Phoenix: The nuruk beast.

Chapter Five: A New Day

They ran like never before; Aldrich still couldn't fathom the fact that the sprites were able to force open the stone gate. The two ran as fast as they could but not fast enough, Aldrich could tell that the sprites were slowly gaining on them by the sound of their piercing shrieks. The uneven forest grounds made running a challenge for Aldrich. He risked falling at every sudden descent and climb he had to overcome while running from the enraged sprites. He heard Lydia laughing beside him as if she were thrilled by the situation there were in.

"Do you realize how much trouble we're in right now?!!" Aldrich yelled in his frantic state.

"Calm down Slage!!" She said hurtling through the forest effortlessly.

"How am I supposed to calm...!"

"Follow me" Lydia cut in.

She began running faster putting distance between her and the sprites and though it seemed easy for her to increase her speed, it took Aldrich every ounce of stamina he had left to match her pace. She began taking sudden turns that made following her even more tasking for Aldrich. Once again, they could hear the piercing shrieks of the sprites getting closer. Lydia quickly took off her leather tunic and threw it behind her letting it stop some the closest sprites to them. Wearing only a white sleeveless tunic with light fabric, she gripped Aldrich's hand tightly and asked;

"Can you swim?"

"Yes, why would you ask that now?" he asked frantically.

As they ran further, he noticed there was a huge stream beside them leading to a water fall they were heading towards. Then, as if planned, they both took a huge leap onto the water fall. Holding hands firmly they both shouted as they fell, Aldrich's scream though was in fear while Lydia's was in excitement. The two landed in a huge body of water causing a large splash, the sprites flew around the spot in the water they entered but avoided touching it at all cost. Meanwhile, just below the surface of the water Lydia led Aldrich by his hand as they swam away unnoticed by the sprites. They followed the current of the stream for a while, they finally came out by the shore somewhere far off from where they entered. There they sat panting heavily.

"Are you okay?" Lydia asked trying to catch her breath,

"Yes, and you?"

"I'm fine"

"What gave you that idea?"

"For some reason they don't come near water that's outside their sanctuary."

"How did you know?"

"Once, when I was fifteen, I brought a satchel full of water to the sanctuary, it was the first time I would see them act hostile towards me." Saying this, Aldrich noticed a smile spread across her face as she gazed thoughtfully in fondness of the memory.

"Was all this worth it though?" he asked her,

"What do you mean?"

"That place seemed special to you but you were willing to let it go."

Lydia began laughing as though Aldrich had said something amusing, "You see Slage, Sprites have an extremely short life span" she said.

"Really...How short?"

"Let's just say if I came back in two months, I'd meet a new generation of them."

"That's incredible."

"I found out a few years back when I decided I was going to start naming them."

Aldrich held out the sword and gazed at it, the beauty of the sword made him feel somehow this was all worth it. Its blade being light and well balanced, lustred greatly like that of Lydia's. It was truly a priceless gift. He handed the blade to Lydia asking her to take it. But she just looked at it with a smile on her face. She turned her head away and then laid on her back with her knees still buckled.