130 Wake Up, Haelan!

AUTHOR'S POV

"I told you, there's no one here", Marco said.

"I thought I heard something too", Nico thought too which convinced Omar that there's someone lurking in the dark, watching them.

In the spur of the moment when all three rebels weren't alert, Atrius sprung out from the dark with a sword in his hands as he lunge at Omar, wounding him on the arm. Then, Jacomus appeared right behind Marco hitting him with an arrow on his leg before drawing two swords against the twins.

Hearing the commotion, Andrew carried Haelan and darted away from the tussle. While his men are engaged in a fight, Andrew felt his feet get heavier as he feel the presence of a dark healer within the area. He kept Haelan secured in his arms, as he hide on the far side of the monoliths. As he make a turn, he found more monoliths perfectly lined at the center, and more glow worms shedding light from above down to the walls.

Watching them at a distance, Umbriel spotted Andrew running away with Haelan, who's still knocked out. With only Haelan's staff in his hands, the young priest braved his trepidation as he follow Andrew. He then faced the rebel leader pointing the staff. "P-put down Sir Haelan, right now!", Umbriel stuttered as he tried so hard to threaten Andrew.

Gawking at Umbriel's shaky stance, Andrew remained standing with Haelan still close to his chest. "And if I don't?", he mocked.

"Well.. well..", Umbriel tried to hold the staff upright as he stood up against Andrew. "Can you please take him down, he might need my help", he begged with puppy eyes.

With the possibitlity that Umbriel might be able to help Haelan, Andrew decided to put her down. Umbriel hurriedly aided on the unconscious traveler. "Sir Haelan, please wake up", he said as he notice a bit of blood on her nape.

Umbriel attempted to open Haelan's shirt to check for her breathing. However, he was startled when Andrew slapped his hands. "Mind your hands", Andrew said. He suddenly realized that Haelan as been with these men, traveling. 'How annoying', he thought.

Umbriel was baffled with Andrew's overprotection towards Haelan. Hence, he continued to wake Haelan up, while he stop the mild bleeding on her nape. Touching Haelan's skin tear, Umbriel was fascinated as he feel the wound heal on its own.

And then in a while, Andrew's hairs rose and his spine started to tingle. He even felt his skin growing cold, sensing the presence of an anticipated enemy who finally arrived. "It's here", he whisphered. He held Haelan's hand, hoping she'd wake up anytime soon.

Atrius struggled to subdue Omar. With a few cuts and bruises, Atrius fought hard even with a sword. Outnumbered, Jac took a while before taking down the twins. Despite young and skinny, the twins still make good fighters. Hence, Jac still get's the upperhand. Staggering on how great of a fighter these rebels are, Atrius could hardly admit that they aren't as skilled as these bloodhounds. Nothwithstanding his injuries, Omar was still able to swiftly dodge all hits thrown by Atrius and veer off from his calculated sidesteps. Surprisingly, Omar even managed to hold up Atrius, and head butt him, taking his sword.

Down on the cold ground, Atrius panted as he glare on Omar. "Your death is today, by your own sword", Omar said as he draw Atrius' own blade against him.

About to accept his fate, Atrius squinted his eyes without moving a muscle. Just then, he almost jumped out of his skin when a ghastly figure rose right behind the rebel. His eyes widened at the unforeseen combatant who just entered the match. In a sudden, the dark healer blasted its burning flames on Omar like a ricochet. Omar didn't even let out a scream or a cry, as he instantly died from the blasts.

"Jac!!", Atrius yelled as he run. Picking up his sword, Atrius make a run for his life as he hide in the rear of a monolith. Alarmed, Jac quickly ran and hid on Atrius' opposite side. In his panic, he left his swords on the ground.

The dark healer floated above ground, with its black mantle fluttering in the air. It moved its cloaked head side to side, as if choosing which is the next prey. Trained to know no fear, Nico and Marco learned to face any creature without choosing battles. Having fought so many adversaries and monsters in their lives, Nico and his injured twin believed that their enemy is an effortless kill. They both picked up the swords and attacked the dark healer, wielding against its ghostly body. Watching closeby, Atrius and Jac both thought the twins are either extremely dumb or tremendously brave.

The lack of light made the dark healer hard to chase. And so, Nico ran swiftly and attempted to walk on the wall to grab some of the glow worms. He then threw the sticky insects towards the dark healer, making him more visibly perceivable in the dark - something that Atrius thought was pretty smart. While his hiding spot, Atrius was caught by surprise when Matteo threw a jab on his face. Atrius was able to swerve to the side, making Matteo create a hole on the monolith. The two come to blows, until Atrius gave Matteo one hard punch on his jaw, knocking him down.

"Okay, okay! I surrender! I surrender!", Matteo said as he lift his hands up. Atrius stopped and moved away, turning his back at the defeated rebel. And then, Matteo suddenly jumped on Atrius locking his neck with his arm, strangling him. Atrius choked, elbowing Matteo on his sides. He squirmed and pulled Mateo's arm away as he struggled to free himself. Thus, Matteo tightened his grip on Atrius' neck even more until his face turned red. "You stupid fool, this is how you die", he said as he feel something stab his back.

Jac, who was watching closeby, come to Atrius' rescue. However, when he arrived, he was stunned to see Ottis who just stabbed Matteo dead. "Nice to see you brother", Jac greeted as he extended his hand.

"I hope I ain't too late", Ottis said as he pull away Matteo's dead body.

"Just on time", Atrius nodded once at Ottis. And then, the three were alerted by the loud shriek of the dark healer which they have forgotten was ravaging the cave with the twins.

After several attempts of hard strikes and quick thrusts, the twins noticed they never actually hit the evil fiend. Their blades just pass across the ghoul's physique, like it's some invisible entity. They started to feel the exhaustion of running and hiding until the dark healer got on to them. The twins received blasts on their heads

Now next on the dark healer's death list, Atrius, Jac and Ottis remained quiet in the shadows. The three exchanged murmurs having no idea how to defeat a monster who happened to have no match for mortal weapons. Knowing Haelan is the only person who could defeat the dark healer, the three made a deal to do their best to survive in this cat-and-mouse chase until they found her.

Seeing how the dark healer swept away the rebels in a few blasts, Umbriel was more than terrified about what could have become with Atrius and Jacomus, now that the creature have turned on them. "Sir Haelan, Please wake up!", Umbriel slapped Haelan's cheek hastily.

Andrew held Haelan's hand trying to heal her. He grunted then panted as he channel his healing powers. However, he couldn't seem to do it. As he watched his men get toasted, Andrew realized that they would all end up burned if Haelan wouldn't wake up. There's no way to escape out, given that the next passageways were too steep, difficult to fit an unconscious body. Desperately, he took Haelan's dragon hilt from her pouch and tried to bring out the energy blade Haelan released. No matter how hard he tried, nothing happened.

"It doesn't work that way, Sir Andrew. The hilt can be fired up only by Sir Haelan", Umbriel said. A few blasts and screeches were heard from a distance. "Dear lord, we're running oit of time", he nervously said.

"Then, wake up now, Haelan!", Andrew grabbed Haelan by her shoulders and shook her lightly. Then, he leaned forward and placed his warm lips on Haelan, tasting the sweet plump that he's been wanting to devour. Umbriel held his breath, and looked away from the awkward situation. He didn't expected that Andrew would be bold to kiss a man like Haelan.