I stared around cluelessly not understanding anything yet I could feel Iris gaze on my body but I really couldn't see anything.
"I can't open it" I said eventually and just as I expected she scoffed at me "You haven't even tried it yet"
" How am I supposed to huh? You never explain anything to me , you are always making the decision whether I like it or not and you are doing the same again. You brought me to this blank space and expect to make what is not there appear ! Am I a joke to you ? Am I a pawn ? You get what you want and then leave never caring how I fared . And you are always taking me to a place only you know. Somewhere only you know and expect me to figure it out!
Iris watched quietly and allowed her to vent .
" Are you done ? She finally spoke.
Hazel glared at her before looking away. Iris then moved closer and held her hand out , brought out the bottle with her blood and poured it on her neck exactly where her stripes were located
"Put your hand out" she ordered and Hazel complied and for a while nothing happened and as Hazel was about to bring up another argument, her stripes began to burn and so did her hand but the flame seemed to be burning something else as a wall broke out of nowhere unveiling an ernomous valley.
Iris eyes lit up while Hazel eyes looked on in shock. The valley was burnt and brought down . She could feel screams, tears , pain, agony and immense love and grief flow around the valley . Dark aura flowed in and out like air, the air was chilly. It was mostly in ruins, shambles.
"What happened here?
Iris chuckled sadly " The fall of the Clans"
" Who are they ? Hazel asked
"The greatest fighters of the valley. Legend has it that they were wiped out in the Full Moon War against the Demon clan after they put their lives on the line to eradicate the Supreme demon. Some also say they fought for the life of their child who was murdered by the Supreme Demon but no one really knows what happened, how it did , only that no one made it out alive. The Demons put fire to this valley. They invaded the Heavenly Realm and some say it was during this war that Prince Arian was affected with the ailment that required Orchid's body . No one could dispute that they did invade the Heavenly realm because only Demon fire can burn anything in the Heavenly realm and they counter each other . Till now , no one has ever been able to make an impact in the defense as much as they did".
Hazel voice got low "Who are they?
"The history never mentioned that which is why am surprised because if they are the greatest fighters of the valley who also deafeated the Supreme Demon then why is there so little about them like they don't want us to know of their existence"
Hazel scoffed " How did you find out then ?
Iris responded with a cold glare " Is that a question?
"Iris … why are you here? Why are you back ? And why here?
"I need answers Hazel"
" To what exactly?
" Everything. Something isn't right"
" How sure this isn't some curiosity?Let it go"
" Did you? Why are you not in Flower Valley if you aren't seeking answers as well? Is it just curiosity?
Hazel looked away . " I need to know. I need to find out and..... I"
" And you don't know where to start from. You don't know where to begin" Iris completed her sentence for her.
"If you want answers, if we want answers, we need to find out way to Demon realm . And before you ask why , they have all the answers. That's where the Oracle resides"
Hazel raised an eyebrow " The Oracle, Seer of the Universal Realm, bathed in divinity chose the Dark realm to reside in . Why .."
" Maybe that's because it's not safe here , maybe it's because ....."
" Wait a second…. , the Oracle has been missing for thousands of years if not millions so how do you know that she resides in the Dark realm?
Iris rolled her eyes calmly "That's because it's the only place I haven't checked"
" Why would she need to leave where she was founded for something and somewhere that counters her energy? Hazel pursued ..
" I wouldn't know so that's why we need to ask her . That's the only way to find out".
" Do you know how to get to the Demon Realm? Do you know if it still exists? Do you know if there are still out there somewhere? How sure are we of this people? How sure are we that it isn't just a myth"
Iris exhaled calmly " That's why we are here for clues. Anything that could lead us to them"
"So , we begin our search ?
" Yes we do"
They both splited sideways each with distracting thoughts.
While searching, Hazel thoughts wandered. What if she didn't belong anywhere, what if she never finds her place , what if ....
Iris on the other hand looked lost , her eyes embodied a faraway look . Like she misses something or someone . Her pale blue eyes got teary as she looked at what had become of Clan valley. She recalled a faint memory of the valley before its destruction. The laughter, practice , clash of swords , the separation, the growth of the underdogs . Her eyes darted around and she saw a bold epitaph inscription on the cloud wall and that was all it took
........
CLAN VALLEY: BEFORE ITS DESTRUCTION.
A valley located at the outskirts of town , two huge pillars at the sides. Echoes of laughter, clash of swords could be heard from the inside. Her name called faintly by a familiar voice , she couldn't place the face but could recall being carried by a woman who smelled like lavender, damp hair , orange scents and that unmistakable wolf mark, her body was so soft and flexible, she carried a girl with long hair and sharp eyes. She smiled so heartily as she throwed her up and caught her. Then she recalled a man , dark striped hair, heather colored eyes, teeth shaped like fangs, a scar on his eye,a plain golden ring on his left hand , fourth finger , his gaze was intensely charming, he smiled like it would never waver then he called her by her sword , deep , soothing voice that broke all her barriers .
" Holder of MORA, what bringeth you to Valley of the Clans?
The lady whom was carrying her smiled " She's but a child Lucian"
" She's the holder of MORA, such responsibility doesn't fall on a child at least not just any child"
The lady giggled cutely and handed her over to Lucian who put his head on her head and smiled "IRIS"
" What's IRIS?The woman asked
" Her name"
The lady put a piece of cake in the kid's mouth whom chomped it with the brightest smile "She already goes by a name"
"Then we the Clans give her another… IRIS, holder of MORA". He then took a playful bow , pulled her cheek " Shall we feast ?
And he walked away with her in his arms and his lady solidly behind him. All she could recall next was the peace , leadership and respect that surrounded and lived in the Valley then . Looking at it now in shambles broke her .
...
CLAN VALLEY; Present Day ;
Iris faced up blinking her eyes to fight the tears and the emotions that came with it but instead , she ran as fast as she could, away from the valley and stopped where it was well hidden, fell to her knees and broke down there. Clutching her chest tightly, she shattered, every single part of her .
....
CLAN VALLEY;
Hazel was still searching unaware of Iris situation when she stumbled upon the Dark Wall . It was the wall the Clans hanged all their most precious belongings but nothing remained. She turned to leave when her eyes fell to the floor then the wall again and this time she sighed something , squinting her eyes, she placed her hand on the wall and removed it again and this time, a bracelet was in her hand, it was carved with edgy marks, the aura it placed was different and powerful. It exuded simplicity yet danger, blood was dripping of it , then she saw it , stripes, like the one on her neck , it was on the bracelet but that wasnt the only symbol on it , she saw another but it was one she couldn't recognize for she had never come in contact with it . She brought out a pouch and put it in there, tied the pouch and went looking for Iris.
" I found something" her voice echoed all over the valley.
" Did you now"
Hazel jumped startled by Iris stealthily movement "Can you not do that"
" Do what" Iris leaned it closer . Her body felt heated , the tension came again, she struggled to look away " We can't do it here Iris".
Iris chuckled " When did we ever start ?
Hazel went mute . Iris smiled at her childishness , placed one hand on her waist and moved closer. " I am sorry for ...…leaving then , I shouldn't have"
" What does it matter now?
"You hold it against me Haze, you never let go, you feel I am just using you and I sense you still feel that way"
" You didn't turn back , you always made us look like a joke , like we didn't or never had something going on" She pulled away.
" I..... I just didn't know what to do"
"You didn't know what to do ? You of all people? Come up with a better excuse"
"So what would you believe ?
"That we had something, we were different, it wasn't just allies or about the alliance, there was something else, something different and you know it"
" I…. It was a mistake, it wasn't supposed to be"
"I was a mistake? We were a mistake?
" I never said that"
" Then what did you say ? You know what Iris, you are right , it was a mistake yet that mistake led us to each other , I feared you and still do but I never stopped trusting in you,I never stopped hoping, believing but how dare I challenge the holder of MORA"
" Don't do that Haze, don't"
Hazel blinked her eyes, fighting the unholy tears "You are right, let's just finish this mission together,get our answers and go out separate ways"
For the first time in a long time, Iris didn't have that dominant confidence " What about us ?
Hazel scoffed "There was and is no us and if at any point in our Iives there was, it was simply a mistake".
" Hazel don't try that"
" But I just did"
Iris moved closer, gazing into her eyes, trying to find something, a reason perhaps to stay but nothing. She had never seen Hazel like that. She tried touching her but she moved away, flinching .
" Let's round up and leave , it's been a long day" Hazel pointed out .
Iris could sense the coldness in her voice and the desperate urge to get rid of her and found herself getting petty just to get her attention.
"So , if you eventually find your people,do you plan to stay or leave"
" That question will answer itself" Hazel replied.
"You have always been so indecisive"
" Excuse me?
"Just stating a fact"
" What do you mean by that ?
Iris scoffed " Demonic beings really are stupid"
"Watch it"
" And if I don't ?
" Am not going to entertain this , not at all"
" Like you ever do . Always so hyper huh"
"Where is this leading to ?
" Have you ever considered that perhaps the reason I labeled us a mistake is because I don't want to be caught dead associating with one"
"What did you just call me"
" What exactly you are , a bloody mistake"
" Logically speaking, I can see why your parents wouldn't want you or why else would you have grown in a place they counters your energy"
" Watch it"
"And what are you going to do about it?
"You are nothing but a mistake"
For the first time since leaving Flower Valley, Hazel unsheathed her sword, dripping with dark energy, she pointed it at Iris " Don't"
"You wouldn't dare"
"I did once and I know it's a memory you can't escape from"
" You wouldn't"
" Try me , one more step and I will show you how exactly it feels Renalanda"
" What did you just call me"
"What you are ….. Crown Princess"
The silence that followed was deafening as the smell of death filled the air .