A/n: 1st ranked guardians leader and the most dangerous man in Zaveri Kingdom. The Ice guardian "Draco" at the media! ^^ I love drawing my characters. ^0^

Kabanata 4
Wish

Dream

Celestia Rogue

A STRANGE PLACE welcomed my sight, the moment I opened my eyes. Isang napakagandang kwartong, ang mga pader ay gawa sa kristal, ang mga dekorasyon ay gawa ginto, pilak at kung ano ano pang kumikinang na mga bato. Ang kisame ay nagmistulang langit na puno ng mga bituin.

Ang kamang kinaroroonan ko ay may napakalambot na kumot, para bang nakahiga ako sa ulap na nagpamangha saakin. 

Tumayo ako at tinignan ang sarili sa salamin, my long wavy hair has a different color and seemed longer than it was before. From what I remembered, my hair only reached my stomach, now it reached below my knee.

 My violet eyes were even shing like it is filled with thousands of gems, it's fascinating.

"Who changed my clothes?"

I mumbeled seeing a beautiful white long gown with crystal sequences on it.

Napaatras ako at napatingin sa pintuan, bagama't walang sapin sa paa ay lumabas ako sa silid na iyon at nagulat nang makita ang mala palasyong lugar na gawa din sa kristal.

Tinahak ko ang mahaba at magarbong hallway sinusubukang humagilap ng pagtatanungan. The hallway is empty, and this place is like a huge maze.

"Nasaan ako?"

Tanong ko nang makita ang maliliit na mistulang taong may gintong pakpak at mala bituin ang mga mata. Humagikhik siya't sumenyas saaking sundan siya. Wala sa sariling sumunod ako sakaniya habang marating namin ang mapakalaking gintong entrada ng palasyo.

Napapikit ako dahil sa liwanag na bumungad saakin paglabas ko. Unti unti kong iminulat ang mga mata at napasinghap nang makita ang kabuuan ng lugar. 

Napupuno ito ng mga ulap na mistulang karagatan sa lawak. Maroon ding tulay na gawa sa kristal na nag-uugnay mula rito hanggang sa isang lupain na may napakalaking puno.

Nangunot ang noo ko nang mapansing naglaho ang sinundan kong maliit na tao rito. Bagama't puno ng katanungan ay tinahak ko ang tulay hanggang sa marating ang lugar.

Mistulang balahibo ang damo habang inaapakan ko ito. Nilapitan ko ang puno at hinaplos ito habang naglalakad paikot doon. 

At nang marating ko ang kabilang dako, natigilan ako nang makita ang dalawang tao roon. It's a man and a woman who has a beauty out of this world.

"W-What...who..."

I mumbled, ngumiti sila saakin at lumuhod saaking harapan.

"Celestia..."

I heard a voice, but I didn't even see their mouth opening.

When I opened my eyes, I am already in my room, napakurap ako roon at kunot noong napaupo.

"What a strange dream."

I whispered.

Napabuga nalamang ako ng hangin at napaupo. I looked at the clock and saw that it is already afternoon. 

"Sinong nag uwi saakin?"

Bulong ko.

I remembered what happened this morning and frowned. That bitch nearly killed me, she might be beautiful outside but on the inside, she stinks as hell. 

Her heart is probably aready rotten after recieving too much compliments about her beauty, and power, that her brain sucked too much, it made her crazy.

"I bet that Draco guy is also the same, he did help me but I won't buy it. He's just putting a show, letting everyone know how good he is when the truth is he will also be the same as everyone. He's also cruel when no one can see, maybe he's even worst than that Ayesha."

I mumbled, why should I trust the most dangerous man in the kingdom?

I didn't even want to be saved, dying is better than living in this hellish place. Being reborn as a demon they couldn't beat is even better, so I could just cause chaos to those fucktards.

"Argghh!!"

I groaned while messing my hair then stood up. I still need to prepare for the hunt later. 

"My wounds are gone, my body feels light."

I commented.

"Did he heal me?"

Kunot noong sabi ko saka napangiwi.

"His disgusting mana healed me?!"

I frowned trying to calm myself down, I hate that a guardian helped me, I hate it.

"Well atleast I can fight later with the monsters."

Sabi ko nalang, hindi padin maitago ang inis sa boses. Am I gonna be cursed or something? since he used his magic on me. Napatingin ako sa salamin at nangunot ang noo nang makitang para bang umilaw ang mga mata ko.

Mariin akong napapikit, at nang maimulat ang mga mata ay hindi naman umiilaw.

"Did I imagine it?"

I whispered, but then my eyes caught the pendant of my necklace that Aziel gave me. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makitang may maliit na parteng nawala roon.

"Shit, that Ayesha's attacks probably damaged it."

I frowned.

"Well atleast just a tiny part were damaged."

I sighed while staring at the pendant sadly. I wonder how's Aziel? did he became like others over the years? he's a strong mage after all.

It makes me sad that he probably changed.

 My stomach growled, since I've been unconscious since earlier, I haven't ate my lunch yet. Napabuntong hininga akong lumabas sa kwarto at nagtungo sa kusina para kumain.

"Kumain ka na, ang haba ng tulog mo."

Ngiti ni nanay na nagpakunot noo saakin.

"Uhh s-sino pong nag uwi saakin ma?"

Tanong ko saka binuksan ang takip ng ulam sa lamesa at ganoon nalang ang panlalaki ng mga mata nang makakita ng steak!

"Mama saan galing to?"

Kunot noong tanong ko.

"Inuwi ka nung kaibigan mong si Seah kanina, nakatulog ka daw sa byahe, may napanalunan daw siyang high grade meat, kaya binigyan tayo, ang dami ngang binigay eh."

Hagikhik ni mama, napangiti ako ng malapad doon at excited na kumain. Matagal ko ng pangarap makatikim ulit nito! I am even humming while eating making mama laugh.

Did the Ice guardian told Seah about what happened? I hope not, ayokong mag alala siya saakin.

"I should thank her when we see each other again, dadagdagan ko po yung iluluto kong paborito niya."

Hagikhik kong nagpatango kay mama.

"Sige tutulungan kita."

Ngiti niya habang magana akong kumakain.

"Yung cloak mo pala tinahi ko na, ang dumi dumi din ng damit mo pag uwi mo, saan ka ba nagsususuot?"

Kunot noong tanong ni mama na nagpatigil saakin. Halos patayin lang naman ako kanina pa, galing ko nga umilag eh.

As if I could tell her that.

"May humabol kasi saaking aso kanina ma, grabeng aso yon lakas ng rabis, tahol ng tahol. Napunit po yung cloak ko sa mga nadadaanan kanina. Tapos ayon umakyat po ako sa puno hanggang sa dumating yung amo nung aso."

Iling iling na pagkukwento ko.

"Mag ingat ka sa susunod, saka wag kang kung saan saan gumagala para hindi ka napapahamak."

Napabuntong hiningang sabi ni mama na nagpangiti lang saakin.

"Ayos lang naman ako ma, saka ngayon lang naman ganto, mas mag iingat po ako sa susunod."

Ngiti ko.

"Sige, sabi mo iyan ha, oh siya't kumain ka ng maigi diyan."

Ngiti ni mama na nagpatango saakin.

IT'S BEEN A MONTH since that incident, I also found out that Ayesha has been searching for me. Good thing I am not a real guardian and she won't be able to find me since I am a commoner, so I have no records.

Lumipat din ako ng pagbebentahan ng mga monster cores, malayo sa pinagbebentahan ko dati, Total ay pareho lang naman ng halaga. Mas mabait nga itong napagbebentahan ko ngayon dahil magkasundo kami.

"Here's youir 1 silver."

She smiled.

"Sobra ito ng isang daang bronze ah?"

Sambit ko, ngumiti siya saakin.

"Just accept it, malakas ka saakin eh."

Kindat niya.

"Salamat."

Napakamot ulong sabi ko.

She knows that it's me, who's Ayesha has been searching for but didn't tell her no matter what price it is. May malaking galit kasi ito kay Ayesha matapos pagmalupitan bago patayin ang pamilya niya.

She told me she's willing to buy the monster cores since she like what I did and how humiliated Ayesha is that time. 

Mariin kong naikuyom ang mga kamao ko.

I don't haave the power to stop her and fight her, so I have to avoid her till she forgets about me and what happened.

"Magpahinga ka muna, malayo ang nilakad mo hindi ba?"

Ngiti ni Mrs Leonhart.

She's a beastman from the lion tribe. 

"Ayos lang po, baka nakakaabala na ako, mayroon din po kasi akong kikitaing kaibigan."

Ngiti kong nagpatango sakaniya.

"Ganoon ba? oh siya't bumalik ka nalang dito bukas ha."

Ngiti niya.

"Sure."

Hagikhik ko saka nagpaalam ng aalis at itinago na ang isang silver meian saaking bag. I'm wearing a new cloak and mask since that day. Abot lamang hanggang hita ang cloak ko at sapat nadin ang hood nito upang maitago ang muka ko. Maraming guardians o mages na nagsusuot ng ganito, kaya naman ay hindi niya ako agad mahahanap.

"Why is she even searching for me?"

I mumbled.

She's the one who started it, hindi ko kasalanang madilim pa sa singit niya ang budhi niya. Why would she bully someone obviously weaker than her? for what? is she a kid or something? 

"I really don't get them."

I hissed as I went to the restauurant where me and Seah will meet. It's a restuarant usually where average theians eat. Those who are right in the middle of the heirarchy of Mytheia.

"Libre mo to ha."

Salubong ko nang makita si Seah, inirapan niya ako.

"Bakit sasama ka ba kung hindi?"

Sabi niyang nagpangisi saakin.

"Hindi."

Tawa ko na nagpasimangot lang sakaniya. Pumasok kami sa loob at naupo sa reserved table. We ordered our meal and started eating.

"Bakit nga pala bigla kang nag aya dito?"

Tanong kong nagpatigil sakaniya saglit. 

"May inutos saakin ang prinsesa."

Bulong niyang nagpakunot noo saakin.

"Ano iyon?"

Muli kong tanong.

"She told me to check how's that helper is doing."

She said pertaining to the  kid serving the guests. She has blonde hair and green eyes, she looks like she's from a low tier family.

I remember that child who begged me yesterday for food because she's being starved by her relatives. She even had bruises in her body so I had to mend her after I gave her food. 

"Why would she ask you to check that kid?"

I asked, naitikom niya ang bibig roon.

"I found out that the kid is his majesty's daughter from the deceased sister of the owner of this restaurant. So I told the news to the princess, so she told his majesty and asked to bring her to the palace. Good thing even if the emperor doesn't looks like he cares when he found out, it seems like he's okay with her being in the palace, she's a princess after all. Now I had to watch over her for this past few days, as per the imperial princess order."

She whispered, napakurap ako roon. 

"Ay bongga pala."

I commented, she rolled her eyes on me.

"Sangayon hinihintay kong dumating ang royal knights para sunduin siya."

Dagdag pa niya.

"She doesn't look like she's having a good life here, so I think it must be the best to live in the palace even if she's an ilegitimate child. Society can be hard, nobles probably would go around saying harsh things about her but it's better than stay here being abused. Atleast she'll have a good life in the palace, plus the princess seems to care for her sister."

Bulong ko habang kumakain.

"Yes, she does."

Seah smiled warmly while looking at the kid.

"Unlike the Emperor, both the crown prince and the princess are excited to see their little sister. I even heard the empress yesterday, who also seems excited to see the child."

She giggled.

"The empress?"

I asked, she nodded her head.

"The empress is fond with kids."

She smiled.

Well unless it's a commoner child, ofcourse she'll be fond with it.

"Isn't she suppose to be mad? it's a child from the emperor's affair after all."

I shrugged.

"Not at all."

Mahinang tawa niya.

"The empress married his majesty out of love so she doesn't really mind him having affairs as long as it won't affect the crown prince and the first princess which I serves. She's happy that another child will come to the palace, she miss those days when her kids were still little."

She smiled, she seems to be really fond of the empress and her children so they are exempted from my bad mouthing habit.

"That's a relief."

I just said making her smile as we eat.

"You have a great etiquette, like how those nobles eat."

I commented when I noticed as I proceed into eating like it's my last meal.

"Since I grew up in the palace and have been with the princess ever since were little, I also learned how they eat like them. Nakasanayan ko na din kaya nadadala ko."

Ngiti niyang nagpatango tango saakin. 

Hindi nagtagal ay dumating na ang mga royal knights. Nagkaroon pa ng komosyon, tumulong si Seah na kausapin ang mga kamag anak ng prinsesa. Samantalang ako ay nagpatuloy sa pagkain, tutal ay binilin saakin ni Seah na huwag makielam para na rin sa kaligtasan ko.

Hindi naman talaga ako makikielam, I know that they could bring the youngest princess eventually, hindi ko ugaling makisawsaw.

Seah needs to acompany the princess. Kaya naman ay nagpaalam na ito saakin. 

Matapos kong kumain ay tahimik akong uimalis ng restaurant. Panay pa ang chismisan ng mga tao na nagpailing lamang saakin. I walked to the place where I usually get herbs, the hidden paradise.

"Ash!"

I happily said when I saw the ash gray cat, after I collected the herbs.

"I cooked this for you."

Ngiti ko saka inilabas ang pagkain na agad niyang sinunggapan saka kinain sa tabi ko. Ash likes the food that I make so I would always bring food for him to eat whenever I plan to go here.

I smiled when he finished all the food then started rubbing his chin. Mahina pa akong natawa nang marinig na mag-purr ito.

"I wonder when will this stop? I hate going to the capital everyday. Kayo lang ata ni Seah ang gusto kong makita sa tuwing nagpupunta ako dito."

napabuntong hiningang sabi ko.

"Even that crazy storm guardian is still looking for me to probably just kill me. I also don't like seeing that Draco guy everytime he comes back from clearing a high rank leak, palagi nalang nakasara ang daan dahil sa mga fans nila. I also get to witness commoners suffering from that damn guardians and noble's hands everyday and I couldn't do anything but help them mend their wounds if they didn't die. I don't want to be known as the one who fights guardians and nobles for commoners, I'm worried for the village."

I groaned.

"I couldn't do anything at all, I'm strong, I know I am strong for a commoner cause I have people to protect. But I still hate how weak I am around them, gabi gabi bago ako makatulog, naiisip ko kung mamamatay ba ako bukas."

I smiled bitterly, Ash rubbed his face on my hands and laid on my lap making me smile.

"Lagi kong sinasabi okay lang ako, malakas ako."

Tumulo ang luha ko roon.

"I even smiled facing my death countless of times, now I am crying while talking to a cat, aren't I strange?"

I chuckled, I can feel how he's comforting me and it honestly makes me happy.

"Ang bigat, ang bigat pero kailangan palagi lang akong malakas. Kasi kung hindi? paano nalang kami? I don't want to die without giving a fight."

Tuloy tuloy lang ang pagluha ko habang sinasabi ang mga nararamdaman ko kay Ash. Pinunasan ko ang luha habang seryoso lamang na nakatingin sa magandang tanawin. This time I don't want to smile at all, now that no one's looking I felt like I needed to cry so that I could keep smiling when I come back.

"There is even an 11 years old leak near our village, and no guardian is willing to help us, not even the low ranks just because, we are commoners, just because we have nothing to offer. Kung hindi kami kikilos ay mauubos kami. Even that leak is a low ranked leak, we are commoners, not mages, how can we survive entering that leak and find the main core to close it?"

I sighed.

"Natatakot ako Ash, na isang araw, may  mas malalakas pang mga halimaw na lumabas roon at hindi na namin kakayanin pa. It's not like we have anywhere to go where we can be safer than that already dangerous village we live in. That village is the only place we have, but we'd rather face the monsters than theians who acts more wicked than them."

I hissed.

"I wish to never make my mom worried about me again, I wish to just  see her smile and laugh. I wish to see the glimmer in her eyes like she used to in the past."

Not making her worry is an impossible wish I guess, but someday I hope to make her the happiest.