49 - The Next One

"Anemone," her mother began.

"No, mother!" Anemone cried. "No!" She held her mother's hand tightly. Her mother moved both of them behind a rock. She crouched to Anemone's level.

"I need you to-"

"Nooooo!" she wailed and hugged her mother tightly. "Don't leave me!"

Her mother hugged back tightly. Then, her hands gripped her shoulders, pushing her away. "Listen, Anemone. I'm going to tell you now what to do."

Tears kept falling from her eyes. She took a deep breath and nodded. Her mother hugged her tight again. "Oh, Anemone. You are my treasure. I love you and your brother dearly."

"Why are you saying this to me now?" she sniffled.

Her mother smiled sadly. "It seems the pursuers have defeated your father. You won't be able to defeat them with your skill."

"Mother, you can't fight either!"

Her mother scoffed. "I was known the first rank in magic. It's how I saved the queen. Ahh..." Her mother brushed Anemone's dark red bangs back. "I wish I had told you the stories of my youth."

"You can, mother..."

Her mother smiled softly, lovingly. "Anemone, I need you to find a shrine."

"No, mother!" Anemone cried, horrified.

"It has a statue of a bird about to fly."

"No, no, no, no, NO! Don't tell me to leave you, mother!" She covered her ears and shook her head.

Her mother shook her by the shoulders. "Anemone, listen! This will help us... our families... our country! Once you get to the shrine, there should be a gold ball."

Voice is and footsteps were getting closer. "Mother, please!" she pleaded, her voice low. "I don't want to lose you!"

Her mother had looked at the direction where the voices were coming from. "Anemone, they're coming close. You must open the ball to awaken the bird okay?" Her mother hugged and kissed her fervently. "Please stay alive, my baby!"

Anemone felt something cold slip into her hands. Looking down, she saw it was a short sword but made of steel. She had never held one and it felt cold... heavy... Her mother pushed her through a cracked wall.

"Go forward and don't look back, Anemone! When I finish, I will come look for you, alright? If not, look for the queen. She will take care of you! Be safe, my love!"

With her parting words, the rock closed shut. Anemone assumed her mother had used her magic to close the entrance. She cried as she tried to open the wall but it was futile. Her fists were no help in opening the wall. It was cruel how her parents left her and she was alone.

Wiping her eyes, she casted the light spell. She had to listen to her mother. Everything will be fine. Move forward and find the shrine. Move forward and find the shrine, she repeated. She moved forward, holding the sword close. Moving, she heard the distant boom and ground shaking.

She ran forward. Running until the sounds could no longer be heard. Hot tears almost blinded her. She had to calm down. Calm down so she can focus on the path. Focus Anemone, she chanted. Focus. Her training and adrenaline pushed her at her limits.

Mother...

Father...

Cayden...

She'll see them again...

The sounds of footsteps behind her were heard again.