章 69: 13 long days and nights.
My eyes are closed as I breathe in. I let the air come in and out inside my lungs. I surrounded myself with soft gentle echoes of whistling wind.
At that, I open my eyes, meeting the blue sea, glittering under the sun. I stretch my legs wide, squatting a little. I raised both of my palms, trying to control the wind surrounding me. Yet, the moment I did, the wind dispersed and faded.
I groan, feeling annoyed. Bakunawa cackled to herself, causing large waves on the surface of the blue water with her loud boisterous laugh.
[Mortal, you're too tense, just relax your body.]
"Yeah? I wish that was easy to do as it sounded," I replied, grumbling as I started once more.
The blue serpent didn't respond as she hummed in tunes, swimming above the navy shimmering water. Meanwhile, I inhaled slowly, exhaling the air out of my lungs bit by bit, trying to get the groove once again. This is probably my 149th attempt on controlling my wind attribute. Which means I failed 149 times.
My brows creased at that thought, which left me distracted, making the wind surrounding escape from my control. I gritted my teeth, staring at the bright sky, trying to lengthen my patience for doing this.
Bakunawa said that this is a form of wind attribute exercise; this is in order to get me used to manifesting my wind attribute. According to the blue serpent, in order for me to get 100% control of my wind attribute, I need to understand the flow; the invisible rhythm of the wind in the air. The blue serpent explained that I can't go against the flow if I want to get it under my command.
But then, how am I supposed to do that?
Bakunawa didn't tell me how; she only cheekily told me to find the answer by myself. However, every single time I tried to grasp the wind; they would seep right through my fingers; unable to control them.
As I stared at the edge of the line of the navy ocean, small dots from the other side came into view little by little. The lids of my eyes squinted, trying to peer on what it was about.
"Do you see that?" I asked.
[Prepare yourself, mortal. Food is coming! Open your mouth and just go with the flow! AHAHAHAHAHA!] Bakunawa transmitted, opening her large mouth, waiting for something to happen.
I knitted my brows, feeling baffled. But after some time, I realised what Bakunawa was telling me. My eyes widened.
A school of flying fishes slowly approached us at a fast speed.
"Incoming!" I yelled, crouching my head as I tried to not get in the way of the flying fishes.
Bakunawa, on the other hand, didn't bother dodging. She even welcomes the school of fish inside her mouth. [You're missing something fun, mortal!]
At that comment, an epiphany came in my brilliant mind. I finally saw a vision in my head, and I stood up straight.
A flying fish slapped my face, dropping on the scaly surface of Bakunawa's head. But I ignored it as I breathed in, feeling the flow of the wind surrounding me. Standing leisurely, I closed my eyes, and my sight became nothing but black.
I felt a hit in my shoulder; then a slap in my knees; and more came, launching at me. But I tried to relax; not bothering to care just how many flying fish just assaulted me. Little by little, my senses started to feel the invisible flow. About more than 1000 flying fish surrounded me. I took a step to the side, dodging the flying fish rushing to my face.
I move my head to the left then to the right, avoiding being hit. And I smiled as I opened my eyes, starting to dance. Sidestep to the left, sidestep to the right, then I did a tango, dancing in cha cha with the flow of the wind.
It came to me as I realised. I was actually doing it wrong. I don't need to control the wind. I just need to go with its flow.
After that, I use my hand, commanding the invisible flow to how I want it. I control the rhythm, leading all the flying fish inside Bakunawa's mouth.
Buuuuuuurp.
Bakunawa made a loud belch, emitting a fishy smell of gas. I scrunch my nose as the stinky pungent scent came to my nostril.
[Thank you for the meal, mortal. And congratulations! You finally completed step one.]
My face turned grim. "That's only step one?!"
[Don't fret, the rest is easier since you finally understood step one.]
I let out a sigh as I nodded understandably. "Well, what's the next step?"
At that, the training continued on.
I practise using my wind and earth attributes. I used my forged hand, so I could practise my earth attributes. Bakunawa told me to wait a little more before I practise my dark attributes.
Still, bit by bit, I felt myself getting familiar with transforming my forged hand to a blade and vice versa.
I also felt myself getting more familiar with my attributes. And it was all thanks to Bakunawa who taught me some low-tiered, middle-tiered, and high-tiered: wind skills and earth skills.
Before I knew it, Bakunawa and I reached the land. Bakunawa chose to land on the Columbu Shore. Because the area is less occupied with people.
However, we still need to walk for several days on a journey towards the Maple Kingdom.
The journey on land is much longer than on the sea. Because Bakunawa can go on a voyage at a faster speed on the ocean. However, when Bakunawa is on land, we both decided that it would be better if she just walked like me. Otherwise, we might attract the attention of the people, and people are troublesome.
So, Bakunawa transformed into her human figure, then we walked to Willow Forest, so we could reach the Maple Kingdom in Mapulder land.
We both wore a cloak to hide our identity. Bakunawa is trying to hide her horns on her forehead. And I'm hiding my face because I might suddenly meet someone who knows me, and that is a pain in the ass to handle.
During the journey, I also felt my body getting muscles. Although the muscles were small and soft, they're still a muscle I earned through hard work, so it really made me happy. And I felt proud of myself.
Most of the time, Bakunawa and I will encounter bandits or outlaws who tried to rob us. And Bakunawa will let me handle them, so I could actually practice my skills.
When Bakunawa and I are walking in the forest, we would also encounter high-grade monsters. I felt bad that I'm fighting monsters because of Pula, however, I promised Pula, so I will fight back in order to protect myself. I didn't kill, but I fought back.
Because of this, I earned combat experience through this journey.
After seven days of walking, we finally reached the borders of the Mapulder land, and Bakunawa suggested that we should buy a horse, so the journey could be a little faster. Because Pula's body is decaying. I had to wrap Pula's body thrice, so the smell wouldn't spread out.
It made me feel heart broken, questioning if I'm doing the right thing for Pula's funeral.
So I agreed with Bakunawa. We bought a horse with the money I had with myself from the gladiator woman.
"AAAAAHHH HELP!"
I scream for my dear life as the horse I'm riding started to run on its own. Right after that, the horse kicked her butt, sending me flying to the mud.
Bakunawa cackled to herself, slithering her tongue out, laughing at me as she rode her own horse in perfection. I grumbled as the sticky brown mud dripped down from my face.
I gritted my teeth, standing up as I trudge my feet to the horse, then I soften my face. "Come on, horsey horsey, let me ride your back in peace, okay?" I asked, trying to reason with the horse.
The horse made a loud noise, letting a snort sound of grumbling.
Bakunawa chuckled. [You're making her uncomfortable by how you rode her, she said.]
My mouth hangs open, then I glance at the horse again. "Oh sorry horsey, I'll try to be more, uhm uh, I'll do my best, okay?"
At that, the horse snorted again, but she let her head down, making it easy for me to climb her.
"Thanks horsey," I said.
At first, I had a hard time riding horsey, and the horse would still sometimes kick with her behind making me fall to the ground. It happened several times before I managed to calm the wild horse. Slowly, I found my groove and became used to riding.
After two days, we reached Maple Kingdom. And because Mystic Academy is located on the far edge of the Maple Kingdom, it took us one more day to reach the Phantom Greenwood of the Eternal Resting Forest near the Mystic Academy.
I took a deep sigh as I stared around the murky forest. It took me many days and nights to get back into this place. And I had experienced many trials and errors during those days and nights.
"13 long days and nights," I whispered to the wind.
From the city of Nilad in Maharlika Island; to my 3 days of voyage on the sea; then to 7 long walks to Mapulder land; to riding a horse for 2 days in Maple Kingdom; adding one more day before arriving at this fateful forest.
Looking around this forest made me feel nostalgic. I met luck and cursed in this murky forest. This is where it all started.
Kendra brought me here to read a book, and I happened to chance upon Pula. Meeting Pula is my luck, and meeting Lilith Salvador was my curse. It was because that alpha woman thrust a sword in my chest that Alexandra decided to bring me to Nilad City.
I clenched my jaw, feeling a lingering regret in my heart. I'm just thinking that if I didn't meet Lilith Salvador that time, would Pula still be alive now?
My eyes narrowed as I swallowed hard. I know the answer to this question, and the answer isn't to my liking.
In the end, the reason Pula is no longer alive is because of me. I'm the reason for Pula's death.
I sighed deeply. Nevertheless, this place is still where I met Pula. If I remember correctly, I just need to run a bit on that side, and I'll eventually reach the flower field. I smiled to myself, recalling how Kendra and I ran together to the flower field with Pula on my arms.
A lot of things happened in this place, and I can't help but miss those memories I had with Pula.
[I think I remember there is a ruin near this place.] Bakunawa transmitted to my head, making me snap out of my thoughts as I glanced at her.
She had her hand on her chin as her eyes roamed left to right, staring around the murky forest.
"Maybe we could find some clues there about Pula's family," I mumbled.
Bakunawa glanced at me then she nodded. [Alright, let's go and walk.]
I nodded back, and we both descended down on our horses.
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