Kabanata 43
Luminous Forest

Celestia Rogue

When I opened my eyes, I am already at an unfamiliar place and infront of me is an unfamiliar man..

"An angel?"

The man asked.

Alam kong nananaginip lamang ako at hindi ako ang kausap niya. Pero may kakaiba sa nilalang na nasa harapan ngayon ng nagmamay ari ng memorya.

"Are you okay?"

The soft voice of a child said while looking up into the mysterious man, meeting his gaze.

The man seem shocked at the child's question.

"I am, why?"

He asked while looking at the child. The child tried to reached his face but the man is too tall for her.

Nailing nalamang ang lalaking naupo para pantayan siya.

"You seems hurt, you're crying without tears."

She said with an innocent expression then wiped the man's eyes.

"Don't you know me?"

He asked, umiling sakaniya ang bata.

"No, why? are you one of the gods? but I don't see you whenever I spy on them if they visit our land."

She said, the man blinked.

"You spy on them?"

He asked with an amused face.

"I observe them! Except goddess Selene cause she's scary even though she's beautiful. But her lover, God Lucian is really really really kind, I can see it on his eyes. And he loves goddess Selene so much."

Pagkukwento nito sa lalaki.

There's no way that god is kind, what is she saying?

"He used to, now he's just a fool."

The man said with a cold tone, the child shook her head on him.

"I can see it through his eyes whenever I observe the gods secretly, I think he is a good man just like you."

The child smiled at him, nanatili ang malalim niyang tingin sa kausap.

"I am fool too, I do bad things, do you still think I am a good man?"

He asked, the child shook her head.

"Yes, silly, you are a good man, I can clearly see it."

The child let out a melodic laugh.

"But I can see pain and sorrow in your eyes."

Turan niya saka humawak sa dibdib ng lalaki kung saan naroroon ang kaniyang puso.

"I can hurt you now, you know that?"

He asked with a grim expression making the child giggle.

"No you won't, I can see it."

She smiled making the man froze as he felt the warmth coming from the child.

"Why are you healing me? I am an immortal, I don't get hurt."

Kunot noong tanong niya.

"But your heart is hurting, I don't want you to be sad."

She smiled while her hand is still on his chest.

"This is the first time someone said that to me."

Natatawang sabi ng lalaki.

"Thank you for healing me, pretty angel."

The man smiled making the kid giggle.

"Really? I healed you?"

She said happily.

"You made me smile, so I guess it's effective."

The man uttered.

"Yes!"

Isang malutong na hagikhik ang kumawala sakaniyang bibig.

"Mister am I an angel?"

The child asked.

"I think you are.."

He answered.

"But you're too beautiful to be an angel, I almost mistook you as a little goddess if I didn't know the gods and goddesses here."

He added, natawa doon ang bata.

"How about you? what are you?"

She asked.

"It's not important."

The man smiled.

"Aww.."

The kid pouted then looked at him..

"Mister, can you be my friend? I have no friend in our land, can you be my playmate?"

She asked.

"No."

The man answered making her frown.

"Please be my friend? I won't make you sad, I promise."

She smiled while fascinated at the stranger in front of her.

"Ayoko sa makulit."

He hissed, humaba ang nguso roon ng bata.

"Hindi ako magkukulit naman eh, I just want to be with you.."

She smiled while looking at him happily making him sigh then glanced at her.

Napamulat ako ng mga mata nang magising mula saaking pagkakahimbing. It's another scene after I got another core part. 

"You okay?"

Draco asked while I am lying on his chest while he's behind me. Nakasandal siya sa puno at mula sa likurap ay akap akap ako nito habang nakaunan ako sakaniyang dibdib at pareho kaming nakatanaw sa lawang nasisinagan ng buwan.

Dito kami nagtatagpo gabi gabi matapos niya akong mahanap rito noong nakaraan.

"Sorry, I fell asleep."

I said then yawned making him smile then sniffed my neck and gently kissed it making me whimper.

"It's okay, you look so at peace when sleeping, I don't want to bother you."

He said while running his fingers to my hair.

"What did you dream about?"

He asked, umiling lamang ako.

"It's not important."

I smiled then kissed the side of his lips.

"I just want to know."

He chuckled then held my chin as he gently kissed my lips and met my eyes. 

"Ang adik neto, kanina pa halik ng halik ah, nakakarami na! Isa pa nga!"

Sambit kong nagpatawa sakaniya saka muling humalik saakin, napangiti ako roon at buong pusong sinagot ang bawat halik na kaniyang iginagawad.

"I have to go."

I sighed, humigpit ang yakap niya saakin.

"I hate that you have to leave again."

He frowned.

"Should I take you home?"

He asked, umiling lamang ako sakaniya.

"Hindi mo nga alam kung nasaan ang bahay namin."

Ngisi ko.

"Then tell me where."

He hissed making me chuckle.

"Ayoko nga, mamaya niyan gapangin mo pa ako."

Biro ko saka hinaplos ang pisngi niyang tumayo na.

"I need to go somewhere today, I need to go home early."

I smiled at him.

"Where?"

Kunot noo niyang tanong saakin.

"Secret."

Tawa kong nagpangiwi sakaniya.

"I'll meet you here again tonight."

I smiled then kissed him and teleported to the backyard of our house. I bit my lips and sighed, I want to be with him longer.

"So andito na pala ang pariwarang pokpok."

Saad ng malalim na boses ng panget na tandang kasama si Allen na bumaba sa isang dambuhalang fire dragon na unti unting nagkatawang tao.

"You met Draco again?!"

Aragon groaned in irritation, inirapan ko lang ang dalawa.

"Stop it you two, as long as Celestia didn't tell him any of our plans or us being alive, everything is fine."

Kalmadong sambit ni Allen na nagpangiti saakin.

"I know right."

Tatango tangong sabi ko.

"Ang sabihin mo ay malandi lang ang gagang iyan! Gusto ko na ngang kalbuhin eh!"

Leonard hissed.

"Chill, baka mahigh blood ka niyan, porke ba wala kang love life? Todo ingat ka pang di mahanap ni Lucian, mamamatay ka lang pala sa inggit."

I shrugged, sinamaan niya ako ng tingin na nagpangisi lamang saakin.

"And don't worry, I am not planning to tell Draco any of our plans or you being here, for the sake of your peace of minds."

I rolled my eyes on them.

"I don't want to interfere with your decisions Celestia, if Draco will make you the happiest then I don't really mind. But please, please always be careful. Huli na ang lahat para sabihing huwag kang umibig sakaniya, pero sana ay alam mo ang sakit na maaari mong pag daanan sa oras na ipagpatuloy ninyo ito."

Allen sighed as he looked at me with a pained expression.

"Kahit ako ay nasasaktan sa maaaring sapitin ninyo dahil pareho na kayong napalapit saakin. Pero gusto ko lang malaman mong naririto lamang kami para saiyo, tutulungan ka namin at susuportahan sa balak mo."

Dagdag niyang mapait na nagpangiti saakin.

"Ikaw lang, dinamay mo pa kami, asa kang ikokonsenti ko yang kalandian mo."

Leonard hissed, the god of war looked at him blankly making him frown.

"Fine, fine para namang may magagawa ako, marupok ka eh tangina."

He hissed making me chuckled, Leonard glared at me. Sometimes I feel like Leonard is that menopausal KJ grandma.

"Naririnig kita!"

Iritang sabi niya na nagpatawa saamin ni Allen na marahas na nagpabuntong hininga sakaniya.

"If you want to change that fate, fine I will help you, but we can't promise that we'll succeed. Sabihin mo ng kadalasan ay epal ako, pero hindi ko gugustuhing makita kang masaktan at yang katigasan ng ulo mo ang magpapahamak sa iyo."

The beast god sighed, napangiti lamang ako roon saka tumingin sa gawi ni Aragon na mukang nagdadalawang isip pa din.

"You're still gonna continue even if it might hurt the both of you in the process?"

He asked, natapatango ako roon.

"I can take a risk and gamble with everything I had, mahal ko eh."

Mapait ang ngiting saad ko na nagpabagsak sakaniyang balita.

" I still remember Lucian and Selene, and how painful it is not only for them but also for us who witnessed it. They loved each other so much that no matter how many times fate pulled them apart they would always try so hard to find each other. But in the end, no matter how many times they gambled, hoping to succeed, they still didn't make it."

He said then looked at me with a sorrowful eyes.

"I'm scared of you two having the same fate, Celestia. But if ever I could do something to change that, I will try to help."

He sighed, para bang may humaplos saaking puso sa sinabi nila.

"Thank you."

I said sincerely while looking at them.

"Tara na nga! puro kayo drama, di naman kayo artistahin!"

Leonard hissed making me roll my eyes on him and summoned Fenella, the white tiger, celestial beast.

Agad itong nagbigay galang saaming harapan.

"Anong maipaglilingkod ko sainyo, kamahalan?"

Tanong nitong yumukod saaming harapan nang siya'y mag anyong mortal.

"Guide us to the Luminous forest and take us to the oldest guardian fairy, protector of that forest."

Turan kong nagpatango sakaniya.

"Masusunod, kamahalan."

Sambit niyang bumalik sakaniyang anyo bilang Celestial beast saka nagbukas ng lagusan patungo sa naturang gubat na aming pupuntahan.

Agad naman kaming sumunod sakaniya. Naglakad kami sa lagusan at napangiti nang makarating sa Luminous forest, kung saan ang nga nagtatayugang mga puno ay nakapagsasalita at nakagagalaw.

Dito rin sa napakalawak na gubat na ito, nakatira ang ancient beast men ng Luminous Empire. A small peaceful empire that most citizens are beastmen.

Napakalayo nito sa Zaveri at kahit pa sinabi ni Leonard na nasa Zaveri ang karamihan sa core parts ay may ilan pa ding tumalsik sa ibang lugar.

Zaveri is secretly the sacred land of Aisha, that's why most core part went to that kingdom.

Kinwento iyon saakin ni Cormac na siya lamang ang nakakaalam. Dito raw kasi nagkita at nagtatagpo ang dalawang pibaka malakas na diyos ng buhay at pagkawasak ilang libong taon na ang nakararaan.

They blessed Zaveri, the second largest land in Halcyon, Mytheia.

"How did you even know that a core part is in this forest?"

Leonard asked Aragon.

"The protector of this land is a friend of mine for thirty years now.

He stated, the guardian fairy of this forest?

"Kilala mo naman para ang protektor ng lugar na ito, pinagsummon mo pa ako ng Celestial beast. Naistorbo pa tuloy natin si Fenella."

I hissed.

"It's okay your highness, It's my pleasure to help."

Fenella said as we follow her.

"I met her when I was traveling and found this ancient forest."

Pagkukwento niya.

"Ilang beses akong tumutulong sa pag atake ng mga demonyo sa lugar na ito at noong isang araw lang ay muli ko silang tinulungan. Doon ko naramdaman ang core part na naririto at maaaring iyon ang dahilan kung bakit patuloy na inaatake ng mga kampon ni Lucian itong lugar."

Litanya ni Aragon na nagpatango tango saamin.

"But how could Lucian have it when only I can absorb it's power?"

I asked.

"Even if he can't absorb it, if he feels the core part then he will take it so you won't be able to complete the core to wake up Aisha and Percival."

Allen answered then gave Leonard a corn to eat.

"Obviously."

Leonard said while looking at me, inirapan ko lamang siya.

Itinago namin ang mga presensya namin upang hindi kami maramdaman ng mga beastmen sa paligid habang sinusundan namin si Fenella.

It would be hassle and pointless to fight the ancient beast men. Ang core part lamang ang habol namin sa lugar na ito.

"Sino kayo?"

Sambit ng mga taga pagbantay na anyong puno na humarang sa pagpasok namin sa sekretong lugar kung saan naroroon ang mga diwatang tagapangalaga ng lupaing ito.

Maya maya pa ay humangin ng marahan at dumaan saamin ang ilang ginintuang dahong idinuduyan nito.

"Put your weapons down my dear children and pay respects to the gods."

A melodic voice said that the tree warriors imediately  obeyed as they bowed in front the beautiful lady that suddenly appeared from those golden leaves. 

"It's a pleasure to finally meet the protectors of heavens, gods of mytheia."

She smiled at us gently then looked straight in my eyes. 

"Ayiana..."

Leonard mumbled, I looked at him and he seems genuinely happy, seeing the fairy infront of us.

"I missed you, Father.."

The fairy that Leonard called Ayiana said making my eyes widen.

"What?!"

Gulat kong saad na ikinangiti ng napakagandang diwata.

"Anak mo ito? Paano yon eh ang panget mo?!"

Gulantang kong tanong dahilan upang samaan ako ng tingin ni epal.

"Ang anyong ito lang ang hindi ka aya aya babae! Napaka kisig at napaka ganda kong lalaki saaking tunay na anyo kaya normal lamang na maganda ang aking anak."

He hissed, napangiwi ako doon.

"Pero paano nangyari iyon? akala ko ba ay isang tao ang iniibig mo at hindi mo na siya dinalaw pa?"

Kunot noo kong tanong sa panget na tandang.

"Daughter of the light."

She smiled at me softly. Anak to ng epal na Leonard na iyon na may balahurang ugali?! Seryoso?

"I was born from the beast god's blood and power. He created me to help him protect the first beast men which is the few ancient beast men still living today and to protect this sacred land that he created as their home."

She explained, napa ahh ako roon saka tumango tango.

"Kasi ay abala ang bulakbol na diyos na mukang hayop---este tagapangalaga ng mga hayop sa mortal na kaniyang nakilala sa kabilang mundo."

Fire god Hugo said, making Leonard frown.

"Maka malandi saakin, tapos siya din pala, pabaya pa."

Iling iling kong saad.

"Manahimik kayo diyan mga hangal!"

Asar na sabi niya habang nasa kandungan ni Ayiana, na inirapan ko lang.

"Ayiana."

Pagkuha ng diyos ng Gera and hustisya na si Cormac sa atensyon ni Ayiana.

"We wanted to know were the possible core part is."

Turan niyang nagpatango lamang kay Yana saka inilahad ang kamay kasabay ng pagbuo ng puting enerhiya roon ay ang paglitaw ng isang maliit na baul.

Maya maya pa ay may guide butterfly ng nagtungo sa ibabaw nito. Kaya naman ay binuksan ko iyon kasabay ng paglitaw ng isang nakasisislaw na liwanag na bumalot sa buong gubat.

Nang mawala iyon ay muli itong naging paro paro na hinigod ng aking marka sa balikat.

Hindi tulad kapag maliit na core part ang nakukuha ko ay nanikip nanaman ang aking dibdib dahil sa pag uumapaw ng kapangyarihang nadagdag saakin matapos higupin ang core part.

Napapikit ako ng mariin habang tinitiis ang ilang sandaling kirot na nararamdaman saaking dibdib.

"Her eyes..."

I heard Aragon said that I ignored because of the pain, and the next thing I know, everything turns black.

***

A/n: Sorry for the short update! medyo busy talaga  ehh... bawi ako next time.