❝Hreathoire❞

Chapter 30

The lion is never tethered, one shall witness, when captivated by the guardian’s tail. It is but a tail that of a light, which soars the ethers. It is one built with stardusts, and devotees with sons and daughters bearing the mark of the celestial lion–a mark one may only see as they step on the heavenly grounds of Hreathania–pour these golden dusts of celestial beings into their own progeny. Thus, these offspring are the descendants of the first Aegians, to weave the guarding powers, to harbor and to defend the Hreathorians, to wield the weapons of the mighty tigress, to live for long and long in this land of death and life. They are the parts of the Lion. They are the symbols of fortitude.

T H E    A E G I A N S

“The Griffin” who bears the Lion’s tail.
“The Liberty” who bears the Lion’s jaw.
“The Triskelion” who bears the Lion’s torso.
“The Psychic” who bears the Lion’s eyes.
“The Swan” who bears the Lion’s hair.
“The Eagle” who bears the Lion’s feet.
“The Lotus” who bears the Lion’s ears.

Seven guardians.
Three hombres.
Four demoiselle.

.  .  .  ۩  .  .  .

The groups have now changed. Cassandra is with Jamison and Kirk. Mr. Douglas is now with Sienna and Amelia. Ria is with Grace. Ivan, Nathan, and Blaze are alone. Dot and Mulberry are now together, following a mass of some gladiators. Unfamiliar faces. Everyone has dispersed. The method is of no use since almost everyone has already witnessed the Jade sculpture, and not just once.

Now everyone is beginning to lose hope, along with the fear from the trembling of the earth.

This is the third time Cassandra, Jamison and Kirk have seen the same jade, jaguar sculpture. I hope Kirk already has a theory, Cassandra wished silently to herself.

“Have you not noticed?” Kirk scratches his chin as he once more investigates the place, his fingers trailing over the smooth surface of the jade, his eyes looking through the unmoving eyes of the Jaguar.

“Noticed what?” Jamison, still impatient, asked, also looking everywhere for clues but finding none. Cassandra is waiting for Kirk to speak again, her hands still sweaty, her skin still cold but moist with perspiration. Everyone’s catching their breaths.

“Every time we reach a checkpoint, meaning this jade sculpture, the number of times the Jaguar roars lessens and its loudness increases.”

Kirk spoke proudly, nearing such a conclusion. Jamison’s eyebrows furrowed. He couldn’t remember anything at all. He was too busy running, dodging the falling rocks and the glass impediments.

But Cassandra began thinking, and soon realized something.

It is true. There is something with the intensity and the number of times the Jaguar roared. Its roar may be some kind of a signal.

Both their eyes met, Kirk the one nearing her. His pupils are now dilated as if some sniff of realization, some whiff of revelation made him high. “Can I ask you? Do you remember how many times the jaguar roared the first time you heard it?”

“Five.” She was sure. Her memory was crystal clear.

“And the second time?”

“I can’t remember, but it somehow lessened. Maybe three or four times, and usually in a short interval. Usually the jaguar roars once I’m near the checkpoint.” Cassandra flinched when Kirk groped her shoulders tightly.