Luis the Aries

We just finished talking about the information we gathered from the books we read. Earlier, while I was listening to others, I noticed that we have the same knowledge. Even though we don't know why the pages of those books were torn on purpose, we still chose to keep quiet and act like we didn't know anything.

Sabi ni Torin na mas makabubuti na palihim kaming kumilos. Posible rin na hindi sabihin nina headmistress ang buong katotohanan lalo na at iniisip din namin na sila ang kumuha ng mga nawawalang impormasyon.

"Pero ano'ng rason nila?"

"That, we don't know."

"There must be something unusual happened in the war."

"I don't believe na sila Esmeralda ang gumawa nito, kasi ano'ng rason nila? Right? They gathered us here but they will lie to us?"

"Let me handle this," imik ni Torin na malayo ang tingin. "For now, let's focus on our trainings, especially the new ones, until they gave us the signal to proceed to our missions."

Lahat umayon sa sinabi niya. But I have reached a conclusion, though it is still uncertain. But what if the higher-ups are unaware of these creatures? Perhaps someone, not the higher-ups, tampered with all of the history books just to keep them from learning what happened. I have a feeling that this is the case.

Torin ended the meeting but she stayed in our meeting room together with the books we brought. Pagkalabas ko ay dumiretso na ako sa itaas para kumain, nagutom kasi ako sa haba ng naging usapan. Pagdating ko sa kusina ay nadatnan ko room si Averil na umiinom ng tubig.

Isa si Averill sa mga outstanding student ng Astar Academy at talagang marami ang nakakakilala sa kanya dahil sa angking galing nito sa pakikipaglaban. Kilala rin siya sa pagiging tahimik at kadalasan sa mga estudyante rito ay takot makipag-usap sa kanya. They thought he is a snob, pero hindi naman. Siguro sa iba ay tahimik siya but when he's with someone whom he's comfortable with, lumalabas ang pagiging madaldal niya. I guess the only constant about him is his unfathomable facial expressions.

"Do you have any plan?" I asked.

Ibinalik na nito ang pitsel ng tubig sa loob ng ref.

"No."

Iyan lang ang sinabi niya at naglakad na papalabas ng kusina. Sumunod naman ako sa kanya sa ref at naghanap nang makakain.

*****•*****

Torin the Taurus

I've heard all their reports earlier but I'm still not satisfied. I know lahat kami ay walang alam, na ngayon lang din namin ito natuklasan. Bakit ngayon pa? Bakit parang may kung anong nangyari sa digmaan na hindi alam ng lahat? Na hindi alam namin?

N

apahilamos na lamang ako ng aking mukha at marahas na napabuga ng hangin. Sinadya ko ang magpaiwan sa meeting room dahil gusto kong mag-isip at basahin isa-isa ang mga libro na dala nila.

Also, Haruko brought something and based on what he have said, something eerie surrounds it.

Unang kinuha ko ang libro na dinala nila Luis at Ligue and after I've read the author's name, I used my communication array to call out someone residing in our dorm. Ilang minuto lang ang dumaan ay bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa roon si Averill na walang emosyon ang mukha.

"You heard Luis and Ligue's report, right?" Panimula ko. As usual hindi ako nakarinig ng kahit na anong komento mula sa kanya bukod sa isang tango. "I want to hear your comment about it," I shamelessly commanded him.

"Is this because the author is Louen? I have nothing to confess on this matter, Torin."

Nagbaba ako ng tingin at saktong sa libro tumama ang mga mata ko.

"I just want to know if you knew this man or perhaps heard about him."

There was a minute of silence between us. I was busy thinking about all these things. If this certain man named Chen Louen is actually from their clan, we have the way to know the truth. We could ask him about what he wrote.

"I haven't."

Marahas akong napabuga ng hangin at tiim bagang na tumingin sa kanya. I want to find those missing pages, but how? How could I find something I didn't even know where it was in the first place? How could I find it if I didn't know who took it?

"But I have heard about the Three Crimson Mishap when I was at the Sanctuary."

I felt my ears flinch a little as I heard what he just said. Nakuha kaagad nito ang atensyon ko.

"Ano'ng mga nalalaman mo?"

"They called it Crimson Mishap because of their red robes, and every time they appear, they always bring misfortunes." 

One of them appeared earlier, does it mean there will be a disaster coming? Muli na naman akong nahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip. Hindi kaya konektado lahat ng nangyayari ngayon sa muling pagbubukas ng tarangkahan?

"Amaro and Esmeralda recognized the one as Vien."

"I only know the three as The Red Spider Lily, The Scarlet Belladonna, and The Austere Rouge Miasma. I don't know why they called it Vien."

The three he mentioned are also in the book they found. Although hindi naman namin nakita ang dalawa pa, posible na darating ang panahon na makasagupa rin namin sila. We only know a little about them. Ni hindi nga namin alam kung saan sila nanggaling at kung bakit sila biglang nagpakita.

Pero sigurado ako na hindi magandang balita ang hatid nila.

"But they don't reside in this realm, Torin."

Napa angat ang tingin ko sa kausap. Seryoso pa rin ang mukha niya habang nakatingin sa mga libro na napapagitnaan naming dalawa. I heard from Ligue that these three creatures are residing in the Ghost Realm, but there's no indication what these creatures are.

But what if they are actually a gods? They might be living in the Ghost Realm, but not everything in that realm is bad. They are actually some creatures living there who contributed goodness to the Human Realm.

"They're no god as well."

Tila ba nabasa ng kaharap ko ang nasa loob ng aking isipan.

"Then what are they?" I asked, mumbling.

Bakit sa bawat pagbukas ng kanyang bibig ay parang may sasabihin siyang hindi maganda?

"They are a catastrophe residing in the Ghost Realm. They're not god but a demon."

Hindi ko pinahalatang nagulat at kinabahan ako sa narinig. I balled my trembling hands under the desk. If the creature earlier is a demon, why does Esmeralda haven't done anything to kill it? No, if it really is a demon then why does it showed up in the academy?

"Why is that creature here?" Bulong ko sa hangin habang malalim na nag-iisip.

It could be something is going to happen, not just the opening of the gates. Demons from other realm, and the dark creature from the dark world? What if these two are connected?

*****•*****

Kamala the Scorpio

Tahimik na muli ang dorm namin dahil malalim na ang gabi at tulog na ang lahat, bukod sa akin. Kanina pa ako pabaling-baling sa aking kama pero hindi pa rin ako makatulog. Bumabalik kasi sa ala-ala ko ang nangyari kaninang umaga. I tried not to think about it when I was at the library with Averill, but now that I am alone, it keeps flashing in my mind.

Other than the walking corpses, I felt another presence. Hindi naman presensya nang nilalang na nasa ibabaw namin, iba. Ibang presensya pero parang pamilyar din.

I don't know, but back then, while I was fighting against the walking corpses, something suddenly touched me, but I didn't see who. I felt the cold touch and the eerie presence, but I couldn't see it. Kaya nga kanina pa ako tahimik kasi iniisip ko kung may mali lang ba sa akin or talagang may iba pa, bukod sa mga iyon.

Since I wasn't sleepy, I decided to leave the room, and while walking in the living room, my attention was drawn to the light peeking through the window. When I looked outside, I saw the moon and decided to walk to the lake.

I was careful not to cause any noise while going out. I don't want others to be awakened by my presence, and at this moment, I want to be alone.

Ang gilid ng lake ay may naglalakihang mga bato, roon ako umupo at payapang pinagmamasdan ang tahimik na lawa.

Unlike the previous time I was here, the wind was blowing gently this evening.

Habang pinagmamasdan ang repleksyon ng buwan sa tubig ay nahulog ako sa malalim na pag-iisip. I already accepted my destiny being one of the zodiacs and I was ready to face difficulties, but sometimes I also think about a peaceful life. Hindi naman masamang isipin ito 'no?

I just hope for my self in other multiverse na masaya siya, na hindi siya kabilang sa mga zodiac, na kasama niya ang pamilya niya, at higit sa lahat, walang kaguluhan sa mundo niya.

I sighed after minutes of thinking at marahan na itinukod ang dalawang kamay ko patalikod. I still didn't feel sleepy after minutes of staring the moon's reflection on the lake.

Wait...

What if mag ensayo ako rito?

As I stood up to practice, the wind blew violently. I instantly used my hand to shield my eyes from the wind. Nagulat din ako sa biglaang pagbabago ng hangin at na-isip na baka may iba pang naririto bukod sa akin, pero wala naman akong nararamdaman na presensya.

I tried to peep through my hands, covering my sight, just to check if there wasn't anyone around the area, but I suddenly heard a voice. The voice is a low, deep rumble, rough around the edges, as if it hovers menacingly just behind me.

Beneath the stream where corpses lie, 
The prelude draws near, the time is nigh. 
A powerful weapon soon shall appear, 
And a soul shall rejoice, casting away fear.

Kaagad akong humarap sa aking likod dahil pakiramdam ko talaga ay nasa likod ko lang siya at bumubulong, pero tanging kawalan lamang ang bumungad sa akin.

A vessel chosen, a bearer found, 
A royal's fate, a traitor bound. 
Let fate decide whose side to favor, 
In this timeless struggle, with outcomes to savor.

"Sino ka?" I shouted full of desperation to know who the creature is.

It doesn't sounds like someone from the zodiacs, obviously, because no one in the zodiacs has a demonic voice. Hindi pa rin humihina amg hangin bagkus ay mas lumakas pa ito lalo.

"Ano'ng pakay mo?" Muli kong sigaw.

I tried not to stammer dahil sa totoo lang ay natatakot ako kahit na nararamdaman ko naman ang protection barrier ng school. Pero sa isip-isip ko, bakit may ganito eh activated naman ang barrier?

Bigla itong tumawa na nakakakilabot at lahat ng balahibo ko sa katawan ay tumayo. Ramdam ko rin ang panginginig ng tuhod ko at kahit malakas ang hangin ay pinagpawisan ako.

But we have the pawn...

"Who the hell are you? Magpakita ka!"

But it didn't show up even after I shouted at the top of my lungs. It seems like it didn't hear me, and as soon as the voice stopped, so did the wind. Dahil humupa na ang hangin ay nagmamadali akong hanapin ang may-ari ng boses na narinig ko, pero kagaya kanina ay wala akong mahagilap kahit anino man lang nito.

But the voice kept on echoing in my ears. The words kept on repeating for a second until it completely gone.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ko sa mga sandaling ito bukod sa takot.  Sino ang nilalang na iyon? Ano ang ibig niyang ipahiwatig sa mga salitang iyon? Bakit sa akin? Bakit ako?

"Kamala?"

Dahil sa gulat ay nawalan ako ng balanse at nahulog sa tubig. May kamay naman na humila sa akin kaagad.

"Oh my god! I'm sorry for scaring you, Kamala."

Nang makabalik ako sa bato na kinatatayuan ko kanina ay saka ko lang natignan ng mabuti ang taong bigla na lang tumawag sa akin.

"Ligue."

Hinihingal pa ako pero ayos naman na ang pakiramdam ko.

"Nakita kasi kita mula sa dorm na nakatayo rito kaya lumapit ako. Masyado ng malalim ang gabi, ano ba ang ginagawa mo rito mag-isa?"

Before answering her ay luminga muna ako sa paligid, trying the check if there's really no one around.

"Are you looking for someone? May kasama ka ba rito kanina?" Pag-uusisa ni Ligue.

Marahan lang akong umiling. Nanginginig na rin ako dulot ng malamig na hangin na yumayakap sa basa kong katawan.

"W-wala."

Should I tell her about the voice?

"Pumasok na tayo."

Sumunod ako sa sinabi niya habang yakap-yakap ang sarili. Naka-alalay naman ito sa aking gilid, but I told her I'm fine. Baka mabasa ko rin siya. Habang tinatahak namin ang daan patungong dorm ay bigla na namang humangin nang malakas pero hindi katulad kanina sa lawa. But the feeling is the same. The tension and the presence it brings.

Shhhhhh....

Kinilabutan na ako ng husto sa narinig kaya nilingon ko si Ligue, kaso parang wala naman siyang reaksyon.

"Narinig mo ba 'yon?" I asked her.

"Huh? Ano'ng meron?" Halata ang pagtataka sa mga mata niya kaya hindi na ako nagtanong pa. "Naku, ikaw ha! H'wag kang manakot diyan."

But it's true. It wasn't just an imagination.

- B M -