Chapter 30 Azahara #2
Illyan frequently clashed with Zhal, and at times, with Kaed.
It was, in truth, partly their own fault, given the way they flirted with him.
Zhal often threatened Illyan, and while Azahara mostly got along with Kaed, disagreements arose, especially when it concerned her well-being.
Whether it was Kaed’s overprotectiveness or Zhal’s attempts to give orders to him, it all became a lot for Azahara to handle.
The most challenging part was training with Zhal, though not because it was physically demanding.
Azahara cherished her time with Kaed, but his obsessive need to protect her sometimes grated on her nerves.
At one point, she requested her training sessions with Zhal to be scheduled when Kaed was occupied with tasks that didn’t involve hovering five feet away from her.
Grateful for the shift away from coddling, she could now train daily with Zhal.
It was around the third day that she began to notice a remarkable increase in her stamina.
A strange sensation of newfound vitality filled her, something she had never experienced before.
While her physical strength in terms of punching and kicking hadn’t notably improved, she found that her body moved with greater agility and required less effort to perform more demanding tasks, such as hand-to-hand combat.
Their journey took them across the Shubae Desert, primarily inhabited by Dwarfs and Ossodians, another race descended from Orcs.
Unlike their ancestors, Ossodians were more similar to humans and lived in peace.
These solid and agile creatures were known for their hard work and were highly valued in the kingdom, particularly for their contributions to mining.
As they trekked across the desert’s sandy expanse, they stumbled upon a welcoming village. The Ossodians living there were kind and provided Azahara, and even Zhal, with extra clothing, food, and water.
While the Shubae Desert was mostly sand, it also contained remnants of ancient fallen statues from a time when Giants were considered gods.
Tall mountains that once held castles reaching for Paradise were now covered in sand, their structures reduced to the ground.
These still-standing homes were inhabited by creatures who had either been abandoned or had chosen to live in isolation.
They encountered another outpost of the Order as they finally emerged from the desert after nearly a week and a half. Thankfully, they had no intention of staying. Azahara had no desire to endure another day of waiting while the men discussed matters that concerned her little.
Once they passed through the outpost, they embarked on the final leg of their journey through Avlyrra to reach So’ol.
Avlyrra, the southernmost region under the king’s control, offered a stark contrast to the Capital or Azahara’s homeland.
It was a tropical paradise unlike any place they had seen on their journey.
They spent the night in a small town at the border of Avlyrra and Shubae. The following morning, they were up and on their way before the sun had even risen, heading east to pick up the trail toward So’ol.
The directions became a bit convoluted for them.
“If only I had my Magic, dang it, I could have wethered us in,” Illyan commented when they decided to stop. The group had seemingly been walking in circles, which was not productive.
Azahara slipped from Noxus and settled her feet onto the mossy floor. A soft giggle accompanied the dismount as her toes wiggled.
Zhal walked Noxus away towards a stream of water. “I hear it’s easier to find at night,” she said, coming back towards them. “We could wait until nightfall.”
“Mmm,” Kaed sighed, wrapping his bow and arrows across his body. “If there are Yuul’s around here, I would rather not travel through at night. We are trying to sneak up on it, not the other way around.” Looking up, Azahara saw Kaed watching her play, a smile on his face.
Illyan sighed frustratedly. “We could just let Azahara wander around until she finds it.”
“What?!” both Kaed and Zhal called out.
“Are you crazy?” Kaed asked. “Did you hit your head?”
Zhal just stared at the Fae, wondering what they could be thinking.
Illyan threw their hands up. “If there is one thing about Ladybug, her sense of direction is better than anything I could imagine. She has this weird thing where she knows where to be. It’s like something guides her.”
Azahara looked to Kaed, who said, “I remember you saying something about that when we first met.”
She remembered the interaction. “Yeah, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I can just activate it. It’s a subconscious thing, not an on-command ability.”
“That is why I said you should wander. Without the horses. Without us.” Illyan placed their hands on their hips. “Remember, before these two over-protectors,”—they emphasized the word—“came about, you had only yourself to rely on. You never wanted me to travel with you and always came home.”
Zhal stiffened beside her. “I understand she can’t be killed, but…”
“Correction, she can be killed. He just brings her back,” Kaed gritted through his teeth.
Azahara took a deep breath, her shoulders rising and falling with the action.
Illyan was right, and both of them sensed it.
“Start a fire,” she said, “I’ll wander for no longer than what I feel is necessary.
If I find it, I’ll start my own fire, then send Noxus.
” She looked at Zhal, who had her jaw clenched, ready to protest, but instead nodded.
“Don’t worry. If there’s trouble, I’m a runner.
I’ll come right back to you guys.” She moved to Starlight and rummaged through the bag, grabbing two daggers to slip between her thigh straps.
She also retrieved her boots and slipped them on; stepping over rocks and twigs with bare feet would not be ideal if she needed to run.
Tucking her black leggings into her boots, she adjusted her cotton tank. Black on black was her go-to these days; with how little they stopped, it was easy to keep clean.
“Please, be careful.” Kaed brushed her hair from her eyes, tucking the strands behind her ear.
She smiled and placed a kiss on his lips. “I’ll be fine, I promise.”
Illyan winked, and Zhal touched her shoulder while saying, “Call for me, and I will come.”
Azahara nodded and squeezed her hand. “I know you would. Thank you.”
With that final interaction, she was off to wander the woods; alone. It felt normal to her. It wasn’t as though she hadn’t been alone for the past almost five hundred years. Having companions had been the oddity, not this.
She hadn’t realized how much she cherished the silence. The only sounds she could hear were the birds, the running streams, and her thoughts. It was a tranquil experience; one that didn’t frighten her, even with the knowledge that a Yuul, or something just as terrifying, could be around any corner.
Even before her curse, she had this sixth sense of direction, knowing where to be, and when to be there.
It hadn’t always served her in the best way, but she had come to terms with the saying that “everything happens for a reason.” Being in the monastery that day had led her to meet Kaed, and while she was injured, it was the best thing that could have ever happened to her.
It wasn’t an ability—no magic or divine power. It wasn’t a beacon that signaled when she was on the right path. It felt more like knowing exactly where north, south, east, and west were. It guided her toward a direction she didn’t realize she needed to take.
Now, it guided her through the dense Kapok and Xate trees.
The soft mossy ground was hidden beneath a tapestry of bushes in various heights and colors.
Natural magic saturated the air, making it feel lighter and easier to breathe.
While the sun’s bright rays pierced through the tree canopy, the vibrant hues of the fruits and leaves illuminated the forest.
Azahara spun in a circle, trying to spot the smoke, but the thick tree cover made it challenging. Climbing one of the curved trunks, she finally glimpsed the black clouds billowing to the west. She descended swiftly, knowing her family would be anxiously waiting.
With confidence in her direction, she pressed forward without hesitation, the forest’s symphony of sounds and the rhythm of her footsteps creating a harmonious melody around her.
Upon reaching another creek, she leaped over it and continued her sprint, sensing an even stronger pull than before.
A smile graced her lips as she weaved through trees and dashed through bushes.
Suddenly, as if a hidden door had swung open, a clearing sprawled before her, bringing her to an abrupt halt.
“This is it.”
She caught her breath, stepping toward the rocks cradling a cove of water with steam wafting from its surface.
It was a natural hot spring; legend claiming it was heated by a fallen star, destroyed by a Dragon and its spirit rider before it could obliterate their realm.
While during the daytime, the place seemed like an ordinary rock formation, enveloped by trees and a natural canopy.
At night, the skies would ignite with a cascading rainbow of colors, painting the water in a magnificent spectacle.
Legend spoke of So’ol, the dragon rider, who had steered Xoli toward Parádeisos to avert a catastrophic starfall. Their bravery had saved countless lives, and two stars in the night sky were said to shine the brightest in their honor during the peak of the night.
Azahara needed to start a fire, and she needed it quickly.
As she turned to search for wood, rustling in a nearby bush seized her attention. She edged away from the source of the noise, eyes locked on the dark figure that darted into it. Her heart pounded, and she spun around to escape when a sudden, powerful force collided with her back.
Her scream tore through the silence, echoing through the forest.
Then, nothing but silence.