My blank stare was fixed on Shaye's figure. She held her sword up. I didn't move. Hinintay ko lamang siya sa susunod niyang gagawin. But the corner of my eyes heated up once more when she laid the sword on the ground instead. Lumuhod siya sa damuhan upang magpantay kami.

Bahagya akong napaatras nang bigla niya akong niyakap. "Sinaktan mo na naman ang sarili mo."

She lifted my chin. Pinagtapat niya ang kaniyang noo sa noo ko, kagaya nang ginawa niya noon. A familiar sense of relief flooded through me. Tila parang bula ring nawala ang mga sugat na nakuha ko mula sa mahigpit na pagkakahawak ng punyal.

Umupo siya sa tabi ko at hinawakan ang magkabila kong kamay. "Pagpasensyahan mo na si Rhysan. She's just doing her job."

Mapakla akong natawa. It's not even Rhysan or anyone else. Nagagalit ako sa sarili ko, sa katangahan ko.

"I wish it's as easy as it sounds."

"Kung sabagay pero Ara, tandaan mo..." she smiled, "naniniwala ako sa 'yo."

"Mali ka ng pinaniniwalaan."

"The white scroll was mine, it was given to me by a childhood friend from Saltwreath." Natigilan ako sa tinuran niya, but her expression didn't change. Malumanay pa rin itong nakangiti. "I was the one who put it in your room."

"How come? You were with me the whole time," kunot-noong tanong ko.

"Nauna akong nakarating sa dormitory kaysa sa inyo. You were preoccupied."

I fell silent. Kung sa kaniya nga ang scroll na iyon, why did she do it? Bakit? Shaye don't know anything about my plans. Wala akong pinagsabihan.

I faked a cough. "So then... why did you do it?"

"Bakit nga ba?"

Binigyan niya ako ng makahulugang tingin, still wearing the same smile. There was no hint of judgement in her eyes.

"You knew?"

Tumango siya.

Muling kumabog ang dibdib ko. I don't know how to react.

"Paano?"

"I know you." Her eyes wandered on the bushes around us. I was left speechless. "And I'm sorry that Atya did that. Sometimes, kids are just too honest, kahit hindi nila naiintindihan kung bakit minsan kailangan nating magsinungaling."

"Shaye..." I tried to move away from her. "You are making the biggest mistake of your life."

You are letting me fool you.

Bakit? Bakit mo 'ko hinahayaang gawin 'to?

"Why would helping an innocent child receive justice be my biggest mistake?"

"Shaye..."

"Do you remember the day I told you about the king's secret? I told you about his murder. I do not know you, Ara, but like you, I was also once a child. I figured it out on my own. You growing up alone in an island called Forthill, your hatred towards the king, your demeanor, your views in life and death." A kind smile escaped her lips. "You resembled a forgotten child deprived of justice."

She's been observing me all along? Kaya pala hindi niya ako tinatantanan.

"Of course my hunch alone isn't enough. Until I saw you having nightmares about your past. About this guy named Paris and your parents' betrayal. Hindi ko alam ang buong katotohanan pero alam kong gusto kong tumulong."

The corners of my eyes heated until tears started falling through my cheeks. Paulit-ulit ko itong pinunasan pero hindi sila maawat.

At last, I can now breathe freely knowing that I no longer need to hide from at least one person I've grown to cherish. Hindi ako nagkamali kay Shaye.

"I lied to all of you," I whispered, trying so hard to refrain my voice from breaking.

"But that doesn't make you my enemy. You lied because you had to. You lied because the world left you with no choice, and for that naiintindihan kita, Ara. I am with you."

I couldn't contain it anymore. I pulled Shaye and buried myself in her arms. Nabigla siya but she deepened the hug instead of pushing me away. I sobbed like a baby while she kept caressing my hair.

Until a cold voice broke the silence behind us.

"Sinasabi ko na nga ba. You have something in your sleeves, Ara Belacour."

Sabay kaming napatayo ni Shaye nang bumungad sa amin si Atya. She wore an innocent smile but her eyes were sharp and ill.

"Atya? You should be at the dormitory now, halika..."

Shaye was about to walk towards her when Atya laughed. Napaatras kaming dalawa ni Shaye. Shaye grasped my arm. Her hands were cold and sweaty, and trembling. Maging ako ay tinayuan ng balahibo nang muling marinig ang tawa ni Atya.

Her voice was not Atya at all. It was a voice of a man trapped in a child's body.

"The great Supreme student with my stupid little niece..." Humalakhak si Atya — no, it's not Atya.

"U-uncle Zuri?" nanginginig na wika ni Shaye.

"Indeed, my niece." Atya slowly walked towards us. Pareho kaming napaatras ni Shaye.

"W-what did you do? Nasaan si Atya?" Shaye asked once more. I remained silent. Sinuri ko ng maigi ang kabuuan ni Atya.

Her neck. The scar on her neck is glowing. I knew it. Hindi iyon simpleng sugat lang.

"Bakit mo ba siya hinahanap? I'm here, my niece. Isn't that what you want?"

Nilingon ko si Shaye. She looked as confused as I am.

"You yearn so much love from your family, ngunit ikinalulungkot kong sabihin sa 'yo na hindi mo iyon makukuha sa akin." Bumaling siya sa akin. "I was always intrigued by your identity, Ara Belacour. And now, it's clear. Was my arrow not sharp enough to clean your parents' mess?"

"You son of a b—" I was cut off by the footsteps of the Arcane rushing towards us. Kasabay nito ang pagsigaw ni Estelle.

"Ara, what are you doing?!" She was looking straight at Shaye's sword in my hand, ready to lunge on Zuri. Sinundan nila kami.

"Ara?" Rhysan seconded.

Lahat sila ay nakatitig sa 'kin at sa espadang hawak ko. I gritted my teeth before dropping the sword. Then Zuri in Atya's body, ran towards Carwell and started crying. Mas lalong nag-igting ang panga ko. I could taste my own blood in my tongue.

"S-she wants to hurt me... help me, k-kuya..."

"That's not true! Mali kayo ng pagkakaintindi!" Humarang si Shaye sa harap ko. "Uncle, you are twisting this! How dare you?!"

"Shaye, stop."

"Before you guys came, Atya... Atya is not..."

"I said stop it, Shaye," pag-uulit ko.

"No!" Naluluha niya kong tinignan. " C-can't you see? He's framing you. Ginagawa ka niyang masama sa harap nila," halos pabulong na wika niya.

"Let him." Pinulot ko ulit ang espada at binigay ito kay Shaye. "They are Arcanes. They know what to do."

Shaye fell silent but I could see her eyes glistening with tears as she watched me march away from them, but of course, Zuri would never let me slip. Not now that he finally knows who I am.

"I heard them! Ate Ara confessed to Ate Shaye about stealing the scroll. T-that's why she wanted to kill me," Zuri insisted using Atya's voice.

I took a sharp breath. I know his plan, and it seemed to be working because all of them except Genesis and Shaye suspiciously gazed at me.

"She's lying!" Shaye yelled.

Carwell handed Zuri to Genesis. "Belacour, is it true?"

"No."

"Then how do you explain what we saw?" Snow grunted.

"She was simply at the wrong place in the wrong time. W-we were training," muling wika ni Shaye na agad na binara ni Snow.

"Hindi ikaw ang tinatanong ko, sampid."

Napayuko si Shaye. Napayukom ang kamao ko. Carwell didn't react though. He was too busy glaring at me.

"Atya's just a kid. She probably misheard our conversation," malamig kong wika.

"And what were you talking about?"

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Why would I tell you?"

"You're not even gonna try to make us believe you?"

"Look," isa-isa ko silang tiningnan, "I have no reason to steal. Whatever it is that she thought she heard is far from the truth. So do me a favor, huwag na huwag niyo na ulit akong tanungin tungkol dito. Paulit-ulit na lang."

"Alright, guys. Why are we even considering this? Ara saved us a lot of times. Ngayon pa ba natin siya pagdududahan?" Zale gave me a calm smile.

"We need to take this seriously, Zale. I am in charge." Rhysan paused for a second, saka siya humigit ng malalim na hininga. "But I guess you're right. Ara wouldn't do that." Seryoso niya akong tinitigan. "Would you?"

"Of course." Sandali akong natahimik at pilit na ngumiti. "I would never."

"PARIS, help me... Paris, w-why..."

"Because it's the right thing to do. Kakambal kita pero kailangan naming gawin ang tama."

"Kailan pa naging tama ang pumatay?"

My vision was blurry but I could see a man standing in front of me. He was holding a bow... aiming an arrow at me. I felt my lungs being sucked out. I could barely breathe.

What is happening?

I screamed, and screamed. But the man grinned, and the arrow plunged in my direction. Everything went in slow motion. I couldn't see anything but emerald green.

"Ara, wake up!"

His eyes. They're green, full of malice and greed.

"Ara, please. Wake up!"

Where did I see them before?

"Ara!"

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon nang makaramdam ng hapdi sa aking pisngi. Napahawak ako rito at sinamaan ng tingin si Shaye na nanlalaki ang matang nakaharap sa 'kin. Mabilis siya umatras bago pa man ako makapagsalita.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! You were having a nightmare and... and h-hindi kita magising so..."

"So you decided to slap me."

"A-atleast nagising kita," aniya saka nag-peace sign at awkward na ngumiti.

Inirapan ko na lamang siya at nagtungo sa banyo. Malalim pa ang gabi dahil ramdam ko pa ang lamig ng hampas ng hangin mula sa nakabukas kong bintana. Shaye insisted to sleep with me after what happened yesterday. I don't know why. Siguro'y naaawa siya sa 'kin? Not that it's necessary.

Tiningnan ko ang sarili ko sa salamin pagkatapos kong maghilamos. My eyes are swollen. I look hideous.

Ilang linggo ring hindi dumalaw sa panaginip ko ang walang kwenta kong kapatid. Ngayon lang ulit. And that Zuri, pati ba naman ang pagtulog ko ay sinisira niya.

Magmu-mumog pa sana ako nang bigla akong makarinig ng kalabog sa labas ng banyo. Natigilan ako. It wasn't just a simple thud of some random things that Shaye might've bump into. It was something else.

I transformed into my shadow form. Marahan kong pinihit ang door knob at tumambad sa akin si Shaye na umiiyak. Kalahati ng paa niya ay unti-unting nagiging bato.

How—

"Ara, go! Ikaw ang kailangan niya! P-please!" pagsusumamo ni Shaye. Nakatingin siya sa direksyon ko kahit hindi niya ako nakikita.

Nilibot ko ang tingin sa paligid, and there I saw Atya or should I call him Zuri smirking behind the door while pointing his palm on Shaye's feet.

"Show yourself or watch your friend become one of my precious statues." His voice was cold, even colder than yesterday. Dumadagdag ito sa bigat ng tensyon sa loob ng kwarto ko.

"Ara, no! Leave now! Please! Wake the others up! Save yourself!"

"No." I transformed back into my human form, at the same time a dagger metamorphosed in my hand. "Let her go."

Nangisi si Zuri sa ginawa ko. He is stilling using Atya's body. Hindi man lang siya nahiya.

"Kaya pala matabil ang dila mo noong una nating pagkikita sa palasyo. I never knew you survived." His voice was full of arrogance.

I smirked. "Hiding in a child's body, are we? What a shame."

"Really?" Mas lalong lumawak ang ngisi niya kasabay ng muling pagsigaw ni Shaye. Half of her body is now petrified.

Ginamit ko ang anino ko upang patigilin ang pagkalat ng kapangyarihan ni Zuri sa buong katawan ni Shaye. Mabuti na lamang at may kadiliman ang kwarto ko. Pabor sa kapangyarihang mayroon ko.

I used my shadow strings to restrain Zuri's movements, making him lose his focus. I dashed to his direction and quickly slashed his cheek. Nag-uunahang dumaloy ang dugo mula rito na siyang ikinangisi ko.

I wiped his blood using finger, saka ko ito pinaglaruan sa harap niya. "I've been waiting for this."

"You do realize that is not my blood, don't you?" Bigla siyang humalakhak. Napaatras ako nang tumambad sa harap ko ang naiiyak na mukha ni Atya. Nagmamakaawa siyang nakatingin sa akin. I can see she has something to say but her mouth failed her.

I froze. This is still Atya's body. I can't...

"What happened, ate? You can't hurt me?" He mimicked Atya's voice.

"Ara, just please go! Don't fall to his trap!"

I know what she's talking about, but this is not the time to run away. Ang tagal kong hinintay ito ngunit alam kong dehado ako. He is using Atya against me!

Zuri tried to move again pero mas hinigpitan ko ang pagkontrol sa kaniya. Hindi ko maaaring saktan ang katawan ni Atya. But how do I hurt him when his body is nowhere near?

Itinutok ko muli ang punyal ko sa kaniyang leeg. "Pakawalan mo si Shaye, and we can settle this our own bloody way."

"Make me," mayabang niyang sabi at mabilis akong sinugod. It took me off guard. I flew to the other side of the room because of its impact. Tila binalatan sa hapdi ang mga tuhod ko nang sumalampak ako sa carpet na ginawa niyang bato.

How did he escape from my shadow?

I showed no sign of pain despite my bleeding knees. Tumayo ako at muli siyang hinarap. Inikot ko ng napakabilis ang dala kong punyal habang paikot na tumatakbo sa loob ng silid. My movement was so fast he could not attempt to launch another attack. Nang tuluyan akong makalapit sa kaniya, I transformed into my shadow form and as fast as the speed of light, mercilessly slashed both of his legs.

Napaluhod siya sa sahig. Muli kong kinontrol ang anino niya upang hindi na siya makagalaw. This time, with a stronger force na sigurado kong hindi niya basta bastang matatakasan.

"Again, let Shaye go."

"Or else what?"

"Or else..."

Ibinukas ko ang mga palad ko. Kasabay nito ay ang lalong pagbigat ng atmosphere ng paligid. I could feel the immense aura racing from my body. I released all my shadow strings and made use of all the darkness in the entire dormitory building. I can see the entire grounds at the back of my mind as my shadow strings sprawled like vines on the walls, hallways, and the forests.

I need to find Zuri. Kahit saktan ko pa nang saktan ang kaharap ko, it will not affect him. In order to finish off the puppet, I have to kill the puppeteer.

The vision in my mind flashed all the places my shadow strings have reached — the empty grounds, hallways, classrooms...

I was about to reach Boris's office when a sudden force sent me backward. Nabalik ako sa reyalidad at namataan si Zuri na unti-unti ng gumagalaw.

I lingered too long. Humina ang depensa ko dahil masyadong natuon ang atensyon ko sa paghahanap sa kaniya. I didn't even realize nakabalik na pala ako sa dati kong anyo.

Kinapa ko ang ilong ko. I was taken aback when I saw blood in my hand. I didn't use that much power yet. Paanong naapektuhan ang katawan ko?

Saka ko lamang na pansin ang tuhod kong dumudugo. Napaluhod ako. Something was trying to force its way in, like a poison trying to penetrate me. I lost control over the surroundings and before I could gather momentum, Zuri petrified my feet. I tried to move my hands but he fully escaped my power and slammed a vase on my head.

Mistulang umikot ako sa kawalan dala ng lakas ng paghampas niya sa ulo ko. It seemed as though my head was ripped apart. Blood gushed on my face, my shoulders, down to my body which is now halfway to becoming a statue.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin nang biglang may bumagsak sa harap ko. Nanlalabo ang paningin ko pero naaninag ko pa ang isang drawer na tumilapon kay Zuri.

"L-leave her alone, uncle!"

Muntik ko ng makalimutan na nandito pa pala si Shaye.

Zuri didn't hear a thing. Nanlisik ang mga mata niyang nakatitig kay Shaye saka niya pinulot ang punyal ko at buong pwersang hinagis sa direkyon nito. I wanted to move but his power is making me hard to breathe already. Hindi na ako makagalaw.

Shaye screamed in pain when my dagger hit her waist. Mas lalo akong nanginig sa galit. Hindi ito maaari.

"Oops. Missed. Sa dibdib dapat iyon," mapaglarong wika ng walang hiyang si Zuri.

"Fuck you!" galit kong bulalas.

Hindi siya sumagot. Bagkus ay lumapit siya kay Shaye. Hinawakan niya ito sa kwelyo at hinarap sa akin.

"You found a friend." Binunot niya ang punyal sa tagiliran ni Shaye at tinutok iyon sa leeg nito. "A friend of yours is an enemy of mine. Therefore..."

Napaluha ako kasabay ng paghiyaw ni Shaye. Unti-unti niyang dinidiinan ang punyal hanggang sa lumalim na ang sugat nito. Another tear fell on my cheek.

What is this? Am I this weak? Hindi ko man lang ba ililigtas ang tanging taong pinaglaban ako?

But I can't hurt Atya.

I can't.

"A-ara..."

Nagmulat ako nang magsalita si Shaye. Unti-unti nang lumalakas ang daloy ng dugo sa leeg niya and Zuri is not planning to stop. Nanikip ang ddibdib ko.

Talaga bang papatayin niya ang sarili niyang pamangkin?

"P-please... p-please tell Cae t-thank you..." muli siyang napadaing, "f-for accepting me..."

Zuri laughed and pressed the dagger deeper against Shaye's neck. I can't breathe. Nasa dibdib ko na halos ang kapangyarihan niya. Pero hindi! Hindi maaaring mawala si Shaye!

Tuluyang dumilim ang paningin ko nang idiniin niya pa ang punyal sanhi para mawalan ng malay si Shaye. My mind went blank. Ang gusto ko na lang ay mabura siya sa mundong ito.

I screamed and screamed as my body floated in the air. Umitim ang lahat ng sulok ng mata ko. My body automatically nullified Zuri's power. The atmosphere went heavier and the room went darker. I summoned all the shadows in my hand, creating a massive ball of black smoke.

I can hear the Arcanes banging my door but I paid no attention. I continuously gathered all the shadows in my surroundings and mercilessly threw the massive ball at Zuri.

Bumagsak ako sa sahig matapos ko itong pakawalan. I looked at Shaye. She's safe. She's going to be fine. She just lost blood but... but the Arcanes will heal her.

Yes. That's right. I have to convince myself that she will be fine. She has to!

Naluluha kong ginapang ang direksyon ni Shaye nang biglang bumukas ang pintong kanina pa nila pinipilit sirain. It was too late for me to react.

The Arcanes were already looking at me with hatred and disgust.

Even Caelum.

#

Author's Note: I'm back! Semestral break namin kaya sulat muna. This is the longest chapter I've published here so far. Bawi sa ilang buwan kong hiatus. I hope you enjoy!