60 Divine Powers
HAELAN POV
My father is here. For a moment, I forgot who I was and called him father. I wanted to hold him in my arms and relinquish the longing that I have been bearing. I have questions… so many questions that needed concrete answers.
He had eyes, dark as the night. I heard the crusader said that they were healer soul travelers transitioning to mystic healers. If it were so, my father put blood in his hands, and I couldn't imagine whose blood was it.
Certainly, he was reaching for the damask arm cuff on my wrist. I stared at it and grazed the yellow gem in the middle. What could be so special in this tiny trinket? I guess, if there's something that they need in Agalea, it has to be this cufflink. I suddenly wondered why Agalea's fate is tangled with healer soul travelers, and why would they want her dead.
Tonight, I learned the power of moving plants. All along, I thought I can only make flowers bloom and make shrubs grow. But today, I made the vines rise and attack at my own will, something that saved my life greatly. Atrius and Jacomus fought with me well. I have to admit, that if they weren't here, I wouldn't be able to pull it through. Right now, they went after the healer soul travelers who ran out to escape. I'm not sure if I'm worried about them, or my father, Gaius.
Sitting on the chair in the inn's mess hall, I come to my senses as Freya wipe the blood on my right temple. The mess hall was in complete disorder, with all the broken pieces everywhere. Sobbing softly, Freya's eyes turned red from all the crying. Then I held her cheek and smiled, "It's all over now, they will never come back.".
"You can all stay for the rest of the night. I mean, I bet you are all tired", Freya said as she dip the bloodied towel in the basin of clean water.
"Freya's right, you can stay until sunrise", Uncle Tobias said as he stood up. "Since everything's settled down, I'll leave you to it", he told Freya as he yawn. "Well done, Haelan", he added and retreated back to his room.
"Thank you Sir Tobias", I uttered. "You'll be safe now. Besides, we need to go back to Brandenburg. Lord Harlan would be furious if we don't come home", I told Freya. With the damask still on me, surely my father would be coming for me soon.
"Are you sure?", Freya worriedly asked.
"Do you trust me?", I asked back.
"Yes, deeply.", Freya said with a sigh. "Why does it feel like you're saying goodbye?", she asked as she looked at me with her saddest eyes.
"Because I'm leaving? To Brandenburg, remember?", I laughed a little as I stood up. Freya forced a smile as she cling to my arm.
"You're healing slowly, do you think they'd notice?", Freya asked as I feel my wounds and bruises get better gradually. She's more concerned than I am, that Atrius and Jacomus would notice I can self heal.
"They'll know it soon..", I said calmly. "Thanks Freya for everything. This might be the last you'll see me", I said as we walk to the front door of the tavern. If I continue to stay connected with Sir Tobias and Freya, their lives would be constantly at stake.
"I know", Freya replied sadly.
Then, I held both of her pink cheeks and wiped her falling tears with my thumbs. "By the way, it's Helena", I said as I kiss her on the forehead.
"You've gone too manly", Freya said with a soft laugh.
"I learned from the best", I said as I wink at her with a smile. How I wish that I have a friend like her in Aelmere.
Atrius and Jacomus came back after searching the area with the crusaders. Atrius looked beat, while Jacomus looked like he has been through hell and back. No trails were found, no further leads. Jacomus attempted to hold Freya's hands but Atrius placed his arm over Jac's shoulders. "Let's go home", Atrius said as he push Jacomus away.
We bid farewell and we then decided to go back to Brandenburg, a few more hours before sunrise. While walking down the alley, Jacomus never stopped talking about what just happened.
"We were so cool! I can't believe we did that!", Jacomus said who's highly elated. "Hey Squirrel, you didn't tell us that you have divine powers! I thought you're just like the other Paladins, but you're more like them! Now I understand why they are so invested in you. You're the most powerful Paladin ever!", Jacomus said as he walk backwards looking at me in excitement. He then went forward ahead and kept monologuing.
Divine Powers.
I sighed and shook my head. I've contained my powers ever since I was young. Even I, myself, am very surprised each time I discover something new. My father did everything to unleash my powers and let me gain more abilities. While my mother taught me how to control them and use them smartly.
Jacomus suddenly stopped and faced me with his eyes as big as the moon peeking from the clouds. "What if they come back? Miss Freya would be in great danger!", he worriedly said.
"They won't come back.", Haelan said. "They know where to find Agalea now", I said as I keep the damask arm cuff under my sleeve. Jacomus nodded slowly as we started walking.
"Haelan?", Atrius uttered softly, who's more quiet now than usual. He looked at me with a gaze they I've never seen before.
"Yea?", I asked. He fixed his gaze on me who seemed like he's got something to ask seriously.
"Nothing", he said as he curved his lips up and went forward. My wounds haven't healed completely, and I didn't chugged Yereah's vial on purpose to make sure he wouldn't be very suspicious on my wounds with his very keen eye.
I hope it was nothing.
We arrived in Brandenburg moments later. I don't know from which did Jacomus got tired from, either from the beatings or from talking and bragging. We went straight to our sleeping quarters and the two slumped on the bed without even changing.
I just had to clean myself up for the smell of the blood brings uneasy feeling. Alone, I went to the privy and locked the door behind me. The cold water flowed on my skin as I scrub the dirt and blood roughly until my skin turn red. Clenching my teeth, I felt my face warm up as my eyes swell up with tears. Now I wonder, if I should chase my father who's here in Nether, or still look for all possible ways to go back to Aelmere. Fate isn't really helping, and so is time that's been flying.
I drank one vial of Yereah's potions immediately once I felt my heart pump too quickly. Three vials left, and I need to make sure I won't use the rest unecessarily. It took a long while before the chest pains disappeared slowly. Looking at my naked reflection in the mirror, I can easily notice what parts of me have changed. Aside from my lips, my thin jaw and ears reckoned familiarity to my approximate features as Helena. The bruises on my chest have been more prominent from the tight body wraps I have been wearing. As I was about to put on my clothes, I noticed a red shrunken swirl on the side of my left breast. It stings when I touch it. Thinking it would heal in a bit, I continued putting on my tunic.
I returned to the quarters and noticed Jacomus and Atrius still wide awake. Pretending I'd hit the sack, I jumped on the bed and waited. As soon as I heard Jacomus snore, I got up and went to the library. Tonight, I'll be sleeping with the books, for these men might notice that the man that they fought with… is actually a woman.