The Mirror in the Fortress
June 18, 2196
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LUCIFUGE
Lucifuge Rofocale Gwydion

"Sasabay ka ba sa'kin?" tanong ni Imogen habang nag-aayos ng kaniyang mga gamit sa eskwela. Dahil tinagurian siyang royal knight ko, pinaaral na rin siya upang mas lalo siyang lumakas.

Umiling naman ako habang nakatanaw pa rin sa paligid. Napansin kong paunti nang paunti ang mga paru-paro sa paligid- that only means more people are vanishing. I remember reading an ancient book about butterflies, and how they represent a life of a Celestine. Some excerpts also say that these butterflies are our source of power. Hindi ko nga lang sigurado, ngunit ang alam ko lang, may ibig sabihin ang mga paru-parong ito.

"You're staring at the butterflies again, Lord Lucifuge."

Hindi ko siya tiningnan ngunit bumagsak ang paningin ko sa'king kamay. "Mauna ka na at huwag mong sasabihin na darating ako."

She didn't respond anymore but I heard the click of the door. Naghintay naman ako nang ilang oras o minuto bago tumalon at bumaba mula sa balcony. Sumulyap ako sa paligid upang masiguro na walang nakahuli o nakatingin sa'kin sapagkat hindi nila maaaring malaman ang pinupuntahan ko.

Mahina akong sumipol para muling i-summon si Wechuge. His form this time was a lion. Sakto lang ang laki n'on kaya't makakasakay ako sa likod.

"Wala namang nasa paligid, hindi ba?"

Wechuge shook his head, so I patted it to commend him. Through the years that we've been together, he has gone familiar with my actions too. Sumakay na ako sa likod niya at hindi na kinailangan siyang tapikin 'pagkag alam na niya agad kung s'an pupunta- kung saan kami madalas.

We headed in the farthest that we could be in the forest. The sun moved through the sky and started to fall- but it was only an illusion sent by the enormous trees. It sent slanted light through the surrounding, the rays diffused by the lush greenery, casting a golden glow on my skin.

Bumulong naman ako nang maramdaman kong nakarating na kami sa paroroonan namin.

"Medeis Regno. Stellae de caelo, oculus universum, ostende castellum aestivum."

Hindi ko alam ang ibig sabihin n'yan, ngunit sabi sa isang librong nabasa ko, isa 'yang ancient spell at ginagamit 'to upang makarating sa fortress ng Summer.

And it just so happens that I was the chosen one to witness the fortress. It happened several years ago, and I still had no idea then. I remember reaching this part of the forest, and the fortress opened up to me on its own. D'on ko rin nabasa ang mga libro na hindi ko kailanman nabasa sa library sa kastilyo.

I know I was chosen for a reason.

Finally, the fortress showed up again. Bumaba ako at nawala na si Wechuge. I stepped lightly through the trees, barely able to make way in the dim light for the thick forest canopy closed in. The trees were ancient, tangled creatures, and crowded close together. They were fighting for the scattered rays of sunlight that filtered through the tallest trees.

The air was reeking of damp. Somewhere, I could hear the tinkle of flowing water, a hidden sound amidst the cries and buzz of the forest creatures. I'm sure the sound of the water came from the fall behind.

Hinawi ko ang malaking mga vines at dahon. Finally, I saw the runes. It glowed softly, the colors arranging themselves in a pattern. The rest of the vines moved for me, and it opened up to a cave-like place.

May mga libro sa kanan, at halos lahat ng laman n'on ay spells. There were a lot of mystical things and potions inside. Hindi ko nga lang ginagalaw ang mga 'yon dahil sa takot na kung anong mangyari. Mayr'on ding salamin kung s'an maaaring makita kung ano ang nangyayari sa isang partikular na lugar.

My eyes drifted to one spot. The place where the frozen bodies of two persons are. I believe they are named Zero and Four. Their names were engraved in the stones, written in some of the books back in the year of 1000s. More than a thousand years. I believe, according to the books here, they lived up to 500 years which is unusual for a Celestine. An age of 200 is the most time that a Celestine can spend. And unlike Celestines that vanishes when their time comes, they became frozen.

So, I treated them like ancient Gods too- like they were rulers of Summerland.

Napasinghap naman ako nang biglang lumiwanag ang salamin. Blue light travelled from the runes in the side to the border of the mirror. A fiery glow moving in a spiral pattern as it lit up the symbols above.

Suddenly, it showed a scene. The Academy. Nanliit ang mata ko nang mapansin ang nagkumpulang tao sa may entrance, at isang karwahe sa may gates. Isang lalaki ang bumaba mula roon at napansing si Lowell iyon. Napagtanto kong ngayon nga pala sila darating, ngunit hindi baleng hindi ako makaabot sa-

My mind stopped running when my eyes landed on the lady who came out next. Hindi siya si Heidi. Nanliit lalo ang mata ko nang mapansin ang pamilyar niyang mga pulang mata. She looked like someone I couldn't name. Pinanood ko siyang tumingin sa mga tao, tila nahihiya o natatakot.

Kung hindi siya si Heidi, bakit siya nariyan? The crowd screamed for Heidi's name. That only meant that this lady is claiming Heidi's identity! Kung gan'on, nasaan siya? Why did someone else show up?

"Her hair was brown or black. Her face was angelic." Naalala kong sabi ng mga hunters kahapon. Angelic? Mas lalo akong lumapit sa salamin at tinitigan ang mukha ng babae.

Siya ba ang nakita nila Imogen? The girl who was drifted by the waves. Kung ga'yon ay may alam ang mga Calafiore? They let someone suspicious in their home- and let someone take Heidi's identity.

Sigurado akong nagtataka na rin si Imogen ngayon 'pagkat naroon na siya sa Academy. Bago pa naman ako makaalis ay tila may humihila sa'king pwersa papunta sa salamin. Napapikit ako nang biglang magliwanag 'yon, at sa isang iglap, pakiramdam kong nag-teleport ako.

The moment I opened my eyes, I was already in the Academy. The mirror in the fortress allowed me to do so, that only means that I have to do something here- that I have to meet the lady. Kailangan kong alamin kung isa ba siyang Soulless o Celestine?

Tila nandilim ang paningin ko nang lapitan siya ni Jax, the noble from House Morrison. I scoffed when I heard him claim that she was his bethroted.

"Finally, my bethroted is here."

Muntik na akong mapairap nang marinig 'yon. Malayo ako sa kanila ngunit talagang nilaksan niya ang kaniyang boses, halatang nang-aasar. Malamang ay sinabi sa kaniya ni Imogen na darating ako.

I gritted my teeth when I saw him hold the lady's hand and bring it close to his lips. Walang pasabi akong nagpadala r'on ng isang dagger. He smirked mischieviously when he saw me, but it was only for a fast moment because he returned his gaze on the lady again.

"Who told you that you could steal her from me, Morrison?" ani ko habang naglalakad papunta sa likod ng babae. Fuck off, habol ko pang salita sa kaniyang utak.

Natawa naman siya kaya't hindi ko napigilan na mandilim ang paningin. "Akala ko ba'y ayaw mong matali, Fuge?"

Hindi ako nakikipagbiruan, ah.

Napasulyap naman ako sa babae at napansing nakatitig na siya. Her red eyes pierced through my soul, and I couldn't help but stare back too. I sensed familiarity in her eyes, and I thought I was in a déjà vu. Napaubo naman ako bigla nang magtagal 'yon ng ilang segundo. I leaned slightly towards her and clinged an arm around her shoulders- but I made sure I didn't make contact.

But I did try to read her aura and soul.

"Because I'm already tied to her," natatawa kong sagot kay Morrison bagaman may inis parin sa tingin ko. I looked back at the lady and forced a smile.

"Welcome to Summerland Academy, mi amore."

But in truth, it was more like a welcome to the land of Summer. Because the moment our skin almost touched, I felt no soul within her- a Soulless, a lady from the Fall.

Hindi naman niya ako sinagot at mabilis na tumakbo palayo. Pinanood ko naman siya habang binababa ang kamay ko. Binalewala ko ang atensyon ng mga tao sa'kin.

I whispered, but it was loud enough fo some to hear. "Mukhang mapapadalas na ako ngayon dito," ani ko habang nakatitig sa likod ng babae.

Who are you, Soulless?

Discovering Summerland
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Thank you for reading!