Chapter 35: Grief and Sorrow

This chapter will be free. Enjoy!

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The sound of the wind reached my ear as Prada exceed her speed away from the demons. I saw the leaves fall from the trees when the breeze changed direction. I closed my eyes tightly when it went to my face.

I look back, and I saw demons flying in the air. Some of them crawl into the ground to catch me. My heartbeat was pounding so loud, and I almost faint because of fear. Tears pooled down my cheek when I realized what I was doing.

I bit my lower lip repeatedly, trying not to give up.

My eyes widened in fear when a demon caught up so fast. I covered myself with my arm in defense as it tries to hold me, but, unexpectedly: I felt something in my palm.

Then light formed in it, and the demon went into dust immediately.

“Oh, my gosh!”

I looked in my palm while gasping. Many thoughts came into my mind, but I instantly shook my head. I have to focus. I sighed and held the leash, then move it.

We were surrounded by the high trees when Prada changed direction. I took a deep breath before I lean my body.

“Prada... you have to go straight to the village. You’ll be safe in there.”

I looked into the trees and then observed where I should land. I’m making sure that there’s no rock or something hard or deadly.

“You can do this, Jasmine.” I heavily breathe.

On the count of one to three, I instantly jumped to the side of the road. I shut my eyes tightly and felt the impact on the ground as I roll. My white nightgown got stained because of the dirt.

I sat and turned to watch Prada, still running towards the road to the village. She’ll be safe.

I run to the forest because I saw the demons were catching up. I don’t know why. But I didn’t feel any pain when I run in barefoot.

However, my nightgown hung several times in the branches, and it was torn, but I just pulled it because the demons were running so fast. I also felt a slight pain in my face because of the branches.

It was dark in the middle of the forest. And that’s because of the high trees that covered the light from the moon.

I’m in a mess right now. My nightgown is torn, my hair is messy, and there are scratches all over my body and my face because of the branches that I passed by.

Also, there’s a sear tear in my cheeks as I run. My hands, legs, and lips are trembling in fear, but I’m still trying to run fast as I could. I’m planning to go to the center of the forest, away from them.

As I knew I’m in the center, I chant a cube barrier that I learned from class. The moon was bright and big in the middle of the night, and I can see it clearly because there were no trees near me.

Then, suddenly, demons immediately surround me. Darkness filled my sight as they covered the light from the moon.

I sat on the ground and lay my forehead on my knee because I can’t bear watching their sharp eyes while staring at me intently. My hands and lips were shaking because of fear.

Tears fell from my hands as I stared at it. My breathing stopped because of my clogged nose. Then I shut my eyes tightly and felt my heart.

I took a deep breath before I exhaled. I tried to focus so I could think.

Everything slowed down. My breath, my heart that’s pounding so loud, their groans and howls, and their moves. I can hear every beat of my heart intensely.

I stared at my palm, where the light formed earlier. You know that I know one of its weaknesses is the light. I have no weapons. So I couldn’t fight them, and also, they are too many.

I deeply breathe when a memory crossed my mind. My eyes heated and covered my mouth.

“Jasmine!”

“Jasmine, where are you?”

I looked at the person who’s calling my name. She’s worried as she calls my name, but relieved when she saw me.

She sigh. “There you are...”

“Did they scare you, love?”

I shook my head slowly and then sniffed. She gave out a soft laugh with class and squat in front of me. I was sitting in the cubicle, the comfort room in my chamber.

“Why are you crying, then?”

I sniff. “I’m scared in the dark.”

She smiled softly. “I told you, love... dark is not our enemy.” She carried my cheek and wiped the tears. “It was only created because of a deep burden that consumed their soul.”

I didn’t speak.

I only looked into her eyes. She pouts but smiled afterward.

“Okay... if you’re scared in the dark. I have to teach you something. Repeat after me, love, alright?”

I nodded. “Alright.”

Tears pooled in my cheek as I raised my head and looked into their eyes. My lips trembled and bit my lower lip as I taste my tears.

I shut my eyes and whispered the words that appeared in my head.

“Grief and gloom consumed amidst the dark. O, Goddess Theia, bring forth the light in their burden heart.” I cried. “Please, let them rest from the dark,” I whispered.

As I open my eyes, the light formed in my hands. Demons ran away from me, away from the peace they want.

The light spread throughout my body as tears pooled down my cheeks.

Groans of frustrations and anguish reached my ear as the light went to them: screams of despair amid the forest are all I heard.

I slowly closed my eyes when I felt an energy coming out of my body. It was as if my soul was trying to separate from my body.

“Jasmine!”

My eyes widened in shock when I heard several voices from 80 meters away. I shook my head repeatedly, and my lips trembled.

“N-No, no...” I said to myself.

They shouldn’t be here. It’s too dangerous if my power reached them. How can I stop this... no, no...

I can’t control my powers yet.

“Jasmine!”

“Jasmine...”

“Stop it, Jas!”

I shook my head and brush my hair, then pull it. I went to the forest so I could help them. So, I couldn’t hurt them.

“N-No! You all shouldn’t be here!” I scream out of my lungs. “Go away!”

“Go away!” I cried.

I didn’t know what happened after I scream. Everything went so fast because, as far as I know... the light spread throughout the forest, throughout the place.

The leaves danced as the breeze blew them. The flow of the wind changed for a moment and then stopped. The flock of birds flew away from the trees as I heard how their feathered wings moved. The noises of the insects throughout the forest went silent.

The light ends their grief and sorrow.

I looked up and saw the moon: it was beautiful and big. It gives the light in this dark place. The moon tries to be bright at night so that people could see their way home.

It was like even on this cruel night: the moon guides everyone. Like the lighthouse because it was bright at night to guide the boats and ships in the night on the wild sea.

Looks like the moon, Luna, tries her best to be bright at night so that she can give you the light even it’s just not that bright, not enough light.

And then the sun. After the night, the sun will rise, marking the end of darkness.

“Jasmine!”

Before I lose my strength, I saw his face again from afar. But he is not the only one who is here.

Dark filled in his eyes, and his jaw is clenching. Even so, worry is drawn on his face. He panicked when he saw me.

I saw and heard footsteps coming towards me. They were talking, but I can’t understand it.

“Jasmine!”

I turn my eyes to the person who called my name. I felt his touch who catch my head, almost hitting the ground.

“Cadmus...”

I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but I saw his eyes were watery and red.

“I-I told you, you shouldn’t worry...” I breathed.

“Don’t... d-don’t close your eyes.”

However, it was too late to do that. My eyelids were getting heavier... so I slowly shut my eyes, and darkness filled my sight.