Kabanata 33

Weakness

Celestia Rogue

I'm here again in this strange place... Ilang beses ko ng nakita ang lugar saaking isipan, ngunit hindi ko pa ito kailanman napupuntahan.

But it seems like this is a memory of someone else.

I am conscious but I have no control of whoever this someone as the person's memory played in my mind.

The person sneaked out of the beautiful garden she were told not to ever set foot out until the right time for her safety.

She went out after seeing a butterfly with a broken wing outside and decided to heal it.

But it's actually just an excuse because she's curious as she went out, to a forest filled with tall golden trees and followed the crystal butterfly.

She danced and giggled a lot as she followed it happily.

Ngunit natigilan siya nang makita ang isang bulto na bahagyang nagpatigil sakaniya.

It's a man reading a book and the sun is gently touching his skin. Hindi ko maaninag ang muka niya, ngunit nagkasalubong ang mga mata nila ng kung sino man ang nagmamay ari ng memoryang ito na nagpatigil saakin.

"An angel?"

He said then stood up to look at the owner of the memory in the eyes.

It's a man with silver eyes....

Bahagya akong kinabahan roon kasabay ng pagmulat ng aking mga mata.

Nakasalubong ko roon ang mata ni Draco na bahagyang nagpatahip saaking dibdib.

"I hope, not a word will come out from your mouth about this."

He said coldly.

Seryoso ko lamang siyang binalingan ng tingin.

"I won't."

I said, still couldn't process what happened.

"Your have light mana?"

He asked, umiling ako sakaniya.

"It's a borrowed power from someone, it's not mine. I just use it in times like this to help someone exterminate demons. Hindi lang ako ang mayroon nito."

Pagsisinungaling ko.

I can't let him know that I own the power of light. Especially that I don't know him fully. Hindi ko alam kung kakampi ba siya o kalaban.

Muka namang nakumbinsi ko siya nang pinahalata kong wala na ang light power na nararamdaman niya kanina.

There is a practice like that when you let someone borrow some of your power when needed.

That is if you have unlimited source and the one borrowing has a great mana control.

Iyon ang ipinalabas ko upang makasigurado.

I can't let him know...

"There are people who exterminates demons?"

He asked making me nod my head on him.

"Yes, were just borrowing light to exterminate them since they are highly dangerous to theians. I hope this also won't get out and I won't tell your secret."

Ngiti ko sakaniya.

"I see.."

Sambit nito saka napatango.

"Who are you borrowing that power from?"

He asked on a serious tone, umiling ako sakaniya.

"I apologize, but I can't tell you that, for safety."

I shrugged.

"I understand."

Malamig na sabi nitong nagpangiti saakin.

"How about you? what's with that power?"

I asked while looking at him straight in the eyes.

Maraming katanungang nais mabigyan ng sagot matapos ng aking nasaksihan.. Dark power is as rare as the power of light.

Ngayon lamang ako nakakita ng theian na mayroon nito.

It's different from my shadow power but I can feel that it has no limit.

Dark power is as powerful as light, but having it is like a curse.

It's a powerful element that could manipulate the owner, unless he gains full control of it.

'A god's strong wrath and grief... that's the dark element's origin.'

Allen uttered making me stop.

'Light is the god's hope while darkness is vengeance...'

Leonard added making me stop as I watch Draco's retreating back.

'Then what the heck is he?'

I asked.

Gulong gulo na ako at hindi ko maintindihan kung sino at ano ba talaga si Draco.

'We can't figure out, who he is either... but one thing is for sure. Draco is dangerous, I'm warning you Celestia, I don't feel good about that man.'

Leonard said.

Bahagya kong naikuyom ang mga kamao roon.

I hate the idea of him being my enemy. I don't like the possibility of me and the man I love trying to kill each other one day...

"This sucks."

I frowned.

Mariin kong naipikit ang mga mata saka umalis na din sa lugar na iyon pabalik sa dorm.

"Oh? san ka galing?"

Tanong ni Eitan nang maabutan ko ito nasa kwarto ko padin at tumutugtog ng gitara.

"Just walked around the campus since there's no annoying students."

I shrugged.

"Where's Noah?"

I asked, nagkibit balikat ito.

"Magkikita ata sila ni Misha."

Sambit niyang nagpatango tango saakin saka ipinikit ang mga mata.

"You look bothered, is there something going on?"

He asked on a gentle tone.

Iminulat ko ang mga mata dahilan upang magkasalubong ang aming mga tingin. I saw how he stilled then looked away.

"Yeah, just feeling a bit under the weather."

I shrugged.

That's a lie, all I think about right now is that man.

"You have beautiful eyes, I heard that only the wind mages has that eye color?"

He said making me smile.

"Yeah, I am from that clan."

I shrugged.

The wind clan has a pair of violet eyes and most has white hair.

Papa's mother is from different clan of mages.  That's why his hair is brown and not white.

In mytheia, you'll figure out which kind of mage is someone by their appearance.

Like Draco who is from the ice clan of Zacharia. He has silver hair and blue eyes.

I just don't know where he got that dark power of his...

"But your hair is black, one of your parents must be from the Shadow clan."

He asked.

I just randomly used this color in my disguise.

"Yeah."

I just answered.

Napatango tango ito doon at nagpatuloy lamang sa ginagawa.

He seems bothered by something.

Kanina pa kasi siya tingin ng tingin sa gawi ko. Tinatamad naman akong gamitin sakaniya ang kapangyarihan upang marinig ang naiiisip niya.

"What's the matter?"

I just asked.

Mariin lamang itong napapikit.

"N-Nothing..."

He sighed then stood up like a robot.

"I-I'm going back to my room!"

He announced then left my room imidiately.

Nailing nalamang ako habang si Draco padin ang laman ng isipan.

I blocked Leonard and Allen from my mind for awhile since I want to think alone.

Naguguluhan ako at hindi ko alam kung ano bang dapat maramdaman sa aking nalaman.

Sana lang ay hindi dumating ang pagkakataong kakailanganin ko siyang kalabanin.

Sa ideyang iyon palamang ay nasasaktan na ako.

WEEKEND CAME in a bliss. Hindi halos mawala sa isip ko ang nasaksihan. I'm trying to figure out what and who is Draco.

Kaya nga ay mas madalas ko itong sinasamahan nitong nakaraan kahit pa gaano ito naiirita saakin.

I just don't know how will I know his true identity when I can't read his mind and he don't have fucking friends he shares with secrets with! damn!

That looser ice burg won't share his secrets to anyone. So I just have to gain his trust no matter what identity I'm in and make him spill it out.

I have to make sure if he is my enemy or not.

"You're going to that dangerous man's place?"

Kunot noong tanong ni Leonard habang kumakain ito ng mais at nakaupo sa sofa katabi si Allen.

"I will sneak in for a bit, and see if I can find some lead about Draco. He's an immortal and has dark power and he's not even a god, ofcourse I'd be curious as hell."

I frowned, nginiwian ako ng dalawa.

"Draco is not a bad theian but he's someone dangerous, Celestia. Who knows what he's up to."

Kunot noong sambit ni Allen na nagpailing lang saakin.

"I know that."

Irap ko.

"Don't  waste your time on that woman, masasayang lang ang laway mo dahil hindi naman iyan susunod."

Wala ng pakielam na sabi ni Leonard na nagpangisi saakin saka kumindat sakaniya dahilan upang balingan ako nito ng matalim na tingin na nagpatawa lang saakin.

"Adios loosers!"

Paalam ko saka nagteleport na, diretso sa isang liblib na eskinita sa kapital. Hindi na ako nagsuot pa ng maskara at binago lamang ang kulay ng aking buhok sa kulay nito noon saka isinuot ang hood ang aking cloak.

I decided to walk on a busy street of Zaveri to find Draco first and make sure that he's not in his house just to sneak in safely.

Mahirap din kasing hanapin ang isang iyon. Pero kapag hindi mo gustong makita ay bigla nalang sumusulpot at pakalat kalat.

I frowned as I secretly teleported around Zaveri and I see no sign of him. 

"Alam niyo ba kung saan nakatira si Lucius? para siya naman ang magulo natin kapag ganitong weekend."

I heard familiar voices from behind making me stop, realizing that it's my friends in the university. Masyado akong distracted sa paghahanap kay Draco, na hindi ko sila agad napansin.

"Hindi nga eh---uy kaninong panyo yan Eithan?"

Narinig kong tanong ni Fiona.

"Doon ata sa babae sa unahan."

Saad naman ni Misha. 

Wala naman akong naihulog na panyo at hindi naman nila ako kilala bilang si Celestia kaya walang problema saakin kung lalapitan nila ako ngayon.

"Tanungin mo muna kung sakaniya, dito lang kami sandali, may bibilhin."

Saad naman ni Noah.

Naramdaman ko ang paglayo nila papunta sa isang shop sa malapit habang patuloy ako sa paglalakad at si Eithan naman ay humabol saakin.

"Excuse me, miss."

Pagtawag nito sa pansin ko na nagpangiwi saakin saka hinarap siya sa seryosong ekspresyon.

Nakita ko kung papaano itong natigilan habang nakatulala lamang na nakatitig saakin.

'Oops...'

I said at the back of my mind when I heard his thoughts.

"I-I-Is this yours?"

Tulala pa din saaking sabi niyang ikinangiti ko ng tipid at umiling.

"No."

Tipid kong sabi saka tinalikuran siya. Naramdaman kong hahawakan nito ako sa kamay, na agad kong iniiwas.

"Yes? need anything else?"

I asked.

"Y-Your name, may I know your name?"

He asked while he's looking at me intensely, nailing nalamang ako.

"No."

Tipid kong saad saka iniwanan na siya doong tulala.

Nang makalayo layo na ako at nakapagtago ay nagteleport ako patungo sakaniyang lupain na madalas ko pang puntahan noon. Siniguro ko ding hindi ako mararamdaman ni Draco, kung sakali mang naririto siya. 

Kung hindi ko maramdaman ang presensya niya dahil kadalasan niya itong tinatago ay ganoon din ako sakaniya.

So I sneaked inside his huge ice mansion and started looking at each rooms. I also made myself invisible just to be sure that if he comes and I didn't feel him, atleast he won't see me.

'Naghahanap ka ng lead sa kung sino ba si Draco, pero nasa kusina ka?'

Pang eechos nanaman ng pakielamerong tandang na nagpairap lang saakin.

'Curious lang naman kung anong laman ng fridge.'

Sagot ko.

'Magulat ka kung puro gasolina at bomba. Gagang to, malamang pagkain.'

Komento pa niya na bahagyang nagpasimangot saakin saka nailing na nagtungo pa sa iba't ibang kwarto sa bawat palapag.

Bakit ba napakadaming kwarto gayong mag isa lang naman siya dito?

Ganoon lamang ang ginawa ko at tahimik na hinalughog bawat kwarto, maging ang walang katapusang library, ngunit wala naman akong nakita.

Hanggang sa marating ko ang Master's bedroom.

Nanuyo ang lalamunan kong kinakabahang tahimik na pinasok iyon. Nakahinga nalamang ako ng maluwag nang makitang wala siya doon.

I sat on his soft bed and looked around his room. 

It's minimal and manly, but feels lonely.

Mula sa kwarto niya ay may malaki siyang salaming bintana kung saan kitang kita ang kabuuan ng mala paraisong lugar.

I stood up then opened the drawers, pero wala din akong napala. Ni journal ay wala siya, at mukang nag iingat talaga.

Natigilan nalamang ako nang makitang mayroong isang malaking frame na natatakpan ang kabuuan ng malapad na tela.

Nagtaka ako kung ano iyon kaya hinila ko ang lubid na magtataas ng telang tumatakip dito.

What's infront of me is a painting of a very beautiful silver haired woman with blue eyes. A woman who has resemblance with Draco.

Napahaplos ako roon at bahagyang tumitig dito.

"Is this his mother?"

I asked myself as I stared at it intently.

"She looks like Draco."

I mumbled then smiled.

"Did he paint this?"

I asked myself when I saw a signature below, a proof that it's Draco that painted it. Hindi ko alam na marunong pala itong magpinta.

But then I figured something out after staring at the painting, long enough. 

Mukang mayroong isa pang silid akong hindi napupuntahan. Napangisi ako doon at ginamit ang aking kapangyarihan upang tahimik na makalusot sa barrier nito nang hindi niya nalalaman at nagteleport sa lugar.

"What?"

Kunot noong saad ko nang makita ang silid.

I am thinking that it might be a study room or library that contains clues about his dark element.

But all I found is room filled with floating frames.

Probably his art gallery?

Nailing akong binuksan ang lahat ng ilaw upang makita ang kaniyang mga ipininta.

Na sana ay hindi ko nalang ginawa....

Bahagya akong natulala sa nakita kasabay ng mabilis na pagtahip ng puso ko at lumapit sa mga ito.

All of it, all of the frames are paintings of my face....

Napahawak ako saaking dibdib na lumapit sa isa sa mga painting na nagawa niya.

"That crazy fool...."

I mumbled as tears fell from my eyes.

"What the heck is this..."

Garalgal ang boses na saad ko saka binasa ang qoute na nakasulat sa baba ng painting.

"The only face I could only think about is yours, in every scenarios that I see has you in it and I hate that my paintings couldn't do any justice on how ethereal your beauty is my love..."

Ito ang nakasulat sa isa sa mga paintings na nagpatigil saakin saka muling tinignan ang iba pa.

"I could trade a whole lifetime just to see your smile again..."

"Someone will only die once forgotten. You'll live forever in me and I will wait for you even if it means eternity..."

Patuloy ako sa pagbabasa ng mga mensahe sa bawat larawan kong kaniyang ipininta habang tahimik na lumuluha.

'Gods canonly love once...'

"Sa isang nilalang lamang kami magmamahal. Kaya nga ay kung maaari ay isang imortal o kapwa namin ang dapat naming mahalin. That way, we could be with them as long as we live."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit biglang pumasok ang mga sinabing iyon ni Leonard saaking isipan habang pinagmamasdan ang mga larawan at tagpong magkasama kami na kaniyang ipininta.

Hibdi ko mapigilan ang pag buhos ng emosyon, hanggang sa marating ko ang pinakamalaking larawang kaniyang ipininta.

It's the time I am smiling at him and promised him that I will thank him when he comes back from Zacharia.

Sumikip ang dib dib kong napatitig doon.

"I love you, my light; My Celestia..."

Tuluyan na akong napahikbi doon saka hinaplos ang kaniyang isinulat sa baba ng painting.

"I love you too..."

I answered then turned off all the light and teleported back to the land where I usually meet him. I removed my invisibility as I stared at the beautiful land he owns.

Napaluhod nalamang ako habang tahimik na umiiyak habang inaalala ang mga nasaksihan.

He is my downfall, my weakness...

I said to myself.

Natigilan nalamang ako sa pag luha nang makita ang isang pamilyar at nakasisilaw na liwanag na bumalot sa buong lugar.

Bahagya akong natulala doon hanggang sa lumabas ang isang napaka pamilyar na bulto ng nagliliyab na ibon.

'Phoenix...'

I whispered as I stared at it.

Lumapag ito sa tapat ko na nagpatayo saakin saka masuyong hinaplos ang ulo nito.

"Long time no see, guide."

I said then gave her a faint smile, tumango ito saakin at tinignan ako diretso saakin mga mata.

"You want me to follow you?"

I asked, tumango muli na agad kong naintindihan kung anong ibig sabihin saka nilakad ang sinasabi nitong landas, kasabay ng pagbukas ng isang portal na nagdudugtong saaming mga mundo.

Napabuntong hininga nalamang akong muling nilingon ang lupaing pinanggalingan saka unti unti ng naglakad patungo sa portal hanggang sa higupin ako nito papasok...

***

A/n: Writer's block! grrr (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

Anyways! I actually made an artwork/illustration of one of Draco's said painting. 😌😌 Sinipag ako. 😂 Basta kunwari nalang gawa ni Draco yan saka kunwari painting hahaha yan lang nakayanan ko. 😂💃💃