Third Person
Frost swiftly moved his hand and the whole forest in the Snowlake City froze. He snapped his fingers and it immediately unfroze. It happened for just a matter of seconds. Wala sa sarili siyang napatingin sa magkabilang kamay niya.
He thought he had become useless and powerless. He thought he can never wield magic once again. Kung ano man ang nangyayari sa kaniya ay hindi niya rin maipaliwanag. He was unsure himself where this powerful and uncertain element coming from.
He opened both of his hands, the blue flame started to ignite. It was something he could not figure out. Inangat niya ang kaliwang kamay niya hanggang sa tumapat ito sa mukha niya. It was burning like fire, it was hot but somehow cold, and it can either freeze or burn anything he wants.
"Frost," Aerus called him. Tinapunan niya lang ito ng tingin.
"I think I know what happened to you." Frost stared at him, urging him to spill what he knows.
"It's one of the Ancient Lost Magic,"panimula nito. If it's something ancient, Aerus knew about it. He had vast knowledge when it comes to ancient writings, spells, magic, and a lot more to mention.
"What's happening to you is a rare case of Bid Healing Magic," Napakunot ang noo ni Frost sa sinabi nito.
Bid Healing Magic?
Five of his spiritual points were severely damaged, that includes breaking his bid. There's no way of restoring it. Tanggap na niyang hindi niya magagamit ang elemento niya, pero hindi siya nagsisisi rito kung kapalit naman no'n ay kaligtasan ng babaeng mahal niya.
"It's a Void Magic for it endangers the person who performs it, that's why no one else tried it," Auerus paused and Frost just stared at him intently, attentive of the information he is giving him.
"Bid Healing Magic. It means transferring your own bid to a person with a broken bid. Once they combine and merge with each other, the healthy bid will try to fix the broken one. The ability of the bid to heal depends on their strength and compatibility." Frost nods his head. Naiintindihan niya ang mga sinasabi nito.
The nature of the magic was natural, what he don't understand is why did it became void. Why did people try to burry it and considered it ancient and lost?
"The tricky part is, the longer the other person's bid stays and heal your bid, the more he or she feels weak. Sa bawat araw na dadaan na wala sa kaniya ang bid niya, manghihina ito. The body of the original owner of the bid might lose the ability to accept it once again." Frost then brushed his hair up as he began thinking of certain scenarios.
Aerus was pointing out that someone willingly transferred their own bid to him and that he needs to recover and heal quickly before the body of the person who helped him get weakened and lost all the magical prowess.
Bahagyang napakunot ang noo niya. He doesn't even know who gave him the bid. Paano niya malalaman kung sino 'yon upang maibalik kung hindi niya rin naman ito kilala.
"However, there's something wrong." Aerus' facial expression suddenly changed. Magkasalubong ang kilay nito't halatang naguguluhan din ito.
"The Bid Healing Magic is only transferable to same element. It means Water Elemental bid can only heal its co-water Elemental Bid," All of a sudden, Frost was confused.
What does he mean?
"Ano ibig mo sabihin?" agad nitong tanong.
"Ano ba nararamdaman mo sa sarili mo?" Napaisip naman ito. Now that he mentioned about it, he noticed some changes in his body.
Frost began telling him about the changes he felt. Unang napansin nito sa sarili ay ang pagbabago ng temperatura ng katawan niya. He used to be an ice cold, his touches used to sent everyone shivers down their spines, now it's different. He felt warm and cozy. Parang ayaw niya ng manatili sa napakalamig na temperatura't naghahanap ito ng lugar na may katamtamang init at lamig.
"What else?"
"My senses' alertness was doubled, as well as my speed and agility," he added. Frost wanted to tell him more, but he was too lazy to open his mouth and talk. Despite of the changes in his body, he still doesn't talk much.
"Your sole energy has become a blue flame, also called an Ice Flame. Such power never existed because it was void, and it can only be created when a Water Bid merges with a Fire Bid. Both Bids must be compatible with each other. Sa madaling salita dapat magkapareho ang lakas ng mga ito or it will kill the both of them."
Nanatiling nakatitig si Frost kay Aerus habang nahulog ito sa malalim na pag-iisip. He's not dumb. Before he became powerless, no man in the empire could surpass him. He was strong given the fact that he still managed to survive after the disastrous spell coming from the combined soul energies of the empire's kings.
No one can possibly be more powerful than him, except one person.
"Did the king gave his bid to you?" Kunot noong naitanong ni Aerus sa kawalan, kapagkuwan ay bigla din itong umiling.
How could he be so stupid. The Fire King could not give up his element. The Fire Queen was dead, the whole Fire Tribe was in chaos, Fire Continent is now queenless. He had lots of burden to carry in his shoulders, he probably have no time to mind other people's problems.
Nahigit ni Aerus ang hininga niya nang may isang taong rumistro sa utak niya na kayang-kayang tapatan ang lakas nino man sa kanila. Ngunit ang isipin na tama ang hinala niya'y nasasaktan siya. If she really did it for him, that proves how much he means to her.
"Have you told anyone about this?" Aerus immediately shook his head to answer his question.
"Don't tell a single soul, not even your father." He nods his head in approval. He was right, Frost knew where the bid was coming from. Mukhang tama naman ang hinila niya kung saan ito galing kahit hindi pa ito sabihin.
The kings are still bent down to defeat Flare and her father. They are carefully planning and preparing for their attacks and defenses. If they knew about Flare's Bid in Frost's body, they will take advantage of him and the situation. They will probably use him against her, because Flare's Fire Bid itself is stronger than any of their magical prowess combined together.
"Not unless you are on their side," pagdududang wika ni Frost dito. Aerus remained staring at him with a serious look on his face.
Does he look like he agreed to kill her?
"One mistake is enough, Frost. I don't want them to repeat the same mistake twice. Imbis na itama nila ang pagkakamaling ginawa nila'y dinadagdagan lamang nila ito." Walang naging sagot si Frost sa sinabi nito, bagkus ay tumalikod na lamang ito't naglakad palayo.
Napatigil ito sa paglalakad at saglit na inayos ang buhok niyang humaharang sa noo niya bago lingunin si Aerus na ngayon ay nakatingin lang sa kaniya.
"Thank you for the information, keep an eye on your father. Tell me about their plans and I'll try to sneak on my father as well." Tumango-tango ito bilang pagsang-ayon.
King Aries of Air Continent's excluding him in the plan. Ayaw ipaalam ng hari ang plano sa anak nito dahil alam niyang tutol ito't baka manggulo lang sa plano. He knew his son better than anyone else. May sarili itong prinsipyo at paninindigan. Kung ano sa tingin niya ang tama'y iyon ang paniniwalaan at doon naka ayon ang magiging kilos niya.
He raised him after all. He raised him good that he regretted it somehow.
On the North, Feleri was crying her lung out in the palace's garden. Nakasalampak ito sa sahig habang nakasubsob ang ulo sa upuan malapit sa isang napakalaking fountain. She's been like that for days ever since the funeral of her beloved mother. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi niya pa rin matanggap ang pagkamatay nito.
"Feleri." Inangat ng dalaga ang tingin niya't bumungad sa kaniya ang nakakatanda niyang kapatid na may hawak-hawak na kulang puting panyo.
Imbis tanggapin ay nginitian niya lang ito nang mapakla. She couldn't understand him. Hindi niya maintindihan kung paanong higit sa lahat sa kanila'y siya ang labis na naaapektuhan sa pagkamatay ng inang reyna.
He was a son too, the eldest. But his reaction, yes he was sad and sorrowful, but he seemed to move on easily unlike her. Hindi niya maatim kung paano nito nakakayang magmukhang okay lang sa kabila ng kaganapang nangyayari sa buong pamilya nila.
"Stay away from me," pagtaboy niya rito sabay tayo mula sa pagkakasalampak sa damuhan. Pinunasan nito ang luhang pilit na kumakawala sa kamay niya habang nakatingin sa kapatid.
"Please, don't make this hard for me," malamyos na wika nito na tila ba nakikiusap.
"Hard for you?" She asked, ridiculed of his statement.
"I had it worst! Can't you see?" Yes, he can see it. Her emotions are very clear like a mirror. Nakikita niyang nahihirapan at nasasaktan pa rin ito. He can see hatred and a pang of bitterness in her eyes. He can see how affected she is.
Gusto niya sanang sabihin na nahihirapan din siya, na sa kanilang lahat siya ang labis na nahihirapan pero mas minabuti niya na lang itong huwag sabihin. He may act like he's okay, but that doesn't mean he's not suffering as well. His behavior doesn't mean he has moved on already.
"Feleri." He tried reaching out his hand to touch her shoulders but she took a step backwards. Dahan-dahan itong umiling bago siya talikuran at malalaking hakbang na naglakad paalis sa hardin.
Flame closed his eyes and heaved a deep breath. Malalalim na hininga ang pinapakawalan nito habang pilit na pinapakalma ang sarili sa samo't-saring emosyon na nararamdaman niya. His hands are balled into fist, veins are visible in his arms as his jaw started clenching. Humahangos na ito't ilang segundo na lang ay sasabog na ang nararamdaman niya.
Just this once, he wanted to let it out.
Kasabay nang pagbuka ng bibig niya upang sumigaw, nagmulat ang mga mata niya't may tumulong butil ng luha roon. When he screamed the water in the fountain in front of him turned into fire. It's igniting in flame, releasing sparks and smokes.
"Why do I have to be the eldest?" he whispered in thin air as he watched the fire in the fountain he created himself.
Ang dami niyang responsibilidad bilang panganay. He's not okay, but he has to be okay. He needs to be okay for the sake of his siblings. He wanted to act like he's okay to influence them, that he's there for them.
Gusto niyang siya ang kunan ng lakas ng mga kapatid niya, at tanging pagpapanggap na malakas siya ang magagawa niya kahit sa kaloob-looban niya'y para siyang kandilang unti-unti ding nauupos. Gusto niyang sandalan siya ng mga kapatid niya upang kahit papano'y maibsan naman ang sakit na nararamdaman ng mga ito.
But looks like he just made things worst.
"Prince Flame." Napalingon siya nang makarinig siya ng malamyos na boses ng babae sa likod niya.
Her voice was familiar, like he knew her, but when he look at her face, she can't recognize her. Her hair was a bit grey but there are still plenty of black strands in her hair, she looks like she's on her mid 30's.
"May I ask who are you, and how did you managed to enter the palace?" At this point, he should be alerted. She's an outsider, might be a spy sent here, or some thief and assassin. Subalit sa hindi niya malamang dahilan ay komportable siya rito, marahil ay mukha naman itong walang gagawing masama.
She smiled at her, a very pure and genuine smile. Nangunot ang noo niya nang may maalala siya sa mga ngiting 'yon. Now that he remembers it, she looks like the older version of her. Tinitigan niya ito muli nang mabuti.
Maari kayang kamag-anak niya ito o hindi kaya'y kapareha lang ng mukha?
"Mahal na prinsipe, huwag kayong mag-alala't walang digmaang magaganap, sapagkat ang puno't dulo ng giriiang ito'y muling magbabalik buhay upang itama ang lahat ng pagkakamaling nagawa ng bawat isa." Mabilis na napakunot ang noo ng binata
She has this serious look on her face with so much conviction in her voice as if she was so sure about it. He had no idea who she is or where she came from. Ni hindi niya nga alam kung ano ang pinagsasabi nitong mabubuhay muli upang itama ang lahat ng pagkakamaling nagawa ng bawat isa.
"Ano ang ibig mong sabihin?" Imbis na sumagot ay ngumiti lamang ito. Napakurap-kurap ang binata nang may maalala talaga siya sa ngiting iyon, subalit napaka-impossible nito dahil may katandaan na ang babaeng kaharap niya.
"Narito ka lang pala, pinapahatid ka na palabas ng mahal na hari." Hindi na niya nagawa pang sumagot nang may dumating na punong kawal. Sinuklian lang ako nito ng ngiti bago sumunod sa kawal habang tinatahak ang daan palabas ng palasyo.
Nanatili akong nakatayo roon habang nagugulumihan sa mga katagang binitawan niya. I snapped my fingers when the knight mentioned about father. He's the one who made her enter the palace and wanted a knight to escort her out, so she must be someone important. Nakakapagtaka lang na unang beses ko lang siya nakita rito't hindi ko talaga siya kilala.
Umihip ang malakas na hangin kaya inangat ko ang ulo ko upang damahin ang simoy nito. Pag-angat ko ng ulo ko'y dumako ang tingin ko sa teresa ng palasyo. May nakita ako roong pigura ng isang matangkad na babae. Mahaba ang buhok nito't tinatangay-tangay pa ito ng hangin.
Nakatalikod siya kaya hindi ko masyado maaninag ang mukha niya. Naikurap ko ang aking mga mata nang may isang bagay akong mapansin. Ang nakatalikod nitong tindig ay para bang tindig ni Flare. It was screaming with authority, dominance and superiority. But what caught my attention the most was the thing on her head.
She's wearing a crown. The crown of the Fire Tribe's one true queen.
Sa kabilang banda, magkasamang nag-iinuman ang apat na prinsipe ng lost continent. They're inside a prestigious brothel where women are surrounding them as if they're some piece of jewelry. They couldn't care less, they have the looks any woman could kneel their knees on.
"Anong oras tayo uuwi?" atat na tanong ni Caiz. May nakapalibot din sa kaniyang apat na babae pero mukhang hindi siya natutuwa sa mga ito. They're trying their best to please and seduce him but nothing seems to work on him.
"Don't be such a pussy, Caiz. Enjoy the night." Canaan whispered playfully. Caiz grimaced and rolled his eyes.
Mukhang babae ampota.
"Look at Arden," Tumingin naman si Caiz sa kinaroroonan ni Arden.
He's touching a woman's face as if he's familiarizing her face. He's tracing her jawline using his slender fingers, eyes looking at her lips as if he badly wanna kiss her. Umawang ang bibig ni Caiz sa nakita.
"And Yael," His gaze shifted at Yael. Nakangisi ito habang nakikipag-usap sa mga kababaihang nakapaligid sa kaniya. He seemed to be entertained with them. You can literally see his playful smirk on his lips as he talk to those women.
"Ikaw lang 'ata ang hindi nage-enjoy, Caiz." Tila ba nang-aasar na wika ni Canaan sa kaniya. Caiz shakes his head.
No woman entertains him not unless if it's their queen.
Canaan once told him, women are like a collection of pretty clothes. Some of them you wanted to wear, some you wanted for display. The more you collect, the more it satisfies you.
Typical mindset of a womanizer like him.
He respect Canaan's opinion, but it doesn't mean he agrees. They have different principles and perspectives but as a friend they respect each other's own belief and opinions. They do not force each other to believe what they want to believe.
For him, women should not be compared to measly clothes. They should not be objectified. They should not be treated like a collection for satisfaction, because women live the hardest life.
The pain they experienced growing up with their hormones, they get raped, get pregnant, give birth, being a single parent, menopause, abuse, and other things they do in a regular day of their lives that men made it worst.
And women out there should not let themselves get treated like a cigarette, they only use you when bored and step on you when they're done. Be like a drug, let them get obsessed and die for you.
"Hey there, my prince." Napaigtad ng upo si Caiz nang may mapangahas na babaeng umupo sa kandungan niya.
He look at her sharply, warning her to get off from his lap. Ngunit sa kabila ng tingin na pinupukol niya rito ay hindi ito nagpapatinag. Marahas na napatingin ang binata sa gawi ni Canaan kung saan ito kasalukuyang nakatingin din sa kaniya habang may ngisi sa labi.
He ordered this woman for him, that douche!
"With my lowly status, I don't dream to be your princess, but I can be your slave." She clung her arms on his neck as she gaze at him seductively.
"I command you to get the fuck off of me or else-" Hindi na niya natapos ang sasabihin niya nang sumabat si Canaan.
"She won't obey you, this was the king's order."
When he look at Canaan once again he was already kissing a random woman on his left. Mariin niyang pinikit ang mga mata niya't sinubukang ilayo ang ulo niya sa babaeng kaharap niya. Nang buksan niyang muli ang mga mata niya dumako ang tingin niya sa nakabukas na bintana.
Mabilis niyang naitulak ang babae sa upuan niya nang makita ang buwan. The moon was slowly moving into the shadows. The lunar eclipse that only happens once a year.
"Arden!" He called him out.
Napatigil ang mga ito sa pag-uusap nang dumagungdong ang boses ni Caiz. They were shocked when his voice sounded so worried.
"Why didn't you tell me there is a lunar eclipse tonight?" Pagtingin niya sa reaksyon ni Arden ay nahalata niya kaagad na nakalimutan niya lang utong sabihin.
They need to get out of here before the moon got fully covered in shadows.
"We need to go." May pinalidad sa boses na wika nito.
"Huh?"
"But why-" Akmang aangal si Yael nang magsimula nang maglakad palayo si Caiz.
"I said we need to go!" Hindi man nila alam kung ano ang nangyayari ay dali-dali rin sumunod ang mga ito.
Caiz serves as their leader, and they know when to obey him when his voice really gets too serious. Alam nilang may sapat na rason ito lagi kaya naman sinusunod nila ang gusto nito't lalo ng alam nilang para naman ito sa kanilang ikabubuti.
Habang naglalakad ang mga ito palabas ng brothel ay hindi maiwasang magtaka ni Arden. Caiz would always ask him when is the lunar eclipse. Bawat taon ay tinatanong niya ito. Sa loob ng isang taon ay isang beses lamang nangyayari ang duyog, at tuwing nangyayari iyon ay bawal sila lumabas ng palasyo.
He'd been wanting to ask Caiz or the king the reason behind it but he remained silent. Mas pinili niyang manahimik na lang, pero ngayon ay nilalamon na siya ng kursyudad at gusto niyang malaman ang rason.
"Why do you have to be a kill jo-" Hindi na naituloy pa ni Canaan ang palatak nito nang sabay nilang marinig ang boses ng hari sa kanilang isipan.
Return to the palace.
In a split second, they teleported themselves in the palace halls. All the windows and doors are closed. No one was inside the palace aside from them.
Where's my daughter?
Tumalima kaagad si Caiz nang makitang wala nga sa loob ng palasyo ang anak nito. Nagpresinta naman si Yael upang hanapin ito subalit si Caiz ang pinahintulutan ng hari upang hanapin siya. Sa lahat ng maaring maiwan sa labas habang may duyog ay siya pa talaga.
She can't know about it.
On the other hand, Flare opened her eyes. She was sleeping in a cave near the ocean of the Siren Tribe. She was enjoying her form as a siren. Halos buong araw itong sumisid sa dagat upang masulit ang kagandahan nitong parang hardin lang din kung ituring sa lupa.
She also had some interactions with the few sirens of the tribe. Sobra-sobra ang paggalang ng mga ito sa kaniya. They treated her with so much politeness and respect. She was honored but at some point she wished not to be treated that way.
Sa isang kumpas ng kamay niya'y nawala ang buntot niya't bumalik siya sa tunay na anyo niya. She made her clothes and walk her way back to the palace barefoot. Habang naglalakad siya'y hindi niya maiwasang pansinin ang nagtatayugang puno ng kahoy. It stood there beautifully, surviving every wind and storm in their lives.
Sa paglalakad niya'y hindi niya napansin na nakarating na pala siya ng bayan. She can hear men and women's laughter from every house. Masaya ding nang-aalok ng nagbebenta ang mga tao roon. There are lights and lampshades in every hut she went passed by.
The loudness was beautiful.
She wished she had lived here years ago. Masyado itong mapayapa't walang nagaganap na kaguluhan dito. It just shows how the king perfectly ruled them. Kung sana'y hindi naging sakim ang mga tao doon sa emperyo ay matagal na sana niyang natamasa ang katahimikan sa lugar na ito.
She halted on her feet when suddenly, the lights on each hut disappeared. Ang mga kuro-kuro at mga boses ng nagtatawanang lalaki at babae kanina ay bigla na lamang nawala na parang bula. Bigla na lang tumahimik ang paligid na kahit huni ng insekto ay wala kang maririnig.
Everything was dark. Tumingala siya't nakita niya ang buwan sa kalangitan. She was mesmerized with the lunar eclipse. It was the first time she ever witnessed one. The moon was almost perfectly covered with shadows. Nanatili lang siyang nakatayo habang hinihintay na sakupin ng kadiliman ang kabuoan ng buwan.
When the shadows fully covered the moon, it turned red-orange. Nabahiran ng pagtataka ang mukha niya nang maging kakulay ng buwan ang kalangitan. Inalis niya ang tingin niya sa kalangitan at nang dumako ang paningin niya sa paligid ay nagulantang siya sa nakita.
Ang kaninang maayos na paligid ay wala na. Ang maliliit na tindahan, mga bahay na gawa sa simpleng nipa at kahoy ay wala na. Ang nagagandahang bulaklak at nagtatayugang mga kahoy ay wala na rin.
All that's left was a chaotic surrounding. The peaceful place full of order and unity was gone. Wala siyang ibang makita kun'di ang mga bahay na sira-sira. Mga tipak ng bato mula sa mga imprastrakturang gumuho, mga sunog at nagkanda tumba-tubang kahoy. Umuusok pa ang mga ito na para bang mula ito sa pagkakasunog.
She took a sharp breath as she took a step for a walk. Halos wala siyang maayos na madaan dahil sa sobrang gulo ng paligid. Sa pagpapatuloy nito sa paglalakd ay bigla siyang nakaapak ng bagay. She heard a cracking sound so she look down, only to see a human bone and a skull beneath it.
"What in the name of..." Mula sa kalayuan ay nakita niya si Caiz. Nag magtagpo ang tingin nilang dalawa'y bumagsak ang mga balikat nito. He had this nervous look in his eyes, and his body language was somehow scared about her seeing everything.
"F-Fichi..." His voiced trembled as her name rolled out in his tongue.
That lively continent that welcomed her the moment she step a foot here, the people and the surrounding that warmed her heart, everything was just a mirage. It was not true at all. They were nothing but the power of the king.
She closed her eyes. She was carried away by her emotions that she forget being rational. How could she be so dumb and stupid? It is said that the Elysian Empire took them by surprise that wiped out the existence of the lost continent's people. So how come when she arrived here, there are plenty of people with different tribes?
And there she wished to live here. She thought of this place so peaceful with unity and harmony when in fact it turned out this way.
That everything was just an illusion.
Itutuloy...