Chapter 40 Chapter 40
"So, you're the new guardian here? What happened to the previous keeper of this shop?"
"What keeper?" she asked, having no idea that the man before them was the guardian of an underground shop she had only just discovered.
"A woman from the Wiccan lineage. So, where is she? Don't tell me you ate her, or blood will spray from your neck!"
"She died a month ago."
"What?" Aurora settled for just listening, as she had no clue what they were talking about. "How did it happen?"
"I wish I knew the whole story." Even though he tried to keep his voice formal, the sadness leaked through. "When I reached Ilalom, Aliyah was already dead, and the shop was a mess." He paused, took a torch from the wall, and lit it. As they descended deeper, the air grew thin and the darkness pressed in. Had she been claustrophobic, she would have panicked by now.
"Did anything go missing from Aliyah's shop?"
"Nothing—or rather, whatever the intruder was looking for wasn't in Ilalom."
"What do you mean?"
"The uninvited guest came here for the same reason you are here."
"The Ancient Map of Cretagos!" Leora exclaimed.
Now Aurora knew their mission: a map.
"We came all this way just for a map? You could have just told me."
"Just? It's not just an ordinary map, bru."
"Bru? Where did that nickname come from? Never mind... So, why isn't it ordinary? What was the name again?"
"The Ancient Map of Cretagos. It’s a living map. It shows every place hidden from mortal maps. On the map itself, you can see the terrain and the creatures we might face, so we can prepare."
"You're exaggerating, right? I mean, what is it? A 3D map?"
She was skeptical. Her friend’s voice sounded ridiculous, and she knew without looking that his pitch-black eyes were wide with excitement. He looked like he was about to sprout horns from sheer thrill.
"Judging by your friend's face, I’d say he’s exaggerating. But what he says is true, and you’ll see that for yourself once you see the map."
"You can see clearly in the dark, huh?" It wasn't a question, but a confirmation.
"Yeah. Actually, we aswangs have clearer vision than you wolves."
"Of course your vision is clear; you spend your nights hunting!" Leora snapped sarcastically at the aswang, making Aurora wince.
Her two companions had chemistry, and she knew Gray would be mad if he found out she was shipping them.
"Do you want me to push you, Aurora, so you can go rolling down first?"
"What did I do?" she feigned innocence, though internally she wanted to howl with laughter at finally getting back at him for teasing her earlier.
"Stop it. I’ll actually do it!" He nudged her side, making her jump.
"Peac—Woah! What is this place? Why is it so beautiful?!"
Aurora was nearly breathless at the beauty that unfolded before her! Her eyes could have dropped out of her head. Who would have thought that beneath the National Hero’s monument lay a cave encrusted with shimmering gemstones that lit up the entire space? And all the flowers on the cave walls were luminous!
Wait—a cave?
"Why are we in a cave? I thought there was a shop here?" She took a deep breath. The air here felt normal, and she could breathe easily again. She had expected it to get even thinner.
Leora put an arm around her, took her head in his hands, and pointed it toward a tree by a river she hadn't noticed yet. The tree was outside the cave, so Leora pulled her out. Arnold followed, and when she glanced at him, his expression had darkened with sadness.
"Are you okay?" She was glad her friend asked.
He gave a small smile and a thumbs up.
"Sigh!"
"What was that sigh for?" she asked Leora. She didn't want to whisper since their companion had keen hearing too.
"I feel bad for him."
"You feel bad for him, but you keep picking fights? You're not good for the environment. You’re so plastic (fake)!" she joked. He grabbed her right ear and flicked it. "Ouch!"
"As if you don't feel bad for him too."
"Hey, ladies! You know I can hear you, right?" Arnold said. "I don't need your sympathy. I'm fine."
"No, you're not. Sometimes, it's okay not to be okay," she added. "When did you stop eating humans, Aswang?"
"Oh, come on, Leora! Honestly, Arnold, don't mind this little brat. She just needs a bath. She needs water, you know."
Her friend could be a real piece of work. Bringing up his diet of human flesh? The conversation was awkward and, frankly, creepy. It made her want to throw up. Gross!
And speaking of water!
Have you ever seen a body of water that glows without the sun?
Damn! The river before them sparkled because of the diamonds and sapphires at the bottom. Precious jewels served as the river's stones.
"I have never eaten a human, Lycan, because I learned to be content with animal meat."
"That explains why I don't smell even a hint of rot on you. How did you survive without your primary food source?"
Seriously, Leora?
Aurora watched as her friend rolled up the hems of her cargo pants, sat by the river, let her feet dangle in the water, and leaned back on her hands.
"Just as my ancestors did. My mind is stronger than the cravings of my stomach. Since I was young, I was taught to train my mind to overcome intense hunger, and I succeeded. It became my way of life."
"You never tried human flesh?" Aurora asked, her admiration for the young aswang growing. She realized now that folktales were very different from reality.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I might like the taste and eventually become addicted. I believe that as long as you haven't tried something, there's no reason to become addicted to it."
"I wish that was the motto of human addicts, right?"
"You’re truly crazy!" The three—four, including the bird—laughed while staring into the glowing water.