The Secret of the Curse

The night is still young yet half of the crowd is already down. Drunken people are everywhere. May ibang nasa damuhan na at pinagyayakap ang mga nagtataasang damo. The music is still up. Everyone rejoiced after a series of hardships that they had been through since last week. Wala na silang pakialam kung ano pa man ang mangyari bukas. Basta ngayong gabi, kasiyahan lang ang iintindihin nila. They deserve this!

The elders are signing a traditional song where they jammed like teenagers. Old habits die hard, they say.

A man stood in the big rock near the bonfire, and he spoke, "Kelna decided to finally agree on our terms! For the next days, tayong lahat ay maaari ng pumasok sa kanilang bayan na walang kahirap-hirap." Itinaas niya ang hawak na baso at muling nag salita. "This for us! Let us have a toast for the people of Aethelney and Kelna!"

"For the people of Aethelney and Kelna!" said in unison.

Aethelney is the farthest part where only few people can reach. It is way beyond mountains. Tsaka, hindi naman ito pwedeng basta-basta na lang puntahan sapagkat pahamak ang aabutin ng kung sino mang mag nais. In some other words, Aethelney is a dangerous place. Some even said that it was the devil's den. People from Kelna, and Rachdale are very much aware of what is in Aethelney.

Dragons are rare and dangerous. Hinding-hindi mo gugustuhing makalaban sila. However, Rachdale is the long time adversary of both towns. They are way evil than the dragons of Aethelney. Ganid, walang awa, mga demonyo—that is how they describe the people of that town.

King Britius rules the town together with his son, Neale, who is merciless and arrogant.

Even though the adversary of Rachdale, they disregarded it. The town of Kelna favored no one. Pero kapag nakuha ang loob ng mga tao nila, higit pa sa proteksyon ang kaya nilang ibigay—and that is what Aethelney is aiming for in the last years. Ngayon, nakamtan na nga. In addition, they are celebrating the victory of persuading Kelna.

Everyone deserves to party tonight. It is not just about hardships, but also efforts of the people of the town to do well in their fields. Some started dancing like mad people. Ang iba naman ay abala sa inuman. Nag labas pa nga ng maraming Fhunade na siyang tanging inumin sa lugar nila.

**

Mahinang natawa si Edwyrd at tinapik sa balikat si Merlara. Sinamaan siya ng tingin ni Merlara at ibinalik ang atensyon sa Fhunade na iniinom. Kanina niya pa pinag tri-tripan ang katabi pero panay titig ng masama lang ang binabalik sakanya. Now, she is trying to drown herself with alcohol.

This girl is not in the mood. He thought. Wala kasi ang hinahanap. He added.

Edwyrd mumbled curses and he eyed Camus. The man is doing nothing. Inakbayan niya si Camus, "Ngayon lang ako natuwa sa ganitong pagtitipon." He said. Edwyrd Kellen—the mad max in the group takes a sip of his drink.

Camus shrugged Edwyrd's arm off his shoulder. "Stop the shits bro. An anti-social like you should sleep now. This is not your place." He spat out.

Inis na tinapunan ng tingin ni Edwyrd si Camus na tawang-tawa sa sariling sinabi. "Come on asshat!" Kumuha siya ng maliit na bato at itinapon 'yon sa nagbabagang bonfire sa harapan nila. "Acting as if you're not pissed, huh. Merlara is missing someone..." May diin sa bulong niya na nakapagpa-igting sa bagang ni Camus. "... and it's not you."

His smirked says it all.

He pushed the wrong button to just freaking piss Camus. Alam kasi niyang mula bata pa lang sila may gusto na ang kaibigan niya kay Merlara Ercan—na siyang matagal na ring may gusto kay Alduin. The man is missing in action. Kaya siguro ganoon na lang ang pagkawalang pakialam ni Merlara sa mga nangyayari sa paligid.

Camus Araroris showed Edwyrd his hand where a small fireball is blistering. He bore his red deadly eyes to him and he said, "One more word and I'll fvcking burn you, Kellen!" He spat out.

Instead of getting afraid, natawa pa si Edwyrd at tinapik naman ang natutulog na si Folas. "Get up, you silly man!" Saka binalik ang tingin sa kaibigan, "Hindi mo ako matatakot sa mga paandar mong ganyan, Araroris. You know more than anyone else that I can do better than that." He smirked as if taunting Camus for more intense threat.

Nagising si Folas at nakisali na rin sa kaguluhang ginagawa ng dalawa. Siya at ang kapatid na si Elas ay nakiupo malapit sakanila. Elas and Folas Waeslar are twins in which they are the best combination in so many things.

"What is going on?" Tanong ni Elas. Nang mapansin niya ang hawak ni Camus, natawa rin siya. "Is that all you've got? Dude, nakakababa ka sa paningin ah. We are both fire users but you suck at that depart—"

Camus cut him off. "I'm not talking to you dumbass. So shut up!" He spat out acidly. Camus is not happy anymore. Basta kapag si Merlara Ercan ang pinag-uusapan, talaga namang nag-iiba ang timpla nito. She has a big effect to Camus.

Hindi pa rin natitinag sa pagtawa si Edwyrd. Pero dahil alam niyang sumosobra na siya, itinaas niya ang dalawang kamay bilang pagsuko. "I'm done! No more, Camus." He said and patted his arm.

Inis na ibinato ni Camus ang fireball sa harapan nila kung nasaan ang bonfire.

Mas lalo pang naging maingay ang paligid nang magkayayaan ang iba pa sa mga kaibigan nila para sumayaw. Edwyrd went to the crowd to dance and get wasted. It is his night so he will make the best out of it. In fact, first time niyang makisali sa mga ganito.

Folas and Elas remained in their spot. Pinag-uusapan nila ang naging kasunduan sa pagitan ng dalawang bayan. They are both happy with what happened but at the same time worried. Hindi naman talaga maiiwasan 'yon. Alam nilang mas lalaki ang galit ng Rachdale sa Aethelney.

It's a big step. Very big step for Aethelney.

Folas sighed and leaned back on the tree trunk. "This will surely blow King Britius' mind, for sure." He said and shook his head at the same time.

"He is never happy with everything we do." His twin commented. "Humans are insecure and selfish. Lalo na ang mga katulad ni King Britius. His son is one dumbass, you know..."

Natawa si Folas sa sinabi ng kapatid, "I saw him almost crying in our last attack. So afraid of getting freeze, huh. Sana pala tinuluyan ko na lang 'yon, mas masaya siguro." Folas is an Ice user. He freezes anything he sees as a hindrance.

"I almost burned him. Though, I only breathed fire near him."

"That Prince Neale will have his spotlight soon." Folas interjected as if his idea was the best one.

Folas and Elas are known as the two-headed dragons. A Fire and Ice Dragon. That what makes them the best combination of all time. Isa sila sa mga kinatatakutan ng mga taga Rachdale.

Tumango ang kakambal at tinapik siya sa balikat. "If only we can burn that place easily, then our lives would be in safe haven. However, that is impossible... for now. We, dragons, still have mercy in us unlike them." He said a matter of fact.

Sabay silang napabuntong hininga at pinanuod ang mga nag sasayawan. Their reverie was once again disturbed after someone pushed the two of them forward—almost made them kiss the ground. Galit nilang nilingon ang taong tumulak sakanila. Napamura si Elas nang si Alduin Elavel ang bumungad sakanila ng kakambal.

The rugged looking guy with an ash brown hair chuckled and smirked eventually at the two of them. His forever pressed in a thin line lips added something in his almost perfect face—well, not to mention the well-toned body though.

Napangiwi si Elas, "I would really like to wipe off that smirk out of your filthy face, Elavel!" singhal nito at tinapik sa balikat ang bagong dating na kaibigan.

"You're back!" masayang bati ni Folas.

Tumango si Alduin at ngumisi sa dalawa. "Glad to be back home." hambog nitong sinabi at nakiupo tabi nila. "Kamusta rito? Mukhang masaya ang lahat, ah." He roamed his vision to the crowd.

Inabutan siya ng baso ni Folas na may Fhunade. Inisang lagok niya ang laman nunn at inabot pabalik sakanya.

Natawa naman si Folas at kinuha ang malaking bote ng Fhunade. "Wala ba nito doon sa Rachdale, Al? Para ka namang pinakaitan ng alak doon." Inabot sakanya ang bote at inakbayan siya. Nakisali ang kambal niya.

"Kamusta Alduin?" tanong ni Elas. "Natapos mo ba ang misyong ibinigay saiyo?" makahulugang tanong nito.

Alduin is one of the best in his field. Their family is a bunch of spies. Kaya, halos lahat sa pamilya nila ay hindi napipirmi sa Aethelney dahil nasa iba't-ibang lugar para mag espiya sa mga kalaban. Moreover, maybe Alduin was already done with his mission that's why he's back in town.

Nakailang inom pa si Al bago tumango. "Yup." emphasizing the 'p' and he roamed around his vision to watch everyone. "Easy peasy." He said mockingly.

"Hambog talaga nito." Kumento ni Elas.

Natawa silang tatlo hanggang sa magdagsaan na ang ibang kakilala nila sa kanilang pwesto. Even Merlara who was grumpy and bitchy earlier, her mood altered after seeing his childhood crush. Al is a living sin to every girl in Aethelney. Pero dahil kay Merlara na parang asawa kung bakuran siya, he's way off limits since then.

The asshat Alduin has no say to it. He also love the spotlight he's getting.

Freak.

The girl, Merlara, thinks that they are meant to be. Alam ng lahat sa lugar nila na marami silang pagkakapareho sa iba't-ibat bagay. They have the same element—both of them are electric users.

Hindi na nakakapagtakang ganoon nalang kung mainis si Camus kapag pinag-uusapan si Merlara at Alduin. He also thinks that he is not for the girl. She deserves someone better. And that better is not him. Nagpaubaya nalang siya dahil alam naman niyang wala siyang laban.

Habang nag-uusap sila, tumayo si Salindra at lumapit kay Alduin. Bumulong siya na siyang ikinataas ng mga kilay ni Merlara. The girl is like a hawk when it comes to Alduin. She's fast at anything that has anything to do with that man.

Tumango si Al matapos ang bulong ni Salindra. "Alis muna ako." Paalam nito sa lahat at tumayo na at naglakad papunta sa bunkhouse. Nilingon niya si Merlara at nginitian. The girl flushed like a freaking tomato.

Taas ang dalawang kamay nang bumaling si Merlara kay Salindra. "What was that?" Then the crowd started teasing them for a catfight.

Ngumiti ang kaibigan at sumandal sa upuan niya. "Dad summoned him. I think it's about his mission." tumango lang ang dalaga at ibinalik ang atensyon sa iniinom.

***

Pagkapasok palang niya, sinalubong na kaagad siya ng nagsisilbing pinuno ng bayan nila. "So Alduin, how was it?" Tanong sakanya ni Clevis Phitoris-- Salindra's Dad. "Nagawa mo ba ang pinapagawa ko? Did they get the message?" masaya nitong tanong.

Tumango si Alduin at naupo sa harap ng nakakatandang kasapi ng council. "They have got the message... and I discovered something." Bulong nito sa huling sinabi.

"Tell me..."

After doing his mission, he was about to go back and get his stuffs but accidentally he saw King Britius' newest hired Knight together with some stupid soldiers. Papasok sila sa isang local bar in the main town. He got intrigued so he followed them in.

Imbes na bumalik sa bahay kung saan siya tumutuloy, pumasok siya kasunod nila. He made his moves not noticeable enough. Naupo ang mga ito sa gitnang parte ng inuman. Siya naman ay pasimpleng naupo malapit sa bintana. The distance is enough for him to hear their conversation. Alduin thinks that he may have get something after that. Therefore, he patiently waited for them to get to the main point.

One fatty soldier raised his hand and then the server with a worn out look arrived.

"A bottle of Fhunade please. And some chips." Ani niya.

Mabilis na tumango ang babae at unalis kaagad para ayusin ang inumin nila.

The Knight, who is ruggedly smirking, leaned on to his seat while tapping his fingers in the table said "Magiging swerte ang kaharian sa susunod na mga araw." he started. "The dragons will taste their own medicine after all they've done to our place. Makakaganti na rin tayo." Sabi pa niya na may pagmamalaki.

Mukhang tuwang-tuwa ang mga naging kasama ng Knight, "Nais ko talagang makitang maglupasay ang mga walang hiyang dragon na yan!" sabat noong isa. "They almost wreck our house!"

Alduin made a mental note to fvcking remember that guy who just insulted their race in front of him. Sa susunod, hahagilapin niya sila at uunahing kuryentetin para magtanda.

The Knight said, "Dahil sa malaking hakbang na ginawa ng hari, paniguradong matatalo na natin sila ngayon."

"Kailan daw matatapos ang mga patibong?" someone asked.

If only you're eager to get information, you would always dare to use all your connections and ways to get it. Now, he's risking something and he got something in return too. He badly needs to go back to Aethelney para sabihin ito sa council, with that, they can make their own counterpart move too. It's better to be ready than say sorry in the end.

Dragons can fly as high as the sky can reach. Humans are indeed dumb. He thought.

The Knight laughed and shook his head, as if he is a brilliant human being with an idea. "Bukas agad." Sagot nito.

"That means, the war will start very soon?"

"Yes."

With that, Alduin left the place. He needs to go home as soon as possible. That information should reach the Council.

He only thinks of one thing right now... and that is to find the only wizard who can help them. The Wizard who has the key to the hidden gate of Aethelney. Their only salvation. Kahit wala pa siyang lead kung nasaan ito, kailangan niyang suyurin ang buong lugar para lang mahanap ang taong kailangan nila. He's desperate like how desperate the elders are.

Clevis Phitoris looked at him with worry... In addition, he said, "You should hurry, Alduin. Or else, we'll all die in here."

"I will start soon. I just need time." He firmly said.

***