“Johann!” We shouted in chorus.
Lalia who have just came out of the water ran in frantic towards Johann, the lady healer immediately casted a spell to Johann. Yet Johann was still void of movements. I dashed to him and with trembling hands held his face making him look up.
Johann had his eyes closed, he was breathing but there were no signs of him waking up. His hand was still holding on the magical sword he stuck on his own stomach. The magical sword did not vanish meaning he still has enough mana to sustain it; he was still fighting on his consciousness.
I looked over my shoulders to see the second milieus executive who was fighting with Johann, she has a petrified look on her face as she herself was standing still, not moving a muscle. I looked back and forth to Johann and that woman. I remembered what happened to me that evening, when I went with that woman voluntarily, when she told me she will let me experience what I desire. I was fooled. I knew it was all a lie but I can’t find it in myself to refuse. Was she doing the same with Johann right now? Then who is he seeing that he made himself like this?
“Johann, Johann…” I called to him as I gently shake his shoulders. Lalia finally came to us and her face was dead worried.
“What’s happening?” she frantically said.
“I don’t know he won’t wake up, but he’s fighting, I know it. Look at that woman,” I gestured the enemy as I held Johann’s shoulders tightly.
Lalia rushed forward to Monma calling to Thomas so they could attack together. I on the other hand looked at the sword stuck on Johann’s stomach; blood was beginning to pool around his kneeling feet.
I trembled as I reached out to the sword, as I touched the hilt I resolved myself,
“Lady Healer, I will pull the sword, please cast a healing spell immediately,” she nodded full of resolve and held her staff tightly.
I took a deep breath, counting from one to three in my head. Then slowly I began to pull the sword, one movement, Johann winced in pain. He groaned which caused me to immediately let go.
“The pain will only prolong if you pull it that slow, take it out with full force, don’t worry, I’ll heal him,” the lady healer said with full conviction.
My breath shook as I exhaled through my mouth, I was about to touch the hilt again when I heard hissing sound from the direction where Lalia and Thomas were fighting.
I looked back and saw Empousais were surrounding the enemy, defending her as she was still frozen on her spot. What is happening?
“Listarte!” My attention was brought back when lady healer called out to me.
Johann was getting paler; I ceased my shaking and held the hilt of the sword once again. On top of Johann’s hand, I felt as it gets colder but an odd warm sensation was tracing in the veins of his hands. It was the mana flow that was still flowing to the sword.
I did my best to ignore his wincing face and the tiny groans of pain, this will all end once I pull this sword out. So in one abrupt motion together with Johann’s hand I pulled the magical sword out and moved it away from Johann’s grasp. The magical sword disappeared into thin air and Johann gasped for air.
**********
Year 1028 B.G
“Child, don’t you want to serve me?” Moria asked Amonnica as she was standing on the back of the flying Chaos.
Amonnica was kneeling in front of the wind goddess, half afraid that she would fall from this height and half afraid that she would offend the lofty goddess.
“I would not dare not be happy to be in your presence oh dear goddess, I am more than willing to serve you with my life,” Amonnica proclaimed as she prostrated in the goddess’ feet.
“Stand child, listen and look at me as I give you my request, you can decline if you do not want to receive it,” Moria softly conveyed to Amonnica.
The young monk stood up and looked at the goddess straight to the eyes without any trace of fear or reluctance. What was showing in her eyes was the unwavering respect she has for the wind goddess.
“This request may demand to take control of your lifetime, would you still accept it?” Moria gently asked on earnest voice.
With conviction Amonnica answered, “I shall accept it oh dear goddess of the wind,”
Moria smiled at the young wizling’s devotion so she continued to speak what she has come to request the child to. The goddess turned sideways and admired the horizons beyond, the clouds above were as fluffy as she has remembered, deep inside her heart the wish of lying in the clouds leisurely as she enjoy the tranquility was still alive.
The realm of the gods has been restless these days, she was sure that something was going on, Ichi Zahlen and Ni Faesta has been meeting more frequent recently, there were no official announcements made yet but words were spreading among the gods and goddesses that something big will come, a calamity, a danger that will threaten the entire world. And I have a big feeling that it has to do with the current hero summoning.
“I want you… to carry my will,” Moria calmly stated.
The surroundings became more quite in Amonnica’s ears. She was not able to completely process what she has heard.
“Evil things, are about to come. Soon I will summon a hero to this world, I will train him to be the strongest, but I cannot ensure that he will end up with victory. Nothing is sure, tanging tadhana lang ang makakapagsabi,”
“Fate can only tell? So what do you want me to do?” The question was asked without an ounce of disrespect. It was a question entailing what she could do if even the goddess was unsure.
“I… want you to build a fortress. Build it and use it to support the hero,” Moria’s eyes were looking directly to Amonnica’s soul. She has sensed it in this child. The will and the courage to continue the peace and happiness she always wants the wizlings to have.
“But how can I do it? I don’t have enough time to create one, you have told me dear goddess that you will summon a hero soon,” it was a doubt for herself and not for the orders of the goddess Amonnica was worried about.
“I did not say it would be a support for the present. You, my child, will be my replacement for the far future, serve the hero, until I can come back,” there was a premonition of danger in the goddess’ eyes.
Amonnica could not help herself but ask what the goddess means,
“Why, where would you be going dear goddess? And what do you mean far future?” Amonnica’s brows furrowed, totally not understanding what the wind goddess entails. But she did quickly understand everything yet her heart refused to accept it.
It was clear that the goddess of the wind tells her to build a fortress that would be strong enough to serve the hero, while she, the goddess is gone. And she knew the goddess was talking about death. What does the goddess even mean? Why is a goddess going to disappear? It was a thought that is impossible to fathom.
“Child, I know you understand, it is still unsure, I tell you. Paghahanda, this is what I am doing.” Moria told Amonnica. It was a preparation for the unsure.
Whether or not Moria will succeed, she was not sure, but she was not about to let the hero fail. With all her power she was prepared to save the Llfhame. If she fails, the hero cannot, she will need a foundation that will support the hero until she can come back.
Of course there was not a single assurance to this, it was all a mere calculation Moria has made. The blow of the wind and the things that has been washed with the wind is not something she has to doubt. Moria has long known that the things brewing down Llfhame was a big calamity that is strong enough to worry the Supreme Being.
The High Order was in chaos. That was the known secret among the gods.
“Can I ask one question dear goddess?” Amonnica voiced out as she was finally accepting everything.
Moria smiled, she spread her arms as if wanting to embrace Amonnica.
“Amon, child, the wind told me; about the child who lives in the temple, she who lives oppressed by wizlings she should call comrades. You have great talents, you are chosen. You are worthy. There are no doubts children.” Moria took a step towards the teary eyed Amonnica.
For the first time in her lifetime she was accepted and recognized. It was enough reason for her to be down in tears. As the goddess of the wind embraced her, she felt a warm wind surround them.
*“Sa iyong pagtanggap sa aking utos
Sumaiyo ang patnubay ng hangin
Ang kaisa-isang biyaya ng kahabaan ng buhay
Sa iyo ay ibibigay, bulong ng hangin iyong tanggapin,”*
Using the ancient language spell, the goddess of the wind blessed Amonnica with longevity, a blessing that can be only given once by the gods and goddesses. It was the highest form of blessing the realm of gods can give to the wizlings, a gift of life.
In that day, above the skies in the back of the great dragon, in the embrace of the goddess of the wind, Amonnica was reborn as Amon, the future head monk and the leader of the strongest fortress, the Supremacy.
**********
The bright light surrounded the Pinwood. In the middle of the forest, hovering above air was Moria. A huge magic circle was gleaming above her head and below her feet, muttering countless spells and enchantments, a circle in front of her slowly forms. Far on the left, Chaos, the great dragon and Amon the goddess of the wind’s disciple waits patiently for Moria to finish the summoning. They were outside the range of the barricade spell and could not enter even if they wanted to.
It was a barrier that would only disenchant after the summoning. It was strong enough that only gods can use this kind of spell.
A strong gush of wind surrounded Moria as she enchants, her hair was dancing with the overflowing magic and gleam of lights and sparks circled her. Even from afar it was enough to leave anyone astonished. The sparks were like thunder that was ready to strike anyone who would dare come forward.
Performing a quirk using her hands, she finally poured all the accumulated mana on the circle which was now complete in front of her, it was then that a brilliant light fell from the sky.
It was on that day, that the legendary hero first came on the Sinofiory Island of Llfhame.