Kismet (Book One - Completed)

Chapter 13: Cave of Beginnings

Chapter 13: Cave of Beginnings

[Slightly earlier in Merdice: before Oliver and Kayla battled the Yuas spiders]

While Kayla and her entourage were facing the trial at Molya, Lanet and Ehiara, who had undergone extended training and had raised a group of military corps, were heading towards Merdice Village. After two weeks of training in Azure Lakis, Lanet and Ehiara received a letter from Oliver detailing his alleged plan. He told them to come to Merdice so that they could help the villagers.

Ehiara was holding the map that was attached to Oliver's letter. She was trying to make heads-or-tails of where they were.

"Are we heading in the right direction?" Lanet asked Ehiara anxiously, worried that they had gotten lost.

"We are almost there." Ehiara sighed.

Hours later, just before the arrival of dawn, they finally arrived at the hilltop of Merdice. To their surprise, there was no one in sight. The village was empty and secluded, with houses lying underwater as though they had been preserved under a layer of glass. The village was flooded. What they saw matched up to what Oliver had described in his letter. Before they had time to adjust to the scenario, however, they realised that there was a commotion taking place near the waterfall.

"What is going on?" Lanet said.

"Over there." Ehiara pointed out, "There are people gathering below the waterfall. Some of them are climbing up the drop."

"They may be in danger!" Lanet suggested, "Let's go there and take a look."

Ehiara nodded in agreement. Baring that in mind, they ran towards the waterfall where the villagers were trying to climb the drop. Lanet decided to help them by conjuring a mini vortex to help them ascend the drop.

"Looks like what Oliver had described to us in his letter was true after all. We should have arrived earlier to support the villagers instead of doubting him and coming late." He said.

"It can't be helped." Ehiara replied, "It is only natural for us to be cautious after what he did to us on Mount Yari. Right now, we should be saving the lives of the villagers. Afterwards we can ask them about Oliver and his whereabouts."

"You are right, Ehiara." Lanet said, "Let us head up the waterfall as well."

After the last villager had landed safely, Lanet used his own magic to carry Ehiara and himself to the campsite where the villagers were stationed. When they reached the site, it became apparent to them that the Merdicians were involved in a fight. Smoke was rising into the air as the guards were lighting up torches to repel the monsters. Most of the villagers were huddling in a corner, waiting for somebody to save them. There were some casualties onsite.

The guards attacked the monsters to little effect. Their swords were not strong enough to destroy them. The monsters that they were fighting, known as the Spectirens, were known for their speed and high stamina. It was hopeless for the guards to keep them at bay as the Spectirens just kept on coming, tearing at guards with their huge claws.

"What are those?" Ehiara asked in shock.

"They are sirens of a different variant." Lanet said, "There used to be some of them living near my village. In general, sirens drag their victims underwater and anchor them to the bottom of the lake, causing their victims to drown. In order to attract their victims, they would sing beautiful songs and manifest as mermaid-like creatures. This breed of Sirens, called Spectirens, worked the same, except that they had a penchant for attacking people instead of drowning them. They also retreat if their victims retaliate. All of them possess bright, disheveled hair, rabbit-like scarlet eyes, fangs and claws that make them look like denizens of hell. They appear unhinged." [1]