Cosmos | Celeste Academy Series BK #5

Chapter 4 ♦ Application

Aetheria,

Outskirts of Zorienna

Keelan and Brindon were in panic after they heard what happened in the caves—mostly just Keelan. Cifaro, who had long since perished, had suddenly appeared in front of the members of the Twelve who were present. They were mildly taken aback, but did not dawdle and immediately got to work under the Gilerad's guidance. The representative of the Great Hall, Araminna, and her companion stepped in, hearing that the first-ranker needed immediate medical assistance.

They climbed the top of the falls and stood by a wide river below which they suspected the two would be in. Keelan, being Denovegasian, tapped into the element of the earth to source out Corvan and Valeriana, however, before he started 'digging', he stopped short and stepped back.

"We should give them time," the eleventh-ranker said, his voice soft amidst the running water.

"What?" Tamara nearly exclaimed, but it was not any louder than the whine that left Tiger's throat as he scratched his way out of Tamara's arms.

"What," Brindon repeated.

"You heard Cifaro. Corvan is injured!" the third-ranker resumed. "Shut it, you stupid cat. Don't you dare!"

"The injury must be checked," Araminna insisted. "Blood loss is still critical and may result to severe consequences—even if the wound is not that deep."

"He won't die if we wait a few moments." Keelan's brows knitted as he thoughtfully rubbed his chin. "I think they need it the most right now. To sort out a few things. We'll give them fifteen minutes at most. Valeriana should be able to give Corvan some first aid while they wait."

"How can you be so sure?" Charles inquired.

"Because . . ." The Denovegasian young lord sighed heavily. "I saw it, alright?"

"Through your seismic thing?" Tamara's brows creased.

Tiger got full of it and bit down on Tamara's arm, causing her to drop the cat which ran off to a direction.

"Tiger!" she exclaimed. "This stupid cat!"

"What of the two?" Rowe asked worriedly as he spared a glance at the white cat that had taken off for another direction. "Get that cat," he told one of his men quietly who nodded and did as he was told.

"Valeriana is fine and Corvan seems okay. He's pacing his breathing really well and his wounds didn't seem too severe. If we interrupt this, it'll be more unsettling and unhealthy. So much they might die from it." Keelan shook his head. "I'll be back after fifteen minutes. Don't worry, they're not in danger. Corvan's fine. It's just flesh wound."

The rest of the Twelve, the healers, and the Gilerad watched the eleventh-ranker, dumbfounded and with itchy heads. They had no idea what Keelan was on about, but the thoughtfulness and deliberation had been heavy enough to be convincing. Cifaro lingered on the top and, instead, relayed what happened to Charles and Rowe clearly, saying it was a demonic parasite which specialized in binding with the aura—it was the same infection plaguing the guardians of each continent.

"Sir," said one of Rowe's men. "We, um, we could not find the cat, sir."

"What do you mean you cannot?" Rowe's brows furrowed. "Valeriana will be distressed."

Charles glanced at Rowe. "Something wrong?"

"It's the cat." Rowe sighed.

The fourth-ranker shook his head. "It'll return." He turned to Cifaro. "What were you saying?"

"Valeriana has summoned me by accident. The energy she lent has been outstandingly effective in bridging, so that I was able to appear," Cifaro said. "However, it seems she herself was unawa—"