Chapter 65 - Pursuit

Chapter 65 - Pursuit


Sera woke up with a slight headache. She didn't remember passing out. Probably, she thought, cleansing the darkness from these lost souls sucked a lot of her energy.

“Hey, you finally woke up.” Twilight chirped at her.

Sera got up, a little dizzy, and looked at the crow, tired. It seemed like she hadn't even slept.

“Do you know how long I slept?” She asked, looking around, searching for any difference.

“Probably a day, even though this place doesn't show us whether it's day or night.” The crow replied.

Sera began to walk around, even though she was dizzy. For the first time, she noticed that she didn't feel hungry or thirsty, just tired. Had she died just like Karim and her children? It wasn't something she knew how to answer.

Her body was limp and tired, as if she were still waking up. She yawned but kept walking.

Fear and anguish were always with her. Those souls, even though she couldn't see them, still affected her. Her feelings were deep and chaotic, but Sera felt that such emotion had diminished. So, her mission was being fulfilled.

“Mother, protect me and guide me.” She mentally asked the Goddess for support.

The forest was still dark and colorless, the roots of the sacred tree spreading across the ground. However, they now seemed clearer as Sera walked.

Until, darkness took over the roots again, and the wolf knew she had approached another case.

Distressing cries returned to her ears, more intense than before. She could see wounded soldiers, desperate and restless. They were certainly the Aurelius family.

Sera looked at them with pity; some of them had died wounded, without legs, eyes, or arms. All wounded by battles that were probably futile.

Their cries and melancholy attracted her gaze. However, it was necessary to find the root of the problem. The one chosen by the Goddess, responsible for bringing everyone to that place.

An older soldier, with insignia of honor and achievements, was near one of the roots. His white hair was messy, he had dark circles under his eyes, and his eyes seemed to fear everything they saw. As if he were afraid of everything.

When Sera approached, he backed away, frightened. Taking steps backward, the man tried to avoid her.

“Sir, I don't want to hurt you. I just want to talk,” Sera said with a gentle smile, trying to convey confidence.

Even so, the man seemed frightened. He ran away from her, trembling with wide eyes, and Sera, surprised, didn't know what to do.

“Go after him.” She could hear Mother's voice in her mind for the first time in a long time.

“Unfortunately, the mistrust and fear he felt when he received my sign and his powers drove Arsenio mad. I tried to help him, but my voice does not reach him, Sera. I will need your help to heal my son,” the Goddess said in a sad tone full of regret and melancholy.

Sera then ran after the man. He was not very fast, but he was intelligent. He passed through the trees that obstructed Sera's vision.

Even so, she was younger and faster. The chase continued, and she feared that she would frighten the poor man even more. However, it was necessary to trust Mother's words.

And so Sera continued, her wolf asked to be present, and she allowed it. Transforming into her wolf form, the wolf chased the man and soon caught up with him, surrounding him in front.

“Sir, calm down. I won't hurt you,” she asked breathlessly, her yellow eyes watching Mr. Aurelius.

Arsenius fell to the ground, stunned and frightened. He didn't know what to do; he was weaker than that girl.

Sera approached him, and he closed his eyes in fear, already prepared for death. However, contrary to what he expected, Arsenius received a gentle touch on his hands.

Sera smiled at him, and somehow he calmed down. The Mother appeared behind her, and Arsenius feared her. But her smile was as gentle as that of the girl in front of him.

“It is time to be free, my son.” The Goddess approached him, touching his face with her blue hand. Sera understood the man, for fearing such an ethereal being, with such intense and overwhelming energy.

For a moment, all voices fell silent, as if that energy could calm their hearts and their pain.

But Sera knew that the Mother could not stay there for long. After all, she could not interfere in the lives of mortals. And that was why Sera herself was there.

Arsenio shed tears of sorrow as he received her touch. His white hair moved as she enveloped him in her embrace.

"You are not afraid of me, Arsenio. You are afraid of the power I have given you.“ The Goddess said with a smile. ‘It is time to free yourself from the fear of who you can be and accept your true self. With the gift I have given you.’

A light emerged from her hand and covered the entire area. Sera stepped back and closed her eyes due to the intensity.

“Sera. Come.” She heard her mother's voice asking her to come closer and forced herself to open her eyes.

Sera approached Arsenio and touched his forehead, bringing him calm. And finally, the fear in his eyes was gone. He finally smiled and expressed a serene expression, light took over his body, and his soul was finally freed.

All the souls of her family received the same blessing and were also freed from that suffering. The sacred tree was now cleaner, its roots shining again. Sera touched them and could feel their true power, without the negative energies that had previously emanated from them.

However, she was surprised by Mother's warm fingers on her forehead.

“You deserve to rest too, my daughter. You have worked very well, Sera. Thank you.“ Mother smiled with a serene look.

Sera felt invigorated, as if the fatigue had been dispersed from her body. Her energy returned, and she could finally feel completely well.

”Thank you, Mother."

The Goddess smiled and replied:

“There's only one left, dear. After that, I'll make sure you're free. But this may be the most difficult case we'll face.”

Sera looked toward the horizon, toward the next path, and swallowed hard. Helping the Ramesses affected not only Karim but also her and the bonds of war that their families had built over centuries.

“I am ready,” she replied confidently to Mother. “It is time to clean up the remnants of the war between our families.”