WILL and power are the weapons of every warrior— swords, magic, wit — but too much power is poisonous. It does not guarantee you an instant death but rather lingers into your veins, not leaving every part of your soul untouched, and drowns you with it. 

Greed and cruelty. 

I shifted sideways on my bed, avoiding the questioning look on Shaye's face beside me. Her brown eyebrows were creased just as her lips curled to form a slight pout. 

"What happened?" she asked. 

I titled my head and signalled her to go out. Paulit-ulit naman siyang umiling at umusog papalapit sa higaan ko. 

"Hindi ako aalis dito hangga't hindi mo sinasabi kung ano talaga ang nangyari," pagmamatigas niya. 

Umiwas ako ng tingin at humugot ng malalim na hininga. "You're being nosy again, Shaye." 

"I don't care," mabilis niyang sagot. "I need to know how and where you got all these burns!" 

Napairap ako sa kawalan. 

These burns... That Carwell. For almost thirteen years after my demise, I was invincible, and yet he managed to affect me like that. 

Later after the incident, nagising akong hindi maipinta ang mukha dahil sa sobrang hapdi na bumabalot sa buong katawan ko. Tila unti-unting sinusunog ang aking kaluluwa, malayong malayo sa sakit na nararamdaman ko noong ako'y nagsasanay pa lang. 

That Carwell is something. Hindi ko alam kung ano pero kailangan ko iyong malaman. Hindi ako makakapayag na babaliktarin niya ako. We never know, even the most loyal dog can bite its master. 

"Ara?" 

Pinikit ko ang mga mata at hindi inalintana ang presensya ni Shaye. Ilang sandali pa lamang ay bahagyang umuga ang higaan ko, senyales na tumayo na siya mula sa pagkakaupo rito. I opened my eyes slightly, enough to see Shaye's petite figure walking towards the doorway of the hospital room I'm confined in.

Though tugged with unnecessary wires, my body feels light — feels normal. As though Carwell did not wreck the whole training building into pieces. Iyon ang unang narinig ko nang ako'y magkamalay, that he did not just damage the training room but almost wiped out the entire building. 

No matter what you think about it, his power is extraordinary — and that is alarming. 

I jerked my head forward as a loud slam of the door echoed. Furrowing my eyebrows, I shot a questioning look at Boris who just entered. 

"What are you doing here?" I asked in a cold and blank tone. 

Kinunot niya ang noo pero kalaunan ay ngumiti rin. "Visiting you?" 

Napabuga ako ng hininga sa sagot nito. I shifted my gaze on the blank ceiling, trying to ignore Boris' presence but the latter just kept on mumbling things. 

"Can you shut up?" I let out a loud and heavy sigh. "Let me rest, will you?" 

My forehead creased when he gave me a sly grin. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay ngunit patuloy lamang ito sa pagngisi. Humakbang siya papalapit sa 'kin saka ako kinindatan. 

"I have good news," panimula niya. "And I'm sure you'll be pleased with it." 

Hindi na maipinta ang mukha ko at tumagilid ako mula sa pagkakahiga. Hindi ako interesado sa kahit ano mang balita niya. 

Good news, my ass. 

"I'm giving you your second mission." 

Kaagad akong napamulat ng mata sa kanyang itinuran. Did I hear it right? My second mission? I'm not even done with the first one. 

Quickly I pulled all the wires attached to my body and got up. Nagtangka pang umangal si Boris sa ginawa ngunit sinamaan ko lamang siya ng tingin. I moved to the corner of the hospital bed and let the cold floor penetrate my bare feet. 

"I haven't finished the first one," I said. 

Boris clicked his tongue before grinning again. "That doesn't mean you can't take the second." 

I held my chin up and raised my eyebrow, telling him to continue. He stroked his invisible beard and looked up as if he's thinking something. 

I glared at him. "Cut the rubbish." 

Kumawala ang mapang-asar na tawa mula sa kanyang bibig bago muling lumingon sa gawi ko at nagsalita. 

"It's time for you to see the real enemy." 

CARRYING a heavily loaded backpack, I walked towards the exit gate of Forthmore Academy. Habang naglalakad ay sabay-sabay na lumilingon ang mga estudyanteng iba't iba ang kulay ng badge, marahil ay nawe-weirdohan sa 'kin dahil tumatanggap na ng mission kahit baguhan pa lamang. The sharp daggers hidden beneath my fighting gear were rubbing my bare skin, adding to the anticipation I was achingly holding ever since last night after Boris told me. 

It is not the mission that's keeping my nerves alive — it's the fact that I can get out of this boring-as-hell school, and face the real enemy that I know. 

The one who I believe is much more inhumane than any others — my enemy. 

I placed my backpack on the overly vintage adorned chariot as I stepped in. Just like the first time, the same chariot is stunning, from its gold linings to every pattern and engravings of weird symbols. Reflecting its classic style. 

As soon as I let myself be comfortable enough, I pulled my head back to lean at the Victorian chair. The carriage started moving and it went that way for hell knows how long. 

It was almost nightfall when the carriage stopped, finally. Chirps of crickets were resounding in my ear as I got off of the carriage, still carrying my backpack. The familiar smell of Forthmore central greeted me, as well as its ancient yet fine buildings. 

So, this is where Boris sent me. He never told me where my mission is, in specific. Gusto lang niyang magmukhang misteryoso sa paningin ko, o baka ay subukan ang talas ng utak ko. 

Well, he messed up with the wrong woman. 

"What the hell?!" I yelled when a cold wet thing splattered on my black fighting gear. Muli pa sana akong sisigaw nang mapantantong bata pala ang nakabangga sa 'kin habang naiiyak na nakatingala at pabalik-balik ang tingin sa gawi ko at sa kanyang tunaw na ice cream.

"Watch where you're going next time," sambit ko at hindi na muling tinapunan ng tingin ang bata. Muli akong humakbang ngunit bigla na lamang itong ngumawa. 

Inis akong lumingon at sinamaan siya ng tingin. She's too loud! 

"I'm sorry, ate," aniya habang kinukusot ang namumula niyang mata na puno ng luha. 

Napaismid ako. "Shut it. Bumalik ka na kung saan ka man galing." 

Tila lumambot ang mukha nito na siyang ikinakunot ng noo ko. 

"Can I come with you po?" she asked. 

I stared at her, examining her face. Mukha naman siyang normal na batang may hanggang balikat na buhok, maumbok na pisngi, at malalaki at bilugan na mga mata. The only thing that seemed odd was her skin — she might be the palest human being I saw ever since I step foot on this kingdom. 

"I said go back to where you are from," pag-uulit ko, ngunit muli itong nagpapadyak at umiyak. 

Napakamot na lamang ako sa batok. Magsasalita pa sana ako nang may ginang na humahangos na nagtungo sa kinaroroonan namin. 

"Atya!" she called to the girl in front of me.

The kid, Atya, dropped her already melted ice cream and ran towards the woman, who I presume is her mother. She clung onto the shoulders of the woman's shoulders who welcomed her like home.

Napaiwas ako ng tingin. 

Do I really have to see that? Do I have to remind myself that shits like that are not for me? 

Stop being sentimental, Ara! 

I shook my head and walked away but the woman called again, this time, for me. "Ms Belacour!" 

I stopped and turned around to see the woman beaming at me. Her smile was as wide as Forthmore Academy's clean-cut lawn, but her eyes — they're filled with emptiness. 

How did she know my name?

"Thank you for saving my daughter," she said.

My eyebrows narrowed. 

Saving her daughter? Did I? 

Still smiling, the woman turned her back and started walking away. Paulit-ulit akong napakurap, nagdadalawang-isip sa daan na tatahakin. In the end, I end up following the woman carrying her child. 

We passed through several buildings before the woman entered a dark narrow alley. Though hesitating, I clenched my fist tight on my backpack and closed my eyes — letting my shadow take over my body. My nose crinkled as we passed through an old crumbling shop slowly taken over by nature, covered with thick mosses. Hindi rin nakatakas sa pandinig ko ang magaspang na tunog nito na tila inuuga ng higanteng kamay, ngunit isina-walang bahala ko na lamang iyon. 

Muli kong itinuon ang tingin sa papalayong ginang habang karga-karga ang kanyang anak. Another minute of walking and a tiny glint of light peaked on the onward way of the alley. Isiningkit ko ang mga mata upang maaninag ito ng mabuti ngunit agad na kumunot ang noo ko nang mapagtantong isang hindi kalakihang butas iyon. 

Kasabay ng banayad na hangin ay inilibot ko ang paningin sa palagid. I inhaled abruptly when instead of the dark narrow alley, giant boulders and massive rocks came into sight. 

Where did the alley go? 

This can't be a trap, because if it is, I would feel it first hand. 

Still hiding underneath my shadow form, I hurried to the woman's direction but like a flash of light, they've gone.  

Kahit naguguluhan, bumalik ako sa dating anyo at tahimik na naglakad patungo sa maliit na butas kung saan nagmumula ang liwanag. I tiptoed for my face to level with the hole but a gasp took me when the ground suddenly shook. May mga maliliit na biak ng bato ang nahuhulog mula sa itaas na tila unti-unting natutupok ang kwebang kinatatayuan ko. 

I was about to use my shadow form again when a yellowish light plunged on my visage. I pressed my eyelids to close and covered my face with my palm. After a couple of seconds, idinilat ko ang mga mata at tumamabad sa akin ang isang lumang kagubatan. Malayong malayo ito sa masiglang kakahuyan ng akademya. Dry and rotten leaves were scattered like waves of the ocean, leaving all the trees bald and dead. 

Muntik na akong napatalon sa gulat nang may mga kamay na humawak sa balikat ko. 

"Shh," whispered a woman, "huwag kang maingay, hija. Nandito lamang sila sa paligid." 

Kumunot ang noo ko. She's the woman I was following just a moment ago. Karga niya pa rin ang kanyang anak na malawak na nakangiti sa akin. 

"What do you mean?" I asked. 

Inilibot ng ginang ang kanyang paningin bago ako hinila papalapit. 

"This place ... Onusersum Woods, was once a peaceful forest," aniya. Bahagya niyang iniyuko ang ulo at hininaan ang boses, "ngunit nagbago iyon nang dumating sila dito." 

My ears perked at her statement. Onusersum Woods. Sounds odd. 

"Sinong sila?" I stepped closer to the woman and felt Atya's little fingers play with my hair. 

"Oh, here they are!" The woman met my eyes, looking terrified. "Dygaians." 

Napaatras ako nang biglaang tumakbo ang ginang patungo sa nagsisilakihang mga bato. My feet did not bother to take a step to follow her, instead, I walked towards the dead forest. Dry leaves rustled against my booted feet and it was the very least sound in the entire woodland. Kahit huni ng ibon ay hindi mahihimigan. 

Napantig ang tainga ko nang makarinig ng papalapit na yapak. I turned around to see a tall dark-looking man carrying a rusty ax on his shoulders. Mabilis akong nagpalit anyo bago pa man niya ako mahagilap. 

"You smell so good," said the man and put down his ax. "Alam kong nandito ka. Lumabas ka na." 

I pressed my lips together and moved swiftly to his side. Inilibot niya ang tingin sa paligid. He must've felt my presence. 

Lucky for him. 

Nanatili ako sa gilid niya ng ilang segundo bago niya muling pinulot ang dalang ax. Naglakad siya papalayo habang nililibot ang tingin sa paligid, nagbabakasakaling makita ako, ngunit hindi ako gumawa ng katiting na ingay. 

I moved closer to his manly figure. Kahit 'ata paghinga ko ay hindi ko narinig. Ilang minuto lamang ay huminto siya at tumingin sa kung saan. Inikot ko ang paningin upang makita ang tinititigan niya. Bumungad sa 'kin ang isang grupo ng mga kalalakihan na kapwa naglalaban. Hindi lamang naglalaban, kung 'di nagpapatayan. 

I grinned at the sight of blood. The excitement is searing through my veins. Ito na ba ang sinasabi ng ginang? The Dygaians?

Nakangisi kong tinahak ang malakweba nilang tirahan gamit ang aking anino, ngunit agad akong napahinto nang may dalawang lalaking lumingon sa gawi ko. 

My forehead creased. Nakikita rin ba nila ako? 

"Hugo, may dinala ka bang babae dito?" tanong ng isa sa mga lalaki at sinimot-simot ang paligid. 

Napahugot ako ng hininga nang lumingon sa aking direksyon ang lalaking nakita ko kanina na nagngangalang Hugo. Kumunot ang noo niya at bumaba ang tingin sa aking paanan, tila hinahanap ang anino ko. Hindi ako gumalaw, kahit paghinga ay hindi ko alam kung ginawa ko pa ba. 

I don't know who these men are, but they sure are what the woman called Dygaians ... Or they could be the reason why I'm here. 

The enemy. 

"A woman's fragrance," said the other man. Lumingon siya sa lalaking nagngangalang Hugo. "Hugo? May kasama ka bang babae kanina?" 

The latter shook his head. He shifted his gaze to where I'm standing with his eyebrows narrowed. 

"Pretty brave for a woman like you." Tumalim ang titig niya sa gawi ko na para bang nakatingin siya sa aking pilak na mga mata. Habang ako ay paatras nang paatras, patuloy lamang siya sa paghakbang papalapit. "Amoy na amoy kita, babae. Isa ka bang espiya? Ang bobo naman talaga ng Rovuille na iyon, ano? Balak siguro niyang gawin ka naming hapunan." 

Hindi ako umimik. Instead of panic, anticipation rushed through me. I was right.

They are my mission. 

With their thin greasy hair, fair eyebrows, empty eyes shaded in a distinct color, and stout masculine figures, undeniably strong auras, one would be in fright — but not me, of course. 

I was about to take my last step when Hugo suddenly yelled, "She's under a shadow spell!" 

As quick as a flash of light, about a hundred men stopped their combat. Blood splattered on their shirts, making my nose crinkle at the smell of rust. They were all staring at where Hugo's index is pointing at — at me.