I'm running. I let my feet rush towards my home and I brought the torn paper with me. I could not think of anything to do but the vision reveals to me about so many books. "Is she referring to the town's library?" I whispered and upon realizing the thought, I hasten my way towards the location.
As I headed my way towards the town, I saw Lorelei from afar whilst running in my direction. "What are you doing here?!" I asks her yet she only signaled me to calm down and keep my mouth locked.
"You must lower your voice," she hushed and gradually pulled my arm. "My vision became unsure, I cannot see the images clearly. There, I could sense that something is not right," she continued which made me feel anxious all of the sudden.
"Allow me to assist you," she requested and I simply nodded at her. We began to walk near the open square and headed our way towards the library building. I held my breath as I slowly stepped my feet on the ground.
"Where do you think the townsmen went?" I whispered and I saw how Lorelei glanced at me before letting go of a sigh.
"Most of the folks were under the witch's spell, they are simply lurking behind the corners with their eyes gazing at you."
"Do you mean, they have become something they are not?" I once again throw a question and she parted her lips while trying to think of an answer.
"They are sleeping, yet their souls are screaming for help. You must go get the hidden book and comprehend the map which was written on it, otherwise, the folks shall sleep forever." My eyes rounded upon hearing her words, I shook my head and hasten my way to enter the place yet my heart almost fell when a woman greeted my sight.
"Sage?!" I exclaimed when I saw her lurking under the wooden table. She looked so surprised as well and her eyes were avoiding my gaze. "Why are you here? Have you seen Ezekiel?" I tried to draw near to her location but unfortunately, Lorelei pulled me.
"Do not make any unnecessary move," she warned and I remained my foot on the ground.
"... Terra, where have you been? Constance is furious, she will destroy our land any moment from now!" I was stunned upon seeing her sobbing, her tears were falling down her cheeks and all I could do was to stare at her formation.
"You should have run your way towards the Palace, lady. Your life is in danger," I heard Lorelei retort and she began to walk any closer to the counter.
I roamed my sight and beheld the bookshelves all over the place, my knees were staggering yet I managed myself to get going. I did not get to speak with Sage Williams because Lorelei has been convicting me to search for the book.
"Terra, you shouldn't have left the cabin!" I heard her, and bitterness was too obvious upon listening to her voice. What has become of her?
"Once your father gets back, you are dead."
Lorelei began to change the topic by asking Sage about what had occurred in the village. I shook my head and began to focus, "It needs to be here," I muttered and proceeded to check every bookshelf I locate.
As I traveled my fingers on each book I passed by, I halted when I realized I just brushed something damp. Tension began to arise in my body and I knew my hands are shaking. "What is that?" I whisper to myself as I tried to calm down yet the thought of touching something stuffy makes me even frighten.
I got the courage to look at it and I see red liquid, it coated the book and what made me even afraid is when I saw plenty of it on the floor. "Whose blood is this?"
I began to breathe heavily and as I start to walk once again, I covered my mouth to prevent myself from shrieking in fear. My feet lead me into the corner of the shop and my lips parted as my eyes became teary when I saw the old man who used to own the place. "Who killed him?" I whispered as I gradually covered my mouth. I was covered with fright and I hasten to get back to where Lorelei stood.
"Lorelei..." I was stopped when I saw her shoulder wounded, blood was gushing out and I was deeply dumbfounded upon what I just witnessed. "Who did that to you?" I blurted out the moment I get back to my senses. I ran closer in her direction and there I saw clearly with my two eyes the dagger on Sage Williams' grip.
She was staring down her sandals and her presence became scary. "What are you thinking, Sage?!" I exclaimed and pulled Lorelei away from her sight.
"Get the missing piece, Terra." I heard Lorelei mutter and so I felt puzzled and let her sit on the stool for a moment. Her hands were on her shoulder, trying to stop the blood.
I examine the entire place and glance once more at the counter where Sage was standing. "What has gone to her?"
"Getaway here Terra, you will no longer discover the hidden book. I already burned them," a sinister smile escape from her edges and she step forward.
"What have you done? Please, Sage. Don't do this to yourself."
"Do not be so foolish, don't you know that I am destined to be this way?" She responded and headed her way to the wall, her hands were too fast to grab the lamp and broke it.
It cause the fire to coat the entire area, my eyes widened upon what she did. "Depart from this place if you do not want to die." Those are the last words she exclaimed before Lorelei pulled me out of the place.
"... Sage,"
I felt my knees trembling in fear and I almost fell on the dirt. The scenario could not even be processed in my mind, what had occurred recently? Why do I have this feeling of being guilty? Am I the reason for her hatred?
"You must depart from the village, Terra. Never let anyone see you, seek help. I cannot assist you any longer, I must have my own departure as well." She never waited for me to speak but instead, she run away and all I could see is her shadow.
The fire devoured the town's library and I distant myself from it trying to restrain myself from getting caught by the flames and being scorched. All I could feel was hatred, and I began to despise Sage Williams.
I have chosen to begin my journey, I headed my way out of the village's gate yet I eventually stumbled along the path upon dashing myself into someone's figure. I almost held my breath the moment I took a glimpse of his countenance, my heart started to throb quickly and I almost fell on the dirt.
"Terra, I have been searching for you!" He exclaimed and darted himself to me. I felt his warm embrace along with his heavy breathing. He hugged me tightly and I could no longer move my body to respond to his care. "You're bleeding!"
"What has gone to the village, Kiel? Where are the townsmen? Have you seen my father?" Those questions were racing out of my mouth and I only assist myself to never let him see me crying.
"Hey, it is alright. You must calm down, your father is at the Palace so there is no reason for you to get worried too much. Unfortunately, Constance took all the souls she could find throughout the village and she left." He cupped my cheeks and gaze at me, mesmerizing my feature. He appears to be caring yet I suppose he is also frightened of what had occurred.
"You need to help me, Ezekiel. I must go beyond the borders in our territory to seek for help, Lorelei reveals something to me and mayhaps it shall lead me to the gates of the ethereal." He looked so puzzled yet eventually he shook his head and stepped back.
"It is too risky to cross the bridge, Terra. You cannot simply reach there and find any help, they might think you are a threat." I only sigh at his phrases and lowered my head, glancing at the grass.
I need to save the kingdom. If it takes me to die, then I shall be willing to splash my blood on the frigid floor just to let the people live. Our land needs revival and restoration.
"I must fulfill this, Kiel. The revelations told me to pursue it, you told me that there is that King who makes everything meaningful and has a purpose. I can say that it is from Him, the conviction I felt comes from His throne."
I saw how he gaze at me with awe and his lips parted upon having thought of not being able to prevent me from my agendas.
"You must be careful, Terra. You know how valuable you are to me," I perceived that he agreed to my intentions. I only let go of a smile to him and was prepared to take off when he suddenly pulled me closer to his chest and he cupped my face once more and let his lips touch mine.
Once again, I felt those soft edges.
Right after he pulled the kiss, he whispered to me. "I love you, mademoiselle. I will do everything to protect you, even if it causes me to be stuck in my grave."
I felt so dazed yet I eventually screamed when an arrow pierced through his arm, I step back and my eyes hasten to seek the one who did it. There, I saw the Ambers. Gohan and Timothy—on his grip is his bow and the two of them are riding their horses.
"Run, Terra!" Ezekiel exclaimed and pushed me. Yet I could not move my feet as if they were stuck on the footing.
"Is that why you began to renounce my presence, milady?" I heard Prince Gohan retort and they headed their way towards our direction.
"You must go now," Ezekiel told me and so I once more glance at the Princes' direction before taking off the place.
"Do any harm to this man and I shall surely dart my arrows on your throats, the two of you weren't as gentlemen as to how people think. Until we meet again," I turned to the left and ran as fast as I could, and enter the woods.
I no longer heard them chasing after me, I halted in the middle of the forest and took out the pieces I have taken. "This seems connected to me."
I must go far beyond the borders and I shall seek help, I will certainly fix what has been shattered and ruined.