"wow, so fascinating, having magic must be so cool!"
"really handy" Ravi warmed up under the fire.
"really limiting" Nerina added.
"true, but with experience, usually it isn't" He continued.
"I guess"
"um guys" Nerina eyes widened slightly.
"what?" Thalia looked around.
"that's the end of my vines, the serpents free now"
A roar echoed from the serpent.
"oh. I guess I was right" Nerina sighed.
We've been stuck in this cave for so long. eventually, Ravi's magic run out and the serpent roamed once more.
FLASHBACK
"are you okay Thalia?" Ravi said before gently placing her comfortably on a rock.
"yeah, better in fact! Rina's healing saved me!" Thalia jumped with excitement.
"that's good, well, my magic is about to run out, it won't the serpent for long" Ravi muttered. "Ad to be honest I've always escaped from the serpent so I don't know it's weakness"
"I'm guessing the weakness is it's strength. the tail, when you used your magic it hardened the scales specifically around it's tail" Thalia blurt out
"Hmm, I noticed something too, it relied too much on it's eyes" Nerina's face hardened.
"what do you mean?" they both questioned.
"when I screamed your name, it didn't react, but when we fought the boar and I screamed the boar reacted. meaning either it's sense of smell is poor or hearing, or even because of the crystals, it's probably hard to differentiate." Nerina added.
"hmm, that's true, I didn't even notice. well, with your ideas, we have to follow them. or we're toast" Ravi agreed.
"wow, I didn't know you noticed things so quick!" Thalia said "we should follow Rina's strategy, it's more beneficial, we should follow her theories" Thalia spoke.
"well, okay, I have tiny magic to spare" Ravi's hand glowed slightly "everything has to count"
-----
present-
we could hear echoes from where the serpent was located. the screeching, scratching slithering sound of the serpent moving echoed towards the cave.
I hope this works. It has to.
Nerina picked up a rock, nothing big, it was round and smooth, perfect for making sounds. She released a breath before throwing it with all my might.
Ravi and Thalia watched cautiously. we waited patiently for something to happen. nothing happened. like I thought. the serpent relied too much on it's eyes.
"can't believe this theory was right" Ravi looked astonishedly.
"Thalia, didn't you say you have passed through here before?" Nerina touched the floor.
"well yes, but the maids usually fought it, even though I told them not to" Thalia added
"okay"
"it worked!" Ravi rejoiced!
"yes! we can escape!" Thalia announced.
"okay now that we do, how can we find the exist?" Nerina searched around for proof
"you're right!! I have a plan!" Thalia spoke eagerly. "I always notice things like this from my maids"
-----
the serpent slithered across the cave, scouting for food to eat.
"hey! you know you're quite gross!!" Thalia jumped into it's view.
the serpent roared angrily, it's pupils thinned, preparing to attack once m ore.
"that's it. Ravi! it's up to you!" she spoke.
"right! plant magic- grasp!" multiple vines scattered around the serpent once more, this time it moved directly to it's tail.
FLASHBACK
"what's your plan?" I asked.
"I provoke the serpent. I show myself, in the meantime you take Kian and make a run out of it, but make a track, otherwise it will be in vain. then Ravi will use his magic to hold the serpent like a fish caught on a knob! then I'll swoop in and hit its tail it should stop it from moving for a while!" Thalia explained with her hands
PRESENT
the serpent spat out it's fangs on the ground, scraping it as Ravi pulled it away from the ground.
Thalia steadied her self before jumping above the serpents view, before holding a crystal tightly.
with all her strength she spun her body around
"I will hit it where it hurts!" she said tightening her fits before landing a powerful blow on it's tail.
the serpent wailed loudly, screaming etched around the cave as the serpent cried in sorrow.
"eek! hurry Ravi! let's go let's goo!!" Thalia jumped.
"I found the trail! let's go!" Ravi said
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LATER ON-
"that was so fun!" Thalia exclaimed
"your idea of fun isn't my idea of fun" I panted. my hand flued to my knees.
"lighten up! We only live once.." Thalia stared up into the sky before sitting up
"guys!" Ravi jumped. "it's Christmas! we should celebrate!!"
Christmas, the only time were people come together as one. a widely shared tradition everyone surprisingly follows, despite the current world
"here? like now? how?" Thalia questioned.
"how about this. we all say a tradition we all follow during Christmas, I'll start- my family and I dress up- cook food and dance until we can't feel our legs!" Ravi jumped with joy.
"hmm.. in that case. Usually my family celebrate Christmas by sitting around the table. we pray to our creator then open presents. It's kinda boring but fun at the same time" Thalia replied.
"well... I celebrate in a similar way as Ravi. my family makes music. we don't dress up though, but we sing, dance- eat, sleep and gaze at the sky usually" I hesitated.
"in truth, Christmas was the only time they left us alone. the males bang on the drums, boys women and girls dance around a fire. Christmas is the only time they spare us more food- so with our food we usually have a feast.... but I can't tell them that. besides they have lavish lives. " Nerina thought
"we are so similar!" Ravi's eyes sparkled. "okay let's put all of the things together!" Nerina watched as he made headbands out of his vines and beautiful flowers proudly jumping out of the vines.
"i have music. a radio." Thalia said. "I forgot I had that!"
"let's get started!" Ravi created three drums with his magic
"sticks!" he handed us some tree branches.
"fun!!" Kian said
"come on let's dance!" with a whoosh, Ravi grabbed our hand, his body swiftly moved us around. his eyes glowed with glee.
"I'm not used to the dancing part but!-" Thalia joined. her body swaying with the beat.
"that's the spirit. you two join us!" Ravi opened our bags. he gently spread the meat, vegetables and rice on the hard floor. "let's eat and dance until we fade!"
Kian moved towards the food. his movements swayed from the food to the dance floor.
I joined the party, however I didn't dance- well I did I occasionally moved my arms my legs, or wiggled my body, however I sat at the fruit area, devouring mangoes.
"mommy you're always eating that!" Kian cried out. " mommy use the magic you always do!" Kian jumped.
"magic?" Thalia asked.
"It's nothing really, when i change the temperature of my water it turns to ice, and it looks like snow" i explained.
"that is so cool!!" Thalia and Ravi gleamed.
I jumped, not expecting their reactions. i felt embarrassed all of a sudden.
"it's only a simple spell, my mom taught me" I looked away quite flustered.
"your mom must've been powerful then, changing weather with magic is rare, and powerful" Ravi stated
"yeah.. " Nerina looked down, "I didn't realize, I guess I do miss her" Nerina smiled sheepishly.
"I'll try it" I released a breathe before using my magic to pull the water out of my pouch. I poured a little more energy into the water, watching as it quickly crystalized. I prayed it worked, my magic hasn't been working as well...
After a few minutes- the water fully turned to ice. I channelled my magic towards the sky before breaking the ice into tiny- snow- like shapes.
"woah" Thalia and Ravi gasped out.
"you're so cool Rina" Thalia spoke. "well, since there's nothing I can give you all as presents- I'll you things i own" Thalia continued, she gently removed her rings, earrings and necklace.
"you can have this" she walked up to me, her clenched hands unfolded, releasing a gold like hooped earrings. "merry Christmas" she smiled sweetly.
"you're too nice honestly" I scolded.
"don't worry, my dad can just give me more things. you all shouldn't worry" Thalia spoke
"and you two. Kian I'll give you the ring, it might be big so take care of it okay?" she stood at Kian's level, before placing the ring on his warm palms.
"sparkly..." Kian touched the ring eagerly.
"and you" she paused. "I know we just met, but I feel like our friendship will bloom, so you can have my necklace"
"what? seriously? no.." Ravi stubbornly declined. "we only met today."
"I don't care. you helped us. take this as my thanks" Thalia interrupted.
"fine .." Ravi stammered
my eyes gazed at the purple sunset. the purple hue spread across the horizon. I let out a promising smile.
"merry Christmas" the words came out softly