29 I’ll Bring Haelan

The Paladins, accompanied with some warriors, rode their stallions like the wind. No one looked back as they cross the woods, rivers and open fields. As they go farther, the night sky became darker as the thick smoke covered the stars. Up a slope and downhill, they finally caught a glimpse of the sacred land of the priests. A land that was known for its enigmatic beauty, now have been devoured by blazing fires and flames. In total shock and tremendous worry, the warriors on stallions galloped down in a race as the smoke thickens. An attack occurred in a place no one ever perceived.

"How evil can someone be to kill dozens of priests?', Stellan thought. As the warriors approach, all they can see is a monastery that have been completely burned down with dead priests all around. 

Vesta and a pair of crusaders appeared from the thick smoke, coughing all the way out to safety from the burning sacred abbey. "This is the third attack in Nether", Vesta coughed as she brush the ashes all over her cape. The heat from the burning monastery kept the warriors from staying too close. 

"Any other survivors?", Stellan asked as he dismount his stallion, followed by the other warriors who decided to roam around the monastery's unhindered wide area.

"No", Vesta replied. "Everyone's dead. But we noticed something similar in all of the attacks.. there's these black ashes on the dead bodies. It's a high form of explosive sorcery", she said.

"And here's another… the eyes of the victims, they are all black as night", another crusader said.

"Their souls are being taken", Alesso said. "I've read in the books before, that souls can be taken to regenerate spiritual energy", he added.

"People with no powers at all do not appease such demand. They will need more souls, unless they get a powerful one", Stellan said as he crouch down, feeling the warm ground with his palm.

"But why priests?", Alesso asked. 

"Come here", Vesta said as he led the Paladins to the entrance of the religious house. "It also appears that they are searching for something", she showed the ground with circular formations made out of sand and a polished rock resting in the middle. "This is a locator from the forbidden book, isn't it?", she asked.

"They are looking for the stone.. and they're letting us know", Stellan said as he squinted his eyes on the sand locator.

"It could be Argus", Alesso said with certainty.

"It could be anyone else", Vesta assumed.

"Haven't seen a soul traveler for years", Alesso replied.

"There's only one way to find out", Vesta raised her brows to the two Paladin.

"Then we should go to Caluso, and make sure that bastard is still frozen up there", Stellan said.

"I can go. I'll bring a few squires along, maybe Jac, Atrius or… Haelan", Alesso declared.

"Suit yourself", Stellan grunted as he stomp on the sand locator on the ground.

HAELAN'S POV

It's a brand new day in Brandenburg and I slept like a log last night in the tower. Stretching my stiff muscles, I would trade anything for a nice soft bed in a room with no men - not worrying of getting caught that I'm a woman. For now, I will endure nights in the most unimaginable places until I get home.

Training with men tends so much energy and strength. They are careless, thoughtless and competitive.. often stupid. And due to their stubborness, I gained a lot of enemies. They hated my guts and my obvious physical femininity, while I despise their awkwardness and idiocy. The intense training yesterday made me lose a lot of power. Now that I have regained my strength, I can finally sense everyone with my boundless magic.

Last evening, I had an interesting conversation with Alesso. He did not only kept me company but also he revealed that the books of soul travelers and the stone is in the palace. Honestly, I wouldn't want to see the ruler of this kingdom. Unfortunately, my path leads me there. Actually, it's surprising how the king have an uncanny perception with my mother about homes and comfort zones. However, that doesn't change the fact that has the blood of those merciless terminators.

I would love to speak more with Alesso but, Stellan came into picture. Snubby as always, that raccoon didn't even said a simple greeting or a wave. I wonder if his palm is better, he clutched his hand tightly when he saw me and Alesso having a chat in the tower.

I saw the Paladins left with a few knights and archers, looking like they are heading out for a savage battle. It seems to me that this kingdom is facing a grave threat, where people are getting hunted.

Then, I woke up early this morning only to find out there's no training. The Paladins might have not yet returned from their last night's journey. Walking back to the warriors' quarters, I saw Umbriel weeping. "Hello Umbriel, what's the matter?", I asked as I approach him.

"Master Haelan! It's bad! Terribly bad. The monastery where I studied burned down and everyone died… not even one survived", he hysterically said with so many tears.

"What?? Was there an accident?", I said as I held his cold trembling hands.

"No Master Haelan! There was an attack! A… murderous attack on innocent people.. My people!! Priests who trained me, who taught me. Good people!", he said with heavy breathing.

"Calm down, Umbriel", we sat on the floor at the side of the wall with our legs stretched. "Who could've done such thing?", I said as I started to heal his painful heart and clear his chaotic mind discretely with a light touch on his arm.

He started to lessen his cries. From terrible wailing, Umbriel calmed down as he sob a little, wiping his tears on the sleeves of his black cassock. "Death is something inevitable, yet, it always brings pain. Cry your heartache today, mourn and then, come back stonger for the people who departed", I said, coming from someone who have lost a loved one who doesn't even know what have happened.

It's unfair how I can heal other people's pain and broken hearts, when my personal share of longing can't go away on their own. I can make the wounds on my skin disappear, yet, no amount of magic could remove the despair in my heart.

Umbriel took out his cross and lowered down his head as he breathe deeply. "You know Master Haelan, our sacred grounds is the chosen place to keep important vessels, artifacts and relics. Most of the time, we worry about our safety for keeping those important things inside our weak walls protected by the weakest people in Nether", he started to relay.

"What kind of things are in there?", I asked.

"For years.. it is our monastery that kept all the antiquities and vestige of the soul travelers after they were annihilated", he said. "One of the high priests was afraid that one day, soul travelers will come back and take what they own from our monastery. And I'm afraid, that the day he feared has come", he said as he grazed the beads of his cross.

At some point, I wondered if what I have in mind is certain. Hearing all stories here matches what my parents have experienced. Also, he knew for a fact that some soul travelers survived, and most of all, a dark healer have possibly returned with a vengeance. "Is… there a place here.. called Caluso?", I asked to confirm if my intuition is right.