Chapter 55

New Friends

Light? Was that light? I whispered as I rubbed my eyes. In this sea of darkness, I saw myself following the only beacon of light I found. Strangely, tears were falling constantly from my cheeks. I wiped them, yet they continued to fall.

Why? I was neither in pain nor hurt and I barely feel anything. There was only emptiness within me - as though there was a hole in my chest. I felt breathless, yet I was breathing just fine.

Suddenly, the light expanded. The dark became white, and now, what welcomed my eyes was an endless expanse of light. Everything changed, yet felt the same. Except that now, I could see myself.

“Hello?” I shouted, but my voice only echoed several times before a deafening silence crept back on me again. There was nothing for me to do so I started to walk, and walk, and walk. I may have walked a hundred kilometers by now. I didn’t know. I’m really bad at estimating distance.

“Arthur?” an unfamiliar voice suddenly called behind me.

Slowly, I looked back and saw a woman I only saw in photographs. She smiled warmly, but I still felt nothing. Her teeth glistened just as I remembered. She came closer and looked down on me, the grin never leaving her lips. Strangely enough, the tears instantly stopped when she wiped my cheeks. “I missed you, darling,” she said and kissed my forehead.

Then another woman’s voice called, “Arthur?”

A familiar face met my gaze as I looked at her within the corner of my vision. However, instead of photographs, she looked identical to the painting Duliri showed me. Her face and stature resembled granny’s in her younger years. She inched closer. Our eyes met. Then a second later, I found myself inside her arms. Her head rested on my shoulder.

“I missed you, sweetheart,” she whispered behind my ear.

As much as I wanted to detach myself from anything within these bullshits, wasn’t it too much of a personal attack to use people I always longed for? “Why now mother?” I whispered back with a quivering voice, tears beginning to accumulate under my eyes again. “Aren’t you one of those dreams again? Just how many?”

She let go and both of them beamed a smile. “Didn’t you miss us?”

“You’re not real!” I shouted, covering my ears. “Just leave me alone.”

Two men then appeared behind each of them. “Are we not, Arthur? We can be your family,” they asked in unison, “all of us.”

I didn’t reply. I simply closed my eyes and hugged my knees. “I said leave me alone-”

“It’s alright now, honey. You can wake up now,” a soft voice echoed. Granny? “Open your eyes…”

And so I did.

And then… and then… and then...

***

Arthur abruptly opened his eyes, Katarina, Vlanca, and Duliri welcoming him for the day. He gasped before lounging himself onto his grandmother’s arms. Tremors spread around his body. He held onto her so tight that it became harder for her to breathe. Tears fell as he planted his face onto her shoulder. Finally… Finally, he could feel real warmth from the touch or even smell the flowery fragrance of her dress.

For a few seconds, Katarina massaged his back. Then she pulled out and met his gaze. “You alright, honey?” she asked tenderly, a reassuring smile curving her lips. “Did you have a bad dream?”

The boy nodded.

“About what?”

Suddenly, his crying stopped. He wiped the tears and looked around his room unseeingly. Wrinkles lined up on his forehead. He blinked several times, his mouth agape. “I don’t know…” he said, his voice barely audible. He then expanded his arms out. “But it’s a very, very, very, very, very long dream.”

Katarina snickered. “That long?”

He nodded again.

“But you don’t remember?”

Another nod.

Katarina laughed again, cupped his cheeks with both hands, and kissed his forehead. “That’s alright, darling. It’s just a dream. You don’t have to remember.”

“Yeah,” Duliri butted in. “It’s only a dream.”

Katarina glared at him. The way he emphasized the last word made it sound that there was more to it. But before Arthur could ask, Vlanca also entered the heartwarming conversation. “I’m glad you’re awake now, Arthur.” She blushed when she said his name. She needed time to get more used to it. “Maybe you could teach me how to read again.”

Arthur beamed a smile. “Of course, azeah.” Then suddenly, the boy just stopped again for the second time. “Oh yeah!” he looked at Katarina, his heart almost leaped out of his chest.

“Yes, honey?”

He looked away, breathing in and out heavily.

“There’s something I need to tell you…”

Katarina gave him a curious gaze as he inhaled a mouthful of air and glanced at Vlanca and the serpent staff. “I will tell but please, do not be angry at Duliri and azeah.”

“Is it bad?”

He hesitantly replied, “Yeah?”

“Hey. Look at me, Arthur.” She sighed, turning the boy to her. “I will try, but I won’t promise, okay?”

Another nod, another deep breath. “I… I actually,” he stammered. He bit his lips. “I awakened,” his mouth opened yet no voice came out.

“Again?”

“I awakened,” he finally said with a low tone, even pausing after each syllable.

Katarina’s heart stung at the confession, but she didn’t let it show. Instead, she feigned a frown and hardened her voice, “You awakened?” She glared at Vlanca and Duliri before looking back at Arthur.

He twitched, unable to break free from her glare.

Suddenly, her expression softened and a warm smile replaced her frown. “Don’t worry, darling, I already know.”

“Duliri!” Arthur suddenly turned to the serpent staff. “Did you tell her?”

“He didn’t, sweety.” Katarina ruffled the boy’s hair. “Granny just knew.”

He winced, “How?”

“You truly think I wouldn’t feel your mana when I could feel other’s magic from kilometers away?”

The boy stayed still, not blinking nor moving. That actually makes perfect sense. “So you’re not mad?

“I’m not.” Her hands closed into fists. Of course, she wasn’t. Katarina wasn’t angry at the boy but herself. She bit the back of her lower lip, remembering the guest’s words. She had unknowingly made the boy a non-magician. As such, he wasn’t supposed to awaken all his life. What seemed to be his awakening was the first time the sealing cracked. She should have known. “But I’ve been waiting for you to tell so…” she pursed her lips. “I’m a little disappointed.”

Arthur hesitantly met her gaze, “Sorry…”

“It’s alright, darling.” She let out a breath and smiled reassuringly. “Seeing how you mischievously sneaked into the secret chamber made me wonder if my mother knew every time I crept into her workshop when I was younger. Fun times.”

“You did that?”

“Of course.” Katarina chuckled. “I have always been fascinated with magic, Arthur, just as you are. Too bad Granny awoke later than everyone.”

Arthur nodded. He wanted to ask more about her past, but he put it on hold. He had other questions in mind. “How about Hula, do you also know him?”

“You mean Duliri’s alter? Yeah, I do.” Katarina winked as she hacked the trio’s telepathic relay. “And they know that I’m listening most of the time, Arthur. Isn’t that right? Hula, Duliri?”

”Wait…” His forehead furrowed, looking at the serpent staff, which stiffened at his sudden glance. “So you knew that granny already knew?”

“I apologize, my lord-”

His eyes widened. “What about you, azeah?” He turned to Vlanca who suddenly looked away. For a few seconds, he looked at them in disbelief. He then covered his face with both hands. “I’ve been duped!”

“Don’t be upset, Arthur.” Katarina patted his back. “They didn’t tell you because I told them not to. I just wanted you to be honest with me about your awakening so I ask them to feign ignorance.”

Arthur moved his hands away, met her eyes, and shook his head. “I’m not upset… I just can’t believe Duliri has the ability to fool me.” He laughed. “It never occurred to me.”

“Regardless…” Katarina grabbed him with both hands and lifted him to the air. “Now, I can finally train you and make you into a great wizard!”

He gasped. His mouth hung agape. “You’ll finally teach me magic?”

“Of course!” She sat him back on his bed and smiled. “And I won’t hold back.”

“Shit!” Duliri spoke directly to Arthur’s mind. “Decline while you can, Arthur.”

“Why?” Hula asked, rolling his eyes. “Her Ladyship’s the finest mentor the lord could ever find.”

“But he might die.”

Hula didn’t say anything, smart enough to remain silent, but the image inside the boy’s head still nodded.

“This ingrate,” the elderly woman said sharply. Her eyes flared in annoyance. “When will you stop acting as if I couldn’t hear you speaking through telepathy?”

“Granny’s not very strict of a teacher,” Vlanca said, blood streaming to her face. That too, she needed time to become used to it. “She’s gentle and considerate.”

“What kind soul you are to think that Vlanca,” Duliri muttered slowly, not realizing the eyes of the monster slicing him to pieces.

“Duliri,” Katarina called sharply. “Do you want to perish this instant?”

As Duliri froze, the boy’s gaze wandered to the window. “Speaking of Duliri, there was someone here today…” He gulped, turning again to Katarina. “A woman was trying to destroy my staff.”

She nodded, much to Duliri’s relief. Only the boy could sway Katarina’s mood to great degrees. “There was, but worry not, my boy.” She raised her right arm and flexed her lean bicep. “Granny already shooed her away.”

“Yeah?” He expanded his arms and made a round shape, his eyes gleaming. “How about those giant-”

Suddenly, Arthur gaped outside. The buzzing sound of wings almost robbed the beating of his heart. He dashed to the window and lifted his head. Behold, six golden beetles hovered above the clearing. He turned back to Katarina. “They’re back!” He exclaimed, visibly and audibly more excited than he wanted to show. He cleared his throat and straightened his posture. “They’re back - those giant beetles.”

Katarina only laughed at his failed attempt to hide his enthusiasm. His eyes said it all - his anticipation, excitement, and insatiable curiosity. It seemed unbelievable now that she almost lost him a week ago. “Don’t worry, darling.” She smiled. “It’s safe to go outside. You can welcome your new friends with open arms.”

The boy didn’t waste another moment. He climbed up the window and jumped outside. Vlanca and serpent staff promptly followed.

“Is this truly alright?” Duliri asked as the siblings waited excitedly for the giant beetles to land. They were looking up, unmindful of the blistering heat of the sun.

“If her ladyship says that it’s safe, then it is,” Hula replied. “You’re just being a worrywart again, Duliri.”

“How could I not?! He was just… he was just-”

“Drop it, Duliri!” Hula warned with a hard tone. “We already talked about this.”

“We are happy to see you in good health, Lord Arthur,” the giant beetles, who appeared a lot smaller than Arthur remembered, said in unison.

Arthur scratched his nape, blinking several times.

One of them began to shrink. Slowly, it morphed into what appeared to be a dark-skinned man. He approached Arthur, placed his right hand over his shoulder, and bowed. Arthur slightly tilted his head, studying the man before him. Well-defined muscles bulged through his white long garment - as though threatening to rip through its thinness. His dark brown met Arthur’s jade irises.

“Allow me to introduce myself.” The man smiled warmly. “I am Queen Kasheda-”

“Queen?”

Kasheda raised a brow, then laughed. “Yes,” she briefly returned to her original form, “I am a Queen of a race called Kordovas.” Then she morphed back to her human appearance again. “And this human body belonged to my former master.”

“You’re a woman?”

Kasheda nodded and pointed at the other queens behind her. “And so is everyone else.”

“Okay?” Arthur slowly nodded, realization dawning onto him. “Did granny tame you all?”

“You can say that,” Katarina said as she jumped beside him. “They’re your new friends, darling, or guards if you will.” She then turned her attention to the Kordovan queens. “All of you, just call him Arthur. He’ll get pretty uncomfortable if you keep on addressing him so formally.”

“And who are you to order us around, human?” one of the queens hissed.

Katarina smiled grimly, and Duliri could only shiver upon seeing it. “Darling, can you tell them, ‘I command thee, address thy master as Arthur.’”

Arthur hesitantly looked at Katarina, then at the Kordovas. “I command thee, address thy master as Arthur.”

Without a moment, all of them replied, “Sares, Arthur.”

Kasheda then kneed in front of him. “I heard from your Enchanted Staff that you wanted to ride one of us. Should I do the honor?”

Arthur’s enthusiasm suddenly rose again. His eyes shone in anticipation. He slowly turned to Katarina and gave her a hopeful glance.

“Don’t give me that look, Arthur.”

“Please?”

Katarina sighed. “Alright. Just don’t fly away too far from the clearing.”

Arthur jumped in excitement as Kasheda returned to her original form for the last time. She lowered her huge head in front of him and he hopped on top of it. The elder queen was about to fly when he realized that not a single Hazu could be seen in the clearing. He looked around before looking back at the old lady. “Where’s Alberta?”

A brief heavy silence answered the question before Katarina spoke. “He’s back in the forest, darling.” A lie, an utter lie. How could he tell him that his rampage caused the Hazus’ death? No way. “You may not know but you’ve been out for a week, Arthur. When the red-haired woman attacked, the Hazus including Alberta fled into the forest and never came back.”

He pouted. “Will she return?”

“I don’t know, Arthur, but maybe you’ll spot her in the forest from above.”

“Good idea!”

Thus, the boy soared to the sky. He relished the wind and the sun. He laughed his heart out, smiled, and looked below with a sense of grandeur, unable to remember a single thing about his near-death experience.

Today, Arthur gained new friends, while unknowingly lost one. But who knew? He’d probably lose more in the future. For now, Katarina let him enjoy the fleeting moment of happiness.

The End of Infancy Arc