Elaire's POV

Regina's Curse. Ito ang ipinangalan nila sa sumpang umuubos ng mga kabayo ngayon. At nasa stables ako kasama si Evelyn dahil isa sa mga kabayo niya ang nakuha nito.

"We have to bury it, Evelyn," sabi ko sa babaeng nanghihinang nakahimlay sa kabayo habang tahimik na umiiyak.

"B-But I saved her, Elle—" Nawala na ang dating buhay sa boses niya. "Kasama kita no'ng binili ko siya diba?"

Hindi ako sumagot.

The horse that died was bought by Evelyn when she saw it was in very poor condition. She saved it from being left for dead by the owner who told us that if the horse didn't sell, he planned to leave it in the forest for the wild animals.

Kahapon lang, sobrang saya namin dahil nalaman naming nakapasa si Misa sa Academia. Nasa Lumien siya ngayon kasama si Sion para mag-order at magsukat ng mga uniporme. Ako sana ang sasama sa kanya kung hindi biglang namatay itong kabayo ni Evelyn.

She was devastated, obviously. Paborito niya kasi ito. She even planned to have it bred because she liked the shine of its champagne coat.

"My baby..." bulong ni Evelyn habang hinahagod ang leeg nito. "I'm sorry." Lumakas ang kanyang iyak nang ibaon niya ang kanyang mukha rito. "I'm so so sorry..."

She's blaming herself— kung bakit hindi raw niya nagawang bantayan ito. But even I didn't know that the horse was sick with the curse. Nalaman lang namin pagkatapos itong mamatay.

"Evelyn." Dumating si Robin. "Kailangan na nating ilibing 'yong katawan niya bago may mahawa sa sumpa." Marahan niyang hinila si Evelyn na namimigat ang katawan at gusto pa ring yumapos sa kabayo.

I looked at the horse.

Nakabukas ang mga mata nito at mayroong bahid ng itim ang nguso nito. The horse got it from vomiting its own cursed blood before it dropped dead. Its body smelled rotten, but Evelyn, the one who raised it, couldn't care less.

Si Sangie lang ang nakapagpatahan sa kanya. Lumabas kasi ito na may dalang mga bulaklak at sinabing hinanda niya raw ito kapag ililibing na 'yong kabayo. Touched by the gesture, Evelyn finally allowed Robin and I to drag its body behind the building and bury it.

"Mama, paglaki ko bibilhan kita ng maraming kabayo." Narinig kong sabi ni Sangie habang tinatakpan namin ni Robin 'yong hukay.

"You don't understand, Sang," ani Evelyn. "I don't need a lot of horses. I only need a few that I love."

Pagkatapos ipatong ni Sangie ang mga bulaklak sa libingan ng kabayo, bumalik na kami sa tavern maliban kay Evelyn na nagpaiwan.

She came inside after a couple of hours and she spent the rest of the day mourning at their residence on the third floor. Ako ang pumalit sa kanya sa kusina, at buong araw, napaisip din ako sa sumpang pati kami ay hindi pinatawad.

Kinabukasan, napagdesisyunan kong maglakbay patungo sa baryong pinanggalingan no'ng sumpa.

I already asked for permission from Robin the night before, and I left Evelyn's an hour after dawn, on one of their two remaining horses.

Over my commoner's dress, I wore the black cape. And the old leather bag that hung by my waist contained exactly— two apples for the horse, two bread for me, one wooden container with water, my coin pouch, and a... pencil.

Hindi ko alam kung para saan 'yong lapis, sa totoo lang, pero mas lalong hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko at ginagawa ko ito.

Come to think of it, I should be with Misa right now but I'm not. Because I am traveling along Silk Road, alone, to a village in Borderlands, with no plan about what to do once I arrive.

Napabuntong-hininga ako.

At least the sky is clear, puna ko habang nakamasid sa lumalapit na bulubundukin.

Borderlands is named such because it looks like a border of land with its mountain ranges and all.

The villages were scattered throughout the mountains. Habang nasa gitnang kapatagan naman matatagpuan ang pununglungsod ng Borderlands kung saan naninirahan ang duke at 'yong pamilya niya.

Fortunately, I'm not heading to the mainland. Sa isang baryo lang, na sa pagkakatanda ko'y madadaanan ko kapag papasok ako sa lungsod.

In the end, though, I remembered wrong.

"Lagpas na po kayo," sabi ng batang lalaki na napagtanungan ko ng direksyon. "Bumalik po kayo tapos lumiko po kayo pakaliwa. Papasok ka po sa paanan ng bundok tapos nasa unahan na 'yong baryo."

Hinila ko ang renda ng kabayo. Umikot ito.

"Ate, mabilis maligaw 'yong mga hindi taga-rito kaya mag-ingat ka po," huling bilin ng bata.

Binigyan ko siya ng namamaalam na tingin bago muling tinahak ang landas na nadaanan ko na.

I arrived at the village early in the afternoon. One of the houses had a small open eatery and it's where I decided to eat my late lunch.

A woman put down a bowl of blood stew in front of me, as well as a small plate of breadsticks.

"Excuse me." Kinuha ko 'yong atensyon niya. "I'm looking for the owner of Regina."

Pinangalanan nilang 'Regina's Curse' 'yong sumpa dahil ito ang pangalan ng kabayo na unang namatay dahil dito.

Napansin ko ang pagbuntong-hininga no'ng babae.

"Old house with the herb garden," sagot niya bago umalis.

Tahimik kong inubos ang aking pagkain at pagkatapos iwan 'yong bayad sa mesa, sinimulan ko ang paghahanap ng bahay na may hardin ng mga... halamang gamot?

I think this is it, sabi ko sa sarili, sa harap ng isang lumang bahay na walang laman 'yong hardin pero nangangamoy gamot naman. For some reason their house was secluded from the rest of the houses. Not too far to be entirely on its own but not too close to be a part of the village.

Walking along the small pathway in the middle of the garden, the scent of medicine thickened, until I reached the front door. Dalawang beses kong kinatok ito, at mula sa loob narinig ko ang tinig ng isang lalaki.

"I am here—" Bumukas ang pinto at bumungad sa'kin ang isang lalaki na mas matanda sa'kin at may kaunting katabaan. Mayroon din siyang manipis na balbas at nakasuot siya ng damit pang-hardinero.

Magaan siyang ngumiti. "Sa ngayon, naubusan na kami ng gamot para sa—"

"I'm here to ask about the curse," I said, voice empty, so as not to scare him away. "I heard it was your horse that first contracted it."

He stared at me for a few seconds, silently debating if he should let me in. While I stood in front of him, indulging in the scent of herbs and spices coming from inside his house.

Sighing, the man took a step back to let me in.

Patungo sa mesa kung saan niya ako iginiya, dinaanan ko ng tingin ang hugis bilog na basahan na nasa gitna ng kanilang sala. It was too big to be just a simple rug and it reeked of burnt cinnamon. Then I noticed the books and potions that filled all their shelves.

"My name is Elaire," sabi ko nang maupo sa tapat niya. "One of our horses recently died and I would like to see if I can do anything about the curse."

"Isaac," pagpapakilala rin niya. "Ako nga 'yong may-ari ni Regina."

Magpapatuloy na sana siya nang biglang pumasok ang isang lalaki. He looked young, as if he just entered his teens, and he carried a basket full of herbs with him.

"That's Thomas," ani Isaac. "My one and only son."

Matangkad si Thomas, pero manipis din 'yong katawan niya. He looked a bit pale and sickly. And he seemed shy, by the way he looked away from me.

Bitbit 'yong basket, tumungo siya sa kusina na nasa likod ko. At saka ko ibinalik ang aking atensyon sa kanyang ama.

"Regina was our only horse. My cousin borrowed her to go to the South and when he returned, poor Regina already got cursed," kwento ni Isaac. "At first we thought it was only a disease that could be cured with natural magic but after using a lot of potions and elixirs... nothing happened. We couldn't save her."

"Can you tell me where in the south your cousin went to?" usisa ko.

"Yes, he went to a village by the river Liris," sagot niya. "He stayed there for a few days."

Umiintindi akong tumango. "Was it a fishing village? May kilala rin akong galing sa Liris. I think his horse got the curse as well." Tumingin ako sa malayo, at seryosong napasabi sa sarili, "I might have to travel further than I thought."

Isaac nodded in agreement. "Sa tingin ko doon nga. Pasensya ka na kung wala akong gaanong maitulong. Marami-rami kasi akong gawain, at hindi lang mga hayop 'yong ginagamot ko." Namamagod siyang tumawa. "Mga bampira rin."

Bringing my attention back to Isaac, I noticed the bags under his eyes and the wrinkles that curtained his cheeks. His lips started to pale the longer I observed him. Umunat-unat ito nang kaunti, tila hindi mapakali, at nang iangat ko ang aking tingin upang salubungin 'yong kanya, mabilis siyang kumisap.

Taking in a deep breath, he said, "I wish I could ask you to stay for a meal, Elaire, but we are poor, as you can see." Humility took over his face when he tried to present to me their age-stricken home. "We do not even have bread good for three. And we have yet to pick ourselves back up from my wife's death and Regina's."

"Was Regina your wife's?" usisa ko.

"Yes," sagot niya. "She bought and raised the horse for Thomas."

"If you don't mind, Isaac..." Nanlambot ang aking boses. "How did your wife die?"

He let out a bitter chuckle. "I'm sorry but I would rather not talk about it."

Sumayad ang aking tingin sa gitna ng mesa, tahimik na nagdedesisyon kung magpapatuloy pa ba ako o aalis na. By the looks of it, I was already overstaying and asking too much.

"Before I leave," I said. "Can you tell me where your horse was buried?"

But he didn't get to answer, as the door barged open revealing Sylus— looking serious and determined. Dumiretso ang kanyang tingin sa'min. Panandalian siyang nagtaka nang makita ako pero nanumbalik din ang kanyang kaseryosohan nang ibaling niya ang kanyang atensyon kay Isaac.

"Arrest him," utos ni Sylus at pumasok ang tatlong kawal.

Napatayo kami.

Humarang si Thomas sa pagitan ng mga kawal at ng kanyang ama ngunit maharas siyang itinulak ng isa.

Habang ginagapos nila si Isaac, humarap ako kay Sylus. "Sylus?"

Lumapit siya sa'kin. "Stand back, Elaire. We just found out that he started the curse—" He paused to correct himself. "No, he created it. He used a transferring spell to transfer—"

"A curse from a vampire to a horse," pagpapatuloy ko sa sinabi niya dahilan na mapatigil siya sa gulat at pagtataka.

While chained, Isaac also gave me an unbelieving look— they all gave me the same look while I walked towards the rug in the middle of the floor at gamit ang aking paa, mahina kong itinulak ang isang sulok nito upang ibunyag ang ilalim nitong sunog na sahig.

I only did it to see if I was right, and upon confirmation, I crouched down to pick up the carpet and threw it away, revealing a magic circle burnt on the floor.

"I already knew..." sabi ko kay Sylus, at lalong-lalo na kay Isaac. "The moment I stepped into your home."

After hearing Isaac's story, about his cousin who borrowed their horse, I asked him if his cousin went to a fishing village near the river Liris and confirmed that he was lying because I also lied— wala akong kakilala na galing sa Liris at wala na ring mga baryo na malapit dito ang nangingisda sa ilog.

Nalaman kong wala nang nangingisda sa Liris dahil ilang beses na akong inutusan ni Evelyn na mamalengke at bumili ng isda. Just a year ago, a dam was built and it changed the fishes' migration route. Water still runs in the river but the fishes have already disappeared. Lumipat sila sa mas malayong ilog at dahil dito, nagmahal din ang presyo ng mga isda na dati'y galing sa Liris.

Looking down upon the magic circle on the floor, I took notice of the different symbols drawn along the circle's edges. "It is a circle used for a transferring ritual," nahinuha ko.

"P-Paano mo naman nasabi 'yan?!" galit na tanong ni Isaac, na parang inaakusahan ko rin siya. "Walang nakakakilala ng mga simbolong 'yan—"

"You used folk magic that's only used in the Borderlands," sabi ko. "Walang gaanong mages sa mga baryo-baryo rito pero may ibang gustong magkaroon ng kapangyarihan nila."

"When you try to do what you're not supposed to do, Isaac, you tend to do it wrong," dagdag ko. "Magic is unreliable, lalo na kung galing ito sa mga bampirang walang alam at nangangarap lang na magkaroon nito. You used magic from unreliable sources. You drew the circle wrong. You misplaced the symbols, and you probably mispronounced the incantations."

Nilingon ko si Isaac. Nanlalaki ang kanyang mga mata, namamasa, pilit hindi naniniwala.

"Kilala ko 'yong mga simbolo..." Nanghina ang aking boses. "Dahil taga-Borderlands din ako."

Bumaba ang aking tingin nang biglang bumagsak si Isaac sa sahig, nakaluhod. "A-Anong magagawa ko?!"

"Pa!" Sinubukan siyang lapitan ni Thomas pero pinigilan ito ng isang kawal.

"Mamamatay na 'yong anak ko!" luhaang sigaw ni Isaac, pasan-pasan sa likod ang bigat ng isang buong mundo. "Kinuha na ng sumpa 'yong asawa ko! Paano ko hahayaang kunin din nito 'yong anak namin?!"

I noticed Sylus catch a breath as he looked away. He obviously didn't know why the man created the curse, until now.

"Mahirap lang k-kami." Mabigat na yumuko ang ulo ni Isaac. "Wala kaming kapangyarihan." Tuluyan na nga siyang humagulgol. "A-Anong magagawa ko kundi..." Malakas siyang sumigaw upang ilabas ang kanyang matinding galit at pagsisisi, habang 'yong anak niya ay luhaan ding nakaluhod.

Isaac's wife died from the curse, and his son was also about to, kung hindi niya ito inilipat kay Regina na kabayo nila.

"You're wrong, Isaac," sabi ko. "You have power inside you. More than you know."

Hindi ako binalingan ni Isaac na nanatiling nakayuko.

"It might not be much but you were still able to transfer the curse," I reminded him. "Pagkatapos mong kumpletuhin 'yong ritwal, nangyari 'yong gusto mong mangyari, pero nangyari rin ang hindi mo inasahan," kumpirma ko sa kanyang pinagdaanan. "Hindi mo alam na mabilis kakalat sa iba pang mga kabayo 'yong sumpang inilipat mo kay Regina."

"You should let him go, Sylus," suhestyon ko. "He made a mistake but he did it because of the right reasons."

"We can't let him go as easily, Elaire," ani Sylus. "Inutusan na akong dalhin siya para parusahan. He should've already thought of the consequences before making the mistake."

"Saan siya paparusahan?" usisa ko.

"The duke of the Borderlands asked for him," sagot niya. "He told the king that he will take care of this problem—"

"Huwag!" biglang sigaw ni Thomas. "Ako 'yong dalhin niyo doon! Ako ang aamin na ako ang may kapakana ng sumpa dahil ako naman talaga! Nagkamali si Papa dahil sa'kin! Para sa'kin!"

Letting out a heavy sigh, Sylus ordered, "Get him up and bring him out."

Hinatak patayo ng mga kawal si Isaac. Hindi ito nagtangkang manlaban. Si Thomas ang siyang nagpumiglas mula sa kawal na may hawak sa kanya, nang lagpasan siya ng kanyang ama.

For some unknown reason, I suddenly voiced out. "Stop."

Tumigil silang lahat. Tinignan ako ni Sylus.

"Will you release him?" tanong ko. "If I could reverse the curse?"

"There's already a spellcaster waiting outside, Elle. The king assigned him after we found out that the source of the curse was a spell," sabi ni Sylus, bago lingunin si Isaac. "Before we bring you to the duke, you must tell us where your horse is buried."

But Isaac didn't tell them. He knew that the source of the curse was a spell gone wrong and if the spell gets reversed, mawawalan ito ng bisa, at babalik 'yong sumpa sa anak niya.

"Is it the black death?" tanong ko kay Isaac na pinagitnaan ng dalawang kawal.

Nakatayo kami ngayon malapit sa entrada ng gubat kung saan pumasok sina Sylus para hanapin 'yong libingan ni Regina at habang naghihintay sa kanila, hindi ko naiwasang magtanong. Napagtanto ko kasing pare-pareho 'yong sintomas ng sumpa sa isa pang sumpa na nagngangalang 'Black Death'. Instead of horses, though, the black death affects vampires.

It is an old curse that you get if you drink the blood of enchanted rats. Mga mahihirap ang kadalasang nakakakuha nito, dahil may mga araw na wala silang ibang mapagkunan ng dugo maliban sa mga dagang umaaligid sa kanilang kabahayan.

"You need to tell me so I can help you," sabi ko kay Isaac.

He painfully snickered. "Ano pa bang maitutulong mo..."

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at napabuntong-hininga nalang.

Pagkaraan ng isang oras, lumabas si Sylus mula sa gubat. Kasama niya 'yong spellcaster.

"We found it," ani Sylus. "But the bones have already rotten because of the curse." He turned to Isaac who seemed relieved. "We can't reverse the spell with no body or bones."

"I still can," I said, to Isaac's horror. "Can I see?"

"A-Anong—" Pilit kumawala si Isaac. "Anong gagawin mo?! Huwag!"

Pumunta kami sa libingan ng kabayo, at totoo ngang wala na itong iniwan, maliban sa hukay nitong nangingitim ang lupa.

I sniffed once, and caught the smell of cursed blood.

"Bring me his son," tugon ko kay Sylus. "The curse came from him."

Umalis si Sylus, at habang naghihintay sa kanya, sinubukan akong kausapin ng spellcaster.

"How are you going to reverse the spell?"

Hindi ako sumagot. Nabibilang nalang kasi ang mga salita kong natitira para sa araw na'to. I already talked a lot at Isaac's house and I don't want to answer any more questions. I just wanted to leave this place and travel back home.

Dumating si Sylus. Nakasunod sa kanya ang isang kawal na may hawak kay Thomas.

"Put him in there," tugon ko ulit.

Tinulak ng kawal si Thomas papasok sa hukay. Paupo siyang nahulog sa gitna, at pagkaraan ng ilang segundo, nanatili lang siyang nakaupo rito. Hindi siya nagtangkang tumayo upang makalabas, at lakas-loob siyang tumingala sa'min, at sa ama niyang nagmamakaawa ang ekspresyon sa mukha.

Panghuling tinignan ni Thomas si Sylus. "Sinabi mo sa'kin na papakawalan mo 'yong tatay ko kapag pumayag ako rito."

Sylus nodded— his arms folded across his chest. "That's right."

Napatango-tango rin si Thomas, habang lumilipat ang kanyang tingin sa harap. Pagkatapos, ako na naman 'yong tinignan niya. "Gawin mo na. Ibalik mo na 'yong sumpa sa'kin."

"Thomas!" tawag ni Isaac sa kanya.

Mabilis siyang nilingon ni Thomas. "Para sa'kin naman talaga ang hukay na'to, 'diba, Papa?" Kumunot ang kanyang noo, at muli siyang tumango-tango, taimtim na tinanggap ang iyak ng kanyang ama bilang sagot.

Kasunod na namuo ang isang magaang ngiti sa labi ni Thomas, na ipinagtaka ko.

"Masaya na ako..." mahina niyang sabi. "Kahit hanggang dito lang ako."

Matagal-tagal akong napatitig sa kanya, nangunguryuso ang mga mata.

"Naranasan ko nang lumabas at mamitas ng mga halaman..." dugtong niya. "Akala ko kasi hindi ko na ito magagawa simula nang makuha ko 'yong sumpa na ikinamatay ni Mama."

He must have been bedridden for years... and for having lived his remaining days being able to go outside and pick herbs just like his dad, Thomas was happy.

"Handa na ako," saad niya. "Handa na akong mamatay."

But Thomas was still young. Beneath the determination in his voice, he was still a child who spent his years suffering under a curse. A child who wanted to run outside and help his dad with work.

"S-Simulan mo na."

The crack in Thomas' voice told me that he was prepared to die, but he didn't want to.

"Appareo," bulong ko, at lumitaw sa ibabaw ng hukay ang isang lumiliwanag na bilog.

It was the same magic circle that Isaac used to do the transferring ritual.

Lumakas ang iyak ni Isaac nang magsimulang gumalaw ang mga simbolo nito. The symbols rearranged themselves around the circle according to the spell that Isaac used to activate it. And when they stopped, meaning that the magic circle was ready to be activated again...

"Potestate quam donata sum, in circulum oculi mei spectant," I chanted one of the reversing spells that I am familiar with. Kabisado ko na ito dahil ito ang ginagamit ko sa tuwing nag-te-training ako. "Magicam iubeo reverti flumen."

The symbols along the edge of the circle rotated in reverse, like a door knob being twisted to close.

And under the circle, Thomas coughed out blood.

"Bitawan niyo 'ko!" pagmamakaawa ni Isaac. "Yong anak ko!"

Nanatili pa ring lumiliwanag 'yong bilog at sa ilalim nito ay si Thomas na hindi makahinga at namilipit sa gitna ng hukay. Sumuka siya ng dugong unti-unting naging kulay itim. Bumahid ito sa kanyang mga kamay at kumalat sa kanyang panga nang subukan niyang pigilan ang walang-tigil na paglabas nito.

We fell silent as his father's desperate screams stained the air around us.

While Thomas never screamed. He choked. He gasped. He suffered, but he never let out a cry. And when his throat rattled to release a slow, pained, final groan... the magic circle above him finally turned into dust.

Some dust got blown away while some dropped inside the hole where Thomas lied.

The circle has gone, and so has the spell that created Regina's Curse.

Pinakawalan ng mga kawal si Isaac na agad tumalon sa hukay. Nagsisigaw siya sa sakit, habang angat-angat ang katawan ng kanyang nag-iisang anak. Niyakap niya rin ito nang mahigpit, humahagulgol.

Nakabuhos sa mag-ama ang aking buong atensyon kaya hindi ko napansin ang nangunguryusong tingin ng spellcaster na kasama nina Sylus.

"You have the potential to be a great spellcaster, whoever you are," aniya.

Inasahan niyang sasabihin ko sa kanya 'yong pangalan ko at nang mahinuhang hindi ko gagawin ito, mahina siyang tumawa.

"That magic circle consisted of unique symbols. For a short time you were able to memorize every single symbol, including their exact spot on the circle," the spellcaster said, as if I didn't already know what I did. "And for a short time you have also figured out the arrangement to reverse it."

Mula sa kanya, muli kong tinignan si Isaac.

"Poor fellow." I heard the spellcaster comment, before walking to Sylus and the other soldiers.

Hindi ko napansin ang pagpaalam ni Sylus sa'kin. Hindi ko nga rin alam kung nagpaalam ba talaga siya. I thought I heard him say goodbye but when I looked up to where they stood, they were already gone.

Walking around, I found a wildflower that grew near Regina's grave. Its' petals were white with pink hues.

Pinitas ko ito bago bumaba sa hukay at tumabi kay Isaac na mangiyak-ngiyak pa ring nakayakap sa kanyang anak.

"Isaac," sambit ko na ikinatigil niya. "Put him down."

He looked at me for a while, eyes pleading. Then he whimpered. He stopped another cry, before gently lying Thomas' body down on the ground.

Marahan kong ipinatong sa dibdib ni Thomas ang kamay nitong may hawak ng bulaklak na nahanap ko.

"Wake up, Thomas," I whispered, while chanting in my head another transferring spell. A more effective one, and a spell that does not require great sacrifice. "Your dad's here waiting for you."

I knew for sure that we wouldn't have this problem if only Isaac hired a mage that's able to transfer such an old, simple, curse.

But for all he was, Isaac didn't have the means to pay.

He was only a father who lost his wife and was about to lose his only son.

Mabilis na nalanta ang bulaklak na nasa kamay ni Thomas, hanggang sa matunaw ito sa ibabaw ng kanyang dibdib na nagsimulang gumalaw.

Dahan-dahang bumukas ang mga mata ni Thomas at agad akong lumayo upang bigyan ng espasyo si Isaac na desperadong umabot sa kanya at niyakap siya nang mahigpit.

Huminto ako sa pagtakbo papalayo mula sa sunog nang mapansing tumigil ang paghinga ng batang babaeng nasa bisig ko.

"Misa!" Dali-dali ko siyang ibinaba sa lupa. "Misa!" Paulit-ulit kong tawag sa kanya, sa halip ng malalakas na kabog ng aking puso. "Misa, kailangan mong huminga!"

Pinigilan ko ang pamamasa ng aking mga mata habang mahinang tinatapik-tapik 'yong pisngi niya. "Misa! Gising!" Nagsimula akong maluha. "M-Misa—" Nanginginig ang aking mga kamay nang buksan ko ang kanyang maliit na bibig. At saka ako yumuko upang ipahiram sa kanya ang sarili kong hangin.

Paulit-ulit ko itong ginawa habang umiiyak, nagdadasal na kahit si Misa lang 'yong iiwan para sa'kin.

Bumalik ang aking diwa nang makita si Thomas na maingat na pinaupo ni Isaac.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pakiramdam na mawalan ng anak, pero alam kong hindi ko ito gustong maranasan...

•••

"Sigurado ka bang sapat na 'to para sa lahat ng ginawa mo?" tanong ni Isaac sa'kin sabay abot ng isang supot na naglalaman ng limang mansanas. "We still have blood cookies—"

Kinuha ko ito. "Thanks, Isaac."

Papunta kasi rito, nakain ko 'yong mga mansanas na para sana sa kabayo ko kaya nang tanungin nila ako kung anong pwede nilang ibayad, hiningi ko 'yong mga mansanas na nasa kusina nila.

Thomas stood behind Isaac and I gave the both of them one last glance before turning around and leaving their doorstep.

I learned nothing today, except that not everyone can do magic, which I've already known for a long time.

Napatingin ako sa mga mansanas na dala ko.

Not everyone can do magic... but that doesn't mean it is not for everyone.

Power, even though not everyone has it, was meant to be shared, most especially to those who need it. But unfortunately, may iba pa ring hindi alam ito, lalo na 'yong mga ipinanganak nang makapangyarihan.

Tumungo ako sa kabayo nina Evelyn na iniwan kong nakatali sa isang poste sa labas ng baryo. Pagkatapos itong pakainin ng dalawang mansanas, sumakay ako rito at sinimulan ang aking lakbay pauwi.

The sky was already dark when I left the village. Then I remembered one of the shortcuts my dad and I used to take when leaving Borderlands.

Iniliko ko ang kabayo sa isang mas makitid na daan kung saan sinalubong kami ng mas madilim na kapaligiran, pagka't pinalibutan kami ng mga puno at halaman.

I couldn't see the stars from where I was.

But I did see the twinkling of the fireflies that soon surrounded us. Inilibot ko ang aking tingin sa libo-libong alitaptap na naninirahan sa bahaging ito ng kagubatan.

Somewhere here, there is an open meadow, where my parents and I used to have our midnight picnics and gaze at the stars, while also being surrounded by them.

Sa panahong 'yon hindi ko pa naiisip na nasa akin na pala 'yong lahat, at hindi ko na kailangang humiling dahil wala na akong mas ikasasaya.

"Mukhang alam ko na kung bakit ako umalis kaninang umaga," bulong ko sa kabayo. "Gusto ko kasing may magawa ako para kay Evelyn."

"I'm the same as you,I think..." Sumama sa simoy ng hangin ang aking huling saad. "I also don't likeseeing her cry."