Snow's POV
We arrived safely at the Sel Monroe's mansion. Agad naman kaming sinalubong ng ina ni Jin na badha ang pag-aalala sa mukha nito. Ni hindi nga kami nawala ng dalawang araw pero ang mukha nito tila nawala kami ng ilang taon. It was was not an easy task. We are glad that we made it out kahit involved ang isang demon.
"Is everything okay? Nothing happened to you?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Margaret kay Jin.
"I am fine, mother. We are fine." Sagot naman nito.
"This is a matter of demon's attack. They should not sent you with this types of mission!" Frustrated na saad nito. I totally understand her point, every mother will really be worried knowing when her child is facing danger.
"There is nothing we could do. It is part of the curriculum vitae of being an Elite." Sagot naman ni Jin. "And we are trained for this mother. You should be happy and we accomplished the mission."
"I can't be happy knowing my only son facing a filthy demon." She contradicted. Mothers, where I can never know how it feels at hindi ko alam kung ano din ang magiging reaksyon but I felt envy. "You are the heir in this continent you can't be reckless with your safety."
"Lady of the North, we sincerely apologize of this mission cost you worries. We are making sure that each one of us are safe and protected. If we know we can't win it, we do not lay a finger on it." Saad naman ni Yuan.
"Pardon my impudence your highness. I am just worried. I am a mother and he is my only child." Nag-aalalang saad nito.
"You should trust your son more. He is not a general for nothing." Sagot ni Yuan rito.
Nice answer. Buti naman at hindi sumama ang ugali nito rito. May pagkaroyal jerk pa naman ito, nakakahiya.
"We watch each others back, lady Margaret." Saad ko naman.
"Jin is one of the best, you should not worry aunt." Saad naman ni Luna.
Mukhang napanatag naman ang kalooban ni Margaret. After the talk we immediately went to our rooms to change and rest. Sabi ni Yuan kanina na mag-uusap daw kami sa library after dinner. Wala kasi dito ang ama ni Jin at pumunta sa town ng Windolia.
I took a long hot bath and changed to fresh clothes I packed from the academy. I was wearing tights and red sweater. Humiga na muna ako sa kama. I felt like my energy is about to deplete pero hindi naman talaga. I was just tired from all the walking and running. In just one day, nangyari lahat ng yun so it was really tiring.
I was staring at the beautifully carve ceiling and my eyes are staring to get droopy. I felt the urge to sleep since after all it was a long day today.
The thick dark air was roaming and the trees are dead. I can see demons which looks like cats but it is actually a demon lynx. They are cats but bigger than a usual cat. They have red eyes glowing and extremely creepy to look at. They look like a feral cat
I don't know where I am or what am I seeing. But I can comprehend that this is the wasteland, the dark continent. Seems like they do not see me while walking or intentionally not giving a damn.
Patuloy ako sa paglalakad dahil hinahanap ko ang daan paalis dito. Hindi ko alam kung tama ba itong tinatahak ko kung aatras ba ako o magpapatuloy sa pag-abante.
I was in awe when I reached the end of the dirt path road. I am seeing a castle miles away.
The castle is dark and hinting of fire inside. I noticed there are things flying hovering the castle but I could not determine what is it. Pero bago pa ang kastilyo, nakatayo ako sa isang matirik na bangin at ang ilalim nito ay parang walang hanggang kadiliminan and I can even hear cries beneath. Like hell, full of sinful souls paying for their sins.
Tumingin ako sa paligid pero wala akong nakikitang pwedeng daanan papunta sa kastilyo pero teka, bakit naman ako pupunta? Halatang sobrang nakakatakot na ang itsura ng kastilyo at ambience tapos pupunta ako? Am I a freaking idiot? I can hear, a beast growl and screams from distance. The place is too scary and people with faint heart will not stand a chance.
"Snow? Wake up." Yugyog sa akin ni Luna.
Dahan dahan akong napamulat like what the heck, I am sleeping for crying out loud at kailangan yugyogin talaga?
"Go away. I am sleeping." Saad ko at tumagilid ako sa pagkakahiga. Nakakaasar lang talaga.
"Wake up sleepy head. Lord Reginald is here. And it is dinner as well." Saad naman ni Luna.
Napabangon naman ako. Dinner na daw? What the hell, mas napansin ko pa ang dinner kesa kay Lord Reginald. Now, I am already questioning my priority, pagkain o mission?
Agad akong napatayo at inayos ko ang aking sarili. Pero yung totoo inaantok pa talaga ako ng sobra and this feeling is so familiar like a deja vu sabi nila. I dreamt on something similar when I have day dream.
Discussing the matter over dinner, baka mawalan na naman ako ng gana dahil may mag-aaway na naman. I just hope na walang mag-aaway.
•••
We reached the dinning area at nandoon na rin ang lahat. Umupo na din kami ni Luna kung saan bakante. The food is good as I see it and is that a lobster? Gulp I am dying to eat a lobster. I am eyeing it like, I am some kind of a starve beggar, seeing a delicious bread.
"How was your findings with your mission?" Tanong ni Reginald sa amin but I don't plan on joining the conversation. Food is my priority.
"I know you already know what happened, Father." Saad ni Jin. "But the case is worst than we expected."
"What was it?" Tanong nito.
"It's about the survivor who was infected. It seems like the reason of the infection is vulnerability with negative emotions." Sagot naman nito.
Totoo, naisip ko rin ang ideyang yun. Kahit saang angulo yun lang talaga ang dahilan. If you will be eaten by a negative feeling, darkness will find a way to step in and corrupt the person. Lalo na at nandoon din ang demon.
"It was infected because of a person's unhappiness?" Tanong ulit ni Reginald. Medyo komplikado at magulo ang theory kasi.
"We already spoke with the survivor and he told us what happened before he got infected. He wished to die because he wasn't able to save his family because of the storm. He went to the mountains where the demon was lurking and he was negating negative emotions. He wants to die along with fear, hate and greed. Factors that will let the darkness crept inside." Paliwanag naman ni Yuan.
Atleast, magaling itong magpaliwanag. Hindi tulad ni Jin na you already know what happened ang sagot. His father is typically asking for more information and he doesn't mean that he knows nothing about it.
"It makes sense." Sagot nito. "We will make sure to know the status of the well being of our people. If this is how the infection starts, then it is easy to acquire and it will be troublesome." Saad ni Reginald.
"There is a barrier and it is curious why the demon was able to enter without us knowing." Saad ni Jin.
"History repeats itself." Saad naman ni Yuan.
"Yes. Wondering why universe was turned into half? Because of this infection and the population was down into half. And to think, originally, the entire world is at peace and there is no darkness." Paliwanag nito.
The truth is, the world is peaceful before and there is no darkness as well. But it started when the dark god revolted. He released a plague to big cities and the people, animals and beast turned into dark beings and were called demons. The big cities dies because of war and fallens claims the cities and continents and where the Windervale is the only continent they failed to invade.
So the royal family decided to divide Windervale into five continents to allocate the refugees and have their own place.
The history is repeating itself, and since demons already found a way to infect again, we must find a way to counter it. To save the mankind and restore peace. Pero paano naman namin yun gagawin?
Hindi ko napansin na hindi pa pala ako kumakain. But my eyes were trained to the giant lobster where no one is eating it. Gusto kong kumuha pero nahihiya ako dahil walang kumakain nito and I don't see the point kung bakit sila nagluto nito kung wala naman kakain.
"Snow dear, is there a problem with the food?" Biglang tanong ni Margaret sa akin.
Nagulat naman ako dito. I didn't know na mapapansin pa pala niya ako. Umiling naman ako sa kanya. I wanted to eat the lobster yun ang problema ko.
"Uhm........ can....... I........eat.........the..........lobster?" Ang tagal kung natapos bigkasin yun. Hiyang hiya ako mga bes! Pero kinapalan ko na ang mukha ko dahil naglalaway na ako sa lobster.
"Oh. Yes of course dear. We cooked that for you. Jin mentioned that you love sea food." Nakangiting sagot naman nito.
My face turned into red. Natutuwa ako na nahihiya. Who knows na mag-aabala pa si Jin di ba?
"Thank you po." Saad ko and I already started devouring the lobster in front of me.
Third Person's POV
Yuan sigh and just shaking his head and sent some sharp glares toward Jin who's clueless that Yuan is already mentally strangling the poor Jin in his mind.