Kabanata 28
Auction House

Celestia Rogue

WHAT IS THIS MAN doing here?! Bakit ba pakalat kalat ang lalaking ito? hanggang dito ba naman?

"I am asking who you are."

He again asked coldly while still behind me. Hindi ko suot ang maskara ko ngayon at tiyak na makikilala niya ang muka ko, oras na humarap ako.

It's either he'd think of me as a ghost or figure out who I am. Drashit is a sharp person, he could figure me out as shaddow guardian since he couldn't hear my thoughts, the color of my hair and my presense that he couldn't feel.

I also didn't hide my mana that well right now so I don't think he'd think of me as a ghost once he sees my face.

What if he just think of me as some dopple ganger of Celestia? Celestia is dead, siya mismo ang naglibing saakin.

I honestly, don't know if I should show him my face or not.

So I chose the latter.

Napangisi akong ipinakita ang gitna ng daliri habang nakatalikod padin saka gumawa ng maskara gamit ang aking kapangyarihan at hinarap siya.

"Chill."

I chuckled, using the voice I use as shaddow guardian.

"What brings you to this land Ice burg?"

I asked teasingly.

Nakahalukipkip akong sumandal sa puno at tinitigan siya habang suot ang maskarang natatakpan ang buong muka ko.

I made a mask that covers my whole face and my mana, like usual.

"So you are the one that bought this land?"

Kunot noong tanong niya habang puno ng intensidad na nakatitig saakin.

"Yeah, that theian didn't tell you right?"

I asked then formed a ball of deadly shaddow energy into my hands.

"He didn't, I just found out."

He hissed.

"Why did you buy the land? what are you planning?"

He asked.

"I'm planing to live here."

I shrugged.

"I have no plans on bothering the commoners.

I added.

"I know that you're not that kind of guardian."

He hissed making me smile.

"But you're still suspicious."

Dagdag niya pang nagpanguso saakin.

"Grabe sya oh, di pwedeng gusto ko lang manirahan sa tahimik na lugar? there's no way, those nosy theians are going near this place, so I secretly bought it."

Kibit balikat ko.

"Why are you acting like some kind of protector of this place anyway? Kung ganoon nga ay hindi ba dapat ay ikaw na mismo ang bumili sa lupaing ito?"

Taas kilay kong tanong.

"The lives of the theians living here, will be more in danger if I bought this place. I can't risk it, and I promised that person that----"

He didn't finish his sentence and looked away. Mabuti nalamang at nagawa kong itago kaagad ang emosyong naglalaro saaking mga mata.

"Who?"

I asked, umiling lamang ito saakin.

"Nothing."

He hissed, inirapan ko lamang siya.

"Magkukwento ka tapos nothing? parang tanga to."

Sabi ko kay Drashit dahilan upang balingan niya ako ng masamang tingin na ikinangisi ko lamang.

"So... madalas ka dito?"

Pangungulit ko para maasar siya saakin.

"Hindi."

Blangko niyang sambit.

"Bakit?"

Tanong ko pa.

"Kasi hindi."

Kunot noong sambit niya.

"Ngayon ba magiging madalas na? baka mamiss mo kasi ako."

Biro ko habang sinisiko siko pa siya sa tagiliran. Dahilan upang samaan niya ako ng tingin.

"Ang daldal mo."

Iritang sabi niya.

"Eh bat kasi pakalat kalat ka? kung saan saan nalang kita nakikita, palaboy ka ba?"

Patuloy na pangungulit ko ikinatakip nito sakaniyang tenga na malakas na nagpatawa saakin.

Ang ganda talagang asarin eh.

"Stop bothering me."

He frowned as I walked beside me.

"I'm still to figure out what you are, so I guess you have to wait longer for me to stop."

I chuckled, he glared at me and shoot some ice in my direction. Agad ko iyong nasalag at tinunaw na nagpatigil sakaniya. Medyo nahirapan pa ako dahil sa pwersa ng kaniyang kapangyarihan kahit pa mahinang atake iyon.

He must be as strong or stronger than the shadow king, I fought with, in that world, I rule.

"You're annoying."

He hissed making me smirk.

"I find you annoying too, quits lang tayo."

Sabi ko sabay siko uli sakaniya.

"But unlike those trash, I think you're bearable."

I shrugged.

"Walang nagtanong."

Pagsusungit niyang nagpatawa saakin.

"Sungit mo naman Drash---."

Napalingon siya sa gawi ko nang hindi ko maituloy agad ang sasabihin.

"Drashes."

Mapang asar na dugtong kong ikinasama ng tabas ng muka niya.

"What?"

Kunot noong tanong niya.

"Drashes, rashes are irritating and so are you, so Drashes."

I giggled.

"What the hell?"

He frowned.

"If I am irritating, then what are you?"

Taas ang kilay na tanong niya. Hindi naman talaga ako naiirita, gusto ko lang mang asar.

"Dyosa."

Taas noo kong sabi sabay hawi ng buhok na ikinangiwi niya.

"Tell that to me, if you're showing you face."

He hissed while we were still walking in the forest together.

"Baka kasi masilaw ka sa sobra kong kagandahan. That's why I am doing all of you a favor by hiding my face, mamaya niyan mabulag pa kayo tapos ako sisihin niyo."

Kibit balikat kong sabi, dahilan upang napahilot ito sakaniyang sintido.

"Dumidilim ang paningin ko tangina."

Mariing sambit nito habang masama ang tinging ipinupukol sa direksiyon kong malakas na nagpatawa saakin.

"Oh bat natulala ka diyan?"

Tanong ko nang mapansing hindi ito gumagalaw. Agad siyang nag iwas ng tingin doon na ikinapagtaka ko.

"Nothing, I just remembered someone."

He sighed then looked at me, annoyed."

"Well that someone must have a pleasing personality, for you to remember him or her while looking at me."

I shrugged, ignoring  the pain that I felt. Who did he remember? is it me? or probably not?

"No."

He said blankly.

"Masama ang ugali non, parang ikaw."

Dagdag niya.

'Ah ako nga, masama daw ugali eh'

Sambit ko saaking isipan.

He seems amused while saying that with a faint longing smile, plastered on his face. Pasimple akong napahawak saaking dibdib at nag iwas ng tingin.

"Grabe namang makamasamang ugali to, akala mo naman shining shimering splendid ang personality."

I hissed, I saw him smile a little then imidiately switched into an annoyed expression making me smirk.

"Bat ka nagpipigil ngumiti diyan?"

Tanong kong ikinakunot ng kaniyang noo.

"I'm not."

He said coldly.

"Mauutot ka niyan sige ka."

Patuloy kong pangtitrip, sinamaan niya ako ng tingin na pang isang libong beses na ata. Napahagikhik lang ako doon.

"Wala ka bang magawa at ako ang ginugulo mo?"

Iritableng tanong niyang nagpailing saakin.

"Oo."

Kibit balikat ko, siya naman ay blangko lamang akong tinitigan.

"Then do something else."

He frowned.

"I'm doing something, I'm bothering you."

I chuckled, hindi niya ako pinansin.

"This place is really quiet, I like it here."

Ngiti ko.

"Yeah, me too."

He answered while looking around.

"Say, what kind of environemnt you grew up with? you probably had a comfortable life. You probably won the lottery of life, being born into a rich family and a strong power."

I asked.

"It's rude to ask someone that kind of questions."

He hissed, nagkibit balikat lang ako.

" I'm just curious, you don't need to answer that if you can't. Plus I don't even talk to other theians taht much, since I wouldn't care about them."

I said.

"Then you care about me?"

He asked while looking at me, mabuti nalang at nakasuot ako ng maskara.

"Asa ka."

I denied.

"Maybe I just find you mysterious, so I want to know."

I added.

"Then tell me yours too, if I tell you mine."

He said, napangiti ako doon at tumango.

"Mine's not that interesting though."

I shrugged, tinaasan niya lamang ako ng isang kilay.

"I find you mysterious too, so you have to tell me some thing about you too. It's give and take."

He shrugged, nangiwi ako doon.

"Well that's true."

I said, nodding my head, nag iwas siya ng tingin.

"I did grew up in a rich family, but it's not comfortable. It's cold no matter what the season is."

He said, napatingin ako sa gawi niya.

"It's cold and suffocating, that's the environment I grew up with. I never felt any emotion, I never knew how to express myself, I'm aloof and I never let anyone enter my space, my mind, except that one sneaky person."

He said then looked away. Saglit akong natahimik doon.

"You're right, you shouldn't have told me these kind of things, now I feel burdened."

I frowned, not letting him notice how affected I am. 

"I don't know why I'm telling you this either, I just feel like it. Ikaw ang bahala kung magkukwento ka."

He uttered then looked at me, nakagat ko ang labi ko roon.

"Like I told you, my life is not that interesting. I had a simple life growing up, a normal life, that's why I thought. Let's say that life didn't really go in my way sometimes. It's extremely hard and all I felt is hate. I hated the world, I hated life and fate, I hated everything, it drowns me sometimes. I feel like I am in a cage of darkness, I always feel like I'm chained, I feel like I can never do anything and change anything no matter what I do."

Litanya ko habang nakatitig lamang siya saakin.

"How about now? are you free now?"

He asked, natigilan ako doon.

"Yes... yes I am."

A faint smiled formed in my lips.

I wish others can be free too.

"Thank you Draco...Thank you for everything."

I mumbled, nangunot ang noo niya.

"Why are you thanking me?"

He asked confused, umiling lamang ako.

"I just want to, I randomly thank theians sometimes."

I laughed, Drashit just gave me a weird look.

"You're quiet strange shaddow guardian."

He said.

"Dev."

I said, napatingin siya sa gawi ko.

"Dev, call me Dev."

I smiled, natigilan siya doon.

Devine is the meaning of my name, so I'll just let him call me that.

"Dev?"

He asked.

"Oo nga, bingi? Dev, short for Devine, that's my name."

I said.

"Also short for Devil."

He uttered making me frown.

"Ikaw lang ang pinagsabihan ko ng pangalan ko kaya shut up ka nalang diyan, Drashes."

Reklamo kong ikinangiwi lang ng huli.

"Okay, Devi."

He hissed, umirap lang ako sa hangin.

"Devine huh..."

He whispered.

"Yes why?"

I asked, looking at him.

"That's the meaning of her name."

Sambit niyang nagpatigil saakin sa paglalakad.

"What the heck is this."

I whispered bitterly while watching his back as he walk farther from me. Nakagat ko ang labing akmang susunod sakaniya, ngunit tila ba nawalan ako ng lakas na gawin iyon.

Napahawak ako saaking dibdib at mariing napapikit. 

I still can't trust him, he's a man I could never predict, I do not even know if he is my ally or my enemy.

He is dangerous, I perfectly know how dangerous he is. 

And yet I kept wanting to be with him since I came back. I kept wanting him to just take a glance at me and I would be happy.

Alam kong sagabal lamang itong nararamdaman ko sa misyon ko at ayokong iinvolve pa siya saakin. I should stay away from him and be cautious around him. 

I shoud avoid him as much as possible but he's making things hard for me.

Why would he say that? Why would he still remember that commoner? why did he go that far just for a mere commoner? Madami akong katanungang gustong itanong sakaniya.

I want to know him better, I want to know who he really is and I am silently hoping that he is on my side.

Someday, when the right time comes and fate gives me courage to still face him as Celestia, I should ask him all of that.

THE NEXT DAY, I recieved a report about a famous auction house. Ang sabi ni Allen ay naramdaman niya ang shattered core sa lugar na iyon. Maging ang isa sa mga clones ko ay inireport ito saakin. Kaya naman ay agad akong nagplanong magtungo sa lugar.

I wore a formal dress and a half mask. Dala ko din ang invitation na ibinigay saakin ni Allen.

I just teleported into the place and gave my invitation to get inside. I hid my presence well, just to observe and feel where the core part is. 

Nakakairita lang dahil sa dami ng theians na naririto.

Matagal ng natigil sa Zaveri ang auction house para sa mga alipin, mula nang magtalaga ng bagong emperor. 

This auction house is just for items. 

Pero hindi ko parin maiwasang malasahan ang pait sa tuwing nagpupunta ako sa mga ganitong klase ng lugar. Those slave traders are pain in the ass, back then. Ilang beses din akong kamuntikang maibenta sa ganitong lugar noon. 

Nakakairita lang lalo ang kaplastikan at kaingayan ng lugar. I just wanted to shut them up for a moment.

I frowned as I walked into the bar counter to order something to drink while observing the crowd. 

The core part is one of the items since I can feel it on the room where the items are. Napataas ang isang kilay ko roon at nangisi saka inisang lagok ang inumin.

'Should I just stop the time?'

I mumbled on my mind.

'Are you forgetting that someone could possibly won't be affected by that?'

Pagkontra nanaman ng panget na tandang na iyon saaking isipan. Nakakonekto nga pala ang isipan namin ngayon para sa misyon.

'Well unless you wanted to be found out.'

Sambit naman ni Allen na nagpairap saakin.

'I just wanted to get over it fast, nakakairita ang lugar na ito'

Reklamo ko sakanila.

This power is really convenient. Nahirapan din akong talunin ang halimaw na kumokontrol ng oras noon. 

'I went to the hall where the items are in and felt where the core part is. Para bang hinihila ako nito papunta kung nasaan ito. The crystal butterfly that is coming from my birthmark came out again as a guide. 

'Bakit ba kasi hindi nalang kayo ang kumuha ng mga ito, hindi naman pala ganoon kahirap hanapin'

Iritang sabi ko sakanila mula saaking isipan.

'If we can, matagal na naming ginawa.'

Iritang sagot ng tandang na iyon.

'Only you can touch and see where the core part is, we can only feel it and it's location. It's a protection that the two great gods put in the shattered cores before they died. Kaya nga ay kahit pa sabihin mong napakadaling hanapin ng ibang core parts ay hindi sila kailanman napasakamay ng traydor na iyon.'

Paliwanag ni Allen na nagpatango tango saakin.

"That sucks."

I frowned.

"Madali lamang hanapin ang maliliit na core parts, ngunit mahihirapan tayo sa mas malalaking bahagi nito. Kaya wag ka ng magreklamo diyang babae ka."

Leonard hissed making me roll my eyes on him.

'But you know what? since I got the first core part, I started seeing a strange scene in my mind. A scene I've never seen before but it felt like I am in there.'

Takang sambit ko, ngunit hindi nakasagot doon ang dalawa.

 In that scene I am looking at the sunrise. Hindi pamilyar saakin ang lugar at kahit kailan ay hindi ko pa napupuntahan, ngunit para bang naroroon talaga ako.

'I'm here'

I mumbled when the butterly disapeared on a small chest. Napangisi ako nang makita ang nakasisilaw na liwanag na inilabas nito nang makalapit ako. And just like the first core part, it suddenly turned into a crystal butterfly that my birthmark absorbed.

Nangisi ako doon at nag iwan ng bayad sa chest box at lumabas ng silid, ngunit natigilan nang matanaw si Draco sa entrance ng Auction house.

I saw him looking around as the time froze. Nakahalukipkip lamang akong ngumisi sakaniya nang magtama ang tingin namin. I snapped my finger and chuckled as the time came back to normal.

Kumindat ako sakaniya at nagteleport paalis ng lugar, patungo sa mundong pinamumunuan ko.

That ice burg really is a pain in the ass for my missions. 

Nailing nalang ako at napangiti.

A/n: Sorry sa maiksing update, inatake ng writer's block, kaya wala ding maisip gaano sa chapter na to. 🥱🥱😴