Return to Jorgaldur Volume V: Reunion (2)

Ljila

"Follow me, please, Lady Gjaki," the muscular barbarian welcomed her.

"Alhgojl, do you know why he's called me?" the vampiress asked curiously.

The helpful and polite attitude of the leprechaun's secretary no longer surprised her, although it still seemed out of place. It was a great contrast to her barbaric friends.

In fact, his respect for the blood warrior was deep, as was his gratitude. Her mediation, with the help of the barbarian visitors, had allowed him to visit his parents and siblings without him being a disgrace to them. It hadn't been easy, but Smashy and Crushy had managed to do it without being too violent, just the necessary.

"I'm afraid not. I only know that it's important," he assured.

"He better. Now that I was going to win..." she complained.

Chornakish had replaced her, but she didn't have much hope for him. Her lover wasn't good in the game she called magic poker. She was sure that Diknsa and Coinin would take advantage of him. They knew him well, and he was too honest.

The barbarian smiled, as he led her through the halls. Soon, they began walking through ones she had never visited.

Gjaki looked around curiously. The walls were filled with runes and magic circles, from which she could sense subtle mana fluctuations. They were powerful barriers, which seemed to isolate the place in a somewhat special way.

Maybe others wouldn't have noticed, but it was obvious to her. Her connection with her children was being lost, being blocked by those barriers.

Space was also isolated, which made the creation of Gates impossible. If she was being set up, she could be in serious danger. Nonetheless, Gjaki wasn't too worried about it.

The leprechaun could have easily killed her long ago, when she had temporarily blocked the arrival of the corruption in the place where she was by then. She had almost died, and they had cared for her and let her heal. Furthermore, they had collaborated on many occasions, and had a powerful common enemy.

Finally, they reached a room, the door of which the barbarian opened.

"Here it is. They're waiting for you," he moved aside so that his guest could pass by.

She didn't hesitate and entered. There was an elegant room, although not overloaded. Apart from runes and magic circles, of course.

There were two sofas, one facing the other, a table in the middle, and armchairs on the sides. On the table, there were drinks and snacks, both sweet and savory.

In one of the armchairs, the leprechaun was sitting with a cup in his hand. His eyes were fixed on the vampiress, and he was smiling.

In the other armchair, there was a woman, who turned to look at the newcomer. Her skin was rather pale, her hair was darker gray than Gjaki's, and her eyes were also darker red. Her appearance looked like a woman in her thirties. However, to the newcomer, it was evident that she was much older, she could feel it.

Gjaki frowned, and not because the woman was a vampiress. Nor because her power was comparable to her, though it was weakened by something. Not even because she was an ancestral vampiress. It was her lineage that bothered her. It looked familiar, and she knew exactly why. However, there was also something different.

"Who're you?" Gjaki asked, not caring if it was appropriate or not. She was somewhat worried and confused.

"Do I look familiar to you?" the woman asked with interest, without answering the question.

"Yes and no. On the one hand, I'd say that you're the mother of Krovledi, and others like her. On the other hand, there's something different," ​​Gjaki responded, tense.

Her interlocutor lowered her head and sighed. She looked at the leprechaun, who nodded, not really knowing how to feel. It wasn't that he hadn't expected it, but the confirmation had affected him. He was partly grieving, and it was partly spurring his rage.

"My current name is Ljila, although in the past I was Gantila Golge, one of the biological daughters of Kan Golge, I'm the last survivor. Your response shows that, unfortunately, that monster is still alive."

Gjaki's eyes widened at a response she hadn't expected. However, it didn't take long for her to connect the dots. She understood that Kan Golge was really the father of Krovledi, the enemy of the leprechaun, and hers too. Because of Ljila's attitude, she concluded that the woman didn't have much sympathy for her father either.

"I see. Have you called me to confirm it?" she asked the leprechaun.

"It's one of the reasons, but not the only one. She wanted to meet you," the leprechaun explained.

Gjaki sat in one of the sofas, and stared at her intently. The leprechaun stood up to serve her a cup of a somewhat strange drink, which Gjaki loved. Funnily enough, Ljila loved it too, so he believed it must have something to do with being vampires. No one else could like something so sickly sweet.

As he served it, Ljila began to speak.

"I've been hiding from my father for a long time, I don't even remember how long. In the past, he used my siblings to regain his power whenever he needed it, by absorbing their essence, which killed them," she related, with tears almost appearing. It was a wound that the passage of time hadn't fully healed.

Gjaki said nothing. She stared at her, horrified.

"He wanted to use me too, but I managed to escape. It's impossible for me to confront him directly. I have a curse that not only allows him to locate me, if it weren't for the barriers, but it also weakens me even further if I'm around him. That way, it's impossible for me to fight him. The very coward... He did it to all of us when we were born... However, you can. I want to ask for your help," she explained.

"What do you want me to do?" Gjaki asked.

"We must restore the Eternal Flame before it's too late. The guardians have to return while there's still a place to do so. It's the only way to protect the Flame from him, it's his greatest objective. Not only would he regain his power, but he'd become stronger. We need your help for this," Ljila explained.

"How?" Gjaki was interested. She had heard Eldi speak of the Eternal Flame.

"You should ask him the details. The only thing I can give you is the power to counteract my father's magic."

"What power?"

"The one in my blood. Bite me."

"It's time," Menxilya murmured, looking into the distance.

Menxolor, her father, stood up suddenly, flustered. He didn't know how many years he had been waiting for that moment, he and all the survivors of his people.

The creation of the necklace his daughter was wearing around his neck had been the indicator that there was still hope. Since then, they had been preparing. The words of his daughter signaled that the moment had arrived. It was time to return to their home, or die trying.

With a solemn face, he went to a piece of metal that wasn't far from there. He circulated his mana and hit it, which produced a sound similar to a bell.

All the northern guardians raised their heads, left whatever they were doing, and headed towards the meeting place.