Kabanata 20
Awakened

Celestia Rogue

I OPENED MY EYES and saw a blinding light. A very beautiful woman is combing my hair as she smiled at me happily while I am lying on her lap.

"W-Who...h-how..."

I said then sat on the grass, the woman smiled at me sweetly.

"You're awake."

A man's baritone voice.

"Who are you two..."

I asked, the woman tucked my hair behind my ears. Hindi sila sumagot saakin na ikinapagtaka ko.

Napatingin ako saaking kamay at saaking mga binti at paa at natigilan nang makitang wala roon ang mga sugat at peklat ko. Kinapa ko ang muka at wala ng maramdamang peklat doon.

Napahawak din ako saaking tiyan at walang maramdamang sakit o pamamanhid doon. It's as if I am a new born, with no scars and wounds.

"I-Is this the afterlife?"

I asked while looking around.

We were near a big tree while I can see from here a very beautiful crystal castle. The land we are in is surrounded by a sea of clouds and has a bridge made of crystal, a path to go to that castle.

"It's not your time yet Celestia."

The man said.

Nangunot ang noo ko doon.

"What do you mean it's not my time yet?"

I asked confused.

"It is time for you to follow your fate.."

She whispered.

"What fate? pinagtitripan niyo ba ako? ayoko ng bumalik doon.."

Sambit kong ikinailing niya.

"Save us Celestia...please, save Mytheia."

The man said.

"How can I do that? I am a commoner and even if I am not, I will never save cruel world like Mytheia."

Pagmamatigas ko.

"I believe in you Celestia, the new light that will fix this dark world."

The woman looked at me softly and touched my chest, where my heart is.

"May the light guide you into the path you'll want to take."

"May the light guide you, to your fate."

They whispered in my ears as they both turned into a butterfly dancing around and then sat into my shoulder as they vanished.

My shoulder where my birthmark felt the warmth. I am still dumbfounded when the part where my heart is in my chest suddenly glowed as I felt an excruciating pain in my chest.

My body felt the chills and sparks running around my whole system. Para bang pinupuno nito ang buong sistema ko. Nag uumapaw, punong punong hindi ko mawari kung ano ang dumadaloy na iyon mula saaking puso.

Napapikit ako sa sakit at pagmulat ko ay nasa isa akong silid na wala akong maaninag ni katiting na liwanag.

"Save us Celestia...please, save Mytheia."

I heard that man and woman's voice echoing in my head.

Mapatakip ako saaking tenga at nagsisigaw.

"No! I loathe that world!"

I shouted but the voices just kept echoing in my mind, it's making me insane!

"It is time for you to follow your fate.."

They whispered again.

"What fate?! I don't know what you two are talking about! leave me alone!"

Muli kong sigaw ngunit nagpatuloy lamang ang mga boses.

"May the light guide you into the path you'll want to take."

"May the light guide you, to your fate."

Patuloy na mga bulong nila.

I walked and walked and walked to the darkness for seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, years... I counted and counted as I walk and walked into an unending darkness as the voices kept going.

"Who am I? why am I counting?"

I whispered as I continued walking.

That's all I did for five hundred years until I saw a light. For the first time I felt relieved, I felt so happy I started running and running and running trying to reach that light.

"Fine! I will save Mytheia! if that's what you want, I will follow my fate! just let me reach the light!"

I shouted while crying untill the light stopped from moving and then I bumbled into something.

It is the light that I saw.

It's a woman, a woman with a long glowing pastel pink hair, a deep violet eyes that looks like it is filled with millions of stars and has butterly birthmark on her shoulders, just like mine.

"Who are you?"

I asked as I put my hand on the transparent wall that is between us. Inilagay din niya ang kamay kung saan naroroon ang kamay ko at ngumiti saakin. For some reason, tears started falling from my eyes.

"You've fought well Celestia."

She smiled at me as I cried infront of her.

When I opened my eyes, I found myself looking at my reflection, she's crying with a smile plastered on her face. Napatingin ako sa sarili at napansing iba na ang kulay ng buhok ko, kapareho ng babaeng kaharap ko kanina.

"It's time..."

The woman infront of me whispered as she waved her hand on me. Kumaway din ako sakaniya at tumalikod habang sinusundan ang lumalaking liwanag.

"Celestia...wake up my child.."

I heard a familiar voice of a man and a woman.

Slowly I opened my eyes and saw a beautiful sky. I looked around and noticed that the trees around me were all on the ground and the land where I am seems like it were hit by a strong explosion.

"Where am I... Who am I?"

I mumbled.

Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari, kung nasaan ako...at kung sino ako. Napahawak ako saaking pisngi lang may maramdamang mainit na likidong tumulo roon. Napatingin ako saaking balat na walang mababakas na galos o peklat saka tumayo sa higaan ko.

Gawa sa yelo ang higaang iyon, ngunit hindi natutunaw o naapektuhan ng pagsabog.

Napakalambot din ng hinihigaan ko, kaya siguro ay napakahimbing ng tulog ko.

Tumayo ako at ibinalot ang kumot saaking walang saplot na katawan at iniapak ang paa sa lupa habang lumilinga linga sa kapaligiran.

Napansin kong may hawak akong isang napakagandang bulaklak na pinoprotektahan ng isang mahika upang hindi malanta.

Habang naglalakad ay may naapakan pa akong matulis na mga bato.

Tinignan ko iyon at nakitang natunaw ang mga ito nang malagyan ng dugong nanggagaling saakin kasabay ng pagsara ng sugat na aking natamo.

"Dios mio!"

Isang malalim na boses ang aking narinig. Luminga linga ako sa paligid at natigilan nang makita ang isang panget at kalbong tandang.

"How did this happen!"

Gulat na sambit niyang ikinakunot ng noo ko.

"Who are you?"

I asked coldly.

"Are you C-Celestia? h-how did this happen? it's been 500 years!"

Tanong niyang ikinatigil ko.

"Celestia..."

I mumbled.

"Is that my name?"

Tanong ko muli sa tulalang tandang.

"O-O-oo! C-Celestia"

Sagot niya, muli ay tumulo ang mainit na likido saaking mga mata. Wala sa sariling pinunasan ko iyon.

Muli sana akong magtatanong sakaniya nang may maramdaman saaking likod.

"Celestia! sa likod mo!"

Sigaw niya.

I glared at the creature as the butterfly mark in my shoulder glowed, a light suddenly appeared on the ground where the giant creature is and started devouring it in seconds.

After that, I felt full and recharged, as if I just ate a big meal. My fingers also grew a claw after that, I feel so strong.

Ipinikit ko ang mga mata at hinigop ang kapangyarihaang nararamdaman sa loob ko. At pagmulat ko ay naitago ko na ang mahahaba at matulis na kukong iyon.

"Where am I?"

I asked the talking ugly bald rooster. He looks funny right now.

Napanganga lamang ito at nanatiling tulala na nagpailing saakin saka tumalikod na upang maglakad lakad.

"W-Wait! wait!"

Sabi ng tandang na sumusunod sakin.

'What is happening? isn't she supposed to be dead? I saw that man burry her corpse, 500 years ago! Is this Aisha and Percival's doing?!'

I heard his voice but he doesn't seem like he's talking. Is that what he's thinking?

Naglalakad lakad ako sa kagubatan habang nakabalot saakin ang malambot na kumot. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang lahat, naririnig at naamoy ko at hindi ko gusto ang pakiramdam sa lugar na ito.

Creatures started attacking me, my nails grew into claws as I defend myself and devoured them with my light.

I gained speed after that.

I noticed that everytime I use that light, my hair glows and my chest feels warm.

"I feel so strong and my body feels so full, but why is my heart so empty?"

I mumbled.

Why so I feel like I have somewhere go back to. I feel like I need to see someone, I feel like I badly want it's warmth.

I miss it even if I can't remember it.

I miss so many people I do not know. Specially the comfort I feel towards that someone, I can't even remember.

"Do you know who I am?"

I asked the ugly rooster.

"Only a few things."

He answered. Using my light, I formed a bow and arrow as I shoot the monster who is about to attack me.

"Stop bothering me, or I'll devour you."

I said coldly, I felt their fear, I tasted it and it's not delicious.

"Tell me what you know."

I said then sat on the roots of the moving trees. I glared at it and it stopped, they all look afraid of me.

It tasted terrible.

The rooster started telling me the stories I told before I died.

"So my name is Celestia Rogue, my mother is Marissa Strella Rogue, a human. And my father who also died here is Xavier Claude Rogue."

I confirmed, he nodded his head on me, still looking like a fool. I realized that I could stop hearing his thought and continue if I want too.

I can also hear animals and plants thoughts if I want.

He continued telling me the stories. I found out that I am once a powerless being who sent here to be executed because I stole a sacred gem for a deal to save my mother.

Mabigat iyon sa pakiramdam nang marinig ko.

He said I was full of scars back then, even my face is and there is a seal on my arm. But now, they are all gone.

Just what happened to me?

"When I came here to check on you, you're already dead. And there is a man..."

He uttered, napalingon ako sa gawi niya.

"A man?"

I asked.

"He has a silver hair and blue eyes. He is full of grief and resentment the moment he saw your lifeless body. I can feel how much you mean to him and I can feel how full of anger he is that time that he almost killed every monsters. He made your coffin and burried you properly. Mukang may balak siyang maghiganti pagbalik niya sa Mytheia."

My heart thumped on what he said. Who is that man? why do I feel like this when this bald rooster told me that story?

"Then why did I wake up? why did I have this power? I don't think I am a good person before.."

I said making Leonard shook his head.

"The moment you were born as a human and a theian. I think your fate has already been decided. I don't know what the gods are planning, but I believe in them."

He stated.

"Do you know who they are?"

I asked making him chuckle.

"You're talking to one of them Celestia."

He said, natigilan ako doon. He is indeed very powerful, but there is something sealing his true potential.

"Tell me who you are."

I said.

"I am the Beast god, Leonard. Protector of the animals, beast and the god of beast men."

He proudly introduced himself with that pathetic form.

Nangiwi ako doon.

"What? I'm telling the truth!"

He frowned..

"Wala naman akong sinabing hindi."

Kibit balikat ko.

"For now, only one of my brothers were awakened, besides me."

He uttered.

"Who is it?"

Tanong ko.

"The God of War and Justice. He is now somewhere in Mytheia, trying to find our other four siblings and one niece. They need to be awakened soon before our eldest brother ruin that world and become more powerful."

He stated, natigilan ako doon.

"What happened?"

I asked.

"100 years ago in Mytheia's time, when the leaks started appearing and people with no powers which is unusual in that world started being born. All of that is because of my eldest brother's rebellion."

"The god who lost his wife and his son for their crimes, wanted revenge. So he gathered enough power over thousands of years to defeat and kill the two great gods, the goddess of life and the god of destruction. Even me and my three brothers were killed by him. While his daughter who doesn't like his wrong doings ran away."

Pagkukwento niya.

"I see..."

Sambit ko saka napatango tango. I don't know why but I feel like wanting to help Leonard.

"I will help you, but we should get out of here first."

I said.

Halos magningning ang mata niya roon nang marinig ang sinabi ko na nagpangiwi lang saakin.

WE STARTED TRAVELING, fighting the monsters for months and then years. Trying to reach the ends of this massive world and find an answer on how would we go back to Mytheia.

I fought countless of strong monsters and devoured them for years. I helped Leonard gather the shards of his powers on every core of strong monsters of this world. Habang lumalakas siya ay lalo lang siyang pumapanget.

"This is where your father's trace stopped."

Leonard commented. 

Bumalik kami sa lugar na ito nang walang makitang ano mang trace niya sa mga sumunod na lugar na napuntahan.

"Do you think he died here?"

I asked then went inside the place. Nakita ko ang isang salamin doon na tila ba tinatawag ako. Hindi maganda ang pakiramdam ko sa salaming iyon.

"You shouldn't touch that."

Leonard commented.

"That mirror will trick you into granting your wish and then will trap you forever into this world."

He said, napatango ako doon saka malapad na napangisi.

"Let's see about that."

I giggled creepily.

For more than 400 years, I fought so hard, I almost lost myself for so many times. I almost got insane after devouring too much.

This world is just too much and the deeper you dive, the more hellish it seems.

Until I reached the last place of this world. The last and most dangerous place. Every shaddow monsters are SS-class.

Sa tuwing natatalo ko ang mga ito ay bumabalik at bumabalik sila.

I fought millions of them for 30 years untill I memorized every weaknesses and figured out how will I get rid of them.

I chuckled as I pointed my sword I formed from my light to the sky.

And then I released a strong Light that killed countless of shaddow monsters in split of second.

That moment, the whole place started to darkened as the shaddow king appeared after I massacred his followers.

The cowardly beast god hid behind me, nailing nalang ako.

"I'm not full yet."

I chuckled as I look at the strongest monster of this world. The King of Shaddows.

"It may take time retrieving your core from this one Leonard."

I said.

"It's fine, I'll just fight him if you get tired."

He said, napairap ako doon.

"You told me that before and then you'd fake an illness."

I frowned.

"What? I'm the protector of animals, not your protector."

Pilosopong sambit niya, nangiwi lang ako at nailing saka nag umpisang labanan ang halimaw.

This monster got the biggest portion of Leonard's core.

All of the kings of these world had his core that made him weak and this is the last one of them.

I fought the King of Shaddows for months, and years. He is too strong that we fought and fought non stop for more than 70 years untill I completely devoured him with my light and made his power my own.

I felt so full after that fight.

Kinuha ko ang core at marahas na ibinato iyon sa natutulog na tandang sa gilid.

"That's the last one."

I said, halos magningning ang mata niyang kinuha iyon gamit ang kaniyang tuka.

"Thank you!"

Masayang masayang sambit niya na nagpailing saakin saka natigilan nang unti unting mawala ang kadiliman ng lugar.

"This world is is where he dumps all his failed creations right?"

I asked while looking at the beautiful place that appeared after the darkness.

"It's originally his best creation untill a war between him and one of his son, a former god of this world, happened. This became a battle zone between them which fortunately he managed to win and killed his own son."

Pagkukwento niyang nagpatango tango saakin. Saka naglakad patungo sa liwanag at pumasok sa kastilyong gawa sa kristal.

The castle is really beautiful. Natigilan pa ako nang makita roon ang isang trono. I smiled looking at it.

The moment I sat on the throne in the tallest tower. I saw every immortal monsters that were brought back to life, bow before me.

As the world were suddenly filled with light. The hopeless world grew into a new version of it, slowly going back to it's original beautiful state.

Kasabay nito ay ang unti unting pag litaw ng mga ala alang hindi ko mapagtanto kung saan ko nakuha.

"You are now officially the empress of this world, Celestia."

Leonard said making me laugh and stood up.

"I still have a job to do in Mytheia."

I said.

Napahawak ako saaking ulo at mariing napapikit kasabay ng masaganang luhang tumulo saaking mga mata.

Memories flashed into my mind from my childhood, till the day I died. I remembered my father, my mother, how we lived happily before.

I remembered Aziel and his promise. I remembered how y father got executed then we travelled for a long time to Zaveri and lived a new life in Hyacinth. An abandoned land where our village is located.

I learned how to fight and survive.

I remembered the Ice guardian Draco, I remembered how that bastard made me feel. I remembered how he protected me and saved me a lot of times and even if we annoy each other most of the times, I feel happy.

And then things happened because of that pathetic woman Ayesha.

I were exiled here in this world to be killed slowly.

Tuloy tuloy ang pagluha ko sa mga ala alang dumadaloy saaking utak.

"Why? what happened?"

Leonard asked.

"One thousand years, it's been a thousand years since I got in here. M-Makakabalik na ako kay mama..."

Lumuluhang saad ko na nagpatigil sakaniya.

"You remember now?"

He asked, napatango ako doon at ngumiti.

"Yes, and I think it's a high time to go back to that shitty world."

Mariing sambit ko saka napatayo.

I then looked at the giant crystal accross the room cause I've been feeling something towards it since earlier.

"There is someone in that crystal and he is alive."

I said then got near it, hinawakan ko ito at natigilan sa nakita.

Napasinghap ako at napaatras.

"W-What is this..."

I whispered the moment I saw who's inside as tears continued to fall from my eyes.

"Papa..."

Bulong ko.

"What?"

Leonardo asked as he get near the crystal.

"My father, he's inside.."

Gulat na sambit ko.

"Claude? How did that happen? your father is not an immortal, how will he get here?"

He asked.

"Hindi ko din alam."

Saad ko habang kunot noong nakatingin doon.

"Do you remember on our way here? the traces of your father suddenly stopped on the C-class area."

Leonard said making my forehead creased.

"That mirror that tricks you on granting your wishes?"

Tanong kong ikinatango niya.

"That's where your father's traces stopped right?"

Sambit niya.

"Yes, I remember, I also remember pulvorizing that trash."

Kunot noong saad kong napagtatagpi tagpi na ang dahilan kung bakit naririto si papa. That mirror will make you believe of granting your wish but would actually trap you in this world. 

"My father probably wished to teleport here so he could finally get out of this world."

I said making the ugly rooster nod his head.

"Probably."

He uttered.

"Is there a way to get him out?"

Tanong ko.

"You can free him since you're the empress of this world now. Try pouring some of your mana to the crystal."

He stated, napatango ako doon saka pumikit at hinawakan ang kristal. 

"You don't have to wait any longer, I'll do everything to save you."

I smiled as I poured some of my mana to the crystal. 

I don't know what to feel that time, I'm having mixed emotions. Finding out that my father is actually alive after all these years.

The crystal broke as my light broke it into millions of pieces, freeing my father from thousands of years of imprisonment.

Mangiyak ngiyak ako nang masilayan muli ang kaniyang muka. Lalo pang nagsituluan ang mga luha ko nang magmulat ito ng mga mata na nagpangiti saakin habang lumuluha.

"W-What happened..."

He whispered then looked at me, mukang nagulat pa ito nang makita ako at nagtataka.

"Am I dreaming?"

He whispered then looked at me.

"Marissa..."

He called my mother's name.

"No...you're not her---b-but you look like her..a-anong nangyayari? Is this an illusion?"

Naguguluhang sambit niyang nagpangiti saakin.

"Papa...."

Sambit ko saka hinawakan ang kamay niya't tinignan siya diretso sakaniyang mga mata. Doon na siya napaluha nang mapagtanto kung sino ako.

"Celestia...Celestia anak ko..."

Lumuluhang sambit niya saka mahigpit akong niyakap. Para bang biglang napunan ang pangungulila ko sakaniya, hindi ko alam kung ano bang dapat maramdamam dahil sa halo halong emosyong nararamdaman ko ngayon.

"Papa..umuwi na tayo pa.."

A/n: Inatake ng writer's block sorna 🤣🤣