PANDORA
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Odyrich 18, 2068
Week had passed, Lady Xena intensified the training to all of us.
“If the empire won't prepare themselves then we will, at least we can protect ourselves from it”
Yun ang sabi ni Lady Xena habang umuwi kami galing sa Krag Meenar. It took us 2 days para maka-uwi dito sa Lowland. Hindi na kasi siya gumamit ng portal.Right now, I’m learning the history, specifically, she’s teaching me about Shadows—main foes of Magical Being.
“We have known little about Shadows. They fall into rank just like our society, the powerful you are, the possibility of sitting high is very much great. They were heartless, greed and prideful. As I’ve said before, there were spies we sent in the Eastern Continent, they didn't make it out alive, but they sent us back information. Beelzebub is the current emperor holding entire power in east as high-ranking demon in this present day.”
Huminto muna siya sa pagsalita at lumanghap ng hangin, nandito kaming dalawa sa kanyang private library. Kahit palagi na akong nandito namamangha pa din ako sa desinyo dito.
“With him the Seven Principalities. There are other kingdoms outside his ruling, even their territory are ranked. His empire stand as the first throne in entire land. In all, they are called Seven Thrones. So you see, we faced greater threats than before. The Holy Gods of Hagios didn't appoint Heroes now, they are silent. There supposed to be 10 powerful heroes to fight against them.”
“Baka totoo nga ang sinabi ng propet—”
“That’s absurd!” that was the first time I saw her furious. Slamming the table into ruin, such muscle force of a lady was entirely shocking. I stood up mouth’s gaping, switching my eyes to her and the poor table.
“Forgive me, I got carried away with it. Allow me to ask a favor to fix this table, you’re a Mender this your thing.” I didn't hesitate to fix it, my hands glowed blue to white radiant color as well as the broken pieces glows just like the color of my hand.
“I’m not entirely convinced about her dreams. She’s maybe 100 centuries old in prophesying but that's not the matter this time. There's something wrong going on around us.”
“I think you need a rest, Lady Xena.” suhestiyon ko sa kanya, tiningnan niya ako na may blankong ekpresyon.
“Rest... Shadows do not rest, they're working out their plans on us, so I'm not resting.” She goes out the door leaving me a word.
“The Alpha is coming back from their mission and I'm meeting them. Get stronger and wiser, Arsyne Soul.”
Alpha? What's that? I mean who? Nevermind.
Pinatuloy ko ang pagbabasa sa libro ngunit may nagtulak sa akin na basahin ang kalahating pahina na hindi kayang basahin ng karamihan. Kahit alam kong katangahan ang pag-iisip na yun sinubukan ko pa din. Baka kasi nagkataon lang na nagawa kong basahin ang libro nung unang araw ko dito, baka ngayon hindi na. Sinimulan ko pa din.
“THE FIRST DAWN OF
SHADOWS”
Devils were from the Dark Power itself. They were consumed by darkness, corrupt their very mind which became their essence.
From the beginning of Magical Beings, Grothe was first inhabited by the very first demon born from the place of gods. The firstborn devil of Dark Power, Pandora.
“Pinapatawag lahat ng member upang sumalubong sa Alpha Squad.” Nilingon ko ang nagsalita.
Nathalie Tulip.
Tanging ulo niya lang ang nasilayan ko dahil natatakpan ang katawan niya ng pinto, nginitian ko siya at nagsalita,“Susunod ako.” Tahimik siyang umalis. Gusto ko pa sanang basahin to dahil nagka-interes ako sa race ng Shadows. You know curiosity hits different. Hiniram ko to kay Lady Xena ngunit di siya pumayag, pero pwede daw akong pumunta dito kahit kailan. Hindi na ako nagtanong ng marami bakit ayaw niyang ipahiram.
Firstborn Devil. What about her? Buhay pa kaya siya ngayon? Shadows and Elves share the same fate of living the gift of life, while humans and other Magical Beings that possess power from the source gifted to live longer than normal does. Baka buhay pa siya magpahanggang ngayon? I’ve heard of the story na may mga high-ranking demon daw ang kinulong ng mga heroes somewhere in Grothe during their 2,000 years of war. It was just speculation though, a mere lie.
Tumayo ako at umalis sa library, tinungo ko ang gathering hall dahil panigurado nandun sila. I finally acquaint myself of this manor’s puzzled place. Kaya hindi na ako mawawala.
Sino ba kasi tong Alpha Squad na kailan pa naming sumalubong? Gaano ba sila ka-importante dito sa White Lily at kailangan ko pang mag effort?
Nagkumpulan ang mga members ng White Lily na may mga ngiti sa labi, masaya silang tignan habang hinintay ang Alpha Squad. Maraming bulungan na nanggagaling sa kanila. Kahit ako ay nahawa na din, ewan ko nakaramdam agad ako ng excitement sa squad nila.
“They are here!”
Someone informed us inside the hall.
Gumawa ng daan para sa Alpha Squad yung nasa gitna. Sumangyon din ang liwanag na bumalot sa kanila kaya di namin naaninagan ang kanilang mga mukha. Nakatayo silang lahat sa dambuhalang pintuan, nagkasya ang anim ka-tao dun. Naghiyawan ang lahat sa kanilang matagumpay na pagbabalik.
“Welcome home, Alpha Squad.” Nakatuon naman lahat ng mga mata sa Grandmistress na nakatayo ibabaw sa balcony sa loob ng hall.
Binalik ko ang aking mga mata sa kanilang anim at dahil pinanganak akong nagkulang sa tangkad, slight lang naman. Kaya kailangan kong mag tip-toe upang makita ng buo silang lahat.
“Thank you everyone for this warm greeting, we appreciate it.” Finally I’d got the chance to look closely when they began walking pass through the crowd.
Elves and Dracon race were here! For the first time and forever, nasilayan ko na sa wakas ang lahi ng mga dragon. Well, I saw a Class 4 dragon in Skyrim City, but he’s a half-breed, a higher-class of a dragon called Dracon. Too rare to see one lurking in the street, or buying something in a shop. Races has its own history, Elves hate human, human massacred their ancestor, Dragon were dangerous when out of control so many fear them and some division actually banned their kind except for Class 3 & 4 dragons, they're domesticated. Luckily, South Landervelle did not. I saw an Ogre too, just like the bishop in Karma’s Cathedral, look at those small horn to her head, beautiful.
“Let us celebrate the Alpha’s Squad return this evening.” Anunsyo ni Lady Xena. Mas lalo lang nagsaya ang lahat sa balita.
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Kanina pina-alam sa amin na kaming mga baguhan ang maghahanda para sa selebrasyon, kaya heto ako kasama ang dalawang magkapatid, mamimili ng lulutuin namin. Hinati kasi kami sa grupo at ako lang po yung walang kasama kasi nandun na sa iba tig-tatlo kasi bawat grupo, kaya nagboluntaryo ang dalawa.
“Our recipe for tonight will be, Grilled Beef smeared with the scentful olive oil from the North Landervelle seasoned with black pepper imported from Igdome Islands.” Napanganga ako sa kanyang sinabi. Inihaw na karneng baka lang tapos kung maka bigay ng description akala mo royal dish. Naging sosyal lang pakinggan dahil sa imported.
Nawala si Kreyr sa’king paningin kaya hinanap ko at tamang-tama may biniktima na naman siyang kawawang babae. Nagtitinda ng gulay tapos ginagambala niya. Ito talagang batang ‘to.
“Tignan mo kapatid mo, may biktima na naman.” Sumbong ko kay Kahliya, nilingon niya ang kinaroroonan ni Kreyr at napalingo. Nahalata niya sigurong nakatingin kaming dalawa kaya iniwan niya agad ang babaeng maluha-luha. Broken hearted agad? Ambilis naman yata? Oo nga pala, kahit nga ako muntikan ng mahulog sa kanya.
“Tapos na kayo?” Tanong niya.
“Almost.”
For an hour of searching in the market, we’d found all the ingredients we need and goes back to the manor. Sa labas namin inihaw ang karne, wala naman ng araw kaya okay lang dito at mahangin din.
Bumalik ulit sa’king isipan ang aking nabasa kanina. May alam kaya si Kahliya tungkol doon? Tatanungin ko siya para masigurado.
“Have you known... perhaps, you’d read about the Shadow named, Pandora? T-the firstborn devil? If you're not interested about it just leave it there—”
“Pandora’s a tale of legend,” he paused, our eyes on him. He just appeared somewhere so we're literally surprised now. He’s looking over the horizon, his mind was so deep in thought.
He’s minty almond-eyed naturally from dragon race slyly sparkled at the light of day as he turned to our direction where the sun sets its rest. He’s lance strapped on his back, and I don't know why people nowadays love to wear cloaks. That’s part of everyone's life, I know. Nawala siguro ako ng ilang taon dito sa mundo kaya di na ako updated. Siya po yung half-breed na nakita ko kanina.
“Thame Wryther,” nagbigay galang ang dalawa sa kanya habang ako ay nakatingin lang sa kanya. Tinignan niya ang niluto namin, masaya at matamis na ngiti ang gumuhit sa kanyang mga labi. He’s fangs were out a second, remember dragons were ferocious, no one will dare a dragon, but most of all, his pretty face stand out and wiped every ounce of doubt in me. Alam kong fragile ako, paki niyo lahat!
“Grilling meat is the most exquisite dragon cuisine.” Ramdam ko ang nagagalak niyang puso, tila ba hindi siya nakakain ng karne ng ilang taon. Ngumiti lang kami sa kanyang pinapakitang reaksyon.
“Knock it off, tell me more about Pandora.”
And that's my mistake. Both of my colleagues—if that’s what it’s called, turned their dagger-like eyes on me as if I’ve done an unforgivable crime.
“What?” Tanong ko sa kalagitnaan ng kanilang nakamamatay na titig.
“He’s our senior, the Alpha Leader, Thame Wryther. The strongest mage slash lancer in our guild.” Diniin niya lahat sa aking pagmumukha ang inpormasyon na’yun.
(A/N: Wryther pronounce as ray-dur
“Thank you for that information. Now, can you please tell me more about it?” I asked him for the second time more with a humble spirit to not offend this two creature fanning about this handsome lad.
“One of her tale that I’ve known was, she burned an entire city of the South, the territory of Hashara.”
To be continued........