Light and Shadow 4: Echoes of Unknown Power

Light and Shadow 4: Echoes of Unknown Power

Third Person’s Point of View

In the dead of night, across the tranquil Realm of Luminous, where immortals wield elemental powers lay in peaceful slumber, a terrifying aura ripped through the quiet. They were jolted awake by a chilling, deeply unsettling feeling.

A palpable wave of unknown, formidable power had suddenly burst, sending ripples of shock and awe through the very fabric of their realm. It created a violent disruption across every creature in the Luminous Realm who felt it.

From the volcanic heart of Flareon Kingdom to the icy plains of Glaciem Kingdom, from the high mountains of Gaialore Kingdom to the airy heights of Aeralis Kingdom, and even to the storm-wracked skies above Maldonia Kingdom. Every immortal and creature felt the impact.

For some, like those attuned to fire, it felt like being plunged into the heart of a volcano, an unbearable heat that threatened to consume them. Those connected to water felt an icy dread, a sudden, bone-chilling cold that seeped into their very essence.

The earth elementalists felt the ground beneath them tremble not from a physical quake, but from the sheer force of the energy surging through the land. The wind wielders felt the air itself crackle and distort as if the very fabric of the atmosphere was tearing apart.

Even in Maldonia, where the air was perpetually charged with crackling, terrifying lightning, and booming thunder, the immortals felt an intense disturbance. Luminous Realm was thrown into chaos in the middle of the night.

Lightning bolts started flashing erratically across the sky, and the thunder reverberated with an unnatural intensity as if the very heavens were echoing the raw power that had just been unleashed. A growing fear gripped everyone as they witnessed the atmosphere’s violent reaction to that unknown power.

It was as if the very air had thickened, becoming heavy with an energy they couldn’t comprehend. An energy that they didn’t know where it came from. However, the kingdoms most affected by this unknown power were Luminara and Tenebrae.

In Luminara, a bone-chilling divine light spread through the atmosphere, a power so formidable it dwarfed even the divine power of all the members of the imperial family. In Tenebrae, the kingdom of Shadowfells was not merely disturbed; they were shaken to their core.

“The heart of Luminous, once veiled in the night,

Will find its strength, in the returning light…”

“High Priest?” One of the priests called, his voice tinged with concern as he observed the High Priest, who had a serene expression amidst the tumultuous sky.

The High Priest’s gaze remained fixed on the heavens until a knowing smile touched his lips as he observed the atmospheric disturbances. It was a stark contrast to the apprehension everyone felt.

“The sky speaks,” the High Priest murmured, his voice filled with a quiet certainty. “What others perceive as danger, I see as a harbinger. The heavens themselves herald the return…” he paused, his eyes finally descending to meet the priest’s eyes. “…of the lost light.”

Meanwhile, back in the Mortal Realm, where the elite students of Lumina Academy, Alphas, were currently staying for their mission, the effects of this power were magnified tenfold. Every immortal living in the Mortal Realm, too, felt the oppressive weight of the atmosphere.

A bone-chilling aura that pressed down upon them like a physical force. But unbeknownst to them, the host herself was gripped by a terror far greater than any they could imagine. Hope simply watched her mother and aunt as they frantically packed their belongings.

The two older women moved fast while in state of panic, while she remained trapped in a stunned, disbelieving silence. Hinihintay niya ang paliwanag ng kaniyang Mimi at Nana, hanggang sa hinarap na rin siya sa wakas ng kaniyang Mimi.

   

“Sweetie…” her Mimi, Lorraine said, drawing her attention.

Lorraine’s nerves were starting to get the best of her as she could feel her heart pounding so fast. Alam niyang dadating ang araw na ‘to, ngunit hindi niya inakalang magiging ganito kaaga ‘yon! Alam niyang hindi na niya pwedeng itago pa sa anak kung sino o ano nga ba talaga sila.

“Mimi…”

Lumambot ang tingin niya sa anak. Halatang gulat pa rin ito dahil sa nangyari at nag-uumpisa siyang kainin ng konsensya niya. Alam niyang kasalanan niya kung bakit ganito ang kaniyang anak. Kung sana ay una pa lang ay sinabi na niya ang totoo…

Nakaupo sa single sofa ang anak, habang umupo naman siya sa harapan nito at hinawakan ang kaniyang mga kamay. Bumuntong-hininga muna siya bago muling tumingin kay Hope, her eyes filled with a soft expression. “I know you have a lot of questions, and I promise I will answer them all. But right now, the most important thing for you to understand is that we are not ordinary people: we are Elementalists who lives in the radiant realm of Luminous,” Lorraine sighed deeply before she continued. “We are immortals who possess the power of elements: fire, water, earth, wind, ice, lightning, divine light, and shadow. However, the Luminous Realm is currently under threat by the Shadowfells,” naging seryoso ang itsura niya habang si Hope naman ay nakikinig nang mabuti.

“And those who attacked me… they were Shadowfells…?” Tanong niya sa kaniyang ina na ikinatango naman ng huli. “But… why? Bakit gusto nila akong kunin…?” Hindi mapigilang tanong ng dalaga, at sasagot na sana ang kaniyang ina nang magsalita siyang muli. “And I remembered… one of them called me ‘daughter of Third Order’. What does that mean…?”

Tila na-umid naman ang dila ni Lorraine dahil sa huling tanong ng anak. Nanlaki rin ang kaniyang mga mata na sinasabing mayroon siyang alam ngunit wala pa siyang balak sabihin sa anak ang patungkol dito.

Hinawakan niya sa magkabilang pisngi si Hope bago muling nagsalita, “Listen carefully, sweetie,” she said, her voice unusually grave, a tone Hope had never heard her use before. “Do not ever speak of this to anyone; do not mention a word of it to a soul. Understand?” Dahil sa klase ng tono ng kaniyang ina, napipilitang tumango si Hope kahit takang-taka. Lorraine sighed heavily before caressing her cheeks. “I want you to live a normal life; away from the chaos of being an immortal, but I guess I have no power over that…” Lorraine looked and sounded defeated.

“This is the safest choice, Lorraine,” kumento naman ni Romina, bago tumingin kay Hope na naguguluhan pa rin. “She’ll be protected if she’s in our realm; if she’s in the academy,” she paused, letting out a soft sigh, then continued, “Sa ngayon, kailangan na nating umalis.”

Hope was still confused dahil marami pa siyang tanong na hindi pa nasasagot. Everything was still unclear, ngunit isang bagay ang sigurado siya: lilisanin na nila ang buhay na nakasanayan niya at dito na mag-uumpisang magbago ang buhay niya.

Ang buhay na buong akala niya ay normal.

***

Lorraine Amethyst Callahan

We were on our way to Stanford Academy, a magical hidden academy located here in Mortal Realm at kung na saan ang portal na maghahatid sa amin sa aming tunay na mundo. I was behind the wheel, my hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.

While my cousin, Romina, is currently scanning our surroundings, her eyes sharp and alert for any sign of danger. Buti nga at tulog ang anak ko, dahil na rin siguro sa nangyari kaya kaagad siyang nakatulog. Alam kong halo-halo ang nararamdaman niya ngayon.

Ngunit ang mas nangingibabaw ngayon ay ang maraming katanungan sa kaniyang isipan. Mga bagay na hindi ko alam kung masasagot ko ba lahat. Alam kong darating ang araw na ‘to, ngunit napatunayan kong hindi ako handa.

“I know you’re not ready,” I heard Romina say softly, her voice laced with understanding. “But we also know this day would come, and we have no choice but to tell her everything we know…”

I knew she could sense my inner turmoil, the agitation I had been trying to conceal ever since I felt my daughter’s power surge. I didn’t want her to see me like this, especially after witnessing her fear and confusion earlier.

As her mother, I was supposed to be her pillar of strength, not a trembling mess of anxiety. But what else could I do? I never wanted this day to arrive. Though I constantly reminded myself of its inevitability, acceptance still eluded me. Yet, I couldn’t bear to keep my daughter in the dark.

Especially knowing her life was in danger.

“The Shadowfells are making their move, just as ‘she’ foretold. Pero ang ipinagtataka ko lamang ay kung paano nila nahanap si Hope,” I said, my voice laced with confusion as I glanced in the rearview mirror to check on my daughter.

Narinig ko siyang bumuntong-hininga, “‘Yan ang bagay na dapat nating alamin. Pero sa ngayon, kailangan nating umiwas—hindi lamang sa mga Shadowfells, but also the elite students of Lumina Academy. After that display of power, they’ll undoubtedly be searching for Hope as well.”

Oo nga pala, nandito nga pala ang mga anak ng hari at reyna. Bagay na mas lalo kong ikinabahala.

***