chapter nine;
lingering danger

—

HALOS hindi na ako makahinga sa narinig kay Kallisto. My mind was blank and I couldn't even think of how to explain nor ask for forgiveness. The vividness of the images that flashed in my head was horrifying.

I'd even say that the way Kallisto treated me was so kind despite of what Portia—this body—did to his comrades. I was still in his mercy on how he still kept me alive, even after witnessing such a dreadful scene.

If I were him... my stomach wouldn't take it in. Even if the only one who could save me was him... I still wouldn't... be able to do it.

My conscience would be the death of me.

His mentality on how feelings shouldn't really come first because his survival was in the line was something admirable but also complicated.

Idagdag mo pa na kahit sobrang sakit at lungkot nang pangyayaring 'yon, napakakalmado at halos walang emosyon siyang magsalita kanina. It was my emotions that fluctuated up and down.

He must have been so confused, conflicted, and he might even feel like he was going crazy, although he wasn't showing it. He remained rational and casual in front of me who was supposed to lose her memories.

This man... this man didn't deserve to be deceived.

Guilt and blame were probably eating him inside.

How could he take this face who killed his people... a wife? How could he do that?

Kaya siguro hinayaan niya akong nasa puder niya, kasi imbis na mamatay, ipaparanas niya muna sa mukhang 'to ang pakiramdam ng sakit na higit pa sa kamatayan. But seeing this face carefree, smiling, and sincere... must have tormented him deeply.

If not for his abyss that was free with my celestia... I was sure he wouldn't even want to see my face.

Napatungo na lang ako hindi alam ang gagawin o sasabihin. He didn't move, and remained stoic. Even when he was looking at the face, that was the reason for all the conflicting feelings that he was carrying alone.

The pain of the abyss must have really numbed him, for he was still this strong to accept me.

He might try to deceive me that he didn't care that much about his knights; that was why he could accept and treat me casually; I wouldn't believe that. Because in the first place, why would he go mad after seeing that sickening moment?

"I'm so sorry... I'm really really sorry..." My voice whispered as I asked him for forgiveness.

Even though it wasn't my fault, as long as I have this body, I felt like... somehow had a share of it.

"Instead of apologizing, why don't you remove that mask... so I could hate and use you freely?"

The voice that echoed in my ears wasn't threatening, but it hit the right spot that was almost fatal for me. It almost sounded like a whisper of plead. A plead that was begging to stop the torment that was eating him alive.

"Baudelaire," nagtitimping saad niya, halos magtangis ang mga panga. Pero pinilit na kalmahin ang sarili. He sighed and shook his head.

"Would you believe me... if I said that, I wasn't... Portia?"

Halos ibulong ko ang huling salita at kasunod no'n ang pagkunot ng mga mata niya. The air seemed to carry my tiny voice to reach his ear.

"What nonsense is it this time?" Napailing na lang siya at pagak na natawa na para bang gumagawa na naman ako ng kwento katulad no'ng pagkakaro'n ko ng amnesia.

I bit my lower lips. It wasn't really that believable. Maybe when his mind became more open to this conversation, I'd try to be real again. Maybe saying that I had a memory loss was not the right step for a foundation between the two of us.

But our situation wasn't really something that could be easily solved just by talking. It needed some actions, and realness.

Napatungo na lang ako at hindi alam ang sasabihin sa kanya habang unti-unting nanghina ang mga tuhod.

Kaagad niya akong nahuli bago mapaupo sa daan at halos mabali ang mga braso ko sa tindi at higpit nang pagkakahawak niya. I didn't show that I was badly hurt and afraid, but my body gave it away as I trembled.

"I... I don't know... anymore..." hirap na hirap na imik ko sa kanya.

I wasn't really someone who was like this... yes, I cried thousands of times in my world. But I learned... I learned to smile, to laugh, and to be happy. And those things became me. But right now... I was back to my old self that had been hidden away and masked.

Hindi nagsalita si Kallisto at itinayo niya lang ako nang maayos. "Get your shit together, Baudelaire," he said calmly but sternly. Pagkatapos tinalikuran niya ako at nagsimula siyang maglakad.

Wala akong nagawa kung hindi sundan siya. Hindi na kami nag-usap matapos no'n at nanatili lang naglalakad.

The coldness of the night made me feel so hurt and sad. And while looking at the sturdy back that was walking quietly in front of me. It made me wonder who he was behind that calm and cold demeanour.

What would happen now? How should I act in front of him now?

Now that I discovered what happened before I came into this body. What was next?

Nagulo lang ang isip ko lalo. Walang umaayon sa lahat nang nangyayari sa gusto ko.

The walk that was supposed to be a bridge between the two of us to show him that I was far from Portia became like this. Napahinga na lang ako nang malalim at pilit na nilaksan ang loob.

Kaya ko 'to! Magagawa ko 'yong mga dapat kong gawin!

It might take some time to stop the distress that Kallisto was feeling from seeing Portia's face. I would do my best to change that perception and image. I would really really do my best to be successful in this world.

We continued to walk without talking much to each other. Kahit papaano gumaan ang pakiramdam ko matapos 'yong bigat ng pakiramdam kanina. Well, medyo mahirap pa rin kasi ngayon alam ko na talaga 'yong ginawa ni Portia, pero hindi naman ako pwedeng ma-stuck sa bagay na 'yon.

Bumalik na rin kami sa loob ng palasyo ni Kallisto at dumiretso sa kanya-kanyang kwarto. He didn't even glance at me, but it was understandable. Ang dami rin niyang iniisip sa loob-loob niya.

Leah greeted me and prepared a bath and a nightdress for me. She looked worried because ofhow I was acting. Kaya naman ngumiti ako nang malawak para ipakita sa kanya na masaya na ulit ako. I didn't want to talk about it nor even remember it.

Naligo na lang ako ng solo, at hindi naman nakipagtalo si Leah sa gusto ko. When I finished, I wore the dress that she prepared, and when I went out of the bathroom, she helped me fix the clothes. Napangiti naman ako at nagpasalamat sa ginawa niya.

Wooo. What a night. And it wasn't even finished.

"Your Highness would enter your chamber in a while, My Lady." I nodded at Leah.

"Thank you. You should rest now, have a good night." I beamed at her and she also wished me a great one. She went out while bowing and walking backwards, pagkatapos no'n naiwan akong solo sa kwarto.

At kagaya ng nakasanayan biglang lumitaw si Yule. Napangiti ako at parang nawala ang problema ko dahil do'n. He looked so cute and ethereal from that veranda. I walked towards him, and he jumped into my arms.

I caught him and patted his head using one of my hands while the other was carrying him. The cool breeze entered the room, and Yule created a snowflake with it.

Magsasalita sana ako para kausapin si Yule, kaso bigla siyang umalis sa pagkakakarga ko sa kanya at naging invisible. My eyes widened, and I was about to call him, but one of the doors in my room opened.

Napaangat kaagad ang tingin ko ro'n at nakita ko ang taong hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman tuwing nakikita ko. The wind blew my hair as I bowed my head down to greet him.

"Your Highness..." I mentioned, and he didn't greet me back. Instead, he just walked to the mini living room and sat on the sofa. He signalled me to sit across him, and I obeyed without uttering anything.

My fingers fidgeted. I'd rather have him being rude to me than quiet. At least, that way, the air wouldn't be this suffocating and hard to endure. Napaiwas din ako ng tingin sa kanya.

And without warning, I felt a power in the air and when I secretly glanced at it, I saw his abyss again. And instead of the violet lights of butterflies, what I saw was in a shape of a fox. It wasn't huge, but it wasn't as small as Yule.

It walked towards me, and I couldn't help but smile. Nawala 'yong tensyong nararamdaman ko at gumaan ang pakiramdam ko. And just like that, the water—or the celestia—inside of me went out like it was waiting for the Abyss the whole time.

At first, it swirled with the Abyss, and it was really mind-blowing to look at. Nakakatuwa pa na parang inaabot no'ng fox na parang ilaw na kulay violet 'yong tubig na naging butterfly-shaped.

They played together and I couldn't help but admire it. The abyss and the celestia really made me wonder what kinds of powers they were. Celestia could take forms of different elements and magic, but an essence sets it apart from the normal elements. While the Abyss could take in a lot of forms that looked like a mana light.

Why were they so alive, unlike the other powers and magic? Why were they so distinguished?

I never really thought of it while I was writing Fatebound because I thought it was just a rule of this world. But now, it was making me wonder, mainly because of how the celestia and abyss were acting together.

Kasi hindi naman naging ganito 'yong kay Juno at Azazel no'n. Theirs didn't act like this. Juno would use her fire like an ordinary element that would warm Azazel instead of his abyss directly.

There was much more to discover, but now, I should stop thinking of it and just focus on the present because my survival was the most important thing.

Lalo na kailangan ko talaga bihagin si Kallisto sa kamandag ko. Jusko, 'di naman ako ahas, pero sige, rawr na lang.

Bakit ba naman kasi ang epal ni Portia, eh? Papalit na nga lang ako rito sa katawan niya gumawa pa ng gano'ng kalaking atraso!?

My gosh! Kontrabida na nga ng Fatebound, pati ba naman sa buhay ko, kontrabida na rin? Masyado naman niyang kinareer!

"Your Highness..." mahinang tawag ko sa kanya habang pinagmamasdan 'yong fox na mukhang kumportableng-kumportable dahil naging scarf sa kanya 'yong tubig na celestia.

I also raised my head and our gazes met. He didn't say anything, seemed he was allowing me to speak.

"How can I compensate for the ones that died in my hands...?" nag-iingat kong tanong. I thought about it while I was alone in the bath, and I really wouldn't be able to sleep knowing that I could still do something for those who passed because of Portia.

Natigilan saglit si Kallisto at napakunot-noo.

"You think you'd be able to erase your sins, and held your head high as a Princess of the Seventh Kingdom with that?" I expected his sarcastic remarks, so I only smiled weakly.

Grabe siya! Palaging may rebutt eh.

Sinabi ko bang gusto ko maging Prinsesa rito? Siya kaya 'tong nagbigay sa akin ng title na 'yon. Kung galit siya dahil do'n sana 'di na lang niya ako inasawa. Hmp!

Ganda-ganda kaya ng mukha ni Portia, 'di naman siya lugi!

"I know I'd never be forgiven for it, but if I wanted to start a new life, I didn't want to turn a blind-eye from the past. Even if it seems minimal, I still wanted to help the families that those knights left behind..."

He sighed heavily and just nodded. "What do you want then?"

"I want to compensate them properly." Hindi man ako si Portia, katawan naman ni Portia 'to kaya gusto kong may magawa para sa mga buhay na nasawi. I wasn't always jokes and fun.

"To make sure that they are going to have a good life still..." He nodded at me.

"I'd take care of that."

"Thank you... really..." Marahang tumaas ang sulok ng labi ko sa sinabi niya matapos magbuntonghininga.

Sana lagi kang ganyan kabilis kausap, Kallisto. Kaso nakakatakot kapag masyado kang nagbago sa paningin ko, baka kunin ka kaagad ni Lord.

My gosh! H'wag naman sana, ayoko pa mabyuda kaagad!

Napaiwas na lang ako ng tingin matapos no'n.

"Ah," I suddenly exclaimed while watching how the fox settled on the carpet, and it seemed like he wanted to sleep as the water turned to become a blanket to cover it.

"Lahat ng magiging utang ko sa 'yo, babayaran ko talaga kapag nagkapera na ako," paninigurado ko sa kanya, pero halos irapan niya lang ako. Syempre, saan nga ba naman ako kukuha ng malaking pera, pero ako na bahala ro'n.

Marami-rami rin akong alam na lugar kung saan pwede makapang-loots ano!

Heh, baka mas maging mayaman pa ako sa kanya kapag nagkataon! Who you siya sa akin kapag nangyari 'yon! Mouhahaha!

Pakiramdam ko tatawa na ako nang bongga kaya naman napatikhim ako para pigilan 'yon.

"I'm not going be here for three days next week, so make sure you don't harm anyone in this palace because I won't be as kind as now." Tumango kaagad ako at inilagay ang isang kamay ko sa may bandang puso.

"Promise!" I told him joyfully, all smiles.

"But wait... your Abyss... won't it be hard?" nag-aalalang tanong ko.

"I've lived all my life with it; it's nothing new." He dismissed the topic and I just nodded sadly.

"Why don't you bring me with you then?" I suggested with a beam, because I wanted to go out too. Nakakabano rin na palaging nandito lang, eh. Malaki man ang lugar na 'to, wala rin naman akong ginagawa masyado.

"I won't escape!" I added immediately, if that was his concern.

"No," matigas na sabi niya kaya naman napatikom ang bibig ko. "I am not going for some vacation or good time. We are going to clear a monster's den." Halos mapanganga naman ako sa sinabi niya.

"Monsters..." I trailed. "It's not the active season for them, right?"

He sat up properly and sighed. "Yeah."

"But why?"

"Why are you so interested in them?" he questioned skeptically.

"It's just peculiar to have them active in this time. It should be a peaceful season now." Napabuntonghininga na lang siya sa sinabi ko at tumango. Looked like they were investigating that.

"Was it only in this Kingdom?"

"No." That made me more puzzled. There was nothing like this before. Well, monsters would soon be out of control because the Avalon but that would happen like far from the future.

It wasn't the time yet. Bigla tuloy akong kinabahan sa pwedeng mangyari.

I should really focus on training my celestia and Yule more. We needed some survival skills now.

Kahit papaano nakapag-usap kami nang maayos ni Kallisto. He was really a puzzle to me. I would probably accept if he showed me how upset he was, but he was always just controlled around me.

Well, it wasn't my problem anymore, as long as he wouldn't kill me.

After that, his abyss went back to him, and my celestia also did the same. He left the room without talking nor glancing at me. And I just sighed as I went to the bed while looking at the ceiling of the bed.

I thought about how a lot of things happened today, and suddenly Yule appeared and crawled on top of my stomach. I cackled and sighed.

At least, even with the confrontation, Kallisto remained casual to me. He didn't suddenly change or anything like that. He still treated me like the he treated me before. And I was thankful for that.

That night, I fell asleep, and it was really so weird for me because there was no dream that showed up, unlike before when I was in my old world.

***

THE week passed by quickly. There was nothing much to it aside from being bored and being able to be with Kallisto from time to time.

Infairness, may improvement naman kaming dalawa. Sabay kami lagi kumain ng breakfast, lunch, at dinner. At sobrang saya ko dahil do'n, kasi ibig sabihin no'n masasarap at bonggang pagkain!

Minsan nga inaakala ni Leah, kaya ako palagi excited kapag breakfast, lunch, at dinner, eh, dahil kay Kallisto.

Well, nagkakamali siya! Food is life. Kallisto is a bonus!

We also stroll around the garden together in the evening after dinner. Sometimes we talk, sometimes we don't. But still, it was something that I was glad that we were doing.

Kahit papaano, nakikita ni Kallisto na hindi na ako katulad no'ng unang pagkikita nila ni Portia. He might also be doing that to observe me, but it was still beneficial for me.

I wouldn't say we were now close like bffs, but we were definitely not strangers to each other anymore!

Konting kembot na lang talaga, magtatanong na sa akin si Kallisto nang: Kumain ka na ba?

Naks! Achievement 'yon!

But like what Kallisto told me from a week ago, the day of where he needed to leave the palace arrived.

The moment I woke up, he wasn't in the Palace anymore. Mukhang umalis ng madaling-araw. Kaya naman, solo rin akong nag-breakfast sa dinning at hindi gano'n kabongga 'yon.

May discrimination talaga 'tong mga tao ni Kallisto, eh!

Bahala sila hindi ko rin sila bibigyan ng kayamanan ko kapag nagsimula na akong manguha no'n. Joke! Kung magbabago naman sila, why not!

Sinabihan ko rin si Leah na bigyan ulit ng refreshments 'yong mga hardinero. Pagkatapos sa garden din ulit ako tumambay pagkatapos. I also trained Yule in there while Leah was watching me do all those.

Stepmother also went to see what I was doing, and Yule turned invisible before she could see him. So, I just pretended that I was using my celestia and practicing it. She didn't really show any emotions, so I asked her if I could go to the kitchen today.

"Why would you go to the kitchen? Is the food not to your liking?" she asked seriously with sharp eyes.

"No! I actually love all of it! I just wanted to try and cook or bake..." nahihiyang sabi ko. I wanted to make some cookies and give them to the people in the kitchen, and also the other maids who were good to me.

Heh! Ako naman ang gaganti aa discrimination nila ngayon! Lintek lang ang walang ganti ano!

At tutal wala naman ako masyadong ginagawa, e 'di mangangampanya na lang din ako sa kanila.

Para syempre boto na sila sa akin pagbalik ni Kallisto.

"I'm not gonna poison anyone! You could even watch while I do everything!" I said in a hurry because she looked like she would not allow me because of those things.

In the end, she nodded and allowed me to do it. Tuwang-tuwa naman ako at kaagad na lumapit sa kanya at saka tumalon-talon bago siya yakapin. She was flabbergasted with what I did, but I didn't care.

Nakipag-apir-apir din ako kay Leah pagkatapos no'n. At mukhang hindi niya rin alam ang gagawin sa inasta ko.

I just snickered secretly because I really wanted to be friends with them.

After that, Stepmother went back inside the Palace to prepare for what I requested, and I just continued to train my celestia with Yule. It was fun training with the cute Yule, and it was really refreshing to talk to Leah.

Ilang saglit pa bumalik na kami sa loob para sa pagbe-bake na gagawin ko.

It was like magic! Everything that I needed was there! And luckily, there was really no one aside from stepmother, Leah, and the other two kitchen people.

"Thank you for this!" masayang sabi ko kay stepmother, and she remained stoic as always.

Kaagad akong nagsimula sa pagbe-bake dahil do'n. Leah helped me do some things, and the two kitchen staff were astonished at how skilled I was.

Ano kayo! Buti na lang talaga hindi nawala 'yong skill na 'to sa akin kahit hindi naman naggaganito si Portia. Syempre, gold-spoon 'yon si Portia at iba pang mga Celeste, eh. They wouldn't do or weren't allowed to do such trivial things.

Tsh! Boplaks din talaga magturo 'yong mga nasa Shrine. Like cooking and baking was essential and should be learned. What if they were threatened by poisons? They wouldn't survive!

Kaya naman ginalingan ko na lang sa ginagawa ko dahil paniguradong marami akong mauuto sa cookies at cupcakes na gagawin ko.

"Stepmother—este Miss Mildred." Jusko! Nadulas pa nga!

Napakunot-noo naman siya sa akin. "Is there a dish that His Highness likes? Is he a sweet tooth?" I asked curiously. If I was going to charm Kallisto's people, I should also start fluttering him.

Palagi man kami magkasabay kumain no'ng isang 'yon, hindi ko naman nakitang choosy siya.

Naks, meant to be na ba kami nyan? Parehas food lover! Kaya siguro bongga maghanda kapag kasabay ko si Kallisto, eh.

"Don't concern yourself with such things, Your Highness," she said politely.

"Eh? But I wanted to cook or bake something for him, especially once he comes back," nakangiting dagdag ko sa kanya. She sighed and shook her head.

"There are no particular things that the Second Prince likes, Your Highness." Napatango naman ako ro'n.

Hmm, would there be ingredients here if I were to cook a dish that I love from back in my old world? I miss those foods, too!

Napatango-tango na lang ako sa iniisip at saka pinagpatuloy ang pagbe-bake. At nang matapos 'yon nilagay namin 'yon sa old-oven sa lugar na 'to. The two kitchen people were the ones who did that because I didn't know how to do that thing.

Napangiti na lang ako at inayos ang sarili. I was a little messy because of the flour and other ingredients. Leah wanted to clean me first, but I wanted to wait and finish it so I could also put it in the box and gave it to the workers in here.

Stepmother watched me do everything, and I smiled at her sincerely.

Nang matapos 'yon talagang tinuloy ko 'yong plano kong maging mayora at pinagbibigay sa kanila 'yon. Hindi pa sila makapaniwala ro'n. Their reactions were over the top. It wasn't like I was the greatest pastier in the whole of Cielo, though?

"No, My Lady! This is a huge deal because you're a Celeste..."

Ah... kaya naman pala. It wasn't like I used any celestia though? Or did I? Wait, was it even possible to use that in baking? Nah, I doubt. I just shrugged my shoulders and just gave it to them.

And after that, I felt a little tired.

Woah, kapagod din pala kumandidato sa mga 'to! Kaya kapag hindi nila ako binoto, sapakan na lang!

Nagpahinga na lang ako sa kwarto ko kasama si Yule.

The day went okay, it was a little fun that I got to talk more to other people in here, but my number one target, stepmother, wasn't opening up to me at all.

Ugh, kanya kaya 'yong pinakamalaking box no'ng cookies! Ayaw niya ba ng cookies? Ano bang gusto niya? Feeling ko sasakit lang ulo ko, kahit wala na yata ako no'n, kaya hinayaan ko na lang.

After this night, another day would pass, and I'd still be alive. That was something to be thankful for. Naglakad na lang ako papunta sa veranda habang karga-karga si Yule.

The moon was full, and it was shining down on the Seventh Kingdom so brightly. The air was a little chill, but it was making me feel at peace.

"Hoy, Yule... kumusta na kaya 'yong survival ticket ko?" Of course, I was referring to Kallisto.

"Nyaa?" Yule looked up at me while blinking in confusion. I cackled softly.

"'Yong lalaking palaging maganda 'yong mga mata pero nakabusangot madalas. Wala naman 'yon sa panganib 'di ba?"

Well, if you ask me, Kallisto was the danger itself and not those around him. I just hoped that my celestia was still in effect with his abyss, so it wouldn't be that hard for him to fight and subjugate those monsters.

I rubbed Yule's head a little when suddenly I felt something odd in the air.

I thought I was the only one who felt it, but when I looked down on Yule that I was hugging in my arms, he stiffened too and seemed to panic with his shaking eyes. "Yule?" I asked when he kept making noises like he was talking to me.

"Is there something... wrong?"

The mood surrounding the Palace became more chilly and heavy. It wasn't like the one earlier. This one gave me goosebumps. Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko at kaagad akong napaatras sa kinatatayuan ko.

Kasunod no'n ang tila malakas na ungol sa isang malayong lugar. Yule and I looked at each other while the hair on my nape was standing up in this intense lingering danger in the atmosphere.

Yule jumped out of my grasp and ran towards the balcony. "Yule!" tawag ko rito pero mabilis 'tong tumakbo, parang papunta sa isang lugar. Fright covered my whole body, so I stepped back from the balcony and ran towards the door.

I was about to open it when it suddenly burst out open. "My Lady!" gulat na imik ni Leah.

"What's happening?" I could hear the sound of my beating heart in my ear because of the commotion in the hallway.

"Please stay inside your room; mages will go in here to put up some shield." Halos mapanganga yata ako sa sinabi niya.

"What?"

"My Lady..."

"Tell me, what's happening?"

But before she could answer, there was a sharp noise inside my ears and a huge punch that impacted my chest. Muntik na akong matumba dahil sa nangyaring 'yon, at nagulat ako no'ng parang nakakita ko sa mismong harap ko ang isang nakakakilabot na pangyayari.

"My Lady!" Leah screamed when I nearly fell on the floor because of a terrible headache.

That...

That thing that I saw...

It was crying and angry...

My body seemed to know what it should do, so I went to the closet and grabbed the hood that my hand laid on. Then I did what my body was telling me.

"My Lady! Where are you going!?" natatarantang sigaw ni Leah. I didn't have time. I needed to go.

I badly needed to go.

I wore the dark violet hood and cape and ran towards the veranda. "My Lady!" malakas na sigaw ni Leah.

But I ignored her and jumped out of the balcony.

Geez, never in my life I thought I'd do a stunt like this! Feeling ko tuloy nasa action movie ako, pagkatapos ang daming mga camera.

Pagkatapos kung nahimatay man si Leah sa ginawa ko, advance sorry na kaagad! Pero hindi pwedeng maghintay ako ng mga mage at protektahan nila ako.

The thing that I saw was real and not something that I could ignore.

My celestia was also burning in my body. I had a bad feeling that if I didn't follow this power inside of me... I'd die.

And that was the last thing that I wanted!

And if not me... no one could solve this situation. Mainly because I have the knowledge from Fatebound.

Luckily, I landed safely on the land, and when I was about to run towards the forest, I saw someone beside me, ready to go there, too.

"Miss Mildred?"

"Lady Baudelaire?"

Sabay na sabi namin sa isa't isa. She was about to stop me from where I was going, but I interrupted her and started running because it wasn't time to do that, good thing, she came after me.

"Where are you going, Your Highness?" she asked while keeping up with me.

I smirked. "I'm not going to escape. I'll just save someone before things spiral down to hell."

And with those words, I used my celestia to speed up. Good thing, I was able to control it easier than before. The training period with Yule really paid off! And I was surprised that stepmother kept up and could be even faster than me!

Woah! She wasn't an ordinary headmaid?!

"If you are planning on going to Mt. Harbridge, it will take ages!" she said, and my heart almost fell out of my chest. What heck?! Paano ako pupunta ro'n?

"But—"

"So instead, come with me."

And with those words, she suddenly summoned a vast circle that had different shapes and things written on them, and that circle suddenly turned into a portal-like something, and without hesitation, I jumped in there.

In a blink of an eye, the tension in the air became so much heavier and intense. Pakiramdam ko kung wala akong celestia, luluhod at tutungo ako sa lupa dahil sa tindi no'n.

Idagdag mo pa 'yong malakas na ungol ng isang halimaw na halos magpapadugo ng tainga mo.

My eyes were a little blurry from the portal, but it turned clearer while I was surveying the whole area looking for someone. The whole place was dark and eerie. It was brutal because some trees were destroyed, and some people had already lost their lives.

Napalunok ako at pakiramdam ko nanginig ang kalamnan ko sa nakita. Shit! What the heck was this?!

I was about to try and help the other people who might be still alive, but I curved down because of another loud roar in the air.

Kaagad akong naalerto at tumingin sa buong paligid. Then, I saw a light on the far-left of the place. And I also felt something so familiar.

Abyss.

It was the abyss; I was so sure of it.

And it wasn't cheerful like how it was always like when I was around with my celestia. It was currently full of rage.

That was the first time I felt it like that and it made my system stunned. My celestia felt like it was screaming and felt like it was telling me to hurry and go there or it might be too late, so I did what it wanted.

I ran towards that place.

Towards the abyss.

Ginamit ko kaagad ang tubig na kapangyarihan ng celestia para maiwasan ang mga punong nasa daan ko. I was on edge with the feeling of urgency as the profound and distinct presence of the abyss felt like it would be out of control any second from now on.

Pain slowly spread in my body.

Shit! This intensity might kill me!

But instead of stopping, I kept running.

I kept running like I was doing it for my life.

The celestia was also going out of control because of the crushing pain in my body.

I was heaving up and down and getting dizzy.

But when I arrived at the place, I saw a huge waterfall and the person near it was covered in blood but was still standing tall holding a sword that was blazing in purple.

I felt goosebumps all over my body when the wild roar that echoed in the whole mountain.

A nine-tailed fox that was coloured orange revealed its fangs to Kallisto. Its red eyes were screaming pain and hatred. The shining in its eyes... it was what I saw earlier in the Palace.

That vision of anger and cry.

The nine-tailed fox was going to attack the injured and weak Kallisto, who was trying to control his abyss that was getting out of control.

Pakiramdam ko hindi na ako makahinga nang pagkakataong 'yon sa tindi ng nangyayari sa pag-itan nila.

The fox was going to kill Kallisto using its hand, and Kallisto was struggling because the Abyss was also trying to attack him! And my celestia also seemed like it was bawling at the situation.

My head felt like it would explode because I had no idea why it came to this point. And why the abyss was turning its back on Kallisto and why my celestia was reacting this way.

But I wasn't really a person who would think in this kind of situation.

Because I was the kind that would either act or run.

And I choose the latter.

I ran.

I ran fast.

I ran fast towards Kallisto.

I knew I wouldn't be able to fight the giant fox. And I knew I wouldn't be able to counter its attack.

I wanted to live... that was my goal in this world. But how freaking funny that I was now doing the opposite of it.

Shit. If I ever survive, sisingilin ko talaga si Kallisto! Magiging utang niya 'to sa akin!

"Baude...laire?" hindi makapaniwalang imik ni Kallisto no'ng makita niya akong tumatakbo papunta sa kanya habang nakangiti.

I smiled at him instead of greeting him, and when I saw that the sharp nails of the fox would really behead him, I jumped and embraced him in a hug with a firm intent to protect him.

I closed my eyes as the celestia that was on rampage felt my desire.

I hugged Kallisto tightly, and I felt his arms slowly snake around my waist as his breathing stopped from shock.

Kabadong-kabado ako sa ginawa ko. I was shaking in his arms and was thinking that we were both dead.

Damn, Evienne, kung hindi ka nga ba naman shonga, bakit mo yayakapin kung pwede mong hilahin paalis do'n? Jusko!

While I was shaking in fear of losing our lives, I slowly heard a soft cackle.

"Well, all be damned, you stubborn Celeste." And when I opened my eyes, I saw an amused Kallisto.

A really rare amused Kallisto.

And I blinked because I couldn't believe that he was showing such an emotion openly to me.

Wow...

But then, I slowly looked at where he was looking and when I turned my head towards my back... all the hair in my body stood up in astonishment.

The celestia...

My celestia...

My celestia... became wings that were attached to my back.

And it was the one that stopped and protected us from that vicious attack.

—

ツ