THE HEART OF THE SOUL (1)
Note
Text between “ “, thoughts of characters.
Text between «”, consciousness or voices of tertiary characters.
PVO MAAM
–Refractor Fist of Light!
He screamed as he hit a dragon monster that arrived with five others.
I smile as I watch part of his torso begin to fade away, however, something happens and within seconds he recovers again.
Furious, I charge at him again, but he launches a powerful fire attack that, even if it doesn't touch me, makes my skin burn from the intensity of its flames. The smoke makes it impossible for me to breathe and the lack of air makes me dizzy.
I'm about to lose consciousness when I feel Popp's gloved hands around my waist. With his free hand he projects a Merazoma and incredibly manages to tear apart a large part of the dragon monster's body.
The relief that my body feels and the glow of the Behoma emanating from it tells me that he has used two different spells at the same time again and although the magic power he has is very great, the wounds inflicted by the five dragons must have left him very weak and if he does not heal, the evil dragon could hurt him, so I try to heal him with my magic, but he demands that I do not do it and with Toberura we move far enough away from the attack that the dragon has launched.
–Let me heal you! –I asked him, distressed, noticing a large cut on his neck.
–Later! … now I need you to protect Merle and hide with her in the forest. The attack I'm going to launch will cover a large part of the place and I don't want anyone to get hurt.
–It's that you...
–Damn it Maam! For once in your life, listen to me!
His harsh tone surprises me because he had never spoken to me like that and in my bewilderment, I fall to the ground when he lets go of me and then returns to where we left the dragon.
I know his order was to take Merle to me, but concern for his injuries makes me run after him.
Despite my speed, I can't catch up with him and the run is leaving me breathless, but I smile when I see him stop, although my relief doesn't last long because the concentration of magic power coming out of his body is incredible and the shockwave it causes when it hits the dragon's body pushes me several meters back.
Everything goes dark and the smoke is so much that it makes me cough desperately.
After several minutes trying to recover, the smoke finally disperses and in the distance I see someone approaching.
My heart beats hard when I realize that it's Popp who's coming towards me and I happily get up to go meet him.
I'm just a few steps away from reaching him, but some chain-shaped shadows pull him up and lift him into a larger shadow.
My fear arises at the moment when the shadow takes the form of KillVearn, (or should I say the puppet) and at his side is Piroro, (who is actually the real KillVearn).
– Long time no see, little wizard! –says the miserable one-eyed demon as the puppet approaches Popp –I knew from the beginning that I had to kill you before anyone else, but your master diverted my attention and I lost a valuable opportunity to end the hero's hope and that cost the useless Vearn his defeat, but this time I will not fail… My master Velzar has asked me to get rid of Avan’s second strongest disciple and when I end your life, I will have fulfilled his order.
–You're going to waste your time! –he answers haltingly because one of the chains tightens his neck –killing me won't make Hyunckel weaker –he laughs and I'm surprised by the strength he retains even though he is so tired and hurt –you're really an idiot, KillVearn! You've come to waste time with Master Avan’s weakest disciple, but thanks to this mistake, we can warn Hyunckel.
The real KillVearn's eye widens, and I think he's bewildered, but then he smiles and makes the puppet increase the strength of its chains and although Popp avoids complaining, we all know it's more out of pride than lack of pain.
–Is that what you think, little magician? –He laughs outrageously –It's really very convenient that you think that way... By the way, don't you want to see Dai before he kills you?
–Dai? –Popp stands before KillVearn, leaving us both surprised by the vigor he has regained at the mention of Dai –tell me where my friend is, you damn spawn!
–Close your eyes so I can connect with your soul… that way you can see what I see.
–No, Popp! – I screamed at the top of my lungs –that bastard wants to trick you… he probably doesn't know where Dai is and if you let him link with your soul, he could kill you or do something worse.
–Don't be ridiculous, young lady! –the mini demon flies towards me –my wish is to kill him and for that I don't need to waste time deceiving him, but I want to have fun when I see the condition in which the most important person for him is.
–Is Dai your most important person? –I ask as a pang attacks my heart.
The mini demon stares at me for a few seconds and then I see him widen that disgusting smile he always has on his face.
–That's right, young lady... Dai is the person that this magician appreciates more than anyone else... Maybe he can love romantically, but even above that love, Dai will always come first and it is because that young hero is the only one who has trusted him no matter his past mistakes and the brotherhood between them is unique... I know it well because it is the same thing that I have seen in Dai's soul.
The mini demon's words leave me confused and he takes advantage of that to return to Popp and the only thing I can see before everything is covered in an intense green light is my adventure partner holding Piroro.
At some point I must have lost consciousness and when I finally open my eyes, I find myself leaning against a tree and a few steps away from me is Merle heating water on a campfire.
–I’m glad you’re awake! –says the fortune teller, kneeling in front of me with a cup of water and healing herbs –Popp has already cured you, but this will help warm your body.
–Where… where is it? –I ask the question with difficulty and realize that I am numb –what is happening to me?
–The demon cyclops uses flames from the underworld –Merle informs me– well, actually he uses the puppet to release them, that's why Popp had to use Mahyado.
–Mahyado? But he doesn't use that spell.
–Well, now –she answers with a tone of admiration that makes me uncomfortable –Popp is getting stronger and stronger every day. We have both seen his growth and it is logical that he can conjure more powerful spells as his magic power increases… At this rate he will be able to use the entire repertoire of spells.
–And it is because of that increase in power that he is now the target of all the monsters in the underworld –I say angrily– Popp didn't understand KillVearn, but I did… The strongest disciple after Dai is him, but since he has low expectations regarding his abilities, he thought he was coming for Hyunckel.
–You can't blame him... both you and the others always put him down and praise Hyunckel's skills, so how do you expect him to think he's powerful?
-I don't…
I really wanted to deny his words, but I couldn't because he was right.
Before we started our search for Dai, I thought I had to come and accompany Popp because he is very weak and any monster could hurt him, however, as time goes by, I have realized that even I am more of a burden than a support for my friend and when I look at Merle, I have to accept that even she is the one who helps him the most because they have that special bond that connects them and they always know what is happening to the other.
My fists clench at the thought, and lately even the slightest mention of that blessed bond between them bothers me.
–Listen, Maam, don't blame yourself. Now we just have to make him see that it's not Hyunckel that KillVearn wants dead, but him.
–Why do you say that? –I start looking around for him, but I can't see him anywhere –Where's Popp?
–He is in the lake... Through the water waves he is trying to visualize Hyunckel.
-So that?
–So that we can go with him and thus protect him from enemy attacks.
–But he was injured and even if he healed himself, it takes a full day to restore his magic power, so he should be resting.
My body is still numb from the ice spell he must have used to counteract the power of the underworld flames, but I need to go find him. If he continues to overexert his body, he could get hurt and any monster would take advantage of his weakness to kill him.
–Wait Maam! –Merle stands in front of me –Popp cured you, I already told you, but if you don't take the herbs, you won't be able to warm your body from the inside.
It's true, he healed me, but Merle didn't say he did the same with his wounds, so that means he didn't.
The anguish of thinking about him using his magic power while injured gives me enough strength to walk.
Merle's screams don't stop me, but Popp's figure a few feet away does, and I'm surprised to notice that he's not alone. Hyunckel and Larhart are with him.
The joy of seeing Hyunckel is great, but the relief of seeing Popp without any trace of wounds makes me move my legs to go meet him, but before I can reach him, he disappears and as I was going too fast I trip over a rock. Fortunately I don't fall to the ground thanks to Hyunckel who caught me.
–Are you okay, Maam? –he asks me without letting go of me.
Without answering I turn to look at Popp and I get angry seeing him too close to Merle, and an uncontrollable fury appears when the fortune teller caresses his face and without thinking I launch myself towards them.
Instinctively I hit him and force him away from her. Then I grab the collar of his shirt and pull him towards me.
–What the hell is wrong with you, Maam? –she says trying to take my hands off her clothes.
–Why do you always do stupid things? –I shake him while continuing to yell at him –You just survived a fight against KillVearn and the first thing you do is go to a lake to use a spell that, although it doesn't require much magic power, it does use enough to leave you exhausted.
–I had to find Hyunckel… Maam, KillVearn was heading to kill him and in his current state he might just succeed.
–It's not Hyunckel that KillVearn is looking for –my voice trembles with the anguish of him not understanding me -why don't you realize?
–Yes, it is Hyunckel that that bastard wants to kill – that disconcerts me and he takes advantage of it to break free and move a few steps away from me – when I allowed him to link with my soul, I discovered not only Dai's whereabouts, but I was also able to see one of his divinations.
–What did you see? -I need to know, because the strange look he's giving me makes me think that vision involves me too.
–I can't say or I would change what I saw, but I can assure you that if we manage to make that vision come true, Dai will succeed in defeating Velzar and all of humanity will obtain the peace it so deserves.
The rest of us let out a sound of surprise at his words, and with good reason.
The vision he had must have been very good if he wanted it to come true, however, we cannot be too confident because KillVearn was able to manipulate it into believing it was real.
–Are you saying that the new enemy is Velzar? –Hyunckel asks and Popp nods –it's strange... you said that I'm their target, but from what you told us on the way here, you've suffered five attacks in less than ten days and we –he points to Larhart– haven't had any.
–Maybe they came against us so they could locate you – he answers very confidently.
–KillVearn can sense presences –Hyunckel insists– it is illogical that he would attack you to find me. Doing that is a bad tactic because it puts us on notice… Maybe you are his target.
–He said he will kill Avan's second strongest disciple after Dai –Popp crosses his arms and looks at him seriously –it's obvious he's talking about you.
–Power doesn’t necessarily come from brute force –Hyunckel approaches him and seeing them together I realize that the two are almost the same height.
–I know that –Popp argues– however, it is logical that you are the target. Of Master Avan's disciples, you are the one who received one hundred percent of all his training and although Dai surpasses your power, in terms of knowledge, the two of you are at the same level.
Hyunckel clenches his fists at her foolishness and, not wanting to continue the discussion, turns around to leave.
Popp comes up to me and gently holds my hand. The heat he gives off makes me nervous and I feel my cheeks burning.
–Maam, you have to convince him to accompany us to Papunika… I have contacted Master Aván to ask him to meet us at the castle and I can already sense him near Princess Leona… Once we are all gathered, we will come up with a plan to get rid of KillVearn.
–Do you want me to convince Hyunckel to come with us?... For God's sake, Popp! He always ends up doing what he wants and if he hasn't listened to you, who assures you that he will listen to me?
–You're not like us –he says, smiling. –He loves you and will do anything you ask of him.
His words revive a memory from six months ago, which happened before we started our trip.
“Back then, Popp was quite depressed over Dai’s disappearance and his sadness buried the cheerful and shameless boy we all knew.
Seeing him so downcast hurt me and I tried to always be by his side.
I followed him everywhere, preparing little dishes for him that my mother taught me (which he never wanted to try because we could barely get him to drink water). I also became a chatterbox and always told him that I wanted to see that smile of his that I like so much again, but one day when I was listing his qualities, he said some words to me that I'd rather forget because they hurt me as soon as he said them.
–Listen, Maam, right now I can only think about how to find Dai – she said sadly and strangely my heart ached because she realized it was not because of me, but because of Dai.
–I… –I wanted to speak, but he raised his hand to ask me to let him continue.
–Maam, don’t worry anymore. That day when you asked me for a chance to discover your feelings, you had actually already answered me… There’s no way you’d fall in love with the person you consider a brother –she told me with a tender and understanding look –Back then we were risking our lives fighting against the Demon King Vearn and that’s why I didn’t want to give you more trouble by telling you this, however, my mind and heart accepted that we will never be a couple in love –the smile she showed me on her face indicated that she wasn’t lying and the pain in my chest grew bigger.
–Does that mean you only see me as a sister now?
–It's not easy to change feelings from one day to the next, but I can assure you that today I see you as a great friend –he finished, smiling at me more and with a soft caress on my head she said goodbye to go to the meeting with Leona.
That time was the last time we talked about our feelings, (or at least he stopped doing so).
