FORBIDDEN CITY

THE sun is about to set, and the torches began to blaze. Hindi ko maiwasang mainip at mangawit habang pinanunuod ang mahaba at boring na intermission sa harapan, they're playing drums and I don't know what it's called.

Ang lahat ng natanggap mula sa initiation kahapon ay nagtipon ngayon para sa opening ceremony ng competition, kung nasa mahigit limampu ang pumunta kahapon ay halos kalahati lamang ang narito ngayon. The opening ceremony is being held in one of China's famous landmark, The Forbidden City, according sa nakuha kong info kanina sa search engine sa phone ko, ancient Chinese astronomers believed that Purple star or Polaris was in the center of the heaven and the Heavenly Emperor lives in the Purple Palace. The 'Forbidden City' is the English equivalent of the Chinese name 'Zijin Cheng' — Jin meaning forbidden, with reference to the fact that no one could enter or leave the walled city or Cheng, without the emperor's permission.

The Forbidden City was the political center of China for Five hundred years but now it is one of the world's prominent tourist attractions. And now... we're actually here inside the The Palace of Heavenly Purity or Qianqinggong, isa sa mga pinakamalaking halls ng inner court ng Forbidden City.

Hindi maiwasang maglakbay ng isip ko habang iniisp yung mga info na nakita ko kanina at nakatingin sa patapos ng performance sa harapan. Seriously, I'm not even aware that I can easily memorize things when I'm bored.

'Your mind right now is like Wikipedia.' Narinig ko yung boses ni Cloud at napatingin ako sa kanya, katabi ko lang kasi siya at nasa kabila ko naman si Cairo. Pagtingin ko kay Cloud ay seryoso ito pero halatang nagpipigil ng tawa, gusto ko sana siyang sikuhin kaso kitang-kita kami nung mga tao na nasa harapan.

After that boring intermission ay sinundan iyon ng mga speeches ng mga founder daw ng competition na 'to na mas boring pa pala kaysa sa naunang ganap. The main group founder of the competition is called "Kahval", unlike Memoire na isang secret organization, the Kahval are not, they are famous for their contributions in International society and so on.

After explaining who they are, one of the founder explained what Chintamani is and why it is being prized. Napaisip din ako, if Kahval is not a secret organization, bakit kailangan nilang mag-arrange ng secret competition? Inalis ko na muna ang tanong sa isip ko at mas piniling makinig sa speaker. Napatingin ako sa likuran at nakita ang mga iba't ibang sponsors ng kalahok, including Memoire's. Kaming lima lang ang walang sponsor na kasama, well, si dad ang naging sponsor namin para makarating dito.

"All of you are here because of one thing―The Chintamani. And I am sure all of you already knew what it is." Actually, nakukulangan ako sa description nila tungkol dito―an ever grand powerful stone that can grant unlimited power. I can't imagine what kind of power it holds, "...with different reasons of why you want to get it..." Cairo wants it because he'd revive his dead older brother, I joined because I need to save my sister, and Cloud supports me. At sigurado na ako na sila Finnix, Otis at Pascal naman ay dahil sa loyalty nila kay Cairo.

"But I am going to tell you the real reason of this competition." Pagkatapos sabihin iyon ay dumating ang isang staff habang bitbit ang malaking canvas, it has a drawing of a tangled snake, 

"Ten years ago, we found this thing during the excavation of ancient ruins in Europe, this is the Chintamani, it is said that heavens bestowed it. According from the legends, the heavens assigned the Rosencruz clan to keep it for generations and they're the only one who can activate and use the stone. Unfortunately, none of their family lineage exists today." It suddenly piques me, it feels like I want to hear more about that tale, "Our team searched the whole world to get the truth; we go far beyond science and religions. And finally we got some answers by deciphering different ancient texts―and so we vowed to find the one who is destined to initiate the stone by making the competition called... The Akasha's Game."

So the real name of this competition is The Akasha's Game and it's clear that only one can win.

"Now I'd like to call Senior Rama Melchiore..." the Man-in-White who interviewed me yesterday steps in, "To explain further about The Akasha's Game." Nagpalakpakan ang lahat.

"Good evening." Bati nito, at as usual, suot suot niya ang paborito niyang attire, all-white suit, white gloves, white shoes, white Fedora Hat. Para tuloy siyang nagliliwanag sa sobrang puti ng suot niya, "The Akasha's Game one main requirement as you all know is that the players must be an Aeon or one who has a special ability or power. There will be seven levels that will be held in different places, and each level has a task or mission that must be completed within a limited time. There are no other specific rules inside the game, you can form allies, it's up to you, what important is to complete your mission no matter what it takes. It may sound easy but there is a huge riddle in this game and you have to solve it, and the only key to finish it."

The opening ceremony finally ended and it was followed by a grand banquet. Binilinan kami ni Cairo na makipag socialize sa mga ibang player which is hindi ko ganon kagusto but he insists, it's part of the game he said, know thy enemy. Okay, okay.

Kaya naghiwa-hiwalay muna kaming lima at nakita ko na ganon din ang ginagawa ng ibang player, nakikipag-usap sa isa't isa, may iba na mga nagtatawanan at nagchicheers. Nakihalo rin ang mga sponsors at nalulula ako sa iba't ibang language na naririnig ko. Tama nga si Cairo.

Kumuha ako ng isang champagne mula sa dala ng waiter at inihanda yung sarili ko na makipag-usap, may nakita kong nag-iisang babae sa sulok, humakbang ako papalapit.

"Finally you come back to your senses." Napahinto ako sa nagsalita at agad na hinarap ito. Sa dinarami rami ng pwedeng makita at kumausap sa'kin ay tila nananadya ito.

"Wala akong oras sa'yo, Eliza." Ngunit pagtalikod ko sa kanya'y may isa pang sumulpot.

"Yoh." Matamlay na sabi ni Vince. Anong problema ng magkapatid na 'to at kailangan nila kong i-corner?

"Gusto kang kausapin ng chairman." I glared at her. "Jill, magmamatigas ka pa rin ba? Hawak nila ang kapatid mo." Nila? Ano bang gustong iparating nito ni Eliza. Wala akong ibang nagawa kundi sumama sa kanila at makisalo sa table nila.

Don Vittorio smiled when he saw me, Vince even pulled a chair for me. Naroon din si Palm at Jing. Awkward? Oo. Nakita ko si Cairo at kaagad siyang pumunta sa kinaroroonan ko, hindi ko makita si Cloud.

"So." Simula ng chairman, "I'm glad that you joined, Jill Morie. Hindi ba't magandang chance 'to para i-celebrate ang tila reunion niyo?" itinaas niya ang baso pero nang mapansin niya na lahat kami ay na-awkward-an sa isa't isa ay ibinaba na lang niya 'yon.

"Where's my sister?" kalmado kong tanong, "She's with Joha and Dette." Pagkabanggit niya sa pangalan ng kambal na 'yon ay hindi ko maiwasang manginig, marahil sa nakita ko kung paano nila madaling pinatay si Dean at ang katotohanang sila ang bumuhay kay Jing at Margaux. "Don't worry, Jill, hindi namin siya sinaktan o ano."

"Then bakit hindi niyo na siya pakawalan?" ako sana ang magsasalita niyan pero naunahan ako ni Cairo.

"Don't be silly, Cairo." Sagot nung chairman, "Hindi natin alam ang mangyayari kapag ibinigay ko sa inyo kaagad si Karen." Hindi na ko magtataka na wala siyang tiwala sa'min, well, nagawa naming makatakas noon sa MIP.

"Fine." Tumayo ako. Sa tingin ko wala naman ng dapat pang pag-usapan pa, malinaw na sa'kin kung ano ba gusto nilang mangyari, kailangan ko munang manalo at makuha ang Chintamani bago nila pakawalan ang kapatid ko, Memoire, totally shits.

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad, pinagmasdan ko sila, ang ibang players, wala pa ring nakakaalam kung paano ba ang magiging laro mismo ng tinatawag na Akasha's Game na 'yan. Hindi ko rin naman sila pwedeng i-underestimate, isang kakayahan lang ang mayroon ako, ang gayahin ang bawat kapangyarihan na malapit sa akin at... ang hinaharap na nakikita ko sa sarili ko.

Remember Morie, you are going to die.

I don't know. I have to win this.

I'll win.

*****

"Today, Akasha's game will officially begin." Rama Melchiore is the one who's hosting the game. We're at the Forbidden City and we stayed overnight, finally magsisimula na ngayong araw ang laban, "The airship is waiting outside." Lahat kami ay sumunod sa kanya at bumungad sa amin sa labas ang malaking puting airship na may nakasulat na 'Akasha'. Pumasok kami sa loob nito, to be honest bigla kong naalala yung The Beehive, yung underground facility ng Memoire sa MIP, parang ganito kasi yung ambiance, masyadong high-tech. Kasama pa rin ang mga sponsors. Dinala kaming players sa isang kwarto, pinaupo kami ng mga staff sa hindi ko ma-explain na upuan, parang sa dentist chair pero sobrang high-tech nga lang.

Pagkaupo namin ay may lumapit na tig-iisang staff sa amin at may dalang syringe.

"What's that?" tanong ko.

"For immunity." Nakita ko si Rama Melchiore, siya yung sumagot sa tanong ko at wala naman akong ibang nagawa.

"We're going now to the first level of the game. Brace yourselves." May kakaiba sa kanyang ngiti. At kung ano, sinong nakakaalam. May pakiramdam ako na hindi siya basta-bastang nilalang at ewan ko kung bakit pero nararamdaman ko rin na may alam siya tungkol sa'kin.

Hindi ko alam kung dahil sa pagod o kakulangan sa tulog. Napapikit ako para umidlip.

*****

"All players please proceed to the exit, we arrived at Gubeiko Village. All players please proceed to the exit...."  

We finally arrived.

The first level of Akasha's game.