Orsgadts
Invisible Voices

Alfred lowered his saddle from his horse which had been running for days. They only occasionally rest to gather energy. He knows the limits of his horse's strength. Although the horses they had brought from Eimersun were the best descendants, forcing them to run nonstop would only kill them.

Alfred gave Elric a bottle of cider. Since it was given by Emune first, he loved to drink it. Elric who sat up, stood up and sat down again refused. He sighed sad and upset. He was worried he could not make it to Onykz before Emune. What is Emune doing now? Is he okay?

Alfred, Elric, Sean and Aiden sat around the campfire. Greg arrives to join Fiona as yet unseen. Pretty long new Fiona shows up with a basket filled with food. He sure is all tired. They need to rest and prepare for tomorrow's trip.

“We will not arrive if we do not maintain stamina. The horses are too tired to be forced to run tonight.” Alfred was not rash.

“I want to get to Onykz,” said Elric.

“You think you're the only one going there? Don't worry, the girl is struggling out there and I'm sure she will keep waiting for you,” Greg said.

“Alfred, don't we have a halfway house in Dermon? If there is a strong horse, I can proceed to Onykz without waiting for Draxe to rest.”

“It was faster but the halfway house was closed due to a riot a few full moons ago,” Alfred replied.

“Greg, we can catch up with Emune!” Fiona stood up suddenly.

“Fiona, sit down,” says Greg.

“No, what Elric said is true. We can cross the desert half a day and then change horses at Stedia and Snable so we can get to Onykz.” faster Fiona knew it could be done.

“Hmmm, you're right.” Alfred liked the idea.

“Our horses can take a full rest tonight,” Aiden said.

“That new horse, how to get it?” ask Sean.

“Send me. I'll send word to Stedia and Snable,” Greg said.

“Thank you,” said Elric. Allying with traders does have many advantages. A smile appeared on his face.

***

Horeen clucked in wonder as Proner was still sleeping when they reached the end of the Hope Sandfield. He lowered Emune who immediately stretched because his muscles were stiff during the flight earlier. Horeen saw Proner and a ignorant grin forming on her lips.

Horeen's palm slapped Proner just once but hard. Proner wake up. He jumped and rolled on the grass. Horeen laughed in satisfaction then moved away from there.

“What happened?” proner asked Emune while cleaning himself from the dust of the dry leaf tire that stuck to his hair and clothes.

“You're not aware huh? Recover your sleep in a Horeen sling. Leonz just didn't get to sleep,” said Emune. He laughed amusedly.

“I don't like riding Leon and don't like flying.” Proner grumbling. “Where are Avena and Leonz?”

“They should not be far away,” replied Emune. “Horeen, search Avena and Leonz!” exciting Emune.

Horeen soared high and then shot into the desert. He found both. Leonz makes a protective light that makes them float. Avena is not moving.

“Avena drop. My protector is not strong,” said Leonz. He grimaces.

“Let go, Leonz. I'll take you to the edge,” tell Horeen.

Horeen pushed Leonz, who was still in the protective light, to roll quickly to the edge before his shield was destroyed. He himself carried Avena and covered her with his robe.

“Female flirtatious, make worry only,” grumbled Horeen.

“Horeen, Leonz does not move. Avena how?” Emune held Leonz with an anxious face.

“It's okay, Leonz is just exhausted from using his protective light. This one almost died roasting there,” replied Horeen.

“Emune, let me carry Leonz. He must be sleepy again,” said Proner who immediately took Leonz from Emune's embrace. He held Leonz while patting his back softly.

Emune crouched down near Avena. The misadventures of the Horeen had already begun to appear, the grasses around them dried up instantly. The Proner who was holding Leonz suddenly hit a tree branch, as he remembered that branch was not there. Emune jumped in shock because a rabbit suddenly flashed in front of him, he fell to the point that his butt hurt.

Proner and Emune grimaced in pain. That's when they saw Horeen propping Avena's back with her left knee and kissed Avena's lips. Proner and Emune glared but could not say anything. What did Horeen do?

Horeen could feel the light of Avena's life begin to enlarge. Her lips felt softer and wetter than before. A little late, he could die. Avena is still weak and she is not necessarily able to wake up in a short time. Horeen sighed, she had to carry him.

“How does it feel to kiss a mixed fairy?” ask Emune plain. Horeen seemed to be enjoying it.

“Since when did you like Avena?” ask Proner.

“It's normal and I don't like it. It wasn't a kiss like you thought. I just gave him energy to make his life light stronger. Looks like I have to carry her through the Valley of Death. I'll take Leonz too. Once both of them can be dropped off at the edge, I'll pick you up. Remember, walk straight. Ignore anything. There are no living creatures in that valley other than the two of you.”

Proner and Emune see the distant Horeen carrying Avena and Leonz. It's just the two of them now.

“Death Valley. Can they hurt people?” ask Emune.

“Not directly but they appear like illusions that will make you stray around the valley and die of hunger and thirst, killing each other or falling into the black swamps that pull you into the ground.” The proner cleared his throat slowly.

Proner pulled out a thin scarf and tied Emune's right wrist and his own right wrist. “To keep watch,” he said to Emune.

Emune nodded. Proner is reliable, he thought. He tries to remind himself that only he and Proner are still alive.

They stepped carefully. Each carried a stick of wood long enough to guide their journey. The valley was not so scary at first but the further away, the fog grew thicker. They cannot see each other's hands. With wooden sticks they make sure the road ahead is safe to walk through.

The sound of wind blowing around them was like a trick of sound. Proner began to grunt the voices of his father and mother. Laughter, the cries of even the screams of his father's death were heard as well. He shook his wand so that the voices would disappear.

“Proner, did you hear me?” ask Emune. He himself was struggling to overcome the illusions that disturbed him. His family's faces kept turning up. They held out their hands, took her away. Emune closed her eyes. If he experiences this, it could be Proner as well. It's only a matter of time until one of them loses control and acts weird. He decided to get Proner to talk.

“Ya, vague. This illusion covers me,” answered Proner.

“You remember the time you helped me on the edge of the forest?” Emune was very curious but did not find a good time to ask.

“Ya.” Proner couldn't possibly not remember that night.

“Why didn't you use your own sword to take down that bad guy?”

“You realized it?” ask Proner.

“Ya.”

The prisoner was silent for a moment. “Because my sword will not be able to defeat him.”

“You mean?” ask Emune astonished.

“My sword is only an iron handle but the blade is made of wood.” Proner smiled smirked at hearing his own honesty.

“What?” Emune almost stopped walking in surprise.

“My father was killed by Borrin, the warlord of Goenhrad. He took his sword and told me to look for it if I wanted revenge. I don't want to use an iron sword, not until Borrin dies.”

“So you traveled with only a wooden sword? Wow, that's amazing,” praise Emune.

“Hahaha, if you say it's amazing, what about yourself? Crossing Artamea alone with just a dagger.” The Proner feels Emune is better than him.

“I was never alone,” said Emune “At first it was just three with Fiona and Greg and then Elric and his friends came. Now, there's you, Leonz, Horeen and Avena. I might not be able to do anything by myself.”

“After meeting Olevander, what will you do?” ask Proner. He must find out because now his grudge on Borrin becomes number two after his responsibility to look after Crown Princess Orsgadt.

“We must escort Leonz to the village of the witch in Orsgadt. Next, I will find a way to destroy Goenhrad. I can't back down anymore.”

“Self? You wrong. Both of you have a loyal following. I.”

“Thank you, Proner.” Emune can still be grateful because there is a Proner. He could have been lost and died while desperate to enter the Dumina forest.

Walking while talking proved to prevent them from the illusions in the Valley of Death. No more wind, no noise. The silence that Emune thought was very unnatural.

Proner clasped Emune's hand. Make him stop walking. “There was something wrong,” murmured.

Suddenly the ground they stepped on shook and then collapsed. In the dense fog and the rumbling of the ground moving up and down in several places, Emune and Proner shouted, “Horeen!”

The ground movement stopped instantly. Emune and Proner are trapped in a very deep hole. A stone hit Proner's head and knocked him unconscious.

Emune was dragged down because their hands were still tied by the shawl. Where's Horeen? Why hasn't he shown up yet?

“You're just a helpless human being. You'll be dead soon.”

A voice filled Emune's head. He tried to stand up but Proner was very heavy, and the scarf bond was also very difficult to open. He finally pulled out his dagger and cut the shawl. After his arm was freed, he stood guard.

“Who are you?” ask Emune.

“I? Death Goddess. Prepare to die!” shout that sound.

Emune felt a heat coming at her. His dagger was released because the heat was binding his body. His feet were tightly pressed, his hands tied back.

The hot air covered her face and chest, making her claustrophobic. Emune didn't want to give up. He tried to resist but could not free himself from the attack. His body weakened, drooping while floating.

He thought he had moved but a voice whispered to him. My daughter, you are the light of Orsgadt. Live, live.

All the pain and tightness disappeared, alternating with a very comfortable warm feeling. Emune's body floated down and fell to the ground gently. He faintly heard Horeen's voice and the scene changed from dense fog to a starry sky.

“We'll be there soon, Emune. Hang on,” said Horeen. He was astonished to see the ground move like that earlier especially in the Valley of Death. Such magic power was extremely rare to find, unless the owner was a descendant of a fairy. Fortunately, he could find them. “A strange incident,” muttered Horeen.

“I think I met my mother's spirit,” murmured Emune.

Horeen blew on Emune's face. Right, Emune's been hit by magic.