Sinister Offerings

Chapter # 3

“Raven, I promised, I will be back as soon as I can. I will wake you up. Have faith in me, I won't let him affect your body and soul. Our story doesn’t end here. We will move forward. I promise, I will protect you. Wait for me, my love.” I kissed the back of Raven’s palm and stroked her affectionately. Whenever I am with her, I felt calm. The wave of serenity rushed in my veins and that moment I just want to let out what's inside me because she is the only one for me, the one with whom I can share my feelings. Without her, I am just an empty vessel.

“I love you.” I whispered in her ears and left her room.

“Dylan, Take care of everything in my absence.” I said. I am putting him in-charge in while I am going. I cannot risk anyone’s life so it’s better to go alone than taking a group with me. Besides, It's my mistake so I have to make it right. Only if I didn't break the ritual none of it would happen.

“Yes, Master. Rest assured and have a safe journey.” He said earnestly. “Rather than saying ‘safe journey’ say hope you find what you are looking for.” I said.

“Hope you find what you are looking for.” he said. I passed him a faint smile and was about to go but Julia came, “Master. Ma’am Caden is here to meet you.” I nodded, knowing why she was here and went to meet her.

She saw me and opened her mouth to speak something but I spoke up first, “I am not taking you with me.” I don't want to argue her about it. It was my fault and I don't want anyone share it, I know she wants to go with me because of Raven but I don't want anyone to go with me. She narrowed her eyes at me in annoyance, “Why?” She complained.

“Because it was my fault and I have no intentions of sharing my defaults with anyone.” I declared.

“I don’t care about it. I want to help, I can help.” She whined.

“I know but I don’t need your help.” I said coldly.

”I am not asking you.” She was getting irritated.

“Caden don't argue, let me rectify my mistake. You stay here with Raven. I am going.” I said sternly and turned to leave.

“Huff. Fine.” She sighed, closing her arms at her chest. I hummed and before I could go, she called me, “Adrian…” I stopped in my tracks and turned to her. “What?”

”Don’t you dare to put your life in danger. I don’t want to tell Raven that her idiotic husband left her alone in this world.” She mumbled, looking away.

I also turned my head away as a feeble smile crept upon my lips and I replied to her, “Don’t worry. I won’t let it happen any time soon.” I apologize I'll do anything to free her. To save her, I will offer my life gladly.

“Never. Never let it happen.” She corrected me. She knows how much Raven loves me. We both are nothing without each other. It hurt me to think about it. None of us can live without each other.

“I’ll try…” I replied honestly and left.

I started off walking on the Eastern side, I had gone to the Ember Forest once with Raven when she dragged me to get blood from a rare animal because she needed to write her new spell with it’s blood. And it was hell hard because she ain’t giving up and I have to tag along since she couldn't fight the animal by herself. She loves writing her spells even though she couldn’t use most of them and I love watching her doing what she loves. She always seemed utterly dedicated to her work.

Between our monotonous lives, I guess I forgot how our bond was forged with undying love and connection of our souls; rather, I stopped noticing it because of my pride which began to blind me. We were so much more than anyone could anticipate. But Raven means the world to me, She is my world.

Me and Raven are created in pairs as we are incomplete without each other.

Since it’s gonna take three days to reach the Ember Forest so I made a quick head start and started my journey to find Master Axzaan. I wanted to reach there as soon as I can. There's no time to waste. I have already wasted six months in searching for a cure but couldn't find any and if there is one, Master can help me. I need his help. I don't want to waste more time.

*

I was one town away from the forest. Before going to the forest, I thought it would be good taking a rest before facing the upcoming upheavals. I stayed at an inn, had lunch. I was staring at my glass of water, devoid of any emotion from outside but crushing by a heavy weight from inside while hearing the whispers from behind about me,

“What is Azure Lustre’s Master is doing here?”

“Isn’t it Adrian Everette?”

“Why is he alone?”

Alone. That’s right. Alone.

An empty smile rolled over my lips. Raven was my other half. I always travelled with her, I seldom went on a quest alone. Now when I am alone with her, I feel empty, desolated. We were together for years. She grew up with me.

I sighed deeply and stood up and left for the forest without thinking anything else.

I entered the Ember Forest. It is called Ember Forest because no matter which season, the leaves of the trees of this forest remain the same throughout the year; they were like an ember, burning endlessly. It was quite a romantic and appealing sight. The grace of it was utterly enticing. When I entered the forest, the memories of when I walked down this path while holding my hands with Raven flashed in my mind and gave me immense lull. A instant relief went down my spine to remember our moments. My feet moved on their own, the magic in the air led my way as I let it take me wherever it wanted, losing myself in it. I want to get lost in the mesmerizing sensation gushing in me.

I inhaled the fresh air when my steps came to a halt in the open area. I looked around, trying to find my way to the life absorbing lake Caden told me about and not pay attention to the attraction of the forest. It’s hard to not get lost especially when I am broken.

As I was standing, I felt a presence behind me. It was an animal. It jumped and was about to attack me but I dodged it’s attack.

The tattoo over the back of my palm helps me to summon my book of spells named; Azure Lustre- based upon the name of my cult. I summoned it and was about to cast a spell to attack it instinctively but I stopped and looked at the animal, double in size in front of me with glowing eyes and a terrifying look. I looked at it for a few seconds and thought it could work in my favor so I cast a spell,

“Bewitching Reins!” Chains were wrapped around his neck as he tried to struggle to get out of their grasp but to no avail. He finally stopped, I walked closer and put my hand over him and caressed him tenderly. He looked at me for about a minute and then finally calmed down.

“Can you take me to the Death Lake?” I asked softly, removing the reins I put on it. If I am correct, that’s what they call the life absorbing lake tfrom what Caden told me. It’s a frightening yet forbidden spell as it absorbs the life of the person drowned in it and gives it’s lifespan to the caster. In a sense, this lake is the life source of Master Axzaan. The life he has been granted was given to him by this or else a human can’t be over 200 years old. He is immortal.

The animal nodded as I carefully mounted it and it began to run in the East. It’s speed was inhumane, Raven would love to race with it. Every little thing is reminding me about Raven.

He stopped in front of a lake. It seems like a normal lake… from outside at least what I can say. I guess it absorbs life under some certain conditions.

I touched the surface of the water, everything was normal. I am starting to question whether it’s the right lake or not. I don’t know any specific magic other than sealing or the light magic I rarely used whilst fighting so I don’t know what to do.

I looked around and saw the end of the lake but the chance of it being a loop is ninety eight percent. The other two are it being fake and I might get lost in it. I sighed and it’s better than idling around so I walked toward the direction and after two hours I finally realized it’s a god damn loop. I groaned and sat under a tree to clear my mind and think of a way to cross the lake because I certainly don’t want to drown.

I shared my lunch with the animal who brought me here. I don’t even know what this creature's name is, still it is being friendly so am I.

Soon, night fell upon the sky as the silver luminance spread in every direction evoking the desires of the night. The full moon, arresting as ever, gave me eerie satisfaction, my heart skipped a beat by looking at it, shining brightly like never and when the radiance fell upon the leaves causing them to shine like fiery burning stars of the sky so close to my face. It was a captivating sight and between this beauty, a path began to clear up leading to the lake as the lake began to glow- indicating the effects of spells are starting.

I watched it carefully. Trying to comprehend the situation but then Caden’s words struck me; Any outsider will be drowned in the lake and it’s life would be sucked out.

I am not an outsider. But how in the world I am gonna show that I am not an outsider. By staring at the lake for a while, I came to know about the answer. Azure Lustre. Master is the one who helped me to create it. My book is my connection to both Raven and Master Axzaan. If I am right…

I walked closer and summoned my book and dipped it in the water. Water holds memories and it should know about my connection to it’s caster. The tension of the water increases as it begins to vibrate immensely. The light of guidance gathered at the lake and covered it all. Everything stopped at this instant like a calm before a storm. But then a sudden sapphire light spread across the lake and rose to the sky rapidly. The intensity was greater than I had anticipated and if I tried to touch it, I’ll surely lose my hand.

I took a step back, took my book back and looked at the light spreading in the sky, slowly dispersing and looking like a precious crystal one would die to lay hands upon. The scattering of light was enticing. It could charm anyone’s heart as you could feel the same brightness in your heart. The exquisite display gradually faded away and before I could comprehend what happened, my animal pal abruptly threw me over his back and began to run towards the lake split in two halves. I looked around, flabbergasted by the pale bodies stuck in there. I could hear the call of despair, reaching out to me and telling me about their pain of being trapped here for Hell knows how long. The long lost whisper and the calls of devastation can stir a weak mind easily but since I was determined to meet Master Axzaan, I have no intentions of slowing my step or liberating the lost souls which lost their body. Even If I want to, I can’t.

“Help me…”

”It hurts…”

”Let me out…”

All these types of voices echoed in my mind but I tried my best to keep them at bay and not let my sympathy take over me. I cannot melt in it.

When I was about to reach the end but the path closed up as the water began to flow toward me with a thundering speed. The animal sped up as well but before we could reach the bank, the water reached out to us. The animal suddenly stopped which caused me to lose my balance and fell in front of the bank.

Before my mind could register, the water submerged the animal which helped me so far with it. My mouth gaped, I couldn’t find words to speak. I mourn the poor animal’s death. It shouldn’t have done it, he knows he couldn’t jump so he threw me over. I lowered my head and whispered, “Thanks.” And stood up.

Taking a deep breath, I began to walk towards deep into the forest. I cannot stop. I wonder why Master never took me here with him. I guess he wants to live here all alone, earning a short-lived reprieve from his chaotic life.

I walked, observing my surroundings, not understanding why in the hell I never found Death lake before with Raven. The more I walked closer the more a strange power grew inside me and made me feel so heavy. These types of presences are expected by the Master, a weak person can never bear it. He will lose it’s sanity because of the overwhelming power. But I don’t know why, instead of overpowering or embedding fear in me, it made me… sad. Depressed.

I swallowed the building dejection inside me and found a cottage in the clear sky, ignited by the moonlight. It was enough for me to know that it’s Master’s cottage. Finally I found it and now I have to wait for Master. I walked closer but when I was about to take a step on the fields, a giant monster made of rock attacked me. I jumped and barely managed to save myself from being crushed.

“Not again…” I spoke to myself. How can I forget these nightmares I spend a whole damn year to defeat. When I started black magic, Master made me fight it and unless he won’t teach me further from the basics and It took me a whole year to defeat it and earn Master’s recognition. I am not losing to it now. It is nothing compared to me now.

It began to attack me but I dodged its attacks and managed to slip behind it between the fight. Since it’s a large rock, it took it some time to fully turn to me, before it could attack me, I put my palm over it while holding my book with my other hand and began to enunciate, “Lost in the abyss; follow my path. In the light of misery, there’s no halt. Imprisonment!” I used my most common spell to e*****e any creature originated from someone with magic powers by mixing my own magic with it and bounding it to my orders.

My seal appeared on it’s leg as it stopped moving and remained still. My gaze met as I ordered, “Die.” And it broke to pieces right in front of me. After dealing with it, I went to the cottage and saw no one here. Seems like Master is not here, all I have to do is wait for him to come back and then talk to him about it.

I waited for him outside his cottage for the next ten days, between this time, I fought with five more of the Rock Giants, found nothing but mushrooms to eat and satisfy my hunger. There wasn’t any animal on this side of the Forest. It was filled with gloom, no sign of life, all alone waiting for my Master.

One day, I was resting under a tree and saw an old man with a long white beard in a pure white robe and a purple cape, holding a wooden staff fixed with an emerald, entering the cottage. The appearance was enough for me to know it’s Master Axzaan and I know that he knows I am here because of the mess of the rock I have made around his sweet vacation home.

I got up and knocked on the door and walked inside. It was dark everywhere, I looked around for Master and called him, “Master Axzaan?”

“You better clean the mess you have made outside.” Master’s stern yet angry voice came. “I will.” I replied.

“How did you find me?” Master asked.

“Caden, Crimson Devils Leader, helped me.” He made a sour face when he heard it, “That brat..” He muttered.

”Why are you looking for me this desperately anyways?” He grumpily asked, taking a seat.

I mustered some courage and gulped hard. I inhaled and blurted out, “I performed Sinful t****l. I was one verse away from completion but then I broke the ritual as the devil grasped the soul of Raven and I don’t know what to do anymore other than asking for your help.” I said hurriedly, explaining the ravage I brought upon myself as I could feel the wrath emitting from him. He stood up from his seat and walked towards me, his staff making a creaking sound against the wooden floor gave me a bad omen but I had no intention of leaving without receiving any help.

Master stood in front of me, stared at me for about a minute and then hit me in the stomach with his staff, which caused me to fall on my knees. I held my stomach, “Please help me.” I whispered.

“i***t! What the hell did you just do!? Who told you to perform such a powerful spell? Your one mistake leads a devil to possess a human body!” I kept looking down, not daring to speak another word as he scolded me.

“Who wrote the spell? Where is the book!?” He asked furiously.

“It was destroyed… Raven wrote it.” I replied.

“Of course! The Victorians! I hate this clan.” He growled talking about Raven’s extinct clan.

“I need your help. Please. I will do anything, but I want to save Raven at all cost. Please help me. You are my only hope.” I begged. “Why would I help you?” He said bitterly.

“Please Master, You know how much I love Raven. I couldn’t lose her. Please help me.” I was on the verge of a breakdown while speaking. I would do anything just to save Raven.

“Are you willing to sacrifice anything to save her?” Master asked after a pause and maybe having mercy upon me.

“Yes. Even my life.” I answered immediately.

“I might help you but it will require your most treasured possession.” He said with a glint of sadness in his voice.

“What..?” I whispered, not knowing what he was talking about. He took a deep breath and looked at me icily and spoke what I never thought I would lose. The thing, I cherish more than my life. What I can’t lose; my reason to live.

Great apprehension mixed with heartbreak overcame me when Master Axzaan told me the price to save her, “You have to sacrifice her love for you to save her.”