The Spirit Martial

Spirit 05

“Salamat sa tulong mo at sa kaibigan mo, Cygnus!” sambit ng kapitbahay namin and I just smiled.

It’s night time at katatapos lang namin magligpit ng kalat sa buong isla. Wala namang namatay pero may mga sugatan. Our school specializes in healing and poisoning so we had no problems about the injured people, just the damages.

Napatigil ako when I saw a shadow from the top of the tower. Napatingin ako sa itaas and I saw him looking at the moon. He still had his golden eyes. What the hell is he up to? Nandiyan na sa kaniya ang lahat. From title to money mayroon na siya, I wonder what made him do this? Dealing a contract with a lowly commoner like me.

His mouth moved like he was mumbling something. Suddenly, golden dust started appearing around him and my eyes widened when his appearance changed. His magic even tripled at napahawak ako sa kamay ko. It started trembling on its own. His black hair glowed orange and his cheeks had golden scales. It was like I’m looking at a different person.

Is that the resonated form that my teacher mentioned? When a spirit and a master combine its soul into one. She said it’s rare to see that kind of magic since it’s ancient and she did not see one, just in books. Don’t tell me I’m looking into one right now?! I can’t help but smile.

Back in my previous life, all I had was a life with consistent phenomena. No excitement. Nothing special really- but now, I thought it will be the same. Living on this island and dying on this island was part of my plan but I think doing things beyond my plan is better. Who would have thought that I could witness something like this?

“Anak,” biglang tawag ni mama kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya. She also looked up and she just smiled. She glanced back at me at hinawakan ang parte ng katawan ko na may dragon mark. “Gustuhin ko mang itago ka dito,” she said at nanigas ako. Bakit niya ako itatago? “I guess destiny will always find its way back,” she added at mas naguguluhan ako.

“Anong ibig mong sabihin, ma?” I asked.

“I was once an SS-class Spirit Caster in mainland. Me and your father.” she said at napalunok ako. I’m not really from this world pero bakit parang nasasaktan ako na ngayon ko lang nalaman ito? “Now, I’m just a simple D-class villager raising my own son escaping from reality,” she added with a sad smile. What reality?

Lumapit siya sa akin and she tapped my shoulder.

“Gusto mo bang sumama anak?” she asked and I froze because I wanted to say yes.

“I have to, ma. I promised. Also, we have this contract already,” sabi ko pero sa totoo lang gusto ko rin talaga. Especially now that I’ve witnessed the rare form that I’ve been dreaming of.

“That’s not what I’m asking. I’m asking if you want to go.” she rephrased and I nodded as I looked away.

I don’t really mind spending the rest of my life here pero ayaw kong matulad ang buhay ko dati. Nangako ako sa sarili ko na sa susunod na buhay ko, gusto kong gawin ang gusto ko at gusto kong pumunta sa gusto kong puntahan. It doesn’t really mean I really like going to the mainland but I’m curious about many things that I only saw in books. Are there many Spirit Casters like me? Are they friendly? How many major families are there in mainland? What does the mainland look like?

“Alright,” mama replied at agad akong napatingin sa kaniya pabalik. “Promise me, you will come back,” she added and I nodded.

“Promise ma, babalik ako. I will be back not just as your son but as an SS-class Spirit Caster.” I answered with a confident smile and I could see in her eyes that she was in mixed emotions. I wonder if it makes her happy or sad?

“Also,” singit niya, “Kahit anong mangyari, pahalagahan mo ang buhay mo. I promised your dad that you’ll live a happy long life, please help me achieve his promise anak. It’s his dying wish,” she said and I nodded but deep in my heart, gusto kong magtanong kung nasaan nga si papa. This is the only time that she ever mentioned him.

“I will ma,” I said and I glanced up.

He, Kailani, was sitting at the top of the tower looking down at me. He smiled showing his dragon-like fangs and it gave me goosebumps.

That day I met him, I only wanted to save his life, I never thought he ended up saving me. Guess we’ll be stuck with each other from now on. If sticking with him will answer my questions, then so be it. Let this contract roar.

Morning came at napatingin ako sa mga gamit na na-impake ko kagabi. Kailani was also there outside waiting for me. Nagpaalam na ako sa mga kapitbahay ko at ni mama na aalis ako. A week from now, we will be attending school and I should be prepared kasi ibang mundo ito. Whatever it is, hindi dapat ako mabahala. Kailani is a royalty, I’m sure he’ll be respected. He’s a prince after all.

“Let’s go?” he asked and I nodded.

He snapped and a mysterious black gate appeared. Kinuha niya mga maleta ko at itinapon doon.

“What the hell did you just do?!” reklamo ko

“Keeping your things safe. Don’t worry, makukuha ulit natin iyon,” he said with a smile and I sighed with disbelief. This guy is unpredictable.

We walked towards the port where I will be riding a ship for the first time in this life.

“I’m sorry for putting you into this situation,” bigla niyang sabi. Ano ito? Personality switch? Parang kailan lang, he pushed me through this tapos ngayon nag-sosorry na siya? Okay lang ba siya? Sira ba ulo niya?

“Wow, at ngayon ka pa talaga nag sorry,” reklamo ko and I glanced at him at napatigil ako. He looked dead serious. He was ahead of me at napatigil siya. He glanced back at me at muntik na akong napaatras.

“No matter what happen, I’m gonna be the most respected Spirit Caster kahit mandamay pa ako ng tao para maabot ito, gagawin ko. So again, I’m sorry for putting you in this situation,” he said with a deep cold voice.

“Kailani,” I called his name for the first time and he was startled for a second. “Don’t get me wrong but I’m aiming for the top. You may have forced me to leave this island but you also let myself out of my shell at the same time,” I added and he smirked. 

“Babawiin ko na yung paghingi ko ng tawad,” he said. “We have the same goal anyway,” he added.

Nagpatuloy kami sa paglakad habang napatingin sa paligid. I stared at every details kasi sigurado akong matagal ko pa itong makikita. I’ll miss this place. I’ll miss everyone here. Bigla siyang tumigil sa harap ng bridge kung saan kami unang nagkakilala.

This is where it all started- my new adventure.

“Nostalgic,” he said with a smile. I like this vibe better compared kanina. His cold vibe was scary.

“Right,” I answered and a strong wind gushed into us.

When we arrived at the port, he gave something to the guard and he suddenly bowed down to us. Iba talaga kapag may dugong bughaw, respetado kahit saan. Ramdam ko ang pagiging hampaslupa ko. Nauna siyang pumasok at sumunod ako, the guard smiled at me so I smiled back.  When I was inside the ship already, I looked around and I found it was awesome. I've never seen such a nice ship. The walls and ceiling were painted with Gods and Goddesses. So Agartha is religious huh? I wonder who they are praising.

"Hey," I called as we walked through the golden hallways. Lumingon siya at napatigil.

"What?" he asked.

"Who are these people?" I asked while pointing at the paintings above at napatingin siya.

"Oh, these are the 10 Saints. They rule all over the world." he replied

"So which Saint does Agartha praise?" I asked and he shook his head. So am I wrong? Agartha isn't as religious as I thought it is.

"We don't have Saints to rule us but we have a temporary King for now and it's my father. He's been ruling for 20 years now. So far, our country is in good shape." he replied.

"So is having no Saint to guard Agartha a one of the disadvantages kung bakit bigla na lang lumilitaw ang Pandora's Box?" I asked at sumandal siya sa ding-ding.

"Pandora's Box first appeared 20 years ago. Ngayon lang ito lumitaw and I guess that's one of the reasons why or it may be not," he replied and he glanced at the last part of the painting where a guy with a cape extending his hand and having different spirits. "Agartha is a and will always be a holy grail but it fell to darkness when the Spirit Martial vanished exactly 20 years ago. Since then, we've been targeted by demons. Tinutulongan naman tayo ng ibang bansa kahit papaano but if this will last for a couple more years, Agartha will surely go down," he added at napalunok ako. I can't let that happen.

"So hindi pa rin ba nakita ang Spirit Martial?" I asked. From what I remembered, Spirit Martial is the King of Spirit Casters. He must be damn strong to achieve that title. He shook his head and sighed. "He's the King of Spirit Casters right? So why did only Agartha fall into darkness? Why don't we have any Saints to protect us?" I asked and he glanced at the sky.

"We don't need Saints to protect us because Spirit Martials are always born in Agartha. Just like what I said, this land is a holy grail,"