Dawn. Birds chirping, the running waters flow. The stream is generating a flushing noise, sun rays hitting the morning dews on the grass, and the serene gust of wind is invigorating.
Dogs barking, vendors assembling their stalls. It's another busy day for them. Some farmers are feeding their cows and horses, and some are selling their crops in the town. Such a lively community could only exist inside a dream, but this is real. Everything my eyes are seeing right now. . . is real.
"Good morning, Aeriah. Nakatulog ka ba?" nakangiting bati ni Marreanne. "How are you?" I don't know. I can't answer that question in my current state.
Si Quilya nalang ang sumagot para sa akin. "Confused," sabi niya. "Don't worry. For now, I'll let you enjoy what you're seeing. Mamaya ka magtanong sa akin tungkol sa lahat ng gusto mong malaman. We'll clarify things for you. Just let your mind rest first," she assured me.
Right. It has been quite a lot vexing regarding what's happening lately. These thoughts have been constantly putting my mind in distress. Quilya is right. I should take a short break and deal with it later. Wala naman sigurong mawawala, hindi ba? Everything happens for a reason.
Alright, Aeriah. Free your mind. Take it easy.
"Yeah," I uttered with a nod.
We've been following those bowmen in a white coat for about ten minutes now. Bawat paghakbang nila ay magkasabay, walang nauuna't walang nahuhuli. Para silang mga sundalong nagma-martsa sa daan. Kami naman ay nakasunod lang habang nasa loob pa rin ng karwahe. Medyo naiilang din ako kasi sinusundan kami ng tingin ng bawat taong nalalagpasan namin sa daan kahit ang direksiyon nila ay kasalungat sa patutunguhan namin.
Lumiko sila sa kaliwa na iyon nama'y sinundan namin. Nanibago ako nung naging kalmado ang pagtakbo ng karwahe. Nang tumingin ako sa daan, yun pala ay simentado na. May nakikita akong gusali 'di kalayuan, napapalibutan ito ng mga puno at may kaunting distansya sa mga kabahayan. Doon ba kami pupunta?
Kitang-kita ko rin mula rito ang ilang pangkat ng mga kagaya nung tatlong sinusundan namin. Mayroon ring iba pang nakasuot ng itim na balabal, bitbit ang kani-kanilang matatalim na espada at sibat.
"What are they?" hindi ko mapigilan na mapatanong.
"Lashevierr's army, most likely," komento ni Krein. "If I'm not wrong, they are called the Vulpine Legion."
I see. Yan yung sabi ng isa sa tatlong sumalubong sa amin kanina. Napakarami nila. Siguro nasa mahigit isang daan lahat ng nakasuot ng puting balabal, at doble naman ang bilang ng mga naka itim. At kung hindi rin ako nagkamali ng pagkarinig, gustong makipag-kita ang kanilang Chief Commander sa amin. I'm getting a little bit anxious about this.
"Quilya, what are your plans for tomorrow?" asked Marreanne.
"Plans?"
Nagkatingin kaming dalawa ni Marreanne ng ilang segundo bago niya binalik ang atensyon kay Quilya. Marreanne sighed in disbelief. Don't tell me she forgot tomorrow is her birthday.
"Actually. . . forget it," she gave her a mischievous smile. I know what she's thinking, she's up to something only she would know. Marreanne never runs out of tricks. Kasalanan din naman ni Quilya bakit niya kinakalimutan ang mismong kaarawan niya for seven years in a row.
Nang huminto ang sinasakyan namin, unang bumaba si Krein. Tsaka lamang kami sumunod nang sumenyas ito sa amin na bumaba na rin. Nasa harap namin ang malaking pinto na gawa sa silver at napaka-gara ng disenyo nito. Sinuri ko iyong maigi at namangha ako nang mapagtantong ulo pala ng werewolf iyon.
Binuksan ng mga bantay ang pinto at sinenyasan kami na dumeretso lang sa loob at iyon nama'y sinunod namin. Bumungad kaagad sa paningin ko ang magarang hallway.
"Woah," I gaped.
It's about twenty meters wide. Mayroong makapal na red carpet sa sahig na inaapakan namin. Hanging sconces are aligned in the ceiling and are about ten meters from each other, with each giving enough light for anyone to see, since there are no windows for sunlight to go in. A row of guards clad in silver armor is stationed left and right while facing each other, holding their iron spears with red silk right under the tip. As we walk past each pair of them, they bow their heads down as a sign of respect. One of the guards pointed in the direction of their commander's office which we followed quietly.
Tahimik rin sa hallway. Wala kang ibang maririnig maliban sa mga yabag namin at ang tunog ng mga baluti nilang metal sa tuwing sila ay yumuyukod.
Huminto kami sa isa nanamang pinto. Tinignan ko ang nakasulat sa itaas niyon. "Zǒng sīlìng," basa ko rito. Zǒng sīlìng? Isn't that Chinese? What does it mean?
Winaslik ko nalang muna ito sa aking isipan at binaling ang atensyon sa harap nang bumukas na ang pinto. Someone opened it from the inside. A tall, petite woman wearing a Hanfu came out. She looks younger than me and has that perfect body curve. The Hanfu she's wearing is a cross-collar one with a flowery embroidery, and a red sash on her waist to go along with it, making her look stunning. Naka flat bun ang buhok nito at mayroon ring mga flower petals na accessories, pati na rin yung stick na nasa buhok niya, may mga flower petals din. Bagay na bagay ang mga ito sa maputla niyang balat. What is she? A flower maiden?
"Hi," bati niya. "I'm Scarlette Sraez," pakilala pa nito. Her voice is so thin. Tumingin ito kay Quilya. Maya't-maya ay lumipat ang tingin nito kay Marreanne, tsaka sa akin. "Don't you guys look familiar?" nakahawak ito sa chin niya habang sinusuri kami. "Oh, pardon me. Must have been my imagination."
She gave us a friendly smile. "I'll go ahead," and then she left. Pero bago pa man niya ako malagpasan, may binulong ito sa akin. "You reek the scent of a distorted persona. You don't bloom, you don't wither. Just who are you?"
Huh?
Akmang sasagot pa sana ako pero pinigilan ako ni Quilya. Narinig niya ba iyon? "Do you know her, Aeriah?" nagtataka nitong tanong habang mahigpit na nakahawak sa braso ko.
"What? No! Ngayon ko nga lang siya nakita," ani ko. Maya-maya ay lumuwag ang pagkahawak nito sa akin, pero hindi pa rin ako binitawan.
"Weird," napahinto ito saglit. "Was it just my imagination?" bulong nito sa sarili habang hawak-hawak ang kaniyang baba. "Never mind that," she shook her head. "Let's go in," tsaka niya ako hinila sa loob ng silid.
Muli akong namangha sa nakita pagkapasok namin. Two file cabinets are standing on the side, separated by a sword rack placed above a wooden stool between the cabinets. There are paintings hung on the wall as well. I saw them sitting in the lounge seating right in front of the Commander's desk. Magkatabi kaming umupo ni Quilya doon. Hindi ko pa rin mapigilang mamangha. Kahit napaka simple, ngunit elegante ang dating.
I looked up and saw a drum chandelier with candles placed in a silver candle cup, caged in a sparkling glass-like material. It's a few meters above my head and it looks very expensive judging by its unique design.
"I've received a letter from Maurgriann regarding your temporary stay in my town. Visitors, I called you here to confirm something," we heard a man's voice coming from the desk in front of us. He doesn't sound old and grumpy. I think this guy is in his mid-twenties or something.
"Ask anything," pahayag ni Krein.
"We'll go straight to the point. The binding magic cast upon the gates to the human realm has weakened. Such high-tier magic couldn't be impaired so easily. I know it was your doing, Riesseville." Does he know them? "But how did you manage to pull it off?"
A fine you man was sitting at the Commander's desk. His hair is white as snow, has long eyelashes, and red glowing eyes. Mahaba ang buhok niya, halos kasing-puti ng kaniyang balat. Kahit naka slanting bun ang buhok niya ay abot pa rin ito sa kaniyang bewang. May nakatusok din na hair stick na kulay ginto roon. He's wearing a plain grey cross-collar hanfu that compliments his looks.
Lalaki ba s'ya? Bakit mas maganda pa s'ya sa'kin? And I'm only wearing a t-shirt. No, we're all wearing t-shirts kasi wala pa kaming bihis simula kahapon. Plus nangangamoy pawis na rin ako kasi naghilamos lang ako last time kasi masyadong malamig yung tubig. Wala rin naman akong malay na ganito pala ang mangyayari. God, this is so embarrassing. Kung alam ko lang, edi sana pinilit ko nalang maligo.
"Long story, Alec," Krein heaved a sigh before he continued. "But I'm telling you anyway."
Wait a minute, did he just call him Alec? Do they know each other? How? My goodness, this is confusing.
"I know you know about the story behind it, old friend." Old friend? "We're all witnesses of the calamity that happened over a hundred years ago. The events were horrible and traumatizing and they led many of our comrades to choose to erase their memory of them. It was a nightmare for most of our warriors, a war that disrupted the balance of all realms. So to stop the realms from getting shattered one after another, the goddess descended from the sky and sealed all the gates inside a book. Preventing enemies, and many other potential threats to enter and bring ruin to the lands. But all that was just temporary. The binding magic that's been sealing the gates is beginning to collapse. But it would still take another century for it to shatter. We were trapped inside the human realm for almost two decades, and we can't wait another century to return here. So for the past seventeen years, we have been. observing the sealed gates. It was difficult, but we eventually found some intel that we can use to our advantage," malinaw at malumanay ang boses ni Krein habang nagsasalaysay. And surprisingly, may naintindihan ako sa sinabi niya. Maliit na detalye lang, pero makakatulong ito sa akin. Something happened in the past. That's for certain. The only thing I can't comprehend was the first thing he said.
"We're all witnesses of the calamity that happened over a hundred years ago."
He can't be serious, right? That's something hard to believe.
"And that is?" The guy named Alec raised a question, giving Krein the hint to go on with his statement.
"The human realm has four seasons unlike here, we have many. They have summer, winter, autumn, and spring. And every spring season, the seal shows signs of vulnerability. We don't know the reason behind it, but we will look into it in the future. The only important thing is that, we have to take advantage of that vulnerability and use that chance to return here," pagtatapos niya sa kaniyang pag-uulat ng impormasyon.
Alec nods in silence, seemingly absorbing what he heard in his mind. He leaned on the back of his chair while putting his hands together, placing them above his chest.
"So, it's gonna happen again, huh?" Those are the words that came out of his mouth. "This is bad news," he added.
"Which is why I and my companions must hurry and return to Maurgriann and notify them of this news," sa pagkakataong ito ay si Miss Kreziana na ang nagsalita. "Our forces are still depleted and haven't been able to recover for the past century. If the seal breaks, we'd be in huge trouble," anunsyo pa niya.
"I understand, Riessevilles. We're allies in this battle. One more question, did you bring them back?"
Lumingon si Miss Krein kay Quilya at sa kinaroroonan ko. Binalik niya naman agad ang tingin kay Alec at tumango. "They are both fine. Although Ali—" she cleared her throat. "Aeriah can't seem to remember anything."
Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ni Alec sa pagkataka, pero kaagad rin naman iyong nawala. "This is hard," aniya. "So she's among those who choose to forget," pabulong niyang wika habang nakahawak sa baba niya. Tahimik ang silid kaya sapat pa rin iyon para marinig namin. I think he intentionally did that. A few moments later, he stood up in his seat. Lumakad siya patungo doon sa file cabinets sa gilid. Naririnig ko ang tunog ng mga papel habang iniisa-isa niyang ginalaw ang mga iyon. Tingin ko may hinahanap siya.
As I looked at the files closely, I noticed they were not the same papers usually seen in an office. Are those. . . scrolls?
"Where is it— oh," he took something from the cabinet. "Found it." Sinuri muna nito saglit ang bagay na hawak niya. Nang makumpirmang iyon nga ay bumalik na ito sa kaniyang upuan. "Go to Treianes and find the wind warden. Take Aeriah with you together with this scroll. If you find the warden, give her this scroll. She'll be able to help her recover some of her memories," he said, handing the scroll to Miss Kreziana. She lowered her head into a slight bow as she accepted it.
"I greatly appreciate your kind assistance, dear old friend," she said with a warm smile.
"Your transport will arrive at noon. In the meantime, you're all free to roam around the town and have as many souvenirs as you like. My people are very welcoming. The meeting is done, you're all dismissed."
********
Note: Hanfu is one of the traditional types of Chinese clothing. It is a long flowing robe with loose sleeves and a belt at the waist, worn by Chinese people of the Han dynasty.