☾Order of the Moon☽

☾✩☽Chapter 17☾✩☽

The cold wind made my legs weak, but I still ran, because what would I do if I stopped, I don't even know where to go if I did, all I know is that I have to go away. I couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt, I'm leaving everyone behind, putting my training to no use.

As I ran, I stumbled on a log. I fell right on the ground, releasing a groan of pain. I felt a rush of anger spike in me, causing me to punch the snowy soil. 

Everything went so fast I had no time to react, and now that I had fallen I could. Tears of pain poured down my cheeks, the coldness of the ever-lasting snow forest tickled my face. All I could think of were the people I had left to be in the hands of the witch, I was leaving them all behind, and I'm saving myself. Suddenly I heard the voices of men, Haimatians.

I quickly stood up from the ground, hiding behind a big tree as I held my mouth shut, the tears quickly drying up from the cold. "I saw someone here, did you see?" one of them said in Haimatian, "It must have been an animal," the other said. As I slowly walked around the tree, I accidentally stepped on a branch, making noise. "What's that?" they said. I sent a small gush of light to the other direction, just for them to follow the sound, thank saints they followed. 

I released a relieved sigh before wrapping myself with the cloak as the coldness crept in, it was way colder without an Al kina. 

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I walked further into the vast snowy forest, avoiding Haimatian territory, most that I remembered from map-making. My head was feeling light as I had been using much of my human energy. I stopped beside a big tree and sat there.

Above me the bright moon shined, the forest was dim, I could not see what was ahead of me, but it would be too risky to use my powers. I raised my hands as I attempted to touch the snow falling from the sky, it felt odd that it had only been summer an hour ago, and now I'm back in winter. In Haimati, the only season there it has to offer is never-ending snow.

I fidget with the bracelet wrapped around my wrist, it was the only thing I had left of Xavier, and on that end I caught myself missing him. I worried for everyone, could the witch be there right now, will everyone in the city know, what does she plan to do now?

My thoughts then drifted to the fact Xavier and Estiana were siblings, I saw it, in her eyes she cared for her dear brother. I can't even begin to imagine what they have gone through, they're such pure souls, the world gave them back nothing but suffering. Tears started to fall from my eyes, but I quickly whipped them away. Now is not the time to sulk in my emotions, I have to find a way, an answer to how I'll be able to put an end to this, and a way for the witch to not be able to touch my powers. I stood up from the ground before taking a look around me, I have to know how vast this plan is, which way is further and safer. I put my training into use, I steady my position before climbing the big tall tree. 

I reached the top branch of the tree, I peeked my head out the leaves, I was not that far from the city, suddenly my head started to ring, a vision appeared before my eyes.

I could see the northern mountains of the Haimati, the vision then shifted, there I saw...scales? its eyes were blue like the ocean, find us and we shall be of help, it said. The vision then shifted once again, a howl echoed from somewhere, I was standing by a cliff, I saw a pair of blue eyes once again, only this time it was blue like the sky, then I saw a figure of a man, with hair white like the snow.

I returned to my normal state, what was that? was it a vision from the Enchantress, did Estiana see the same thing when she saw a glimpse of my future, were they the acquaintance I would be waiting, but whoever they are one thing was for sure, I'm heading North, maybe there I will find answers.