes, only if you're determined."

I stood from my bed and walked towards the mirror to face myself. "At this age, my strength is not enough for this thing. I accept my purpose, but I guess, it's not for me."

Namika went near me. "Do you think at this age," she said, pointing herself out, "I can do this thing? No, but I believe I am able. Young girl, it's not about knowledge, it's all about the heart.

"If you view things with your own understanding, they really look impossible. But if you believe with the deepest of your heart, you'll not notice yourself making things possible. It takes a strong belief and trust."

I let out a deep sigh. "It's hard for me to believe, especially that I don't know why it's me who was chosen to save Hades."

"You want to know?" The old woman drew her face closer to me. "Well, now, I'll say..."