I can't tell if I'm dreaming or if my entire mind is awake right now. The words of Nott imprinted themselves on the center of my chest. Not a mark at all, but rather a wound that will eventually turn into a scar. How many hours do I have to just look at the wall of the tent? Five or more in total? On the ground that is covered, he has a sound sleep. He really couldn't care less at this point. 

When we were younger, I remember that he was more concerned about my well-being than he was about his own. He never stopped worrying about my well-being or happiness. He never failed to give me the impression that I wasn't on my own when I was with him. Under the night sky, we would collaborate to make our wishes. Both of us had dreams about going to Cairos, which is where the elemental keepers are located. Since he was aware that we had both been endowed with a green mark at birth, he made it a point to constantly work on improving my green skills. He brings to mind the adage that haste makes waste. to be able to exercise patience and become skilled at waiting.

But now everything is completely different. I changed into the complete antithesis of what he envisions for me, and he evolved into the perfect challenger for the greens.

Sa sobrang dami ng mga bagay na naglalaro sa utak ko, pinuyos ng pagod at antok ang gising kong diwa at dinala ako sa isang lunduyang kanina pa hinahagilap ng pagod kong kaluluwa. Payapa. Sa sobrang payapa dito sa lunduyan ng panaginip ay tila ayaw ko nang bumalik sa realidad.

Nakaduyan ako. Umiihip ang malamig na hangin mula sa karatig na baybayin. Nagsisi-awitan ang mga kulisap at ibon sa mga puno habang tahimik na nakamasid ang mga tala sa mamahaling telon ng kalangitan. 

This is a dream. I know, but it feels so real. 

"This is real, Lind." Isang kalmadong boses babae ang kumausap sa tulog kong diwa.

Pinilit kong bumalikwas para tuluyang magising pero tila naging bilanggo ang natutulog kong diwa sa mundong iyon. Napalunok ako. 

"You are real. You're not a dream..." 

"S-sino ka?" nabahala kong tanong. Inilibot ko ang aking paningin. Bigla kong naramdaman ang tila banayad na pagtulak saakin ng malamig na hangin patungo sa gilid ng karagatan. Nagpaubaya ako kahit na may nakahambang takot sa aking dibdib.

Matapang ako at magaling magnakaw, pero sa totoo lang matatakutin ako sa mga multo.

Nanginginig ang mga binti ko habang tinatahak ang mabuhanging baybayin. Patuloy sa pag-ihip ang banayad na hangin. Humahampas ang maalat at mamasamasang samyo ng karagatan sa aking balat.

Ilang saglit pa ay namataan ko sa di kalayuan ang babaeng nakasuot ng asul at tila kalahok sa winter arena. Sa hindi ko maipaliwanag na dahilan ay paikot na sumasayaw ang mga niyebe palibot sa katawan nito habang ang liwanag ng buwan ay tila nakatutok lang sa kagandahan niya. She's got dark brown eyes, ebony hair and a beautiful elven face. Her face defines bravery.

"Isa ka bang t-tala? S-sino ka?"

"Lind Vor," she calls my name like we've known each other for years. Her gaze makes me feel that we've been connected since the day we were born. "I am the winter heiress. You are me. I am you. We will meet in flesh very soon, but I have one request for you."

"W-winter heiress? Like the heiress from the Old Tales?"

Tumango ito.

"I am just an ordinary green elf, madam heiress. I have no green skills. Hindi ko nga kayang patubuin ang buto ng munggo. W-why are you talking to a lowly ranked green elf like me?"

"The most powerful thing in Springgan is unexpected. You are special, Lind. You just have to believe and find your core. Your true purpose."

Muling sumayaw ang malamig na hangin sa paligid. Hindi ako makapaniwalang isang season heiress ang kausap ko ngayon. I only read them in tales and heard them from bards and historians. I never knew they're real.

"I heard that there's a new winter heiress just recently. I-ikaw s-si Idrish?" Napalunok ako habang hinihintay ang kasagutan ng babae. Nakatitig ito sa mukha ko habang patuloy na sumasayaw ang mga niyebe sa paligid nito.

The heiress is about to answer when suddenly, I feel a gentle pair of hands shaking my shoulders.

"Lind! Lind wake up!" he utters in a husky tone.

Nang magmulat ako ng mata'y bumungad saakin ang nakapatong na mukha ng lalaki. Hindi ko tinangkang sumigaw o magsalita dahil baka may amoy ang aking hininga. Tumango-tango lang ako habang nakatitig sa namumula niyang mukha.

Nang masiguro ng lalaking gising na ako ay saka naman ito lumayo at tila hiyang-hiyang inayos ang kasuotan. Nakatalikod ito at nagkunwari itong naghahanda na para sa reaping. Pinagpag nito ang kulay lupang satchel bag na gawa sa leather. He tightens his double belt and gently brushes his coat.

"A-anong oras na, Nott?" I ask.

"It's an hour before the reaping. The reaping begins at midnight where the vernal equinox moon kisses the Mir."

Nataranta ako. Muli akong bumuntong-hininga. Hanggang ngayon kasi'y hindi pa rin tanggap ng dibdib at utak ko na magpapatuloy ako sa reaping.

I was caught off guard. I had a little time planning. I wasn't even able to plan for my escape. Nott's warning about the council tracing the green mark in my hand preempted me from leaving the kibbutz for the second time.

"Magbihis ka na." Nakaharap na ang lalaki. Wala na ang mapulang pisngi nito. Seryoso ang titig nito at mukhang handa na para sa walang humpay na takbuhan patungo sa puno ng Mir. Nagtalukbong ito ng manto saka muling nagsalita, "Hihintayin kita sa labas ng tent."

Tumango ako.

Sa paglabas ng lalaki'y saka muling nagsisulputan ang mga suhestiyon ng matigas kong ulo kung papaano takasan ang reaping. Think, Lind! Think!

Kabadong pino-proseso ng utak ko ang pagtakas nang muli kong napansin ang pagtubo at mabilis na paggapang ng mga baging sa aking harapan. Binuo ng lumagong baging ang imahe ng isang makisig na green fae.

I roll my eyes seeing the same guardian fae.

Nakangiti ito habang nakahalukipkip ang mga matitipunong braso. He batts his eyelashes and his green eyes flicker unexpectedly. "There is no more escaping, Lind."

"I don't want this!" Napalingon ako sa aking susuoting battle coat. Ang pahiwatig ko'y hindi ko gustong maging tagapagmana ng gauntlet.

"You already saw the winter heiress, Lind."

"Yes. She's beautiful. She looks brave and powerful and I am not up to par with a goddess."

Graen clears his throat. Naglakad ito palapit sa kinauupuan ko. I smell his minty scent as he sits beside me. "You've been lost for years, Lind. Hiding. Running. Stealing."

"Ingungudngod mo pa talaga sa mukha ko na magnanakaw ako?" Ramdam ko ang mumunting pitik sa dibdib ko nang marinig ko ang sinabi nito. Gusto ko na siyang suntukin at gawing salad.

"No. That's not the intention. Pero tatanungin kita, sa loob ng napakaraming taong ginugol mo para maging isang batikang magnanakaw, naramdaman mo bang iyon talaga ang nakaguhit na tadhana mo? Is there a sense of fulfillment? Were you happy?"

I smirk. My eyes melt as I reminisce the good times with Randall, Juvie and the rest of the gang. "Randall makes me happy."

Graen jumps as if something is slamming his throat as he hears Randall's name. "Is he the guy you like but doesn't seem to like you back? Come on, heiress! You are more than a hopeless romantic thief! With no signs of liking you back, you have to accept that not everyone you like will like you too! "

Nagpanting ang tainga ko sa sinabi ng green fae. Perhaps with my body still carrying out my rehearsals with Randall, I quickly slipped my arm toward the rude guardian faery.

But before I could even get my hands on his head he quickly turns and seemed to catch a lightning bolt. He is standing in front of me. He smiles as he stares at me and shakes his head, "Not me, Lind."

"Hinayupak kang guardian langaw ka!"

He chuckles but has not let go of my hand. His eyes disappear while laughing. He continues "You don't have to wear that suit. Maybe it's equipped with spy vines or green spells, or even dark magic to stop you from going to where you should be."

I am at a complete loss for words despite my efforts to speak. His words cause a muscle twitch in my forehead of mine. When I look closer, I see what looks like a small vine winding its way from his arm to my hand, and I am rendered even more speechless. 

My entire body is covered in green vines, which are gently held by energy. My shape is outlined by the lichen-covered juniper vines. The first thing that happened is that brown mage gloves with golden linings and adornment have formed on my hands, with only the bottom half of my palms showing. My upper body is covered in a mossy robe that has a detailed cloak, a belt that circles my ribs, and a perfect hanging on my left shoulder thanks to the vines that are crawling all over me. My combat boots, which are a shade of umber and gold, can be seen through the slits on both sides of the robe.

"Here's your satchel bag," Graen utters as I finish my dress for reaping. He looks so serious as he hands me the bag. "Everything will be inside that bag."

Natameme ako. Hindi ako nakatugon kaagad. I take a stand. The outfit sways perfectly with my movement. Gazing at my robe and its details, I feel like the situation is inescapable.

Graen taps my back. Tiny electric sparks run on my shoulder. "About what I was telling earlier, Lind. You may not find the reason right now, but I know, for sure, the right reasons will lead you to the right path."

"I hope so," I utter.

"You've been lost for years. Now is the time to find yourself."

I exhale in response. Hindi ko kayang sumagot at sabihing sumasang-ayon ako sa mga nangyayari. Muli kong sinulyapan ang maaliwalas na mukha ni Graen saka nagdesisyong lumabas na.

Nagtalukbong ako gamit ang aking manto saka humakbang palabas ng tent. Nakatalikod at tahimik na naghihintay si Nott nang madatnan ko. Nakapamulsa ang dalawang kamay nito sa side pockets ng kanyang coat. Malamig na kasi ang paligid dahil lagpas hatinggabi na.

Natanaw ko ang puting buwan na malapit nang humalik sa puno na Mir.

May pagkakataon pa para umatras, Lind. Bulong ng utak ko habang naglalakad palapit sa naghihinatay na si Nott. Bahagyang tumango ang lalaki nang lumingon ito at makita ako. Half of his face is almost covered by the dark cloak. He clenches his jaw again.

Ilang metro bago ako tuluyang makalapit sa lalaki ay sumulpot ang dalawang uniformed council member sa magkabilang panig. Marahil ay sila ang abay saamin patungo sa unang bahagi ng reaping.

"Nott Uglan... Lind Vor, follow me," asik ng mas matabang council member. Nauna na itong naglakad samantalang ang kasama nito'y sinadyang magpaiwan para magsilbing bantay sa aming likuran.

They would really not let me escape.

"Move," untag naman ng mas patpatin at mas matangkad na naka-manto.

Nott and I both walk side by side. Tahimik lang ang lalaki habang tinatahak namin ang daan patungo sa simula ng reaping.

Kagaya ng nakagawiang pagpili, walang mga green elves ang nasa paligid. Ito ay para maiwasang malaman ng komunidad kung sino ang mga kasali sa seremonyas. Mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ng council ang kahit na anong tangka na alamin ang katauhan ng kahit na isa sa mga contenders.

Patuloy ang aming paglalakad patungo sa paanan ng blue mountains.

I hear Nott clears his throat. Then he speaks, "Lind, about what I said this morning."

"I've heard raspier words. I'm not hurt. It's okay," I say vehemently. I lie. The truth is, Nott's words hurt me to the depths. But as a master thief myself, I have to lie to keep things calm. The true war is upon us. Like what Randall always tells me, leave the drama when going to war.

Hindi ko na narinig pang nagsalita si Nott. Tahimik naming tinahak ang daan kasama ang dalawang escort council ng green kibbutz.

The green wall is now visible to where I stand. Emotions inside my chest start to divide. The willing and unwilling selves talk.

Laman ng isip ko ang mga adventures at misadventures ko sa nakalipas na araw habang tinatahak ang bawat hakbang palapit sa napakataas na pader. Pakiramdam ko, sa oras na tuluyan na akong humarap sa green wall at tanggapin ang hamon ng reaping tuluyan nang mawawala ang posibilidad na makabalik ako kay Randall at sa gang.

"Nandito na tayo," dinig kong sambit ng eskorte.

Tila isa iyong hudyat na tuluyang gumising saakin.

Magsisimula na ang reaping.

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