The Quest for Normania #1: The Door of Andrios

19. Some More Waiting

Ayesha wasted no time briefing her conversation with her three Earth friends.

While Lawrence and Cecil gaped, Agatha's mouth was pursed.

When the eurin of Ahala finished speaking, Agatha said, thoughtfully, "I'm inclined to believe that there's a connect between your ambush and the attack on your friend back in your world."

Ayesha nodded. "I was afraid something like that was up. And I think it may have occurred to him, too."

"And you say this is a serpent of some sort?"

"A serpent body with three heads and two legs. It can even take on human form."

"I see. And did this attacker of yours look like that, as well? Do you know?"

She shook her head. "I'm afraid I didn't see them. I didn't wait until it could come out of its hiding place, which, now that I think of it, I should have." She frowned.

"No, it isn't worth the risk." It was Lawrence who spoke now. "You did well to get away in time. Another moment and you could've been toast."

Ayesha nodded. "Still, I wish I knew what I was dealing with here. It may not take long for it to come hunting me down, you know. I need to prepare myself to protect all of us." She groaned as she remembered something. "Oh, my magic! Why did I have to find out so late!? Did honestly no one know of it?! I could've learnt to control it soon!"

"Well," said Cecil, "you used magic once to get out of the trouble. What's to say you aren't already in control?"

She shook her head. "It ain't that easy. I've seen even experienced mages losing control of their magic now and then. Some regain it, but some... Well, they don't survive to."

A shocked silence fell at this revelation.

"At any rate," the princess went on, "I'll have to ensure that creature or person who attacked me is gone before Ahalan twenty days are up. That gives us roughly two days, if not less." Her mouth set in a grim line. "I need to go back to the spot I first encountered it and try to deal with it. And now."

"Why not just leave it here on Earth?" suggested Agatha.

Ayesha shook her head adamantly, her lips pursed. "No, that will not do. Either it comes with us to Ahala or it is killed. Well, it has to be killed here, preferably. If it goes back, it might awaken its counterpart that died in Ahala... if it's what I think it is."

Lawrence leaned forward curiously. "What do you think it is?"

"Look, some species of the Darkarous pit are split into two. They are connected by their... well, essence, I suppose, since they do not have souls. They can get separated, but are still linked. If one dies, the other can revive it back from Darkarous, where all creatures go when they die. Here on Earth, I don't know if it is possible; I've heard the air on Ahala is good for such a terrible revival. And also, they need to be in the same region for that to happen, and within a short span of time. I need to kill it now before it that can happen.

"But still, I'm not sure if they're a bonded pair. If they're not, we're lucky, but it still needs to be killed. Or, you know, whoever summoned it in the first place. If it is... we have a problem."

"Right." Agatha stood up. "You and I can go seek this creature. In the meantime, Cecil and Lawrence will take care of the house -"

"No!" cried Cecil. "I want to go along with you! I want to fight with you!"

Lawrence put an arm on his shoulder. "What if the creature comes here looking for Ayesha?" he said. "Then, we can fight."

Cecil scowled, but had nothing to counter it.