Fall
Jerastus 16, 2196
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LUCIFUGE
Lucifuge Rofocale Gwydion

It's the third day roaming around the land of Fall.

I have gotten accustomed to the darkness, and I didn't had to hide my power much. It became my advantage, and I could survive this cruel land.

Hindi ko maisip kung paano namuhay dito si Georgia. It's just a place where the weak dies, and the strong dwell like criminals. Do they not have a King?

Isa na namang buntonghininga bago ko iikot ang paningin ko, nagbabakasakaling makikita ko sila. Hindi ko rin mawari kung ba't naghiwa-hiwalay kami. I worried more for Aeryn and Jax Morrison. Lowell could handle the darkness around here, but those two... ah, I don't know about them.

I shook my head and my gaze turned to a dark tunnel. There were few people who went in, and as I had no clue, I followed.

The tunnels were damp, and though there were several ways, only one way had torches— where people also went. The low fire in the torches created dancing shadows, and magic made it look like those were dancing women. It somehow created the idea of what to expect at the destination.

I scoffed in disgust as I saw people fuck along the tunnel. Some would even look at me, beckon me to come join them. I couldn't stand them, so I cast an illusion of darkness in me. That way, they won't see me.

Hah. This place has no hope under their governance.

After turns and walks, I had finally went out the tunnel, and right in front of, what it seemed like, a mansion.

Nanliit ang mga mata ko nang makitang mas malinis at maayos ang hitsura ng mga tao dito, ibang-iba sa mga nakikita ko sa lansangan. They looked like aristocrats— and only people looking like those could enter.

The gate was heavily guarded, and it seemed like they were asking for identities. Hm, hindi naman ako makakapasok d'yan. Wala akong identidad dito... at baka mahuli pa ako.

But who can stop me if they don't know?

Nagtungo muna ako sa tabi, kung saan onti lang ang tao. I summoned wechuge in a form of a crow, and closed my eyes to gain its vision.

Wechuge went around the highest floor. Wala masyadong tao roon, ngunit may mga maid-servants na nakabantay bawat silid. I guess this is where elite people are sent. You know, private rooms. Guarded. Probably where secrets lie, and I don't wanna meddle with that.

I commanded wechuge to go down the floors. Bawat palapag pababa, parami nang parami ang mga tao. Wechuge went to an empty veranda, and I took that as an opportunity to teleport in its place.

It was easy, as long as wechuge is there where I want to go. Mabuti na lang at maayos naman ang kasuotan ko. Black longsleeves polo at black pants, katulad ng uniporme namin halos— hey, mind you, I take baths and laundry clothes. I have three sets, okay?

I turned wechuge into a golden masquerade mask like most of the people here. The curtain separating the hall from the veranda was blown, and a woman gasped as she saw me.

"Oh, forgive me. I was sure this place was empty earlier... perhaps, my eyes saw wrong."

Umiling-iling naman ako at naglakad papalit. "No, madame. I was about to go. You may take this spot," I excused and walked past her, however, a force stopped me in my tracks.

This woman is powerful.

"You're familiar, Sire. Have we ever met before?" She asked, pointing a finger on my back as she turns to go in front of me.

Doon ko lang talagang napansin ang kanyang hitsura. Green eyes and silver hair. It reminded me of that clan. Stavros. The ones in charge of the records and library offices across the land of Summer.

The mask in her face made it impossible for me to recognize her, and I haven't really met the clan. But if she's really a Stavros, then... she must know the crown prince.

A gulp escaped my tongue. I wasn't a good actor, but there's no other way. I sweetly smiled at her and gently brushed off her finger. "Excuse me, madame. I believe we hadn't met. With a beauty like yours, it would be impossible for me to forget it," I lied.

Hinalikan ko ang likod ng kamay niya bago humakbang paatras at nang akmang tatalikod na ako, bigla niyang tinanong ang pangalan ko.

"Then let's make this unforgettable. Who is this dashing young man? I am Ruby—"

"Honey!" Natigilan lang siya sa pagsasalita nang may malakas na tumawag no'n, at bigla pang pinulupot ang sariling kamay sa braso ko.

My eyes dropped to the lady by my side. Black wavy hair, and brown foxy eyes that you'd mistake as red. Her smile was mischievous, and her eyes looked like a weapon. And even with her mask, all of her screamed, 'You shouldn't mess with me.'

Heidi Laquisha Calafiore.

She's here in Fall. She wasn't dead.

"Oh, madame Ruby. I see you've met my fiancé! What a surprise. How I wish I could introduce you to each other more, but we're in a hurry, madame. I missed him so much, soooooo see you later!" Mabilis na saad ni Heidi bago ako hilahin palayo roon.

Hindi pa lubos na natatanggap ng sistema ko ang nangyayari. Heidi, whom we tought was dead, is alive here. She only escaped the land of Summer... but why?

"You dumbass. You're really here at Fall? What? 'Di ka ba maka-move-on sa'kin kaya hinanap mo pa talaga ako' sinundan dito? What an ew movement, Lucifuge. Don't think that it would make me fall for you. Bumalik ka na sa Summer dahil wala ka namang pag-asa sa—"

"Calm down. What the fuck are you saying, kid?" Bulyaw ko nang hindi siya matahimik habang paakyat kami ng palapag gamit ang isang plataporma, na laking gulat ko ay elevator pala paakyat. It was just a circular floorstep, until it detached and levitated.

Hindi na muna ako nagsalita dahil iniiwasan kong marinig ng iba ang usapan namin. Akmang magsasalita siyang muli, ngunit sinamaan ko siya ng tingin kaya't inirapan niya lang ako.

"We'll settle this privately. You don't have to bombard me with your nonsense. Sabihin mo nalang na na-miss mo ako," pambalik na asar ko sa kanya kaya't bigla niyang inapakan ang paa ko gamit ang kanyang heels.

I glared at her once more and she chuckled devilishly.

Laking gulat ko nang 'di tumigil ang plataporma hanggang sa pinaka-itaas na palapag. This is only means that her connections are influential here. She's powerful, and that made me more... intruiged. The maidservants turned to our direction and did not only bow, but went on their knees.

Hindi ko napansing nakababa na pala sa plataporma si Heidi, at tinawag niya ang buong pangalan ko.

"Lucifuge Rofocale Gwydion. Come now," she commanded as she glanced at me over her shoulder.

Mas lalo ko siyang sinamaan ng tingin. She wasn't supposed to reveal my name in front of servants. It's a risk of our identity— my identity.

And it seemed like she had understood my eyes, she chuckled once again and said, "Don't worry, Fuge. These servants are just clones. They can't remember anything and the only thing in their brain is to serve us. Hm, they're like, you know, dolls with programmed activities."

Hindi pa rin natanggal ang pag-i-isang guhit ng kilay ko matapos ang paliwanag niya. She stared back at me too for a long time, and sighed in defeat.

"Okay, fine. Maybe you're right," she exclaimed and snapped.

The next thing that I heard were shattering glasses of the clones, and a a scream of agony.

Sabay kaming napatingin doon ni Heidi, at nanlaki ang mga mata nang isa sa mga maidservant ang nagpapanggap. A spy.

Mabilis akong bumaba sa plataporma at pumunta sa harap ni Heidi para protektahan siya, ngunit natigilan ako nang humalakhak siya nang malakas at itinabi ang kamay ko.

"How dare this lowly mortal disguise as one of my dolls!"

Huh? Siya ang gumawa ng mga clones na 'yon? I don't recall here being this powerful. I believed she hasn't even realized her powers yet, but I guess, she was just hiding it.

Red threads extended from her fingers and attached themselves to the spy. I watched her kill— no, torture the spy mercilessly. She pulled out the eyeballs and stitched the eyelids with the threads. She chuckled as the woman pleaded mercy, but she also shut the woman up with stitches on her mouth.

Then, I realized Heidi Laquisha was a puppeteer, someone who possesses dark forbidden magic. Now, I could understand the reason why she chose Fall than Summer.

She was insane. This was where she belongs best.

Discovering Summerland
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Thank you for reading!