Pinakiramdaman namin ni Cato ang buong paligid bago gumawa ng hakbang. I saw how his wings blended with the darkness as he walked in front of me. The palace grounds were eerily calm and as I beheld the scene, there was a tingling sensation inside of me. The war was still raging on but I can feel that something more ominous is about to happen.
Hindi nga ako nagkamali. A luminous violet magic circle started to form at the top of the castle in front of us. It faintly glowed at first but it got brighter and brighter in each passing moment. Symbols floated along with it and huge tendrils of black lightning also appeared. My knees wobbled because of that magic’s intensity.
Nasalo naman ako ni Cato nang matumba ako dahil nakarinig ako ng impit at nahihirapang sigaw sa aking isipan. Naulit pa iyon at napahawak naman ako sa aking dibdib dahil sa kumikirot kong puso. The screaming became louder and it never stopped.
Hindi ko alam kung paano ko nararamdaman ang pinagdadaanan niya. But I knew Orion was being tortured inside the castle. The pain that he was feeling right now was unbearable and it would kill him. At kailangan ko siyang iligtas.
“Take me inside,” pakiusap ko kay Cato kaya agad naman niya akong binuhat. Hindi pa kami nakakalipad nang may bumulusok na asul na apoy sa aming direksiyon. It came at us with a speed of a bullet. So sobrang bilis non ay hindi na kami nakaiwas pero nagulat ako nang gawing panangga ni Cato ang kanyang pakpak.
The horrendous smell of burnt flesh entered my nose. Maluha-luha akong napatingin sa lalaki at sa nasusunog niyang isang pakpak. I tried extinguishing the blue flame but it was useless. Dahil ito ang klase ng apoy na hindi namamatay ng basta-basta.
I only saw Cato hardly biting his lips to lessen the pain that he was feeling. May nakita na rin akong bakas ng dugo sa mga labi niya dahil sa lakas ng kanyang pagkagat roon. He was suffering and I couldn’t do anything to stop it.
Inilabas ko ang aking punyal at hahanapin ko na sana ang gumawa sa kanya nito nang pigilan ako ng lalaki. The blue fire ravaged his left wing but luckily, it didn’t eat his body. Ipinaglaho na lang ni Cato ang natitira niyang pakpak. His back was bleeding and I immediately coated it temporarily with cold wind to ease his wound. Cato gritted his teeth but he gave me a grateful look in return.
Napatayo ang huli nang makarinig kami ng mga yabag ng paa. Behind a marble pillar, Commander Odin emerged. I shot daggers at his direction when I saw his fist still blazing with azure fire.
“What kind of familiar are you, Patronus? Why can’t you do your job properly? You even had your princess treat you. What a useless trash,” nang-iinsultong komento ni Commander Odin. Umigting ang panga ni Cato sa sinabi ng huli at susugurin na sana ang aming kalaban pero inawat ko siya.
“Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin, Cato?” seryoso kong tanong sa aking kasama. Napayuko na lang ang lalaki at umiwas ng tingin. I mentally slapped myself for being slow-witted. I should’ve hinted why Cato was overprotective of me even though their kind was tasked to be the defenders of our clan.
He’s always staying by my side because he’s the protector of Princess Lithuania. He’s my familiar.
Humakbang ako paharap at sinenyasan ko si Cato na hayaan lang ako sa aking gagawin. I faced Commander Odin and I gave him an emotionless stare.
“I will never forget what you did to my friend, Commander,” saad ko at malakas na ibinagsak ang isa kong paa sa lupa. The earth rolled towards my enemy like a tsunami and I merged my attack with the fire element, creating lava and magma.
Commander Odin’s movements were swift but they were not that fast. Hinabol siya ng rumaragasang lupa na may kasamahang lahar. It burned parts of his mercenary armor and he grunted everytime he got hit by the molten magma.
Naramdaman ko ang pagkabalisa ni Cato sa aking tabi dahil gusto na niya talaga akong tulungan. But my words surprised him. “Huwag kang mag-alala sa akin. Who says a princess can’t protect her familiar?” wika ko sa kanya sabay kindat. Napabuntong hininga na lang si Cato pero hinayaan niya lang ako sa aking ginagawa.
Nabalik naman ako sa pokus nang makita kong kumakaripas na tumatakbo si Commander Odin patungo sa aking direksiyon. Nasa kamay niya ang isang lumalagablab na espada. He was far but I saw that he sliced the air using his weapon. After he did that, I saw a crescent shaped blue fire coming at me.
Yumuko lang ako para iwasan ang atakeng iyon at ganun din ang ginawa ni Cato. Mabilis na lumapag sa harapan ko ang kalaban at itinusok papunta sa akin ang kanyang espada. I feinted to the left as I prepared my fist. Nang akala ni Commander Odin na susuntukin ko siya ay binigyan niya ako ng ngisi. But I directed my punch at the sky and at the same time, a molten hand made of earth and fire appeared from below my enemy. Hindi iyon nakita ng huli kaya natamaan siya nito. The force also threw him upwards.
I jumped and started to envelop my right hand with lava magic. Ginamit ko rin ang hangin para pataasin ang aking pagtalon. At nang magtagpo kami ni Commander Odin sa himpapawid ay buong pwersa ko siyang sinuntok pababa gamit ang nagbabaga kong kamao.
The whole place shook when Commander Odin met the ground. Nabalot ng makapal na usok ang paligid at nagsiliparan din ang maraming alikabok. Nang makababa ako ay nakita kong nakatulalang nakatingin sa akin si Cato. Kailangan ko pa siyang batukan para mabalik siya sa sarili.
“How are you feeling?” tanong ko sa kanya dahil hindi pa rin siya nagsasalita. I looked at his back and saw that the blood already clotted.
“Hindi mo kailangang gawin iyon, Lithuania,” sambit niya sa akin kaya napabuga naman ako ng hangin. I was expecting him to thank me but I might’ve stepped on his pride for saving him. I really can’t understand men and their egos.
“You’re my responsibility too, Cato. I’ll protect you because you are part of my court,” saad ko sa kanya at nauna nang maglakad. Humabol siya sa akin at narinig ko na may gusto siyang sabihin pero nauutal siya.
“You’re welcome,” saad ko bago tumalikod ulit. Nakailang hakbang pa lang ako nang may maramdaman akong paparating na kidlat.
A wall of fire protected me from the attack. Nagsilabasan naman pagkatapos ang napakaraming ipo-ipong gawa sa apoy para kalabanin ang mga kabalyerong pumapalibot sa amin.
“Blaire?”
Halos maiyak ako sa tuwa nang makita ko ang lalaking nagsalita. “Raiden!” tawag ko sa kanya bago ko siya binigyan ng yakap. Kumalas naman ako mula sa pagkakayakap nang makitang napangiwi siya dahil mukhang natamaan ko ang ilan sa kanyang mga sugat. But I’m relieved to see that he’s alive.
Nabigla naman ako nang walang babala niya akong hinila papunta sa kanyang likuran. Umapoy ang kanyang kamao habang tinitignan si Cato. The stares that they were giving each other was deadly and edgy. Sa loob ng ilang segundo ay walang nagsalita dahil para bang nagsusukatan ng tingin ang dalawa.
“Sino siya?” Malamig na tanong ni Raiden sa akin habang nakatingin pa rin siya kay Cato. Inalis ko ang pagkakahawak niya sa akin bago ako pumagitna sa kanila.
“He’s Cato and he’s my familiar. And don’t look at him like that. He’s not an enemy,” sermon ko kay Raiden kaya sa akin na siya napatingin. His stare was cold but I can see another trace of emotion in his eyes that I couldn’t quite depict.
Hinila naman ako ni Cato palapit sa kanya kaya tumama ako sa kanyang dibdib. Napadaing ako ng mahina dahil hindi ko inaasahang matigas pala iyon.
“Get your hands off her,” seryosong utos ni Raiden pero may bakas ng galit sa kanyang boses. Nagulat ako nang hilahin niya ako papunta sa kanya pero kinuha rin ni Cato ang isa kong kamay kaya hindi iyon natuloy.
“Bitawan mo ang mahal na prinsesa,” asik naman ni Cato. Isang nagtatakang tingin naman ang ibinigay sa akin ni Raiden pero wala ni isa sa kanila ang bumitaw. Both of them started pulling me as if this was a tug of war. Hindi na ako nakapagtimpi kaya nagpakawala ako ng hangin na nagpaatras sa kanilang dalawa. Inis kong pinasadahan ng tingin ang dalawang lalaki pagkatapos.
“You’re both unbelievable!”
Isang malakas na tahol ang sumagot sa aking sigaw. Nagawa kong balansehin ang aking sarili nang yumanig ang buong lugar dahil parang may higanteng kasalukuyang naglalakad sa kahariang ito. And from the smoke appeared a mythical creature that was feared by even the strongest warriors. It was a humongous three-headed dog that was believed to be the guardian of the underworld. But now, it was here and it can also breathe blue fire.
It had the same ability with Commander Odin. At napagtanto kong baka katulad din ang abilidad ng lalaki kay Gale.
“I’ll handle the mythic! Go inside the castle and save the others!” sigaw ni Raiden bago namin narinig ang pagtahol ulit ng aso bago ito bumuga ng nagliliyab na asul na apoy. Sumugod na ang huli kaya sinunod na lang namin ang iniutos niya.
“Please be safe, Raiden,” bulong ko sa hangin bago kami pumasok ni Cato sa loob ng kastilyo. We walked the open hallway until we reached the inner garden of the castle. Binaktas na namin ang kabuuan ng hardin na magdadala sa amin sa entrada papasok sa bulwagan.
Lumiliwanag na rin ng husto ang magic circle na nasa itaas. Bumalik na rin ang nararamdaman kong kakaiba kanina lang. I hope that I’m not too late. Sana ligtas pa sina Orion at Ophelia. At sana hindi matuloy ang kung ano mang binabalak ng emperatris.
I heard a clanging sound behind me and I saw Cato being covered in thick dark chains. Tutulungan ko na sana siya pero natumba ako nang sunggaban ako ng isang nilalang na gawa sa anino. I quickly stood up as the shadow beasts encircled me. I couldn’t see their forms because they were made up of darkness but they were tangible.
Mula sa gitna ay naglakad papunta sa akin ang isang babaeng may maikling puting buhok. I instantly recognized her but something about her looked off. Nang pagmasdan ko ang purong itim niyang mga mata ay napahawak na lang ako sa aking punyal. Ophelia was being controlled by someone.
She sent her creatures dashing at me with their fangs bared. I surrounded my dagger with pure light magic as I defended myself. Pinaghihiwa ko ang mga halimaw at kapag tumatama ang liwanag sa kanila ay unti-unti ang mga itong nawawala. But when the others vanished, more beasts appeared.
Sa likuran ko ay nakita kong nababalutan na ang buong katawan ni Cato ng mga kadena. Even his head was covered with that dark magic. Mukhang kailangan ko na talagang talunin si Ophelia dahil halatang siya ang may kagagawan nito.
“Ophelia! Can you hear me?” sigaw ko pagkatapos yumuko para iwasan ang nilalang na lumundag papunta sa akin. I hacked its head off as I punched another approaching beast with a small orb of light energy. Ophelia didn’t seem to hear me but she lunged at me afterwards with a sword made of bones.
She swiped it towards me and I stepped back to avoid being hit. She got too close that’s why I have no choice but to kick her tummy. Napaatras si Ophelia pero sinugod niya ako ulit. Wala pa ring bahid ng buhay ang kanyang mga mata. Her skin remained pale and she was still in her real form so its clear that she hadn't been transformed into a stygian. But how could I severe the strings that continues to manipulate her?
“Snap out of it, Ophelia! Wake up!” utos ko sa kanya pero nagpakawala lang siya ng itim na apoy. I rolled to the side to avoid it and the beasts that were still attacking me.
Bony fingers grabbed my feet when I started to stand. A skeleton started to rise from below the earth. Nabitawan ko ang aking dagger nang biglaan ako nitong inihagis kaya bumagsak ako sa lupa. May mga pumulupot din sa aking kadena kaya hindi ko na magawang gumalaw. I can see Ophelia walking towards me even if I’m lying flat on my stomach now. But she stopped a few distance away from me.
Nakita kong napaluhod siya sa harapan ko. Akala ko ay aatakehin niya ako pero may pinulot siyang isang bagay. Nagpumiglas ako pero wala iyong nagawa para makawala ako. I wanted to warn her but the chains already covered my mouth.
Ophelia shouldn’t touch Amaranthine. Because as the last princess, I was the only one who could wield it. Mamamatay ang ibang hahawak nito. And I don’t want her to suffer death.
Pero laking gulat ko na lang nang kuminang ang sagradong espada nang hawakan ito ni Ophelia. Naramdaman ko naman ang unti-unting paglaho ng tanika sa aking katawan. But after that, I saw Ophelia fainted. At nahulog ang espada sa damuhan.
Agad akong lumapit sa babae at tinignan ang pulsuhan nito. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag dahil tumitibok pa ang puso ni Ophelia. I was troubled by what I had seen but what matters the most was that she’s safe. Amaranthine had spared her.
“Anong nangyari?” tanong ni Cato na nakawala na rin sa pagkakatali. The entire island suddenly shuddered when an earsplitting thunder rumbled. Mas marami na rin ang nakikita kong hibla ng kidlat sa kalangitan. Mukhang matatapos na ang ritwal na ginagawa ng emperatris.
Pinulot ko ang espada bago ko hinarap si Cato. “Stay here and guard her. Tatapusin ko na ang digmaang ito,” utos ko sa kanya at mabilis na akong tumakbo papasok sa bulwagan. The wind carried me and I used it to blast the large door open.
Itinaas ko ang banal na espada para kalabanin ang kung sino mang pipigil sa akin. I roamed my eyes but not a single enemy approached me when I got inside.
The chamber was circular and the ceiling was domed. Marami ring nakapalibot na stone column sa buong pasilyo. Windows occupied the places where the wall should be. But I walked deeper into the hall, neglecting the foreboding that haunts me.
At mabilis akong nilamon ng galit nang makita ko kung ano ang nasa sentro ng buong lugar.
Another magic circle was drawn on the floor of the throne room. It was smaller than the luminous purple sphere located at the sky but they were parallel with each other. And in the center of that body of magic was a dark-haired woman whose back was facing him. Even if I only saw her in my dreams, I knew that it was her.
The root cause of darkness. Empress Devorah Crimson.
Halos dumugo na ang kamay ko dahil sa mahigpit kong pagkakahawak sa aking espada nang makita ko si Orion. He was at the bottom of the stairs that led to a gilded throne. Nagngangalit ako nang makita ang kanyang sinapit sa kamay ng babaeng mas masahol pa sa demonyo.
There was a smaller magic circle that binded him to where he was currently standing. Fury was roaring inside me when I realized something. Ang lahat ng nakita kong itim na kidlat kanina sa labas ng palasyo ay sa kanya pinapatama ni Devorah. He was being electrocuted over and over again.
Orion was a bloody mess and some parts of his body were already burnt. Halos maluha ako dahil sa nakakarimarim na amoy ng nasusunog na balat. Nakita kong nagtitimpi siyang sumigaw pero minsan ay hindi na niya mapigilan ang paglabas ng kanyang mga hiyaw na puno ng sakit. Natatabunan na ng napakaraming sugat ang kanyang katawang nagkulay pula na dahil sa dugo. He was tortured and now he was being killed.
I finally lost my control when I saw how the latter slumped on the floor. I raised my sword as I sprinted towards the empress. She was a monster for doing this to Orion. And I'm going to kill her for it.
Anger fogged my mind and heart and I didn’t think twice before impaling Amaranthine in her back. I pushed the sacred blade further until the tip appeared on the other side, piercing her heart.
Naramdaman ko ang malapot at mainit na likidong dumaloy sa aking mga kamay. May tumalsik ding dugo sa aking mukha pero wala na akong pakialam doon. Puno ng poot akong nakatingin sa nanghihinang katawan ng babae. Hindi ako nakaramdam ng pagsisisi sa ginawa ko sa kanya dahil kung tutuusin ay kulang pa ito bilang kabayaran sa lahat ng kanyang ginawang kasamaan.
In front, I saw that the magic circle holding Orion had finally faded. Pupuntahan ko na sana siya pero natigilan ako nang humiga sa aking balikat si Devorah. I met her glassy eyes and I saw that she was crying. Nagulat ako nang bigla niyang hinawakan ang aking pisngi.
She was choking. May lumabas ng dugo sa kanyang bibig pero pinilit niya pa ring magsalita.
“Buhay ka, Lunaria.”
Those were the last words of the empress before the warmth finally left her body. But the peaceful smile that she gave me after she uttered that line lingered in my mind. And mysteriously, my heart ached when she called me by that name.
Mula sa likod ng isang haligi ay nakarinig ako ng isang palakpak. Lumabas mula roon si Lady Mirage na may nakapintang malawak na ngiti sa kanyang mukha.
“Well done, Blaire. You just killed your real mother.”