Elemental Guardian

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟷𝟾

Kaya pala ineensayo ako ng baliw na 'yun.

Binasa ko ang description ng portrait niya at 16 pa pala siya rito and he was already known as a professor and a great hero in the Kingdom. Pero bakit nakasimangot ito sa painting? He looked so pissed off at may pagka-badboy ang datingan. 'Yung lolo kong kilala ay mukhang mokong na lagi akong pinapakitaan nang nakakaloko niyang mukha.

Baka tumanda lang talaga si pops.

Binasa ko na rin ang iba and I read Wanda, the grandma of Benetha Kamala, I think... And Red Elzier, the fire elemental user and Theo Leo, the air elemental user. This guy is strikingly handsome. Nakakalaglag panga ang kaguwapohan niya, but somehow, he resembles Rave.

"Hello?!" Rinig kong tawag sa loob kaya napahinto lamang ako at hindi na makagalaw! I turned off the flashlight and the moment I done hiding it inside my chest - my personal pocket, ay may nararamdaman akong presensiya sa tabi ko and that's when I realized that I was damn too late to hide!

He's already in front of me!

"What are you doing here?" Napalingon ako nito and it was just Alaric! The black Prince! Ramdam kong lumalamig ang buong katawan ko na para bang binubuhusan ako nito nang sobrang lamig na tubig.

I-I should act mute right?!

I raised my hands and did the sign language, telling him that I am lost! Buti nalang talaga tinuruan ako ni pops nito para raw silent communication for dangerous times.

"Ah, I see." Bulong nito sa tapos nagsesenyas din gamit ang mga daliri nito para kausapin ako through sign language. "I'm glad I found you." Sabi nito at napatigil lang ako sa ginagawa niya. How did he know sign language? I thought he doesn't know how to do it?

I asked him through sign language about how he knew to sign and he chuckled. "I learned it from my master." Sabi nito habang nagsi-sign language sa harapan ko. Kaya pala. Kay pops rin.

"You must be cold on that dress. Here." Sabi nito galing sa bunganga niya at ihinubad and makapal nitong itim na bear coat saka inilagay ito sa mga balikat ko. I can't help my eyes to get sparkly. I have never experience being treated like this by someone...

"So how did you get lost?" Tanong nito ulit through sign language habang nagsasalita na rin so I nodded and started replying him through signs.

"I practiced teleportation but I ended up in here. I apologize."

I lied, obviously. I don't know what to say to him. I can't tell him the truth either.

"That's unfortunate, but that happens all the time." Bulong nito sa sarili nito so I just hugged the coat that he gave me. He's such a sweet gentleman. He's literally like a big bear with silver locks of hair acting so soft to a girl like me. Who looked so fragile and beautiful.

"I can escort you back to the Palace." Sabi nito habang nagsesenyas sa mga kamay nito kaya tumango ako at muling lumingon sa mga paintings sa loob. I never had the chance to look at my mother's portrait, if she had one.

"You wanna see the portrait first?" Tanong nito kaya napabaling ako kaagad nang tingin sa guwapong lalakeng ito! I raised my hands on my chest and shook it to tell him that it was okay! I can't face him anymore! I'll turn red!

"I insist. I'll tour you around if you want, my lady." He insisted, by using the sign language then held his hand in front of me. Waiting for me to accept his hand while giving me a sweet smile. I swear, this guy looks so intimidating at first glance but when you get to know him, he's very gentle and sweet.

The both of us toured around the halls and he also introduced the people in those paintings and they were the previous Elemental Guardians from generations.

I wondered.

"What's an Elemental Guardians?" I ask through sign language while the both of us were still walking around the halls.

He raised his hands and looked at me smiling and doing the sign language. "They're the people who will protect the Kingdom. The most powerful elementalists." Sabi nito at napatango naman ako sa kaniya and he smiled at me. Umiwas naman ako nang tingin sa kaguwapohan niya at bumaling sa harapan ko at nakita ang portrait ng isang babaeng may maputing buhok.

She has a wavy white hair and crystal blue eyes, wearing a white armor while smiling so beautifully. She looked a lot like me... Except for my straight long white hair.

"The heavenly executioner." Dinig kong sabi nito kaya bumaling ako sa kaniya at napadikit ang dalawa kong kilay. Lumingon naman ito sa pwesto kong nakatingin sa ibaba dahil sobrang liit ko sa kaniya. Hanggang dibdib lang siguro ako nito.

"Oh sorry. I said, she's known as the heavenly executioner." Nakangiting pagsa-sign language kaya nakangiti ako nito. I already heard you, you dumbass.

-----

After an hour of silent talking with this handsome young man, he finally escorted me back to the Palace. Hindi ko na pinapaalam sa kaniya kung saang kuwart ako kaya nagpapaiwan lang ako sa 9th floor ng palasyong ito para malito ko siya kung saan ba talaga ako na kuwarto naka-stay muna. Delikado na makilala niya ako.

I'm not ready either if he'll ended up hating me.

"Are you sure you'll go alone into your room?" Nag-alalang tanong nito gamit ang sign-language ulit kaya binigyan ko siya nang matamis na ngiti ko at tumango.

"Don't worry, I have someone who'll assist me from here. Thank you so much." I said through sign language and I noticed how sad he was so I raised my arm up and try to give him a head pats but he's too tall! Nang bigla akong niyakap nito!

Flushed! Shocked and unable to move! My legs felt like it's turning to jellies but he's too strong to even notice my weight. "If only I could know your name." Bulong nito sa balikat ko habang yakap-yakap ako.

My lips turned curved. I felt sad, but I tried to smile for him so he won't notice I understood him. Kumalas na ito sa yakap and he cupped my cheeks. "I really like you. So, uhm... can you tell me your name?" Tanong nito and my eyes widened and I acted confused! What is with him? Is he confessing his feelings towards me?!

"I wanna hang out with you more, my lady. I'm so comfortable to be with your company." Sabi nito and I blinked, still cupping my face. "Of course you can't hear me. But I hope I could heal your ears so I could teach you how to talk and hear your voice." Saad nito na may halong kalungkotan. My heart felt touched as he said those sweet words.

He finally lets go of my face, made me notice how warm his hands were and cold the place is.

He held my hand and kissed my knuckles. "I hope I could see you again." He said and instantly turned into black mist of smoke kaya napatumba ako sa malamig na sahig!

A-A dark element user...