TAMARA

There were only a handful of people who saw Raven jump in that window. Si Helios, na agad tumakbo, at ako, na biglang napasigaw. It alerted everyone. Ang mga guwardiya sa palasyo ay agad na binalitaan ng tumalong estudyante ngunit lumipas na ang hatinggabi at hindi pa rin nahahanap si Raven.

It was a high fall. Ang ballroom ng palasyo ay nasa ikalawang palapag at napakataas ng bintanang 'yon mula sa lupa. Even if someone could survive that fall, they wouldn't disappear so fast. Masusugatan pa rin ang tumalon at maapektuhan nito ang pagtakas niya. Ngunit kahit ang malalapit na bushes ay walang ebidensya na may taong nahulog o dumaan. There were no blood stains, no piece of clothing leftㅡ nothing.

As if Raven was swallowed by the night.

And... that was three months ago.

"Tamara, eat."

Itinulak ni Azriel ang pagkain palapit. I sighed, staring at the slice of carrot cake. Minsan, 'pag nasa mood si Raven, paborito niya rin 'to...

"Hoy," mahina akong siniko ni Griffin at ipinuwesto sa labi ko ang gamit niyang kutsara. "Kumain ka. Ano na lang sasabihin ni Raven 'pag bumalik siya at payat ka pa sa stick?"

I was about to speak when Azriel shooed away Griffin's hand. "Marunong siyang kumain mag-isa."

"Eto naman, concern lang!"

I tuned the both of them out, preferring to stare ahead, where I found Giovanni watching with a shit-eating grin. Nakahalumbaba siya't nakatitig sa'min na parang kami ang peak entertainment ng buhay niya.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Hindi ka man lang ba nag-aalala sa pinsan mo?"

My accusatory question must have surprised him because his eyes suddenly widened. Sandali niyang sinulyapan si Damon, para tingnan ang reaksiyon o magsumbong dahil sumbungero siya, bago binalik ang tingin sa'kin.

"Nagiging positive lang ako!" he defended his fragile reputation. "'Tsaka ang cute mo kaya, Tamara, na pinapagitnaan ka ng dalawang dambuhala."

"Hindi naman dambuhala si Azriel." natigilan silang apat nang marinig ang malakas na tawa ni Dayang. "Isa siyang maliit na pasaway, tinatago ang sikreto sa anino kapag dumadating ang dilim."

Natahimik kaming lahat sa mesa. Kahit ang mga hindi naman parte ng usapan ay tumigil sa pagsubo para titigan si Dayang. Recently, he has made it a habit to tease and pick on Azriel, mentioning him always moving in the dark. Hindi lang siya pinapansin nitong isa pero... kahit na alam kong baka ang soulstone lang ni Azriel ang ibig niyang sabihin, may paghihinala pa rin ako.

Dayang chuckled at all the attention, moving his beaming eyes to me next. "Huwag kang mag-alala, Tamara. Lahat ay aayon sa gabi at umaga. Pinapanood ka niya at ginagabayan."

Then he left, leaving us with nothing but questions.

"Ano kaya nakain no'n- Ah. Baka wala pa palang nakain kaya kung ano-ano pinagsasabi." umiling-iling si Giovanni. "Kaya, Tamara, kumain ka na kung ayaw mong magaya kay Dayang."

Inirapan ko siya. I took a bite, not because of what he said, but because I was getting hungry too. Nauubos ang enerhiya ko 'pag silang tatlo ang kasama.

The lively atmosphere of Awanggan quickly melted once the doors opened, revealing the Prince of the Sun. Kung titingnan, ay akala mo walang nagbago sa kaniya. He was still the same stoic and authoritative Helios that everyone saw for years now, but now, there's an air of coldness. He was always unapproachable due to his status but currently? It's as if getting close to him is a bad idea.

Well, hindi naman siya nangsusunog ng tao na lumalapit... Hindi lang niya ito pinapansin o sinasagot.

And it wasn't only Helios who changed three months ago. The whole academy has tightened its rules, an order from the council and the Palace, and finally, I understood how tiring and locked it must be to follow them. Tila ba mga ibon kaming ikinulong sa hawlang sila lang ang may karapatan na bumukas.

And with the absence of our rule-breaker. the previous chains of every student returned. The halls have become quiet and lifeless. The noise in the library back to the flipping books and not Raven's occasional complaints. The detention room was never used again and, most importantly, the absence of her heels clicking made the academy boring... stagnant... barren. And even though they don't say it, I have a feeling that several students missed the noise that Raven makes when she was still here.

How lively it was back then.

"He's a pain."

Napatalon ako nang marinig ang boses ni Tsukishima. He sat down on Giovanni's other side, glaring at the previous seat owner so they had to scurry away.

"Much painful to see than Damon over here. Sa tingin nila namatay na si Raven-"

"Watch your mouth." Damon hissed. "I know she can handle herself but there are too many concerning causes for her disappearance. At 'saka, hindi ka ba nagagalit? It's the first time we meet and be with our sister and she's gone in a few weeks!"

"Of course, I'm angry, you fucker. Sino ba ang may kasalanan nito?" Tsukishima stabbed the steak on his plate, the noise it made piercing my ears. "Kung sana sinagot mo na no'ng una tanong niya, baka napaliwanag pa natin kung anong nangyari!"

"As if you told her everything too. You weren't honest with her as well, so don't act all innocent. Especially that, when comparing both of us, it's you who hang around her the most." Damon argued back, slamming his unused knife on the table.

Si Giovanni na nasa gitna nilang dalawa ay naestatwa sa tensiyon. He awkwardly breathed out a laugh, continuing to eat with trembling hands.

Tsukishima took an aggressive bite of the steak. "Ha! So kasalanan ko pang gusto ko lang makilala ang kapatid ko?!"

"Where the fuck did you even get that, moonshit? For a son of Ryuu, who's supposed to be knowledgeable, you sure are dumb."

"Compared to you who only knows how to punch, I can say that I'm very smart. But then, I should have expected that you only have a barely working brain, being the son of Eleazar."

"Hala, Tam, may salihan na ng ama..." bulong ni Griffin na tutok na tutok sa nangyayaring awayan.

"Isa pa kung hindi ka lang din isa't kalahating tanga para makipag-usap kay Ellis na 'di alam na susundan ka." dagdag ni Tsukishima sabay singhal. "Tch. You've never thought na susundan ka ni Raven at makikita kayo sa corridor?!"

The both of them slammed their fists on the table. Bahagyang lumipad ang mga pinggan sa lakas, lalo na't isa sa humampas ay si Damon. His section of the table even cracked at the fraction of strength that he let out, while Tsukishima's had a glow on it, creating a familiar cursed mark.

I've seen them once when I accompanied Kuya. He only explained that they're rare elemental curses, with the moon-shaped one originating from a dragon clan.

Although... Dumapo ang tingin ko sa kawawang Giovanni na itinaas ang plato niya. He really tried to save the meat rolls on his plate because his side of the table received damage from both soulbearers.

"Just stop." Azriel's quiet voice stopped them. "You shouldn't be pointing hands when your sister has disappeared. There must be other reasons too..."

Tumango-tango ako. "'Gaya na lamang noong propesiya. Baka naman..." I couldn't finish my thought. "Hindi natin alam kung ano ang nasa isip ni Raven ng mga panahong 'yon."

"Oo. Ang tanging alam lang natin ay malaki ang impluwensiya ng natagong sikreto sa galit ni Raven..." sumimangot si Griffin. "Baka naman akala niya'y tinalikuran natin siya o na may iba kayong gusto sa pagtago ng sikreto?"

Giovanni, who seemed to have calmed down, hummed. "Pero... naiintindihan ko din ang galit ni Raven. She has always been confident and carefree and knowing that she had no right to be must have destroyed her so bad. I mean... she did live her whole life as someone she's not and then she learns about everything at once, all by herself, because those who could help refused to."

His words kept me awake that night. I couldn't help but blame myself a little too. Siguro kung naging mas malakas ako... natulungan ko si Raven na malaman ang totoo. Kung gano'n, hindi na niya kailangang isipin na mag-isa lang siya sa mundo. Na may magsasabi din ng totoo sa kaniya.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at tumayo. Saglit akong napatingin sa abandonadong kama ni Raven. Her things were still there, from the forbidden books she illegally borrowed to her clothes and jewelry. Ang tanging nawawala kasama niya ay ang metal claws.

Sitting by the windowsill, I gazed up at the bright moon, wondering if she has come to fetch the daughter of the night.

"Raven..." I whispered to the evening wind, hoping it will get the message across. "Sorry ha... Sorry at mahina ako na hindi ka natulungan. Sorry at wala akong nagawa noong namomroblema ka. Pero alam mo, handa naman akong tumulong sa kung anong makakaya ko. Kaya kung naririnig mo 'to, sana... sa susunod, magtiwala ka sa'king tutulungan kita lagi. Dahil susundan naman talaga kita, Raven." mahina akong tumawa. "Kaibigan kita e."

Humalumbaba ako. "Alam mo, tatlong beses na akong nalate kasi 'di mo 'ko ginigising. Hindi na din sanay ang tainga ko na 'di naririnig ang takong mo kaya, Raven, bumalik ka na. O... isama mo na 'ko..."

The wind rustling the leaves of a nearby tree was the only answer the night gave. A stray leaf passed by me and I followed the sight of it, bored. It continued to fall, unto the small balcony of our house and onto the ground where we usually hold training. It wasn't hard to follow with my advanced vision but something stole my attention. A flash of shadows in the corridor in front of the dormitories made me stand up.

What was that? A dark soulbearer? An assassin from Alondra?

Isa pang anino ang dumaan, this time much smaller than the previous ones. My breath hitched as I figured that they want to come near the dormitory. Hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko at lumabas ako sa kwarto.

Was I planning to confront them? Fight them? Ano ba ang laban ko sa 'gaya nila?

Anxious thoughts kept on swirling in my mind as I ventured the stairs. Tahimik ang bawat hakbang ko sa takot na may magising o makapansin. Fortunately, no one bothered to take a late night in the common room kaya hindi mahirap sa'kin na lumapit sa pintuan.

But the door closing alongside a familiar shadow stepping out made me stop.

Sa biglaang pagtigil ay may bumangga sa likod ko at narinig ko ang mahinang pagmumura ni Griffin.

"What are you doing?!" I whispered-shouted, turning to him with wide eyes.

"Huwag kang agad-agad na hihinto, Tam..." he complained, rubbing his chin that bumped onto my head earlier. Hindi naman matigas ang ulo ko para masaktan siya ng gano'n. "'Saka, lumabas ako para sana kumain nang nakita kitang parang pagong kung maglakad. Ano ba trip mo sa gabing 'to? Maging assassin?"

I stared at him for a moment before dropping my eyes down his stomach. Hindi ba siya nabubusog? Bakit kain lang ng kain 'to-

"Hala! Bastos!" pabulong niyang saway sa'kin at tinakpan ang tiyan... ilalim ng tiyan?

Binalik ko ang tingin sa mata niya. Ah, baka ayaw niyang tinitingnan ang tiyan. I guess his hunger must be uncontrollable so he thinks I'd criticize him for that.

"I won't judge you for eating late at night." I cleared up, glancing at the main door of the house. "Anyway, may nakita ako kanina sa labas tapos... may isa din tayong kasama dito na lumabas."

"Nakilala mo ba kung sino?"

I nodded. I hesitated on saying his name but this is Griffin, so... "Azriel."

"Ha? Ano naman ang gagawin niya sa labas?"

Hindi ko din alam, ngunit bahagyang naiintindihan ko na ang sinabi ni Dayang kanina. Kung ito nga, ibig sabihin ilang beses na palang lumalabas si Azriel na hindi namin alam. I can't help but think that maybe... Azriel's consistent late-night walks and those shadows I've seen outside are connected.

"Sundan natin?" Griffin suggested to which I nodded, dahil iyon naman talaga ang plano ko.

The hallway of the dormitory was quiet and eerie. It was long past curfew. As such, the corridor has no lights on. Only the moon's light that visited through the opened windows became our guide. Nakatulong din ang matalas na mata ko para maging maayos ang paglalakad namin. And while Griffin relied on me for walking, I depended on him to sense soulbearers. Wherever he feels a dangerous or soul's presence is where we are headed.

Hindi pa kami nakakalayo mula sa bukana ng dormitory ay may narinig na kaming boses. Nag-uusap.

Griffin and I exchanged glances, quickly planting ourselves on the nearby wall while slowly tiptoeing near the source. Sa bawat hakbang ay lumalakas ang tibok ng puso ko. Sa bawat pagdaan ng segundo ay bumibigat ang hinga ko. Hindi ko man tuluyang mapamilyaran ang boses, ngunit kakaibang pangamba na ang nararamdaman ko.

"Paham must be refusing the Elites of information. He has also doubled the guardians in this academy and Ukiyo, which is the worst because this is the only place in direct contact with Alondra."

This arrogant and seductive voice...I've heard this before. At kung Alondra ang pag-uusapan ㅡ this is no one but War!

"Raven's disappearance triggered it. They are extra careful now."

Muli kaming nagkatinginan ni Griffin. Azriel's voice!

A laugh. "Not careful enough if we're able to visit."

That voice made me stiffen. I caught my breath in my throat upon hearing the laugh and my thundering heart went to a stop at the following statement. Kahit na ilang buwan na ang lumipas, hindi ko pa rin makakalimutan bawat timbre ng boses niya.

I know... I don't have the right to say, even dare think, that I know Raven better, but I did spend weeks with her in the same room. We were together for almost twenty-four hours a day kaya kilalang-kilala ko siya.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang emosyong kumakain sa puso ko at walang pagdadalawang-isip akong lumabas sa pinagkakataguan para harapin sila. Griffin followed suit, but he was more panicked than me, trying to get me to return. But I refused. Hanggang dito ba naman, magiging mahina at takot din ako?

But then... there were only two people left in the corridor.

Si Azriel at Beatrix.

Kumunot ang noo ko. Anong ginagawa niya dito?

"Tamara?" nagtatakang tawag ni Azriel. "What are you doing here?"

"Sinundan kita. Nakita ka naming lumabas ni Griffin kanina pero... ano ang ginagawa niyong dalawa ni Beatrix dito?"

Their exchange of glances didn't go unnoticed. It only increased my suspicions.

"I went out because I saw something." sagot ni Azriel. "There were shadows outside. And I saw War in here."

Well... hindi siya nagsisinungaling. If he ever denied meeting War or made up some excuse about leaving the house at this hour, I would have been disappointed.

"Pabalik na ako sa house kasi tinulungan ko si Dustine sa Elite duties niya nang makita ko ang kaibigan mo." Beatrix crossed her arms. "He was talking to a shadowy person but they left before I got close. I guess... that's War, huh?"

"S-Si War lang ba?"

Azriel stared at me hard before answering, "Yes."

Was it an illusion then? Knowing Beatrix, she's good at making that. Iyon nga lang, why would she make one? To scare off War or to surprise Azriel? Kung hindi naman... baka nagha-hallucinate na ako?!

"Pero narinig ko ang boses ni Raven." Griffin suddenly said, glancing at me. "Ikaw din, 'di ba, Tam? Narinig mo?"

I gave a slow nod.

Beatrix frowned at that, suddenly scanning the surroundings. Azriel made a small hum, crossing his arms as he thought hard.

"Then she must have been here." he then said, never doubting our statement. "For what, I wonder?"

"May kukunin siguro? Narinig din namin ang tungkol sa Dean."

When I heard the sharpness in Griffin's tone, despite the other two's agreements, I glanced at him. His eyes met mine in a warning gaze. Similar to how his tone had a sharp edge, his face became aloof ㅡ a contrast to his usual carefree nature. It tells me that he's still suspicious of the two.

"Yes..." Azriel carefully answered. "I talked to War about that."

"Bakit? Tinutulungan mo ba silang sirain ang Hiraya?"

I flinched at Griffin's hard accusation. Azriel's face darkened, his fists clenching and eyes narrowing. Gusto kong magsalita at pigilan ang tumataas na tensiyon, ngunit ako rin ay nagtataka sa nangyari kanina.

Is this... what Raven felt when she was seeking answers? When she had the hint, only needing confirmation, and was thrown lies?

"How dare you say that."

"Then why would you calmly talk to them, even hinting that we're extra careful since Raven's disappeared?!"

"Because how else should you act around an assassin? Do you expect me to fight them on this quiet night? How would I fare against three skilled assassins, especially since one of them is a powerful illusion maker?"

Natahimik si Griffin doon. I can understand where Azriel is coming from. After all, not everyone has the guts like Raven to start and not mind trouble. Azriel who always needs to take careful steps, due to the constant criticism, cannot allow others to have an excuse of bringing him down more.

Bumuntong-hininga ako. Beatrix threw me an alarmed and concerned look when I backed away from the scene. Matamlay ko siyang nginitian at lumabas ng corridor. I let myself bask in the gentle light of the moon, closing my eyes in peace and letting my disappointment dwindle. I stood there, with my hands folded behind me and my body leaning upwards to feel the whispers of the night when I heard a sound.

A step.

A clatter.

The familiar click-clack of a high-heel shoe.

And a humming voice, "Mm-hmm~ Mm-hmm... Hmm-mmn..."

I snapped my head to the source of the sound, eyes growing wide as I spot a walking figure ㅡ having the same height as Raven with dark hair, a visible burn on her left arm, and a walk so confident that everyone would grovel before her.

"Rave-"

Hindi ko pa natatapos ang pagtawag sa kaniya nang maramdaman ang nakakapasong init. It was as if the cool of the night was being melted by the sudden visit of the sun. May bumangga sa gilid ko at sunod kong nakita ay ang tumatakbong likod ni Helios. He was running so aggressively and fast that every grass he steps on burned.

Napasunod ako sa kaniya.

That night, three months after the Moonstone Gala where Raven suddenly disappeared, under the full moon in the training fields, the most powerful soulbearer and I both chased after a vanishing night. We reached out our hands, stretching them to extremity so that she could come home and enjoy the meadow of flowers.

But the black bird did not even turn around. Instead, she walked to the forest where three shadows waited.

Instead, she chose those who attacked and attempted to take her before ㅡ War and Ruin.

Napahinto kami ni Helios nang tanging hangin lang ang nahabol ng aming kamay. Lumalalim na ang gabi at may kutob akong... tuluyan nang nawala sa'min si Raven.

"This only means one thing."

Sinulyapan ko si Helios nang magsalita. He kept his face blank but the eyes gave his grieving away. A friend alive but lost and away is much worse than being dead.

At siguro, kung titingin din siya sa mga mata ko, magiging salamin namin ang isa't isa sa lungkot at pagkawala ng pag-asa.

"Raia Venetia is not anymore a friend." aniya at bumaling sa'kin. "Starting this night, consider her an enemy."

Then he walked away.