Chapter 7 Chapter 7
Aurora was currently resting under an Acacia tree, thinking about the mortals she'd interacted with, especially her father. She and Leora had just finished training, so her mind and body were exhausted. She realized that teleporting wasn't easy, as it drained her energy and required intense concentration. She'd get weak if she did it repeatedly, but she was determined to master her abilities as a wolf and vampire. She felt like she wasn't weak anymore, and she was braver and stronger, just like the warriors of the king said. She knew she could do everything for the people she loved and cared about. Since finding out her parents were alive, she'd gained new strength. She never lost hope that she'd see them again and be with them, including her dad.
As she looked around, she felt an unusual breeze and sensed she wasn't alone anymore. A strong force was approaching. "Whoever you are, come out and show yourself!" she warned.
"Good day, beautiful maiden," a man greeted as he approached her. "The rumors are true, you're skilled since you knew I was here." He smiled.
Another super handsome superhuman? Wow, he's amazingly beautiful! was her first thought when she saw him. She looked at him carefully; he seemed familiar. Where had she seen him before?
"Good day to you too. I know you, but where did we meet?"
"In your dreams, I visited you in your dreams."
Oh, she remembered now. How could she forget the one who scared her in her dreams?
"Before anything else, I'd like to formally introduce myself. I'm Ryuk, your guardian..." He offered his hand, and they shook hands. She studied him again. He was tall, dark, and very handsome, with shoulder-length red hair that looks natural.
"I'm glad we finally met in person. You really scared the hell out of me every time you visited me in my dreams," she said with a laugh. He wasn't as scary as she expected.
"Why did it take so long for us to meet?"
"I usually stay in Yfraim's palace."
Yfraim? Her eyebrow rose at the mention. Really? Just Yfraim?
She looked at him again, studying him carefully like he was an organism under a microscope. Her brow furrowed. "You look like—" she blurted out, pointing at him. He laughed.
" Yfraim and I are siblings," he interrupted what she was about to say.
"I knew it, you're really similar. It's good a thing that there's no war between you two—since he's the king and you're not." If there was no bad blood between them, she admired that about them. Even among mortals, equal positions were necessary, or else it would lead to bad relationships. He nodded in agreement.
"Yfraim and I love each other more than any crown or position in this world. In fact, neither of us wanted to be king, but he had no choice since he's the older one." He laughed loudly afterward, showing his straight white teeth.
"How old are you, Ryuk?"
"I've been around for over 900 years... I don't remember exactly, but it's been that long since I've been in this world," he replied, sitting down beside her. She was stunned by what he said, considering he looked young.
"What? Wow! But you look like a 25-year-old bachelor. You'd definitely be popular among mortal women if they saw you; you could even be an actor."
"People like us age slower than ordinary humans," he replied with his eyes closed.
She was surprised when Ryuk took her hand. "A barrier to hide your true identity... a pink skin on your hand. It's slowly disappearing as your abilities and powers emerge." He let go of her hand afterward.
He was right; as her guide, he knew a lot about her. He sighed. "I know you already know that your parents are alive, and the woman in the waterfall told you."
"How did you know?" She was amazed by her conversation partner. He knew so many things about her.
"I have sorcerer blood. People like us are hybrids—from two different bloodlines. Aside from being a dream walker, I'm also a seer—I can see things that have passed and are yet to come. Yfraim and I have different abilities, so we support each other. Each other's strengths and weaknesses."
"I'm here to train you to use a sword and how to properly use your other hidden powers. You have the blessing of one of the most powerful Babaylan, so I know you'll get stronger."
"Why me?" She wanted everything about her identity to be clear, so she wouldn't miss the chance to ask him questions.
"Because you're special, Aurora. You were born on the day the moon eclipsed the sun, so we know you carry the strength of our ancestors, and I know you have a good heart. That's why we kept you away and hidden—to protect you from those who want to harm or use you. You're here now because we know you're ready, and we're all here to help you."
"Why did you have to keep it a secret from me that my parents are alive and they're Morgana's prisoner?”
"Only the maiden in the lake and I know that truth, Aurora. When you're ready, I'll give you permission to seek your destiny, but for now, let us guide you through the times when you're not yet capable. There's someone who can help you more—the only grandchild of General Ezral; the crystal necklace is in their care."
"Who is that person? I want to know..."
"You've already met them, Aurora." She was even more confused by what she heard. If they've met before, why didn't this person introduce themselves?
"Can you tell me who and where they are?" She hoped he would finally tell her.
"Fate will bring you together again. I don't want to predetermine your destiny," he replied with a smile. She could sense something hidden behind that smile—amusement, perhaps.
After their intense conversation, Ryuk immediately trained her on how to properly use a sword and throw daggers at enemies. It had been over a month since then, and she had learned a lot from the man. Ryuk wasn't like Leora, who was gentle when it came to training. Ryuk was the type to teach her everything he knew, even if it meant she'd get battered, as long as she learned.
He focused on teaching her how to use a sword for close-range battles since she was already skilled in long-range combat using daggers and bows. She was learning to block out distractions and focus her concentration on the fight.