Zorell
Jerastus 2, 2196

_____________________

LOWELL
Harden Lowell Calafiore

I scanned the area for any marks that will lead to where Georgia and Lucifuge are. A smirk formed on my lips the moment I confirmed that they weren't in her office. Where else could they be but in Lucifuge's, right? Tsk.

I crouched and picked up the faint scent of a creature, wechuge. Ah, I see. He used his demon again- better call it a servant, I scoffed. Lucifuge and I aren't really on good terms, nor do we share any hatred with each other. Guess you could call it a neutral relationship between us, but if he finds out anything about Heidi, he might be an enemy.

I pushed aside those thoughts and focused on my senses. Kinakailangan kong puntahan si Georgia dahil may pinangako ako sa kaniyang susubukan ko ang lahat para tulungan siya't ilayo sa pahamak. Alam kong nangangamba siya ngayon dahil sa aksidente niyang nagawa kay Aeryn.

Anyone who has similar abilities to mine can immediately notice the poison running in Aeryn's veins now. I'm pretty sure it's a poison that will creep in her blood and break into her system. A slow and burning murder weapon that's supposed to be for the monsters. Tsk, why did she even enter the battlefield?

Good thing it was a dark poison, something that I'd be able to control and restrain for a bit. The others would not notice it, then.

As I walked towards Lucifuge's office, I found myself looking down at the magical barrier around the walls and door. I frowned. Guess I have no choice but to use my power, huh?

Nakaramdam ako ng malakas na negatibong enerhiya sa loob, at napagtanto kong nanggaling 'yon kay Georgia. Fear. Anxiety. Defeat. That is what she feels right now, although this time, it was calmer. The fear she felt earlier at the battlefield when she saw Aeryn was stronger, so strong that it reached my direction. I usually don't feel those auras unless it is near or really strong.

I called for it, the energy, but it seemed like it was eluding me, or was it wavering? Her fear? Gayunpaman, sinubukan ko pang kontrolin ang enerhiyang 'yon, 'pagkat 'yon ang magiging daan para makaraan ako pintong ito. I just need to connect with it and open the door with the right timing.

Muntik na akong mapamura nang tila nawawala at humihina na ang takot ni Georgia, hindi sa ayaw kong mawala ang takot niya ngunit... paano ako makakapasok kung ganoon?

'Just break it,' the other half of my brain said, while the other restrains me from doing it. 'Kaya mo naman, 'di ba?' Well, yeah, of course- but it would cost too much stamina and energy. I wouldn't like to waste it when there's another way....

Actually, there's no other way now. Georgia's aura has completely become calm. Damn, I really don't want to use this method. Gathering air and power within, I forced a black smoke out of my hand. The smoke got bigger as it consumed the energy of Lucifuge's barrier. Soon, it turned to the form of wings and I'm sure that the wechuge and Lucifuge already felt my presence. I immediately dismissed the black wings and composed myself.

Padabog na binuksan ni Lucifuge ang kaniyang pinto, at sinabihan agad ako. "What brings you here, Harden?" he asked.

Nagkunot-noo naman ako at sinagot siya nang diretso, "Hindi ko ba puwedeng puntahan ang kapatid ko?" It's the truth, though.

"Then go kill yourself," malamig na sabat ni Fuge. Mas lalo naman akong napakunot-noo. "Ano'ng sinasabi mong-"

"Your sister's dead, right? The girl here is an impostor, I know."

Oh.

"Then why didn't you imprison that girl here? Is this some kind of joke?" Kalmado kong tanong.

Nahulaan ko nang malalaman din ni Lucifuge na hindi ang totoong Heidi ang narito ngayon. I've heard rumors about my sister seeing him and seeking his attention to prevent the marriage- but I still took the risk and put Georgia in danger because I know Lucifuge wouldn't be able to hurt her. He's not the kind of person to hastily make decisions and actions. Georgia may seem like a threat, but I know she isn't. He probably knows that too.

In fact, I'm looking forward to this moment. He will open up to me, and when we work together, I might be able to gain answers to my questions.

"Cat got your tongue?" sambit ko nang matagal siyang hindi sumasagot. I cast my gaze over Georgia behind him, looking at me as if she wants me to get her out of this situation.

"Why did you let her take your sister's identity?" tanong niya. "Do you even know where she came from?"

Umiling ako bilang sagot sa pangalawang tanong. "If the higher-ups knew the reason for my sister's death, our clan would be at stake. She, on the other hand, would die once someone else knew that she is a soulless. We both gain something from each other, Lucifuge. I don't care whatever the reason she is here now. It's her story after all. It's just a coincidence that our stories could benefit each other."

"Kung gan'on, bakit mo ako pinagkakatiwalaan? You're admitting your crimes, Calafiore," aniya muli.

Napangiwi naman ako roon. "Who said I trust you?" Bahagya akong natawa bago ipagpatuloy ang sinasabi ko, "Alam mo na naman, ano pang silbi kung itatago at itatanggi ko pa? Considering how Georgia is alive right now, it is you who trusted us- not the other way around. You know something, don't you? I assume you also know the situation about Aeryn."

Napatango siya't inimbitahan na ako, sa wakas, papasok sa kaniyang opisina. Napansin kong marahan ang bawat kibo ni Georgia. Hm, this situation... it seems like Georgia was the one who turned herself in to Lucifuge. I guess. Mukhang nagulat nga rin siya kung papaano ko nalaman ang tungkol sa lason.

"Do you know what power you hold, Georgia?" tanong ni Lucifuge. "The exact term for it," pahabol pa niya.

Natagilid ko ang aking ulo para tingnan ang ekspresyon ni Georgia. Umiling siya bago sumagot, "I just know that it is unlike any other ice powers. It is something very powerful, and I... I accidentally froze my whole tribe the-"

"You don't need to tell us if you don't want to," sambit ko nang mapansing 'di siya komportableng ikuwento 'yon. Natigilan siyang saglit, ngunit umiling din siya.

"No... if I want to help on finding Aeryn's antidote then it'd be best if you know about my powers. Although, I don't know much either," aniya. "My powers can freeze anything or anyone- even without water. Once frozen, it is also unbreakable. No fire or weapon can break the ice, and that was what happened to the tribe I was in before. They all became frozen because of my power."

"I can somehow control it, but not to the extent that I can play with it or avoid circumstances like what happened earlier. Ginagamit ko rin ang abilidad na 'to para sa trabaho ko noon sa land of Fall... forging."

She smiled sadly as if thinking about something. "I have a soft heart- no... I always feel guilty for people who are in a life or death situation. Pakiramdam ko'y laging kasalanan ko ang lahat, kahit naman na hindi. Hindi ko lang maiwasan na makaramdam ng gan'on. I helped an injured soldier once, but then... I was framed for murdering him. I was sure that the soldier was alive, though. He had the capability to make himself as a shadow, and his shadow followed me even when he was announced murdered."

She's opening up to us, but I couldn't help but think about that shadow ability... it sounded familiar. 'A power to manipulate shadows...'

"Ano 'yon, Calafiore?" tanong bigla ni Fuge.

"Ah, malakas ba akong napaisip?" tanong ko't tumango naman sila. Georgia eyed me with curiosity and asked, "Do you... somehow know something about shadow manipulators?"

Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa kanila, iniisip kung sasagot ba ako o hindi. Bumuntonghininga ako't hinayaan na ang sarili na magtiwala pansamantala sa kanilang dalawa.

"I have memories of my late father- my biological father who was a warlock, a famous one, I believe. No one else knows about my lineage, though I believe some are already questioning where I got my dark magic from," sagot ko. "My father trained warlocks, too, and I believe there was a line of apprentices that were shadow manipulators, the Zorells. They resided here in-"

"W-wait... what was the name again?" pagputol ni Georgia sa sinasabi ko. Her expression turned to an aggressive one.

"Zorell, Georgia. Do you know that name?"

She gulped and nodded. "The surname of the knight. Zorell. Haden Zorell. Did he... come here from the land of Summer?" tanong niya.

I was about to answer when Lucifuge let out a burst of sarcastic laughter. "Haden Zorell, was it? He's a knight of the royalty. A very loyal one, in fact." He turned to me and clapped twice. "The apprentices your late father, Warlock Valdemior, trained have always been loyal to our family. What does this mean now? It's a betrayal, or is the royal family involved in this shit?"

Hinabol naman ni Lucifuge ang kaniyang hininga. Alam kong malakas ang hangad niyang protektahan ang mga celestines, ngunit... 'di ko akalaing magagalit siya nang ganito.

"If so... why did they want me dead?" sambit ni Georgia. "And the warlock you mentioned, Valdemior, is alive in the land of Fall. I've heard stories about him, Lowell. In fact, I think he is the one who could possibly know of an antidote."

Ako naman ngayon ang 'di makapagsalita sa gulat. Is this it? The answer to all my questions?

"If we cannot cross the borderlines, then there might be another way- and that is what those who go back and forth to Summer and Fall do. Maybe... maybe there is an unspoken relationship between the rulers of the Fall and Summer."

"But first, we must confirm our speculations. We'll go to Adrius," singit ni Lucifuge habang nakatuon ang mga kamay sa kaniya mesa, at nakatingin sa mapang sinummon niya.

Adrius, the clan that has the power of truth.

Discovering Summerland
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

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