Chapter 20

Her eyes stared at Miran's back until he was out of her sight. Reyna's breath was still short due to the fight and her head felt heavy. The ground seemed closer than it had been a few hours before and the smell of burnt grass wasn't helping.

"We are going back."

Reyna had forgotten Serena in her confusion. She turned to see the other woman staring in the direction of the house also lost in thought.

"Where are you going?"

Serena remained in the same state as if she hadn't heard Reyna's question.

"The Isle. It seems the Matriarch's patience has worn thin."

Before Reyna could ask what exactly she was going on about, Serena turned to her in a strange dazed way. Reyna knew that if she tried hard enough, she would be able to see the past vividly in Serena's eyes.

"The Matriarch loves Miran dearly. She would happily give him her position if he asked for it. After his mother's disappearance, the Matriarch's doesn't trust Miran not to do the same. She hardly eats or sleeps when he is in the mortal realm and most of the time she finds excuses to bring him back as soon as possible."

Serena's icy eyes started shining as tears welled up in them. She held on to Reyna's arm tightly probably hoping not to show weakness at such a time. Reyna could not understand how a person was able to gain such loyalty to the point that their emotions affected those around them. Serena was a soft hearted person, she believed in something so pure that Reyna knew it would one day be her weakness.

"Because of her belief that Miran should be strong and brave in order to be the next Leader, the Matriarch never argues with him directly. You know," she paused as the words strained to come out of her mouth.

"She doesn't ever let herself appear weak and her pride is the only thing she knows. The Matriarch never tells Miran not to go but I always see how her arm remains raised every time. Hoping maybe to hold on to him by just her will but he never turns back. He never sees the tears in my lady's eyes with each step he takes away from her."

Serena stared straight at Reyna with the fog of the past lifted from her eyes.

"My lady must have found a reason to call him back, she always does. Help me get him back to her but please I beg of you do not let him know of what I have told you."

The words echoed in Reyna's mind even after she parted ways with Serena. She had no opinion of the Matriarch as the woman hadn't looked at her twice while she was in the house. Her only interest had been Miran. The Matriarch had summoned him to the study, they were in there for a while before Miran came out and swept her off to the waterfalls. Reyna couldn't remember seeing her leave and with all that had ensued after she hadn't cared about asking.

Reyna's steps became staggering, her breath laboured. Her vision became blurry and everything was just swimming. She leaned on the wall to her right and let her heavy head fall on it as well.

"I was afraid this would happen."

Reyna felt her left hand being placed on something pleasantly warm. She moved the other hand to were it's partner was and the warmth seeped in into her skin and spread out through her body. The electric tingles were back and she could feel the energy roam all around her.

"Come with me and do not let go of my arm unless you want to fall on your face."

The Light spirit led Reyna down to the basement. Reyna could sense the energy from the spirit as it made it's way into her being. Her body weight was back to normal and her the floor wasn't moving anymore. The room was just as she had left it. The only thing out of place was Miran. He was on the floor staring up, his arms folded behind his head.

He lifted his head just as they entered and only the spirit's strong grip on her arm kept Reyna from attacking him. The white eyes were back, all reason does from her mind and just one thought was left. Demon.

"Calm down Reyna, you need to stop and listen."

"Reyna, what's wrong?"

She knew that voice. Why was it coming out of a demon's mouth? The face of the demon came back to her. Blood dripped from his mouth and drops of it were on his face. Reyna knew that his dark hair was also soaked in the crimson liquid. No, he wasn't Miran. She closed her eyes and willed all the gore to go away, her hands still holding on to the spirit.

"You can open your eyes now child."

An arm was placed on her shoulders and she obeyed. The blood was gone, her eyes searched the white floor but not a single drop of it remained. Miran was still on the floor but the eyes that met with hers were black again, a look of sincere concern in them.

"Your eyes?"

The tight knot in her throat made the words sound strained and her voice hoarse. Reyna was on the floor too, the spirit had lowered herself to hold on to Reyna in case of anything.

"He is close to another burnout and though it shows itself in different ways, losing color is the most common for him. I need you in order to help him, I will explain it all later."

As if she weighed close to nothing, Reyna was carried by the spirit to Miran's side.

"Both of you, hold hands and do not let go. Reyna, I want you to direct your energy to where your hands are and allow it to flow to Miran."

At this Miran showed signs of protest but Reyna held on to him. The spirit knew more than both of them and when it came to Miran she wouldn't do any harm. She let her mind focus on the powers that came from deep within her. In her mind, Reyna saw her Darkness had coiled around a golden strand that glowed brightly at first but dimmed as it left her body. When the strand came to an end Reyna felt Miran sigh.

"That was the last of it. You two need to be careful otherwise you will end up killing each other. Miran, why are the Guardians of Water and Fire not allowed to battle with each other often?"

Miran who had already sat up, was quick to answer.

"Their powers cancel each other out, leading to multiple burnouts on both sides."

" With that in mind, I thought you had enough sense to know that as Light and Darkness your energies cancel each other out. Yet here you are battling without thinking of the consequences."

Reyna's mind picked through the information until she could finally understand what they were talking about. Miran opened his mouth as if to say something but the spirit interrupted him. Even seated on the floor the spirit found a way to look as sophisticated as ever.

"My energy is too pure to just infuse it into your body. Reyna has the Dark spirit in her so she is able to take it without any side effects. Her Darkness feeds on most of the Light so that by the time it gets to you, it is similar to the energy in the Isle. The same would need to be done if Reyna was in your position but as of now she can generate her own though not fast enough."

The Light spirit rose but before she could leave, Miran called out to her.

"Will you be joining us in the Isle?"

"Not as you think. It is not an easy task to bend the energy of the Isle at will. I may not be visible to you once you get there. I know the question you want to ask is if Reyna will be able to make it through the barriers. For that she will need to ask the spirit inside her."

The spirit vanished as if she had never existed. Everything was moving so fast that Reyna had not had time to think since she had left Serena behind. She needed to be alone, to have the space to tear apart all the information and put them in their respective compartments.

Reyna stood up and was headed for the door when something pulled her back. She found her fingers intertwined with Miran's. Afraid of seeing the ghostly eyes again, she avoided looking at his eyes. Instead she found a spot on the floor to stare at. Miran didn't seem as if he was in any hurry to let go of her hand.

"I am sorry for not doing this sooner but I would like to request you to join us tomorrow when we go back."