While flying in the air for some time, Duce had finally caught Luna. "Ahh…there you are." Duce said from his Falcon. Duce could see through the eyes of his hawk. Luna and another massive knight stood in the middle of an opening. They were in a village. "Village in the east. This is the place…Eli warned me about. I sense no danger or threatening energy readings. So, why?"
"Mistress!" A man said. He kneeled down and kissed Luna on her foot. "Stand, Lurio." Luna said. "What happened?"
"M-my daughter and son…they haven't returned! I dread something terrible has happened to them!" Lurio said, tears forming in his eyes. Lurio was a brown-skinned man with a heavy accent, with an extremely long black beard, bald head, and green eyes. He was a middle-aged man and built well. Luna walked past him. "Follow." She said.
Ovolu shoved Lurio out of the way and followed Luna behind closely. "I told you already…to stop touching them." Luna said without even turning around. "If it ain't a woman…I care not."
"A perv as usual, Ovolu."
"I am not a perv. I just don't think a man is worth saving. I only use men to fight…to grow stronger."
He explained.
"Then what do you use women for?" Luna asked.
"Honestly…I have no idea."
"Huh?!" Luna said while raising an eyebrow. "Is that why you don't want to ever raise your weapon against me? You don't fight women. You only save them. You aren't even…a lustful man at that. I guess, you're just respectful. I wonder…what makes you that way?" Luna asked as she opened the door to the small home. As soon as she walked in, she immediately looked up at the wooden floor above her. "Check that." Luna told Ovolu. Ovolu said lakes upstairs and looked into both the children's rooms. "No signs of struggle. They weren't kidnapped or anything." Ovolu said.
"Lurio." Luna said.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"….you put them to bed, yes?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"They went…to the forbidden east…beyond the mountains." Ovolu said with an annoyed tone. Lurio gasped and covered his mouth. "No…they know better than-"
"Children are curious beings. We must watch them and teach them right from wrong. I don't want to say this, but I must tell you. Your children…are most likely deceased." Luna said. Lurio fell to his knees and began crying. "Are…are we certain?! Let me go look for them! Please-"
"You're a citizen of Ulu! You'll do what you are told…and that is nothing! All we can do now…is find their remains. Besides, Mr. Lurio, I didn't say they were dead. I said that they were "most likely" dead. Let us do our jobs…and find them." Luna said while looking down at the man. "O…okay."
******
Luna and Ovolu ran through the massive jungle and towards the mountains of the forbidden east. "What do we look for when arriving?" Ovolu asked.
"First, we get rid of whoever's tracking us." Luna replied. Ovolu looked up, looking at the hawk through his knight helmet. "You're just now noticing that? I care not about a spy."
"Well, I do."
"Then, I'd love to see you in action, Luna-"
Luna jumped hundreds of feet in the air and was immediately on Duce's hawk. "Jinn ability: link!"
While Duce was being carried though the sky, he felt a powerful presence looking at him. In front of him, he imagined a giant pair of eyes looming at him from above, giving off a higher-level of energy. "This…ain't possible-"
"Who…are you, again?" Luna asked, as she grabbed Duce by his neck and slammed him from the air and onto the ground, creating a massive crater from the force of impact. (Un…unbelievable! I was miles away, and she came here with pure speed alone! On top of that, she's physically capable of holding me down with just one hand!) Duce thought as Luna tightened her grip.
"Answer me, boy. Who are you?"
"D-Duce! My name is…Duce!"
"Duce? Oh. You're the young fella who came with Natalia." Luna let go of his neck and wiped her hand. "Forgive me…for being rough on you." Luna said as she held out her hand to help Duce up.
Duce reached out and was pulled up, his feet leaving the ground for a moment. "Is…your neck alright? Do you need me to apply energy to heal it for you?"
"I'm alright…I can do that on my own with this kind of injury."
"Oh? That means- oh, here he comes. Stand behind me, Duce." Luna said, planting her sword into the ground and standing in front of him.
"Who's coming?!"
"Bullard."
Trees fell in the distance, the ground shaked, and large amounts of jinn energy filled the area. "Kneel." Luna said, taking a knee and lowering her head.
"Kneel?"
"Do it soon if you want to live."
Duce listened and kneeled behind Luna. (Wait…for a moment, I caught a glimpse of-)
"WHO ENTERS MY STATE!?!?" Bullard shouted out. A 15 foot, black armored knight flew through the trees and stopped in front of Luna. The force from him stopping caused powerful winds to push against Duce's face, almost knocking him down.
"Luna Aragami. What are you doing here? Is something wrong with the king?"
"No…not at all, but I am glad to see you thought of him. A visitor ended up in your state…we ask for your forgiveness-"
"The brat behind you?" Bullard asked.
"Yes, but I highly suggest you do not harm him for this act. He is, after all…a guest of the king himself."
"If he is a guest of my ruler, then I will bring no harm to the fool. You both may rise." Bullard said in a soft, but demanding tone. Duce couldn't help but be amazed by how powerful the two of them were. From Duce's view, the two of them had large and incredibly high amounts of jinn energy. (These two…could kill a high-level. Hell, they could even take down a jinn that's near the insane-level power..like Malice. I wonder…could they…kill Ahana-)
"Answer me!" Bullard yelled at Duce who was lost in his thoughts.
"Sorry! What's were you asking?" Duce asked, his ears ringing from Bullard yell.
"What were you doing in the air?" Bullard asked. "It would seem that you possess an interesting jinn ability. You can conjure animals with your energy and control them."
(How does he know?)
"Because it's part of my ability." Bullard answered. "Amazing ability, however…you lack using its full potential." Bullard said.
"Full…potential?"
"Not the time to train someone, Bullard. We have issues in the great east." Luna said as she turned and began walking away.
"What of the boy?" Bullard asked. "I'll take him with me. He followed me…for a reason. Might as well show him." Luna explained.
"Indeed." Bullard replied.
"Show me what?" Duce asked.
Luna turned around and glared at him. "What…you're looking for." Luna said. Luna walked over and grabbed Duce by his shirt. "Hang on tight, okay?"
"Umm…to what?"
"….me?"
"I don't need to hang on to y-"
Moment later, Duce was dragged across the sky, the powerful wind making his head go back. (How is she moving so damn faaaast?!?)
******
Ovolu kneeled down and placed his hand in the clear road. "They walked down this road." Ovolu sighed. He looked up to see Luna flying over him, a scared Duce holding onto her arm like a child. "Ahahaha!! Who's the baby?"
"He's here for speciation only." Luna said while lowering towards him.
"That don't answer my question. How dare you let a woman carry you like that?" Ovolu asked while laughing. "You must be…so embarrassed!"
"Couldn't see kick you ass?" Duce asked as Luna touched the ground. "Absolutely not." Ovolu said. Luna looked at him and glared. "It's close." Ovolu admitted.
*****
Luna and Ovolu stopped in their tracks when standing in the jungle. Luna removed her helmet and took a knee. "…I see." She said softly as she reached out and placed her hand on the ground. "What are you two doing?"
"That's right. He cannot see inside of that world." Ovolu sighed. Ovolu stood up and walked towards Duce. "This is gonna be nasty, but it's one way to let you see for a minute or so." Ovolu said as he leaned his head back and spat on Duce's face.
"The hell?!" Duce said as he rubbed it out of his eyes. He opened them to a new world, a new surrounded and feeling. "What…is this place?"
"This is part of the astral world." Luna said. Luna turned around to reveal the remains of a child. "These two children…were attacked by something from the astral world that was controlled by a spiritual being."
"But who would-"
"You know who, Ovolu." Luna gave Ovolu a slight nod, giving him some sort of signal.
"You guys are at war with the spiritual world?" Duce asked.
"I cannot answer that question." Luna replied.
"Give me something! We're jinn slayers. We take down things from the spiritual world-"
"This…wasn't a jinn." Luna said. "What do you believe resides in the spiritual world?" Luna asked Duce.
"Jinns and other spiritual beings."
"This is correct, but you all seem blind to what's going on in this world."
"Then enlighten me, yeah?"
"There…is a crack. Deep within the astral world, there's a crack that is allowing the spiritual world and astral world to collide. We are constantly at war with beings you all can't see, because they now reside in the astral world. Beings and places that aren't supposed to be there. That crack is now causing them to enter the physical realm at a rapid rate." Luna explained.
"Do you know who or what's doing this?" Duce asked.
"I cannot say."
Duce rolled his eyes at Luna. He was annoyed because she wouldn't share anything with him, but who could blame her? Duce was from another country.
"So, something in the spiritual world killed these children, and you're trying to tell me…that, that thing…entered the physical world? How is that possible? How is there a crack in the astral world?"
"A pillar." Ovolu answered. Duce raised an eyebrow at the massive knight. "A pillar?" Duce asked.
"Mhm. A pillar of death and evil has leaked into the astral world, allowing it to also become a physical being."
"So this pillar is from the spiritual world."
"You're talking too much, Ovolu. Let's clean this up and focus on reporting to the king." Luna ordered.
"That's it?" Duce said. "Is what it?" Luna asked. "Two children die, and you wanna sit here and just clean it up? Why haven't you guys done anything to stop this thing?! Pillar? If you all know it has a physical body out there, why not use your technology and go get this thing?!" Duce asked.
"It's not our problem. We've fought against these spiritual beings for many years without the help of the outside world. The outside world…has numbers and lots of powers. You all…can handle this situation on your own." Luna said as she turned her back and began walking away.
"What if it were your children?!"
Luna stopped in her tracks. The air grew cold, with a light wind breeze.
"I had five children of my own. Each one of them…were killed." Luna said as she turned her head and looked Duce in the eyes. "I do…know how this feels. We don't possess the abilities to go back in time. All we can do, is continue to move foward and live for the ones that we've lost. Remember this, Duce."
*****
"I was sent here…in search for you." James said as je sat down on the brown couch. "The jinn slayers sent you? Why didn't Amber or Hercules come?" The woman asked, her back turned to James.
"It's…urgent. According to them-"
"They just realized the strange energy I bet. How…pitiful we've fallen." The woman said as she stood up to travel her massive shoulders and triceps.
"Alayna, we need your help. You're one of the three legends amongst jinn slayers. With your strength and abilities, the corporation believes you can help." James said.
"They…believe I can help?" Alayna said softly. "You're amber's pup. That is what they've told you to say. What…do YOU know about me, James?"
James hesitated for a moment, but eventually he opened his mouth. "Despite your past and rumors, I-"
"Don't talk like a programmed robot. Tell me….what you know and think of me."
James balled his fist in anger. "I think…you're the reason my big brother died. It's…one of the main reasons…why somone like me, who's not even that important or talented in the organization, is here." James said, grabbing his black coat. "Your brother was Elijah." Alayah whispered.
James stood up, his jinn energy starting to show. "Yes! You…I know all about you! You're selfish! Greedy! Immature! A liar! Untrustworthy! AND….YOU…GOT MY BROTHER KILLED!" James cried. James fell to his knees and cried on the floor.
"All of what you said…are true about me. You and your brother…were the only ones to ever say this." Alayah answered. James's eyes widened as he looked up at the woman.
"I've only ever had two pups. The first one was your brothers best friend. He died fighting against a powerful jinn. Your brother was after him. He died…protecting his drunk teacher."
"It shoudve been-"
"Me. Yeah, I know. Your brother…didn't show any signs of fear or regret when he was dying. Unlike me, who sat back and couldn't do a thing, I watched him die. Every. Single. Day. I think of a way to do him justice. So here you are, James. That's what the jinn slayer corp wanted. I'll only help the corp, because you're his brother." Alayah said as she turned around to reveal her perfect blue eyes and long blond hair.
"Tell me all you know."
******
"I've heard…of Joey and Ahana." Alayah said as she opened a large notebook and took notes. "Joey. His origin is unknown and is full of mystery. Joey is part demon and part human. A walking creature never before seen in this world."
James puckered his lips and raised one side higher than the other, lifting his head and making a funny face. "Bull."
"All you slayers don't know that?" She asked him. "Never heard of that. Besides, if he really was part demon, why haven't the angels-"
"What is it with everyone thinking angles have the say? It's not them in control. You'd have to ask the creator that."
"What you're saying about Joey makes no sense. I don't remember this information ever being told!"
"Yeah, but I do. I'm not sure where these memories of mine are coming from, but for some reason…I know he's part human and demon. All the reason why he's hated. The boy who's dead while living."
"If that is true, why would the corporation hide it?" James asked.
"Who knows. All that's for certain…Joey or Ahana are the cause of this strange energy."
"What makes you say that?"
"The corporation, the angels, the jinns, and the strange energy. It all is connected to him. I wonder…why? It must be because he's part demon, right?" Alayah asked while she took a sip of her coffee.
"Let's say what you're saying is true. Why would the angels allow him to even exist?"
Alayah put down her cup and looked James in his brown eyes. "Everything has free will. Besides, I personally…am not sure why he was created. If the angels do want him, then does that mean he doesn't get free will? Did something else create Joey? Is he…not a child of god? All these things…are what are cursing him."
"That's…pretty depressing, actually." James admittedly said, placing his hands firm against his lap. "This energy you're talking about. What is it?"
"Extreme…heavy energy . It's already spreaded around the entire planet. Reports of people doing…bad things have risen and hit a record high. Relationships are falling apart, kidnappings, and more."
"Yeah, but what is it? What do you think this is?"
"I…don't even want to say it." Alayah said, her hands slightly shaking.
(Even thinking about that…gives me the chills! If I've figured it out already, then…we all might be dead.)
******
Nry sat alone at his desk. Looking out of the massive golden window at his great land. Nry leaned forward and dropped his head, letting his long black and curly hair cover his face. "Another infiltration. How? Why? If it's a war that the great pillar wants…" Nry lifted his head to reveal his scaled skin, black and rugged. His long white claws dragged against his desk as he stood up. "I'll show you what happens when you come to MY home! This…IS MY DECLORATION OF WAR!!"
******
Next chapter: Twisted Clue