Kabanata 21
Possible

Celestia Rogue

MY FATHER had a dark expression on his face after I told him everything since he got exiled into this place.

"High priest you say? and who is that woman? Ayesha?"

Napangisi kami pareho doon.

"Don't even think about it, revenge will do you no good."

Iling iling na sabat ng panget na tandang na ito na nagpairap lamang saakin.

"We didn't say were gonna do that."

Iritang sambit kong nagpatango tango kay papa saka kami nag iwas tingin pareho kay Leonard.

"That power is not given to you just to have your revenge. Who knows, maybe karma already hit them by this time. And having you alive and strong here is the greatest revenge you could have."

He said making me sigh.

"Alam ko iyon."

Irap ko saka napatingin sa gawi ni mama na mariing paring naikuyom ang kaniyang kamao.

"Papa?"

Pagtawag ko sakaniyang pansin.

"It's my fault, kung hindi lang ako nawala sa tabi ninyo ay hindi sana nangyari ang lahat ng iyon."

Napayukong saad niya na nagpailing saakin.

"Pero hindi kayo ang nagpahirap saamin pa. Nagsakripisyo kayo para mailigtas kami ni mama at hindi namin kayo sinisisi at siguradong ganoon din si mama."

Sambit ko na dahan dahang nagpatango sakaniya. Hindi ko mapigilang mapaluha nang maalala ang maaaring lagay ni mama.

"But your mother...Marissa had an illness right? kung nalaman ko lang iyon bago ay mawala ay sana naipagamot ko siya agad."

Tumulo ang luha sakaniyang mga mata na nagpailing saakin.

"Papa..."

Bulong kong napaluha na din.

"And now, i-it's been five years in Mytheia, you told me that she probably has months left to live that time you also got exiled in here...I-I can't help but blame myself Celestia.."

Panay ang iling ko sa sinabi ni papa.

"It's my fault too! And no I won't accept that s-she's probably g-gone now, I won't accept that papa! W-What if they h-helped her...."

Napahagulgol na ako doon. Ako nga ay hindi tinulungan ng high priest kahit pa may pambayad ako, paano pa kaya sila?

"I-It must have been painful for her, gusto ko nalang saktan ng paulit ulit ang sarili ko sa tuwing naiisip ko iyon..."

Mariing sambit ni papa na nagpayuko saakin. I blame myself too, I just wanted to bring back the time and spend it more with my mother. 

And I am willing to give up everything just to see her smile again.

"Babalikan natin si mama, magiging masaya siya kapag nakita niya tayo..."

Iyak kong ikinatango ni  papa saka mahigpit akong niyakap. 

"Oo, babalikan natin siya, uuwi tayo kay Marissa."

Garalgal ang boses na sambit niya na nagpatango tango saakin.

Buong oras ay na kay mama ang aming isipan. Inihanda namin ang mga mana crystals na maaari naming gamitin sa Mytheia, maging ang ilan pang items.

I know papa is still think about mama as well. Kanina pa ito tulala habang tumutulong sa pag iimpake at mukang napakalalim ng iniisip.

"You are the core of this world, so once we take you to Mytheia, the sealed leak will finally close right?"

I asked Leonard.

"Mismo."

Sambit niyang nagpatango saakin saka inilapag ang basket. Agad siyang sumampa roon.

"Pero dahil ikaw na ang pinuno ng mundong ito ay pupwede kang magbukas at magsara ng portal papunta dito."

Dagdag niya pa saka kami pumwesto ni papa.

I closed my eyes and started absorbing the energy of this world with my light magic. Unti unti ay nabuo ang portal pabalik sa Mytheia. I wore the hood of my cloak and then took the bag that I made with unlimited storage.

Doon ko inilagay ang lahat ng kakailanganin namin pauwi.

Muli ay tumingin ako sa mundo kung saan ako pumanaw at humimlay ng napakahabang panahon at sa muling pag gising ay walang tigil akong lumaban para muling makauwi sa mundong iyon.

"Saving Mytheia huh?"

I whispered with a blank expression.

"I'm not liking this mission."

I said then looked at papa who is still in deep thought. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata saka kami pumasok sa ginawa kong portal. 

At sa muling pagmulat ko ay nasa isang napakapamilyar na lugar na kami.

Napangiti ako nang makita ang pamilyar na tanawin.

"Where are we?"

Leonard asked while chilling on the basket. The mountain I used to climb everyday to hunt.

"This is the mountain near that village right?"

He asked, napatango ako doon. My father has been here before and helped them. Kaya nga ay tinanggap nila kami agad ni mama noon para manirahan dito.

"Papa? okay lang kayo?"

Tanong ko habang tulala lamang ito.

"I-I don't know how will I face your mother and there is this part of me that hopes that she's actually okay."

Malungkot niyang saad na nagpabuntong hininga saakin.

I want to see my mother again. I want to hear her voice again.

"I badly miss her."

I said.

My father used his wind power to get us down the mountain.

We decided to make ourselves invincible so we won't startle the villagers. We also hid our aura so no one can feel us, in case there's strong mages nearby. We don't want to cause ruccus just the moment we came back.

Naglakad lakad kami sa lugar at parang gusto kong maiyak na muling makita ang mga tao roon. It's been five years in Mytheia since I was gone.

They all seems normal and they have more crops now. The land seems healthier than before.

It made me happy, seeing their smiles.

Tumigil kami sa tapat ng bahay na tinitirahan namin namin ni mama. Maayos padin ito at mukang kinukumpuni padin ng mga kapit bahay kapag may nasisira.

"Babalik po ako ha, sandali lang po."

Narinig kong saad ng nasa loob na ikinatigil ko. Nagbukas ang pintuan at iniluwa noon ang isa sa mga kapatid na babae ni Allen.

Nakilala ko siya sa kulay ng kaniyang buhok at mata.

Dalagang dalaga na ito ngayon, siguro ay nasa labing walong taon na ngayon si Allen.

Mabilis ang pintig ng puso ko habang pinipihit ni papa ang door knob. I heard Allen's sister talk to someone inside.

Is it mom? is she alive?

Naluluha ako nang maisip iyon.

Mabilis kaming pumasok sa loob at natigilan nang makita kung sino ang nasa loob.

Walang namutawing salita sa bibig namin habang lumuluhang nakatingin kay mama. Si papa naman ay agad na yumakap sakaniya habang umiiyak.

"Marissa...patawarin mo ako Marissa."

Garalgal ang boses na sabi nito habang yakap yakap si mama at ipinawalang bisa ang epekto ng aming kapangyarihan.

"Mama..."

Sambit ko, ngumiti siya saamin.

"Sino kayo? kaibigan ba kayo ni Celestia?"

Ngiti niyang nagpatigil saamin.

"M-Mama ako to..kami ito."

Sambit ko.

"Nasa gubat si Celestia, kalaro si Aziel, mamaya ay babalik din iyon."

Ngiti niya saka tumingin kay papa.

"Ikaw kaibigan ka ba ni Claude? nasa trabaho pa siya ehh, hintayin mo nalang, pag uwi niya ay may dala siyang paborito ko. Ipagluluto ko kayo."

Hagikhik niyang, tuluyang nagpaiyak saakin.

"Masayang masaya akong buhay kayo mama, na nakita ko kayo uli."

Hagulgol ko, habang si papa naman ay nanatiling nakayakap kay mama, tila ba ay takot na bitawan siya.

"I-I can't believe I'll be able to do this again and hold the two of you in my arms."

Sambit niya habang magkakayakap kami.

"I'm sorry... I missed you, I missed you so bad, you two are all I ever think about."

He cried.

"I miss my husband too, I wish I have a camera so I could show her pictures of Celestia when he comes back home."

My mother said.

"Nandito na kami ma, nakauwi na po kami."

Sambit ko habang umiiyak.

We made ourselves invincible again, the moment, Allen's sister came back to take care of mom.

"A friend of Celestia and my husband came here, they look just like them."

My mother giggled while telling her about us, katabi padin namin si mama at tahimik lamang upang hindi kami makita. I don't want anyone to know about us yet.

"Talaga po? sayang naman po at hindi ko naabutan."

Hagikhik nito na sinakyan ang sinabi ni mama na nagpatawa din sakaniya. Hindi ko maiwasang maluha habang nakikita si mama na nagkakaganyan.

"Kaya nga ehh siguro ay kaedad siya ni Celestia. May mga pamangkin ako sa lugar na kinalakhan ko, siguro ay maraming kalaro si Celestia kung lumaki lang sila ng magkakasama."

Pagkukwento pa niya. 

Matagal pa siyang inasikaso ni Aileen bago siya antukin at saka natulog. Sa kwarto ko natutulog si mama at Aileen naman ay natulog sa kwarto ni mama noon. 

Walang binago sa kwarto ko, ganoong ganoon ang itsura noong nandito pa ako. Inalis namin ang epekto ng mahinga at naupo sa upuan sa gilid. Si papa naman ay hinahaplos ang buhok ni mama habang nakaupo sa gilid ng kama.

"Can you heal her?"

My father asked when he tried to heal my mother but can't.

"I-I don't know, I never tried it before since kami lang ng pangit na tandang na ito ang magkasamang nakikipaglaban sa mundong iyon. Pero susubukan ko po."

Determinadong saad ko.

"Actually you can't, since she's a human. You can't easily heal her with magic, but there is a way."

Leonard commented while eating corn, I don't know where he got.

"What way?"

I asked the bald rooster.

"Remember how extremely poisonus your blood is but can also be a really affective at healing if you want to?"

He asked, tumango ako roon.

"You have a very strong healing power. You just have to carefully combine your blood with your healing power. Pour it, mix it very very carefully to your blood. Hindi pwedeng sobra at hindi kulang."

He stated.

"Then make her drink a drop of it everyday until she gets better. Hindi pwedeg isahan mo nalang na ipapainom sakaniya. It may cause more damage since you have a strong level of magic and it might be toxic for a human. Mana is like a cigarette for a human, it slowly kills them."

Dagdag na paliwanag pa niyang nagpatango tango saakin.

"I understand."

Sambit ko.

"Aba dapat lang, bobo mo naman pag di mo naget---"

Natigilan ito at napaatras nang makita ang masamang tingin sakaniya ni papa.

"Char!"

Saad niya sa pinaliit na boses na nagpailing lamang saakin.

"I remembered the first time I saw your mother."

My father said while looking at my mother's face.

"I thought she is a deity."

He chuckled. 

"Ikinwento po saakin ni mama kung paano kayo nag kita."

Ngiti ko.

"We were living in completely different worlds, literally. But I still fell for her, I fell for her kindness, her voice, everything about her made me head over heels."

Pagkukwento niyang nagpanguso saakin.

"Cheesy."

Sambit kong nagpatawa niya.

"Yeah I am."

He said.

"Then fate brought us to each other no matter how impossible it seems. It is also impossible to have you, but you were still given to us. And now here I am, back to her, seeing her again even if I thought I'd never will. It's funny that there are so many impossible things that are made posible."

He said making me smile. 

Even me coming back to life is something I'd never thought will happen. If someone tells me that when I am still a commoner, I will smack that person, so he'll wake up.

We spent hours in mama's room, just being with her. Tulog na si papa nang tumayo ako para magtungo sa bahay ni chief.

I want to know what happened and who helped my mother from her illness back then. I can't feel any of it from her anymore, so someone probably helped her.

Someone powerful enough to make a high priest heal my mother... I have a hunch who, but I want to confirm it.

I walked around in the middle of the night wearing my cloak. I casted a strong barrier so no one can hear us. I teleported inside his house and then went to the chief's room and casted some hypnosis on him.

Walang pwedeng makaalam na buhay kami ni papa. It might endanger their life for knowing that. Everyone knows that were already dead, and we'll let that be.

Si mama lang ang pagsasabihan naming buhay pa kami.

"Chief, please tell me who helped my mother."

I said, looking at him while he's under my hypnosis.

"Adrianna, your co worker.."

He said with blank eyes.

"So it really is him..."

Napangiti ako doon.

"Thank you."

I smiled then left his house and snapped my fingers to remove my spell.

Tulala lamang ako habang pauwi ng bahay habang lumuluha. I didn't even thank him back then. I doubted him, but all he did is help and save me without even asking for anything in return.

"Thank you...thank you so much Draco."

I mumbled to myself.

Natigilan ako nang makita si papa na nakahalukipkip sa tapat ng pintuan ng bahay.

"Did you find out who helped your mother?"

He asked, even though I didn't tell him why I went to the chief's house.

"Yes..."

I smiled at him then sat on the stairs of the house.

"You created a barrier to protect the house?"

I asked my father, tumango siya saakin.

"Yes, to protect your mother. Gumawa din ako ng ganito sa lupain natin noon sa Zacharia. That's why no one attacked you and your mother even if I am not around."

Sambit niyang nagpatango tango saakin saka napangiti.

"So..who's Draco?"

Nagtaas kilay ito saakin saka tinabihan ako, nag init ang pisngi ko roon dahilan upang magsalubong ang kilay ni papa.

"He's the first ranked guardian of this kingdom. A really annoying one."

I smiled, sinimangutan ako ni papa.

"So?"

Blangko ang tinging sabi niyang nagpanguso saakin.

"He's just someone I know, ilang beses na niya akong iniligtas at tinulungan."

Pagkukwento ko, ngunit mukang hindi masaya doon si papa.

"There's nothing going on between us papa, stop looking at me like that!"

I frowned.

"I'm not saying there is something going on."

He hissed, inirapan ko siya na nagpakunot ng noo niya.

"You know that those first ranked guardians are actually assholes."

He added, nangiwi ako doon.

"You're a first ranked guardian back then, papa."

Taas kilay kong saad.

"Except for me."

He said, nailing nalang ako.

"Draco saved mama's life, I wanted to thank him when I get the chance."

I said trying not to smile, nginiwian ako ni papa.

"Pero hindi ibig sabihin non ay ipauubaya kita sakaniya."

He said making me frown.

"Wala kayong ipapaubaya kasi wala namang hinihingi."

Ngiwi kong nagpabuntong hininga kay papa.

"I wish I saw you grew up. Parang kailan lang ay baby ka pa ni papa, tapos ngayon may nagugustuhan ka na."

Tila ba nagtatampong sabi nito na ikinasibangot ko.

"Baby niyo parin naman po! at wala akong gusto sakaniya, pangit ang ugali non, bat ko magugustuhan."

Pagsisinungaling ko, ngunit mukang hindi ito kumbinsido.

THE NEXT MORNING, We decided to go to the capital to sell the mana crystals and some monster cores. Si Leonard ang inatasan naming magbantay kay mama habang wala kami. Dapat lang nang magkaroon naman siya ng kwenta at hindi pakain kain nalang.

All that beast god do is eat, but still looks like skin and bones, saan ba napupunta ang mga  kinakain niya?

"Where is Mrs Leonhart?"

I asked. 

We were both wearing our cloaks as we went inside to sell the crystals and the cores.

"Good morning."

Ngiting bati saamin ni Mrs Leonhart. Pinigilan ko ang sariling yakapin siya sa mga oras na iyon. 

"We want to sell our Mana crystals and the monster cores."

My father said, changing his voice. Inilabas ko sa magic pouch ang napakaraming crystals at cores na nagpamulagat sakaniyang mga mata.

"Oh my..wait, I will have to call people for help. Please have a seat and make yourselves comfortable."

Ngiti niya saka kami sinamahan ng isa sa mga attendant sa VIP area kung saan nauupo ang malalaking kliyente. Nakangiti lamang ako habang pasimpleng pinanonood ang mga nagtatrabaho. 

I felt nostalgic, being here again.

"I want to buy a land near that village but is also hidden so we could live in there with your mother."

My father said making me smile and nodded my head.

"I know a place, should we go check it out first?"

I asked, tumango saakin si papa.

"We should."

He said.

"Did you hear the news?"

I heard the guardians nearby talking.

"What news?"

"The sealed leak is finally closed after so many years, walang may alam kung sino ang nagsarado. But I think it's one of the firrst rank guardians of each kingdoms."

Natigilan ako doon..

'No, I actually just took that beast god out. That ugly rooster which is actually the main core of that world.'

Pagsagot ko sa usapan nila, saaking isipan.

"Do you think it's Draco? they say he has an unlimited mana."

Patuloy ang pag uusap ng mga ito.

"Could be, he even managed to kill the late emperor and no one has the power to punish him."

Pasimple akong napalingon sakanila roon. He killed the emperor? that dirt bag?

"Right, I think he is the one who also killed---"

Natigilan ako sa pakikinig nang may lumapit saaming attendant at tinawag na kami. Since this is Mrs Leonhart's merchant hall, they paid us fair and square. We earned billions of gold meian coins just from the mana crystals and another billions for the cores. 

Wala pa ito sa kalahati ng lahat ng mana crystals at cores na mayroon kami na uunti untiin nalang naming ibenta.

Parang dati lang ay dugo't pawis ang binubuhos ko sa isang araw para lamang sa isang silver. Hirap na hirap pa ako sa isang ginto, pwera nalang kung mauto ko si Drashit.

"Do you mind if I ask?"

She stated, tinanguan siya ni papa na nagpangiti sakaniya.

"How did you obtain all these orbs and crystals?"

Mrs Leonhart asked. 

'Perhaps...they are the one who closed that leak?'

I listened to her thoughts making me smile.

"We are travelling guardians and these are our collections over the years. We just decided to sell everything since we need money."

I lied, changing my voice, napatango tango siya doon saka inaabot ang bayad saamin na nagpangiti saakin at itinago lahat ng iyon saaking pouch.

"I see... Thank you for choosing my hall, come again next time."

She said genuinely.

We inquired the land after that and then we said we'll come back after checking it out personally.

"May dadaanan lang po ako saglit pa, mauna na po kayong umuwi."

Ngiti kong nagpakunot noo sakaniya.

"Sigurado ka?"

Tanong niya habang nakataas ang isang kilay na nagpatango saakin.

"May lugar lang ho akong gustong bisitahin sandali."

Sambit ko saka kumaway na sakaniya paalis. 

I will just teleport back later. 

I used one of the power my light devoured, back in that world and flew. Nakangiti lamang ako habang lumilipat at dinadama ang hangin hanggang sa marating ang lugar. 

I looked at the place where I used to find herbs.

I just want to take a quick glance before I go home. 

I did my best hiding everything in my presence just incase, Drashit is around. I looked at the place and felt the breeze making me smile happily. 

Being in this place makes me happy. 

But then I felt someone coming, natigilan ako nang makita and isang napakapamilyar na pigura. 

I felt his presence, unlike before...

My heart started pounding as I look at him. 

Napahawak ako saaking dibdib. Mukang may malalim itong naiisip na nagpatigil saakin.

His silver hair is being swayed softly by the wind and his blue orbs were colder and sadder than before.

If he sees me, will be think I am a ghost?

Mahina akong natawa doon saka matamis siyang nginitian habang hindi siya nakatingin saakin dahil hindi naman niya ako mararamdaman.

I don't know how will I face him yet...

Bumaba ang hood ng cloak ko dahil sa ihip ng hangin.

I then prepared myself to teleport back to our home while still staring at Drashit.

When suddenly, he looked at my direction.