SAGE'S POV

On our way, we passed through the bustling heart of the market. Open shops lined the streets, their colorful banners flapping gently in the chilly wind. The air was thick—a heavy mix of unfamiliar flowers, aged parchment, and an odd blend of incense and spices that seemed to cling to my clothes.

Pero ang higit na kapansin-pansin dito sa lugar ay ang kasaganaan ng mga amethyst crystals. They were everywhere—carved into wooden signs, decorating storefronts, and even crushed into a fine dust that shimmered like stars against the cobblestone paths.

Sa gitna ng kasiglahan, kakaiba ang pakiramdam ng lugar. Hindi nakakasawa tulad ng mga mataong lugar na karaniwan kong kinaiinisan.

It was... bearable.

"Look! si Nanay Hilda!"

Cerise's voice pierced through the marketplace hum. Her eyes lit up as she pointed toward a small shop tucked between two larger buildings. Before I could even react, she was already heading toward it.

The shop had an old-world charm, looking as if it had been frozen in time. Its wooden sign swung lightly in the breeze, the faded paint peeling just enough to reveal its age.

Sa labas ng tindahan, a woman who looked to be in her mid-sixties was carefully tending to a row of potted plants. Her silver-streaked hair was neatly pulled back, and a simple apron was tied around her waist. As Cerise approached, huminto ang matandang babae sa kalagitnaan ng pagdidilig ng kanyang mga halaman.

She blinked in surprise. "Oh dear... Cerise?" Isang malambot na ngiti ang sumilay sa kanyang mukha. Binaba niya ang watering can at pinunasan niya ang kanyang mga kamay sa kanyang apron. Pagkatapos ay nahagip ng kanyang mga mata sa katabi ko. "Octavia!"

Before I knew it, Via had launched herself forward, throwing her arms around the old lady in a dramatic embrace.

"Nanay Hilda! It's been a while!" she chirped, squeezing her tight.

"Indeed," puna ng matanda, sabay kumawala sa yakap. "Akala ko'y abala kayo sa pag-aaral? Ano't nandito kayo ngayon?"

"We are, pero heto kami ngayon, nakahanap din ng time," Cerise replied, turning back to me. "At siya nga po pala, kaibigan namin... si Sythria."

The moment my real name left her lips, Nanay Hilda's gaze shifted to me. She lingered there for a second too long.

It wasn't an unfriendly look, but it made my skin prickle. Parang sinusuri niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa, naghahanap ng isang bagay na higit pa sa nakikita.

"Ah... Sythria," she said, my name rolling off her tongue as if it carried a hidden weight. Humakbang siya palapit sa akin at diretso ang kanyang tingin sa mga mata ko.

Ako naman ay napako sa aking kinatatayuan.

"Your eyes..." bahagyang tumagilid ang kanyang ulo. "...They're like the moon."

Kumurap ako dahil sa sinabi niya, hindi ako makapagsalita. Naiilang akong makatingin sa kanya.

"Welcome, dear." Her lips curled into a knowing smile. "Pumasok muna kayo," she said, gesturing toward the entrance. "I have a few things you ladies might want to see."

I hesitated, but Via immediately grabbed my arm and pulled me along behind the old lady.

Pagpasok namin sa loob, tila nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin. The air was cooler, but not unwelcoming. It felt like stepping into an ancient, enchanted space where time moved at a different pace. Shelves lined the walls, stacked with colorful jars of unknown powders, glowing liquids, scrolls, and shimmering trinkets. Mayroong din mga kakaibang agimat dito na nakadisplay.

"Still getting into trouble with your potions?" Nanay Hilda mused, a teasing lilt in her voice as she glanced at Cerise.

Cerise let out a small laugh and shook her head. "Natuto na rin po akong maging maingat sa mga ginagawa ko," she said, lifting her hand to reveal a thick bracelet that gleamed in the dim light. "Katulad po nito—isang pagkakamali lang dati ang naging dahilan kaya ko nabuo ito."

"If I hadn't messed up that potion back then... I never would have discovered my fascination with poisons."

I stared at Cerise, fascinated. I studied the bracelet closely; its glow stirred a strange sense of familiarity in me, as if I had seen it somewhere before.

Cerise had always seemed so composed—the perfect picture of sweetness and warmth. Hearing her talk about poisons with such genuine interest was both impressive and slightly unsettling.

"Mabuti naman," Nanay Hilda nodded approvingly. "Acknowledging our mistakes is how we grow," she added, her nurturing voice demanding our full attention. "You have always been wise and kind. Sigurado ako na proud na proud ang lola mo kapag nalaman niya ito."

"Yeah!" sabat naman ni Via. "She's been working so hard, Nana. She's always impressing us with her medicine and alchemy, especially as a student healer!" Via gave Cerise's arm a playful nudge. "It's no wonder the great Doctor Doru took her on as an apprentice." She gave Cerise a teasing smirk as her friend's face turned bright red. "Even Kane was impressed. He's probably fall—"

Cerise jammed a sharp elbow into Via's side before she could finish that sentence.

"OUCH—!" Via yelped, doubling over dramatically.

Nanay Hilda chuckled. "Some things never change."

Napailing nalang siya at pumunta sa likod ng counter, meron siyang hinugot na isang maliit na wooden chest mula roon. "Here, take a look," she said, placing it before Cerise. Her wrinkled hands moved with a certain grace, as if she had performed this exchange a thousand times. "I just received these from a trader."

Agad na nagliwanag ang mukha ni Cerise, her excitement barely contained. As the lid opened, a soft glow escaped. Inside, several vials were revealed, filled with powders and thick liquids that swirled like miniature galaxies.

Meanwhile, Via had wandered off, poking at random artifacts on the shelves. She ran her fingers over a strange-looking crystal, tilting her head as if waiting for it to whisper its secrets.

Nanay Hilda didn't miss a beat, shooting her a warning look. "Baka may masira ka dyan, Octavia."

"H-huh? Wala po!" depensa ni Via at bigla siyang lumayo sa bagay na nasa harapan niya from a particularly fragile-looking crystal.

Napangiti na lang si Nanay Hilda saka siya yumuko at may inilabas pang maliit na kahon mula sa ilalim ng counter. She placed it in front of Via with a gentle pat. "I'm well aware of your obsessions, Octavia. This one is for you."

Via's nervousness vanished instantly. "Kyaaa! More golden bangles?!" she gasped, her eyes twinkling as she lifted the lid.

While they talked, my attention drifted. Parang may humihila sa akin sa direksyon ng isang sulok ng kwarto kung saan hindi masyadong maliwanag. Dahan-dahan akong nagtungo roon.

Naagaw ng atensyon ko ang maayos na pagkakaayos ng mga libro sa mga bookshelf. Judging by their tattered covers, they were incredibly old.

Hm... nandito rin kaya 'yon?

I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask.

"What's caught those pretty eyes of yours?"

I turned to find the old lady standing right beside me.

"You have books... so many of them," I breathed out.

She smiled warmly. "Yes, dear. They are quite old, but their stories are timeless. Their pages hold tales that have been kept for years, just waiting to be read." She gave me a pointed look. "And with eyes like yours, perhaps one of those tales is waiting for you to discover it. May gusto ka bang basahin mula sa isa sa mga librong nandito?"

My mouth parted slightly, feeling as if I'd been caught in a lie. "Uhm... do you happen to know any stories about 'Since the River Began'?"

Kumurap ang matanda dahil sa tanong ko. "...Since the River Began?" pag-uulit niya sa sinasabi ko kaya tumango ako bilang tugon. She stared at the ceiling for a long moment, as if searching her memory. "I have heard of it."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Wait, she's actually heard of it?! Am I finally getting my hands on—?

"Sa kasamaang palad, hindi ako sigurado kung mayroon akong ganoon sa aking koleksyon."

My shoulders slumped. As usual.

"Well... you said you've heard of it. What do you know?" tanong ko nang hindi mapakali.

"If I'm not mistaken, it's a legend," she answered.

My brows furrowed. "A legend?"

She nodded. "A whisper of a legend. Ashburn has stories from all over, but that one... it's rare. I've heard the name, but never the full story. It's the kind of tale that makes you wonder if it's truly a myth, or if it ever existed at all."

I fell silent. If she had heard of it, and my father had mentioned it... then it had to be real.

But my excitement was tangled with confusion. If this was a whispered legend in Ashburn, how did my father know it? He wasn't from here. None of us were.

"Where did you hear about it?" biglaan kong tanong.

Again, the old lady blinked at me, surprised by my intensity. "I barely remember, dear," she admitted. "I had almost forgotten the name myself. I might have heard it from a traveling merchant, a local historian, or perhaps a fleeting mention from a supplier. A strange little legend from a faraway town."

"A faraway town..." I repeated. "There's no way I could go that far," I murmured.

A whole other town? I wouldn't even know where to start. My father... he must have been the one who knew about that place. He must have known the story was real. But if he knew, why didn't he ever tell me the end? And what's his connection?

I shook my head. No, this is too strange to be a coincidence. Maybe Ashburn held a piece of the puzzle I couldn't find anywhere else.

Muli na naman akong tumingin sa mga nakatambak na mga libro na nandito sa silid. Mula doon, napansin ko ang kakaibang sulat sa mga pabalat nito. "I have no idea what these say."

The old lady blinked several times. "Oh... you don't know Latin?" She looked almost unconvinced na hindi ko alam ang lenggwahe na 'yun.

"All of these are in Latin?" I felt like giving up.

"Most of them," she confirmed. "Dear, if you choose one of these books, I'll give you a textbook to help you learn the language alongside it."

"Well, I—" magsasalita pa sana ako nang biglang inilahad ng matanda ang librong hawak niya ngayon sa harapan ko. It was a language guide for Latin.

"Take this. It will help with your studies."

Now that she mentioned it, I did have Latin lessons in my Covenic Language class. Naalala ko lang yung mga araw na halos ma-nosebleed ako sa tuwing nagkaroon kami ng activity. Palihim akong natawa sa kakaalala 'non kasi sa tuwing sinusubukan kong bigkasin ang mga wikang Latin, naiisip ko na parang sinusummon ko si satanas.

"Salamat po nito, Nay..." I whispered. Her smile was too genuine to refuse, so I accepted the book with a trembling hand.

Oh! Speaking of.

"Nanay, do you happen to know about—uh..." nag-alinlangan akong magtanong uli dahil hindi ko alam kung paano ko ito sasabihin. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the dagger.

The old lady's eyes widened. "A silver dagger?"

I nodded slowly. "Gusto ko lang po sanang itanong sa inyo kung ano po yung ibig sabihin ng nakalagay sa blade," turo ko sa nakaukit na mga salita sa makintab nitong talim.

She leaned in, her sharp eyes squinting at the weapon.

"...Turris Revelata?" she read aloud.

"What does that mean?"

She hummed. "It means 'The Revealed Tower.'"

I tilted my head, confused. "What does a dagger have to do with... a tower?" Hindi ko alam pero bigla akong nakaramdam ng bigat.

"I have no idea, dear. Where did you get this?"

I pursed my lips before exhaling. "...From my mother."

She paused, clearly intrigued. "Do you know where she got it?"

I shook my head. "She didn't tell me."

"Judging by its craftsmanship, it looks like a sacred relic. It could be hundreds of years old," Nanay Hilda murmured, her voice softening as if she were talking to the blade itself. "The metal reflects the color of your eyes... almost as if it were blessed by the moon." She looked at me with a mix of awe and something I couldn't quite name.

I was speechless. The idea of carrying something that old and powerful was surreal. Nakakapagtaka talaga. Bakit nga may ganto si Mama?

"A sacred weapon... your mother was kind enough to keep it for you," the old lady added.

"I wonder how she got it..." I mumbled, staring blankly at the dagger. Posible kayang may alam si Mama sa Latin?

"Given its age, it must be a precious heirloom," Nanay Hilda suggested. "A treasure kept in your family for generations."

Heirloom? No way. There was no way my mother would just give me a family treasure like that. Not with how secretive she was.

Wala sa sarili akong hinigpitan ang hawak ko sa punyal. Kusa akong napapikit at tumungo. For a split second, the world around me blurred.

Shadows danced at the edge of my vision. I saw a cryptic place in the mountains, a rainforest, and the silhouette of a tall structure in the distance—it felt entirely unfamiliar, yet somehow... not. Sumisikip ang aking dibdib habang mabilis na kumikislap ang mga imahe sa likod ng aking mga mata.

Then, as suddenly as it had come, it was gone.

I blinked rapidly, my pulse hammering in my ears. Did anyone else see that?

My breath hitched and my grip faltered. I quickly shook my head and shoved the dagger back into my pocket.

"Are you alright, dear?" Nanay Hilda asked, snapping me back to reality.

I forced my expression into a neutral mask. Ayokong abalahin sila. "Yes. I'm fine."

Nanay Hilda's gaze lingered on me a second too long, like she wanted to say more—but didn't.

Her gaze lingered on me a second too long, as if she wanted to say more but decided against it. I gave her a thin, hollow smile before thanking her and turning away.

Sa bawat hakbang ko palayo, damang-dama ko ang malamig na metal sa bulsa ko na parang humihinga kasama ako. Pilit kong irehistro sa utak ko ang mga pinag-usapan namin kanina, but I wasn't sure I actually wanted to know the truth anymore.