LUCIFUGE
Lucifuge Rofocale Gwydion

Yes, against him, I was weak. Ngunit hindi ko lubusang maintindihan ang iba niyang sinabi. . . na siya ang totoong Lucifuge Rofocale.

I did not dare to attack, but I made sure that I was ready to defend myself and protect Heidi and Lowell. He also didn't seem like he would attack anytime soon, but who knows what he could do?

"You seem invested in this story, huh?" Aniya nang natatawa. Mabilis naman akong na-insulto dahil doon pero 'di ko ipagkakailang gusto kong malaman ang dahilan niya sa likod ng mga pangyayari ngayon.

"You must have forgotten your memory about being an extract of the angel, Lucifer. Ah, but that was a long time ago. In the middle of the first war. That was when I first met you," aniya, nakapamulsa at bahagya pang pinagmamasdan ang mga kasama ko. I moved to where he was looking so I could divert his attention to mine.

"You do remind me of that scorned angel right now. A man so foolish to put everyone first than himself. A man so full of love that he'd be willing to let his love go for others. A man so pure that he couldn't even handle the drop of darkness in him."

"Only angels do that, Lucifuge. Not us. We're demons. . .  monsters."

Bago ko pa tuluyang maintindihan ang kanyang mga sinabi, mabilis s'yang naglaho sa paningin ko't narinig ko nalang sumigaw si Heidi. Nang mabilis akong lumingon sa kanila'y 'di ako nag-alinlangang sumugod kasama ang inipon kong enerhiya.

But Lowell went to her side first. He summoned black wings that enveloped them both and pulled the man slightly away. I took that as an opportunity to strike my fist on his neck- only that he effortlessly dodged my attacks. Undaunted, I pressed on, closing the distance between us.

He parried each blow of mine with ease, as if he could read it. . . or maybe he could. It didn't matter to me anymore. Ang naisip ko nalang ay makuha ni Lowell at Heidi ang pagkakataong ito upang makatakas.

"Fuge. Keep going on. I am summoning a spell that would temporarily shut down his powers. Hindi ko alam kung gaano magtatagal 'yon. Might be a split second, but never miss it. The spell would affect him in a few minutes, so save your energy. Once Heidi and I find our way out, give it your all. We'll also find Georgia," bigkas ni Lowell sa isipan ko.

Sa halip na tipirin ang kapangyarihan ko, mas lalo akong nangggigil nang mabanggit ang pangalan ni Georgia. I wasn't sure what he meant earlier, but. . . he just confirmed that she's here. At nauna pa siya sa'min. Tila ba hinihintay lang na mawalan siya ng kasama.

But if he's this powerful, he wouldn't need to wait. He could just attack us all and get her. Wala naman kaming laban sa kanya, unless. . . we aren't the ones he's wary of.

"They don't have anywhere to run. My friend, Lowell, knows that very well," he said while his eyes wandered to where they were again. Hindi ko naman hinayaang makalayo pa siya sa harap ko kaya't binantayan ko siya at walang takot na pinasayaw ang mga espadang gawa sa kadiliman sa paligid niya.

He can teleport, but I already linked these swords to his darkness. These swords are attracted to the shadows enveloping him. Once his shadows fade, that would also mean that Lowell's spell is working. These swords would pierce him, then.

"You didn't do anything to Georgia?" tanong ko.

Heidi and Lowell has not even moved out from the hall, but the man's power faltered at the mention of her name. Doon nagsimulang magkunot ang noo ko 'pagkat mabilis ding nagbago ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya. He now looked vulnerable.

"I could never do anything to her," he answered, his voice slightly softened. "Unless, maybe worship her?" Aniya namang natatawa.

For a second, I thought I could keep pressing him and ask about Georgia so he could have his guards down.

Not until memories of her showed up in my mind, and I told her the exact words the man said.

"I could never do anything to you," I mentioned as I buried my head in between her neck and shoulder. "Unless, maybe worship you," I jokingly said and kissed her near her collarbone.

Malalim ang pagkakunot ng noo ko nang masaksihan 'yon sa isip ko. I thought, was that a memory of my past or a hallucination caused by this man? But... it seemed real.

Napailing nalang ako at diniretso ang tingin muli sa lalaki. 'Yon nga lang, napaatras ako nang biglang makita ang ilang bersyon niya. All with the same red eyes and black hair in different attires.

But there's one who was in white. A blonde whose striking blue eyes stood out. Looking at him longer, I realized that he's also another version because it was also the same features— only that... he looked like an angel.

"You shouldn't have let your guard down, Lucifuge," all the clones said.

Tila nawala ang mahika ko at unti-unti ring naglalaho nang parang bula ang ibang mga kapareha. Then, I was transported to the fortress in Summer, in front of the statue of Zero, the man whom I believed also ruled the Celestines and Soulless.

In a slow manner, the statue came to life.

'Di niya ako nakikita. Lagpas ang tingin niya at biglang pumikit na tila may pinapakinggan. A blinding light engulfed over us. Malakas din ang simoy ng hangin at halos 'di ko na makita si Zero dahil ng liwanag at hamog.

A chant suddenly ringed in my ears, which came from a woman's voice. "Medeis Regno. Stellae de caelo, oculus universum. Immites potuit flectere praebueris in spatio et tempore. Ex chao et mundi. Ex realm veniebat ad auras. Portis regione producis animas."

The same spell that I used to go to the fortress! Mas mahaba nga lang 'yong chant na ito... that's why it made me more confused.

Habang patuloy na binibigkas ng babaeng tinig 'yon, unti-unting lumalamig ang paligid namin. And the cold felt familiar. I sensed that the aura was similar to Georgia's magic.

Unti-unti nang nawala ang liwanag, kaya't maigi kong pinalibot ang paningin ko. It was sunny, like I'm back in Summer. But the wind breeze's cold.

Mas lalo lang akong nagtaka nang mapansin ang pagkakahalintulad ng lugar na ito sa abandoned castle of Fall. The structure, the high ceiling, the paintings— as if the castle had gone back to its glory. And as if the sun rose in Fall.

"Son of Callista... Zero." Another voice entered the scene. Mabilis akong napalingon kung saan nanggaling 'yon, ngunit madilim sa parteng kinalalagyan niya. Hindi ko ganoong maaninag kahit na may kakayahan naman akong makakita sa kadiliman. Is it because I'm in a dreamlike state?

Sunlight passed through the windows as the wind blew the curtains, but the man covered his face with the shadow of his hand. Mas lalo ko tuloy hindi nasilip ang hitsura niya.

Zero asked for who he was... and mentioned reincarnation.

"I'm the current King of Summer, but I am not blood related with Callista, who is the Queen of the Fall," the mysterious man answered.

King of Summer... could this be the guy who I was fighting with earlier? The first king. Pero sino nga ba 'yong Callista na kanina pang nababanggit. I know and I am sure I have read her name somewhere in the books of the Fortress. Or maybe not. Marami ring maaaring kapangalan niya.

"You're here, so I guess Callista wouldn't be able to return soon— or forever," dagdag pa ng lalaki.

Zero continued bargaining about reincarnations, as if asking the man to grant them so, and it confused me even more. What does this King have to do with reincarnations?

"Ano'ng kapalit?" tanong ni Zero.

"A part of your power?" My forehead creased as I hear the king laugh a bit. "Callista is gone, and the land of Fall needs her power. I can see that you have inherited it."

Callista... Fall... her power? If this man ruled Summer back then, Callista might be the one who ruled Fall. That's why he needs Zero's power.

"We'll use your powers to keep the land of Fall alive," the king added, confirming my suspicions. "For the extraction, a drop of your blood would be enough. Your blood contains the power."

Zero followed immediately, but he didn't give it up easily. "What else?" tanong ko. "Imposibleng 'yon lang."

Hindi ko alam kung ano pa ang nangyari. Patuloy silang nag-usap, pero hindi ko na narinig ang lahat. Hanggang sa...

"I vow to reincarnate the souls of Red, Sinclair, Lucifer, and Alpha. They shall be given a second lifetime," ani ng lalaki. Teka, ang mga pangalang 'yon... hindi ba't narinig ko na ang mga 'yon sa memorya ko kasama si Georgia?

"I shall give you another gift, Zero." Napatigil naman ako sa pag-alala nang marinig ko 'yon.

"There's an invisible demon entity that followed you here. I suppose that's Lucifer's extract," the King stated... and suddenly looked directly to my eyes. He walked closer while smiling mischievously, as if he really knows that I am here.

"As a gift, I'll give it a physical form. Once you return, don't be shocked when you see the same face I have on him. And please, call the demon Lucifuge Rofocale."

Doon ako mas lalong nagkunot-noo. Ano'ng ibig sabihin nito? Siya ang nagbigay katawan at pangalan sa'kin? Kaya ba sinasabi niyang siya ang totoong Lucifuge Rofocale?

And if it's true... where did my existence really come from? A demon entity who is Lucifer's extract?

The King laughed again. "I am not your Lucifer, Zero. I am King Ezra Gwydion of Summer. Take my hand and you shall return to the mortal realm with Lucifuge."

"I will come back," sagot ni Zero.

Nawala naman ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi at sa unang beses, naging malamig ang kaniyang boses. "No, you won't, Zero. You do not belong here."

Then, Zero disappeared. Meanwhile, Ezra turned to me and shrugged.

"But you. I see that you belong here more than that son of Callista. Though you were already a wandering entity in the other realms, you were still born here— through Summerland's power. Hah, I'm sure you are confused, Lucifuge. A wandering soul with fragments of memories that you're unsure whether it's the past, the present, or the future."

Hindi ako nakasagot. Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng nais niyang iparating. At hinintay ko lang na ipagpatuloy niya ang mga sinasabi niya.

"This is the past that you don't have memories of. You're here from the future, but the future has not happened yet. Even I am confused myself. Makes me wonder if you're really a demon entity or a being from the unknown."

Malalim siyang nagbuntonghininga. "Judging from your eyes, you are... confused and there's a lot of distrust. Have I become some kind of enemy in your time?" Natatawa at pabiro niyang banggit.

Pero nawala rin agad ang kanyang ngiti nang seryoso lang akong napatingin sa kanya. "You are," sagot ko.

"Then I guess I have done something grave for you to be enraged," Ezra implied. "Tell me, while I'm in the right mind, how can I help you?" 

"What are your powers?" Hindi ko rin mawari sa sarili kung bakit 'yon pa ang tinanong ko. But if it's true that he does not have any idea in the present or where I came from, I must know his powers and take knowledge to my advantage.

"Everything. I can control everything in Summerland, for I am their ruler now that Callista left," natatawa niyang sagot. "But the sun is my partner, Summer is my land."

Everything? If I come from his bloodline, that must mean I can also do everything he can. But how? It also doesn't seem like he is as powerful as he was here in this memory or whatever state this is. This  man exuded mana, power in his soul. I have never met any Celestine who had the same aura as his.

"Tinatanong mo ba 'yon para malaman kung ano'ng posibleng kahinaan ko?" Dagdag niya nang 'di ko agad sundan ang kanyang sagot. "I don't think I have any... unless you create one." 

Napaatras ako nang bigla siyang nasa harapan ko na't hawak ang isang balikat ko. Hindi ako makapiglas kahit ano'ng gawin ko, na para bang nasa kontrol niya ako. Something flowed out of my body, and it seemed like was transferred to his hand holding my shoulder— as if he was absorbing something.

Hanggang sa napabalikwas siya't napatingin muli sa mga mata ko na para bang naaaliw at 'di makapaniwala. "It seems that it would be easier for you to create my weakness. Your soul in the future... is similar to mine. No, it is mine."

"It seems that I miscalculated my powers after granting you a physical form. I was mistaken. I also gave you part of my soul and fate. Whatever would await you, I would know. Whatever feelings you have, I would also feel," he went on and on while laughing.

Do'n ko na unti-unting nakuha ang mga nangyayari. The life I led... he knows it because of my form, my soul. And it seems like the present Ezra has lost it, and thought that he  is the real Lucifuge. He has turned to a madman with all the confusion.

Baka sa tagal at dami ng naranasan ko at niya, nalito na siya't inakalang lahat ng nakikita niya mula sa kaluluwa ko ay karanasan niya rin. That's why he's obsessed with Georgia. He has memories of her and feelings for her, stronger than what I feel now because he has all, whilst I forgot.

"Whatever weakness you have is also my weakness. A lady, is it?" He said while smiling devilishly. "I couldn't take a look at your memories, but I can feel it at your heart, Lucifuge. That lady is going to lead us to our demise. She will weave our fate. So before that happens, I must get rid of her."

"You can't," maikli kong sagot. Hindi niya kayang gawin 'yon.

"Oh, sure I can't, but Summerland can. After all, it is still I who rules and weaves the fate of this world," he mentioned and pushed me with his fist.  "The two of you shall not meet in Summerland. She will be ruined in Fall, and we will thrive in Summer. I will make sure that whoever of you will cross the borderline will die."

Ah.. so this is where the curse of Summerland began. Because he was afraid of Georgia. 

Alas, it's too late, King Ezra. Georgia has ruined you first. We survived your curse. Now, it's time you survive ours or die.

Discovering Summerland
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Hah, this has been on my drafts since last year, pero ngayon ko lang natapos huhu. Probably the longest chapter I have ever written for this story. I missed you guys! By the way, some of the scenes came from The Zero Curse ahahaha. Wew. 

Votes and comments are appreciated. Thank you for reading!