Glistening Lantern (Gazellian Series #7)

Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Treasure and the treasure chest

We're not in the middle of winter, but the temperature continued to drop. I couldn't even see single ice around the cave, but the crawling fog of frost never ceased to follow us.

Caleb's hair were starting to frost, the white smoke coming from his mouth lifted as he beg for my approval, my lips were trembling, my eyes were getting blurry, and my throat was getting dryer.

His red eyes might be glistening with my lantern, but it weren't enough to light and warmed us in this unusual dropping temperature.

Magic will only defeat by magic.

At sa aming dalawa ni Caleb ay ako ang makagagawa noon. Kapwa kami mamamatay kung wala akong gagawin.

But how? In this cold temperature... and my damn indifference! I can't even answer Caleb with his question.

Saglit lang umagaw sa atensyon ni Caleb ang kabuuan ng kuweba maging ang biglaang pagliliwanag ng lampara, dahil ang higit na umagaw ng atensyon niya ay ang gumagapang na makapal na usok na humahabol sa amin. Higit na dumiin ang yakap niya sa akin habang nakaupong umaatras mula sa papalapit na usok na tila kikitil sa amin sa sandaling lapatan kami niyon.

Until Caleb reached the small lighted circle created by my lantern inside the bag. He stayed there when he felt the little warmth it gave us.

"T-This fucking fog!" maging si Caleb ay ramdam ko na rin ang pangangatal.

Habang papalapit sa amin ang usok, ang bawat parte ng kuweba na dinadaanan nito'y nawawalan ng buhay. Ganoon na lang ang maliit na kunehong pilit tumakbo patungo sa kuweba upang protektahan ang kanyang sarili.

Ang aking malabong mata'y roon na lamang nakatitig habang ganoon din ang takot ni Caleb sa kanyang nasaksihan.

We will die here with a simple piece of magic!

Kung may mana lamang ako! Kung nakikita ko lang ang sarili kong mana sa aking katawan. If I could just pull it out and use it to cast a spell...

Ang tanging nagawa ko lang ay ikuyom ang isang kamay sa dibdib ni Caleb at piniling siya'y titigan sa huling sandal bago pa kami tuluyang lamunin nang usok nang matigilan ako.

Not because of his red eyes that continued to glow, but how the light of the lantern ignited around Caleb's body as if it could fully recognize him. Ngunit ang higit ko pang napansin ay ang higit na liwanag na nagmumula sa dibdib niya.

A similar light as if he cast an Attero's oath.

With my weak and blurry eyes, I glanced at my bag with the igniting lantern back at Caleb's body. As if the lantern is pointing him— something inside him.

Hanggang sa unti-unting nanghina ang kamay kong nakakuyom sa dibdib niya.

How in the world...?

Why is my mana... inside Caleb's body?!

"N-No..."

Mas umatras pa si Caleb habang pilit inilalayo ang sarili sa papalapit na usok, ngunit wala na roon ang atensyon ko. Pilit kong kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi ko at umusal nang maraming dasal sa isipan upang humingi pa ng kaunting lakas.

And there, with my desperation for years, anger, doubt, hesitation, fears, and endless question of why... finally, I could see it, my mana, in someone else's flesh.

Maybe in times like this, when everything you felt for years came out in the middle of life and death situation, you'd forget about yourself, principles, or even reservation—and I knew in that moment, no creatures whispered down on me, no pixies manipulated my decision, and no frosty fog would stop me from claiming what I've been dreaming for—my mana.