The sky took on a darker hue and the winds, which rose suddenly, began to shake the waves crashing against the white cliffs. Egan had put on his sweater again—with his arms crossed, he lingered in front of the mouth of the cave, watching the sudden storm. It could have been twilight or late at night; there was no moon or stars, and not even an evident darkness that could make it recognizable.
Behind him, Camelia placed her hand on his shoulder and an arm around his waist. "There is a smell of storm in the air."
The brunet man said nothing, but the blonde woman sensed his concern when he caressed her hand.
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"I couldn't keep him busy all night, I'm sorry."
"It doesn't matter, now they'll have to manage on their own. If they're smart, they've already left." Mirla looked at the sky and squinted her eyes.
"He wouldn't dare kill two humans."
"I have my doubts about that. Keep it between us, but your half-brother has no qualms when he takes things personally. In this realm, he is the master."
"Rules are rules, and he knows them very well."
"Rules can be broken, Florius. He might even take the risk, he's a demon. In light of his work for creation, what are two human lives?"
"I assure you that even a single human life, extinguished by the force of his powers, would make a lot of noise."
Mirla did not respond, and after a while, she no longer heard Florius's voice in her mind.
Nerea watched the sorceress from afar, in her human form. They were on the bank of the Gorb River. The fillian had the sudden impulse to return to her two friends. She transformed into an insect.
"Where are you going?"
"To help them."
"Don't move from here, or you'll be in danger. If he discovers you, the master's wrath will also fall upon you."
Nerea rose higher. "I must help them!"
"Look at the sky, they might have already opened a portal and returned home."
"We can't be sure. I have to check," the fillian darted away.
Mirla hinted at a smile. "The last-minute awakened always act instinctively and foolishly."
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"Look, the ground is more faded than when we arrived," Egan squeezed Camelia's hand as they made their way back to the beach. "How can you tell when it's night?"
Camelia shook her head. "I've never spent an entire day outside that prison."
"Because he's a damn bastard!" Egan quickened his pace, wanting to reach the beach and run away. "Run, we'll make it!" he began to follow the shoreline, and the blonde followed him.
Suddenly, two large animals stopped in front of them, having arrived quickly. Egan recognized them immediately. They were two examples of those distant relatives of the ostrich with which he had raced. Camelia watched them in surprise, without letting go of Egan's hand, wanting to get closer.
"They're not threatening, at least I don't think so…" added the young man.
One of the two creatures shook its multicolored feathers and opened its pink beak for a moment, simulating a yawn. On the head of the other was Nerea. "Get on!"
Camelia moved forward, hesitant, looking at the small friend and then at the two large birds.
"We need to move away from the beach; the master unleashed his hunters as soon as he realized you had escaped!"
"How do you know?" Egan touched the feathers of one of the birds, and it didn't flinch.
"I met them along the way, hurry up!" Nerea urged Camelia, fluttering around her head. "Quickly!"
Egan turned to the blonde. "I'll help you up, just one thing…" he cleared his throat. "They have a kind of hump on their back, it's pointed and… well, don't sit on it, be careful."
The blonde nodded and let herself be lifted. Nerea watched them and once again felt a kind of desire to experience a connection like theirs. Camelia soon found herself on top. "Hold on to the base of the neck," Nerea told her. "Seer, who is the other half of my spirit?" she suddenly asked, as the young man also climbed onto the other bird with a jump.
"Your amidiun," Camelia smiled at her. "Just as Egan is mine."
The small insect couldn't form a doubtful expression. But her silence still conveyed her confused state of mind.
"The amidiun is the other half of your spirit, of your soul, it's a person already connected to you without knowing it, even without ever having seen you."
"How is that possible?"
"It's possible because souls are something that transcends the body. When you see your amidiun, you'll understand everything."
"Will I see them?"
Camelia nodded, and at that moment Egan began to try to move the animal, guiding its movements.
Nerea took flight. "They're intelligent, just a light touch to communicate the direction. They're not fast, but very resilient. Follow me!" she flew ahead of them and led the way.
Amidiun. Nerea felt overwhelmed by an unexpected sensation, as if a delicate flame had suddenly come to life in her heart. Eternally subjected to the demon's lust, she had unexpectedly found a reason to fight against the predetermined course of her existence.
To keep her balance with the bird's brisk pace, Camelia rested her hands right on that strange protuberance on its back. She heard the animal emit a peculiar sound and realized it was an erogenous zone. She immediately removed her hands and clung to its neck. "What are these creatures called?"
"Prism," Nerea replied, flying towards the land that stretched for many lengths. "They're docile and strong. They willingly let themselves be ridden."
And now I understand why. Camelia shook her head, embarrassed.