Slowly walking up and down on that not-that-large path between his wolves and the Yātrīkars, Colte kept looking left and right, showing his fangs and mumbling: „I hate these places! It’s too little fresh air to breathe here.”
„What do you mean?” He heard Kaṇkaḷ’s voice not that far from him. That’s why he turned his head and looked at her. So, he could see her a few steps behind him. And she wasn’t looking straight at him, but somehow past him, somewhere in front.
And, even though Colte disliked her manner of watching in front and more her way of asking that question, somehow absent and at all interested in him, the wolf still hissed the answer through his teeth: „at everything and at nothing particularly.” After that he turned his head and, looking in front of him, he continued his walk. Still, he added: „especially I don’t like the fact that we are here, forced to listen to… orders, again.”
„You know that this time it’s necessary, Mūlai,” answered Kaṇkaḷ, following him in a slow step. „It’s because… alone we won’t succeed ever.”
„And… counting on that lazy Titan of Dread, yes?” Asked Mūlai ironically while showing his fangs, a hint that he wasn’t at all happy hearing her answer.
„I’m sure that yes because… Tikil is the only one capable to bring Inlan Diar to her knees. Also, he can help us to get power. Now more than ever when the black panther Accam Kuṉṟu is gone and forever.”
„I don’t know if that panther is gone or not, but… for some time past I feel someone breathing down my neck. And… it’s right behind us, following each of our movements.”
Hearing him talking like that, Kaṇkaḷ turned her head and looked behind her in amazement. But even if she looked all over, she couldn’t see anything else than the field. Yet, she knew very well that Colte wasn’t lying and there was someone else there. The curious thing was that she couldn’t see that person. That’s why she rushed and, approaching Colte, asked him in half a voice: „and… since when he or she has been following us?”
„Since that stinky grotto,” replied the wolf, feisty. „Since we’ve left Ahi’s grotto and we’ve come here. Actually, he’s still in the same place since we've come on these damn fields. And… he’s not alone, by the way.”
„Isn’t he alone? Do you mean that someone else is with him?” Kaṇkaḷ asked extremely amazed, for… it was a thing not to see a ghost, but it was something totally different not to see both of them. „And… what the hell happens here? And why am I not able to see any of them?”
„Is it because you’re old now and… blind?” The wolf teased her with a certain mockery in his voice. But he talked like that to her because he was furious because… besides the fact that that waiting was boring and he was forced to listen to orders again, even though he had thought that his wolves were free already, was the fact that someone was behind him, someone who he wasn’t able to see, and this meant that those two ghosts were more powerful than he was. Thus, they were exposed and their plan could be easily discovered.
That’s why he sat down eventually, right in the middle of that path, and, slowly snarling, he fixed his glance on that transparent ghost, white, which he was seeing at the end of the path. Then, he said: „this one, in front, is white while the one from behind us is black.”
„Black and white magic?”
„Nea. Both are using black magic. But… they follow different paths in this war. I mean that they are in different camps.”
„And, how do you know this?” Kaṇkaḷ asked him in mockery. „Did you talk to them?”
„Yeah, and we also had a meal together, sipping from the same cup of wine, like the Titans,” replied Colte ironically. „Don’t be stupid. Or what? Did you forget already that the Vanamars’biggest power consists in their eyes? Also, this is closely related to our sixth sense. Let’s say that I just feel something strange in my stomach, something that bothers me, and this is never wrong actually.”
„Then? What should we do? We can’t just stay and wait for their attack!” Murmured Kaṇkaḷ furiously. Then she bent a little bit to get to Mūlai’s ear, who had closed his eyes and was waiting for something.
Then, at a moment, the wolf shook his head, and said reproachfully: „you for sure are crazy, Kaṇkaḷ! Or what, do you really think that these two are here to attack us?” And, suddenly opening his eyes, he looked at her, outraged. „These are spies. Nothing more. But… I’m not that sure that we won’t be forced to fight with them eventually.”
„You see?! And you said that I was the crazy one.”
„I was talking about the battlefield, witch. Because we’ll probably meet them there. But… I hope not to have them against us. At least this black one, for that one is a devil for sure. This white, from over there, is wiser. And… I don’t know why, but I have the feeling that she’s more after the black one, that has coal eyes by the way, than after us.”
Kaṇkaḷ, much more confused than before, looked at the white ghost first, then looked back, at the black one. Yet, she still couldn’t see any of them. Mūlai, however, was right, for the white ghost, who was Anaya in fact and whom he didn’t have enough power to see what she looked like, was staring at Ian Gyar’s smoky silhouette, barely outlined behind the wolf and the Devilish Virgin.
Yet… Anaya’s eyes were watching with concern at that smoky ghost, for that barely seen silhouette made her worry and feel tickles on her back. Even so, she finally understood that only by staying there and watching, she won’t get anything. Also, she was sure that the Vanamars and the Yātrīkars were there for something, but she couldn’t realize what they were waiting for and she also couldn’t ask them directly. That’s why she came there… to find out something. But, in the end, she was forced to go away, with no answer in fact. That’s why she turned her back to them and rushed toward the forest.
But, even though she was sure that nobody had seen her leaving, she was wrong, for not only Colte had seen her going toward the forest, but also Ian Gyar. And, when Anaya was already away from him, Ian Gyar’s voice has been heard all around the place she had stood by then: „it’ll come your time too, ghost with a human heart. It’ll come also the day when I’m finally able to suck all the alive energy from your chest, also having the chance to get revenge on everybody and turn back to life. And, when this happens, all those that wished my death will pay for this.”
Then he looked at the forest for a long time, seeing nothing else than the trees that seemed his enemies and not friends. That’s why, very soon after this, a very cold wind has been felt around, something that cut deeply to the bones, a wind that parched the wolves’fur and made Yātrīkars’robes shake. Also, the same wind dispersed Ian Gyar’s smoky silhouette, chasing him away from there. But, who was guilty of that wind, nobody knew. Not even Ian Gyar.
Yet, the same wind made Colte stand up and look toward the place where Ian Gyar’s ghost had been. There, however, wasn’t anybody seen. Only some traces of black smoke, a hint that the guilty one for that wind was really mad. That’s why the wolf murmured eventually: „It was you, Kirivas! Did you finally wake up? So, good then! Thus, it’ll be funnier this way.” After that, Colte smiled. Even so, it wasn’t that clear if his grin was of pleasure or because he was angry, just as it wasn’t sure whose ally Kirivas was.
***
The sound of a horn, which was heard all around, crossed all over the fields and valleys of Mountain of Fear, till it got to Coallar’s Grotto. And, at the entrance of that Grotto, were Ahi, Inmar, and Alena.
They, however, seemed not to intend to enter, but to wait for something while Ahi was standing in the middle of the path that was leading toward the bowels of the grotto. To his right was Alena, who was forming a kind of black sphere over her right palm, and, to his left, was Inmar, who was staring just as Ahi was doing at the darkness of that grotto.
Inmar, however, even though seemed focused to see through the darkness of the grotto, winced when she heard a noise behind her. That’s why she turned and looked right over there. Ahi did the same, but he didn’t look scared as she looked. He only carefully analyzed the surroundings. Then he told the two foxes: „nobody moves! No matter what’s approaching us!” And, to focus more, he closed his eyes.
But he opened his eyes right away, and Alena could notice that they were completely black, with no white on the eyeball. Also, he had a similar sphere over his right palm, just as Alena had. Yet, his sphere was a little bit different too because of those small air currents seen inside of the sphere, which were moving in perfect circles, somehow in a spiral, having an impressive rhythm that seemed to never fail.
Even so, when a hooves'noise has been heard as if those hooves hit hard stones, Ahi squeezed his sphere in his hand and jumped, raising in the air. And he did this just in time when he felt a wild boar heading in a mad gallop over him. But the wild boar missed the target when Ahi raised in the air, and neither he could hurt Ahi’s companions because they jumped to the side.
But… what was weird about that wild boar was that he was identical to the one that had attacked Samaya not long ago. And he had something different at the same time because his eyes weren’t black this time, but red, and this made Alena attentive, who told the other two: „he’s possessed!”
Ahi, hearing Alena’s words, smiled and hissed through his teeth: „Coallar! I’m not even surprised because he’s the only one who can use cheap tricks to defend himself. Well, it’s the only trick he can use now, after losing his dog, Mannar.” But Ahi kept silent when he saw two sparkles in the darkness of the grotto: a hint that the wild boar was turning back, at a slow step this time.
Alena and Inmar, seeing those sparkles in the night of the grotto, moved back. They stopped, however, when they heard Ahi’s command: „no fear, Inmar! He’s not after you!”
„But… how do you know this, brother?” Asked Inmar, scared.
„Because this beast’s eyes talk to me. And so clearly, actually. Right, Coallar?” Ahi shouted this time.
Coallar said no word, however: only the wild boar moved his head from one side to the other as if trying to chase the numbness from his neck away. After that, the beast hit the ground with his right hoof, several times, loudly puffing through his nostrils. And then, yes, Coallar's voice has been heard: „Ahi! Son! What a surprise to see you here.”
This made Ahi grin. Then he said in mockery: „well, sorry to be so shameless, daddy, but… I don’t feel the same.”
„Still… you are here! Why?”
„Because I have a deal with you?! Actually a pact to offer to you. And, as I know that you simply adore pacts, I decided to come here and visit my old father, for… a piece of good advice. But… I see that you still didn’t forget old times, even though we haven’t seen each other for ages: you still try to kill me. And, as my brother Mannar is not here, you've sent another dog to bite me.”
„Brother, don’t provoke him!” Inmar told Ahi in half a voice, trying to make Ahi be more careful. But it has been her mistake, for the wild boar looked at her, so insistently this time.
„Brother?” They heard Coallar’s voice shortly after. „Ahi, son, don’t tell me that…?” But he kept silent when Inmar has been hidden from his glance by someone’s silhouette. Looking over there insistently, Coallar could finally see Anaya’s silhouette outlining. That’s why he snarled through the wild boar's teeth: „I hate bodybusy!”
„What I hate is when fools talk about dignity!” Said Anaya confidently. „And… if you want to find out more about all of us then you have two options: you let us in, taking your dog out of here, or… you show up here. That simple. But… as I doubt you are so courageous to come here, I think we’ll get in eventually.”
Hearing Anaya talking like that with Coallar, Alena and Inmar looked at each other, confused. The only one who stood calm and looked at his father’s face reflected on his sphere has been Ahi. But, no matter what he tried to see where Coallar was hiding, he couldn’t. Yet, this didn’t surprise him too much, for he knew well Anaya’s story and why his father couldn’t get out of that grotto. But he also couldn’t tell that story to Alena and Inmar, even though he was seeing the confusion in their eyes.
However, not the same happened to Anaya: she didn’t know the whole story. Only part of it, for even though she saw clearly the moment her father stabbed Coallar many years ago, in front of that grotto, and also heard that old man cursing Coallar, she didn’t know either who that old man was or the story behind all this. Even so, she was sure that that story was something that could hurt Coallar. More: which could hurt his feelings. That’s why she kept teasing him, just to make sure that they’ll triumph in the end.
Coallar, however, wasn’t ready to give up. That’s why they heard him saying: „I have no damn idea what you are talking about!” And, after this, the wild boar ran toward Anaya and Inmar.
Halfway, however, the wild boar knelt and slipped a few meters in front, passing only two meters from the place where Anaya and Inmar were. Yet, even though this was something strange, that amazed the three women, none of them moved from their place. Only Anaya took a few steps toward the place where the animal was lying, watching with empty eyes at the beast’s belly that was slowly moving up and down. And, when she got next to him, Anaya turned her head and looked at Ahi, who was with his back to them. Even so, the old fox saw a few blood drops dripping off his sword because he turned his black sphere into a weapon when he saw the two women attacked. And, while Anaya looked at him, Ahi threw the sword up and when he grabbed it, it had the form of a sphere again.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Then, smiling, Ahi said in mockery: „Touche! - Ole!” After that, he kissed the sphere and let it „hide” in his sleeve. And, looking at the dying wild boar, Ahi said while grinning: „well, Coallar, as your dog is dying, I think we can come in, right? Or, do you have any other trick prepared for us? No, no one? Then, I come to you, papa. Wait for me right there where you are!” And he entered the grotto first.
Ahi’s dare, however, made Inmar and Alena look at each other, confused. But, understanding less than before and more not knowing what else to do, they followed Ahi eventually. Only Alena approached the wild boar more, squeezing the dagger that slipped out of her sleeve.
Getting next to him, Anaya carefully looked at the animal that was barely breathing. And she felt sorry for him for she knew that he had been used by Coallar for fulfilling his madness and left him to die in the end, like a useless dog. That’s why she squatted next to him and deeply looked into the beast’s eyes that were fighting with death at that moment while his life was coming out of his body in the form of blood. And… the poor animal had a deep cut on his neck, made by Ahi’s sword when he passed by him.
Yet, what surprised her has been the fact that the animal’s eyes suddenly became normal, like any other beast’s eyes. That’s why she whispered eventually: „he only used you and not allowed you to be happy. But… I’ll give you that freedom and happiness back.” And, touching his legs which she immobilized with her knee later, Anaya started to caress the animal’s head. While doing this, she murmured: „shhhh, now everything will be fine. You’ll be able to tread on air through the vast forest of Edden without being submissive because of this black magic that controls your will.” Then, covering his eyes with her left palm, with a precise movement of the right hand, Anaya stabbed the dagger into his heart, deeply-deeply just to be sure she will cut the thread of his life in the end. And, while doing this, her lips murmured: „Vāḻka vaḷamuṭaṉ!" (Life be blessed) After that, she took the dagger out of the animal’s chest, took her hand off his eyes, and, smiling, she said: „now you’re free to run, Makan (son)! Now you’re free again!”
Then, standing up, she approached a tree, pulled three leaves from one of the branches, and cleaned the blade of the dagger. And, while doing this, she looked at the boar that started to burn due to her power. And, when nothing was left from him, she finally headed toward the entrance to the grotto. But, only three steps from the entrance, she stopped and shuddered when the young Anaya ran out of the grotto and passed by her without even watching her. But that was part of her memories, from that day when she left king Coal’s den thinking that she was free again without knowing that she was heading toward death that day in fact.
Old Anaya didn’t know this, however. She only thought that what she saw was part of someone else’s past. That’s why she murmured: „Inta krōṭṭō pēcukiṟatu!” (this grotto talks.) Then she looked back, following young Anaya’s silhouette, that entered that forest, crossing it in a rush. „Yet, whose is this poor soul that ran out of here, escaping death?” But nobody gave her an answer. That’s why, after swallowing hard several times because of that bitter taste on the top of her tongue, Anaya hid the dagger in her sleeve again and entered the grotto.
Inside the grotto, however… while advancing… she saw torches on the walls, which were ignited by a strange force. And… she also saw white ghosts, next to their sarcophagus as though those walls had been transparent and not made from soil and stone. That’s why she murmured eventually: „the same image I’d seen in Mayar’s eyes when she returned from here that day. But… still, why are these ghosts here and not at the gate of the Purgatorium. waiting to enter there? What are they looking for while being here, in this grotto? Ah, don’t tell me that Tenebre has promised you immortality. If so, you definitely have no brain. And do you know why?” Anaya told the ghosts in a high voice. „Because there’s no place for you in this world. So, turn back where you belong, and leave this damn place!” And, when she threw a wave of black air toward the walls, the ghosts ran and hid.
Only one ghost kept standing in the same place, staring at her: it was the ghost of a man. Who he was or who he had been while still living, Anaya didn’t know. Yet: he kept staring at her while she passed along that corridor toward Coallar’s throne hall. But, when she passed by him, Anaya saw that he didn’t follow her by a glance, but he was staring at something he had in his palm. That’s why she stopped and carefully looked at what he was having on his palm: a dried violet flower. This made her murmur: „violets mean being humble and innocent or… how it was known in the past, it was the flower of the old loves. But… why do I know this and why do I feel that my soul hurts me while seeing you? Who are you for me?” She finished asking that man.
He vanished instead of answering. Yet, Anaya saw that after this the ghosts reappeared in those walls that surrounded her and that they weren’t scared of her anymore. Also, the same man-ghost reappeared in the same place. But, at that time, he was squatting next to something that seemed to be a river, and he was touching the river’s water. And… something caught her glance: he left something on the water’s surface. But she couldn’t see what he left there because something dragged her toward the throne hall: it was Ahi’s power, who saw her standing there and watching someone else’s memories reflected on that wall. Yet, Ahi did that because he was afraid that she would have remembered something if she had kept staring at those memories.
And Ahi did well taking Anaya from there, for, right after getting to the throne hall, she forgot what she had seen. That’s why he smiled. More: when she saw her staring at Coallar. But what Ahi didn’t know was what she was seeing while staring at Coallar: a too-old King of Coal, with deep wrinkles on his face and tired eyes, that seemed almost blind.
Anaya winced in the end when Alena whispered in her ear: „don’t let him cheat on you with fake images, Anaya. It’s exactly what this cunning old king wants - to make you think what’s not and feel sorry for him. But I assure you that he doesn’t look like you see him right now.”
This, however, made Anaya stare at Alena, confused, asking her: „how do you know what I see?”
„Just something I feel!” Whispered Alena and returned next to Inmar.
Anaya instead looked at Coallar again, carefully analyzing each trace of his old and tired face. But when she moved her palm in front of her eyes and used magic, she managed to „chase” that fake image away and she finally saw what King Coal looked like.
Her smart movement made Coallar grin and tell Ahi: „I see, son, that you’ve taught your dogs well. They can make the difference between fake and real.” Then he looked at Anaya again because she looked so familiar to him.
„A dog is a real friend if necessary and this only if his master never beat him,” Anaya hissed the words, staring into Coallar’s eyes who wasn’t taking his eyes from her. „That’s why: don’t insult those saint animals’intelligence, which are more than able to defend friendship than you your friends.”
„Not the same you said to Ahi when he named my boar dog.”
„It’s because he didn’t mean anything mean: it was logical that that poor wild boar was your „dog,” which you've taught to defend your den.”
„Just as my son tamed you to defend him. That’s why you have a sharp tongue,” and an avalanche of heated coals has been thrown over her. But they didn’t hit Anaya. On the contrary: they kept floating in the air and, one by one, started to burn. This made Coallar furious, who stared at Inmar, who was who had dared to stay against him. That’s why he yelled at her: „you don’t even know what big mistake you’ve done now because…”
„Just as you’ve done by attacking the one who has been my mother all this time,” Inmar hissed through her teeth. Then she used her power to throw those burning coals toward Coallar.
Yet, those burning coals didn’t hurt him but they kept floating in front of Coallar, who pushed them eventually toward Inmar and she toward him, several times. And maybe they would have played that boring game for a long time if Ahi hadn’t shouted „enough.” His shout and his power threw the coals to the ground eventually, extinguishing them. Then… they simply vanished, leaving only a soft smoke around.
But this made Coallar attentive, who murmured eventually thoughtfully: „Interesting! A power that's similar to mine. So, who are you?”
„It's none of your business!” Ahi told him in a shout, bringing Coallar to his senses. And that shout made Coallar stare at Ahi, leaving Inmar alone this way, because, if he had kept staring at her, he would have definitely been able to find out whose daughter she was, and this was something Ahi tried to avoid. That’s why Ahi also rushed to change the subject and said: „let’s better talk about why we’re here and what we want is to…”
„…to make me fight next to you against Maranam. Right?”
„Yes, right!” Said Ahi, after a few moments of thinking because he didn't expect that his father would know about his plan. Then, he carefully looked at Coallar trying to understand what he was planning. But, being unable to do that, he decided to continue and said: „We need your power of creating soldiers… like that boar that had attacked us. They are perfect to fight against Maranam. More: against the Vanamars, who are waiting right now for the right moment to attack Inlan Diar’s kingdom.”
„I know!” Murmured Coallar recklessly.
„And… won’t you do anything to impede them doing that?” Asked Anaya.
„Why would I do it? I won’t win anything doing this. On the contrary: if Inlan Diar falls, they’ll do me a favor… and I’ll be revenged without doing anything in particular.”
„But you won’t also feel satisfaction if this happens,” told him Anaya confidently while proudly staring at him. „And do you know why, Coallar?”
„Coallar? Did she call him Coallar and not…?” Murmured Inmar and Alena at the same time, but they kept silent when Ahi shouted at them to be quiet.
Coallar instead, at all bothered by the murmur of the two foxes, kept staring at Anaya. „Who are you?” He asked her eventually. „And why do I have the feeling that I know you from somewhere?”
„Is it because of old dreams?!” Said Ahi in mockery. But he kept silent understanding that Coallar could understand the truth thus.
But his father not even bothered to look at him. Coallar only kept staring at Anaya, trying to see the truth in her eyes. Those eyes, however, were bleary and he hadn’t been able to see anything in them. He hadn’t even been able to see her past or future. That’s why he murmured, making them shudder, himself and Anaya: „a single destiny divided into two, two souls and two faces… youth and oldness. This is what I see in your eyes. But… why?”
„It’s because of so much being in this cage, like a lion. That’s why you have… visions. And… let’s go, Ahi: this old devil won’t help us. On the contrary: it seems that he wants to take advantage of our work and to consider us his private clowns because… he’s bored staying here, once Tenebre also left him, for… she’s not after love anymore, but… after power.” Then Anaya turned her back to Coallar, grabbed Alena and Inmar’s hands, and dragged them out of that grotto.
Doing this, Anaya didn’t see Coallar staring behind them. And, when they were out of the throne hall, he approached Ahi, and told him: „she’s your sister, right? The one I had with the mortal Anaya.”
„As I said, father: it’s none of your business,” replied Ahi drily. Yet, he didn’t go as he intended, and this was because he felt Coallar’s palm resting on his left shoulder. And, looking over there, he saw Coallar standing next to him. But the king of Coal wasn’t looking at him, but somewhere on the ground.
Then, the old king said: „take care of her, Ahi! I feel her end so close.”
„Don’t speak nonsense, father!” Said Ahi with hatred. „Inmar doesn’t have why to die because…”
„You’re who has said this before, son: each of us dies after fulfilling the role he has in this world. And… even though I don’t know what links me with that old fox and with that child, I’m sure that they are something mine. Even though…”
Deeply looking into Coallar’s eyes of coal, who finally dared to look at his son, Ahi saw confusion in them. And… fear. That’s why he asked his father: „you are afraid. But… why?”
„Because this world is about to fall. And… I also saw my future, Ahi! And… my death!”
„And… even so, won’t you do anything to impede that?” Said Ahi venomously.
„As though someone could impede Fate happening. The same will happen to us, son. And you will also be defeated and will grope through darkness… of the underworld. But… maybe there’s still a chance for you to see the sun again, to see it burning this world from the heights while there’s nothing left for me.”
„What about you, father? How do you know all this? Don’t tell me that’s something those ghosts who protect the entrance to the grotto had told you this.”
Coallar smiled, however, listening to Ahi’s words. Then he said: „not those ghosts had told me this, son, but this grotto, for… even though you’d never been able to listen to its voice, this grotto and these places talk. And they had told me that this world would be set in a fire soon, that it would be covered by ashes later, and also from ashes it would be reborn.”
„Even so… even if you’re so sure that there’s no hope left for your children… you won’t help us in this war, right?”
„Yes, I won’t do that, Ahi, for… if I must die then let’s die together. I don’t want to leave this world alone.” Then, Coallar turned his back to his son and sat down on his throne. And he had his head bowed and hunched shoulders, for this was what Anaya’d seen when she entered that grotto - the state of mind of Coallar, the king that had dreamt about glory once, about a great future, but who was meant to die alone, closed in the depths of that mountain.
And, seeing this, Ahi said nothing else. Actually, what could he have said to his father then, the one who disappointed him once again?! That’s why, sick to death, he turned his back to Coallar and left that grotto, leaving behind him only sadness and desolation.
But there was song and dance there too, something that Ahi hadn’t been able to see, just as Coallar had told him, for… there was old Aman’s curse still felt, the one who told Coallar that he would die namely like that: alone and sad. Coallar, however, has never believed that. Till that moment when… left alone and abandoned by everybody, he felt disappointed that he did a lot, but he received nothing in the end. That's why he sadly smiled. What else could he have done?! He was closed there, in that talking grotto that predestined his future and of the world, with a lot of white ghosts dancing around him. Yet, those ghosts weren’t dancing because of happiness, but because they could finally fulfill that father’s curse that had waited for ages to be finally revenged, a father that could finally rest after his daughter’s dishonor had been washed of sins.
***
Exiting the grotto, Anaya looked back for a few moments. But she didn’t see either Ahi exiting it too or that young girl running out of there. Even so, that heart, which was still beating in her chest, the chest of a ghost, told her that it could have been something she lived before and that she longed so much to feel once again. And, even if she wanted to feel it once again, she didn’t know how to do to feel it one more time.
And, being too immersed in thoughts, she winced when Inmar touched her shoulder. That’s why she looked confused at her daughter. Thus, she saw her pointing with her head to look in front. And, looking over there, Anaya saw Ahi in front of them, about 100 meters from them. That’s why Anaya forced a smile and, touching Inmar’s hand, rushed to leave those places that she found unsure for them.
Thus, nobody knew what exactly was in Ahi’s soul at that moment. Only he, maybe, the one who seemed to run away from those places, those he had loved a lot being a child, but which he hated at that moment when he understood that he hadn’t been ever loved either by his father or by his mother. Yet, Ahi knew well how much did he suffer in the past because of Mannar and he also knew what humiliation means, what disappointment feels when nobody sees the great work you’d done. That’s why Ahi smiled understanding this because he finally realized that he’d fought for nothing in the past because he hadn’t been rewarded even with a good word by his father, whose caprice he’d always tried to satisfy.
But, at that moment, while leaving those places, with the image of that grotto in flames, Ahi suddenly felt comfort. And… it was so strange, that feeling, for him, something that he’d never felt before. And… it was so weird. But… Ahi didn’t have time to think about why he felt it or why was he seeing that grotto in flames. He had time only to wonder: „is it true… what my father had told me… and this grotto talks?” But he didn’t stop to look for an answer because he knew that there was nobody there to answer his questions. That’s why he put the hood on and move further and further from that place, toward Rophion Forest.