Chapter 24 - Tribe Maiden

Third Persons POV (4 yrs. and 7 months old)

Met with the darkness on her surroundings, Celine felt fear creep up her skin, her black vision feeling like they’re closing in on her. The need for light surfaces.

"Light Magic: Illuminating orb." She thanks her mentors for the constant reminder of prioritizing one’s own necessity always, in this case, the necessity of sight.

Walking forward to the path this cave, she notices something shining up ahead, running towards the object revealed that the thing shining just now was a crystal.

She knelt down and tried to take one, thank goodness it wasn't really burrowed underneath, taking the crystal in her hand she notices up ahead that there are more crystals.

With her magic she made the ball of light twice the size of her palm, greatly illuminating a much bigger portion of the cave, the ceiling and the walls to the side became clearer to her.

She stared in awe at the sudden influx of crystals before her, rising from the side of the walls to the ceiling of the cave, far up ahead had more crystals decorating the path. A giddy smile plastered itself on her face.

She walked up and found that the path doesn’t stop there, a slope going up was to be trek, she suspects she’ll have to go up to reach something, she doesn’t know yet but there’s something.

"*GASP* I can see a way out!" runs frantically towards the hole she saw. ‘Oh no wait, it's not a way out, it's still another part of the cave, with bigger crystals on its surroundings.’ hoists herself up, it has a flat surface, that much she’s certain, and with the light orb, she checked thoroughly the surroundings.

Crystals big and small adorned this bigger part of the cave, roots of a tree can be found trailing on the walls left of her direction, other than that the surroundings are clear.

Except for claw marks.

CLAW MARKS?!

*Clank*(small rock fell)

Turning abruptly where the sound came from, a trail of dust coming from... above? A flash of light from the orb at the top revealed a figure, her eyes opened wide.

*ROAR!!!* *POUNCE*

A panther the color of Black presented itself in front of Celine, with the same size as Coralia, black pupils with white iris, looked as if Celine’s staring at the night sky with only one star visible.

If not for the light she conjured she would not be able to see such a creature in this setting, the panther licked its long… sharp claws, the light reflecting from it glinted menacingly on the poor girl.

‘Mama! Papa!’ in that split second, she recalls the memories of her parents teaching her to be strong.

'You have to face your fears Celine, because there will be times that we won't be able to help you.' She remembers, this might be her moment to make a stand. As a human born into their tribe, a passage rite must be taken.

The importance were of unknown reason, but it was simple, the tribe individually must find themselves challenged in a one on one against the rest of the tribe, or facing against a ferocious beast.

Celine stood up drawing her bow she shot one arrow towards the panther, but it dodged it pretty easily.

It leaped to the right and without a moment’s hesitation, it charged towards the girl in an unbelievable speed slashing its claws at her side, drawing blood.

"AAAAH!" Celine clutched the bleeding wound with her right hand trying to stop the bleeding, with minor healing magic she was able to stop the blood from flowing. The light orb still illuminating the surroundings.

The panther got ready for another slash attack, and pounced at her, but this time she managed to dodge it from tearing her shoulders and with a quick draw of the bow she chanted...

"Enchanted Arrows: Duplicate Light" An arrow made of light formed with a draw of the string and release, it quickly turned into two, homing in on the panther that stopped on its tracks, the panther jumped to the left avoiding the two arrows of light that went and stuck itself to the wall.

Celine stared in disbelief at the sheer speed of the creature, even though light magic or any form of light enchantment magic were of equivalent speed as its element, at that moment of pause, the panther swiped at her left body ruthlessly, drawing more blood.

"Ah!" she screamed, 'Healing Magic: Heal', the panther leaped unto the side of the wall, climbing up unto a platform, she followed the panther’s figure on the platform, this might as well be a chance for her.

"Multiply and slow my enemies pursuit. Enchanted Arrows: Multiple Slowing Seekers!" she released one arrow multiplying five times gaining the color orange, homing in on the black panther.

The panther casually dodged arrows by running along the platform, from the first, second, third, fourth and fifth arrow, creating smoke as the arrow landed, the panther changed direction and pounced once again at the girl.

With the initial time it took for it to reach Celine, she quickly drew the bow creating an arrow of light "Enchanted Arrow: Duplicate Light!" Releasing the arrow, a ray of light burst forth as the speed of the arrow duplicated, she thought the arrow had hit the panther, but was quickly disappointed when she heard a thud from up above.

Looking up she saw that the light arrow had stuck itself at the ceiling, black smoke risen from the ground and gathered behind her a few feet away, and without notice the panther burst forth roaring from the clump of smoke making Celine scream as it lunged towards her,

She closed her eyes and covered herself with her arms and waited for her death... A tear rolled down her cheek.

Waiting for something to happen, like immense pain or dulling senses, but there was none, then and there she realized that she still wasn't dead, slowly opening her eyes and looked for the panther,

But it was just right in front of her, sitting on its hind legs, waiting, she sniffled and wiped the tears and snot that was falling from on face, she bowed her head.

"Are you done little one?" looking up at the panther, then at her surroundings looking for the person who spoke just now...

"I'm right here." said again by the voice, she looked directly at the panther.

"Y-you can talk?" she asked.

"Of course little one, I know this may sound confusing, but forgive me for trying to kill you just now." the thought sent a shiver down her spine, no one wants to die.

"Why should I forgive you for trying to kill me?" she said trying to sound calm but her body is still trembling from the fear.

"I might have gone overboard on pouncing and slashing at you." she cried harder.

"WAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" several thoughts pounded her head, the grip on her bow loosening as she let it fall down her feet.

The Black Panther turns into a human, wearing a black outfit, that looked like a dress, complete with cat ears, eyes, and tail.

(A.N.: I'm referring to those traditional outfits of Asian countries, but more on the Korean and Chinese side, where the outfit doesn't make you look like you are wearing a kimono but look like one, I think you guys can look at the traditional outfit of the Koreans and Chinese for men)

Due to Celine not stopping from crying the Black Panther resorted to making her sleep using magic, and once she fell asleep, he carried her small frail body and teleported to the center of the Northern Village where all the magical beasts that has their own consciousness like Trunk, and Coralia lives.

The healer beasts, those having the affinity to water and nature, tended to Celine's wounds as she's sleeping. While Ulysses -the name of the Black Panther- was quietly observing, Trunk and Coralia appeared behind him in their human form wearing their combat suit, he turned around and greeted the two.

"How are the two of you doing?" -Ulysses-

"We're doing fine, anyway, we saw your battle with the young girl, I think you shouldn't have gone overboard on fighting the girl." said Coralia with contempt and warning.

"Yeah, you should've seen her father, Vin, he was furious, it took the two of us, and their companions from stopping him from going on a rampage." added Trunk, who has a teasing smile on his face.

"Wait, the parent of this kid is here?" -Ulysses-

"Yes, they're at the waiting area now." replied Coralia.

"Okay, I could be in deep trouble, anyway, how is her father feeling now?" asked Ulysses.

"Yes you're in deep trouble, you should report to the Klein soon, as for the father of the child, he was calmed down by his partner and they are in a separate room inside the waiting area, doing who knows what,

although the mother of child was furiously crying as you brutally attacked her daughter, but thanks to her understanding, she was able to calm down herself and her husband from spiraling out of control, you can say that you owe her one." explained Trunk. Ulysses couldn't help but slap his forehead and shake his head on disappointment for what he has done.

While he was blaming himself for the mistake he had made, Celine was stirring awake.

"W-Where am I?" looking around her, a room made out of wood, a table by the bed, and things that could only be medical tools, surprisingly, the room felt a lot like a tent back at her home.

Bed made out of wood with twigs of wilted grass as cushion wrapped in animal skin, and another as a blanket.

"I see that you're awake now little one." Celine stared at the person that entered, looking at the clothes, her eyes widened in understanding, this was the Panther she battled from before.

Two more humans, or not, one clad in white garments, and the other in black, antlers resting atop their foreheads.

"Are you okay now Celine?" inquired by the white beauty who sat at the chair she dragged beside the bed.

"Who are you?" the girl asked in confusion, not that she wanted to sound rude.

"Why it's me, Coralia, dear." A gasp escaped the little girl.

"Coralia!" Celine tackled her to a hug. "You look so pretty!" commented the girl staring brightly at the lady before her.

"Is she the only one you're going to give a hug? What about me?" Celine looked at the person beside Celine and upon close inspection, she felt utterly horrified with what she saw.

"WAAAAHHH! Coralia! A demon! Help!" She clutched at her clothing and hid her head at the crook of her neck.

"Oh don't worry dear, that's just my brother Trunk." She said. Celine looked up at her and then back at the person behind her, then back at her

"But he looks so terrifying!" she exclaimed.

"What?! Why You!-"

"Now now Trunk, pardon this child for her short comings, she wasn't able to meet you back then since you were hiding on my shadow, come to think of it, the other two weren't able to meet you." said Coralia.

"Excuse me Coralia, by the other two, do you mean, Wilbert and Ken?" Celine asked still in her arms. She carried Celine to her chest and said...

"Yes dear one."

"Do you know where they are?" inquired the girl.

"Of course, let's go to them right now."

"Okay." Coralia repositioned the girl in her arms and then turned around...

"Ulysses you're coming with us too, the Leaders are holding a meeting at the town square." said Coralia. Celine stared, questions brimming on her face.

"Town? What town Coralia?" she asked, seeing as she still doesn't know what is a town.

"It's where houses and people are gathered to form a civilization." She explained

"What's a civilization?"

"You'll know in time my dear, right, shall we go?" -

"Okay." said both people in black.

As Coralia carried Celine out of the room, the girl stared astonished and amazed at the view before here, there are tall trees, each built with houses, and the lights, they're so beautiful from here. *Eyes sparkling*

Of which were made out of fire magic crystals, exuding an orange hue at this slightly dark side of the forest.

"Do you like what you see?" Coralia asked.

"Yes very much." Celine replied gleefully, with a wide smile.

"Okay hold on, we're going to go down from this tree."

"Okay." Coralia Jumps followed by the other two.

"KYAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Celine screamed at the sudden falling sensation

*thud* *thud, thud*

"uuuuuuueueueuehhhhhh....." her view dazing off and around, recovering minutes later.

After a few minutes of walking, the four of them arrive at the town square with relatively large trees and a house made out of wood could be seen at the center with a tree on each side.

There's a big green orb floating and glowing at the center of the town, a circle on the ground where the big green orb is floating.

"Coralia, what are those people and Magical beasts doing?" Celine asked noticing the many people using their magic on the big green orb.

"They're our healers, something must have happened, I have to go check it, but first, I must bring you to where Wilbert is." She said. Coralia walked right, approaching someone, she stopped in front of a person wearing battle armor with curly hair and has bunny ears?

"Lana, Hi, glad to see you're already here, is Wilbert with you?" She asked.

"Coralia, greetings to you too, yes Wilbert is just right beside me." the girl leaned forward and saw that yes, Wilbert really is beside her, carrying lots of bunnies. Coralia gently put the girl down, and she all but ran to Wilbert and tackled him with a big hug, while the grown-ups are talking, are they whispering? That doesn't matter now, as long as Wilbert's here.

"Celine, I'm so glad you're okay! I was so worried you wouldn't come back, making me hug these bunnies tightly." he said.

"It's okay, I'm here now, with you, anyway, where's Ken?" just as she had asked the question, a great force or shock wave suddenly came out of nowhere...

*GASP!!!!*

Many Magical beasts were panicking. Celine looked behind her, and saw that silver light is shining from the sky, it's shining on something floating......

‘Ken?! What's going on?! His hair is turning silver! Why is he at the center of the town?!’ but just before she could ask questions, Ken floated down to the ground and opened his eyes, and immediately, Magical Beasts in their human and beast form swarmed him.

-Earlier before Celine’s Battle finished-

“The other two are almost done familiarizing themselves with the masters of the caves, but your son Alfred is still in combat with master Klein.” said Coralia as everyone watched at the three magic circles showing the three children.

“Yeah, that’s to be expected when they’re so caught up in fighting.” replied Alfred, as he watched with worried eyes at his son darting everywhere.

“ICE MAGIC: FROST SHOT!!!”

“What the!-“ -Alfred-

*CRASH!!!*

The magic circle peering unto the three’s whereabouts broke similar to the sound of glass. Alfred stared dumbfounded at what happened, then it suddenly dawned on him, as a feeling of dread washed over him, he turned to his wife and surely both had the same expression.

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