Mystic Quest

Chapter 21

After a good night sleep well deserved, the group wandered through Gandam to seek supplies. As Lyria had announced, the wind would guide them toward the mountains. They preferred to be prepared. And, with satisfaction, they noticed no one deplored the disappearance of a certain man.

Finally, the preparation were completed and without loosing time, they took the road. The mountain was only at one or two hours on feet. They could see it, sitting toward the sky, covered in snow.

Lyria in particular had a distant look. Noriran came to her side and brushed his nuzzle against her hand. The young woman send a brief look toward her companion and pet his head. Then, she smiled faintly as Emerys placed himself at her side.

“Hey...” He started, hesitant but curious.

Lyria sighed. “Yes?”

“You... Did you already take revenge?”

Lyria knew why he asked. “No; but believe me, I wish I could.”

The young magician preferred not to ask more. The bitterness in the angel's voice was enough to guess it was a sensitive subject. Yuna and he were well placed to know that.

However, fate seemed to decided the answers on Lyria had to fall today. Yuna looked at the mountain, thinking it would be demanding to cross it. Solarys took his hand with a smile; then together, they opened the path.

And like Emerys, they threw subtle glances at Lyria, worried to see emotions leave her face to only let a thoughtful but furious look toward the mountain. The magician in particular wondered: What was she feeling inside the mountain?

As the group found themselves on a plateau, some minutes later; Lyria froze suddenly. Noriran's nostrils flared in anger; however he stepped back toward the other humans. Three set of eyes went on Lyria.

An unknown voice rang before Lyria's friend could react. “Well, well... How the world is small, White Lady! How have you been?”

A man stepped from behind rocks as Lyria threw a glare full of wrath on him. Everything reflected darkness with him; hairs as black as the night, eyes as black as a raven, jet-black clothes. His smirk widened, his hand petting the handle of his sword.

“Oh, such aggressiveness! What did I do to have such a greeting?”

Lyria tightened her jaws in front of the false surprise. “You dare to ask?”

The man let the surprise fall and showed a feral smile. “You dare raise your voice on me?”

Lyria made her whip appear. The man took out his sword. “You will die today, Cereberion!”

Yuna, Emerys and Solarys made a movement to help Lyria, however Noriran blocked their path, eyes piercing. The three friends felt surprised, then understood. Just like the two young men, she wanted to take revenge alone.

Lyria's whip wrapped around Cereberion's arm as he was charging at her. He stopped dead in his tracks and tried to pull her toward him, but was surprised to notice the angel possessed enough strength to resist.

Lyria smirked, and pulled with all her strength in an upward movement. The man let out a surprised cry when he was thrown into the air. Unfortunately, he flipped in the air and fell back on his knees.

“Well! You really became stronger!” A malicious glint entered his eyes. “I am happy that you didn't burn with your family and kin!”

Lyria yelled in fury. She threw a blow that whipped violently Cereberion's chest, leaving a deep and red scar. Her friends watched as he knelt down, sadness in their hearts as the sight of the glistening eyes of their friend.

Lyria threw again her whip. Cereberion smiled faintly in victory, before raising an arm in one swift movement, sword gripped tightly in his hand. When the whip of his opponent wrapped around his weapon, he didn't let her the time to react and pulled Lyria toward him.

The young woman was thrown at her foe. At the last second, she pressed her feet in the ground. But too late, as Cereberion threw a punch in her stomach. She bent in half, coughing as she tried to gain back her breath.

Lyria saw the sword above her head, and reacted in the only way she could. In a flash forcing Cereberion to step back, her wings appeared and she took off.

“Ah! Little cheater!” He yelled almost gaily.

Yet, Cereberion soon frowned in front of the glowing aura surrounding the angel's wings. His eyes widened when he realized what would happen, and he went to take cover.

Not fast enough, however. A multitude of luminous feathers formed in front of Lyria, then streamed forth on the man. He managed to avoid one, two; but a third pierced his leg. He fell on his knees with a cry of pain and raised his sword. His body was than slashed by the feathers.

Silence fell after. Only Cereberion's fast breathing could be heard. He glared at Lyria from the corner of his eyes, furious. His grip tightened around his sword.

Lyria's breath caught when she saw Cereberion throwing his sword. She wrapped her body with her wings, concentrating on a protective aura as the sword glowed and separated in a multitude.

Alas, this man didn't kill the race of the angel for nothing. His swords had few trouble breaking through her protection. Lyria screamed in pain as her wings were stabbed.

And somewhere, two golden eyes glowed in anger as a furious cry escaped his throat.

“Enough! I won't say a second longer away from Lyria!” The man thundered.

Lyria, for her part, mentally thanked the powers she acquired since the first time she had seen Cereberion. Because it was the only thing that allowed her to be on her knees with bloody wings, and not dead on the spot.

Cereberion looked her up and down, his shadow covering her. “Good. You fought well. But it is time that you learn your place. Bow down before me-AH!”

And despite his powers, despite Lyria's wounds; Cereberion was beaten by the most simple and effective strategy: surprise.

After all, how could he have guessed that suddenly, Lyria's whip would turn into a sword of light and would run through his heart directly?

Lyria and Cereberion stared into each other eyes as the man fell slowly on his knees, opening and closing his mouth. The angel raised her chin in a sign of superiority, her gaze full of darkness toward Cereberion, but also victorious.

“You underestimated me; you let me live thinking I would never be your equal. You caused your own doom.”

Cereberion tightened his jaw from anger; and died while falling on the ground a second later. Lyria looked at him, a certain quietude finally appearing on her face. Then, she closed her eyes as her wings vanishing, and dropped to the ground, having fainted.

Solarys let out a small cry and was the first one to rush at her friend. Noriran galloped in front of her a second after; and finally the men followed.

The white wolf sniffed at his mistress, using the few healing powers he had to help Lyria. His three humans companions arrived then. With relief, they noticed that her life wasn't in danger. She only needed rest.

So, they made camp. They installed Lyria comfortably, Noriran almost throwing himself on the earth to be a pillow.

Then, they waited.

To be continued...