CHAPTER TWENTY

I FEEL LIKE I'm floating... in a deep water. I opened my eyes and I saw the sunlight dancing like a wave. I can't move my body, it was like my body wanted me to just lay down and let the sea water guide myself somewhere.

I can feel my body falling slowly deep beneath the ocean floor as I can barely see the sunlight as time goes by. When I felt that my back touched the ocean floor, a strong gravity was stopping me to swim up, more so, to move.

Augur of Vasíleio. I heard someone had spoken. It's a deep tone of a man and I quivered. I couldn't see anything. I am alone but where's that voice coming from?

I tried my very best to move my head and check the area. All I could see was a deep-ocean Abyss. It's slightly dark. Do you know the feeling of being placed in a wide area and very spacious? That you are scared that something so huge might eat you alive? That's what I'm feeling right now.

It's been so long since I met you. The deep voice once again had spoken. I don't know what he's talking about. I couldn't speak because I'm too afraid to do so. Scared if I open my mouth, water would replenish my lungs and suffocate me to death.

"Who are you?" I asked when I had the courage. Dismissing my fear.

I'm Antanaklasi. The Custodian of the Sea and Oceans. The Familiar of the King of Diamond. I welcome you to my domain, to my own Abyss, Augur Cleo. My body jerked upon hearing his introduction.

At first, I was curious who was he but when I recalled the name he mentioned, my eyes grew wide upon realizing that he's the Relic presented in the auction. Now I remember what happened to me. When I heard the name of the Relic, something beat on my chest, as if it recognized and awakened the sleeping Relic.

I must thank you, for awakening me. It's been so long when Amadeus and his friends gave up their throne for their simple wish. My eyes squinted when I heard something... unexpected.

"I woke you up? You mean..."

Yes, when they gave up their throne, us, Relics had no choice but to sleep deep within the weapons we were forged to form. Until such time that the new Augur will be born and wake us to stop a war from its rising. Until such time that a new Prophecy will be held by your Grace. He explained but I couldn't understand anything.

"But I thought you are a key that should be kept hidden so the Joker won't use you to open up the door of other dimensions?" I confusingly asked.

Are we really a Key? Or a weapon to use? No one knows, my dear Augur. Can you tell? He asked me that made me questioned.

The Relics didn't even know that? How come? Based from Savannah's story from his biological father, it was the Ancient Ones who brought the Four Keys in our world as there were enemies from their dimension who wanted to steal and use it to do evil deeds. That's why they created a secret organization, to forge warriors to protect it. Keeping it away from the enemies.

We only have limited time to talk, Augur. I shall vest you a gift as you finally had been reborn. He said then I felt my right hand moved involuntarily upward.

I shall give you the Diamond Insignia. Then a Diamond symbol appeared in blue on my right palm. It will allow you to use my power to control the Seas and Oceans. And when the right time comes that the King of Diamonds would acknowledge their Oath of Obedience once again, this Insignia will turn into a sheath which allows the King to use my full power to protect the world.

A surge of power suddenly went inside me. I gasped as I felt Anataklasi's power was flowing inside my veins.

Before we part ways, Augur Cleo. I gazed my attention to his voice again. Listening very carefully as to what he has to say next.

The Doors of Vasíleio shall be ripped by the eye of the beholder. Protect the open eye so no one could steal the power of the owner. I shall vest you this wisdom, Augur.

I gulped when those words lingered on my head. Trying to remember each word he uttered.

As you wake up, your destiny will start to change. You must stop what it needs to be stopped. Your journey awaits you, good luck.

I scoffed a long cough as soon as I opened my eyes. I coughed spontaneously as if something clogged my way to breathe.

"C-Cleo! Girl! Okay ka na? Ayos ka lang? Hingang malalim. Sige ayan, huminga ka lang. Inumin mo 'to pagkatapos." Wika ni Savannah na nakatayo sa kanan ko.

"Drink it slowly, baby." Medyo nagitla ako nang bahagya nang mapagtantong si Stavros ang nakaalalay sa'kin habang ako'y pinapainom. "Careful!"

Napaubo ubo akong muli bago ako lumayo sa kanyang katawan.

"Her left eye," rinig kong bulong ni Thyra sa isang gilid.

Napaatras ako ng bahagya dahil lahat pala sila nasa loob ng kwartong pinagdalhan nila sa'kin. Kapwa nanlalaki ang mga matang nakatingin sa direksyon ko. Parang mga nakakita ng multo na maging si Stavros ay tila naestatwa sa pagkakaupo nito sa aking tabi.

"B-Bakit? A-Anong mayro'n sa mata ko?" I asked curiously.

Savannah unconsciously gave me a small mirror. Nabitawan ko ang salamin at nalaglag iyon sa kobre kama. Muli akong sumilip at hindi ko pa rin napigilan ang hindi magulantang.

My left eye has completely changed into something melancholic. A crystallized Diamond shape figure has been drawn on my Iris. Kulay puti na mismo ang pupil ng aking mata. The Iris of my eye has turned into crystallized oceanic blue color.

For someone who loves fantasy, they might call it an eye of a fairy. But in reality, this was very... surreal.

"You are the Android."

Natigilan ako sa aking pagkakaupo nang malalim na nagsalita si Amadeus na nakasandal sa pintuan ng kwarto. Lahat sila ay napatingin sa binata pero ang nakakagitla ay ang reaksyon ng dalawa pang Hari.

Nicodemus and Stavros looked as if they've already...

"You all knew." Naisatinig ko habang ang pagsinghap nina Savannah at Thyra naman ang narinig ko nang lumipat silang dalawa sa bandang kanan ko.

"H-How— or should I ask, w-when did you..."

"We figured out?" Nicodemus asked and ended my question. I simply nodded at him, still bewildered.

"It started with just a hunch," napalingon ako kay Stavros nang ito'y magwika.

Of all people, s'ya ang ayaw kong malaman ang tungkol dito. S'ya ang katangi-tanging tao na gusto kong huling makaalam dahil 'di ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ko sa oras na malaman n'ya. Now, all worry that I have had gone. I was like, betrayed. Why did it hurt me? I suddenly felt a pain on my chest but I tried so hard not to show it.

"The night that you were attacked in our dinner meeting with Jose, the Buffoons clearly told me to surrender the Android that I have in custody because they got an intel that the Android was with me. I insisted that I don't have the android they were looking for. They didn't believe me. They knew about the order given to us. That time, I am in the middle of believing about the Android who can see the future. There's only one thing na dapat mangyari para maniwala akong totoo ka. When I saw you fainted with Romanov, I clearly saw your eyes turned white and that's the second time that my Insignia has been burning on my skin." Stavros explained the first part. Then he made me see his Spade tattoo on his wrist.

"Us— former Kings felt the same," napatingin ako kay Nicodemus nang ito naman ang sunod na nagsalita. "Bago namin sinuko ang mga Relics at ang trono namin, the Ancient Ones gave us a fair warning. Ang ginawa naming pagpapatulog sa Joker ay hindi magtatagal. That's why they gave us a prophecy that an artificial being who carries the power of an Augur will be born one day and will make the Joker awake once again. Kaya, whenever we feel the burning sensation on our insignia it means, you have been reborn and your power resurfaces."

It was Amadeus who spoke next. He's still looking at the ceiling impassively while talking. "Nicodemus and Stavros were at seventy percent sure that you are the Android. At first, I didn't believe it either because who would believe that an Artificial being can manifest the power to see the future? I only asked them to show some evidence because I only believe what I see. And so I opened my cruise ship as early as I planned it. I just never thought that you are different from the past Augur."

Augur, the same name that his Relic has stated.

"Wait, wait. Medyo naguguluhan kaming girls." Savannah interjected. Clearly, confused with their confession. "Ibig niyong sabihin, Nico at Stavros, alam niyong s'ya ang hinahanap na Android magmula palang ng mapunta kami sa bahay mo, Nico?" She clarified.

Tumango si Nicodemus bilang pagsang-ayon. "Hindi ko pinaniwalaan si Stavros noong una dahil imposibleng maging ikaw 'yon, Cleo. Pero nang makita kita— maging ako ay naniwala na agad. Remember that I asked help to Kassian?"

Tumango kaming tatlong babae. "We asked him to make the abduction happened. Together with the other Jacks to gather more evidence."

Pare-parehas kaming napasinghap nina Thyra at Savannah.

"I've already asked him because I know it was Thyra who can only help your friend. We saw what Cleo did in the mountain— the strength she possessed when she helped you and later on, it caused a drastic effect on her. 'Yun ang matibay na patunay na si Cleo ang android na hinahanap namin." Nicodemus added.

"Then bakit hindi n'yo kaming kinompronta nalang?! Bakit kailangan niyo pa kaming ipahamak ni Cleo sa myembro ng Buffoon na 'yon?" Pinipigilan na ni Thyra si Savannah na sugurin si Nicodemus. Savannah was hurt. Maging kami ni Thyra ay nasaktan. We were treated like a pawn! Sinangkalan nila kami para lang na mapatunayan na ako ang Android na hinahanap nila?

"W-We never thought na aabot sa gano'n ang nangyari, S-Sav. I'm s-sorry. The Jacks were doing something we didn't know. I thought they are just going to let you go here in West Diamond so Amadeus can confirm it as well—" si Amadeus na mismo ang tumapos sa paliwanag ni Nicodemus.

"I know you all felt betrayed and so did we. We were betrayed by our own Jacks. Haji clearly didn't tell me the part that he will use my Relic to confirm your identity, Cleo."

Naramdaman kong hinawakan ni Stavros ang kaliwang kamay ko pero kusang lumayo iyon sa kanya. Parehas kaming nagulat sa ginawa ko.

"C-Cleo, please, I know what we did is wrong. Pero hindi ko hahayaang may mangyaring masama sa'yo. We are planning to confront you about it but not this way—"

Hindi ko na s'ya hinayaang makatapos dahil mabilis akong tumayo sa kama at nagsimulang tumakbo palabas ng kwarto. I saw on my peripheral vision that Amadeus stopped Stavros from following me.

Yeah, I wanted to be alone! I w-was hurt. Ganito pala ang pakiramdam na pagtaguan ka ng sikreto pero ang siste, nagmukha kang tanga. Alam na nila ang totoo pero mas pinili nila ang itago sa'min 'yon. Alam ba nila ang hirap para sa'king huwag sabihin sa kanila ang totoong katauhan ko tapos alam naman pala nila? Nagmukha akong tanga! Lahat ng effort na ginawa ko para lang itago ito ay nauwi lang naman pala sa wala.

Napunta ako sa pinakaunahang bahagi ng barko. I'm seeing the city ahead of us. Dadaong na ang barko dahil tapos na ang pagdiriwang na nangyari kanina. The night was too dark to see. I only see the stars that shine so bright above me. Pinakatitigan ko ang buwan. I have to think this through.

"Put this on," napalingon ako sa taong biglang nagsalita sa likuran ko. It's Amadeus. Nakalahad ang braso nitong may nakapatong na malaking tela. "It's cold, put it."

Bumuntunghininga muna ako bago ko 'yon kinuha. Nang mailagay ko 'yon sa aking katawan ay muli kong pinakatitigan ang buwan sa itaas. Tama ang sinabi n'ya na malamig na nga. Hindi ko 'yon napansin dahil marahil sa nangyari kanina. Hindi ko na napagtuunan ng pansin.

"They didn't mean to... you know." Rinig kong wika ni Amadeus sa aking gilid. Nakahawak rin ito sa railing habang nakatingin naman sa dagat na dinadaanan ng barko. "They have to protect you without you knowing it. It's the best way to set things right."

Ilang segundo akong hindi kumibo sa mga sinabi n'ya pero nang hindi ko na napigilan ang nararamdaman ay naisatinig ko ang tunay kong nararamdaman. "I felt... betrayed."

"But are you mad?" he asked.

"Mad? That... I'm not sure." I replied and bowed.

"Do you feel like you wanted to hurt someone because you got betrayed?" he probed.

Medyo nagulat ako sa tanong n'ya pero umiling iling ako bilang sagot.

"Then, it's not betrayal. You were just... disappointed." He corrected.

"P-Paano mo nasabi? Just because I'm not mad?" I asked.

"Betrayal is only applicable if you trusted the person who did something bad at you."

I suddenly remembered that line, that was the line I gave to Savannah when she's doubting Thyra's reason why she betrayed us. I trusted Stavros but he didn't do something bad at me. He did his best to protect me even if he couldn't tell me that he already knew the truth.

"You were not programmed to feel it. Whenever you feel a negative emotion, your programming sequence will immediately delete it like you never felt it at all. Just like what I've said a while ago, you're different." He replied.

"Different because I'm a robot, I know," I pointed out.

"You are different because you're just different. Being different wasn't bad." He rebutted and I was quite astounded because I never thought that I could have a chance to talk with him this serious. Sobrang seryoso kasi nito, arogante, at brutal. Pero may kakaiba sa huli nitong sinabi. Parang may pait, parang may sakit.

"You said a while ago that I'm a different Augur? I heard that word, can you explain to me why I'm—"

"You were able to talk with Antanaklasi, right?" nanlaki ang mata ko sa tanong n'ya.

"I-Ibig s-sabihin, totoo 'yung napanaginipan ko?"

"You won't have that kind of eye if you didn't," Amadeus replied.

Naitakip ko ang isang kamay ko sa kaliwang mata ko na nag-iba pagkagising ko. "He said, it's a gift because I woke him."

"Naturally, an Augur—or a person who can see the future will only have an Insignia of our crest as a sign that their job as well is to be the sheath of our Relics." He explained.

May napagtanto ako, "But he gave me more than that?" tumango ito bilang sagot.

"I never heard or saw an Augur who has that kind of eye. This is the first time. That's why I told you that you're different."

"W-Wait, you mean to say, aside from the Relics and Ancient Ones. Kasama ang Augur sa mga uri nila?"

Tumango si Amadeus. "Augur is the most important being that ever exists. Without the Augur, no one will protect the Relics, no one will bind them all."

"P-Pero kayo ang Kings, kayo ang may kakayahan para protektahan 'yon." I reasoned out.

"We are only the Kings if the Relics are being protected by the Augur. Augur is the Sheath." Hinawakan n'ya ang kanang kamay ko at nilagay n'ya ang palad n'ya sa ibabaw ng palad ko. Umilaw ang magkadikit na mga palad namin na s'yang kinamangha ko. Nang tanggalin ni Amadeus ang palad nito sa akin ay muling lumitaw ang Insignia ng Diamond. It's glowing in a majestic blue crystallized color. "I can get the Relic from here and the Spear of Antanaklasi will appear. You get my point now?"

Nanginginig kong pinakatitigan ang palad kong may hugis diyamante na nakalitaw at sinusubukang intindihin ang kanyang pinaliwanag. Ibig sabihin, the Relics should be placed inside me?

"And ones you decided to reinstate your throne, kayo na maghahawak nito?" tanong ko sa kanya na tango naman ang kanyang isinagot. "Then take it. Be the King again so we can stop the Joker from his awakening."

Umiling iling naman si Amadeus bilang tugon nito sa'kin. Kumunot ang noo ko dahil do'n.

"Why?" I waited for his answer but I received none.

Tiningnan n'ya lang ako tapos ay nagwika. "Go inside, look for Stavros. He will explain to you what will happen now that we confirmed that it is really you."

Lahat sila ay nasa isang lounge area na pinahanda ni Amadeus para sa aming anim. Actually, pito. Nasa isang sulok ang tinatawag nilang Haji—The Jack of Diamonds. Nakangisi ito sa akin habang pumapasok ako. Hindi nito alintana ang dugo sa labi nito na marahil ay kagagawan ni Amadeus.

Mabilis na lumapit sa'kin si Savannah at Stavros. Nag-unahan pa ang dalawang 'to na lumapit sa'kin pero mas naunang makalapit sa'kin ang binata. Binigyan naman ng isang masamang tingin ni Sav si Stavros pero nawala 'yon nang mabaling ang inis nito sa lumapit na si Nicodemus.

"A-Are you okay? Do you feel something different? Like something broke any of your parts inside? It's cold outside." Hindi ko napigilan ang hindi matawa sa sunod sunod n'yang tanong tungkol sa kalagayan ko. "Thyra! Can you please check on her? She's laughing. She should be mad."

"What?! Hey, no!" untag ko kay Thyra nang lalapit na ito. Nakangisi rin ito gaya ko. Agad naman itong tumigil sa paglapit sa'kin. Nagugulantang ko namang tiningnan si Stavros. "Ano bang akala mo sa'kin? Baliw na biglang nasira ang utak? I'm fine. The cold outside helped me to feel better."

"Y-You're not mad at us—me?" may bakas na takot sa tono ng boses ni Stavros nang magtanong ito.

Muli ko s'yang tinawanan. Ang OA kasi. "I'm fine. Pasalamat ka, my logical reasoning was programmed to understand your reasons."

Para namang nakahinga ng maluwag si Stavros sa sinabi ko. Na parang big deal sa binata na magalit ako sa kanya na parang 'di n'ya kakayanin 'yon at gusto n'yang iwasan na mangyari.

"Ako galit pa ako—" hindi na natapos pa ni Savannah ang pagbulanghit nito ng hinaing n'ya nang takpan ni Nicodemus ang bibig nito and kissed her neck. Doon natigilan ng husto si Savannah.

Binalik ko naman ang tingin ko kay Stavros. "Ibibigay n'yo na ba ako sa Primeval Union? 'Yon ang utos sa inyo hindi ba?" I asked him and my gaze traveled to Nicodemus and Amadeus.

Bumakas naman ang kaba sa mukha nina Thyra at Savannah sa naging tanong ko sa tatlong Hari.

"Alam n'yo ang mangyayari sa kanya kapag binigay n'yo s'ya sa Primeval Union." Lahat kami ay napatingin sa nakangising si Haji. "The last time I checked, they're still persuading the other members and the towns to vote for her extermination. What you did yesterday, of attempting to stop their ideas were nonsense, right?"

So, iyon ang ginawa nina Nicodemus at Stavros kahapon? Kaya hinayaan niya kami kay Kassian kasabay ng plano nilang ipakompirma kay Amadeus na ako ang Android?

"Because they didn't know her importance, if we try to persuade them more—" natigilan si Nicodemus sa pagbibigay ng suhestyon nang sumingit si Haji.

"They don't need the Augur, former King of Clubs. In case that you're not aware, marami nang miyembro sa nakakataas na posisyon sa Primeval ang naghahangad na maging Hari. For god sake, you know this common culture in this kind of Hierarchy system. Your position as the Kings has a greater value to rule not just the Philippines but the whole world itself. Why do they want her to be gone? Because she's the Sheath of the Relics. Without her, anyone can use the Relics for their own good."

Nagtaka ako sa sinabi ni Haji. "But the Relics are sleeping, according to Antanaklasi."

Pare-parehas silang napalingon sa akin at tila nagulat na nakausap ko ang Relic mismo.

Ngumisi naman si Haji sa akin. Para bang may sinabi akong hindi ko pa alam. "Once you wake up the Relics, they would only acknowledge the last King who held them."

Si Thyra naman na nasa tabi ko ang dumugtong sa gustong sabihin ni Haji. "But once she dies, the Relics will choose the King who's holding it."

"Bingo," nakangising untag ni Haji.

Mariin kong tiningnan ang tatlong Hari. Sa mga sinabi palang ni Haji. Alam na dapat namin ang nararapat na gawin sa mga oras na 'to.

"Hindi lang ang Joker kung gano'n ang kalaban natin. Maging ang mga namumuno sa Primeval Union. If they really want me dead, then my plan of persuading them that I'm not a threat is useless." Mas tiningnan ko ang tatlong binata na biglang nag-iwas sa'kin ng tingin. "I have to wake up all the Relics, place them inside of me so no one could ever use it aside from the four of you."

Natawa si Haji. Napalingon ako sa kanya dahil hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangan niyang matawa. May nakakatawa ba sa sinabi ko? Muli ko namang tiningnan ang tatlong Kings but they're not still looking back at me. Amadeus was looking far away, nakapikit naman si Nicodemus habang nakatitig naman sa sahig si Stavros.

Bakit parang... ayaw nila?

"May mali ba sa plano ko?" Tanong ko sa kanila then I looked at Thyra and Savannah for their support. Parehas naman silang tumango sa'kin, giving their support that I need.

"It's not that they don't want to help you, Augur." Napatingin ako kay Haji na natatawa pa rin. "They have three problems... One, they wanted to be normal. Kapag hinawakan nilang muli ang mga gising na Relics, babalik sila sa tungkuling ayaw na nila. Pangalawa? Tanging ang Anatanaklasi lang ang nasa amin. Ang tatlong Relics na natitira? They put a curse on it that no one could ever find it. And lastly, ayaw na nilang maulit ang nakaraan. At kung ako sa inyong tatlo? You better not ask. It's... emotionally heartbreaking."

Napipilan kaming tatlo sa mga sinabing dahilan ni Haji kung bakit tila ayaw ng tatlong Hari sa plano ko. Yung una at pangalawa, I can try persuading them to take the throne again at kapag pumayag sila, they can reverse the curse they put on their Relics. Pero yung pangatlo...

Nagkatinginan kaming tatlo nina Sav at Thyra. Sa tingin ko ay parehas kami ng naiisip. These men experienced something... deep. Something unforgettable, to the point, that it's stopping them to take the risk again because of what happened before— in which we don't even know, might happen again. Thyra, Sav and I were agreeing that this were the first time we've seen them like this. As if we opened a Pandora's box and it triggered something forbidden.

"That's enough, Haji. You've done enough. Don't make me kill you." Mapanganib na banta ni Amadeus kay Haji.

Haji just raised his both arms and gave us an inverted smile, surrendering.

"So, what are your plans if you're not okay with her plan?" Haji asked the three men.

Stavros finally looked at me. Pero sobrang seryoso ng tingin nito ngayon. Malalim ang iniisip.

"We have to hide her. Make sure no one will ever touch her. Buffoons, or anyone in the Primeval Union."

What?! What kind of plan was that?

Stavros looked at Haji murderously. "I'm hoping that since all Jacks are moving on their own without our permission, for sure Clevan has the role to take these ladies with him."

Mas lalong lumapad ang ngisi ni Haji kay Stavros. "It seems like you are now getting the point of us, intervening the destiny."

Stavros was walking to reach me when my body has stiffened and I felt strong goosebumps on my arms. "Danger."

As if on cue, an attack happened. Umalog ang barko dahilan para mawalan ako ng balanse. Mabuti nalang at nasalo ako ni Stavros. Mabilis na bumalik sa kwarto namin si Amadeus nang matapos nitong alamin kung sino ang umatake sa barko n'ya.

"Shit, the Primeval Army is here. They already knew that the Android is in our custody." Anunsyo ni Amadeus na nagpalaki ng mata sa mata naming lahat.