Chapter 16: Port City Ak'hilheim (2)

It was already dusk when Faram finally said "That's it for today" and he walks out without saying anything if I did good or what.

I looked around the twilight skies and realized snow is once again raining down gently.

"Wow, you're soaked." Aide chuckled as she stood to assist me off the waters.

"Do you have any extra cloth or something I can use to dry myself with?" I asked. Aide chortles. "You're a null user yet you ask for an object just to dry yourself? Kinda weird."

"I'm not that skilled yet." I sighed. I didn't even know I can dry myself with Null.

"It's just water, Aerra. It only got you soaked. You already faced a dæmon that was trying to directly kill you before yet you lived through it. So what's wrong?"

We were walking towards where a bonfire was already lit. Scias and Emis is already there. Faram on the other hand is no where in sight.

Don't tell me he went brooding somewhere else... 💧

"It's not as easy as you think!" I murmured, side glancing Aide.

"All I can see is that Faram was asking you not to get wet." Aide shrugged. "It's not as if you can suddenly make the entire waterfall stop from flowing. That's ridiculous. Unless you're a high tier water magus that wouldn't be far impossible. Anyway, let's eat dinner. Emis got fruits along with meat for tonight! Oh and by the way we will leave at midnight. Scias incidentally scouted farther awhile ago and realized we're not far from Ak'hilheim. If we leave early we might able to reach the place before dawn, we can try out your idea by then."

I stopped dead on my tracks.

"What..." I looked at my soaked sleeves. "What did you said?"

"Uhh— which part do you want me to repeat?" Aide halted too and studied me with one brow arched.

'Know what you want and what you don't.' That's what Faram told me. 'Understand it's very nature'

Water can naturally get you wet.

And—

"He was... simply asking me to avoid getting wet." I looked up and finally understood what I had to do.

I bolted towards the open springs

and dove right in.

"Hey!!! What are you—!"

I hit the waters even before I could hear Aide finish her sentence. The sudden slap of cold waters awakened my senses but as I submerged further and deeper, I unexpectedly felt the tepid waters comforting.

All I can hear now are the thick sound of noises against my ears. The low bubbling sound of air bubbles, as I controlled my breathing, reverberated. All my motions were slow, it's hard enough to try to stay upright, it also felt restrictive and confining.

I closed my eyes and I suddenly remembered my dream about the sealed chambers underneath the Lake. It's about the girl they drowned, bound by thick chains while she squirmed at the bottom of that hole, forsaken and left to die. As much as water began to fill her lungs, air finally exhausted away; so much despair and hate filled her heart.

And I began to recall those feelings as I let go of the last breath I had.

The fear of being left forsaken was more choking than this.

It felt confining now and restricting.

I can't control anything at all.

So I opened my eyes and tried to swim up. Why did I even bother to dive in the first place?

I studied the surface from underneath while swimming towards it. The distorted images outside this waters is seen. It was vague yet strangely caming to look at.

I remembered my brother.

He was crying so much back then...

I stopped midway.

I left him for a reason.

Am I being half assed about this again?

Think, Aerra. Think!

Remember what you came here for!

Right now... I dove in not just to try what Faram wants me to do, I dove because I want to learn how to control my magic.

That's one of the reasons why I followed this group of mercenaries. I can't be half assed. Not now. Not never.

I studied my hands,

'Not to get wet?'

'Defy the water?'

I closed my eyes shut and simply let myself strangely sink farther, unmoving.

I can't control the water directly because only a Light elemental user of the water can do that, I thought to myself.

As I opened both my palms and sensed the entire element that enveloped my body.

But similar to the dark element, water can be invasive. It can leech into my nose and to my lungs and I'd drown.

What I want....

What I really want—

...is to not defy the water.

I just don't want it to touch me at all.

Let it flow around my limbs.

Let it ran to the direction it wants.

But never anywhere near my skin.

I want it...

—gone.

••▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅••

I flipped my eyes open...

And realized the entire springs was curved, suspended still, and away from me.

I looked up and saw Aide, Scias and Emis gawking at me in utter amazement.

I can't help but chuckle at myself as I look at the waters around me, fully bent radially away from where my feet touched the bottom of the springs, like a whirling force trying to move away as I stood in the middle.

I looked at my sleeves and realized I was dry.

My hair is also dry.

My clothes, my shoes, my skin... it's all dry.

I... did it!

Shame, Master Faram is not here to see this.

I jumped up and joined the others.

The springs went back to fill the land's natural concavity underneath it, as if nothing happened.

"Thanks for the tip!" I grinned at Aide.

"No idea knowing Ak'hilheim is nearby would boost your resolve like that!" she laughs.

"Huh? We're almost there at Ak'hilheim Kingdom?!?" I gasped, wait. Oh yeah, I think she did mentioned something like that. I was just too preoccupied about the waters.

The great port city of the South, Ak'hilheim Kingdom... That's Ifrit and Maru's kingdom!

Well... not as if I'll go there to visit them.

"You're one odd kitten" Aide shook her head in defeat and pat my head.

"That's cool! What ya' did back there! I wish I was a Null magus too! Maybe if you're about to die someday, you'll let me do the final blow so I can have your face and maybe..." Scias grins, stooping to meet my eye level. I watch him reach his hand towards my face, "...just maybe, you can even let me copy your abilities too, yes?" He was grinning in a eerie way.

"Or how about you die now instead before Faram hears you and asks us to clean whatever is left of your existence?" Aide retorted, grabbing his wrist even before it could touch me. "If Faram hears what you just said to his only apprentice, you'll get in a lot of trouble, y'fool!"

Scias stood back up, straight. "I was just kiddin'!" He says in a shrug, yanking his hand free from her grasp.

"Such a fast learner. Faram must've knew that too. You better back off, Scias!" Emis cuts in but she started to walk back to the bonfire, nonchalantly. "Don't even dare touch her, unless y'really have a death wish."

"Not even as a joke." Aide added,

Scias chuckled and rolled his eyes, "Yeah-yah, I got it already!!! So noisy. Sheesh!" he muttered, corking a finger in his ear for a moment.

I looked at my hand.

I can still summon the black veins out but it doesn't seem to be the Null. I wonder what this is?

"Scias, do you know what this is?" I showed him. He studied it for a moment and shrugged.

"Hmmmm... Manifestation of t'dark element in general? I'm not sure. It doesn't seem to be specific to any type." he says, crunching his face while in deep thoughts.

"Oh... okay." I sighed in dismay. "So much for being a fast learner. I can't even figure out what I can do and what I can't, aside from the Null. It also took me too long to figure this water defying trick..." I explained. "And it's already evening."

"Hours." Aide corrected. "It only took ya' hours. Anyone trying to learn a new magic trick takes days to months, even years! You should give yourself a credit a little more, kid!" Aide says in a cordial smile.

"Well then... Thank you very much!" I manage to smile back. "I guess..."

Aide just crossed her arms together and nodded once at me. "C'mon, let's eat dinner!" Aide ushers me to come along as we began to walk back. Scias followed a little from behind with arms bent cross behind his head. "You should lay off t'formalities. We don't really speak the noble tongue here." he says.

"Noble tongue? What do you mean?"

"Instead of saying s'mthing too politely, just go straight with shorter words. Like, say 'thanks!' instead of thank you very much! Or say 'nevermind' instead of 'forget what I said,' Y'know, just be natural!" Scias stated in a shrug.

"Alright. I'll try to remember that" I nodded. I suppose I had been talking too politely? I'm not sure what he exactly wants me to change though. At least, for me I feel like I'm talking naturally.

"Just a question! How do ya' curse?" Scias added as we finally reach the camp. Aide sat with crossed legs in one corner. I sat down as well and Scias sat just a next to me.

"You mean like an obscene language?" I asked, watching him.

"Err... yep! Like when you see s'mthing irritating or shocking, how do ya' verbally react? For example, you were holding a scissors and accidentally cut all your fingers off!"

... 💧

all... fingers... by accident?

How is that even possible...?

"I'm thinking saying something that starts with an F and ends with K. But I don't feel confident saying it aloud now." I answered. I can say 'fuck' inside my thoughts but not to somebody else right now. Not deliberately, at least.

"Ehh??? But you better say it loud and proud!" Scias scratched a ghost itch on his cheek. "If ya' want, I'll help ya' get used to it! Let's begin with milder words like, 'dumbass'! Say it with me!"

Something flew across Scias's head and hit him.

"Exactly what the hell do you think you're trying to teach the kid, you dumbass?!" Aide roared. Oh, now that's a good example! I thought.

Ah. She's already standing behind us.

"Well she gotta try talking like us if she wants to blend in with us!" Scias defended, rubbing the sore spot on his head. "Anybody who's got an ear can tell right away she grew up in a noble background with the way she talks! Even if we color her hair and hide her eyes, it'll still give it away!"

"He has a point" Emis says, concentrating on cooking the dinner. "I'm not saying you need to curse everybody whenever you talk. But you need to be informal a little bit more."

I nodded, "Alright.... I mean—! Sure!!!"

"That's better!" Scias says cheerfully. "Now say few more words of endearment to add in the flavor! Like 'dumbass' or 'piece of shi—!" Another hit flew across Scias's head.

"She just needs to talk like any commoner could. She doesn't have to sound so rude like you!" Aide argued.

"STOP HITTING ME, YOU TOMBOY!!!"

"WELL, I WOULD IF YOU STOP TAINTING THE KID WITH YOUR ROTTEN MOUTH!?!"

"Want to stop this mouth?" Scias chuckled in a smirk. "There's only one way... and I bet you couldn't do it!" he says suggestively, running the length of his lips with his tongue.

"Either I cut your tongue off or I'll permanently sew your lips together." Aide murmured glaring at him indifferently. "Which one do you prefer? I'll gladly do it now for ya'!"

Amused from watching them, I caught a laugh from my throat just before it bursted out.

They looked at me.

"Ah! Sorry. I just find it interesting— how lively you guys are," I said in a smile, "You two must be really close!"

Aide and Scias's face flushed instantly.

"Well, not really...!" Aide marched back to her spot and sat down with crossed legs. "Ahem! Anyway! Is the dinner done yet?"

"I don't like tomboys like her!" Scias defended, "Too violent! And she doesn't even look like a woman anymore! I mean look at her flat che—!"

Something flew and scored a bullseye at Scias's face. "Who asked you anyway, bastard?!"

"Hey!!! That's my rucksack! I just organized all my stuff awhile ago!" Emis cuts in and stood up.

"No worries, I'll fix it all myself later!"

" Oohh *sniffs* The dinner is looking good! Let's eat!!!" Scias sat up as if a spring is tied to him and his eyes was laser focused at the savory looking meat before us.

"Oh. You're right! It's done." Emis says as she began to walk away. "I'll just go look for Faram"

I looked back to where the calm springs is and watch against the darkening skies how the snow rains down, swirling around it peacefully, like dancing in an unplayed melody

—just like how it did at the courtyards back in castle Greenrun.

Soon the entire forest will be covered in a blanket of frost.

And it will be the first winter I will spend away from home.

••▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅••

As expected, we arrived at Ak'hilheim at the brink of dawn

As expected, we arrived at Ak'hilheim at the brink of dawn.

The entire walls of the Kingdom was loaded with royal guards.

"So they were expecting us, huh?"

We hid by the margins of the forest from a distance, watching idly how the entire perimeter of walls were crowded with security.

"Look! They have one of those flying objects with them!" Scias pointed.

Indeed, just at the closed gates where several royal guards are stationed, is an unmoving but hovering machine, similar to what we saw yesterday.

"Even Ak'hilheim agreed to work with Osteell just to look for ya'!" Aide says in a mild laugh. "It feels like we became national criminals just by taking you with us!"

"We can easily sneak in but...." Emis sweeps a glance at me and didn't finish her sentence.

"Go through the gates as planned" says Faram and they all nodded their heads briefly without any questions asked. Wow, he really is the authority.

"Hold on, let me help you." Aide began to do a crown braid on my hair. "Wear your hood all the time and just avoid eye contacts. We'll handle the rest."

After that, I watch Aide undo her tail braids behind her while Emis just tucks her ears and tails snuggly inside her cloak. Scias on the other hand transforms into an image of an old and wide woman with one stud earrings of jade on her right lobe.

So... he killed an old woman before?

I looked away.

It must be the same reason why he killed Leon and Mr. Roderick.... It's better to assume it like that than to ponder about it unnecessarily

—for now.

"Go on ahead. I'll watch over." Faram stated and with that he vanished to the shadows of the trees.

"C'mon. Let's go!" Scias says in her old woman voice.

"You ready?" Aide steps forward with her hair flowing freely while her body is covered neatly in cloak.

Wow, she really is... a woman.

A beautiful one.

It's making me question my own orientation.

On Scias's signal, we all began to walk towards the open road until we soon reached the gates.

Instantly, one of the royal guards blocked our path.

"Travelers?" he asks simply.

"Yes, we are, sir. Is the city gates closed for entry?" Scias answered. His voice is flawlessly that of an old woman. He really is good with his shapeshifting ability.

"No, we just need to make sure about something..." the royal guard's eyes began to scan us one by one.

"Well, go ahead. But we hope you can let us pass soon so we can all finally get some rest. We've been walkin' for quite awhile now. This 70 year old woman's legs aren't as strong anymore." Scias stated in a warm smile.

"How are you all related?" his eyes go narrow.

"They're my daughters"

"Ah-huh?" His lips stretched in a hard line. We all kept our eyes down. Almost closing them as he studied us for a moment. "They don't look alike at all."

"Well, they're not identical triplets, as you can see" Scias countered.

"That's not what I mean. They don't have any resemblance from each other for 'siblings'!" the guard's brow crunched tight. "Not even from you!"

Scias paused for a second before replying, "Well, their fathers are not exactly the same"

The guard looked surprised and focused his attention at Scias.

I can see Aide slapping her hands across her face.

"Err..." the guard's attention focused on Scias, while looking so conflicted. "If you don't mind me asking, ma'am, exactly how old are your daughters?"

"My eldest is 23." Scias points at Aide who nodded subtly. "My second daughter is 18 and my youngest is... uhh— 12."

I began to do a mental math in my head.

"Their ages are... for a woman of your age is..." the guard throws both his hand on his waist.

I can see Scias sweating crazy. "Sorry, I don't understand your question, young man. Is there any problem having children at my age?"

💧"It's not that, ma'am.... Look, we are on the look out for any pureblooded Arcanian child. Have you seen one from your travels?"

Scias shook his head, "No. I'm sure I would remembered one if I did. Purebloods are very distinctive and rare, after all!"

"Well, it would help if you inform any royal guard if ever you do. She has snow white hair and crystalline blue eyes..."

Suddenly the guard's eyes veered to my direction and incidentally, our gazes met. "Just like the eyes of your daughter here." He steps closer to me.

"Well her father's eyes are blue as well." Scias replied,

"In fact, if I recall it right, she'd be around her age as well..." The guard went on, staring intently at me as I hanged my head low while tagging at my hood. "...a twelve years old."

"Well, she was born soon after I met her father, it was just few years ago too!"

The lie is falling apart.

The guard threw a look at Scias, confused.

He then faced me and spoke, "Pardon me for asking but... may I ask you to please take your hood off?"

Aide steps in between us and took her own hood off. "Look, Sir. I understand you're just doing your job! But we traveled far and my mother is old— she needs to rest!!! So if ya' just really want to pry about our own family's affair, why don't ya' just give me a pen and a paper and I'll gladly write all of our own autobiographies for ya'!"

I peaked up slowly and realized the guard was staring at Aide with cheeks flushing. Jaws dropped.

He seems to be smitten with her.

"M-my apologies, ma'am! I'm just doing my duty." He says as he gestured at the guard that stood idly by the gates. In return, that guard gestures at the one on top of the wall just above him.

The gate slowly began to creak open.

"Let's go, mother." Aide wraps her hand around Scias's and assisted him in. Me and Emis followed behind them as we all walked forward.