Kabanata 57
Reminiscence

Celestia Rogue

THE WORLD IS IN CHAOS, but not even close with what hell the future will bestow to this world.

"Celestia!"

Allen who just teleported from somewhere called my name.

Kasalukuyang buhat buhat niya ngayon ang walang malay na si prinsesa Alyssa.

"What happened to her?"

Tanong kong nagpabuntong hininga sakaniya.

"She followed me thinking I might be in danger and overused her power. She's okay now, I healed her."

Alalang saad niyang nagpatango tango saakin.

"She really cares about you huh?"

Ngiti kong bahagyang nagpamula sa pisngi nitong nagpairap lang saakin saka ginulo ang buhok niya.

"You also did well."

I smiled, patting his head making him frown. Draco cleared his throat, making me raise an eyebrow.

"I'm not a child anymore Celestia, I even gained my memories as Cormac."

Reklamo nitong nagpangisi saakin.

"Ikaw padin ang batang uhugin at gusgusing si Allen para saakin kumag ka."

Natatawa kong saad na nagpakunot noo rito saka sinimangutan lamang ako.

Napakibit balikat lamang ako roon. Kasabay nito ay ang pagdating ni Aragon na kasalukuyang hawak sa leeg si panget na tandang.

"Let go of me!"

Hew frowned then went back to his original yet still ugly form.

"How's my parents?"

I asked Leonard, he probably went back on being a chicken to check on them just like what I told him to.

"They are fine, nagpapahinga na ang iyong inang stress na stress saiyong tanginaka."

Irap nitong nagpangiwi saakin.

"Ay wow attitude parang di kalbong tandang dati."

Ngingisi ngising saad ko dahilan upang balingan ako nito ng matalim na tingin saka pinatamaan ng kaniyang kapangyarihan na agad kong nasalag habang natatawa..

"Can I just kill her?"

He scowled at Dylan who also just came along with Kiara..

"Calm down Leonard."

Natatawang sambit ni Dylan saka ito lumingon sa gawi ko.

"I can feel an unusual energy around you, did something happened?"

Alalang tanong nitong nagpabuntong hininga lamang saakin saka nilingon si Draco na nananahimik sa tabi at tila ba may malalim na iniisip.

"I met Lucian at the leak."

I told them honestly making them all froze specially Kiara. Hearing about her father must've troubled her.

Ngunit ang nakakuha ng pansin ko ay si Aragon na tila ba  hindi na nagulat pa sa ibinalita ko.

"Are you okay? may ginawa ba siya sainyo?"

Mariing tanong ni Dylan habang madilim ang ekspresyon nito.

"Nothing, he is just a mirror image of Lucian, he wasn't able to harm us back then."

I told them making them sigh in relief.

"Good."

Bagsak ang balikat na saad ni Dylan habang alalang nakatingin saamin ni Draco.

"Were fine, don't worry."

Ngiting nagpabuntong hininga lamang sakaniya at dahan dahang tumango.

"That's a relief."

Napahilamos ito sakaniyang muka saka yumakap saamin.

"I'm relieved, I don't know what will I do if I loose someone again."

Ramdam ko ang sakit sa kaniyang tono nang sabihin niya iyon. Memories of Aisha and Percival probably still lingers in his mind.

"It's okay, really."

I sighed then patted his back.

"But why would he suddenly show himself? what is he planning?"

Kunot noong tanong ni Allen habang nakakuyom ang mga kamao.

They are all silent and has a grim look on their faces.

"Kasi bobo siya tangina niya."

Iritang saad ni Leonard.

"He probably thinks he could just kill you easily when you're still weaker than him. Thankfully, you have the two great god's protection. Ganyan ka kapabigat."

Dagdag pa nitong nagpairap saakin.

"Atleast di panget."

I said then flipped my hair. 

"Will you stop that?!"

He frowned in annoyance.

"I don't know what will happen next, but now that he's seen you, you should be more careful from now on. Cause things might get more dangerous."

Kiara sighed then looked at me intently.

"That's true, he might not be able to harm you now, but he can do it with your love ones."

Sambit ni Dylan na mariing nagpapikit saaking naikuyom ang aking mga kamao.

"I won't let him."

Tiim bagang kong saad habang suot padin ang aking maskara.

"You're  silent."

Puna ni Leonard kay Aragon.

"I just don't feel like talking."

Ngisi nitong kinunutan lamang ng noo ni Leonard.

"Sige huwag, ang baho naman ng bunganga mo."

Iritang saad nito sa kausap na nagpailing nalang saakin.

"Are you okay?"

I asked Draco.

"Anong iniisip mo?"

Tanong ko nang magkasalubong ang aming mga tingin.

"Nothing, just a bit shaken up from earlier."

Seryoso niyang saad.

I can feel his aura leaking, I sighed and held his hand.

"Hey, calm down."

I said with a concerned tone, tumingin siya saakin at napahigpit ang hawak saaking kamay.

"I am."

He smiled.

"Everything will be allright."

Sambit ko sabay siko sakaniya. Nangunot ang noo niya roon ako naman ay natatawang itinaas ang aking maskara at dinapian siya ng halik sakaniyang labi.

Then those hags, Leonard, Dylan and Allen cleared their throats non stop.

"Respeto ha, tangina niyo sana all."

Iritang sambit ni Leonard na inirapan ko nalamang.

"We should relocate your parents."

Draco uttered, I shook my head on him.

"Our home is the safest for them right now, since I asked those old hags to double the barrier in my land. I also assigned a clone in that area before I went in the leak earlier."

Paliwanag kong nagpabuntong hininga dito.

"Your mother, how is she?"

I asked, napansin ko pang napalingon sa gawi namin si Kiara.

"She's okay, I already checked on her, she's in my home right now."

Draco answered with a serious expression.

Sumama saamin si Clemente patungo sa  Zaveri imbes na maiwan sa Zacharia kung saan naroroon ang clone ni Draco.

"I'll go check on her and see if there is still monsters around."

Kiara volunteered.

Nagsukatan pa sila ng tingin ni Draco baka naunang sumuko si Draco at napabuntong hiningang tumango.

"That place is safe, but suit yourself."

Sambit niyang pinapayagan si Kiara. Kiara then gave a soft smile and nodded her head as she teleported to the place.

Did they gotten close in Zacharia? I only saw Kiara talking to her once in the empress garden.

They were just talking about a novel and Kiara has a weird expression back then, I couldn't read it at all.

"Celestia!"

A loud familiar voice said making me smile. 

It's Natalia with Cole, Seth and the other three, Misha, Noah and Eithan.

"Hey lil piece of shits."

Ngisi kong ikinairap nito saka mahigpit akong niyakap kasama ni Misha.

"Hey, I'm alright."

Natatawa kong saad na nagpanguso sa mga ito.

"We were worried okay? when we found out that you went inside that gigantic leak, we got really worried!"

Misha frowned making me smile.

"That leak is a piece of cake, I'm stronger than I look okay."

I winked at them, nailing nalamang si Eithan at Noah saakin.

"Yabang."

Ngisi ni Eithan na binelatan ko lamang. 

"All leaks are closed, atleast for now."

Emperor Seth said then brushed his fingers along his hair.

"Other guardians from the guilds are also starting to fix things. We also got a call from other countries saying that the leaks are also closed in their locations, thanks to some mysterious beings."

Cole stated distracted with Natalia's stare.

Harap harapan kasi itong nakatitig sa katawan niyang lantad dahil sa napunit na damit maaaring gawa ng pakikipaglaban.

Wow, and she's the first princess.

My summons are the one behind closing leaks, along with my clones.

They already went back to their world, I instructed them to take a rest untill Lucian make another move.

That's what we signed the contact for, better use them to their fullest.

"First let's leave this place and talk somewhere private."

Napahilot sintidong saad ni Dylan habang nakamasid sa paligid.

May mga paparating kasi.

"How about the palace?"

Allen asked then looked at Seth who's busy looking around.

"Where is Roma?"

He asked talking about Kiara.

"She's at my home, checking on the empress."

Sagot ni Draco na nagpatango kay Seth.

"Then let's go there, there are too many eyes in the palace."

Napakamot ulong saad niya.

"Wow, desisyon ka?"

Ngisi ng kapatid niyang si Natalia. Seth just glared at her making her laugh softly.

"Look's like we'll have an empress soon."

She giggled.

Nailing nalamang ako sakaniya. If she only knew who Roma is.

"Where is your home anyways?"

Cole asked with his forehead creased. Right, no one knows where his home is.

But the fucked up gods probably could find out where it is because of their power.

"Is it okay?"

Tanong ko kay Draco.

"Yeah, it's fine, I could always erase the direction from someone's memory."

He shrugged looking at Cole with a distasteful look.

"I won't tell the other two okay? why are you giving me an unpleasant look? hindi naman ako ganun kachismoso."

Reklamo nito, ngunit hindi na siya pinansin ni Draco na ako nalamang ang tinignan.

He then formed a magic circle below us, that immediately teleported us in front of his home.

"Are you kidding me?! this is fucking bigger than my palace!"

Seth frowned, while Draco who seems annoyed held my hand.

"Let's go inside."

He shrugged as we all followed him to the hall.

We went inside Draco's home then I spoke privately in one of the rooms here with the old hags about the possible plans that Lucian might do and the preparations we can to prevent it.

We are aware that what happened today is only a warning.

Mukang nalalapit na nag nakatakdang araw kaya kailangan naming magmadaling hhanapin ang natitirang mga shattered cores.

"I won't be able to defeat Lucian in my current state."

Seryosong sambit ko na nagpakunot sa noo ng mga ito.

"Who said about fighting alone?"

Biglang sulpot ni Draco na halos magpatili saakin.

"You have me."

He stated then winked at me, napakurap kurap ako roon saka napatingin sa gawi ng mga kasama ko.

"The bastard had a point, plus now that we gained our broken cores back, we will be able to keep up."

Sambit ni Leonard na nagpangisi kay Aragon at nagpatango naman sa iba.

"You're not alone Celestia, were here, and we'll share your burden to lighten it up."

Ngiting saad ni Dylan.

"I'm sure that is also what the two great gods desires."

Dagdag pa ni Allen na nagpabuntong hininga saakin saka nginitian sila.

We continued our conversation about what we will do next.

Ofcourse they didn't include Draco with our plan since they still don't trust him.

Hindi ko rin maintindihan kung bakit pero tila ba may malalim pang pinaghuhugutan si Draco sa galit niya kay Lucian.

I have a hint but have no concrete evidence that will support it so I don't want to conclude.

But the way he acted towards him when we were in the leak is weird.

I should ask him when he calms down. I can feel that he's still bothered by what Lucian told us.

As if he saw something terrifying that moment.

"Kiara."

Sambit ko nang makita ito sa garden at nakaunan sakaniyang braso si Clemente.

"I thought you were with Seth."

I told her.

Ngumiti lamang siya habang hawak hawak ang kamay ng empress.

It seems like the empress cried.

"We were busy talking earlier, so the emperor gave us some time and went with Cole."

She said in a whisper.

Napatango tango ako roong naupo sa damuhan.

"Where is Draco?"

She asked.

"She's talking with Aragon, mukang importante."

KIbit balikat kong saad na nagpatigil sakaniya.

"Oh..really.."

She just mumbled.

Napuno nalamang ng katahimikan ang paligid matapos iyon.

"You seems gotten close with the empress."

Sambit kong nagpatigil sakaniya saka ngumiti saakin.

"Maybe?"

She smiled.

"Marahil ay dahil magaan ang loob ko sakaniya."

Dagdag pa nito.

"Unlike my father, Lucian who gave me love and cared about me the most when he is still in the right path. My mother never really cared about me, she ignores me and never notices me."

Mapait na ngiting saad niya. She's talking about the goddess of the moon, Selene.

"For I am useless to her, I never recieved even an ounce of love from her. I used to cry about it every night before. Then Aspen who I came across with when he was passing by  comforted me with a field of flower."

She chuckled remembering that memory.

"The nature god?"

I asked.

The last god we are still waiting for.

"Yeah, he comforted me when no one else is by my side since my father is blindedly in love with my mother, a fool that up untill now, couldn't see anything but her."

"My brother on the other hand got exiled and died as a mortal because she controlled him, she used him up until the end. They used to say that he's just like my mother, but he's actually a lot like the sun god. Both blind and stupid."

Litanya niyang habang ako tahimik lamang na nakikinig sakaniya.

"The only one who is there for me is Aspen, and yet she forced me to stop seeing him for it will ruin her plans. I have to stop being friends with him for he might get in danger too in the hands of my mother. I never saw him again even when my mother died."

Pagkukwento pa niya.

"Why? Did still you see him again?"

I asked.

"I want to comfort my father when he lost both my mother and my brother. I last saw him when he helped me escape."

She sighed.

"Let's not just talk about Aspen."

She smiled with her sadness filled her eyes. What happened before must've cause her great pain.

Siya ang naipit sa gulo ng pamilya niya. Good thing she still stayed on the good path even after everything that happened.

"Magaan siguro ang loob ko sa empress dahil sakaniya ko nararamdaman ang alaga ng isang ina. That's what she makes me feel and it somewhat gives me peace in the midst of chaos."

Hinaplos niya ang buhok ng natutulog na empress.

"When my mother got executed, I couldn't say a word, I couldn't even cry, move or feel anything. But that moment she mouthed I'm sorry, I know, I know that it is directed to me, I'm in pain, I have so many questions as I watched her die infront of me for all her evil doings."

Naikuyom niya ang kaniyang mga kamao.

"Those words, it still lingers on my mind. She shouldn't have told me anything, she should've just acted like usual so it's easier to forget her."

Tuluyan ng tumulo ang luha sakaniyang mga mata. She's still in pain, I can feel her pain and it tightens my chest.

" I wanted to ask what is the meaning of that sorry, if she even loved me a little but I won't be able to. She could never be reborn and cause others pain anymore, that is her punishment."

Pagkukwento niya, napabuntong hininga ako roong lumapit at pinunasan ang kaniyang mga luha.

"Cry your eyes out Kiara, it's okay. Cry until you feel better, I'm here for you."

I told her genuinely.

I don't know how to comfort people more than annoy them, but staying with her is the only way I can to make her feel better.

Kiara is important to me, she's like big sister I never had. Even before that I still have no idea about who she is.

"What if you could talk to her again? would you forgive her?"

I asked, ngumiti lamang siya saakin.

"Matagal ko na siyang napatawad---Hindi, hindi ako kailanman nakaramdam ng poot sakaniya."

Napatingala niyang saad.

"And if ever I will get to see her again, I will hug her tight and tell her how much I love her. And this time, I hope she'll also call me her daughter even just once."

Para bang may humaplos sa puso ko  sa mga katagang binitawan niya..

"Kiara..."

I looked at her intently.

"You're as foolish as your father."

I frowned making her laugh.

"Maybe it's a family trait?"

She smiled..

"Selene is too lucky to have all of you, if she only realized that earlier."

I sighed, Kiara patted my head.

"Thank you for being here Celestia."

Ngiti niyang nagpabuntong hininga lamang saakin.

I talked to her for a few more minutes before going back since Seth came and Clemente woke up.

Kumain pa kami roon bago palayasin ni Draco ang mga bwesita at nagdesisyong ihatid na ako saaming tahanan.

"Are you sure about this?"

Alalang tanong ni Draco patungkol sa sinabi ko sakaniya.

"This is the only way I could think about Draco."

Malungkot kong saad.

"But you'll be in pain."

Tiim bagang niyang saad na nagpakuyom saaking kamao.

"It's better than them getting hurt because of me."

Nag iwas tingin kong saad.

Lucian will surely start to make a move to kill me and won't hesitate to kill my loveones.

Kailangan kong gumawa ng paraan upang hindi sila madamay at ito lamang ang naiisip kong paraan.

"Celestia!"

Alalang alalang sabi ni mama saka mahigpit akong niyakap.

Nangingilid ang luha ko ngunit pinigilan ko na itong niyakap siya pabalik.

"I'm home."

I smiled then looked at papa who's smiling at me.

Just thinking about my plan hurts me, but it is all I could think about to keep them safe from Lucian...