The Lost Prodigy

55. Reason

We were both looking at the small bonfire that the latter created. Before, I was looking forward to talk with Ophelia because she was a mystery to me. Pero ngayong kilala ko na kung sino talaga siya ay nahihiya na ako sa kanya. I was wrong for judging her.

"Thank you for saving us, Ophelia. And I'm sorry."

Napangiti naman siya sa akin pagkatapos. "I don't know what you're sorry for, but I accept your apology. And you're welcome."

"We went inside the maze to look for you. Pero kabaliktaran ang nangyari dahil ikaw pa ang nakahanap sa amin. Ironic, isn't it?"

"Yes, I heard that you were looking for me. So that really confirms that I'm the lost prodigy," kalmado niyang wika na ikinagulat ko.

"You already knew?" Hindi makapaniwala kong tanong sa kanya na sinagot naman niya ng tango.

"I was born as a necromancer. My flair gives me the ability to talk with ghosts and the deceased. When I was young, I was frightened by them. Pero habang lumalaki ako ay nawala ang takot ko sa kanila. The spirits of the dead helped me countless times. They were there for me and Raiden when we escaped from our burning orphanage. Parang tagabantay ko na sila kung ituring at sila lang ang nakakapitan ko sa mga panahong ako lang mag-isa. Pero ni minsan ay hindi nila ako tinawag sa pangalan ko. They always address me as Princess Lithuania. Kinutuban na ako noon pero hindi ko iyon sinabi kay Raiden. I'm not sure that I'm the last Maxime. Until now."

Huminga naman ako ng malalim nang mapagtanto ko na kanina ko pa pala pinipigilan ang aking paghinga.

"Knowing the truth, it must be very hard for you."

"I didn't really expect to be the lost princess. I'm not yet fully convinced kahit sinabi mo na sa akin ng harapan."

Kumunot naman ang noo ko dahil doon. "And why is that?"

Humarap naman sa akin si Ophelia. Nakikita ko na parang may gusto siyang sabihin pero hindi niya iyon nagawa. Iniiwas na lang niya ang kanyang paningin at ibinalik sa maliit na apoy na nasa aming harapan. The heat that the fire emitted was enough to warm us on this windy and dark night.

Ilang segundo ring namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan namin. Natigil lang iyon nang mapabuga ng hangin ang aking katabi.

"I was wondering about many things ever since I knew how my ability works. Bakit ang mga kaluluwa lang ng mga taong hindi ko kilala ang kumakausap sa akin? Even if I was an orphan, the spirits of my family members must have somehow found a way to communicate with me. Pero ni isa sa mga espiritong nakakausap ko ay hindi ko kamag-anak. And if I was indeed Princess Lithuania, bakit hindi nagpapakita sa akin ang mga totoo kong magulang? Unless they are alive, they could have showed their presence to me. Pero hindi sila nagparamdam, Blaire. Yes, I wasn't alone because I had the other ghosts around. But I needed my family. I needed them the most but they seemed not to care about me."

Ophelia was crying by my side and I caressed her back to comfort her. Maswerte ako kung ituturing dahil may pamilya ako. In those past years, I was happy and contented. I didn't know that other children were suffering and starving. And worst, they were homeless.

Guilt was slowly consuming me.

"I don't have the answers to your questions, Ophelia. Pero isa lang ang masisiguro ko. You're not alone anymore. You have us now. Raiden even escaped death many times to be here for you."

"At naniniwala akong may rason kung bakit nangyayari ang lahat. You may find it hard to discover those reasons but in the right time, I know that things will unfold nicely. All you had been through wouldn't be worthless, I promise," dagdag ko.

Tinapik naman ni Ophelia ang balikat ko nang matigil na siya sa pag-iyak. "Thank you, Blaire. Looks like I already have an adviser." Napangiti naman ako sa sinabi niya.

"At bilang tagapayo ko, ano sa tingin mo ang sunod nating dapat gawin?" tanong ni Ophelia. Puno ng determinasyon ang mga mata niyang nakatingin sa akin.

Sinagot ko siya ng hindi nawawala ang ngiti sa aking mga labi. "We need to rebuild your army, Princess Lithuania."

_____

We left early in the morning. Nakatanggap kasi ng mensahe kagabi si Orion mula kay Chief Zero. Sabi ng huli ay nagawa nilang lumikas sa isang abandonadong bayan sa hilaga. Dahil maaga kaming naglakbay ay nandito na kami sa Boreal Region at malapit na namin marating ang Alkyne Town kung saan naroroon ang mga Vanguards.

I saw how Orion's mood changed when he informed us about the letter that he received from a messenger owl. Nakahinga rin ako ng maluwag nang malaman kong walang nasawi sa mga Vanguards noong umatake ang emperyo. Many got injured but Chief Zero assured us that all of them were alive.

Nagising na rin si Raiden kaninang umaga. He was surprised to see us. Mas lalo siyang nagulat nang makita niyang kasama namin si Ophelia. I couldn't help but to be glad because they got reunited at last.

Mukhang hindi rin natatandaan ni Raiden ang nangyari noong nakaraan kaya wala na dapat akong ipag-alala. Seeing him doing good and happier than the time we're inside the maze is enough already.

"What's the matter?" rinig kong tanong ni Orion sa akin. I was just being wary of the woods but he might've noticed how serious I became.

Pinagigitnaan nila ako ni Ella na hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring imik. Pero kahit tahimik siya ay nakikinig naman siya sa amin. I really hope that time would heal her faster.

"It's nothing. Bumalik na ba ang kapangyarihan mo?" tanong ko kay Orion. His nod was his only response. I didn't know that the nullification effect of Asher's ability would last for almost a day. But it was good to have my spiritus energy back.

Nang hawiin ni Ophelia ang mga malalagong dahon ng halamang nasa aming harapan ay bumungad sa amin ang napakaraming bahay na bato. Maingat kaming pumasok sa tahimik na bayang iyon. Wala pa akong nakikitang mga tao sa labas dahil kailangan nilang magtago para sa kanilang kaligtasan.

Orion whistled three times. That was what Chief Zero ordered him to do to inform the Vanguards about our arrival. Mula naman sa aming gilid ay nakita kong lumabas si Chief Zero mula sa isang bahay. Napako ako sa aking kinatatayuan nang bigla ring nagsilabasan ang mga kabalyero ng emperyo mula sa iba pang mga bahay at pinalibutan kaming lima.

"I'm sorry," rinig kong wika ng lalaking pinagkatiwalaan ko. Napatawad ko na siya sa lahat ng ginawa niya noon sa akin pero hindi ko na siya mapapatawad sa ganitong pagkakataon.

I don't know what to feel anymore. I tried pinching myself. Umaasa akong panaginip lang ang lahat ng ito.

But everything was clear. Chief Zero betrayed us.

It was a trap and we let ourselves fall into it.