134 CHAPTER 133

"Well," Ham shrugged and hugged himself as if suddenly cold, "What happened to the weapons that had been forged with the blood of the Blaze? Why forge a weapon if you can't use it?"

"That's it, Ham. The Blaze has always been killed, but most times, it is Lord Vortex who usually forges the weapon himself. And that weapon is what he uses against the chosen one, against the one who comes with the sun. That is why for centuries, whenever the Blaze dies or was killed, his blood is usually mixed with a silver solution, to prevent Lord Vortex from perceiving it."

"Centuries of forging those weapons. Lord Vortex must have a wide collection of them." Matt said, but Kira was already laughing before he could finish.

"If that's the case, then there would be no war. Lord Vortex would have destroyed the world a long time ago."

"But it made sense, the weapons—

"Always fades away when one of the two dies." Kira cut in. She looked at Ham, but the confusion on his face was blazing.

"Emm—" Kira scratched her head, trying to find the best way to break down the complex explanation so that the two would understand. Why are humans so dumb to learn history? A voice said in her head, "Remember what I said about the Blaze being a catalyst?" 

She waited until both boys nodded before she continued.

"Right. If the weapon—forged with the blood of the Blaze—is used to kill either, The one who comes with the sun or Lord Vortex, it fades away until another century when a new Blaze arises."

"This is bad," Matt grunted.

"If that's the case," Ham was saying, "That means that the whole thing is just a circle. Lord Vortex, the Chosen One, and the Blaze. It's all a circle. Even if we find a way to kill Lord Vortex, he will just keep showing up long after we have died."

"Yes. That the very reason why the first Founders had locked Lord Vortex in a prison, using the power of the Slate of Vale."

Silence enveloped them. Kira could still read the question in their eyes and even though she was tired, she was glad to be the one enlightening them. If they are going to fight the darkness that is coming, then they would need every hand they could get. But what darkness?

Kira shifted her weight. For the first time that day, she hated the fact that she was beginning to sound like Clare. The woman could hardly make two sentences without making reference to prophesy or what some ancient scrolls had said.

"That's it" Ham jumped from the place he was sitting.

"What's wrong?" Matt asked, looking at his friend with wide eyes.

Kira was confused too as she lifted her gaze to Ham. The boy's face had already taken the shape of a ball and with the bruises on his body, Kira thought there was no strength in him. But now, she wasn't so sure. The boy was alive and renewed with vigor. His face was glittering like that face of a star, blinking above the world so high.

"Can't you see it, Matt," Ham chuckled, "Can't you see it."

"By the heavens, Ham. See what?" Matt frowned, looking at his friend as though the boy had lost his wit.

"The connection," Ham stooped, holding Matt's hands and looking into his eyes. 

They are so free with each other. A voice said in Kira's head as she studied the two whose love had turned to brotherly love. The way they laughed made envy coursed through her stomach. All her life, Clare was the only person that had held her and looked at her with such love and oneness. She was her solace and a shoulder to cry upon when the tides of life were too rough. But in the end, the same person she had accepted as her own, was the very person that had sold her out and had spat on her face. Kira could not help the thought. Looking at Matt and Ham, she just wondered if there was any tendency that either of the two might betray the other someday. No, they are much closer than Clare and I will ever be. 

"You find an escape route?" Matt asked, bringing Kira's attention back to what they were saying.

"No," Ham shook his head.

"You found a way to break the door"

"Not even close," Ham said, rolling his eyes.

"Okay, I get it. You stole the keys from the guards."

"Huh, Matt." Ham closed his eyes and opened them again, "Can't you think of something else rather than a means of escape?"

"How can I do that?" Matt asked, "my head is spinning, I can barely hear myself think."

"You can do this, just try to think of something else."

"Spell it out already, Ham." Matt chuckled, "I am tired of this guessing game."

"Alright, alright, I will tell you." Ham laughed but continued, "Kira," He said turning his attention to the Miens, "Do you remember what Clare said?"

"Get over it, Ham." Kira mumbled, "Clare said too many things and I really don't want to remember them. Not after what she did to us."

"This one will interest you, my dear," Ham said, "Do you remember how Clare kept calling me the one who comes with the sun?"

"Yeah." Kira nodded. How can I forget that? You are meant to save us from Vudga after all. At least Clare says so. 

Something tugged Kira's stomach, making her shift her weight away from the stone wall. She had tried talking Clare out of the illusion, but Clare was so certain that Ham was the one who comes with the sun, that she could beat her life on it.

"That's it, Clare." Ham laughed, "Think about it, Matt. If I am the proposed chosen one, does that not ring any bell in your tympanic membrane?"

Silence passed through them as they tried to fit what Ham was saying. Try as hard as she could, Kira could not come up with something, but Matt, on the other hand, suddenly jumped up, with his hands shooting into the air.

"Jeff is alive?"

"Yes, Matt. If Clare's words were credible. If everything she said about the chosen one is true, then, Matt. I think Jeff is alive. And Ema too." 

"This is good news," Matt shouted, "Jeff is alive. Jeff lives," 

Kira frowned. She can see the happiness in the eyes of the two. She didn't know who the boy, Jeff, was. She hadn't heard the name before from either of the two. But with the way, the two boys were hugging each other and smiling. It was easy to tell how much they really missed this, Jeff.

"Keep your voice down," Kira said, "You really don't want those guards to remember us today."

Ham was the first to pull away from Matt. Even as he returned to where he had been sitting on the floor, the smiles and glittering looks on his face were still glowing. Matt's face seemed to be radiating colors. Kira had never seen anyone so happy before. If they were not trapped in this little cell, she was sure Matt would be out in the street, shouting out for joy.

"Who is he? Jeff, I mean," Kira asked.

"He is—

Matt wanted to say, but Ham cut in.

"Our friend. Jeff is our friend."

Kira rubbed her nose and pretended to be looking at the floor. But in truth, she had caught a discomforting glance that had passed from Ham to Matt. The two were hiding something, but she couldn't tell, not with the way Ham was looking at Matt. They must think she is a fool and dumb to notice.

"He died," Ham cleared his throat and continued, "We thought he died, three years ago. There was no way to be sure. But now…"

"Now you know he is alive." Kira said softly, "You know he is alive now because he is the Blaze." 

The expression on the face of the boys widened, either with surprise or shock, Kira could not tell. 

"I am not a fool," Kira continued, "If Ham is the chosen one, and this your friend is alive, then I think we don't have much time left."

"What are you saying?" Ham asked, "Do you want to find Jeff? Do you want to kill him?"

"Pathetic." Kira bit her under lips, "I would have done that two days ago. But now…" She shrugged, "There is something different. The pattern is changing. There is something different. I can feel in, deep down in my bones."

"Has the pattern ever changed before?" Matt asked.

"No," Kira shook her head, "This will be the first. If I am right, but I really hope I am wrong. It's okay to hear the stories of The Blaze, Lord Vortex, and The Chosen One. These stories are lovely when they are told..."

Kira trailed off, not willing to say the last part. How can she say that she was afraid of her own life? How can she bring herself to say that?