Teng P.O.V.

“Over there!” I pointed at the cave entrance.

The entryway should have been filled and covered with rocks but there were none. The was only dust everywhere.

“Walk behind me, no sudden movements.” I heard sister Alzra whisper into my mind.

Alerted, I followed her words as an absolute order.

We walked into the inner part of the cave passing through the crystals and bloodstains that were on the floor.

This was not here when I left so I thought it must have been the work of that red haired man.

“Damn! I forgot to tell her about him.” I thought with worry.

When we arrived at the scene of my awakening, everything was intact, only a few more bloodstains on the floor that traced to the red haired man. He was lying down on the floor.

I could easily tell from his red mane.

“He’s dead.” A voice came from deeper inside the cave.

“There was a deeper section? How?” I was shocked.

“Just a little detour I created, wanted to check the deposits.” The voice resounded.

Sister Alzra laid Ikrei down on the cold harden rock in a flash. She stood directly in front, covering us.

A dark blue cloaked woman with her hood down appeared before us. Her hands hidden behind her back.

The only reason I noticed was because I was very troubled. Seeing sister Alzra on edge will get you worried too. Then I looked at her face.

“Heavens have mercy.” I thought as I felt drawn to her.

Long black hair, milky skin, blue eyes. A different kind of beauty. If I were to describe it in a word, then it would be seductive. She was, as Ikrei would say, alluring to no end.

“You seem to recognize this one here or the blood is being too much for you little man?” The woman asked in a dry tone.

Silence fell inside the cave, neither side saying a word.

“I am not bewitching the young one here, he just likes me.” The woman offered a few more words.

Still there was no answer from sister Alzra, in the same way I stayed put. No point in getting caught up between two monsters. That was what my intuition was telling me.

“For a Zurian Courtier, you are lacking manners. If it weren’t for your robes I would have already dealt with you. Say something woman.” The blue eyed woman insisted.

“I am not a Courtier but yes, I am a Zurian, taking in consideration your attire, your introduction is in order. This is the Eternal Moon as far as I can recall.” Alzra answered expectantly.

“I am an Andurin.” The woman said while tossing a coin to Alzra.

I couldn’t make sense of anything but sister Alzra examined the coin carefully.

“This is a real Andurian seal coin.” Alzra said.

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I took a small peak at it, it had the Will of all wills Sigil on its face.

“Please to make your acquaintance Claimere Freslia.” Alzra said while giving a very short nod.

Alzra tossed the coin in return.

“Oh jolly, you know me. That makes things easier then. I have come for that sleeping boy over there.” She said.

“You want Ikrei? Why? He’s not even an awakened.” I blurted out worriedly.

The truth is, I was so worried that I stopped thinking for an instant.

Seeing my reaction sister Alzra acted quickly.

“Even if it’s you I cannot let you take him.” Alzra answered flatly.

“Look at the formation in here, its crude but its functional. It’s a dual cultivation Andurian technique. You can tell, even if you don’t know it. The crystals are all dull and without energy within the sigils. The formation activated, thought it may have not worked as intended for what I can see.” The Freslia woman explained looking at me.

“But why do you want my friend? What do you plan to do to him? I asked.

“I want to help him; he is one of us. This should suffice.” The woman answered.

Alzra slowly pressed her hand against Ikrei’s chest and he woke up.

He looked around, he seemed lost, disoriented. He pulled away from Alzra and Freslia, he came to and stood beside me. His hands were shaking.

“What’s happening Teng?” He questioned me with distrustful eyes.

“Teng is it? Yes, Teng why don’t you tell us what happened here? Take it from the top.” Freslia told me.

After some hesitation I sat down, Ikrei did the same and I started narrating everything that had happened to us from the day I brought the Argon home.

The women stood listening silently with various expression throughout my little tale.

“Is this how jesters feel? I wasn’t too sure.” I kept thinking.

I slowly went over the preparations for our mountain hike, our hard lives, a dream of a better tomorrow. Not wanting to slave away at a thankless job forever near the Andara Forest, the bullying and the rejection. Ikrei’s plan to lure the bear, the orgonid charge and a desperate attempt to awaken. The three drops of orgon crystal makeshift concoction.

Both women gasped at the mention of the method for forced awakening that we had used.

I explained further how I felt during my awakening process and the streak of light I saw. I omitted the oath part when fighting the bear. Oaths are sacred and I would not talk about it with anyone other than sister Alzra.

I wasn’t even sure that her knowing was already a problem for a beginner like me.

Finally, I told them about the men that appeared before us, the red haired man’s words and the arrival of sister Alzra.

With a heaving sigh I finished speaking.

“You are both very, very lucky young men.” Freslia said while Alzra nodded.

“This can also be called fate.” Said Alzra.

“Still I don’t know how the god of the Zurians answered through an Andurian sigil meant for the Kotari.”

I did not understand a word she said. The woman named Freslia loved a good chatter though.

“Ikrei, I am going to test you now. No worries, it won’t require swallowing deadly poison.”

Three objects appeared before Ikrei on the floor.

A small blade, a glyphic cube and a coin.

“Tell me what you can of these objects without touching them.” Freslia told him waving her hand.

He was looking around waiting for Alzra to say something. I could tell he was guarded and worried. After several grains of sand he was looking at sister Alzra.

Alzra nodded in approval towards him.

Looking at the objects he began speaking:

“The blade is just a standard Andurian blade like my father used to have. The cube has the will of wills original ancient sigil and that’s the only one I can recognize on the artifact. On the coin is the current Wil of all Wills sigil sign and I can recognize it but that’s all.”

Ikrei seemed to have answered openly and honestly to the questioning.

Placing herself at eye level with my siting friend, she asked “You know of the sigil coin huh? By chance, do you know what it is written on the flip side of the coin?”

“That’s easy, it should read Eriel.” He replied.

Alzra was watching silently her eyes fixed on Ikrei. I couldn’t seem to understand what was happening.

Freslia took the coin and flipped it showing the other side to Ikrei.

The flipside of the coin read FRESLIA.

Freslia stood up with a smile on her face and told Alzra.

“That settles it, he’s coming with me.” It was NOT a suggestion.

“This is not freedom but oppression, where are your principles?” Alzra said seriously.

“I know the good you have done Augir, but this is Andurian internal affairs. I can make an oath right now with you for it.” Freslia replied sternly as well.

“A double oath? For this child? Are you for real?” Alzra asked surprised in return.

“Yes!” Simple, immediate and without doubt.

“If it is that serious I cannot let you take him. And I am not an Augir but a Dodekor.” Alzra said looking equally stern.

“I thought I knew all of you, a new seedling I suppose.” Freslia smiled back.

“Teng, this is not good.” Ikrei said looking unsettled.

Ikrei and I looked at each other with severe worry for our future.