IN THE MIDDLE OF GOING DEEPER

"WHAT'S that?" tanong ni Aster na sumilip sa kaniyang tabi.

Nakahiga siya sa kama habang binubuklat ang libro na pinahiram ni Violet sa kaniya kahapon. Kakagising niya lang at wala siya sa mood na bumangon kaya magbabasa na lang muna siya.

"The Heart of the Dissolving Flower," he answered.

"Isn't that what Aryl told you about?"

Tumango siya. "And I would like to know more."

"Do you want some Vege Sal?"

"Yes, please."

Hindi na sumagot si Aster at umalis papuntang kusina. Napangisi si Lis. Para-paraan din 'tong kaibigan niya, e. Kunwari gagawan siya ng Vege Sal para may idahilan lang para pumuntang kusina. Bakit nito gustong pumunta ng kusina? Kasi nandoon ang babaeng napupusuan nito.

"Sweet naman," bulong niya at nagsimula nang magbasa.

Manipis lang ang libro. Hula niya mga nasa limampung pahina lang ito. At tama nga si Violet. The book talked about the history of Faegika; how the place was on a higher ground before, and how the perennial giant trees were still present. Ilang pahina pa ang binasa niya hanggang sa lumapat ang mga mata sa pamilyar na mga pangalan.

"Ghequiteo Faragor and Lubismin," he mumbled as he put the book closer on his face, making sure that he wasn't reading it wrong.

Ghequiteo Faragor and Lubismin built the new appearance of A-district and named it Faegika.

Napalaki ang kaniyang mga mata sa nabasa. Hindi puwedeng magkamali si Lis. Ang mga pangalan na iyon, sila ang unang pinuno ng Mythria. It was his ancestors. Bakit nandito sila sa Faegika? And how was it possible that the name of the district came from them? He was so invested in the book that he didn't notice Aster putting a bowl of Vege Sal on his bed. The description about them and what they did to the place was worth prioritizing than his favorite food.

Lubismin was an Element-controlling Dragon, she could control any type of element and turned it into anything that she wanted, may it be paper, a dress or a whole mansion. The Everlasting Flame in their mansion was made by Lubismin. The book also indicated that the jelly-looking appearance of the buildings in Faegika was also her doing.

He couldn't help but gasp at how accurate the description was. White hair as glossy as the flowing water, crystal blue eyes, and skin as white as milk were exactly the same as the hanging portrait of Lubismin in their mansion.

She was known as Patriate, the first mayor.

Wala nang sumunod pang eksplanasyon kung bakit Patriate ang tawag ng mga magician at sa kung bakit ito ang mayor ng Faegika.

Humigpit ang hawak niya sa libro nang mapunta na kay Ghequiteo Faragor ang mga nakasulat. He was the first chief of Mythria and Lubismin's husband. Although it wasn't stated what kind of dragon he was, what he was capable of doing was similar to the ones he knew way back in Mythria. Ghequiteo was the one responsible for the new topography of Faegika.

According to the book, Faegika had a terrible climate. The two regions, known as the Blizzard and Desert regions, always clashes with each other. But despite the clashing climate, it was indescribable how the perennial trees were still able to grow in between. But still, it wasn't enough to shield the magicians. Therefore, with the power of Ghequiteo and Lubismin, they changed the entire Faegika. They created a large hole, now the mainland. And Lubismin put an invisible barrier to limit the climates, hindering them from clashing.

Ghequiteo used the perennial trees for the interior of the buildings. The placement of all buildings and roads were all because of the two. The symbol of a dead tree on the roads was a remembrance of Ghequiteo and his wife and as to how they changed the place.

"So I wasn't just imagining things. It was indeed a tree," he gasped.

The two were all close with the magicians, and when someone was dying from an incurable disease, Ghequiteo didn't hesitate to give his heart to the magician, miraculously healing him in an instant.

If Lis could interpret the heart that the book was talking about, it was clearly . . .

"A Dragon Stone." It wasn't just an old folk story. No wonder Aryl didn't hesitate to accept his Dragon Stone after knowing that it was the Heart of the Dissolving Flower.

More than that, the spells of Ghequiteo were all similar to his, even his dragon form. After all, he was the first chief's descendant. Ghequiteo Faragor Crimson was the first to hold the attribute he had today.

Napatigil muna siya sa pagbabasa. He could feel his veins popping out.

Oo, natuwa at namangha siya sa mga nalaman subalit may isa pang emosyon ang umusbong sa loob-loob niya.

All he found out weren't taught in Mythria. He never knew that Ghequiteo and Lubismin had been in Faegika. Ang sinabi lang sa kanila ay sila ang nagtayo ng Mythria. Iyon lang at hindi na nabanggit pa sa kanila ang mga ginawa ng dalawa sa ibang distrito.

The treaty was really a pain, he thought. The more reason for him to abolish it. Nang dahil sa treaty, nagkakaroon na ng butas sa nakaraan nila.

He never heard of them being friendly with the magicians before as well. How did this happen? Now, he was starting to doubt the war that happened long ago that resulted in the establishment of the treaty. Was it really because of the war that they had the treaty today?

What if it wasn't the reason why they have it?

If the first rulers were able to visit the place, the treaty must not have been established yet, and the war hadn't happened yet. Kung iisipin niya nang mabuti, nangyari siguro ang digmaan matapos baguhin ng dalawa ang Faegika.

But if history wrote about the S-gene and A-gene being friends, why did Faegika legalise a law on killing them?

"Right, the gaps. Damn holes of information." He rolled his eyes. "For Dragon's sake! This is infuriating!" Binagsak niya ang mukha sa unan. Bukod sa nalilito siya sa mga nalaman niya, may dumagdag pa sa isipan niya. Bago niya isara ang libro, may nalaman siyang hindi niya ikinatuwa.

If the Heart of the Dissolving Flower is given, it shall not be removed for the true power of the heart will sip the life of the bearer.

"Are you saying that her disease will come back if I take my Dragon Stone back?" nanggigil niyang bulong sa libro ngunit kaagad ding napatigil. "But it says the true power . . . don't tell me—no! Spells of the mighty broken tree! Why did no one tell me about this before?

Paulit-ulit niyang hinampas ang libro sa kaniyang noo dahil sa inis. He was lost. Wala pa nga siyang naiisip na gagawin kung paano niya makukuha ang Dragon Stone nang hindi papakasalan o papatayin si Aryl, dumagdag pa ito. Hindi na niya tuloy alam kung anong gagawin.

'What a burdensome attribute.'

Sinulyapan niya ang Vege Sal sa kaniyang tabi at dali-dali itong nilamon. Sa dami nang nalaman niya, hindi na niya alam kung paano niya ito pagkokonektahin. Ang ikinatuwa lang niya siguro ay ang malamang naging magkaibigan ang dalawang genes.

The history just proved that they were each other's relevance, and he believed that since day one.

Dumaan si Aryl sa salas kaya nagsalita siya.

"Hindi mo naman sinabi naging magkaibigan pala tayo."

"Huh?"

"S-genes and A-genes were friends before," he said while finishing his Vege Sal.

"Anong pinagsasabi mo?" Aryl just looked at him with confusion and entered her room.

Natigilan siya sa reaksyon nito. Napatampal siya sa kaniyang noo nang may mapagtanto.

Of course, she didn't know.

The book might have been exclusive to some figures here in Faegika, or maybe it was just exclusively for the mayor's family, since Mayor Cortez is part of the council. Annoying gaps!

THE night came and everyone was prepared to leave. Ang kanilang mga gamit, pati na kay Aryl ay nasa Invisible File na ni Aster, hinihintay na lang nila ang curfew bago sila tuluyang magtungo sa H-district.

"Sigurado na ba talaga kayo-ka?" Cortez asked with sadness on his face. "Mami-miss ko kayo-ka."

Napangiti naman siya. "Baka mami-miss mo lang kami dahil wala nang magbabantay sa shop mo."

Natawa naman si Cortez sa sinagot niya.

Inayos niya ang kaniyang itim na roba at tiningnan ang oras. It was eight in the evening. He looked at the two behind him and smiled. "It's time."

They bid their goodbyes to Cortez and got out of the Cell.

"Mag-ingat kayo-ka."

Ang tunog ng pagbukas at sara ng pinto ang naging hudyat para sa panibagong pagsubok. It was the same feeling as when they escaped from the mansion, the only difference was that they have more company this time.

Nilingon niya ang dalawa. Ang boryo na mukha ng kaniyang butler at ang kinakabahan na mukha ni Aryl ang sumalubong sa kaniya. Huminga siya nang malalim upang kontrolin ang emosyong pilit na kumakawala. He couldn't just get enough of the feeling of adventure. As he thought about meeting new genes and new places, his heart just couldn't stop thumping fast.

He experienced a loss while staying in Faegika, but he would make sure to get what his rival deserved.

He would carry on this burden as long as he lived.

"Mauna na kayo. May pupuntahan pa ako."

Nagtaka ang dalawa.

"Saan?"

"We might have another company." His lips curved as he thought of Violet. "See you at Drit Town."

Tumalon si Lis sa balandirya at lumipad nang mabilis papunta sa Aena Tower. Napahawak siya sa kaniyang buhok upang takpan ang kaniyang noo dahil sa lamig.

He was excited to see her. Sana sumama ito sa kanila. Kahit na may parte sa nararamdaman niya ang 'di niya maunawaan, iba pa rin ang kapayapaang nadudulot nito sa kaniyang sistema.

Palapit siya nang palapit at palakas din nang palakas ang kaba sa dibdib niya. He hoped to see Violet on the railings.

At hindi nga siya nabigo.

Violet was there. With a backpack on her back, standing and waving at him with a wide smile on her face, as if she had been waiting all this time.

"Hibi!" After their eyes met, the woman didn't hesitate to jump.

Just like how they first met, he caught her perfect in his arms. The lavender fragrance embraced him as the woman wrapped her arms around his neck. The air was cold, but he was enveloped by her warmth. He also held her tighter and soared across the mainland, heading in the direction of Drit Town.

"Lis, I miss you," bulong nito habang dinudutdot ang mukha sa kaniyang leeg.

Sumilay ang ngiti sa kaniyang mga labi. His entire guard down, letting Violet invade the very little thing—including the tiniest walls he put against his personal space and maybe even his whole life. Too many yet too little questions wandered on his mind, but there was one thing he was sure about. The closer she was, the more peace he gets.

"I'm glad you choose to come with me."