Map of the Blazing Hearth (Gazellian Series #8)

Chapter 25

Chapter 25  Visions

I was already familiar with the special gifts of mates; mind link. Pero hindi ko akalain na magugulat pa rin ako sa sandaling marinig ang boses ni Tavion sa isipan ko.

It was like he was behind my back, whispering in my ears, with his usual grin, and feathery touch on his fingers.

I immediately gathered myself and pretended that he wasn't in my mind. Hindi ko sinalubong ang kanyang mga mata at ibinalik ko ang atensyon kay Howl.

We decided to take the second floor by the stairs.

"Let's go," nauna nang maglakad sa amin si Howl.

Habang nakasunod kami kay Howl, hindi mawala ang pagtataka ko sa kanya. How could he instantly recover like that? Was it part of being an Attero?

"What happened to him? Did he cast a spell to himself or something?" tanong ni Anna kay Caleb na pareho rin ang iniisip sa akin.

Umiling si Caleb. Kahit si Tavion ay nagawa na rin makipagbiruan kay Howl na parang hindi uminit ang ulo niya rito kanina. He was trying to act friendly, kahit hindi naman ganoon masyado si Howl na tinatanggal ang pagkakaakbay sa kanya.

What happened with that conversation?

"Weird," kumento ko.

We're already striding the second floor through the stairs. Howl's still ahead of us with the pixies on his shoulders, Tavion's been trying to keep a conversation, while Caleb's sometimes joins with them.

Everything would be easy if the old ruin would allow us to cross the stairs peacefully, but this journey was not all about convenience, kaya nang maramdaman kong nagsisimula nang yumanig ang hagdanan dinadaanan namin higit na akong naging alerto.

Agad lumipad si Howl sa ere, Anna's hand ignited with white lights with Caleb beside her, habang si Tavion naman ay mabilis nakalapit sa akin at ang braso niyang pumulupot sa baywang ko.

Nauna nang lumipad si Howl. "Come on, love birds, fly."

"Pangil lang ang mayroon kami, Howl. Not wings," sagot sa kanya ni Caleb.

Hindi na nahirapan sina Anna at Howl dahil lumipad na sila nang nagsimula mabitak ang hagdanan pataas. I was about to jump, when Tavion made the initial move, mas pumulupot ang braso niya sa baywang ko at sunundan niya sina Anna at Howl sa bawat pagtalon niya sa nabibitak na parte ng hagdan.

Ilang beses ko pang narinig ang pagmumura ni Caleb na mukhang naiiwanan na pero lumutang na rin dahil tinulungan siya ng mga maliliit na diwata ni Anna.

When we reached the second floor, we were welcomed by the infinite darkness. Mabuti na lang ay may liwanag na nagmumula sa kamay nina Anna at Howl. Inilabas ni Anna ang kanyang lampara para higit kamig bigyan ng liwanag. And the moment her lantern gave its light, a long hallway greeted us. The floor tiles were still the same with a mixture of black and white. The long pathway has a cluster of preserved bodies of monsters, and at the end of the pathway was a wooden door.

"Do you think the big boss is inside there?" tanong ni Caleb.

"I'll be there if I'm the big boss. I like the design of the door. There's a risk that any moment these creatures will turn alive. Who would like to—" hindi na naituloy ni Howl ang sasabihin niya nang sabay na siyang sinagot nina Caleb at Tavion.

"You," sabay siyang itinuro ng dalawa.

Wala pa rin gumagalaw sa amin at nagpapakiramdaman pa ang tatlo kung sino ang mauunang dumaan. The path was too narrow that once that one of the monsters moved and claw its hand, it would immediately kill someone.