Power Within II: Bound by a Promise(Under revision)

XVIII: DOOR

”W-why are you showing all this to me?”

Again, darkness filled my sight. The scenes from my past disappeared in an instant.

“Who are you?” The voice repeated the same question I've already answered. “Who is Cyan?” it added.

Scenes of the past again flashed before me. This time, what I'm seeing were memories that I believe isn't mine.

Cyan with his mother, Devian Frozenmist. The years he counted waiting for the moment he can finally meet Adria. When he took her from another world into the other. The encounters they had together. The feelings he hid from her because he believes that his duty comes first. His regrets. Even the day he died saving the girl she so long cherished.

Despite that these memories aren't mine, somehow they're making me feel that—that I am Cyan. Nagsisimula akong maguluhan.

How can I be Cyan when he's alive? He's not me. I am not his reincarnation. I am—

“So, who are you?”

“Why the hell are you asking the same damn question over and over?!” I bawled in frustration.

“Who are you?” it continued with a giggle.

I looked around. It's still just darkness while his voice is echoing in my head.

“Tell me who you are.”

“Shut up!” natutuliro kong awat dito.

I held my aching head as memories flashed again, memories of both Cyan and I. Mga alaalang parehong pamilyar sa 'kin na naghalo-halo na.

Adria

Huli na nang makalapit ako sa pintuan. Malakas na 'yong sumara. Sinubukan kong hilahin ang seradura pero nanatili 'yong nakalapat.

I was about to call upon my flames when I sensed a fast-moving object going my direction. Napatalon tuloy ako palayo sa pinto. Huli na nang mapansin kong tubig lang pala galing sa pool ang isinaboy sa 'kin ni Gerardine.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

“That was just a prank. Pero ito, hindi na,” pananakot niya bago ako inatake ng tila mga galamay na sumulpot mula sa sahig. Gawa ang mga 'yon sa anino.

The sharp-pointed shadows lashed like whips one after the other, destroying everything in its path. They made me roll all over the room just to avoid being whipped.

I constantly leap from one spot to another as if I'm playing a deadly game of jump rope.

“'Wag nyo'ng idamay si Khaos. Wala siyang kinalaman dito!” anas kong patuloy pa rin sa pag-ilag dahil wala ring tigil sa pagsunod sa kilos ko ang mga aninong galamay.

“You haven't changed,” komento ni Gerard. “Inuuna mo pa rin ang iba bago ang sarili mo.”

“Oh please, that's why she's stupid,” Gerardine mockingly remarked.

“But unfortunately, you're wrong, Adria. Every part of this has to do with him.” Natigilan ako sa narinig. “You're about to find out why.”

Halos pagkatapos lang ng sinabi nito, bumangon si Cyan. Hindi man lang 'to gumalaw sa kinatatayuan at tahimik lang na pinagmasdan ang bawat pag-iwas ko sa mga matutulis na anino.

“Dumb Adria doesn't know what's happening,” anas ni Gerardine.

“Bibigyan kita ng clue." Napabaling ako kay Gerard na pumuwesto sa likuran ni Cyan at hinawakan 'to sa magkabilang siko. Iginalaw niya pataas at pababa ang mga braso nito mula ron. “C'mon Adria, guess.”

Hindi ko alam kung sino sa 'min ang mukhang tanga ngayon; siya na parang baliw o ako na hindi makuha ang gusto niyang iparating.

“This thing isn't really alive. Although the body is Cyan's,” he added, still playing with Cyan.

Natulala ako. What he's saying finally dawned on me.

“Y-you created an artificial soul using forbidden magic.”

“Then?” naaliw niyang tanong sa 'kin.

“Planted it on Cyan's body.” Napatda ako sa sariling realisasyon.

“Ding! Ding! Correct!” Parang si Klaude pa ang tuwang-tuwa sa tama kong hula. “Here's more, this might be an obedient puppet, however it's pretty much useless as it is. It doesn't have magical capabilities.” Inilipat niya ang mga kamay sa magkabilang balikat ni Cyan. “So, in order for it to be of use, it needs to pass a certain test.” Iginiya niya 'to papunta sa pintuan kung saan niya itinapon si Khaos.

Kusa na namang bumukas ang pinto na sumara rin agad nang makapasok ang katawan ni Cyan.

“Body and soul that has been separated can never be whole unless they are reunited once more. Forbidden magic itself shall bestow a test. Fail, and both body and soul will be eaten by darkness. A new being shall be born. A being never the same as before,” I unconsciously recited according to a section I've read from the forbidden book recently.

“By the look on your face, seems that you figured it out.”

Nilingon ko siya. “K-Khaos is really Cyan.”

"Yes! Precisely! That's it.” Humahalakhak niyang wika na para bang gustong-gusto niyang sa 'kin nanggagaling ang mga sagot. “We all know that, but does he?” Makahulugan ang nakakaloko niyang ngisi.

Every information and detail I gathered, started to fit one another.

“Y-you made Khaos doubt himself.”

Sinadya nilang papaniwalain kami na buhay si Cyan sa katawan nito para maisabotahe ang tiyansa ni Khaos.

They wanted Cyan to fail the test that will determine if he can return to his old self!

I can't believe we fell for a trap. I was manipulated by a lie.

“You blame everything on us?" taas-kilay na reklamo ni Gerardine. “What we did barely scratched his resolve compared to what you did, bitch. Marupok kang tanga ka!”

“More than us, Adria, it's you who made him really doubt himself.” Gerard emphasized the word 'you' with a grin. “We already know the outcome.”

Cyan won't be able to be himself again. His consciousness will be eaten by the artificial soul that will take over his body, stealing his magic including his elemental capability. A little like how the cryo sorceress took over my body before, but entirely on a different level because any sort of reasoning won't reach him. This time he will really be dead.

My chest ached with the truth they've thrown at me, but I couldn't let myself wallow in guilt. Kailangan ako ni Cyan ngayon.

Muli kong tinakbo ang pinto. Halos kapapasok pa lang ng katawan ni Cyan. May magagawa pa 'ko!