Zaiyoz

Chapter 5

“Livha is now mine, Adhi Vowen!” Arotti chortled as the green flame fast approached her.

“No, no, no!” I said in alarm. I tried to pull back Livha but something must be wrong with her. Or was it me because I panicked?

“No!” Mother screamed from the throne room, watching the scene. “Arotti!”

I was distracted by that scream that I momentarily forgot about Livha. It was like in a slow motion with my mother running toward us, screaming. When I looked back to my sister Arotti, I heard her shriek in agony and saw her little body being consumed by Livha. All the guards were aghast and the maids were screaming. One attempted to save her by hugging her and rolled her down the ground. However, she was also consumed by Livha.

The screams resounded in my ears and were embedded in my memory. I blinked and I had no idea what happened. My winds Allotho and Javvi seemed to rage out of my body, too. Allotho became a whirlwind that caught the maids and guards of my sister, hurling them to the opposite side of the palace. Meanwhile, Javvi became a sharp and invisible sword that cut my father’s guards’ throats. Their blood spurted and all of them dropped to the ground almost at the same time. My concerned father who followed my mother was appalled at the sight that he had to hold on to the pillar. He tried to use his water power to stop Livha but to no avail.

Concurrently, my mother was in shock upon seeing it. Her misty silver eyes became fiery and she looked at me, murmuring some kind of chant.

“Upon this hour

I summon the divine powers

To strip Vowen of his destructive gifts

As well as his soul that rifts;

As above, so below

‘Til he perceives their true value or the real foe!”

Just as she finished the curse, I saw Livha die down but my Arotti and her maid were already black as charcoal. The two winds disappeared, and I felt myself being forcefully ripped apart into two. I could see my own wraith separating from my body, and it ascended to the heavens. I dropped on my knees, breathless and with tears on my face. I felt like I was now an empty shell with only a bit of my powers left in me, which were mainly Karommu and Azajji. The rest was nowhere. I had no idea where they went. Maybe up in the heavens just like my soul that was ripped off of my body by my own mother!

“No!” I screamed in lamentation, both for the loss of my sister and my soul. But most especially for the loss of my one and beloved sister. Rich tears wetted my face.

My mother went over to my sister’s black remains. She sobbed as her magic cleaned her up and restored the way she looked when she was alive. Her hands that were above my sister shook as she performed her magic. But she could never bring her daughter back to life and it hurt like hell!

“Arotti!” I cried hard and kneeled down beside my sister and embraced her. “I’m sorry, Arotti! I’m so sorry!”

My father came up to my mother and embraced her, both crying for the loss of their one and only daughter.

***

Perched on a tree, I watched as my mother read my letter through the large window of her bedroom one night. There, I wrote:

“Dear Mother,

It’d been a week since Arotti’s incident. I don’t think I can live here without remembering what I did to her. For that, I’m so terribly sorry. It was all my fault. I was thoughtless and I wasn’t a good brother to her.

Please tell Father I am no longer your son. I am leaving the palace as you read this letter. I’m sorry that I cannot face you or Father anymore. I have no face to show you after what I’ve done to my own little sister. I promised to myself that I’ll never use my powers again. I will live as an ordinary human being and no one will know I am the prince who killed his own little sister because it’s a big shame for you. I cannot bear to be called a royalty anymore, after what happened. I don’t deserve such a thing, like their respect.

I don’t know what my future holds for me. But I hope you and Father will be happy together and will be safe without me. Remember however that I love you both and my sister even though she’s no longer with us. And for that, I will forever do my penance and live as nothing but a vagabond.

I don’t know what to hope for myself anymore, Mother. I feel like a walking empty shell, without you, without Father and especially without Arotti. Just take care of yourselves. You’ll always be in my heart no matter where I am in the empire.

Your son no longer,

Vowen.”

I saw Mother put the letter on her chest, as though she hugged me. I could feel the warmth around me at the moment, which I used to feel when she embraced me. When we laid Arotti to rest near the pond, it was the last time she encased me in her arms. Her rose scent was like a balm that filled my empty self. And after that, I just stayed all alone in my room in my own palace, crying day and night. Until I decided to leave.

After watching my mother for about an hour, crying as she re-read my letter numerous times, I decided to go to my sister’s palace. The orange lights, her favorite, were on. A few guards were there so I easily snuck in. I directly went to her room. It was dark, so I just slowly felt my way there.

I could see her in my memory lying in her bed. I once came over and woke her up. She was pouting then and threw me a pillow, which I didn’t dodge to feed her ego, to let her think I was not fast enough. She was so happy that she successfully hit me in the face. She then squealed delightfully and ran toward her washroom to change for our morning greeting to our parents and have breakfast together.

I touched the cool bedsheet that I knew was changed daily in spite of her absence now. My mother was particular about it. It was like she was hoping her daughter would come back. But of course, we all knew it wouldn’t ever happen.

I sat down and quietly shed tears. “I’m sorry, Arotti. I’m so sorry! It was my fault you’re now gone. I’m so sorry!”

“Someone’s here.” I heard Azajji’s whisper. It seemed distant but I heard my first wind’s female voice.

My head snapped and I quickly hid behind the door. It opened and someone checked it with a torch held in hand. I guess it was the guard, making rounds to ensure that no one disturbed the princess’ chamber. After checking, he left, soft steps receding down the hall.

I sniffled and left through the window. I looked over my shoulder as I ran toward the south gate. I didn’t use Karommu as my transportation because I swore I’d live like a normal person, which I hoped I could despite Karommu bringing the voices of people into my ears. But I tried my best to ignore all of it.

I climbed the high wall by a rope I brought with me in my black sling bag. I didn’t wear my princely robe or crown anymore but I still had my badge on as a necklace. I carried a few gems with me to get by and I’d just think about what I’d do when I ran out of them. Maybe I could work somewhere or just travel around the empire. That way, no one would ever know me but just a passing traveler.

It was easy for me to get out of the palace without someone noticing me. I dashed toward the nearest road and quickly got on a cart with corn yields. The owner had no idea I was there behind him while he led his horse probably to the nearest town. Or maybe to where he lived. It didn’t matter to me. I just lay down there with the corn supporting my back.

The night stars shone on me, twinkling happily. It was opposite to what I felt that very moment. It was like I just lost my entire family and no one could even console me. I had no friends but Shamaro. But now, I left him in the palace. I just hoped Father wouldn’t punish him for not knowing my departure.

I closed my eyes and hadn’t realized I had fallen asleep. I was woken up by Azajji and that was when I realized that the cart was slowing down.

“Danger,” my wind said.

I wondered what was going on since it was still dark and we were in the middle of nowhere.