Final Chapter
November 10th - Kiraul
Zaelem
The warrior barely dodged the bullets as they zipped through the air. Reacting to his current situation robbed him of the mental capacity to call out to his healer. Getting out of the way of one bullet was easy. Concentrating on the barrels of six guns? He wasn’t even sure if all of them stayed in his field of vision.
He raised his left arm instinctively as he flipped to one side. He didn't even realise that the wound in his left shoulder was not bleeding.
”You’re not in danger, are you? Kismette’s voice entered his mind immediately. ”I can sense your unease.”
“I- whoa-" he ducked another bullet, "-need… cover…”
“Got it.”
Jaelon's eyes almost popped out of his skull when he saw the warrior. He gave a shriek and ran out of the room in the most undignified fashion possible. A couple of guards made a face at his piercing scream.
The King, too, lost every ounce of arrogance he ever held. Almost comically, he curled up in a corner behind the decorative fence, trying to compress his huge frame into the smallest ball possible. “Guards! Protect me!” he squealed, as though the guards hadn't already sprung into action. "I am your top priority!"
Zaelem glanced at the King before deciding that he could be dealt with later. The mortal man, trembling so hard he could have shaken himself out of his skin, was just a coward deeply afraid of getting hurt. He seemed to have trouble controlling his bladder as well.
The blue star holder yelled. The distraction had suffered him another bullet, this time in his palm. Grimacing, he dug the bullet out and hurled it back at the gunman.
Blood drained from the gunman's face as he watched the hole in Zaelem's hand close up magically. His gun dropped to the ground. “Aaah! He is an undead! Undead from hell!” The guard ran out of the room frantically, mumbling prayers along the way.
The other guards glanced at one another nervously. Some of their guns were still pointed at Zaelem, but nobody pulled the trigger. Silence befell the room in a heavy cloud. The air felt thick and mouths opened to draw air in.
“I’m not here to fight,” Zaelem said in an unhurried manner, opening his palms. “I’m just here for the big bully.”
When none of them moved, he started creeping towards the King of Kiraul.
“Shoot, you morons! Kill him!” the King barked anxiously, pushing his crown back to its upright position.
In that instance, a group of masked men rushed in. Alarmed, the guards turned their guns at the newcomers. A man, whom Zaelem assumed to be the leader, stepped forward.
"Everybody calm down," the leader said as he reached for his mask.
It was General Fly. “Join us instead,” he said simply, reaching his hands out to the other guards. “For the love of the land we stand on.”
The guards lowered their guns, but hesitated. They looked their King, wailing like a baby now, and then nodded their heads.
Grythen
Gwen
Gwen froze, stunned. Kismette was hugging her tightly, with no trace of fear at all. The silver-haired dancetress had not touched another human being since she left her parents. Even though she could also absorb energy within a range, it was much easier to lose control if she was in contact with the living thing. She didn't dare allow herself to relax, but the other girl didn't let her go either.
Gwen bit her trembling lip. She didn't want to cry in front of anyone, especially not the two Segaris. She pushed gently. "Kismette… you shouldn't touch me," she whispered hoarsely.
The girl looked up at her earnestly, but she was still holding on to her hands. Her big brown eyes were glowing warmly with joy. “Gwen…" she began. "Oh, Gwen, how silly you were. You’re not Death reincarnated. You are our saviour.”
I… I can save lives too.
*****
*****
*****
Kismette clenched the muscles in her thighs, trying to keep her blood flowing in her legs so that she would not fall.
Her vision blurred. She swept her eyes with the back of her hand and wiped the moisture on her jeans. Why does joy evoke the same bodily reaction as sorrow?
The distant thundering of hooves were like the beats of her own heart, growing louder and louder, stronger and stronger. She wasn't sure if she could wait another second more.
She ran forward, gasping in the cold.
*****
Zaelem guided the horse to a quick stop the moment he noticed a shadow in the blinding white of snow. His hair, overgrown and unruly, whipped at his face with the rhythms of the wind. He swung a leg over the beast and slid down its side in a haste. General Fly's handsome white steed was faster than the one he left Quesdeja on.
Still, it wasn't fast enough. It can never be fast enough.
His knees went weak and he almost sank into the soft, feathery snow beneath his shoes. The warrior steadied himself against the horse before running towards the shadow.
*****
Their eyes met. Silent tears gathered as they willed their feet to move even faster, until they finally collided in a tight embrace.
There was no need for words.
Ning: Can you believe that I actually feel like crying as I'm posting this? Emo momo. ;_; I had so many things I wanted to say, but I'm drawing a blank now and I think I better stop before I start typing nonsense, heh.
OH! One of the things I wanted to say was that I'm a sucker for happy endings, so here you go, haha. :) Can't help it!
I can never thank you all enough for reading this, leaving me sweet notes, some even discussing the story at length with me. (Special thanks for those who helped to check my English too, heh.) You guys keep the fire ablaze fireworks exploding in my heart, and the gratitude I have towards you is beyond words can describe.
And, yea, there's an epilogue coming up. ;)
Previous: Chapter 55
Next: Epilogue