Realm of the North

Chapter 6: Trust

"Phoenix," basa kong muli noong makita ko ito sa isa pang entry ng dating Captain Mary. Airyll. That was the real name of the Captain Mary before me.

'This is the reason why I don't like meddling with the Phoenix businesses, especially with their Knights. They always think they're above the law.'

Napataas ang kilay ko sa nabasa. Mabilis kong iniskip ang binabasa at hinanap ang ibang entries tungkol sa Phoenix.

'The Phoenix. Don't. Trust. Them.'

"Why, Captain Mary?" tanong ko sa sarili at pinagpatuloy ang pagbabasa. I didn't expect to read something like this. Base kasi sa sinabi ni Alessia tungkol sa librong ito, naglalaman ito ng mga importanteng nangyari sa buhay ni Captain Mary. At kung tama ang pagkakabilang ko, may labing pitong Captain Mary na ang namalagi sa katawang ito. I was the eighteenth Captain Mary.

'There's only one reason why Captain Mary is still existing in this world. To protect this realm. To protect Northend and its people. That's the sole reason of you're existing, too.'

"Northend will fail without the Captain. The Tyrants needs their captain to function well and Captain Mary needs to maintain her power in able to fight against the enemy. She's the core of this realm." Pagpapatuloy ko sa pagbabasa.

The core of this realm? Really? Ilang dekada na bang nag-eexist itong si Captain Mary?

Napapikit ako at napatingala na lamang. Damn!

How can I protect this realm? How can I fight? Ni hindi ko nga alam kung paano ko gagamitin ang kapangyarihang taglay ni Captain Mary! She's too powerful for me that I can't even imagine being her, as the ruthless warrior who will do everything to protect this realm, Northend! At kung pagbabasehan ko lahat ng mga isinulat ng mga nagdaang Captain Mary, hinayaan lang nilang lumabas ang totoong kakayahan nito. They just fight endlessly. Wala silang kontrol kung nasa digmaan na ito. That's how they explained being the Captain of Tyrants! 

And I can't let that happen to me! I'm the captain of my own self! Duh!

Nasa loob ako ng katawang ito, oo, pero nasa tamang pag-iisip naman ako at tiyak kong hindi ako magpapatalo sa katawang ito.

Iminulat ko ang mga mata ko at pinagpatuloy ang pagbabasa. I need to finish reading this book before the sun rises. At pagmatapos ko ito, kakausapin ko nang masinsinan ang Tyrants. I need to ask them questions, too. Kailangang malinawan na ako kahit papaano sa sitwasyon mayroon ako! 

Panay ang hikab ko noong maupo ako sa upuan ko. Nasa meeting room na ako ngayon ng Tyrants at tahimik akong pinagmamasdan ng mga kasama ko. Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko at marahang ipinikit ang mga mata! Damn it! Gusto ko pang matulog!

"You finished reading the book, Captain?" It was Zahra. Inilingan ko ito at muling humikab.

"No," sagot ko at marahang tinampal ang pisngi para naman magising ang diwa ko kahit papaano. "I skipped some entries."

"You need to read all the entries, Captain. Masasagot nila lahat ng katanungan mo," wika ni Jaycee na siyang ikinangiwi ko.

"Masyadong marami ang entries, Jaycee. I just read some important entries. Iyong makakatulong sa misyong mayroon tayo ngayon," ani ko at umayos nang pagkakaupo. "I found out that I don't have any choice but to be her, to be Captain Mary. Lahat ng nagdaang Captain Mary ay sinubukang makaalis a katawang ito. And they all failed," sambit ko at tiningnan silang lahat. "I can't even die whenever I wanted too."

"Yes, Rhianna Dione. Captain's body was sealed with special magics," it was Alessia. "You may have injuries during our battles but you can't die and leave that body unless the next Captain Mary is about to lose her own self and ready to enter that body."