Flame

Napahilot na lang ako ng sentido ko habang nilulunod ako ng sarili kong pag-iisip at kuro-kuro. I don't know what to believe anymore. Ni hindi ko alam kung ano ang nararapat kong gawin sa sitwasyon na mayroon ako ngayon. 

Ang aking inang reyna ay wala sa matinong pag-iisip at natutuliro na ito dahil sa propesiyang itinakdang mangyari na sinabi ni Flare sa araw mismo ng kasal niya. I can still remember the words she said. 

At midnight in the presence of the red moon, one of your children will visit you in your chambers and snatch your heart from your chest and watch you bleed to death. 

Mariin kong naipikit ang mga mata ko. Ang malamyos ngunit nambabantang boses nito'y tila ba isang anghel na nagbibigay ng nakakahindik na balita't nagdudulot ito ng pananayo ng balahibo ko. 

And the king will commit suicide for failing to protect his queen right in front of his loyal subjects of this cursed continent. 

I can still remember her cold eyes. Her stares scream authority, her formidable aura that could make anyone bow down their heads and kneel. It was the first time I saw her mad yet still calm and composed. 

She never lets her anger muddle her thinking. 

"Are you thinking about her?" Naimulat ko ang mata ko nang magsalita ang aking kapatid. Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo't naglakad patungo sa terrace ng palasyo. 

I can see everything from here. Tanaw na tanaw ko rito ang buong bayan at ang kagubatan na nakapalibot dito. Everything looks peaceful na para bang walang papalapit na digmaan. 

"I don't know what to think anymore, Leri." Sinandal ko ang magkabilang braso ko sa teresa ng palasyo habang pinagsaklob ang magkabilang kamay ko.  

What is moral and what is immoral? Should I choose the truth that is moral or the unpleasant lie that is needed to do to preserve my family's dignity? 

Panganay ako. I should always look for my siblings and strive to keep our family's honor and dignity intact. Hindi ako maaaring gumawa ng desisyon na ikakadungis ng rangal ng aming dugo at pamilya. I cannot disgrace my own family. 

However, I cannot take everyone's life on this continent as a sacrifice to restore my family's reputation. 

"Mother and Father only did what is needed to be done. They have no choice." I shook my head. They have a choice. People always have two choices to choose in life. 

"They did what is needed. It's a word used for possession. They have to do what they should do, not what is needed to do for their own good." Umalis ako mula sa pagkakasandal sa teresa't napahilot na lang ng sentido. 

She went silent after hearing what I said. She knew the truth. Kahit hindi nila sabihin sa amin ang totoo ay hindi kami utak talangka upang hindi malaman ang totoong sitwasyon. Every truth that was unfolded that day was like a bomb that made everyone's mind chaotic and confused. 

"The red moon is three days from now." I reminded her. 

If the curse that Flare cast upon them will happen, one of the three of us might end up killing our own mother and father. 

"How's Freed?" Tanong ko. Hinarap ko siya't nakita ko rin ang pagkukunot ng noo niya na animo'y namomroblema rin sa maaring mangyari dahil sa itinakdang sumpa na 'yon. 

"He's fine for the time being. The royal doctors are keeping an eye on his condition." Sabay kaming napabuntong-hininga. 

It's between the both of us. We are the only one who's capable of doing harm on mother. That's why we decided to get chained up in the dungeon for that night. Mother will be surrounded and guarded by skilled knights. 

"Do you even think we deserve such privileges in life? Mother isn't even a-" Napakurap-kurap ako. Pareho kaming natahimik dahil doon. Nakaramdam ako ng panghihina ng tuhod dahil doon.

We don't have the blood of the royalties, that's a fact we can deny to everyone but can't fool ourselves. I've decided to seek for the truth and find records of her in every brothel house in the Empire, but none of the old keepers there are alive. They are all buried six feet underground with causes of death unknown up until now. 

Kung tutuusin ay ang marangyang pamumuhay na tinatamasa namin ngayon ay hindi nararapat sa amin. Hiram lamang ito mula sa tunay na tagapagmana't mamumuno ng buong kontinente, at walang iba iyon kun'di si Flare. 

She's the one true pure-blooded royalty who has the right to claim the throne and rule the Fire Continent. She's born to rule and dominate, indeed. 

"I heard Frost is already awake, we should go and pay him a visit." Aniya ng aking kapatid. Tumango na lang ako't naglakad paalis ng teresa upang pumasok ng aking silid at makapagbihis. 

I stared at myself in front of a human-sized golden mirror as I fix the golden tussle hanging in my left shoulder. Everything I have is not mine, I'm aware of that. Matapos kong ayusin ang sarili ko ay tinitigan ko ang sarili ko. I have decided. I will use this borrowed title as a prince of this continent to set things right and do what is best for everyone. 

Even if it means betraying my family. 

Canaan

Napasentido na lang ako habang nakatingin sa tatlong lokong halos mapraning na kakalakad-parito sa harapan ko. They keep on pacing back and forth looking so problematic and worried. I mean I get the point why they are worried as fuck but they spend time with her longer than me, they should know what she's capable of. 

Worrying would sound like they are underestimating her capabilities.

"How can you be calm at this situation, Canaan?" I just shrugged my shoulders and crossed my legs. Takes from being the Siren Tribe's Knight Prince, I'm calm as water.

"We all know she can handle herself," I commented as I stared back at Caiz who just asked me. 

"And besides, she's Flare Axara Elvinov. Her blood does not know how to concede and surrender." I continued. 

We have no other choice anyway. She said it herself if she found out one of us secretly went after her, she'll never come back. Her words are our laws and commandments, we can't do anything about it. Lalong-lalo na't may isang salita ito't isinasagawa niya ang bawat pangako't banta na binibitawan niya. 

"Mamamatay 'ata ako sa pag-aalala." Pabuntong-hininga na wika ni Yael. Hindi maipinta ang mukha nito't gaya ng iba ay nakapaskil ang pag-aalala sa mukha nito. 

Yael spent a lot more years with Flare. Higit na mas kilala niya ito sa amin. He probably knows everything about her compared to us.

"I know she can handle herself but I can't help it. She's throwing herself in a pack of wolves." Mahinahon ngunit may bahid ng pag-aalala nitong wika. 

"You forgot she's a tigress." tugon ko. She may throw herself in a pack of wolves but she will end up leading the pack. That's just how she is. 

I stood up and tapped their shoulders to calm them down. I kept on reassuring them she'll be okay, and that hours from now she'll eventually come back safe and sound without a single scratch. Kahit papano'y huminahon naman ang mga ito't napabuntong-hininga na lamang habang nakaupo sa malawak at makulay na hardin ng palasyo. 

 "I think the king no longer wants revenge," Caiz stated as if he was so sure about it. Napatango naman kami dahil sa sinabi nito. 

I figured it out ever since the king set his eyes on his daughter. The look in his eyes was so pure and sincere. It was the first time I saw him smiled genuinely, his aura was so peaceful and happy. I've never seen him like it. 

"So that means the years of preparation that we had will all come to waste?" Nagugulumihang tanong ni Arden sa kawalan. 

"Even if the parent no longer wants to, we're not sure about the child," Makahulugang wika ni Yael. Sabay kaming nag-angat ng tingin dito. 

"I've known her since she was a kid. She will not just sit back and let them live their life after knowing what they did." He said as if he was so confident about it. 

Sa aming apat ay ako lang ang may konting interaksyon sa kaniya pero kahit ganoon ay patago ko naman itong binabantayan sa tuwing nasa loob ito ng Institusyon. It's me who always look out for her whenever Arden is out to do some errands. 

Aside from the king, she's the person you can never predict. She would always go beyond your expectations and do things you never expect her to do. Her measures when it comes to calculating and manipulating people and situations are just unbelievable. 

Sa pagkakakilala ko sa kaniya'y posible nga mangyari ang sinasabi ni Yael. Lalong-lalo na't taliwas ang mga ginagawa nito sa mga sinasabi niya. She's that stubborn and hard-headed. She got her attitude from her late mother, that's what the king would always say with a sad smile on his face. 

Napatingin naman ako kay Arden nang makitang tahimik lang ito't mukhang nasa malalim n pag-iisip. We got our mother and father king killed a decade ago because of them, but Arden's case was different. Nakita niya kung paano paslangin ang mga ito't kung paano ito maghawakan ng kamay bago mawalan ng hininga. The sight of the past was still haunting him in his sleep. 

He desires revenge even more than us. 

"Arden, what are you thinking?" Mabilis itong napakurap at tila ba kakabalik lang sa wisyo. 

"Your mind is so clouded, your thoughts are like tangled threads." Pagkatapos itong sabihin ni Caiz ay tumikhim ito't umayos ng upo.

"I'm sorry, I'm just concerned with her at the same time I'm thinking about-" 

"How the king could easily forget about taking revenge and decided to live on his life?" putol ko sa sasabihin nito. Hindi ito nakakibo sa sinabi ko kaya naman nilapitan ko siya't tinapik-tapik ang likod. 

"He finally has her back. The sole reason why he wanted to take revenge is not just because of the death of his beloved and his people. It was because of the lives that were supposed to be born, lives that were left and destroyed. The life that his daughter was supposed to have it waren't for them." Mahaba kong lintaya. 

"So take it easy, Arden. Don't let your grudges be the reason of your doomsday," dag-dag ko. 

"I'm sorry." Namumulang mata nitong hingi ng patawad. The three of us gave him a reassuring smile. Naiintindihan namin siya lalong-lalo na ang nararamdaman niya dahil pinagdaanan din namin 'yon. 

Ever since I was a child, all I have in my mind is to grow up strong and powerful to avenge my parents and tribesmen. I'm the one who approached the king and offered my loyalty to help him. He trained me and supported me in my cultivation that resulted to what I am right now. 

He became our father, and he treated us as if we were his biological children. Ni hindi niya man lang sinabi sa amin na noon pa man ay itinakda na talagang siya ang humasa sa amin at siya ang aming paglilingkuran bilang prinsipe ng tribong aming kinabibilangan. 

"Mahal na mga prinsipe," Sabay kaming napalingon nang tawagin ng isa sa mga katulong ng palasyo ang aming pansin. 

"Paumanhin sa aking pagdistorbo sa inyong pag-uusap ngunit pinapatawag kayo ng mahal na hari para sa isang importanteng diskusyon." Tumango na lamang kami rito bilang pagsang-ayon at nagsimulang maglakad sa espasyo upang lisanin ang hardin. 

Maybe the king wanted to discuss about his plans. 

I fixed my hair and stretched my arms as I walk with the others. We live our life wanting to accomplish one thing, and that is revenge. Now if the king would no longer want that, I wonder what else should we do. 

Protect the Queen with your life. 

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad. Inangat ko ang tingin ko't napansin kong napahinto rin ang mga ito. It looks like I'm not the only one who heard the king's voice inside our heads. Saglit akong nakadama ng kaba sa aking dib-dib nang marinig 'yon.

That's a very common thing to say but why does it sound so different this time?

Flare

Hinarang ko ang mahabang kapa sa harapan ko't mabilisang umikot. Paghawi ko ng kapa sa mukha ko'y inilabas ko ang espada sa kamay ko. I can see my own reflection in the blade of the sword. The only diffence is that, I'm using someone else's face and identity. Of course, I can't let them see me. 

I immediately teleported to the exact place where I can see her in my vision. Tila ba nagulat naman ang mga ito nang bigla akong lumitaw sa kawalan. I motioned my sword towards them and released an energy. Mabilis nilang tinulak si Icca palayo upang salagin ang atake ko. Umayos ako ng tayo nang mapansin na malakas ang mga ito. 

They are not ordinary palace guards. They are First Class Palace Knights. 

Namumukhaan ko ang ilan sa kanila. Sila ang mga kabalyerong madalas na nagbabantay sa entrada ng palasyo. The question is why would they send First Class Palace Knights to a mere Type B Fire Elemental Mage with a Type B Level of Sixth Sense? It doesn't make sense. 

"Get your hands off her." My speaking voice was different as well. Kaya hindi ako magtataka kung hindi ako makikilala ni Icca. It's not just my face that was different but also my voice. 

"We are sent by the King and Queen. This is an Imperial Decree. Know your place, and don't interfere or it's death that awaits you." Isang ngisi ang namutawi sa labi ko. 

An Imperial Decree? Who are they kidding? Even when I'm still Flare Fyche Henessy I don't care about Imperial Decrees. 

"I don't give a damn." I saw how amusement crossed their faces but I don't care. Natatawa pa ang mga ito habang tinitingnan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. 

They must be underestimating me because the body figure I'm using is a petite and a fragile looking woman. Napangisi ako habang naglalabas ng pulang enerhiya sa espada ko. 

Never underestimate a man's ability to underestimate a woman. 

"Kill her if she continued to resist." Tumango ang mga ito. Lima silang lahat na sumugod sa'kin at ang nagsisilbing pinuno naman nila ang may hawak kay Icca sa braso. 

I hissed when I saw both of her hands tied on her back. Halos kaladkarin na ito ng punong kabalyero habang naglalakd dahil pilit itong lumilingon upang makita ako at kung ano ang gagawin nila sa akin. 

"Bitawan niyo ako! I have done no harm  to anyone in the royalties!" Nagpatuloy ito sa pagpupumiglas. 

"Please, please 'wag niyo na idamay 'yong babae..." Pakiusap pa nito habang pumapalag sa hawak ng punong kabalyero. 

Nakita ko kung paano siya nito sampalin upang manahimik kaya pinaningkitan ko na lang ng mata ang mga kaharap ko. I swung my sword in full force and released a massive amount of vertical soul energies. Tumama ang mga ito bandang tiyan nila't tumilapon sila ng ilang metro. Sabay na nagsuka ng dugo ang mga ito kaya naman mabilis akong kumilos at nag fireport. 

Taas noo kong tinutok ang espadang hawak ko sa leeg ng punong kabalyero. Nahigit nito ang kaniyang hininga't hindi makapaniwalang tumingin sa'kin. He look back and saw his knights lying on the ground helplessly as they vomit blood from their mouths. I have no time to waste with them.

"Bitawan mo siya," I said in a monotone voice. Napatingin ito sa tulis ng espadang gamit ko. It's like he's trying to familiarize the sword as if he'd seen it somewhere he can't remember. 

"Or else I will kill you if you continue to resist." Tila ba napilpilan ito sa sinabi ko. It's his words against his. 

"How can you..." Nabitin sa ere ang sasabihin niya nang bigla kong idiin ang espada sa leeg niya, dahilan upang masugatan siya't may dumaloy na pulang likido mula roon. 

"What do you want from her?" Isang kakaibang ngisi ang namutawi sa labi niya. He's not gonna tell me anything about it. 

I look straight in his eyes to see the vision of what happened to him an hour ago. I saw Farus commanded him to find a woman named Nica Nicole Caari, and that they needed her alive but if she refuses to submit they are free to do any methods they can to drag her in the palace. 

Hindi niya sinabi ang dahilan kung bakit kailangan nila dalhin sa palasyo si Icca pero nakikita ko sa mukha ng hari na tila ba nagmamadali ito't balisa ang mukha. Kunot noo kong tinanggal ang espada sa leeg ng kabalyero't mabilis na sinipa ang tagiliran nito dahilan upang mapaatras siya't mabitawan si Icca. 

I grabbed her left arm and flick my fingers to unknot the rope tied in her wrist. I then immediately fireported her with me in the Green Lake Forest. Pagdating namin doon ay nakita ko kaagad ang pagtataka sa mukha niya. Nakatingin ito sa akin na para bang sinusuri niya ang buong pagkatao ko. 

Paniguradong hindi niya ako makikilala dahil iba ang anyo at hitsura ko. But knowing her personality, she's probably confuse and curious why I helped her. I can see it in her eyes even without reading her thoughts. That's how visible she is.

"Sino ka?" I can feel her senses doubled its alertness. Wala sa sarili akong napangisi. Her skills and power are improving. 

"Who are you? Why did you save me? What's your motive?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong. 

I remained standing, looking at her reaction. I took a step forward, and she took a step backwards. I halted on my feet and tilt my head. I snapped my fingers, and in a split second my face changed. Nakita ko kaagad ang panlalaki ng mata niya na tila ba gulat na gulat nang makita ako. 

But then, her facial expressions suddenly changed. A second she was surprise and now suddenly her eyes were sad and somehow guilty and jittery. 

"F-Flare..." My name trembled on her lips. She's sweating. Para bang may nakita siyang patay na muling nabuhay sa hukay. 

"How are you?" Kumurap-kurap ito. She opened her mouth to say something but none came out. It's like she wanted to say something but she decided not to say anything at all. 

Naglakad ako papalapit sa kaniya, and this time she didn't dare to move. I was looking at her as I started to walk around her slowly. Kung titingnan ay parang sinusuri ko siya sa bawat anggulo subalit tinitingnan ko lamang ang reaksyon sa mukha niya't kung gaano ito ka hindi komportabe sa presensya ko. 

"What's wrong?" Tanong ko na para bang nagtakaka't walang alam kung bakit ganoon na lamang ang pakikitungo niya sa akin. 

"Don't you missed me?" The old clumsy Icca would be hugging me in tears right now. Sa nakikita ko'y mukhang alam niya ang totoo. Somebody must've told her the truth.

"F-Flare why..." She was the last witch's descendant. The most powerful on top of that. If she died or I kill her, the curse would no longer affect me and Frost. 

"I know who you are now." I stopped in front of her and gave her a smug look on my face. I scoffed when a realization hit me. 

The time when there was a ball in the Institute, no one could possibly have an access to wine cellar aside from the students. Sa naalala ko'y si Icca ang binigyan ko ng kakayahan upang manduhan ang mga estudyante't maging maayos ang pagpipiging. 

Yael was the one who told me there was an assassination. They planned to get failed by me in order to save the royalties and make them indebted to me. Pinlano nila ito sa labas samantalang ang gumagalaw naman sa loob ay si Canaan at Icca. 

How dumb could I be?

Aside from healing, Icca is good in making tonics and posions. She can even create dangerous poisons no one else could cure but her. She's powerful enough to spread viruses that could kill hundreds and thousands of people if she wanted to. 

"A-are you here to kill me?" I scoffed. She know me better than anyone else. I wouldn't trade her life, our friendship for my own emotional happiness. 

"I'm your enemy, Flare. My great great grandmother put a curse on your mother, and it was passed down on you!" She retorted. Nanlalaki ang mga mata nito't nakikita ko ang pamumula roon gawa ng nagbabadyang luha na nagtatangkang kumawala. 

"You are carrying the curse, and only my death will reverse and undo it!" Nangingilid na ang luha sa mga mata niya't kagat-kagat na nito ang labi niya. 

"I can feel how much he loves you, Flare. I can see the way you look at him, I can see the pain in your eyes whenever you saw him with someone else, when his words hurted you!" Tinuro-turo niya pa ako habang tuluyan na ngang tumulo ang luha sa pinsngi niya. 

"Kung gaano ka niya nasaktan ng sobra ay ganoon din kalaki ang pagmamahal niya sa'yo. Because the only way to keep you safe is to hurt you. You love each other but I'm alive. Ako ang natatanging hadlang sa pagmamahalan niyong dalawa!" I remained looking at her. 

Hinayaan ko siyang ilabas ang hinaing niya't nararamdaman niya. She was breathing heavily, eyes drenched with tears, cheeks puffy red and her whole body trembling. 

"Alam ko ang ginawa nila sa'yo. I know how selfish and cruel they are. Kaya naisip ko, you had enough suffering. You deserve to be happy, even just this once. Pero with me still alive you wo-" Napatigil siya sa pagsasalita nang mabilis kong igalaw ang kamay ko upang itutok sa leeg niya ang espada ko. 

"If I kill you, I will be happy?" Malamig kong wika na siyang ikinakurap ng mata niya. Hinahagilap niya ang emosyon sa mga mata ko ngunit hindi niya malaman-laman kung ano ang iniisip at nararamdaman ko. 

"If I kill you, I can be with him. We can love each other through eternity." I stated, eyes darted on her as if I was determined to do it. Nakita ko ang pagkabalisa sa mukha niya.

What I really hate the most are people jumping into conclusions.

Itutuloy...