Glistening Lantern (Gazellian Series #7)

Chapter 31

Dedicated to: Shaira Ann Dayawon

Chapter 31: Doors

When I was in Itara Thetonis, I never had the courage to speak, show myself in public, and even take the risk about the possibilities of my decisions and movements. I've been relying on the things that my clan had dictated to me. Dahil iyon ang siyang nakamulatan ko at iyon ang siyang paulit-ulit na ipinapaala-ala nila sa akin.

Ang kakulangan ko at ang kaibahan sa lahat ang siyang magiging dahilan ng pagkasira ng magandang relasyon at imahe ng aming angkan sa itaas. I've been loyal to my clan, na handa akong ialay ang sarili kong buhay at talikuran ang sarili kong kaligayahan para sa kanila. Ngunit hindi ko na napansin na sa pagmamahal na iyon sa sarili kong angkan, nakakalimutan ko na kung sino ako— ang halaga ko sa mundong ito.

I was born not for them but for myself.

When Caleb accidentally descended that night, I never thought that my life would drastically change upside down.  The thing that I thought I'd fully accepted was just filled with forced convictions. The tears that I'd been hiding for years suddenly fell like rainfalls, hope slowly overwhelmed me, and made me realize that I am not just a stringed puppet of my clan.

Caleb Lancelot Gazellian started to cut those invisible strings around my body. A vampire prince from the other world showed me the real definition of freedom—my mate.

And together with Howl, Iris, and Tavion, they'll give me the whole freedom and answers that I've been asking for years.

Akala ko ay higit akong mahihirapan gamitin ang kapangyarihan ko dahil babago pa lang ito sa aking katawan. But my mana flawlessly fused not just to my body, but my heart and soul. Na parang matagal na itong nasa katawan ko. Ni hindi man lang ako nito pinahihirapang gamitin siya.

Maybe because Caleb's body kept it very well for me. Idagdag pang ang katawang iyon pa ang siyang itinadhana sa akin.

There, with my overwhelming mana around my body. Suddenly, the forest filled with the darkness of the night witnessed the first shower of lights from an Attero who was once considered useless and a disgrace of her own clan.

The glistening colored dust cascading from the forests symbolized our announcement to this world that we're not giving up without a fight.

"We're not criminals but victims! These faces will announce to this world that Fevia Attero is not perfect and we will start in this ruin! There is NO TRAITOR! NO GREEDY! NO TRAFFICKER! NO ROBBER! NOT EVEN A SPY WHO WANTS A WAR! This old ruin called us for help! And we will help them! We will help them no matter how you named us! We're unstoppable!"

Ang tanging nagawa ng mga Attero na siyang nakasaksi ng malaking atake kong iyon ay tumingala sa akin. I heard how Howl and Tavion clapped in amazement. Habang ramdam ko ang paninitig sa akin ni Caleb mula sa aking likuran.

Bago pa tuluyang matauhan ang mga Attero ay lumipad na ako pabalik sa may bintana. Nagising na rin si Caleb at nakaabang na sa akin. He even opened his arms for me.

I could return inside without his help, but I gladly accepted Caleb's arms around me. Kasabay nang pagyakap ng katawan ko sa kanya ay ang puwersang nagtulak sa amin upang tuluyang makapasok sa huling butas ng malaking bintana bago iyon takpan ng malaking bato mula sa kapangyarihan ni Caleb.

And there, for the very first time, someone patted my head and kissed my forehead with his gentle yet red glinting eyes while staring at me. Caleb's arms wrapped around my waist as he smiled at me.

"I am so proud of you. . ."

I bit my lip to suppress my tears of joy. Dahil hindi ko kailanman inasahang maririnig iyon para sa akin.