A DECISION FOR AN AMBITION

"ASTER, anong gagawin ko?" he asked as he slid his body on his white, soft matress. Inabot niya ang unan na nasa ibaba ng kaniyang ulo at binato sa sahig.

Pinulot naman ito ni Aster at ibinalik sa kaniya. "I don't know."

Napaismid siya. Marahas niyang hinawakan ang malambot na unan na itinapon niya at tinitigan itong maigi. Kung puwede lang sumigaw at magreklamo ang unan, ginawa na nito dahil sa higpit ng kaniyang pagkakahawak. Muli niya itong tinapon sa direksyon ng sofa kung saan naroroon ang mini salas, sampung metro ang layo mula sa kaniyang kama.

"Oh, spells of the mighty broken tree!" he blurted out, though he didn't know what it meant for it was only a saying most of the S-genes spouts when in distress.

Mas lalo lang siyang naasar nang kinuha ulit ni Aster ang unan at muling ibinalik sa kaniya. Hinablot niya ito, nagtalukbong sa kumot at nagkunwaring umiiyak.

Ano ba kasing puwede niyang gawin? Hindi naman siya makapapayag na hindi siya magiging Dragon Chief. Hindi puwede! Bata pa lang siya gusto na talaga niyang maging chief. That was his dream, but his dreams didn't just end there.

He dreamed for the sake of his other dream.

After knowing what and where his Dragon stone was earlier, a sudden flow of waves flushed through his veins. Instead of feeling concerned, he somehow felt relieved. Relieved that he finally had a reason to capture the ambition he had been hiding for a long time.

For the first time, he was thankful that a person's emotion could be hidden from others. Because if it couldn't, he might have already received a burning smack from her mother.

"Master?"

"Yeah?"

"Is this really important to you? Mamatay ka ba kung hindi mo matutupad ang pangarap mo?"

Inalis niya ang kumot at nilingon si Aster na nakatayo sa kaniyang gilid. Mapanghusga niya itong tinitigan. Hindi siya sigurado kung seryoso o sarkastiko ba ang tanong nito.

"Really, Aster?" Umupo siya sa kama at bumuntong-hininga. "Siyempre, hindi ako mamamatay. But I can't just let go of my dreams."

"You're too ambitious."

"I am and I'm not planning to just keep those ambitions as mere ambitions. I am going to make it my reality, Aster." His hands formed into fists as he remembered how his ambition started.

The Mythrians or S-genes, had a 1000-year lifespan. No one could die above or below that number, except for two factors. First, if they fell ill, caught an incurable disease, or killed. Second, S-genes possessed a self-destruction spell, if they ever decided to end themselves for whatever reason, may it be boredom or lack of will, they could end their life any day they wanted.

In his case, Lis had never been bored. He had always a vision in his head he promised to turn it into reality. His dreams were the ones keeping him alive for four hundred and fifty years.

"Mamatay ba ako kung hindi ko matutupad ang pangarap ko? Of course not! But giving up now even if I know I can do better is just worse than my death. I can't live with that."

"I don't understand." Tumingin si Aster sa kaniya. "Those 'dreams', are they worth it?"

"Someday, you'll understand. Dreams may be subjective, but one thing is for sure . . ." He gave him a small smile. Instead of feeding him the answer, he said, "When the time comes that you have found your dream, try hard to keep it and make it happen. Once you do, tell me if it's worth it, Aster."

Hindi naman ito sumagot. Muli siyang humiga at tinutok ang tingin sa puting kisame habang ginawang unan ang kaniyang palad. The happenings messed him up big time. A mess that he would willing to clean up with excitement. Ngunit dapat ba talaga siyang matuwa?

"Black magician," he whispered.

A magician, who lived in a different district, violated the treaty just to get his stone. Well, not that he was threatened. It was just that his mind was currently at the edges of the clouds. Of all who would steal his Dragon Stone, why them? What did they want from him?

'Whoever magician you are, you just gave me reason to be more ambitious.'

Hindi niya napansin na nakangisi na pala siya sa naiisip niya. And just a glimpse, he came up with a decision.

"Aster."

"Yes, master?"

"Pack our things. We're leaving." Smiling from ear to ear, he pretended to convince himself that it was the first time he thought about this idea. That it was not a selfish decision but a reasonable one. Na ginawa niya lang ito upang kunin ang kaniyang Dragon Stone at hindi upang makapunta sa ibang distrito.

"Yes. That's exactly it," bulong niya pa habang tumatango.

He continued fooling himself when Aster answered, "And where?"

He smirked at him, causing his butler's eyebrows to form an arc. "To Faegika. I'm going to get my stone back."

Mabilis na napatampal si Aster sa noo. Para bang inasahan na nito ang kaniyang sasabihin.

"You're insane, master."

"What so crazy about that?" He protested and jumped from his bed.

"We'll be violating the treaty!" Aster said, raising his voice another level higher.

"And? The black magician did the same." He shrugged, acting as if the treaty was something that he could just shrug off.

Kinuha niya ang maliit na kahon na nakapatong sa drawer na nasa tabi lang ng kaniyang kama. Binuksan niya ito. Bumungad ang tatlong string sa loob. He touched the middle string to call one of his maids. The one who didn't know how to sleep.

Aster let out a sigh. The deepest sigh he had heard so far. "Are you really going this far?"

"You know me, Aster." He glanced at him. Aster had been with him since they were kids. He knew about his personality as how he knew about his dreams. No one could stop him if he had already made up his mind.

"All right." Aster sighed one more time, admitting his defeat.

"Don't worry too much." Tinapik niya nang paulit-ulit ang likuran nito. Kita niya naman kung paano nagsalubong ang kilay nito sa kaniyang ginawa. Kahit hindi man umimik, ramdam ni Lis na minumura na siya sa isipan nito.

"Come on! Ngumiti ka naman d'yan!" He smacked his back one more time. "'Pag naging chief na ako, magiging parte na ako ng council. At 'pag nangyari 'yon, we won't have to worry about the treaty."

That was his dream. He wanted them, together with the A-genes and H-genes, to co-exist.

"You're just asking for war. The treaty's there for a reason."

"And I'm going to burn that treaty for a reason as well! I will surely make this nation's people live with one another."

"You're selfish."

"Selfish? I'm doing this for all the people, you know." Napahawak pa siya sa puso niya, kunyari nasaktan sa sinabi nito.

"No one asked you to do it," sagot nito pero hindi niya iyon pinansin.

"Would it be great if all of us co-exist together?"

"A worthless reason. Too irrational. Not convincing at all," he replied straight to his face.

Aster didn't have to say it because he already knew. He knew very well.

Sasagot pa sana siya pero dumating na si Ami.

"Yes, master?" masigla nitong bungad, 'di katulad kaninang umaga na sobrang tamlay.

"Pack my things. Include only those that are needed. Pagkatapos, you can go back to your room."

"Saan ka po ba pupunta?"

"Vacation. I'm going to the Land of Mermans."

"Alam ba 'to ng Chieftess?"

"Of course!" He let out his sweetest smile to make it more convincing. Si Aster naman ay lumabas na ng kuwarto. Magliligpit na rin ito ng mga gamit.

"Ngayon talagang gabi?" tanong pa ni Ami pero nagsimula na ring iligpit ang mga gamit niya.

HATINGGABI na nang tuluyan silang makalabas ng palasyo. Sinigurado nilang tulog na ang lahat bago nagtungo sa kitchen room para makapunta sa likurang bahagi ng palasyo. Suot-suot ni Lis ang kaniyang itim na cloak habang si Aster naman ay nakasunod sa likuran niya. Aster used one of his two types of light concealing spell to carry their things with ease and made it invisible. Walang sinuman ang nakahahawak nito at nakakakita bukod sa caster. He called it the Invisible File. Pero iyon nga, ang tanging maikukubli lang nito ay mga bagay na walang buhay.

Sumalubong sa kanila ang nakahilerang bulaklak ng santan nang makalabas sila. Sinalubong din si Lis ng mga boses nitong nagtatanong kung saan sila pupunta. Ngumiti naman siya at umiling.

"Secret."

Nasilayan na nila ang lumiliyab na tarangkahan. A fiery gate that even the strongest water user could not extinguish. It was called Everlasting Flame for a reason. Itinayo ito ng pinakaunang chieftess ng Mythria. Sampung palapag ang tangkad nito at kahit hindi pa sila gaanong kalapit sa apoy, ramdam na ramdam na nila ang init na tumutusok sa kanilang balat.

"We're going to fly, Aster," sambit niya. Gagamitin na sana nila ang Aerial Spell ngunit napatigil silang dalawa nang makarinig ng baritonong boses.

"Wait."

Mabilis na napalunok si Lis dahil kilala niya iyon. Dahan-dahan siyang lumingon at pilit na ngumiti sa lalaking nakatingin sa kanila. "Y-Yeyi? Nandiyan ka pala."

Naglakad ito papalapit sa kanila. Hindi niya masiyadong maaninag ang mukha nito dahil madilim na ngunit klarong-klaro naman ang pula nitong mga mata. It was like a predator ready to devour his prey.

Napalunok siya. He glanced at Aster to give him a signal. He couldn't afford to be caught here. If Yeyi would stop them, then it would leave him no choice but to force their way out.

"You're going to Faegika?" diretso nitong tanong na para bang inasahan na nito ang gagawin niya at inabangan siya rito sa labas.

"Yes. I'm going to get my stone back."

"Don't get in the way of my master." Pumunta si Aster sa harapan niya. He glanced at the hands of his butler emitting a white light.

"I didn't come here to stop you, kids. Judging from your stubbornness and reckless behavior, I just figured you'd go to Faegika." He stretched his hand. May hawak itong libro. "You are going to a foreign land, and you need enough information to dwell in there, so take this."

Inabot niya naman iyon nang may pagtataka. "T-Thanks?"

It took a while for Lis to finally absorb what Yeyi just did. Hindi niya inakalang hahayaan siya ni Yeyi. Si Yeyi na napakastrikto at palaging sumusunod sa batas ay pinayagan siya? Akala niya'y kakaladkarin na sila nito pabalik sa loob pero hindi iyon ang nangyari.

"Lis."

"Yes?" Nagulat siya nang tawagin nito ang kaniyang pangalan. Yeyi was much older than him that sometimes he felt awkward when he called him master. Pero kinakabahan naman siya sa tuwing tatawagin siya nito sa kaniyang pangalan. The way he said his name felt like he did something terrible and that he would receive a beating. Napatayo tuloy siya nang matawid.

"If you see Croissant, punch him for me." Tumalikod na ito. "And please, bring him back once you return."

"Oh," he blurted as realization struck him.

Kaya pala. Yeyi wanted them to go, not because he supported them, but because of his brother.

Napangiti naman siya. "I will."

Croissant was Yeyi's younger brother. Ito ang lumayas matapos patayin ang kauri. It was rumored that he went to Faegika. Napaisip tuloy siya kung paano niya susuntukin ito kapag nagkita sila. Bigyan niya kaya ng uppercut? Suntok sa sikmura puwede rin.

"Then, I'll get going," he said. Enjoyment filled his voice as he thought of the adventure that was yet to come.

"Be safe."

He waved his hand as a response before turning his back and casting his Aerial Spell to float and fly in the air.

It would be a hassle to transform into a dragon. It was too noticeable. Isa pa, masiyadong malaki ang enerhiya na kakailanganin para makapagpalit sila ng anyo at 'di iyon maganda para sa katawan niya na walang Dragon Stone.

"Wo-ho!" he exclaimed. It was always nice to be up in the air. The cold breeze was hugging him. And as he soared upward, the sound of the swishing air tickled his ears. Napatakip pa siya sa kaniyang noo nang mawaksi ng hangin ang kaniyang buhok.

When he reached a certain height, he looked down to see the whole Mythria. The lights from the houses made the entire land like a sky filled with stars. Thousand of stars.

"It's beautiful," he whispered.

For the first time, in his 450th year and on the day of his birthday, he would finally leave the place he grew up in. His heart expressed a beating grief, but the excitement tickling his bones covered it all.

'I'll be back with my Dragon Stone. That's a promise.'

AN HOUR had passed before they had reached the Cloud Town of the Pegasus lineage, where the boundary between Faegika and Mythria resided. Ilang beses na silang nakapunta rito ni Aster at ang iba niya pang kasamahan na First-degree guards, subalit ito ang unang pagkakataong susubukan nilang puntahan ang kabilang parte ng hangganan.

"Nararamdaman ko na ang lamig."

"What cold?" He looked at Aster who was using his light spell. Aster was a Sun dragon, he could use the light of the sun, and since, light emitting from the moon was originally from the sun, he could still use his power even at night. Natural talaga na hindi siya lalamigin.

Napasimangot naman siya. Bumaba muna sila at pumunta sa espasyo na pumapagitna sa dalawang bahay na gawa sa ulap upang doon siya makapagpalit ng damit. He wore three layers of thick coat to make sure he would not freeze to death once they reached the top of the valley. Pagkatapos lumipad na silang muli.

"Light Spell: Conceal," Aster muttered and touched his back. His body immediately became one with the background. Now the guards below wouldn't be able to spot them.

Nagsimula na silang lumipad pataas upang makapunta sa tuktok ng kapatagan. The tall wall of the valley was part of a huge, circular mountain. At pinalilibutan nito ang Faegika. Sa loob nito nandoon ang destinasyon nila.

"This valley is higher than I expected." Lumipad pa sila pataas. Kagaya ng sinabi niya kanina, hindi ito ang unang beses na nakapunta sila pero ito ang unang beses na aabutin nila ang tuktok.

Habang pataas sila nang pataas, palamig din nang palamig. Ang pader ay nagiging yelo na rin. Napahigpit ang hawak niya sa coat nang manuot sa buto niya ang ginaw. Akala niya'y sapat na ang tatlong coat pero mukhang magiging kabaong ng yelo na siya bago pa lang sila makarating.

"Aster, use your spell on me, too. Ayoko pa mamatay," sabi niya na mabilis din naman nitong sinunod. Kaagad na lumipat ang init sa kaniyang katawan matapos nitong hawakan ang kaniyang balikat.

Napahinga siya nang maluwag. What a useful butler.

"We're almost there."

Nasisilayan niya na rin ang tuktok. Mas binilisan niya pa ang paglipad at ganoon din si Aster hanggang sa tuluyan na nga nilang narating ang ibabaw.

Napapikit siya nang sumalubong sa kaniyang mukha ang galit at malamig na hangin. Sinampal ang kaniyang mukha sa lakas. May dumikit na niyebe sa kaniyang pisngi na mabilis din niyang winaksi. Muli siyang nagmulat at doon niya lang nasilayan ang paligid.

"Will we be able to withstand this much snow?" Pinagpag niya ang kaniyang damit.

Wala siyang makita bukod sa nag-aalburotong snowstorm. Ang bagsik ng hangin ang nagsilbing tunog ng lugar. At ang mga nagliparang niyebe ang sumasayaw na mga guwardiya ng kapatagan. It drawed the line between Mythria and the valley's climate. Totoo nga ang mga narinig niya. Sa parte lang na ito ang umuulan ng niyebe. This served as the boundary between Mythria and the mainland of Faegika.

It was called the Blizzard Region, a region of Faegika where faes lived.

Once they laid their feet on the ground, they would no longer be in Mythria, but in Faegika otherwise known as the A-district. More than that, they would violate the long-standing treaty of Rise and be labeled as criminals.

"Ginusto mo 'to. Panindigan mo," sagot ni Aster.

Huminga muna siya nang malalim at sa huling pagkakataon, nilingon niya ang Mythria. He wanted to memorise once again the state of his land before he would finally leave.

It was peaceful.

He left the place peaceful, and he would be back seeing it peaceful as well. That was a promise.

Muli na niyang ibinalik ang tingin sa harap at hinanda ang sarili upang suungin ang bagsik ng niyebe ng Blizzard Region.

"Let's go."