Mirror
Mal 13, 2196

Nothing is happening yet, but my body moved frantically— as if I was already burning to ashes.

We travelled in a jaunty red curricle of the Knights. I was honored that they did not drag me by the rope all the way to the execution tower. The time of travel only took an hour or more, for the markets are just near the execution tower. The pale light of Fall streamed through a stand of trees lining the turnpike. A mild wind rustled the leafy branches that the cold air enveloped my body, and I could feel my powers restrained because of some knight doing it.

"Bilisan n'yo," marahas na utos ng katabi kong kabalyero. The coachman nodded and patted the horses' heads. The horses sensed it and doubled their speed earlier, broke stride and started to gallop.

Napatingin ako sa paligid at napansing papalapit na kami sa execution tower, and mind you, this is the first time I've come far. Hindi naman ako pala-labas at iwas ako sa tao. Gayunpaman, alam kong kilala ako nang halos lahat.

"Sayang maganda ka pa naman. Kung hindi mo lang sana pinatay—" Natigilan s'ya nang marahas akong bumaling. Sinigurado kong nakita n'yang nagliwanag ang pula kong mata upang 'di na siya magsalita pa. Hindi naman ako makasagot dahil sa nakataling panyo sa'king bibig. Gusto ko sana s'yang pangaralan, ngunit balewala namang makipagtalo sa mga taong hindi nakaaabot ng lebel ng pag-iisip ko.

Soon, I heard crashing of waves that sent shivers to my spine. The execution tower was located near the sea where the borderlines are closest.

One man whistled from afar. A horn was blown, a sign that the criminal has arrived. Hindi pa nakakatigil ang curricle, nagbukas na kaagad ang pinto sa tabi ko. The curtain flew away, then I saw knights and soldiers lined up.

"As usual, the Mirror shall interrogate you first."

The Mirror was a person who knew the lies and truth of men. It was his power and magic, and it was passed on to his lineage and they shall forever serve the fallen governance. Forever seek the truth and lies of convicts and criminals.

And if someone pays them more, the mirror who was supposed to tell truths would rather tell lies.

D'on palang alam ko na ang mangyayari. It was all predictable— especially when I've learned that it was part of a scheme, that the Knight they claimed I've killed is alive. Kuryos lang ako kung bakit kailangan pa talaga nilang gumastos para patayin ako.

Why am I hunted? Why would they want my existence gone?

Bumaba ako at nagsimulang maglakad at sumunod sa kabalyerong sumalubong sa'kin. Despite the pain and burn in my ankles, I walked with my head high, looking down on everyone that meets my eye.

The door of the round tower flung open. My eyes blinked several times in order to adapt the darkness inside. A wooden table was at the center, and on top of it was two bowls of water. I doubt it's plain water, it must be something else.

The knight pointed at one chair and said, "D'on ka umupo at hintayin mo nalang s'yang bumaba. Walang magbabantay sayo rito sa loob ngunit nakikita namin ang ginagawa mo."

Tinaasan niya rin ang kamay n'ya at kaagad na natanggal ang tali sa'king bibig at kamay. Ah, his power must be connected to telekinesis. Mabuti naman at hindi n'ya na ako kinailangang hawakan pa.

Sinunod ko naman s'ya at umupo na. Pinagmasdan ko ang dalawang bowl ng tubig sa mesa, at nilapit ang mukha ko r'on. My eyes squinted and whispered, "This must be for the truth and this for the lie."

I look slantways when I heard the loose stair on the staircase creaks six times, and moments later, a man appeared. My eyes, then, squinted to take a better look at the man. Ang tanging nakita ko lamang ay ang makapal n'yang taklob sa mukha. My eyes adjusted very well, even in complete darkness. However, I could not seem to see his face amidst darkness. But slowly, the  face became blurry, as if slowly revealing itself to me.

Muntik na akong mapaubo nang makita ko bigla ang sarili kong hitsura sa kanyang mukha. The same brown hair— close to black and bloody red eyes. She didn't smile and even her movements were similar to mine. Ito na rin siguro ang isa pang dahilan kung bakit s'ya tinatawag na mirror. Hindi ko naman alam na halos literal pala.

"Georgia Kaye Alas," she stated— well, if she is a she. I scrunched my nose at that and scoffed lightly. She didn't have to state my name because I already know my own name, and my voice just cringes me so much. Hindi pa naman ako pala-salita.

Then, a pregnant silence filled the room. Mas lalo naman akong nairita. Hindi naman por que hindi ako pala-salita ay hindi na rin s'ya magsasalita. She can speak, only if there is sense to it.

Natawa naman s'ya bigla, tila ba nababasa ang aking isipan.

Oh, maybe she does.

"Hindi ko akalain na marami ka palang nasasabi sa utak mo. Hindi halata sa panlabas mong anyo," she implied, pulling the chair so she could sit. The creaking of the chair made me close my eyes, and the moment I opened my eyes again, she was suddenly gone and out of sight.

"Hindi mo na ako makikita, ngunit narito pa rin ako. Inumin mo ang tubig sa dalawang—" Hindi pa siya natatapos magsalita'y ininom ko na.

I know she knows what runs into my mind, so it would be meaningless if I plan to escape here. Besides, I would forever be in the run and probably survive in brothels— and I would rather die if that happens. Hindi ko kailanman ibebenta ang sarili kong katawan para lamang mabuhay. That's one way of selling out your soul too. Your dignity. Your life.

"The most silent and coldest people surely have a lot in mind," she said, once again reading my thoughts as if she wasn't invading my privacy.

"There are no privacy given for criminals."

"But I am not one," I sharply replied, cutting the invisible force around her with my voice. For a split second, I saw her true form, but it was rather fast that I could not catch her details, only the colors. Silver. Green.

"Yet I've already become one, right?"

I felt her stance freeze in the air. Napasulyap ako sa dalawang bowl na nasa table, at ngumisi nang muli na namang mapansin ang kakaibang liwanag at kislap.

"The fallen governance forbade any Soulless to use a potion meant to maximize the power of an individual, even for a second," I stated, pointing at the two bowls. "These aren't the water for you to see the truth and lies. It was very obvious that this is a magic potion. Naramdaman ko ngang mas lumakas ako."

Mas tumalas din ang paningin ko at nakita ko ang mga nakasulat sa pader. Carvings and marks of previous convicts, maybe. Or maybe the Mirrors themselves wrote it.

"Alam mo naman pala, bakit mo pa ininom?" she asked mockingly. "You've known, but you let your foolish self fall in the trap. Therefore making yourself a true criminal, convicted by the mirror of the fallen governance."

I cocked my head slantly, even though I could not see her. A sarcastic smile formed in my lips before I stood up and walked towards one alcove with a big flag or poster cloth on the recess wall.

Then, I pointed it to her before stating the words written.

"Whoever tries and sees the form of the mirror shall be convicted a crime." I paused for a moment before recalling the first time I saw her. She was in her shadow form, but it still is her form.

"Sinadya mong ipakita sa'kin ang sarili mo, bagaman hindi ko pa naririnig na pinapakita ng mirror ang kanyang sarili. You showed me your shadow form, and because of the magic potion that you've let me drank, I saw a glimpse of your true form. This was a planned scheme from the beginning."

As fast as lightning, I moved back to the table and cupped the bowl in my arms. Then, I drank every last sip of it, feeling reenergized and powerful than ever. Binasag ko ang bowl at ginawa 'yong patalim. An icy breeze around me formed like blades and fanning out me, eventually wounding the girl or the Mirror.

"If these are the last minutes of my life, I might aswell savour the moment."

Droplets of blood fell to the cobblestone floor, and that was the moment I noticed where she was— far on the edge as if she was scared of me. As if she feared me. Who wouldn't? I drank all the magic potion! She couldn't even reach my thoughts for the potion enabled me to put barriers in my loud mind.

"I was annoyed when you stated my name as if you threatened me or as if my name was just a name. Let me tell you, I'm not just the girl who belongs to no tribe, nor the girl who killed the Knight."

"I am the Georgia Kaye Alas, the unpredictable silence that can cause discord from Khaos."

But as soon as I said it, someone opened the door and shot me an instant. Everything was hazy after that, but the last thing I remembered is that... I drowned in the vast sea.

Discovering Summerland
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Khaos refers to the greek term meaning nothingness.

Thank you for reading!