"Don't you want to end their madness?"

AVERY

Malakas na tumatawa ako. He was again stuck on his bathroom because of this so called "call of nature". Everyday, we were like this and this caused him to be in a very bad mood. He was frowning. Namumula ang mukha at tainga niya dahil sa pagkainis sa 'kin. He's mad and embarrassed at the same time.

"Lumabas na ba Zirrius? Ang tagal naman. Mukhang nahihiya pa yata," natatawang sabi ko sa kanya. Mariing napahilamos siya sa mukha dahil sa pagkainis. Naiinis na inalis niya ang kamay sa mukha at mariing nagsalita. "Pwede ba hayaan mo akong mag-concentrate. Give me peace!"

"Gusto mo pala ng solemn eh. Sana nagpatutugtog ka ng mabagal na musika para feel na feel mo," natatawang pang-aasar ko pa.

"Can't you just shut up for a while? Parang hindi mo 'to ginagawa," naiinis na sabi niya. Malakas akong tumawa. He was really mad. His head was already aching. He suddenly want to get rid of me.

"Huwag ka ng mahiya, baby. Wala ka na namang maitatago sa 'kin. Nakita ko na ang lahat," natatawang sagot ko sa kanya. He hissed with annoyance. "What are you planning to do now?" tanong ko na lang sa kanya habang tinatapos niya ang ginagawa niya.

"I want to know how to seal you," nakasimangot na sagot niya sa 'kin. My soul frowned. "Ano ka ba? Bahala ka! Mami-miss mo ko. Wala ka ng karamay sa mga ganitong pagkakataon. Alam ko naman na mahirap talagang maglabas ng sama ng loob. Naiintindihan kita. Nandito ako upang damayan ka," nakangising saad ko sa kanya. This was one of the things I enjoyed while staying inside his body. Natutuwa ako kapag nakikita ang sobrang pamumula ng mukha niya kapag nahihiya siya at naiinis. I really enjoy this moment. Hindi na niya binangggit muli ang mga bagay na napag-usapan namin. HIndi na rin siya nagtanong kaya nagpapasalamat ako.

"Hindi ko kailangan ng karamay. Kaya ko 'to nang mag-isa!" naiinis na sabi niya. Mas lalo akong tumawa nang malakas.

"No man is an island," natatawang sabi ko.

"Ano'ng koneksiyon niyan sa pinag-uusapan natin?" kunot-noong tanong niya.

"Wala lang. May masabi lang. You know, I just want to waste your time," natatawang sabi ko. Naiinis na muling napahilamos siya sa kanyang mukha. Nang matapos siya ay dumiretso na siya sa shower upang maligo. This was one of his habits and I was already getting used to it. Pagkatapos nito ay kakain na siya ng almusal.

"Mukhang hindi na talaga ako inosente dahil araw-araw kong nakikita ang katawan mo," natatawang sabi ko sa kanya. He sighed heavily. His breathing became unsteady. Just the thought of someone was watching him made him arouse. Oops! Maybe I should stop right now. Baka maisipan pa niyang puntahan si Liana kapag hindi siya nakapagpigil. He breathed in and out to control himself. He didn't answer me but instead bit his lower lip and shut his eyes tightly. He was too sexy while doing it. I hate to admit but I love the sight of him this way. It's like I wanted to tease him more but I don't want for his inner beast to take over. Dahil alam kong wala akong maibibigay na tulong sa kanya. He had only one option and that was Liana. I don't want to push him to Liana so I better shut up.

Tumingala siya kaya malayang tumatama sa mukha niya ang tubig mula sa shower. "Don't say that again," mahinang wika niya sa 'kin. "If you want me to consider your existence, better not mention it again," paos na wika niya. I'm amazed on how he could cope on this kind of situation. Mahirap talaga kapag may nanonood sa bawat kilos at galaw mo pero mukhang hindi na niya iniinda 'yon. I suddenly admired him.

"Ipapakita mo na ba sa 'kin ang larawan ng yumaong reyna?" pag-iiba ko ng usapan. Natigilan siya nang maalala ang pinag-usapan namin kaninang madaling araw.

"Why are you curious about my mother?" he asked while cleaning himself. He stepped out of the shower when he's done. He effortlessly wrapped his lower body with a towel. I couldn't smell him but I know he smelled good better than an expensive perfume.

"I just want to see her," sagot ko sa kanya dahil wala akong maisip na magandang dahilan. He sighed heavily and started to get dressed. noticed that he's not wearing clothes that are expensive and prince-liked. Simple lang siyang manamit. He started to fasten the button his pants. Nang matapos maisuot ang damit ay humarap siya sa harap ng salamin. Mabilis lang niyang sinuklay ang basang buhok gamit ang mga kamay. Kinuha na niya ang espada niya bago dumiretso sa kusina ng kaharian. Kumuha lang siya ng isang tinapay at kinagat ito bago umakyat sa isang hagdan. I could sense that he was heading to his father's room.

"I'll let you see her. Pagkatapos ay pupuntahan kong muli si Zach," mahinang sagot niya. Sumimangot ako dahil mukhang desidido na siyang matuto ng mahika mula kay Zach. He really wants to temporarily seal me. Pumasok siya sa loob ng isang malawak na silid. Madilim sa loob ng silid. Napansin ko na medyo makapal na rin ang alikabok sa sahig dahil mukhang matagal ng walang pumapasok dito. Zirrius opened the brown curtains to let the light pass through. Medyo lumiwanag ang loob ng silid. Napansin ko ang malaking kama at isang bookshelf na nakadikit sa pader. There was a table and a chair. 

At natitiyak ko na doon umuupo ang dating hari kapag malalim na nag-iisip o kaya kung may pinag-aaralan. Sa isang malawak na pader ay naroon ang larawan ng isang napakagandang babae. On that portrait, her ears are not exposed. She really looks like a normal human. Ngayon naiintindihan ko na kung bakit sinabi ni Zirrius na tao ang ina niya. But she's exactly the lady I saw earlier. Her ash brown hair was just like Zirrius' hair. Pati ang bughaw niyang mata ay kagayang-kagaya ng kay Zirrius.

She's really Zirrius' mother. She was smiling radiantly with elegance and power. Hindi ko alam kung nagpanggap ba na tao ang ina ni Zirrius. Sa tabi ng babae ay may isang lalaki na nakahawak sa baywang niya. He's still young but I know he's powerful too. He's gorgeously dangerous. The chiseled jaw and that thin tight lips was just too seductive. The man's caramel eyes were staring down on his wife with love and care. He looked dignified and clever. So that man was the unfortunate king. It seems that Zirrius got his good genes from his parents. What a lucky guy!

"Are you done?" mahinang tanong ni Zirrius sa 'kin.

"Saang bayan nagmula ang reyna?" I asked curiously.

"I never had the chance to know," kibit-balikat na saad ni Zirrius.

"What's her name?" tanong ko na lang. Maybe I could track her lineage through her name.

"Zara... Zara Montfort," he answered. Pakiramdam ko biglang tumigil ang mundo ko. Kung may sarili lang akong katawan, tiyak na mahihirapan akong huminga.

"M-Montfort?" nauutal na tanong ko sa kanya. No. He can't be connected to that person! Mahabang katahimikan ang namayani. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang iisipin. I don't know if I really just a got a very twisted life or what. Is this a joke? Pero alam kong hindi ko dapat husgahan si Zirrius. Wala siyang alam sa pinagmulan niya. And why does the queen ask me to bring Zirrius with me? So this was the reason? Naguguluhan ako. What was the real score?

"Yes. I do have this feeling that I'm under investigation," naiiling na sabi ni Zirrius. Natahimik ako. I didn't expect this.

"Still there?" kunot-noong tanong niya sa 'kin. Hindi ako nagsalita. He sighed heavily. "Pupuntahan ko na si Zach kung ganu'n," he added. Isinara na niya ang kurtina. He closed and locked the room's door. He was keeping the key for his father's room. Dumiretso na siya sa kwadra at agad na sumakay kay Aris.

Hindi ko na alam kung ano ba ang dapat kong isipin at gawin. Kaaway ko ba si Zirrius o kakampi? This revelation was starting to cloud me with doubt. Would he really fight alongside with me when he discovered that he's connected to that man? I should be careful from now on. Blood was thicker than water but I'm not sure what Zirrius would choose. Before he could fight against me, I should get my body back first. Ano ba talaga ang iniisip at pinaplano ng reyna? Kinukutuban na ako nang masama. Kung lalabanan ako ni Zirrius, wala na akong magagawa kundi tanggapin ang mga desisyon niya.

~~~~

Kumunot ang noo ni Zach nang makita ang pagdating ni Zirrius pero tiyak na may ideya na siya kung bakit bumalik si Zirrius. Seryosong lumapit si Zirrius kay Zach.

"It seems, she knows how to control my body," panimula ni Zirrius. Zach nodded with understanding. "So what's your decision?" hindi siguradong tanong ni Zach.

"I want to know how to temporarily seal her," mahinang sagot ni Zirrius.

"So this is my punishment?" dismayadong tanong ko sa kanya.

"If you didn't control my body, I won't do this," nakasimangot na saad ni Zirrius sa utak niya. I sighed in resignation. Hindi ko na siya mapipigilan dahil desidido na talaga siya. Hindi naman niya matututunan agad ang mahikang iyon kaya ligtas pa ako, pansamantala.

"It's not a magic you can learn overnight," paalala ni Zach sa kanya. Good! Zirrius nodded with understanding. He was a bit nervous. This was his first time to actually study or use magic. Poor, baby. Para siyang bata na nagsisimula pa lang mag-aral na lumakad.

"You need to imagine tha you are putting her soul to chains. You will lock her soul up until she was not able to take over or even talk," mahinang paalala ni Zach sa kanya. "You need to draw so much magic to push her soul on the depths of your existence. The time you can seal her away depends on the magic you used."

"That's cruel," nagpapaawang wika ko. "Can you really do that to me, Zirrius?"

"How will I be able to draw magic?" nagtatakang tanong ni Zirrius. He really didn't have any idea. Kapag natututunan niya ang mahikang iyon, malaking problema.

"Magic is flowing inside your body like thick blood. You need to control your magic well first... before you can do this kind of magic," he said. "Close your eyes and try," seryosong wika ni Zach. "Concentrate," paalala pa niya. Zirrius closed his eyes. Napakunot-noo siya dahil hindi niya alam kung paano magko-concentrate katulad ng sinabi ni Zach. I heard Zach's sigh. Alam niyang mahihirapan siya sa pagtuturo kay Zirrius kung sakali man. "Can you imagine that blue light flowing inside your body together with your blood?" he asked once again. Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ni Zirrius. He couldn't imagine anything. Gusto ko siyang tawanan pero ayokong sirain ang konsentrasyon niya. This was the first step for him to study magic and I didn't want to ruin my chance.

"Your mind and body must be in sync. Can't you feel that great power flowing inside you?" Zach asked once again. Zirrius sighed heavily and opened his eyes. Tiningnan lang niya si Zach. "I can't imagine anything and that damn blue light," pigil ang inis na sagot niya. Zach grinned. "I know. It's really hard to understand so you should start with basic trainings. You really can't imagine it like that. I was just playing with you."

"What?" naiinis na tanong ni Zirrius. Malakas akong tumawa dahil sa sinabi ni Zach. Akala ko, ako lang ang mahilig mangtrip sa kanya. But I'm sure, Zach's instructions make sense. Magic was really flowing inside a body like thick blood but of course Zirrius can't imagine it when he's doing it for the first time. Zirrius really needs to undergo training. Not bad for Zach. Pero ang hindi malinaw ay kung kulay asul nga ba ang mahikang dumadaloy sa kanya. He came from a powerful royal elven family. I guess it will be a red light. That's also the reason why I felt that endless pit of magic coming from his body.

"So what's your decision? Kapag pinag-aralan mo ang mahikang ito, wala ka ng kawala. You will break your Kingdom's rules. Hindi na rin malayo na ipapatay ka ng hari," seryosong paalala ni Zach kay Zirrius. Halata sa mukha ni Zach ang pag-aalala. "Come back tomorrow when you already made up your mind. Pero huwag mong sabihin sa 'kin na hindi kita binalaan," dagdag pa niya. Zirrius sighed heavily. "At hindi magiging madali ang mga pagdadaanan mo bago ka matutong gumamit ng mahika. Hindi ito laro. Magic is already dangerous and playing with it is even more deadly."

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TO BE CONTINUED...

There are too many revelations. Avery will not be able to contain them all soon. <3 Hahahahaha! What do you think? :)