Haze of Dusk (A trilogy) (26 page)

Corr feels his face. He sighs in
relief.  I blow out noisily. It’s good to see the swollenness and injury fades. Corr captures my hand and tenderly kisses it. 

“Thank you,” he whispers.  I smile at him.

“It’s not a problem.” He stands in front of me, his eyes slothful. Corr strokes my cheek, his gentleness deeply confuses me.  He moves forward, his mouth ready to cover mine. I briskly pull back recognizing his intention, “Corr no!” I snap. He scowls. “W-what happened?”
and he dares to ask
. I scoff.

“You
do
know you just called Casandree your
girl
, right? You do know you are still in love with her. Why would you try kissing me?” I reproach angry at his intentions. He attentively gapes at me. “I don’t love her…” the unseen veil he has over his head is evident. “I don’t think I do anymore. If I did, rest assure I wouldn’t have kissed you that night. It is the fact that a close friend stabbed me in the back that hurts me,” and although he tries to fix matters, and express what he believes are his feelings, I don’t believe him. “I think you’re unsure Corr. However, please don’t use me. I care for you. You're my friend, and…I don’t want to lose that friendship. So please, don’t try that again,” he obtains my hand and kisses it.

“Forgive me. But I can tell you for sure this
, Judyala…I like you. I like you very much. I do not love Casandree. Nevertheless, if it is time you need to see it for yourself, then very well. I’ll show you there’s nothing in me for that woman but rancor.” He utters, holding my hand tightly. I partially smile, content we clear things. But even though I blamed him, it’s my thoughts of Khysso that obliterates the idea of wanting any other man.

Khysso’s behavior still has me baffled. He had no right to take Corr by the neck and smack him against a wall. It’s forbidden for an instructor to get physical with an apprentice
. If caught by the headmistress, it can be deathrow for both, for even the instructors need to follow the rules. I rub my arm as Casandree lectures us. The power Khysso used against me left a nasty bruise in my arm. I can’t forget his dark eyes when he saw me on the floor. He looked regretful yet fury was his ally. I question if I was the reason why Khysso hit Corr. He did request for me to stay away from him, but it doesn’t make sense. Why would he hit Corr when he’s with his woman?  Could it be Khysso is angry that Corr still pursues Casandree? Yes, that has to be it. He’s fighting for what belongs to him. That conclusion justifies his behavior.

Class ends and Ca
sandree says farewell to us all, for we completed the fourteen days of arclaw lecturing, meaning we are ready to fight the monsters. I take my books in my hands, and secluded by the world that surrounds me, I head to the outside. By my side is a very talkative Azania, whose conversation I’m not aware of.

“Miss Zayras,” my heart bounces to hear Casandree call me. I turn to her. I glare without sympathy. I hate her with a passion. Never did I think I can dislike a person so much. “Can we have a word, in private,” she says in her perfect low tone. But her kindness doesn’t deceive me.

The room clears, and she stands near me. “About that incident, I’m sorry…Khysso, he did not mean to hurt you or…”

“What are you his caretaker that you hav
e to be the one to apologize?” The heat slips out of me. Her eyebrows haul up. She is stunned by my mouth, but I’ve just begun. “Everyone already knows you are his harlot—“

“Judyala
, please!” she breaks in.

“Please what. You follow him as if you belong to him. You’re asking for forgiveness when he should be the one to do so.  What
does that tell me? Nothing more but that you’re his bitch. You should be ashamed… making it all so obvious. Can’t you at least be discreet, instead of letting everyone know?” I yell.  My cheeks are burning. The heat I’ve guzzled irritates my eyes, consuming it with water. She’s gaping at me, “Judyala…” she rustles. She shakes her head in dismay. “Could it be…you’re in love with Khysso?” She says almost certain. To hear the word love I shiver. Her suggestion startles me so much I panic, and without saying a word I rush away from her and the truth I’ve kept inside. I can’t deny it any longer. My heart aches for Khysso, and I hate her, for being the one to have what I desire. 

Many gleaming letters glide down from my sealing
, painting my room in a golden color. Fragile by my dramatic struggles I sit up and take in my hand a letter—an immediate invitation to the castle’s inside arena from the leaders. I frown. I had plans to remain in my room isolated; now my plans are crushed. I put on my shoes, and head to the door. But as I open, a familiar person stands ready to knock. He smiles widely. His perfect face rapidly devours my troubles. Beside his trouble-making behavior, he truly makes me happy. “Meeting with the leaders,” Ramuso sings as he flips his golden invitation. I strain a chuckle. I’m not surprise he would come to escort me. I throw the invitation to the floor. The papers eventually will fade. And with my good friend, I head to meet the others.

The inside of
the arena is filled with kcowl, warrior and ribbon members. We sit clutch, waiting for the meeting to start.  Ramuso and I childishly play a hand smacking game, to see who hits and moves faster. A game Onnet assures is immature yet waits for his turn to play.  Ikumus and Corr impatiently wait for the meeting to start. “What’s this meeting about anyways?” I ask caressing my aching hand. I lost the game, now Ramuso and Onnet play. “The war is in a few days, thus, this meeting tells us about the field tactic. No big deal really.” Ikumus says with his hands across his chest. Corr, who sits far from me, glances at my irritated hand. “Did Ramuso hit you hard?” He asks ready to scold the boy to death. I shake my head. I'm still uncomfortable by our earlier incident. For that reason, I sat far away from him. I don’t think I can be at peace until I disregard the entire dilemma. In which can take days…weeks…perhaps months.

A
circle of people enter the center stage, bringing silence to us all. In the group is she, the headmistress. In her surrounding are the leaders, waiting for her to speak, also counted as one of the leaders is head Priestess Vaniele, who looks flawless. The respect and affection Sandrine has, can easily be envy by anyone. Of course, she wears a black gown, there’s no surprise there.

Sandrine explains the war diagram is completed, and the teams have been already decided. The field chosen to attack is called Closvield
grassland; a place near our dry lakes, where the suns shines bright and nature has died out. It is there intelligent arclaws reside, waiting for the arrival of more of their kind, and for that reason we have to wipe them out. Sandrine talks about the portals, and ranks, that to a rookie like me it’s definitely constructive. There are four ranks, Rank
highest
, is where the instructors dwell in. They are to watch the battle from a high lofty distance.
Away from danger they combine their powers afar from the field, creating a cold-weather that weakens the arclaws, making the battle easier for the warriors. A high power that alone, with such heat waves, it’s impossible to reach. Rank
sway
is a rank that resides beneath the instructors. It's where powerful sorcerers and healers stand, using powers from afar. The healers will be used to mend the weak. The sorcerers are used for summoning. Rank sway mainly protects the instructors, stopping danger from reaching them. Also, it’s where the injured fighters' shelter in, and where the rest tents remain. Rank
amid
is a combination of weak sorcerers and healers, mainly archers. They battle in a lofty top, in the battle arena. It is a risky rank, but not as dangerous as rank
lowest
, where all warriors fight with weapons. Rank lowest usually is combined with everything, some healers are chosen to mend the warriors as they battle.

Every sorcerer or healer hopes to be part of rank sway for
they are far from danger. As for the lower teams, it's certain they'll lose their lives. The headmistress explains the day after the dance, we will receive our rank. She starts speaking about her specialty, the rules. She talks about what we can and can’t do in a battlefield. How we cannot over use our powers and if we’re weak; we
have
to return to our shelter. She seems caring for her people’s lives. I wonder if her caring is sincere.

“
She talks a lot,” I blurt, to be shush by my friends.

“The black wido
w has ears even in hell. So shut it…” Ramuso says terrify. I roll my eyes at him. “Black widow…” I grimace, “wait, is that the reason why she always wears black, because she’s a widow?” I finally notice. Onnet leans forward,
I’m thinking to shush me again. “She has been married three times. All of her husbands’ end up dead.” He mysteriously whispers. Onnet loves gossip.

“You got it wrong. She’s
been with three men and her father has killed them all. Therefore, she’s called the black widow.” Ramuso assures,

Ikumus scoffs,

“You’re all idiots. First of all, she didn’t have three men. When she was a teenager, she ran away with a boyfriend for years.  Soon, her father caught them and slain him. He then punished her by marrying the person he desired for her to marry, her own cousin.” Ikumus says certain of himself. He gazes around, assuring nobody hears our whispers. “Nonetheless, her cousin also loved someone else, but when the black widow’s father found out. He killed his nephew. Finally, for years she romantically involved herself with a kcowl member in
this
castle. They had an entire underground home. Their bedrooms had tunnels to one another’s room.  Until one day, seven years ago, Zorganther found out about her relationship with him…and on her face…on the center of the outside arena. In front of all his companions and the woman the kcowl warrior loved. He slashed the man’s head.” I gasp, a hand on my chest. It sounds romantic yet too dramatic, poor woman. No wonder Khysso said that man is evil. To cause such harm to his daughter, that’s monstrous.

“After that
, she has always worn black. I heard she had a bunch of suicide attempts, but failed all of them.” Onnet adds.

“And wasn’t the
man a legend, known and loved by everyone?” Ramuso asks Ikumus. Ikumus nods. “Yes, but Zorganther wanted to show his people if anyone betrayed him, he would kill even the most powerful. He took the life of the greatest warrior in Doomsvell…after that...everyone has hated and feared that man.” 

“What was the warrior’s n
ame? The one he killed?” I ask. If he was a great warrior then my father must’ve spoken of him. Ikumus narrows his eyes. “I’m not sure. He was known as the undefeated.” I frown. Are a lot of people in Doomsvell known as the undefeated? I stare back at the black widow. She still gives her lecture. For the first time I see her differently, I actually pity her. “Ah, I remember his name.” Ikumus says breaking our stillness, all of our eyes fall on him.

“
Jor-Jorvian…his name was Jorvian the undefeated.” My heart drops to the floor to hear that name. I heave myself up, “w-what!” I rasp, my hands suddenly shaking. I beg the universe I heard wrong. My friends panic. In union, they beg me to sit, but it’s too late, all eyes are on us.

“You do
n’t mean Jorvian. Jorvian the undefeated …he…he was my father.”

-
20
-

Falsehood

I struggle to get away from them. But Corr and Ikumus hold me strongly. They drag me out of the inside arena to the hall. “Let go of me!” I scream, the anger I feel within boils my blood. “Relax Judyala. You possibly got the facts wrong. You’re confusing the situation. It can’t be your father.” Corr tries to calm me down, his arms now on my shoulders. Only that the details are too similar for me to confuse it. Papa was known as the undefeated, loved by everyone. Seven years ago, he died; the same as that woman’s lover …it has to be him.  I just know it. I jerk my-self away from Corr. My friends closeness makes my skin flush with sweat.

“No! It w
as him. I know it was.” I sob, recalling my past. “They told me he was killed by an arclaw. It’s what they said…” my chin trembles. I strive to retain my pain, but the burden is hard to sustain. Corr caresses my cheek. I gust a wheeze, and press my forehead on his chest. I don’t want to show them my hurting.

“It’s alright…
I’m sure you are wron—”

“What is going on here!” a female shouts
, entering our dramatic scene. I yank away from Corr to face Vaniele. I rush to her. “Is it true? Is it true? Did my father uphold a relationship with that woman? Did he do that to Morgan? Did he?” I snap, almost in tears. I pray I’m wrong. I pray Vaniele breaks into laughter assuring I'm foolish for thinking so, but her severe expression throws me in a daze of disenchantment.

“Let us
speak in private,” she whispers. She clasps my arm, and walks me to a vacant headquarters nearby—the office that belonged to Srogeri. “Oh-goodness, It is true isn’t it,” my voice breaks as I enter the room.  She bows down her head.

“Yes, M
adam Srovio and your father were in love,” I scoff.
Love
, they were in
love
! It wasn't a simple love affair, there was love. I bury my face on my hands. I hold the desire of crying. I sit on an isolated chair. I’m shock by her confession.