"There's a new student." I heard one say. Nagtaka namam ako sa topic nila. Wala na naman kasing bago sa mga new students? It's the first day of classes, there will obviously be new students.

Napatingin ako sa mga nag-uusap. I noticed they were looking by the window. Because of curiosity, I looked, too. There, I saw a Phoenix flying around the Academy. My eyes squinted in the sight of a girl in her jumpers, riding on the back of the Phoenix.

I didn't know Phoenix let themselves do that. Maybe that's the reason why that new student became the talk of the Academy.

Mas lalo naman akong lumapit sa bintana, at pinagmasdan nang mabuti ang babae. She had lustrous jet black hair, and her eyes... I'm not sure if it was yellow or gold. I never saw eyes alike to her.

No... I actually think I did. I brushed that though off. It's impossible, I'm sure I haven't seen that eyes ever since.

But who was I kidding?

I couldn't help but stare at her in the Jupiter Hall. This was an orientation especially for freshmen. Halos hindi ako makahinga nang magtagpo ang mga mata namin. Dahil sa biglang bugso ng nararamdaman ko, saglit na naging pula ang mata ko nang hindi ko sinasadya. I was so caught off with her golden eyes.

Thankfully, a man covered the sight of her from me. Napahinga ako nang maluwag, ngunit malakas paring tumibok ang puso ko. I felt it clenching with an unknown emotion. It could be possible that the girl was part of my past life. I've been seeing hints and visions of my memories back then.

After the orientation, they are going to have a tour. Hindi naman ako freshman, pero sumama ako para lang sa babaeng 'yon. I heard her name was Eris, and that her power was touch of death.

Nagmuni-muni siya. I watched her as she looked up the sky. The corners of my lips unconsciously lifted the moment she smiled, but then it faded when her smile turned to a sad one. Tinanggal niya ang gloves niya, at tumingin sa kamay niya.

She must pity herself because she can't hold everything beautiful. Napahawak naman ako sa ulo ko nang makarinig ako ng growl ng dragon.

Draco.

My hands burned and a seething pain crawled up to my neck.

"The Forbidden child."

"Death."

The dragon said in my head. My forehead formed a crease. I gulped and realized that the dragon was calling on to Eris.

"Eris," tawag ko sa kaniya. "The dragon is calling you."

Napaluhod ako. I... roared in the sight of her in my visions. This just confirmed me that she's part of my past life— or she's part of this dragon's memory.

Tumayo ako, at tiningnan siya. Hindi ko maiwasan na mamangha sa kaniya. "Eris," sabay naming banggit ng dragon.

Then in the language of dragons, I unconsciously muttered. "Finally, we meet again, Sinclair. I have been waiting for you."

Sinclair?

Ah, yes, Sinclair. I remember her.

Hindi ako mapakali nang marinig ko ang balitang may babae na raw sa mundo namin. We were all boys, Alpha, Seraphin, Lucifer and me. At ngayon ay may dinalang babae si Lucifer sa'min.

Dahil sa kuryosidad ay sinundan ko si Lucifer, I saw him talking with the girl pero mukhang hindi sila ganoong magkasundo. I heard her name was Sinclair, and that she was a demon. The opposite of Lucifer.

Napansin kong nakadamit na itim si Sinclair, na kakulay naman ng kaniyang itim na buhok. Her eyes were of a golden color, at kahit demonyo siya ay mala-anghel ang kaniyang mukha. Or maybe this was the features of a lady?

Nang makaalis si Lucifer ay nanatili parin akong nakatago puno. Content with just admiring her from afar. Alam ko namang may gusto rin sa kaniya si Lucifer, kaya't wala nang dahilan para maki-apid pa ako.

Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang magsalita, her sweet voice ringed to my ears, "Pwede ka nang magpakita sa'kin. Hindi naman po ako nangangain."

She chuckled, and I thought I was being lured. O baka naman masyado lang akong nagandahan sa kaniya kaya't tila hindi na gumana nang ayos ang utak ko.

Naglakad na ako papalapit sa kaniya, the sound of the leaves while stepping on it was the only thing heard. Pinagmasdan ko siya habang hinihintay niyang makalapit na talaga ako. Umubo ako at nag-iwas ng tingin sa babae.

Hindi ko alam ang aking gagawin ngayong unang beses kong maka-encounter ng babae! I mean, what is a lady like? Is she like us? O baka naman iba ang pananaw niya sa buhay?

Nanlambot ako nang ngumiti siya sa'kin. I couldn't help but hold my breath as she smiled at me. Pakiramdam ko natutunaw ako kahit ako ang sun at apoy. Naglahad siya ng kamay sa'kin at nagpakilala, "I am Sinclair, the demon. And you are?"

Nag-aalinlangan pa ako kung tatanggapin ko ba ang kamay niya, o hindi. She was a little intimidating, kaya't mabagal ang naging pagtanggap ko sa kamay niya.

Napatingin siya sa nakahawak naming kamay, at hindi iyon binitawan. Namula tuloy ako, hindi alam kung bibitaw o hindi.

Nagulat naman ako sa sinabi niya, "Hindi ka anghel! Ibig sabihin ay pwede tayong maging magkaibigan."

Nagulat ako sa pakikitungo niya sa'kin. She wasn't this enthusiastic when she was talking to Lucifer. Umupo siya sa damuhan, at pinat niya ang tabi niya na tila inaanyayahan akong tumabi sa kaniya.

Napalunok ako at umupo sa kaniyang tabi, at doon na nagsimula ang interaksyon naming dalawa. To my surprise, she was cheerful, far from what I have observed. Far from when she's with Lucifer, and I didn't know if it was a good thing for me or not. She was inevitably drawn to him. No matter how she tries to be oblivious and ignorant of him, she is gravitating towards him.

Just like in this lifetime.

That time, I don't completely remember her, but it felt like déjà vu seeing her eyes twinkle at Lucifer. Maigi niyang pinanood ang bawat galaw ni Lucifer, o ni Levi ngayon sa training field. It's as if she was enchanted. Mabilis akong napalunok bago lumapit sa kanya.

"Leviticus Malcolm, a peculiar," saad ko sa kanya. I started introducing him to her. Of course, I still don't remember everything that time. I didn't even know that they might have liked each other in the past lifetime. Even if I did, I would still do the same thing.

I burst out laughing when she continued asking me questions about Leviticus. It wasn't because of her. I was laughing at myself. "You brought this to yourself, Red. Ikaw kasi, pinakilala mo pa," I thought.

"Rain Evan Delvar!"

It sounded like a command to me. Bits and pieces of my past memories with her flashed before my eyes. "Fylgja." Yes, she is my fylgja, she was someone whom I promised to protect with my life, and Draco, the dragon, was a witness to that.

I completely forgot about her abilities, that she can kill people with her touch alone. So when I grabbed her hand out of my urge to protect her, I panicked but I never feared death. If it is all for her, then it's nothing to me. But when I didn't die, and realized that was an exception to her abilities, I felt special.

But my insecurities always stem from just seeing them together.

"Eris!" Tawag ko sa kanya nang makita sila ni Leviticus. She looked at Leviticus worriedly while our hands were together. Unti-unti namang lumawag ang pagkakahawak ko sa kamay niya nang tawagin niya ako habang nakatingin kay Levi.

Ever since then, it's always been like that. Kahit na ako ang pilian niyang makasama sa huli, it's obvious she's just doing that to avoid Lucifer. It's as if it's engraved in her mind not be with him, even if she wants to. If they weren't the opposite of each other, would they have been in love?

"Red, ano ka— I mean are you a wizard, demon or whatever?" tanong niya. Kibit-balikat ang naging sagot ko no'n, ngunit gusto kong ibahagi sa kanya kung ano talaga ako. I reached out to her soul to share the memory.

If Lucifer's abode was the heavens, hers was hell, mine was the sun. So it enchants me every time she looks at it, as if she's looking right at me.

"The sun is bigger than the realm we are living in, right?" Tanong niya sa'kin. Napatingin naman ako sa araw. Totoo ngang ang araw ay mas malaki pa sa ibang planeta. "Hm, oo. It's also the center of the planets," I told her.

Ang totoo n'yan, 'di rin namin alam kung paano nga ba kami umiral sa mundong 'to. We believed that there is something else above us, might be an omnipotent existence that predetermines our fates, sets our identity, makes our abode and everything else. But that will always be unknown to us. I hated it, and how it feels like it's playing with us.

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa kaniya, nakapikit habang nakatapat ang mukha sa araw. She had a little smile on her face that made me smile a little too.

"Ibig sabihin, umiikot ang mundo namin sa'yo," sabi niya at tumingin sa'kin bigla. "You represent it right? Malakas siguro ang hila mo sa mga tao. Imagine having people revolve around you!" She chuckled and slightly punched my arm.

Indeed, people revolved around me except her. I became nothing but a man whose world revolved around her.

"I'll feel it when you're in danger. Don't be afraid, Eris," sabi ko sa kanya habang marahang hinahaplos ang kamay niya. "Go, Eris. I'll be watching. Trust me. Nothing will happen to you."

And it was the first time I had ever broken my promise to her. Hindi ko siya nagawang protektahan laban kay Phoenicia, and her soul was gone... but still, I believed she'd be alive. The unknown wouldn't let her be, right?

I hated the unknown, but I prayed to it... for Sinclair. Let her be alive, and I don't mind if that unknown continues to play with my fate for a long time, or even in my next lifetimes. All I needed was her to be safe and alive.

"I'll protect you, Sinclair, even if you think protecting you is really wrong and against the universe. I believe in you," banggit ko sa kanya, at 'di ko namalayang ilang beses kong binanggit 'yon sa panaginip ko. Napamura ako sa isipan ko nang halos isang taon na ang lumipas simula no'ng mawala siya at nakawin ni Phoenicia ang katawan niya.

Akala ko ay nagising na ako mula sa panaginip ko ngunit nagulat ako nang makakita ng 'di pamilyar na mukha sa harap ko. Hindi rin pamilyar ang paligid, madilim, ngunit maraming kinang sa paligid.

"You're the one whose been calling out to Cosmos. Red, the sorcerer and the Sun," ani ng lalaki. "Your voice is annoying."

Naningkit ang mga mata ko para matingnan nang maigi ang lalaki, pero nabigo ako. Hindi ko rin magalaw ang sarili ko kaya't wala akong nagawa.

"You summoned yourself here in Cosmos. Hah, you're still the same as before, you prick," aniya na para bang ginawa ko na 'to noon. Kunot-noo lang ang naigawad ko sa kanya kaya't malakas siyang napa-buntonghininga.

"I guess your memory of visiting other realms in your first lifetime is wiped away... Ah, it can't be helped. You shouldn't know us. To everyone else, Cosmos must be unknown. I just thought she would spare you," dagdag niya. "Psh, you'll forget about this too. Don't worry, I'll make sure you don't forget the next things I'm going to say."

"Your lady could be found in the mortal realm. It's where Leviticus grew up, and just as you prayed, she is safe... that is, until you lovesick children find her," biro ng lalaki at biglang hinawakan ang balikat ko. May lumabas na orange na aura sa kanya.

"Be thankful I find you interesting, Rain Evan Delvar. You'll forget about this anyway, so let me introduce myself. I am Leo, a celestial. I live among other identities, so see you here and there, Red," pakilala niya ngunit nang alalahin ko ang buong usapan namin... wala akong naalala kun'di ang sinabi niyang nasa mortal realm si Sinclair.

Kaya't kaagad namin siyang hinanap at pinuntahan.

"Ako ang prinsipe ng lupang kinatatayuan mo. Leonidas Malcolm, paanong hindi mo ako kilala?" ani ng lalaking kasama ni Sinclair kanina.

Sinubukan ko namang alalahanin kung saan ko nga ba narinig ang kanyang boses, ngunit hindi ko na rin naalala dahil nakuha ng atensyon ko ang pangalan niya... Malcolm. Then, who would have thought that he is the full Phoenix to kill Phoenicia?

But the unknown, was a true player. It really played with my life in return for Sinclair's safety.

"Thank you for always protecting me, Red," aniya sa'kin matapos ko siyang tulungang sa digmaan, in our first lifetime. Dinala ko ang kaniyang ulo sa aking dibdib, at marahang hinaplos ang kanyang buhok.

"Of course. I am vowed to protect you, kahit sa ibang lifetime pa 'yan, Sinclair," natatawa kong sagot sa kaniya. She laughed with it, thinking that it was a joke but it wasn't.

"You're being an overprotective friend," biro niya sa'kin. Oh, but I guess it wasn't a joke. Of course, to her, it's just me being an overprotective dear friend. Hah. Napangiti nalang ako at ginulo ang kanyang buhok.

"Yes, and you know, I love you."

She frowned, aware of my true feelings. Hindi niya gusto na may nararamdaman ako para sa kaniya, dahil alam niyang hindi niya iyon masusuklian.

"You are my friend," sabi niya.

"I know, Sinclair," sabi ko at ngumiti pa rin. "Paulit-ulit?"

"Then why? Sinasaktan mo lang ang sarili mo, Red."

Tumawa naman ako at pabirong kinulong ang kanyang leeg sa aking braso. "I think it would hurt more if wala ako sa tabi mo, Sinclair," bulong ko sa kanya't kinagat ang pisngi niya.

Hinawakan ko naman ang mukha niya at napatawa nang mamula ang kaniyang pisngi. Nilapit ko ang mukha ko sa kaniya nang bigla niyang takpan ang labi niya. My Sinclair.

I smirked at her and kissed the back of her hand that covered her lips. Nanlaki ang mata niya at mas lalong namula. Hindi ko naman siya nanakawan ng halik, I respect her very well.

Now, I am in my new lifetime. I regained my memories, and laughed when my feelings did not really change.

I still love the ever beautiful, Sinclair. I am still her fylgja. I am still her friend and her savior.

Ngayon ay napagpasyahan kong magsakripisyo para sa lahat, especially para sa kaniya. Nagkatinginan kami na tila alam na niya ang gagawin ko.

"Remember my promise," bulong ko sa kaniyang isipan. It was a promise that I would always be there for her, kahit na wala na ako. I would forever be her fylgja, and watch her even in my afterlife. A promise that I would love her forever.

Tumango naman siya at nagsimulang rumagasa ang luha niya. She's always crying to me for other reasons, pero nanlambot ang puso ko nang sa ngayon ay umiiyak siya dahil sa'kin.

"You will always be my light, Red," I heard her say.

The tears in my eyes started to pool... pero kailangan kong maging matatag. Bumuo ako ng barrier sa paligid namin while I bid my lady a goodbye.

Muli, hinalikan ko ang kamay niyang nakatakip sa kaniyang labi. She hiccuped, and I pulled her into a tight hug.

Doon na bumuhos ang aking mga luha. Some might not know my story, our story, but it was a story of how a friend would sacrifice and let the love of his life go and survive. A story of how a candle melted himself to light a girl's dark and demonic world.

Naramdaman ko ang unti-unting pagfade ko. I smiled while looking at her closed eyes, hinalikan ko ang kaniyang noo pero hindi niya naramdaman iyon because of my fading presence.

And before I could even fade to nothing, the unknown had talked to me.

"Rain Evan Delvar, this is just the beginning."

Phoenix Academy
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Thank you for reading this special chapter! Again, this just marks the beginning of a whole universe ahead. There are still a lot of mysteries and magic. See you!