Battle On A Snowy Mountain

Keila

The hosts disagreed to the Headmistress' idea. Lethum Mountain is a place not even strong Knights could survive completely. Kaya sa huli, the idea was changed into a team competition kung saan tatlo ang papasok sa bundok.

Isang araw nadin ang nakalipas kaya bumalik na ang dating lakas ko and I think I can manage. May kung ano-ano pang bagay na sinasabi si Thomas sa screen pero hindi na ako nakinig. I was focusing on the map laid on the table habang ang dalawa ay nag-aaway na naman.

But Lethum Mountain huh? Ano na namang lugar ang mapupuntahan ko? I hope it's nothing that would cost me my life. I heard evil spirits dwell in that place and those emotionally unstable people get possessed. The good thing is that walang mga monsters dito.

Kung ganoon nga, then what makes that mountain so dangerous? Sure may evil spirits dito whatever, but it's not that ALL the Knights that have been there were emotionally unstable. At may ano ba talaga ang meron sa bundok na yun? This is bothering the hell outta me.

"What are you thinking?" Andrea asked as she looked at me with her arms crossed. Isa pa tong babaeng 'to. She's been like that since all these started. As if she's suspecting me or something.

"Random ang lugar kung saan tayo magsisimula, plus wala tayong ideya kung saan ang nga portals." Isa pa, limited lang ang mga portals and there's like 15 teams. It was confirmed na anim lang ang portals, and in order to secure one you have to eliminate the others. But they'll die in the process.

"Si Iyana lang ang maaasahan natin since she knew that mountain." Hindi ko alam kung paano niya alam but I'm going to trust her with this. "One more thing, kung may makita tayong  ibang team, we have to get away fast." Ayaw ko ng laban at isa pa, we're up against professionals. Mahihirapan kami.

"You're going for an easy win again. It's more of a plan kung mapipigilan natin sila." Iyana said. She's confident in this. Usually kasi tumatahimik lang siya at pumapayag sa kung ano man.

"Whatever. Ayaw ko lang masaniban ng kung anong espiritu okay?" Andrea agreed.

Due to some changes. There will be six groups who would be advancing to the next phase. In other words, 14 teams ang magiging kaaway namin sa paghahanap ng portals. This will be hard lalo na kung magkakasama pa ang starting point naming lahat.

May biglang lumabas na numero sa screen. The count off has started. I braced myself for what's going to happen. May pakiramdam akong may mangyayaring hindi inaasahan so I'm already bracing myself. Limang segundo nalang.

"The moment you'll step there," simula ni Iyana. "Ihanda niyo ang sarili niyo. Andrea, be careful not to lose to provocations." Provocations? Anong ibig niyang sabihin?

Tatlong segundo nalang, dalawa....isa....at bigla nalang umiba ang paligid ko. I could see the two together with me. Magkakasama parin kami.

Nang buksan ko ang mga mata ko, I suddenly sensed something different. Ibang klaseng enerhiya ang dumadaloy dito. No, the energy I feel isn't even alive. Nilibot ko amg paningin ko and we're currently on a vast green field. I was told malamig dito at may snow. I wasn't expecting this at all.

Napaluhod ako sa lupa ng bigla itong yumanig. The shaking is hard and my mind's getting dizy. Andrea? I looked around me pero nakatingin lang sa akin ang dalawa. Hindi ba nila nararamdaman ang pagyanig?

"Keila, anong nangyayari sayo?" Tanong ni Andrea. I should ask that question myself. Napahawak ang isa kong kamay sa ulo ko. Sumasakit ito. Mainit. I'm sweating.

"Ngayon alam mo na kung ano ka delikado ang Lethum Mountain. Umiiba ang paligid mo, different than the rest." Hinawakan ni Iyana ang likod ko.

Then her hand climbed up to my back of the neck. She was about to knock me off by hitting my back neck nang bigla kong nasalo ang kamay niya. I was panting hard.

My surrounding was changing. Nagiging malamig na ito. We're on a a field na puno ng snow, and it's raining with it too. I could see my breath dahil sa lamig. Unti-unti nading nawawala ang sakit ng ulo ko. I let out a deep sigh.

"You made it out." Iyana said standing up and I followed suit. "Knocking you out was the best way to snap you out of it. Kung hindi ay aatakihin mo ang kung sino man ang makita mo."

"Is your mind unstable?" Tanong ni Andrea. As if she's saying 'who's the unstable one now' or something. Iniinis niya ako.

"No." Sagot ko nalang and we continued walking habang sinusundan si Iyana.

That was weird though. Stable ako. I know that fact more than anyone else. Was that an occurence kung saan sinusubukan ng mga spirits na pumasok sa katawan mo? Pero iba yung kanina. It was as if a spirit is forcing its way into my body. What I saw was a green field. A beautiful one. Pero ang enerhiya na nararamdaman ko ay hindi buhay.

Napatingin ano kay Iyana habang lumalakad kami sa malalim na snow. Woods were surrounding us. I wish I could have brought a jacket. Anyway, paano niya ba nalaman ang lugar na ito? How did she even know this place? That's bothering me.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad ng may maramdaman akong kakaiba. The energy around me is lifeless, but I sense a different one. May papalapit.

"May papunta dito sa unahan lang natin." Mabuti nakang at puti ang lahat, it'll be hard to spot us. Lalo na ako dahil puti ang uniporme ko. These two blends in too dahil sa brownish na suot nila. "We're avoiding contact." I said that pero alam ko na ang magiging sagot nila.

"No. We're making contact." Andrea said at nanguna na sa paglalakad. I knew it.

Hindi gaanong malayo ang naramdaman ko kaninang papalapit, that mula dito ay makikita namin silang naglaakad. All of them have these staffs na may lacrima sa itaas. Alchemists. Kung makakalaban namin sila, the possible element they'll create is fire dahil kompleto ang mga natural components sa lugar na ito. Then possibly wind, that would result to ice depende sa lakas.

"Something's odd with them. Tignan niyo." Tinignan namin sila dahil sa sinabi ni Andrea. Each of themare acting weird.

"They're being possessed." She walked towards thr three. Sinundan namin siya and we're now facing them.

"T-tulong...!" The one cried bago pa man naging itim ang mga mata nito. Nagulat ako sa nakita ko.

May isang bola ng apoy ang papunta sa direksyon namin but we easily avoided it.
Hanggang sa sunod-sunod na ang tira nila ng bolang apoy. One of the three suddenly formed ice and the moment we stepped back hindi na kami makagalaw dahil sa yelong nakabalot sa mga paa namin. Damn that's cold!

They're just students. Mahahalata ko dahil sa uniporme nila. They'll die kung hindi aalis ang mga eapiritu sa katawan nila. On the other hand, mamatay naman kami kung hindi namin sila mapipigilan. This is why I don't want any contact with them! Ang kulit kasi ng dalawa.

Simple lang ginamit ni Andrea ang ability niya causing the ice to be shattered into pieces then Iyana took her magnum guns at isa isang pinaputukan ang mga kalaban. Then while doing so, sumugod sa kanila si Andrea and managed to break one of the girl's staff. Si Iyana naman ay tinamaan sa paa ang isa. They are so fast na hindi ko alam ang gagawin. When did their teamwork improve?

Habang ang dalawang kalaban ay nakahiga na sa lupa na walang malay, ang isa naman nagpalabas ng malakas na hangin. Nadala kaming tatlo at tumama sa isa't isa. While the three of us are unable to move, may paparating na yelo sa amin. Pero walang kahirap-hirap lang itong sinipa ni Andrea habang nakapatong padin kay Iyana. Her with her destructive power.

Tumayo na kaming tatlo and eyed our opponent intensely. Sakit ng likod ko. Pero ang dalawa ay parang wala lang. When did they improved their fighting and abilities? Lumakas sila. Was it because of the past phases?

May mga daggers na papunta sa amin na gawa sa yelo. We split up at pinalibutan ang kalaban to avoid the ice daggers. She's blocking herself with fire kaya mahirap sumugod sa kaniya.

"Andrea ang lupa, Iyana aim at the lacrima!" Aigaw ko sa dalawa.

Hinawakan ni Andrea ang lupa at yumanig ito causing the enemy to stumble and loose their guard at mabilis namang tinira ni Iyana ang lacrima, and it broke. The lacrimas are supposed to be unbreakable. Pero nakadepende ito sa spiritual energy ng weilder.

Tumakbo ako papunta sa babae and was about to give her a final blow nang sinipa ito ni Andrea at tumama sa may nakatumpok na snow. She lost her consciousness. Andrea just freaking stole my shot. I shot her my glares. She only shrugged and smirked.

"Keila, you're more suited in planning and thinking." Sabi niya which annoyed me.

"Right. So leave the fighting to us." Iyana supported her. Seriously? Pinapamukha nilang wala akong laban! At naiinis ako dahil diyan!

Hindi ko sila pinansin at lumakad na lamang tsaka sumunod ang dalawa. Hanggang ngayon ay nararamdaman ko parin ang walang buhay na enerhiya na yun. That energy has a form. Hindi ko maintinidihan kung ano ito.

"Kung lalakad lang tayo ng derecho may makikita tayong river turned into ice." Iyana mentioned. Right. She knew the place well.

"Alam nga ni Iyana ang lugar na ito. But it still won't change the fact that we have to get out of here. Walang clue tayong makikita sa paligid. Plus, who knows baka nauunahan na tayo ng ibang grupo." In the first phase, muntikan na kami ang pinakahuling team ang nakapasa sa susunod na phase and that fact pissed Andrea.

Tama nga naman ang sinabi ni Andrea. No matter how you know this place, the portals, it's all just too random. The Headmistress mentioned something about clues along the way. Pero wala kaming napapansing ganoon. Ibig sabihin lang nito ay malayo pa kami sa mga portals.

Knowing Headmistress, sigurado akong si Professor Will ang may gawa ng mga portals na yun since he had that kind of ability. And if I were them, saan ko ilalagay ang mga portals? Argh it's no used. Kahit ano mang isip ng utak kong 'to, I can't just seem to figure it out. Lalo na kung wala manlang akong kahit kaonting ideya.

For now, the best idea is to walk around. Nakarating kami sa may river na naging yelo na dahil sa lamig. It's freezing in here, I admit that.

Umupo ang dalawa sa lupa, covered with snow, para magpahinga. I looked around. Mukhang walang tao sa paligid o hayop manlang.

"We should avoid going left." Iyana said at napatingin kami sa kaniya na may ginuguhit na kung ano sa lupa. It was a map!

"Sabihin nating nasa gitna tayo ngayon. If we go to the west, maraming mga spirits ang gumagala doon." She drew another line to the opposite direction. "At sa East naman, there are many caves kung saan pwede tayong tumuloy muna." Well, kailangan nga namin ng matutuluyan ng sandali. Hindi ko na makakaya ang lamig.

"What about the north?" Tanong ko.

"There's this bug ruins up ahead. Wala kang makikita dun kundi ang ruins lang. Mataas ang ruins kaya masyadong malamig dito." Magagamit din namin ang ruins nato to sight portals dahil sa taas nito. Pero sa lamig ng panahon, I think any moment now matutumba na ako.

"Then sa East tayo. We have to find shelter soon." Because I think it's going to rain more snow later. "We can retrace our plan there."

Mabilis silang tumango at nanguna si Iyana sa paglalakad to lead us to the caves. Soon, may nakita kaming isang malaking kweba. May lumalabas na maliit na usok mula difo. Iyana stopped kaya ganoon din kami. I urged the two to stay low kaya ngayon ay nagtatago kami sa likuran ng mga puno.

I shivered because of the cold air that suddenly passed.

Looking at that cave, halata namang may tao dito o may tao malapit dito, otherwise walang usok na lalabas diyan. It looked like a campfire. Nilibot ko ang paningin ko at tama nga ang hinala ko. There were footprints on the snow papunta sa kweba. Looking at those prints, malalaki ito kaya siguro mga lalaki sila. Malaki ang chansa na mga professionals sila. Mahihirapan kami nito if ever na makakalaban namin ang mga taong ito.

"We'll find another—fine. We're checking them out." Sa totoo lang ayaw ko talaga makipaglaban, I don't want my life to be in danger. Sino ba naman ang gustong mapahamak? Pero ayon sa expresyon ng dalawa, I could tell na kahit anong gawin ko hindi ko sila mapipigilan.

Both of them stood up at napatingin ako sa kanila. What made me confused is the way they look at me.

"Keila maiiwan ka dito." I frowned sa sinabi ni Iyana.

"Huh?" Certainly I don't want to be left behind.

"I sense energy coming from the cave." Kahit ako ay ramdam ko din ito. "May mga spirits dito. Madami sila. You might have survived the one from before, pero iba na 'to ngayon. They often target people who've been attempted to be possessed." Tumayo ako at napatingin sa kanila.

"All the more reason kung bakit hindi puwedeng kayo lang ang papsok. There are other people there at dumagdag pa ang mga espiritu. Those people might have been possessed."

"Andrea's with me." Simple niyang sagot.

"Mas lalo na siya."

"Ayaw kong mag-away kayong dalawa sa harapan ko." Andrea said. Wow, big word Andrea. "Sasama ako sa kaniya. Unlike you, the two of us have actually been working on our abilities to improve." I could see that. Bakit pakiramdam ko ako ang pinakamahina sa grupong 'to? And when did I care about it?

"Fine. Maghihintay ako dito. Kung hindi kayo makakabalik, I will consider the two of you as dead." Seryoso kong sabi. There was silence for few seconds bago sila tumango.

In the end, umupo ako sa likuran ng puno as I watch them disappear from my view, going inside the cave. I'm not concerned about them. Concern ako na baka mawala lang ang lahat ng pinagdaanan namin kung mamatay sila diyan. I am not certainly concerned!

Matapos ang ilang minuto, I found myself walking back and forth at naghihintay parin sa kanila. I'm getting impatient. Have I mentioned na pinakaayaw ko talaga ang maghintay?

Pero wala akong nakikitang nangyayari sa kweba. And for God's sake! Hindi sila patay na diba?

Argh! I am pissed.

Hindi ako nag-aalala sa kanila. They aren't even my friends in th first place! But what's with this uncertainity that I feel? I have never felt this before. I feel like something big is going to happen pero hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin.

"But I am not concerned!" Napasigaw ako.

"In denial ka pa." Nanginig ang balahibo ko nang mag narinig akong boses ng lalaki. I looked around me. I could feel a slight energy, at may nararamdaman akonh maliit na bakas ng emosyon. But I couldn't pinpoint where it is. Invisibility?

"Who the hell are you?!" Sigaw ko.

"Shhhh....baka may makarinig sayong ibang spirits." My eyebrows sank.

"Sagutin mo ako." Utos ko. Whoever this guys is, he's creeping me out!

Pero naghintay ako ng ilang segundo at walang sumagot. Was that my mere imagination? Kailan ba ako naging dreamer? Am I just paranoid kaya may kung ano-ano na akong naririnig?

"Huwag ka mag-alala. Hindi ka baliw." My eyes widened. Alam niya ang iniisip ko? No, it must have been coincidence. Ah I'm so stupid to have said that out loud. "Gusto ko makuha ang katawan mo."

"Pervert." Bulong ko and I suddenly felt a cold air.

"So rude. Ang ibig kong sabihin—"

"Possess me huh? Sa tingin mo ba ay hahayaan ko ang isang spirit na katulad mo gawin yun?" I heard him chuckled.

"I will do so if you die." Ibig bang sabihin mamatay ako?

"Why do spirits want to take over someone so badly?"

"We'll disappear. Leaving no trace behind. Mawawala ang alaala namin sa mga kilala naming tao."

"Of course. You're originally dead anyway."

"Hindi maiintindihan ng mga tao ang sakit na mawala ka sa mundo. We become spirits because we're not ready to die. There are some who choose to force their way, evil spirits, pero may diyan din namang mababait." So ibig sabihin kung ano sila nung nabubuhay pa sila ay ganoon din sila hanggang mamatay sila. Ugh, totoo nga ang kasabihan.

"I know." Ramdam ko ang mawala ka sa mundo. I feel his emotions after all kahit maliit lang ito.

"Heh. Alam mo pero hindi mo naiintindihan. That's the difference between the two. Nawawala kami dahil wala na kaming enerhiya na natitira." That explains ang slight energy na nararamdaman ko sa kaniya.

"You're a good spirit then?" Napatawa siya sa sinabi ko.

"No. Ako yung sinubukan kang e-possess kanina. But for some reason it didn't work. There's something driving you to live." He sighed. "I can't take over you because you won't give up living." Of course! I don't want to die.

"Humanap ka ng iba." I urged him. Ayaw kong ako ang target niya because it felt really creepy.

"You're the perfect vessel. Grabe ang enerhiya sa katawan mo. Like you're storing a huge amount of energy. Minsan lang ako makakakita ng mga taong kagaya mo. Kaya gusto kong mamatay ka muna bago kita saniban." Tapos ay humalakhak siya. He's damn annoying. Para siyang demonyo makatawa.

Natumba ako at napakain ako ng snow. Bigla kasing yumanig ang lupa and this energy I'm feeling is familiar. Andrea.

Napatingin ako pabalik sa kweba just below this snowy hill. May lumabas na malaking usok mula dito. May pagsabog na naganap. They're in big trouble. Alam ko na minsan palaging tama ang hinala ko. And this time, I can't be wrong.

"Pupuntahan mo ba sila?" Tanong ng spirit. I shurgged. They told me to stay here. "May paparating."

I was alarmed by what he said at nilibot ang paningin ko. My eyes widened nang may makita akong snow na umaanod na parang tubig mula sa isang bundok. It's slowly flooding and stomping whoever in it's way. In a few minutes, I'm afraid I'll get swept by that.

Avalanche!