Along With The Blacks II

"Mga kuya!!" May sumigaw na isang batang babae sa likuran ng dalawang lalaki, sa kabilang parte siya ng bridge and from here I can barely sense her emotions. She was panting so hard. I retreated my hand down and sighed in relief.

"Tin? Ano ang ginagawa niya dito?" Tanong ng isang lalaki.

"Pinapatawag sila ni Elder!!" Mabuti nalang at mula dito ay maririnig namin ang sigaw niya. Nagtininginan na naman ang dalawang lalaki at tumango sa isa't isa.

"Bilisan niyo na at pumasok. Hindi magadang pinaghihintay si Elder." Both spirits gave way for us kaya hindi nagtagal ay naglalakad na kami sa bridge.

The water was flowing beneath us, at naririnig ko ang tunog ng pagdaloy nito, hitting the rocks by the side. Gawa lang sa lubid ang hawakan sa bawat gilid ng wooden bridge, but it was a marvelous place. Looking above, I can see the houses up from the mountain, each designs were almost identical to the rest.

Ang batang babae na tumulong sa amin kanina lang ay nakasuot ng hanggang tuhod na dress, at tulad ng iba ay ngayon ko lang nakita ang ganitong klaseng disenyo. Back in our world, this design would have costed at least few gold coins dahil sa mga kumikinang na mga rubbies sa hem ng damit niya at sa sapatos.

"Kuya Silv maligayang pagbabalik po—eh??! Bakit po kayo naging bata? Ay teka teka..." the girl, named Tin, placed her fingers beneath her chin eyeing Silverrium intensely. "Aha! Anak ka siguro ni Kuya Silv!" Agad naman siyang binatukan ng batang Silverrium, it was slow though.

"Hindi! Naging ganito lang talaga ang katawan ko dahil sa kung ano-anong bagay na pinanggagawa ko. At hindi ka parin talaga nagbabago." For the first time, I saw his grumpy face formed a smile as he caress the child's hair, mataas kasi siya ng kaonti. I didn't know Silverrium had this side. All these time I seem to forget the fact that he's a dangerous monster in a human form.

Hindi nagtagal ay sumama kami kay Tin patungo sa tinatawag nilang 'Elder'. And it was weird in the first place on how the kid arrived just in time saying na pinapatawag daw kami ng taong ito. Paano ba niya nalaman na nandito kami?

Napatingin sa amin ang ibang spirits habang lumalakad kami sa gitna ng daan. Papasok kami papasok sa may gubat na parte dahil isang bundok ang buong lugar na ito, just near the river. Halos lahat naman sila ay may kakaibang suot, kaya nakakaagaw kami ng pansin dahil sa normal naming mga suot. I'm still wearing my gray sweater habang suot parin ang cloak, and the others cover their clothings with their same black clothes.

Hindi nagtagal ay tumigil kami sa isang malaking bahay. Well it wasn't really that big, pero two-storey house ito na gawa mismo aa kahoy. Touching the woods, it made from something strong and polished very well. Kumatok ang batang babae sa pintuan at bigla nalag bumukas ito na walang bumikas sa likod, it surprised the others pero hindi na nagulat ang bata dito, as if it was a normal occurence.

When we stepped inside, the ambiance was completely different. It was filled with antique stuffs na nakalagay sa mga cabinets at sa bawat pader ay may mga paintings na nakalagay, and even animal heads. I suddenly get this feeling that they're real. Medyo madilim ang sa loob dahil mga kandila lang ang nagsisilbing liwanag sa buong bahay.

The living room was huge, connected to the kitchen and the dinning room, sa gitna ng dalawang sections na ito ay isnag hagdan na papunta sa itaas. Pero dumerecho lang kami sa gitna and I was expecting we'd climb up the stairs pero nagkakamali ako. May binuksan na isang pintuan si Tin sa ilalim lang ng hagdan.

"Kanina pa kayo hinihintay ni Elder, kahapon pa nga yun nagrereklamo kung may balak ka ba talagang pumunta dito o wala." The girl stated looking at me.

She smiled and took a step deeper through the door. It was unusual for a kid not to be startled by my looks.

Inside was a passageway, and despite how narrow it is ay makikita ko parin ang daan dahil sa mga bughaw na apoy sa bawat gilid at hindi ito mainit, it was a cool even though it's a fire. Ngayon lang ako nakakita ng ganitonh klase ng apoy. Accel even tried placing his fingers on it pero hindi siya nasasaktan. Perhaps they were only meant for lights?

Narating namin ang dulo ng passageway and instead of it having a door, it was a piece of black cloth i stead na nagsisilbing pintuan. Tinabi ko ito para makapasok at nagukat ako sa mga nakita ko sa loob.

It was a full library. At may mga lampara na nakasabit sa kung saan saan lang along with many cabinets and shelves filled with books. Sa itaas ng bawat shelves na ito ay may nakasulat na Greek kung tungkol saan ang libro. The blue lights were radiating everywhere na kahit medyo madilim ay nagliliwanag ang lahat. It was a peaceful yet magnificent sight.

We continued to follow Tin hanggang sa may nakita kaming isang pigura ng lalaki na nakatalikod sa amin. Tin ran off to that person and hugged him from the back, hindi na yata nagukat ang taong ito and pat the girl ln her head as he turned around.

May dala siyang malaking staff na hawak-hawak niya and he was wearing long blue cloak na umabot hanggang sa mga paa niya. I was expecting him to be older dahil tinatawag nila siyang 'Elder'. Pero kung titignan ang mukha niya which contained that slightly blue eyes and dark blue messy hair, nagmumukha siyang normal na tao, maybe around twenties?

"Ahh I've been waiting! Tin did a great job bringing you here." Hindi ko alam kung bakit sa akin siya nakatingin habang sinasabi niya iyon. "And I was expecting you to have companies pero hindi ko inaasahan na sila. But no matter, why don't you all sit down?"

Tinuro niya ang mga couches na nakapalibot sa isang maliit na circular glass table sa gilid kaya umupo din kami dito. The couch was too comfortable and it was a black leather, as if made from the furs of animals. May kinuha ang bata na tea set sa isa pang cabinet at pinatong sa lamesa. After she brewed some teas na base sa amoy jasmine, isa-isa niya kaming binigyan nito.

"Umm sino ka nga ulit?" Accel took the iniative to ask.

"Ah! Pasensya na at nakalimutan kong ipakilala sa inyo ang sarili ko. Ako nga pala si Julius Chrone, isa sa limang Spirit Keepers ng Spirit Land!" Masaya niyang wika. I get the feeling that he's a carefree person. And I heard his name before from Headmistress.

"Spirit Keeper?" Tanong ni Alvin.

"Ah sa mundo ng nga Spirits, may limang Spirit Keeper na nangangalaga at nagbabantay sa mga Spirits. We know everything there is and those that's happening in this world, we are bound by doing so. Our main duty is to make sure none of the Spirits wander around in another world without a contractor, at sinisigurado din naming walang mga tao ang makakapunta sa mundong ito."

"And yet we're here." I said, and I guess that would explain kung bakit alam niya na nandito kami.

"And yet you're here indeed." Nakangiting wika ng Spirit Keeper. "Alam ko kung bakit kayo nandito, Ziandra and Theone, iyan ang mga pangalan mo sa mga spirits mo hindi ba?" Tumango ako sa tanong niya habang tinaas noya ang isang cup na may lamang jasmine tea para inumin ito. "Dito sa Spirit Land ay Flint at Nissi ang tawag sa kanila. Sigurado akong alam mo na ang kwentong iyan, tama?"

Iyana explained na isa siyang spirit noong bata pa siya na nakatira sa mismong Lethum Mountain na ito. Nagkaroon lang siya ng physical na anyo dahil sa lakas ng enerhiya noong mga panahong iyon. Her real name is Nissi. She had a best friend named Iyana Klein na ilang taon nang pabalik-balik dito dahil sa isang portal na kaniyang nadiskobre.

Anyway, one day Iyana just got into a freaking accident nang pumasok siya sa portal papunta dito. That was when the energy in this area gradually became low which caused disturbance in space and time. She died. Si Nissi naman, in her spirit form, decided to take over Iyana's body kaya sila nagpalitan. But she never expected na naging spirit si Iyana. Both of them decided before that Nissi would live  as Iyana Klein expecting na mawawala din lang naman ang totoong Iyana dahil humihina na ang enerhiya.

Pero tsaka lang ni Iyana nalaman na hindi pala mawawala ang kaibigan niyang espiritu dahil dun siya halos lumaki sa basement. It's like where she stopped before stepping into afterlife.

Naaalala ko pa ang nga inisip ko noon nang pinaliwanag sa amin ni Iyana ang mga nangyari sa kaniya. Honestly, that time I really couldn't understand anything, but now I think I do. So basically the Ziandra I know is originally the real owner of Iyana's body, and the Iyana I know is originally a spirit named 'Nissi'. But they already accepted their fates and accepted the fact that they could never swap back, and thus both acquired each other's names. After all these time, it's still actually really complicated.

(AN: You can go back to that chapter 43 if you like)

"At si Flint naman ay isang spirit na nabuo dahil sa mga nakakalat sa enerhiya sa Lethum Mountain, palagi siyang pabalik-balik sa lugar na iyon at dito sa Spirit Land, along with Nissi. Hanggang sa bumaba ang enerhiya ng transfer portals sa Lethum Mountain causing some spirits to be stuck in that place. And the two would continue to wander aimlessly around in that place kung hindi ka dumating."

"At alam ko din na nakuha mo na ang abilities ng dalawa." He placed the cup back at the table at tumayo siya sa inuupuan niyang couch sa unahan namin. "Silv already explained that part, if I'm not wrong."

He urged me to follow him deeper into the alley of shelves at sumunod naman ako sa kaniya. Blue lights were one by one lighting up habang dumadaan kami sa madilim na parte ng area na ito.

"Your ability is unique, especially that you're a Cursed Blood your ability is enhanced more than necessary that it might cause you problems, or I believe it already does."

"I'm here for my spirits, at bakit mo naman alm ang tungkol sa ability ko? You only know anything that of in this world." I frownd, he's suspicious.

"Oh you're the one who awakened Laire, no? Laire is, in another sense, almost like us Spirit Keepers, except that she never meddles with humans and that she actually needs massive energy just to be active again. Ako, pati ang ibang Spirit Keepers, ay kilala si Laire bilang isa sa mga Guardians ng Human World." So she is a special being.

"We communicate with each other, at alam din namin na nagising siya nang makailan lang. Unfortunately because of the decreasing amount of mana in this world, she cannot come here with you otherwise she'll hibernate again." No wonder I couldn't feel her around.

"And we can't help but be curious on the person who activated her once again after thousands of years! So we asked a lot about you." Then his smile faded away at napatingin siya sa akin ng seryoso. "But your existence in this world is prohibited."

"Huh?" Napatigil ako sa paglalakad dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Silv already explained that your ability often automatically absorbs others' emotions and within those emotions carry energy, yes?"

"So you're saying that I might automatically absorb spirits' energy? At dahil maliit naman talaga ang mga enerhiya ng mga spirits sa Sprit Land ay baka isa-isa silang mawawala kung mangyari nga iyon." He nodded in confirmation.

"You know, spirits don't have anywhere to go. We protect them in this world and often prevent them from contracting humans who don't have enough mana to supply their existence. Do you know that once a spirit disappear anyone who knows them won't remember anything? That's a sad way for spirits to live but as you can see earlier, they live peacefully in this world. Spirit Land and Human World are two completely different places, here wars barely exist and so do murder."

"What are you trying to say now?"

"I'm warning you, Ke'ala Feyree." His eyes remained looking at mine despite my long blacl hair covering them. "Any spirits who disappeared, we Spirit Keepers remember them, their memories and the people around them, that's how we know everything about this world. And the fact that you're here threatens the Spirits and directly, even us."

"Because of the energy being so low in this world, I can't help but absorb these 'already low' energy, that if I continue to stay ay baka mawawala ang maraming spirits kung saan man sila sa mundong ito."

"You're smart, so I'm glad I don't have to explain. But then again, I just can't return you all back. Alam kong nandito ka para sa mga spirits mo. Sa lima sa aming Spirit Keepers, dalawa lang sa amin ang nakakaintindi sa rason mo kung bakit ka nandito, and we're on your side."

"But the other three.." I trailed off, expecting him to continue.

"Yes, the other three are against you being here. Wala silang pakealam kung nandito ka man para sa mga spirits mo, they just want you to go back as soon as possible otherwise they'll do anything just to get rid of you. Mabuti nalang at nandito ka dinala ni Silv."

"Paano ko malalaman na kakampi kita?" He smiled.

"If I'm not I wouldn't have had bothered offering you your favourite jasmine tea, no? There was vanilla too, but I ran out yesterday." Natutuwa niyang salita, and yeah he does know a lot about me.

"So as a Spirit Keeper, you must know where my spirits are. Some spirits came here to gain access to the Spirit Library but they couldn't get your permission." I was referring to Headmistress' spirits.

"Of course, I want you to be here yourself after all! And indeed, I might be aware where your spirits may be." Nagpatuloy siya sa pagalalakad at sumunod na naman ako sa likuran niya.

Hindi ko alam kung saan siya pupunta pero patuloy lang kami sa paglalakad na hindi ko na nga alam kung ano ang pinagkaiba ng bawat area na nilikuan namin dahil pare-pareho ang mga shelves at disenyo sa bawat lugar. Hanggang sa tumigil siya sa unahan ng isang pintuan.

Lumingon muna siya sa akin at ngumiti bago niya binuksan ito, no he didn't 'open' it. Lumusot lang siya dito as if he was a ghost able to penetrate through any objects. I stepped forward and touched the wooden door, but as expected, I slipped right through it.

"Welcome to my Spirit Library!" He happily exclaimed, as his voice echoed through the whole room.

He may have said the word 'library' but unlike the past ones earlier, halos wala akong makitang mga shelves dito. Ang mga libro ay nakakalat sa sahig. Hindi malayo sa umahan ay may malaking patong-patong na libro dito, and the small books served as stairs to reach the huge book from above.

He climbed up those books until he reached the top, and in front of him laid bear a huge open empty book without any letters. Nakikita ko ito dahil sa likuran niya lang ako. Now that I'm looking below, masyadong mataas ang posisyon namin, and only books were serving as our platform. Sa itaas naman ay may malaking bilog na butas kung saan dumadaloy ang liwanag ng buwan. It was then when I realised it was already nighttime.

Napapalibutan kami ngayon ng pader which is circular in general, almost surrounding this platform of books. Sa mga pader na ito ay may mga blue lights na mga lanters na nakasabit which aided the moonlight with their glows.

Tinaas ni Julius ang staff na hawak niya kanina pa, at nakita ko na sa gitna ng staff na ito ay may isang gem na nagmumukhang lacrima na nakaukit sa staff niya. It wasn't that big lacrima so it wasn't easy to notice.

Sa pagtaas niya ng staff niya ay nagliwanag ang lacrima and as if the moonlight was reflecting on the lacrima giving it different colours. Upon doing so, the empty pages on the huge book in front of him started to lit up and the words slowly formed and as they fill those blank pages, they automatically turn around due to the breeze. All this reminded me of Laire's Forbidden Library.

"Hmm let's see..." nilagay niya ang kamay niya sa pahina as if reading those letters, pero hindi ko ito maintindihan. It was greek, it was simply the language of this world. "Aha! I've found them!" Agad akong lumapit sa tabi niya para makita ang tinitignan niya.

"It says here that they are on Hester, a small village near my country. Ah in case you don't know, which is I'm sure you don't, may limang bansa sa mundong ito just like the number of Spirit Keepers in this world."

"I'm assuming that each five countries have Spirit Keepers are their leaders."

"Correct! At ang Hester ay isa sa mga teritoryo ng Zerig country. The Spirit Keeper in charge of that country is named Lunox Zerig, she is a formidable woman, and can be a bit stubborn despite her serious facade. If you ever meet her, don't be fooled." Nilapit niya ang mukha niya sa tenga ko and mumbled, "she's actually very bashful."

"Is it even okay for you to be doing this for me?" And even told me something like that.

"Sinabi ko sayo hindi ba? Kakampi mo ako. Consider this as the start of our friendship!" He excitedly said with a squeaking tone.

"I get the feeling that you need something of me in return. Someday." Seryoso kong sabi sa kaniya.

He may be a carefree person who looks like he's enjoying everything, but I do know people like him. And he's one of those who'd want somethinh in return. He then let out a small smirk, a bit different from his usual expression.

"Eh? Ano kaya ang ibig mong sabihin?" And there he is, feigning innocence. But oh well, we'll be sure to benefit eith each other's 'friendship' someday. At nomal ba sa isang tao na maging kaibigan sa isang Spirit Keeper?

"Forget it. So, is this Lunox woman an enemy or not?" Since he did mention na may tatlong Spirit Keepers ang ayaw sa akin dito sa mundong ito.

"Both. She can be an enemy and can be on your side. Isa siya sa tatlong ayaw sa iyo sa mundong ito, pero hindi katulad ng dalawa pang Spirit Keepers, ay naiintindihan niya din ang sitwasyon mo pero delikado mga lang ang pagiging dito mo. So she wants to get rid of you as quickly as possible, especially when she knows you're stepping into her territory."

"Get rid of me by killing me or get rid of me by helping me do my business quickly?" Napaisip siya sa tanong ko ng ilang segundo.

"I think that would depend on you." He smiled again as if he's testing me. "Ikaw na ang bahala sa kung ano man ang magagawa mo. Let's see how far you'll go for your spirits, Ke'ala Feyree."

"Ooh! Pero delikado kung mahahalata ng iba ang enerhiyang nagtitipon sa katawan mo, and the more you absorb emotions the less the energy will this place have. Say, tumaas ba ang range mo about sensing emotions?"

"Yes, naging sampung metro na ito."

"A big jump. Alam mo ba kung bakit?" I shrugged. "Your ring, it has cracks on it." Agad akonb napatingin sa ring na suot ng daliri ko, and suddenly it surprised me. Nagising nakang ako nung isang araw na ganito na ito.

"You may already know this but your ring serves as a limiter for your ability and the more it'll crack the more your range will improve, and what do you think will happen kung mawasak ito ng buo? Your body will not be able to handle it." I believe Silverrium said something similar. "So as sign of our new frienship, think of this as a gift."

Sinara niya ang nga mata niya at may binulong na kung anong lenguwahe, at bigla nalang lumiwanag ang libro. Sa libro ay may lumabas na isang bracelet. The bracelet was floating on the air, and it was simple red-coloured lace but surrounded by tiny blue gemstone. It automatically clung unto my right wrist as it continued to glisten.

Then suddenly, I felt like everything around me shut off. Nawala ang mga nararamdaman kong enerhiya, at wala din akong nararamdamang emosyon. For the first time, I felt like my head cleared up at gumaan bigla ang katawan ko. I realised I no longer can feel anything, I was at peace with myself that it was...unpleasant.

"Hindi ka siguro sanay na wala kang mararamdaman na kahit ano dahil sa ilang taon mo pinagdaanan ang ability na iyan. But bear with it for now, it is the only way for you to stay undetected and blend in with spirits. Ah pero huwag na huwag mong kakalimutan na masisira ang bracelet na ito kapag magpakawala ka ng enerhiya mo. It's not strong anough to completely seal your ability."

"I guess you have my gratitude for helping me out." Or should I say he's making me fall into debt more and more?

"Well, shall we head back?"

Sometime later, bumalik na kami sa kung saan kami nanggaling kanina. Nakikita ko sila na nag-uusap and there's no doubt they're talking about me. Pero nang lumapit ako sa kanila, hindi ko alam kung ano ang mga emosyon na nilalabas nila, it's uncomfortable. Hindi talaga ako sanay na walang nararamdaman.

"Your next destination is Hester. Mula dito ay malayo ang lugar na ito, pero huwag kayong mag-alala!" He stated with a giggle and snapped his fingers.

Just after doing so, bumukas ang kabilang parte ng pader, lights started glowing from both side at may lumabas na parang transparent screen dito. No, it wasn't a screen. Isa itong portal. Pero wala akong nararamdamang enerhiya ngayon. When it's normal for strong spiritual energy users to detect any energy forms around them, magagawa ko lang yun dahil sa ability ko. But now that my ability is sealed off I can't detect anything.

It might just be a simple feat, pero may pakiramdam ako na grabe ang pinalabas niyang enerhiya para lang mabuo ang portal na iyan. The portal was built through a wall which seemed to be a fireplace, at hindi ganoon kalayo ito sa kung saan kami ngayon.

Ngayong malapit na kami dito, the other side of the portal was a but blurry pero maririnig namin ang mga tunog ng mga spirits sa kabilang parte and the sound of the carriages being pulled by horses. Napatingin ulit ako kay Julius na ngayon ay tuwang-tuwa makita ang mga reakasyon nila sa mukha.

"I'll be glad to show you all of my magnificent magic but you'd ran out of time by then. So get going now." He said with a clap, urging us to go pass through the portal.

"T-this is creepy pero first time ko din makapasok sa portal, kaya nakaka-excite naman!" Accel then stated with a happy expression on his face at tumalon papasok ng portal.

Nagkatinginan muna ang dalawang magkapatid bago sila pumasok ng sabay. Alvin looked at me tapos ay sumunod din sa dalawa.

"I've always knew you'd be back someday." He wasn't talking to me for he was facing Silverrium.

"For you time is shorter, but I've actually came close to dying once." He replied with a smirk. The latter only laughed.

"I'm sorry but I can't picture you dying out. But send my regards to your brother, you two might just meet." Natigilan si Silverrium sa sinabi ng isa. Brother?

"That guy don't deserve your regards, he's not even worth mentioning." The latter let out another chuckle.

"I don't know about that."

"Get it together, Chrone."

"You too, Silv." Agad din namang pumasok si Silverrium sa portal after Julius waves his hand. Just how close is this two? "At ikaw din, Ke'ala. I'm sure you already know this, but your world is a cruel place. If ever something goes wrong in the future, come and see me." Seryoso niyang bilin na hindi ko alam kung ano ang pinapahiwatig niya.

"Are you indicating something's going to happen to me?" He shrugged, again feigning innocence.

"Who knows." Tumawa na naman ulit siya. "Ah bago ko makalimutan, marami ang makakaagaw ng pansin mo kung iyan ang appearance mo. While I understand your circumstances, it's just too much."

Biglang lumiwanag ang kamay niya sa bughaw, tapos ay ramdam ko nalang na pumaibabaw ang buhok ko as if they have minds on their own. Or this guy was simply controling them. He made my hair tied behind me then did some curls to braid them. Hanggang ang buhok ko na hanggang tuhod ang haba ay naging hanggang sa likod ko nakang dahil sa tinali niya ito. Looking from the crystallised gems painted on the walls, makikita ko ang sarili ko. Moving with this was far more easier compared to not being tied at all.

Makikita talaga ang mukha ko, and it didn'r really surprise me anymore dahil ang appearance ko ay halos katulad lang ng appearance ko bilang si Lilliana Devon. But it is a bit embarrassing...

"Now, now, you should get going. You're making them wait. Don't forget that once you get there, head to the Half Moon Inn." Hinawakan ni Julius ang balikat ko mula sa likod at tinulak papunta sa portal.

The last thing I've seen from him was his smile bago pa man nawala ang portal. It was like Iyana's space, ganoon ang pakiramdam ko nung pumasok ako sa portal niya. Nilibot ko ang paningin ko at nakita silang lahat na nakatingin sa akin. I sighed. I don't even need my ability to guess what their emotions are.

Ngayon ay nasa isang medyo madilim na alleyway kami, kaya walang nakakita sa amin na lumusot lang sa pader. Spirits were roaming around on the busy street, at puno ito ng mga stalls sa gilid. Parang Human World lang nga talaga ang mundong ito, maliban nalang sa sobrang hina ng enerhiya dito.

"Oi!! Bili na po kayo! Mura lang ang mga prutas na ito!"
"Mga diyamante na makikita lang sa mga malalayong lugar, magaganda!"
"Bilis na at bumili ng mga damit na ito! Baka maubusan kayo!"

It was like a festival, may mga lights na nakalagay sa mga ibabaw ng mga bahay at iba pang buildings and the surrounding were bathe in many different coloured lights. Marami pa ang narinig kong mga sigaw mula sa mga spirits na may iba't ibang binibenta sa tabi tabi. There were a lot of spirits in sight na may kaniya-kaniyang ginagawa that I'm actually thankful that my ability was sealed off. Otherwise I couldn't help but absorb their emotions and one by one disappear.

"So, what now?"

I sighed.