Chapter 23 A Trickster
Hey, I need your help, Klishei spoke using her mind.
Can you slowly erase our scent bit by bit?
The reply that came sounded bored.
Done.
“Why do I feel like I’m doing something illegal? I’m actually sneaking you out of the sanctuary.”
For a moment, Klishei could not focus on what he was saying. She was really flying, a dream that all children would love to see fulfilled. She considered herself to be a lucky girl. It was a good thing she did not have aerophobia.
Angus led her out of the house and into the forest.
Klishei was still thrilled at her feet walking on air, guided by Angus’ powers. “No, no. You’re just helping me out.”
Fortunately, fairies seem to have a slow pick-up on lies, Klishei realized. If it were any other ordinary human, he would have already guessed something did not fit quite right by now.
“Where is the store that you mentioned?” Angus asked.
Klishei looked back and saw an empty mountain. No stone walls, no house, no waterfall. They had successfully passed through the boundary.
“It still can’t be seen from here. Just go straight towards the center of the town.”
“Uh, Klishei, are you sure? Beyond this, it’s already considered unsafe for us, especially you. What if Daevar left some of his members here to scout for you.”
Klishei clutched Angus’ hands tightly. “Angus, you’re with me. I’m not afraid.”
For a moment, Klishei saw how a fairy blushed.
“Er, fine. Let’s go, then.”
They dived to the nearby town. Whether or not the increased speed was intentional or just because Angus was flustered, Klishei could not tell.
When they arrived, Angus made his wings disappear and the two proceeded to walk normally. It looked like there was an ongoing festival with all the balloons and decorations all over the houses and stalls.
THE TWIN GOLDEN MOON FESTIVAL IS HERE
“Oh, even here?I did not know that everyone actually celebrates the appearance of the golden moon,” Klishei said.
“Efarlise is the only country with many moon festivals. For humans, maybe it's just an annual tradition. But for us Entities, it’s more than that. It is where the gap between Earth and the Cosmos is so thin that our voices could literally reach the throne of the cosmic council.”
Vendors were parading sticks with a moon on the top that glowed when a button was pushed. People were also busy preparing. In one corner, workers were setting up a giant circular structure. On the other side, a group of artists were painting a wall.
Back at her place, even their school patronized it. Klishei only thought of it as a rest day without any homework or quizzes to think of.
“Yeseus discussed it with us. It was in his plan to let the goddess inside you ascend to the Cosmos during the Twin Golden Moon. But we still have one problem.”
“You haven’t yet found out where the Phoenix’s Nest is,” Klishei finished for him.
Angus nodded. “Yes. Actually, he had been searching for years ever since you were born. He knew that things would go down to this and that forcing the goddess to wake up was the only way. But the only clue was that smudgy sketch and nothing else. The golden moon is in three days. I don’t know how Yeseus is going to proceed with his plan.”
It’s useless for a non-vessel to spot my hiding place alone. I built that place specifically for my lovely hosts. It was never meant to be discovered easily. And I already told you. Even I am forbidden to tell you directly.
Klishei spotted the police station, a bright blue office that was separated from the rest. She looked to the left and saw the megamall. She led him to the busy street where cars and bicycles honked at each other.
“Hey, Angus, what will happen if Yeseus is unable to find the Phoenix’s Nest? Does that mean there will be no more chance to wake the goddess inside me?”
Angus dodged a car. “We would have to wait until next year. It would be torture for you, trying to evade Daevar and his pack for how many months. You saw how hungry they are for you. They will not allow Yeseus’ plan to proceed. They might actually be out looking for you again. It’s been days since Yeseus infiltrated them. They would have already recovered by now.”
They stood at the entrance of the gigantic building. Angus pointed to the spectacular structure with all its glass panels and impressive architecture that seemed to pierce the sky.
“Don’t tell me we are going through every stall inside. Please tell me that you already know what floor to go to.”
Klishei laughed. “What? Are you already tired?”
“I’m a fairy, Klishei. I always use my wings, not my legs.”
Klishei grabbed his wrists. “Come on, silly boy. You have to accompany me.”
Klishei led him through the series of stairs. They passed by crowds of people who were taking their time stopping at each window. Klishei dragged him all around the place.
“Why are we not using the elevator?” Angus was already breathing hard.
“Don’t you feel it? The air is so refreshing! I don’t want to put myself inside those hot elevators.”
Klishei led him to more floors. Although she could feel that her legs were also complaining, she did not give up until she saw how beat Angus was. She silently thanked her ancestors for passing on their sturdy legs that were perfect for the mountains.
When he was already gasping hard for air, she helped him sit on a bench. He was drenched in sweat.
“Would you like to wait for me here? The store is just there,” she said, pointing to a gadget stall at the end of the hallway. Angus did not even bother to look at the direction where she was pointing at.
He flailed his arm, motioning her to go. “I think I’ll rest here for a while.” He already had closed his eyes.
Klishei took one step backward and then another.
After a few seconds, she was already sprinting towards the elevators that were going down. She squeezed herself in.
As the elevator doors closed, she could only whisper an apology to the fairy boy.