The Legend of Azhakkstadd

CHAPTER LXVIII : THE MAN AND HIS HIPPOGRIFFS

-Zexal-

            The hippocampi went swimming elegantly on the water as they pull our vehicle towards all along. I would love to see a real one so much, but they are so aloof and would really not show themselves on humans as much as they do. Aside from them, I am taking the delight of pleasure that this body of water is giving me.

            The sparkling dark blue sea looked so marvelous and solemn as we traveled by it. The ambience feels so refreshing and relaxing. I love this so much, I lived in the sea all my life and every day, I witnessed how blessed we are to have this kind of creation in our world.

            As we went through, the sweet and cold wind kisses my face keeping me awake from any circumstance that we would encounter. After few more minutes, I finally found land ahead of us so that maybe is the shore from the Air Empire, that Hazol had told me to land.

            “Is that the shore Hazol that you spoke about? May I ask your permission to glance at the map once more so that I could be so sure?”  I ask him yet it seems like he would not respond so I turned my head to gaze at them…

            Oh gosh they are all asleep ahahahaha they must have been so tired with all those things that we did, and the comfort of the sea adds up the mood to take a nap at this moment, which is perfect though. But not for because I am the captain of this ship this time ahahaha

            “Hey…” I whispered carefully waking him up so that I won’t disturb the others. He started blinking his eyes indicating that he is gaining consciousness

            “What?” he asked as he tried opening his eyes and look at me for a while

            “Look… is that it?” I said and pointed towards the shore ahead of us and asking him the confirmation if this is really it.

            “Let me check…” he said as he grabbed the map yet his sleepy head tells me that he wanted to sleep more ahahahaha “This map is made by the Ordo king to tell us exactly where we are and…” he said while checking both the whole wide world map, and also the map of the Air Empire

            I took a peek at the map that he is holding right now and I noticed that not anywhere of it is labeled as the Water Territory. That is because none of them knew where it is. It’s unknown for them and only Vands knows exactly where it is. That’s why out of all the world maps that had been made, ours is the most accurate since its complete.

            It’s just that it’s for our own eyes and should not show it to anyone.

            “Yes, we’re here, but not at the exact spot that I told to you to land” he said as he put down the map that he is holding “That’s the spot near a posthouse, I think we could get help from there, but it’s ok, we can still get there” he said explaining it to me

            He showed me the map and pointed at a specific point once more that I am sure that I get now ahahaha. I hurried back to make the hippocampi bring us to that point where Hazol wanted us to be.

            Where near to it actually, just a few more turns at the left and where there. Hazol found the posthouse that he is saying so he silently pointed it to me implying to land it there.

            He started waking everyone up telling them that we’ve reached our destination.

            “We need that Sleipnirs once again Eeya, could you please?” Hazol said as we all went down and left Eeya to do the task of handling our vehicle. Eeya just nodded her head and started doing what she did a while ago

            “Where do I put this? She asked as she followed us as we walked towards the posthouse. The posthouse is just ahead of us now

            “I don’t know yet… wait before we get to the village. I’m sure we can find some space for it” Hazol answered him. We approached the posthouse quickly. It’s dark and silent only a single lamp in the window light it up and it seems like no one’s in here. We looked around to see if anybody’s around

            “Is somebody around here?” Hazol asked as he knocked on the wall in front of him

            “Yes? What can I help you?” we heard a man asked and a loud thud as if something fell on the floor… or someone ahahahaha. The man quickly stood up showing himself smilingly in the window while fixing himself and putting his hat on.

            “We needed to get to the nearest village, may I ask you if there is one somewhere around here?” Hazol answered as the man looked at us as if carefully scanning us. I understand him, that’s his work…

            “Who are you people?” he asked before answering us

            “We are the chosen heroes, we’re actually having our training right now” Kurezma answered him “Have you heard about us?” she added making sure that he know us

            “We came from the mountain of Zarodias for our first challenge, now we needed a place to stay tonight. We need some clothes, food and shelter. So may we ask you where we can get those?” Hazol repeated himself saying our reason why we are here

            “Oh… right, I have heard about you. I thought you were at the Fairy Kingdom… why are you doing here?” he gasped and his eyes grew big as he recognized us

            “We’re actually training in the Psychic Nation as of now since there are some issues in Fairy Kingdom. So as part of the training, we have to complete some challenges stationed all around the whole Azhakkstadd, our first one was in the mountain” Hazol answered him explaining our business here in their country

            “That’s amazing, so how’s the challenge?” the man smiled at us asking how well did we do as he leaned forward showing his interest to listen

            “It was great… fortunately we completed it, with the help of everyone of course” Kurezma gladly said answering his question while gesturing her hands

            “You see this vehicle?” Harald cut himself in bringing up what he made “We made that one… we actually came here with nothing…” he added with a little tone of bragging

            “That’s great… well, just follow this tracks here, and you’ll get to the village that you will first see” the man gave us a thumbs up then pointed at the pathway next to the post house “Let me give you something to help you” he added

            He waved his hand and then the wind suddenly blew strong carrying the sands around us. Suddenly he created a figure of an animal out of his air abilities. That’s so amazing, it’s just like what I and Eeya made.

            “What’s that?” I asked since it’s my first time seeing that kind of creature

            “It’s a hippogriff…” Vedasto said “It flies” he added

            “Just like a hippocampus?” I asked since both of them sounded almost the same

            “No ahahaha” Vedasto answered as he laughed “An upper body of an eagle and the lower body of a horse. Same as the hippocampus, but reverse” he explained

            “This is made of air, as you see… now who among you here is a Loft?” he asked looking at all of us

            “Uhmm… actually, we’re divided into two. Astral, the Loft, is in the other group… so there’s no Loft here with us” I answered shaking my head off I noticed how his expression turned into disappointment though he kept his smile

            “Oh… then to whom am I giving this? None of you can use the element of the air…” he said as he sighed out of disappointment

            “I can…” Kurezma presented herself. Right! She mastered everything, she knows how to use it.

            “You can?” the man asked while we all nodded as an answer “How come?” he asked again as he smiled brightly

            “Yes sir…” Kurezma answered as she started producing air with her hand and made a rope to attach the Hippogriffs with her hands… it’s the same process that I and Eeya did to gain control with what we have created. It’s not just a rope, it’s also a channel to control our creation

            “That’s amazing, are you a Loft too?” the man asked her as she received it without having any problem

            “No… I’m a Trueno, but the Gods gifted me with these powers, that’s why I can do this” Kurezma answered him then he pulled the Hippogriffs towards her and touched it with her hand

            “Take it with you…” the man said as he waved goodbye

            “Thank you, sir… we’ll take care of it” Kurezma said and also waved goodbye

            “Thank you for telling us the way… we have to go” Hazol said and smiled at the man while we all waved our goodbye to him thanking hhim for what he had done for us

            “You’re welcome, and good luck. You take care of yourselves. Sadly I can’t go and bring you there, I have work here” the man said bidding us farewell and stating his reason of not bringing us there, and we understand

            “It’s fine sir… your help is more than enough” Hazol said appreciating the assistance and the hippogriffs

            “It’s amazing that he gave this to us. I haven’t done this before, and I have no idea how to make this” Kurezma said as we walked following the path to the village

            “Yea, I think it would be hard for you too since you are not a loft. It also takes some time to learn it, you won’t learn it in an instant” Eeya told her

            “I made a cheetah once, but with my friends” Kurezma said

            “Yea, there are specific animals that people from each tribe can make. It’s a gift given to us by the Legendary guardians. But it really is difficult to learn, you have to become worthy first” I added with what Eeya said

            “That’s why we’re blessed to receive this one” Kurezma said pertaining to the Hippogriffs with her “How do I make them disappear?” she asked

            “Just control it… with your power” Eeya said “In your mind, you can command it” she added gesturing her hands

            “Just like how you did with the cheetah” I cut myself in

            “Ok…” Kurezma responded and started doing it. She closed her eyes to focus, suddenly the Hippogriff slowly gone with the wind as it blew strongly around

            “That’s it…” Eeya said stopping Kurezma from doing anything further as the wind started blowing harshly

            “Oh… ahahaha thanks” Kureza opened her eyes and noticed what’s happening, the wind subsided and we all continued walking following the path that the man told us to follow.