CHAPTER TWENTY: The Apprentice

Hope was sitting on the bed while Valko next to her let Hope lean on him. The healer, who was a elderly feline extended Hope's wing gently with his more human like hands. The healer made few grunts and 'ahh's as he looked over the broken right wing closely. The healer's eyebrows dropped down to his whiskers around his white muzzle already from the gray fur. The feline wore long white robes with the symbols of the gods.
At the doorway stood Sight, he had his arms crossed on his chest. The minotaur hadn't said a word to Hope from yesterday. With his very light brown-eyes, the minotaur studied the scene from the doorway quietly as the healer was starting to get to the point of it all.
On the other hand, Valko looked at the healer's every move that he did to the wing. Few times Hope flinched as the healer opened up few of the wounds to dab a cotton into the wounds for healing. As he was moving the wing around, Hope's face was gripped with pain. Valko's eyes were wide with horror as Hope tried not to let out a cry.
Letting the wing down gently, the healer looked at Hope finally after minutes of looking over the wounded wing of hers.
"It shouldn't be a problem for the wing to heal. But," the feline got a roll of bandages for Hope but giving them to Valko. Valko took them looking down at the large roll about the size of a soccer ball. "You have to place the more wounded parts in care of those bandages until they will heal."
"So will she be able to use her wing again, soon?" Valko asked as he got the shoulder-bag from the ground where he placed the bandages at.
The healer studied the wing again and nodded.
"The Myrbeasts have nasty poison but it seemeed that the wing could handle it." The gray-feline spoke softly, he then turned to Valko smiling. "So yes, in a few days it should be completely healed and ready for use."
Valko smiled at Hope who greeted him the same.
The elderly feline coughed to get their attention back to him.
"But," He said as they waited for the worse news. "If a Myrbeast gets a hold of that wing, it will have to be amputated."
Valko looked at the healer blankly as if he couldn't understand the reason behind it.
"If the poison gets to the wing's system again," Sight spoke first time of the day making Valko and Hope turn their heads in his way. "Then the wing is already weak because of the last time it got poisoned by that saliva."
"But, Hope is a guardian. And her power is to stand poisons-"
"Ah... a guardian?" Sight shook his head. "When Guardian himself fell, so did the powers of the guardians. It was the wing alone that was fighting the poison, you are lucky that it didn't go to your whole system. All we could know now is to bring you back to your family, dead."
"That's a bit cruel, don't you think?" Valko muttered under his breath looking at the tall minotaur who just shrugged.
"The truth always hurts, doesn't it?" Sight questioned smiling a bit.
Valko crossed his arms on his chest and looked away towards the window. The healer was shaking his head as he was getting his other smaller items like amulets and vials of potions back to his smaller pouches in his robes. Taking his leave, the healer blessed Hope with one of the amulets. He pinned it against her forehead with his fingers and whispered a blessing for her.
"May the gods and goddesses watch over you, young one." The healer said, then he took his amulet from Hope's forehead. The elderly feline placed it back to his robes once more. Nodding to Valko and Sight, the healer left the room slowly.
Sight moved into the hallway to let him pass. Seconds went by and the minotaur was back in the room again. His eyes met Hope's for a second until he looked at Valko still turned to the window.
"Well, this hospital expects the two of you to pack it in few minutes since the healer went." Sight spoke slowly, now he had Valko's interest.
Valko looked around the room, suprised and somewhat angry.
"We have lived here for the whole time in this village. Do they expect us to go to the streets with her broken wing?" Valko asked fiercely. "There are germs and other nasty things in the night, you know right?"
The minotaur nodded, having fun with this. He sighed.
"I know that of course but I have rented us a room in an inn of this village. If you don't mind." He smiled and walked over to Hope and Valko. "With my own ways of paying people of the inn..." The minotaur laughed taking Valko's shoulder-bag, he hoisted it up on his shoulder.
"Hey, that's mine-" Valko started but Hope playfully whacked him on the shoulder. "Hope's..."
The minotaur chuckled at the two, he stepped few feet away from the two to let them have some room. Hope jumped out of the bed, she still have her long white robes with dark-blue rims. At first, everything around Hope moved, she leaned onto Valko.
He picked up Hope's sword from the corner and her staff. Valko turned to Hope to say: "Careful," Valko whispered to Hope gently as the two followed Sight out of the hospital.
The most difficult place to overcome were the stairs. As Hope and Valko were making their way down, Hope stepped on her own foot making her and Valko fall down the stairs. But Hope was luckier than Valko for being able to fall on Sight who caught her just as she was about to drop to the ground. Valko layed on the ground on his side, slowly getting up he looked over at the stairs seeing that Sight was carrying Hope down the stairs now. He grumbled and fell back down again.


Valko pressed the ice pack to his side as Hope walked next to him just behind of Sight. Now and then, he would gasp in pain as the bruises were forming and for him placing the ice there.
"Valko," Hope said worried. With her staff, Hope was helped with walking by herself. "Maybe you should go to the hospital if it's that bad."
Valko laughed darkly, he shook his head. Once again he made a hissing sound, the ice on his side. A familiar smile had spread across his face, Valko's eyes looked forward at the minotaur.
"No, it's not that bad as you think... I'm just trying to make Sight feel bad. I hope he feels bad already, I'm tired of this..." Valko said to Hope smiling.
Sight turned around wearing a grim face. The minotaur's eyes glared at Valko making him stop to his tracks.  Just at the size difference between the two, Valko backed away trying to get away from his glare.
"Umm, I'll just quit now." Valko shivered looking at the sword that was hanging around Sight's belt.
Sight's face lightened up a bit, he turned to the long street towards them made of small multi-colored bricks. From gray to brown the bricks would lead to the inn that was opposite of where the hospital was at. Hope could see the top of the inn already as the three of them walked towards it.
As the trio walked towards the inn that Sight had gotten them few nights to spend there, Hope looked around herself seeing the ways that the villagers lived everyday. There were different number of races living at the village. From normal humans to centaurs, the village has a variety of race living in it. Young children played in front of their houses with other children of the village while the mothers watched through the windows. Some of the mothers sat in front of the stairs of the small hut like houses made of stone or straws.
Hope watched in awe as she walked down the long street down the village. Few of the younger children pointed at her wings and cheering something to their mothers' but the mothers looked worridly at Hope either their fear for themselves or for Hope's sake.
Valko next to Hope looked in awe at the small village sort of place. Smaller shops took the space near the huts but they were made like the usual houses and shops Hope remembered back on Earth. Each of the stores had a window and in the window they had advertisements of what the shop was selling at the moment. The three of them were nearing the inn.
Turning her head forward to look ahead what was there. Hope froze as they were walking to a circle of houses surrounding them. In the middle of it all stood a pitch-black statue of Mifourmanta, the Higher Goddess. Stopping completely, Hope looked at the statue in awe and amazement as if Mifourmanta herself was guiding them through this journey.
Valko and Sight kept on walking, not noticing that Hope had stopped. The large canine and mixture of few other species version of Mifourmanta stood on a rock where all of her paws would fit perfectly on the edges. Alone in the street, Hope looked up at the statue of Mifourmanta who had her head gracefully up and a smile filled with pride. Around her neck was a snake that could wrap itself around her neck once. The snake this time had its head next to Mifourmanta looking at the sky above them.
"Mifourmanta is also known as the 'Forgotten Twelve', young guardian." A deep voice came behind of Hope, she turned her head around to see a group of other minotaurs who she has never seen before. Everyone in the group were wearing long sleek robes made of silk. Around their necks they had small skulls of forest animals for decorations. The minotaur that had spoken to Hope stood closest to her. His silvery horns curved around his head to his snout. "For that," the minotaur continued looking down at Hope with his dark eyes. "She was killed by other gods from the previous planet where she served her duty-"
"She was killed because she possessed all the twelve elements." Hope finished for the minotaur. She looked around to see if Valko and Sight were near her but finding that they weren't Hope gazed back at the group of minotaurs.
"Correct." The minotaur said looking at the statue. "Seems like you have done some of your homework already, guardian."
"I-"
"Leave her alone, Rayk." Sight came running in front of Hope, holding his sword in front of the group of minotaurs. Even if Sight was strong enough to take them. The truth would have been of numbers and only against one. "You came for me, right? So leave the guardian alone."
Rayk was taken back. He frowned at the younger minotaur in front of him. Backing off, Sight placed his sword back in its sheath smoothly. Still looking at the group with his hand on his sword Sight turned to Hope sideways.
"Are you alright?" Sight asked, he gulped. "Were you hurt?"
Hope looked at Sight confused, she shook her head to him. The minotaurs changed their footing in front of Hope looking nervous.
"Good." Sight nodded to her as Valko came running towards Hope. "Valko, take her to the room. I'll handle with these."
Rayk laughted at Sight the others behind of him laughed as well.
"He just wants to talk to you about what you did." Rayk chuckled. "You thought I was going to kill you? Or that guardian?"
Hope stood frozen as Valko was trying to get her moving. She looked at the two minotaurs with worry as if a battle would heat up soon. Valko kept on tugging on her sleeve.
"You have tried before... five times, Rayk." Sight said bitterly, he glared at the larger minotaur with disgust. "Twice you almost succeeded doing so."
Rayk and the other minotaurs laughed as Sight spoke. Sight shivered at the sight of them.
"Hope, this is not our place... let's go." Valko tugged on her sleeve again. This time she moved but keeping her head turned to see what was happening to Sight. He was now following the group of minotaurs into a small house. "Let's go, Hope." Valko said holding her left hand tightly.
"But... what will happen to him?" Hope asked walking with him now freely but still holding onto his hand gently.
"I don't know... I just know that he'll be able to handle those guys if they will attack him." Valko said as he opened the door of the inn which looked like a small version of a fancy mansion with gold door knobs and silver outline around the door.
Entering the inn, the two came to a small room that only had a table. But behind the table was the innkeeper who was just a normal human. He looked up as they walked up the stairs behind him and then turning back to his book which he was reading. The two took a turn to the left along the long hallway filled with doors opened and closed. When a open door would come in her way, Hope would peek inside with curiousity to see if someone was there. Every room she looked into was empty.
Valko stopped at a closed door, from his pockets he took out a small key. He placed the key at the hole and turned it. A click echoed around the hallway as the old lock opened. Valko turned the knob opening the door for Hope to go through first.
She walked into the square room suprised to see that there were actually more than just one bed. In both furthest corners, two beds stood next to the walls. The left bed to Hope had her sword on the white blanket covering the bed to the ground. Also on her bed was a key that matched Valko's exactly. She walked to sit on her bed, taking the sword to her hands she gazed at it blankly before placing it against the wall. Taking the key from her pillow, Hope pocketed it.
"Here," Valko came up to Hope holding a bag for her. She looked up at him confused for a second and then only remembering what the bag held. "Food. I got hungry yesterday so I thought that you would like to have one." He smiled at Hope as she got one of the red berries from the bag and ate the sweet red berry.
"Thanks, I feel a bit better now, Valko." Hope smiled up at Valko, he placed the bag back into the shoulder-bag again. "Valko, what time is it?"
Valko sat next to Hope, humming a bit.
"I would say about," he took another second to think. "Somewhere around afternoon maybe. I haven't seen a clock around this place at all."
"Ah..." Hope said, she clenched her fists trying to fight the pain of the wing. Small shocks traveled around the broken wing of hers making her just wanting to cut it off. The medicine was working its way for the wing, Hope thought to herself mindlessly. She sighed trying to put her mind to think something else for a change. "Valko... what happened?"
He turned his head towards her. "What do you mean?"
"What do you mean by what do you mean! With the Myrbeasts, Sight and how did we get away from it all with just my broken wing?" Hope asked angrily, she bit her lip. Her blue-eyes fiercely stared at him.
"I can't tell you." He said plainly with a casual voice.
Hope pursed her lips angrily at Valko.
"And why not?" She asked him, glaring. "I think that I have the right of knowing how we somehow escaped those Myrbeasts. Don't you think so too?"
Valko stood up, he walked towards the large window that was halfway open letting a nice summer breeze into the room. He fingered around the edge of the window as he stared outside interested into what was happened more there than for Hope.
"I need an answer, Valko." Hope stood up too walking closer to Valko. "Please."
Valko's head looked down at the street below of them, he shook his head.
"I can't, Hope. I would love to tell you but I promised to Sight that I wouldn't tell you, just yet." Valko struggled his wording for Hope to be happy. "Ask him if you can hear it from him."
Hope sighed, she walked back to her bed to sit down. From around her neck, she took the locket that she had gotten from Kno. She tried to open it in order to talk to Kno but it didn't open one bit. Placing her fingers on the both sides, Hope tried to force it open. She hissed letting air out from her mouth in frustration at the locket as her wing felt as if someone was poking needles into it.
"It won't open at all." Hope mumbled to herself, she took the locket off around her neck and looked at it curiously why it wouldn't open. The locket looked normal as it always did, she couldn't understand why it wasn't opening... "Why?"
Hope looked over the locket multiple times seeing if there was any damage from the Myrbeasts. Not a scratch on it, it looked perfectly new to her. She placed it to her heart closing her eyes. Kno... I want to talk to you, perhaps it was wrong of me.
Her head jolted up as something heavy stomped down nearby the door of their room. Hope placed the locket around her neck again.
"Miwal pimea su johat? Emir enor, Rayk!" A deep voice boomed angrily behind the door. Laughter echoed in the hallway, deep laughter. "Temtlain!"
"No I won't move. It's you who's in my way, Sight!" Rayk's voice filled the hallway. Hope jumped from her bed but her right wing's tip touched the ground. She fell on her knees and then on her side. Valko rushed to her aid making her sit up at least. Both of them then looked at the closed door hearing the voices clearly as clear water. "Only if you weren't around here. I would have been the god apprentice. But your grandpa favored his oldest grandchild. What does that show of the minotaur race for the other races, Sight?"
Silence answered Rayk's question. Rayk snorted, unsatisfied with the silence that was given.
"I would imagine what Mino would do if he knew what happened to his dear grandchild... Sight. I would say that the centaurs allied themselves with the humans to drive the minotaurs out of the south to get the land only-" But with his words, Rayk was silenced with fury of Sight.
"My grandpa would never believe such words from a killer. Do you know why you wouldn't be made apprentice, Rayk?" Sight took a deep breath, Hope heard his sword hit the floor. "Gods were once mortals, they know how to see selfish hearts of the young. Rayk, your heart has been growing every year ever since you got the position as the higher priest of Mino. But you aren't happy with that, are you?"
At the last sentence, Hope thought that she heard a hint of a smile coming from Sight. Valko helped Hope to get back on her own two feet, she stared at the door with horror.
"Evil, tainted, cruel gods go hated." Sight whispered to Rayk. "Who would anyone follow such a god without tradition?"
The door knob moved, Sight opened it wide in order to get his body through Rayk who still was blocking half of the doorway  Rayk was struggling with Sight's words, his eyes wondered around the hallway and the room. The minotaur turned his head towards Hope and Valko, he took something silvery from his robes.
A dagger.
"No!" Hope screamed. Rayk's hand extended towards Sight's back swiftly. Everything went to slow motion for Hope watching the blade of Rayk's getting ready to hit Sight's back.
"Haven't you learned anything, Rayk?" Sight asked calmly as soon as the blade was to cut his skin.
As if magic, Sight's own sword had blocked the blade from touching the god apprentice's spine to deal the damage wanted. Rayk stood looking at the sword, his jaw had dropped amazed at such speed. The minotaurs stood still, neither of them had moved for the seconds of peace until Rayk jumped back. His hooves caused dents into the flood.
Rayk turned to Hope and Valko hate filling his eyes.
"If I can't kill you, then I'll kill the one who will save Mifourmanta!" Rayk declared taking the point of his dagger away from Sight. The robed minotaur launched himself to Hope, the dagger glittered dangerously at her.
Hope stared in horror, Rayk's face twisted at her. Pure hated filled Hope's heart looking at him. She wanted to duck but knew only that Valko would get hurt otherwise...