GEORGIA
Georgia Kaye Alas

We now stare at the map on the bulletin board. According to Haden and Heidi, they have searched for Arenspade, Jax, and Lowell everywhere through their other comrades but no clues were really found.

All that is left is one more place in Fall. The abandoned castle, where the man who tried to attacked us, resides.

"I can go," Lucifuge said. "I need to save them. I can go."

Walang nakasagot sa kanya. Everyone knew how bad the idea was. The man he'll face isn't just anyone. Sure, he could be the crown prince now, but... that man is the first King, who is now insane. Dangerous. Who knows what he could do to him?

But who knows what Lucifuge could do?

He stood before us with a fierce determination in his unwavering eyes, despite knowing that he is putting his own life on the line.

"Hindi basta-basta ang tao doon. Hindi rin natin alam kung ano ba talaga ang koneksyon niya sa'yo... kung ba't ba kayo magkamukha, gan'on!" Heidi argued, throwing her hands up the air. Obviously, she didn't want to send Lucifuge there either.

Nagkunot-noo si Lucifuge at umiling. "I don't really care whoever he is. I'm going there because of Aeryn, Jax and Lowell."

No matter how much they reasoned out, Lucifuge was resolute in his decision.

"You may lose your life," diretso kong banggit. Hindi ako nagsasalita kanina, pero 'di ko na rin mapigilan ang pag-aalala ko.

"You can lose your life here in Fall. No one would care. No one will save you," halos dire-diretso kong banggit bago kumalma.

"But your existence is important to Summer. Hindi ka pwedeng mapahamak dahil marami ka pang kailangan gawin at tuparin para sa Summer," dagdag ko bago huminga ng malalim para sa susunod kong suhestiyon.

"That's why I should go instead, or at least... be with you." My voice croaked.

Hindi ko nagawang tingnan sila, pero nagulat nalang ako nang malakas na tumawa si Heidi sa 'di ko mawaring dahilan.

"You really think your lover would send you to a place that is most dangerous to you?" She said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Huh, lover?

"Girl. That man looking like Lucifuge obviously has the same taste as he has," seryosong dagdag niya kahit 'di naman kaseryo-seryoso ang mga salitang ginagamit niya. "Bet na bet ang mga red-eyed girls, kaya pinaghahanap ka for whatever his plans are!"

"We will go with Lucifuge, Georgia. We cannot let you join us because my promise to my master is to keep you safe," Haden firmly said.

Bahagyang lumuwag ang paghinga ko nang malamang sasamahan nila si Lucifuge. I bit my lip, torn between arguing more to join them or just follow what they want. In a future that is uncertain and dangerous, it is really hard to decide.

"Georgia," tawag ni Lucifuge. "If I wouldn't be able to save my people, how more can I save the whole land? So please," he said, his voice softening. "Trust me. Babalik ako kasama sila."

And now, I stood by the side of the road, watching as Haden, Heidi, and Lucifuge loaded their weapons onto the carriage they will use to depart to the abandoned castle.

I felt a sense of nervousness wash over me as I realize that they are together to a dangerous land, whilst I am alone in a safe place.

Huling sumakay si Lucifuge at mabilis akong hinila sa isang yakap. "I'll be back," aniya kaya't marahan kong tinapik ang kanyang likod.

"You really should. Marami pa tayong dapat pag-usapan," I answered through telepathy. Saglit siyang napatawa habang humihiwalay sa'kin— ang mga daliri ay ayaw pang kumawala.

"Take care." We both said.

I watched as the carriage pulled away, disappearing into the distance. I stood there for a long time, worried about them nonstop, unable to shake off the feeling that they were in grave danger.

Wala ako sa sarili, at mahuhuli minsang nakatulala sa mapa. My anxiety grew with each passing moment, fearing the monster in the abandoned castle, until I lost track of time entirely.

It wasn't until a hum alike to Lucifuge's voice echoed in the room. A dart passed by me from behind and landed on the castle.

"Georgia, I returned," ani ng malalim na boses matapos ang munti niyang huni.

I turned around quickly, my heart racing, only to find that the monster I had been so afraid of had already found me.

°°°°°°

LUCIFUGE
Lucifuge Rofocale Gwydion

The carriage stopped abruptly. Halos mauntog si Heidi sa bintana ng karwahe, kaya't mabilis siyang napamura. Akala namin ay tutuloy pa rin ang karwahe.

There was no coachman, but the horse was smart enough alone. Something must be up, kaya naman kaagad akong lumabas upang i-check.

Then, I could see that the horse was frightened and restless. Nang igala ko ang paningin ko kung ano ang maaaring nakapagpatakot sa kanya, napagtanto kong nasa harap na kami ng kagubatan. A dense forest that seemed endless.

The carriage wouldn't be able to go further.

Kinatok ko lang sila mula sa loob at mukhang nakuha naman nila ang nais kong iparating. We quickly grabbed our weapons and made our way into the forest, where the only sound was the rustling of leaves as we walked.

None of us dared to talk. It's best to be careful.

Nang patuloy ang paglalakad namin, napapansin kong mas lalo lang dumidilim and nagdidikit-dikit ang mga puno. And just as we thought we could go no further, we stopped in our tracks upon the sight before us.

The abandoned castle, looming out of the darkness like a warning.

I summoned wechuge to take a closer look inside, but what surprised me is that... wechuge did not respond.

"Go," pasigaw na bulong ni Heidi nang matigilan ako sa pwesto ko. Tumango nalang ako at nanguna sa paglapit sa kastilyo. I clothed ourselves darkness, and Haden also turned us to shadows. We are basically camouflaging.

The castle was even more ominous up close, with its damaged windows and crumbling stone walls. There were shards of glass everywhere that reflected faintest bits of moonlight that was filtering through the trees.

The façade of the castle is covered in weeds and vines that have engulfed the cracks and walls. The windows are boarded up, and it looks to have been that way for a long time.

It seems to have been forgotten by time, left to crumble and decay in the middle of the dark and dense forest.

But the ominous energy coming from inside is a reminder that it is abandoned, perhaps only haunted.

Napatingin ako sa mga kasamahan ko. Seryoso ang tingin ni Haden, samantala si Heidi naman ay tila natutuwa pa.

Nag-iba lang ang ekspresyon niya nang makarinig ng mga pag-iyak. Lubha rin akong nagtaka dahil wala naman ang lahat ng 'yon kanina. . . It seems like those cries knew that they are people here. Us.

But that's impossible.

Still, we entered the castle cautiously, listening for any sounds of life. . . or death.

Nauna si Heidi sa'min, at habang palapit nang palapit ay mas lumalakas ang mga iyak kaya't natitiyak naming nalalapit na kami sa pwesto nila.

"Heidi," mahinang tawag ni Haden. "Careful."

Heidi only looked back at us and smirked. "The crying voices are from women. I'm sure."

Women? Hindi kaya't mga biktima ng naninirahan ditong muntik nang kunin si Georgia?

We picked up her pace. Finally, after what seemed like hours, she opened the door with her threads and then shriked as she found a group of women, huddled together in a room. All dysfunctional, broken, battered.

Everything of them seemed ruined except for their red eyes.

Agad silang dinalo ni Heidi at may kung ano'ng ginawa sa kanila gamit ang mahika niya.

Hindi ako halos makagalaw sa nakita at naisip. Ito ba ang mangyayari kay Georgia kung hindi siya nasagip noon? Kung nahabol siya? Bumigat ang paghinga ko at hindi na ako nakapag-isip nang matino hanggang sa malakas na hinampas ni Haden ang balikat ko.

Marahas ko siyang binalingan, ngunit nagulat lang ako nang mapansing lumawak na pala ang aura ko. Ang kadiliman na maaaring makapatay ng normal na tao.

I shook my head inwardly. "Umalis na kayo rito, Haden, Heidi. Itakas niyo sila. Bring them to the nearest healer," I said, my voice low but urgent and commanding.

Haden frowned. "What do you mean? Napag-usapan nating magkakasama tayo."

"The situation's changed," sagot ko. "Will you let them die? Save them. I can handle this."

Nagulat ako sa madaliang pagtugon ni Heidi. "Tama siya, Haden. Ikaw na ang magdala sa mga babaeng 'to, ako nalang ang sasama kay Lucifuge."

"I temporarily linked themselves with my power. That way, they can move. . . even with broken bones. I attached threads to them like dolls but that won't keep them alive," paliwanag ni Heidi at tinayo ang mga babae at may binulong sa kanila.

From what I see, she's telling him to follow him. Kaya't wala na ring nagawa si Haden.

Labag man sa loob niya, alam niyang 'yon ang pinakamagandang gawin. He'll keep them safe with his shadow magic. They'll be able to survive as long as the enemy stays here.

Nawala na ang tuwa at mangha sa mga mata ni Heidi mula nang makita ang mga biktima. Her seething anger resonates with mine.

I led the way, my senses on high alert for any sign of danger— but it's everywhere. We made our way through the winding corridors and passages of the castle, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.

I know that the enemy is waiting for us, biding their time until they could strike. Just waiting for the right moment.

But none of that happened even when we reached the main hall, where the throne resided.

"L-Lowell. . . ?" Mahinang sambit ni Heidi.

Dumako agad ang paningin ko sa sinulyapan niya at napasinghap nang makita si Lowell na nakaupo sa isang trono, katabi ng nasa gitna.

His closed eyes flashed open as he heard his sister's voice. Napaawang ang bibig niya, 'di makapaniwala sa nakikita. Tiningnan niya ako, may halong takot at galit sa mga mata.

"N-No. . . Not her. 'Wag din siya," sambit niya.

Napaawang naman ang bibig ko sa pagtataka dahil hindi ko maintindihan kung ano'ng pinaparating niya sa'kin.

"Bakit siya narito? Nakuha mo na si. . . Siya. Hindi ba siya lang naman ang gusto mo? Bakit– ba—" He couldn't speak well, either from shock, confusion, fear, or so.

Habang binibigkas niya 'yon, mabilis na tumakbo si Heidi papunta sa kanya at niyakap siya nang mahigpit. Buong akala ko'y wala na siyang pakialam kay Lowell o sa pamilya niya. When we were talking about him, she never showed emotions. She never feared or even worry. . . but I guess, she bottled it all up.

"Let's go, Lowell. Umalis na tayo dito. May iba ka bang kasama?" She said as her voice was shaking.

Tinuro ako ni Lowell at biglang niyakap nang mahigpit si Heidi. "I can't leave yet," he said firmly, still pointing at me.

But I was wrong.

He wasn't pointing at me, but someone past me.

Nang mapalingon ako, inakala kong may salamin lang sa harap ko. Tila ba tinitingnan ko ang sarili kong repleksyon. Gulat ang ekspresyon ko habang ang kanya naman ay namamangha.

This was the first king of Fall. This is the man who abused the women. He is. . .

"Lucifuge Rofocale," tawag niya ngunit mabilis ko siyang pinaulanan ng kapangyarihan ko.

Pero sa isang pitik niya lang, naglaho lahat ng 'yon.

"Ah. You really think you're the real Lucifuge Rofocale, huh? You're but a piece of my existence, weakling. I am the Lucifuge Rofocale."

Discovering Summerland
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Thank you for reading!