Until Sunrise II

Celeztie

Caelesti was someone who could make another person feel special. She would look at the right people with gaze full of confidence and expectations. I suddenly felt envious. She would never look at me in the eye with those same hint of wontedness. She always gaze at me as though I am fragile, weak, and somebody who needed her protection. She's free to think lile that though, because in my current state, I can't deny that I'm indeed weak.

I motioned my fingers and all the sudden, the surroundings changed, I was back in my room in this hotel. I knew she left an hour ago, but I couldn't force myself to follow her. She had to do things on her own, while I have to do mine. She's taking the right path this time, but her mindset still concerns me.

She refuses to think more about her future, she would always thinl about others without even realizing it. They call her twisted and evil yet they know nothing about her burdens. I would very much prefer to see the world end than seeing her meet such a tragic end. I saw a future once, it was...satisfying, everyhing meants for her was hers, everything she had let go was returned, it was a perfect life.

But then I started seeing a different future as well. Something tragic, something...so evil. Whenever I remember the scene of me stabbing her, it breaks my heart. It's not a simple motherly love that I feel for her, it was something else. It was simply the desire to see her live a fulfilling life, far from the world's selfish acts on putting its burden upon her shoulders.

Bumalik ako sa malaki kong higaan. Madilim ang kwarto, tanging liwanag lang na nanggagaling sa buwan sa labas ang magsisilbing liwanag mula sa bukas na bintana. Pumapasok din ang hangin, pero hindi ko magawang maramdaman kung gaano ito kalamig.

Bumangon ako at lumapit sa bintana. Halos magi-isang taon narin ako sa panahong ito. Hindi ko mapigilang isipin kung tama ba talaga itong ginagawa ko. She might hate me for it, but anyone who truly knows her would agree with me. That she has to live. She trusts me, deep inside, I know she does. She doesn't dislike the idea, but it makes her uncomfortable. But whatever her emotions may be for me, that won't matter.

Tumalon ako mula sa bintana patungo sa ibaba, nasa ikatatlong palapag ang kwarto ko. Tahimik ang buong lugar, halos wala nang dumadaang tao. Sarado din ang karamihang mga buildings at shops. May mga streetlights sa tabi, pero hindi ito sapat para makita talaga ang buong daan.

Lumapit ako sa isang poste tsaka umupo sa may bench nito sa gilid. May naririnig akong hininga malapit sa akin, sa katahimikang ito ay hindi mahirap matunton kung nasaan siya. Napabuntong-hininga ako at nagpalabas ng kaonting enerhiya. I surrounded the area with a barrier, making us unnoticeable.

"You do keep a close eye to her, don't you?" It was a man's voice, strong and full or maturity.

"I know what I'm doing."

"I wonder why you seem to act and speak like her as day passes by." He chuckled. "However, you shouldn't attach yourself to her that much."

"I told you, I know what I'm doing."

"Do you really?" I heard him sigh, then he crossed his arms, leaning over the post.

From that position, I couldn't quite see his face. He was wearing a long white cloak, a hood almost covering his whole face. I wonder why he always tend to follow such a fashion. Well, if there's anyone I could trust the most, it's him.

Celeztie was the name Caelesti had given even before I time traveled. It surprised me th first time I heard her say that name, it was as if she could already see the future from the way she stared at me, from the way her eyes gazing upon those skies. Then I started wondering what could she had seen in those distances that I wasn't able to.

"Listen, Celeztie..." he trailed off, as though remembering something. "Do you sometimes think you could just quit all of this?" I frowned at the question, leaning myself behind me.

"Is that your way of stating an apology?"

"I really am sorry."

"We're over that already, I had long accepted my fate—"

"You accept yours so easily yet you couldn't let Caelesti accept hers. You try so hard to change a future when you aren't even sure if it's truly worth it."

"Kakampi ba talaga kita? Bakit ba ang dami mong reklamo?" I was getting annoyed.

Umalis siya sa pagkasandal niya at umupo sa tabi ko. May dumaang malakas na hangin na siyang rason kung bakit naalis ang hood niya sa ibabaw ng kaniyang ulo. Ngumiti siya sa kawalan, matapos ang ilang sandali ay tumingin siya ng derecho sa mga mata ko.

He has blue eyes, too blue for my liking. He has a black, short wavy hair but there were long hair strands falling beside his right eye, it had been braided. He was dashing to look at, but his eyes have always looked so gloomy, I can understand why though.

"I'm only concerned about you, Celeztie." I looked away, sighing. "I couldn't find Irona nor Allanea. I worry about the two as well."

"They'll be fine."

"How do you know that?"

"I just know."

"I guess it's time for me to leave." He stood up, stretching his arms upward.

"Have you found Ka'ela yet?" He shook his head frustratedly.

"Well, take care out here, Cel." As soon as another wind blew pass by, his presence suddenly vanished, completely out of my sight.

I took down the barrier, walking back to the hotel. I figured Cael—Ke'ala, would be back in early morning, I'm sure she'd be fine though. Babalik na lamang ako sa tulog at makikinig sa kung ano mang balita ang nangyari—mabilis kong tinaas ang kamay ko para magpalabas ng barrier. Pero dahil sa lakas ng pagtama ay nabasag ang barrier at natilapon ako sa may pader.

Hindi pa nga ako nakabangon ay may isa nang spear ang papunta sa akin. Hindi ko muna inuna ang namumuong sakit sa likuran ko at agad na ginalaw ang ulo ko sa kanan, ang resulta ay natusok ang pader sa tabi ko ng spear. Nang makatayo ako ay pinaligidan ko ulit ang sarili ko ng barrier.

Pero sa pangalawang beses ay muli na naman itong nabasag. Nakasuot ang tao na ito ng maskara kaya hindi ko makita ang mukha nito. Patuloy lang siya sa pag-atake sa akon ng hawak niyang spear, pinipilit nitong masaksak ako. Nanag makabawi ako sa balanse ay hindi na ako nag-aksaya pa ng oras at agad siyang pinatumba gamit ang sarili kong mahika.

I locked his feet using earth magic, making him immobile as I motioned my hand, making him throw his weapon away. Nang makaalis siya ay inatake niya ako pero mas magaling ako sa close quarter combat kaya matapos ang ilang minuto ng pagpapalitan ng suntok at sipa ay nakahiga narin siya ngayon sa lupa.

"Who are you?" Tanong ko sabay apak ng dibdib nito, napasinghal siya sa sakit.

"You're weak." He said, and I just know he was smirking when he said that.

"Say that to yourself." I hissed back. "Why did you just try to kill me?"

"I was just testing you." May kinuha siyang isang kulay puti na letra mula sa loob ng suit nitong long-sleeved. "Ke'ala Feyree?" I frowned, letting him stand up. "I've got a letter for you. It's for the upcoming World's Battle."

"What?"

Ke'ala

Footseteps were heard banging across this closed-spaced area. The impacts of their feets constantly in contact with the ground made it slightly shook. Lights kept flashing around with them trying to cope up with the darkness, hoping to detect the traces we might have left behind. Our breathings were slowed, our bodily movements were controlled, and our presences were thoroughly hidden.

It was a few minutes passed one, but the cold sweat running down my forehead made it seem like we were out here for long. It wasn't fear nor am I feeling nervous, it was the fact that there was something out there releasing such a huge pressure which makes my blood tingle in excitement. It wasn't exactly energy since the whole place has a blocking system. It was entirely something else. And that itself sparks my curiosity.

I stopped on my track sensing another set of emotions not far from where we are. The two stopped behind me, their scent mixing through my nostrils. I raised my hand, pointing to the other side, gesturing them to take the lead. Iyana took the offer and carefully run silently just before another flash of light illuminated between our gap.

"Wer ist da?!" Damn.

The guards were noticing us, asking who is it. I didn't expect them to be that sensitive. Andrea was about to run out when I held her hand, pulling her closer.

"Don't." Upon saying that, the guards went to the other side, once again getting themselves lost in this garden maze. "Now, go." She nodded and went ahead.

I watch as the two turned right to the next intersection, letting them tread the path ahead. It wasn't hard for people like us to see in the dark, after a few adjustements, we soon got used to it. After a few seconds of making sure the guards went on the opposite direction, I followed the two.

It had probably been more than five minutes since we sneaked inside, we already did expect about the alarm detecting intruders so suddenly, but it never occured to me that it would do so the moment we step inside. I guess the security system in this place is truly on a different level compared to those in Magnus. Thinking back though, that isn't the main problem here.

Hindi mahirap iligaw ang mga gwardiya at isa pa, alam ko kung saan kami liliko o diderecho sa loob ng garden maze na ito. Nakapaligid sa amin ang mga matataas na halaman na siyang rason kung bakit hindi makita-kita ang sa kabilang parte. May mga statues din na nakadisenyo sa bawat intersection. This maze actually reminded me that one back in Magnus Academy, but this is way harder.

Nakita ko ang dalawa na tumigil sa tabi lang ng fountain. Kahit madilim ay parang lumiliwanag parin ang malinis at bughaw na tubig na nagsisilbing ulan sa mga halaman sa paligid. The water droplets can't reach where the two stood, and from this distance, I could somehow see the way the water glows in pale blue, reflecting my own.

"You do realize we're surrounded, do you?" Tanong ni Andrea, crossing her arms.

"What now, Keila?" Dagdag pa ni Iyana.

"Should we just force our way in? That would be way easier."

"And cause trouble? Remember, Andrea. Nasa ibang lugar tayo."

"You're always sticking to something that results to less effort, Iyana. Hindi ako natatakot kahit sa ibang lugar man tayo."

"Wala kang pakealam sa magiging resulta ng mga gagagawin mo. That would explain how you easily join Exodus anyway."

"Are we seriously talking about that again? Here? Fine. Let's talk about it." She dropped her arms and walked closer to Iyana's short figure. "You're always too loyal to the Northern Saint, Iyana. You're even building up an army to battle irregulars like me? Like Keila? For what?! Just because that mother of mine told you—"

"Wala siyang kinalaman sa desisyon ko, Andrea. I suggest you stop with the assumptions and go back to facts. And one of those facts is that I'm doing this because no one will!"

"No one will because no one is stupid enough to pull stunts like that! Kung hindi mo inunahan ang New World Order mo, hindi din gagalaw ang Exodus para sa sarili naming pinaglalabang New World Order!"

"Then what should I do?! Watch the world slowly crumle because of you irregulars?! We're talking about millions of innocents who will have a high chance of losing their lives!"

"Are irregulars' lives aren't innocent? Sure we probably are truly the reason why this world is slowly heading to destruction along with the dark energies spreading, but what can we do about it? Most were born with it, some have to turn to the dark side in order to survive!"

"And I'm taking the iniative to end all your sufferings!"

"Sufferings? You'll end it all without even knowing most of it? You're blinded by responsibilty, Iyana." Andrea wiped her face with her hands turning around, only for Iyana to grab her shoulder and made Andrea look at her.

"Stop ignoring facts and reality, Andrea. I know more than you do how much a huge sin this is just by taking the responsibility alone, but we're left with no choice! Destroying lives of irregulars is the sacrifice I'm willing to make."

"Then why don't you just kill me now?" Seryosong tanong ni Andrea na siyang ikinagulat ng kaonti ni Iyana. Nagpalabas siya ng isang dagger at binigay ito sa isa. "I won't move nor will I fight so, stab me right through the heart. If you're going to take the lives of those who are like me, then as someone I count as a friend, take my life first."

"Nababaliw ka na ba—"

"Seryoso ako." Pero inalis lang ni Iyana ang tingin nito kay Andrea.

"Nandito tayo hindi para sa bagay na iyan."

"See? You don't have the courage to take the iniative at all. You think you've already accepted the fact that you're prepared to kill us one day, but in face of the actual scene, you still hesitate; especially when I don't show a fight."

"Is is that really weird? I do think of you as a friend, Andrea. I can't make myself kill you if you just stand there without showing me a fight."

It's kind of strange watching the two like this, strange yet it feels so familiar and nostalgic. They would always argue and reach an agreement point in the end. Whenever I see the two like this—even before, I just know it'll be alright in the end. If they do treat each other as a friend, it makes me wonder if they treat me as one as well.

Nag-aaway sila dahil sa dalawang versions ng New World Order, gumagawa sila ng mga sariling nilang desisyon para sa iba. Sinasabi nila na mali ang isa't isa dahil maraming inosente ang madadamay. Both parties are innocents though, no one is ag fault because in the first place, kasalanan ng masamang mundo na ito kung bakit ganito ang palaging hantungan ng lahat. Ang mag-away.

Iniisip lamang nila ang mga sarili nila. They talk about the New World Order as one of the people running each sides of it, pero paano naman ang ibang irregulars at regulars? Paano nalang ang mga nararamdaman at iniisip nila? They will start a war concerning both categories of people pero kahit isa, hindi ba pumasok sa isipan nila na paano kung ayaw ng karamihan ng laban?

What if there are some itregulars or regulars who get along well, families with each other comrades, and now they're saying they will start a war for these people to get seperated. How unfair. Sa tingin ba talaga nila ay sila lang ang mga naaapektohan sa mundong ito? Gusto ko mang ipamukha sa kanila ang katotohanang ito ay napag-isipan kong huwag na muna.

After all, my main objective here is to stop both versions of New World Order from happening by activating Etherion. The Spirit Keepers asked me to direct this world's energy to the Spirit Land, but the problem will only continue to grow after several hundreds of years, repeating the cycle.

Energy can't be created nor destroyed, that is a common understanding. A body exerts energy borrowed from nature, it can only be transferred but it can never be destroyed. But it's different in my case. I'm not like any normal person nor any any normal irregular, alam ko sa sarili ko kung hanggang saan ang makakaya o kung ano pa ang magagawa ko.

I can always manipulate energy at will. I do admit I am powerful as a being, but it's not enough if I want to stop the war from ever happening. I'm not the only person in the world who can do such a feat though, alam kong marami pa ang mas malakas sa akin pero wala akong intensyon na hayaan lang silang lampasan ako. And I feel like whatever will happen from now will have a huge effect on how or who will I become in the future.

"You two think too much," I said grabbing their attentions. "Instead of worrying about something so far-fetched in the future, you should think about how to defeat me first, no?" I smirked, and that made them frown.

Well, it's better that their attentions are on me rather than on each other. I would very much prefer the two to team up against me, because just one of them won't be enough. It's not that I'm underestimating their abilities, I of all people know how far can they manage to unlock their potentials, I just think it would be a great battle if they were to team up, because in that way, I won't have to hesitate to show them everything of me.

That won't happen anytime soon though.

"Anyway," I continued. "They're coming." Upon saying that, continuous footsteps were heard cimung to our direction, along with their heavy movements were the sound of weapons hitting against others'.

The two didn't just stand there. As if on cue, both moved at the same time, blocking every arrows thrown on the air. I caught an arrow that was justa about to pierce my eye, just a few inches just before the sharp steel could actually touch my pupil. I broke the arrow in two, dropping it off the ground, and looked around us; now surrounded by guards wearing red capes alongw with their red uniforms.

Mabilis na tumalon ang dalawa sa unahan ko, mukhang hindi manlang sila nahirapan. Tinaas ng mga gwardiya ang hawak nilang mga sandata sabay tutok sa direksyon namin. Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako at napapikit.

"We were discovered." Iyana stated the obvious.

"And that was your fault." Dagdag pa ni Andrea.

"Mine? If you didn't talk back further, I wouldn't have had felt infuriated."

"So sinasabi mong kasalanan ko? If you hadn't brought the topic, I wouldn't have felt the same."

"Why are you always so selfish?!"

"You two—" I tried to interrupt them but they cut me off.

"And why are you always pushing everything to me?!"

"ENOUGH!" I yelled.

At same time, my body accidentally exuded a powerful energy wave which made everyone around me to get thrown away. If the two didn't let out their own energies quickly, the same thing would have had happened to them. The massive energy caused every sets of alarms in the whole place to go off due to them not being able to detect the too much level of energy.

The guards immediately lost all their consciousness. The energy caused the ground to shake, along with it were cracks breaking down and rocks protruding. Sa isang iglap ay napuno ng enerhiya ko ang hangin. Hindi pinansin ng dalawa ang masamang tingin na ipinupukol ko sa kanila at sa halip ay napatingin sa unahan kung saan may isang anino ng tao ang papalapit.

"That energy was definitely something else." Boses ito ng isang babae, malamig at medyo malalim.

The first thing I noticed was her silver hair swaying behind her back, her violet eyes almost glowing in this dim darkness, her silver armour reflecting the sword clutched beside her hip. The energy she was exuding was different from any normal people, it was that same kind of energy I was feeling just earlier. The whole appearance of her energy reminded me of falling snow, and with that in mind, the area suddenly became colder.

"A demon." I muttered stating the obvious. She seemed surprise about this but she remained lookingbat me with a blank expression.

"How did you know that?" It was more of a demand than a question really.

"I've come across someone the same in the past, a monster . Let's just say the energy structures of your body doesn't differ from each other." I replied, remembering Silverrium.

"I see." She unsheated her sword, raising it just in front of her.

"Why don't you two go ahead?" I suggested, looking at Andrea and Iyana.

"Mukhang hindi na kinakailangang itago ang mga enerhiya natin." Sabi ni Andrea at ngumiti. "We'll let you handle her, Keila."

"That's new. You don't usually turn your back against someone this strong." She laughed.

"She's saying you wouldn't need assistance against that girl." Singit ni Iyana. "Plus, she isn't really my cup of tea, kaya ikaw na ang bahala."

Tumango ako sa dalawa at sa isang iglap ay tumakbo na sila patungo sa ibang direksyon nitong garden maze. Sinubukan silang harangan ng babae pero mas nauna akong dumating sa harapan niya. Kasabay nang paglapit ko sa kaniya ay ang espada niyang nakatutok na sa leeg ko.

"You're fast but," hinawakan ko ang espada niya, dahil sa talim nito ay nagkaroon ng hiwa sa palad ko at dumugo, pero hindi ko iniintindi ang sakit ngayon. "That isn't enough to defeat me." Mabilis na nahati ang hawak niyang espada at dahil dito ay napaatras siya.

"We'll see about that." Biglang may lumitaw na isa pang espada sa magkabila niyang kamay at tumakbo patungo sa direksyon ko.

"Indeed." I smiled, easily dodging every of her slashes.

She was getting faster and faster each and every seconds, and the whole time she does, I can't help but look at her violet eyes with shades of black in the middle. There was notiing in those eyes, no hint of determination, they held almost no traces of emotions, it was as though she lives yet she doesn't know what her life is for.

I stopped dodging, catching her swords om each of my hand, leaning my face closer to hers where I was able to see her eyes clearly. It caught her off-guard, making her stumble back to the edge of the fountain. The raining droplets of eater finally reaching us, and we were wet.

"I was expecting much more." I admitted, but that didn't change her blank facade at all. "You have such a strong monstrous energy yet you don't know how to use it." Tinapon ko ang dalawang espada niya sa lupa.

"That makes it easier for you to kill me, then." I frowned.

Most people can't look at me directly in the eyes, whenever they do, they feel and see their deepest fear. It makes them very uncomfortable, especially those with weaker energy level than mine, they feel suffocated. Yet this girl in front of me, she neither feel the fear most do nor she feel suffocated.

"Killing you now would be such a waste." I sighed. "How old are you again?"

"Monsters or demons—whatever you call our kind, we don't have the concept of numbering our age." She looked away, squinting due to the water. "But I've been alive for a hundred years now."

"Why are you here?"

"I've been wandering around, and finally settled down here for almost ten—"

"In other words you don't exactly have he reason to leave nor stay here, you just came across the land, is all." She nodded. "Do you want to get stronger?"

"Do I have a reason too?"

"Shall I give you one?" She frowned, but immediately dismissed me by waving her hand.

"I was expecting a fight, not a pep talk—"

"Join me." She suddenly looked at me, almost taken aback.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

"I need people who would do anything for me, even give their lives for my sake."

"You're asking me to be your puppet?"

"Yes." There was that awful silence that came after that single word. Tumayo siya ng maayos at pinulot ang dalawang espada na tinapon ko kanina.

"What will I get in return?"

"What do you want to be returned to you?"

"A home. A place where I can stay." She made the other sword disappear and sheated the other one back to her hips. "And something that could give me...intense emotions. A will. Determination. Power." She stepped in front of me, our faces barely inches apart, our heights were almost the same. "Can you give me those?"

"Offer me your life and I will."

"That's a bad offer, Ke'ala Feyree." Napunta kaagad ang atensyon namin sa Commissar na lumalakad patungo sa kung saan kami.

"Commissar Bartram Adelberg." The girl beside me greeted.

"I happen to have heard your conversation. Too bad though, I have no intention of giving you Aeryn. She's a valuable subject of mine, being a demon and all."

"I don't recall asking for your opinion, Commissar."

"I am aware. You can take any of my subjects as a piece offering—"

"And I dont recall you having any rights to propose a condition." I said, cutting him off.

"Do not forget, you just trespassed in my area, foreigner. Know your place. I was being lenient, but I cannot tolerate this any further."

"Is that a warning?"

"It is." His hand clasped the handle of his sword clutched unto his hip.

"Well, Aeryn," I glanced at her. "You will come with me, right?"

"I hold no reason for me to further stay here, Commissar. I hope you understand."

"This is depressing." He then unsheated his sword, before I could even blink, he was already im front of me.

I immediately summoned my dual swords, blocking his. He hold so much strength that in a single push, I was slid backwards, the weapoks in our hands causing frictions. Tinaas niya ang isa niyang paa para sipain ako pero tumalon ako paitaas at akmang susugatan siya nang umatras ito.

"You are a candidate with no forces, Feyree. How do you expect to win a war?" He added. "You'll be too late if you were just to gather your men. Other candidates are already on the move, you're only taking Aeryn to a fruitless sacrifice!"

"I see you're concern. But I could careless about the World's Battle, it's the least of my concern."

"Then why do you need men who would risk their lives for you?"

"Then I shall be honest." I made both of my weapons disappear. "I'm going against the world."

"What? You're a lunatic. I can't even begin to unders—"

"That's enough, Commissar Bartram." A familiar voice just rang through the back of my mind as a cold hand was weighted down on my right shoulder.

"L-Lord Riu." He sheated his sword back and bowed his head, lowerimg himself at the presence just behind me.

My heart was racing. I couldn't bring myself to speak nor to face him. It wasn't anticipation nor excitement this time, my whole senses were covered... But I couldn't let them see it. Clenching my other fist, I touched the hand, and somehow, mine felt more colder than his.

"I didn't know you were due to arrive...especially early this morning." Commissar rounded up his men who had managed to arrive late.

"Well, I didn't want to miss anything. But seems like I did, isn't that right, Ke'ala?" I turned around to face him.

His hair got longer, still same blue eyes, and that smile...it sprung up all hidden guilt inside me. I smiled in return, but I know he was aware of how forced that was. I feel strange. I'm happy to see him, but at the same time I don't want to meet him yet. Is he still the same? Am I? There were too many questions, but I couldn't bring myself to ask them.

Fear. I don't usually feel such emotion. But it's here...

"Hey," and I hated it. "Brother."

AN: Again, it's late. But happy reading!