Escaped

Celestia Ivone's Point of View

"AAAAAAAH!"

I coughed several times as I fell to the ground.

"Madame Yen!"

I open my eyes to see the witches rushing toward the old woman's direction.

My vision was blurry, but I could still see the way she flew away from me and hit the large tree a few meters away from us. I had no idea what and how it happened, but I'm grateful to have escaped her hold.

"C-celestia..."

I raised my head and thanked all the gods when I saw my parents in front of me, helping me to get up.

"Mom... Dad..." I call them in a hoarse voice. "Are you both alright?" I worriedly ask.

"We should be the one asking that to you!" Dad yells. "I told you to fight back!"

"I didn't know how!"

"Just say what your heart wants to say, Celestia. It'll happen right away."

My brows furrowed in confusion at what my mom said.

"What?"

"You're really testing my patience, huh?"

All three of us turn towards the old woman's voice. She was standing up, ignoring the hands of the witches that were trying to help her get up. Her forehead was bleeding, yet she didn't seem affected by it.

She was glaring at us and even from here, I could feel the dark aura she was emitting.

"Distract her parents, I'll take care of her," she orders her people who instantly follow.

"Shit," dad mutters.

"Cover up for me, Ivan, Celestia," mom says.

"Are you going to continue it?!" Dad yells in disbelief.

Mom glares at him, "I won't die from this! And even if I do, what's important is for our daughter to escape here! Hurry up and cover up for me!"

Reluctantly, Dad and I followed. I didn't know what exactly to do, dad did all the work for us. I was just fighting those who he didn't see.

I started to panic when I noticed the old woman approaching our direction, yet I tried to remain calm. Nothing good will happen if I just panicked.

"Celestia! Focus!"

"Sorry!" I say when dad kicks away a witch that was coming to me from behind, then I focus my attention back on the old witch.

But to my utter surprise, she was already standing in front of me. Before I could even make a move, I had already fallen to the ground, my cheeks stinging from the slap I received from the old woman.

"CELESTIA!" Mom and Dad call out.

"I-I'm fine! Don't mind me! I can handle myself!" I reassured them while trying to stand up.

I shriek when she violently grabs a fistful of my hair, pulling me up and making me face her before landing another slap on my face that had me falling to the ground once again.

It burns. It stings. I've never been slapped in my whole life. My parents never laid a hand on me.

"You would have been safe and untouched if only you surrendered yourself from the start," she snickers, then she grabs my hair once again, forcefully making me stand up. "Now I have to teach you and your parents a lesson first."

She choked me once again. I slapped her hands several times but she wouldn't budge. She was just glaring at me.

I tried not to panic because the more I struggle, the harder it is for me to breathe. But she was intimidating. She screams power.

Oh, right. Power. I have powers! I possess a nullification power, but I never had the chance to use it though I know how to.

Heaving in a deep breath, I stare directly into her eyes as she glares at me.

My whole body starts to feel hot like I'm burning all over again though it was painless. There I feel it; the invisible force that was sent directly to the old woman's direction. She stops on her track, unable to move any parts of her body. She seems bewildered that she couldn't move an inch no matter how much she tries.

So she was planning to cast a spell on me. My powers wouldn't be effective if she's not using it. My powers automatically detect those who're going to use their powers since it'll nullify it. That's what my parents taught me.

So without breaking eye contact, I forcefully pried her hand away from me. I cough several times while moving backwards, eyes still gazing at her.

"Hold the kid! I can't move!" She yells at her people.

I didn't remove my gaze on her. Otherwise, she might've continued what she was planning to do. Dad was the one who was fighting the others but from my peripheral vision, I could see he was struggling

Damn, what should I do? I can't just hold this old woman forever. Aside from my dad couldn't handle all of these enemies, I'll end up passing out due to overexertion. But I can't afford to let her go, she might cast a spell on me!

"Celestia! Let her go, I'll take care of her!" I hear mom yells.

"She's using her power! I can't let her go!" I yell back.

"Leave her to me! Just go and enter this portal I opened up for you!"

My eyes widened, "WHAT?"

"You hear me! Go inside the portal and run!"

"No, mom! I told you I won't leave you alone here!"

"You have to, Celestia! There's no way we can leave this place alive and together! You should save yourself, your father and I will take care of everything from here!"

"No, mom. I won't leave! My decision is final!"

"Celestia, sweetie. I-I can't hold the enemies much longer. Just go inside."

Tears start streaming down my face once again when I hear my dad. Despite all of that, I maintained eye contact with the old woman who was still desperately trying to escape my power.

"Let's leave together, mom, dad! I-I can't leave you alone here..."

"Your father and I had to take care of some things, sweetie," mom says. "Just listen to us, okay? Everything will be fine. If you escape here and save yourself, everything will fall back into pieces."

"H-how about you and dad?"

"We'll be fine," dad quickly answers, exhaustion evident all over his face. "Just trust us, sweetie."

"So leave this all to me and go inside the portal. It'll close once you enter," mom instructs me. "I left a message inside. Go read it once the portal closes."

I bit my lips before shutting my eyes closed. I feel drained all of a sudden now that I let go of the old witch. She stumbles on the ground weakly after minutes of getting suppressed.

"Now, go quickly!" Mom yells, pushing me towards the portal.

"C-can't we just leave together?" I mutter weakly yet full of hope.

But it crashes down when mom shakes her head, lips smiling yet her eyes convey her true feelings.

"As much as we want to, we really can't, Celestia. All we have to do is to help you escape. Once we finish here, we'll return to our house and look for your Uncles and Aunts," she says, then she sobs. "Take care, okay? On behalf of your dad, I'll say this to you."

She kisses my forehead and then she stares right into my eyes, "We love you, okay? So much. Be safe there."

I shut my eyes tightly while gripping her hand, not wanting to let go.

"I love you both so much," I replied. "Be safe too, okay? Let's meet soon."

She smiles sadly, "We will. Now go."

Flashing her one last smile, I strode towards the portal. But I spun around after hearing the old witch's voice.

"No! You useless people, get her! She can't escape!"

"Go, Celestia! Don't look back!" Dad yells at me.

"Take care, dad!" With that, I enter the portal.

The last thing I saw before I fell into what seemed like a dark abyss was dad and mom's figures that were fighting together against all those witches. After that, I couldn't remember anything anymore.

I just open my eyes when my butt hits the ground. I groaned in pain as I let myself adjust from the brightness that was hitting my eyes.

Once my vision clears out, I roam my eyes around.

Where am I? I couldn't see any houses, not even a living creature. Did mom make a portal that leads in the middle of nowhere? Not even the portal can be seen.

I hurriedly stood up despite the sting in my butt. I noticed something not far from where I landed. It was a rolled paper. My brows furrow as I pick it up.

Is this what mom meant when she says she left a letter?

I slowly unroll it. The familiar penmanship was the first thing I noticed.

My heart pounded against my chest as I read the letter.

***

My dear Celestia,

I can't tell you much since I'm in a hurry. We can't let you stay here any longer or else she will successfully take you away. We won't let that happen. So I'm sorry if we had to put you in a situation where you had to witness us fighting over these evil witches, and for making you leave without us. We had no choice. We can't come with you. You're the one they're after, so you had to hide very well, okay?

Alright, no more segues. I'll go straight to the point now.

There's this place called 'Mystical Institute'. It's a place for Mythical Creatures. There, you're safe. You'll meet new creatures and you might want to befriend them. You can practice and enhance your abilities and powers there too. It's a great place to hide, Celestia. Never leave that place unless we said so.

One more thing, I haven't told you the power you acquired the day you were born. But I told you earlier didn't I? Just say what your heart wants to say and it'll happen. That's your power, Celestia. You acquired the Mythical Wish.

Don't ever abuse it. Never use it for your greed and bad things. I trust you, okay? Take care of it very well and don't let anyone know about it. Keep it to yourself. It's safer for you that way.

Take care of yourself, okay? Mom and Dad love you so much, sweetie. I'm sorry this had to happen to us. But one day, we'll meet again... hopefully.

Love,

Your mom

***

I didn't notice the tears falling on the paper as I read it. I just saw it once I'm done reading.

I hug the paper tightly on my chest as I continue to cry. My heart hurts so much. I already missed my parents. I hope they're safe despite knowing they're outnumbered and overpowered.

But... mom says to just say what my heart wants, and it'll happen. Right?

'If that's the case, please, to anyone who's hearing this, let my parents be safe. Let my loved ones be safe. Let us meet again in the future once everything is fine. Please be safe, Mom and Dad. That's all that I want.'

That's the last thing I thought of before letting my consciousness drift away.