𝐈𝐊𝐀𝐓𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀

"Pre, gusto mo! Nabili ko sa isang maliit na tindahan kanina. Pamparami ng chix!" Ice Raiford shouted from the corner. Tuwang-tuwa niyang tinaas ang isang pirasong singsing na gawa sa pilak.

Agad na tinakpan ni Blaze ang bunganga nito. Despite Ice Raiford's good merit and ranking, he's still a silly-goofy teenager. Tumalon pa ito't inakbayan ang kaibigan. After Ice's tutorial in arts and music, he encountered a small shop. Maliit man ito at simple lang ay parang may humatak sa kaniya na pumasok sa loob.

"Ang ingay mo!" Asik ni Blaze. Mapapansin ang pamamawis ng binatilyo habang palinga-linga sa paligid. Little did Ice Raiford know that his dearest friend is stalking someone.

"Shhh!" Asik ni Blaze. Hila-hila niya ang kaibigan habang hindi inaalis ang kamay sa bibig nito.

He wonders why Ice Raiford is here while he's going straight home after his tutors. Alam niyang umiikot lang sa bahay at pag-aaral ang buhay ni Ice kaya naman ay labis siyang nagtaka kung tama ba ang narinig niya o hindi.

"Puro ka na lang gala." Panenermon ni Blaze. Agad niyang hinila si Ice at nagtago silang dalawa sa likod ng magagarbo't malalaking halaman.

Nahalata naman ni Ice na para bang may tinataguan ang kaibigan. Lumipat ang tingin ni Blaze sa hawak na singsing ni Ice. At first look, it's obvious that it was made of frozen silver and has a fancy deep blue crystal. Ang mga ganitong klaseng diyamante ay mahal dahil bihira lang makita sa ilalim ng karagatan.

The truth is Ice wanted to invite Blaze but he knows that he'll be bored. Hindi kasi ito mahilig pumunta sa isang tahimik na lugar. In contrast to Ice, Blaze loves the crowd. Hindi lang halata pero kabaliktaran niya ang kambal na tahimik at grabe ang iwas sa mga tao. Maybe in terms of empathy, he's better than his twin.

"Ouch. Ikaw naman. 'Wag ka nang magtampo dahil hindi kita niyaya, baby." Inakbayan ni Ice si Blaze at ngumisi upang asarin ito. Pabirong sinikmuraan naman ng binatilyo si Ice bilang tugon.

"Kadiri ka. Ang ingay mo!" Asik ni Blaze. Walang katapusang siko ang binigay niya kay Ice para lang manahimik ito. Ngunit napansin ni Ice na para bang may pinagmamasdan ang kaibigan mula sa malayo.

Mukhang tama nga ang hula niya dahil isang babae ang nakaupo't tahimik na nagbabasa sa isang upuan. Ito'y nakatalikod sa kanila't nakapusod ang buhok kaya nama'y kitang-kita ang maputi nitong batok.

"Yieee. Crush mo 'no? Hoy, miss—" Bago pa matuloy ang sasabihin niya'y agad na tinakpan ni Blaze ang kaniyanng bibig. Ice can't help but to chuckle. This is the first time that he saw his friend stalking someone. However, his forehead knotted when he noticed that the woman's back seems familiar.

"Manahimik ka nga. Asikasuhin mo na lang 'yang singsing mo!" Inis na saad ni Blaze. Lumawak naman ang ngisi ni Ice at lalong inasar ang kaibigan.

"You mean this? Gusto mong makuha 'yang chix na nakaupo? Come here, lover boy. Wear this." Hindi natigil ang pang-aasar ni Ice kay Blaze. He might be kidding but he swears that whenever Blaze needs help, his arms will be open to help him.

Oh, what kind of woman is she? That's the first question that Blaze thought while looking at her back.

"Ang ingay mo manahimik ka. Wala akong paki diyan sa singsing mo. Saksak mo 'yan sa baga mo." Inis na binatukan ni Blaze si Ice habang sila'y nagtatago sa isang malaking damo. In response, Ice held his chest as if he's hurt on what he heard.

"Ouch naman. Alam mo ba na ang mga pinagdaanan ko para lang bilhin ang singsing na 'yan?" Ice's voice became dramatic.

"Kasalanan ko pang bumili ka niyan? Aanhin mo? Ang daming nagkakagusto sa iyo. Sus. 'Di mo na kailangan 'yan! Nagsayang ka lang ng oras!" Blaze said.

Taas kilay naman siyang tiningnan ni Blaze. At pakiramdam niya'y hindi niya lang sinamahan si Ice ay kung saan-saan na ito nagpupupunta. Blaze stared at the ring. Well, this is the first time that he saw Ice holding a magic item. Why would he needed magic items anyways? He's already good in magic.

Only those who aren't bestowed or good with any kind of magic should be interested in various magic items. Besides, magic items are not easy to use because it also requires skills. Selling magical items require both skill and knowledge too. Taliwas sa mga iniisip ng iba ang katotohanan na ang pagbebenta ng mga magic items ang bagsakan ng mga mahihina't hindi nakapag-aral.

"Makinig ka kasi sa akin! Didn't you know? There's a rumor going around that the shop popped from any place or region! Sabi nila ay nawawala raw sa puwesto ang shop!" bulong ni Ice sa kaibigan. Narinig niya lang din naman ang tsismis galing sa isa pang kaibigan.

"Manahimik ka nga! Ignore them! It's their first time to see a shop selling magical items!" Blaze pointed out a fact.

That's right. Magical items are not easy to find. And some are imported illegally from Nevarion. There's even an underlying rumor that some magical items came from the underworld. Puno man ng kababalaghan ang paglitaw ng mga magic items ay hindi pa rin nabawasan ang mga gumagamit nito.

"How could I?" Ngising tugon ni Ice. "Alam mo ba na hindi maganda ang timpla ng matandang nagbabantay ng shop kanina? 'Wag daw ako lalapit sa isang banga kun'di makikita ko raw ang hinaharap!" He added and crossed his arms.

Labis naman ang pagtataka ni Blaze habang nakatingin sa kaniya. He thought magic items would only enhance your skills and such. But why does he heard a new thing? Ano nga ang banga na tinutukoy nito? Is that true that you can have glimpse of the future using a water container? No one knows.

"Paanong makikita ang hinahanarap?" Na-intriga si Blaze ngunit hindi nawala ang pagbulong nito. Binalingan niya ng tingin ang babaeng nakaupo mula sa malayo. She's currently curling her hair, smirking as if she's really interested in reading the thick book in her left hand.

As if she knows that someone is watching her from a far.

"The owner told me to be cautious because someone already saw the future from the water container." Bulong ni Ice.

Muli siyang nangilabot nang ma-alala ang mukha ng matandang nagbabantay ng shop kung saan siya nagpunta. Muntik pa siyang batuhin ng pinggan dahil makulit siya't gusto pang sumilip sa malaking banga na puno ng tubig.

"Oh? Tapos wala lang sa'yo at bumili ng singsing at kung ano-ano?" Pabalang na tugon ni Blaze. But the truth is he's curious on what shop is it. It's his first time to hear a shop that sells magic items too.

For some magic users, having a certain power is boring. Kung tubig man ang kapangyarihan mo'y maari mo nga ito gawing eksperimento ngunit ilang taon pa ang gugugulin mo. While magical items, you can do a lot. Rings that can copy other people's powers, hair accessories that would change your physical appearance, necklaces that can make you invisible, and many more. No wonder why the appearance of the peddler's shop is new to them.

"Nope!" The word rolled to Ice Raiford's tongue. Umiling-iling pa siya't pumikit. "Sa tingin mo ba sapat na para i-tsismis 'yon? S'yempre hindi! May mga bagay din akong tinanong!"

Yumuko si Blaze upang pagmasdan ang babae mula sa malayo. Sunod na nangunot ang noo niya. Now she's laughing like a lunatic. At pumapalakpak pa ito na para bang nagagalak sa nabasa. Blaze couldn't help but to wonder what kind of book she was reading. Abala man ito sa pagmasid sa babae'y hindi naman huminto sa kakadakdak sa kaniyang tabi si Ice.

Hindi siya kumurap habang nakatitig sa likod nito. Umakyat ang tingin niya sa maputi nitong batok. He's hoping to see her face. Though, he knows that he already encountered her a lot of times, he still wanted to see her face.

The image of the girl and Thunder kissing flashed to his memory again. Umiling siya't napasabunot ng buhok dahil parang mababaliw na siya sa kanilang nakita. He wondered what kind of woman is she. Is it true that she's a troublemaker? When and where did she met his twin?

He wanted to know everything about his twin's first kiss and so he thought.

"If you were the hero, will you save everyone?" Inakbayan ni Ice si Blaze para lang mapunta sa kaniya ang atensyon nito. Nakasimangot siyang nilingon ni Blaze.

"Siguro." Walang ganang tugon ni Blaze.

"Tsk! Hindi naman raw 'yan ang sagot mo sa recitation ninyo eh!" Angal ni Ice kaya naman ay pinagkunutan siya ng noo ni Blaze. How could he knew about that? He's nowhere to be found in the campus this morning. Everyone knows Ice is attending various seminars and meetings outside the campus.

Ice Raiford belongs to the House of Bravers. He belongs to those students who are bestowed with the elemental power of wind, water, and ice. In addition to this, some top students of the Imperial Academy are found with the House where he belongs.

"Alam mo ba? Sabi rin sa akin ng matanda ay isang batang babae ang nakakita ng hinaharap. Gugugo raw ang mundo natin! Magiging impiyerno raw!" Nangingilabot na tugon ni Ice.

"Sus. Naniwala ka naman. Humahakot lang ng benta 'yon—" Blaze's reply were interrupted when he can't no longer see the woman he's observing. Napatayo na lang siya't napasabunot ng buhok.

"Oh bakit?" Walang kamuwang-muwang na tanong ni Ice at luminga-linga sa paligid. Muli siyang lumingon sa harap at napagtanto kung bakit tila problemado si Blaze.

"Ooops!" Napatakip na lang sa bibig ni Ice.

Hindi naman mawala sa isip ni Blaze ang babae kahapon pa niyang iniisip. Iniisip niya kung saan ito nagpunta't kung paano siya nawala sa kaniyang paningin. He only derived his attention for a second. Saglit lang naman siya tumingin sa iba pero paanong nawala ito sa kaniyang paningin?

But he will never give up. Blaze will find that woman again. Aalamin niya lahat ng bagay tungkol sa kaniya. Aalamin niya lahat ng bagay na kailangan at hindi niya kailangang alamin.

Blaze might be a trouble maker but when it comes to his twin, he's hell protective. And he's looking forward on meeting that woman again.

Sa kabilang banda nama'y halos dumikit na ang palad ni Scarlet sa aklat na kanina niya pa hawak. She's currently walking around the campus with the old thick book on her hand. Ngayon lang siya naging interesado sa isang aklat. Given the fact that it's an academic book not a fictional one makes her more interested.

This is the first time that she didn't even ditch her class hoping that the professor will teach a topic related to the book that she was holding. But she was wrong because the professor wasted one hour talking about her personal life.

Such a waste of paying the Academy if professors would just talk about their lives in front of the class. What's the use of studying? Life is indeed a scam.

"Cool." Lumawak ang ngisi ni Scarlet at tumango. She raised her right hand to feed her little friend. Mula sa kaniyang ulo'y lumipad patungo sa kaniyang balikat ang isang ibon na kanina niya pa kasama sa kaniyang pagbabasa.

For people's eyes she's a woman with odd physical traits walking with a normal bird. However they didn't know that her companion is as odd as her. It can read the book she's holding. Ang ibon na kasama niya ang nagbabasa't nagpapaliwanag sa nilalaman ng aklat na natagpuan niya sa isang bodega.

"So when will the Priestess of Destruction have her comeback?" Napangisi ang dalagita't tumingin sa ibon ng kaniyang kasama. It looks like a crow and it's called Amigo.

Scarlet might not have her necklace but she swallowed a dust-candy. Dust candy can make you understand a certain one specie from the Animal Kingdom for three hours. And fortunately, she encountered Amigo on her way.

Amigo been talking about his lost lover but then Amigo saw the book that she was holding and said that it's an ancient language. And only certain species can read it. Whether Amigo is telling the truth or not, she don't really care much as long as she can benefit something.

"Oh. I see. No one knows." She flipped the book. Mas lalo siyang na-intriga sa aklat. Hell she cares about the past nor the history but now she doesn't know she's interested.

Sa paglipat niya ng pahina'y tumambad sa kaniya ang isang makulay na pahina na puno ng mga guhit kamay. Various illustrations of gigantic plants that no one couldn't recognize.

The colorful illustrations looks like from another world or dimensions. Little did Scarlet know that the book she was holding was studied by countless scholars from different timelines but until now no one can translate what it says. Only chosen ones can.

"I have a place. Come with me." Before hearing Amigo's response, Scarlet immediately snapped my fingers. Sa isang iglap ay lumitaw sila sa tavern kung saan siya'y laging tumatambay.

With one step, Scarlet immediately transformed into her known disguise. However, she chose to wear a comfortable outfit. A simple sleeveless maroon top paired with black corset, and long square black skirt with flared bottoms with a little slit on her right leg. Of course, she paired it with a sexy knee high boots.

"How's my new look?" Nakangising saad niya kay Amigo. Lumipat pa ito sa kaniyang ulo habang nakatingin sa mahaba't malaking salamin sa aking harap.

Tutal ay nakita naman na ng lahat ang totoong itsura't kulay ng kaniyang buhok ay para saan pa't itatago niya ito? She styled her hair with a high pony tail to flex the hollow flower leaf earcuff that she's currently wearing. It's a magical item that can extend the given period of the candy dust that she took.

This is how she's interested with the book. With the story. With the history. . . On how the Princess of Destruction created everything out of dust and also ended the world and turned everything into ashes.

"Hi, red!" Mula sa malayo'y isang lalaki ang agad na kumaway sa dalagita.

Sa tindig pa lang nito'y makikilala na siya ng iba. Sunod namang lumingon sa akin ang lahat. Humalakhak ang dalagita dahil katulad ng dati'y lahat ng mga mata ay nakatuon sa kaniya. Maging ang mga bagong pasok na lalaki'y siya ang unang tiningnan. It's been two weeks since she left the taven because she decided to study but looks like everyone missed her.

''Sexy.''

Mula sa gilid ay lumingon ang dalagita nang marinig ang pabirong pagsipol ng isang lalaki. She raised her point finger and swayed it in the air. Lumutang ang hawak na inumin ng lalaki at mabilis na pumunta sa kamay ng dalagita. Napakamot na lang sa batok ang lalaki dahil alam niyang hindi nagustuhan ni Scarlet ang inasta ito.

''Don't you dare call me like that. I'm not a dog.'' Masungit nitong asik sa kaniya. She rolled her eyes and she couldn't help but to laugh after. Her friend's cowardly face is funny. Para itong matatae sa takot sa kaniya. Suwabe siyang umupo't sinalo ang ibon sa kaniyang balikat na muntik pang mahulog.

''Sorry na.'' Nahihiyang tugon ni Black. ''Ang tagal mo kasing nawala. They were looking for you.'' He added.

Tinagilid naman ni Scarlet ang ulo niya habang nakangisi na animo'y interesadong-interesado sa kaniyang narinig. Hindi na bago para sa kaniya na tuwing siya'y nawawala sa tavern ay lagi siyang hinahanap ng mga tao rito. Ang bago lang sa kaniya'y kay Black mismo nanggaling ang mga salitang kaniyang narinig.

"You miss me?" Pang-aasar ni Scarlet. She leaned closer and that's when she realized that Black was holding a thick book like her. Sunod namang nangunot ang kaniyang noo.

"What's that?" Na-iintrigang tanong ng dalagita. Nahihiya namang napakamot sa batok si Black.

"Hindi ba obvious na aklat? Subukan mo kagatin baka sakaling pagkain." Pabalang na tugon nito sa kaniya. She can't help but to smirk more. Hindi niya akalain na marunong pa lang mambara ang kaniyang kasama.

"So after I was gone, you learned how to shut people off?" Umiiling nitong sabi. Walang sabi nitong hinablot ang inumin sa harap ng binatilyo. It was his all-time favorite matcha drink topped with large chocolate marshmallows in a huge glass.

"Ikaw? Ano 'yang hawak mo? Looks like a book too." Black leaned closer too to see that book. However the title was not readable because it's faded. Sa unang tingin ay halatang luma na rin ang aklat.

"Some sort of book about the thing called The Princess of Destruction and such." Ngisi nitong sabi. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Black ang pinakita agad ang hawak na aklat.

"Ako rin! Our professor told us to read it. I had an assessment after so..." Hiyang kabot sa batok ang muling ginawa ni Black. Napalingon naman sa kaniya ang dalagita.

"Oh, you're a bookworm now?" Scarlet pointed out. Black shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

Kahit na hindi sumangot ang kausap niya'y alam niya ang sagot. Lumipat naman ang kaniyang tingin sa aklat na hawak nito. The cover page is in black color. And the title is written in old english. It says History. Totoo ngang isa pa lang estudyante ang kilala niya sa code name na Black.

"You didn't tell me that you were interested in History..." Black said.

"I'm not. I'm only interested in this." Scarlet pointed the book.

"You're interested in the Princess of Destruction?" Hindi mapigilan ng binatilyo ang pagtaasan siya ng kilay. Tulad ng inaasahan niya ay isang malawak na ngisi ang tugon sa kaniya ng dalagita.

"Who wouldn't?" She shrugged her shoulders.

"How about the Princess of Destruction's twin? Aren't you interested with him too?" Black flipped the book without breaking eye contact with her. However, Scarlet's forehead knotted.

"The Princess of Destruction has a twin?"

"You didn't know?"

Their conversation were interrupted when a group of girls started screaming like fans seeing their beloved idols. Lingid sa kanilang kaalaman na kung ano ang kanilang mga nakikita'y ito ang tunay na itsura ng dalawang kalalakihan na pumasok mula sa pinto.

"Thunder! Ang tagal mong maglakad! First time mo makakita ng tavern? Labas-labas din kapag may time!"

Without looking in front, Scarlet knew who those two people are. Napangisi na lang siya habang panay ang kagat sa marshmallows.

Simple niyang tinapunan ng tingin ang dalawang kalalakihan na bagong pasok sa tavern. The one shines with various magical items and the one has a poker face. How could they find this tavern easily? Will Scatlet approach them? Maybe yes, maybe not. Or maybe she'll pull another trick again.

Sinundan niya ng tingin ang dalawang binatilyo na kasalukuyang inaalok ng iba't-ibang mga inumin ng mga kababaihan. Well, obviously, this is the first time that these girls saw such a beauty that they possessed.

They were offering various flavored drinks and sweets. Isang malawak na ngisi ang binigay ng binatilyo sa kanila dahilan para lalo siyang maghiyawan at ang isa nama'y blanko ang mukha na para bang katatapak pa lang ay uwing-uwi na.

What is the odds that she will see the Imperial Academy's so-called top 1 student in a tavern like this?