The Legend of Azhakkstadd

CHAPTER LIX : THE SACRIFICE

-Kuzma-

            “Come with us and state your purpose” he told me and walked towards where my father had gone to. I looked everywhere and saw the other Legendary Guardians resting in their Lairs. Including Ygnea the Legendary Fairy Guardian, she’s a Eucladoceros. Edda the Legendary Psychic Guardian, she’s ninetailed fox. Rune the Legendary Water Guardian, she’s a Blue Glaucus.

            Trym the Legendary Earth Guardian, he’s a behemoth. Leif, the Legendary Earth Metal Guardian, she’s a Markhor. Kande the Legendary Poison Guardian, he’s a Bakunawa, as giant sea serpent. Tyko the Legendary Warrior Guardian, a Cherub. Einar the Legendary Mortal Guardian, a seraph. And Astrid the Legendary Shadow Guardian, the hellhound.

            “My Lord, this is Kuzma, my son. The crowned prince of Fairy Kingdom and the successor of the throne” my father knelt before the Gods and Goddesses and presented me, I also knelt down to show my respect. The Gods and Goddesses were sitting on their thrones as they waited for us to speak.

            “He’s the swordsman, eh?” Ganasala, the God of Earth Metals and Minerals spoke. I read him from books, I somehow know all of them as I studied the Gods of Azhakkstadd once in my life.

            “Sure do, he could be a great fighter.” Kingmerlin, the God of War, Battle, and Strategies agreed with him. It’s easy to recognize them in that state since no one knows their faces, just their appearance and their auras.

            “State your reason of coming up here” I heard a loud and fearful voice asking us, it’s Haemon, the Dragon God

            “Our kingdom is coming to its end” my father answered “Due to the curse of Trevor and the loss of our successor, it loss life and came to its state right now. As my son, Kuzma, finally returned… I would like to ask for your help for the restoration of the land” my father continued

            “If it’s getting destroyed then why not let it be?” a God asked my father back. It’s Harkan, the God of Destruction… no wonder why, he loves destruction.

            “Our world right now is again experiencing a threat. We needed the power from the Fairy kingdom to prevent it” my father answered him

            “What is this threat that you are talking about?” Imain, the Goddess of Poison, Toxic, Pollution, and Contamination asked… as if they didn’t know, they’re Gods “Is Azhakkstadd once again diluted with darkness?”

            “I’m afraid, yes” my father shortly answered

            “Is that all why you came here?” Pisani, the Goddess of Air, Weather, and Climate asked again “How is this happening?”

            “We’ve been attacked several times, we already responded with it. And now, we are humbly asking for your help and guidance to let us win against this darkness… once more” my father answered

            “For the second time around… let them be, my Lord Malikstar” Jerger, the God of Ice, and Season spoke for us upon the God of the Gods.

            “I lived in this world for just a short time. I discovered so many things about it yet my knowledge isn’t that ripe that’s why I wanted to extend its life and know more about its abundance and greatness” I started speaking… again, this is not part of what my father told me

            Everyone went silent. My father looked at me intently not understanding what I was doing. I just looked at every God my eyes could lay its sight and spoke.

            “I lived here with my sister and my friends who were with me until this day. One day, I found out that I have more to know about myself. Yet, one day, I knew that this world is ending no matter what. I knew that everything I know about this world would just turn into dust and be gone from the universe forever”

            “I know that those things that I don’t know would remain unknown until it goes to its end. I lived my life fighting for what is right, I lived my life living the teachings of our ancestors about what happens when we put our anger and hatred first before kindness and understanding”

            “I witnessed how our world suffered because of how a person followed his own desire without minding the welfare of the others. I knew a lot but not that a lot. I know I have no right to speak these words in front of you since my knowledge is far beyond yours. Compared to you, I’m just a speck while you know the world better than me”

            “Yet I stand before you because I don’t want everything that I have mentioned to be wasted and be gone forever just for a nonsensical reason. I know that there is no light if there is no dark, and that makes the world balanced, but I don’t want my world to end just because of one’s own desire and negligence”

            “Everyone I ever loved lived in this world. Those great kings, and tribe leaders who ruled fairly, those warriors who defended their lives and the lives of others, those people who lived under your power and spend their lives living to make this world better, and I who came here to seek for your help because I know how great you are”

            “I don’t want my world to end that way, our world to be exact… I don’t want everything to go to waste, that’s why we came here to ask for your help and your guidance so that we can fight against it and bring back the wonderful world that I knew of. Thank you” I ended as I knelt down again and waited for my end

            I waited for a few minutes yet I still am not dead yet.

            “Come along” I heard a God spoke. I knew it… I knew a speech from a heart could move even the tallest mountain. I know that wasn’t the best you can hear but at least I have spoken my heart.

            I stood up with my father who smiled at me indicating how proud he is of me. We walked until we get to place showing the whole Azhakkstadd. It really is so beautiful.

            “Do everything you can do to save this paradise for me” Malikstar spoke as he pointed Azhakkstadd. He suddenly glowed brightly and the next thing I knew, we were on a mountain, on top to be exact. And what’s in front of us is a steep cliff as the wind blows harshly.

            I can see engravings everywhere, indicating that this place is important.

            “What are we doing here?” I asked, I looked at my father yet he didn’t answer me, he just looked at me and I can see his eyes started to water

            “I am so proud of you, son, keep up the good work. Just know that I love you so much” my father said and hugged me… what is he talking about? Why is he being like that?

            “I love you too father” I responded and then he kissed me on my forehead

            “In order to get what you wanted, we needed one soul as a sacrifice” Malikstar initiated

            “What…?” I gasped as I heard it… no, is this the reason why… “Did you know about this?” I asked my father

            “This is the only way” my father answered me “I have to do this”

            “No… we just knew each other, I can’t let you die! We still have so many things to do… like father and son thing! You can’t die yet!” I insisted as I grabbed his arm

            “But I have to do this, for you… for the sake of the whole Azhakkstadd” my father started crying as he hugged me again

            “Who would lead the whole country? Who would be there for me?” I asked him like a child

            “You… what you did a while ago is a sign that you are a worthy king… Seier is there when you needed something…” he answered me

            “No! I don’t need anyone… I need you, you’re my father!” I said and hugged him tightly

            “I really have to do this… I know you understand” he kept on persuading me

            “Is there another way to do this? I mean is there another way where he doesn’t have to die?” I asked Malikstar

            “I’m afraid there is none” he said as he walked towards us “I’m so sorry, but what you are asking requires a great price… and this has to be it” he continued. My father removed my arm from him and stood up

            I quickly stood up to prevent him yet Malikstar held me and prevented me from coming after my father….

            He jumped off the cliff and all I knew is everything went dark.

            I woke up in a warm and comfortable ground by a sound so loud that I even hear though I’m unconscious.

            “Wake up Kuzma… time to go” yet it seems like that voice didn’t came from my ear but from my mind… “Yes, I speak with your mind" I quickly went up and saw bush-antlered deer in front of me. She’s Ygnea, the Legendary Fairy Guardian

            “Let’s go… I’m so sorry about your loss” she said sympathizing and then signaled me to ride on her back. I went on her back and then she ran god-speed. I saw myself back to the place where I first got here, I remember my father looking at me smiling and calling me over.

            I miss him already. Just the thought of missing him forever makes my heart ache. We just had our time together yet it was immediately taken away from us. I had a lot of things I wanted to do with him, but he’s gone already. You really don’t understand time sometimes.

            You won’t realize until it come knocking you off. I closed my eyes once again, and when I opened it, I saw everyone in their sad faces. They must have known about it already. It’s the same feeling I felt when I lost my mother.

            “You did it” Seier softly said as he tapped my back

            “Yea but…” I said and shook my head

            “It’ll be fine Kuzma… we have to accept that not every time things would go your way… sometimes we need to sacrifice for the sake of the whole, this time it’s your father” Seier explained to me

            “I get it… but why so quick? If only I knew, I should have told him to crown me next year…” I said

            “But we don’t know if we’d still last until next year…” Seier said, I just sighed and walked out of the room.

            “Your father told me to make you king in the next eight days” Seier told me as he sat on my chair inside my room

            “Let’s not talk about it right now” I said as I rolled over my bed

            “I’m so sorry your highness” he apologized “But you still have a kingdom to restore, tomorrow morning you have to do it” he reminded me “If your father is here, he doesn’t want you to be like that, don’t procrastinate what’s important because you are having an emotional breakdown right now”

            “That’s why your father told you to be emotionally prepared…”

            “If your father is here---“

            “But he’s not here anymore!” I exclaimed cutting him off

            “he doesn’t want to see you like that. Do what you have to do, don’t waste his life for nothing. He chose to die to save the world, he sacrificed himself, don’t let it go for nothing” he said

            “He wanted you to be strong so that you won’t be blinded by any emotional breakdowns you will encounter after that event. Fix yourself your highness, you have to do it” he continued

            “I’m so sorry Seier” I apologized

            “Make your father proud” he added, I suddenly understood it all… that’s it

            “Tomorrow then” I firmly said

            “Are you ready?” sir Seier asked as he placed his hand on my shoulder. This is the day that my father has always waited, he started this, now I’m going to finish this. This for you father, look at me.

            We stood in the palace grounds as the center of the whole country, the Fairy Kingdom. The elderlies, along with the counselors and the Shamans, they draw a magical sphere with their blessing where I will thrust my sword into the runes and let the miracle begin.

            “As always, Seier. Now step back” I said, they all stepped back and looked at me as they waited for what I am doing

            This is what my father wanted me to be, and I am not going to fail him. His death is not just for nothing, it means a lot, it’s for me, and for everyone. I have to do this for him in return. I wish he’s here to see me, but I know he’s somewhere else, happily watching me, telling everyone how proud he is to have me as his son and as the one to continue what he started.

            “As the successor of the throne, with the blessing of the almighty Gods and Goddesses, in the name of my father…” I said and raised my sword up high so that everyone will see “Heal” I calmly said and strongly thrusted my sword into the ground.

            “This is it father” I whispered

            It suddenly glowed brightly, so bright that it could blind a person. I covered my eyes until the light subsided. Everything miraculously healed, the darkness went away, and the odd feeling is now gone. Everyone rejoiced with what happened.

            The darkness, sorrow, emptiness that they got used to vanished and is changed into bright, joyful, and fullness. Fairy Kingdom is back.