Chapter 28: Aim

Buong akala ko ay wala na talaga akong pag-asa na kumbinsihin si Rosh, ngunit bigla na lang lumabas sa isa sa likuran ng puno si Claret. I saw how Claret looked at me as if she had been there behind the tree and she had heard our whole conversation, but there was a glint of fascination in her eyes.

Para saan? Hindi naman ito maaaring dahil sumasangyon siya sa gusto ko. Could it be that it was the first time that someone had a courage to talk back with Rosh— as extreme as his.

Sa huli ay sumali na rin si Claret sa usapan ngunit maingat siya sa pagbibigay ng opinion.

"Are you sure you're unaware of Veda or any other stories aside from Freya's?" tanong ni Claret.

Napalingon ako sa kanya. Could it be that Claret also felt that Freya was an enemy? Should I tell her now?

Bumuntonghininga si Rosh.

"I told you that her existence was erased. At kung nagkaroon man ng pagkakataon na naalala namin siya, our parents might have done something to manipulate our minds. But now that they're no longer the ruler of the empire ngayon lang kami nagkakaroon ng ideya—but it's still vague. But Veda's strikingly has similar features to Kalla."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Sino si Kalla?

"Could it be possible that Kalla's connected with Veda?" tanong ni Claret.

"We're not blood-related. I had it checked a long time ago. What do you think of me?"

"Who is Kalla, Tobias?"

"She is Finn's mate, one of the princes from Parsua Sartorias. Zen's brother. Another stubborn Gazellian."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Muli kong hinarap si Rosh. "So, is that a coincidence?"

"Have you tried asking Kalla about it?" dagdag ni Claret.

Umiling si Rosh. "But why are you digging so much about Veda?"

"Because we're just aware of Atlas being the brother of the late Filippus, the devil, who was also a victim of the seven high thrones. From the very start, he already told us his motives; he wants to revive Veda and have these powerful worlds in his palm. I don't think we'll find more about him, unlike Veda who has traces in this world— she has a family who chose to let her existence get buried," mahabang sagot ni Claret.

It was good that Seth gave me a brief summary of the past. Kung hindi ay baka hindi ko na maintindihan pa sina Claret at Rosh.

"I assumed that you want this plan between the three of you with the idea that all of us are already with a solid plan to kill Atlas, right?" sabi ni Claret na sinalubong ang mga mata naming lahat.

"Inaamin ko na sa sandaling muli kong makita si Atlas, malaki ang posibilidad na agad akong umatake sa kanya at bigyan siya ng pinsala. I still have this urge to kill him to keep my daughter safe. But you were right, Kezalli. This world is already cruel enough, and maybe us, who grew up in the other world, might do something better and different this time."

Tumango ako.

"Then tell me, how do we extract the other information from them? Should we summon Kalla? Ask Seth, Blair, and Zen?" tanong ni Rosh.

Hindi na kami nakasagot pa sa katanungan Rosh nang unti-unti nang lumabas sa mga anino ang mga kasamahan namin. They were listening to us. At hindi na ako nagugulat dahil maging si Tobias ay ganoon din naman.

Nang sabihin iyon ni Rosh, isa-isa nang lumabas sa anino ang lahat na inaasahan kong hindi rin magtatagal ay susunod sa amin.

"Kezalli has a point, every one of us has a connection with Atlas. We might have been pursuing this same villain with the idea of his evil deeds, but is that all? Or do we have other motives?" tanong ni Claret.

I was just trying to give everyone a hint that someone is a traitor. Ngunit nang sabihin kong posibleng ang iba pa rin amin ay may kani-kanilang dahilan sa misyong ito, higit na ako kinabahan at nalito sa pangyayari.

"This is one of his tricks. He's trying to ruin this group," sabi ni Eyah.

Uhuh?

"I will not forgive him for trying to nest in this empire," mariing sabi ni Blair.

"I don't think we have enough time to point each other. Bakit hindi na natin siya sugurin?" iritableng sabi ni Zen.

Bigla na lang tumawa si Tobias at sumulyap siya sa akin. "So, are we trying to find Atlas accomplice in this group?" tanong niya.

"What? There's an accomplice?" sigaw ni Pearl.

I was trying to let everyone questioned each other, hanggang sa maipit na si Freya, ngunit isa rin katanungan ang sinasabi sa amin ni Divina tungkol kay Seth at sa kakaibang anino na nakita nito.

I didn't want how he looked so guilty, gayong hindi naman siya talaga ang nais kong maipit sa sitwasyong ito.

"I have this dungeon under castle as well, if Parsua Sartorias has embargos I've trying to replicate it with those criminals—" pansin ang pag-aalinlangan ni Seth ituloy ang sasabihin niya dahil naroon ang presensiya ni Divina.

Claret was quick to notice it so it might be her power that made Seth continue with his side. "I am planning to use Atlas' blood as a blood sample, I want to try it on those criminals— as my subject. I want to know if they'll turn like me, or monsters, or anything. D-Dahil sa mundong ito, nag-iisa lang ako. I want to know. I want to discover more about me."

"W-Wow, you mean the criminals in your empire are your guinea pigs? Is that even legal?" tanong ko. Napalingon ako kay Tobias. Sa emperyo niya ba ay tama lang ito?

"Guinea pigs?" sabay-sabay na tanong nilang lahat sa akin.

"Subject of an experiment."

Tumango ang lahat at si Tobias ang siyang sumagot sa akin. "It's illegal."

"T-That's why I am trying to keep it a secret from everyone, I want to maintain my image as the righteous prince from the prophecy— I am sorry." Nakayukong sabi ni Seth.

I couldn't help but feel guilty about this confession.

"I am still thinking why you have to keep it righteous," sabi ni Rosh kay Seth bago siya lumingon sa akin. "Is that enough? Or do you want to pinpoint more?"

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. S Freya ang gusto kong maipit bakit si Seth ang ngayon ang tila umaamin.

"How about you Freya?" sinalubong ko na ang mga mata niya.

I don't know if she already had this feeling that I could recognize her, but I'd do my best to bring her down— or probably kill her for everything she had done to me.

"I could behead her right now. I don't care if she could be of useful to know or capture Atlas. I'd gladly soak my hands to kill the woman who made your life miserable, Kezalli." Bulong ni Tobias sa akin.

Isa ito sa mahalagang rason kung bakit hindi ko siya maaaring kititilin. Freya has the information, what if this was the plan of this group after all? Paano kung hindi naman pala si Freya ang nagpapaikot sa amin? What if everyone's aware of how evil she was and they were just playing her game?

"Alam ko na isa rin ako sa higit na hindi pagkakatiwalaan sa grupong ito. But all I can say is I am always loyal to Veda. And I'd do everything for her to give what she deserves. You can kick me in this group, leave me, and I promise that I'd never hinder you. Pero gagawin ko ang lahat para sa kanya."

Gusto ko masuka sa sinabi niya. How could she tell us that she's loyal to Veda? Hindi ba't taliwas ang paniniwala niya kaysa sa prinsesa? Veda's a Le'Vaueivos, I know that she'll never tolerate abuse.

Hanggang nagsalita na rin si Divina. "Atlas said that he doesn't want me to be like Veda. . ."

"What?" tanong ni Zen.

I saw how Freya's eyes widened. She was about to speak when we heard another huge explosion from the old castle.

Hindi na nasundan pa ang usapan namin at mabilis kaming tumakbo patungo sa lumang palasyo at nang sandaling makarating kami sa harapan nito ay natutupok na ito ng apoy.

Tobias stepped forward and with the slow movement of his right hand, he summoned huge water that could contain the fire. I couldn't help but whistle proudly. Fiancé ko 'yan, ah?

"Water bender yata iyang jowa ko. Go, my loves, I know that you're way better than nine firetrucks in the human world. Fuck boy haircut pa iyan, ah?" Natatawang sabi ko.

"You better not ruin the castle, Tobias," babala ni Rosh.

"Kami muna ang papasok," sabi ni Zen.

Sa pagitan ni Tobias ay tumabi na rin sa kanya sina Zen, Blair, Seth. When Tobias created an attack on the burning castle, the princes of the prophecy quickly followed it. Nasa himpapawid na si Seth, sinubukan namin patigilin ang apoy ngunit higit pa itong lumaki at nagkaroon ng kaanyuan. It suddenly had a form of a giant.

"This devil will burn the whole Parsua Trafadore!"

Nakatingala na ako at napapaatras. Pilit itong nilalabanan nina Tobias at ng mga prinsipe. Kakayanin ba namin ito?

"It's huge . . ."

"I can't summon a familiar or create something bigger with my spell right now— and it's fire," sabi ni Claret.

Are you still okay, Tobias?

Ramdam kong nagsisimula na siyang manghina. "Y-yes . . ."

Muling lumipad si Seth sa himpapawid, ilang beses pa siyang tila babagsak dahil sa pinsala ng kanyang pakpak ngunit hindi siya nagpapigil kahit na napakaliit niya kumpara sa kalaban namin.

I tried to use my arrows but it had no effect on the burning giant.

"King Tobias use me! I can have a similar form, if Atlas has fire, we have you— the man who can part the sea," sigaw ni Seth.

Tobias nodded. He bent his knees, used his two hands, and gathered more water. Hindi na ako makagalaw sa posisyon ko habang pinapanuod si Tobias at ang mga itinakdang prinsipe na pagsama-samahin ang kanilang mga kapangyarihan para matumbasan ang laki ng higanteng nasa harapan namin.

If Atlas summoned a burning giant, Tobias and the princes of the prophecy summoned a water giant with a mixture of their powers.

"Have you seen a glowing snow globe, Claret? A beautiful decoration in the human world with flowing water and sometimes has illuminated stones inside? They look like it. Ang ganda. . ." napapahangang sabi ko.

Isinampay ko na iyong pana ko sa balikat ko at pinagkrus ko ang mga braso ko. "In the end, this is always their fight, right?"

"Ang ganda," dagdag ni Claret.

"This world might be the cruelest, but I know that the human world will not ever give me this beautiful sight, Claret," hindi ko na matanggal ang titig ko sa ginawang iyon nina Tobias.

"I know," sagot ni Claret.

Nanatili kaming tahimik ni Claret habang pinapanuod sina Tobias at ang mga itinakdang prinsipe na nakikipaglaban.

"Thank you," napalingon ako kay Claret.

"Huh?"

She smiled at me."Sa pagdating mo. Hindi mo alam kung ilang taon kong hinintay ang mga oras na ito. Maybe you were still young when I first met you, and wouldn't remember our first encounter, but I almost beg for you."

Huminga ako nang malalim at ngumiti sa kanya. I took my bow again and pulled another arrow from my quiver to get ready again. "I am here now, Claret. Let's wait for the others." Masaya rin ako na may katulad ni Claret na sumalubong sa akin sa mundong ito.

Habang lumalaban pa rin sina Tobias at ang mga prinsipe ay nagkalat na rin sina Pearl at Cora, maging si Freya na ay nagpapanggap pa rin.

"Where's Atlas? Nasaan si Veda? Nasaan si Mitchelle? Is this their way to escape?" tanong ko. Bakit wala sila rito?

Kahit anong gawin namin ay tila hindi napipinsala ang higante. "Is he controlling this burning giant?" tanong ko.

"But I can't see anything but fire," sagot ni Claret.

"If their watery giant is filled with a mixture of vines and red strings from Rosh and Blair. There should be inside it as well," sabi ko habang humihila muli ng pana sa likuran ko.

"You're good at long-range attack, Kezalli," sabi ni Claret.

"Yes."

Naningkit na ang mga mata ko at mas dumiin ang titig ko sa higante. "I know that their attacks are far more effective than mine, but they said I have a cleansing arrow."

I took a deep breath. I positioned myself in a familiar stance. I tried to send another arrow on the giant's stomach, it made a quick hole but it went back immediately to its original form as if it didn't receive damage.

"Saan?" tanong ko.

Mas nagwala iyong higante dahilan kung bakit tumilapon sina Cora at Pearl, maging si Freya. Kahit sina Tobias at ang itinakdang prinsipe ay wala na rin nagagawa.

"We need to find the heart. This giant is like Atlas! Babalik at babalik pa rin ito sa sarili niyang anyo kung hindi natin babaguhin ang atake," sigaw ni Claret.

Muli pa sana akong magpapakawal ng pana nang kapwa namin mapansin ni Claret na may lumabas na anino sa apoy at nagtungo ito sa kagubatan. Who is that?

Claret was about to follow the shadow when Divina stopped her. "Mama, you have to stay here."

"B-But that could be—" I cut her off.

"I'll go!"

"Kezalli . . ."

"Don't worry, love! I'll be safe."

He sighed. "B-be careful, I'll quickly follow you."

"I can wait! Be careful too!"

"No, Kezalli! Mag-isa ka lang. Hintayin mong bumalik sina Cora at Pearl—" hindi ko na hinintay matapos si Claret, ngunit bago pa man ako tuluyang tumalikod ay sinadya kong isalubong ang mga mata ko sa kababangon pa lang na Freya mula sa lupa.

This time I didn't hide my emotions for her— hatred and eyes that were about to kill. It's either she'd follow me, or I'd do everything to end their plans.

"I'll be right back!"

My heartbeat was hammering fast as I sprinted with the heavy thud of my leather boots against the grass— because I knew right then that it could be my real first battle in this dangerous world.