A/N: What's good about writing Gazellian stories? It's because of those engaged readers na talagang sumusubaybay. I love how everyone gives their opinion in every installment. Maraming-maraming salamat po! I am so happy na super affected kayo! Haha
Chapter 49: Map or Lantern
"The great King Thaddeus Leighton Gazellian betrayed his friends for love."
Mahabang katahimikan ang namayani sa pagitan naming lahat. Pumasok na sa isipan ko na mayroon ngang posibleng pagtataksil sa kanilang grupo, ngunit ang malaman ang totoong detalye nito sa mga nilalang na siyang parte ng kuwentong nais lang namin buuin nang sandaling pumasok kami rito. . .
"If we're expecting that we travelled enough, mukhang nagkakamali tayo. Because our parents started this long journey before us, at mukhang wala pa tayo sa kalahati ng kanilang inilakbay," nakapamaywang na sabi ni Rosh na tumigil na sa paglalakad at bahagyang inilibot ang paningin sa aming lahat.
"And you're not bothered that your parents were betrayed—" hindi na pinatapos pa ni Rosh si Iris sa anumang sasabihin niya.
"Betrayed by King Thaddeus? My parents aren't weak. They chose their path. I will never accept that they were fooled and got trapped in a certain situation. Kung may desisyon man si Haring Thaddeus, nasisiguro kong alam iyon ni ama. And I am quite happy that my father turned into an elegant deer than a hideous spider," Rosh took a side glance at the Head Wizard.
Muling natawa ang Earth Dragon Wizard nang marinig magsalita si Rosh.
"You really sound like your father," naiiling na sabi nito.
"I am always better than my father," mabilis na sagot ni Rosh.
"So, to make this clear, this world was once a target of Deesedayah?" tanong ni Iris.
Tumango ang Earth Dragon Wizard. "Tulad nga ng sabi ko sa inyo tatlong mundo ang siyang ninanais ng mga taga-Deesedayah. And two of them are Nemetio Spiran and Fevia Attero. Kung hindi ko pinaniwala ang ibang mundo na nasa maayos pa ring kalagayan ang mundong ito, higit na pipiliin ng mga taga-Deesedayah na unahin ang Fevia Attero."
"Y-You saved us," mahinang sabi ko.
"Who else? When your Head Wizard is too foolish out of love."
"That's why you sent them to help us," dagdag ni Caleb habang nakatingin sa mga Attero na ngayon ko lang nakita.
Tumango ang Earth Dragon Wizard. "Sending them might help you a little," ani niya.
"It's a big help actually," sabi ni Rosh.
"Wait, this is going so smoothly. Aren't going to avenge your trapped situation? Because of King Thaddeus, these bone eating portals are unstable. He ran away to fulfill his obligation. I can only feel the bitterness on him," itinuro ni Tavion ang Head Wizard.
"The truth here is, tanging ang makakapangyarihang babae lang ang nakakulong at makapipigil sa mga lagusang ito na magsama-sama. The Head Wizard, or even Raheem can return back in your world. Sila lang ang nagpumilit sumama. That's really the power of love," kibit balikat na sagot ng Earth Dragon Wizard.
"You mean he can transform by himself? Without any assistance?" tanong ni Tavion.
"Hmm, siguro? But I am glad that Anna Merliz Callista extended her help. Hindi habang panahon ay magagawa kong gampanan ang tungkulin na hindi nararapat sa akin. I ended my contract as an Earth Dragon Wizard, matagal ko na iyong ipinasa sa 'yo, Howl. But I didn't expect that I'd be sitting on the Head Wizard's throne na hindi ko naman pinangarap. Nang nasa gitna ng isang napakalaking giyera ang Nemetio Spiran laban sa Deesedayah, hindi na nawala ang pangamba ko dahil sa sandaling matalo ang Nemetio Spiran. This world can't handle that war without the real Head Wizard of this world."
Nakita ko kung paano sabay na kumuyom ang mga kamao nina Iris, Caleb at Rosh na siyang nakaranas ng giyerang iyon.
"Are you sure that it's just all about the bone eating portals? Hindi ninyo ba napapansin kung bakit naging mainit ang mata ng mga taga Deesedayah sa mga mundo natin? Those goddesses who tried to escape their world, those goddesses who discovered that their world is pure evil chose our worlds. Queen Talisha, Leticia. . .and the blue fire went to Nemetio Spiran. This world has another escaped goddess mated to the Head Wizard. . . these bone eating portals are meant to be destroyed or be guarded by a goddess or someone with a strength of a goddess."
Napasinghap si Caleb sa sinabi ni Rosh.
"T-That's why Leticia. . . she came back into life from that cave. She tried to—" hindi na naituloy ni Caleb ang sasabihin niya at napatulala na lang siya kay Rosh.
"Leticia tried to free my parents, but they refused," mahinang sabi ni Rosh.
"The kind-hearted Queen of Nemetio Spiran tried to sacrifice herself to guard the portal. Maybe because she knew that King Dastan has the power to handle Nemetio Spiran without her, that the new king has the greatest support," dagdag ni Iris.
"But your parents refused because they knew that Leticia is more important outside the cave. . ." mahinang sabi ni Caleb.
Napasinghap na si Iris at napatakip sa kanyang bibig. "Iyan ang matagal nang katanungan sa isipan ko. Saan nagtungo si Reyna Leticia at bakit siya nagmula sa kuwebang iyon matapos ang ilang taon. . ."
Habang pinakikinggan ko ang usapan nila, muli'y may nabubuong mga tanong isipan ko.
"Then, what is the real purpose of this journey for us? Bakit kami dinalang anim dito? To know the truth? To free the Head Wizard that until now has no plans to sit on his throne because of love?" tanong ko.
"This journey gave me answers about my parents. I am already fine with it," ani ni Rosh.
"I came him to bring back Caleb with the use of my map," sabi naman ni Iris.
"I went here because according to my written oracle, a witch will help me to reign on my throne. . . I first thought it was Anna. I don't know, it could be wrong or a fake oracle to confuse me," nag-aalangang sabi ni Tavion.
"And I came here because. . ." hinintay namin ituloy ni Caleb ang sasabihin niya pero napayuko na lang siya. "I don't know. Hanggang ngayon ay inaalam ko pa rin ang dahilan ng pagpunta ko rito. . ."
"I thought it was me, Caleb," diretsong sabi ko.
"Oh. . ." rinig kong sabay na sabi nina Howl, Rosh, at Tavion.
Nang sinubukan ni Caleb hawakan ang kamay ko ay iniwas ko iyon mula sa kanya at ilang beses akong umatras papalayo sa kanya.
I know that he's confused right now, pero hindi niya man lang ba ako saglit na naisip na sa kabila ng kanyang nalalaman ay narito ako.
"I'm sorry. . ." iyon ang sinabi niya sa akin bago siya muling humarap sa Earth Dragon Wizard.
"You were friends with my parents, right?"
"Of course," mabilis na sagot ni Earth Dragon Wizard.
"Are you aware that my mother disappeared? Wala na siya sa aming mundo matapos ang malaking giyerang iyon. . . and there is one remaining bone eating portal that is still unguarded. . ." nang sabihin iyon ni Caleb ay lahat ng atensyon namin ay nagtungo kay Tavion na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nagbibigay ng impormasyon tungkol sa kanyang mundo.
"Who sent you here? Are you sure that it was an oracle or goddess who promised something to you?" tanong ni Caleb.
Napapatulala na lang ako sa mga naririnig ko mula sa kanila.
Muling tumawa ang Earth Dragon Wizard. "Maybe she came back in our original plan? Tutal ay wala na naman si Thaddeus para pigilan siya sa desisyon niya. I told you, my friends are all foolish about love. You have Raheem who became a deer, na pinili na lang kumain ng damo para sa pag-ibig. . . this Head Wizard who turned into an ugly spider, and I heard nagpasaksak ng punyal sa dibdib si Thaddeus?" kaswal na sagot niya na parang wala kami sa isang mabigat na usapan.
Habang nagsasalita ang Earth Dragon Wizard, wala na sa kanya ang atensyon ng Head Wizard kundi naroon na sa itaas ng kanyang trono.
As an Attero with the eyes of the Earth Dragon I could see the vision of the goddess— the Head Wizard's mate. Nakakrus ang kanyang mga braso sa kanyang dibdib habang nakapikit ang kanyang mga mata, ang kanyang mahabang buhok ay umaalon na tila nasa ilalim ng tubig habang ito'y nagliliwanag.
Habang mabagal na naglalakad ang Head Wizard na may mga kamay na tila nais abutin ang diyosa, ramdam ko ang bilis ng pagtibok ng puso ko.
I know that this isn't all about the answers. Alam kong hindi pa ito ang katapusan, dahil hindi kami makakarating dito para lang palayain ang isang nilalang na tila sumuko na sa lahat.
Buong akala ko ay ako lamang ang nakakapansin sa ikinikilos ng Head Wizard pero naroon na rin ang atensyon ng lahat, tanging ang Earth Dragon Wizard lang ang siyang hindi nalilito sa nangyayari.
"Tell me, this isn't all about the answers for the question, right? This is not all about your freedom or the Head Wizard's. . ."
Kung kanina ay tanging ako lang ang nakakakita ng imahe ng diyosa sa gitna ng pulang konektadong mga tali, ngayon ay nakikita na namin iyon lahat.
"She can't hold the portal anymore. . ." Rosh said bitterly.
Nang sabihin iyon ni Rosh hindi lang ako ang mabilis na napatingin sa reaksyon ni Caleb, dahil maging si Iris ay napatingin din sa reaksyon ni Tavion.
Ito ang siyang matinding dahilan kung bakit kanina pang hindi gumagawa ng reaksyon sina Tavion at Caleb, dahil mas nauna pa nilang malaman sa aming lahat ang siyang totoo naming sitwasyon.
"If my mother, Queen Raeliana Lovis Nestania can still hold the bone eating cave of Nemetio Spiran, this goddess can't hold it any longer. . ." muling usal ni Rosh.
"And just like what Anna said when were still fighting for every room and obstacle of this place— the ruin is not stopping us to enter, but it is built to measure our strength and capability. . ."
"This ruin is waiting for the perfect maiden to hold its power. . . dahil sumusuko na ang diyosa," mahinang sabi ko.
Nagkatitigan kami ni Iris sa isa't isa.
Napaluhod na ang Head Wizard bago pa man siya makarating sa trono. His palms were flattened on the cold floor as he cried all his pain in front of us.
"Palayain ninyo na siya. . . palayain ninyo na ang mahal ko. Nangangako akong gagampanan ang aking tungkulin sa mundong ito kahit wala na siya. Bigyan ninyo lang ng katahimikan ang mahal ko. She sacrificed so much for this world. . . let her rest in peace. . ."
"M-May iba bang paraan?" humakbang na pauna si Rosh, magkasunod niya kaming sinulyapan ni Iris.
Habang sina Caleb at Tavion ay kapwa na hindi makapagsalita.
"Of course, there's always the bitter twist of the story. I have no choice but to witness this again," naupo na ang Earth Dragon Wizard, tipid siyang sumulyap sa itaas, bago niya pinagkrus ang kanyang mga hita at nangalumbaba gamit ang isa niyang kamay at hinintay ang reaksyon nina Caleb at Tavion.
"Are you telling us that we have to choose who will be the next sacrificial maiden? A-Are you insane?!" sigaw ni Rosh.
"Hindi makakapasok ang dalawang babaeng iyan sa lugar na ito kung wala silang kakayahang manatili rito."
"W-Why you didn't tell us earlier?!" sigaw na rin Howl.
"You are asking me other questions. I told you, this place is your greatest enemy."
"Let's free her," iyon lang ang sinabi ko at hinayaan ko nang pumagaspas ang aking mga pakpak. Habang si Iris ay mabilis rin tumakbo patungo sa unahan gamit ang kanyang kaanyuang lobo.
Ang tanging narinig ko lang ay ang magkasunod na tawag nila sa pangalan namin ni Iris. But the situation of the goddess who was trapped in this place for thousands of years is unbearable.
Iris and I didn't even falter as we pulled those crimson strings that served as the protective layer of the goddess.
Alam namin na tanging kami lang ni Iris ang may kakayahang humila ng mga pulang taling iyon. And as we pulled those crimson strings with our constant rotation, the golden throne suddenly became the heart of a red magical carousel.
If an Attero would see this in the middle of a festival, everyone would be fascinated and clap with the beauty of the crimsons strings, the golden throne as its heart, and the shining light coming from the goddess, but the meaning of it is beyond that— glitters in pain.
At nang sandaling tumigil kami sa pag-ikot ni Iris at tuluyan na naming hilahin ang mga pulang tali, sumabog ang liwanag, tila nagkaroon ng biglang lakas ang Head Wizard at tumayo ito sa kanyang pagkakasalampak.
The Earth Dragon Wizard suddenly disappeared on his throne, natagpuan ko na lang siyang katabi ni Howl na ngayon ay tahimik na rin nanunuod sa nangyayari.
We're all now watching in front of us, as the Head Wizard sat on his throne with his extended arms waiting for his goddess.
The goddess went on the Head Wizard's lap, snaked her arms around his nape as the Head Wizard buried his crying face on the goddess' chest.
Napapahid na ako ng sarili kong luha habang pinagmamasdan sila. When I glanced back, the Earth Dragon Wizard took my attention, as he tried to look away with that surrendered look in his face.
And when my eyes turned to look at Caleb's, he's already staring at me with his watered eyes. . . asking me why.
Because right at that moment, we'll be facing the biggest decision of our life. If my prince will choose a map or a lantern?