That Unforseen Power Playing Grandly Behind

I screamed, clutching my chest as cold sweat dripped from my forehead. I scrambled over the soft surface of the silk beneath me, eventually rolling over the floor. The cold sensation took no more than a second before it invaded my body, my skin tingling as though I got suddenly numb. The wooden tile of the floor enveloped my back in another kind of cold, finally letting myself breathe as I got used to the sensation.

But I could feel my body returning to its previous predicament, something inside me felt like burning, my heart racing so fast. My mind was not in a good state as well, my vision blurring and my head feels like it would literally explode. I pulled myself up, using the bed beside to keep my balance steady as I stood--only for my right knee to bend itself back to the floor.

"Celeztie!"

I perked up almost cursing, feeling that familiar pleasant smell that reminded me of cinnamon closing in. A pair of hands reaching for my arm, but I didn't want anyone to see me like this. I hated it as much as I hate the fact that I could do nothing about this. Thus, I did the only thing that made sense at the moment--I pushed her away. I felt back when she hit the table, but I didn't dare look at her face as I attempted another try.

This time, I managed to stand completely but my legs were still a bit wobbly that I almost fell again if she hadn't held my arm. I scoffed, but said nothing as she helped me sat down the chair in front of the table. I rested myself on the back of chair, my arms loosely on top of the table. I closed my eyes, sighing because of how intrusive her glares are.

There was a big map laid on the table at my front, a wooden chessboard beside it, a piece of pencil, and a slowly burning candlelight by the corner. The map referred to the current world, with the southern regions already bathed in nether energy, making the countries or people in it, wasted--or dead, if I were to say so. No ordinary people could have known the effects of this nether energy or the possibility of too much abundant energy could have brought.

Ke'ala wanted to save this world from crumbling down by filtering this energy, which ridding the world of nether by absorbing the energy leakage. But with the fall of Etherion Tower five years ago, she's become secretive of her plans. Was she responsible for the nether's spread completely stopping by the small Kingdom of Romaine?

For five years now, my father--or supposed to be my father--had spent so much time trying to locate her exact location. But Ke'ala would always disappear, that even if he did manage to track her down, she would already be gone. I had stopped looking for her myself after a year of her disappearance, I decided there's no point in working with a woman who doesn't want anything to do with me or anyone else.

That's why she can't blame me for whatever I did for these past years. She'll have to figure everything out by herself, it'll probably take a while for her to. If she's doing something by the shadows, I'll do things my own way by the surface. That's what I've been doing, trying to pave a way for a future I know she deserves. Everything in this map, all of the remaining organizations... they're mine to control. A world I can manipulate, not quite perfectly yet... but I'm getting there.

"Well? Aren't you going to say anything?" The woman beside me scowled, her face must be fuming mad right now. "Look at me!"

"I'm sorry." I admitted, finally looking at her.

This time, I could perfectly see her jet-black eyes. Her physique was as fit as ever, she even grew taller. She was wearing her usual leathered pants that reached her knees, a pair of heeled boots and a white sleeveless top. She usually wore her brown hair with reddish highlights by the tip, up. But she let it hung loosely behind her back now. She looked... tired, the lack of sleep these recent weeks must have been a key factor. I felt even more guilty knowing I was the cause of that.

"You really think I'm asking for an apology?" Her gaze softened.

"No. But I feel like I should say it anyway." I answered, my voice barely audible.

"Celeztie, I don't--"

"I know, Al. I know."

She sighed, glancing at the things on the table. Her hand then reached for a particular piece on the unfinished match of the chessboard, rubbing her thumb on the wooden surface of the black pawn before putting it on it's left's territory. It's a four-handed chess, with the west and east painted in red and blue.

I shook my head in attempt to disagree with her move but I regretted it almost as immediately, the sudden pull from the back of my mind traveling fast up to my forehead as though a rift and I winced in pain. I raised my hand to stop her, calming her down before she push me back to bed to rest for the hundredth time this week, and that's not what I certainly need at the moment.

"Celeztie... let's delay things back at least just for a few days. Kailangan mo ng maraming pahinga--"

"I'm fine." I cut off, ignoring the pleading I hear on her voice. I grabbed another pawn from the blue side, pushing another two forward towards the black. "Legion Army needs to eliminate Black Clan as soon as possible." I bit my lower lip frustratingly. "If we had more time, we could have taken out these blacks earlier than the Coven."

"Black Clan specializes more in techniques that use discreet movements unlike the Army that blindly sets in their overwhelming numbers and technology. Hindi na ako magtataka kung magawa nga ng Clan lampasan ang ang Legion Army." Allanea proceeded to move another piece as if to make her point.

"Legion Army has many pawns in its discretion. They have Titania on their side too, and even Exodus' force won't be able to do much against the Elven Magic." I said, pushing three more pawns forward. "Sobrang dami ng bilang ng ROLA na matatakpan nila ang kahit anong butas sa depensa nila."

She scoffed, walking towards the cabinet to grab an unlit candle lamp and only then I truly began to notice the darken scenery of the gentle sound of crickets on the woods outside. I watched her carefully light the candle up using the one burning candle on the table before placing it on the hook just above the center of the room. It helped illuminate the surroundings more, especially with the open windows and the rising full moon just over the horizon, but it was still slightly dim.

"Then all the more reason we push Exodus into attacking." Allanea said, looking at the red side of the board. "With the help of Irvaius' unique spells, I was able to send the letter to Andrea. They're going to get suspicious of other organizations and possibly go attack--"

"No. They're going to get defensive. They might be under assumption that we know where their base of operations is, but that's the bluff, we don't."

Irvaius' message spells allows him to send letters anywhere to anyone as long as the sender has energy similar to its recipient, and that's Allanea sending one to Andrea. But we don't necessarily need to know where they are. Irvaius had always been so talented at using magic, it's as though he can create newly-discovered spells on the spot if he feels like it. Well, considering his half bloodline and family tree, that isn't all so surprising.

"You know how Exodus plays. They're going to act like they're leading an attack when they just want to divert enemy's attention somewhere they can have an upper hand."

"Much like the World's Organization." I replied. "But Exodus is more focus on their own objective."

Allanea crossed her arms. "Did they really think they're capable of killing a Progenitor? Or even just as much as scratch them?"

"They got their End Curse from the Grimoire solely created by every single gods and goddesses out there and even with the help of Athànatos, a race so mysterious their power is especially said to be unmatched." I grabbed the pencil, twirling it around my fingers then. "And the main purpose of that Grimoire is to defeat the Progenitors."

"But do you really think they can do it? We've seen the power of a Progenitor firsthand and she's... she's someone mortals or even immortals shouldn't mess with. How many of them are out there anyway? And to even think as defeat them? It's ridiculous!"

"Not really." I refuted. "You do realize Athanasía didn't really send us back in time right? All she did was use my own spiritual energy to transfer our souls to a different reality, making our existences in where we originally came from vanish. It's me saying that Progenitors can't exactly meddle, why do you even think they sent the soul of one of their own as a human?"

"Which means they're vulnerable, is that it? Celeztie, I don't know why they don't want to meddle directly, but Athanasía distorting time like that even with the use of your energy is fearsome enough, how overwhelming would it have been if she had used her own?"

"The thing is she couldn't, Allanea. They don't want to meddle for whatever reason that she used my own energy. Don't you get it? Even if Exodus were to literally use the power of the Grimoire on them, they won't do anything against Exodus and that Organization knows that fact that they're taking advantage of it."

"But Progenitors won't just let themselves get taken advantage of...ibig bang sabihin malaki ang tiwala nilang masisira nga ni Ke'ala ang Grimoire bago pa man ng Exodus ito magamit?"

"They know Ke'ala would be able to do it," I said as I gritted my teeth in irritation. "And they're just going to discard her like nothing after she does. I hate it, they might as well just disappear for all I care."

"Pero tinulungan tayo ni Athanasía--"

"Because she pities her! Kasalanan ng mga Progenitors ang lahat ng ito. It's just a simple game for them that was supposed to end hundreds of years ago back at the Great War with Denaricus but no...they just had to create a soul, let it wait around for four hundred years, and when they feel like the World's Organization and Exodus are finally making their move, they push that soul to be born as a human."

"Celeztie--"

I slammed my fists on the table, shaking everything up. "Those damn Progenitors had the chance to finish all of this ages ago, Allanea. But because they can't meddle themselves they're letting millions of innocent people suffer because of a war the World's Organization started. It all revolves around them, these Progenitors are the cause of this all...so what if they disappear? Wouldn't that be better?"

"Don't you remember what Athanasía said? Progenitors don't create progenitors. Their souls were accumulation of general energies and Ke'ala's soul was just a product of that. She doesn't know who sent her soul here nor who gave her such duty--"

"Who cares? It's already been done. It might not have been her, but it doesn't change the fact that some unknown Progenitor out there did."

"Athanasía hopes to save Ke'ala from death. You know her fate. She will die after she finishes her duty and that exactly what happened from the reality where we came from--"

"She will not die." I glared at her.

"I know. That's why we're here. We want to change the future that was bound to happen. You may be doing this for your supposed mother, but honestly..." she blinked, looking away as though she was hesitating about her next words.

"What is it?" I tried standing up, but a sudden  quake rang through my body, my head having that cracking sensation again that I could only bite my lip and close my eyes to prevent a scream.

"You should have just stayed in bed." Allanea said in obvious worry, pushing me back to the chair as she caressed my head, gently circulating her own energy around to at least lessen the pain.

"Then what? Let you all do the work?" I looked up, seeing her just in front of me with her eyes boring deep into my own. She sighed.

"You know me, I was literally raised like a prisoner. My mother would control me saying it was for the best. She would buy me things, do everything even when I didn't ask her. She wouldn't let me do things on my own will. She thinks she's being the best mother by foreseeing every single actions I did. I think it was her trying to make me feel...not abandoned unlike what her own mother did to her."

"Allanea..."

"Honestly," she began, closing in her forehead against mine from above, her hands cupping the sides of my face she whispered. "I don't care about what happens. I don't really care if my mother ends up being the manipulative bit--woman she was that would control every single of my movements. I don't really care if I can't have a real family. I just don't care anymore. I've stopped caring, stopped hoping for a change even when I was a child."

"...kaya ka nga sumama sa akin dahil gusto mong baguhin ang buhay mo, hindi ba? Anong mali sa ginawa natin, Al? Why do you always look at me as though I'm doing things wrong?"

"None of us particularly cared, you know? Irona, Irvaius--they don't obsessed the thought of change like you do. When you went to Màvro Isle, leaving us three saying you had to do things on your own...that scared me. What if you die? But then again, when I saw how determined you were, I sincerely prayed with all my heart that you succeed in your goal in killing her."

"That's...I-I changed my mind the moment I saw Ke'ala. There was...that connection that bounds us, I could feel my energy syncing whenever she's near that I couldn't bring myself to do it, or at least I thought."

"You were so obsessed with freedom, Celeztie. We let you off on your own on that island because if you succeed, then you'll finally be free. You trained endlessly, became so strong all for the sake of killing a woman so that you'll feel liberated. You wouldn't need to have those nightmares, you wouldn't need to feel so burdened, and you'll finally let yourself feel happiness."

"I still don't feel free though."

"When you were on that island, Athanasía showed herself to us when we were roaming around. She said she'll give us an option to change everything. But we disagreed."

"Then why did you still come with me?"

"We thought you'd finally be contented after you killed her. But you were reduced to such a mess. Guilt, regret...agony, I hated seeing you like that, Celeztie." She backed away, a sudden knock on the door making her so. "We all did. Why do you even think we're here? We're not doing all of this for change. We just want you to accept things are, and if the only way for you to accept the harsh reality is to go through of all of these things, then we'll gladly go along with your whims."

"You're all just being selfless--"

"We're not being selfless. We're just tired of this. We just want this to end already. We only have the four of us, that didn't change even back when we were still children and I won't let that change now."

"All the more reason why I should be out there helping you guys and not rest--" I stopped myself when she clenched her fists, the cursed mark on her neck throbbing in black as it began to loosely coil around her neck.

"We didn't sign up for all this shit so we could watch you slowly die like this! Don't you understand that?!" Her loud yell broke the glass window, the entire room shaking as her dark energy circulated the room. "Damn it..." She muttered, realizing what she did before retracting her energy back and her Cursed Mark returning to normal.

"Allanea--"

"Not now, Celeztie." She raised her hands in surrender as she headed for the door, not bothering to look at me. She opened the door, walking briskly past Irona who was just behind it.

Irona gently shut the door close when she got inside, placing the tray on the table with a cup of hot cocoa on it. She didn't say anything, going straight to carefully pick up the broken shards of glasses on the floor. I sighed, taking the cup to meet my lips. The heat somehow calmed me down, even though I shouldn't be the one having to calm down right now. I didn't even want to think about what happened just now.

"Alam mo namang grabe siya mag-alala sa'yo, 'diba?" Narinig kong bulong ni Irona, pero mahina lang talaga ang tunog ng boses niya. "You're upset, we get it. Pero ako mismo ang nagsabi sa kanilang iwanan ka."

"Because I'm a liability?"

It was a provocation, I do know why they decided to leave me here for a week after all. I was constantly worrying about their 'final raid' against the Coven. It was my plan, but still would have been better if I were there. Our small group had been targeting Coven's branches for a year now. The plan was to slowly destroy them inside, destroying their important sources.

We didn't go after all their bases, just the important ones and when the time came, we went after their main base. They left last week, slowly weakening things from the inside while making sure the Legion Army would take the bait and attack the already weakened organization. The Army did by finishing the aftermath of what we did so that other organizations would be under the assumption that it was the Legion Army who destroyed Coven.

However, by sending that letter to Exodus, those Ends are now aware that it wasn't ROLA but something else. While they don't know anything about us, they will be forced do things discreetly enough that they probably won't be attacking other organizations for a while. Their branches would probably still continue the offence against enemy branches, but nothing major would happen sometime yet.

The New World Order was supposed to be a war between the Regular Order and the Irregular Order. The West Mages, Assassin's Association, and the Coven were all supposed to work alongside the Legion Army while Exodus, Dragonbornes, Black Clan, and Beast People were supposed to fight for Irregulars.

But things had changed. Trusts were shaken up, leaving the organizations to fend off for themselves by eliminating one another. All those propagandas, newspapers, articles spread throughout the world... they're all lies saying it's all for freedom, saying it's a war for Regulars and Irregulars. But no, it's just all for power, on who would rule as victors, on who would literally control the world.

They're all disgusting. Selfish. But I can't exactly say anything more than that when I basically am controlling things behind the scenes. They're all merely pieces on my gameboard. With proper provocations and acts behind the scenes, they would surely go according to where I lead them. I just need...more time to plan my next moves.

Another thing that's bothering me is the West Mages Association. Wala kaming mahanap na balita tungkol sa pinanggagawa nila, hindi ko din alam kung nasaan na sila ngayon. All their bases were suddenly shut down, their main headquarter was left empties, na para bang nawala na lang sila bigla at nangyari lang 'yun noong limang taon ang nakaraan.

Other organizations took it as a way of their surrender, saying they must have changed their mind or something and just quitted. I don't think that's exactly what happened though, but an enemy already out of the board has no use. Ke'ala, of course, is secretive as ever. I don't know what she's been doing or what her plans are, but I won't lose. If she won't cooperate no matter how much I try to reach for her, then so be it. We have been doing things our own way and we still are.

"What's on your mind, Irona?" I asked, noticing the taller girl ignoring my earlier question.

Irona kept her short dark-brown hair that reached just above her shoulders, a few strands covering one of her brown eyes on the left. She does that sometimes to get used at accurately pinpointing things with just her right, it's necessary considering her choice of weapon. She wore a long white sleeved shirt partnered with a denim short. Wit that thought, the said girl glanced at me, finishing the cleaning before shrugging.

"Fińe's about to be done with dinner. She asked you to come down if you're feeling fine after you drink all your hot cocoa." She was about to go out when I suddenly grabbed her hand as she walked by beside me, making her stop.

"I'm sorry."

Still, she didn't look at me. "You only ever know how to apologize, Cel. Don't you think that's why Allanea's so upset with you recently?"

"Gusto ko lang namang ayusin ang lahat, Irona. What am I doing wrong that the most important people in my life would be so disappointed with me like this?"

"Liar." She whispered, but it didn't go unheard. "If we really were the most important people in your life, you could have accepted everything when you killed your mother. But you didn't. You had to drown in your own guilt and misery, allowed some Progenitor to use your abundant spiritual energy to change things."

I stood up, tightening my grip around her wrist. "Ano ba ang gusto niyong gawin ko? Hayaan na lang si Ke'ala na mamatay ng ganoon? Si Iyana? Andrea? Hayaan na lang na maging ganoon ang buhay natin?"

"Still ignoring the fact?" She closed herself in and it's so rare for Irona to show other expressions... but she's showing how angry she is that I can't help but feel more guilty.

"I'm not ignoring anything--"

"Athanasía used how you feel so guilty that she sent you here knowing you'd do literally anything to change Ke'ala's fate." She closed her eyes, as though it would calm her down. "Athanasía doesn't care about anyone else but Ke'ala while other Progenitors only ever care about destroying the Grimoire by using Ke'ala to finish that job."

"I know they don't care about us, Irona. But I can't just sit still and do nothing while knowing I have the chance to change it all."

"We were promised a new and noble life after you killed the woman the world deemed as the Traitor. But you couldn't accept the fact that it was you who killed your own mother even after knowing the truth of her past. You desperately wished for change, but admit it."

"Irona--"

"Even if you were to bring back the moment when you brought her death, you would still do it again and again because you had to."

"Athanasía presented an idea. She used my massive spiritual energy to bring our souls to an alternate reality where the present we came from didn't happen yet. Ke'ala won't die, so as your mother and Andrea. I can change everything, Irona. I will make sure of it--"

"This is why we're so disappointed in you, Celeztie." She interrupted, yanking her hand away. "You can't change everything. There are things that are bound to happen whether you like it or not. Stop being so obsessed with changing the life you knew. Let it go. We'll do what we can do and that's that. We won't have you dying out there for a change we don't even know what would result to."

"If you don't care, then you all shouldn't have come with me! You don't understand! None of you do and I hate that I'm the only one who truly desire to have a better life for all of us! If you don't agree with how I do things around here, then leave--"

Before I knew it, my face was already on the side, a burning sensation imprinted on my right. I looked at her, barely registering what she did. But I held no particular emotion as I did so, as though somehow...I was expecting that.

"Have you even seen yourself in the mirror? You look absolutely the worst, Celeztie. Just... please, stop. Stop being so obsessed, being so desperate. We know your guilty and you're right, we probably won't ever understand how much you're suffering right now but let us be selfish by wishing that you just take a break."

I scoffed, shifting my gaze to the chessboard on the table. "Take a break? You're basically asking me give up."

"You might as well just."

I suddenly glared at her. "You do know you're telling to just throw everything we did all  away, don't you?"

"We didn't stop acting behind the scenes the first we came to this world. We may have been separated, but that didn't stop us from doing what we can. Assassin's Association, Beast People, and now the Coven. Don't you think we did enough? Why don't we let them all handle this themselves and rest?"

"If you want to rest then rest. But I won't stop. Not even you can stop me, Irona."

"We came with you here because we want you to stop being so desperate. But at this rate, you'll die before you even see the end."

"If I die then so be it. If that's the price I'll have to pay to change Ke'ala's fate, I don't care."

"And that's exactly why we're here. To stop your madness. You're getting out of control, Celeztie. Don't make me think you've lost your mind."

And that was it, I grabbed her by the neck and slammed her down the ground, the wooden floor below finally cracking making her grunt in pain. I was still holding her neck down, my body straddling her own as I glared at her. She continued to look at me as though she did nothing wrong it was honestly infuriating.

"I'm amazed by how you became so good at hiding your emotions, Irona. Always so seemingly uncaring, always looking as though nothing would ever faze you. But I know better." I smirked menacingly. "Why don't we get back to the time you never had to hide everything?"

For a moment there, I could swear I saw her expressionless act falter, memories of her past probably being relieved by those simple words by now. But she said nothing which annoyed me. Why won't she say anything? I knew it bothered her. She should be angry, lashing out at me. But then again, she's always been like this. Always so prepared for the worst that she's able to hide everything else when the time comes.

Hindi ganito si Irona nung bata pa siya. She's older than me for a year, in fact, she and Irvaius along with Allanea, the other two being years older than me makes the three of them more of like older siblings than friends. Irona only started hiding what she really feels when she had to show appearances as the Young Lady of the Klein Family. Hindi lang naman kasi Head ng Council ang ina niya, isa din siyang lider ng pinakamalaking military force.

The pressure must have gotten to her but unlike her brother, she didn't hide. She showed up in multiple events, build connections, strengthened her social standing in the Social Circle that there had been talks about her becoming a Council member after she graduates. She didn't want to, of course. She always had wanted to live a quiet life but she felt like she had to keep up with Irvaius who was known as a Young Prodigy of the Klein Household for his unbelievable talent in magic.

She wasn't envious, she just didn't want to drag her brother down by having a useless sister and thus, she's built a habit of being like this. She didn't like pretending in front of others, acting like a big talker when she's really not. But she didn't particularly hate it either. In fact, I think sometimes she liked using her family's authority to get away with some of the things she did in the past.

Like shutting down some business just because they talked back to her, ordering some men to steal another family's important heirloom just because a kid embarrassed her. She's always been that petty yet in front of us, she's actually normal.   Sikat ang pamilyang Klein at de la Vallíere. Head ng Council si Iyana at isa namang Northern Saint si Andrea.

Sa orihinal naming pinanggalingan, hindi nasira ang Magnus. Ito lang ang nag-iisang bansa na hindi magawang atakihin ng mga aids ni Caelesti. Hindi dahil sa hindi nila kaya, dahil ayaw lang talaga ni Caelesti. Hindi ko alam kung ano nga ba talaga ang nangyari, pero nasabi ni Irvaius noong bata pa siya ay naaalala niya na minsan ay sikretong bumibisita si Caelesti sa dalawa nung mga panahong hindi pa siya nakulong sa Màvro Isle at patuloy parin ang laban niya sa mga taong gusto siyang mamatay.

"I'm not like her who doesn't want to lay a hand on you, Celeztie. I'm not like her who would go along with everything you say even when she doesn't really want to without resistance. I'm not like her who can be the softest person when you show vulnerability. I'm not like Allanea who can never hurt you both physically and mentally so I'll be frank."

She quickly grabbed me by the collar, aggressively pulling me down that my forehead bumped against her without warning. I closed my eyes, the momentary pain distracting me that I let go of her neck, my hand clutching my head instead. When I opened my eyes, I found Irona staring at me from below. Her other hand was on the back of my head as she pushed me forward gently this time, her breath almost tickling my ear on the side.

"Ke'ala doesn't care about you." She whispered, I could even tell it was an insult. "Why must you try so hard for someone who couldn't even be bothered to remember your existence?"

"You really think I don't know that?" I whispered back. "I'm already used to being just a freeloader to someone's life, Irona." I pushed her away, clutching my head as I felt that familiar headache again.

Irona raised herself up, clearly worried but did nothing. "Finish your drink and go back to sleep, Celeztie. Perhaps then you'd actually have a clear mind."

"Always have been so good at acting so unbothered by anything." I watch her head for the door, as though hurrying. "You knew what I was talking about, don't you?"

"Enough of this. Rest. You're not in the right mind to think about a proper plan that wouldn't actually get you killed. These messed up thoughts are implicating your condition."

"Oh, now you're just ignoring me. Perfect." I rolled my eyes, standing up. "You're even saying I'm getting crazy. But perhaps you're right. Perhaps my 'obsession' as what you all would call it, has finally turned me into a lunatic who only cares about changing everything that I know would happen."

"Do you know why we really left you a week ago and attacked Coven by ourselves? It's because Doctor Voltron said your mind's in a very delicate state that you have to stop thinking about these things and rest. I always get what I want one way or another, Cel, you know that. And if you won't do as I say, then the tranquilizers I had the Doctor prepare will have to serve their purpose."

I gritted my teeth in anger, preventing myself from attacking her as I clenched my fists. "I was jealous, envious and I was furious. Every night when I was young, I would always wonder why I could never have a family like the Klein had. That despite always being told I was a de la Vallíere, I would always feel so empty inside as though the name would never suit right with me."

"You go to school, have many friends, always praised by people around you, always so happy. I was always burning with jealousy. Why couldn't I have those same things? I would find myself wondering that same question." I continued, glaring at her.

She sighed, looking away. "I told you. Those thoughts are messing with your current mental state--"

"Whenever I watch you three do the things I wasn't even allowed to, I would wish our positions were reversed so you could feel how I was suffering. I focused on working hard in my trainings, focused on finishing all my studies. I did everything! Yet I never felt like it's enough. Why couldn't I just feel satisfied?" I smirked, eventually laughing. "Then I realized because I was meant for something greater, that perhaps I would feel contented once I actually change everything--"

"You're only doing all of this for yourself, Celeztie, admit it. You only wanted to change your own reality that you agreed to all of this. You always say this is all for your mother but no, you're just selfish brat who didn't want the life you grew up to."

"So what?" I asked, genuinely wondering that myself. "I don't care what you all say. You will follow me anyways. No matter how much you disagree to everything I plan to do, you three would always be there because you couldn't leave me alone. How convenient."

"We'll see about that." She declared with her usual expressionless face.

"What's this? You're going to turn your backs at me, is that it?"

"Like I said," she shot me a final look before turning around, opening the door. "We'll see about that."

Hindi ko maintindihan ang galit na naramdaman ko nang umalis siya. I screamed, slamming my fist on the table. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hindi nila magawang makita ang mga ginagawa ko. Sa tingin ba talaga nila ginagawa ko 'to dahil gusto ko? Why can't they understand I'm doing this for them?! I didn't want their lives to become merely shadows of their past mothers and I didn't want to live like I was always chasing for something I couldn't reach.

Why won't they just try to see my point? Selfish? So what if I'm being one? Is there something wrong with grabbing an opportunity to change everything? I've come this far to stop now, I can't just take a break. I know something's wrong with me, messing with my mind. I know I'm different compared to how I was years ago. But what do they want me to do anyway? To stop?

I care about the de la Vallíere, but I wasn't one of them. Klein is just as important, but I could never see myself part of them either. I have nowhere to belong and I've already accepted that fact, that I was just a mere freeloader who had no family to go home to. They can't blame me for wishing a family of my own, not when people around me have theirs. They won't understand how I've always felt the worst seeing them be happy like that while I could only drown in my trainings and studies to shut out that burning jealousy.

I wanted a place of my own. But I couldn't have that. Then Caelesti came into my life. I thought I could finally completely learn to accept the fact that with a woman like that, I could never truly have a family. But the more I spent my days with her, the more something inside me keeps telling me that I wanted a family. It's killing me, it's taking over all my senses--it's making me so obsessed with the thought that I killed my own mother, agreed to go to a different reality, just because I can change everything anyway.

Yet others don't see that. They refuse to see the efforts I put in. Why? Because they're concerned about me? If I had the ability to manipulate emotions myself, I would have used it for my convenience. I never really let my emotions stop me from doing what I thrive the best, no matter what I do, I always seem to arrive at the result I want.

That's the difference between me and Ke'ala. She doesn't have the courage to ignore her emotions, the people around her, and that kind nature would hold back her potential. But I'm different. All I can do is support her from the shadows, even if we may go on seperate paths to achieve that result.

I glared at my own reflection on the cup, I almost couldn't recognize the girl before me. Dark circles formed around my eyes due to endless sleepless nights, I was even paler than I normally was, as though I was lacking a lot of blood. My spiritual energy is getting weaker and weaker too. Well, it can't be helped. My energy was once so abundant I could outpower Ke'ala with ease, and even more better for I was born with this kind of constitute.

But after Progenitor Athanasía used my own energy to send us to an alternate reality, my energy became merely a fragment of what it once was. The thought of souls being able to easily transfer like that is impossible, it was only made otherwise because Athanasía had the control of time itself and therefore, the manipulation of space. My cursed blood nature, despite just a half, helped in that aspect too.

However, that's it. We can no longer return. Our souls had completely vanished already from our original worlds, our memories from others forgotten, as though we never had existed there. That's fine. It's the price we were willing to pay to come here. It doesn't really matter anyway.

A world like that is empty for me, dull. We have been doing great so far with the help of Ke'ala's aides, or her previous ones. After she left, nagulat ang lahat pero naiintindihan naman nila. Umalis si Doctor Voltron kasama si Amakin na gustong sumunod sa doctor para ikutin ang mundo. The three spirits were barely even seen together for the last few years.

Ziandra would go around the Cretian Plains, completely unraveling the lands that haven't been discovered yet. Millard would teach kids from other tribes how to read and write the languages we usually speak. And Theone well... that guy was always seen helping as the Dwarf King's right hand man.

Andrei was the same as usual, she never really stopped teaching children about how to fight. Her closest companion, Athena, the wielder of the Vessel--an ancient technology referred to as a Guardian that can take any forms its wielder wishes it to be. Athena pretty much became a well-known pirate after she graduated the Academy.

After her best friend, Andrei, became an influential leader of the Elite, she found no point in being a member of that same group and left to become something else. I heard she only ever joined the Elites in the past to help Andrei rise to the top. After the battle against Exodus' Headquarters that I initiated five years ago, all our operations have been going smoothly thanks for Athena and other three people in her small crew.

From the reality I came from, Athena had refused to work alongside other people after her crew mates died a few years before she thoroughly became one of Caelesti's aids. Nandito kaming lahat ngayon sa Cretian Plains at kung walang ginagawa si Athena ay minsan nasa tabi lang siya ni Andrei.

Thane have been helping Zen as the new king of Zyrendel especially after the death of the previous King and well, Claudious. Thane was devastated when the man died and was furious with Ke'ala. He's still angry even now, and not even I know what truly happened between Ke'ala and Claudious. But before Ke'ala disappeared, Thane mentioned he had already cleared his lingering feelings for Ke'ala, which I'm grateful for.

The female demon, Aeryn, has disappeared shortly after Ke'ala left, even now. We later on found out she's been wandering around the world, wherever her feet would take her. Aeryn had been living for a hundred years now, knowing her demon blood allows her to live far more longer than humans. She said she was actually very used to it.

Aeryn left for a reason like the others who did, because she wanted space. Ke'ala basically was the one who gave her a purpose, without her around, I'd see why she would suddenly decide to stay away for a while. She must have felt betrayed twice after Silverium, who she treated like a brother, left. We understood, that's why we left her alone.

Unlike Doctor Lucis, the demon hasn't been updating us about her situation that we don't really know what's happening to her even now. The demigod, Thana Keres, was still upset about the fact Silverrium left and returned to where we found her before she joined as Ke'ala's aide--and she's currently and still is in Yillusa.

Fińe Weiss was same as usual, except that she grew more quiet and cautious. The torture she have been through was etches deep into her mind. For the past years, she only ever helped in planning and taking care of everyone. She's practically the one holding everyone together when the others left. Ellise completely shut herself off, always busying herself in the Palace.

Ellise had always been left with management of the whole Cretian Plains, but after Ke'ala left, she absolutely refused to work alongside me. For some reason, that woman clearly doesn't like me. Even back then from where I originally came from, she would always antagonize me. Ellise wanted to kill Ke'ala at first because she was tasked with it, thinking it would bring her honour as an assassin if she manage to do so.

I sighed, calming myself down as I jumped through the window. The floor my room was isn't located on the second floor unlike the others which makes things easier whenever I want fresh air. I walked through the woods, the darkness completely invading all my sight but I didn't mind. I was used to it due to how many times I've walked through the same path every night. I would always have so many thoughts in my mind, making me anxious that unless I go out like this, I can't calm down.

Things should have went even more better if all of the aides were here to fight alongside us. However, only the spirits were truly ever present in all of our battles. Fińe would help too, but the Doctor would constantly send messages not to let her in a battlefield. How he did send those messages uknowingly considering Cretian Plains is in another dimension is beyond me, the man must have had improved his magic or uncovered some new spells.

To think the person who was the less loyal from the very beginning became Ke'ala's most loyal subject. Ellise would probably die in Ke'ala's stead if the latter asks her to. I'm satisfied someone is capable of doing that much for Ke'ala, but it's also difficult for me for she's not following me even if it's for Ke'ala's sake.

"I follow Ke'ala, not you." I remembered her saying once when I was asking for her help. "Her absence doesn't mean you can take her place. They may freely do what you want since it's for Ke'ala, but not me. Unless your 'mother' orders me by words, I won't do anything without her lead."

Well, Ellise may have said that but for these past five years, she's been secretly helping me plan my actions by subtly hinting some things. But she still generally doesn't dislike me. I don't even understand why, but I guess I'm used to her by now.

As for Astoria...the Royal Dragonborne never stopped training ever since the day Ke'ala left. She became all serious too, and pretty much silent most of the times. Only Fińe could get her to talk about what she's been doing whenever we have our meals together, which rarely happens these days. Astoria is already an adult now, eighteen if I'm not wrong, only younger than me for three years.

Astoria never joined our battles, because I didn't want enemies to see we have the Royal Dragonborne on our side otherwise it would surely have been obvious who caused these attacks against the Assassin's Association, Beast People, and the Coven. From where I came from, Astoria was never a part of Caelesti's aides, and she being here means she's going to be a part of some changes that's why I want to keep her hidden.

We only managed to deal heavy damage against those pesky assassins because of Ellise's tactics and memories on how they do their attacks. Beast People posed a huge threat that we decided to finish them before things with them get worse, and that was only possible because of Fińe's valuable information about their weaknesses. Most of all, we truly did have the most trouble dealing with Coven which they ended up finishing themselves a week ago by leaving me behind, which I'm still bitter about.

I sat by the riverbank, my back leaning against the tree as the soft wind caressed my long black hair to the side. I placed my arms behind my head, sighing for another time as I began to rethink my actions. They were right though, all those messed up thoughts were clouding my mind. I say I'm different from Ke'ala, but just like she was once--she, too was obsessed with the thought of family enough that she even altered her siblings' emotions.

I guess I just couldn't accept how everything became such a mess. I'll have to properly apologize to Irona and Andrea about this when I return later. I may not have a family, but those people are the only ones I could completely trust my life on, they're all that I have even when everything simply disappears. Things weren't perfect even when we were children, but at least we had each other.

I closed my eyes, feeling a sudden drowsiness take over my senses.

"Celeztie."

Napatingin ako sa Northern Saint sa pagtawag niya nang sinara ko ang pinto. Nakaupo siya sa silya dito sa loob ng opisina niya habang nakatuon ang atensyon niya sa labas ng malaking glass wall sa likuran. Pinatawag niya ako at hindi ko alam kung bakit. May nagawa ba akong kasalanan? Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko sa kaba ng maalala ko ang ginawa ko ngayon.

Hindi ako pwedeng lumabas ng mansyon. Dito umuuwi ang pamilyang de la Vallíere at hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero simula bata pa lang ako ay dito na ako lumaki. Minsan ay tumutungo ako sa bahay ng mga Klein dahil narin sa training ko at doon din kasi nakatira ang magkapatid. Wala din naman kasi akong gagawin dito kundi palaging training at pag-aaral.

"M-Miss Andrea..." dinikit ko ang mga daliri ko sa likod, mas dumagdag pa ang kaba ko nung tuluyan nang napunta sa akin ang tingin niya.

"What did you do today?" Tanong niya sabay lagay ng dalawa niyang kamay sa lamesa.

Palagi akong ipapatawag ng Northern Saint ng ganito para tanungin ang mga ginawa ko. Kahit marami siyang ginagawa o trabahong kailangang tapusin, dito talaga siya sa bahay nila umuuwi at tatanungin ang mga kasambahay o butlers kung kamusta ang araw ni Allanea o sa akin.

"Um sa library lang ako buong araw. Nagbabasa ng mga spells--"

"Don't lie to me."

Agad kong iniwas ang tingin ko nang makaramdam ako ng matinding takot. "L-lumabas ako at pumunta sa festival--"

Napaatras ako nang bigla itong tumayo at napabuntong-hininga. "Celeztie. I told you time and time again. You are not allowed to go out without permission. I trusted you were smart enough to understand that."

"Pero hindi ko maintindihan." Napakapit ako sa kanan kong braso at tumingin sa mga kakaibang patterns sa carpet ng sahig dahil sa sinabi ko.

"What?"

Humugot ako ng lakas ng loon bago tignan siya ng derecho. "Nag-aaral sina Allanea at ang magkapatid sa iisang Academy pero bakit ako hindi? Libre silang gumala kung saan saan pero bakit--"

"Because you're simply not allowed. You just have to do as you're told. You might not understand but someday you will."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Palagi lang ganoon ang sinasabi niya. Kahit si Miss Iyana ay hindi din ako mabigyan ng tamang sagot na hinahanap ko. Naalala ko tuloy ang mga usa-usapan ng mga katulong sa mansyon na ito. Hindi ko mapigilang isipin na baka tama nga sila. Gusto kong itanong kung totoo nga ang mga naririnig ko, pero hindi ko nagawa noon dahil sa takot.

"Dahil ba anak ako sa labas?"

Agad na napatingin sa akin ang Saint sa sinabi ko, mukhang nagulat siya. "Who gave you such ridiculous idea?"

"Maids."

"Those damn bastards." May pinindot siya sa transparent keyboard na biglang lumitaw sa ibabaw ng mesa niya. "What else did they say?"

"...na baka hindi ako pwedeng lumabas at walang dapat makakaalam sa itsura ko dahil isang kahihiyan lang ang dadalhin ko sa pangalan ng pamilya ninyo kung malaman ng ibang may anak ang Saint sa labas."

Napahawak siya sa sentido sa nalaman sabay sarado ng mga mata. Halata naman sa mukha niyang pagod na pagod siya pero sa halip na trabaho lang ang atupagin niya ay nagagawa niya paring isipin ang mga nangyayari sa pamamahay na ito. Alam ko namang hindi masamang tao si Miss Andrea. Nahihirapan man ako sa mga pinapagawa niyang trainings at studies, pero sagot niya naman ang lahat ng pangangailangan ko. Hindi ko lang maintindihan kung bakit ayaw niyang sabihin na lamang sa akin ang totoo.

May sasabihin na sana siya nang may kumatok sa pintuan. Ako na mismo ang bumukas at nalaman kong si Butler Matthew pala ito. Yumuko siya muna at bumati kay Miss Andrea bago ngumiti sa akin at pinatong ang malaki nitong kamay sa ulo ko. Ginulo niya ng kaonti ang buhok ko na siyang kinangiti ko din.

Si Butler Matthew ang Head Butler ng de la Vallíere Household, medyo matanda na siya pero malakas parin. Ang cool nga niya dahil may isang ring siyang nakasabit sa ilalim niyang bibig na nakakonekta sa necklace na parang chains na sa palibot ng leeg niya.

Mabait si Mr. Matthew, minsan ay dinadalhan niya ako ng teriyaki na may honey sauce na siyang paborito ko sa lahat ng binibigay niya sa akin. Sabi niya ay naaalala niya sa akin ang isang babae na nakausap niya noon, pero wala din naman siyang sinasabi kung sino. Palagi akong kinukwentuhan ng Head Butler tungkol sa mga nangyayari sa labas at siya din ang kadalasang tumuturo sa akin ng ibang lenggwahe na kailangan kong pag-aralan.

Nasabi sa akin ni Allanea noon na myembro ang Northern Saint ng isang grupo at si Mr. Matthew ang nakatalang tulungan siya sa mga bagay-bagay. Pero matapos daw ang naganap na laban noon, nagkaniya-kaniyang buhay na ang mga myembro ng grupo nila at sumama sa kaniya si Mr. Matthew. Minsan kasi ay nag-uusap sina Miss Andrea at Allanea tungkol sa mga ganoong bagay dahil ayaw ng Northern Saint mangyari ang nangyaring laban noon.

"Greetings, Mistress. Anything I could do for you?"

"Fire all the maids."

"All of them? A bit excessive, no? Plus, it would take some time before we fully hire capable ones to replace them. Unahin muna natin ang maids sa West Chamber at--"

"Matthew. They are slandering my family and I will not have that especially in my household."

"Slandering? What could they possibly say against the such prominent family name?"

Napakapit ako sa sleeve ni Mr. Matthew nang tumingin ulit sa akin ang Saint. "Celeztie is a de la Vallíere, she always had been and she still is. I can't have those lowly people imprint ridiculous ideas into her head. Fire all of them. Gather all your sources to hire more capable people and not those who only know how to speak unnecessarily."

"I see. They shall be punished--I mean, it shall be done immediately. Would that be all?"

"Take the girl to her room and no more studying for tonight, Celeztie. I can't have you get sick again for staying up 'till morning reading archaic language."

"Ibig bang sabihin hindi totoo ang mga sinabi nila?" Tanong ko nang tumango ako sa inutos niya.

"Young Miss Celeztie..." hinawakan ni Matthew ang kamay ko at ngumiti. "You grew up here, you're a precious family member of the de la Vallíere Household."

"Kung hindi ako anak sa labas ng de la Vallíere..." kumunot ang noo ko. "Sa Klein? Halos kamukha ko sina Irona at Irvaius, pero hindi ko din naman kamukha ang Council Leader. Kung iisipin ay hindi na nakakapagtaka kung bakit dito ako pinalaki at hindi doon. Mahirap nang mapagsabihan si Miss Iyana ng kung ano-ano."

"Young Miss--"

"It's fine, Matthew. You can leave first." Pagtigil ni Miss Andrea.

Napabuntong-hininga si Mr. Matthew. "As you wish. Well then, I'll head out now."

Nang makalabas na ang Head Butler ay lumapit sa akin si Miss Andrea at pinatong ang isang tuhod sa sahig para mapantayan ang lebel ko. Napapikit ako sa takot nang itaas nito ang kamay niya pero agad ko din naman itong binuksan nang maramdaman ko ang bigat ng kamay niya sa ulo ko. Ngumiti ito sa akin at hinawakan ang balikat ko.

"Do you hate it here, Celeztie?" 

Umiling ako kaagad sa tanong niya. Kahit gaano kahirap ang training na ginagawa ko halos araw-araw at mga lessons na sigurado akong hindi pa dapat maintindihan ng mga bata sa edad ko, komportable ako sa pamamahay ng mga de la Vallíere. Hindi man ako makakalabas, pero alam kong may rason kung bakit. Ang problema ko lang naman ay hindi ko magawa ang mga gusto kong gawin dahil marami ang bawal.

"Gusto ko lang namang malaman ang totoo."

"You're turning ten in a few days, right? You sure grow up fast. I can't believe it's almost been eight years."

"Miss Andrea--"

"Ten years since your mother last abandoned you." Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya pero hinayaan ko lang siyang magpatuloy. "You are related to Irvaius and Irona, but that's it. You're not a Klein. Your birth root is much more complicated than you think, Celeztie."

"A-abandoned? Bakit?"

Nagkibit-balikat ito. "No one knows. But your mother must have had hated you. Why do you think she left?" Napansin ko na lamang na pinahiran niya ang isang butil na luha na tumulo mula sa isa kong mata. "Truth sometimes hurt, but they don't always have to remain that way."

"P-paano kung may rason siya?"

"You have to question her yourself then." Tumayo siya at nilagay ang dalawa niyang kamay sa likod. "But she's nowhere to be found. Just give up. You are Celeztie de la Vallíere, what more could you possibly want?"

"Pero..."

"Kung mahanap mo nga siya, ano ang sasabihin mo? Ano ang gusto mong gawin niya?" Wala akong masagot sa tanong niya kaya umiling na lamang ako. "Good. Then off to your room now. It's getting late."

Halos patakbo akong bumalik sa sarili kong kwarto. Pinipigilan ko lang umiyak. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nasasaktan sa katotohanan na iniwan lang ako na dapat wala akong pakealam. Tama ang Northern Saint...isa akong de la Vallíere, ano pa ba ang kailangan ko? Nandito na ang lahat lahat na pwede kong hilingin, kung tutuusin ang maswerte nga ako na isang maimpluwensyang pamilya ang nagpalaki sa akin.

"Ah, Celeztie."

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang makasalubong ko ang ama ni Allanea dito sa may hallway. Nagulat ako nung una dahil alam kong minsan lang siya umuuwi dito. Sabi kasi ni Al ay palaging may ginagawa ang ama niya tulad na lamang ng pagpunta sa kung saan saan. Pinilit kong ngumiti nang lumapit ako sa kaniya. Hindi man halata sa itsura niya, pero mabait si Mr. Alaric. Minsan ay binibigyan niya ako ng mga kakaibang bagay mula sa mga lugar na napuntahan niya.

"Sir Alaric! Magandang gabi po." Bati ko sa kaniya.

"Ayos ka lang ba? Mukhang may nangyari ah. Napagalitan ka na naman ba ni Andrea?"

"Ah wala po, may mga sinabi lang."

"Don't mind that woman. She just really cares about you that her intentions are always misunderstood."

Tumango ako bilang pagsasang-ayon. May sasabihin pa sana ako nang may marinig kaming tunog ng mga paa. Nang tumingin ako sa likuran ni Sir Alaric ay nakita ko si Allanea na masayang tumatakbo papunta sa ama niya. Nakabihis na ito sa damit niyang pantulog, pero narinig niya siguro mula sa mga katulong na dumating na si Sir Alaric kaya hinanap niya kaagad ang tao.

"Daddy!" Sigaw ni Allanea sabay karga naman ni Sir Alaric sa anak niya.

"My little daughter! I miss you too, Princess. You seem to have grown taller from the last time I saw you three months ago."

Tumawa si Allanea at kumapit sa leeg ni Sir Alaric. "Alam ko! I'm already twelve, you know kaya pakibaba! At oo nga pala, may sasabihin ako! Nasabihan ko na nito si Mommy nung nakaraang araw at permiso mo na lang ang kailangan. Alam mo bang malapit na ang..."

Hindi ko na pinakinggan ang mga pinag-usapan nila dahil dahan dahan na akong umalis. Malaki man ang pasasalamat ko sa mga de la Vallíere at tinuturing man nila akong totoong kasapi ng pamilya nila pero ayaw kong makisawsaw. Minsan, halos isang beses sa isang taon, ay pinipilit talaga ni Sir Alaric ang buong pamilya magpahinga sa isang tinatawag nilang Summer House na nasa private island na pagmamay-ari nila kasama ang mga Klein.

Nung una ay sumasama pa ako, pero hanggang nung tumuntong na ako sa pitong-taong-gulang ay hindi na ako sumasama sa mga lakad nilang pamilya. Bata pa lang ay nararamdaman ko nang may-iba sa akin, na kahit anong gawin ko ay hindi ako kabilang sa pamamahay na ito. Hindi ko lang maintindihan kung bakit ganoon ang pakiramdam ko, na para bang hindi dapat ako nandito.

Nang makarating ako sa sarili kong kwarto ay agad kong sinara ang pintuan at bumalik sa kanina kong posisyon bago ako pinatawag sa opisina ni Miss Andrea. Malaki ang kwarto, kompleto na ang halos lahat. Malaki din ang higaan, sa itaas naman nito ay may mga nakasabit na chains na lumiliwanag kapag ipasa ko dito ang kaunting enerhiya ko. Sa kanan naman ay ang bed table tsaka isang pintuan na nakakonekta sa bathroom.

Sa kaliwa naman ay may isa pang pintuan pero isa naman itong napakalaking closet. Sa unahan pa ng higaan ay may transparent double-door. Sa labas nito ay ang terrace kung saan kadalasan akong nagpapahangin kung hindi ko magawang makatulog, na halos gabi-gabi naman kaya tinutuon ko na lamang ang oras ko sa pag-aaral.

Umupo ako sa silya ng study table na nasa dulo lang ng higaan para ipagpatuloy ang pagbabasa. Patay na ang mga ilaw, ang tanging liwanag na lang na hinayaan ko ay ang lampara na nakasabit sa pader sa gilid ng study table. Suot ko din ang salamin ko sa mata dahil minsan ay kapag bumabasa ako ay hindi ko makita ang mga letra sa sobrang liit.

Hindi ko napansin kung ilang oras na ako nakaupo dito dahil sa sobrang tutok ko sa binabasa. A Venellum's Book Guide of Advanced Spell Theology, the Fourteenth Volume ang binabasa ko, pero kakatapos ko lang kaya kailangan ko na lamang siguraduhing nakuha ko talaga ang mga nakasulat dito. Hanggang Fifteen Volumes ang libro, ang bawat pahina nito ay may mga formulas at equations na makukuha lamang ng kung sinong nagbabasa kung natapos nila ang mga volumes bago nito.

Inayos ko muna ang salamin ko bago tumayo at nag-unat ng mga kamay ko pataas. Tsaka ako tumayo sa isang malaking espasyo sa gitna ng kwarto tsaka tinaas ang nga kamay ko sa magkabilang gilid. Hindi ako pwedeng sumubok ng mga spells maliban na lamang kung nandiyan si Miss Andrea o si Miss Iyana. Pero gabi-gabi ko naman 'tong ginagawa at walang namang nangyayari kaya simula nung unang beses na ginawa ko ang pagpra-practice ng mahika ay inulit-ulit ko na.

Ramdam ko ang paglabas ng enerhiya sa katawan ko, nakikita ko din ang unti-unting pagbuo ng malaking magic circle sa sahig. Lumiliwanag ito sa kulay asul, may mga lumalabas ding pamilyar na patterns at numbers na kinabisado ko na simula first chapter ng fourteenth volume. May isang layer pa ng circle ang bumuo sa labas ng inner circle. Natuwa ako nang nakita ko ang tuluyang pagliwanag pa ng magic circle dahil dito.

Palagi akong natutuwa kapag nakakagawa ako ng mahika, parang pakiramdam ko kasi magagawa ko ang lahat kong gusto gamit ng kapangyarihang ito kaya pursigido ako pagdating sa pag-aaral nito kaysa sa pakikipaglaban.

"You need more accuracy to be able to complete such simple spell."

Hindi na ako nag-abala pang tumingin sa likod nang marinig ko ang boses na iyon. Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya habang pansin ko ang paglakad niya sa tabi ko. Naramdaman ko din ang ang daloy ng hangin mula sa labas kaya ibig sabihin nakalimutan niya na namang isara ang pintuan.

"Irvaius, huwag mo akong istorbohin." Sabi ko at mas dinagdagan pa ang daloy ng enerhiya sa kamay ko papunta sa magic circle.

"Base on the patterns and how you wrote the formula," pagpatuloy ni Irvaius habang nakaupo sa sahig na nakatuon ang mapagsuri niyang tingin sa magic circle. "... you're trying a...search spell? What for?"

Hindi ko siya sinagot at mas dinagdagan ang magic circle sa magkabilang sides ng outer layer. Malaki ang energy reserves ko kaya kayang-kaya kong gumawa ng maraming magic circles, ang problema lang naman ay madali akong mawalang ng concentration katulad na lang ng nangyayari ngayon. Unti-unting lumiliit ang mga circles at dumidilim ang liwanag, naiinis narin ako.

"Celeztie!" Tuluyan nang nawala ang mga circles nang pumasok si Allanea sa kwarto na siyang ikinagulat ko.

Binigyan ko ang dalawa ng masamang tingin dahil sa pangungulit nila. Nagkibit-balikat na lamang si Irvaius habang tinaas ni Allanea ang kamay niya sa akin at nag peace sign. Napabuntung-hininga ako at uulitin na sana ulit ang spell nang hinawakan ni Irvaius ang kamay ko na hanggang ngayon ay nakaupo parin sa sahig.

"Ano?" Halos naiinis ko nang saad.

"What for?" Nagtaka ako sa tanong niya hanggang sa naalala ko ang sinabi niya kanina.

"Sinusubukan ko lang ang bagong theory na nalaman ko, Irv." Sagot ko sabay kuha ng kamay ko mula sa pagkahawak niya at tinaas ulit ito.

"Oh?" Ngayon naman ay napunta ang atensyon ko kay Irona na nakaupo sa study table ko, hawak niya ang libro na binabasa ko kanina na nakalimutan kong isara. "Wala akong nakikitang searching spell dito, at ang sinusubukan mong gawin ngayon ay sarili mong theory."

Tinapunan ko rin siya ng masamang tingin pero hindi niya ito pinansin at tinapon ang libro sa ibabaw ng kama na siyang ikinagulat ko kaya agad kong hinablot ang libro at sinuri kung may napunit ba. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang nalaman kong wala naman kaya nilagay ko na lamang ito sa nakasabit na bookshelves sa mga pader.

"Dahan dahan nga!" Sabi ko kay Irona. "At pareho lang naman ang concepts na ginamit sa libro sa gusto kong subukan ah."

"No wonder." Wika ni Irvaius sabay tayo. "You created too much original concepts and mixed them with the book's guide that the circle simply can't outline the general idea of what you want it to result into..."

"Here we go again!" Natatawang sabi ni Allanea dahil alam naming tatlo na hindi na titigil si Irvaius sa pagsasalita. "By the way, kailan ka pa natutong magbasa ng formulas, Irona?! Sabi ni Auntie wala kang hilig sa ganoon."

"Mom just didn't want you to know. Alam niya kasing susubukan mo din."

"Eh?! Ano naman kung susubukan ko--"

"Nakalimutan mo na ba ang huling subok mo sa paggawa ng sarili mong formula? Sumabog ang magic circle." Pagpuputol ko kay Allanea.

"Still! Mas matanda kaya ako sa inyo, dapat may mas alam ako!" Determinado niyang saad. "At naaalala ko pa noon, palaging sumusunod sa akin si Irona kung saan ako pupunta at tinatawag pa akong Ate--"

Natigil ang sasabihin niya nang tapunan siya ni Irona ng unan na tumama sa mukha nito. Ngumisi si Irona sa kaniya at doon na ang dalawa nagsimulang magbatuhan ng unan. Pumupunta ang tatlo dito sa kwarto ko mismo halos gabi-gabi para lang istorbohin ako. Simula kasi nung nagkasakit ako dahil sa matinding pag-aaral ng mga spells na ito ay hindi na nila ako tinantanan at iistorbohin talaga ako kung wala silang gana tumulong.

"Hoy! Madudumihan ang mga unan ko!" Pilit kong tigil sa dalawa hanggang sa natamaan ako ng unan. "Irona!" Sigaw ko.

"What? Hindi mo kaya?"

Tinapunan ko siya ng unan pero agad din naman itong umilag kaya natamaan na naman si Allanea. Tuluyan na sigurong naiinis ang isa na ginamit niya na ang enerhiya niya para matamaan ako. Alam ko namang hindi ko kayang ilagan ang ganoon kabilis kaya nagpalabas ako ng isang layer ng barrier sa unahan ko. Na siya namang umiba ang direksyon nang sipain ito ni Irona papunta kay Irvaius.

"...but then again, if you somehow change the numbers here and reverse them to the main equation you used when building the inner circle, you should be able to completely promote another--" natigil ang sinasabi ni Irvaius nang napaatras ito nang tamaan sa tiyan ng unan. "Wha--anong nangyayari?"

Ngayon niya lang napansin ang kalat sa paligid dahil kanina pa siya nagsasalita ng kung ano-ano na wala namang nakikinig kaya natawa kaming tatlo sa reaksyon nito. Napailing na lamang si Irvaius. Kahit halos kaparehas lang sila ng edad ni Allanea, palaging umaaktong matanda si Irv na kadalasan ay siya ang nilalapitan kung may problema o ang may solusyon sa bawat problema.

"Ha!" Hingal ko. Ngumiti sa akin si Allanea at hinawakan ang magkabilang parte ng mukha ko. "W-what?" Tanong ko nang mas lumapit pa ito.

"We'll do the usual, okay?"

"Usual?" Nagtataka kong tanong. Nagkatinginan ang tatlo at ngumiti ng makahulugan sa isa't isa.

"We may not be able to celebrate it again this year outside, but we'll just have to do it our own way." Wika ni Irvaius.

"Uhuh." Pagsasang-ayon ni Irona sabay tango sa direksyon ng kuya nito. "Sisiguraduhin kong wala na akong matatanggap na social invitations sa araw na iyon para magawa natin."

"Me too. Wala na kaming oras nitong mga nakaraang linggo dahil sa daming ginagawa sa Academy at busy din kami bilang anak ng Northern Saint at Council Leader, pero sisiguraduhin kong wala akong gagawin sa araw na iyon."

"Ano ba ang pinagsasabi niyo?" Pilit kong tanong dahil naguguluhan talaga ako.

Tumawa si Allanea at kinuha ang salamin ko. "Your eyes are beautiful, Celeztie. Don't hide it."

Kinuha ko ang salamin ko mula sa kaniya bago na naman niyang masira ito. "Ano nga ang pinagsasabi ninyo?"

Bigla siyang umakbay sa balikat ko at walang-awang ginulo ang buhok ko. "What are we saying? Ha! It's your tenth birthday soon, silly!"

"Oh...right." Nalungkot ako nung naalala ko 'yung sinabi ni Miss Andrea tungkol sa pag-abandona sa akin ng nanay ko.

Napansin siguro nila ito kaya pinitik ni Irona ang noo ko na wala manlang pasabi. "Don't be down. We'll do we we usually do."

"And we're gonna eat all we want for the whole day!" Masayang sigaw ni Allanea.

"Food again?" Tanong ko.

"You're getting fat, Allanea. An extra weight would make your movements feel constricted especially in combat." Nag-iinis na paliwanag ni Irona.

"It's fine since Allanea is still a growing girl." Sabi naman ni Irvaius na hindi halata ang planong pang-iinis ng kapatid niya.

"Heh! I like fat anyway!" Saad ni Allanea kaya tumawa ulit kaming apat.

"Allanea? Irona? Irvaius? Are you three bothering Celeztie again?"

Nataranta kaming apat nang marinig namin ang boses ni Miss Iyana. Hindi na nakakapagtaka na nandito ang ina ng magkapatid, halos araw-araw kasing nagkikita ang Council Leader at Northern Saint. Pero bago pa man niya mabuksan ang pintuan ay tumakbo na si Irvaius papasok sa closet para magtago habang ang dalawa naman ay mabilis pumunta sa bathroom. Bago ko pa man malinis ang mga kalat, nabuksan na ng tuluyan ang pintuan.

"Ma-magandang gabi po, Miss Iyana." Bati ko sa Council Leader na napabuntong-hininga na lamang sa gulo ng kwarto.

"Tell the other two once they decided to show not to bother going home." Mahina nitong bilin sa akin. "They can stay for tonight."

Wala na siyang sinabi pa at lumabas na ng kwarto. Lumabas ulit ang tatlo at masayang nag-usap kung ano ang gagawin. Ayaw nilang matulog kaya marami pa kaming ginawa. Ilang oras din ang paglalaro at pag-uusap namin na hindi ko namalayang hating-gabi na pala.

Nang ibinalik ko ulit ang tingin sa tatlo ay ngumiti na lamang ako nang makitang tulog na si Irvaius sa carpet sa sahig habang hawak parin ang baraha na nilaruan namin. Kumuha ako ng isa pang unan at kumot para hindi siya mahirapang makatulog ng maayos. Si Irona naman ay nakahiga sa pwesto ko sa kama katabi si Allanea at mahimbing nang natutulog ang dalawa na kanina lang ay nag-aaway pa sila ng espasyo na ang laki ng higaan.

I gradually opened my eyes, feeling something poking at me from above. When I fully adapted to my surroundings, I found leaves falling out from their branches above me. I dusted myself, clearing more leaves from my head as I stretched my arms up. I lost sense of time, I didn't even realize I was already falling asleep. I'm still a bit sleepy though. But others might worry if I don't get back soon--when I suddenly heard the small rustling of the bushes behind me.

"Really? A sleeping spell?" I asked at the person slowly walking towards me.

"I heard your conversations with the two. They seem like they wanted you to rest, but you woke up rather early." He extended his hand, helping me.

"Typical you, always making sure you stay out of our arguments." I pulled myself up with his help, but he didn't let go of my hand as we walked back to the manor.

"You've only been sleeping for three hours, but you missed dinner."

"You weren't really planning on leaving me there all night just to sleep, were you?" I questioned accusingly.

He let out a small breathe of laughter, I could tell from the shaking of his shoulders since I couldn't see his face, not while he's walking in front of me. "I did. You sleep better surrounded by nature. My spells wouldn't have had worked on you if you weren't feeling tired in the first place."

"That's mean."

"You wouldn't still have needed to worry anyway." He tightened his grip, erasing my lingering doubts. "We're here for you, Celeztie."

"I know. You have always been." I chuckled, remembering the bittersweet memories from earlier. "Thank you, Irvaius. That was...a nice dream."

"Feeling a little bit better?"

"Yeah." I nodded, rubbing my eyes. "But we'll have to keep going forward now."

"What's our next move?"

"What we do best." I smiled fondly. "Doing things our usual way."

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AN: Something feels off about this chapter for some reason but I can't put my head around it that it's frustratingly messing my head! However, it seems unfair at this point if I delay it any longer so I'll just have to do better next time. Though I did my best with this chapter, so I hope you'll like it anyway because for now I actually need my sleep. Thank you for tuning in as usual.

Happy reading!