CHAPTER 17: ENEMIES ATTACK

After leaving Ryam Town, they have travelled from region to region. The fastest thing they rode was riding a horse but eventually, when it came to mountain roads, they had no choice but to abandon their ride. They have a walkthrough of the spring and summer's seasons before arriving in the fall season.

"This is not good. The season had just started and the sea was already bad. We might not be able to cross it to Lisbiert Port," told Aries with worry.

Lisbiert Port was located in the Syarantonia Kingdom. The sea was not calm during this time which may disturb their plans.

"We have to cross to the other port. The closer one is in the Bromelin Kingdom, south of the Syarantonia Kingdom." Pegasus decided to change their destination.

"Bromelin Kingdom, isn't that where the Tomb of Spirits resides?" Kairi whispered to Rafiz.

"Yes but it's not that amazing. I have visited it before and the place looks so gloomy like a ghost haunted there." Rafiz remembers the place's appearance.

"Oh..." Kairi thought it was one of the tourist sites to go to.

Well, the name already suggested that the place probably was haunted. But, in his mind, there was a hidden desire or need for him to visit there.

Why is that? He doesn't know.

"Alright, we need to leave this place soon. We'll gather up here tomorrow at 6.00 AM. The boat will leave at 7.00 AM," told Virgo to them.

Everyone nodded. After finishing their dinner, they went back to their room. They have rented an inn for the night.

"Do you think we will be able to arrive safely? I'm a little scared to cross the sea..." Kairi said while leaning against the bed frame.

He was near a sea which he had no memories of reaching before. It felt like a dream to him. Rafiz was in the same room as him which made him feel very glad that only them were in it. Because he could talk secretly with Rafiz and listen to Rafiz's opinion on all these problems.

"Can't say everything will be alright," Rafiz replied.

He was reading a book he bought on the way to release his boredom.

"We might encounter danger soon. Don't expect everything to go well when you have a Deorc Star on your tail." He continued.

Kairi was anxious to hear it. "I just hope everyone can stay safe..."

Rafiz frowned. There was no way he didn't realise that Kairi was under stress. Kairi's expression shows everything.

"Kairi, if... Just if everything looks very dangerous, you have to escape no matter what, do you understand?" He faced Kairi with a serious and pleading expression.

Kairi was silent. He doesn't need to interpret Rafiz's meaning. Such abandonment was too cruel for him. They left their father and their town's folk whose life and death were unknown. This was too much for him to take in. So, he answered Rafiz with silence.

Rafiz turned his head back to his book but he couldn't focus on it anymore. He didn't mean to upset Kairi even further. Their life was in chaos the moment Kairi was found as the heir.

"Rafiz, did you know that I was Queen Siarah's heir?"

Such questions happen to be asked by Kairi when they just start their journey. At that time, it was their second night in another inn.

"Because you didn't look that shocked to find out my identity."

Rafiz at that time was sweating profusely. Why all of sudden? Does Kairi know something? Or did Rafael expose his mission which was to eliminate the heir?

"I just know because... Because you're the last Knight Seeyer, I think." Rafiz had turned his eyes away which made Kairi know he was lying.

"Don't lie to me, Rafiz. I have all my memories already."

Kairi looked down at his legs.

Rafiz was stunned. He slowly faced Kairi. His mouth opened and closed but no words could come out.

"You were not there, right...?" Kairi was afraid to ask if Rafiz did or not murdered his clan's members.

Rafiz felt guilty. His face also looks awful.

"I am so sorry, Kairi..." Rafiz apologised but he knew his mistake would not be forgiven so easily.

He heard Kairi release a heavy sigh which made him anxious.

Will Kairi abandon him? Would he no longer want him as a brother?

He immediately approached Kairi and hugged him tightly. He felt Kairi struggle against him.

"Kairi, please, please don't break our ties! Please don't leave me! I'm sorry! I am sorry!" He pleaded with dampened eyes.

"Rafiz..." Kairi's struggling stopped.

"Please, I'll do anything for you to forgive me! Just don't leave me, please..." Rafiz sniffed on Kairi's shoulder.

"Rafiz..."

"No! I won't let go if you disagree!"

"Rafiz!"

Kairi used all his strength to push Rafiz but only a slight opening was given.

"Are you trying to suffocate me!" He scolded angrily.

"Ah?" Rafiz looked dumbfounded.

He always forgot his strength was extraordinary. He let go of Kairi quickly and that made Kairi stumble backwards and fell. Kairi glared at him furiously.

"Go sleep outside! I don't want to see you!" Kairi kicked him out of their room.

Aries, who happened to be walking in the inn hall saw it and snickered. She knew what happened between them and such a thing embarrassed Rafiz. But, it didn't change anything. Kairi was still himself and not the person before he lost his memories.

Although Kairi never said he would forgive him, it makes Rafiz a little better than knowing Kairi wanted to leave him. Only, it was better if their conversation never happened. He will remember this anxious and embarrassing moment forever.

Back to the current time...

At six in the morning, everyone gathered again. Pegasus leads the way to the boat they need to take. The early morning gave fresh air and also cold wind.

Kairi sneezed and shuddered. He tightens his fur coat around his body.

"Don't catch a cold."

Rafiz put another fur coat around him. Now, he looks like a warm fluffy man.

"Aries, aren't you cold?" Kairi asked because she wore only a thin dress which looked very cold to him.

"Hm, no, I don't feel any. Probably because my emblem is warming me up," Aries replied with a smile.

Not just her, Virgo and Pegasus including Rafiz did not wear any fur coats. Kairi feels a little jealous of them. He needs to get stronger!

"Don't worry, Kairi. When your power is enhanced more, you can adjust your body temperature." Virgo chuckled.

"Okay..."

The boat took off after all passengers were inside. The destination was the Bromelin Kingdom. A few minutes later, the sun was up. Kairi and others went to eat breakfast at the boat cafeteria. The boat took twelve hours before it arrived at the port.

"Hm..."

Virgo looked around. He just felt unreal.

"Don't jinx it," Aries chided him.

Their smooth sailing should be a relief thing, not the opposite. If anything happened at the sea, they would have sunk and never been able to come out alive.

"Sorry…" Virgo looks guilty.

Since it was almost twilight, they stayed at a resthouse. The next morning, while they were ready to move out, an alarm sounded in their mind.

"I told you not to jinx it!" Aries snapped at Virgo.

"But, I didn't say anything," Virgo replied.

"You thought of it!"

"How far are they from us, Rafiz?" Kairi asked. He looks anxious.

"Their speed is very fast. I'm not sure how far they are from us. In any case, we must reach Syarantonia's border as soon as possible," Rafiz replied.

All of them were riding a horse at full speed. They do not use their mouth for talking but Aries opens their communication channel in their mind. They all knew that the Deorc Star users were finally nearby. All thanks to Rafiz who can sense the same dark aura as him.

However, their riding stopped when they realized that two people had been waiting in front of them. Both wore black star emblems around their necks.

"They're here!" Thought Kairi and others.

They jumped away when an attack hit their horses.

"So, this is the path you've taken. We thought you guys have gone to Lisbiert Port. Tsk! You made us work hard to track you." Dark Spincer grinned at them.

"Dark Lordany, long time no see. What are you doing with them?" Asked another person who looked like a fourteen years old girl.

Rafiz gritted his teeth as he looked at them both. His face released a little sweat because he knew what power the latter one had.

"Dark Reammut..." Rafiz said the girl's name.

"Everyone, be careful! Dark Reammut can control time!" Told Rafiz immediately while summoning his two blades.

But, before the blade could be materialised, his body was suddenly sliced by something. He fell to the ground covered in blood. Small groans were heard from him, shocking the rest of them.

"Rafiz!" Kairi went to him immediately.

"Careful! Dark Reammut has used his powers to stop time!" Virgo yelled after popping a long gold-plated gun. It was his weapon.

He shoots at Dark Reammut and Dark Spincer. Both avoided his attack. Pegasus materialised his greatsword and attacked Dark Spincer while Aries helped Kairi to hold Rafiz. They run towards the border. It was a few kilometres away.

Dark Reammut smiled and followed them by walking slowly. She was not in a hurry. In her hands, a clockwork harp has appeared out of nowhere. She was humming a song while playing her harp and that song froze everything around her. She went near Kairi, Rafiz and Aries who stopped and froze like a stone.

"I wonder if this boy is the heir. He looks so handsome and cute. A pity that I have to... Kill him." She smiled evilly.

One of the clock's hands was pulled out by her and it became a longsword. It was the sword that attacked Rafiz a moment ago. She puts it under Kairi's neck and moves to cut it but something suddenly appears in her mind.

"No!" The voice which sounded weak yelled for her to stop.

A mind wave of dizziness breaks her time domain. Everyone instantly went back to normal.

"Kairi!" Aries shove Kairi away from Dark Reammut.

She managed to enter Dark Reammut's mind and attack it. Kairi was startled. The shove makes him and Rafiz stumble down. The small fall allowed Rafiz to clear his head over his pain. With both blades in hand, he moves to attack Dark Reammut.

Dark Reammut stops him with her longsword. They countered each other. Rafiz knew if he continued to attack, Dark Reammut wouldn't be able to focus on her time domain. This was his only chance.

"You become rougher, Rafiz. You know I am the weakest among our Deorc Star users. You are so cruel..." Dark Reammut looked sad.

"Stop lying!" Rafiz plunges one of his blades toward Dark Reammut's heart.

Suddenly, the hand was cut off. Blood gushed out furiously from it.

"Rafiz!"