Chapter 6:

"So sinasabi nyo na napagkamalan nyo ako na ang prinsesa~"

"Nope, napagkamalan ka nya na ang prinsesa. Sinalubong lang naman sya dito in case may nakasunod sa kanyang kailangan gilitan ng leeg," putol ni Kit sa gusto kong sabihin. Naiumi glared at her in response. Napailing nalang ako.

They've been arguing since earlier and Naiumi even made sure to include "evil dwarf" while introducing Kit. This lead into another bickering. Kung wala lang siguro si Lyn na syang taga-awat sa kanila, baka nagpatayan na silang dalawa.

"Okay, so napagkamalan ako ni Naiumi na ang prinsesa," awat ko bago pa sila muling mag-away. "And so she took me here, but you guys think that even though I'm not the princess, I'm sort of probably the one that needs to be here?" nakataas ang kilay kong ani.

"We are not that sure ourselves actually," Lyn admitted and my brows raised even more, "Tanging si Celine lang ang makakasagot kung ikaw nga ba talaga ang babaeng nakita nya o hindi. Kaya kailangan nating pumunta sa kanya para makasigurado."

"Paano kung ako nga?"

"Kung ikaw, ibig sabihin kailangan mong manatili sa mundo namin. Maliban sa namimiligro ang buhay ng babaeng nasa panaginip ni Celine, ang sabi nya ay may malaking parte na gagampanan ang babaeng iyon sa mangyayari sa hinaharap."

"And what if it isn't me?"

"Then we wait for the next full moon and send you back to the other side." I rolled my eyes at Nauimi's impatient response.

I let out a deep sigh.

"See there it is again! Other world, other side, full moon, acclaimed super powers and nature magics? Hindi nga kayo makapagbigay ng pruweba na totoo nga ang mga pinagsasabi nyo! How about this, you tell me where exactly are we and why did you take me here, para matapos na 'to," irita kong ani.

"Ugh! We just told you!" Naiumi's scream made the birds nestling in the nearby trees around us fly away. Her snow white face began to turn red all over.

I myself was startled, but I did not dare show it.

"And I've told you to give me proofs so I'll believe you," I retorted. I've seen that face a lot at school, I have already learned not to be intimidated by it a long time ago.

"Whatever. I'm out here." I expected her to walk away and cool her head off somewhere. Instead, she simply closed her eyes tightly.

Nagtataka ko syang tiningnan, ngunit nanatili lamang syang nakatayo sa puwesto nya.

After a moment, her distorted face suddenly began to soften. And after a few more seconds her eyes fluttered open. I was taken aback when I could no longer see the fury I saw a while ago. And then she smiled the sweetest smile.

"Totoo ang mga sinabi nila kanina Raia. This is another world. But to clear things up, this isn't some other planet and we are not aliens. We are still humans and this is still Earth. We are simply on some other layer— a magical one where of course the magical kins of the human beings resides. The reason they think that it's still probably you, is because you passed the barrier that only humans with magic can pass through without disintegrating or dying." napakurap-kurap ako habang nakikinig sa paliwanag nya. How can the hotheaded Nauimi suddenly became this talkative? And how can she even talk so fast with a little to no pause?

This sudden character change of her, it happened twice before too. Para bang sinasapian sya ng ibang katauhan at bigla-bigla na lamang syang bumabait.

"Also, we don't really have proofs to give you right now because as they've explained already, Kit cannot show you since she's a healer and you can't actually see a healer doing magic right? Unless you are willing to get yourself cut and see if she can actually heal you because I'm not, and Lyn would probably pass out if she see a knife pointed at her. As for Lyn, she's a shape-shifter. Unfortunately, this big baby have never ever tried shape-shifting except during that time where a worm fell on her shoulder. She was so scared that she turned into a mouse and ran into the farthest corner. It actually took a week before she could turn back to her human form again." I could see Lyn shivering beside her.

"As for Naiumi, she had drained her magic when she made the portal so we could return here. Meanwhile~

"Wait, why are you talking to Naiumi like she's someone else? You're Naiumi." nagtataka kong tiningnan si Kit nang pinagtawanan nya ako. Kahit si Lyn na nasa tabi nya ay pinipiglan ang sarili na tumawa.

"I'm not Naiumi I'm Helen. Naiumi is sleeping because you annoyed her." parang gustong sumabog ng ulo ko. First, they talk about magics and stuff like it's the most normal thing in the world, and now one of them turns out to be having an identity disorder.

How did I even end up together with this people? Oh right! They kidnapped me!

"That's it! I'm so done with all this craziness! Take me hmmmp! Hmmmp!" I glared at Naiumi~er  Helen or whoever she is, when she clamp a hand on my mouth.

"Sssh, someones here," ani ni Kit saka kinuha ang isang kutsilyo mula sa tagiliran nya na ngayon ko lang napansin.

Hindi na ako nagmatigas pa nang hilahin ako ni Helen para magtago sa likuran ng isang malaking puno. This must be something dangerous for Kit to actually need a knife. Marahan akong sumilip mula sa pinagtataguan namin nang makarinig ako ng mga boses na nag-uusap.

"It should around here somewhere," ani ng hindi ko mawari ngunit pamilyar na boses. I could hear the sound of a lot of footsteps as they walk on the forest ground.

"Anong ginagawa mo?!" pabulong kong ani nang lumabas si Kit mula sa pinagtataguan namin. The others followed suit and I stood there agape. Ano pang saysay ng pagtatago namin kung magpapakita lang rin naman pala sila. Curse this crazy kidnapping people!

"At ano naman ang ginagawa ng mga taga Ebelin dito?" now that's seriously the sound of someone who's either a bully or a person in authority and is a bully. You could clearly hear disgust from that persons voice. More importantly, it's way too familiar.

"At ano rin naman ang ginagawa nyo dito?" balik tanong naman ni Kit. Hindi ko sila makita mula sa pinagtataguan ko ngunit sa kanilang tatlo, si Kit lang ang may kakayahang sumagot ng ganoon. Well, Naiumi could too, but she's in her crazy nice mode as of the moment.

"And why should we tell you?"

"Then we have no reasons to tell you too," maanghang na balik naman ni Kit.

"Have some respect you outcast if you don't want me to rip you apart!"

I could sense that their argument is getting more heated. Kaya bago pa mauwi sa patayan ang pag-aaway nila, napagdesisyunan ko na lamang lumabas. Maybe the appearance of a new person would take them away from their argument.

Ngunit agad akong natuod sa kinatatayuan ko nang tuluyan kong makita ang buong sitwasyon. Kit looked murderous with the knife in her hand while crouching like a cat ready to pounce. Poor Lyn is hiding behind Nai~er~Helen who seems unsure and bewildered.

Pero ang mas nagpatigil sa'kin ay nang makita ko kung sino ang nasa kabilang panig. My knees wobbled and I fell to the ground. Pakiramdam ko mababaliw na ako.

Hindi ko alam kung anong una kung iisipin; how the three nephews of the principal is here? Or the wind swirling around Shana that confirms everything that Kit and Naiumi have been telling me? Or,

I heard someone gasp and spoke my name. "Raia..."

Nagkasalubong ang mga mata namin ng taong itinuring kong malapit na kaibigan.

Hindi ko mawari kung sino sa aming dalawa ang mas nagulat na makita ang isa.

-----

"We are taking Raia with us," ani ni Teresse matapos marinig ang kwento ni Helen. After they got over their surprise, Teresse's group demanded for answers about why I'm here. Ayaw sana ni Kit, ngunit bago pa sya makapagsalita ay sumingit na si Helen at sya na ang nagkwento sa mga pangyayari.

"Woah! As if we'll let you! She's supposed to come with us," tutol ni Kit.

"Why because your so called seer friend said so?" sarcastic na wika ni Shana. I've never heard her talk that much when we were at school, so her attitude totally surprised me. I thought of her as someone withdrawn, not someone who look down at others and give them a look like she saw a stain on her new polished shoes.

"Tama na Shan," saway naman ni Teresse bago sya bumaling kay Kit. "I'm sorry but we can't let you take her with you. Unang-una dahil ilegal ang pagpunta nyo sa Origo at pagkuha sa kanya. Pangalawa, dahil isang tao lang ang nakatala na legal na ipinadala sa Origo, and that is Ellie here. So she'll be taken for questioning."

"Woah! Ano ako kriminal?" hindi ko mapigilang singit, "Gusto ko lang i-klaro ha. I did not ask to be here. At sa tingin ko nasa tamang edad na ako para magdesisyon kung kanino ko gustong sumama. So, I think I'll go with the person who took me here. Okay na?" dagdag ko saka sila binigyan ng pekeng ngiti.

"I'm sorry Raia, but that's not something you can decide. If we have to take you by force then we will," puno ng pagbabantang ani ni Teresse.

Muli ay napuno na naman ng tensyon ang paligid. Napalunok ako. Kung ang pagbabasehan ay ang sinabi ni Helen kanina, dehadong-dehado kami. None of us has magic. Meanwhile, one of them is confirmed to have one. Which means, there is a fat chance the others have too.

"This is why I hate people such as yourselves," umiiling na ani ni Kit. She didn't went for the knife in her belt unlike earlier. Instead, she simply stood while giving them a mocking look.

"You think just because you can weild nature's magic with ease, means you can trample others. But let me tell you this, our Piedras may be stained by the sickness, but it only made some of us, inevitably strong," she said with a very wide grin.

Gusto ko syang hampasin sa ulo. Ang lakas ng loob nyang magyabang gayong wala ngang kahit isa sa amin ang may kapangyarihan gaya nila. Ginamit ko ang mga braso ko para takpan ang mukha ko nang umihip ang malakas na hangin.

I saw between the gaps of my arms how Shana is gathering winds in her right hand. I seriously don't know how she's doing it, but I'm pretty sure that if it hit us we are gonna be in serious trouble. Running seems to not be an option either.

Napapikit nalang ako nang ihampas nya patungo sa direksyon namin ang hanging nabuo sa mga kamay nya.

I waited for it to blow me away or turn me into shreds.

I guess those rumors about how your life flash before you when you're about to die is true. And I think I just saw my mom waving at me from afar. Sinyales na nga ata talaga 'to.

However, it seems that death is kind of slow. Minutes have passed and I couldn't sense any wind or pain. Instead, I felt the air getting colder and I shivered. The forest also became oddly silent that I could already hear my own heartbeat.

Marahan kong tinanggal ang mga braso kong nakatakip sa mukha ko.  Bahagya akong napaatras nang makita ang isang napakataas na pader na nakatayo sa harapan ko. Halos kasing taas na nito ang mga puno sa kinalalagyan, which are very tall since were in the deepest part of the forest.

The wall was thick but still, I could see the shadows of Teresse and the others on the other side. The wall made a deep ringing sound when it was hit by something from across us, but still it looked unfazed.

My breath became icy cold. The wall is really such a sight.

I could here more bangings and my guess, it's probably is Shana trying to break the giant wall. However, it no longer scare me. The giant wall look so sturdy that all my fears flew away. I feel like as long as this wall stand, I will stay safe and protected.

"You shouldn't touch it." napabaling ako kay Helen na nakahawak sa kamay ko. I didn't even realize that I was raising it. "A small touch from it and you'll be turned into a pile of snow," ani nya saka ako hinila palayo sa higanteng pader na gawa sa yelo.

Para naman akong nagising sa isang panaginip dahil sa narinig. Okay, so much for saying it's beautiful.

"Nice timing as usual Zeki!" Kit said as a man emerged behind a giant tree.

For the second time, I stood there agape. The guy had hair as dark as ebony, with lips as red as rose and skin as white as snow. His brows were thick and from where I am standing, I'm guessing he has long lashes too. I would sincerely want to clap for whoever molded such a perfect face. I feel like I just saw the male version of Snow White, a very hot male version of her.

Agad kong sinaway ang sarili sa naisip. Since when did I start to swoon over a man?

Napatalon ako nang biglang may humila sa mga kamay ko. I was forced to look at a girl that was slightly taller than me.

Bahagya akong nagulat nang makita ang kakaiba nyang mga mata na nagpapalit-palit ng kulay. One time its a really dark shade of violet, then it becomes lighter and then darker again.

But what bothers me more is the way she stares at me, like she's looking directly at my soul. I wanted to get away, but she has a really strong grip. Iniwas ko ang tingin sa kanya, ngunit walang kahirap-hirap lang nya akong hinila para muling mapatingin sa mga mata nya.

"Your future, I can't see it." her voice is surprisingly sweet.

Binitiwan nya ako matapos nya iyong sabihin. I rub my sore wrist as I watch her walk towards Lyn. At mukhang hindi lang pala ako ang naalarma sa inaasta ng babae. Lyn look horrified when the girl stared at her eyes too. Gusto kong magtanong kung anong ginagawa nya ngunit lahat sila ay nakatuon ang seryosong mga mata sa kanya. Sunod nyang pinantuhan si Kit, pagkatapos ay si Helen.

Bakas ang alarma sa mga mukha nila nang makita kung saan sya sunod na tumungo.

Agad syang hinila ni Helen at Kit palayo sa lalakeng kasama nyang dumating kanina nang akmang hahawakan nya ito sa mukha. Kahit ang lalake ay napaatras ng bahagya. Lubos ko iyong ipinagtaka. They were acting like the guy has some sort of a disease or something.

"What's wrong Celine?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Helen. So this is the girl they were talking about.

"I can't see any of your future anymore." napalunok ako nang muli ay bumalik sa'kin ang tingin nya.

"So, did we bring the right girl?"

"I no longer know."