Flame 19 – New Ability

Napatingin ang binatang Vaughaun sa natutulog niyang butler habang nakasubsob ang ulo nito sa study table. Hindi niya maiwasang ngumiti dahil natatawa siya sa itsura nito.

Wala kasi itong kahit kaunting bahid ng pagkamahinhin. Gulo-gulo na ang buhok niya at nakanganga pa. Hindi na magugulat si Krauser kung maglaway pa ito sa harapan niya.

Napatigil tuloy siya sa pagsusulat at tinitigan nalang ang dalaga. Matapos ang ilang araw, siya na ulit ang butler ng binatang Vaughaun. Nang tanungin si Krauser ng kanyang ama kung saan sila nanggaling ay sinabi lang nito na nakituloy siya kay Annielyn.

Natapos na rin ang balita tungkol sa mga nawawalang tao sa New Wellington beach. Hindi na nag-abala si Opium Scatterella na kunin ang bangkay ng warlock at piratang gumagamit ng simbolo ng tubig. Itinapon niya lang ito sa galit dahil sa ginawa nito kay Olivia.

Sa madaling salita, bumalik na ang lahat sa normal... maliban sa isang bagay. At ito ay ang pagtingin ng binatang Vaughaun sa kanyang butler.

"Sabihin mo nga, ano ba talagang balak ninyo ni Katherine sa Mermius?" hindi maiwasang itanong ni Krauser iyon kay Opium. Hinihintay nilang dumating si Hera na siyang magdadala sa kanila sa barrier.

"Why are you so curious? Gusto mo bang malaman? Do you care if your butler's been busy with something aside from protecting you?" Opium smiled mockingly.

"Don't answer me with another question, Scatterella. Tell me why."

"Okay." He shrugged and stands up straight. "Katherine is the last burning silver flame and she's been getting signs and warnings from her Aunt's stupid, weird book. The one we're looking for are symbols that we saw and appeared on one of the police reports."

Naguguluhan man ay tumango nalang si Krauser. "She told you about this?"

"Yes, because she was hoping that we have our Oracle. But unfortunately, we don't have an Oracle now. Nagpresinta akong tumulong because she needs a hand. She's the only silver flame and her duty is to protect the mortals and every creature from the Underworld that needs help. She can't do everything alone, obviously."

Unti-unting napagtatanto ng binata ang ibig sabihin ni Opium sa kanya. May mga parteng hindi niya maintindihan pero saka na niya ito aalamin.

Ang malinaw lang sa kanya ngayon ay ang mahanap si Katherine, makaalis sila sa islang iyon at manatili sa tabi ng dalaga. He doesn't even know where this urge is coming from, but he's sure that she needs his help too, perhaps. He was hoping he could help.

"I hope by now naiintindihan mo why she's doing this without any of your consent, Krauser. She doesn't want to put you in trouble that's why she's not telling anything."

Krauser nodded and looked away. "I understand," he said and had not started another conversation until Hera arrived.

Binitawan ni Krauser ang ballpen na hawak niya at unti-unting inabot ang mukha ng dalagang butler na natutulog pa rin hanggang ngayon.

"She looks peaceful... kahit maraming nakaatang na responsibilidad sa kanya... how can she manage to be at peace?" tanong ng binata sa kanyang sarili.

He got some of her hair and tucked it in her ears. Kahit papaano, mas gugustuhin niyang makita ang nakakatawang itsura ng butler niya kaysa kay Wesley. He's surprised to find himself dependent to her even though he doesn't even like the sound of it.

Aminado na siya sa pagiging dependent niya kay Katherine pero—

"Do I really care about you?" he asked to himself while still looking at her face.

Nagulat si Krauser nang magvibrate ang phone niya. Napabalikwas din ng gising ang dalaga, sabay pahid ng bibig.

"Ah! Nakatulog ako! Ugh!" inis na sabi ni Katherine sabay sampal sa mukha niya ng sarili niyang mga kamay.

Umiling nalang si Krauser at kinuha ang phone nito. Nakita niyang si Officer Dawson ang natawag.

"Hello? Officer?"

{"Krauser, may mga bagong kaso ako na nakapending. Pupwede mong tignan kung hindi ka busy,"} pang-aalok ng kaibigang pulis.

"I will try to check them out, Officer. Tatapusin muna namin ni Katherine ang exams namin this week."

{"Okay then! Call me when you two are free!"}

"I will, bye," agad bumalik ang atensyon ng binata sa study table. Kaharap na niya ngayon ang busy na si Katherine.

Natatawa siya sa mga guhit sa kanyang pisngi mula sa saglit na pag-idlip niya kanina. Napansin naman ni Katherine ang pagtawa ni Krauser at napatingin siya ng masama sa kanyang Master.

"Anong problema mo dyan huh, Krauser? Anong tinatawa-tawa mo huh?" she looked tough pero kahit ganoon ay natatawa pa rin si Krauser.

"Wala," nagpatuloy na rin siya sa pagsusulat. Tapos na siyang mag-review at nagsusulat nalang ng iba pang journals na kailangan. Kanina lang ay nagpaturo si Katherine sa kanya sa Calculus pero nakatulugan nalang niya ito.

"Ganito ba talaga kapag estudyante? Nakakapagod na nga ang pumasok araw-araw sa school tapos papahirapan ka pa sa homeworks tapos may exams pa?!"

"Stop nagging and study," pag-saway nito sa kanyang butler.

Katherine cannot believe how all of a sudden, her Master turned like a saint after the Mermius trip. It seems to it that this person is the exact opposite of what her Master used to be. Kinikilabutan siya sa kabaitan ng binata. Hindi rin ito nagsusungit. Ni hindi siya pinagalitan after falling asleep!

"Are you sure you're Krauser Vaughaun?" hindi mapigilang itanong ni Katherine sa kanyang Master. She can't help it anymore.

"What?"

"Did you hit your head? Or some evil demon possessed you? Or you are a clone? If you are a clone, where are you hiding the real Krauser Vaughaun?! Bakit ang bait mo? Hindi ako sanay. It creeps me out."

He sighed and raised his eyebrows. "Mas gusto mo bang masama ako sayo? Is that what you're trying to say, Lovell?"

She immediately shook her head. "N-No! Pero kasi—"

"Well then get used to it."

Katherine wasn't able to say anything after that. Nagpatuloy nalang siya sa pag-aaral hanggang sa nakaramdam na siya ng antok at umalis na ng kwarto ni Krauser. Apat ang exams niya bukas at hindi niya alam kung papasa ba siya o hindi. Hindi naman ganoong kahalaga kung makapasa siya but she wanted to pass somehow.

Kinabukasan, napadaan siya sa painting kung saan nandoon ang secret passage papunta sa Vaughaun Hall. Muntik na niyang makalimutan ang tungkol doon matapos ang nangyari. Lalapit palang siya doon ng pigilan siya ni Krauser.

"Where the hell are you going? We're late!" hinawakan niya ang kamay ng dalaga at tumakbo pababa ng hagdan.

Hindi niya maiwasang pansinin ang malambot at mainit na kamay ng kanyang Master. Namumula ang mga pisngi niya tuwing maiisip niya iyon.

"Ah sht! I forgot my headphones," he grunted habang papunta sila ng school. He was scanning his bag when he thought about it.

"Should we go back, Master Krauser?" sabi pa ni Hansel but Krauser shook his head.

"No. I'm fine without it, Hansel."

Tumaas agad ang kilay ng kanyang butler, hindi talaga ito sanay na makitang kalmado at mabait ang kanyang Master. Ipinagpatuloy nalang ni Katherine ang pagrereview hanggang makarating sila sa Larkworth.

"Katherine, patingin nga ako ng schedule mo," utos ni Krauser sa kanya pagkababa ng kotse.

Kahit nag-aalangan pa siya ay wala siyang nagawa kundi ibigay sa kanya ang papel kung saan nakasulat ang schedule ng exams niya.

Nagulat si Katherine ng makita ang malapad na ngiti sa mukha ni Krauser. "Hey, what's with that smile?!" she asked.

"Basta, just come with me." Hinila niya si Katherine, while her hands were entwined on his. They walked through the corridors of the Acad Building.

"Krauser—"

"You'll sit beside me while I'm taking my exams. I forgot my headphones. I can't concentrate without my headphones."

Katherine was obviously twitching with anger upon realizing what her Master was about to do. "If I knew it earlier na gagawin mo lang akong earplugs mo, we should've go back and get your stupid headphones."

Krauser chuckled. "Well, we all have regrets in life. Don't worry, I'll sit beside you too when you take yours."

"I don't need any distractions when I'm taking my exams," pagsusungit ng dalaga.

"Nadidistract ka saken?" he smirked.

Umiwas ng tingin si Katherine at umirap. "Can we just finish your exams so we can go home?!" pag-iiba niya ng usapan.

"Okay then," ramdam ni Katherine na humigpit pa lalo ang hawak ni Krauser sa kamay niya. Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang pangangatog ng tuhod niya at pag-init ng pisngi. She tried looking down so no one gets to see it.

Lumipas ang buong araw na magkakapit ang kamay ng dalawa. Krauser was obviously having the win-win situation. Mas nakapagfocus siya sa exams because his telepathic ability was definitely blocked. Unlike Katherine, who had a hard time finding her focus because of Krauser's presence.

"Ah! That wasn't so bad!" nakangising sabi ni Krauser habang pauwi na sila ng Vaughaun Mansion.

Umirap nalang si Katherine. Mukha kasing nasasanay na ang kanyang Master sa kanyang kapangyarihan. Hindi na siya gaanong nanghihina and he can even use her powers in his own advantage.

"Thanks Katherine," he grinned at her.

Tumingin ng masama ang kanyang butler. She wanted to scold him for being such a jerk and using her as an earplug pero what can she do? Natutuwa din siya deep inside dahil nakatulong siya kay Krauser. And again, because of her, he is smiling from ear to ear.

She likes it so much when Krauser is smiling. You never get to see that smile everyday. It pains her that she's starting to like that smile... a lot.

After they arrived, Katherine went to the painting that leads to the secret passage of the mysterious Vaughaun Hall. Busy si Krauser sa kwarto niya and Lord Marshall is in a nearby town for an investigation. She wants to search the place herself and find something interesting.

Pagbaba niya sa Hall, ipinatong niya saglit ang kandila na siyang tanging ilaw ng buong bulwagan. Nakatingin lang siya sa napakalaking painting ng lalaki doon. She tried to think if the man on the painting is Lord Marshall pero hindi. Alam niyang hindi ang Chief Officer iyon.

"Who is this mysterious guy?" napahawak siya sa baba niya, she pressed her ballpen up and down as she thought through it. May dala siyang notebook at pen para isulat niya ang lahat ng deductions niya.

Napatingin siya sa letter 'G' na nasa painting din. "What does G stands for? Grass? Glass? Great? Goat? Gorilla?" sinubukan niyang isipin ng maigi.

And then it hit her.

"Gresham?" nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang mabanggit ng sarili niyang bibig iyon. "G-Gresham? Is this guy— no. Imposible. Krauser can read his Dad's mind at walang alam ang Dad ni Krauser tungkol sa totoo niyang magulang." She tried pressing her pen again.

Then she suddenly stopped and looked at the painting again.

"Lord Marshall doesn’t have any idea of Krauser's real parents... or he really knows? Unless... unless those memories were... compelled?"

Nagutom bigla si Krauser at nagpasyang bumaba sa kitchen para maghanap ng pagkain. Napadaan siya sa kwarto ni Katherine at nakita niyang sarado ito. He shrugged, assuming she's already asleep. He stopped and was about to knock when one of the chamber maids appeared and dropped the vase she was holding.

Agad lumapit si Krauser para tumulong. Makikita sa maid ang pagkahiya sa nangyari. "P-Pasensya na ho, young master," paghingi niya ng paumanhin.

He smiled and started picking up the shattered pieces. All of a sudden biglang nanliliit ang pandinig niya and his eyes became heavy. He felt like being sucked in a tube and was floating in an endless time warp at nang buksan niya ang mata niya ay nasa living room siya ng Vaughaun Mansion.

"What am I doing here?" tanong niya sa sarili niya. Nakita niya ang maid na nakabasag ng vase na nag-aayos ng sala. Hindi malaman ni Krauser kung bakit biglang napunta sila sa ganoong lugar samantalang nagpupulot sila ng nabasag na vase kanina lang.

Makailang ulit na lumingon ang maid sa paligid bago niya nilabas ang gintong kwintas na nakalagay sa bulsa ng kanyang apron. Krauser looked at it intently and realized that it was his father's gold chain necklace. Agad naalarma ang maid nang makita niyang pababa ng hagdan ang isa pang maid. Nilagay niya ang kwintas sa bulsa ng kanyang apron at agad kinuha ang vase na nasa lamesa.

"Saan mo dadalhin yan?" tanong ng maid na kakarating lang.

"Ah-- eh... papalitan ko lang yung tubig!" tumakbo paakyat ang maid at unti-unting bumabalik ang paligid para kay Krauser. Nagulat nalang siya na makitang nasa harapan niya ang maid at nakatingin sa kanya.

"Young Master? Okay lang ho ba kayo?" tanong ng maid sa kanya.

Krauser dropped the pieces of porcelain and stand up. Hindi niya maintindihan ang nakita niya kanina. Pareho ang pakiramdam noong nasa Dorell Forest siya. Noong mahawakan niya ang simbolo ng Mage sa lupa.

Nakita niyang tumayo ang maid dala ang mga napulot niyang piraso ng vase. Palayo na ito nang tawagin niya. "T-Teka..." bigla siyang kinabahan dahil hindi niya sigurado kung tama ba ang nakita niya, but he wanted to be sure.

"B-Bakit ho?"

"Do you have my father's gold chain necklace?" agad niyang tinignan ang mata ng maid.

Hindi siya nagkamali. Narinig na mismo ng binata mula sa isip ng maid ang lahat. He glared at the maid who was obviously restless and was panicking.

Krauser sighed. "You can have it. Hindi ko nalang sasabihin kay Dad. Makakabili naman siya ulit ng ganyan." Krauser shrugged and turned his heel.

"S-Salamat. Kailangan ko lang talagang ipagamot ang nanay ko. Salamat... young master," narinig ni Krauser ang tinig ng maid sa kanyang isip.

He was about to open the fridge when he saw a notebook and pen on the counter top. Agad namukhaan ni Krauser ang notebook na iyon. "Kay Katherine toh ah?" kinuha niya ang ballpen at pinindot niya ang dulo nito. Natatawa niya pang pinaulit ulit iyon ng makaramdam na naman siya ng parang hinihigop siya mula sa ibang lugar.

"What the—" nagulat siyang makita si Katherine na nasa tapat ng isang painting. Eto na naman. Nangyari na naman tulad kanina. Nakikita na naman niya ang mga nangyari na.

Nalaglag ang panga ni Krauser nang makita niyang magbukas ang pader at pumasok doon ang butler niya. Naguguluhan man ay sumunod din siya.

From years of living in the Vaughaun Mansion, ngayon niya lang nalaman na may secret passage pala dito. He was amazed to see this huge hall. Nagtataka pa siya kung bakit alam ni Katherine ang tungkol dito.

"Who is this mysterious guy?" biglang nagsalita si Katherine habang nakatingin sa painting. Krauser tried to look at the painting but he was drawn to the man's eyes. It was green and glowing. He never felt anything special with the man in the painting but it sure did left him questions.

"What does G stands for? Grass? Glass? Great? Goat? Gorilla?" natatawa nalang si Krauser dahil sa mga hula ng kanyang butler tungkol sa G na naka engrave sa insignia na nasa painting.

Suddenly, Katherine stopped and he heard her gasped.

"Gresham?" his heart pounds fast as he heard her.

"G-Gresham? Is this guy— no. Imposible. Krauser can read his Dad's mind at walang alam ang Dad ni Krauser tungkol sa totoo niyang magulang." He can hear clicking sounds from her pen.

"Gresham? Pupwede nga kayang tama ang hula ni Katherine?" tanong ni Krauser sa kanyang sarili.

"Lord Marshall doesn’t have any idea of Krauser's real parents... or he really knows? Unless... unless those memories were... compelled?" Agad nakaramdam ng muling paghila ang buong katawan ni Krauser and in just one swift, nasa kitchen na siya ulit. He saw Katherine in front of him, holding his hand. His hand, still holding her pen.

"Are you okay?" she cupped Krauser's cheeks and looked at him with worried eyes. "What happened?!"

Hinawakan ni Krauser ang mga kamay ni Katherine at removed it from cupping his cheeks. He looked at her straight in the eyes.

"You need to show me that secret passage." She was practically in shock when he said that at agad binawi ang mga kamay niya mula sa kanyang Master.

"H-How did you—"

Dahan-dahan siyang umiling at tinignan ng maigi ang mga kamay niya. "I don't know! But— I just suddenly see scenes that happened by touching things. This is not telepathic ability anymore, right?"

"Yes. It's beyond that... and..."

"Huh? And what?"

"Your eyes turned green and glowed earlier while you were just standing still and holding my pen. Suddenly you were like—"

"...the man in that painting," pagtatapos ni Krauser sa sinabi ni Katherine.

They both looked at each other, somehow asking if they know what the hell was going on. No one said a word.

* * * *

It gets weirder and weirder and weirder!

Hello guys! Salamat sa pagbabasa ng Silver Butler! I wanted to ask some help, in terms of how I write. If nalilito kayo sa narration/ third person POV ko. I am still a noob trying to find my own place in this website. Kapag naguguluhan kayo please please tell me so I can improve in some ways! Don't be afraid or shy to tell me some errors and such! I would be thankful pa nga because right now I want to know if I'm doing it all nice and good or not. Okay?

Comments are highly appreciated! ♥