#THE_RED_CRYSTER
©Sir Zach
EPISODE 51
“Amanda. Amanda,” Christopher called on her again. He rested his head on her chest, hearing the regular beating of her heart.
Christopher remained to carry Amanda in his arms, embracing her tight as he tried to repeatedly wake her.
Out of nowhere, he felt a hand on his head. He looked up to find Amanda’s dreamy eyes. He let out a sigh of relief, knowing she was already awake.
Amanda hug-ged Christopher tightly, teary-eyed. She nestled on his neck and pecked on his skin. She emotionally told, “I’m so happy – I’m so happy it’s you. It was you all along. It was you all along.”
She understood what had happened to her, especially after seeing her second skin. She had her powers back and she could feel it in her bones.
Meanwhile, Christopher let her feet land on the ground and he returned the same tight hold. He also pecked on her cheek and said, “I – I don’t know what is going on, Amanda, but I am so relieved that you are okay. I – I thought – I was afraid to lose you,” admitted Christopher.
Surrounding them were four spectators, observing their sweet embrace.
“Um – I – I hate to break off this strange and overwhelming moment between the two of you but – but Aeros is under attack. I don’t suppose, Amanda, given what we have seen you do, perhaps you could help… help us,” suggested Kyle, his voice breaking off, still reluctant to speak to Amanda.
While Kyle and the others had many questions in their heads, there was a more pending matter that needed to be addressed.
Amanda and Christopher let go, turning first to Kyle. She said, “Of course. I – I enjoy eliminating pests.”
She heard a familiar voice clearing his throat. Amanda directed her gaze to Abasi and once again, she was teary-eyed. The two masters embraced each other. Amanda was especially touched for their reunion, for it was a good one.
Not like the past two encounters where Abasi was there to scold on her and discourage her to be with Christopher. This time she had something to throw back at him.
After letting go of the hug, Amanda said to Abasi, “You should have just supported me. As it turns out, Christopher is the master of water!”
“There was no telling, Amanda! You knew that too!” Reasoned Abasi.
“Master of water. Tell me, Amanda, what is this all about?” Christopher asked, walking next to her and Abasi.
“For now, Christopher,” Abasi said. “All you need to know is that the earth has its own protectors, and that is us. There are six of us who were blessed with the power, living inside of us.”
Amanda nodded and explained further, “There is the master of the wind, of the earth, of the heart.” She put a hand on her chest and said, “I am the master of fire and you… I don’t know how… but the earth’s spirit of water chose you as the host… as the master of water.”
“But Chris, since Aeros is under attack, I best explain everything to you after we deal with Oscorians and the traitors – Plethorans,” said Amanda. “We – we need to go now.”
“Right. I – I badly need an explanation,” said Christopher. “But – but you are right. It’s best that we go to Aeros – Urrggh!”
Christopher still felt the pain of his wings. While healing inside his back, he sensed its tenderness.
Amanda glanced at Abasi and asked, “Can Brody heal him? His wings are broken. ” She looked back at Christopher and said, “Show him, Chris.”
In agony, Christopher let out his wings again, creeping out of his back gradually, and there Abasi saw how one wing could not spread like the other. Abasi also saw how Christopher’s face turned ugly, bearing the injury as he revealed his wings.
“Wow, I have always been amazed at how the people of Aeros can grow wings. I’ve been to this world about three times in the past, practicing crossing worlds as part of my powers,” confessed Abasi.
Recalling Amanda’s request, he said, “I will bring Brody.”
Abasi stepped back. He closed his eyes, speaking throu-ghhis mind and calling for Brody.
Eventually, he raised his hand, creating another wormhole, and slowly, they saw a figure coming out from the swirling light.
Brody appeared before them, completely in his second skin without any clothes on. He had come from the white island’s volcanic crater, still looking for the missing Venusian sword.
Once again, Christopher and his group were shocked to see another powerful being come out from a wormhole. While they have crossed gates to earth, it amazed them how one person can simply make a port at his will.
They were in total awe of Abasi’s powers.
“Hey! Amanda! Welcome back!” Brody immediately hug-ged the master of fire, relieved of the news that his friend’s chosen one was in fact the master of water.
Brody quickly let go of Amanda and extended a hand to Christopher. He said, “Finally, welcome to the team. You’ve missed a lot, but better late… than never.”
Amanda directed her gaze to Christopher and introduced Brody. She said, “Chris, this is the master of the earth. He holds the power of healing too.” Looking back to Brody, Amanda said, “Brody, please heal his wings. We need to fight a war in his nation.”
“I see. So that’s how it is… Now, Amanda. Are you sure you want him healed? Or maybe you want me to fight with you?” Brody suggested. If he was to heal Christopher, he will not be able to lend her a hand.
Amanda nodded and said, “He needs to man his people, Brody. He needs to have his wings back and he – he still can’t use his powers, not yet.”
“Very well. Christopher, let me have a look,” said Brody. He let out the crystal in his hand and ordered for Christopher’s healing.
Brody’s eyes and the crystal that came about from his hands, illuminated in brown while Christopher’s wings slowly took its original form. In a minute, Christopher’s wings were fully healed.
Like always, when using the power of healing, Brody became weak that Abasi had to rest him down to the ground.
Abasi looked up to them and said, “I will come back to aid you after I send Brody to his home. Just wait here. It’s fast-er if I take you to Aeros.”
Amanda nodded and said, “Thank you, Abasi. Thank you.”
They watched as Abasi disappear again throu-ghthe wormhole he created, back to earth with Brody. For minutes, they lingered, waiting for Abasi’s return.
When Abasi finally reappeared before them, he wasted no time and said, “Let’s go to Aeros.” Looking at the three colleagues of Christopher, Abasi instructed, “Hold on to either Amanda or Christopher. I will take you for a ride.”
Razul, Khalil, and Kyle did as they were instructed. Khalil held on to Amanda’s shoulder while the other two grabbed on to Christopher’s wings.
Not a moment too soon, they saw a bigger swirling light beneath their feet. Their bodies were gradually being su-cked in, fading away from the barren land near the puzzle wood forest.
In an instant, they reappeared in a peak, facing Aeros. From there they could see two of their borders were being attacked by Plethoran and Oscorian arms. The soldiers of Aeros, struggling to fight the staggering number of rivals.
Seeing the battle unfold before his eyes, Christopher gritted his teeth. He clenched his hand into a fist and said, “Let’s go. Our people need us!” He turned to Amanda and said, “I’ll carry you down, Amanda.”
Amanda acted to be modest and softly said, “I – I don’t need you to carry me down… not anymore.”
Letting out her flames, Amanda glowed in red. She warned the others to stay away as she displayed her powers.
Soon enough, Christopher saw Amanda grew wings, not the typical kind but one made of fire. It spread over two meters wide on each side, everything burning in flames.
After reaching her phoenix form, she said, “Let’s go.”
From an uninhabited mountain of Aeros, Amanda and Christopher prepare to join the battle below. The borders from the westernmost part of the nation as well as the north were being attacked.
The sun was about to set and they all saw how the Plethorans and Oscorians have outnumbered the soldiers of Aeros. There was no time to waste. Aeros needed saving.
“I’ll take care of the Oscorians!” Announced Amanda. Turning to Abasi, she said, “Can you help Chris and his men?”
Abasi nodded and said, “With plea-sure.”
Christopher still worried about Amanda that he called for her, “Amanda, will you be okay?”
“I’m I’ll be fine. Don’t worry, with my fire, no one can come close to me. Abasi will protect you and be your eyes,” said Amanda. “It’s time to go Chris. You, Kyle, and Razul best deal with the Plethorans from the western border.”
The two masters reluctantly separate, but shortly after seeing more of the soldiers of Aeros, struggle, and lose their lives to their enemies, Christopher and Amanda stormed at their chosen border, barely looking back.
While flapping her wings of fire, Amanda directed her attention to more Oscorians coming from the north. Her first plan was to stop the enemies from coming inside the border.
With her hand, she formed a huge ball of fire, slowly growing in diameter as she descended. After making sure her target range had not a single soldier of Aeros, she screamed, taking a pause at her flying while raising her hand above her head.
She immediately caught the attention of those on the ground flying down a good hundred feet above them.
Her hand had already formed a globe of fire, over ten feet in height. “Aeros! Move as far away from the border! Move away! Now! Haaaahhhh!”
Advancing in high speed, Amanda roared as she threw the gigantic ball of fire, a quarter of a kilometer away from the barriers. The second it touched the dirt, the globe of fire dug two feet below the ground, rolling in one line, outlining the northern barrier.
As the ball of fire resumed its rolling motion, it left its undying flames in the soils. With Amanda’s orders, the fires remained everlasting, blocking entry to more adversaries wishing to penet-rate throu-ghthe north.
Reaching closer to the battle, her presence was made known before the soldiers of Aeros and the Oscorian men. She said, “Red-skinned brutes! It was not long ago that I warned of your death! Still, you attack Aeros despite my warning. Now! You will face your end!” She announced before, thru-sting out her golden sword. She gazed at the powerful blade and surprisingly, it was able to resist the heat of her flames. It was as if she was meant to be its new owner, with fire or without.
“Men of Aeros! Retreat to avoid my flames! I will take care of these ugly creatures for you – Haaaah!” Amanda blazed throu-ghthe first set of Oscorians that she saw, quickly cutting throu-ghtheir armors and their flesh.
She used her golden sword effectively while occasionally throwing balls of fire to any foe in her line of sight.
Only after seeing she was on their side, did the soldiers of Aeros do as she said. For those who could flee from the Oscorians, they gave way for Amanda, securing themselves from the powerful being that was also burning their enemies to the ground.
Some red-skinned creatures scrambled to retreat, but they became trapped from the blazing fire lighting the entire northern barrier of Aeros. They were left to wait only for their outcome which they had now recognized, seeing such a powerful being, their fate was not in their favor.
A few Oscorians took the risk, crossing the wall of fire that had served as a second barrier to the north of Aeros. To the shock of their colleagues, their gigantic built was quickly turned into ashes.
Never had they seen such angry flames! Never had they feared for the coming of their tragic end!
Some Oscorians took a hostage for themselves, threatening Amanda not to come near them. Only then did Amanda request of Abasi, “Send me behind every red-skinned create who is taking hostage, Abasi!”
“I am busy Amanda!” Declared Abasi.
“Just whenever you can!” Answered Amanda. She first concentrated on those who did not have hostages, ending their chances of wreaking further havoc.
As she charged at one brute, she found herself suddenly disappearing, only to reappear behind an Oscorian holding a soldier hostage. She immediately struck on the brute’s back, saving the flying man altogether.
Again and again, Abasi did the same, shifting her from one Oscorian to another; those that held a soldier of Aeros as a captive.
After freeing another hostage, the said soldier immediately jumped up in the air, ten feet high, and away from Amanda.
She gazed at him and ordered, “Tell your colleagues to re-advance! As you can see? The Oscorians are already scared out for their wits!”
“Just remember to stay at least ten feet away from me at all times!” Ordered Amanda. “You don’t want to get hurt with my flames.”
The soldier who received Amanda’s instructions nodded repeatedly. He flew to the nearest troop leader and relayed the same message coming from her.
From the area where Amanda began her a-ssault, the soldiers of Aeros found the confidence to fight again, seeing more of the Oscorians flee and get burned to the ground by Amanda’s flames.
Amanda began to cover further inside the barrier. She had earlier seen some Oscorians head for the center of the nation where more civilians were found.
As she moved along in blazing speed, flying across the nearly dark skies, she caught a glimpse of a feisty warrior going against two Oscorian men. It was Keisha, struggling to keep up with the battle, wounded.
Amanda quickly aided her, seeing she could not escape from the beasts. “Kiesha! Runaway! Now!”
As soon as the red-skinned creatures turned to her warning, Kiesha took several steps back. It was not for Amanda’s warning, but it was due to the fear of seeing a flying woman on fire.
“Haaaahh!” With one powerful swing of her golden sword, Amanda killed two brutes in one slash. Her feet landed to the ground just before half of their bodies fell opposite to her direction.
She saw Kiesha, pan-ting and coughing out blood. Amanda looked around before redirected her gaze to her. Amanda said, “Find hiding Kiesha and attend to your wounds. This battle will be over soon.”
“Who – who – who are you? How – how do you know me?” Asked Kiesha with difficulty, trying to keep her strength together.
It was because Amanda was in her second skin, also completely covered in fire. Her eyes were constantly glowing in red that Keisha could not recognize her.
While Amanda wanted to let herself be known to Keisha, her fires were not about to get tamed, not in this condition. She was far from unrecognizable. She said, “When the fight is over, you will know my name – now, find a good hiding place, for now…. Keisha.”
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 52