Eleven's Ghost

Chapter 17: Farewell

Ihdaachar sat down on the stairs again. “That’s all.”

Shams blinked. “What…?”

Ihdaachar smiled at him. “Now, summoning your jinn will be very easy. You saw one another once and established a minimal connection. That’s all you need. Just follow basic instructions, and you will be fine. Even Yayis can teach you.”

“But I thought you will be my mentor! I thought the strongest person in the universe will teach me! It would make me so proud! I would brag about it to everyone!” Shams protested.

Ihdaachar shook his head. “Don’t mention to anyone that you know me. For different reasons, I’m not very liked in the academy. I also never said that I would mentor you. I said I will prepare you.” He patted his head. “I will tell you a thing or two.”

He pointed at a cart that stood in front of the house. “That’s Zultan’s cart. He keeps many of his animals there. They didn’t leave even after he was kidnapped. That means Zultan left them to you. You must carry them with you all the time.”

Shams frowned. “But how will I carry that?”

“I will land you a hand.” Ihdaachar stood in front of the cart. A blue aura covered his hands, and the box shined blue before shrinking to the size of a lemon. It turned into a sealed cubic shape coloured blue. Ihdaachar threw the cube at Shams. “This is an advanced sealing spell. Once you grow strong enough to unlock it, use the animals. They’re too strong for you in your current level. Using them can be life-threatening.”

Shams nodded and held onto the cube. “I will work hard and unlock it. I promise!”

Ihdaachar’s gaze softened. “That’s good to hear.”

Shams gave the cube to Yayis. “Hold on to it for me.”

Yayis nodded. “So, when are we leaving?”

Ihdaachar glanced to the side, and a light spear stabbed a shield that he was keeping on. The others gasped in shock.

“It seems like we’re under attack.” Ihdaachar eyed Shams and stood in front of him. Shams looked down shyly. “Um… What is it?”

“I smell the enemy in you.”

Shams’s eyes flashed wide, hearing what Ihdaachar said.

“No! I didn’t tell anyone about this place! Please believe me!”

Ihdaachar’s eyes didn’t leave Shams, and the teen felt chains trapping him down. He looked around and saw nothing. He started crying. “I’m scared!”

Twenty black circles appeared behind them, and armoured guardians appeared from them, their armour darker than black. Shams gazed at them with round eyes and fell to his knees. “That’s your… summoning?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Ihdaachar held his hand and helped him stand. “It turns out I knew very little about you. I was arrogant. I know you were expecting more from me. Those giants will not let any enemy go beyond this point. Let’s go back to the border. There, I will tell you everything I have to say.”

They walked to the border, and a storm was raging inside of the rift. Ihdaachar gazed at it, his bloodlust inceasing. Yayis, who could sense it, couldn’t move from his spot, shaking. Shams gazed up at Ihdaachar, confused. “Dad…”

Ihdaachar’s eyes flashed wide, and all of his bloodlust faded in an instant.

“Can I call you dad?”

Shams clung to his shirt. “You were… so nice to me. If I had a good father, it would be you. I never… saw my father much. Mom doesn’t like him either. She said I was only an adopted child, and they never wanted me, but… You treated me so dearly. I want to call you dad. Can I?”

Ihdaachar stared at him with a frown. Shams laughed. “It’s fine if you don’t want to. Nobody wants me. It makes sense… I mean…”

Ihdaachar lowered his head without saying anything. He turned away from Shams. “Once you cross the border, I will leave one of my crows with you. They will help you find your way in the water kingdom. It should take you two or three months flying to reach the Earth Sirkus branch. Camp somewhere nearby and wait. Once you’re within one hundred kilometres radius from Sirkus, a man with grey hair will come find you. He will say that his name is…”

He stopped talking midway then clenched his fists. “This man will teach more things than me. Do not be intimidated by his appearance or demeanour. I trust him fully. You should too.”

Shams nodded slowly and gasped as everything went black around him abruptly. He glanced in front of him and saw Ihdaachar, who grabbed his face in his hands. “This is a sealed space where nobody can hear us. I have more to tell you. Don’t be scared.”

Shams nodded again. Ihdaachar shut his eyelids. “If the man shows you his hair, run away.”

Shams’s eyes widened. “R-Really?! What if he follows us?”

“Just run.”

“O-Okay…”

Ihdaachar stared at Shams, his eyes filled with worry and grief. He pulled the brown-haired into a tight hug. “I too, had a son once,” he whispered, “Not one. I had five children in the three hundred years I lived.”

Shams hugged him back, feeling sorrow squeezing his heart suddenly. “And… Where are they?”

“They were killed.” Ihdaachar lowered his head and rested his chin on Shams’s head. “And it seems like I never truly healed.”

Shams’s eyes watered. “No!” He hugged him tighter. “I can be… I can be your son! I can be…!”

Ihdaachar smiled and caressed his hair. “You’re a kind boy, Shams.”

“W-Wait! You didn’t answer!”

“That’s it, Shams.”

The darkness around them faded. Ihdaachar walked towards the rift, and his steps were heavy. “It’s time for you to go.”

Shams raised his eyebrows. “D-Dad…?!”

Ihdaachar closed his eyes and forced a smile. He stood in front of the rift and gazed down at the dark space. He bent down. He drew a line with his gloved fingers. It shined purple, and a glass bridge extended between both halves of the planet. A purple aura was radiating from it.

Ihdaachar turned to Shams. “This bridge contains a shield that will protect you from space. It seems fragile, but it’s very sturdy. It should take you one month to cross it on foot. I don’t recommend flying. It will be very uncomfortable.”

He moved his gaze to Yayis then back to Shams. “I will stand here and see you off.”  He smiled. “I will give you an advice…”

Shams’s tears dropped, hearing the rest.

“My son.”

He ran to Ihdaachar and hugged him tightly. “Dad!”

Ihdaachar smiled faintly and staggered slightly. He hugged him back. “Once you start walking, never look back.”

Shams looked up to Ihdaachar with round eyes. “But… I will miss you.”

Ihdaachar shook his head. “Go. I will pray for your success.”

Shams wiped his tears and stepped on the bridge. “I will come back!” He seemed determined. “I will save Zultan and come back for you! I promise I will!”

Ihdaachar smiled softly and waved goodbye. “Take care of yourself. You too, Yayis.”

Yayis nodded and walked ahead. “Let’s go, Shams.”

Shams smiled at Ihdaachar and ran after Yayis.

Ihdaachar’s smile faded gradually, watching them getting further and further away. A crow appeared from his shadow and flew after Yayis and Shams stealthily.

Ihdaachar watched the lightning and passing meteors crashing into the bridge, trying to destroy it. He folded his arms, and black veins extended along his skin. He shut his eyelids.

“For as long as I live,” he started, “I will not let you touch a single human, you vicious, arrogant man.”

The thunder roared louder than ever, and the armoured titans returned to Ihdaachar’s side. A swarm of beasts surrounded them from all directions.

Ihdaachar opened his eyes wide, and they were entirely black.

“And I will not die any time soon.”