CHAPTER 49

SEEING THE HORRIFIC scene in the sky that was now painted in crimson and the feeling of the scorching air before the ball of flames rained down, all soldiers and sorcerers shuddered in terror and desperation to live. Even General Kar felt a tinged of fear when he saw the sky. It was the same back in the valley of bones, the only difference was the shape. But the formidable strength on display was similar.

"Shield!" Was the only word General Kar able to bellow as hundreds of balls of flame with fearsome heat started falling from the sky to the ground, inescapable and merciless. Exploding on impact and shaking the ground as if an earthquake was shaking the land.

The terrifying impact of each ball of flame with the same size as a large bolder echoed and thunderously. And as the ball of flame fell one after another, a fierce of sea of flame was created, engulfing the land and everyone on the site with scalding flame.

Screams of terror and pain erupted from behind General Kar, but he only had one arcane weapon and he could only protect himself.

Squinting her eyes, he turned to his side and saw Gabin, the Adral commander, holding a shield— an arcane weapon— to protect the warlord and the warrior nearest to them. The relief that they were safe instantly vanished when he saw the state the kingdom soldiers and sorcerers were in.

It was hell. On Azitera.

Consumed with rage, General Kar shouted and glared at the Mistress of flame who was just standing on the other side of the stream, watching as if enjoying the destruction she caused. "You will pay!"

With all his might, Kar threw his war hammer at the Mistress of flame, aiming to squash her head, but before his war hammer could reach her, a ball of flame fell on his hammer and squashed it to the ground, stopping its movement. "You evil Queen!"

Kar willed his war hammer to come back so he could throw it again at the queen when another ball of flame hit his war hammer, burying it to the ground. The impact was too massive that his war hammer couldn't come back to his hand.

As balls of flame kept slamming and exploding on his war hammer on the ground, in the midst of that explosion, the queen remains standing. Her long wavy red hair was swaying with the blow of the sweltering air caused by the explosion, the pupil in her eyes were swirling with lava-like liquid and her cloak glowed red as if mocking everyone that it could withstand a formidable flame and survived.

But General Kar was known for his tenacity, with all the strength of his will, with great difficulty, he was able to call back his war hammer! However, before it could be used to attack the Mistress of flame again, the queen's voice rang out to everyone who survived the terrifying attack.

"Oh, my... how weak. I'm just starting." The voice was refined and elegant, but cold and merciless. "Blood of flame, come forth and heed my call. Flame prison!"

Before anyone could react to the Mistress of Flame's words, the sea of flame on the ground disappeared, as if it had been sucked and a heartbeat later, four pillars made of lava-like liquid erupted from the ground, surrounding the surviving enemies in four sides. These pillars were connected by bolts of flame—from the top to the side, caging the survivors inside and limiting their movement so they couldn't reach her.

Surrounded by moonrite stone, it was a miracle that Sollel could still even stand. And after she made the pillar prison with her blood flame, she was drained and would drop unconscious if she didn't escape as fast as she could.

Sollel realized that the only reason she was still standing was the cloak Hakkeran gave her. Somehow, it was helping her block the full effect of the moonrite stone on her to such degree, but not enough to completely block it all off. Just enough to that she wouldn't be instantly vulnerable in the presence of the stone.

Even drained and feeling weak, Sollel acted as if she was all powerful, even kicking the moonrite stone away that was blocking her path as she crossed the shallow stream that was now covered in flames and walked towards the pillar prison she made. Instead of a fierce flame attack, Sollel settled with pillar prison because it will give her time to escape. Unlike if she attacked, she was sure that some sorcerers and General Kar will survive. And with General Kar's presence, she was certain that Warlord Hakkeran would not do anything in her favor. In her current state, she will be an easy target to catch.

Standing near the pillar prison, Sollel held herself regally even when weak, and smiled. "Please forgive me for leaving survivors." Her voice was so soft and merciful that it sent shiver down the spine on everyone who heard it. "Pity, there's still a handful of you alive. Oh, well, we shall meet again."

Then Sollel's cold and merciless eyes settled on General Kar and before anyone could move, a bolt of flame connected to the pillar whipped the General twice, leaving a mark on the general's armor and neck.

"That's for my hurting my Cira and Zassia." Then a bolt of flame whipped Hakkeran next, not that it would kill him. Solaris was with him after all. "And that's for angering me, my lord."

Feeling satisfied, Sollel caressed the nearest pillar as if saying goodbye. But when she was about to leave, she paused and turned to look at the survivors inside the pillar prison. Her eyes were looking for someone.

A smile appeared on her lips when she caught sight of two flame sorcerers.

"Lucky. A meal."

The same moment the lava-like liquid swirled in Sollel's pupils, the two flame sorcerers screamed simultaneously as if something was being ripped off from their insides, and as their screams stops and they fell to the burnt ground, a small flame left their chest and it bounced happily towards the Mistress of flame.

"What did you do?" It was Hakkeran and he looked livid.

Sollel smiled and let the two new flames danced around her hand. "Having an early dinner, my lord. Thanks." Sollel answered playfully before she left, humming a soft and joyous tone.

♕♕♕

"WHAT ARE THESE pillars?!" General Kar hissed in frustration after attacking the pillars with his war hammer, but to no avail. No reaction that would imply that his attacks were working. It's as if the pillars were indestructible. Even the sorcerers' attacks were no match for it. "Warlord," Kar turned to the silent warlord who had a dark expression on his face. "You know the Mistress of Flame better than anyone here, care to explain what this is?"

The warlord sighed before he answered. "It's the flame pillar. It was said that this is one of the strongest defenses of the Mistress of Flame. She caged you and then she attacks. Though it was mostly used to entrap her enemies, than kill them."

"How do we get rid of it?" Kar slammed his war hammer on the pillar again, but nothing.

The warlord sighed. "You will need the Mistress of the High Seas."

"What?" A water sorcerer that was listening couldn't help reacting.

Kar gritted his teeth, but couldn't deny his astonishment. "Are these pillars really indestructible?"

Hakkeran nodded. "Yes. I believed that the Mistress of Flame used this to entrap many descendants of Sapphers when we waged war against them— to control our numbers. But at that time, according to the documents I've read, it was not four pillars, it was twelve and it covers a large area and entrapped hundreds of our kind."

Kar couldn't stop his lips from parting in disbelief. "She's that strong?"

Hakkeran nodded. "Very. I believed that the Mistress of Flame is still not as strong as she was before, due to being imprisoned for so long and being surrounded by moonrite stone. But... Her strength is slowly recovering, and this is the proof of that. If left to her own devices, who knows what will happen. She has a bone to pick on humans and I don't think she'll stop until she brings humans to its knee."

The water sorcerer who couldn't contain his reaction earlier spoke. "My lord, you said about needing the Mistress of the High Seas to destroy these pillars. What do you mean by that? Is she more powerful than the Mistress of Flame?"

"More powerful?" Hakkeran shrugged. "I don't know. But I do know that they cancel each other out and that the Mistress of the High Seas is the only being in Azitera who could possibly fight the Mistress of Flame. Because this," Hakkeran motioned his hand at the pillar prison they were all in, "this is child's play to Queen Sollel. In her full strength, the Mistress of Flame can raze hell in Azitera, and no one can stop her—but, of course, the Mistress of the High Seas."

"These pillars," General Kar was still trying to break them, "how long are they going to entrap us?"

"According to the war documents I've read, our kind was trapped for six days." Hakkeran answered. "Basing my calculation on the Mistress of Flame strength now, I'd say, it can hold us here for a day or so."

General Kar blows out a loud breath. "That Mistress of Flame should be killed and not imprisoned!"

General Kar was busy trying to break the pillar prison that he didn't see how the warlord's eyes darkened and sharpened. Only Gabin, who was beside the warlord saw and he was relieved.

"Um," another sorceress survivor hesitantly spoke to the warlord. "My lord, may I ask you a question?"

Gabin had to elbow his excellency. "A question, your excellency."

Hakkeran turned to the sorceress. "Of course. What is your question?"

"You said earlier that the Mistress of Flame has a bone to pick on us, humans. My question is, why?" The wind sorceress from the kingdom was confused. "As far as the story goes, it was they who tried to slaughter us."

Hakkeran looked at the flame pillar as he answered. "You have to ask your king about that. Though there are rumors circulating that you," Hakkeran even pointed the surviving sorcerer and sorceress, "humans, betrayed the Yther's Queens, hence why the Mistress of Flame who adored humans wants to burn and kill you all."

Of course, there was no rumor. Hakkeran was just making it up so a rumor will spread.

"Where did you hear that rumor?" Kar was interested.

"In Adral, I accept any race who wants to live there, as long as they follow the rules— my rules, I don't have a problem with that. And the long-lived once always talks about the Yther's Queens. How magnanimous they were and how peaceful Azitera was. Of course, these long-lived races also talk about how greedy humans are, for biting the hands that feeds them."

Kar frowned. "I don't understand..."

Hakkeran was happy to explain, of course, minus the proud smile since he shouldn't smile.

"You," Hakkeran pointed the sorcerers and sorceress, "do you know where your powers came from?"

One sorcerer answered proudly. "It was passed down to us by our ancestors."

"And how did your ancestors acquire these powers?" Hakkeran asked again.

"They were born with it." A sorceress immediately answered the warlord.

"Wrong." Hakkeran immediately corrected the woman. "It was given to them by the Yther's Queen so they could protect themselves from the beasts, bandits and monsters because humans are the only weak race in Azitera."

"Given?"

Hakkeran sighed and sat on the ground. "The Mistress of Flame, Queen Sollel, blessed humans with fire. The Mistress of Nature, Queen Gatria, blessed humans with healing. The Mistress of the High Seas, Queen Aenwyn, blessed humans so they could wield water. And the Mistress of the Wind, Queen Astrid, blessed humans with her element so they could soar the sky and enjoy the speed. They generously shared their powers given to them by the deities which they didn't have to, honestly. And these blessings are passed down to every human generation. That's when the sorcerer and sorceress came to be."

Everyone was gaping at the Warlord. Some didn't believe it. Some were skeptical. Some were astounded. Some were in disbelief.

"Y-you're lying..."

Hakkeran shrugged. "What would I get if I lied? They are my enemies too."

General Kar became silent and was lost in thought the moment he heard the name of the Mistress of Nature. He felt like there was this gnawing feeling inside him, itching to come out, but even how hard he tried to let it come out, nothing.

Queen Gatria...

Meanwhile, Hakkeran smiled humorlessly at the surviving sorcerer and sorceress. The soldiers had been wiped out because they didn't have the means to protect themselves, unlike the sorcerers. "We are stuck here for one or two more days. So, any questions? I'm happy to educate you."

A wind sorcerer stepped forward, but not to ask. "According to what my father told me; the Mistress of Flame was imprisoned in the empire." He grinned gloatingly. "Doesn't that make the empire powerful? Seeing how they enslaved the Mistress of Flame whom you said is every powerful?"

Hakkeran signaled Gabin to lean down and move closer. Gabin heeds the order and when his ears were near his excellency, the warlord whispered. "Kill him tomorrow."

Gabin nodded. "Yes, Your Excellency."

With a fake smile, Hakkeran turn his attention on the wind sorcerer. "Indeed, the empire is very powerful. Though I can't stop feeling bad for all the soldiers, sorcerers and sorceress who died while trying to 'enslave' the Mistress of Flame again. I don't think the moonrite stone is enough to weaken them anymore."

"Then we will fight her head on!"

A water sorcerer snorted at the wind sorcerer's words. "You should be thankful that you survived the Mistress of Flame attacks. With your puny strength, you think you're a match for her? Pathetic!"

"What did you say?!"

"Silence!" Kar bellowed, angry that his thoughts about Queen Gatria was interrupted. "Water sorcerers! Break this damn prison!"

All the surviving water sorcerer gaped at General Kar.

"But, General, Warlord Hakkeran said only the Mistress of the High Seas could break these pillars."

"Aren't you blessed by her?!" Kar snapped. "Hurry up!"

And General's order was an order no one could go against, so the water sorcerers started trying to break the pillar prison.

Dropping himself on the ground, Kar sat next to Warlord Hakkeran who was watching the pitiful water sorcerers doing their best to break the prison to no avail.

"What do you think happened to them?" Kar asked the warlord while looking at the two dead flame sorcerers on the ground.

"I don't know," of course, Hakkeran knew. "I've read a lot of books about the Mistress of Flame from the Sappher's archives, but whatever she did to those poor flame sorcerers, it was not on the books."

Kar let out a loud breath and ask with hesitation in his voice. "About... Queen Gatria. What do you know about her?"

Hakkeran had a feeling that it was not just a curious question, so he answered. "She excelled in sword fighting and she's a very graceful—"

"No. What I mean is, what does she look like?"

Hakkeran frowned at Kar. "Didn't you visit her in hallowed valley?"

Kar shook his head. "I'm not allowed inside."

"Oh. The kingdom is very trusting." Hakkeran said in sarcasm.

"What does she look like?" Kar asked for the second time, for some reason he didn't want to admit, he was eager to know.

"Tall. Brown hair and brown eyes. Always carrying a sword." Then Hakkeran remembered. "I saw a painting of her. It's in my archives in Adral."

Kar wanted to ask if he could have it, but stopped himself, knowing that she was an enemy.

Silence fell on everyone, except for the water sorcerers who were still trying to break the pillars as per General Kar's order. They only stopped after they were overcome with exhaustion, and everyone had no choice but to wait for the pillars to burn out and disappear.

When morning came, the pillar was still standing, and everyone was in battle mode when they saw a man with uncanny silver eyes, watching them curiously from the outside of the pillar prison while rolling the three small crystal balls in his palm and sometimes in between his fingers.

And when that man saw Hakkeran, he laughed. "So someone finally managed to caged you, huh, Hakkeran?"

Hakkeran groaned when he heard that familiar voice.

"You know him?" General Kar, who had his war hammer in his hand asked the warlord.

Hakkeran sighed and stood up, facing the man outside the pillar prison. "Yes. His name's Treven. A warlord of Sappher."



CECELIB | C.C.