Chương 2: Celina, the Last Light Mage
A foggy swamp was teeming with underbrushes that sat quietly upon a drenched mud. The air was misty and obscure, it was piercing cold, without a proper cloth one could get a frostbite. However, not for the several men who rode on horses cutting through the murky swamp.
Their horses gaited fast as though they could see their path, fog completely enshrouded them, they barely have any visibility, but they didn't mind since they were that desperate to flee from the Demons of Xerdigs.
The demons of Xerdigs have been hunting mages since their blood were one of the prerequisite to revive Zalgan. Every mage on the land of Altheon were under a huge threat, however it was more unfortunate for the regular ones since they were directly eaten or killed by the demons.
The group had several mages, thus they were being pursued.
The mages wore a black robe and hood, while the others wore an iron plated armor with stout helmets. They were one of the few who survived of the now fallen Kingdom of Thesur. The one who led the group was a young woman who wore a bluish white robe, she had a white, silky, short hair that fluttered on the air, she had a thin, pointed nose with an immaculate beauty yet her eyes had traces of uncertainty. She was seventeen years old and her name was Celina, the Light Wielder, she was one of the 8 Pillars of the Kingdom, the most important mages of Thesur.
However, she wasn't strong, in fact she was still weak, she only had the position because she was the last Light Mage on the land of Altheon.
Celina was seeking strength to destroy the demons and prevent the summoning of Zalgan. Demons were very weak towards Light magic, and thus she was given a big responsibility.
Celina squinted her eyes through the thick fog. " Sir Herdis, are we still far?" She said.
A middle aged man drove his horse closer to hers, he had a white beard with a short white hair, buldging nose and a calm looking appearance. "We're a bit closer, just don't stray."
Celina sighed with her head slouching. "I was just recently appointed as a Pillar, I don't think I'm strong enough to make a contract with a Spirit Beast."
Herdis touched her shoulders, he then mustered a warm smile. "You can do it, because if you can't, then the land of Altheon is done for." He then laughed.
Celina gave him an annoyed look. "I'm even more nervous."
"Well, that's why the prince gathered this much men to assist you. " Herdis said.
Suddenly, Celina heard a sound of flesh being struck behind her, then a man groaned in anguish.
"Ahh, help!" The man screamed.
He then fell from his saddle and rolled on the dirt, leaving traces of blood.
Celina gritted her teeth, "Herdis we should help him." Her lips turned heavy.
Herdis shook his head in dismay. "If we turn back now, we would endanger the whole team."
Herdis looked over his shoulder and saw an incoming spear, it flew like a bullet flying towards Celina's back.
Herdis quickly snatched Celina's body away from her saddle, then the spear pierced through her horse's neck. Celina was now dangling on Herdis' arm, her eyes widened after seeing her horse wailing as it writhed in pain.
"Thank you for that." Celina said in fright.
Herdis snorted. "The demons are close, if nothing is done they'll outrun us.
"What should we do?" Celina said.
Herdis sighed, then lifted her body and placed her upon his saddle. "I won't accept your grattitude, tell me straight you can make a contract with the Spirit Beast." He said.
Celina nodded as her eyes tightened. "I'll do it... I hope." Her face then sagged.
Herdis chuckled. "You better." He carelessly leaped from his saddle, then rolled on the ground upon landing.
Celina twisted her body as she gazed behind her, she gasped from shock, seeing Herdis was now left alone on the road.
"Herdis!" She screamed in worry.
"Go, I'll distract them." Herdis replied, he then unsheathed his blade and walked away.
As Celina stared over her shoulders, the fog slowly thickened, eventually Herdis vanished from her sight. It struck her chest hard like she got hammered, yet she lifted herself up since she knew she had no time to get swayed.
She continued riding the horse, then sighed and turned her face unto the road. "I can't afford to fail now!" She exclaimed.
"Commander Herdis is now done for."
"Damn it, he will be remembered. "
"Tsk."
Celina heard sullen voices behind her, it drained away her spirit, since Herdis was like a family to her. Whenever she felt down, when Herdis teased her even though sometimes offensive, it raised her spirits.
Sadly, she lost most people she knew ever since that day occured. It was referred to as the Closure, where several humans were sacrificed to summon the demons of Xerdigs. It was King Dersim's desperate move so he could defeat the Empire. And after that, everything fell into spiral, the humans fleed the kingdom and all that was left were demons who were under the control of the King.
Right now, the royalties have escaped as well and went to the other countries to ask for help.
They were given a task by Prince Hiro to tame a Spirit Beast of the Sealed caves. Hoping it would make her stronger since she was still weak. Acquiring a Spirit Beast will boost her power because they can merge with mages, but there was a price to pay, she must first overwhelm the beast into submission and for now she knew it was almost impossible.
A certain person went close to her side, it was Gamiz and he used to be a loyal soldier of King Dersim, right now however even the most loyal men would turn tails from the horrendous act of the King.
Gamiz had a thin face, he had a tall, grey hair that covered his ears, and he had a sharp and witty eyes. He was often composed and dependable. He was a mage veteran that specialized in sealing magic, and also was her teacher.
When Gamiz and Celina exchanged gazes, Gamiz mustered a warm smile. "We should focus on what is infront of us, don't worry you can do it Miss Celina."
Celina sighed and smiled back. "I think you're right, Teacher." She chuckled.
The horses finally halted their hooves, and the squad dismounted from their saddles. They peered through the fog, they saw a silhouette of a structure that looked like a giant mound. They approached it, upon seeing it closely it was a cave with a giant entrance that was sealed by a flat, round stone. There were written symbols scrabbled on the stone's surface.
The stone disk blocking their path seemed chiseled as it was smooth, but only a giant can lift it with its sheer size.
That's why they brought mages who specialized on the mystic runes of the Sealed Caves. They have studied this for years so they knew their stuff. Then four along with Gamiz came forward and rose their arms on the air.
They mumbled several incomprehensible words under their breaths, and moments later the stone crumbled into pieces. Unsealing these caves were only allowed if authorized by a royalty.
A path opened up and it led to a pool of darkness. The group hoisted and lit up their torches as they entered the cave. Celina gulped as she went first, their torches pushed the enveloping darkness. They then proceeded as they trudged carefully on their paths.
The sealed caves were said to restrain strong creatures that would be a threat to humans. Spirit beasts used to be rampant among the lands, and mages sealed them inside these structures. They were sealed rather than slain since their would be a time they would be useful, and this was one of those times.
As they paced in the cave, their pattering foot steps resounded on the cave walls. Celina was slightly worried since the beast must have been alerted of their presence with their noises.
Eventually the narrow path opened up into a wide closed, dark chamber. They went deeper and paused their steps for a moment as they looked around.
Celina encountered a glazed white wall with mystical runes floating upon it, blocking a hole. And behind the white wall was a large silhouette of a creature, then red eyes popped open, it gave a piercing glare and bellowed out a grating snarl.
Its roar released a gust that Celina's hair got swayed outwards. She felt it was a
smelly, warm air, and there was something behind the runes that was breathing.
"Who's there!" A rough deep voice spoke behind the runes.
Celina took a deep breath and stepped forward. "My name is Celina, the last light mage of Altheon. I have a request."
"I'm the spirit beast of the Swamp, I suppose you came in here because you want to form a contract." The beast said.
Celina nodded with a weak smile. "Yes, if you would be so kind."
The beast chuckled. "Alright just remove this runes and I'll accept the contract."
She held a dubious look. "Are you sure about that?"
"That's right, I'm a man of my word." The beast said confidently.
She spun and checked her men. "What do you think?"
The men rigidly stood there as though hesitant. One man sighed and approached her. "Miss, we can't trust the beast."
She slouched a bit in dismay. "I know, we can't free him without a plan."
Gamiz walked forward and stared at her. "Miss, listen closely I have a plan."
The group huddled close as they whispered their thoughts.
"Miss I think you should perform your Light Call right now." Gamiz said.
Her eyes averted as though unconfident. "But Teacher, I just tried it out once or twice, the last time I did it, I summoned a giant snake." She said.
Gamiz chuckled. "That's what we want, we'll summon a monster as a fodder to worn this creature out, then that's when we'll attack."
Celina's light call was one of the spells only light mages are capable of, it can summon a random creature on their spot. However its drawback was that the monster would still be wild and they would expect it to be violent.
Gamiz laid his arm on her shoulder. "I taught you everything I know about that spell so you should be able to do it, just give the signal because I will release the seal."
Celina held a smile, his words lightened the burden pressing on her chest. "You got it."
Celina took a deep breath then aimed her arm upon the magic wall. Gamiz made his preparations by writing upon the runes, with his finger tips.
"3...
2.....
1....." They counted.
"Unseal!" Gamiz enchanted.
"Light Call!" Celina spoke.
A white misty disk emerged on mid air, and unexpectedly it spew out a pale man with long hair who wore a black attire. The man fell on the ground as though he was dead.
"A human?" Celina said confused.
"Why is it a human?!" The men said confused.
Then the magic barrier slowly faded, and alas it was finally gone. The beast laughed menacingly as it was now free, it then crawled forward with its giant paws and it stepped upon the pale man like he wasn't there.
"You humans are idiots!" The beast scoffed.
Celina was about to save the man but it was too late. The man underneath it was flattened into a gooey mush of flesh.
She thought it was the time when she worries about herself and her team.
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