Ada: The Witch Huntress

Chapter 7: Portal Stone

Ni’mula and Ada bolted from the garden bench as they felt the numbing cold wind coming from their house.

“He’s here,” Ni’mula whispered, and the fear in her voice was apparent. They both stood there, waiting for someone to come and put an end to their uncertain fright.

She heard Ada gasped, and she could feel nothing but extreme terror coming from her grandaughter. “Who's here? How about Laria?” Ada muttered.

Ni’mula shook her head, and when she saw Ada’s grimace of pain, she knew that she understood what she meant. She couldn’t hear her daughter’s thoughts at the moment, just like what happened with Ada this morning. If someone this powerful can suppress her powers, then this someone is undoubtedly capable of killing someone.

She flinched in pain as she thought of what could have happened with Laria inside. She wanted to run and save her daughter. However, it might be too late. And, if this someone came for Ada, then Ada’s life must come first. She held back, halted her attempt to protect Laria, and started thinking about letting Ada escape.

Then she saw Ada’s eyes widen in shock while gawking at her. “Grandma, something is glowing on your—” Ada pointed the finger at her. That is when she saw the faint emerald glow emanating from her chest.

The Anima mea portalis!

~~~

Wicceros; About eighteen years ago

Anima mea portalis is a rare stone— the size of a pea, which can easily be mistaken as an emerald. It was a stone portal, and a single stone can only open a portal for a single soul by consuming it.

Ni’mula never knew where Mi’gaera, her daughter, acquired it, but her daughter gave four of these stones the other day to her so they both can run away from Wicceros along with Hi’laria and a three-month-old Ga’lleada.

“This is our last resort,” Mi’gaera simpered, trying to cheer her up. They have been on a run since Mi’gaera learned about her pregnancy. She didn’t know why her daughter suddenly anticipated that her husband would have a change of heart and protect them now when he was the one who betrayed them.

“If ever… I couldn’t come back. Don’t hesitate to proceed with the escape, mother. Take care of our little Ga’lleada.”

Now two days have passed, and she never heard from Mi’gaera again.

Mi’gaera ended up being captured by the enemy. As soon as Ni’mula heard the news from their messenger, she decided to escape without her daughter before the enemies could find them.

She gave one stone to Hi’laria, and after seeing her vanish, she let the baby Ga’lleada nibble on one while she let her little hand hold on to the other stone, the one meant for Mi’gaera. Her eyes welled with tears as she saw Ga’lleada babbling still, while dissipating in her arms. She quickly swallowed her stone and panted as the stone slowly sucked out her soul.

~~~~

Human Realm; Same day, eighteen years ago

Ni’mula gasped as she drew her first breath in that strange world. She was horrified when she realized that she couldn’t see a thing.

“Mamá!” a voice of a man yelled from somewhere near her. “Mama’s still alive!” the man went on. To her surprise, the piece of cloth that was just covering her face was removed. She was glad that she wasn’t blind at all. She was a bit disoriented for a minute, but she returned to her senses quickly as the thought of Hi’laria and Ga’lleada crossed her mind. She ought to find them.

She was currently in an average-built, all-white room. She saw unusual instruments all around that were mostly beeping and blinking. As she sat right up, she saw the speechless and horrified faces of the people around her, mostly in green suits. Their hair, face, and hands were all covered as if they weren’t proud of their appearance.

She saw a brown and skinny man, presumably in his late thirties, seated beside her, bawling his eyes out. “Mamá, I knew you could overcome everything,” said the man in tears. She instantly felt heartbroken for this man, who thought that his loved one had miraculously come back alive.

“I’m sorry, young man, for I do not know you. And I need to find my daughter and granddaughter,” she explained, gently caressing the man’s cheeks moistened with tears. She saw the man’s face wrinkled in confusion upon her statement.

She stood up from the bed and hurriedly scurried her way out of the room, but she glanced back at the man who seemed stunned by her actions. “May you find your ultimate happiness in life, young man,” she uttered before she ran away to find her daughter and granddaughter.

It was a good thing that her power still works in this realm. It was a bit tough to use her telepathy in this rowdy crowd, but it’ll help her find Hi’laria and Ga’lleada. Then, a faint voice of a woman’s thoughts suddenly called out.

‘Mother! Can you hear me! It’s Hi’laria!’

“Mother!” A plump lady in her thirties waved at her. Ni’mula stared at the woman for a moment and hesitated when she saw that she’s with a man. However, when she saw the man cradling a babbling baby in his arms, she instantly knew in her heart that it was Ga’lleada.

“Ni’mula! It’s me, your daughter! I got Ada with me!” the plump woman yelled at her, pointing to the baby held by the man beside her. She walked towards them, and Hi’laria quickly hugged her. “I’m glad I can still recognize you, mother,” Hi’laria sweetly said, squeezing her tightly.

"Are you sure it's her?" Ni'mula asked the plump woman who's now her daughter's host. She pulled herself from her daughter’s tight embrace and walked towards the man holding Ga’lleada. She motioned the man to give her the baby and got nervous for a second when the man didn’t reach out the baby to her. Then, the man smiled, and he carefully handed her Ga’lleada. She stared at the baby for a moment, and the baby stared back at her, cooing as if telling her everything’s going to be fine.

There was no mistake. It was her granddaughter.