The Tale Of Three Sisters - Chapter 113
Jegun appeared at the entrance of the chamber and rushed to the bed. “What’s going on!?” he said upon seeing the men’s devastated face.
“She died in my arms. Her heart stopped beating and no more pulse,” Zemeth said in a dejected voice.
Jegun grabbed Ivy’s hand and checked her pulse, indeed, he can no longer detect her pulse and her skin was getting cold. He opened his palm and stared at the potion…damn!…he come too late!
Zemeth looked at the bottle. “What is that?”
“It’s the magical healing potion I asked from the king of dwarfs. It was supposed to help restore her good health!” he said, his hands trembling. He blamed himself for returning too late!
“Let me…!” Zemeth took the potion from the old man’s grasp and opened the lid. He just can’t give up! He pries open Ivy’s mouth and poured a little amount of liquid into her mouth.
Ramza looked at Jegun. “Will it work?” he asked as he continues pouring more liquid into her mouth.
Jegun took a deep breath. “I dunno… If she ingested the potion when she still has a weak pulse and a heart beating she can still be saved…but I dunno if the potion can still help her now that she’s already dead,” he replied with a gloomy sigh.
Zemeth put Ivy’s head in his lap gently and continue pouring the magical healing liquid in Ivy’s mouth. Half of the bottle’s content was now inside Ivy’s body.
Still no changes…
A few minutes went by…
Nothing happens…
Zemeth put back the lid of the potion and returned it to Jegun. “Thanks…”
Jegun released a deep sigh. “I’m sorry… I returned too late,” he said sadly.
“It’s not your fault, old man,” Zemeth assured him.
Jegun released a deep sigh. “I’m sorry guys…the magical healing potion didn’t work,” he said apologetically, he throws his hands in the air due to frustrations. His efforts fail in vain. But at least he tried his best to help.
“Goodbye, my love!” Zemeth said softly and kissed Ivy’s forehead. His heart was breaking inside, he finally accepted the painful truth that she’s gone.
He departed from the bed and faced the men.
“Where shall we bury her dead body?” asked Ramza.
“Let’s ask Zemeth,” Jegun said.
Zemeth was speechless, too heartbroken to think. “I dunno…”
“We can return her to the garden near the stream, the place where the leaves are supposed to bury her. There’s already an open grave there. That is a good place to bury her dead body surrounded by beautiful flowers,” suggested Ramza.
Zemeth nodded his head. “Alright, let’s return her to the place where she was supposed to be buried. I also want to catch some leaves and ask them what happen to Ivy. Maybe they can tell us what’s going on? Why Ivy mysteriously died like this? Since she has no wounds on her body,” he said in puzzlement.
Ramza interjected. “S-should we tell Ella that her sister already died? She deserved to know because it’s her sister…” he reminded them.
Zemeth and Jegun fell silent for a moment, they’re having a hard time deciding. Ivy’s only closest relative is Ella, naturally, the other sister has to know.
“But the problem is — can Ella handle this? She just recently undergoes a life-changing transformation and now—this tragic news? I don’t think the poor girl can handle another trauma. Let’s just bury Ivy without informing Ella,” Zemeth expressed his opinion.
Jegun and Ramza agreed.
Zemeth looked at Jegun. “You stay here, old man. Ramza and I will bury Ivy’s body in that grave in the stream.”
“I have to go with you, guys. You don’t know how to catch those leaves. You don’t want to cut them with your swords. I have a way how to talk to them without intimidating them,” Jegun said.
“Alright, let’s go and return quickly!” Zemeth said.
“Wait, let’s transform ourselves first as dark shadows!” Jegun reminded them.
The men transformed themselves into dark shadows.
Zemeth carries Ivy gently in his arms. “Let’s go!”
The men initiated the teleportation process back to the stream.
A minute later, they landed in the stream and saw the open grave, yet the leaves were nowhere to be found.
Zemeth walked towards the grave and stepped into the knee-deep freshly dug hole, and lowered Ivy into the ground.
Ramza went to the flowers and picked as many as he can, then he went to the grave and handed the flowers to his friend. “Here, put flowers on her body,” he said thoughtfully.
“Thanks,” Zemeth accepted the flowers and arranged it carefully above Ivy’s chest. He lowered his head and kissed Ivy’s cheek for the last time. “It might be too late to say this…but I always wanted to say…I love you…” he said softly as tears fell from his eyes, he wiped them immediately.
Zemeth got off from the grave and together with Ramza, they began to dump back the soil into the grave. While Jegun was busy finding the leaves in the nearby trees.
Then all of a sudden they heard small coughing…
Where is that…!? The men looked around them…they can’t find the source.
Then Zemeth looked at the body in the ground…his eyes widened.
The one coughing is Ivy! Her eyes were wide open!
Zemeth was shocked and stunned! He jumped into the bottom and dug the soil from Ivy’s body
Ramza also saw what happened, his jaw fell open in astonishment. “Ivy is alive!” he roared and jumped into the ground to help remove the soil from Ivy’s body.
Jegun rushed to the open grave and handed the potion bottle to Zemeth. “Let Ivy drink the rest!”
The men finally dug back Ivy’s body. Zemeth immediately picked up Ivy’s body and carry her out of the grave.
Then they heard approaching sounds of whirring like multitudes of bees flying in the air…then the leaves abut a hundred of them appeared above the grave.
“Return the woman’s body to the grave! You thieves!” the leader of the leaves ordered.
Jegun looked at his companions. “Leave them to me guys! Now go!” he commanded.
Zemeth and Ramza nodded at each other and initiated the teleportation process in their minds.
They disappeared from the stream instantly and reappeared back in the chamber a moment later.
Zemeth lowered Ivy’s body gently into the bed.
Ivy was staring at the guy’s handsome face in confusion. “W…who…ar…are…you?” she asked in a faint voice.
“It doesn’t matter who am I, but you have to drink this magical healing potion so that it can restore your good health, okay?” he said as tears of happiness fell from his eyes. He opened the lid of the bottle and brought it to Ivy’s lips.
The moment the liquid touched her lips she turned her head away. “It’s… so bit…ter…” she complained.
“Ivy…please listen to me…you have to drink the whole content of this bottle so that you will be out of danger!” Zemeth insisted.
Still, Ivy refused to open up her mouth.
Zemeth was getting frustrated.
Ramza was watching the situation unfolding in front of him. “Bro, you need water? I’ll get some…” he offered.
Zemeth closed his eyes. “Bring Ella here first. If there is one person who can convince Ivy to drink the rest of the medicine it will be her sister,” he ordered.
“Alright, I’ll get her…” Ramza said and left the chamber.
Ivy stared at the guy in front of her, she was confused about why she mentioned her sister’s name, could it be that Ella finally entered the castle? No! This isn’t happening! And who are these people?
“M…my s…sister is h…here?” she asked, stammering.
Zemeth nodded his head. “Yes,” he answered.
Ivy closed her eyes. Just when she managed to save her sister Kate by sacrificing her life, now she was facing another problem, her sister Ella finally entered the castle! It sounds a total nightmare to her. She bit her lip sadly. Her body feels so weak, she feels like she just climbs the highest mountain.
Then she remembered that’s she was supposed to die…but why she’s alive? Where are the leaves? They were supposed to bury her in the stream near the flowers? Wait…Did Esmeralda, Kate, and the tree succeeded in escaping the castle? Damn…she has so many questions that needed an answer.
Zemeth stared at Ivy’s face and began wiping the rest of the soil from her face, neck, and dress. Tears shone in his eyes.
Ivy looked at the face of the handsome man. “W…why…a..re you c…crying?” she asked, confused. She can’t understand why would a stranger cry for her?
Zemeth stared into her eyes. “I’m so happy that you’re alive! You have no idea how happy I am,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Ivy’s face contorted in pain. Aargh…She feels a pounding in her head and the weakness of her body was making her breathless. “I’m… t…tired…” she said.
“Do you want water? Are you feeling thirsty? Are you hungry? Just tell me…” he said.
Ivy shook her head slowly. She feels so tired. As if the mere talking drained all her energy. “I’m… slee…slee…py…” she murmured and closed her eyes.
“No, you can’t sleep without taking all your medicine! You have to finish this, Ivy! Please, for your health!” Zemeth said panicking, fearing that if Ivy will fall asleep and not able to finish the medicine, she would die again.
Ivy ignored the guy’s ramblings and give in to her body’s demands and sleep again.