16 Into the Southern Peaks

Ayhan led Thea and Riz to a thick forest at the southern boundary of Northern Peaks. At the very heart of it was a towering ancient tree. It had a plentiful and sparkling tiny white leaves. Thick and long stems dangled from the moss-covered branches. Its broad and dark brown body was nearly enveloped in thick moss.

"Judging by your looks, it seems that you can also see this enormous tree," Ayhan had a proud smile while staring at the magnificent tree.

"We've been roaming this cursed forest from time to time, but I've seen this tree only now," Riz was mesmerized at the beauty of the tree.

"Is this our way inside the Southern Peaks?" Thea was astounded at the majestic tree in front of her. She could feel a powerful and mysterious energy radiating from it.

"Yes," Ayhan knelt in front of the tree and bowed to it. "Kayah, please grant us a passageway towards Asuren. He needs our help."

Thea and Riz did the same and within a few heartbeats, a tiny opening had formed at the enormous trunk of the tree.

"Thank you, Kayah," the three of them had gratefully chorused.

"We should leave Monsoon and Droplet here. Call them when needed," Ayhan suggested. "But I hope we can get Asuren without anyone noticing. Their house had the greatest warriors. We cannot afford to get caught."

"Cloudia alone is already a tough fairy to fight," Thea agreed. "Monsoon..."

"We will stay here," Monsoon finished for her.

"Be careful," Droplet seriously warned.

"We will be back here before you know it," Riz said despite her nervousness. It was her first time entering the Southern Peaks.

"Let's go," Ayhan squeezed through the opening, followed by Riz, then Thea.

They were passing through a dark tunnel that was big enough for them to walk sideways. Their back was against a wall of intertwined stems. Their feet walked over a gigantic root.

It was a long and silent trip. Thea lost count of time. It must have taken them hours before they saw a blinding light. Thea had to close her eyes while passing through the tiny hole.

When she opened her eyes, Thea found herself inside a dimly lit room. Riz and Ayhan were nowhere to be seen.

What happened to them? Whose room is this?

Her heart pounded with anxiety when the possibility of that room being owned by Cloudia Nightgloom was high.

Please, do not let this be her room. Please…

She looked around the chamber and noticed that it was not big and grand enough to be owned by the Nightgloom Summit Leader.

Thea was standing in a corner, well hidden by the shadows on the wall. There were no lamps and furniture in that room aside from a king-sized bed. The only source of light was a tiny window near the ceiling. But it was enough for Thea to notice that the bed was occupied. It was someone sleeping in a fetal position and was covered by a thick blanket.

Is that Asuren?

Heart pounding with anticipation, Thea walked as silently as she could towards the bed.

"What are you doing here?�� a familiar gust of wind had blown gently beside her.

It was Ugong.

Thea breathed with relief. It could only mean the one sleeping on the bed was Asuren. Kayah did bring her to him.

But what happened to Riz and Ayhan?

"I am with Riz and Ayhan. But I do not know what happened to them. I could not find them anywhere after I walked out of Kayah."

"Kayah brought you here?"

"Let us talk later. We need to get Asuren out of this place."

"You should leave," Ugong firmly wrapped around her hand. "Call Kayah and return to your realm."

"Ugong, we need to save Asuren."

"You cannot save him. You will only get yourself killed. Please leave, Thea."

Ugong was yanking her away from the bed but Thea resisted.

"If you keep on doing this, I will be killed," she grabbed the blanket. "Let's save Asuren before somebody notices my presence."

"If Asuren wakes up, she will notice your presence," Ugong pulled her with a stronger force that she dragged the blanket away with her. She lost her balance and tumbled over Ugong. Falling over a wind made her drop soundless and painless.

"Thea?"

Losing his blanket, Asuren had been awakened. He slowly sat up. The moonlight seeping through the window was illuminating his body. He seemed fine except for the choke mark on his neck. His eyes were half-closed as if he were only half awake.

Thea quickly got to her feet and grabbed Asuren by his hand.

"Let's get out of here," she pulled him out of the bed. "Kayah!"

A bigger opening manifested in the corner of the room where Thea found herself earlier.

"Thank you, Kayah," Thea dragged Asuren through the opening.

They ran through a dark tunnel. It was wider than the one Thea had passed by earlier. There was no need to walk sideways. It also seemed shorter because Thea had only taken a few strides before they saw the other end of the tunnel.

They passed through the blinding light and when it faded, Thea found herself in a strange place.

It was like entering a sacred cavern. Thea could feel an ancient and mysterious spirit drifting around that remarkable place. It felt like the same energy she sensed radiating from Kayah. They must have been inside her.

In the middle of that cavern was a glowing pond surrounded with stones of different shapes and sizes. Some of the stones were covered with mosses just like the larger and somewhat rectangular boulder that formed a low cliff at the right side of the pond.

The walls were covered with faintly glowing intertwined stems. Crystal green leaves and fragrant white flowers were abundantly sprouting from each stalk, adding more glow to the wall. The ground was buried in grasses that were a few inches tall. On the roof dangled countless of long stems where plenty of glowing white leaves and sky-blue flowers were sprouting. Those stems were lightly swaying with the gentle gust of refreshing wind.

Thea could not see any holes or opening to the walls, or the roof, or even the ground, yet the gentle wind was blowing from all over that place. It was the same with the light. There were no openings for the sunlight to seep in, but the place was still well-lighted. It must be the glowing leaves, flowers, and water in the pond that was giving a mysterious radiance all over the cavern.

Thea was mesmerized at the beauty of the place that she had nearly forgotten about fleeing from the Southern Peaks.

"Asuren, do you know…" she quickly let go of his hand when a wind blade was slashed at her.

"I told you, Thea. You should not have saved him," Ugong covered Asuren and their ability merges at the wind blade Asuren was holding.

His eyes were a lot like Miyara when she had gone out of control. It was filled with hate, but it was still his green eyes.

Thea believed that for as long as she could see those green eyes, Asuren can be saved.

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