Phairro

My eyes gaped looking at the huge wall of the Gravil Continent gates. Tila ba wala iyong katupusan at hanggang kalangitan iyon kung titingnan. The walls are made of sedimentary rocks, and there areola vines crawling on its walls. Those vines are not just what it is, they are full of poisonous thorns that no one knows what would happen if it pricked you.

"So any plans?" Napakamot ako ng batok sa naging tanong ni West.

"How are we gonna break through this shit?" Asik ni East. He seemed irritated. Napalingon ako sa mga kasamahan kong halatang nag-iisip din kung paano kami makakapasok dahil sa nagtataasang harang.

The walls are thick, and we can try to freeze it and break through it, but I'm not so sure if it will work out. "Let's try to freeze the wall, and break it." Nagsitanguan naman ang mga ito. They began lining up in front of the wall. Sabay-sabay naming inangat ang aming mga kamay at kinumpas ito.

Kulay asul na liwanag ang lumabas sa aming mga kamay habang nakatutok ito sa harang na gawa sa bato. As soon as our blue energy hit the walls, ice started to crawl up, covering it. Tumatagal nang tumatagal ay lumalawak nang lumalawak ang parte ng harang na binabalot ng yelo.

Naikurap ko ang mga mata ko nang makaramdam ako ng pagyanig ng kalupaan. Even the huge walls are trembling. Nagkatinginan kaming siyam. They are looking at me, asking what to do. Kung ipagpapatuloy ba namin ang ginagawa o ang umatras muna upang makapaghanda sa maaring mangyari.

Sabay kaming napaatras at napatigil na rin sa ginagawa nang maguho ang nagtataasang harang na gawa sa pinakamatibay na bato. Nagkabitak ang kalupaang aming kinatatayuan kaya tumakbo na rin kami papalayo room bago pa kami mabagsakan ng mga batong paniguradong dudurog sa amin.

This is so unlikely for the Gravil Kinds to be this way.

"Protect yourself!" I shouted. Tumigil sa pagyanig ang lupa, and massive rocks started raining from the sky. Inangat ko ang magkabilang kamay ko't gumawa ng ice shield. Both of my hands are emmiting blue energies to support my shield. Kung hindi sapat ang pagsuporta rito ay maari itong matibag.

"Phairro!" Napalingon ako kay West. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita kung ano ang nangyayari sa kanila. Seconds later, it happened to me too.

Mula sa bitak na lupang kinatatayuan ko, may naramdaman akong kung anong bagay na pumulupot sa binti ko, at napapiksi ako nang makaramdam ng sakit na tila ba may bumaon doong maliit na matulis na bagay. When I look down, I saw my blood flowing down my knee to the ground.

I tried to freeze it, but it's not working. I bit my lower lip when I remembered this plant. This is a Viscero plant. Maliban sa nagtutulisan nitong mga tinik na naglalalaman ng pangmanhid na lason, tanging apoy lamang ang nakakapatay nito. Freezing it, nor shredding it to pieces won't work. Babalik at babalik pa rin ito sa tunay nitong anyo.

"Looks like Vexus changed tactics this time. He's fond of traps and playing safe, but now he's directly attacking." Tama ang sinabi ni East. Bagay na hindi namin inaasahan. Kung noon ay malaya kaming nakakapasok sa loob ng Gravil Continent, ngayon ay hindi na.

Inalis ko ang kanang kamay kong nakasuporta sa shield. Gumagapang na ito papunta sa bewang ko. Gumawa ako ng matulis na sandatang gawa sa yelo upang subukan itong tibagin at sirain mula sa pagkakagapos sa katawan ko. However, the more I tried to struggle from it, the tighter it gets, the more it hurts and pains me.

"Stop struggling to move if you want less pain!" Sumunod ang mga ito sa sinasabi ko, at napamura ako nang kamuntikan na masira ang ice shield na gawa ko. Binitawan ko ang matulis na bagay na hawak ko't tinuon na lamang ang pansin sa nag-uulanang bato.

I hissed. Siyam kaming lahat na na'ndito upang kunin ang insignia ng Gravil Continent, at kung suswertehin ay medalyon ang makuha namin upang manalo muli sa Continental Festival. Frost changed strategies this time too. Siya lamang naiwan sa Water Continent upang ipagtanggol ang insignia at ang medalyon na nakasalalay sa kaniya.

"How are we going to..." Naikurap ko ang mga mata ko nang makaramdam ako ng pagkaantok. Oh yes, I forgot. It's not just a paralyzing poison, it can make you lose conciousness for a few minutes.

"Phairro!" I managed to look back. Raiko called me, one of our teammates. "This is just a fucking illusion! The pain maybe real, but once we find the source that triggered it, it will stop!" Inilibot ko ang paningin ko habang pinipilit na labanan ang pagkaantok at panghihina na nararamdaman ko.

How did he figured out it was just a mere illusion?

I snapped back to reality. Yes, of course! Gravil Continent have Lyon, the top student of Gravil Academy. One of the most skilled illusionist aside from Flame.  Ang problema lang ay kung saan namin mahahanap ang source nito.

"F-find the source of the illusion!" Nanghihina kong wika. Inikot ko ang paningin ko, and I tried my best to keep myself sane. Kailangan namin itong mahanap bago pa kami tuluyang mawalan ng malay.

Kinumpas ko ang kamay ko't naglabas ng enerhiya upang suportahan pa ang ice shield na gawa ko. Every seconds passed, I can feel my vision getting blurry. Dadaan pa ang ilang minuto ay alam kong tuluyan na akong mawawalan ng malay. Kaya bago pa iyon mangyari ay sana matigil na namin itong ilusyon.

Napatingala ako nang kumislap ang kalangitan. I was amazed when the stars started aligning in the sky in the broad daylight. All constellations were present. Nakakamanghang mayroong mga bituwin sa umaga na tanging sa gabi lamang nakikita at nasisilayan.

"T-the hawk..." Utal kong sambit. I can see a hawk flying in circles above the sky. Hawk is the Gravil kinds mythical animal. Maliban doon ay kapansin-pansin ang pag-anhag ng kulay berdeng mga mata nito. Para itong isang kristal na nagdudulot ng munting ilaw sa kalangitan.

"M-maybe that's the source of the illusion. It's been flying above us giving the scope of the illusion..." Hindi ko natuloy ang sasabihin ko nang makitang may napakalaking bato na papabagsak sa aming kinaroroonan.

"Hit it, West!" sigaw ni East sa kakambal. The poison is making everyone so weak as we already are. Ang hindi lang masyado natatablan sa amin ay si West. His sixth sense is somehow involved with being immune to all poisons. Kaya sa aming lahat ay siya lamang ang may kakayahang gawin 'yon.

"But I-" Yes there was a problem. West is not good at targeting long range objects. Medyo malabo din ang mata nito kaya suntok sa buwan ang gagawin niya. But there's still hope.

Bumagsak ang napakalaking bato na sakop ang buong kinaroroonan namin. Here we are, nine people on the ground with poisionous vines in our lower body, as we release our remaining energy to support the shell of our shield. Nakadagan ang napakalaking bato sa pananggang gawa namin, at malinga lang kami ng konti ay panigurado babagsak ito sa amin.

"Give it a shot before the massive rock could trample us to pieces!" Sigaw ni East. West blinked his eyes twice. Binitaw niya ang kanang kamay niyang nakasuporta sa shield na gawa niya.

As soon as one of his hand left his shield, I felt the force of the rock being heavy. "Do it for fifteen seconds!" I shouted. That's how long we could take this force without his other hand. He nervously nod his head and his hands started to tremble as he made a sphere made out of ice.

Pinikit niya ang kaliwang mata niya habang inaasinta ang hawk na paikot-ikot sa himapapawid. Nakikita ko mula sa kinatatayuan ko ang pamamawis ng noo niya't ang pagdududa sa mga mata niya kung matatamaan niya nga ba ito o hindi.

He needs to aim for at least seven seconds, the remaining seconds would be the time the sphere would travel to hit the hawk. Kailangan niya itong makalkula ng mabuti bago kami tuluyang mabagsakan ng napakalaking bato na ito.

"Now!" Biglang humiwalay ang sphere sa kamay niya't hinagis na niya ito patungo sa himpapawid. I sucked a deep breath to contain and try to calm myself. The hawk continued to cirle around the air going west, and the sphere was straight to going to west too.

Saktong pag-ikot mismo ng ibon ay nahagip ito ng sphere. Nakarinig kami ng munting ingay rito bago dahang-dahang mahulog mula himpapawid. As soon as it fell on the ground, everything stopped. The massive rock that was about to crush us to pieces suddenly vanished, as well as the poisonous vines binding our lower body started to fade away.

The pain we felt, the bruises we got, the exhaustions of using our elements were gone. It was nothing but a very tremendous  illusion that deceived our physicality, spirits and mentality. A trap that almost chained us.

"Good job, West. We owe you this time." I thanked him. Napahinga naman ito nang maluwag na animo'y nabunutan ng tinik. Mukha rin siyang hindi makapaniwala sa bagay na nagawa niya. For the first time he was able to hit a target far away from him.

"See? You said you are not able to hit a target far away from you, but you never really tried if you can. You just concluded." ani ni East.

Never said you can't do it when you never even really tried it.

"The constellations..." Raiko trailed off.

"What about it?" wika ng kasama naming babae na si Tori.

"Did the Headmistress do it?" Napakibit-balikat na lamang kami. None of us know, it's just a little bit weird seeing stars in a broad daylight.

"Look!" Napatingala kaming lahat. The Aquarius constellation suddenly started to connect with each other as they glimmer in the sky. Pagkatapos ng ilang segundo ang pagliwanag ay biglang naglaho at ang mga bituwin na mula sa konstelasyon na 'yon ay biglang bumalugsok pababa.

"It's falling somewhere in the Fire Continent..." I whispered.

Nabalik ako sa wisyo nang may marinig akong kaluskos. I almost forgot where we are and what we are here for. We need to win this festival to prove we are still undefeatable. I brushed my hair up and took a step forwards the Gravil Continent's gates.

"We need to be careful. We don't know which are real and which are illusions when we entered their gates. Be aware and don't touch anything." I warned them.

I hope Frost is doing just fine alone.

Aerus

I tilted my head. Caiz Perfecto, what makes him different from the rest of the Fire Tribe's representatives this festival? Why can't his fire be distinguished? I stared at him, then my stare landed at the woman beside him.

Flare...

She was giving me her deadly glares. Must be because of dirty games, which eventually didn't work out if it wasn't for Caiz. Nakakapagtaka lang kung paanong nakakaya niyang gamitin ang elemento niya. The gas they enhaled was made to distinguish their flames for minutes. Kahit si Flare nga ay walang kakayahang gumamit ng kapangyarihan, siya pa kaya?

"Give me a reason why I shouldn't burn you alive, Aerus." I gave her a playful look. She can't even use her element against me, for a time being.

"Because you won't be able to use your element because of the gas. And she will make all of you experience three pleasures of life." Turo ko sa katabi kong si Reigna. She's such a beauty, but don't bewitched hy her. She will either make your life good as heaven it self or make you experience a hell to suffer.

"First pleasure on the list," Kinumpas ni Reigna ang mga kamay niya't may lumalabas doong kakaibang liwanag. It's piercing white light that gives a holy aura in the surroundings.

"Sex," Awtomatikong napahiga sa sahig ang lima. They were lying on the ground, flushed red, moaning like something's tickling them, like something's doing wonders in their bodies.

They are experiencing ecstacy. Pleasure like someone's touching them. Their facial expressions changed, their protest voices turned into a low moan, and they can't contain what they're feeling anymore. It's driving them crazy.

Napatingin ako kay Grachelle, she was biting her lips. Her legs were trembling, and she was moaning repeatedly. Napatingin ako kay Icca, she was preventing herself from making any sound. However, she was crying.

Grachelle experienced sex, that's not too shocking. But Icca, among all of them, the background of the Fire Tribe's representatives, she's unlikely to engage in sexual intercourses. We did a background check to all of them, to know which and what type of traps to lure them in.

Icca Nichole Caari is the saint like among all of them...

Napatingin ako kay Caiz at Flare. It's surprising that Caiz is still a virgin. Flare being bold and brute is not surprising anymore. Anyone who would try to get in her dress would probably end up dead burnt and roasted. They won't stand a chance.

"So, her highness was a virgin, same as Caiz Perfecto? Interesting!" Reigna exclaimed. Only those who experienced sex will be affected by her sixth sense.

Napakunot ang noo ko nang magtitigan si Flare at Caiz. They are looking at each other's eyes as if they are talking about something they only know.

"Don't judge me, your highness. I will only offer my body to my soon to be wife." he said as he smiled.

Sixth Sense ba ni Caiz ay Telepathy?

Well kung paanong hindi ko alam, ito ay sa kadahilanang hindi kasali sa information ng representatives ang kanilang sixth sense. We did some background research, and we know all of their sixth sense aside from Caiz. Bagong salta siya rito, and he got no friends so we have no source to ask.

"W-what?" Pakurap-kurap nitong tanong habang nakatitig kay Flare. He look so shock and taken aback.

"W-why?"

Napatingin ako kay Reigna. Just like me she looks confuse. Flare was just staring at him straight in the eyes. Wala itong kahit ano mng ekspresyon kaya naman hindi mo rin mahuhulaan kung ano ang maaring pinag-uusapan ng mga ito.

"B-but..."

"Just do it!" Just as he was about to do something we were disturbed by the sudden blinding light from the sky. Sabay kaming napatingala sa kalangitan, and when I looked up, I was amazed to see the perfect constellations of stars in the sky.

"No..." Caiz whispered something but I was not able to hear it. But the look on his face was full of confusion, he was disturbed and a certain emotion crossed his eyes.

Nervous...

"Arden, you can't be..." He was looking intently at the sky, and when the Aquarious constellation disappeared, he panicked.

"Caiz..." Flare held his left hand and she touched his face using her right hand, making him divert his attention towards her.

When Caiz eyes met hers, he instantly calmed down. Ang paraan ng pagtitig niya sa mata ni Flare ay kakaiba, at hindi ako tanga upang hindi malaman 'yon. Lalaki ako at alam ko kung anong klaseng tingin ang mga 'yon.

Ilang sandali ay biglang napasulyap sa akin si Caiz. Nagtama ang paningin naming dalawa, at sa saglit na panahong 'yon ay may mga imahe akong nakita. Naikurap ko na lang ang mga mata ko.

I started seeing vivid images of Flare and Caiz. They're both inside a room, both wearing a red satin traditional clothing of a married husband and wife. Flare look so dazzling and beautiful, and Caiz was smiling at her as he kissed her lips.

Nakaramdam ako ng suntok sa dib-dib ko nang makita ko 'yon. Flare and Caiz was enjoying every moment of their kiss. His hands around her waist, her arms hugging his back as he kissed her face. Mariin kong naipikit ang mga mata ko.

What am I seeing?

"Fichi..." I chuckled bitterly. He even have a nickname for her, and she's letting him.

The images I'm seeing, could it be the future? Is Caiz Sixth Sense involve about it? Before I could even see them having sex through the images I see in my mind, I diverted my attention to something else.

"Are you seeing images in your mind, Reigna?" She nods her head.

"Yes, your highness. They have no experience but they desire each other. If I continued the spell, they will eventually fulfill their desire right in front of us." Napantig ang tainga ko sa sinabi niya. If I will make her dispell it, they will recover. Ilang minuto na lang din ay magagamit nilang muli ang kanilang elemento.

Tutol ako alam ko. Kaya labag man sa kalooban ko ay kailangan ko itong ipatigil dahil ayaw kong makita itong mangyari sa mismong harap ko.

"No! No! Please, stop! Stop! No! Please!" Icca suddenly burst out. Napalingon kaming lahat sa kaniya. She was struggling. Sa lahat ng nasa ilalim ng salamangka ni Reigna ay siya lang ang bukod tanging may kakaibang reaksyon.

Her face was filled with tears. She was struggling as if something above her was forcing her. Napatingin kaagad ako kay Reigna, "What are they seeing?" There must be something wrong.

"They will experience the same ecstacy they have with their last sex." Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Icca.

"Maawa kayo sa akin, pakiusap..." nanghihina nitong usal. Nanginginig ang buong katawan nito't labis itong pinagpapawisan. She's shaking her head, derilous and shaken with fear.

Flare approached her. Lumuhod siya upang maabot ang distansya nitong nakahiga sa lupa habang nangingisay-ngisay sa nararamdaman niya. "Icca, are you okay?" Hindi ito makasagot. Icca's eyes look so weak, lips parted as she groan in pain with something she can only explain.

"Itigil niyo 'to." Flare whispered as she look at Icca. I felt a pang of pain in my chest when I finally figured out what was happening. Sa kanilang lahat siya lamang ang may bukod tanging kakaibang reaksyon. She was not moaning in pleasure, she was biting her lips, groaning to prevent herself from making lewd noises.

"I said stop this, Reigna Alcantara!" Sa naging sigaw ni Flare ay napaatras ng bahagya si Reigna. Napalinga ito sa akin na animo'y hinihintay ang pahintulot ko kung ititigil ba ito o hindi.

My stare went back to Caiz who look troubled. Nakita ko ang pag-aalala niya sa nangyayari sa kaibigan ni Flare, pero panay ang tingin nito sa mga bituwin sa kalangitan na para bang may malaki siyang problema sa mga ito.

"Can't you hear me?" The low yet threatening voice came from Flare. Dahan-dahan itong tumayo. The red highlights of her glowed. Isang palatandaan na bumalik na ang kakayahan niya upang magamit ang sariling elemento niya.

"I said stop it!" Dahan-dahan siyang lumingon sa kinaroroonan namin. Umanhag ang kulay pula nitong mata't matapang kaming tiningnan. She looks so pissed off and angry. Her hands are clenched into fist, teeth gritting and jaw clenched as she stared at me...or maybe Reigna.

"Stop it, Reigna." Awtomatikong kinumpas ni Reigna ang mga kamay niya upang pasawalan ng salamangka ang mga ito. They were all panting, sweating, and some of them look disappointed as they wanted to ask for more but couldn't and they are not in the right situation to ask for it.

"What happened to you?" She asked Icca. Nakayuko lang ito habang yakap-yakap ang tuhod. She was shaking with fear as if she remembered something horrifying.

"Look at me." ma-awtoridad nitong wika. Nanginginig man ay dahan-dahan nitong inangat ang tingin upang tumingin kay Flare. Sa ilang segundo pagtitigang 'yon ay paunti-unti kaming nakaramdam ng pagtaas ng temperatura sa paligid.

"I will burn your city to ashes, Aerus." The branches of the trees around us suddenly caught fire.

"W-What do you mean?" I was nervous, yes. The power I'm feeling is not an A Class Elemental Mage, but an S type. Napatingin ako sa sealing bracelet na suot niya. Her power should be suppressed, but how come it's still the same?

"I will burn this sinful land..." Ang apoy mula sa sanga ng puno ay biglang kumalat patungo sa mga dahon nito.

"I won't let you." I defended. She laughed. Ang tawa nito'y tila ba nang-aasar.

"Will you be able to stop me?" Kaagad na lumapit si Caiz. Flare was fuming mad, but neither one of us knows why.

"Fichi, calm down." Akmang hahawakan siya ni Caiz sa braso upang pakalmahin nang kusa itong lumayo upang maiwasan siya.

"How can I calm down?" Napasulyap ito saglit kay Icca bago tumingin pabalik kay Caiz. "How can I calm the fuck down when I just discovered my best friend got raped?!" Nanlilisik mata itong tumingin sa amin na siyang ikinaatras ni Reigna dahil sa talim ng titig nito.

"How can I fucking calm down when the man who raped her turns out to be someone from the Air Tribe!" she retorted.

"We should not take anything personal in this festival, Fichi." Kalmadong paalala nito. Nakipagtagisan ng tingin si Flare kay Caiz. Kaya kinuha ko ang pagkakataong 'yon upang utusan si Reigna na tawagin ang tatlo pa naming kasama na naghahanda sa loob ng city.

"Y-you're raped?" Nauutal na tanong ni Grachelle.

"Bring me one of your representatives, Aerus. Bring me the Top Student of Sky Academy, Valerian Ashworth!" I felt like I swallowed a lump on my throat. Why is she asking Val with a livid expression on his face?

Don't tell me he...she...fuck no!

Feleri

Napanganga ako nang makita ang nagtataasang alon ng tubig. Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Vexus. He looks exactly like him, but I know deep inside that's not really him. Kakaiba ang kasuotan niya, his hair, his power, ibang-iba. Para siyang maangas na version ni Vexus. The cold and expressionless Leether Vexus Sinas.

"W-who are you?" Isang tingin lang ang sinagot niya sa naging tanong ko.

"You are not Flare, aren't you?" Napalunok ako. Tumaas ang sulok ng labi niya na para bang nakangisi. Para bang siguradong-sigurado siya na hindi nga ako si Flare.

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang palapit na nang palapit ang dambuhalang alon sa city. Inangat ko ang magkabilang braso ko't hinarang ito sa mukha ko. I was expecting it to hit my body, and destroy the turrets all around the city. However, something else happened.

Someone from behind me blindfolded my eyes using his left hand. His scent lingered in my nose. Pakiramdam ko'y may kumiliti sa tiyan ko nang maamoy ko ang pamilyar na pabangong 'yon.

"What are you doing here?" rinig kong tanong ng lalaking kamuka ni Vexus.

"I should be the one asking that, what are you doing?" the man behind me asked in his baritone voice. Nakagat ko ang ibabang bahagi ng labi ko. I can feel his well built chest in my back, and his voice sounded so familiar but I can't made up my mind who it is.

"It is not time to reveal yourself just yet." dag-dag ng lalaking nasa likod ko.

"I did not want to reveal myself, they made me do it." pagtatanggol nito sa sarili. I can't understand them. Not time to reveal what?

Is  Leether Vexus Sinas really Leether  Vexus Sinas? Or he's someone else living in his body?

"You will sabotage the plan if this goes on. I know how you hate this land, everyone in this land except her highness, but please, control yourself." pakiusap pa nito. Damn, his voice sounded so sexy while pleading. I wonder how pleasing it feels like if he beg me to-

"How about..." Nabitin ang sasabihin nito, "her?" Naramdaman ko ang pagtingin sa akin ng lalaking nasa likuran ko.

"Ako na ang bahala sa kaniya. I already tampered the clairvoyance. Malamang ay ginagawa na nila ang lahat ng makakaya nila upang maibalik ang koneksyon rito. They didn't witness what you did today, only this woman know." He tempered with the clairvoyance? Who are these people?

"Get back, and don't get easily swayed, Arden." Matapos niya itong sabihin ay hindi na sumagot pa si Vexus. Dahan-dahan niya namang tinanggal ang kamay niya sa mga mata ko't nakita ko si Vexus na walang malay na nakahandusay sa lupa.

Hinarap ko kung sino ang lalaking ito't nagulat na lamang ako nang mamukhaan kung sino ito.

"Y-you're..." Napatitig ako sa abo niyang mga mata. He has this silver white hair, and the way he dressed was different too. Para siyang isang prinsipe mula sa hindi kilalang tribu. Napaka-elegante niya tingnan, nakakabighani. He makes my inner woman crave for him.

Humakbang siya papalapit sa akin kaya napaatras ako. I raised my left hand to defend myself. I'm not dumb after all the things I've heard. Hindi porket guwapo siya at type ko e magbubulag-bulagan at magbibingi-bingihan na lang ako. As soon as I lift my left hand he caught it and pulled me towards him.

Nagulat ako sa ginawa niya. I was not able to react for a moment. His eyes were fixated on mine. Nakatitig lang siya sa mga mata ko kaya hindi ako nagpatalo't nakipagtitigan din sa kaniya. His stares are drowning me, tbh.

"Feleri Azari Fiery..." The way he say my name sounds so soothing. Para bang gugustuhin mo na lang matulog habang paulit-ulit niyang sabihin ang pangalan mo.

"You will forget everything you saw and heard." Napakunot ang noo ko. I will forget everything? How will he do that? Kahit ano man ang ibigay niya sa akin ay hindi ako kailan man magsisinungaling at mas lalong hindi ko 'yon makakalimutan.

"What are you-" Humigpit ang paghawak niya sa pulsuhan ko. I opened my mouth to talk, but I was surprised when his face went closer to me, and his lips crashed against mine.

Ang pagmulagat ng mga mata ko sa gulat ay dahan-dahan akong napapikit. He kissed me slowly, passionately as if he was letting me taste every inch of him, but as his lips moved in slow paced, my head started feeling dizzy. The images I have with Vexus earlier, their conversation I heard and witnessed were slowly fading away from my memory.

This is a kiss of oblivion. The sweetest yet the sinful kissed I ever had in my whole entire life.

Itutuloy...