Soulbound

Soul 27: Hysteria

"Because sometimes your comfort zone doesn't really give you comfort..."

AVERY

Mataas at nakasisilaw ang araw. Pinagpapawisan na si Zirrius dahil sa walang tigil na pagtakbo. This was already the third day of his training. At night, they were camping on where they could safely assemble their tents.

And every night, I was asking Zirrius to meditate in order to channel his energies throughout his body to wield magic. Ang nakapagtataka, tila may pumipigil na kung ano sa kapangyarihan niya. Nahihirapan siyang maglabas ng mahika. I was letting him do the basics because of this unknown hindrance. I was still figuring things out. Was it because of the gold seal on his arm? It was the only reason I could think of.

Ayon kay Kendrick, malapit na silang makarating sa Oasis. Kahit papaano ay nawala ang pagod ni Zirrius nang malaman na malapit na sila. It kept him going. Napapansin ko na mas tumatagal na rin ang katawan niya dahil sa araw-araw na pagtakbo. Hindi na siya masyadong nahihirapang huminga, hindi katulad noong una. He was starting to build more stamina which was really good.

"I think, I can now see the Oasis from here!" I exclaimed with excitement after a few minutes. Napangiwi si Zirrius dahil medyo napalakas ang tinig ko. Pero pagkalipas ng ilang segundo ay ngumiti na rin siya. He sighed in relief. He was planning to drink all the water from that Oasis, if only he could. But then, that's an exaggeration. He was just too tired at inaaliw lang niya ang sarili niya para mawala ang pagod niya kaya niya naisip 'yon.

Nang makarating sila sa Oasis, walang inaksayang panahon si Zirrius. Agad siyang tumakbo patungo sa bukal. He drank the fresh water of the Oasis. Gusto kong matawa dahil pakiramdam ko, hindi siya isang prinsipe sa kalagayan niya ngayon. He couldn't even afford to have his own well of water. It was like he was now a commoner who couldn't afford the basic needs of life. I wondered how time can drastically change everything on just a short period.

Itinali na ni Kendrick ang mga kabayo nila sa kabilang parte at pinainom din ng tubig. Kendrick drank some water too. Pagkatapos ay nagsimula na siyang mag-igib para sa mahaba nilang paglalakbay. Zirrius washed his face with water because the heat was too much for him. Napapagod na ihiniga ni Zirrius ang sarili sa lupa. He winced from the sun's heat. The sky was blue and clear. May ilang mga ibon na malayang lumilipad sa himpapawid.

May konting halaman sa paligid ng Oasis and the water was crystal clear. Everything in this place was so peaceful and quiet. There's still paradise in the middle of the desert like there is hope in the middle of this journey.

"Can you still move your fingers?" natatawang tanong ko kay Zirrius. He did try to move his fingers but it was already numb. His body was too exhausted to follow his mind's orders.

"Magpahinga ka muna," natatawang saad ko.

He frowned but didn't complain. He silently watched the thin clouds slowly moving above him.

"Do you really think that I can wield magic?" he asked inside his mind.

"Why? Sumusuko ka na ba?" takang tanong ko sa kanya.