22

Ayami

We drove for about five minute before the mountain came into sight.

Kai hit the brakes

 “We have to cross the stream to go there” he said as he got out of the car.

“Here let me help” ash extended his hand to Kayda who was gleaming with excitement.

She took his hand as he led her across the water.

“Come” Izar said as he extended his hands to me with a straight face.

Maybe it was the heat but I could see a pinkish hue on his cheek.

I flashed a smile at him as I took his hand, the colour deepened.

He guided me through the water as kai followed.

“The stream flows constantly with divine water, it acts as a way to protect the place from dark or corrupt entities” kai mentioned as he crossed the stream

“Is that the place?” Kayda asked as she pointed ahead.

“Yes” kai replied

We walked towards it.

“Ayami, you can go inside first, grandma is waiting” kai said as we reached the white bungalow like structure.

“There are stairs make sure you get down carefully” Izar directed me.

I gave a nod to him. I opened the door and it closed on its own behind me. He was right, there were stairs leading down right by the door.

The place was lit by a small light from below the stair, barely enough to make out the steps in front of me. Either side of the stair had seats facing the ground below.

“Careful darling, there are steps” grandmas voice echoed, she was standing next to a white ball of light that floated in the middle of the ground.

Is that the celestial soul?

I slowly walked down the stairs to where grandma was standing.

“Go ahead take a round of the dragon soul. I know you are curious ” She insisted

I walked around it, as the light of the soul flickered and let out tiny sparks. It was huge, about half the size of me. The ground was filled with flowers.

“It recognized you” she murmured as I completed the round and stood near her.

“What?” I asked confused

“Nothing darling” she smiled and shook her head

The door opened. Kayda walked in before the door closed.

“Darling careful, there are ..” before grandma could complete her words , we both startled as the soul started behaving unusual, emitting huge sparks of light.

Grandma instantly grabbed my hand and pulled me to the side, away from the soul.

“Don’t look directly at it” grandma commanded, her voice filled with anxiety .

For each step Kayda took the room was flashed with light. Both grandma and I was facing the wall by now, our backs facing the soul. I could see Kayda from the corner of my eyes.

I felt a slight breeze on my back.

What the fuck? Where is the wind coming from in this closed space?

“Grab on to the rails, Ayami.” her voice filled with fear didn’t help my racing heart, but I immediately followed her instructions.

The soul that barely lit the halls, now lit up the entire halls brighter than any source of light. Even the tiny specks of designs on the walls and the pillars became visible now.

I tilted my head slightly to the side, I saw Kayda at the base of the stairs staring right into the soul.

After a pause, she took firm steps towards the soul.

“Grandma she is going towards the soul.” I yelled as fear started to sink in me.

“Don’t worry about her darling. I don’t think she is affected by it” she assured

“We gotta worry about us” she stated as the slight breeze started picking up its speed.

Within seconds the breeze turned into a storm, picking up all the flowers on the ground into the air.

 My hair untied from the bun I put it in, Grandma put one of her arm around me holding me close to her shielding me with her body, both of us holding onto the rails for dear life.

“No matter what, do not look back.” she yelled as the storm drowned her voice.

I lifted my hands from the rails to try and cast a shield with my magic before grandma stopped me .

“Don’t try, you can’t cast magic inside here.”