Enigmas

Hilia inhaled in a deep breath, opening her mouth and starting to chant.

By Vaena, goddess of the Nature.

Grant me the power to embrace the nature.

Grant me the power to summon the wildlife.

I call upon thee.

Squeezing her eyes close, Hilia slowly opened them, her eyes a piercing golden colour. Her staff started to transmute into vines, which coiled gently around her arms and her legs, lifting her up into the air. She raised her arms up and the ground below the bandits began to rumble, but they were too engrossed by the sight in front of them.

"Woah!" One of the bandits shouted out in alarm at something touching his ankles, realising it was roots of plants. He felt a chill run down his spine when the roots slowly formed into a shape that resembled hands.

"A freaking priestess! Everyone, run!" One of them warned but it was too late as Hilia clenched her fists, the roots grabbing onto all their ankles, preventing them from moving, no matter how they struggled. Cutting and pulling them didn't work either as they immediately regenerated back, all of them watching in horror as Yoan charged at them with his swords.

"That's right, she's one hell of a priestess." Yoan exclaimed, slashing them swiftly across their body. Within seconds, all of them collapsed to the floor, along with Hilia who instantly felt drained of energy.

"Told ya I'm not alone."

"Stop…boasting—idiot." Hilia panted heavily, sinking down onto the gravel, a smile on her face.

Yoan spun around, sheathing his swords and walked languidly towards her, helping her up to her feet.

"Thanks." Hilia said weakly, the vines slowly uncoiling themselves and transmuting back into her plain wooden staff, along with her eyes.

"No problem." Yoan grinned, draping one of Hilia's arm around his shoulders. Hilia continued smiling, until a gasp escaped her mouth, alarming Yoan.

"What?"

"…that can't be…" Hilia muttered out, pointing a trembling finger forward and Yoan's eyes followed her finger, landing on a man standing up among all the fallen bandits. There was a large slash over his shirt, but there were no visible sign of any injury on his body, only a long scar. Yoan's eyes widened in shock.

"He managed to avoid it?"

"Probably, but that isn't what I'm concerned about, Yoan."

"Then what is it?"

The man just stood still in his place, dusting off his shoulders and cracking his neck, approaching them menacingly.

"That man, he's one of the attackers from our village."

"What?"

"He attacked me and I remembered his face clearly."

"Isn't he supposed to be dead?"

"That's what I'm concerned about, Yoan." Hilia answered, both of them staring at the man who was approaching them in shock.

How can a dead man come back to life?