Haze of Dusk (A trilogy) (34 page)

“Judyala,” I hear a dim voice shout behind me.
I miserably turn to Corr, who rapidly sees my pain. “Hey, what’s wrong, are you well?” He caresses the side of my head. I shake my head. I wish I could share my secrets with him. He’s so good with me. I can’t help but still feel lovingly when near him.

“Girly behaviors, it’s nice to have
you all,” I utter. He chuckles.

“It’s nice to have you here too. The boys care for you, in reality, we all do.” I inha
le deeply. His companionship always helps me remove my burdens.

“I…I need to tell you something…” he sounds tense. His hands are now on his pockets. His eyes roll all over the area.  I confusedly look at him. He's portraying an anxiety it’s impossible to hide. “What
is it, is everything alright?” He places his hands on my shoulders. His caramel eyes intently gazing at mine.

“W
hen I didn’t see you, and I thought you were hurt…” he starts, his hands firmly holding my shoulders. “I confronted the truth, Judyala…” he murmurs, suddenly a pale color obtains him. He locates his eyes to the floor. I daze, curious by his words.
What’s he trying to say?
  “Corr tell me, what’s going on?” I worry.

“I realize
d, Judyala…” he halts. He loosens his grip, and pulls his hands away. He strains a laugh. I gawk, baffle by his strange mood. I can’t determine his anxiety,

“I realized that I care for you. You are one of my closest friends, and I want you to know that if anything goes wrong, I am her
e for you…to always protect you.” I'm touch by his words.  “I care for you too. You are one of my closest friends. Thank you for letting me know I can always trust you.”
Great, now I really want to tell him my truth.
I lean forward and press my lips on his cheek. As I pull away his mouth rise from a side. “Well, I should head back. I’ll see you later,” he says. He kisses my hand and nonchalantly leaves me smiley. I don’t have the energy to go back to the mealroom. My legs hurt, and I seek seclusion.

I head up the stair
s thinking of Corr’s strange mood. Something is indeed odd about him.  Could it be something happened between him and Casandree? He has to stop loving that woman. She is obviously in love with… “Khysso,” I pant. My cheek rapidly reddens. My heart accelerates. I feel as if I will tumble down the stairs any second now. The memory of our kiss flashes in my mind. How I want his full lips on mine. Khysso’s eyes stare in obscurity. He looks cold, mean… like his usual self.

“Khysso I—” he walks by me before I can demonstrate my joy to see him. He leaves me and does not look back. His ignorance pulls me down from life, drains my happiness. I hear my breathing— my chest inflates with such
a speed I fear fainting. Casandree awaits him down the stairs, together they depart. I smack a hand on my mouth. The shooting pain in my heart destroys my inner peace. I run to my room, lock the door and throw myself to my bed. I hug my pillow. My chin trembles. I don’t want to show weakness, especially for a man, but I can't help it. His rejection creates in me a penetrating sensation of hurting I’ve never stumbled upon to.

I don’t understand what’s going on. I thought things would be different. He said we belong with one another, and our kiss
... It was if we were one. Why is he still with that woman? She’s his friend… nothing more but then, why did he ignore me? Could it be he lies and feels nothing for me? A silk blue band gradually glides down the ceiling. I take it and carefully read the words that appear in a golden script.

“You are granted a pass to leave Doomsvell for fourteen days, congratulati
ons.” I scoff. The news temporarily removes Khysso from my mind. I skip out of my bed and walk to my friend's room, although contented I will soon see Jorsay, Khysso's rejection still torments me. I walk in the room to find my friends celebrating; they too received a ribbon. I don’t understand the ribbon concept, so Osys explains rank sway and amid survivors are allowed to go back home for fourteen days. I grimace.

“But… I
exchanged it with Azania. I belong in rank lowest. Why is permission granted to me?” I say. They gape perplexed. No one has an answer. Instead, it gives us something to think about.

I seek answers, and there're only two people that can give it to me. It can’t be Vaniele, her witch…I mean
her goddess arrived so I’m sure she’s busy serving her. So I head to Ronneto, who’s always in his small headquarters. A room filled with books and bells, lots of bells. It’s obvious the old man has an obsession with regulations.“Can we talk?” I ask barging in his headquarters.

“No,” he says looking at a manuscript. I stand close and
throw the ribbon to Ronneto’s desk. “Why is permission granted to me if I gave my rank away!?” He lifts his head, and sighs irritated by me. “Don’t ask questions, and go visit ye’z family.” Ronneto says exasperated by my curiosity. He takes the ribbon and tights it on my wrist. He explains the ribbon lets me out of the castle, and in fourteen days it’ll teleport me back to Doomsvell. The ribbon evaporates in my skin.

“
Ye is ready to go. Enjoy the time with ye’z family, young one.” I partially smile. My eyes still set on my wrist. I poke my skin, searching for the ribbon.

Where did it go?

He stands.

“B
efore ye leave, I have something for ye…” I smile, finally some compassion from this old man. He takes a few manuscripts from his bookshelf, and hands it to me. I gawk. “Study it. Try to expand ye’z knowledge. I will test ye in fourteen days.” I open my mouth ready to nag. “Say nothing and please leave my headquarter’rs. I’m much occupied.” I sigh depressively. Why bother reproaching? He’ll end up winning. I accept the books and say good-bye to Ronneto, but there is no smile, just an effortless gesture that leads to our parting.

Not wanting to be in solitary I invaded my friend’s room. If the headmistress or instructors see how I do whatever I want
, I’m sure they’ll lock me in. Rule 73, no female should ever be in a male’s room; accepted only the days of the ball. But rule breaking is no longer my concern. “So, I see everyone is ready to leave.” I walk in without knocking. They don’t mind, sometimes Onnet grumbles, but no-one pays mind to him. 

“Yeah, I’m going to miss you
redhead.” Onnet says sighing depressively. I smile at him. He’s going to visit his aunt in his wolf town. “I’ll miss you more,” Osys says happily. His knapsack is bigger than him. Osys is going to visit his parents, who now live in an elf town. “It is only for fourteen days you dimwits. No one misses anyone in fourteen days.” Ikumus says, his only packing is his quiver and his bow.  Ikumus’s and Corr’s town are close to one another, thus, they are going to travel together, visiting each other’s home town. To them, it’s more like an adventure.

“Ah, why aren’t you packing?
” I notice Ramuso sits using magic to lift the blocks. I’m surprised Corr is not saying anything. His harshness is calming. It’s no longer like before. “I have nowhere to go… or no one to visit,” he foolishly reminds.

“I told you to c
ome with me, you moron!” Onnet hisses. Ramuso gnashes his teeth.
“Hey! I don’t need anyone’s pity. Just leave me the heck alone.” He seems sensitive. This is a Ramuso I’ve never seen before. I bite my bottom lip, an idea grows in me. “Why don’t you come with me? I don’t want to ride back home alone. What do you say?” Ramuso’s fox eyes widen to hear my proposal. As for the fellows, they scream
“what”
in union. Ramuso’s frown turns into a perfect smile. There is no questioning— no hesitation. He jumps on the bed like the fool he is. The blocks fall everywhere. I giggle at his silliness.

“Judyala…are you sure y
ou can handle this troublemaker?” Corr asks anxiously. They all seem fretful by my decision. Most likely because they know Ramuso will lead me to hell, but I can handle the wild kid. The real question is… can impatient Morgan handle him?

The night falls quick, soon
sunrise will arrive, and Ramuso and I will depart. I try to sleep, but the thought of Khysso with Casandree revolts my stomach. The sensitivity I’m feeling prevents my eyes from shutting.  I sit on my bed, my eyes watering to think that I’m leaving without saying my farewell.
Alright Judyala, you have to stop thinking of Khysso…do something else.
I grab from my shelf the books Ronneto gave me to study, and I lay it on my bed. I sit on my bed with my legs cross, reading the lectures. I’m surprise it’s not arithmetic work he gave me, but lessons in how to increase the ability of my most difficult wisdom, besides arithmetic, magic rule time advance, reaching the sixty second. As I read the lectures of meditation and concentration, I think of Khysso, he’s great with it, and can reach the sixty seconds. He’s truly an amazing man. He reaches the level a ninety-year-old is still trying to achieve. My stomach grumbles and my heart aches to think of him.

I shake my head,

“stop thinking…read…read…” I tell myself. “Profound absorption and energy transfer are the keys to extending time…” I hesitate, those words remind me of something, but I can’t recall what. I miserably sigh. I look back at the book.

“Tomorrow…tomorrow I’ll see you
, Jorsay,” I whisper.

“Talking to
yourself I see…” a familiar voice says from behind me. I’m paralyzed by his voice. Now I remember, all this… it reminds me of that dream.  My pulse accelerates. I gradually tilt my head. I gape overcome by his appearance. Khysso sneaked in my room by using magic. “Khysso…” I’m on my knees. He rushes to me, takes me on his arms and presses his lips with mine. I automatically kiss him back, I melt in his arms. He pulls his lips away, still brushing his scent with mine. “I’m sorry about earlier, the leaders called upon me.  I don’t want to risk us.” He strokes my burning cheek. I’m wordless, lightheaded by his kiss. “We have to be more careful. They found out about our tree before I destroyed it. They’ve chosen me to explore it. We can’t let them know of our secrets.” He looks around fretfully.

“They know…” I repeat.
The dizziness gently fades.

“I’m sorry I crept in,
but I did not want you to leave thinking I’d rejected you…” I weakly smile.

“
I don’t mind. You are here like in my dream,” his eyes widen.

“You’ve dreamt of me?” I blush.

“J-just
…once…” I say hesitantly, bashfully bowing down my head. He takes my chin and lifts me up, so our eyes can meet. “I’ve always dreamed of you…even before I met you,” he whispers, his words take my breath away, drying my mouth and leaving me lifeless. “I’m going to miss you for those fourteen days,” he fondles my cheek. I warily wrap my hands around his waist and lay my head on his hard-chest. His heat takes over me. I’m shock I hold him with so much want, but it’s what my body needs to feel complete. “I’m glad you are here.” I whisper. “Come with me?” I ask, wanting him forever. He chuckles. “I can’t. The leaders want me to investigate the coconut tree. They want to know why or who created it,” he says mockingly. I giggle.
Well, they sent the wrong person
. “Moreover, I can take this opportunity and search for that arclaw Adelena spoke of.” I shove myself away from him.

“No. You can't go there. She said it’s a dangerous
task. That arclaw is dangerous.” I say panicky, he holds my chin.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.
”

“Can it be…your pursuing her because you think she mi
ght be your…mother?” I hesitate to ask. He bows down his head, and quickly meets back with me, this time without leaving my sight. “There are answers only she can give me and…who knows, perhaps Sepias’s knowledge is the solution. Perhaps she knows how to liberate the arclaws.” I press my lips together. He makes his passion for freedom conspicuous. It’s there I figured, when Willow pointed at me before dying, it was him she saw through me. Khysso’s motivation and compassion is what’s going to end the haze of dusk. I exhale gloomily. “Then, can I go with you? We’ll travel together like you promised,” he laughs.

“
Do not worry so much, visit your family. Worry not, Judyala. I will grant you that promise one day. Nevertheless, it is not the time yet.” I miserably exhale.

“Will I ever see you again?” I mutter, looking at the sheets from my bed. He chortles, I think amused by my sentiments. He enfolds his hands around my hips. His body against mine. His embrace secludes the night, preventing a word of farewell.

The
End,     

     
Till’ spellbound…

         
Songs that inspired Haze of Dusk

1. Spellbound (Stream of passion) Main plot

2. Haunted (Stream of passion)

3. This Endless night (Stream of passion)

4. When you hurt me the most (
Stream of passion)

5. My leader (Stream of passion)

6. Spark (Stream of passion)

7. Control the storm (Delain)

9. Lost ( Within Temptation)

Music is my number one inspiration, without it, I don’t know where I would be.