SAGE'S POV

"THAT WAY!"

Isang balabal ang lumipad sa harap ng aking mga mata bago ko namalayan na kumaripas na pala ng takbo si Geo, kasunod si Teddy, at tumakbo patungo sa pinagmumulan ng sigaw. Hindi na ako nag-alinlangan pa; sinundan ko agad sila.

A girl's continuous, bone-chilling screech echoed through the forest. The sound, carried by a flaring wind, muffled the heavy thud of our footsteps as we dove deep into the trees. Napansin ko si Geo sa unahan, ilang metro ang layo mula sa akin, tumatakbo ito pasulong nang hindi na lumilingon. Para bang nasa isang karera kami laban kay kamatayan at malamang ako ang unang matamaan.

Gusto ko sigawan si Geo, para sabihan siyang bumagal, pero hindi ako makahinga. Nag-aalab ang baga ko sa walang humpay na pagtakbo. Habang papasok kami sa mas malalim na bahagi ng kagubatan, dumidilim ang paligid at tanging ang liwanag ng buwan na tumatagos sa mga puno ang siyang nagbibigay liwanag sa aming dinadaanan.

"W-whoa—CERISE?!"

Geo skidded to a halt. I nearly tumbled over him again, my face inches from the dirt, but I managed to catch myself just in time. Agarang inangat ko ang aking ulo. Before I could process what was happening, Geo lunged forward with effortless speed at walang kahirap-hirap niyang hinatak ang dalaga palayo sa panganib just as an enemy launched an attack.

Sa isang iglap, parang sinuntok ang sikmura ko nang bumaling sa akin ang banta ng kalaban.

"Ahh—!" I cried out, but my voice was drowned by a sudden, violent crash of earth.

A massive chunk of rock shot up from the ground like a cannonball, slamming into the creature. It let out a piercing howl and was sent flying backward before Geo's stone construct crumbled into dust.

"Hold her for a sec?" Geo remarked, a rare frown creasing his face.

Nilapitan niya naman ako kasama ang binubuhat niyang dalaga. He laid her down gently, and I shifted my position to support her. I checked her over quickly—her breathing was shallow, and her body was a map of jagged wounds.

"Looks like the Devourers are up for a feast today," Geo muttered, standing tall in front of us. I heard the menacing crack of his knuckles. His back was to me, but even from behind, I could feel the sudden, electric tension in his body.

"...But not when they have to get through me first!" There was a hint of annoyance in his voice, but it was laced with a dark sort of anticipation. He looked ready to tear the monster apart with his bare hands.

Ipiling ko ang aking ulo, at doon ko naaninag ng malinaw ang kalaban na nakatayo sa di-kalayuan.

Nakakapangilabot ang itsura ng kalaban. Matangkad na may pangangatawan na kahawig ng katawan ng tao ngunit malubhang deformed ang kalagayan nito. Sa malapitan, mukhang nabubulok ito; makikita ang malalalim at itim na pasa sa maputlang nitong balat. Black veins crawled and twisted beneath the surface like obsidian worms trying to pierce through. Its mouth was a hollow void, overflowing with a pool of dark blood. Maging ang mga mata nito ay purong itim na parang hukay—mga butas na nakatitig pabalik sa amin nang may nakakasuklam at malapad na ngiti.

My skin crawled. I could feel tears pricking my eyes from pure instinctual terror. What the hell even is that thing?

"Hraaah..."

As the monster locked eyes with us, Geo stripped off his cloak and tossed it aside. Without the heavy fabric, his build looked solid and firm, a stark contrast to the delicate, high-spirited vibe he usually gave off.

"RAH—!"

The monster launched itself like a spring, but Geo was faster. He summoned a barrage of attacks, raising jagged rock columns to intercept its path. The creature was tossed aside like a ragdoll. Meanwhile, hindi rin pinalampas ni Teddy na makatalon ang halimaw sa gawi namin; the bear followed Geo's lead, trying to claw at the enemy whenever it was distracted by the shifting earthen barriers.

Geo's blows were powerful, but the enemy was slippery, making it hard to land a finishing strike. Yet, his tenacity didn't waver. I could see his breath hitching in the chilling night air, but every time his fist struck the ground, the entire forest floor shuddered.

"EEEK! Freaking omens!" Geo threw a frustrated tantrum. "Just die already!!!"

He slammed a massive fist into the dirt, causing a giant stone hand to erupt from the earth so fast it nearly caught the creature, but the monster managed to twist away in mid-air.

"Melusine..."

A faint voice pulled my attention back to the girl in my arms. It was barely a whisper; she was clearly fighting through immense pain. The name was unfamiliar to me.

"M-Melusine..."

Napatingin ako sa kanya. Her face was deathly pale, her skin covered in dirt and scratches. Shattered round eyeglasses sat crooked on her nose, the moonlight dancing off the broken shards. She hissed in pain, struggling to keep her eyes open.

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng malamig at madulas na bagay na dumampi sa binti ko.

MAY AHAS!

It slithered toward Cerise, its scales grazing my skin. I swallowed the scream rising in my throat, fighting the urge to kick it away. Not now! Hindi ko kailangan ng ahas sa sitwasyon na 'to! Akmang itutulak ko 'yon papalayo, but it let out a sharp hiss that made me recoil.

"W-wag mo s-siyang lapitan!" singhal ko rito.

But the snake ignored me, slithering with purpose. Laglag panga nalang akong nakatingin nang biglang pumupulupot ito sa leeg ng babae, making a home in the crook of her shoulder. Hihilain ko sana ang buntot nito nang bigla itong lumiwanag.

In the blink of an eye, the girl's wounds began to vanish, the skin knitting itself back together.

"What the hell?" I couldn't hide my shock. It wasn't attacking her. It was... healing her? Seriously?

Parang sasabog na ang utak ko sa mga nangyari. Monsters, healing snakes—everything was happening all at once!

"I-I have to h-help him—"

"Teka, huwag." Babangon na sana ang babae pero marahan ko siyang pinigilan. "L-lay down, you're in pain," paalala ko. I knew she wouldn't make it two steps in her condition.

"T-there..."

The girl outstretched a trembling hand, pointing toward something in the clearing. I saw it then—a round-shaped blade embedded in the ground. Its edges pulsed with a faint, ethereal pink and green light.

A sudden idea struck me.

"GEO!" tawag ko sa kanya.

"WHAT NOW?!" he barked back, never taking his eyes off the fight.

"Trap the monster and use that blade! Finish it off quickly!"

Napadako ang tingin ni Geo sa kumikinang na sandata, at isang kislap ng realisasyon ang sumilay sa kanyang mukha. With a roar of newfound energy, nagsummon agad siya ng malalaking tore ng lupa na siyang nagpakulong sa nilalang.

"HAH! Take this!"

He dashed toward the glowing blade, snatched it up, and hurled it with everything he had at the trapped Devourer. The blade sliced through Geo's own earth barriers like they were paper, finding its mark and burying itself deep in the monster's neck.

Pugot ulong tumilapon ang halimaw just as a spray of dark blood rained down the clearing. Isang makapal na ulap ng alikabok ang pumailanlang, humahalo sa matapang na amoy ng isang nabubulok na bangkay.

I pinched my nose, the smell so foul it made my eyes water. I even reached out to cover the girl's nose.

After a few minutes, once the air settled, Geo turned to us, his hands resting on his knees as he wheezed.

"Ayos lang ba kayo?" He managed a weak smile, looking completely spent.

Binalingan ko ang babae na hanggang ngayon ay napapadaing parin sa sakit. "We need to get her help. She's badly hurt."

Lumapit si Geo sa kinaroroonan namin at dahan-dahan niyang binuhat ang katawan ng dalaga. The snake remained coiled around her neck, protective as ever.

"Sa kanya 'yan?" tanong ko, sabay turo sa rounded blade na ngayon ay nakatarak sa isang puno.

"Yep."

"L-let me get it then." It was the least I could do.

But before I could reach the weapon, napahinto ako. May kumikinang sa di-kalayuan. Saka ko lang napagtanto na kami ay napapaligiran ng isang malinaw at kumikislap na pader na nagliliwanag at tila nakaharang sa aming dinadaanan.

"Geo... nakita mo ba 'yon?"

Napasinghap si Geo at nanlaki ang mga mata niya. "T-the Witchwardens are here!"

The sound of rhythmic, synchronized footsteps filled the air. A group of shadowy figures emerged from the trees, stepping into the moonlight. They were a squad of men in eccentric, black suit-armor with silver-white accents. They carried their weapons with a cold air of absolute authority.

The men in the center na sa tingin ko ay leader ng grupong 'to, took stepped forward. His piercing gaze fixed on us. I instinctively took a step back, hiding behind Geo's shoulder.

He surveyed the carnage before speaking, his voice like ice.

"The Consilium wishes to summon you to their palace, witches of Ashburn."