I got up on my knees in silence. Dahan dahan akong lumabas sa tent kung saan kami nagpapahinga nang hindi gumagawa ng kahit katiting na ingay, and the only way to achieve that is transforming into my shadow form.
I glided forwards through the air and felt the cold atmosphere embraced me. Sa wari ko'y madaling araw na ngayon.
The Arcanes and I decided to stay for the night, with two tents for us girls and for boys. Hindi namin gustong mag-aksaya ng oras, lalo na ako, ngunit hindi rin kami makakapaglakbay ng maayos kung pasuray-suray sa antok itong mga kasama ko. Rinig na rinig ko pa rin ang pagragasa ng ilog mula sa malapitan pero wala ako sa mood para maligo ng ganito kaaga.
Isang malalim na buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ko at umupo sa malaking bato sa harap ng bonfire na gawa ng mayabang na Carwell kagabi. Tanging ingay ng mga kuliglig at mahihinang pagpitik mula sa apoy lamang ang maririnig sa buong paligid, at kung sino man ang lalabas, aa
Doubts and uncertainties are tied to humans. It will always be a part of our existence. Hindi ko mapipilit ang ibang tao na pagkatiwalaan ako ngunit hindi hihinto ang mundo ko dahil do'n. There is so much more that needs to be taken care of than these bunch of naives around me.Nanatili akong tahimik at diretso ang tingin sa dinadaanan namin. Tuluyan na nga kaming nakapasok sa gubat na ito at maingat na naglalakad para walang mahawakan na puno. Wala akong ideya kung totoo ba ang sinasabi nilang mangyayari kung may puno kang mahahawakan ngunit hindi na lamang ako nag-abalang alamin ang totoo. Hindi naman 'yan ang pakay namin dito.We just need to get out of here and end the drama. Simple.Pero itong mga kasama ko ang nagpapatagal ng misyong 'to. Lalong lalo na si Snow. Masyadong maarte."I wish we can use the portal already," aniya pa. "Kaawaan nawa ni Headmaster ang legs ko.""Tatahimik ka o puputulin ko 'yang baluktot mong
THE sun was now at its peak and we finally found our way out of the woods. Pahinto-hinto kami sa paglalakad dahil kailangan ng pahinga ni Rhysan. Gustuhin man naming magmadali, 'di naman namin siya pwedeng iwanan dito. Ngayong nakalabas na kami sa wakas, ilang minutong paglalakad na lang at maaari na naming gamitin ang portal. "Are you okay? Gusto mong magpahinga ulit?" rinig kong tanong ni Third kay Rhysan sa likuran. Kasabay ko si Shaye sa paglalakad, sa likuran naman namin ay sina Snow, Third, at Rhysan. 'Yung isang masungit naman ay piniling magbantay sa likod. "Yeah. Bwesit lang 'yong Almer na 'yon," Rhysan replied. Napakunot ang noo ko. Who's Almer? "Almer?" ani Third. "That guy na kumukontrol ng buhangin. He was the one who knocked me off." Napalingon ako kay Shaye na tahimik na nakikinig
"The world is cruel, my princess," a familiar voice whispered, "but you can choose to be good amidst the bad."I dreamily looked up to his chiseled face and wrapped my tiny hands on his neck. "I want to be good, dad." The man caressed my back as he tightened the hug that I initiated. He smelt like fresh grass and wood, yet it was so pleasing to my nose.Kumalas siya sa yakap at lumapat ang labi niya sa noo ko. Then he whispered, "Daddy loves you, Aurora.""Ara? Is that you?""Belacour, wake up!""Oh my god, Ara!"Napabalikwas ako ng bangon mula sa matigas kong kinahihigaan nang sabay-sabay na tumakbo sa kinaroroonan ko ang mga pamilyar na mukha ng mga Arcane. They stopped right in front of me, panting, and their faces were filled with worry and confusion. They looked fine, no blood, no bruises."Hey, are you okay?" Napaangat ako ng tingin. Why is Genesis here? Tumawag ba sila ng back up?"Speak, Ara. May masakit ba sa 'yo?" he asked. Halos magsalu
"ARA, come on," said Shaye as she pulled me out of my seat but I remained still."I don't wanna go, okay?" tugon ko ng hindi siya tinitignan. "Saka mo na ako guluhin kapag sa palace na ang punta niyo."Napanguso siya at binitawan ako. She sat beside me before speaking, "You have to go. Minsan lang tayo makapag-bonding. Pwede namang humiwalay tayo sa ibang Arcane kung ayaw mong kasama sila."I faced her. "And what makes you think na gusto kitang kasama?"Natigilan siya sa sinabi ko at bahagyang napayuko. Pero agad din siyang nag-angat ng tingin at ngumiti na alam kong peke lang. "Okay, sige. Babalitaan na lang kita kapag nakabalik na kami," aniya sa mababang boses. She stood up and without looking back, she strode off out of my bedroom. Napabuntong-hininga ako at napairap. I stood up and followed her footsteps. 'Di pa siya masyadong nakakalayo. Tahimik lamang siyang naglalakad at nakayuko. Napailing na lamang ako. Dram
TILA nablangko ang utak ko habang nakatitig kay Shaye. Tahimik akong tumalikod at umupo sa may kalakihang bed sa gitnang parte ng kwarto. My hand started to tremble, not because of fear, but anticipation. I have been with Shaye for a month now. I knew from the moment I learned her relations, that she could help me... that I could use her. Pero hindi ko lubos akalain na may isang taong makakapagpatunay sa krimen na ginawa ng hayop na hari nila.I looked up. Her face was filled with confusion. She was staring at me as if trying to figure out what I was thinking. Napakagat ako sa labi ko at tumayo. I walked towards her. "What else do you know about the king?" tanong ko. Bakas sa boses ko ang lamig at panginginig nito. Shaye blinked a couple of times bago bumalik sa reyalidad. "That's the only secret I found out about him."It was enough. Shaye knew about the crime, about the death. Although she wasn't aware that it was me."Hold
ATYA tightened her grip on my hand as we passed through the crowd. Papunta kami sa sakayan dahil naisipan ni Genesis na ipasyal kami sa city nila. This will be my first time seeing someone's home. "She's glaring at me, Princess." I turned my gaze on Atya and found her pointing at Snow's direction. Inirapan ako ni Snow bago binilisan ang paglakad at sumabay kay Carwell na nasa unahan. I was against bringing this kid with us too but leaving her alone with no home nor parents would be too... I don't know... cruel?I swallowed a ton of saliva at the thought of my choice. Hindi ko na talaga alam kung bakit nagkakaganito ako. I knew that this kid would bring nothing but annoyance yet I still insisted on taking her. Napailing na lang ako at ngumiti ng peke. "Hayaan mo na siya."Atya went silent after my remark. The silence continued until we reached the carriage that would take us to Rovuille City. Mas
"DO you think she's awake?""Yeah, she's listening," boses ng isang lalaki. "Morning, Belacour."Napabalikwas ako ng bangon. What the hell? Anong ginagawa ng mayabang na 'to sa kwarto ko?!I glared at Carwell. He was smirking as he stroke Atya's hair. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa nakangising bata na nakahiga sa hita niya. Nakakadiring tingnan. "Wala ka bang sariling kwarto?""Mayro'n," sagot niya. "I'm only here to tell you that the healer arrived earlier. I've been waiting for you to wake up five minutes ago.""Bakit ba 'di niyo na lang ako ginising? At bakit kailangan mo pang mag-stay rito? Nakakadiri ka," naiinis kong sambit. Nagtinginan sila ni Atya at sabay na nailing. Ano bang trip ng mga 'to?Tumayo ako at mabilis na pumasok sa banyo. Kasing lawak ng isang normal na kwarto ang banyo nila. May bathtub, shower, at sa kabilang gilid ay ang toilet. May dalaw
"ARE we already in Ambergail?" I asked Carwell beside me. His eyes were busy looking around but he nodded. "This is a part of Ambergail but the palace is in the south." He turned his gaze on me. "If you want to rest for the night, there's an inn nearby.""No," I immediately responded. "We promised to go back before the sun rises."Pinanliitan niya ako ng mata. "You promised."He, then, continued to look around. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako. Time is against us in this quest. Kailangan kong makuha agad ang amulet na tinutukoy ni Mallá para magising na sila. Gaya ni Carwell, umupo ako sa isang inukit na bato sa may gilid at nagmasid sa paligid. We've been walking for hours already. I hate to admit but I wouldn't get this far without this arrogant guy's help. Mukhang alam na alam niya ang pasikot-sikot dito. Especially the Great Bridge. I thought it was really invisible, I couldn't even use my power. It turned out I was under an illusion the moment I stepped foot on the bridge, ju