Distance Fading

"I told you! Kung ayaw niyong mamatay, kailangan niyong umalis dito!" Naiinis na sigaw sa kanila ni Reina, as she slammed her palm on the wooden table.

We have been here for about four boring days trying every bit of our energy to make them uderstand the danger of staying here. The four of us are still trying to complete this mission, havang si Annelyn naman ay palaging naglilibot ng buong tribu, playing around with children. But there's that damn problem, hindi namin sila mapaalis, at mas nawawalan lang ako ng enerhiya sa kakaisip kung ano ang gagawin ko. We can't stay here.

Exodus might just attack this tribe all of the sudden at paano nalang kung hindi namin sila kayang protektahan? I know they can do that themselves, but they're being naive if they think they can beat the enemies that easily. I might just fail this misison given to me, and I absolutely can't have that!

I yawned.

Napunta ang tingin ko kay Yajin Ho, the only grandson of their Elder, Yuis Ho. Balita ko siya daw ang susunod sa yapak ng lolo niya sa pagpapamahala ng Wind Tribe. Kanina pa nakikipag-sigawan si Reina dito at ang iba pang mga nakakataas na mga Elves dito sa loob ng kwartong ito. But just like me, he's just quitely sitting there, listening to everyone's opinions.

As a sign of being the direct descendant of their Elder, may tatlong maliliit na puting bilog siya sa forehead niya which shapes into a reversed triangle. May puting lines din siya sa ilalim ng magkabilang bibig niya papunta sa leeg. He has clear white hair, another sign of being a descendant. Despite that though, he doesn't look old. Actually, I heard he's just a few years older than I am.

His gaze finally landed on mine, allowing me to see his pale green eyes glistening as soon as the sunlight reflects on it. Ngumiti siya sa akin habang hawak parin ang libro na kanina niya pa sinusuri. Napansin niyang nakatingin ako sa kaniya, hindi ko ngarin alam kung bakit. But there's something about him which puts me on a high guard.

"Paulit-ulit na lamang ba tayo? Hindi nga namin maaaring iwanan ang tribu." Elyza said, standing up while meeting Reina's glares.

"Huminahon kayong dalawa." Wika nung isang matanda pang elf. "Batid namin na inaatake na ang ibang tribu, ngunit hindi talaga namin kayang iwanan ang Enchant Woods."

"And why is that?" I asked, and they all looked at me. "This Woods is breaking apart, and you know that. It would explain kung bakit may mga pagkakataon na may mga halimaw na umaatake sa inyong mga Elves. Even if Exodus fail to attack you, delikado parin dito."

"Naiiintindihan namin na hiling lamang ng mga Saints ang aming kabutihan—" I interrupted the old lady elf.

"It's not just about that. We're talking about the possibility of your whole race being wiped out here." Natahimik sila sa sinabi ko.

Napunta ang tingin ng lahat kay Yajin na bigla na lang tumayo at sinara ang librong kanina niya pa binabasa. He smiled at all of us as if wala kaming kinakaharap na problema. He's the kind of guy who smiles at everything without anyone knowing what's going on in his mind.

"Walang mapupuntahan ang usapan na ito. Yajin, ano ang masasabi mo?" Tanong ng Elder sa sarili niyang apo.

"Hindi namin nais na lumisan sa lugar na ito sapagkat hindi maaaring umalis lang kami na hindi pinoprotektahan ang lugar." The Elves all nodded in unison. Magsasalita na naman sana si Reina nang tinaas niya ang kanay niya para pigilan ito. "Para masigurado ang kaligtasan ng mga Elves dito sa Wind Tribe, bakit hindi nalang natin paalisin ang mga bata at ang ibang Elves na hindi pa o na kayang lumaban?"

"You're going to divide your number?" I asked, uncertain about his plan at all. That would make it harder to protect them.

"Kaya namin protektahan ang aming mga sarili." Napansin niya siguro ang pag-aalinlangan ko. "Magpapadala din naman kami ng mga Elves na magbabantay sa kaligtasan ng grupong aalis." Tapos ay binigay niya pabalik ang tingin noya sa Elder. "Hindi ba sa tingin niyo ito ang pinakamabuting solusyon? May posibilidad na maiiwasan natin ang pagkaubos ng Wind Elves kung sakali nga na hindi natin magawang protektahan ang tribu."

"At may posibilidad din maprotektahan nga natin ang tribu ngunit hindi naman ang grupong aalis." Napabuntong-hiningang wika ng Elder nila. "Pero tama si Yajin, sa kasalukuyan ay ito ang pinakamabisang solusyon." Tumayo siya at hinarap ang lahat na nasa maliit na bahay na ito. "Inaasahan ko na bukas ay nakahanda na ang lahat." Tumayo narin kaming lahat at tumango.

Isa-isang lumabas ang mga Elves ng bahay papunta sa may bukas na pintuan at sumunod narin kaming apat. Tumagal pa ng ilang araw ang usapan na dapat ilang oras lang, or it shouldn't even take that long. I don't understand at all. They're saying this place is more important than their lives? It won't even be called a 'tribe' kung wala silang mga Elves.

Naglalakad kami sa ibabaw ng tulay na gawa sa kahoy, halos naman lahat na makikita dito ay gawa sa mga nakapaligid na puno. Nakalagay ang mga kamay ko sa magkabilang bulsa ng suot kong purple na cloak, malamig dito dahil sa itaas ng bundok ang lokasyon ng tribu nila. Nung mga oras na pumasok kami sa pader ay akala ko doon na ang lugar nila, but I was wrong. We had to walk like almost an hour to climd up. And trees, as always, are misleading.

I yawned as I let the wind slipped beside me, taking my long brownjng black hair along with its flow. Nakatingin lang ako sa paligid at minamasdan ang mga Elves na nakakalat sa lung saan. May mga batang naglalaro, may mga nag-eensayo gumamit ng iba't ibang armas tulad ng sibat at pana, habang may diyan din namang nag-aaral sa isang maliit na tent.

Dahil nandito ako sa itaas ay nakikita ko talaga halos lahat. And the view was...I don't know, breathtaking? Since breathing is actually hard because of the altitude. The chirping birds above didn't fail to catch my attention though, iba't iba ang mga kay nila kaya parang ang ganda tignan ng kalangitan.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Tanong ng pamilyar na boses sa likuran ko. I yawned once again and shrugged. Was that the right word?

"You speak that language, I see."

"Kailangan lang talaga naming magsalita ng ganito to make it more formal." I could feel him smiling at my question.

"Is this why Elves don't want to leave? Because of this scenery?"

"It's not because of the scenery. Hindi nila gustong umalis dahil ayaw nilang masira ang buhay na nakasanayan na nila dito. You do know Elves always stick to traditions."

"For the only descendant of the Elder, you don't seem like the type to do it." Tapos ay tinignan ko siya which he also did. Ngumiti na naman siya at lumakad sa tabi ko sabay patong sa railing ng mga kamay niya.

"Do I?" He asked chuckling to himself.

He's the kind of person I have trouble dealing with. The always-showing-a-smile face, someone who's only known for one expression, and someone who I can't figure out what he's thinking. I don't want to deal with him, but in order to make things work, I have no choice but to do just that.

"When are you going to take the position anyway?" 

"Kailan ba ngaba?" Tila nang-iinis niyang tanong. I paid no attention to it and sighed. Parang gusto ko na tuloy matulog. I might have said I'll deal with him, but I don't have to eventually do it, don't I?

I continued my walk across the bridge and I could hear light footsteps following behind me. Nakita ko sa hindi kalayuan sina Reina, Cassie, at Sandra. Mukhang may pinagtatalunan ang tatlo dahil pati ang mga dumadaang mga Elves ay napapatingin sa kanila. Naririnig ko din ang galit na sigaw ni Reina, and honestly, nakakapagod ding bantayan ang tatlong ito.

"Hindi sa lahat ng bagay ikaw ang masusunod, Reina." Mahinanahon na wika ni Sandra.

"And don't act like you're the oldest one here! We all know how you try to act reliable when you're not!"

"Hoy sumusobra ka na Reina! Ano ba ang nangyari sa'yo?" Tanong ni Cassie.

"It's none of your damn business!" Aalis na sana siya palayo nang nakita kong hinawakan ni Sandra ang braso nito para pigilan. "Drop it, kung ayaw mong magpisikalan tayong tatlo dito." Wala namang nagawa ang isa kundi sumunod nalang. The two watched her disappear through the surrounding trees with a sigh.

Nagkatinginan muna kaming dalawa ni Yajin bago napag-isipang lapitan sila. I noticed how the two tensed up when they saw me as I gave them a questioning look. Nagpaalam muna si Yajin na nasa tabi ko para umalis, tumango na lamang ako bilang sagot.

"Now speak."

"It's nothing. It's just one of Reina's bad attitudes." Sandra said at kahit sino naman ay mahahalata ang inis sa boses niya, even though she's usually calm. Binaling ko ang tingin ko kay Cassie para tanungin siya nang inunahan niya na ako.

"Huwag mo akong tanungin Captain. Wala akong alam sa away ng dalawa. Kapag nag-aaway sila hindi kaya ako nangengealam. At least I try to."

"We're supposed to discuss what are we planning to do tomorrow but if things go on like this, magiging pabigat lang kayo sa trabaho." I sighed. Gods, I'm tired. "What happened?"

"Palagi nalang nagiging mainitin ang ulo ni Reina, at ayaw kong kahit sino nalang ay pagtatapunan niya ng galit. Kaya ayun, nagkasagutan kami." Napaupo si Sandra sa may malaking flst ng bato sa gilid ng pumo habang napapahilot sa sentido niya. Well, Reina is a huge pain.

Hindi ko na sila tinanong pa at tinungo ang daan kung saan si Reina kanina pumasok. The trees were huge, the soil was fertilized as wel kaya maraming halaman ang tumutubo sa kung saan saan. Nang makapasok na ako sa parang gubat ay hindi na lupa ang naaapakan ko kundi mga damo.

I walked in further and saw a bridge of cobalt stones nearbye. Kakaiba na ang mga punongkahoy dito dahil mag parang lampara na ang nakasabit sa mga sanga. Light barely touched this part of the area, but it wasn't dark. Sa hindi kalayuan ay nakita ko si Reina na nakatayo sa gitna ng tulay, ang mga mata ay nakatingin sa ilalim kung saan ang tubig.

"You're a great deal of trouble, you know that?" Lumapit ako sa kaniya at tila ay nagulat diya dahil sumunod ako.

"Your fault for dealing with me."

"The thing is, I'm not traying hard on it." I sighed. "Reina, your temper has to be controlled. I know a person who couldn't no matter how hard she tries to hide it." I chuckled lightly, may naalala kasi ako.

"Rest assured, I won't become like Andrea."

"Do you hate her?"

"Who wouldn't? Palagi niya nalang akong kinokontra, palagi niya nalang pinapakita na mas magaling siya sa akin. I know that, pero masyado siyang mapang-asar." Mukhang naging magkalapit sila ni Andrea. "But it doesn't mean I don't like her."

"Hating her means you don't like her." Pagmamakatuwiran ko.

"You don't understand, Iyana."

"Not trying to." Bored kong sagot.

"I...I really admired you guys." Napapahid siya ng palad niya sa mukha niya. "Pero bakit nagkaganoon? Nagagalit ako sa tuwing may nagsasalitang hindi maganda tungkol kay Andrea at kay Keila pero wala naman akong masabi."

"They're immature, pero hindi ibig sabihin na hindi sila nag-iisip. Minsan sa buhay may mga bagay na kailangan nating tanggapin." I rememberer what Titania told me a few days ago.

"Accept what exactly?"

"Na hindi na babalik pa sa dati ang lahat. I am loyal to the Saint, Reina. Kapag sinabing patayin ang isang kriminal at isang traydor, gagawin ko yun." Hindi siya makapaniwala nang tumingin siya sa akin. Nakayukom ang mga kamao nito.

"Paano mo nasasabi yan?! Hindi ba mga kaibigan mo sila?!"

"I'm not a cliché person to say I will save them from whatever they're currently experiencing. The moment the took  those seperate paths away from each other, alam na nila na hindi magiging madali ang lahat. Alam din nila na dadating ang oras kung saan may papatay sa kanila, and I want that to be me rather than just any person."

"You're...you're unbelievable. Hindi mo maintindihan, how can you even entertain the fact that you can just kill them?! Wala lang ba sa'yo ang mga ginawa niyo noon?" I suddenly rememberer the first time we saw each other, the first time the three of us teamed up, fought each other, laughed with each other...pero tama na siguro yun. Iniwan nila ako, they left me behind thinking about the things we could have done together rather than facing things alone.

"Memories will always last unless you severe them yourself. Sa pagkakataong ito, pipiliin kong maputol ito."

"You just don't want to face the pain. In other words, you're running away!"

"And do you think sulking about that right at this moment will help you?" Hindi siya nakasagot agad sa sinabi ko.

"Are you always that courageous, Iyana?" Biglaang tanong niya, at hindi ko ito inaasahan.

"I don't really know. I just go with the flow, Reina. I don't think about stuffs that will tire me out." Did I just lie to myself?

The clear to andwer to her question was a plain 'no'. I'm not that courageous, I'm not fearless either. Talagang ayaw ko lang aminin sa kaniya na tama ang mga sinabi niya kanina. I'm just running away, afraid of the pain. I say I will kill them if ever, at gusto kong ako ang makakagawa nun.

But why does my hands are shaking right now? Why is my heart this fast? Why is my mind throbbing? Like everything about me is trying to tell me na kahit ano man ang mangyari, ay hindi ko sila kayang patayin. Just talking about death alone is immoral, espcially when I'm talking about murder here. Pero ano ba ang magagawa ko?

"What will it be, Iyana Klein? Will you help me achieve The New World Order?"

I suddenly remembered those words. The New World Order huh? A new era kung saan wala ang mga irregulars, ang mga hindi normal, dahil kahit hindi man intensyonal ay nakakasira sila ng mundo, ng kinabukasan ng nga tao. I just don't understand pero kung iisipin simple lang ang sagot.

If we want peace, then The New World Order must happen. But peace? What exactly is the real meanjng of that word? Living a life in harmony? I don't think that's peace, that's living a boring and programmed life. Pero mas mabuti ito kumpara sa katotohanang masisira na ang mundo. But how does Titania know all those things? Because that's what happened in history?

History doesn't always repeats itself, at least I hope not. But if things go on like this, we do have to repeat history until it won't ever happen again. But is it still all worth it in the end?

"If it were me..." bumalik ang tingin kl kay Reina na derechong nakatingin sa akin, my golden brown eyes were reflected on hers.

"What would you have done?" In the first place, I can't imagine the three of them seperated at all. One a criminal, a traitor? No, that's impossible. Unlike us, these three grew up together. Kaya siguro nagagalit siya hindi niya kami maintindihan kung balit nagkaganito ang lahat.

"I would have had—" hindi ko alam kung ank ang nangyari pero nakaramdam nalang kami ng marahas na paggalaw ng lupa.

Muntik na siyang matumba lampas sa may mga bato kaya mabilis ko siyang hinawakan sa braso at tinayo. We both looked at each other in confusion. I looked back behind me pra masundan kung ano ang tinititigan niya. Nagulat ako nang unti-unting nababalot ang langit ng itim na usok. May naririnig din kaming mga pagsigaw pero hindi namin talagang maintindihan kung ano ang sinisigaw nila.

Hindi ko na sinabihan si Reina pa kung ano ang gagawin. Tumakbo nalang ako pabalik sa lugar at agad namang sumunod ang isa. Nilagpasan namin ang mga pasikot-sikot na daanan na kung kanina ay parang ang dai lang, ngayon nahihirapan na kami. Hindi lang kasi ang kalangitan ang nababalot ng itim na usok, buong lugar na yata.

"Do you sense that?" I found myself asking her. Kakaiba kasi ang nalalanghap ko sa hangin. Hindi ito isang normal na usok, it's like an enveloping black mist.

"What is it?"

"Dark energy." Damn it. Paano nakapasok ang masamang enerhiya na ito sa loob ng tribu? Tribes have barriers surrounding them, not even dark energy could easily penetrate it without warning.

Nakarating din kami sa wakas. Pero nagulat ako sa mga naabutan namin. Elves are running around, meron na wala ng mga malay. Nakita ko naman si Elder Yuis kaya lumapit kami dito. I heard him ordering his elves around on what to do. Mukhang mapapadali ang evacution.

"Anong nangyari?" I asked with urgency.

"Ang barrier...may umalis ng barrier."

"So the enemies are outside." Akmang aalis na ako nang hinablot niya ang braso ko. He was glaring at me.

"May umalis nito mula sa loob." Madiin niya sabi. What did he mean by that? A traitor? "Hindi ito magagawa ng mga elves. Dakpin sila!"

"What?!" Gulat na bulyaw ni Reina habang pilit na inaalis ang hawak sa kaniya ng tatlong elves.

Hinawakan siya sa magkabilang balikat at pinaluhod sa lupa habang ang isang elf ay nakahawak sa likod niya para hindi na siya makatayo. I gritted my teeth in horror. What in the world is happening in here? How did the tables turn so easily against us?

"Sino sa inyo ang gumawa nito?"

"Huwag mo akong tanungin. Bakit hindi mo tanungin ang mga elves dito?"

"Hindi nga nila—"

"They can always do something unexpected at the cost of something dearly." Umingay ang ibang elves sa sinabi ko dahil hindi daw ito totoo.

"Mga tao lamang ang may kakayahang magtraidor aa mga kasamahan nito." Iniinsulto niya ba ang lahi ng mga tao?

"What makes you think your race is so different from our?"

"Sapagkat kayo'y mga tao. Natural na sa inyo gumawa ng makasalanang bagay at ang rason? Dahil tao kayo." I frowned.

"If you don't trust humans that much then why let us enter in the first place? At bakit naman gagawin ang pagpapatumba ng barrier kung ang gusto lang naman namin ay protektahan kayo?"

"Nagsisinungaling ka." Elves have this certain abilty to detect lies just by looking at the eyes. How was I lying?!

Sinimulan na akong lapitan ng iba pang elves, but this time lima na sila. Akala ba nila makakaya nila ako sa ganoong bilang? If I was indeed guilty, I could have had just shot them all here without even breaking a sweat! Binitawan na ako ni Elder Yuis at tinulak papunta sa isang naga-abang na elf. Of course, since I was small, it was easy for him.

Binigyan ko siya ng masamang tingin at walang emosyon niya naman itong binalik. Hanggang sa mas lumakas pa ang nararamdaman kong masamang enerhiya. Napansin ko ang pagkislap ng mga mata ng Elder sa itim, saglit lang ito pero imposible na hindi ko makita ang mga ganong detalye.

"Bitawan mo ako." It wasn't a plead, it was a command. Nakahawak kasi ang elf sa mga kamay ko sa likod. He chose to ignore me though.

"Elder, ano po ang gagawin natin sa kanila?" Tanong nung isang babaeng elf.

"Hanapin niyo ang mga kasamahan niyang pumasok dito." Tapos ay tinuro niya ako. "Patayin siya."

"Three." Nahagip ko na naamn ang atensyon ng lahat.

Here comes my infamous three-second threat. Matagal narin simula nung may binantaan akong ganito. I last used it when I was bacl on the Academy, that battle and I decided before I'll stop using it. But since it comes to this, they'de leaving me no choice.

"Three?" Tanong nung elf sa likuran ko.

"I'll count to three at kung hindi mo parin ako bibitawan, makikita mo kung ano ang mangyayari sa ikaapat." Napataas ng kilay ang iba, habang si Elder ay napailing lang. Minamaliit nila ako masyado.

"Iyana, what are you doing?" Tanong ni Reina na nakaluhod parin. She can fight back if she wanted, pero mas pinipili niyang huwag muna. If their Elder is in that state, walang kung anong sabi-sabi ang makakaligtas sa kaniya.

"One." Tinutok sa akin nung iang elf ang sibat niya. "Two." Then he made a small cut through my neck with it. I didn't react, I was with my normal pokerface. "Three."

I just closed my eyes letting all the bullets rain down from above, continuously. I heard multiple shots hitting the ground, some pierced through the elves' skins. Ramdam ko din ang pagbitaw ng kung sino sa mga kamay ko. I heard screams but I didn't care at the moment.

I snapped my fingers, and the moment I did, tumigil ang mga bala sa kasalukuyang posisyon nila. Sobrang gulo ng paligid, may mga nagtatago sa ilalim ng mga bato at may diyan namang pinoprotektahan ang sarili nila gamit ng mga hawak nilang armas. Napatingin ako kay Reina kung okay lang ba siya, at ngayon ay tinatakpan niya ang sarili ng malaking shield niya.

"Damn you Iyana!" Sigaw niya sa akin at tinabi na ang hawak niyang shield. "Next time, do warn me." I yawned. Grabe ang pagbaba ng enerhiya ko sa ginawa ko.

May mga elves na nakapaligid sa amin ngayon with theit spears, all their eyes were black as well as the Elder standing behind a group of elves armed with bows and arrows. Hindi pa nga ako nakahanda ay tinira na nila ako ng mga pana nila, and while making sure I couldn't escape, spears are all pointed around me.

"Those are poisonous idiot! Umilag ka!" Sigaw na naman ni Reina.

Nakakarindi na kaya siya. But I did as she told but the arrows were like a pouring rain, too many to avoid. Nakita ko sa peripheral vision ko na tinapon ni Reina ang shield niya sa itaas ko. The shield floated above and served as a roof. As it did its purpose, I crouched and summoned submachine guns on each of my hands at pinaputok ito sa paligid ko. Using my guns is more energy-saving than actually summoning a bullet.

I have an ability to cut through any space, and my weapon is only one gun. Pero ginagamit ko ang ability ko para kumuha ng marmaing baril at bala sa iba't ibang spaces sa buong mundo, reason why I seem to have unlimited bullets and guns. That's why palagi nalang akong nauubusan ng enerhiya.

Hindi ko naman sila pinatay. Pinatumba ko lang at dinaplisan ng bala. Pain would snap them out of the dark energ that possessing them. Dark energy isn't supposed to possess, it could only do that if one wields or have that kind of energy. Something's not right. Dark energy is slowly evolving. And it's becoming really dangerously troublesome.

Mabuti naman at hindi talaga ang isipan nila ang kinokontrol ng masasambg enerhiya otherwise snapping them out would be proven difficult. Ibig sabihin, alam nila ang ginagawa nila pero wala silang kontrol dito. The elves surrounding me finally fell on the ground, at ganoon din ang mga elves na nakabantay sa Elder.

Ang ibang elves na nagtatago kanina ay nagsilabasan na, wala silang naiintindihan sa mga nangyari. I sighed, my body was exhausted. Sana naman ayos na ang lahat, I can't stand doing this for another time at all. Pero naounta ang tingin ng lahat sa Elder na humahalakhak sa tawa.

Dark enegy is an energy which slolwy brainwash a person's mind, slowly killing them inside. The person who wields or being posses by it always seeks chaos and destruction, death. Kaya nga tinawag itong masamang enerhiya. Titania was right, Enchant Woods isn't safe for the Elves anymore.

"Na synkentrotheíte mésa mou, na lávete ypópsi mou ton ouranó kai ti gi," the Elder was starting to say something. Napansin ko naman na napapaatras ang ibang elf sa ginagawa niya na siyang pinagtaka ko. "i dýnami tis anapnoís sas boreí na prokalései katastrofí," patuloy parin siya sa pagsasalita at walang gumagalaw sa posisyon nila.

"Masama ito." Bulong nung isang babang elf hindi malayo sa akin.

"What's going on?" Tanong ko sa kaniya. She gulped.

"I-isang chang ang s-sinasabi niya."

"A chant? What is he planning?" Bakit kasi hindi niya nalang sabibin ang lahat eh.

"Isang s-summoning c-chant!"

"A what?!"

"Boreí i dýnami tis mázas sas na fonáxei ti níki kai na prosféro aftí ti zoí gia mia tétoia emfánisi!" Wala akong naintindihan. Hindi naman ako masipag para mag-aral ng nga ganiyang lenguwahe.

Sabay ng pagsigaw niya sa huling salitang iyon ay ang pagyanig ng lupa. Nagtipon-tipon ang mga hangin mula sa paligid at mas lalong lumakas ang masamang enerhiya. Tumunog din ang medyo madilim na kalangitan, thunders and lightnings spread across it.

"Huwag na kayong tumayo diyan! Lumisan na kayo ng lugar ngayon din!" Pamilyar ang boses na nag-utos nun. Elves started to move then.

Ilang minuto ang nakalipas ay may bumuong kung anong halimaw sa itaas. It was an accumulation of air, may malaking bunganga ito at sa loob na may lumiliwanag. It was huge, very huge. Umiikot-ikot lang ito sa langit na para bang minamasdan kami.

"What do we do?" Tanong ni Reina na nasa tabi ko na pala.

"Help the elves get out from this place." Tumango siya at umalis na para tumulong. I still have to find Sandra and Cassie, of course, there's Annelyn. Saan na ba ang batang iyon? "Yajin, we're going to set back up the barrier kung wala na ang mga elves."

"Ano ang gagawin mo?"

"I'm going to blow that thing up." Sabay turo sa lumilipad na halimaw. "But we need to deal with your grandfather first." He nodded and hesitated.

Nakatayo lang doon sa pwesto niya kanina ang Elder. Hindi siya gumagalaw, but his eyes are pure black, nagiging itim narin ang katawan niya. Sabay ng itim sa katawan niya ay paglabas ng mga kung anong maliliit na butas sa bakat niya. He's turning into a monster himself and I don't even know if he's aware of it.

"Ako na ang bahala sa kaniya." Determinadong wika ni Yajin. "Hindi ko alam kung ano ngaba tlaga ang nangyari pero, kung maaari ay gusto ko siyang iligtas." Then he looked back at me. Wala ng haling ngiti ang mukha niya, seryoso na ito.

The monster above roared, its beaming scream shaved off a part of the forest, pati ang nga bahay ay tumilapon din sa kung saan. The blue light inside its mouth started forming, bigger and bigger, until the monster let it go towards our direction. Hindi lang kami ang maaapektohan nito, buong tribu na. Ganoon kalaki at kalakas ang enerhiyang nararamdaman ko.

Mabilis akong umaksyon at tinaas ang dalawang kamay ko. I cut through the spaces surrounding that ball of blue heat, and with one swing of a hand, the space cut through hanggang sa nawala na mismo ang paparating na atake ng halimaw. It's like it's never been there.

"You could just do that to the monster." Suggestion ni Yajin.

"If I could, I would." Napaluhod ako, my visions were narrowing. Sobrang laki nung hinati kong space, at yun palang nga nahihirapan na ako, ano pa kaya kung yung halimaw na mismo?

Nagulat nalang ako nang gumalaw sa Yajin sa gilid ko para saluhin ang paparating na pana. He caught it with his bare hand at binali ito. It was coming from the Elder na ngayon ay hindi na namin maintindihan ang mukha. I took a sigh at pinilit ang katawan kong tumayo. Kaya ko pa naman, hindi lang talaga ako nakapaghanda kanina.

"Ilang minuto pa bago magpakawala ng isa pang atake ang halimaw. I need to finish him until then." I nodded at Yajin sa sinabi niya. "Habang ikaw naman, hanapin mo ang mga kasamahan mo. Alam kong nag-aalala ka na."

"Can you handle your grandfather?"

"I will."

"Babalik ako."

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sunod niyang sasabihin dahil tumakbo na ako. Sa totoo lang ay naguguluhan parin talaga ako sa mga nangyayari. Who would even take down the barrier? Dahil sa nawala ang barrier ay nakapasok ang dark energy, at sa lahat talaga na nandito na pwedeng maapektohan ng ganoon kalala ay ang Elder pa.

Ilang minuto narin ako naghahanap pero hindi ko sila makita. Sira-sira na ang ibang mga bahay dito, at halos wala ng katao-tao. The monster above is as huge as ever, walang nakakasigurado kung kailan nito papakawalan ang hininga niya.

Until I heard loud impacts sa hindi kalayuan. There's this small shaking of the ground as well. Tinahak ko ang daan pra masundan ang tunog kung saan ito nanggagaling. My eyes grew wide at the sight of Sandra and Cassie fighting with their huge weapons in hand.

"Kanina pa sila nag-aaway. Magkasing-lakas lamg yata ang dalawa eh." Sabi niya, hawak ang staff niya na lagpas pa sa height niya. "My job's done here and I did it in an exciting way, hindi ba?" Parang nakikilig niyang sabi. 

"Who are you?" She's making me angry for some reason.

"I told you my name, I'm Annelyn." Nakangiti niyang saad.

"You took down the barrier?!"

"Huh? Hindi kaya ako! Only elves can take down their own barrier, ang may dugo lang ni Elder. Sino kaya? Hindi mo ba alam?" I was frozen in place. "Si Yajin! Siyempre tinulungan ko naman. Mabait kaya akong bata."

"Bakit naman gagawin yun ni Yajin?"

"The Elder won't give him the position dahil alam niyang hindi pa handa ang apo niya, but Yajin being the cunning type didn't like he way he was underestimated—" hindi ko na pinatapos ang sasabihin niya dahil akmang aalis na ako. "Oops saan ka pupunta?"

"I'm going to kill him."

"Hahayaan mo nalang ba ang dalawa magpatayan?"

"Anong ginawa mo sa kanila?!"

"Grabe ka! Wala akong ginawa nu. Hindi lang siguro nila nakayanan ang masamang enerhiya." I keep clenching my fists, and I feel like I suddenly have this urge to kill this kid in front of me.

"I'm going to plant my bullets in your small body and you're gonna love it."

Ke'ala

The room wasn't dark, I know because I could still feel the sunlight creeping through my skin. My sense of smell managed to pick up a scent of fresh lavenders too, spreading around the spaces. The chair I was sitting was soft and comfortable, except for my hands which are being tied up behind me. I was being blindfolded by something dark and smooth, reason why my eyes aren't that uncomfortable.

It had been hours since he brought me here, and I didn't know why I chose to be with him. Something was telling me that I had to. Until I heard the door creaking open from the front, I heard footsteps followed a moment after. I knew those footsteps well, he had been checking me here for at least every ten minutes.

"A-are you thirsty?" He asked, his voice was cracking with guilt.

Alam ko namang hindi niya gustong gawin 'to sa akin, after all I can feel emotions. But he had to, o tatakas talaga ako. I only answered him with a nod, hindi ako nagsasalita simula nung dinala niya ako sa lugar na ito.

May inilapit siyang malamig na bagay sa bibig ko, naramdaman ko naman agad na isa itong baso kaya ininom ko ang tubig sa loob. It satisfied my thirst. His thumb glided over under my lower lip, tracing the water spilled from earlier. His touch lingered for few seconds until he let it go, and I hoped he didn't.

"Ke'ala...I—please talk to me." Pero hindi parin ako sumagot. Hindi ko alam kung anong mukha ang pinapakita niya pero ramdam ko ang lungkot sa boses niya. "I'm sorry...I can't let you see me in this state, Ke'ala. I'm becoming a monster, I'm ugly." Since when did I ever care about appearances anyway?

I felt something warm over my left cheek, his palm placed there. The warmth he was giving was fairly satisfying, I didn't want him to let go. It's sad when I think about it. The fact that he's treating me like this just because he didn't me to see him in that state. But I want to see it, I want to see him. No matter how ugly he looks, no matter how monstrous he may be...I want to see him.

"Ke'ala," tawag niya sa akin, still not letting go of his hand from cupping my face. "I love you."

And there it goes again, the rapid pounding of of my heart, hitting my chest like any moment now it'll burst, and I'm scared. Natatakot ako sa emosyon na ito. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin. I don't want to be controlled by emotions but I couldn't do anything at this moment but let my emotions take over. I wanted to say the same thing right, but something's telling me as well that I shouldn't.

"It's impossible to love someone I only met for a week, Damiel." He tensed up hearing my words. "What did you do to me? Did you do something special? You disappeared for months, you left me, and now you're saying you love me?" I didn't mean to be harsh. I knew I was causing him pain, but I was asking. I wanted to know what he really means to me.

"What can I do? There are two different kinds of love. The lasting one," then he dropped his hand, and I came to miss his warmth. "And the kind of love that hurts instead." He sighed, I could feel his cool lavender breath close to mine.

He closed the distance. I met his lips, not feeling any sort of barrier preventing me from doing so. They were soft and smooth. But we didn't move. Just our lips against each other, savouring the moment. Then he started moving them, his lips grazing over mine again and again. His pace was slow, allowing me to keep up.

Until he finally put back the distance, his fingers sliding through my lips as if he wanted more but couldn't. I wanted to see him so badly, but I said nothing. We were panting, out of breath, but it was wonderful, I know he felt that too.

"My love for you always lasts, Ke'ala, always." Why does he sounded so sad then?

His footsteps were gradually fading, then the door was shut closed, leaving none of his presence behind. Our love is dark, the kind that should stay behind the reach of light because we were both afraid. We would rather embrace the pain than walk out from the darkness, why? Because we still chose to be together, even though it's that hard to be free with each other.

"But it's the kind of love that hurts, Damiel."

And I don't know how long can I keep up with it.