The Lost Prodigy

66. Reinforcements

Cato soared to the sky like a dauntless eagle, with me in his arms. The world became a blur around us because of his swiftness. I shivered quietly when the cold wind harshly touched my bare face. Nakita ko ring may mga Patronus na nakasunod sa aming likuran na mukhang sinisiguro ang aking kaligtasan. They were each holding a weapon and all of them appeared to be ready for battle.

Cato volunteered to fly me all the way to the Crimson Empire. Makakaya ko namang makalipad ng mag-isa. But the latter insisted. He reminded me again to preserve my magic. And letting him carry me was a good decision because I couldn’t navigate my way easily because of the stygians blocking my path if I chose to fly on my own.

Bumalik ako sa huwisyo nang may mahagip ang aking mata. We were now approaching a black mass. At first, I thought that it was only a part of the huge cloud covering the entire planet. Pero nang makalapit kami roon ay napagtanto kong hindi iyon ulap kundi mga stygians na nag-aabang sa aming pagdating.

“Kumapit ka ng mahigpit, Lithuania,” utos sa akin ni Cato at sa sobrang lapit niya sa akin ay nararamdaman ko na ang mainit niyang hininga. Napakaingay ng buong kalangitan pero dinig na dinig ko ang kabog ng kanyang dibdib. That was how close I was to Cato. But I grabbed his back tightly, following what he said. Mukhang nakayakap na ako sa kanya ngayon batay sa aking posisyon.

This was for my safety. Wala akong dapat na isiping iba.

When we got closer to the cloud of dark magicaes, I saw all of them hissed at me before they moved away. Nagtaka ako dahil sa kinilos ng mga ito pero nakita ko rin kung bakit parang natakot sila sa akin. Amaranthine was still sheathed but its silver scabbard was glowing brightly like a beacon in the dark.

The way was now clear. Humawi ang mga stygians at sinimulang atakehin ang mga Patronus na sumusunod sa amin. I looked at the winged warriors with worry. Will they manage to fend off the evolved creatures?

“We need to help them, Cato,” sabi ko sa lalaki na patuloy pa rin sa paglipad. We were now nearing the large floating kingdom of our enemy. And the holy blade was still emitting a blinding light.

“Hayaan mong lumaban sila para sa iyo.” His reply was short but it was enough to comfort me and exterminate the growing fear inside my chest.

Nang akala ko ay magiging maayos na ang lahat ay may nakita kaming dambuhalang kometa na paparating sa aming direksiyon. Cato flew upward just before the attack hit us. Humigpit ang pagkakakapit ko sa aking kasama dahil doon. Nagwala ang aking puso dahil muntikan na kaming tamaan ng kometang tiyak na bubura sa amin sa mundong ibabaw.

Mukhang may sasabihin si Cato pero hindi niya natuloy dahil pinaulanan kami ng napakaraming atake ng kalaban. The glow of Amaranthine might’ve repelled all of the stygians from coming at us. Pero dahil sa liwanag na nagmumula rito ay natunton kami ng kabalyero. They weren’t targetting Vallahan anymore because we were their new prey.

Successive blasts of dark energy came at us. Parang lalabas na ang puso ko sa aking dibdib dahil sa kaba.

“Wala kang dapat ikatakot, Lithuania. Pumikit ka lang at magtiwala sa akin. Hindi kita ipapahamak.”

Isinubsob ko ang aking mukha sa dibdib ni Cato bago ko isinara ang talukap ng aking mga mata. I held tight on him like he was the anchor that'll keep me at bay. And it was the right thing to do because Cato accelerated. Parang naiwan ang kaluluwa ko sa eksaktong lugar kung na saan kami kanina dahil sa sobrang bilis ng kanyang paglipad.

I can also hear explosions around us. Cato’s body was trembling because of the force created by the outbursts but he didn’t back down. He continued flying until I finally felt the cemented ground beneath my boots.
Nang buksan ko ang aking mga mata ay natagpuan ko ang aking sarili sa itaas ng pader kung saan nakikita ko ang nangyayaring digmaan sa ere. When I roamed my eyes, I saw that this circular wall has four watch towers. This nearly destroyed place was chaotic and I also saw many pulverized cannons. Nang pagmasdan ko ang palasyo ay nakita kong pinoprotektahan din ito ng paikot na pader.

Nang maalala kong nakakapit pa rin ako kay Cato ay mabilis akong bumitaw sa kanya. Pero nagulat naman ako nang bigla na lang niya akong hinila. His action caught me off guard. I couldn’t turn in time to keep myself standing. But luckily, Cato grabbed my waist and stopped me from falling.

When I looked behind us, I realized why he did that. Dahil ang bahagi ng pader na nasa likuran ko kanina ay nawasak nang may tumamang itim na kidlat dito. From the right side, I saw several Crimson Knights running towards us with their weapons already pointed and aimed at me and my ally. Pinagaspas lang ni Cato ang kanyang pakpak na siyang lumikha ng malakas na hanging tumangay sa mga kabalyero. Sa hagupit non ay nagkabungguan ang mga kalaban at ang iba naman ay nahulog sa ibaba.

Marahan naman akong tumayo at pinagpagan ang aking sarili. “Bantayan mo ang likod mo parati,” wika naman sa akin ni Cato kaya tumango ako sa kanya. Even though I’m being protected, I should never let my guard down.

Bumukas ang watch tower na nasa aming kaliwa at mula roon ay nagsilabasan ang maraming kabalyero. From the stone railings, I also saw several grappling hooks which means that enemies were now climbing this part of the Crimson Empire’s outer wall. Archers already positioned themselves and I can see the tip of their arrows burning as they directed them at us.

We were surrounded.

Pero wala akong nakitang kaba kay Cato nang ihinarap niya ako sa kanya. And then he used his black wings to act as a shield.

Even though I was hidden inside, I caught a flickering light that was similar to a firefly. Something or someone also landed near us. At sigurado akong matatangay ako non kung hindi lang ako niyakap ni Cato. I heard a loud growl and a piercing cry before the entire wall shook because of numerous detonations.

“Aba aba aba! Anong meron?” Humiwalay ako kay Cato nang marinig ko ang boses ni Ella. Agad ko namang tinungo ang kinaroroonan ng kaibigan ko bago ko siya niyakap.

“Dumating kayo,” nakangiti kong sambit sa kanya habang nakatingin kay Gale na nasa anyong griffin pa rin at kasalukuyang lumilipad sa himpapawid.

“Siyempre naman bestie! I want to see you get the crown kaya binilisan namin ni Gale ang pakikipaglaban para makahabol. And they did too,” wika ni Ella at ngumuso kaya napatingin ako kung saan iyon nakaturo. Halos manghina ang tuhod ko sa tuwa nang makita ko si Sir Callum at ang isang malaking puting oso na nakasuot ng kalasag.

“It’s nice to see you again, my former trainee. And it’s now my honor to serve you, Princess Lithuania,” bati sa akin ni Sir Callum kaya nakangiti akong tumango.

“Midas and Selene gathered us just in time before your declaration. I guess we’re not that late?” dagdag ng dati kong tagapagsanay.

“Your timing’s perfect, Sir Callum.”

Hindi ko na narinig ang sunod na sinabi ng huli dahil kinilabutan ako nang makita ko ang paglitaw ng napakaraming maliliit na isla sa ere. And I felt relief and joy when I saw that the Vanguards had finally arrived to help me fight this war.

“My twin sister used up all of her strength to set those isles afloat so you better seal the throne, girl,” rinig kong saad naman ng oso. Hindi nga ako nagkakamali dahil si Lady Evangeline nga talaga iyon. And as usual, she’s short-tempered and bossy. But I can’t help not to smile.

“I will.”

I was surprised when the bear smiled at me. “Be our queen, Princess Lithuania.”

Tinungo na namin ang pinakamalapit na watch tower pagkatapos para roon makababa. The Vanguards who were wearing winged sandals, were now fighting side by side with the Patronus. I was amazed by how coordinated their movements were. Nakikita ko ang pagtutulungan sa kanila at pagkakaisa.

“They’re united because of you, bestie. You and your vision of a better world,” bulong sa akin ni Ella nasa aking tabi.

“You were the first one to join me and my dream, Ella. Thank you for sticking with me,” sagot ko sa kanya at nagulat na lang ako nang makitang maluha-luha na siya.

“I’m super blessed to meet you, Blaire. Before I knew that you were the lost princess, you were my sister and closest friend. And I knew that you were the one who saved me during our first hours in Forestia. Because of what you did, you made me feel the beauty of hope again. Ako ang dapat mapasalamat. Thank you for accepting me, Queen Lithuania.”

Hinawakan ko naman ang kamay ni Ella habang patuloy pa rin kami sa pagtakbo. Sapat na iyon para iparamdam ko sa aking kaibigan kung gaano rin ako kaswerte at kasaya dahil nakilala ko siya.

I saw Gale destroying the empire’s weapons when we got outside. Seeing him in his griffin form still left me astonished. Nakita kong gumawa siya ng napakaraming ipo-ipo para talunin ang mga kabalyerong umaatake sa kanya.

We ran the entire grassy field towards the inner fortress that we have to pass in order for us to reach the palace. Umiilaw paminsan-minsan ang paligid dahil sa salpukan ng mga kapangyarihan. The noise was deafening as it resounded and echoed like thunder.

Ilang metro na lang ay mararating na namin ang entrada papasok sa emperyo pero nagsilabasan mula roon ang napakaraming kabalyero at mga stygians. Nakapuwesto rin sa itaas ng pader ang mga kalabang handa na para panain kami. And in the middle of the enemy’s legion, Freyah and Maddox appeared.

Biglang tumahimik ang paligid nang magsalita ang Imperial Mercenary na may mahabang pulang buhok.

“Is this what you call an army?” nang-iinsulto nitong tanong sa akin na ikinatawa ng kanilang hukbo. Tinignan niya pa kami isa-isa bago napangisi. Kahit ako ay kinakabahan dahil lima lang kami ngayon habang hindi mabilang ang dami ng aming mga makakaaway.

But I just saw Ella giving me an assuring smile in my peripheral view. Lumiwanag ang dulo ng kanyang wand na itinago niya sa kanyang likuran. I felt proud of her because she have improved a lot. Hindi na niya kailangang bumanggit ng mga kataga para gumamit ng spell.

May mga ilaw namang lumitaw pagkatapos sa buong paligid na kagaya ng mga alitaptap.

Narinig naman namin ang malakas na halakhak ni Freyah. “What are you planning to do, little witch? Bubulagin mo na naman ba kami gamit ang mahina mong spell?” sarkastiko nitong tanong kay Ella.
But I knew what Ella was planning to do. And it was my turn to smirk as the little orbs floated towards our enemies.

“Never underestimate my army, Freyah. You’ll take back everything you’ve said.”

The latter laughed once again before she held her chin up high. Binalot na ng berdeng asido ang kanyang mahabang latigo.

“Prove it, then," arogante pa rin nitong litanya. Itinuro niya ang kanyang armas sa akin pagkatapos bago humiyaw. "Kill them all!”

Bago pa makahakbang ang hukbo ng emperyo ay mabilis na sumabog ang mga bolang ilaw na nakapalibot sa kanila. It was a powerful outburst of light and magic. Binalot ng usok ang buong paligid pero kahit hindi ko nakikita ay alam kong malaking pinsala ang natanggap nila Freyah sa atakeng iyon ni Ella.

“You need to go now, Blaire,” sabi sa akin ng huli. Gusto ko sanang lumaban sa tabi nila pero nakita ko ang isang portal na nagsilitawan sa aming likuran. At mula roon ay lumabas ang napakaraming Vanguards na kinabibilangan nina Midas at Selene.

“I’m your royal witch, Your Highness. Believe in my strength. At may mas mahalaga ka pang bagay na dapat gawin,” wika ulit ni Ella nang makita niya ang nag-aalala kong tingin.

“Just don’t die okay. Lead my army and live for my cause, Ella.”

“You can count on me, Queen Lithuania! Hindi naman ako papayag na mawala ang isang diyosang tulad ko. The new world that you’ll be creating needs faces like mine,” taas noo nitong pahayag kaya natawa na lang ako. This is the Ella that I love and treasure.

“Oh siya! Tsupi na! Doon ka na kay Cato mo!” saad niya sa akin. Niyakap ko naman siya ng mahigpit bago ako lumapit sa lalaking handa na ulit lumipad. He looked exhausted a while ago but he seems to be fine now.

Nakikita ko na rin ang unti-unting pagbangon ng mga kalaban kaya kailangan na talaga naming kumilos.

Ang nakakabinging sigaw ni Freyah ang aking narinig bago tuluyang nagbanggaan ang dalawang puwersa. But Cato and I were already inside the second wall.

And we're going to end this hostility, once and for all.