RAINA DINESCHA (Creature Without Shape)
EIGHT

Aezar is worried when his sister sneezes constantly.

They were at high altitude, above the back of the pegasus, flying at high speed. Nex went to take care of the Red Forest matter to Kaler Fort, while he did not bring any other troops. With only five soldiers left and sending his only personal bodyguard to the capital for help, Aezar darted to the village of Dahae. Rai insisted on coming with him. Algis and Atlee lagged behind. Leah returns to the palace with the special task of reporting to the Queen, taking Rai's apology with her.

Rai hugged the neck of the pegasus tightly with his eyes closed. The animal's golden hair was carried away by the wind piercing its nose, and it entered its mouth as it sneezed, making it groan sebally. He gasped many times in the air, making Aezar regret carrying him. The cold night wind. It would be troublesome if she was sick, her mother would not let her go so easily.

The pegasus complains because fluid from his nose seeps over his precious hair. Rai muttered sorry repeatedly.

Aezar thought it was for her, and was comforted that her sister rarely behaved sweetly.

The trip felt longer than he expected. Maybe because he was too busy counting how many times Rai sneezed, making him wonder. Cold alone does not necessarily make someone sneeze that much. His face and nose were as red as his hair, and his body trembled. Aezar touched his forehead, then frowned in wonder. The wind might make his skin cold, but Rai was fine.

Rai knew what he was thinking, and said in a wind-borne nasal voice, "Fly faster, they're more important."

Aezar stopped worrying about it and focused his attention far ahead. The contents of his head are still foggy. Raina makes another surprise that makes her almost believe that the one who speaks is a forecaster, instead of her own sister. If he didn't hear Andee's report, he would have dragged her home instead of giving Keen an emergency order to return to seek help.

Within days, Aezar felt she no longer knew her own sister. Or maybe, I was too busy outside, he thought feeling guilty. Raina had grown quickly without her knowledge.

There were only three villages in the Northwest direction of the capital, all three were hunter villages. The land in this area is very fertile for agriculture. However, no one dared to open the land, even though it was just a field and huma.

It is said that this area was once a battlefield against witches from the West, so the land was black and smelled of sulfur. The forest is allowed to grow wild. The age of the trees in this forest could be older than the elders in the village itself. A lot of animals like to live here so that the population uses it as a hunting ground.

What scares the residents is not really the story of the past, but the existence of the Dead Hill in the depths of the forest. The hill was bare, not even moss dared to grow on it. According to the news, the hill surrounded by tall shrubs and large banyan trees were actually the bodies of war victims. It made no difference whether it was Alfar or a mage, all stacked into one. Whether it's a whole corpse, a body piece, or just one part. So many, until it forms a large hill. After many years, nature took over them, turning them into barren hills. The hill is the mass grave of the victims who died in the war. Trees and plants did not dare to grow on it so the inhabitants called it the Hill of the Dead.

The wind blew carrying with it the smell of blood and incense. Smoke billowed in the silvery light of the moon in the sky. Aezar looked at it and took a cold breath. Black flames blazed in the distance.

The village of Dahae is closest to the capital. After crossing the suspension bridge on the Kierr river, a second village will be visible. The distance to the last village is about one kilometer. If the fire had gotten this close, what about the other two villages?

Rai smelled something similar and forced himself to sit properly. When he saw the flames spread so far, he was shocked. I felt nothing, her heart.

Shade grunts.

Suddenly, Rai remembered something.

The power of the Shade is a shadow. Everything that had a shadow was within his control. Right now, he was deep in the sky. Their shadow, or even the pegasus they rode, did not trace the ground. Shade lost his control.

Jeez, interior. So, is this the reason?

He felt a trace of magic in the Red forest, rushed there and had felt the feeble air of life from the soldiers. However, once it reached the location, the enemy had instead left unnoticed. Rai felt that it was strange.

Now, when he knew Shade's secret, Rai understood it correctly.

He was flying with Andee with a bee at the time. They must have been at high altitudes when the enemy disappeared.

It was too bad, he thought.

Angry shade.

Rai ignored. They just weren't lucky.

The closer they got to the fire, the clearer the cries of suffering sounded.

Aezar was carrying a low-flying pegasus, but Rai stopped him as he was about to land.

"Just for a moment" he asked. He had to put out the fire right now, no matter how much he had to put on the back of a pegasus. They don't have time anymore. The blazing flames were not ordinary flames, but black flames. Those witches seemed to be enjoying their own time too much by torturing the weak. They even made a firestorm. They should be taught a lesson. "Can you go down first? Bring the people back further to the East, I will catch up!"

Aezar did not argue although rather shocked. My sister became wiser, he thought moved. He patted the pegasus on the head, asking him to stay obediently. Aezar knew her sister could not be trusted when it came to hovering at high altitudes, so chose to entrust her to the animal.

With his magic, Aezar formed a thin ice disk that floated in the air, tracing it down one by one like he was walking on a ladder. The dish returned to thin air after he passed through it.

Rai had no time to admire him, and immediately called out for rain. The wind carrying the melody from its mouth flew into space, wooing the approaching giant cotton-cotton. A large dark cloud gathered above a village that was almost destroyed, blocking the silvery moonlight. It's raining down hard.

Aezar averted his gaze from the sky, bringing with him a sense of awe in his heart. This rain is magical. The black fire storm slowly extinguished.

Darkness struck. The silvery light in the sky swept across the village that was almost flat on the ground. Houses, rice barns, towers, even archways, all burned. The smell of scorching in the air. He scanned around warily, the scent of incense felt thick in his mouth. However, in the chaos there was not a single villager.

Aezar's heart pinched. Almost instantly he darted in, past the shattered archway, down the blood-scented village. Am I slow?

The sound of the gun battle distracts him. Xi's army was fragmented against the undead in the outermost corner near the forest, fighting with all its might. A soldier dispels another group of undead by himself. The soldier was Xan.

Aezar immediately helped.

Xan was shocked by the arrival of the ice bullets from behind the crowd, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief once he sensed the magic of the Prince.

"You came quickly" said Aezar. "What about the other villages?" He kicked a corpse, turning it into an ice sculpture which then crumbled on the ground.

"Baltroz and Lara were there," Xan replied after slashing down two corpses at once. Baltroz's group in the furthest village and Lara led her own group away to the second village. "I don't know how they are doing right now."

The Xan army consisted of three thousand men. The construction of the fort is almost complete. They were working happily when the attack came.

The one who attacked them was the undead. Xan's army suffered losses. They were exhausted and many died, while the waves of the undead multiplied. In that weak protection, the undead groups managed to sneak up, break through their defenses and continue to enter deeper and deeper.

Lara proposed a temporary separation of the troops. If left unchecked, the undead who managed to enter would attack the villagers and another massacre larger than the village of Paree would be repeated. The third village is quite close to the border and has a decent population, the total number of which is twice as many as the village of Paree. They cannot let the enemy pass.

Xan divided his army into four groups. Baltroz, Fae, Lara, and him alone. Fae was in charge of giving command at the border with a larger number of troops. Fae was probably the youngest, but he was also a strategist. They trust him.

The other three armies carried a hundred men each. They thought of the worst-case scenario, and rushed to a different village. The enemy speed that Fae had calculated was extremely accurate. Because they were witches, the undead appeared in unexpected places gradually. They make use of the animagus marking a certain point to open the portal.

However, even though it arrived in time, Xan did not expect this undead to be so difficult to kill. No matter how many times they were slashed, they would heal themselves quickly, then come back to attack more violently. The casualties on their side grew, but the enemy was still as strong as the start of the fight, not faltering despite being forced to retreat with great difficulty.

A soldier is knocked down by a magic explosion, taking with him another soldier. His feet were off his body. Blood spurting. He fell in front of a family hiding behind a tree, waiting to escape. They screamed in fear at the horror, trembling as the three undead approached. The magic wand is lifted.

Rai darted off carrying the pegasus in time. The pegasus kicked a corpse with his front legs. Two other bodies fell shortly afterwards. "Strike his lungs!" he shouted to all the overwhelmed soldiers. Then sneeze.

Pegasus landed dashingly on the ground. Shade is back in control. Three bodies on the ground lay with gaping holes.

Aezar attacked according to the instructions and turned his back because the enemy was badly defeated. Everyone who heard his call did the same, attacking accurately. Xan dropped to the ground from exhaustion. "Wake up" said Aezar. "It's not over yet."

His gaze swept over the darkness in the village, shocked when all the undead had returned to being lifeless bodies on the ground. The night wind spread a foul smell from his body. This fast?

Xan, "The enemy this time is very strong, we can't do anything with that fire. The rain was very helpful. That's you, right?"

Aezar did not answer. The tail of his eyes glanced at the oak tree at the side, new shoots growing rapidly like mushrooms in the rainy season. This rain, he sighed inwardly, was indeed magical.

Xi's troops came out of the darkness with exhausted faces. Someone kicked the corpse of the enemy lying at his feet while swearing. The group of young men and parents who took part in the fight came with them.

"Your Majesty." They bowed respectfully, which Aezar answered lightly.

Soon the villagers approached. They are grateful to have survived the disaster, but there is no trace of joy in anyone. Sadness strikes everyone. A destroyed village can be rebuilt, but lives lost cannot be returned. They grieved for their brothers, neighbors, and even the soldiers who sacrificed to protect them.

A mourning atmosphere enveloped the village of Dahae.

Rai's exhausted. Within a day he flew to two places at once, calling out for a great rain, even forgetting to eat and drink, then treating people. Energy drained. Aezar saw his face pale, remember that his sister did not rest for a moment. After arguing and forcing, Rai was finally able to treat only the injuries that seemed the most severe, and mobilized the rest on the villagers.

Everyone was shocked by his healing magic, but did not say anything. They were worried for him.

The villagers immediately busied themselves with anything that could be done. Strong parents and young men decide to comb around, work together to transport the victim to a decent place, record who died, and care for the injured. Some people set up simple posts and women drew water and prepared medicines.

"Sister!" A boy saw Rai sitting alone in a special tent prepared for the Prince, then ran to him. "Please save my mom!"

"More!" A little girl rushed to pull the boy away, then carried him bowing. "I'm sorry my sister, Young Miss, interfered with your rest." They bowed once more, then retreated.

"Why, Ryn? You need to be treated immediately! I asked Kaili's brother for help, not anyone else! We and Kaili's brother have become friends!" Ren protests, about to turn around again, but Ryn stops him.

Rai put down the drink. The boy had a pair of pretty amber eyes. "So, your name is Ren, whose birthday is the day after tomorrow?"

They stopped in shock.

Ren sparkling. According to him, although Kaili's brother was fierce and liked to bully him, he was a good person. Whenever Kaili's brother came, he always gave her good food. "Dolent remember?"

They knew him as Kaili, his arrival no longer surprised anyone. Everyone no longer thought it strange because Kaili always came whenever he wanted. "Yes." Yeah." Leah reminded him. "I bought you a present."

Xan also busied himself helping the village guards build an emergency defense with his troops. Rai was grateful he didn't recognize her. Everyone worked hard, had no time to complain or lament sadness.

Beautiful amber eyes widened happily. "really?"

"Yes. For now, can you show me where your mother is?"

"What I said" Ren whispered to the little girl. "Son Kaili is a good man!"

Ryn, "I know."

They immediately left the post, passing the injured people on the field. The injured soldiers also sat there waiting for treatment. Rai saw many traces of magic wounds, and was immediately grateful they were not curses of fire wounds. Xan came at the right time, protecting him well. However, many of his troops were killed. Some residents who know the treatment treat everyone well. Although they do not heal instantly, they do not complain. They are grateful to be alive.

The two young children whispered along the way, discussing the kindness of Kaili's brother and the good food he brought.

Rai did not interrupt, following where they were leading him away, did not stop even though Aezar told him to rest. They walked into the forest. A large tree house lay beautifully before him. Rai paused for a moment as Ren opened the door and invited her in.

"Are you sure your mother's inside?"

Ren looked at her strangely. "This is my house."

Oh. Sure oes. "I mean, did your mother stay alone as long as you were gone?"

"Sister is gone" the little girl replied. "We were waiting for him at the gate, then suddenly there was an explosion."

Rai looked at him for a moment, "Your name is Ryn, right?"

The little girl was embarrassed. "Yes." Yeah."

"Sister, let's go inside." Ren grabbed his hand familiarly, as he had been used to doing so for so many years. "My mother fell while taking us to the field, but refused to treat aunt Lyn."

Rai did not feel any danger. Eve the existence of the undead is so vague and different. They walked like that to a room lit by lanterns.

That face is pale. Skinny body. Although his clothes were very thick, Rai felt the existence of magic stones. The energy emanating from this green stone was different from that of the living corpses outside. This one's purer. The smell of moss and wet soil is much stronger. Rai remembered, the magic stone that Vanaheimr's messenger brought had the same type of energy. What coincidence?

She was beautiful, but looked older than she should have been. His eyes looked at Rai resolutely, as if knowing Rai was coming and was deliberately waiting for him. He looked normal for the size of the undead, making Rai shocked. The woman looked at the children who were looking at her worriedly. "Can you guys get out?" the door gently.

Rai studied it carefully. This woman was indeed different from the undead. He's more alive and reasonable.

Ren and Ryn did not leave immediately, but looked at Rai with a parched face. Rai was not sure how to cure the undead, he replied with a common phrase like, 'I will try hard', and the children left as fast as lightning.

"You are different from them" Rai said instantly, shocking the woman to the point of barely falling out of bed. "You ... is Naraya a Naraya?"

This time the woman fell. He knelt respectfully. "Your Majesty." His attitude was much different than before. He knelt down with his feet pressed against the floor. Both hands cupped, head down.

For decades, he lived in this village and hid his identity by building a new family. But he is Naraya. It was impossible for him to have his own family. So, she adopted children who lived alone, loving them like her own children.

On the other hand, he was monitoring Raina. Raina is very well known. She knows Raina is not talented in magic. He knew, it was actually not because he was untalented, his internal energy was injured when he was just born. Magadh almost killed him.

When Raina grows up and plays with her children, she thinks her identity as Naraya will be saved forever because Raina does not know who she is. After all Raina did not know herself, let alone hidden warriors like them? Queen Aimee did not care where she came from, not trying to find her background even once. His job as Naraya is to ensure his safety.

Now, Raina came and recognized him. Somehow the internal wound was healed, he had no right to ask.

"What's your name?"

"Ivy," the woman answered obediently.

Rai saw him almost wavering down like that. "Sit. Let me see your wound?"

Ivy didn't move. The situation has changed. She was no longer standing as Ren's mother, she was a Special Warrior. A Naraya.

Naraya was created with absolute obedience and is not allowed to question anything. Although Ivy did not know how Rai recognized her, he did not doubt her in the slightest. There is an invisible bond between Naraya and his Master. He felt the same way about Rai now, and the rain that fell just now was his concrete proof.

"We don't deserve to sit on a par with His Majesty."

When he finally understood, Rai rolled his eyes. "It's an order."

Ivy sat obediently.

An undead could not be hurt so seriously. The only reason was in the stone. Rai saw the color pale, not as clear as it should be.

"We are like a flame. The closer to the axis, the hotter it is" he explained without being asked. "I have survived over a hundred years in Paradise."

"My dad or my mom?"

Ivy fell silent. It was likely that he did not know which of the two created it. "Your Majesty is the owner of the Last Dragon, while Her Highness the Princess mastered the healing magic of the Ice Book."

This problem also arises. "I know," said Rai.

"We recognize the two as Our Master" Ivy continued. That is, Naraya was created because of the strength of both of them.

Rai observed the stone. So, they created it by combining healing magic and the Last Dragon? Somehow they did, Rai found it amusing when imagining a huge dragon working hard processing the ingredients in a pot.

Shade piqued, grunting furiously.

"What's the Last Dragon like?"

Ivy shook her head. "We never saw him. As for the Book of Ice .. I guess, Your Majesty once said something like, 'a place that is visible but invisible', ... yes, I am sure to hear it that way."

A place that is visible but not visible?

Rai mused. Is there such a place?

The buzzing of flying animals and the neighing of horses sounded outside. Rai looked at the stone again, and felt the need to refine that weak energy. His hands were outstretched, his index finger was flowing a clear green light and smelled of wet moss. The scent was only found in rain and healing magic, the same scent that emanated from the stone on Ivy's chest, as well as the magic stone in the hands of the messenger from Vanaheimr. Apparently, Queen Cassandra's disease is related to her.

No, he thought later. With his father and mother.

The pale stone is shining brightly. Natural energy is flowing from it. Rai looked at his own hands in astonishment. I just try, he thought. Is this how it works?

Ivy looked at him in admiration. He looked at the illusion of the past, when he first woke up. The stone was exactly the same as it was in its original state.

Rai comes out and sees Algis and Atlee arguing again.

"What kind of brother are you, forgetting his own sister?" Algis angry. Elam sat on the back of a horse with one of his guards. "Lucky we saw it. Looks like, he's trying to get home alone, almost lost."

"Oh!" Atlee seemed to have just remembered that she had left Elam in the square. "I'm sorry" he told Elam.

Elam's eyes are swollen. Face red. Atlee helped him down carefully. Ren and Ryn embrace their brother, comforting him affectionately.

Algis gives Atlee a murderous look. "How much you do!"

"I didn't mean it!" Atlee felt guilty. "I'm sorry, huh?" He hugged his sisters at once. Elam only nodded faintly, his tears dripping down again making him look pitiful. "Thank God you're okay" Atlee regretted. "I'm sorry."

"Sister!" Ren breaks away when he sees Rai at the entrance. "How's my mom?"

Atlee stood with her eyes, wary of the worst news. On the side, Ryn was looking forward to it with fear.

They reached the village when all the enemies had been defeated. Survivors gathered in a small field near the forest, usually using it as a place to practice archery, but this time it was crowded with injured people. Atlee approached them in a panic, looking for her family. When he sees no one, he is told that Ren brought Rai to his house. His mother was a tough man. However, even a fighter would have difficulty facing that many enemies. Moreover, their enemy is a witch.

Algis' father was the Village Chief. He's a reliable and powerful hunter. When the attack occurred, with the help of Xan's forces dispelling the enemy, he led his citizens to separate themselves from the battlefield into a hidden place. The small field was located quite far away near the forest, sheltered by tall bushes and large trees. After making sure they were safe, he gave orders to the young men and old men who could fight to form two groups: one tasked with defending alongside the villagers and ready to report at any time, he said, another one to go with him to the battlefield. How embarrassing it would be if they were to leave everything to Xan's army! Hunters have high self-esteem. For them, protecting the village was their own duty!

Algis sees his father getting some minor injuries, the villagers have taken good care of him. When he heard Rai was at Atlee's house, he rushed over.

Ivy came out the door. "I'm fine" he said gently. Rai slid into the corner as Ren and Ryn slammed into her mother's arms. "Don't cry." After convincing them that she was okay, Ivy approached Elam who was looking at her awkwardly. "What is this, you don't want to hug me?"

Elam ran to her, crying with relief.

Suddenly Keen came carrying two black pegasus, looking urgent. It seems he just returned from the capital. Keen knew that Rai was undercover, so did not mention his honorary title.

"Young Miss," he said. Algis gave him a happy salute, his mouth splattered from end to end, barely able to stop grinning. Atlee. Keen replied lightly. "The relief force has arrived and His Highness the Prince is leading it himself to the village of Jahae. Young Miss it's time to return to the capital."

Atlee didn't expect the witch to attack two villages at once. "Jahae Village too?"

Keen, "And Galae village."

Except Rai, they gasped in shock. Algis looked at him confusedly. "Do you know, boss? Oh, true! How do you know?" He did not understand how Rai knew that their village was in danger.

Rai doesn't know how to say it.

Ivy interjected, "You must return, Young Miss." He knew Rai was hiding his identity a long time ago. "Even if the attack has been stopped, we don't know the impending danger. It's not safe for you to be in the village."

Algis and Atlee only knew that she was a princess from the noble residence and were immediately frightened. "That's right! Go quickly!" Atlee blatantly kicked him out.

Algis glared at him. "Be polite!" Then looked at Rai with a burning determination in his eyes. "Boss, please come back. Don't worry, I will guard the village with all my abilities!"

Keen felt lucky that there was no need to persuade him personally. "I'll take you back."

Rai was unlikely to convey his complaint in front of them, so decided to leave quickly after saying goodbye.

Ivy saw him leave with a complicated look, remembering his orders to stay. It would be suspicious if he suddenly disappeared from the village, and instead followed Rai. Although he could hide himself by being a shadow guard, sooner or later the Warriors would sniff him out.

He had not expected Rai to make a decision so quickly, and split it up a bit plan ahead. Rai gave him the task of observing the change of situation from the side. They knew this attack was not simple. If the enemy's goal is still the same as last month, then they're after it. Rai did not want to surprise the snake by hitting the grass, feeling certain the huge snake would come at him.

He just needs to be patient a little more.

Ivy still looked at the sky even though the black pegasus had disappeared in the darkness. His mind worked hard since just now, but he had only reached one similar conclusion.

Raina has changed. No longer easy to explode. No more talking to boxing. This guy thought things through carefully. This man mastered the rain and healing of his mother and had something like his father.

This person was no longer the Raina he knew.

***