Kabanata xx
Questions

***

CLEOBELLE / SINCLAIR

"Alam mo ba kung sino ang misteryosong nilalang na ito?" tanong ko.

Umiling doon si Vespera. "Patawad, ngunit hindi sapat ang kapangyarihan ko upang malaman kung sino ang nilalang na iyon," sagot ni Vespera.

"Ang alam ko lang ay lubos siyang makapangyarihan. Tila ba ay may kontrol siya sa bawat sulok ng Lumina. Kakaiba ngunit pamilyar ang kanyang presensya," dagdag pa niya.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko doon. "Anong ibig mong sabihin sa pamilyar?" tanong ko.

Tumingin siya ng diretso sa aking mga mata.

"Did you know how witches were born?" Vespera asked.

"S*x?" I said, in a bland tone.

Vespera laughed. "Yes, but there's more to it that no one probably knows but me," she stated.

"Not that I'm aware of," I shrugged.

"Witches was born out of two entities that's not supposed to be together. . . " she started.

"Hindi ako manghuhula, Vespera," iritang sambit ko.

"Just tell me who's who," I frowned.

Napangiti lamang siya doon.

"About millions of years ago at the early years of Lumina; A strong demon fell on Lumina after betraying her kind. She was wicked and cold. With her power, she brought chaos everywhere she goes. It lasted for a thousand years until she met that man, a man whose light was blinding. His eyes were very clear, as if he could see through you. She fought him countless of times but instead of hate, she started looking forward—"

"Oh stop that boring love story. Fine they're enemies to lovers, had child I assume, then witches bloodline started. Now what?" I complained.

"You're too impatient," she hissed.

I just rolled my eyes at her.

"You're right. Those two fell in love and had a child. Unfortunately, that demon was killed by the first Emperor of Lumina so her child decided to seek vengeance and started the bloodline of witches," she confirmed.

"Anong koneksiyon ng kwentong iyan sa pamilyar na presensya na naramdaman mo sa nilalang na iyon?" diretsahang tanong ko.

Vespera closed her eyes.

"That mysterious being seemed to be connected with the demon in the story I narrated. However, I'm sure that they're not the same person," she uttered.

"So that being is a demon? The same kind perhaps?" I asked.

"You're quite sharp," she smiled. "I don't think that the mysterious entity is a demon. More like it's connected to one, and yes, you're right about that demon being the same kind," she informed.

A demon pact huh?

Kung totoo ang sinasabi ni Vespera ay maaari kayang isang tao lamang ang gumawa nito at nakipagkasundo sa isang demonyong konektado sa babaeng nakasaad sa kwento ni Vespera?

Hindi imposible iyon. 

Ngunit sino ang may kakayahang gawin ito sa orihinal kong mundo at bakit?

Bakit ako?

Anong ginawa ko sa taong iyon para dalhin niya ako sa mundong ito?

"Is it possible that the person you're talking about is the author of this world? Mortimer Graves?" I asked her directly.

Malakas na natawa doon si Vespera. "Author? Walang ganoon Cleobelle. Hindi isang simpleng akda ang mundong ito," ngising sagot niya.

"Kung ganoon ay papaanong nangyaring naitala sa isang libro ang lahat ng importanteng pangyayari sa panahong ito? Papaanong nangyaring mayroong isang taong alam ang bawat buhay ng karakter? Isang taong alam ang kwento at kung sino si SInclair?" mariing tanong ko.

Napaisip siya doon.

"Either a transmigrator like you, or someone from this world who travelled from the rift like your mother, Lauren," she stated.

Is it possible that someone who belongs in this era will get transported into that world in the near future? Since the gap of time between this world and my original world is quite large.

If that's the case, then the person who wrote that book could still be in this world.

If you think about it, Cleobelle might not have done anything bad to anyone. However, the ice witch have done countless of wicked deeds.

That's the most reasonable thing I could think of, considering that the time when I existed in that world I originally belonged, is in the future.

"How can you be so sure about all of these information? How did you know all of this? Are you even Vespera?" I asked.

Ngumiti siya sa akin.

"I can assure you, I am indeed Vespera. .  ." she stated, meeting my gaze directly.

"I lived for thousands of years, having more knowledge than anyone in this world. I might've been downright wicked when I was alive, but everything I am telling you now is the truth," she reassured.

"What would you gain by helping me?" I asked.

Napahalukipkip siya doon.

"Are you stupid or what?" she frowned.

Should I just push her back to hell where she belongs?

"Do you think I'd help a complete stranger? You might not see me as your mother but to me, you are my daughter. After observing you for a long time, I don't think I'd like to be stuck with you in hell forever. Which is why, you have to live," she hissed.

Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong matuwa sa pinagsasabi niya.

"Fine. Let's say you're helping me out of pity. However, what's bugging me is how did you knew all of these? You mentioned that nobody knows everything you had told me but you," I pressed on. 

That made her halt and avoided my gaze. 

"I don't think you'd like to know that," she smiled at me sadly. 

"Really? Do you think I'm loving all the information you've stated all along?" I hissed.

"Ask your father then. I think he'll be able to answer your questions more efficiently than I did," she chuckled.

"The heck? I don't even know who that f*cker is!" my voice thundered.

That made her laugh. "I wish I could see his face once you call him that."

Sumeryoso ang mukha niya. "Binisita ko ang iyong ama upang ipaalam ang tungkol sa iyo, Cleobelle. Siya lamang ang maaasahan kong makakatulong sa iyo."

"Kung ganoon ay sino siya?!" Mariing tanong ko.

Umiling ito sa akin. "Maiging malaman mo ito mula mismo sa kanya."

Bakit hindi na lang niya sabihin sa akin kung sino ang ama ko? 

"Kung ayaw mong sabihin ay hindi kita pipilitin," irap ko. "Ngunit importanteng sagutin mo ang susunod kong katanungan," seryosong sambit ko. 

"Tungkol ba ito sa sumpang ipinataw ko kay Aslan?" ngiti niya.

"Huwag mo akong ngitian Vespera. Ikaw ang puno't dulo ng lahat ng aking pagdurusa. Kung hindi mo siya isinumpa ay hindi ako itatakdang mamatay sa kanyang mga kamay. Ako ang nagbabayad sa lahat ng iyong kasamaan!" giit ko.

Malungkot lamang siyang ngumiti doon.

"Alam ko iyon at habang buhay ko itong pagsisisihan," napabuntong hiningang sambit niya. 

"Nagawa ko siyang isumpa dahil sa sobrang galit ko sa kanyang inang tinalikuran ako. "

Vespera looked at me filled with regret. 

"Aslan was born with a rare illness that only occurs every millenium. Due to his immense power that his body won't be able to survive in, he's destined to die just days after he was born," she revealed.

Then how was he astill alive?

"It was stated in history that the only way to cure that illness is by absorbing a witches' core which is located in their hearts. This is due to witches immense aether that'd be enough to stabilize the power of an individual with that kind of illness. However, I'm different. Due to my unusually strong aether, just by absorbing half of my life force would be enough to heal him."

Then why didn't she?

Nanatili lang ako sa pakikinig sa kanya.

"Her mother, one of the few closest person in my heart didn't know any better. She attempted to kill me. I was able to convince her that I could heal Aslan without her having to kill me. She agreed, not knowing that I'm planning something devious. I thought at that time that it'd be just right to curse her child as a consequence for betraying me, so that's what I did."

Mariin kong naipikit ang mga doon. 

"That's it?! You should've cursed her instead!" I shouted.

"Walang kasalanan si Aslan! Ginusto lamang siyang pagalingin ng kanyang ina!" galit kong saad na ikinailing lamang ni Vespera.

"I am no saint, Cleobelle. I'm a witch, the most evil of our kind. I never said that what I did was the right thing to do, but what I know is I was deeply hurt when she tried to kill me after all those years I cherished her. Too bad she's now at heaven so I can't really talk to her while I was in hell." she laughed.

"Good for you," I hissed.

"Right. . . " she whispered.

"So how could I lift his curse then?" I asked impatiently.

"Other than dying?" she grinned. I glared at her. 

"If you could awaken your other power I guess?" she shrugged.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko roon.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin? Matagal ko nang nagising ang natutulog kong kapangyarihan," iritang sambit kong nagpailing lang sa kanya.

"I think you need to talk to your father about that," she smiled.

"Iyan ka na naman! Bakit ba ipinapasa mo ang lahat sa aking ama, gayong hindi ko naman siya kilala?!" iritang sambit ko.

"Because it's best to also ask him about the power that you possess," she advised as she started fading away.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko roon.

"What power? Who is that man?!" I asked as I tried stopping her from vanishing.

"I'm sorry child, this is all the time my current energy could take," she said apologetically. 

"Vespera!" I shouted her name. 

"I don't think I could ever say this to you, but child, I want you to know that you're the best thing that ever happened to me," she said ignoring my calls. 

"Vespera! Now's not the time for this!" I frowned.

"Cleobelle means freedom. I want you to be free from the sins of your bloodline and lead a carefree life I've always dreamed of," she smiled.

Naikuyom ko ang kamao roon. 

"Do you think I care about that now?! You're always so selfish!" I furiously stated.

A lonely tear fell from her eyes as she lovingly caressed my face. "I love you  my Cleobelle. . . " she mouthed before she vanished into thin air.

"Vespera! I f*cking hate you!" I shouted angrily as I felt my power surging back to me, causing everything in my surroundings to freeze in an instant.

I didn't even notice the tears that fell from my eyes. However, that's not my feelings at all. As time went by, I thought I have already gone numb from the pain.

It's Sinclair's pain I'm feeling right now. . . 

"Sinclair!" I heard voices calling me.

Nang imulat ko ang aking mga mata ay sumalubong sa akin ang seryosong mukha ni Aslan na hawak ang balikat kong tila ba ay pilit akong ginigising kanina. 

Napakurap na lamang ako nang bigla niya akong mahigpit na yakapin.

"You've been asleep for a month. I—I thought I'd lose you too. . . " he whispered, almost out of breath.

Hindi ako sumagot doon.

Hindi ko mabasa ang nasa isip niya  ngayon. Lalo na ang tindi ng emosyong nakikita ko sa pares ng pula niyang mga mata. 

Nang hindi ako sumagot ay kinalas niya ang pagkakayakap sa akin at nag-iwas ng tingin. 

"I'm sorry. . . " he said, seemed to be hurting. 

"If you don't want to lose me, then don't love me Aslan. . . " I whispered.

Napatitig lamang siya sa akin sa sinabi kong iyon.

"I hope it's that easy," he said bitterly and stood up from his seat.

"I'll call for the doctor," he added in a cold tone, leaving me alone in our room.

Napayakap sa lamang ako sa aking tuhod at mariing ipinikit ang aking mga mata.

Everything is a mess. . .