Darklight: Journey To The Empyrean (Completed)

CHAPTER 27

I stare at them as they tend some of their wounds. Everybody is awfully quiet. Well at least it gives me more access to wander on my own thoughts.

"How did the humans get here?" Tanong ni Eulises na katulad ko ay iniisip rin ang nagyayari kanina.

Everybody shrug.

"We have the same problems with Empyrean now. Mas lalo nga lang lumala ang sa atin dahil malawak na ang naging impluwensya ng salamangka na kahit ang mga taong katulad natin ay naitawid na nila dito gamit ang kanilang kapangyarihan." salaysay ni Verleen.

"Pero paano?" tanong ni Eulises.

Tsk.

"How did you manage to get out of Elviticus?" I ask trying to avoid the thoughts of having a traitor in this group.

"Angus and his illusion help us get out of there. The king's adviser tried to poison us but we found out before he did. Angus created an illusion that made the king's adviser thought we died." Cerberus narrated.

Illusion?

I raise my brows at Angus. He just look at me and shrug. "Just found out a day ago."

I jusy nod, at least my brother has something to defend him other than his skills for combat. Illusion can be deadly especially when well-mastered.

"And the first Ophelia you saw is the queen, she offered herself as bait." The first words Larco said throughout this whole time.

"And then she died, how fascinating." I sarcastically said.

"She was already dying out of sickness even before we got here." Larco defending himself as he heard my tone full of sarcasm.

I just roll my eyes. Whatever!

"Ang kailangan natin ngayon malaman ay paano tayo pupunta sa bundok ng Vernon." Dagdag na saad ni Larco.

We all gaze in unison when the door open. Lumabas nito ang hari ng mga higante na may dala-dalang isang pergamino. He handed me the scroll and nod silently. Kung gaano siya kabilis pumasok ay ganun rin kabilis umalis.

"What's that?" Angus ask pertaining to the scroll in my hand.

"The map to the mountain of Vernon."

Another map, another deadly adventure. Nagpaalam kami sa kaharian ng mga higante ng may mga ngiti sa labi. It is the most nicest feeling to be able to help them. Knowing Lucious and Epoh governing their kingdoms, the people will live peacefully for decades and that flatters me more.

Mainit ang sikat ng araw habang nilalakbay namin ang kahabaan ng isang masukal na daan. Mabuti nalang at binigyan kami ng ilang elves ng mga kagamitan para makayanan ang mahabang paglalakbay. In the middle of our long walk, the boys suddenly groan in unison and sat on the ground.

"Problema niyo?" Tanong ni Verleen sa kanila na katulad ko ay nahiwagaan rin sa nangyayari sa kanila.

"We've been walking for five hours straight at least let us rest for awhile and we'll be back on track." saad ni Cerberus na halatang napapagod na rin sa kakalakad.

"Oh my god Cerberus, sorry kasi napagod ka ng ganyan." sarkastikong saad ni Verleen sabay lakad paalis na mabilis ring sinundan ni Cerberus at sinuyo.

"Ganyan talaga pag buntis. Hindi mo pwedeng pagtaasan ng boses dahil baka patayin ka habang natutulog." saad ni Eulises na dapat sana ay para lang sa sarili niya pero nasabi niya nang malakas kaya wala na siyang ligtas sa mga tanong.

"Buntis si Verleen?" eksaheradang tanong ni Ophelia na katulad namin ay nagulat rin sa kanyang binalita. Tiningnan ako ni Eulises na parang may malaki siyang nagawang kasalanan. Nag peace sign nalang siya sabay takbo palayo sa akin.

Larco look at me in a serious manner and I stare at him back but only for awhile before Ophelia just pop up out of nowhere. I just roll my eyes and look at where Cerberus and Verleen went.

"Secure this place brother, Verleen needs to rest and so are the others." I said and he just nod as an answer and left.

Sumapit ang madilim at maginaw na gabi. Nakaupo silang lahat sa harap ng isang apoy na siyang nagsilbing init sa gabing malamig. I look at Angus on top of the tree looking at the moon. Just like me he loves the feeling of solitude and I don't wanna ruin that moment for him so I remain in the ground but few meters away from them.

Magkabati na sina Verleen at Cerberus na parehang nasa loob ng isang malaking tela na bigay ng mga taga Elviticus para daw sa aming paglalakbay. Ganoon rin ang ginawa ng iba lalong lalo na si Ophelia na kinumutan pa ni Larco. Na parang wala siyang kamay na kumutan ang sarili niya. I just turn away ang decided to focus my gaze in the darkness. Nasa ganoon akong posisyon ng may mainit na bagay ang lumapag sa aking mga balikat, I gaze my way to the man who put the blanket on me and saw him staring at me with his passionate eyes.

"I don't need this." I said and took off the blanket from my shoulders and give it back to him.

Tiningnan niya ang kumot na aking ibinalik sa kanya sabay tango at bumalik sa kanyang pagkakaupo sa tabi ni Ophelia na kanina pa minamasdan ang paglapit ni Larco sa aking pwesto.

"You built your walls too high sister." saad ni Angus sabay bigay sa akin ng bagay na ilang araw ko nang hinahanap. I open my palms and turn it around. As I stop turning and let it go, the melody of the tone take me towards the darkness of a long lasting solitude with myself and this song.

If I let my walls tumble into the ground. Then, what I am protecting inside will be too visible and visibility is a weakness. The things I am protecting, the thoughts I have been trying to bury, the memories I am trying to forget, will hunt me and I do not want that.

But if I keep my walls to high, will I be the happiest? If something wrong happens because of me, letting my guards down, will I be to blame?

Is this even about the invicible walls I built or is this about Larco and how I hate to admit, I am hurting in a war I cannot fight back and can't even ask for back up. The hardest fight is not with swords, or the arrows, and armors. The hardest fight is defending yourself in a battle against your thoughts, your walls, yourself.

I have been battling with the idea that I am an ordained priestess of Vilmore, the guardian of the village of the south. Against the thought that I am also a human, literally. I deserve to love. I deserve to be happy. Pero kahit na anong pilit kong piliin ang magmahal mas pumapasok sa isip ko kong bakit ako narito sa simula pa lang. Para sa Vilmore, para sa mga tao, para sa syudad. Pero masaya pa ba ako? Pag nagtagumpay ba kami dito at bumalik sa kanya-kanyang buhay, sasaya pa ba ako katulad ng dati?

Will my position in the council gives me contentment or I'll be living another perfect priestess princessy slave to the council for the rest of my life?