LIA EDWARDS' POV
Lahat kami ay desperadong naghihintay sa paglabas ni Halina mula sa loob ng kwarto ni Ahrina dito sa ospital ng Academy. Nanatili lang akong nakatayo sa tabi ni Freesia na tahimik lamang ngunit patuloy ang kanyang mga luha sa pagtulo.
Ang nakita namin kanina, masasabi kong isang bangungot. Nakalabas man si Ahrina mula sa madilim at nakakamatay na bayan ng Dreich, maliit na lang ang tsansa niya na mabuhay dahil sa dami, lalim, at tindi ng kanyang mga sugat. Mas malala pa ang estado niya ngayon kaysa noong sa Wielders of Charms.
Hindi ko alam pero nalulungkot parin ako kahit alam ko nang mangyayari ang ganitong sitwasyon kay Ahrina at sa aming lahat. Alam kong aabot kami sa ganitong punto: yung hihintayin siyang magising dahil siya na lang ang natitirang pag-asa naming lahat.
At oo, sinisisi ko ang sarili ko dahil sa kapabayaan ko. Nanga
Inabot ako nang dilim sa pagpapagaling kay Ahrina. Nawala na rin ang kanyang mga sugat at tanging mga marka ang naiwan. Mawawala rin ang mga iyon paglipas ng oras. Nagtagal ako sa pagpapagaling sa kanya dahil kailangan kong dahan-dahanin ang proseso. Maliban sa nag-iisa lamang ako, napakadami niyang sugat at mas lalong dadami at lalala ang kanyang sitwasyon kung ipipilit kong pabilisin ang paggaling niya. Nagpunta ako sa tabi niya at hinawakan ang kanyang kaliwang kamay. "Ahrina, malapit nang matapos ang lahat nang mga paghihirap na ito. Wag kang mag-alala, gagabayan kita. Kaya pakiusap, gumising ka na sa lalong madaling panahon." Pagkalabas ko ng silid, naroroon parin silang lahat at tahimik na lumingon sa akin. "Maayos na ang lagay ni Ahrina. Marka ng kanyang mga sugat ang naiwan pero mawawala din ang mga iyon. Natutulog parin siya nang mahimbing." "Magsabi ka nga ng totoo, Lia." Tumayo mula sa
I slowly opened my eyes, seeing the familiar white ceiling and a warm thing cupping my left hand. I moved a bit and pushed myself to sit up without waking him. And I succeeded. Confirmed, nasa ospital nga ako ng Academy. What happened to me is still vivid in my mind and it still scares me until now, fearing that the same might happen not to me but to the others . . . especially Damaris and her family. However, nothing will happen if I let that nightmare control my mind and gone crazy. I have to develop new effective plans and execute actions for the better and to avoid what has to avoid. But then, as I gazed at Crimson who still sleeps soundly, I forgot about all the fears I have even just for a short span. I miss him. Sobrang na-miss ko siya. Alam kong mahirap paniwalaan pero siya ang pinakana-miss ko. I miss my Crimson. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko and faced him to caress his soft, black
So people really thought that I betrayed them. Demetrians thought I betrayed Demetria. They really thought that I will join Dreich and not my own land. And those thoughts of them about me made them file a case against me. Dimwits. "And what happened to my cases?" "Upon hearing Dametreil Schiz's and Sorceress Halina's statements, Royal Family of Demetria announced those cases null and void. You were not guilty and fortunately as well, you weren't sentenced to three counts of death penalty." Mabuti na lang talaga. Three counts of death penalty ba naman ang kaparusahan sa tatlong batas na 'yun. I smiled at him. "I am really fortunate." Pagkatapos niya akong subuan, tumitig siya sa akin at ngumisi. "Ano?" "You're really fortunate?" "Hmm," I responded, nodding. "Hindi ba ako maswerte? I have all the useful connections in this world an
"Baby girl, wake up..." Though I feel like I'm sleep-deprived, kalmado akong bumangon at ngumiti kay Crimson na mukhang ewan. Oh man, he should be thankful dahil kung hindi lang talaga siya si Crimson, kanina pa bubog-sarado ang isang 'to sa akin. "Good morning, baby. Paano ka nakapunta rito?" "I sneaked in. Headmistress Mildred called them all except for me." "You asked her to do you a favor?" "Of course, no. Why would I do that? Everyone's busy for the second Enchanted War." Oo nga naman. Lahat kami ngayon ay pinoproblema ang mangyayari sa Enchanted War. Well, mas lalo naman ako kasi ako yung leader ng Academy para rito. "Okay. I'll go prepare now." "Sure. I'll wait for you." "Like how you waited for me to give you my yes." He frowned and shook his head. "Can't deny it, Torren. Tot
Madilim pa, pero mulat na mulat na ang mga mata ko. Yep, today will be a day where the most excruciating event that magicians never wished for will happen for in this special day: the infamous Enchanted War. I wore my black warrior outfit, almost the same as to what I wore during the finals of the Wielders of Charms. However, it has more purple designs and leather gloves. After tying my black leather knee-high combat boots, nagteleport na ako papunta sa rooftop ng Academy building to have my early warm up. Ayoko sa Training Chamber magpunta dahil madali lang ang access doon. Not like here na walang daan papunta rito unless you can walk up to the top of one of the Academy towers tapos saka ka tumalon. I summoned my magic staff and stanced to start training all by myself. I have mastered all the stuffs so a trainor for me isn't recommended by now. Kaya ko nang mag-ensayo mag-isa. This is as simple a
Less than an hour before the Midnight Sun appears everyone remains silent and the only thing we can hear is our heavy breathings. I'm still watching the surroundings from above here, especially the Dreich. There was a bit of fight happening at the border of Hesperia and Dreich. I have launched one thousand student magicians there to help the citizens escape and only fight when desperately needed. And yeah, hanggang ngayon, may mga lumilikas pa rin. Few minutes later, a light slowly enlightes the dark environment. It is the Midnight Sun. "Everyone, prepare," I announced to all of them. The rescue is still ongoing. Kailangang madala sila sa shelters bago tuluyang magpakita ang Midnight Sun. "Tita Ruby, what's the status there po?" "Malapit nang madala sa shelters ang lahat ng mga lumikas." "Sige po." Sa dami ng mga gustong makaalis na sa Dreich, tila ba maliit pa ang but
Things went very swift. I have gone so aggressive and that urge to kill this man I'm fighting against, I think, already controls my mind. I know this is bad because of the evil darkness gem but I don't have time for some self-control session. Gumawa ako ng isang wind tornado para sana itulak siya palayo. Kaso, nagulat ako nang biglang nasa unahan ko na siya kaya hindi ako nakagalaw agad. I felt a sharp blade cutted my skin on my neck. Biglang nanlabo ang paningin ko at nanlambot ang mga pakpak ko. Halos sumuka ako ng dugo pagkabagsak ko sa lupa. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla akong nanghina. Nanlalabo na ang mga paningin ko at pakiramdam ko ay isang sagi na lang ay patay na ako. "Baby, baby," I heard Crimson panicked. "Baby, can you hear me? Please respond." I felt his warm hands on my skin. "Damn!" "She and the Mystic Stone must not be separated," Lia stated, touching
A loud thud echoed in the whole Royal Palace, followed by a series of laughter. Eminence yelled, "Napakadaya ninyong lahat! Mga cheater!" Midnight, the Crown Prince of Demetria, just shook his head and smirked. "Lampa ka pa rin hanggang ngayon, Emy. Wala ka pa ring pinagbago. What happened to your Schiz-Torren blood?" "How dare you—" The fight was cut off as Ahrina threw the pink furry slipper to the four kids quarelling. "Hindi talaga kayo marunong makinig, ano? Eh kung kayong apat kaya ang sakalin ko isa-isa?" Twilight and Amethyst looked at each other and exclaimed, "Run!" "Oh anong nangyari rito?" agad na tanong ni Marina pagkarating sa Royal Garden kasama si Freesia at Thoreau. "In fairness, ang gulo ah. Royal Palace ba talaga ito?" "Tita Marina!" sigaw ni Amethyst at mabilis na isinumbong ang kanyang ina rito. "Inaaway kami ni
Dalawampung taon na simula nang mamuno sila Crimson at Ahrina bilang Hari at Reyna ng kaharian ng Demetria. Dalawampung taon na ring payapa ang buong Magic World, malayo sa mga pangyayari noong nakahiwalay ang Dreich mula sa Demetria. Sa balkonahe ng kanilang kwarto nakatayo si Ahrina, tinatanaw ang makulay at payapang Demetria. Ilang segundo ang makalipas, yumakap mula sa kanyang likod si Crimson. "Penny for you thoughts?" tanong nito sa asawa at saka nagtanggal ng kanyang reading glasses. "Wala naman." Nanatili ang titig ni Crimson kay Ahrina. Sa huli, sumuko na ang kanyang asawa. "Oo na, namimilit ka na naman eh. I was just thinking if everything will stay like this. Yes, it's been twenty years but—"
A loud thud echoed in the whole Royal Palace, followed by a series of laughter. Eminence yelled, "Napakadaya ninyong lahat! Mga cheater!" Midnight, the Crown Prince of Demetria, just shook his head and smirked. "Lampa ka pa rin hanggang ngayon, Emy. Wala ka pa ring pinagbago. What happened to your Schiz-Torren blood?" "How dare you—" The fight was cut off as Ahrina threw the pink furry slipper to the four kids quarelling. "Hindi talaga kayo marunong makinig, ano? Eh kung kayong apat kaya ang sakalin ko isa-isa?" Twilight and Amethyst looked at each other and exclaimed, "Run!" "Oh anong nangyari rito?" agad na tanong ni Marina pagkarating sa Royal Garden kasama si Freesia at Thoreau. "In fairness, ang gulo ah. Royal Palace ba talaga ito?" "Tita Marina!" sigaw ni Amethyst at mabilis na isinumbong ang kanyang ina rito. "Inaaway kami ni
Things went very swift. I have gone so aggressive and that urge to kill this man I'm fighting against, I think, already controls my mind. I know this is bad because of the evil darkness gem but I don't have time for some self-control session. Gumawa ako ng isang wind tornado para sana itulak siya palayo. Kaso, nagulat ako nang biglang nasa unahan ko na siya kaya hindi ako nakagalaw agad. I felt a sharp blade cutted my skin on my neck. Biglang nanlabo ang paningin ko at nanlambot ang mga pakpak ko. Halos sumuka ako ng dugo pagkabagsak ko sa lupa. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla akong nanghina. Nanlalabo na ang mga paningin ko at pakiramdam ko ay isang sagi na lang ay patay na ako. "Baby, baby," I heard Crimson panicked. "Baby, can you hear me? Please respond." I felt his warm hands on my skin. "Damn!" "She and the Mystic Stone must not be separated," Lia stated, touching
Less than an hour before the Midnight Sun appears everyone remains silent and the only thing we can hear is our heavy breathings. I'm still watching the surroundings from above here, especially the Dreich. There was a bit of fight happening at the border of Hesperia and Dreich. I have launched one thousand student magicians there to help the citizens escape and only fight when desperately needed. And yeah, hanggang ngayon, may mga lumilikas pa rin. Few minutes later, a light slowly enlightes the dark environment. It is the Midnight Sun. "Everyone, prepare," I announced to all of them. The rescue is still ongoing. Kailangang madala sila sa shelters bago tuluyang magpakita ang Midnight Sun. "Tita Ruby, what's the status there po?" "Malapit nang madala sa shelters ang lahat ng mga lumikas." "Sige po." Sa dami ng mga gustong makaalis na sa Dreich, tila ba maliit pa ang but
Madilim pa, pero mulat na mulat na ang mga mata ko. Yep, today will be a day where the most excruciating event that magicians never wished for will happen for in this special day: the infamous Enchanted War. I wore my black warrior outfit, almost the same as to what I wore during the finals of the Wielders of Charms. However, it has more purple designs and leather gloves. After tying my black leather knee-high combat boots, nagteleport na ako papunta sa rooftop ng Academy building to have my early warm up. Ayoko sa Training Chamber magpunta dahil madali lang ang access doon. Not like here na walang daan papunta rito unless you can walk up to the top of one of the Academy towers tapos saka ka tumalon. I summoned my magic staff and stanced to start training all by myself. I have mastered all the stuffs so a trainor for me isn't recommended by now. Kaya ko nang mag-ensayo mag-isa. This is as simple a
"Baby girl, wake up..." Though I feel like I'm sleep-deprived, kalmado akong bumangon at ngumiti kay Crimson na mukhang ewan. Oh man, he should be thankful dahil kung hindi lang talaga siya si Crimson, kanina pa bubog-sarado ang isang 'to sa akin. "Good morning, baby. Paano ka nakapunta rito?" "I sneaked in. Headmistress Mildred called them all except for me." "You asked her to do you a favor?" "Of course, no. Why would I do that? Everyone's busy for the second Enchanted War." Oo nga naman. Lahat kami ngayon ay pinoproblema ang mangyayari sa Enchanted War. Well, mas lalo naman ako kasi ako yung leader ng Academy para rito. "Okay. I'll go prepare now." "Sure. I'll wait for you." "Like how you waited for me to give you my yes." He frowned and shook his head. "Can't deny it, Torren. Tot
So people really thought that I betrayed them. Demetrians thought I betrayed Demetria. They really thought that I will join Dreich and not my own land. And those thoughts of them about me made them file a case against me. Dimwits. "And what happened to my cases?" "Upon hearing Dametreil Schiz's and Sorceress Halina's statements, Royal Family of Demetria announced those cases null and void. You were not guilty and fortunately as well, you weren't sentenced to three counts of death penalty." Mabuti na lang talaga. Three counts of death penalty ba naman ang kaparusahan sa tatlong batas na 'yun. I smiled at him. "I am really fortunate." Pagkatapos niya akong subuan, tumitig siya sa akin at ngumisi. "Ano?" "You're really fortunate?" "Hmm," I responded, nodding. "Hindi ba ako maswerte? I have all the useful connections in this world an
I slowly opened my eyes, seeing the familiar white ceiling and a warm thing cupping my left hand. I moved a bit and pushed myself to sit up without waking him. And I succeeded. Confirmed, nasa ospital nga ako ng Academy. What happened to me is still vivid in my mind and it still scares me until now, fearing that the same might happen not to me but to the others . . . especially Damaris and her family. However, nothing will happen if I let that nightmare control my mind and gone crazy. I have to develop new effective plans and execute actions for the better and to avoid what has to avoid. But then, as I gazed at Crimson who still sleeps soundly, I forgot about all the fears I have even just for a short span. I miss him. Sobrang na-miss ko siya. Alam kong mahirap paniwalaan pero siya ang pinakana-miss ko. I miss my Crimson. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko and faced him to caress his soft, black
Inabot ako nang dilim sa pagpapagaling kay Ahrina. Nawala na rin ang kanyang mga sugat at tanging mga marka ang naiwan. Mawawala rin ang mga iyon paglipas ng oras. Nagtagal ako sa pagpapagaling sa kanya dahil kailangan kong dahan-dahanin ang proseso. Maliban sa nag-iisa lamang ako, napakadami niyang sugat at mas lalong dadami at lalala ang kanyang sitwasyon kung ipipilit kong pabilisin ang paggaling niya. Nagpunta ako sa tabi niya at hinawakan ang kanyang kaliwang kamay. "Ahrina, malapit nang matapos ang lahat nang mga paghihirap na ito. Wag kang mag-alala, gagabayan kita. Kaya pakiusap, gumising ka na sa lalong madaling panahon." Pagkalabas ko ng silid, naroroon parin silang lahat at tahimik na lumingon sa akin. "Maayos na ang lagay ni Ahrina. Marka ng kanyang mga sugat ang naiwan pero mawawala din ang mga iyon. Natutulog parin siya nang mahimbing." "Magsabi ka nga ng totoo, Lia." Tumayo mula sa