A Match Againt The Unknowns

"I will surrender."

He said which surprised me, ganoon din si Ciel na ngayon ay nasa tabi ko na. Dapat nga maging masaya pa ako dahil sumuko siya and that would mean I just have to fight Ciel and get over with all of these. Pero bakit parang hindi ako payag sa desisyon niya? I feel like it's not right. He's the one who has the big upper hand kumpara sa amin, and what's worse, everyone in this whole arena knows about that. Pero susuko nalang siya? I don't know why this annoys me.

Before Thomas could get here to confirm things, sabay kaming umatake ni Ciel papunta sa direksyon niya but we stopped nang pinapalibutan ang sahig ng bilog na shadow. It paralyze us at hindi kami makakagalaw.

"I wouldn't stop me if I were you." Wika niya nalang. He's few feets ahead of us and if I could just grab him.

"Don't you dare surrender! Huwag kang duwag!" I think it's quite obvious who yelled that.

"Hindi ibig sabihin na susuko ka na ay duwag ka na. It also means you're thinking about other people." Ibig bang sabihin kinakaawaan niya lang kami? Tss.

Bago pa man ako makapagsalita, nagulat ako nang lumulubog ang paa ko na para bang nilalamon ako ng shadow, it's the same case as Ciel.

"Kung magiging makulit kayo, bibigyan ko kayo ng pagkakataon. Lalabanan ko kayo kung makakatakas kayo." Hindi ko siya maintindihan.

But before I knew it, my visions were filled with darkness. Wala akong makita kundi kadiliman lang. It must have been his shadow magic. Everything around me is too quiet. Kahit ano mang sigaw ko ay tiyak na walang makakarinig nito.

I could hear my own heart beating sa sobrang tahimik. My breath echoes along the silence. Damn...hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin. Hindi ako makakapag-isip ng maayos.  Something's bothering me in my mind. It makes me remember all sorts of things.

My heart was throbbing. Ang sakit. Nakakatakot. Wala akong makita kundi kadiliman. My eyes were swollen from crying and my voice was breaking dahil sa pagsisigaw na wala manlang makakarinig. I gave up on hope from escaping this place.

The cold air swept the room. Ni hindi ko alam kung saan nagmumula ang malamig na hangin. I shivered when the cold air made contact with my skin. To make myself erase that coldness, I hugged my knees tight.

I wished I was normal. I wished I was the same as others. Was it my fault I was born like this? I don't deserve this pain pero bakit ako nasasaktan? Why did it has to be me? Then my emotions became stable. I learned how to control it perfectly as if I don't have any emotions at all.

The door creaked opened, which seldomly just happen, and it revealed a man. It was dark I couldn't see his face well, pero nakikilala ko ang mga matang meron siya.

"Sorry for waiting..." he said caressing my face.

My ability caused me too much pain. Being able to feel billions of emotions, letting them surge inside of me, feeling every last one of them, made me loose myself. Hindi ko kinaya na sinubukan ko ng patayin ang sarili ko ng ilang beses. Pero hindi ko alam kung bakit buhay parin ako.

They put me inside a room. That room had some blocking magic and I was relieved that I was spared from the pain I was feeling. Wala na akong mararamdaman. Pero natatakot akong lumabas sa kwartong yun, hindi ko kakayanin.

My parents did everything they could to save me from that pain. For over the years, my hair grew longer and longer each day. It had been so long since I stepped out from that dark and empty room. One day, my grandfather came and handed me a ring. The ring blocked my ability to overflow and it was resulted to the way it is now.

But I still always end up staying in that cold and dark room. It makes me feel so calm kung nandun ako sa kadilimang yun. Dahil hindi ko kayang maramdaman ang emosyon ng mga magulang ko. Kahit hindi nila sinasabi ay alam kong nahihirapan sila sa akin. Na dumadagdag lang ako sa problema nila. I grew up in that household without my parents ever acting like one. They hated me. And so, I started hating them as well.

It was my brother and sister who took me out from that room. Made me live a normal life, and I started being happy. They did everything for me, at sila lang ang tinuturing kong pamilya.

But all of those things became possible because darkness never left my side. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko 'to inaalala ngayon but it must have something to do with his magic. I smirked. If he thought I'd be vulnerable dahil sa kadilimang ito, nagkakamali siya. Not all people hates darkness, some even loves them. At isa na ako sa mga taong yun.

I opened my eyes and realised myself panting. Parang nauubusan ako ng hininga. Nilibot ko ang paningin ko at napagmataang nandito parin ako sa arena. Black shadows engulfged the whole floor. So bale ang lupang inaapakan ko ngayon ay isang shadow. Pero nakakagalaw ako.

Wait....yung nangyari kanina, is that his mind magic? Tumayo ako ng maayos at tinignan siya na ngayon ay ngumingiti lang.

"Ten minutes." I frowned. "Sampung minuto kang nakakulong sa shadow at mind magic ko." So I was right. Mind magic nga yung ginawa niyang pagpa-alala sa akin ng nangyari sa buhay ko. Unfortunately though, mali ang pinakita niya sa akin.

But ten minutes? Ganoon ba talaga kahaba ang lahat ng iyon? It's almost impossible. Pero parang paniginip narin. Ang dali-dali lang pero paggising mo ay ilang oras ka na palang tulog.

"I'm amazed." He said which got my attention. "I didn't expect you to see that off so easily." Tumawa siya. "That's right, you should embrace darkness more." Pangaral na naman niya. "Because it's the only thing that wouldn't leave your side no matter what." Pero may sense ang mga sinasabi niya.

"Nandito ka ba para makipaglaban o maging isang guro?" He put his fingers on his chin na para bang nag-iisip.

"A teacher huh? Not bad." Pero seryoso ako dito. Parang sigurado na ako na hindi niya 'to siniseryoso. I'm quite annoyed because of that fact.

Tumakbo ako papunta sa kaniya and swung my katana to his direction, as expected, he dodged to the right at nang ginawa niya yun ay nilibot ko ang paa ko at sinipa siya. He blocked it using his arms at tumalon patalikod. When he did, I threw my sword at him pero sinalo niya ito.

Again, he emerged from his shadow at nawala na naman sa paningin ko. Looking back, Ciel's still unconscious habang nakahiga sa lupa. Nawala na yung itim na shadow na nakapalibot sa lupa. I wonder what will happen kung hindi ka makakawala diyan.

It was only a trace pero naramdaman ko ang galaw niya kaya ako napatalon patalikod. Pero dahil aa bilis niyang gumapang sa lupa napigilan niya ang paggalaw ko. He was suddenly behind me, pointing my own sword at my neck. I can't help but let out a bitter hiss. I know I can't take him on pero alang namang tutunganga lang ako dito. The least thing I could do is predict his attacks and find an opening.

"You're smart but not that strong. Kailangan mong e-improve ang combat skills mo. Then you're ability....hmm ano ngaba ang ability mo? I'm curious why aren't you showing it. Am I not that—" I interrupted him. Nawala na yata ang respeto ko sa kaniya. We're in a middle of a fight and 'respect' is something I do when I'm not being harmed.

"Don't overestimate me." Yun lang ang sinabi ko sa kaniya. If he's observant enough, he would have noticed my ability like several minutes ago.

"Alam mo ba na mas malakas ang isang witch o wizard kung wala silang ipinapakitang magic circle? Magic circle is like a gate. You'll need to open it in order to get the magic you want. It's basic. Pero sa kaso ko, hindi ko na kailangan buksan ang gate na yun. I could use my magic freely and directly. Why? Because I have lots of magical energy."

"I didn't remember asking." Natawa lang siya sa sinabi ko at binaba ang katana. I turned around and faced him with his playful smile. He's enjoying this. Bigla niya nalang tinapon sa akin ang katana at mabuti nalang at nasalo ko.

"Mukhang wala ng laban ang lalakeng yun." He said pointing at Ciel. "At hindi din naman ako interisadong labanan ka." If he is kanina pa ako natalo. "So I will surrender. You win." Nagsimula na siyang maglakad paalis ng arena.

"Roy Harlington." Tawag ko sa kaniya pero patuloy parin siya sa paglalakad. "I know you feel sad whenever you teach mo those things. At alam ko din kung ano ang pinagdaanan mo." He suddenly stopped walking. His brown cloak swaying along the breeze. Hindi ako magdra-drama dito.

"Alam mo mga pero hindi mo naman maiintindihan." Why do I feel like someone already told me this before? "And so what if you know? I lost my daughter. My wife was killed. Exiled from my own village..." napatigil siya sa pagsasalita ng sandali. "I was lost in darkness. So now, ano naman kung alam mo ngayon?"

"Hindi ka ba galit? The world turned its back from you." Tumawa lang siya sa tanong ko. Sad people always laugh. Sadly, that's true. But there's something I want to know kaya binubuksan ko tong discussion na ito. I'm not here to give him an advice o magdrama. He's hiding something in his emotions that I'm curious about.

"I was angry. No, furious. Sino ba naman ang hindi? If there's someone who has been in my situation and sill peaceful right now, then that person is insane." Then I felt it. That huge anger. There's something odd inside him at pilit niyang tinatago ito. No, he's controlling it. "Ability to feel huh?" So he finally noticed.

"You're storing up an abnormal energy." Yes, the right term is 'abnormal' dahil hindi normal ang enerhiyang ito na pilit niyang tinatago. But when I brought up his past, I felt it. Kahit ilang segundo lamang, naramdaman ko ito, kung ano man yan.

"'Storing up'isn't right. I'm controlling it. But I may not be too good at it."

"Is this something to do kung bakit ka pinapahanap ng Headmistress?" Mukhang nagulat siya ng sandali at hinarap ako. His face is now serious.

"I've been trying my best not catch that woman's eyes pero I guess nahanap niya na nga ako. So, are you one of her pets now?" I am offended.

Bago pa man ako makasagot ay bigla nalang napasigaw si Ciel. Our attention landed to him. Nakalabas narin siya sa mahika ni Harlington. Pero nang tumayo siya, nakapokus lamang ang kaniyang mga tingin sa lalaking hinaharap ko kanina. His eyes were full or rage and I could feel his anger from here.

Mabilis siyang tumakbo papunta kay Harlington at sinipa siya. He easily blocked off Ciel's attack but the latter regained its balance at umatake na naman. This time dahil sa sobrang bilis niya, natama niya ng suntok niya ang mukha ni Harlington. He blocked that attack bago pa man siya matamaan pero napaatras siya.

Ciel threw his shurikens at his direction. At first I thought it was futile, pero kahit hindi ito tumama, the other shuriken hit the other one making the shuriken move back. Mabilis din ito kaya natamaan si Harlington sa balikat at dumugo ito. Shurikens kept coming hanggang sa hindi niya na ito kayang ilagan at isangga. Because even if he did, tiyak na matatamaan lang wwnaman ulit siya.

"Enough!" Inis niyang sigaw at na paralyze si Ciel sa kinatatayuan niya.

Pero pati ako ay nagulat nang hindi tinatablan ng shadow paralyzing niya si Ciel. He was even walking towards him. I saw how he sighed mabilis na tumakbo kay Ciel at sinipa ito sa sikmura. The boy lost his consciousness pero hawak-hawak parin siya ni Harlington.

The ground suddenly shook underneath me at dahil sa lakas nito, nabiyak ang lupa and it caused damage even up to the walls at oati narin sa mga inuupuan ng mga manonood. Dahil sa patuloy na pagyanig ng lupa, nag panic na ang mga tao at isa-isang nagsitakbuhan oalabas mg arena. Debris are falling at napupuno narin ng alikabok ang lugar.

Thomas and the other knights are assisting the people, of course. Pero patuloy parin ang pagyanig. I fell to the ground and landed on my butt nang nahuhulog ang mga istraktura sa harapan ko. I was planning on running out of the arena as well dahil hindi ko na alam kung ano ang nangyayari pero pati ang exit ay nahulugan ng malaking bato kaya wala ng daanan dito.

The only way out is the way above, kung saan lumalabas ang mga tao. I scanned my eyes for Andrea and Iyana pero hindi ko sila makita dahil sa kapal ng namumuong alikabok. I started coughing nang nalanghap ko ang iba sa kanila. Gods! What the hellish hell is happening?!

Then I looked up nang mapagmataang may isang bagay na hinaharangan ang silak ng araw. Three of them. Hindi sila bagay kundi mga tao. They're wearing black cloaks at dahil sa layo at taas nila ay hindi ko sila makita ng maayos. Plus, the light is blinding.

I could see one in the middle lifting his hand, at nang ibaba niya ito ay sabay pag-ulan ng mga malalaking bato. People are still evacuating though! Napatingin ulit ako sa itaas ko and saw a big boulder of rock in sight. I closed my eyes for a moment at walang magawa dahil sa bilis ng mga pangyayari.

But when I opened them, I saw Andrea, in her real appearance, punching the big boulder of rock into pieces. Then Iyana, in her real appearance as well, summoning hundreds of bullets at pinatama sa mga paparating na malalaking bato to crumble in in pieces. It took them few minutes to recover.

"Anong nangyari sa inyo?" Tanong ko at sinunubukang tumayo. At dahil buhay naman ang mga paa ko ay nagawa ko.

"The witch didn't say our appearances require our own energy. Agad ko itong inalis nang malaman ko." Andrea explained at mukahng ganoon din ang kaso ni Iyana. They're back at their usual and real appearance, where they wear that black long-sleeved uniform, kaya hindi na nila kailangan itago ang abilities nila. Then why is it not draining my own energy?

"But this will be quite troublesome." Iyana stated the obvious looking around. We are currently under attack at wala kaming ideya kung sino ang mga umaatake at kung ano ang pakay nila.

"Kids, take this guy with you." Wika ng boses sa likuran namin at nakita namin si Roy Harlington na bitbit sa balikat niya si Ciel at kasama si Deil Montreo at si Edmon Krail.

Binaba niya si Ciel at pumunta silang tatlo sa harapan namin. Anong pinaplano nila? Another set of giant rocks came into view pero bago pa man may gawin ang dalawa kong kasama, Harlington covered us with a barrier made of shadow. Kaya madilim ngayon dito sa loob, but I could hear the loud sounds and thuds of rocks outside.

Nang parang tumigil na ito ay nawala narin ang malaking barrier na gawa sa shadow. Bumaba na ang tatlong lalakeng naka cloak at nasurpresa kaming tatlo makita ang itim na tattoo sa ilalim ng mga kaliwang mata nila. Naka hood parin sila kaya misteryo parin ang totoo nilang pagmumukha sa amin.

"The same guys who's following us." Wika ni Iyana. I nodded.

"Umalis na kayo dito mga bata. Hindu niyo sila kaya." Sabi ni Roy which I agreed by nodding my head.

"Pero mukhang malalakas sila—"

"Don't you even think about it Andrea!" I hissed at her.

Iyana pulled Andrea bago pa man sumugod siya dun sa mga kalaban. This is not her time to shine right now. And if she is to fight them now, hindi maiiwasang mapapasok na naman kami sa gulong ito. I could feel their energies from here at nakakatakot sila. Andrea would not stand a chance against them.

I grabbed Ciel at pinatong ang kamay niya sa balikat ko as we ran away. Pero may malaking bato na nakaharang sa unahan namin. Sa inis ni Andrea, she punched the rock out of her way and it crumbled to pieces. When we reached the big open doors, I put Ciel on the ground since malayo na kami. I have no freakimg idea what's happening pero masama talaga ang pakiramdam ko dito.

"Wait..." naagaw ni Andrea ang atensyon ko kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya. "Where's Iyana?" Napatingin ako sa paligid ko at nagulat na hindi ko siya nakita.

We both stared at each other for few seconds. Andrea was too busy clearing a way for us at hindi ko na naisip kung sumsusunod ba talaga si Iyana dahil sa likod ko lang naman siya, and since I'm carrying Ciel.

"Don't tell me she went back!" Hindi niya makapaniwalang-sigaw.

"Then I won't tell you!" Sigaw ko sa kaniya pabalik. Tumayo ako pagtapos kong nilapag si Ciel at tumingin kay Andrea. "Diyan ka lang Andrea. Huwag kang aalis sa tabi niya."

Then before she could say anything, I went back. Iyana was following us. Considering her nature, she might have been lost dahil puno na ng mga malalaking bato ang arena that you can't see anything. But a part of my mind tells me na kailangan ko siyang kunin.

"Hindi niyo sila kaya kahit gaano man kayo kalakas." I stopped when I heard Iyana's voice.

Tumingin ako sa direksyon niya and saw her walking in front of Harlington to face the enemies by herself. My eyes widened. Anong kahangalan ang ginagawa niya?! She stretched out her arms forward and cocked her neck a bit. I've never seen that playful look on her face before. She's showing enthusiasm. Oh no Iyana. Huwag mong ituloy ang binabalak mo. I never thought she could be like Andrea in that aspect.

"I never fight enemies seriously knowing they would just bore me." Wika niya and a smile formed her lips. A smirk.

"Would you entertain me?"