Chapter 40:
MISSION CHANGED
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Ester's POV
Half and half. The reason why I want to follow Lucas is half to comfort and half to get Singko. Hindi pa siya nakakabalik sa katawan ko so I need to get her. I exactly know where she is. Just like what I said before, me and my links are connected by a rope-like string na tanging ako lang ang nakakakita. I'll just have to follow this string para mahanap siya.
And also, I will be needing Singko's heightened senses to find Lucas. He was fast with his wolf form kaya hindi ko siya nasundan. I need to follow his scent using Singko's signus to reach him.
Napakaraming puno akong nadaanan. Ito nga ang tinatawag nilang Southwest Green Forest: pinalilibutan ng matatayog na puno.
Kasalukuyan ko pa ring sinusundan ang kulay abo na lubid ni Singko. Huminto ako't tumingala sa isang napakataas na puno kung saang nakikita kong paakyat dito ang lubid niya. There she is.
"Singko, bumaba ka na. I'm here to get you now. Don't worry, I'm all alone!" sigaw ko.
Tumalon siya mula sa kinauupuan niyang sanga. Napakataas ng tinalon niya kaya napakalakas ng nagawang impact ng pagkakabagsak niya. I was not amazed though, for I can also do it.
"Buti na lang ang nandito kana, Ester. Akala ko wala ka nang balak na ibalik ako sa katawan mo, eh!" signhal niya na parang nagtatampo. "Inaantok na ako at kailangan ko nang magpahinga."
"Wait! Last na lang. Can you possess me and help me find Lucas? Promise last na ito!" I made a puppy eyes para mapa-O'o ko siya. Kahit na parte lang siya ng signus ko at ako ang master niya, kailangan ko pa rin silang itrato tulad ng tunay na tao.
"Promise? Last na ito ha?" paninigurado niya.
"Yes. I promise!"
"Okay. Say the word." Singko readied herself.
"Singko, mask-up!" I chanted. Everytime na nakikipag-isa ako sa aking mga links, I always have to say 'mask-up'. It is like a keyword. A permission that I'm letting them enter and possess my body.
Naglaho si Singko at naging isang kulay abong liwanag. She entered my body, and her strings coiled with my viens. I felt my senses become sharper than a normal person.
Now I can see the forest in a detailed manner. I can hear the sounds of insects clearly. I can even feel the wind entering my skin pores. Aside from the ability to read someone's mind, this is how great Singko's signus is. I can see the world in a different perspective.
Sinubukan kong alalahanin ang amoy ni Lucas nang gabing dinala niya ako sa clinic. I can barely remember his scent but it is enough. Naamoy ko na rin kasi ngayon ang amoy na kaparehas nang gabing iyon. Sigurado akong ito ang amoy niya: a combination of a fresh mint scent at pine trees. Even his scent speaks his handsome and gentle appearance.
Sinundan ko ang amoy niya. I traced the left-over scent na nasa hangin. Makailang minuto lang ay nagsimula akong makarinig ng pag-agos ng tubig.
Naglakad pa ako hanggang sa maabutan ko siyang nakaupo sa tabing ilog. I can only see his back dahil nakaharap siya sa ilog.
This scene. Parehas nang huli kaming mag-usap; Lucas staring at a body of water and me seeing his manly back. But this time is somewhat different, for I am ready to face him now. I will not speak behind him anymore.
"Lucas," pagkuha ko ng atensiyon niya. Lumapit ako sa kaniya at umupo sa tabi niya.
He is holding a brush and a pallette. He is painting a familiar image on a white cloth. Where did he get all of of these painting materials? Then I realized he is the Prince of Land or Forest and all of these things were made personally by him using trees and earth.
"Why are you here? Did they sent you?" He asked without looking at me. He even changed the position of the white cloth. Now, I can't see what he is painting dahil nasa likod na ako nito.
"Wrong. I came here by myself." I honestly answered.
"Why?" Seryoso siyang nagpipinta kaya hindi siya nag-aatubiling lingunin ako.
"To say thank you and sorry," tipid ko ring sagot. Ngayon pa lang nakikita ko na ang patutunguhan ng usapang ito. Wala. Walang patutunguhan ang usapang ito dahil parehas kaming tipid magsalita.
"For what?" another question of him that needs my answer.
"Thank you for saving me that night."
"All men will do what I did. That was nothing," he replied.
"That was a huge thing! You are the third person to save me from death you know that? So, I'm very grateful to you," I tried to put as much feelings as I can. I know I suck at that. "But I'm sorry dahil kanina."
The mood around us suddenly changed. Pero kaagad niya rin naman itong binago muli. "You don't have to say sorry. It was my mistake after all. No hard feelings." Ngayon ay nagawa niya na akong tingnan. Kahit na sinabi niya iyon ay alam ko at nararamdaman ko ang sakit sa loob niya.
"But, still I have to say sorry. I know you were hurt. Sorry." This is all I can do for both lying and not telling the truth to him, for keeping secrets and pretending.
Binalot ng katahimikan ang paligid. Hindi ko na alam ang sasabihin ko at gano'n din siya. We are both feeling awkward right now.
Makalipas pa ang ilang minuto ay binasag niya rin ito.
"I guess kaya ka pumunta dito dahil aalis na tayo?"
"A part of. Since alam mo naman pala, let's go?" pagyaya ko sa kaniya.
Pinulupot niya ang makapal at malapad na papel na pinagpintahan niya. He swayed his hand at biglang nalusaw lahat ng ginamit niyang pangpinta maliban sa malapad na papel.
"Can you hold this?" At inabot niya sa akin ang pinagpintahan niya. "Medyo malayo ang lalakarin natin so I suggest you to ride on me," he said out of the blue na ikinapula ko.
What? Ride on who? Bakit ganito ako magreact? Argh!
Lucas suddenly shapeshifted into his brown wolf form. Ah! So he is expecting me to ride on his back. Iba pala talaga ang iniisip ko. Damn this mind of mine!
Nagdalawang-isip pa ako kung sasakay ako sa kanya o maglalakad na lang pero bigla niya akong inungulan.
"Grrrrrrrrr!" Pinalid pa ang buhok ko sa lakas ng hanging dala ng bibig niya.
"Okay! I'll ride. No need to be angry!" sabi ko. Magkasing tangkad lang kami ngayon kaya hindi ako makaakyat sa likod niya. Kaya ko namang talunin lang iyon but I have to pretend like a soft lady right now. Hindi naman siguro basta na lang tatalon ang isang mahinhing dalaga, hindi ba?
Yumuko siya nang bahagaya at ibinaba ang buong katawan niya. He really is Lucas. The most gentle of all gentlemen.
Ngayong napakalapit ko sa kaniya. Naamoy ko na nang malinaw ang natural scent niya. He has this addictive fragrance na hindi ko pagsasawaang amuyin.
"Grrrrrrr!" He growled again. Pansin niya sigurong nakatulala ako kaya ginawa niya ito. Hindi ko siya maintindihan but I think he is telling me to hold to his thick fur so I did. Nang makahawak ako sa kaniya ay bigla na lamang siyang tumakbo nang napakabilis. All the trees we passed by looked blurry in my eyes dahil sa sobrang bilis ni Lucas. Within four minutes ay nakabalik na kami.
Nakita nila akong nakaangkas kay Lucas and they all looked at us na parang nagtataka. Bumaba ako mula sa likod ni Lucas, and he shapeshifted into his human form again.
Tila natihimik ang lahat sa pagdating namin. Mabuti na lang at binasag ito ni Crystal. "Good thing you're here. Let's eat before we get going."
May isang mesa sa gitna at may mga pagkaing nakahanda. I guess Hydra prepared all the food and Crystal made all these stuff. They really know how to survive the mission together.
Umupo kami sa palibot ng parihabang mesa. I am at the end of the table while Finnix sat at the other end. Nagsitinginan kaming lahat sa isa't isa.
"HAHAHAHA!" rinig kong paghalakhak ni Heaven. What's the matter?
"You and Finnix sitting at both ends look like our parents," Crystal also laughed. They are making fun of us. Hindi ko naman mapigilan ang pamumula ng mukha ko nang maisalarawan ko sa aking isipan ang sinabi ni Crystal.
Me and Finnix?
"Stop teasing them!" Pagsaway sa kanila ni Wyn kaya biglang tumahimik ang lahat. He even slapped the table na mas nagpatahimik sa lahat. Minsan lang magsalita itong lalaking ito pero lahat nga ay may punto. Salamat Wyn! "Tingnan niyo nga si Ester oh! Namumula na"
Halos maluwa ko lahat ng gulay na kakasubo ko pa lang. Akala ko kakampi ko siya.
"HAHAHAHA!" Nagsitawanan silang muli. Kitang-kita ng mga mata ko ang tuwa at kinang sa kanilang mga mata. Totoo ito at walang halong pagpapanggap. Unlike me.
"HAHAHAHA!"
"HAHAHAHA!"
Dito ko napagtanto ang isang bagay. These people... They changed me. Binago nila ang perspektibo ko sa buhay. Napapawi ng mga ngiti nila ang sakit ng nakaraan ko. They are making me wish of living a normal life with them, completely forgetting my past.
So, I came up with a decision.
I will forget the mission of revenge. Yes, I will still find justice to my parent's death but I will now focus on my life. I will now live a happy life. And I can only feel this happiness if I am with them.
I now have a different mission.
It is to protect these people that makes me happy. To make sure that these people are always safe.
***
Mask Mistress POV
Tinatahak ko ngayon ang daan patungo sa kaharian naming mga Drakos. Hawak-hawak ko ang balikat ko at paika-ikang naglalakad. I'm injured.
That woman! She exceeded my strength! Her massive attack managed to hurt me.
Ang pinagtataka ko lang ay hindi ko siya kilala. I have been observing the Bluebloods because I was tasked by our king to kill them. I am far stronger than them, so I was confident that I could kill them easily. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang babaeng 'yon na humadlang sa mga plano ko.
Nang tumama ang dulo ng hawak niyang punyal sa pinansangga kong sandata, ramdam ko kung gaano siya kalakas. Halos madurog ang mga laman ko sa lakas ng atake niya. Parang nanghina ako nang mga panahong iyon. Tila hinihigop ang lakas ko nang magtama ang mga atake namin.
Kahit na itago niya ay alam ko. I know she is hiding her true strength. Pero kahit na tinatago niya ang tunay na lakas niya, bakit sobrang lakas niya pa rin?
Why did her strength exceed mine?
Who is she?
Sino ang babaeng nakalaban ko?
Ang mas nakapagtataka lang, bakit tinawag niya akong 'Mama'?
Narating ko na ang gate ng Drakos Kingdom. Nagsilabasan ang mga kawal upang salubungin ako. Kabilang na dito ang grupong pinadala sa Land of Blosson na umuwing kalunos-lunos ang sitwasyon. Napagaling sila ng preskripsyion na binigay ng pinakamagaling na healer sa Archania na si Tatang Isko. Pero ang sabi niya ay panandaliang lunas lamang ito dahil hindi niya matuloy ang tunay na sanhi ng sakit nila.
"Mask Mistress..." Siguro ay napansin nilang may injury ako kaya kaagad nila akong inalalayan.
"Bring me to the King," utos ko sa kanila. "I have something to report to him."
Inakay nila ako hanggang sa makarating kami sa harap ng trono kung saan nakaupo ang aming hari. He is speaking to a gray smoke. He is speaking to an accomplice na kahit kailan ay hindi ko pa nakita. Siya lang ang tanging may ugnayan sa kausap niya ngayon. Sa tingin ko ay siya ang tagapayo ng aming hari dahil sinusunod niya lahat ng sasabihin nito. The gray smoke is like the right hand of our king.
"My King..," pagkuha ko ng atensiyon niya. Hinawing niya ang usok na bigla namang nawala at binaling ang atensiyon sa akin.
"I thought you are going to kill the Bluebloods? It seems you are the one who almost got killed?" the king disappointedly asked.
"I'm sorry, My King. Mapapatay ko na sana sila kung hindi lang... kung hindi lang dahil sa babaeng biglang sumingit sa laban."
"A girl who can defeat you? Is she also a student of Signus Academy?" the King curiously asked.
"She is wearing the Viper Guild badge of Signus Academy, My King. So, I suppose yes. She is stronger than me, My King. She made a sneak attacked that's why I got injured," pagkukuwento ko. "She will be a huge hindrance to all of our plans so I suggest to get her killed."
"No! Don't kill her. I want her to get on our side. She might be a huge hindrance, but she could also be a great accomplice if she joins us. Do anything to get her!" the King ordered. "But, heal yourself first. When you are fine, you can go and get her," dagdag pa niya na parang nag-aalala aa kapakanan ko.
Hawak-hawak ko ang balikat kong kumikirot at pinilit kong lumuhod at sinabing, "I will do no matter what it takes to get her and thank you for your concern,
King Egar!"
- End of Chapter 40 -
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Hiddenthirteen's Note!
Wyn and Winwin is the same. I'm trying to change his name starting from here as I am editing the story a bit.
So, what can you say about this chapter?
Don't forget to type your thoughts! Sana ay 'wag kayong maging silent reader please!
And click this before going to next chap!✨
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