NOTE: Typographical and grammatical errors ahead, some vulgar and offensive words are also used. If you're too sensitive with those, feel free to say goodbye to this story.
Welcome to the 2nd book of the Crestopia Series! May you enjoy their journey as well as they're gonna be. Here's the first chapter of our Pharaohs, enjoy!
This chapter is dedicated to _Luuunnnaaa. Thank you for actively voting and commenting!
Play the multimedia above while reading :)
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"Fuck! En, talon!"
Enfys didn't bother asking why at sinunod na lang ang sinabi ng kaibigan.
She jumped from the branch of tree na kanina'y hinihigaan niya at pagulong na bumagsak. Nang makatayo ay agad siyang tumakbo. Gano'n na lang ang pagsabog ng puno na ikinahinga niya ng maluwag.
There's this nagging feeling that someone is playing a joke on her. She knew she'd been handling her speja well, but why did she keep disappearing from the present?
Sefarina greeted her with a warm smile on her face. "Congrats for being alive, my friend!" She even clapped her hands to congratulate her.
"I feel loved." Puno ng sarkasmo niyang sabi.
"Huh? Hindi pa ba? Hasn't he told you yet?" Kumunot naman ang noo ni Enfys kaya napangisi ng hilaw si Sefarina. "I won't tell you. My mouth is sealed."
She then whispered. "Omygod, he's so slow! I can't believe he's my friend!"
Tumaas naman ang kilay niya at ipapaulit sana ito sa kaibigan nang kumaway ito sa kanya at naglakad na paalis.
She dashed to catch up with her while fixing her hair. "We've returned, but I don't feel welcome." Mahinang aniya habang diretso lang ang tingin sa dinaraanan.
Sefarina clasped her arm around hers and held her head high, oblivious to the students' differing stares.
"Don't mind them. They're just probably bored, like me." Dama niya ang pagkabagot ni Sefarina.
Sa loob ng apat na buwan, hindi lang ang consiglio ang nagpadala sa kanila sa iba't ibang mga misyon dahil unti-unti ng nakikielam ang Cinco sa mga desisyon sa loob ng academy magmula nang tumulong sila sa digmaan.
Noong unang buwan nila sa paglalakbay, they all thought that they just have to find the missing blueprint but to their shock, nakatanggap sila ng mensaheng kailangan nilang linisin ang maliit na lugar sa Hanada. Wala naman silang nagawa kung hindi ang sumunod. The following month, the guys were sent to Zetril to kill the wild beasts in Mellowcorpse which they thought were extinct already. Doon kasi kinuha ni Azalaura ang mga gamot na ginamit nito sa ilang mga demi-gods at ilang mga nilalang mula sa underworld na nakalaban nila.
They expected them to return home safely, but half a month has passed and they have yet to return.
That time, silang apat na natira'y pinadala sa apat na kingdoms para magpadala ng mensahe. They don't even know kung para sana 'yon!
Linggo ang lumipas nang hindi sila nagkita-kita dahil ikinagulantang nila ang ginawang pagsasanay sa kanila. She is in Hanada, while Iraia is in Renvela, Sefarina is in Olympus, and Luna is in Zetril.
Sa ika-apat na buwan, nagkita-kita na silang lahat sa academy. Ngunit hindi nila muli inaasahan ang parangal na binigay sa kanila.
"What the fuck is happening?!"
"Anong eskandalo na naman 'to?"
"I just got healed, what does this mean?"
"Wow, super welcome back to us!"
Nanatiling siyang tahimik habang sumusunod sa mga kaibigang naglalakad patungo sa gitna. Hindi niya alam kung dapat ba siyang matuwa dahil binibigyan sila ng award o hindi dahil lahat sila'y punong puno ng galos at may iniindang sakit.
They had just returned from a lethal training under the greatest trainers from the four kingdoms. Ang mga lalaki nama'y katatapos lang makipaghabulan sa mga hayop na animal sa Mellowcorpse na muntik na silang kitilan ng buhay.
It is a haunted forest from Zetril's kingdom, home to all wild beasts, animals, and deadly non-living things.
"I introduce to you, the students who lead us to won the war— the Pharaohs."
The crowd went silent. Mukhang pati sila'y hindi inaasahan na ganoong klaseng parangal ang matatanggap nila.
"The Pharaoh isn't a caste but a title. Therefore, the Hiru, Ketto and Jeden are still our 3 castes to divide you in terms of your abilities."
Hindi niya 'yon nagustuhan. Hindi man nila binibigyan ng ranggo ang mga caste, alam niyang hindi 'yon patas.
Dumagdag pa ang bago nilang titulo ngayon.
"I can read you, Enfys. It's not what you think." Napunta ang atensyon niya kay Master Kreme who's looking at her with concern.
"I'm never wrong." Hindi ito sumagot at sa halip ay tinapik ang balikat niya.
"Listen, life isn't being at the center of a mathematical problem with everything being equal."
"Because from the fucking beginning, it had never been equal."
Marahan nitong pinisil ang kanyang balikat pero bago siya nito lagpasan ay bumulong ito sa kanya. "If they knew that I cussed in front of a student, I'll get back to you. Understand?" Tinawanan niya lang ang banta nito.
Sa kabila ng pagmamayabang nila Sefarina at Veton sa isa't isa— dumagdag na rin sila Iraia at Pream.
Patuloy pa rin siyang binabagabag ng mga mabilis na pangyayari at hindi niya mapigilang kwestiyonin ang naging desisyon ng consiglio at Cinco.
Hindi lang naman sila ang lumaban.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the presence of Dame, who was silently staring at their friend, who was laughing despite her broken arm.
"They may be deserving of the title, but are they capable of carrying it out?"
All of them are willing to give their lives for their realm, but not all of them are willing to stay and carry out their roles and responsibilities.
It's not just about participating in their victory, but also about how they'll act and move in the aftermath.
"That's what you'd call a leader." She grinned.
He shrugged. "You're smart, act like one."
She let out a heavy sigh before rolling her eyes. What else does she expect from that man? And her question was answered when Luna turned her gaze to them and waved happily.
Enfys tilted her head, remembering what happened on the day the war began. She witnessed how these two protected one another while desperately fighting for their home.
Luna faced death more times than the number of their fingers, but she never gave up without a fight.
This woman... is a fighter. Nothing and no one will be able to break her spirit as she fights to protect her family and her home.
Like her, she knew Luna had a terrible past— much more terrible than hers. But looking at her, all happy and carefree, parang gusto na niyang kumawala sa nakaraan at harapin na ito.
--
"Enfys!"
Nabalik siya sa reyalidad at tinaasan ng kilay si Iraia na nasa normal nitong makulay na suot habang may hawak na hindi kalakihang salamin.
Hindi man masyadong nakikita ngunit halata pa rin ang ilang mga pasa at sugat niya sa katawan at mukha na naghihilom na.
"Pixies! I've been talking to you! How dare you not listen to a beautiful woman like me?!" Maarte nitong singhap at napapaypay pa sa sarili gamit ang kamay.
She scoffed. "What?"
"As I was saying, should I be getting new dresses? Our closets in here are oh-so-huge! I can't believe it! They should've transferred us here in the first place kung dito lang din pala ang ending natin." Iraia rolled her eyes to let her see her annoyance.
Dito na kasi ngayon ang kwarto nila sa Teadra.
Simula noong ipinakilala sila bilang mga Pharaoh noong nakaraang araw lang, nagulat sila nang malipat na ang mga gamit nila rito.
"Going back, have you seen Veton? He's supposed to accompany me in Seba to buy clothes!" Maktol niya. "I thought you're asking me?" Taka niyang tanong.
"Nevermind, I don't need anyone's opinion to do whatever the pixie I want to do to myself!" Masaya niyang palakpak na tumigil din agad.
"Oh, right. Luna's looking for you." Tumango naman siya at naglakad na papasok sa Teadra.
"At least say goodbye, you witch!" Tinawanan niya si Sefarina at iniwan na siya don.
Pagpasok sa dorm nilang girls which is perpendicular to the guys' ay sumalubong sa kanya si Luna na nakasalampak na naman sa carpeted floor sa may living room.
Nakapatong sa tiyan niya ang kaliwa nitong braso na hindi pa man tuluyang gumagaling ay kahit papaano'y gumagana naman ang mallora na pinapainom sa kanya.
"Hey. I heard you're looking for me." Bati niya rito para malaman nitong nandito na siya.
Luna moved her head a bit to look at her direction na agad ding binalik sa dati at pumikit. "Have you been time travelling these days?"
Her question caught her off guard. "Why ask, Luna?" Balik niyang tanong.
Ngumuso naman ito at dinilat ang isang mata. "You dare to change the topic, my pretty smart ass friend?" Biro nito.
Hindi naman siya sumagot at nanatiling nakatayo malapit sa kinahihigaan nito.
"I know you are, En."
She has never been good at telling lies. It was always difficult for her to tell even the smallest lie, but she had to learn it as she grew older.
She had no idea it would come in handy someday, and that day has come.
How could she be so proud when she looked so strong on the outside while being so vulnerable on the inside?
Masamang magsinungaling pero kung para sa ikabubuti naman ng lahat, hindi siya magsisising gawin ito ng paulit-ulit.
"She's been telling me to be careful, En. That I should be independent, 'wag daw akong umasa sa inyo. Paulit-ulit 'yon like oo na nga diba, naiintindihan ko na? Rinding rindi na hindi lang yung tenga ko pati na buong katawang lupa ko." Binuksan niya ang kanyang mga mata at nakangiting huminga ng malalim.
"Dahil iiwan niyo raw ako."
Ever since that day, when she accepted her faith, she knew she'll have to bear the weight of knowing everything without having the strength to say anything.
The only difference this time is that it's difficult for her to remain silent when it's her friend who's affected.
"You know that we won't do that, right?" Malambing ngunit mahina niyang tanong sa dalaga.
She immediately nodded. "I trust all of you with my life, En. I don't know why she kept on telling that to me but... I won't let her ruin us." Aniya ng may pinalidad.
She's been doing her best, warning and staying with Luna and their friends, knowing that when that day comes, she won't be able to do so any longer.
Enfys is as determined as they are to change the course of history. Isn't it ironic? She, whose domain is time, wishes to alter it for the benefit of all.
She is prepared to go to great lengths.
Even if it means destroying herself.
"You won't leave me, right?" Napangiti siya.
That was a question for her, but it was also a question for the man inside the room where Luna's gaze was fixed.
"He will do everything to keep you safe, Luna." Pagpapagaan niya sa loob ng kaibigan.
"I may not know him that much but what happened during the war was enough to prove that he's willing to give up his life to keep you away from harm. So, trust him."
Napangisi naman na parang tanga si Luna. Bumangon pa siya para pakatitigan ang sarili sa malaking salamin na nasa gilid ng living room.
"Grabe naman. Parang sinasabi mong baliw na baliw sakin 'yon."
Her forehead creased. "Hindi ba?"
Luna laughed like an idiot. Pinagpapalo niya pa ang imaginary friend niya sa hangin habang maarteng tinatago ang mga nakatago na niyang buhok sa likod ng kanyang tenga.
"Ano ba! Para kang sira?"
Hindi naman niya napigilang ngumiwi dahil sa biglaang paga-asal animal ng kanyang kaibigan!
She felt a hand on her shoulders and heard a creepy voice in her ear say, "That's what happens when you're in love."
Enfys' entire body shivered as she pushed Sefarina away. The woman continued to laugh maniacally, but her attention was drawn back when another arm drew on hers.
It was heavier and undeniably larger than Sef's.
"Hi."
Napapikit siya ng ilang beses dahil halos maduling na siya sa lapit ni Pream sa kanya! She attempted to take a step back, but she failed.
Hindi na siya pinakawalan pa ng binata at walang pasabing hinatak siya palayo sa kanila.
Narinig niyang nagtitili ang dalawa niyang kaibigan habang eskandalosa namang sumigaw si Sefarina.
"Hala, sige! Ikaw na ang manok ko ngayon, Pream! Yung dati kong manok, tangina, pagong ata!"
Hindi na niya naintindihan pa ang iba pa nitong sinabi dahil tuluyan na silang nakalayo ni Pream.
Saan siya nito dadalhin?
**