Heartbound

Heart 26: Tomorrow

Ngumiti naman si Zach. "We're actually waiting for you. We're waiting to fight anytime. I investigated when you left... when I realized that there's some changes in Alveria. And we discovered some things that may help you. Hindi ko lang ako sigurado kung alam na ninyo ang impormasyong ito."

"Nakikinig kami," pahayag ko.

"We discovered that King Aulius is possessed. I'm just not sure if he's a different person or if an external force is manipulating him. I just know that there's a culprit behind all this mess. Nagbago ang lahat. Naghirap ang mga tao sa loob ng kaharian. They became lifeless. Even the crops withered. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba ito sa magic circle na binubuo nila. I feel like it's slow stealing their life forces."

"May nakita ka bang crescent moon mark sa Hari?" tanong ni Zirrius.

Umiling si Zach. "Wala akong napansin. O baka naman nakatago lang?"

Marahang tumango si Zirrius. "He's really possessed. Pero hindi namin alam kung sino ang totoong kalaban. Kung tama ka na humihigop ng buhay ang magic circle, kailangan na nating pigilin ang hari bago pa niya tuluyang mabuo ito."

"Anong dapat nating gawin upang mapigilan ang hari?" tanong ni Rein.

"We need to destroy the towers," saad ko. "And we need your help to remove the crescent moons on the citizens of Alveria. We need your magic. We will teach you how. Kami na ang bahalang humarap sa hari habang ginagawa ninyo ang mga bagay na ito. Huwag kayong mangamba. Siguradong may darating na tulong mula sa ibang kaharian at sa mga elves."

"Kung ganu'n maaari na nating simulan upang makabalik na kayo sa kaharian. Alam kong may iba pa kayong gagawin," pahayag naman ni Lolo Zark.

"We will sneak inside the kingdom to secretly carry out the mission," segunda naman ni Zach. "I will meet with you and report every now and then."

Zirrius sighed with relief. He's grateful to hear that they're willing to help. He thanked them and we proceed to teach them how to remove crescent moon marks. Ipapasa na lang nila ang kaalaman sa mga kasama nila. Nanatili kami sa baryo nila sa loob ng dalawang araw at muling nagbalik sa Alveria.

Nang makabalik ako sa inn, may inabot na liham si Damon. "She's coming," he said. Kumunot ang noo ko at binuksan ang liham. I smiled. Verone and the army were on their way to other kingdoms and Alveria.

Bumaling ako kina Shin at Damon. "Ano'ng balita habang wala kami."

"We need to hurry. The magic circle is stealing life forces," seryosong saad ni Damon. "Everyone will wither if this continues."

Tumango si Shin. "Pumasok ako sa kaharian. Nakita ko ang pinagmumulan ng itim na mahika. The medallion stolen from Zirrius is in the middle of the Magic Circle. It's the source that we need to destroy. The one who steals our life forces. Binabalot na ito ng itim na mahika. And I saw the king steadily performs the ritual. I did a research about that medallion. It's an heirloom from your ancestors, Avery. A medallion that represents all essential elements of magic. A medallion that almost ruin this world because of two lovers, Sin and Damon. The forbidden lovers that was bound to be forgotten by time and cursed to not cross paths ever again. I wasn't able to research about Sin and Damon. Sin is a Devon. Damon's origin is a mystery. It happened ten millenia ago. They both died in the end. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi sinira ng council ang medallion. Naiwan lang ang kalahati nito sa pangangalaga ni Reyna Zara na ina ni Zirrius at Empress Demelza, sa ina ni Avery."

"Maybe it's too powerful that they have no power to destroy it?" nakakunot noong tanong ko.

Tumango si Shin. "The medallion seems breathing."

"Breathing?" Tanong ni Damon. "It's alive?"

Umiling si Shin. "Hindi ko masabing buhay ito. Siguro dahil lang sa nahihigop niyang buhay?"

"It's getting more complicated," saad ni Zirrius. "Nasaan si Kendrick?"

"Nasa palasyo. Nagpanggap siyang isang kawal at naglilingkod sa hari. He's preparing some things for us. Para mas madali kayong makapasok sa loob ng kaharian," sagot ni Shin. "He provided blueprints of the underground tunnel and the castle. I can give him signal once we decided to move."

"Ibinigay rin ni Kendrick kung saan madaling mapapasok ang kaharian. Kailan tayo kikilos?" tanong ni Damon. "Oo nga pala. May pumunta ritong babae na hinahanap si Zirrius. May kasama siyang lalaki. Liana at Leo. Mukhang kadarating lang nila mula sa paglalakbay."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Zirrius. Mukhang hindi magandang balita ito. "Nasaan na sila? Anak ng hari si Leo," sagot ni Zirrius. "Maybe we're not safe here."

"They're staying somewhere. I think they're hiding from the guards and from the king," sagot ni Damon. "He told me he's a prince. The son of King Aulius. Sinabi niyang umalis siya dahil sa kakaibang ikinikilos ng kanyang ama. His father started to change. He became more cruel and emotionless. Maging ang ama ni Liana na si Lord Kelvin ay naapektuhan din ng Hari. Nang hindi na nila makayanan ang nangyayari, nagdesisyon silang umalis. Hindi nila alam kung saan sila pupunta at kung kanino hihingi ng tulong dahil lahat ng pinupuntuhan nila ay tila apektado ng mahika ni King Aulius."

"Sa tingin mo nagsasabi siya ng totoo?" tanong ko kay Damon.

"It's for us to find out," sagot ni Damon. "They sound genuine and true. I never met them before so I can't judge them that easily. Hindi nila hinihiling na paniwalaan ko ang sinasabi nila. Ang gusto lang nila ay makausap si Zirrius. Gusto rin nilang matapos na ang lahat ng kaguluhang ito."

"Have you tried to enter their minds?" tanong ko kay Damon.

"Kay Liana lang. She's telling the truth. And there's no crescent moon mark on them both," sagot ni Damon.

Pero noon nakita ko talaga na may crescent moon mark si Liana. O baka naman nakalaya na siya?

Napaisip si Zirrius. "What do you think Avery? Should we talk to them?" tanong niya.

Hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko. Kung hindi na talaga kontrolado si Liana, alam kong mas lalo akong maaapektuhan ng presensiya niya. But I have to control my urges. I have to stop these unnecessary feelings. We're here to fight. I need to decide what's right.

Tumango ako. "Let's meet them and confirm everything. Tomorrow."

***