My body felt weightless as I began drifting into an abyss of nothingness. My eyes scanned the whole dimension and I couldn’t fathom how I got here.
I was a lost spirit finding my way to the afterlife. My memories were fogged by a hazy cloud and I couldn’t remember anything.
I couldn’t even remember my name.
It’s like my consciousness has developed a control over my own mind and I just allowed it to guide me. I let it bring me to a state of calmness. Wherever that might be.
But the voices, they came once again. I don’t recognize any of those pained and pleading voices. Pero may kung ano sa akin na gustong tumigil para makinig muna.
The cries and shrieks remained but one voice stood out. Boses iyon ng isang lalaki. I didn’t recognize who it belonged to but I think I’ve heard his words over and over again.
You can’t die yet, Blaire.
Sino ang tinutukoy ng boses? At sino si Blaire? Ako ba siya?
But that tone, it was so engulfed in suffering and despair that I can feel my heart shatter because of it. But instead of pain, I felt bright and pure hope when my form started materializing.
Hindi ko makita ang aking katawan dahil nagliliwanag ito ng husto ngayon. From a distance, I can see a floating orb of light. I was drawn to it and my feet just moved on their own, my body magnetized by the flickering light.
It sparkled in accordance with my steady heartbeat. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. It was emitting a radiance that promised me happiness. A world without suffering.
I don’t mean to hurt your feelings.
It was the same voice again. But it made me stand frozen in place. Several scenes flashed in my mind. They were memories of a girl with someone.
I’m sorry for everything.
Cold beads of water trickled down my face and I just wiped them away. I still couldn’t feel anything but why am I crying?
I almost lost you once and I won’t let you go now.
I resumed to bridge the gap between me and the orb. Habang papalapit ako ay nakita kong may namuong bola ng apoy sa tabi ng liwanag. It contrasted with the other sphere of magic. As I stepped closer, its flames almost burned me. But there was something more than the burn.
There’s love. And a promise of a better world.
Please don’t leave me, Everett.
I touched the flame with my fingertips and I bit my lip when the fire raged through my entire body. The pain was excruciating yet it reminded me of the beauty of living.
The fire devoured me until ashes remain. But from these very ashes, I shall rise.
____
“Orion! How’s Blaire? Did she got hurt? Bakit nagkasunog?” rinig kong nag-aalalang tanong ng isang babae.
My body was still tired that’s why I couldn’t even open my eyes. Buhat buhat ako ngayon ng isang lalaki kaya ang tangi ko lang na nagawa ay ang kumapit sa kanya. I can smell the smoke that seeped in his clothes.
“I don’t know but she’s finally awake,” sagot ng lalaki at naramdaman ko na lang na inilapag niya ako sa panibagong higaan. Mukhang nag-usap pa ang dalawa pero hindi ko na sila narinig dahil dinalaw na naman ako ng antok.
____
“Blaire, gising ka na rin ulit,” bati ng isang boses sa akin kasabay ng pagmulat ko sa aking mga mata. Babangon na sana ako pero pinigilan ako ng babae. Unti-unting lumilinaw na rin ang aking paningin at nakita kong nasa loob ako ngayon ng isang tent. Tatlong sleeping pads ang nakita ko at may mga nakahilera ring mga sandata sa isang sulok.
I scanned myself and I can see that my entire body is bandaged up. May mga bakas rin ng natuyong dugo dahil mukhang may mga sugat akong hindi pa rin naghihilom. Nang dumapo ang paningin ko sa aking kasama ay ilang beses akong napakusot sa aking mga mata.
Her familiar curly red hair and emerald eyes. Kahit hindi pa ako masiyadong nakakagalaw ay sinunggaban ko na agad siya ng yakap at isinubsob ko ang mukha ko sa kanan niyang balikat. Hindi ko na rin napigilang umiyak.
“Selene! Buhay ka!” nagawa kong sabihin sa kanya sa gitna ng aking hagulgol. Napayakap din sa akin ang huli pero naramdaman ko ang pag-iingat sa kanyang mga kilos para hindi niya matamaan ang aking mga sugat sa katawan. May mga tumulong luha rin sa aking balikat kaya mas lalo pang lumakas ang aking pag-iyak. My childhood best friend is alive!
“Ikaw din, Blaire! Bakit ang tagal mong natulog? Tinakot mo ako eh!” pagmamaktol ni Selene na humihikbi pa rin. Hindi na lang muna ako sumagot sa kanya at tinamasa na lang ang oras na kayakap ko siya. I’ve been blaming myself for all these years for her death and knowing the fact that Selene was alive just made me whole again. Nahanap ko na rin ang pirasong kokompleto sa aking pagkatao.
“You have a lot to tell me, Selene!” nagtatampo kong saad sa aking katabi. She just wiped the tears on my cheeks with her thumb. Kakaiba sa pakiramdam ang makita siyang muli. Parang nagkaroon ulit ako ng nakatatandang kapatid na gagabay at poprotekta sa akin.
Ginulo naman ng huli ang buhok ko. “Of course I would tell you everything. But first I want to apologize dahil hindi ako nagpakita ng ilang taon. I’m really sorry if I ever made you blame yourself for whatever happened before, Blaire. Pero ni kailanman ay hindi kita sinisi.”
Ngumiti naman ako sa kanya bilang tugon. “You don’t have to worry anymore about the past, Selene. I’m overjoyed to see you here because we’re reunited at last! Namiss kita ng sobra!” Napaiyak naman ulit si Selene dahil sa sinabi ko.
“Uy tama na ang iyak. Madami ka pang ikwekwento sa akin,” sabi ko naman kay Selene dahil parang wala na talaga siyang balak tumigil. But in between her cries, my heart fluttered with happiness when I heard Selene laugh. Namiss ko naman bigla ang mga tawanan namin noon.
Nagsimula na ring magkuwento si Selene pagkatapos. She told me that after she was thrown away by the nostrea, may lumigtas sa kanya bago siya tuluyang bumagsak sa lupa. Napatango naman ako dahil naliwanagan na rin ako kung bakit hindi namin natagpuan ang katawan ni Selene dahil may sumagip pala sa kanya.
“When I woke up, I was surprised to know that a child saved me. Orion ang pangalan niya at sa tingin ko ay magkaedad lang kayong dalawa noong una ko siyang nakita. He was so strong despite his young age and he managed to bring me to the Frontier, a fortress composed of rebels and individuals who are against the Crimson Empire. And they call themselves as the Vanguards.”
Napamangha naman ako ulit nang sabihin ni Selene na nandito ngayon ako mismo sa Frontier. I didn’t know that a rebellion was already brewing during that time. During the dark times, hope was never lost. Hope was just waiting patiently for the perfect moment to strike.
“And I was shocked when I realized that the incident triggered my hidden ability. My flair is regeneration and it saved me before my body could finally give up. Kaya kong pagalingin ang sarili ko. But this talent is limited only to myself.”
Sinabi pa ni Selene na nahanap siya ng mga magulang niya pero nang babalik na sila sa bayan namin ay mga nakita silang kabalyerong nagbabantay sa pasukan ng aming lugar. And those Crimson Knights made that certain area as their outpost. And instead of risking their safety, her parents decided to stay in the Frontier with her.
“I really tried my best to persuade them, Blaire. Pero madami talagang kalaban. At kapag nahuli nila kaming tatlo ay baka dahil sa amin ay madiskubre pa ang nakatago nating bayan. So they decided to never return.”
I touched Selene’s hand to show that I understand her.
“Dito na ako lumaki sa Frontier kasama si Orion at ang ibang mga bata. Nang tumanda na ako ay nagsimula na rin akong magsanay. Tumutulong din ako sa mga healer. Naniniwala akong kilala mo si Avery, Blaire. She was once my mentor before she decided to dedicate her skills in the Healing Camp inside the Stronghold’s Academy. But it was not only the reason why she sacrificed her freedom. Nalaman kasi namin na may plano rin ang ibang miyembro ng akademya na mag-alsa sa emperyo. Pumunta si Avery doon para tumulong at maging espiya.”
Hindi ko na napigilang hindi mapanganga sa lahat ng mga ipinaalam sa akin ni Selene. All this time, I was backed with the strongest allies. Lumakas na rin ang aking loob dahil pakiramdam ko ay may pag-asa talaga kami sa labang ito.
“Avery told me about your encounter with Lady Mirage that night you discovered that they were transforming the magicaes into stygians. At inaasahan ko namang tatanggihan mo ang payo niya sa iyo dahil kilala kita, matigas talaga ang ulo mo. So we prepared bombs instead, with the help of Lady Adelaide, in case something bad happens. Pero mukhang nahuli na kami dahil grabe na ang naranasan mo sa kamay ng kalaban. But fortunately, Orion save you and brought you here to be healed. Sobrang gulo rin ng akademya sa araw na iyon dahil mukhang inaasahan din ng bagong Head na aatake kami.”
Napahawak ako sa aking baba dahil sa aking mga nalaman. I swallowed the bile rising up my throat when the scenes of torture appeared in my mind. I trembled and I felt Selene clasp my hand to calm me down.
“Why did the Vanguards help me?”
Sasagutin na sana ni Selene ang katanungan ko nang biglang may umubo sa labas ng tent. Nagpaalam ang kasama ko para tignan kung sino ang nasa labas.
“Chief Zero wants to talk with you, Blaire. He might have the answers that you’re dying to hear.”
Bumilis naman ang pintig ng aking puso dahil sa wakas ay malalaman ko na rin ang katotohanan. Yumuko ako bilang paggalang nang makita ang pagpasok ni Chief Zero. Selene left the tent to give us some privacy.
May kakaibang saya akong naramdaman nang makita ko ang dating pinuno ng akademya. He looked slightly thinner from the last time that I saw him. But I felt relief when I saw him safe and sound.
“You have every right to loathe me after you hear the truth.”
Napalunok na lang ako sa sinabi ni Chief Zero. Huminga naman ako ng malalim bago ako tumango sa kanya. There is a growing fear inside because I’m afraid of what I'll hear directly from him.
“I’ve revealed your location to the Crimson Legion that’s why they discovered and burned your town. I’ve sent you to compete in the Commandeer Trial without the certainty that you would survive. I’ve allowed you to be in danger inside the academy for several times. I’ve let you suffer in the hands of the empire and all I could do was hope that someone will save you because I couldn’t.”
Hinayaan ko lang ang mga luhang lumabas sa aking mga mata. Nakatingin pa rin ako kay Chief Zero pero napuno na ng hinanakit ang aking puso. Pero hindi ko hinayaan ang sarili kong magalit sa kanya dahil alam kong may rason kung bakit niya nagawa ang lahat ng iyon.
“I did all of this because of a vision given to me by a seer. A seer who can see the future but vaguely. So I asked him to show me the second prophecy. The prophecy that the empress decided to bury after she killed all the Maximes. But the seer showed me a mental image instead. I saw a girl sitted on a throne but her face was covered in mist. And then, I saw you. You were standing by her side.”
Kinilabutan ako habang nagsasalaysay si Chief Zero. Ano ang ibig sabihin noon?
“I trusted my instincts afterwards. I located you and let you endure many trials to prove yourself. And I was not mistaken, Blaire Everett. You are special. The pain that you have experienced and close encounters with death finally awakened your true flair.”
Hindi na ako makahinga. Bakit ako espesyal?
“You are a Channel. You have a bountiful supply of spiritus energy within which made it possible for you to house the elements of the Divine Deities themselves.”
Napahawak na lang ako sa lupa kahit na nakaupo naman ako dahil sa bigat ng tensyong nararamdaman ko ngayon. Parang lalabas na ang puso ko mula sa aking dibdib dahil sa lakas ng pagkabog nito ngayon.
“When you woke up last night, that vision appeared inside my mind again. But this time, I can now see the face of the girl on the throne. She is the rightful heir and the last of her clan. And you are standing beside her because you are her familiar. And it is your duty to protect her.”
“Sino siya?” Pigil hininga kong hinintay ang magiging sagot ni Chief Zero.
“The last Maxime is Ophelia Zestaria. She is Princess Lithuania, the lost prodigy of Lux.”