The Scepter of Marahuyo

Chapter 051

I see the ogros getting smaller and smaller as we run further away from them. Once I regained my composure, I asked Ethan to put me down. We can’t go back to Marahuyo as the ogros are blocking our way. So instead, we go deeper into the forest and hope that we won’t encounter any monster as high-level as the ogros.

We hid in a cave overlooking the foot of the mountain. In that way, we can see if the ogros are tracking us down. Usually, mages can sense if a monster is close, especially the more skilled ones, but ogros are a different matter. They can easily evade detection. Thus we, mages, depend on our sight to actually see them. Coupled with gigantic size and ogre-like features, ogros also carries a giant hammer that it uses to kill an unsuspecting victim instantly. Add to that the fact that they move in groups. On average, half a dozen is a regular crowd for it. It’s not a night creature, but it feasts on human flesh. That is why it’s categorized as a high-level monster. 

It must have been the reason why both Sir Edmund and Sir Thomas easily got killed. With both of the mages still alive, we could have a chance--one mage against one ogro; But now that there’s only four of us, it has become dire and risky.

“Let’s spend the night here. We just need those ogros to leave,” Aicelle suggests.

“You’re not referring to sleep, are you?” Al asks as he looks around the small cave. 

There is no place to sleep aside from the cold ground. If Cara is here, she could have raised a platform made of vines as a bed for us. But our blessing is useless this time. All of us use water-based abilities. Aicelle has Magwayen, goddess of sea and water. Ethan has Amanikable, the god of sea and hunt. Al has Tubigan, god of water and celestial ocean. And I have Anitun Tabu, the goddess of wind and rain.

Wait, I look at Al. “Why don’t you use your celestial ocean?” I remember that he can summon monsters from the celestial ocean. “Maybe there is a creature that can do that for us?” I ask.

Al frowns. “What do you mean? Creatures don’t come out from my blessing.”

“Yours is Tubigan, right? Surely, you can use the celestial ocean and its inhabitants?”

“I use the power of the ocean, yes, but it’s almost the same with Aicelle.”

“No, it should be different. Aicelle’s the first goddess so her’s is stronger in brute force. Yours is--”

“Holly, it’s my blessing, okay? I should know better what my abilities are,” Al says, voice rising. 

Suddenly, Ethan hugs me from behind. “What is it this time, Ethan?” I ask, exasperated. 

“Damn, I love you,” he says in a joking manner to me.

“I hope Cara hears you say that,” Al scolds.

“Oh, she knows that Holly is my first love.” I pinch his arm, but he doesn’t budge. Instead, he pulls me closer to his rock-hard body. Aaron’s delicious-looking body came into mind. I bite my lower lips to stop myself from going there. “Al, just follow her instructions, okay? She observes a lot, to the point that I thought she’s crazy over me.”

Al raises his brows but doesn’t make a move to activate his anito. Somehow, I appreciate how Al doesn’t believe easily. I only know their abilities because I am older inside. After all, this is my second life. 

“Initially, I thought that my anito is just the god of hunters. It's Holly who told me how to use Amanikable’s saltwater abilities. Now, my sea abilities are as strong as Aicelle.”

“Don’t dream,” Aicelle interjects.

“If that’s true, you should’ve single-handedly defeated those ogros,” Al comments.

“I was tired against the poop--”

“Popo,” I correct.

“Popo. And also, I was surprised. I can’t comprehend that professional mages can be easily defeated by a group of ogros. It’s also my first time seeing an ogro in action.”

“And you still think you can defeat them?” Al asks.

“Yes, but only if you follow what Holly's telling you.”

“Ugh.” Al groans but still obeys. Finally, he sits down on the ground, activates his anito, and asks, “What now?”

I remove Ethan’s arms around me and sit in front of him. “Make sure to call deeper than your water abilities.”

Al closes his eyes. 

“Touch the ground,” I say.

Al opens his eyes again. “Why?! Those are for amateurs.”

I reach for his hand and force him to touch the ground. “With the celestial ocean, you are an amateur.”

Al clicks his tongue. He’s not used to being ordered like this. 

“Does this mean we can get a monster that we can lay on? Something with lots of fur?” Aicelle asks. 

“Al controls the celestial ocean, but most of the monsters in it are swimming beasts. But since he hasn’t done it before, never mind selecting a furry animal, we’re not even sure if he can summon a monster from there.”

Ethan groans. “Ugh, then we are gonna be sleeping on the ground?” he asks in a disappointing tone.

Al gets angry and pushes hard on the ground. “f**k, Tubigan. Show them your celestial ocean.”

A jet of water sprouts from the ground and hits Al full in the face. He’s pushed back. I look away to prevent myself from laughing. I hear Aicelle giggling, but Ethan is full-blown, laughing at his face.

“So arrogant! But got hit by his anito instead,” Ethan laughs hysterically. “Seems like your god does not love you as much!”

Al’s face blushes scarlet in anger. He stands up and attacks Ethan with his fist. But Ethan is larger than him, with more muscles, taller, and is an expert combatant, compared to Al’s wiry build. 

While the two fight, I look at the jet of water and the small hole it came from. It’s slowly closing. I touch it and study the water around it. Damn. These friends of mine really are so talented and well-loved by their gods and goddesses. This jet of water is not Al’s usual water. I look around, and a meter away from me is a small being looking up at me. It is like a ball of slimy scale with big, round eyes peering up at me as if I am the one that’s out of place.

“Al?” I call, as my eyes never leave the tiny creature. I still don’t know if it’s a harmless creature or something I should be cautious about.

Al ignores me as he tries to land a blow on Ethan. And Ethan, well, he looks like he’s enjoying playing around with Al. He really doesn’t have a proper time for everything. Two mages just died, and he’s already laughing his hearts out.

The tiny creature steps closer to me. “Al!” 

It c***s its head at me, and then it scales open, revealing a set of tiny claws on its edges. Then it spans further, its width longer than its entire body. Now it looks like a flying fish with a larger, more extended silver wing. Then it flaps and makes a shrill cry.

“Al!” I yell this time when I take a step back from the tiny creature.

“What is that?” Aicelle is the first who notices.

“Some flying, swimming beast in the celestial ocean,” I say. 

I’m not familiar with it. The celestial ocean had never been charted by mages before. Only mages chosen by Tubigan would be able to control it. Some previous Tubigan mages don’t even know of its existence. So whatever lives there does not exist here. 

“That’s due to my blessing?” Al finally asks, heaving but still wasn’t able to land a blow on Ethan.

“Yes,” I answer. 

Summoning a monster on his first attempt? That’s too much. However, this time, I feel proud of him. This means that he’s assured of a win on any selection he’ll join in the future. Meaning I won’t be forced to join it. I don’t need to face that same death on Olivia’s hands.

“Told you so,” Ethan comments. Al scowls at me and then at Ethan. “And no, she’s not in love with you. Don’t make the wrong assumption as I did,” Ethan adds. 

“You’re the only one who will assume that. Holly’s in love with that Aaron guy.”

“They’re not yet together when I assume it.”

I make a crooked smile. “I can hear you two.”

“You’re just too full of yourself,” Al says, ignoring me.

“Ha! Never had I been rejected before. Only Holly. I’m used to boys and girls falling in love with me.”

“And it’s me you call arrogant!”

“Al, the creature, you might like to--”

“Well, you are, and very stubborn too,” Ethan interrupts.

“You--”

“Guys, stop!” Aicelle screams with her hand on her waist. “We just had two mages killed in action. And we might be next, and all you guys do is to fight like little children!”

Al and Ethan stop and look at Aicelle. “You and Holly, find food for our dinner and breakfast,” she said to Ethan.

“And you,” she says, pointing at Al. “Handle that creature, put it back to your ocean or wherever. And I’ll think of a way so we’ll have some decent area to sleep.”

Not open for any more discussion, we obey Aicelle, even Al--who is averse to following orders.

To be continued…