Chapter Five

A Chapter by Imagination-mage

Rachel and Allen had breached into the serpent creature’s town. The area was quiet when they set foot inside. Rachel’s fists tightened from fear of an ambush, an obvious attack. Allen stood close beside her, worried about Rachel’s safety.

“Are you sure about this Rachel?” Allen asked.

“No, so Allen if something does go wrong, please save me.” Rachel said, grabbing a handful of his cloak.

“I’ll get you back to the Black Order.” Allen reassured. The serpent creatures were gathering around them unnoticed. Rachel and Allen stayed close together, Allen taking Rachel’s hand making her blush slightly. The first serpent pounced, Allen twirled around and his left arm transformed into a giant sword, slicing the serpent creature in two.

“ALLEN!” Rachel scolded.

“Sorry, that was reflex.” Allen said. A serpent creature suddenly pounced on him, pushing him to the ground; the other serpent’s dog piling him so he couldn’t move. Rachel went for her whip, whipping at the ugly beasts on Allen. She didn’t notice the biggest one sneaking up behind her. Allen looked up and his eyes widened, he attempted screaming out at Rachel but one of the creatures covered his mouth. Rachel obliviously continued whipping at the creatures, lashing at their eyes and even taking an eye out. The big one loomed over her, its mouth wide open and drool raining down on Rachel, making her freeze. Rachel slowly turned around and held her whip so tight the blood under her skin pulsed faster.

“Hello cupcake.” The creature said. It rose up, about to bite down on her. Rachel was about to slice his tongue off but one of the serpent woman wrapped her tail around Rachel’s ankles, making her trip and lose her whip. The monster came for the kill, Rachel covering her head and Allen trying to get the monsters off him so he could help. Suddenly, Jaya came in, kicking the serpent monster with her amazing air ability making her faster and her kicks more powerful. The serpent monster skidded away, Jaya landing in front of Rachel.

“Get up if you wanna live!” Jaya said angrily.

Rachel rose to her feet and Jaya handed Rachel her whip. Rachel caught a crocked smile on Jaya’s face, ones she’s only seen Jaya use when a devil within was being released. Jaya charged with her scythe in the air and sliced her way towards the monster that nearly killed them a few days before. Rachel followed, letting out a battle cry and whipping the serpents out of Jaya’s way so Jaya could get an opening. The serpent monster roared and spat a green fog into the land, blocking Jaya’s vision. Jaya and Rachel stopped, back to back, turning every now and then. As if her sixth sense kicking in, Rachel sensed one of them lunging.

“Jaya, on your left, SWING!” Rachel called.

Jaya swung her scythe slicing one of the serpents in half. All of them pounced on them and the two girls fought their way. Jaya was slicing as many as she could, heads rolling and Rachel whipping all the serpents and slicing at their jaws and cutting at their necks. Rachel then felt an even bigger presence sneaking up on Jaya. Jaya was too busy to notice the serpent monster looming behind her, camouflaged in the fog. Jaya jabbed her scythe in the torso of one serpent woman who wailed and went to the floor. The serpent monster went above Jaya and opened its mouth. Rachel then felt all the adrenaline in her body kick in. The rocks under her moved towards the beast that was about to eat Jaya, shooting up at him and hitting him in the jaw, making him fall. Jaya turned, seeing the monster. Rachel’s hand was out and she was breathing heavily. She felt a burning around her neck, as if made of her skin; gold chains appeared with a lock on the end. The lock was heavy but she could barely feel it. Jaya gave Rachel thumbs up as they continued fighting the serpents till they retreated away. Allen and Lavi appeared out of the mist, finding Jaya and Rachel covered in serpent blood and the monster lying beside Jaya. Jaya and Rachel still had their weapons up.

“It’s over.” Lavi said, putting his hand over Jaya’s. Jaya’s grip loosened up and she dropped to her knees, along with Rachel.

“That was insane.” Jaya said. “BUT TOTALLY COOL!”

“I know!” Rachel said. “That was so cool how you sliced all those serpents with like one slice!”

“You’re not bad with that whip either.” Jaya complimented.

“Yeah, I can hardly wait for the next battle!” Rachel said excitedly. She then heard her stomach rumble and she grabbed a handful of Allen’s cloak again.

“I’m hungry Allen.” Rachel said.

“Me too.” Allen said. He picked up Rachel like a princess and carried her back. Lavi did the same, Jaya had felt so relieve that she lost all feeling in her legs. As the two began walking home they didn’t notice the monster serpent slowly getting up. He went behind Allen and Rachel screamed when she saw him. Sharp rocks shot out from the ground, piercing the serpent and he died with the giant spikes inside his body. Allen turned and was a little shocked about the monster serpent killed in such a way. Rachel was trembling, digging her nails into Allen’s shoulder.

“Calm down, it’s over now.” Allen comforted then looked back. “I hope.”

“Ow…my head…Owww!” Rachel said, clenching her head. Rachel began to scream, little pink flowers blooming on the side of her head. All the green mist was sucked into them and Allen just watched Rachel in shock.

“Allen what’s happening?!” Lavi screamed.

“I-I DON’T KNOW!” Allen called.

“RACHEL!” Jaya screamed. Rachel glowed, Allen not really prepared and a light green blast erupted, blowing back trees and clearing out the polluted air. The trees blew back and the deserted lands sand blew everywhere. The blast ended, Rachel sprawled on top of Allen who was also sprawled out on the ground. The four of them were in a giant crater and Rachel was the first to get up.

“What happened?” Rachel asked, sitting up and rubbing her head. She looked at Allen who was under her. Allen coughed; smoke coming out and he rubbed the soot off his face.

“You…uh…exploded in an Eco-friendly way Rachel.” Allen said with a smile. “Yeah, an Eco-friendly way.”

Breathing in the air, the air was pure and the land was rid of the green fog the serpent monster produced.

“Wow that was quite the blast.” Lavi said getting up with Jaya still on his lap.

“Rachel what was that?!” Jaya asked.

“I-I don’t know.” Rachel said. She looked down at her lock and saw it glow an eerie green light, the lock had come undone and Rachel shut it. It began to glow faintly as if recharging.

“Well let’s get back and tell Monarch the great news.” Allen said. “Congratulations Rachel, you’re an Ancient!”

* * * *

Two months had passed for Rachel and Jaya, both getting accustom to the life of being purifiers or warriors. They were welcomed in like everyone else and went on all types of missions together getting Sunday’s off. Jaya had gotten a close attachment to the egg she’d found on her training. She never let it out of her sight and always cradled it, slept with it so it would stay warm, even took it out on missions thinking it would learn along the way. Jaya was relaxing in her quarters, clutching the egg she’d found two months ago and seemed to be a bit obsessed over it. Rachel soon came in and announced “Jaya’s you’re obsessed.”

“With what?” Jaya asked, getting up with the egg still in her arms.

“The egg, yes it’s amazing it just randomly bonked you over the head but I think you’ve taken it too far.” Rachel declared.

“Did not!” Jaya said rising to her feet. She took a sheet and wrapped it around her shoulder and under her arm, tying it up with a brooch. Placing the egg inside and putting her hands on her hips. Rachel gestured to the little holding satchel she made in a matter of seconds.

“Oh shut up, I just can’t wait for it to hatch!” Jaya said. “It even has my name written on it!”

“Yes I know Jaya but this has gotten a little too far, what if it’s a serpent creature?” Rachel asked.

“I’ll make it into a nice one.” Jaya said.

“What if it tries to eat you?” Rachel asked.

“I’ll defeat it and make it not eat me.” Jaya replied.

Rachel rolled her eyes and said “Well I’m just worried that it’ll become something that you weren’t looking forward to Jaya. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I can defend myself Rachel, have you not seen me in battle in the last two months, I’m amazing!” Jaya said.

“Yes you are Jaya.” Rachel said. “But you never know, we might get summoned on a mission and it might not involve your egg!”

“Well I’ll ask Lavi to watch him for me.” Jaya said. “He’s trust worthy…”

“Do you happen to like Lavi Jaya?” Rachel asked curiously.

“Of course not…okay yes I do.” Jaya said. “He’s just so cute and amazing when he holds me like a princess!”

Rachel simply rolled her eyes and said “Anyway, just get some rest; you never know when a mission will just come barging in.”

Suddenly, Jasper came in out of breath.

“Monarch…requests to see…you two…” Jasper managed to say.

prev chapter