Berserk
Jerastus 6, 2196

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LUCIFUGE
Lucifuge Rofocale Gwydion

"Those are probably your memories," Ezjei mentioned the moment I woke up in a strange room.

Napalunok ako't mariin na napapikit nang mapagtantong maaaring nakita niya ang mga nangyari sa panaginip na 'yon. "Did you see everything that happened?" If he did, I actually do not what to react. Kung nakita niya si mi amore...

He laughed delightfully as he shook his head. "No, I didn't see your dreams or whatever you saw. I only became a medium for your memories. As a seer, I can also see the fragments of memories around, represented by gold flames. When those appear, I lose control of myself and tend to overwork... which is why my nose bled," nahihiya niyang sambit no'ng pahuli.

"Kung gan'on, ba't ka tumawa?"

Mas lalo naman siyang napatawa at tinuro pa ang mukha ko. Matapos ang ilang saglit ng pagtawa ay bigla niyang kinunot ang kaniyang noo at halos naglabas ng usok ang ilong niya. He looked so tensed, terrified, worried, and that was when I realized he was copying my expression earlier.

Humilig ako sa sandalan at saka bumuntonghininga. I really thought he saw it happen, and I'm glad he didn't. Mabuti naman at ako lang ang tinatawanan niya't hindi ang nangyari sa panaginip ko.

"Where's mi amore?" Tanong ko, ngunit sa pagbigkas ko noon. Biglang bumukas ang pinto. My eyes widened as I saw blood on her shirt. But before I could even react more, she held her hand up and mouthed, "It's okay." Then, she glared at the young Ezjei before throwing him a dagger.

Kahit ako ay napaatras sa ginawa niyang iyon. "Gusto ko lang gumanti," maliit niyang sambit. Pinigilan ko naman ang pagtawa ko dahil mukhang seryoso siya, but she did it cutely.

"Ezjei knows I'm from Fall," bigkas naman niya sa'kin.

Tumango ako't 'di na rin nagulat. The House of Truth was bound to know it- but hopefully, not everyone in the house. "But what happened? Kausap ko lang siya... kinausap mo rin ba siya?"

"The one she talked to was a familiar like your wechuge. It appears in dreams and speaks for me. Since it was already in Georgia's dream, it didn't enter yours- which I think is a good thing," Ezjei answered with a playful tone in the last sentence. "All we talked about is her being someone from the Fall. She did ask something about the warlock you're looking for."

Nagtama naman muli ang tingin namin ni Georgia't tila ba'y tinatanong ng utak niya kung ano'ng nangyari rin sa panaginip ko. Just thinking about it made all the heat go to my face, so I instictively broke away the gaze. Hindi ko nga namalayang halos ningunguya ko na ang ibabang labi ko.

Sa pagpipilit na ituon sa iba ang atensyon, nagtanong ulit ako. "Then, could you confirm us who and where the warlock Valdemior is?"

"He's in the Fall, but besides that, I could offer no more information."

"What?" Georgia muttered in disbelief. "You're not going to help us how to get to Fall?"

"Of course he isn't going to, mi amore. Does he look like someone who'd either know a way or fully trust us to tell it?" I mentioned, so she stopped and stared at me for a while. Gulping, I looked away. Again.

Tumawa naman si Ezjei at tumango sa'king mga sinabi. "Panigurado naman akong kakailanganin niyo rin pumunta r'on sa kakaibang paraan- 'yong hindi kayo mahuhuli ng sarili mong angkan, Crown Prince. Once they catch you going to Fall, you'd be cast out."

"They won't do that," marahas kong sagot, kahit na alam kong may posibilidad nga. I might be the only heir alive, but my Father's young. Makakaisip siya ng paraan para patalsikin ako. Pero, "Sisiguraduhin kong sila ang mauunang babagsak kaysa sa'kin."

°°°°°°

GEORGIA
Georgia Kaye Alas

I am still disgusted by the fact that I'll be working for a group who's been the reason of my suffering. Ni hindi nila kami bibigyan ng assistance patungo sa Fall- where I can find Valdemior. Hindi ko naman maaaring ibunyag ang sikreto na pansamantala akong espiya ng Celeste, lalo pa't narito si Lucifuge.

Nalito lang din ako sa sinabi ni Ezjei na kailangan naming humanap ng paraan na 'di kami mahuhuli ng Celeste. Hindi ba't mas magagawa namin 'yon kung tutulong ang Phantoms?

"Then, what else do you need from House Adrius, Crown Prince Lucifuge?" Tanong ni Ezjei na may halong ngisi sa ekspresyon. There's this awkward atmosphere between us and it's probably because of their conversation. Bagaman nakukuryos ako kung ano 'yon, mukhang ayaw 'yong pag-usapan ni Lucifuge. And that's not my problem, I mean, sino ba naman ako?

Lucifuge answered, "I know the Adrius are already rebels to Celeste, and as someone who wishes to be the same, I want to offer a proposition or allegiance."

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mata ko r'on. Kung gagawin na ito ni Lucifuge, hindi ko na kailangang mamroblema sa misyong inatas nila basta sa'kin. To make Lucifuge fall in their side. Ezjei glanced at me, and what surprised me the most is the short shaking of his head. What? Akala ko ba ito ang nais nilang gawin?

"Lucifuge, do you really think you could betray your family? Do you think I don't know about your illness?"

Suddenly, the surroundings turned darker. Lucifuge clenched his fists, as if he's stopping himself from something. Bumigat din lalo ang paghinga niya, dahilan kung ba't napatayo ako't lumapit... ngunit natigilan ako nang maski ako'y nahirapan sa paghinga nang makalapit nang bahagya sa kaniya. Lucifuge rose his hand toward me, and a force pushed me farther, my back almost smashing the door.

Ezjei snapped and the darkness around subsided. Mas lalong napataas ang kilay ko dahil doon, at 'di natapos ang pagtataka ko no'ng nagsimula siyang magpaliwanag.

"The berserk illness is implanted by the Gwydions. The reason why you're not thrown away by the royal family until now is because they know they have you shackled at their hands. You cannot go berserk and spread darkness in this land because you don't want to kill your people. Ni hindi mo pa nga rin alam kung ano'ng dahilan ng sakit mong 'yan, at kung bakit mga purong dugong bughaw lang din o ang mga Gwydions ang nakakapagpakalma nang tuluyan sa'yo."

"Until you know the reason and overcome it, then can you propose the allegiance. Hindi ko gustong makipag-ugnayan sa isang taong maaari akong talikuran anumang beses," pagpapatuloy niya.

Berserk illness? Bigla ko tuloy naisip na... maaaring ito ang iniatas sa'kin ng organisasyon. To control Lucifuge more than his illness controls him. Ezjei is showing me that the task given was not an easy one, and definetely something the Phantoms went through with several plans.

Mas lalo akong nagulat sa binulong ni Ezjei sa utak ko. "Just like Lucifuge, you can't bear see your people die so you'll stop him when he's in berserk. Doesn't he remind you of your past self? The innocent Georgia Alas who accidentally killed her tribe?"

Patago kong nakuyom ang kamao ko sa galit. Bumigat na rin ang paghinga ko dahil tama lahat ng sinabi niya. Ngunit hindi ako magpapahuli kagaya ng inaakala niya. Lucifuge isn't someone to be pitied on. He's strong and can overcome it by himself. I trust him, and I can't be compared to him.

That's why when he answered, I couldn't help myself to be proud.

°°°°°°

LUCIFUGE
Lucifuge Rofocale Gwydion

"I'm already working on it, Adrius, but then, I accept your decline. Hindi ko rin gustong makipagsundo sa isang taong hindi ako papagkatiwalaan. Hindi ko rin naman ikinakahiyang may berserk illness ako. I just find it unneccessary to bring up to everyone," nahihingal kong banggit sa kaniya, na mukhang ikinagulat niya.

Hindi pa ako nakaka-recover nang maayos matapos i-trigger ni Adrius ang Berserk stage ko. Bukod sa sinabi niyang ang mga dugong bughaw lang ang nakakapagpakalma rito, sila rin ang nakakapag-trigger.

I wouldn't consider this illness a weakness, but an obstacle for my goal. That's why I've been researching endlessly. Mayroon na akong ilang nakuhang impormasyon pero hindi pa sapat 'yon. I did discover that the Gwydions didn't implant this on me- kaya hindi rin sila ang tuluyang makakapagpagaling sa'kin. They have no idea at all. They just used it to their advantage.

"In the future, where you can trust me, then we can negotiate again. Hindi ko kailangang ipilit ang sarili ko sa inyo. I'll still work hard for my dreams of peace and unity," dagdag ko na mas lalong nakapagpatigil kay Ezjei.

Wala sa sarili naman akong napatingin kay mi amore, at ako naman ngayon ang natigilan nang makitang nakaangat ang gilid ng mga labi niya. She looked genuinely happy, or instead, proud. Akala ko'y kakaawaan niya ako dahil sa nadiskubre niya, but I guess I was wrong.

Napabalik nalang ang tingin ko kay Ezjei nang tumawa siya at pumalpak. "Very well then. Let's look forward to that time. As I believe that small steps and interactions could build our trust, then I'll give you an advice, Crown Prince."

Tumayo siya mula sa kinauupan niya't lumapit lalo sa'kin. Because of his small figure, he had to slightly tiptoe to reach my ears, although I'm ready sitting.

"To get to the land of Fall, go to the most magical place you know with the most beautiful person you know. Who knows? The magic might draw a miracle for you."

Wala sa sarili akong napatingin kay mi amore at naisip ang Fortress. Naalala ko bigla ang salamin na dinala ako sa Summerland Academy para kay mi amore. Kung gano'n ay maaaring mangyari ulit 'yon kung kasama ko na si mi amore sa Fortress. The mirror might teleport us to Fall.

Discovering Summerland
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Mga taong nag-e-emotional manipulation like Ezjei: 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

Parang ang daming nabubunyag at nabubuong tanong these past few chapters, ano?

Thank you for reading! Votes and comments are appreciated.