Green Country by Libby Lestrano (best short novels of all time TXT) 📕

The Duel

The surroundings are so mysteriously quiet. Aside from the sound of the horse’s steps on moist grass, I can hear the splash of water, which signifies a nearby body. The humble silence of the woods is similar to my state of mind. I am not thinking much. I am physically incapacitated. I just let the happen stances control my path; I am Lavi Squasher, an alchemist, magician, and traveler, now a Vegetable.


His name was Joe D’ Bean. He was a compatriot of mine way back during our childhood years. We went to the same school of magic and were taught of the same things: potions, spells, curses, and alchemy. I was always favored among my fellows. The masters think I have the gift of superficial knowledge and power. He does nothing but practice all day. When we grew unto men, we became sharper. We were given duels to test our knowledge and abilities. There was a time when I have to face Joe D’ Bean. I was 30 at that time and he was 20. There was a cunning look in his eyes and I understand he really is a well-driven young man.
“Alright lads! At the count of three, you may begin.” The old master Cranos shouted.
“1… 2… 3.”
I suddenly felt an electrifying energy cover my entire body. I lifted my right hand right front of my chest and quickly spoke my spell against his. I pushed the thin air fast and firm. In an instant, he fell to the ground. That was easy. I thought.
“Are you okay, boy?” I asked him.
He nodded.
“That was a good spell.” I told him. “And very quick.”
“But not as quick as you are.” He said.
I smiled at him.
On the other hand, there was a growing war between Anjolsians and Stanians at that time. Stanians were everywhere, murdering innocent humans. It was a war between vampire ideologies. The Stanians believed they should be at the top of the food chain so they go on killing men. The Anjolsians, however never liked murdering humans because they have been so used to dealing and living with them. The Anjolsians asked for help from magicians in order to stop the deadly undertakings of Stanians, in which we willfully accepted. The King and Queen of the Anjolsian community begged us to help get rid of the enemies. We made magical stakes that would instantly kill blood-sucking Stanians. At first, it was working well. But after sometime, the Stanians were able to resist the fatal effect. The Stanians became more unstoppable and a lot of humans migrate to avoid. The King and Queen asked us again, that time, it was to separate the vampire world from the human world. The master magicians stressed that it would take us sometime to successfully make it. It might take months before the separation is completed, the King and Queen pleaded and so we vowed to do all that again. When the war was going on, we were helping the Anjolsians do something to make Stanians stay away from humans. I was asked to do something for the crowns prince who also has his own mission far away.
There was a time when Master Cranos spearheaded us into making a powdered potion that when mixed in the air, would weaken Stanians. That will give us ample time to complete the separation of worlds before they blend, into humans again and make them harder to eliminate. We started out early in the morning. We gathered around in a huge bonfire and did our spells into making the ash of the burnt woods to a powdered potion. I felt uneasy at that time. As if something wretched is going to happen. I looked at the huge door of the wooden quarter where we’re in. Uh! I lifted up my right hand into the front of my chest and was about to murmur my spell when the door blasted open. It was too late! Stanians were all around us.
“How in the world…” old Cranos grilled nervously.
“Did we come right on time? Or we’re a little early?” said a sinister voice. It was Gen. David Stringer, head of the Stanian army.
“You are not welcome here, Stanians!” Lyrec Arrot cried.
“YES, THEY ARE!” It was Joe D’ Bean talking. We looked at him with questioning faces as he stepped into the middle. There was a devilish look in his eyes yet he looked extremely calm. He let out a naughty grin.
“I invited them.”
“You couldn’t be…” old Radis is bewildered.
“I invited them because they have a big part to play in this event.” Joe D’ Bean continued. “By this time, they might have taken over part of the Anjolsian kingdom.”
“Why are you doing these, Bean?” old Cranos stepped in.
“Because you are on the wrong side!” Joe D’ Bean said sharply. “Humans are very weak. Why are they dominating the world? Why is it that stronger and more powerful are hiding? We should dominate the planet.”
“So that is why they were able to resist against our stakes and the sun! You helped them,” yelled old Radis.
“Do not make evil decisions, Bean. You might end up miserable,” warned Master Cranos.
“Stop your chit-chats, Bean! And finish them off!” interfered Stringer.
Lyric Arrot cried. “Nobody can do that, we’re immortal.”
“Not with the terminating spell.” Joe D’ Bean uttered firmly.
The room was filled with hush. The terminating spell! The old master didn’t even know how to do it perfectly. It is the hardest of all, especially because you can’t practice it anywhere you want because it will finish everything in the vicinity.
“You can’t be doing that! That’s prohibited!” I cried.
“Not with me. I’ve been practicing that all my life. And just yesterday, I have covered this entire quarter with a Sequester Sheath that would isolate this area from the rest. I guess you’ve been doing that for many weeks now… separating this world from the world of humans! Oh, stupidity! And now, I’m gonna make it a rather bigger practice room.”
“Back off, vampires,” he shouted to the Stanians, “if you don’t want to end your lives here.” The vampires went out hurriedly.
“Make it faster, sorcerer! And destroy all they’re making against us!” Stringer added and he immediately went out from view.
Arrot suddenly lifted his hands into the air and murmured some spells.
No, that will not do.
“Too late Arrot, only my spell will work now.” Bean snapped.
The old masters got ready, trying to do something against this coming vile episode. There is only one thing to be used against death in a time like this. But at second thought it is better to die than to suffer it. I tried to weigh things out, what will happen if we all die? What will happen to the vampire and human world? Will mankind vanish and became a myth forever? Maybe if I will say the Curse Terminus, waiting for the time. I gazed at Lyrec Arrot and he was still murmuring spells. He’ll be fighting it!
The environment has gone yellow. It must be the Sequester Sheath already complete.
I concentrated. I was a human, and I’ll always be even with my strange skills. Who will protect the innocents? If they succeed, only the vile Joe D’ Bean will be left powerful among others!
Joe D’ Bean stood in his full height and closed his eyes. He’s starting!
I kept on thinking. The separation of worlds will be complete in a month or two. I have to decide…
Now! I screamed in my head.
The feeling was intense. I felt sharp blades run through my body. But I was able to manage the pain. I shifted away from where the energy comes from. I have to do the Resistance Spell quick and perfect!
There was a long and huge whoosh followed by an unpleasant sound. The kind of sound you here when your sense of heaping malfunctions. It is really a sound or I have just gone deaf? I tried to move my head but it won’t. Even my fingers are hard to control. I attempted to gain my physical strength through the aid of my elbows. I was able to lift my body enough to bring back the temporary absence of my sense of hearing and make my head shift to the other side. A bizarre sight greeted my eyes.
There lay on the ground fire bodies covered in dust. Neon-green dust, I spew out a neon-green substance which accumulated in my lips. Master Cranos, Radis, Lyrec arrot and two Anjolsians now lay dead in front of me. The air in the room is quiet repulsive, I craved for the open air but my body won’t cooperate. It was like all my nerves have been dislocated.
I laid there trying to gain all my strength back. After a few minutes, I felt some of my systems recuperate. With all my might, I persisted to stand up. When I finally on my feet, I was able to discern the damage the prior event brought to me.
My entire body can be likened to that of a dummy’s. In a while, I thought all my bones are gone. But here they are without nerve-connectors, I suppose, because I can’t control them. It looks like