The Legends of Anigma: Ethiel Archer | ONC 2023

PART XIV

For the rest of the day, Ethiel and Tifa trained with the finest masters of archery and sorcery in the village in order to efficiently use their newly acquired skill memories.

What took years to learn, they were able to learn quite faster and easily because of the potion their mother left for them. Ethiel was taught every basic and advanced techniques of archery and was even given lessons on how to use a bow for close combat just in case. Tifa, on the other hand, was taken away by the sorcerers.

In break time, she told him that she was given loads of books to start with beginners spells which she read and mastered in no time. Next, with the help of other sorcerers, she started learning from the book their mother had left for them.

While he and Tifa were at it, Lord Veer and Maya weren't sitting still. Mr. Tan informed them that Lord Veer was alone, training his mind and body. He didn't know how, but he knew he was training with everything he got; that was the type of person Lord Veer was. Maya had also drawn into solitude; she had finally chosen to wear the Blessed Blood and master it.

During the breaks, the people of the village brought Ethiel and Tifa some revitalising and refreshing food and juice. Everyone were so kind in the village, and the food was leagues above the one back in Earth – for starters, it was purely organic and pretty nourishing. It felt like for so long they had been living in an alien land and finally returned to their warm homeland.

At night, when it was cold, he and Tifa sat around a fire with Lord Veer, Maya, and a few others – even Hammy and Moshu had come to sit with them – a bowl of hot soup to prepare them for a good night sleep. Lord Veer had asked for a performance to lighten up their mood. The musicians played enigmatic, enchanting melodies in which the singers sang beautifully in voices that calmed the core of the soul. To those songs, the dancers and fire danced merrily, clapping their hands and feet.

Lord Veer remarked that even in such dark days, the people of Anigma had not lost their spirit. Ethiel looked around at them all, they were dancing and singing, playing music, laughing and smiling. He noticed how their eyes reflected the pain in their heart; times were tough, and yet that didn't stop them from being happy – in fact they were so happy that everything felt like it was fine. Happiness was perhaps something that really didn't depend on anything or anyone else maybe, he thought. It occurred to him that it was something internal, available to every person if only they chose it over the external misery.

The wise words echoed in his head, "As above so below, as within so without."

The Anigmans were a living example of that.

Suddenly, Tifa held his hand and got up.

"Come, Ethiel." She beamed.

"Come where?"

"To dance and sing of course." She rolled her eyes.

He thought if it was indifferent and selfish of him to be dancing and singing instead of resting so that he can train better later for the quest.

"Rest isn't always physical," Lord Veer whispered from behind, smiling at the performance. "If not for yourself then do it for your sister. She is, at the end of the day, a little girl who needs a loving and happy environment, Ethiel."

Ethiel realised how right Lord Veer was. It had been quite a while since Tifa had been this excited about anything. He couldn't remember the last time she asked him to do some relaxing or joyful activity with her. So he let the music light a smile on his face and went with her.

They danced with some of the other villagers till their heart started racing merrily, and before long even Maya joined them. Moshu squeaked in excitement. Lord Veer just sat where he was, eyes closed, a beautiful smile on his face, silently cherishing the suffusing warmth. Red Wings was beside him, and for the first time since their arrival, his rude comments and remarks had stopped. Despite his scoffing, it was pretty obvious he was enjoying the performance as well.

Sneakily, Tifa suddenly clutched Red Wings in a tight hug.

"You are so cute, birdie!!" She screamed, making Ethiel raise an eyebrow on her definition of cute.

"What torture is this?! Let me go immediately! I was once the nightmare of grown men!! This is not acceptable! Let me go this instant little girl!!!!" He flapped frantically and tried to get free to no avail.

Tifa cuddled his face. "You act all mean but I know deep down you're a good birdie. No need to act with me."

"Release me before I attack you!!"

"You won't."

"Tifa, get away from–"

"It's okay, Ethiel," Lord Veer assured him. "He cannot do anything of that sort. I control him."

Ethiel stopped worrying.

"Veer! This is torture! You're supposed to look after me!!" Red Wings screamed.

"Serves you right!" Mr. Tan clapped his hands and laughed with everyone.

That light-hearted joy, Ethiel and Tifa had not felt for years. Anigma had beauties that amazed them, but the heart of the Anigmans was the real beauty responsible for all others, it was what made Anigma the wonderful place that it was, it was the soul of Anigma. The two days they trained there and lived among the people, getting to know them and their ways, made that much clear.

But two days is all they got to live peacefully. Their training was complete by then. The time to embark on the quest had come.