Respond

It is a matter of time until I will miss the sound of birds chirping happily while flying to every corner of Aetherux. After we married, Leir and I agreed to move my things from my house to his after the situation had settle down.

Before the sun is set, Naela and I went back to Medica while Leir is going to sharpened his katars at the Craft. Leah on the other hand will go back home with her husband.

Naela came to patient rooms, while I report to Mrs. Ilrune about the possibility of Aetherux attacking Moustier. I ask her permission to stock thrice more potions for the war. Hearing that, Mrs. Ilrune agreed. I go upstairs to my lab. Herbs by herbs are made into potions.

The sun is slowly going down while I make every potion one at a time. After there were no longer any flasks to use, I fetch Naela across the room where her lab is.

Her lab is full of many kinds of flasks, mortar and pestle. Behind her glasses, her sight focuses on the herbs, flowers, beeswax, and half made potions and salves around her. She did not even notice my presence. When I tap her shoulder, she screams loudly with high voice of hers. It triggered my ears to ring.

I cover my ears as memories from when I met grandma and grandpa in a weird place with weird creature until I figured out to sleep as a way out of there, slip through my brain. I groan extremely loud for the pain in my head as memories change to one another. I try to hold on to the wall as I lose balance.

Naela wraps my arm around her shoulder. Her faint voice is barely heard as the ringing is louder than hers. My breath comes out unsteadily.

Naela takes me downstairs to one of the patient rooms. She leans me down to the bed. I sit down on it while holding my head.

"Is your head hurt?" Naela tried to look me in the eye for my head is drooping.

"Very much." I grabbed my hair.

Naela runs out of the room with the door opened. I slowly let go off my hair as the pain has slowly fades. The room is suddenly covered with a shadow. I turn my head to the door, Leir is there running towards me.

"I passed by with Naela just now. I was going to ask you to eat with me at the inn. What happened?" He said it fast but calmly.

I stare into his eyes before answering his question. I do not know if it is best to tell him the truth about what was going on with me these past three days. He gives me a look on his face that I cannot lie to. When he holds my hand, I am sure he will not make fun of what I am going to say.

"I had been having a weird...thing in my head. I don't know what it is for sure." My head drooped.

"You remember our promise about not having a secret with one another, right?" He held me by my chin. "Tell me everything."

I told him everything I remember of since the day of the bombings and Madam Ainé's siren voice. Those memories I had are mixed with the ones I have in Aetherux right after I got out from the weird place. My head hurts every time the memories come and go in my mind. Without noticed, tears flow out on my cheeks.

Leir wipes those tears away. His gentle voice calms me when he said everything is going to be alright.

Naela returns to the room with three bowls of pumpkin soup on wooden tray. She serves us the soup on the table next to the bed. She leans the soup for me and Leir. He takes the bowl and sits on a chair next to me. I take the bowl in my hand. The three of us silently eat the soup. Naela stirs the soup with spoon, then stops.

"I'm sorry for screaming like that, Claire." Her head dropped.

"No, it's okay Nael. My ears just sensitive." I glanced at Leir when he frowned at me. "Actually, it wasn't sensitive before the bombings." I let go off the spoon to tell her the truth just as I told Leir.

Naela is stunned with her eyes widely opened. Either she believes it or not, is all written in her face. She wonders how could that happened. Before I open my mouth to answer her, Leir stands up with empty bowl in his hand. He puts down the bowl on the table, then lets out his catcher.

His catcher hovers in front of me. I close my eyes to let him activate his magic. White light stabs my vision from outside, although my eyes were closed. Wind blows on my face gently from his catcher.

"Since when does your catcher blows wind, dear?" I asked with my eyes closed.

"It never does,"

That's weird.

He continues, "Try to gently remember the weird place you were been, honey." He said calmly. "But don't force it out."

A couple strands of my hair are moving on my forehead. My vision is dark before a light slowly appears at the center. The light flashes memory of the very first time I saw grandma outside the unfamiliar bedroom, until the moment where they just came home bringing me a box with delicious scent are coming together in my head without any pain.

Leir's catcher stops blowing wind as it deactivated.

"Claire." He stared at me with his eyebrows stiffed. "Those memories of yours you just saw were not from reality." He paused. "Remember," He held my hand. "This is reality, and those memories isn't. Don't be deceived by it." He warned me.

I nod, "I forgot to tell you guys, that I haven't dreamt any dream in my sleep ever since. Does it have connection with my dream?" I said unsteadily.

"My feelings said it does." He put his catcher back to his pocket.

"Those memories of yours replaced the dream in your sleep. In other words," She continued, "Those are possibly your continuous dream memories, Claire." Her voice deepened with her sight focused on mine.

"Thank you so much, both of you." I said softly. "Now I know those memories of mine are dreams."

I can put myself at ease for a while. When Naela and I sip another scoop of soup, heavy footsteps loudly cover the sound of birds chirping outside the church. The footsteps stop, and followed by an announcement melody out of trumpets. All of us turn our sight to the window. The sun has gone. Naela and I quickly finish the soup while Leir calmly awaits us.

Leaving the empty bowls behind, the three of us ran outside. The sound of Sir Aragorn's guards' trumpet echoes the forest louder as we walk close to them. Other elves had already gathered before us. Their eyes are on the guard, waiting for the announcement. Sir Aragorn told the guards that everyone is here as they stop blowing the trumpet.

"Aetherux! As we all know, three days ago, Zephyr and Elena had been kidnapped. According to the reports of both teams' investigation, Brealis is scratched out of the culprit list and leaving only Moustier. After Moustier investigated, Prae's team was attacked last night right after they had found where Zephyr and Elena are imprisoned! This morning I assigned both teams to deliver my message to Moustier. I asked them to return our family back until sunset." Sir Aragorn paused to look up to the sky. "The sun has already gone, yet we have not received any response nor our family back." He took a breath. "I hereby declare war!" He shouted angrily.

Aetherux elves' loud gasp and some murmurs after the announcement were frightening the birds away from the center of Aetherux. The birds return to their nest as the sky is too dark for them to fly around.

"Sharpen your weapons! Thicken your armors! Bring tents, foods, ropes, hooks, warm clothes and everything we need for the war! Let us protect Aetherux from those who want to destroy it! Aetherux has your back! We can win as one!" Sir Aragorn gave them spirit to win this very first war.

I shout along with Aetherux elves, "AETHERUX FOR LIFE!" We tapped our left chest to seal the spirit.

"Gather here once everything I mentioned are ready. I will lead us to Moustier, then rest near their gates. Luthien and I will take the first watch while the rest of you take a rest." Sir Aragorn stopped for the guards whispered something to his ear. "Guards are on their way with carriages. Ready your magic catchers before our departure." Sir Aragorn dismissed his guards then go to Craft.

"Let's prepare ourselves, Reilas." Naela left to the Medica.

Every one of us scatter to Craft, Tailor, Medica, and Inn for the trip to the snow mountain village where we are about to give respond after what they had done to us. I told Naela that I will be right over.

I turn to Leir, "Dear, since our opponents will be Moustier, you need to fasten up your speed to dodge their metal weapons." I paused.

Metal?

"I need to go to my house. I have an idea!" I shouted a little.

Leir immediately carries my whole body up in his arms, "Let me take you there." He jumped up to a tree near us, then to another until we reached his horse.

We ride on a horseback to my house. We have passed about twenty trees until my house can be seen from above when we arrive at the west. I get off the horse once we have arrived at the front of my house. I unlock the door quickly, then run inside.

I take all potions and salves stock of mine. As I open the second drawer, metal coins from delivering potions to Moustier are chinking. When I was about to mix metal and stone coins in one bag, I get my other tiny bag on the table next to my bed. I open my bedroom to get it. Then, close back the door and return to my small lab.

"So, what are you going to do with it?" Leir followed me around.

I stop, then turn to show him the metal coins. "Make them taste their own medicine."

"That's not a medicine, dear." He smirked.

I lightly hit his arm, "It's just an expression." I pulled down his back, and stood on my tip toe to kiss the arm where I hit it.

He strokes my hair, "Are you going to take these metals to the craft?" He took a couple of metal coins, and put it back in the tiny bag.

"Yes. If we want to win against metals, we have to sharpen our weapons with metals too. I don't think stones are enough." I shook the metal coins in the bag. "Do you think the crafters can use these coins for all of Aetherux elves?" My eyebrows drooped.

He holds the bottom of the bag, "Only one way to find out. Let's grab the equipment Sir Aragorn mentioned in our house." He looked up to the window.

I nod then go outside with Leir to lock the house before going back to the horse. Leir's house is close to mine. It does not take long to arrive there.

After few trees we passed at the southwest, we arrived at our house. I follow Leir around the house to get ropes, hooks, tent, and everything he needs for the war. Leir kneels down to look under the bed. He then slides out a bag big enough to keep the equipment in.

Next stop is the Craft. We ride back to public cottages with the wind gently blew on our faces. The public services' roofs are slightly seen behind the trees further away from us. A thin smoke from the craft is flowing up. The Craft and Tailor are crowded by elves who are preparing for the war. We get off of the horse together and tie the reins on a tree.

We get in the very end of the line to the Craft. One by one elves are getting their weapons sharpened. This won't do. I cut the line to see the crafters with a tiny bag of metal coins in my hand. Elves are complaining how I cut the line.

Leir bows to each one of them as apologize for cutting the line while walking backwards against my back. Ten crafters are busy sharpening their customers' weapons.

I walk a step closer while chinking my metal coins inside the tiny bag to get their attention, "Excuse me."

The crafters are all looking at me. "You don't seem to bring a weapon." One of them glared.

"I am here to bring you metal coins I traded with Moustier." I gave them the tiny bag. "We are against the metal source of Elyvenor. I was thinking of melting these metals to enhance our weapons."

The crafter takes the tiny bag, and looks inside it. "You mean enhancing all weapons in Aetherux with these coins? These are tiny pieces of metals, it's not enough." His eyebrows dropped. "Not to mention since the disappearance of Zephyr, we need to enhance manually again. Besides, we have never tried melting metal before. Which means the success rate to enhance stone weapon into metal will be around 50%, Mistress." He gave me back the tiny bag.

I take the tiny bag and squeeze it. I lift my head, "How about enhance one weapon with that much rate you have escalated?" I accidentally raised my voice.

Leir takes off his weapon for he has heard the conversation I had with the crafter. He puts his katars on the craft counter. I put my tiny bag of metal coins beside it. All of the crafters' eyes stares at the katars.

"How much does it cost to increase the rate into 100%?" Leir's deep voice silenced the crafters from thinking of failing the enhancement.

"200 stone coins, 80% of success." They offered.

"240 stone coins, 100%." Leir bargained.

"Deal!" Mr. Iziuel suddenly talked at the back.

The other crafters glare at Mr. Iziuel for agreeing to the deal without discussion.

"After what you have done for my wife, it's the least I can do to return the favor." Mr. Iziuel took the money and katars.

Leir bows to Mr. Iziuel, "Thank you, Mr. Iziuel. I will pay it after the weapon is ready. When will it be done, Mr. Iziuel?" He leaned his hand on the counter.

Mr. Iziuel looks at the window, "Before Sir Aragorn returns here." He said proudly.

Leir and I split once we had a deal at the Craft. He took a seat on a bench next to Medica while I help out to bring out potions and salves in wooden boxes.

Full moon slowly replacing the sun in the navy sky. One by one boxes are finished lifted outside Medica. When I took the last box on the ground with Naela. I heard one of the crafters comes out to call out Leir's name. Leir immediately gets up and go inside.

Horses run from northeast with carriages behind them towards the public cottages. Everyone who are inside each of cottages walk outside to see the carriages. Agis and his boy friends come out when Naela called them to help us in lifting the boxes to the carriages.

Five carriages are filled with potions and salves. Mrs. Ilrune and her daughter, Mrs. Ilyene, get inside one of the carriages to guard the red salves. Naela and I are in charge of purple potions and salves. Agis and Melaine are in charge of orange potions. And the other juniors are in charge of blue and green potions in other two carriages.

Leir goes out from Craft with his enhanced katars in his hands. The edges of his katars are covered with metals. Everyone who are outside the Craft see his katars with amazed wide eyes for the first success of making a metal weapon. I call out his name to tell him that I will be in one of the carriages of potions and salves. He runs to me with his katars are swinging back and forth.

"Claire!" Leir panted. "I will follow you from behind with the other assassins."

"Aww this newly wedding couple is so cute." Naela teased us when I nodded to Leir. "You two will be together once we've arrived. Don't worry too much."

I show my frowned face to Naela before smiling to Leir.

He messes my hair as he usually does before going to his horse. Chefs, pharmacists, and crafters are getting on the rest of carriages. While sewers, vicars, musicians, elders, and children are staying behind.

Mrs. Keara is talking with Sir Aragorn near the Craft. He rustles a napkin out from his pocket to wipe her tears. He promises to return her son when I read his lips. Mr. Iziuel on the other hand is getting on one of the two carriages in front of mine. Mr. Luthien, Mr. Harold and his weather catcher team are getting on the carriage in front of me. Leir's horse is running towards the carriage I am in with the other assassins next to him. Mrs. Keara waves to Sir Aragorn when he gets on his horse.

Sir Aragorn turns his horse around to see if everyone is ready for our departure to Moustier. He rides his horse in circle of seventeen carriages with his eyes counting the elves who are in the part of the war. Every one of us sits in order to keep the balance for both horse and carriage.

The moment Sir Aragorn is done counting us, he returns to Mr. Morthil side at the front of the line. Sir Aragorn's horse stands while neighing in high pitched before it runs up north, followed by Mr. Morthil and the rest of us.

I hold on to the seat rail as my carriage moves. Those who stay behind wave at us. Trees slowly cover the whole public cottages. Only a slight of smoke left seen above the trees. Birds are singing their cheerful chirp along our departure. The chirping stops as the moon has awaken. Once living trees are replaced by dead ones. Horses and wheels are no longer stepping on grass, but dirt covered with snow.

The carriage stumbles when the wheels are tripping on medium size rock tucked in the snow. Naela shirked a bit while I am holding tighter on the seat rail. The guard who drives this carriage horse park on the right as the other potions and salves carriages as well as the rest of pharmacists.

Leir follows the head of the assassins to the left with the other fighters to park. Mr. Morthil leads the knights to follow Sir Aragorn in front of the assassins. While Leah and the other archers are in front of the pharmacists. I get off the carriages to lift one box to another down on the ground. With the help of Agis and his friends, the job is finished quicker.

I excuse myself to Mrs. Ilrune to go to Leir. He is preparing a tent big enough for both of us. I lend him a hand in setting up the tent. After the tent was made, I put my bag in. Leir goes inside to put his big bag in as well.

Across our tent, Naela is hardly setting up the tent. I go out the tent to help her out. The other elves are setting up their tents as well. One tent after another is set.

Sir Aragorn walks in the middle of us, "As I said before, Luthien and I will take the first watch. Do not make yourself alarmed and take a good rest for tomorrow." He his loud deep voice gently allowed us to sleep. "I will wake one of you to take the next watch."

Exactly after Naela's tent had finally set, my eyes are half opened for they are struggling to fight drowsiness. Everyone goes inside their tents, except Mr. Luthien and Sir Aragorn.

This will be the first time Leir and I spend the night together. We made our bags into pillow for us to sleep. We snuggle throughout the night for warmth.

The first ray of sunlight lit up the tent. Leir's peaceful sleeping face is close to mine as I open my eyes. With the tip of my thumb, I stroke Leir's cheek. But then the guard blows a wake-up melody from his trumpet. Leir's eyes were immediately opened wide.

"Good morning." I got up and took my bag.

Leir gets up, "Good morning, sunshine." He kissed my forehead then took his bag as well.

We go outside the tent where the trumpet melody came from. The guard stops blowing the trumpet as everyone has awaken. Sir Aragorn walks in the middle of both tents on right and left while yawning. He holds an old scroll in his hand. He sits on the ground while unfolding the scroll. Some sits around the scroll, and some stands up while looking down at it.

"Everyone, this is a map of Moustier, a belonging to our very first leader, before they built the gate. When Prae took the second watch, he redrew the map." He pointed the gate. "Since they have five guards guarding the gate, and other two guards above the gate. We will fight them with equal number. Prae and Agis will stand behind the weather team; Harlord, Glyn, Connal, Heamir, and Siiris. Prae will protect them with his barrier." He slid his finger to inside Moustier. "Whatever happens, fight them with all your might until we successfully reach the leader's place where he kept our family. Agis will keep the weather team, Prae, Axel, Leir, Leah, Naela and Claire hidden with your mist. Prae will guide you to the prison." He paused. "Are there any questions?"

I raise my hand, "I have something to say. I saw a couple of wolves outside the gates on yesterday's mission in delivering the message to Moustier. Might as well aware be of it once we arrive at the gate." The moment I warned them about the wolves, a wolf howls from afar. "Speak of the devil."

The wolf jumps from higher ground to in front of Sir Aragorn. Leir covers me with his katars on his chest when it growls at us. Sir Aragorn slides his sword and lifts it up as a cue to start the plan. Mr. Dior' Barrier catcher is activated above us. Agis activates his Mist catcher to blur the wolf's vision. Mr. Luthien flashes his light in its eyes. The wolf whimpers and runs toward the gate. Mr. Dior knocks out the wolf with his shield.

Agis deactivates his catcher, "Do we need to kill those wolves too?"

"If they attack first, yes." Sir Aragorn slid his sword back in. "Eat fast. Fighters and some pharmacists are coming with us to the gate. The rest of you, stay hidden. Guards! will keep an eye on wolves out here."

The chefs share soup to each one of us. Everyone slurp their soups until the bowl is clean.

We pass the wolf from before. He lies unconscious on the ground. Once we are all set to the gate, Sir Aragorn leads the way. Elves who are mentioned by him are readying their catchers floating in front of them. The mighty gate can be seen above the trees.

We're here.

Naela and I are hiding behind the dead trees, while their magic catchers are floating. Mr. Dior activated his barrier around each catcher to protect the magic from being destroyed. Mr. Glyn's Lightning catcher floats above the middle guard. He points his five fingers down as lightning struck five guards' metal armor. The guards got shocked.

Before they fall on the snow ground, Mr. Connal and Mrs. Siiris blast a mix of tornado with snow into a blizzard. The blizzard freezes their whole body from toes to every strand of their hair into elf ice cubes.

The two guards notice what we have done to the five guards under them. They immediately aim their crossbows at the lightning catcher below. When the arrows released, they bounce away and fall into the dead woods. Mr. Glyn bends his catcher up to the two guards. One of the guards noticed a floating item. When he was about to bend his knee down to grab something, Mr. Glyn shocks them with his lighting. One of the guards fight the electricity around his body while trying to reach something down where he stood. Blizzard freezes both of them while the lighting electrocutes them.

We come out from the trees once all of the guards are frozen solid. Leir and the rest of us ready our hooks tied with ropes. Leir swings it up to the left where the two guards were guarding. He grabs my wrist to help me climb up with the rope. We take one step at a time until we reach the top. I accidently step on trumpet.

So, he was about to tell our position!

Leir notices it too and immediately slash it into two.

Moustier can be seen clearly from here. Five guards are guarding some kind of public chalet of services like back home. Sir Aragorn shows his five fingers then pointed down on the right; saying there is five guards on the right.

All of the knights, assassins, pharmacist and Sir Aragorn jump out of the metal postern gate so the archers can take over it. Leah, and the other archers are aiming their longbow at the guards. They search for a soft spot where their arrow can stab through. The head of archers are giving a cue when they can release the arrows. They aim for the head in his cue. Arrows fly through the guards' heads.

Melaine's catchers grow vines around ten guards at once, then tight them up with its horns before their armors rustle on the ground and make noise to blow our position, she bends the vines to take the dead guards hidden in between the gate and chalet. Agis activates his two Mist catchers to hide the dead bodies.

"We need to get ready to fight them in person now. There are another three guards in each side of the villager's chalets. If the villagers see us, our position will be blown." Sir Aragorn faintly heard from where I stand. "This is the assassins' part." He turned his head to Leir. "Leir." He lifted his arms to make katar gesture in Leir's hands. "You have metal katars, lead the other assassins. Agis will cover." He pointed his palm down for the assassin to start in action.

Leir takes the tied hook in a rope to get him and the other assassins down. He wraps my wrist to slide us down from the gate. Naela and I hide behind a wall while watching the assassins runs towards the guards. Agis cover the guards in mist before assassins engage.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Crack!

Noises were all I can hear inside the mist. Leah activates her Detect catcher to see whether the assassins need back up or their job is done.

The sun has already reached its brightest. Leah nods to Agis for him to move the mist backwards. Agis's catcher flies back to him. Mr. Dior points his palm forward at the assassins to assist them for taking the dead body away to the same spot where we put the previous bodies. Mr. Dior activates his barriers in three meters long around the assassins, and the rest of us.

We sneak through the village into the leader's place. We pass chalet by chalet on the right side; hidden inside Agis's mist. The mist extends without movement for the villagers not to be suspicious about us.

Mr. Dior lifts his right arm for us to stop, "Ten guards up ahead." He whispered.

Agis nods as he understood, when he wants to activate his other Mist catcher, Sir Aragorn stops him. He points at the Mr. Glyn to take over those ten guards. Mr. Glyn uses the same strategy as before with the help of Mr. Connal and Mrs. Siiris.

With all of the ten guards of the leader are frozen, we head to where Mr. Dior saw them kept Zephyr and Mrs. Iziuel; the prison on the right of the leader's place.

After a moment, Mr. Dior is looking at a tiny window, "T-they're not here. Sir Aragorn, this could be a tr–!"

Before he finished, someone comes out from the place.

A middle-aged lady in white fur armor with wolf- shaped of metal on her right arm is standing between a pack of wolves.

Their leader is a woman!

The wolves are growling around her, "Now, now, my pets. We must not frighten towards the..." She looked at all of us. "INTRUDERS!" The wolves ran toward us when she screamed.

Mr. Luthien immediately bends his catcher in front of us. His catcher slowly hovers towards the running wolves. Then, it flashes a huge light to blind those wolves. The wolves whimper as their vision is immobilized.

The wind in the mountain echoes villagers' scream. They start running towards the back gate to evacuate.

Mr. Iziuel turns his eyes on the leader, "Where is my Elena?! Where are you keeping her?!" He shouted as his pulse appeared in his side neck. He keeps on taking a step closer to her.

Sir Aragorn pulls him while Mr. Dior is thickening the barrier layer.

The weather team is ready to cast their magic on her.

"Oh boo... my poor pets." She held her wolves in her arms. Then stared at Mr. Iziuel, "Would you like to see Elena?"

The moment Mr. Iziuel wanted to say he does, Sir Aragorn covers his mouth with his palm, "Wait. As Prae said, this could be a trap." He paused. "What is your wife's magic?" He whispered while slowly uncover Mr. Iziuel's mouth.

"Familiar." Mr. Iziuel whispered.

Sir Aragorn's eyes are wide opened. His body is stunned. He lets go off Mr. Iziuel, "...It cannot be." He turned his head to us. "Beware for Elena's magic, Aetherux!" He shouted at us.

"That's right." The leader lifted her arm and waved her fingers.

Mr. Iziuel comes out from the leader's place with an enormous Familiar catcher with her marriage feathers attached hovering behind her.

Mr. Iziuel screams out her name, asking him not to do what the leader asked her to. But there are wolves growling around at her, threatening her. Her eyes are swollen, her lips are shut closed, and her clothes are covered with ash.

"Would you like to be my first test subject, Aetherux?" The leader stood up straight. "Oh!" She looked up to the sky. "It's almost night time." She laughed hysterically. "You have no idea what you are dealing with, do you?"

Mr. Haemir aims his catcher at Mrs. Iziuel's catcher. He blasts a fire like sun at the catcher to fail whatever reason the leader is going to do. As the fire reaches Mrs. Iziuel's catcher, the fire slowly goes out.

Moustier's leader laughs hysterically, watching the fire goes out against Mrs. Iziuel's catcher, "What's the use of Zephyr then?" She continued her mad laugh.

Zephyr walks unwillingly out of the leader's place. There are wounds and bruises on his face. His clothes are covered with ash as well. Both of them are in a very bad shape. His enchant catcher is hovering in front of him.

They're in that shape for 3 days?! Those bruise wounds will be infected by the ash!

I gasp knowing his ripped feathers attached onhis catcher. Lost in thoughts, I had no idea what we are going to encounter.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***