Tales of the Supremes 23 TRAVERSE LIGHTNING BEAS

"What are we doing here?" Kalipsi thought they were going east, but Tala kept walking northeast until they arrived at a mountain peak.

"We're going to find a flying beast. We can't just travel like this. It will take us a year to arrive at our destination," Tala explained.

Kalipsi nodded in understanding.

"Kalipsi, stand over there!" Tala ordered as she pointed the edge of a rocky cliff.

"Why?"

"Just stand straight. Don't make a move," Tala position herself at Kalipsi's back. She whispered, "Whatever happened, just hold tight and repeatedly say this words, 'Fly anywhere, for I will accompany you. Fly higher, for I will be here.' Understood?"

"Huh?" Kalipsi was baffled. "Why would I do such things?"

"Because if not, you'll die," Tala simply answered.

Kalipsi froze. He wanted to ask more but an irksome chirping sound echoed to his ears as it became louder and louder. He covered his ears with his hands.

Tala pushed him.

Caught off guard, he fell from the cliff. His eyes widened in disbelief.

How could he do this to me?

He can only close his eyes while screaming.

Thinking his sure death, he did not anticipate to land on something soft. Winds passed through him in an unimaginable speed leaving him vulnerable to fall if he did not grab on. He opened his eyes and saw that he was flying.

"A beast?" Knowing his situation, he tightened his grip because the beast was shaking him off.

He was in the beast's back!

"Wahhhhhhhh!" The beast flew at a lightning speed still shaking him off. "I will die if this continues. GUAHHHHHHH. TALLLLAAAAAA!" He screamed. Liquids flow on the edge of his eyes.

He suddenly remembered what Tala told him earlier.

"F... fly an.. anywhere, f... for I will ac... accompany you. F....ly higher, f...or I will be he...re." Kalipsi repeatedly shouted those words.

The beast calmed down. Kalipsi didn't stop shouting until the beast landed on the cliff where Tala was. Kalipsi quickly jumped out from the beast, landing safely from the ground. He heaved a sigh of relief.

If he could, Kalipsi would have kissed the ground, but he suppressed it. It was unbecoming for a young man.

"Did you enjoy the ride?" Tala teasingly asked.

"Why didn't you say so?" Kalipsi knitted his eyebrows. "If you want me to tame a beast, just say so."

"If I do, would you not hesitate? A little hesitation will lead to sure death," Tala said emotionless.

Kalipsi couldn't say a word. "You're right, but my life is on the line. Can't I decide it on my own," he pouted as he retorts.

The beast beside him rubbed its head to his side. Kalipsi was surprised. He then rubbed its head.

"What a beautiful beast," Kalipsi murmured.

It was white in color with fluffy feathers. Its eyes were like an abyss of black. Its eyebrows were fierce. A headdress-like stand still. Its back can accommodate three people.

"I didn't notice it earlier because I was frightened."

"You can now make a contact with him!" Tala remarked.

"Re..really?" Kalipsi giggled in excitement.

"Yes. As you can see, he likes you."

"But, I'm not a warrior yet and this beast looks like no ordinary one."

"Who cares. Just do it, so we can hop in his back."

Kalipsi bit his lip in confusion, but he eventually did it.

He slit his thumb and a drop of blood flow. The beast willingly bit his right wing and a drop of blood flow. Tala caught it with a wooden bowl. She put water on it and stir their blood. She split it into two and let the two drunk it.

A swirling stripe of light cover the two and it slowly faded.

A line marked around Kalipsi's wrist as well as the beast's neck.

Kalipsi felt a connection on it between him and the beast.

The compact was complete!

The bird cheerfully chirped.

"TALA! I CAN UNDERSTAND HIM!" Kalipsi looked at Tala, but what welcomed him was Tala's emotionless face.

"Good for you."

"_" Kalipsi

"He's asking me to give him a name."

"Then, what name was it?"

"How about Lipad?" Kalipsi glimmered his eyes.

"That's a cool name."

"From now on, I'll call you Lipad." Kalipsi patted the head of the beast. The bird chirped in agreement.

"Let's hop in!" Tala suggested.

The bird chirped and they soar high.

…

"WHAAAAAAT!" Kalipsi holds tight as they set off.

An hour later, they landed near a river.

Kalipsi puked a lot. He then looked at the beast. "Why didn't you say much earlier. I could have prepared myself," Kalipsi nagged Lipad.

He noticed that Tala seemed to not care.

"You know this Tala?" Kalipsi gazed at Tala with suspicious.

"Yes. I thought you already know."

"How can I know that he can fly 100 kilometers per hour. This was my first time traveling, remember? And I am not even a warrior yet," Kalipsi retorted furiously.

"Okay. Next time I'll tell you every detail, so don't be angry anymore." Tala raised her hands as in surrendering.

"You better keep your words."

Tala place her hand to Kalipsi's shoulder. Driving her earthly energy, the duo were covered with transparent light as thin as a sheet of paper to protect them from winds and pressure.

"If this can be done, why didn't you do it earlier?"

"Because I thought you can handle the pressure," Tala looked at him, guilty.

"You really did enjoy teasing me, no?" Kalipsi twitched his lips.

Tala shrugged her shoulder. 'I need to be considerate more,' she thought.

The duo set off again.

…

"How did you know the incantation of taming Lipad?" Kalipsi asked. He knew how hard it was to know any incantation and choosing a proper one was even harder.

"I didn't know."

"_" Kalipsi

"Y...you just pushed me without certainty?"

"Uhm, yes? You don't need to worry anymore. You're alive." Tala smiled wryly. 'Although I'm not sure if the incantation would be effective, I wouldn't let him die.'

"_"Kalipsi

Kalipsi felt a pain in his head. He could not take Tala anymore. He diverted his attention to Lipad instead.

Kalipsi asked a lot about the beast. He then knew that the beast was known as Traverse Lightning Beast. A kind of beast who can travel at a lightning speed but couldn't fight means that Lipad was best only as a transportation beast.

"In this speed, how long will it takes to reach the Kingdom?" Kalipsi was curious. He didn't even know how far the Kingdom was.

"It will take us two months," Tala replied. "Let's rest there." Tala pointed out a mountain.

They landed on the peak of a mountain.

"The energy here was purer. This will be good for meditation," Tala stated.

"How long we will stay here?"

"Two days."

"Two days? Should we make a camp?"

"That would be great." Tala gazed at him with a smile that isn't a smile.

"Don't tell me, you will not help?"

"I have something to do. I take my leave first." Tala left him without any regard. "Don't follow me."

"TALAAAA!" Kalipsi pouted. "He's just going to leave me like this? I can't believe him."

Kalipsi just continued preparing for a camp.

"Lipad, you can rest today," Kalipsi rubbed his head.

"Master, I felt powerful energy coming there!" Lipad said grimly as he gazed towards the north.

"Oh no! Tala went that way. Let's go there," Kalipsi instructed, but Lipad didn't move an inch.

"What are you doing? I said let's go," he knitted his brows.

"He said not to follow him," Lipad stated.

"Who is your master, me or him?"

"You," Lipad answered, baffled.

"Then follow what I instructed not what HE instructed." Kalipsi was going to burst out of anger. Stem of air shot out from his ear.

Seeing this sight, Lipad shuddered as he readied himself to soar.

The two flew north.

"Where is he? Where is he?" Kalipsi muttered restlessness as he looked at the surrounding.

Lipad flew slowly to search for Tala carefully.

"He's there," Kalipsi pointed a figure of Tala 200 meters away from them, but suddenly he felt Lipad shuddered as if he saw a ghost.

"What's wrong?" Kalipsi anxiously asked.

"Ma..master, I felt the enormous energy in the surrounding!" Lipad said grimly. Lipad was sensitive towards his surroundings. That's the innate ability of their kinds.

"Let's hurry!" The duo arrived in front of Tala.

"Tala hops in. There's dangerous creature coming this way," Kalipsi hurriedly said, but Tala seemed not to hear him clear as she was just staring at him.

No response!

He hopped out and persuaded Tala. "I am telling you there's a dangerous creature heading this way. That thing might have already sensed us and it will be here soon. Let's leave this place now."

"That's good then. I can save time and energy." Tala stated.

"_" Kalipsi and Lipad

Good?

Chapter end