Zaiyoz

“Run, Vowen if you want to stay alive!” I said to myself, slightly heaving. While running through the dim-lit and narrow passageway of a big cavern, I looked back at the Sarangay, a male half water buffalo and half man, with big shiny earrings. His dark huge eyes went even darker and his huge flaring nostrils let out a white smoke as he’d gone livid. His angry growl echoed throughout the narrow tunnel. I thought I felt the slight shaking of the ground because of it. Some debris fell and I dodged them. And why wouldn’t he get angry? I just stole from his hoard of jewels and precious stones. And I took one of his precious gems—the biggest odim, a red powerful stone the size of my fist. It can heal any physical wound as I’ve heard. If it was separated into many pieces, the result would be the same. There was a downside though. It could only be used at least six times. Nonetheless, it was very, very precious, especially for the pirates, soldiers and magicians in Kazron Empire. I could sell it for at least ten pieces of gold for each tiny piece and I could live freely without lifting a finger. “Give it back, you thief!” the black Sarangay roared with great vexation, running after me with his thundering steps. I took a turn to the left, meeting another Sarangay. I cursed in my mind. I leaped and flipped backward to dodge his hand with sharp long nails that could pass as dangerous like a claw. He growled; white smoke came out of his big flaring nostrils. And oof! His foul smell like dirty damp clothes left for centuries was offending my straight nose. My not-so-thick eyebrows were in a line as I concentrated to dodge his kick. When his attack wasn’t effective, he snarled exasperatedly and advanced in my direction, threatening me with his curvy and sharp horns. I was sure they would tear my guts out if I wasn’t careful. “Ho s**t!” I exclaimed. My silver eyes went round as I heard the first Sarangay was already behind me, trapping me between the two of them in the narrow passageway. I first felt the odim stone in the front pocket of my wool pants. Just to make sure it was still there and this endeavor wasn’t for naught. I quickly ducked and dove between his legs, which had enough space for me to get through. I got up and grinned when the two Sarangay’s horns clashed together and they growled even angrier. As they tried to get their horns off from each other, I was already running out of the cavern. I hadn’t realized it wasn’t the exit I first thought when I sneaked in from a small hole on top of the cavern. The passageway led straight to a deep cliff, and I screamed as I fell down fast, hands and legs flailing. I was thankful that the water in the river was deep enough to save my life. But the fall had my heart racing and I almost lost the odim stone. I swam underwater to catch it before a playful bunyip could snatch it away. The bunyip had long maned neck of about five feet long with brown fur, two large ears and small tusks, an elongated head like a horse, with many folds of skin and a horse-like tail. Its small apricot-like eyes were mocking me when one of its two dog-like paws scratched my hand. However, the precious stone was already safe in my hand. The stone glimmered, which startled the local bunyip and rapidly swam away from me, bellowing like a seal. When I got out of the refreshing river and checked the wound, it was already healed. I put the precious stone back in my pocket and looked at the exit from across the river. I saw the two Sarangay peer at the cavern’s exit and they yelled with utmost rage. It echoed to the mountains and forest. I waved my hand before I turned away. I was sure they would not come after me as they had to guard the rest of the hoard. It was only an unexpected chance that I happened to see something glistening when I peeped through a hole earlier. I was just wandering around, thinking what to do next with my miserable and pointless life. And then, I decided to have some short fun. “My kind will find you one day, you thief! And they will mercilessly tear you apart!” shouted the first Sarangay. Some birds crazily flew away from the trees nearby. I walked through the forest, following a distinct trail that I had never been before. I could still feel my light brown hair in a man bun dripping. I squeezed it, shook my head and shook off my hand. The warm summer air was welcoming. My short-sleeved shirt, pants and body would eventually get dry before I’d reach the nearest town. I could hear the air whisper in my ear. I heard voices and chatters carried by it. It had always been like this, especially whenever I was alone. I could clearly hear them even though they were miles away. But I tried to ignore them. I didn’t listen to anything or anyone in particular. “Vowen… my one and only prince!” I heard that familiar female sweet voice. It was weak, and I went still as a rock. My heart quivered however and I suddenly felt cold that my skin grew goosebumps. “Mother!” I whispered. I knew she couldn’t hear me back because I was not whole. Maybe not ever even if I wanted to. And I hated it! I looked around but all I could see were rainbow trees and the rays of the setting sun that got through the thick leaves and branches. “Don’t come home, son. It’s for your safety.” I took a deep breath, trying to ignore the tears that welled up in my metallic and pearlescent eyes. “I love you, my son!” “How could you say that, Mother? It was because of you that I’m like this!” “You will understand one day why I did it. But all you have to know is that I just wanted to protect you, Vowen,” she said as though she heard what I just said. But I knew she could read me. I took in a shaky breath. I could feel the warm liquid crawl down my face. I quickly wiped it off with the back of my hand. Why did I even blame her? It was my fault. I slowly moved my head from side to side. “It’s been four years since I left home and you say that to me now?” I shouted. I hadn’t realized that I missed her so much until this moment and I was so miserable! “Just remember, I love you, Vowen,” she said. Her voice became weaker. I could even hear her long sigh and then… silence. My heart thumped harder because of it. “Mother?” I whispered. She was silent and I sat down on a fallen tree. My elbows on my knees and my hands held my head. I wanted to hear more of her, even her breathing. I tried hard, concentrating, but I couldn’t hear it. I had no idea what happened because my powers were only perhaps ten percent left after what my mother did to me four years ago. I knew it was my punishment but it was an indefinite one, which I had no idea when it would end. And if it would ever end. What I did back then was bad. Real bad and I couldn’t take it back even if I wanted it to then, even when I still had my powers as one of the descendants of the great wizard, on my mother’s side. “Are you normally talking alone, to yourself?” I heard a female voice. It was melodic, which made my heart flutter. Weird. My head snapped to my left. And there she was, a petite girl who was around a year younger than me. I could say she was around twenty. I don’t know. Maybe it was instinct. Or was it my powers speaking? Anyway, she had short pixie hair of color orange. Her almond-shaped gray-green eyes were full of life as she gazed at me, and she had that wide flirty kind of smile. Or was she flirting with me right now? I could only snort at her. Why was she talking to me in the first place? Wasn’t she afraid of me, a total stranger? Any normal person in Kazron Empire would since bad people and wizards were everywhere in the empire. I decided she wasn’t normal. At all. I took note of her black fitting pants that were made of leather. She wore a hanging tank top of the same material, defining her cute womanly front assets and showing her creamy white skin and pretty navel. Wait, just when did I think navels were pretty? And cute womanly front assets? How did my brain come up with that? I must be out of my mind. I never ever admired any girl in Kazron. I rubbed my face and stood up, ignoring her. I realized that with my five feet and eleven inches height, I could tell she was standing about five feet and two. I easily towered her. “What’s your name and where are you from?” she asked, following me though I noticed she came through the opposite direction. I didn’t reply. I had no time for a small chitchat and let alone start some kind of friendship with anyone. I’d rather be alone. I deserved it. “Hey, have you suddenly become mute?” She must be one persistent human being. I looked at her pretty face and sighed. “Don’t stick your pert nose in other people’s business if you don’t want to get hurt,” I stated coldly in my baritone voice. Her beautiful eyes went round. So were her cherry lips. “Wow! I just wanted to know your name and where you’re from and I’d get hurt for knowing this information?”