The Awakening

For thousands of years, as humans evolved themselves to use magic, there are always the strong and the weak. The rich and the poor. The blessed and the cursed.

Yin, born as a peasant in Andoria, a forsaken part in the world of Elantris, never thought of himself as blessed. But Celandine, born as a noble in Valanthea, the central kingdom, changed his mind.

"FIRE MAGES! Where the fuck are the fire mages?!" Captain Acteon, the Captain of one of the five powerful Magic Squads in the whole Valanthea, Elite Sun, shouted amidst the burning houses in front of him.

Puno ng sigawan ang buong paligid, mata-bata man o matanda. Mages are flying in the dark, red sky, and knights are scattered everywhere, making their swords glint dangerously everywhere they go.

"Where the fuck are the other knights?! I told them to follow their positions! Bakit nagtakbuhan ang iba?!" Galit naman na singhal ni Captain Lazar, the captain of one of the eight powerful Knights Squad in the whole Valanthea, Vertosos, sa kasamahan niya.

Yumuko si Orion, ang Vice Captain ng Vertosos. "Another Lodroch was discovered flying towards us just two minutes ago, Captain. Once the word spred out, the knights ran away."

Mas lalong lumalim ang singhal ni Captain Lazar at inilabas ang kaniyang espada. "Tch. Bloody cowards. Remember their faces, because once we get back I'll give them one hell of a punishment."

"What, your knights ran away, Salazar?" Hindi naman mapigilan ni Captain Acteon na makinig sa balita ng Vice Captain ng Vertosos sa kanilang leader mas lalo na't kilala ang Captain nito bilang isa sa mga masusungit na Captain sa lahat ng Squads. He smirked.

"Like your mages are any better, Acteon. Where the hell are your fire mages?" ngisi rin ni Captain Lazar sa kaniya.

Bumalik sa simangot ang nakangising ekspresyon ni Captain Acteon. Captain Lazar take it as a win.

"But hey, what are you talking about a Lodroch flying towards us a while ago? Nakita sila sa kanlurang bahagi kanina, at pagkakaalam ko ay naubos na sila ng Panorama kanina." Tanong naman ni Acteon kay Orion.

"Well, maybe the most powerful Magic Squad in the kingdom is not that powerful after all." Patuloy na pang-aasar ni Lazar.

Nirolyo ni Acteon ang kaniyang mga mata. "Eryx may be the youngest Captain in history, but the King did not appoint him as a Captain for nothing." ani nito at muling humarap sa Vice Captain. "Is there still a Lodroch coming towards us now? What happened to it?"

Vice Captain Orion frowned and closed his eyes, concentrating his detection skill to the whole area. Patuloy pa rin ang labanan ng mga mages at knights laban sa mga low-rank monsters na pilit na umaatake sa palasyo ng Valanthea. The monsters are much more aggressive this time, Captain Acteon cannot help but to think. The Captains of all Squads already voiced out their doubts of someone controlling it from inside of the kingdom. A traitor, possibly in the citizens or worst, in the Squads. The monsters being more aggresive is also a sign that the King was right. Marahil ay tama nga na kailangan na nilang makipagsanib-pwersa sa ibang kaharian?

Vice Captain Orion suddenly jolt and then unsheathed his sword in one fluid movement. Tinapat niya ito sa kalangitan at tumayo sa harapan ni Captain Acteon na para bang pinoprotektahan ito.

"Vice Captain?" Biglang lumakas ang kutob ni Captain Acteon na may hindi magandang nangyayari ngayon sa kalangitan.

"A Valgerot is coming towards us in a high speed!" 

Mas lalong hinigpitan ni Captain Lazar ang hawak nito sa kaniyang espada, habang mas pinagdikit ni Captain Acteon ang kaniyang mga labi. "A Valgerot." Of all monsters...

Humarap siya sa mga mages na nasa likuran niya. Nang marinig ang malakas na balita ng Vice Captain ng Vertosos na kilala sa malawak at accurate na detection skill nito sa kahit na anong may buhay, marami ang tumingin sa kalangitan habang nanginginig sa takot na binabantayan ang pagdating ng higante.

"All of you! Guard the royal palace with all your—"

Blood drips from his mouth. Isang espada ang tumagos sa kaniyang tagiliran kasabay ng naramdaman niyang matinding sakit sa parteng ito.

"Just kidding," The Vice Captain of Vertosos' usually calm and cool face changed into one with manic happiness. "Not so fast, Captain Acteon Moon."

"Orion! What the hell are you doing?!" The direction of Captain Lazar's sword pointed directly at Vice Captain Orion's neck. Kahit nagulat din sa biglaang pag-iba ng Vice Captain ay marami rin ang itinutok ang kanilang espada at baston sa kaniya. The fall of their Captain's body on the sement floor is enough for them to move and to fight their fears.

Malalamig ang mga mata na tumingin si Orion kay Captain Lazar, ngunit hindi ito sumagot. Halos nanginginig namang tumingin ng diretso sa mga mata ng binata si Lazar—ang pamilyar na berdeng mga mata nito na parehong-pareho sa kaniya. "I'm asking you, Orion Salazar Frost, what are you doing?"

"I am the traitor of this kingdom, Father. Can't you see?" With one flick of his finger, Orion let his wind guided him to fly towards the sky. Hindi naman mapigilan na mapasinghap ni Lazar. For years, hindi nagpakita ang kaniyang anak ng kakayahan sa magic. Kilala si Orion bilang isa sa mga magagaling humawak ng espada at respetadong Knight ng kanilang kaharian.

Hindi na rin nakapagsalita pa si Lazar o makapag-aksyon pa ang ibang mages at knights na nakapalibot sa kanila dahil isang malakas na hampas ng hangin ang dumapo sa kanilang lahat. Lazar covered his eyes, but then a familiar heat almost envelops them.

Then a loud growl.

The Valgerot.

Binuksan muli ni Lazar ang kaniyang mga mata at tumitig sa kalangitan. There, in its towering height almost half of the palace of Valanthea, stood the Valgerot. Pulang-pula ang buong katawan nito, the scales are also red and almost on fire, signifying its intense fire attribute. It is one of the last kind of dragon species.

At sa tuktok din nito nakatayo si Orion.

"Valgerot. Ah, such wonderful creatures." Narinig niyang aniya ni Orion. "But so hard to control. It took me years, you see Father, to control such an independent creature like Valgerot, but I can be patient." Humarap muli sa kaniya ang kaniyang anak, ang mga mata nito ay kakaiba at para bang hindi na niya kilala. "Do you also want to see the other dragons, Father?"

Other dragons? Orion...Orion is... "You're a Szygym?" Halos hindi na makahinga si Captain Lazar sa rebelasyon na kaniyang naririnig. His son is a szygym, an ancient dragon-tamer. Was thought to be extinct, was thought to be murdered by the first king of Valanthea.

And now Orion is....that.

"Surprised, Father?" Mas lalong lumawak ang ngisi ni Orion, ngunit walang halong saya ito. "At alam ko na ganiyan ang magiging reaksyon mo. The heir to the esteemed House of Frost, a szygym? Such a disgrace. You'll rather have Zoela be the heiress." 

That's not true—!

"I can read you as plain as day, Father. Ganiyan ka naman lagi. Lagi mong dinidiktahan ang gusto ng mga anak mo. I never wanted to be a knight." He spit it out like a disgusting thing to say coming from his mouth. "But to be your heir, I need to be one. Magic is forbidden in the family, and I hate it so much."

Viridian eyes stared directly at Captain Lazar.

"I hate you so much."

Those words vibrated deep in Captain Lazar's mind. When Orion aimed his hands full of powerful wind magic straight at his father, the only thing that Lazar can do is to stare. To stare at Orion's manic grin, to his hands full of magic, and to the green eyes that he loved so much.

I hate you so much.

Innocent viridian eyes welcomed him as his son opened his eyes at the first time. Nakatitig ito kay Lazar na para bang inaalam nito kung sino ito. It is the most beautiful thing that Lazar has ever seen.

"He has your eyes, Salazar." Selene smiled weakly at him.

"Captain Lazar!" Isang kamay ang marahas na humila sa kaniya papalayo sa puwesto niya kanina. Kahit na pakiramdam pa rin niya na hindi niya kayang ibahin ang paningin niya mula sa kaniyang anak, pilit pa rin siyang tumingin sa taong nagligtas sa kaniya.

"Please be careful, Captain! Vice Captain Frost has a very powerful wind magic, and that Valgerot may be a hatchling but it is not an XXXXX magical creature for nothing!" sigaw ni Derwin sa kaniya, ang Vice Captain ng Elite Sun.

Sa normal na okasyon ay marahil ay nagwala na si Lazar dahil niligtas siya ng isang mage, at galing pa sa Squad ng mortal enemy niya na si Acteon, but said man is already laying down on the floor, soaking in his own blood and likely dying, all because of his son.

At puno ng pagsabog ang buong kaharian ng Valanthea. Maraming inosente ang namamatay, maraming imprastraktura ang nasisira, at maraming halimaw ang nagkalat kahit saan ka tumingin.

All because of his son.

"Shit, the Captain's wounds are deep. Vice Captain, we need medic!" sigaw ng isa sa myembro ng Elite Sun habang binibigyan ng paunang lunas ang kanilang Captain.

"Where are the doctors?!"

"They ran away north, Vice Captain!"

A gust of wind. Muling itinapat ni Orion ang kaniyang palad sa puwesto nila. His eyes are almost shining green menacingly behind the dark sky. He is not smiling anymore, but glaring like they're a pests that he needs to get rid of. "Get out of my fucking way."

"Vice Captain! The Valgerot!"

The Valgerot is finally opening its large mouth. Kitang-kita nila ang apoy na nabubuo sa loob nito.

Itinaas ni Vice Captain Derwin ang kaniyang baston. Agad na tumaas ang sira-sirang lupa na nasa harapan nila at nag-hugis ng isang mahaba at malaking makapal na pader.

Derwin gritted his teeth. "This will not be enough against a wind magic user and a Valgerot. Everyone! Those who are ice and earth magic user will stay here and fight with all your might! Do not worry, reinforcements are coming! And those who knew healing will come with me and Captain Lazar! We'll protect Captain Acteon!"

"Yes, Vice Captain!"

Humarap si Derwin sa Captain ng Vertosos na nakatingin pa rin sa kalangitan, o sa kaniyang anak na si Orion na masama pa rin ang tingin sa kanila habang kumukuha ng maraming hangin sa paligid nila upang iatake sa kanila. "Captain Lazar."

"I'm not coming."

Napagitla naman si Derwin sa sinabi ni Lazar. "But Captain! Vice Captain Frost is definitely coming for you! Maraming Captains sa loob ng palasyo. Nandoon din ang Hari. Mas mapoprotektahan ka doon—"

"He is still my son." Madiing aniya ni Lazar at humarap kay Derwin. His eyes are full of determination and sadness. "And this is the mess that I made. I will fix this."

Mabilis na nag-iba ang gulat na ekspresyon ni Derwin. Malungkot itong tumingin ng diretso sa kaniyang mga mata. "He is not your son anymore, Captain Salazar."

"VICE CAPTAIN!"

Agad silang napatingin sa pinanggalingan ng tarantang boses na iyon. One of the members of Elite Sun pointed at the sky. They immediately looked up.

There, slowly appearing beside Orion and the Valgerot, are two more Valgerots, one with metals covering its body and one with ice in its wings. 

Mas dumami ang hangin na namuo sa palad ni Orion. Halos hindi naman makita ang mukha ng Valgerot na nasa ilalim niya dahil sa dami ng apoy na nakapalibot dito.

Lazar saw Orion smirk once again as the two other Valgerots opened their mouths and leaned back to blow them all away with their roar. "Goodbye, father."

Orion released the wind in his hand on top speed, the Valgerots' roars following suit. As the attack descended from the air, it combined, forming a purple vertigo of magic.

Alam ni Lazar na hindi niya ito maiiwasan. Sa laki ng atake na ito, na nanggagaling pa sa isang Valgerot na malawak ang range ng atake, ay may posibilidad na pati ang buong palasyo ay mawala sa mapa.

At hindi man lang siya makagalaw. Pakiramdam niya ay hindi niya alam ang gagawin niya habang nakatingin sa anak niya na nakapatong sa isang Valgerot, may malakas na kapangyarihan ng hangin sa palad, at ibang-iba ang ngiti sa masayang ngiti nito na laging nakikita ni Lazar.

So this is what it feels like to be betrayed, and by my son no less.

"SHIT—"

"PROTECT THE CAPTAIN!—"

"PROTECT THE PALACE—"

"IT'S COMING!—"

"Everyone!" Kahit na papunta sa puwesto nila ang atake ni Orion at alam niyang hindi nila ito maiiwasan kahit saan sila magpunta, humarap pa rin si Derwin sa mga kasamahan nila. His face are grim, but determined. "Protect the captain and the palace at all co—"

BOOM!

Biglang may malakas na pagsabog sa kalangitan ang nagpabalik sa kanila ng tingin dito. Nanlaki ang mga mata nina Lazar at Derwin nang makita si Orion na papahulog mula sa pwesto nito sa tuktok ng Valgerot kanina, puno ng sugat ang katawan at walang malay, habang ang mga Valgerots naman ay naging abo na lamang sa kalangitan.

It was all so sudden. One moment they are facing their impending doom, and the second, a guy is standing in Orion's place in the sky just a while ago.

The guy has long white hair, white eyebrows, pale skin, petite features, very red lips, and is tall. Very tall.

Sa palad nito ay may pulang bilog ang nagpaikot-ikot dito.

"Hello," The guy suddenly said, voice raspy like it's been years since he talked. "What year is it?"

"What..." Almost everyone asked. "...what the fuck?"