Prequel

Kumaripas ako ng takbo, binabalewala na kung maputikan ang bota ko. Mabigat ang paghinga ko at tagaktak na ang pawis ko sa kakatakbo. Hindi ako pwedeng mahuli!

"Aish!" singhal ko. Tumingin ako sa likod at tiningnan kung nahahabol niya ako. I gritted my teeth, and tried to run faster. I dashed to the side of the trees and moved to the shortcut. Kung sa shortcut ako dadaan, maaaring maunahan ko si—

Natigilan naman ako nang may biglang tumalon mula sa puno. She smirked at me and elbowed my stomach before turning for a high kick, na hindi naman tumama sa mukha ko. Mabilis akong yumuko at tinisod siya sa paa. Napasigaw siya, ngunit mabilis ko ring sinalo ang likod niya.

"Come on, mi amore. You're better than this," asar ko habang inaalalayan ang likod niya. Kinindatan ko pa siya at napatawa naman ako nang halos mag-usok na ang ilong niya.

She stood on her balance and elbowed me once again. She rolled her eyes before speaking, "Ikaw! Cheater. Uunahan mo pa talaga si Kuya. Naghamon ka pa ng race kung mandadaya ka lang pala."

I chuckled. "Who the hell can even beat Ezekiel in a race?"

"Kaya nga ang bobo mo, eh. Alam mo namang 'di mo kaya, hamon hamon ka pa. Yabang mo rin 'no, Zero?"

"At least I met you here," banat ko at humakbang na agad palayo sa kaniya bago niya pa ako sampalin.

Hindi umabot ang kamay niya sa'kin, pero ramdam ko pa rin ang pagkainis niya. "Isa ka talagang haliparot!"

I smiled and tried not to when I felt the presence of her brother. Kinagat ko pa ang loob ng pisngi ko para pigilan ang pag-ngiti.

"Hindi mo na ba kinaya, Zero?" mapang-asar niyang tanong.

"Shut up, Zeke."

Napasulyap ako kay Exiquel na ngayon ay tinatawanan na ako. She mouthed then, "Wala ka pala sa kuya ko, eh."

Sige, pagtulungan niyo pa akong dalawa. "Tara na nga. Hinihintay na tayo ni Mama," wika ni Exiquel na may halong pagkairita sa boses. Then, she jumped to the big branches of trees. Mabilis siyang makakabalik dahil may kakayahan siyang manipulahin ang kalikasan.

Meanwhile, Ezekiel launched and ran fast with the wind and breeze, as he had the ability to manipulate the air. That's why I never had the chance to beat him in races. He moves freely like the wind.

Napabuntong-hininga nalang ako at napangiti nalang din. It's been so long since I trained my powers diligently. I only train sometimes when I have some time to go to the North Sea. Matagal ko na rin kasing hindi nakikita si Papa, at hinabilin niya lang ako sa village na 'to. Dailion.

I think it's been around seven or eight years since I last saw him. Since then, Tita Ellen, Ezekiel and Exiquel's mother, fostered me. I also consindered her as my real mother since I didn't have one.

Or maybe I just don't know her.

Papa said he needed some time to plan and do some research for the dimension that we're going to make. I actually can't wait to bring the siblings, Exiquel and Ezekiel there.

"Hoy, Zero!" Napabalikwas ako nang sigawan ako ni Exiquel mula sa taas ng puno. "Ano? Tutunganga ka nalang?"

"Why? Gusto mo ba sumabay sa paglalakad ko, Xiquel?"

She rolled her eyes again and jumped farther from me. I noticed her small smile, so I couldn't help but run fast towards our home.

Tumingin ako sa mga puno at sinubukang makisabay sa takbo niya hanggang sa makarating kami sa bahay.

"Too slow, Zero," aniya nang mauna sa'kin nang lang minuto. Pumasok naman siya sa bahay, samantala hingal na hingal akong pumasok.

Ngunit kalaunan, napigil ko ang hininga ko nang makita ang gulo sa loob. Every glass was shattered to pieces, and the table was like cut into half. Napalunok ako nang makakita ng patak ng mga dugo sa sahig.

Chaos. I felt the magic energy around the house thicken- which is probably caused by us. The grounds rumbled because of Exiquel's power. Then there was a strong wind that encircled us all.

"Sinong may gawa nito?" Zeke's voice was shaky. Nakakuyom ang kamao niya habang nakahawak sa isang papel. Para itong isang punit na papel mula sa libro ng spells ni Tita Ellen- she's a witch after all. Kapag natanggal ang spell na 'to sa libro niya, hindi na niya 'to magagamit.

"What spell is that, Kuya?" napatingin naman ako kay Xiquel. Her eyes now glowed with a golden color. The siblings are half peculiar, half witch; thus, their abilities as a peculiar is stronger and they do not have to use a book to cast spells.

Ezekiel took a closer look at the page. Napatingin ako at napansing walang nakasulat na kahit na ano sa page na 'yon.

"Walang nakalagay na spell. Sa tingin ko, nakalaan 'to para sa bagong spell na balak ni Mama. I can sense that the blood didn't come from Mama alone. She must have fought those who tried to abduct her."

Abduct? Sure silang abduct nga?

Pinikit ni Xiquel ang mata niya, at unti-unti namang bumakat ang mga footprints sa bahay. "There are about fifteen people who attacked Mama. Duwag ang mga 'yon. Bakit hindi sila umatake n'ong nandito tayo!"

"Probably because Zero is here." Marahas naman akong napalingon kay Zeke nang sabihin niya 'yon. Now, he's saying it's my fault?!

Tumikhim siya bago ako lagpasan. "They fear your powers because it is too powerful. Alam din siguro nilang wala ka masyadong kontrol na pahinain ang kapangyarihan mo. If you use you powers too much, they may end up dying."

Napalingon naman ako sa kaniya nang marinig ko ang pagkagulat sa boses niya. He was looking up so I assumed something was going on the outside. Mabilis akong humakbang palabas ng bahay at tumingin din sa langit. Gan'on din naman ang ginawa ni Exiquel.

The skies are colored... red. Maaraw pa ngunit makikita na rin ang buwan sa langit. Anong nangyayari?

Suddenly, big birds with fiery wings and eyes flew across the skies. Phoenix! Hindi ako maaaring magkamali, nai-kuwento na rin eto ni Papa sa'kin noon.

I remember him saying that there was once a creature born with immortality, yet fated to burn to ashes. Therefore, she became a phoenix, a reincarnating creature who is powerful enough to ruin the mortal realm. Siya rin daw ang nagpasimula ng mga kasalanan sa mundong 'to.

Now that this phoenix is here in the mortal realm, does it mean it is going to be destroyed?

"Kuya!" sigaw ni Xiquel nang biglang lumipad si Zeke papunta sa direksyon ng Phoenix na lumilipad sa taas namin.

Exiquel then raised her hand upwards, then big vines reached Ezekiel's foot. "Huwag kang bobo, Ezekiel! Ginagawa mong bobo ka?!" sigaw pa niya.

I sighed and reached a little bit of my magic energy. Mists of ice reached the vine, then it was frozen in a snap. Hindi na makakawala si Ezekiel ngayon, alam kong kaya niyang putulin ang vines gamit ang air blades niy—

"What the heal! Pinutol niya pa rin!" reklamo ni Xiquel. Napatingin naman ako sa sariling kamay ko. Were my powers not enough?

Muli akong napatingin sa taas, ngunit nang biglang makakita ng pabagsak na tila meteorite papunta sa'min. It was like a fiery star and it burned the vines Exiquel made. Dumiretso ako sa harap ni mi amore at gumawa ng ice shield. Sa harap namin, ngunit kagaya ng nangyari kanina, naramdaman kong nasira rin 'yon, at wala akong nagawa kun'di tumalikod para protektahan si Exiquel.

Kita kong napapikit si Exiquel, ngunit lumipas ang ilang segundo, walang nangyari sa'min. Exiquel opened her eyes, and it immediately widened. Nakuryos naman ako kaya't napalingon na rin ako sa likod ko.

Then there I saw a little girl carrying Ezekiel in her small arms. She has short fluffy brown hair, and her eyes were golden. She had big earrings that were in the shape of the sun. I feel a familiar atmosphere around her that made me wonder.

"Who are you?" seryosong tanong ko. Siya ba ang meteorite kanina?

She smiled and put the unconscious Ezekiel down. "Hi! I'm Illeasalis. Father sent me here to protect you, guys. But I'm not sure if Father was really pertaining to the three of you. Sabi kasi niya malalakas naman daw kayo, pero parang hindi?

"This man thought I was an enemy, so he attacked me immediately. Hindi ko naman akalain na mahihimatay siya sa isang suntok ko lang!"

Narinig ko naman ang mahinang mura ni Exiquel sa likod ko. "Gaga 'tong batang 'to, ah."

She giggled and beamed brightly. Lumapit siya sa'kin at naglahad bigla ng kamay. "I'm sure you are Zero. Nice meeting you! Father told me a lot about you!"

"Papa mo meet," inis na singhal ulit ni Exiquel.

Kunot-noo ko naman siyang tiningnan. Father? Sino bang ama nitong batang 'to, at bakit kami pinapaprotektahan?

Nang hindi ko abutin ang kamay niya. Nalungkot bigla ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya. "Father told me that you're nice! And that you were waiting for our arrival. I'm Illeasalis! Father Seraphin's seventh creation!"

Seraphin? Napasinghap naman ako nang bahagya. Seventh creation? Does that mean Illeasalis is one of the peculiars that will make the Orphic dimension?! Magagawa na ba namin ang dimension? Hindi ko napigilan ang saya sa loob ng puso ko.

Ngunit nabawi rin agad ang naramdaman kong saya nang biglang magliyab ang mga mata ni Illeasalis. She gritted her teeth, and a dark red aura filled the surroundings.

"But before we make the dimension, we'll need to stop the Blood Fest."

"Blood Fest?"

She nodded and maintaned the dark look in her face. "The extinction of the mortal realm."

The Zero Curse
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

The Blood Fest was mentioned in Chapter 20 of Phoenix Academy. Therefore, this will also serve as a prequel for Phoenix Academy. ♡ but of course, the main purpose of this book is revealing why Zero had the curse.

This will be confusing, but what's the sense of a book if it doesn't stir questions in your mind? Hahahhahaha.

+ DON'T READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ PHOENIX ACADEMY

Thank you for reading!