Battle
Jerastus 2, 2196
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GEORGIA
Georgia Kaye Alas | Heidi Laquisha Calafiore

Two weeks. Everything went smoothly in a span of two weeks. Every day was just sparring with each other, battling, meditating, and the normal stuff you could read in magic schools.

Hindi ko alam kung nagsisinungaling ba si Lucifuge na nasa iisang klase kami. After the incident on the hidden tunnel in the library, I never got to see him again. Siguro nga tama si Lowell, hindi siya pumupunta rito.

Napapikit tuloy ako nang maalala ang kahihiyan na ginawa ko. I made a fuss just because of the dagger. Ni hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa kokote ko. There was something inside me that was new— as if the vampire awakened. Simula nang mangyari 'yon, mas tumalas na ang pandinig ko at naging sensitibo na rin ako sa amoy ng dugo. I always have that urge to drink blood and my fangs would sometimes come out.

"Are you ready for the battle later, Miss Heidi?" Napatingin naman ako sa tabi ko nang may nagsalita. I immediately recognized who it was, Denzel Drennon Wanester. Someone who I'm not close with but keeps pestering me in everything I do. N'ong una, nagugulat ako kapag bigla nalang siyang lumalapit ngunit kalaunan ay nasanay na rin ako.

Hindi ko naman siya sinagot dahil palagi naman akong handa. I am not as strong as others, or as powerful. However, my reflexes as a vampire helped me. Sa labanan nama'y hindi kailangan ng lakas at kapangyarihan, kailangan ng talino at pag-iisip. If someone powerful moves recklessly, then he or she might just endanger him or herself.

"Ikaw talaga ang idol ko pagdating sa mga combat battles. The way you move and use your dagger is just— wah, fascinating," he giggled and pinched my cheeks.

Napapikit naman ako upang piligan ang aking inis. I do not like people touching me, but he's only sixteen, and Heidi's two years older than him. I'm three years older, however.

"Hindi ka ba talaga excited?" tanong niya at mas dumikit pa sa'kin. "You'll be battling with the crown prince."

This time, he caught my attention. "Lucifuge Rofocale? Since when did he become so interested with combats?"

"He personally requested it to the masters of the academy, I heard," he answered. "Kalat na sa lahat ng estudyante. Sa'yo nalang ata hindi, Miss Heidi. You're too oblivious."

Umiling nalang ako at sinundan niya ako papunta sa arena. Napansin kong napuno na rin ng tao ang mga upuan— at unang beses lang 'yon nangyari. Siguro dahil inaabangan ng lahat ang mangyayaring labanan sa pagitan namin ni Lucifuge.

Pinigilan naman ako ng isang estudyante na tumaas papunta sa mga upuan. He was tall, had midnight blue hair, and his blue eyes pierced through mine. Ngayon ko lang siya nakita, ah?

Then, he averted his gaze to this little man beside me. Napansin ko ang maliiit na signal na ginagamit nila sa kilay nila. Malamang ay magkakilala sila. I scoffed and spoke coldly, "Why couldn't we go to the seats?"

"The boy could. However, your battle with Prince Lucifuge is about to start."

It is? Am I really too oblivious? A sigh escaped my lips, and I nodded before turning back to face the arena. The floor was made of sand so that injuries could be prevented. However, there was an invisible floor above that made it look like the battle was floating.

Napatingin naman ako sa gilid nang may mga tumili. Kaagad kong nakita si Lucifuge who was wearing the same uniform as others had— only that his was more extravagant. Mas napuno ng disenyo ang kaniyang uniporme, at mas... fit din sa kaniya.

Hindi naman namin kailangang mag-alala para sa suot namin 'pagkat sadyang ginawa ang unipormeng ito para sa labanan.

Lucifuge's bloody red eyes scanned me, and I did the same to him, too. I nonchalantly walked towards him, and he did the same while brushing his jet black hair. A smirk formed on his lips, but I was startled when he lifted my palm and kissed it, placing it against his chest.

Mabilis ko namang binawi ang kamay ko kaya't mas lalo siyang napangisi. "Why are you shy? Everyone knows we're a couple, Heidi."

"I'm not shy," depensa kong sagot at napatawa nang bahagya. "I wouldn't mind kissing you here— I just don't see the necessity to do so."

His smirk turned to an amused smile. "Necessity? Like what?"

Napaisip naman ako at bahagyang natuwa sa naisip. "When you're near death? Maybe do some CPR?" asar ko at pinigilan ang tawa.

Akala ko'y maaasar o maiinis siya, ngunit napatitig lang siya kaya't umirap nalang ako at kinagat ang loob ng aking pisngi para pigilan ang pagtawa. Why the hell did you say that, Georgia?

Finally, our attention was moved to the voice who spoke or the host of the battle. "Good morning, Celestines! Today's battle is exciting because of our two future rulers, Prince Lucifuge Rofocale Gwydion and Lady Heidi Laquisha Calafiore."

Napangiwi naman ako sa narinig. Rulers? Hell no. Nagulat nalang ako nang biglang inilagay ni Lucifuge ang kaniyang kamay sa'king balikat. Napatingin ako sa kaniya ngunit biglang napaatras nang yumuko siya at halos magdikit ang mga mukha namin.

He sighed before whispering, "We're not going to battle with each other, so I'm going to use telepathy. You'll speak with me through your mind."

Napatango naman ako bagaman nagtataka kung bakit at paanong hindi kami maglalaban. Why the hell did they call this a battle in the first place?!

"As a request from our Crown Prince, they won't be battling each other. Instead, they would team up to defeat creatures. Our Prince doesn't want to hurt his Princess."

Halos masuka naman ako nang sabihin 'yon ng host o announcer. Napangiwi ako lalo nang pakilig na sumigaw ang mga nanonood. Hinagod naman ni Lucifuge ang aking balikat habang natatawa. Pinikit ko nalang ang mata ko para pigilan ang sarili kong sapakin siya sa harap ng maraming tao.

The horn blared, a sign that the battle was to begin. Nawala na sa paningin namin ang mga upuan at manonood. Clouds covered the surroundings and slowly, a snarl, growl, and cry seemed to reverb over.

It was for moments only, and soon the scene went dark— but I know everything of this is just a mere illusion. There were perhaps half a dozen unknown creatures, with the shape of humans, and warped with the demon-like physique.

Binitawan na ako ni Lucifuge at nagsimulang magsalita sa'king utak. "Try not to get wounded, mi amore."

I replied with a scoff. Try not to? For a fact, I know how not to get wounded. Umiling nalang ako at tumingin na ulit sa paligid.

The closest had its face to Lucifuge. It was of horror and flame— eyes with slits, glowing with spite. Black runes illuminated from his body, and suddenly, another eye opened on his chin. His left arm had been warped, twisted into a thing. My eyes squinted and realized that it was a sword that had been grafted to his arm. The ruins grew around the sword too, and his veins popped out like a new set of blades.

The other hand, the right, was grafted with a flail. My hands shivered at the sight of the steel ending with sharp and long spikes that seemed to be bigger than his own head. It lurched to the sands then up to the sky.

Napakagat naman ako sa labi ko at nilabas ang akong dagger, ngunit ano namang saysay ng dagger na 'to sa dalawang malaking sandata niya!

"Try using your powers now, Heidi. Daggers won't usually work for this."

I shook my head. As much as possible, I wouldn't want to use my powers. Hindi ko gusto na ipakita 'yon sa harap ng maraming tao. Hindi ko gusto na magkaroon pa ng dagdag na atensyon. Tila naman narinig niya ang sinasabi ng utak ko kaya't napatingin siya at sinamaan ako ng tingin.

Nanlaki naman ang mata niya at dahil d'on napagtanto ko na palapit na lalo sa'kin ang halimaw. His flail moved towards me, so I ducked and moved to the other side. Yet the blades or spikes of the flail caught my dagger, and it was thrown far away. I gritted my teeth in anger, so I activated one of the things I could do. Speed.

My movements couldn't be caught, so all I did was defend myself from the monsters around me. Lucifuge was the one who made the offenses, and I'm not complaining.

He screamed something and leaped on top of the monster. In each hand, there was a shadow-like orb and wisps that encircled his arms. He clapped each orb to the sides of the monster's head. Then, an explosion boomed across the battlefield, causing my eyes to squint because of the sands that lifted in the air.

Nang mawala naman ang mga alikabok sa paligid, nanlaki ang mata ko nang biglang sa'kin na pumalibot ang mga halimaw. My eyes turned to Lucifuge, but I could not catch even a glimpse of him because of the smoke and dusts that engulfed over. Nang malanghap ko ang usok, tila may na-activate na senses sa'kin. 

I could hear even their smallest movements, and I continuously defended myself from the monsters' sudden and abrupt movements. Filthy blood now filled my hands. It felt so real even though it was only an illusion. There's no way out of this. Lucifuge is nowhere to be found, and I'll be devoured if I keep clinging to this dagger.

Napaigting ang aking mga panga, at napatawa nalang sa loob ng utak ko nang mapagtanto kung anong totoong plano ni Lucifuge. Nais niyang makita kung ano ang tunay kong kapangyarihan kaya't sinadya niyang ilagay sa sitwasyon na ito. The thing is, he doesn't know that I'd never use my powers even if I die here... but maybe I could tease about it a bit? I'll show my powers, but not to the full extent. Say, I'll let him believe that I can't control it yet.

I held my palms together, and a cooling breeze formed. I made sure that the ice was only of little power and energy. Mukhang mas mahirap pahinain ang kapangyarihan, kaysa palakasin 'yon. Through this, I'll forge a spear that can inflict a slow pain on people, like a poison that is enough to kill them for three years. Since these are only illusions, there would be no problem. They'll just vanish maybe.

Natigilan nalang ako nang sa pagmulat ko ng aking mga mata, biglang mawala ang mga halimaw... and in front me stood Aeryn Eve Surize. I was too late. My hands had already released the spear forward, and it hit lightly on her skin. Nanlaki ang aking mga mata, at bagaman gustong magsalita ng aking mga labi ay hindi ko magawa.

"Heidi... it's fine," aniya 'pagkat 'di niya alam kung anong klaseng patalim ang dumaplis sa kaniya. "It's just a small wound, it would be fine soon. Pasensya na rin kung kinailangan kong makialam sa laban niyo ni Lucifuge. I was concerned because you were trapped here, so I got rid of them in an instant."

Aeryn's eyes became red for a second, a sign that the effect of the ice spear I made has entered her body. She will die in three years if I don't do something, make a way to uncast the spell! Datapwat alam ko kung papaano gawin ang mahikang ito— mali ang kulam na ito, hindi ko alam kung paano iyon tatanggalin. It's something that can't be undone with my own hands.

Once again, the manifestation of my powers harmed someone. I was once told that it is ancient ice, enough to burn or poison someone else. She told me to control it, so I wouldn't harm anybody. But the last time I tried to control it and take over it... killed a whole tribe.

Discovering Summerland
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

I'm back <33

Thank you for reading!