CHAPTER 50

TREVEN WAS having the time of his life laughing at Hakkeran who was caged in the pillar prison for two days. He was laughing too much that it was even annoying Kar and some other surviving sorcerer and sorcerers who were just listening. And the knocking sounds of the small crystal on Treven's hand were getting onto everyone's nerves, especially Hakkeran's.

"Can you stop that?!" Hakkeran snapped at Treven who was sitting on the ground, outside the prison pillar and facing them.

Treven just chuckled and continued annoying everyone until the prison pillar started fading. And it only took one hit of Kar's war hammer for the pillar to crumble entirely.

General Kar breathe in a sigh of relief while the sorcerer and sorceress was overjoyed that they were finally free.

But Kar didn't stop there. He walked towards Treven while gritting his teeth and said, "the only reason why I'm not smashing you to death right now is because we are of the same race. But if you keep annoying me with that crystal balls of yours, I might forget that you are also a descendant of Sappher like me."

It was clearly a threat, but Treven smiled, unfazed. "Who died and made you grumpy?"

Kar was not used to sarcastic remarks since he was a respected general. "Y-you...!"

"What?" Treven asked as if challenging the general to speak. "First, don't stand too close to me. You're not my type. I don't like descendants of Sappher who can't remember their past life. I pray that she'll make you suffer once she's out and about. Second, even how strong your war hammer is, that can't hurt me one bit. It's just a hammer." Treven said in a mocking tone. "Go hammer a nail or something."

Kar exploded in anger and raised his war hammer, but before it hit Treven who was just standing there, unafraid, a loud shattering sound echoed, as if someone crushed a crystal. Kar only realized that the sound came from Treven's hands when fragments of the crushed crystal flew out of his hand and the crystal shards vanishes as it formed a transparent shield around Treven. The moment Kar's war hammer hit Treven, it bounced back, no damage to the shield and the force of the collision managed to push back Kar who was stunned that someone could block his war hammer.

That's when Hakkeran stepped in. "Enough. We're allies."

Kar gritted his teeth, but listened. Meanwhile, hearing Hakkeran said that they were allies made Treven chuckled as if Hakkeran was joking.

Kar strapped his war hammer on his back before he silently turned around and followed the surviving sorcerers who were focused on planning than watching what was happening with the general and the newcomer.

"You don't have to do that, you know." Hakkeran said to Treven like a father disciplining a child. "He doesn't remember a thing."

Treven clicked his tongue. "Hakkeran, I'm not here to play nice. It's your job, not mine. And seeing that face again fucking pisses me off! It was his fault that he couldn't remember a damn thing! Because of him, Gatria is imprisoned!"

Hakkeran didn't want his anger to clash with Treven's, so he just turned around and went to talk to the Adral warriors about their next step while Treven calms down.

Meanwhile, Gabin sighed at what happened. "Lord Treven, please don't anger his excellency. I'm already stressed as it is, if his excellency snapped and become a madman again, the stress will be catastrophic."

Treven anger disappeared, and he smiled as if nothing happened. "Hush, Gabin. Your excellency won't snap. He has a reputation to uphold. And if ever he snapped, it'll be more fun. Don't you think? As his trusted aide who's stressed all the time, you should have fun sometimes."

Gabin sighed at another madman who will add to his stress. "What are you even doing here, Lord Treven?" Gabin was already feeling stressed-out thinking that he now had to serve two mad men. "I thought you were stationed in the Nayale Archipelago to watch and observe."

"A fucking boring job, you mean?" The shield around Treven vanished and it returned into shards, and then the shards went back to his hands and when all the fragments were in his palm, it became a whole crystal ball again. As if it was not shattered earlier.

And that was Treven's arcane weapon— the Soulshard— an arcane weapon that specializes in defense and only Treven could wield.

Treven clicked his tongue and looked at Hakkeran. "Your excellency there called me to do some dirty stuff."

Gabin grimaced at what he heard. "Please don't say it like that."

Treven chuckled at Gabin's reaction. "You're such a prude, Gabin. Don't follow in your excellency's footsteps. It's not good to be celibate." Then nonchalantly, Treven handed a vial to Gabin as if it was not important. "That's what he asked me to do. Nasty, don't you think?" Treven grinned. "But I like nasty stuff."

Gabin stared at the vial in awe. It was a vial made of jade. He couldn't see what was inside, but he could feel while holding it that it was an essence container— and this container is full of essence. Close to overflowing.

"Flame?" Gabin asked Treven.

Treven shook his head and stretched his arms as if getting ready to do something. "Nope. A different one. Just ask your excellency. Anyway," Treven smiled and stepped back before he waved his hand at Hakkeran to get his attention. "I have to go, Warlord Hakkeran." Treven's tone was playful. It was easy to tell that he didn't really take Hakkeran's position seriously. "I have places to be and men to seduce. Bye!"

Hakkeran sighed at Treven's retreating back before he walked to Gabin. "Did he give it to you?"

Gabin nodded and frowned afterwards as he looked at Treven's retreating back. "Really? Men to seduce? But he looked so... manly."

Hakkeran chuckled at Gabin's reaction. "Don't mind him. He has always been like that. He's a strong warlord. That's what matters."

Gabin nodded and carefully and subtly handed the vial Lord Treven gave him to his excellency. "What is that, Your Excellency?"

"Something useful." Hakkeran answered and went back to the Adral warriors who were now collaborating with Kar and the kingdom's sorcerer and sorceress.

"Where's your friend?" Kar asked, clearly still pissed at Treven.

"I sent him back to Adral." Hakkeran answered smoothly. "It needs an overseer while I'm away."

Kar nodded. "He does look reliable. Anyway," Kar frowned. "Do you know what he meant when he said, 'who can't remember his past life'? What's he talking about?"

Hakkeran shrugged. "Beats me. Let's ask him when you visit Adral."

Kar had no choice but to nod. Still, something was bothering him.

'I pray that she'll make you suffer once she's out and about.'

Who was this 'she'? And why was that man praying that she'll make him suffer? Did he do something he couldn't remember? Kar was not certain, but as his hunt for the Mistress of Flame continues, the nagging feeling inside him that he felt like scratching something in his mind and wanted to come out was becoming stronger.

What is wrong with me? Kar had been asking himself that ever since the warlord mentioned the name Gatria in the valley of bones. Hearing that name, something was gnawing inside him. But what was it?

Watching the emotion in General Kar's face play out, Hakkeran pitied the man for not remembering the most important part of his life.

Hakkeran sighed and looked at the direction the Mistress of Flame took two days ago. The plan was to follow the Mistress of flame, but some sorcerers were not so keen on following the queen who almost wiped them out. However, they didn't have a choice since it was an order from the general of Treterra.

Two healers, four water sorcerers, three wind sorcerers— no, make that two since one of them will die in Gabin's hand by his order—Kar's right-hand man and then General Kar. On his side, there was him, Gabin and the Adral warriors. Thanks to Gabin's shield, his own arcane weapon, they barely managed to survive Queen Sollel's attack. Some of his warriors were wounded, but no one was dead.

Well, I'm wounded to, Hakkeran thought as he looked at his arm. The mark from the bolts of flame that the queen used to whip him was still there. It didn't burn him much, but it was painful. It was thanks to the healers that the wound was finally healing.

"Let's go!" Hakkeran heard Kar shouted for everyone to hear him. "We've already given the Mistress of Flame two days to get ahead of us. We have to find her fast!"

The sorcerer and sorceress nodded gravely and followed Kar while the Adral warriors followed Hakkeran and Gabin, who was walking beside General Kar on the front.

Though hearing that the Mistress of Flame will be hunted again, Hakkeran was not worried. It's been two days. By now, his queen was already safe and secured.

♕ ♕ ♕

LEAVING THE pillar prison she made to trap everyone she couldn't burn because of how weak she was, Sollel followed the map Hakkeran left for her. After following the direction written on the map for a few hours, Sollel couldn't help frowning when she realized she was still close to the stream.

"Am I lost?" Sollel asked herself, but continued following the map for direction. She knew Hakkeran wouldn't give her the map for no reason.

And then, after a day of walk, before night fell, she finally reached her destination. The place where there was a circle on the map. It was a humongous dead tree with thick and large branches. It was too big that if Sollel wanted to stay there and hide, she probably wouldn't be found.

"Why would he bring me here?" Sollel had no answer, but still stayed under the big dead tree to pass the night. Tomorrow, she'll traverse the desolate land valley on her own.

Sighing to herself, she sat on the big tree trunk alone. She was already in the desolate land valley, but she could still see the shivering valley and the blizzard barraging it. Oddly, she was near the shivering valley, but she couldn't feel the cold anymore.

Sollel's eyes looked down at the cloak she was wearing and then at her hand chain bracelet. She smiled when she remembered the method and reasoning Hakkeran used when he gave it to her. Emotionless and cold as he was, she enjoyed her time with Hakkeran. He always pretends to be cold and distant, but she felt how much he cares for her.

Sollel leaned her back to the tree trunk and closed her eyes. I have to rest. I have an early day tomorrow.

However, Sollel's plan to traverse the desolate land valley on her own was changed when morning came and she saw figures crossing the stream just when she was about to leave.

Three figures.

And as the figures came closer, they became clearer to Sollel.

Grath. Zassia. And Hakken.

Sollel was happy to see Zassia and Grath safe. She was happy to see them healthy. But seeing Hakken again, after so many days without him, Sollel found herself running towards Hakken and wrapping her arms around Hakken's neck, hugging her hunter so tight.

"You're finally here..." Sollel whispered as she hugged Hakken tightly. She couldn't explain it, seeing Hakken again, Sollel felt calm and warm. As if all her problems will be solved just knowing that Hakken was by her side again.

Hakken's face was tinted with red when his lady hugged him like she missed him, but he still managed to wrap his arms around his lady's waist even when his chest was pounding so hard. "I'm glad you're safe, my lady."

Sollel nodded and with a happy smile, she let go of Hakken to cup his handsome face. "You're not hurt, are you?" He still had some bruises and cuts.

"I'm fine now."

"That's good." Sollel was relieved and then she finally turned to Grath and Zassia. "How about you two?" She went to check on Zassia and Grath. "No wounds? No, nothing?"

"We've already recovered, teacher."

Sollel smiled at Zassia before she affectionately patted Zassia's head. "I'm proud of you, Zassia. What you did in the valley of bones, using your quick thinking and flame to protect me, I'm so happy and proud of your progress."

Zassia's whole face lit up and her eyes watered. "Thank you, teacher. I was so worried."

"I'm so sorry for making you worry." Then Sollel looked at Grath. "You've protected Zassia well. Thank you, Grath."

Grath bowed his head at Sollel. "I do not deserve your gratitude, Your Highness. I let you cross the shivering valley alone."

Sollel patted Grath's shoulder. "It wasn't your fault, and I was not alone in the valley. Someone helped me."

"Really?" Grath looked relieved. "I'm happy to hear that, Your Highness."

Sollel smiled at Grath before she went back to Hakken who was just silently watching her. "How about you? I heard General Kar did a number on you."

Hakken rubbed his nape as if embarrassed. "He's too strong for me, I guess."

Sollel lost her smile. "Did he hurt you?"

Hakken didn't answer, but Zassia did. "Yes, Your Highness. Lord Hakken was like an undead when we met back in the cave—" Zassia didn't finished her words when she saw how the queen's eyes swirled with lava-like liquid and her anger manifested through the air— their surroundings became hot and blistering and in just a few breaths, flame erupted from the ground and roared as if showing everyone how angry she was.

And before anyone could react, the flame vanished as if nothing happened and Sollel sighed. "Sorry about that." Sollel looked at Hakken, wanting to heal the little cuts and bruises he still had but she knew instead of healing him, she'll burn him alive for sure since he didn't have solaris to accept and control her flame in his body.

"We should go," Hakken said after Sollel calmed down. "The desolate land valley is different from the two valleys we crossed. According to my research, it's filled with beasts, from small devouring ants to humongous mutated species. This was a lively valley before it became a desolate land because of too many monsters gathering here. We can all fight, that's for sure, but we will be defeated by their numbers so as much as possible, no unnecessary sound and movement. We have to move stealthy."

Zassia nodded at Hakken before she added. "I remember reading a book about this valley. It was desolate and dead, but there were tons of rare medicinal herbs here. It was called the land of no return because no one has ever entered and lived. It was said that the whole desolate land is divided into four parts. The first was the territory of the deadliest and most poisonous insects in Azitera. After that was a large, long, and endless dead river, home to the flesh-eating crocodilian and aquatic beasts and monsters. And then, there was what they called the dead garden. I don't know what they meant by that; it wasn't explained in the book. All I know is that this dead garden is the one responsible for keeping the 'peace' between two territories— the aquatic and land beasts."

Sollel blows a loud breath after hearing that. "If it was that dangerous, then how does the kingdom travels to hallowed valley?"

"I believe they have a secret passage that only they knew." Answered Hakken and then he took out four flowers from his bag and handed them one each. "The scent of this flower can block our scents so keep it close to you at all times. Once this is a meter away from you, it will be easy for the beasts to track you down so don't drop or lose it."

Sollel, Zassia and Grath put the flower in the most secured pocket of their clothing before they all ventured deep into the entrance if the desolate land valley.

Grath was in the front, Zassia was in the middle while Sollel and Hakken took the rare.

And as they passed the entrance and ventured deeper, everyone immediately smelled it. The blood and death in the air. That's when they knew and understood that they entered the den of beasts and monsters— the desolate land valley.



CECELIB | C.C.