Kabanata VII
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***

CLEOBELLE / SINCLAIR

"Sinclair," I heard Catherine's voice along with gentle taps in the door of the basement.

It's my sixteenth birthday. The age I'll be a duchess. 

Umupo ako saka nakadekwatrong iminwestra ang aking daliri para mabuksan ang pintuan. 

Agad na pumasok si Catherine doon at napaluhod sa aking harapan nang maitulak siya ng mga elementong kasama ko.

Naghagikhikan pa sila doon na ikinailing ko lamang.

I grinned while looking down on her. "My food is late," I stated.

"I need to snuck here, you know that I'm starting to have my lessons. I got quite busy," she sighed.

Pinalutang ko ang basket na dala niya saka inilapag ito sa mesa.

"Make sure you didn't put anything in here again Catherine. You know that I will be able to figure it out no matter how hard you try," I warned.

"Baka gusto mong maranasan uli kung paano maging ipis," hagikhik ko pang ikinamulagat ng mga mata nito. 

"No! I did everything as you ordered Sinclair! I have already learned my lesson!" 

Takot na takot niyang saad.

"I'm just warning you. As long as you won't betray me, I'm not gonna harm you," I stated.

Tumayo ako sa kinauupuan at marahang naglakad sa kanyang direksiyon.  Kasabay ng bawat hakbang ay ang pagtubo ng winter roses sa nilalakaran ko na ikinagulat niya.

Winter roses are the most deadly flower in cold regions and can only bloom in the coldest places of Lumina.

I can actually grow it whenever my Aether is overflowing.

Masuyong hinaplos ko ang kanyang buhok nang makalapit sa kanya. 

She can barely breath as she couldn't take the intensity of my presence while nodding her head at me.

That made me smile as I walked away from her to sit on my bed.

"I heard you're invited to the fourth princess' tea party?" I asked and then bit the red apple inside the basket.

"Y—yes," she answered.

"Catherine," I called out to her name.

"W-why?" she stammered.

"Do you want to be the flower of society? To be the center, to be admired by the nobles? To bring great honor to Emberwood?"  I said with a grim expression on my face while smiling at her direction.

"You might even find yourself a great husband with an outstanding status. Wouldn't that be great?"

"What a—about it?" She asked, unsure how to answer.

Of course she wants that. She's greedy and she certainly loves attention.

"I'll make you the flower of Pyropolis," I claimed.

"In return, be my eyes and be my ears. Form and use connections only for my sake. Because the only purpose you have is to be my pawn. That is simply why I am sparing your worthless life," I stated. "As long as you have me, you can become anything you want," I added.

Napalunok siya doon at pinipigilang mapangiti sa alok ko.

"Understood. I'll do as you want, Sinclair," she uttered.

As she should. She's gonna benefit from it greatly as well anyways.

Catherine has always craved for society's validation in my every life. She's so desperate for it that she's ready to ridicule her own mother and torment her siblings for attention.

I'll use that shitty personality of hers to my own benefit.

"Good," I answered coldly. "I can make you the main character if that's what you desire, but once you turn your back on me, I'll surely drag you to hell," I reminded her.

Namutla siya doon. "A—alam ko iyon!" tarantang sabi niya. Mababakas ang takot sa kanyang mga mata.

"Pinaaalalahanan lamang kita," ngisi ko.

***

Just as I promised, I used my power to make her the best in every aspect compared to other nobles.

In no time, she became the flower of society. She even became the Baron's favorite, to the point that he cares about her now more than Lorcan.

Of course, that's with the help of a little bit of brainwashing. 

"What information do you have for me?" I asked.

"I've found that the count is currently sending in a messenger to trade information to other empires. It seems like he's one of the traitors who supports the neighboring empire in this war," she informed.

"Why are you so interested in the great war anyways?" she asked.

"Who told you to care about my business?" I hissed. 

"Ang tanging kailangan mong gawin ay sumunod," iritang dagdag ko pa.

Naitikom niya ang bibig doon. 

Catherine continuously told me everything she discovered, which could be my lead to find the whereabouts of the leader of the neighboring country.

***

"Why do you want to find out the current whereabouts of that person who's leading the war?" Anna, one of my spirit summons, asked after Catherine left.

I shrugged. "I want to delay Aslan's return," I answered then stood up.

"Why don't you just kill him? Unahan mo na," komento nila na ikinailing ko.

"Probably because out of all the characters in this up book, he is the only character that felt real to me," I stated.

"Bulag ka ba? Sa lahat ng buhay na mayroon ka ay ni minsan hindi ka niya pinansin!" iritang sambit ni Elsa na tipid na ikinangiti ko lamang.

"Aslan is a very soft hearted person," sambit kong ikinanganga nila.

"Where? Who is that? Hindi ko kilala iyang sinasabi mo," pilosopong sagot ni Kristoff.

"He may seem heartless to the eyes of others but in this world filled with torment, he became my solace," I uttered, looking back at my memories of Aslan.

Perhaps he pities me because we've both suffered and had difficult lives, but I can only recall the good things he's done for me.

"I hate how we are each other's solace only to end up being each other's demise," I sighed.

No matter what I do, I can't seem to escape Aslan. I wonder if it's the same this time? I wonder if it will be different.

"I wish we'll have a good ending in this life. . ." I whispered. 

I sighed then looked at them,

"I'm heading north to prolong the war and to search for more clues about Aslan's curse,"

I don't know what Aslan's curse is and the only way I know to lift it is by killing me. 

Perhaps, if I attempt to lift the curse differently, things might change in this lifetime.

I've also noticed how our destinies are intertwined. Maybe the key to breaking this endless cycle lies within us all along?

I don't know! I'm just gonna try and figure it out.

I closed my eyes and activated my aether. My silver hair radiated a near-white glow, though my eyes remained unchanged. However, my face was now unrecognizable.

Using illusion magic, I changed my face so no one would recognize me as Sinclair Emberwood.

I  teleported to the northern borders to extend the war. 

At this time, the war was about to come to an end, once Aslan caught and killed their leader.

I just need to interfere and the enemy will be able to call reinforcements, extending the war for at least a year or two.

***

Nakahalukipkip lamang akong nagaantay sa nasabing lugar. Matapos ang ilang sandali ay nakita ko ang duguang lalaking nahihirapan sa pagtakas.

Umayos ako ng upo sa punong kinaroroonan at saka palihim na ginamot ang kanyang mga galos gamit ang aking kapangyarihan.

Mukhang nagtaka pa siya sa nangyari ngunit wala na itong inaksaya pang oras at ginamit ang kanyang kapangyarihan upang mapabilis ang kanyang pagtakas.

From afar, I noticed Duke Aslan trying to close the gap. Using his aether, he launched a ball of azure fire into his enemy's direction.

The man  just grinned as he teleported right away, completely escaping from the grasp of the Northern Duke.

"Bullsh*t!!" His curse echoed in the land, making me chuckle.

He looks so hot when he's frustrated, too.

His crimson eyes blazed like fiery rubies brimming with fury. 

His large frame, adorned with numerous scars, stood resolute in the middle of this vast dead land of snow. His hands turned into fists out of frustration after his enemy escaped his grasp.

He's like a huge beast that could end anyone on its way and will spare no one. With his strong presence, demanding authority. Anyone will quiver in fear at the sight of him.

This is the Duke Aslan that everyone knows of.

Not that I am surprised when I see an azure fire hurtling on my way. It seems like even though I hid my presence, he still managed to find me.

That made me smile as I effortlessly deflected his attack with my aether, which caused a thick mist upon our aethers colliding with each other.

"Reveal yourself!" He commanded as his azure fire encircled the land we were in.

The mist slowly faded, carefully unveiling my presence; With a smile, I placed my finger into my lips and blew a soft breeze, extinguishing the fire.

He appeared taken aback by my sudden appearance as our gazes locked with each other.

"It's you. . ." he murmured.

"It seems like you know who I am," I smiled at him playfully, but my gaze remained stoic.

"You are that witch. . ." he declared.

I looked at him dead in the eyes. "Yes? Got a problem with that?"