Lara

When I was in human world, I thought that I really belong in that world. That I can be happy, that I can find the contentment living with that family and be comfortable with the surroundings. But it was just a thought, I'm actually wasn't happy. I am not contented and I am not comfortable because of those people who discriminated me... insulted me because of my gender, my capability and my personality.

I am now staring at the clear sky while the sun is smiling at me. Its sunlight is hugging my whole body together with the not that cold wind. The trees are happily dancing because of the blew of the wind under the music composed by different birds. I can hear them tweeting, I can hear the leaves falling, I can hear the river's flow and I can even hear my heartbeat.

"Makakaya ko ba talaga 'to, Lethius?" Tanong ko sa kaniya. He smiled at me and nodded. I was so shocked that his soul can go out from this body, I felt like it was really my body if he's not inside me! But he explained that he can split his soul into two that's why he can go out from this body.

"I'm here, Lara. I can help you, and beside, Oviossa is here too to help." I nodded and smiled. Na kahit kinakabahan ay tumango na lang ako dahil alam kong para rin sa akin 'to. I am really excited to get my body back and to get my memories back as well. I do have lots of questions in my mind and having my body can answer all of those!

We're heading to Litrayad, it was one of the coldest countries in Maria. It was said that this country is not just an ordinary country, and even the strongest fire users are not immune because of the cold weather in there.

"And don't you remember? You are in God's body that's why you are not just an ordinary. The body you are using is powerful, combination of my soul, Oviossa's and yours." Tama si Lethius, unti-unti ko na rin talaga nararamdaman ang lakas ng kapangyarihan sa katawang 'to lalo na't gising na gising na ang kaluluwa niya at kay Oviossa. They can take over my body and mind anytime if they want to but they chose not to do it because they respect me.

"Ano bang mga lahi ang mga nando'n sa Litrayad, Lethius? Why the weather in that place is always cold?" I curiously asked.

"I don't know either, Lara. Hindi pa ako nakapunta sa lugar na 'yon lalo na't hindi rin ako pamilyar. Si Oviossa lang ang nakakaalam pero hindi natin siya natatanong niyan dahil nanghihina na ang enerhiya ng kaluluwa niya. Pero batid ko na may mga bagong halimaw ang lumitaw sa Maria." Tumango na lang ako at nag-focus na lang sa daan.

What I can see is alive forest, the ground is breathing that's why it's actually amazing. But I heard that those roots I am seeing are dangerous, poisonous to be exact. That's why I am being careful because no one can heal my wounds physically.

I suddenly stopped when my heart beats faster. Agad akong nalungkot dahil do'n dahil sa alam kong malungkot ngayon si Ruthven, ang asawa ko. I can feel Ruthven's emotions and same goes with him because we are mates. He is a vampire with so much respect in him, he respect me so much and he respect all my decisions. Akala ko ay magiging bampira din ang katawan na 'to lalo na't may nangyari na sa amin pero noong kinagat ako ni Ruthven ay pinigilan ng katawang 'to na maging bampira ako. Mabuti na lang din dahil hindi akin ang katawan na 'to.

"I think your husband is so sad." Napailing na lang ako at napangiti ng tipid.

"You already witnessed Ruthven's personality, Lethius. That's why it is scary to say goodbye to him." Sagot ko na siyang ikinahagikhik niya.

Nakakatakot kasing magpaalam sa lalaking 'yon lalo na't may pagkapasaway. Laging inuuna ang init ng ulo dahil nga sa ayaw niyang ako lang ang gagawa ng mga bagay na ayaw niyang mangyari. Naiintindihan ko naman siya lalo na't mahal na mahal niya ako at ayaw niya akong mawala at gano'n rin naman ako sa kaniya pero kailangan na naming mag-aral kung paano maging independent lalo na't nasa mundo kami na 'to na hindi alam kung anong mangyayari sa buhay namin sa susunod na mga araw.

"You're right, I saw how crazy he is when it comes to you. I'm actually having fun seeing him mad because he thought I was a monster taking over your body." Natatawa nitong turan na siyang ikinatawa ko na lang din. Ruthven can really be crazy when it comes to me and I am actually thankful for it especially that he is protective of me. Not just me but also to our children that's why I'm happy.

Hindi ko naman inaakala na mangyayari ang mga bagay na 'to sa'kin lalo na't isang bakla lang ako na naghahangad ng magandang buhay. Hindi ko aakalain na makakamit ko ang mga bagay na siyang meron ako ngayon at hindi ko inaakala na magiging masaya ako kasama ang mga malalapit na kaibigan ko.

It's been a week since I went adventure, leaving the castle and my people. But I know that I can trust them, I know that they can protect my nation. I trust them, of course, because they are my people. They love the nation like how I love it.

Natigilan ako nang biglang may naramdamang kakaibang lamig sa kapaligiran kaya agad akong naghanda. Bumigat ang pakiramdam ko sa hindi malaman ang dahilan kaya napatingin ako kay Lethius na ngayo'y seryosong-seryoso nang nililibot ang tingin.

"Something wrong in this place." Rinig kong sambit niya, agad akong naghanda nang makitang parang unti-unti ng lumamig sa kinakatayuan namin.

I was stunned when suddenly the green nature trees turning into white trees! The flowers are also turning white as well! And I can sense the coldness from them! At tiyaka pansin ko, hindi ko na naririnig ang mga tunog ng mga ibon kaya alam kong may mali talagang nangyayari sa paligid.

Suddenly an image appeared in the cold fog, I narrowed my eyes to see it clearly and was shook because of its appearance!

"It's Nuckelavee." Napalingon ako kay Lethius nang may binanggit siya. Seryoso siya ngayon habang nakatingin sa hindi ko malaman na halimaw!

"W-What? What is that?" I confusingly asked.

"That's Nuckelavee, a winter monster." He replied that made me confused more. Ano bang klaseng halimaw ang Nuckelavee? I've never heard one before!

"The Nuckelavee is a winter monster, said to be a type of demon. The Nuckelavee is trapped in the sea for most of the year by a powerful female sea spirit. But during the winter, the Nuckelavee emerges from the watery depths. The beast has the appearance of a horse with the upper body of a man coming out of the middle of its back. The head of the man-like part is three times too big and rolls back and forth and its arms are too long and drag on the ground. The legs of the creature have fin-like appendages." He expounded. Agad akong napalingon ulit sa halimaw nang dumaing ito na parang nasasaktan.

Scary!

"The horse head has a gaping mouth and a single blood-red eye. The creature has no skin, all that can be seen on its surface is the powerful muscles and pale sinew, with black blood pulsating through yellow veins. The horse mouth breathes a smelly toxic vapor that causes crops to wilt and livestock and young folk to fall ill, and drought follows in its wake." He added.

I think that's the least monster that I would like to have in my nation! It's a wild creature that will surely send a chill up your bones!

"I-I don't know its capability but don't be so complacent with that monster. It's a second generation monster that's why it is kind of extraordinary even it looks like that." He stated that made me nodded.

Nabigla na lang ako nang sumugod na ang halimaw na siyang ikinahanda ko. Ang bilis niya!

"What's with the horse?" Bulong ko, tumalon na lang ako ng mataas nang halos sakmalin na ako ng malaki niyang kamay. Nang pagkalapag ko ay agad akong gumawa ng mga bolang apoy pero agad din 'yon naglaho.

"Sat, you can't use your fire here! I think this is already Litrayad! We are already in their country!" Sigaw sa akin ni Lethius na siyang ikinatango ko. Mukhang tama nga siya dahil sa ang lamig na ng nararamdaman ko at sobrang bigat ng enerhiya ng lugar na 'to!

"Guild Incantation: Algea!" I screamed but I was so shocked dahil hindi umepekto sa kaniya ang inkantasiyon!

"I think it is because he has no actual physical body, Lara, that's why your pain incantation has no effect. What we are just seeing are their muscles and veins." Seryosong turan sa akin ni Lethius na ngayo'y nasa tabi ko. Tama siya at mukhang mapapasubok ako sa halimaw na nasa harapan naming dalawa.

"Then I don't have any choice but to fight it physically."

Pagkasabi ko no'n ay biglang nagbago ang enerhiya sa buo kong katawan at kasabay no'n ay ang pagliwanag ng mga kamay ko. It's glowing with green light and I can sense the immense power from it.

"Humanda ka!" Malakas na sigaw ko at agad tumakbo ng mabilis. Hindi rin nagpatalo sa akin ang halimaw at gano'n rin ang ginawa niya. Papalapit na kami sa isa't isa habang nakakuyom ang mga kamao namin.

"Yah!" Sigaw ko, umungol rin ito ng malakas hanggang sa nagkasanggaan ang mga kamao namin. Nagdulot 'yon ng malakas na hangin na siyang nagpaatras sa aming dalawa. The monster's fist is bigger than mine but I am not scared and worried because I know the capabilities of my fists. I know their powers when it comes to hand to hand combat.

I jumped vertically and then gave the monster a kick but he just avoided it smoothly. It's not the end of my attack because I immediately used my elbow to hit the horse's face. The horse moaned painfully that's why I stepped a bit, away from the monster.

Napatingin ako sa halimaw na nakasakay sa kabayo habang lumalapad na ang ngiti na literal na abot na sa tenga niya. Nanindig ang balahibo ko pero naghanda parin ako nang may maramdaman akong kakaiba mula doon hanggang sa may namuong liwanag galing sa bibig niya! Bago ako tamaan ay agad na akong umiwas at napatingin sa punong natamaan. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makitang nalusaw ang buong puno!

That's smelly kind of attack!

"Asido ba 'yon?" Tanong ko sa sarili ko. Napalingon ako kay Lethius na seryoso lang nakatingin sa halimaw. The monster can't see him, and Lethius can't use his power when he's not fully in this body.

Mas pinalakas ko ang kapangyarihan na bumabalot sa mga kamao ko at tumingin sa halimaw.

"You fucking monster! Tumabi ka dahil kailangan na kailangan ko na ang katawan ko!" Malakas na sigaw ko at agad siyang sinugod. Hindi ko na namalayan dahil bigla na lang bumilis ang pagtakbo ko. Wala ng nagawa ang halimaw dahil nasa harapan na ako nito.

"Die." Diing bulong ko at binigyan ang nakasakay sa kabayo ng malakas na malakas na suntok. Pagkatama ng kamao ko ay umungol ito dahil sa sakit, ang halimaw na nakasakay sa kabayo, pero bago pa makatayo ang kabayo ay agad kong tinapakan ng malakas ang ulo nito.

"Guild Incantation: Electro." Bulong ko. Bigla na lang lumitaw ang malakas na kuryente sa buong katawan ko hanggang sa dumaloy ito papunta sa halimaw. Napaungol ang dalawa dahil sa napakalakas ng current na taglay ng kuryente hanggang sa unti-unti ng umuusok ang kabuuan nilang dalawa.

"Tama na 'yan, Lara. Baka mapansin pa tayo ng ibang halimaw sa lugar na 'to, mahirap na." Napatingin ako kay Lethius dahil sa sinabi niya. Huminga na lang ako ng malalim at tinignan muli ang halimaw na ngayo'y wala ng buhay dahil sa ginawa ko.

Ngayon na lang rin ako nakipaglaban ng ganito katagal. Napakalakas ng resistensiya ng halimaw na 'to dahil hindi siya basta-basta natatablan ng Guild Incantation!

Paano na lang ang ibang halimaw na makakasalamuha ko?