Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Light City

"I know it's sudden but it's only the time where I'm free." He dragged me to a place where it's quiet.

Malapit sa palasyo, sa likurang bahagi ng akademya, at halos katabi ng lawang minsan ko nang napuntahan. Do'n niya ako dinala. May iilang kawal sa 'di kalayuan pero namukhaan si Kei at 'di na nagbalak na lapitan kami.

Hindi ba dapat mas pagtuonan niya ng pansin ang ina niya? Bakit mas pinili niyang umalis?

"We'll leave tonight." Aniya.

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "Agad-agad?!"

"8 pm sharp. Make sure to pack your clothes. Meet me at the school gate. Got it?"

Tinalukaran niya na ako at agad umalis, iniwan akong nakabuka ang bibig.

Aalis na kami agad?!

Kaming dalawa lang?!

Bigla akong nataranta nang maisip na kaming dalawa lang ang aalis.

Nang mapagtanto kong kanina pa ako nakatayo dito ay nagsimula na akong maglakad pabalik sa dorm.

Pagkapasok ko, pumunta ako sa tapat ng pinto ni Blaze at kumatok. Magpapaalam ako sa kaniya. Hindi ko alam kung pwedeng lumabas ang estudyante at 'di ko alam kung anong gagawin ni Kei para makalabas ako rito.

Walang sumagot. Siguro ay hindi pa siya bumabalik. Pumunta nalang ako sa kwarto ko at kumuha ng maliit na suitcase na kasama sa bigay ng akademya. Literal na kompleto ang gamit dito.

Tama ba 'tong ginagawa ko?

Napabuga ako ng hangin habang naglalagay ng damit, kini-kwestyon ang sarili sa mga naging desisyon.

Narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan namin sa kalagitnaan ng pag-iimpake kaya lumabas ako ng kwarto at sinalubong ako ni Blaze nang may ngiti sa labi.

"Aalis ako, mawawala ako ng dalawang araw." Agad kong sabi sa kaniya.

Nagtaka siya, "Saan ka pupunta? Nakakuha ka ng permission mula sa Office? Pinapayagan nilang makalabas ngayon ang students?"

"Bawal ba?"

Kumunot ang noo niya at umaktong nag-iisip, "Hindi ko alam, e. Sinong kasama mo?"

'Di agad ako nakasagot. Sasabihin ko ba?

"Sige, salamat." Iniwasan ko nalang na sagutin ang tanong niya at bumalik sa loob ng kwarto ko.

Hinintay kong sumapit ang gabi at bumaba ako, dala ang suitcase. Tinahak ko ang daan patungo sa gate tulad ng sabi ni Kei at naabutan kong nakatayo siya do'n, katabi ng nagbabantay. Sa labas ay nakahanda na ang isang karwahe para sakyan namin.

Bigla akong inatake ng kaba nang malamang kaming dalawa lang ang magkasama ngayon. Kaming dalawa.

Hindi siya tinanong ng gwardya nang nagpatuloy kami sa labas bagkus, sumaludo pa ito nang dumaan kami. Iba pala talaga kapag mataas ang ranggo na kasama ko. Pakiramdam ko kahit sino ay mapapasunod ko kapag kasama si Kei dahil protektado niya ako.

Sumakay kami sa loob ng karwahe. Magkaharap kami ngayon, dala ang mga gamit na kakailanganin sa dalawang araw. I also brought the books with me just in case. We'll be together for the actual two days, the book might write another message. Nakalimutan ko na nga 'yon dahil sa mga nangyayari.

"The killings had reached the Noble Grounds." I slightly flinched when I heard his voice. Sobrang tahimik na halos ang mga gulong lang ng karwahe sa daan ang naririnig ko. "And the Officials stated that Tenebrans did it."

Biglang nagdikit ang ang kilay ko. "They said what?!"

Bahagyang tumaas ang boses ko. That... that sounds absolute bullshit. Tenebrae will never initiate something that could lead to war.

"Have you seen the prophecy?" Tanong ko sa kaniya.

I remembered Alice. She was the who told me about it although I don't knoe how she knew. She was just there... horrified and scared from whatever will happen.

"Wait..." napahinto siya. "How did you know about it? It wasn't announced to everyone until spring."

I have 3 months left.

"So a war is really going to happen, huh? Sadly, this time it's the end for us." I bitterly smile. Hindi ko napaiwasang tumingin sa labas ng bintana at hayaang mawala ang mga punong nadadaanan namin.

"It was odd." Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Kei. His eyes met mine, sharing the same intensity. "It's the end for both kingdoms."

My throat suddent went dry. Did I hear it right?

It wasn't just a war... but a complete wipe out. Logically, it means the whole world being gone.

He licked his lower lip, "Well, that's what the voice told me."

"What do you mean? May magkaiba bang binigay na propesiya?"

"I am a child of the prophecy. I can hear the Gods' voices. However, the High Priestess can also hear the word of Gods. We were both given a message on the same day but mine was different. The Necklace of Life is an instrument to show the prophecy. In fact, the High Priestess and I exist to confirm the prophecy shown by the necklace. What the High Priestess heard was Tenebrae's downfall which aligned to the prophecy from the necklace."

"And yours wasn't..." I mumbled.

May isang tanong ang namuo sa utak ko. He's a child of the prophecy?

Just how special is he? Ano ba talaga siya?

"I don't know." He chuckled. "Isn't good for both kingdoms to just disappear?"

"It's the end of the world, Kei. Anong sinasabi mo? Hindi ko tinataya ang buhay ko dito para lang makasama sa pagbura ng mundo. I thought you wanted to stop the war?" Nagtatakang tanong ko.

Maybe he's just confused... or shocked. His mind is probably clouded with thoughts because of what happened to his mother. I know what he's feeling. And I don't want to feel it again. Without doing anything.

"I don't know. I don't have the resolve to do so. I lost it. I'll just gladly accept my fate. We are born to die anyways."

"Puro ka I don't know. You're just confused." Seryosong baggit ko.

"It was my mother who wanted to stop the war, not me." He said.

"Then make it a reason to live on. You know you can do something. You're more than you're capable of."

"I have nothing to hold on anymore..." mahinang sambit niya.

"How about Aqua? Wala ka bang pakielam sa kaniya?" Tanong ko. "Aqua is still alive. Your friends are still alive. Aren't they enough reason for you to go on?.. You just need to be aware of those people around you. I'm pretty sure that they are willing to lose their life in order to protect their loved ones, including you."

"You don't know what it feels like." He said in a cold tone.

"I've lost my parents at a young age." Seryosong tugon ko. "I know what it feels like."

Iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa kaniya. Bigla tuloy bumigat ang pakiramdam ko.

My Mom died because I couldn't control my element. That's why... I was under surveillance by the Queen. She helped me to control my element, then, my father died from a disease, completely leaving me alone. Until I reached twenty and I was aware of how dangerous my element could be. I was born to be a killing machine for the war which I don't intend to do so.

Compared to Lumiere, we have no Gods. The sun doesn't shine so bright in our Kingdom and in addition, the sky there is like a combination of red and violet. Dull and empty are the best describing words for the nature in Tenebrae. The flowers there are dead-looking, but they are alive. Crows are the only bird we have. But it was still a wonderful place surrounded by wonderful people.

The carraige became silent the whole trip until the carriage finally stopped in front of a regular-sized house.

"Ako na," kinuha ni Kei mula sa kamay ko ang hawak kong suitcase at pumasok sa loob. Sumunod ako. May furnace pagpasok at mahabang couch. Sa may ilalim naman ng hagdan ay nando'n ang sakto lang ang laki na kusina at table para kainan.

Umakyat sa ikalawang palapag si Kei dala ang gamit namin.

"Hello, Thalia!" May masayang boses ang bumati sa'kin at nakita ko sa hagdan si Miko, nakangiti.

Napabuga ako ng hangin. Akala ko kaming dalawa nalang talaga ni Kei ang nandito! Buti nalang nandito si Miko.

I timidly smile at Miko. "Ahh... hello?"

"Sinabi sa'kin ni Captain lahat," sabi ni Miko. Napabaling ako sa kaniya pero nginitian niya naman ako. "Alam kong may rason kung bakit ka nandito. Pare-pareho lang naman nating gustong hindi matuloy ang susunod na digmaan."

Hindi ako nagsalita at hinintay ang susunod niyang sasabihin.

Tumingin muna saglit si Miko sa may hagdan, parang sinisigurado na wala si Kei. "Dalawang araw lang ang mabibigay namin sa'yo para sa mga inpormasyong kailangan mo. 'Yon lang kasi ang araw na binigay kay Kei para maka-alis." Pabulong niyang sabi.

"Hindi ba namatay ang‐"

"Oo." Mabilis na pinutol ni Miko ang sasabihin ko. Sumulyap siya ulit sa hagdan bago ako tignan. Umaksyon pa siya na i-zipper ang bibig para sabihan na 'wag na siguro akong magtanong pa.

Na-gets ko naman ang gusto niyang ipahiwatig.

"Kaya gusto niya nang tapusin lahat 'to. Lalo ngayon na hindi lang ata digmaan ang mangyayari." Namuo ang pagtataka sa'kin dahil sa sinabi ni Miko. "Dumadami na ang pagpatay na nagaganap sa Common Grounds at umaabot na rin sa Noble Grounds. Alam ko naman na hindi Tenebrae ang gumagawa no'n."

Tama lang ba nalaman ko ang mga 'to? Sa tingin ko hindi naman tanga si Miko para sabihin sa'kin 'yon pero bakit? Anong rason nila para pagkatiwalaan ako?

"Kung alam mo kung sino ako... karapatan ko bang malaman 'yan?" Alinlangang tanong ko.

"Alin?" Balik na tanong niya. "Ang sinasabi ko sa'yo?"

Tumango ako, "Oo."

"Kasi pinagkakatiwalaan ka ni Kei, at may tiwala ako kay Kei." Ngumiti siya. Kita ko sa ngiti niya ang malaking tiwala kay Kei at para bang proud na proud siya.

Nagpaalam ako kay Miko na aakyat ako sa ikalawang palapag para puntahan ang kwarto ko nang makasalubong ko si Kei sa pagbaba.

"That's your room " He pointed the door located at the hard right of the hallway.

I nodded at him before he proceed going downstairs. Nilakad ko ang daan papunta sa pintong tinuro niya at pumasok doon. Naabutan kong nakalagay sa gilid ng kama ang suitcase ko.

My wandering thoughts made me open my suitcase and grabbed the book Alice gave me during the night she left. Wala iyong title at pangalan ng manunulat na mas lalong nagpamisteryoso sa libro.

Kakaonti lang din naman ang pahina ng libro kaya halos walang babasahin, sobrang kaonti ng inpormasyong nakasulat.

Crystal Of Eternity

Status: ?

Power: ?

Description: ?

The next pages contains information about other crystals, particularly three. My curiousity grew as I read.

Ice Gem

Status: ???

Power: S

Description: Has the ability to freeze a setting for two hundred years.

Crystal of Dawn

Status: Good

Power: S

Description: Has the ability to give vision from any scene occured from one hundred and fifty years up to present.

The Death Crystal

Status: ???

Power: SS

Description: An element crystal that gives second life.

The next pages were about potions and stuff.

Sa dinami-dami ng crystal sa mundo, alin nga ba dito ang dapat hanapin?

Isinara ko na ulit ang libro dahil natapos ko 'yon nang gano'ng kabilis at walang hirap.

I'll make sure that I have the answers before I get back. I promise that I will turn this world into a better place, where everyone could feel peace. Where the two kingdoms are no longer sworn enemies.

Time passed by quickly I almost didn't notice that it was already midnight until I heard someone knock on my door. I hid the book and stood up. I walked toward the door and open it, only to see Miko.

"Let's go?" He asked.

I nodded before leaving my room, closing the door behind me. When we got downstairs, Kei was already waiting at the front door. He was wearing a black cloak, and underneath his cloak was a pair of simple clothes to make him less stand out, but I guess his features won't agree.

The same goes for Miko. Ordinaryo lang ang suot nila. Miko gave me a black cloak and I wore it. We double checked everything just to make sure that we're off to go.

Once we finished, we rode a wagon and reached the town filled with bright lights, so many lights. Bumaba kami sa hindi kalayuan at nakita ang mga nagkalat na tao. The place was a lot different in Enchanted City. Maingay pa rin ang lugar kahit gabi na, kung tutuusin, hatinggabi na.

"So this is the Light City?..." I asked, my eyes roaming the place.

Light City is the capital of Lumiere. Kaya malapit din siya sa Palace Grounds. Dito na naninirahan ang mga Nobles.

Do'n ko na rin napansin ang mga suot ng tao dito. Everyone was dressed in a semi-formal attire everywhere I go. The simplest clothes I've seen were a from a group of men wearing white tunic and brown leggings.

"Yep, welcome to Light City, Thalia!" Miko said enthusiastically.

"Let's not waste time." Kei said in a stern voice. Nauna siyang maglakad sa'min.

My feet were glued to the floor and my eyes were filled with such excitement. There were so many shops that it was endless. Parang lahat ata ay makikita ko sa lugar na 'to.

Nang maramdaman kong may nakatingin sa'kin, napatingin agad ako kung sa'n ko nararamdaman 'yon at nakita si Kei na pinapanood akong mamagha na para bang isang bata. Umiwas naman ako ng tingin at sumunod sa kanila, narinig ko pa ang pagtawa ni Miko.

We walked into somewhere Kei knows where. It was crowdy not until we reached a dark, long alley. I couldn't see anything, making it hard for me to walk but on the other hand, Kei was continuously walking as if he had some night vision goggles. Well, maybe he has, seeing how confident he to walk in this alley.

I flinched when I bumped into something hard but I was sure it wasn't a wall. My skull would've hurting right now. Heck, I can't see anything. I smelled the fragrant of a strong perfume, a familliar scent.

"Sorry," agad kong sabi.

"Bakit?" Tanong ni Miko.

"Ikaw ba 'yung nabangga ko?" Tanong ko pabalik.

"Hindi, ah. Dalian mo, Captain. Wala akong makita." Hirit ni Miko.

Mas lalo tuloy akong napalayo dahil nakunpirma kong si Kei ang nabangga ko.

"Can't we use our elements?" I asked.

"No." Hindi pagpayag ni Kei.

Hindi nakang ako sumagot at hinayaan siya. I heard him chant something and then, a portal slowly formed right before our eyes. A black swallowing hole appeared, it was creating a sound like it was really gonna eat me whole, like it would suck my body entirely.

Kei took a step forward and entered without any signs of hesitation.

"S-should we enter?" Miko stuttered. "I don't like the feeling of entering portals. It's the worst feeling. Make sure to cover your mouth once your feet touch the ground, alright?"

Bigla tuloy akong kinabahan, "B-bakit?"

I felt someone gently pushed me inside the portal, making me a bit shock.

Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari pero pagkatapak ko, bigla akong nakaramdam ng matinding hilo at parang may humahatak sa buong katawan ko. Nagising ako sa nangyari. Pakiramdam ko nabuhay lahat ng ugat sa katawan ko!

I almost threw up when my foot landed the hard floor. My insides went upside-down.

Atleast I landed safe?

Tinakpan ko kamay ko ang bibig ko para hindi ako masuka. Umikot ang bituka ko sa nangyari. Sandali lang ang nangyari pero parang binitay ako patiwarik ng ilang oras.

"What brings you here?" A soft voice asked.

Nahihirapan akong tumingin sa pinaggalingan ng boses na 'yon.

"Nevera," Kei looked at the woman.

She had silver hair that reached her chest and her pitch-black eyes stared at me intently, giving off a strong vibe. She had plenty of bracelet on her wrist, the jewels attached to her bracelets seemed real.

Mukhang nasa loob din kami ng silid-aklatan sa dami ng libro at bookshelf na nagtabi-tabi. Pero maliit ang kwarto, parang naka-desensyo lang para maging tirahan ng mga libro.

My eyes met hers and it lasted for a few seconds. Lumipat na ulit ang tingin niya kay Kei nang makuntento siya sa'kin.

"It's been awhile, Kei. I heard what happened."

"Yeah. So give me anything that is related to the Crystal of Eternity. Any book, information, everything. Give them all to me." My jaw dropped at how Kei approached the woman. No formalities or whatsoever!

The woman smiled in a languid manner, "I understand."

The woman disappeared and vanished like a bubble. She then, re-appeared with two books on her hand. "These are the only books I have. They have plenty of useful information though. I hope it will help."

"Thank you." Kei said.

"What you're doing is dangerous." She looked at Kei before turning her gaze at me.

"What do you mean?" Kei frowned.

"I'm afraid I can't say more, Kei. It's for you to find out and thus, it will set the world in freedom. These books... no... this diary is the answer." She smiled. Ini-abot niya kay Kei ang dalawang bagay niyang hawak. "Ito na ang huling pagkikita natin, Kei. Your mother always cherished you. I hope you will forgive her."

Kei remained silent. Maya-maya pa, nakaramdam na naman ako ng hilo na naramdaman ko kanina.

"Until then," the woman waved her hand as she watched us vanish from sight.

Few moments later, we were back at the dark alley. Miko was creating vomit sounds while I could not see Kei. I was groping and searching for them.

"Where do you think you're touching?!" Kei's arrogant voice echoed the alley. Nagtaka ako sa sinabi ni Kei.

My hands grasped on something. Kinapa ko pa 'yon dahil hindi ako sigurado kung ano 'yon. Medyo mahaba na parang matigas. Hindi ko alam.

"Dang!" May humawak sa kamay ko para alisin 'yon. Hinatak ako palabas ng eskinita ng kung sino man humatak sa'kin kaya nakita ko na ang liwanag.

Nakita ko si Kei na pulang-pula at nakaiwas ang tingin, hawak ang dalawang libro sa kamay niya. He turned his back before walking again. I stared at my hand, confused.

"Woah, ano 'yon, Thalia?" Miko sounded excited and confused.

My eyes did not waver as I stare at my hand, wherein realization hit me!

I felt my cheeks burning when I suddenly remember what was the feeling of touching what I touched! Ilang beses ko pang binukas-sara ang kamay ko. Tumaas lahat ng balahibo ko nang bumalik ang tingin ko kay Kei.

"I just touched something unholy, didn't I?..." I whispered to myself.