The Wizard Guardians (Part 1 And 2)

Chapter 13: Deathworm

They travelled in the air with ease and no interruption except for a flock of Dixiecells they encountered, flying in the opposite direction. Kinaylangan bumaba at huminto nila Henry sa isang summit ng bundok, hindi nila maaaring sagupain ang apat na dosenang higanteng mga ibon na naglalalaglag ng glittering dusts which is actually magical fertilizers.

Without talking, they watched the Dixies flying past them, leaving a great shower of glittering golden dusts behind. Matapos makalagpas ang mga Dixies, they flew again toward the north, the sun rising up from the tops of the distant mountains.

Nang sa wakas, after passing over a wide stretch of forest and border-like line of mountains, natanaw nila ang matatayog na tore ng palasyo ng Terrestian Kingdom. Brownish-green in color, surrounded by a large maze whose walls are the colors of a moss so that it contrasted with the castle, making it stand out impressively.

Nakita ni Adriel na binilisan pa ni Henry ang paglipad ng sinasakyan na griffin, heading straight towards the castle---

"Henry, NO!" Sigaw niya. The griffins braked in the air, Henry's wheeled around. Binigyan ni Henry ng questioning look si Adriel, while his griffin kept flapping it's wings to remain airborne.

"Land!" Sigaw ni Ad kay Henry, at the same time, bumaba ang griffin niya sa lupa. Hindi nagtagal ay bumaba na din ang griffin ni Henry, though he kept distance. Nasa isa na silang clearing sa harap ng opening ng maze, ngunit napapalibutan pa rin sila ng mga nagtataasang mga puno.

Kaagad na bumaba si Adriel mula sa likod ng griffin at may hinalungkat sa leather bag na dala niya.

"We'll take the maze." Sabi niya, at inilabas ang isang mahabang rope.

Tiningnan siya ni Henry ng may confusion at pagkainis sa mukha. Gustong malaman ni Henry kung bakit kaylangan nilang pasukin ang maze gayong pwede naman silang lumipad papunta sa kastilyo---pero nagulat siya ng tila nabasa ni Ad ang isip niya.

"We cannot fly across the maze. The air above it was enchanted to resist tresspassers," he said as he did a few knots on the rope. Hinatak hatak niya ito para humigpit ang mga knots.

Hindi umimik si Henry. 'He knows more than I, I'll leave it to him.' He thought. Wala pa rin siya sa desisyon na makipag ayos.

"Wait here," sabi ni Adriel at tumalikod siya at naglakad papunta sa forest sa malapit. Hinayaan lang siya ni Henry, ibinaling niya ang atensyon sa pagmamasid sa kastilyo. Then after a few minutes Adriel returned holding a baby deer, nakatali ito sa rope na ginawa niya.

Tiningnan ni Henry ang deer na nakatali habang nagpupumilit itong kumawala. Adriel, on the other hand, was showing no sign of difficulty on holding the rope tied to it.

Hindi na muna umimik si Adriel kahit na alam niyang walang ideya si Henry sa ginagawa niya. Ngunit hindi na ito nagtanung. The fact that he resisted his curiosity is, para kay Adriel, alarming. Kadalasan ay mapagtanong si Henry, kahit sa mga simpleng hugis ng mga ulap oh kung panu nakakaamoy ng matatamis ang mga langgam ay tinatanung niya. Pero ngayon, he definitely turned more serious, just as Adriel had said to him---"Act like a matured guy!" He felt guilty with himself.

"Mount him. Follow me." Sabi ni Ad sa kanya ng hindi nagtatapon ng tingin. Sumakay ulit siya sa griffin niya, clutching the struggling fawn on his arms.

Henry followed his lead, his mind racing with thoughts as they entered the maze. Words. Words affect him so much. '

Yes I do! Childish! Lier! Flirt! Anu pa pwedeng idagdag?!' ;

'You're just showing us how dumb you are!'';

''Stop being foolish will you?!'';