Desiderio Domini

Chapter 19

“At may isa na namang nawawala and that’s the fifth in just seven months. Ano na naman kaya ang nangyayari sa Sapienos?”

Napatingin ako sa engkantadang nagbabasa ng mortal broadsheet ng when I entered the dining room and not to my surprise, I saw Caspar’s mother sitting there alone at the head of the table and being served by dozens of kitchen and dining staffs working like worker bees coming in and out of the kitchen doors and bringing out tiny plates of smoking food and her glass of morning wine, an expensive mortal Lambrusco at that, is costantly being refilled.

Tumungo ako ng magalang pagkapasok ko ng dining hall and awaited for her approval top join her in the table.

“Anong ginagawa mo diyan sa pintuan, Vladira? Pumarito ka at tulungan mo akong ubusin itong mga hinahain sa akin. A little more at matatabunan na ako sa plato.”

Mabilis akong tumango at naglakad papunta sa silya immediately on her right as her guard pulled the chair for me.

I have no choice.

Kung wala din ang kaniyang gabinete na lagi niyang kabuntot, ako ang pinapaupo niya sa kaniyang kanan directly as opposed to her son who sat at her left and bombard me with questions and small talks habang nakain.

“Good morning, Your Majesty.”

She looked at me from over her newspaper and raised an eyebrow, “Siguradong hindi maganda ang gising ng nawala ng guild member, that’s for sure.”

Napatingin ako sa binabasa niyang dyaryo at nagulat ako sa headlines even if ilang beses ko nang nakikita ang mga gaya nito mere few months after I arrived here at the continent of the enchanteds.

“7th Reported Missing Guild Member From Glorious Fellowship Rumored To Be Saint Photomancer Angelo Cruz! Charity Guild In Disarray By The Lost Of Their Prized Member! No Leads Yet!”

“Pati Glorious Fellowship, hindi pinatawad,” naiiling na sabi ko as I thanked the staff who served me with fluffy omelette, toast and butter kasabay ng paborito kong tsokolate na inimbento nila to commemorate my arrival in the empire, “A Saint Photomancer no less. Walanghiya talaga.”

Tumango si Empress Iseria at iniabot sa guard ang dyaryo at nagsimula na ding kumain kasabay ko, “I am inclined to agree. It is one thing to kidnap someone, it’s another if it’s a servant of the lord. A pity, I am quite fond of the Glorious Fellowship. You see, ang huling dinala ko dito centuries ago ay member ng guild na iyon.”

“The one who almost died because of the cold?”

“Yes, that one. Though, you must understand. Earth aligned siya so she doesn’t have a chance to begin with. Kahit halos isang taon siyang nagpagaling dito, naging maayos naman at fruitful ang aming pag-uusap. Actually, she requested for more medical facilities sa outskirts ng Arcticia para daw hindi na pumunta pa sa sentro ng kapitolyo ang mga may sakit at magpapacheck-up.”

Napangiti ako as I saw the empress smiled nostalgically and I am sure na naging maganda nga ang memories niya sa representative ng charity guild.

“Judging by the numerous clinics, wellness centers and annex medical buildings na nadadaanan namin ni Caspar habang namamasyal, you followed her advice to the letter.”

Tumango ito quickly, “I did at tuwa ako na sinunod ko. Hindi na nga naman mabilis mapuno ang main hospital namin sa sentro at hindi na nagcacause ng major air traffic ang mga engkanto o engkantada na magpapatingin sa ospital. So I am deeply distressed by the fact na nagkaroon ng malaking dagok ang Glorious. Though I find it quite disturbing though.”

“What is disturbing?” maang na tanong ko at tumigil sa pag-nguya ng hash brown ang empress.

“The targets for k********g, my dear,” she said pensively before contining, “Lahat sila ay miyembro ng top eight guilds at prized members no less once each. But what is more curious are their affinities. May napupuna ka din bang kakaiba?”

Napakurap ako sa kaniya before looking down at my almost finished omelette thoughtfully, “Earth, water, fire, thunder and now, light. Hindi nauulit ang mga elemento ng mga taong nawawala. It is like they are being picked off according to their elements.”

“Exactly. Ayokong mag-dilang anghel pero if I am going to make an educated guess, let it be known that I am hoping that this will be the last, kung may mga kasunod pang mawawala, it may be from guilds not yet being victimized. Prestige Society, Neox Sodality and Aindrac Order.”

I nodded slowly after hearing her grim theory, “Electric, ice, dark, and wind are the next targets.”

Bigla kong naalala ang mga salitang binitiwan noon ni Mors back when we talked just a month ago.

“Mors once said na mas safe ako dito sa Encanteria for the time being kesa sa Sapienos...”

“I am inclined to agree with the Neomancer on that regard. Kung susundin natin ang logic ng mga naunang nawala, isa ka sa mga prime targets. After all, ikaw lang sa lahat ng mga mortal ngayon ang may hawak ng elemento ng kadiliman. Kung gusto nilang makakuha ng dark element, they have no one to get but you.”

Napailing na lang ako after kong humigop ng mainit na tsokolate, “Pero para saan naman nila gagamitin ang mga kinikidnap nila? Kung ang target nila ay pahinain ang top eight guilds, then that will be illogical. Hindi sa iisang tao nakasalalay ang kapangyarihan ng isang samahan alone.”

“It might be one of a welcome byproduct of their scheme pero iniisip ko kung ano na lang ang magagawa ng isang tao kung may sample siya ng mga mortal representing each of the building elements of Gaia. Most of the time hindi ko mawari ang tinatakbo ng isip ng mga tao, Vladira. They always do the things I either expect a mile away or completely different from common norms.”

Tumango naman ako at napatingin sa kaniya, “It is said na kaya nakagawa ng mga himala at kababalaghan ang Neomancers back then is because they have control on all elements at once.”

“Totoo. To control all elements at the same given time is the closest thing any mortal can have to immitating god’s own power of creation and destruction. Could it be...”

Nangilabot ako sa realization naming dalawa as I took a deep breath tried to calm myself, “Sino ba naman ang gagawa nang ganoong kalapastanganan sa panginoon? Kahit akong wielder ng dark element, hindi makakaisip ng mga bagay na iyon. Besides, what’s the point anyways?”

“Oh dear, I guess for better or for worse, hindi nakikisawsaw sa pulitika ang pamilya mo since time immemorial outside their effective domains,” wika niya sa akin as she closed her eyes as if to remember something, “During my last visit, Zabel confided to me that her position is precarious at best.”

“Hah? Bakit naman? Sino ba ang magbabalak na agawan siya ng...”

Napatawa naman ng malakas ang emperatrist when I stopped mid-sentence when I realized who will benefit the most pag natanggal ang reyna namin sa trono.

“I know you are not “that” ignorant. That’s good, Vladira.”

I nodded slowly at nakaramdam ako ng galit sa aking dibdib ng maalala ko ang isa sa mga babala sa akin ng nanay at tatay ko. Wala akong pwedeng pagkatiwalaan sa ibang mga head ng aristocracy except the queen herself.

Lalo’t higit huwag magiging panaya sa mabait na pakitungo ng duke for he is the most dangerous of them all.

“Kadalasan, wala talagang kasiyahan ang tao sa kung ano ang meron siya kahit lahat na ng karangyaan at kasarapan sa buhay ang nasa kaniya.”

“Indeed, my dear. Ever-restless, always wanting more and more. Sobrang unti ng mga mortal na masaya na sa kung anong meron sila at kung mabiyayaan man ng higit, hindi pa din naghahangad ng sobra. My husband and son are thankfully like that.”

“Totoo. Pero may koneksyon nga ba ang pagkawala ng mga malalakas na guild members sa posisyon ng reyna being threatened? That and how can such esteemed people be abducted that easily. Wala man lang nakuhang ebidensya at all? Hindi kami simpleng tao, we are wielders of elemental powers. Meron at merong bakas na makikita sila na maiiwan and I doubt someone from the Shadow Brotherhood will go down without laying trails for his allies to find him nor a Performancer from Fantasia Sisterhood will not make a huge scene the moment she is kidn*pped. Well unless there’s someone in power making sure there’s nothing to track at all...”

Nagkatinginan kami ni Empress Iseria quietly as we sipped from our glass and mug in silent agreement.

Something evil is brewing...

-0-

Three Months Later...

“Anong balak mo, Caspar?”

Napatingin sa akin ang Imperial Crown Prince na nagbabasa ng isang mortal book na nirekomenda ko sa kaniya.

It is about how mortals’ politics work and how it is a complete garbage.

“Balak saan?”

“Sa Encanteria at Sapienos. If I heard it correctly from the empress, the succession of emperors and empresses are not like mortals of course. Hindi niyo siyempre hihintayin na mawala ang mga magulang ninyo before you ascended to the throne. That would be an eternity of waiting, but instead, may mga trials kayo na dapat tapusin bago iabot sa iyon ang korona ng Tundria.”

Ibinaba niya ang kaniyang makapal na librong hawak at napatawa, “Trials? Nah, it’s more of if the empress, the enchanteds and the cabinet members accepted your ascension to the throne. Baka ilang libong ikot pa ako at the very least bago ko mapantayan barely in half si nanay on the day she herself ascended to the imperial throne. Kakapanganak ko pa lang sixteen years ago and if my hybrid origins ang magiging basehan, hindi ako makakaupo sa trono at all.”

“Ha? Sabi ng mga cabinet members, wala naman nakalagay sa saligang-batas ninyo na bawal umupo sa trono ang mga half. Though wala pang nangyayari na gaya mo ever, it is not technically illegal for you to ascend the throne,” takang sagot ko sa sinabi niya na nagpatawa na lang sa kaniya a little as if this time, ako naman ang hindi nakakagets ng pinopoint-out niya, “As long as direct progenitress mo ang reigning imperial monarch.”

“That’s the bare minimum, Vladira. Kailangan din na maabot ko ang level ng kapangyarihan niya when she was crowned as the empress. That alone is nigh-impossible. The power of an enchanted is gauged the moment he or she was born at tinimbang ako noon at kinulang. Effectively by half of what is expected of a scion of the monarch. Well, that is to be expected. Mortal ang tatay ko. Well, my mother is more than enough to lead the enchanteds for an eternity and even more. Ang gagawin ko na lang ay suportahan siya at iimprove ang imperyo namin while standing on the sidelines.”

Napatango na lang ako when he explained everything to me carefully and clearly.

Mukha nga atang isang distant dream lang para sa kaniya ang mamuno sa mga engkanto at engkantada, but then again, based sa kaniyang ugali, wala siyang power-hungry tendencies. I think mas mapapakinabangan nga siya ng mga enchanteds if he used the spark of life from his mortal side to push several innovations and technological breakthroughs, he will push the strongest being in Gaia to greater, unbelievable new heights than ever before.

“Alam mo, Vladira, natutuwa ako dito sa mga inventions ng mga tao,” nakangiting wika niya sa akin sabay pakita ng mga illustrations sa isang libro na kinuha niya from the bookshelf ng library sa likod niya, “Tingnan mo. Mga barko, kotse, eroplano, tren at kung ano-ano pa.”

Napangiti na lang ako sa kaniyang innocent curiousity, “Well, kung hindi namin gagawin ang mga iyan, lakad na lang kami habang-buhay. It’s not like everyone in our continent can use elemental skills. Karamihan pa din sa amin ay mga normal na powerless na mga mortal lamang so we need to really think of something to make our lives easier, more comfortable and luxurious. Naiinggit din naman kami siyempre sa ibang mga lahi at hindi naman pwepwedeng lagi na lang kaming nakatingala sa inyo all the time.”

“And that feeling of looking up at someone else in envy is one of the things na nagtutulak sa inyo na maghangad pa ng mga bagay na imposible and make them possible.”

“True. Kung iisipin mo, isang pangarap lang sa mga normal na tao ang makalipad sa kalangitan gaya ng ibang mga biniyayaan ng elemento at ng ibang mga lahi. Ngayon, salamat sa teknolohiya namin, bata o matanda from all genders and walks of life can ride an airplane and fly.”

He nodded happily when he heard what I just said, “Malayo na talaga sobra ang narating ng mga motral. Siguro kung kagaya ninyo ang mga enchanteds, hindi siguro stagnant ang imperyo.”

“Well, at least it is stagnant at the top,” I replied pointedly na nagpangiwi sa kaniya, “Kahit ang mga dwende na pumapaikalwa sa inyo ay hindi pa din makahabol sa inyo.”

“Siguro dahil gaya din namin sila. Stuck in their glorious past at hindi na nag-aabalang mag-imbento ng mga bagong kagamitan even if they have the knowledge and skills that we don’t have to create something new.”

“Pero nandito ka na, I guess that’s a good start at mukhang gusto na ding baguhin ng nanay mo ang nakasanayan na ng mga engkanto at engkantada. Hindi siya panaya. Maybe she is just waiting for someone like you and your father para umikot na ang gulong ng pagbabago sa nasasakupan niya.”

Tumango siya at napatingin sa labas ng bintana, “May nabasa nga ako na kasabihan sa isa sa mga libro ng mortal na nabasa ko. Kung hindi ka magbabago, mangangarap ng mas maganda at sasabay sa takbo ng panahon, mapag-iiwanan ka. I guess we are already being left behind slowly and the humans are slowly creeping ever closer to our pedestal. Mayroon na kayong sariling kaharian, gobyerno at mga invention that can one day rival everything that we can produce.”

“Napakatagal na panahon pa bago namin maabot at paanan ninyo. But I guess it wouldn’t hurt if you push your fellow enchanteds to start moving even if little by little and inspire them to yearn for something more in this eternal life kasi kung sa akin lang ha? Kung ganito at ganito lang din ang makikita at madadatnan ko kada ikot ng buhay ko, mas gugustuhin ko pang hindi na lang maging immortal. Iyo na ang walang hanggang buhay mo, welp, more like walang hanggang kaboringan. Just kiill me, please.”

He blinked at what I said for a minute or so before laughing out so hard, nagyelo ang library at nagpanic ang mga librarians and scholars to the point na may dumating na mga sundalo at inilayo ako sa hindi mapigil sa kakatawang prinsipe nila na.

“I think we have to evacuate you, Your Most Honourable.”

Napatingin ako sa head guard na sumugod mula sa labas ng bintana at humarang sa harap ko habang patuloy pa din sa pagtawa at pagpapakawala ng kapangyarihan na hindi ko akalaing magagawa niya.

The whole library is now being covered in a raging blizzard so powerful, kahit pang papatayin na ang temperature ko ay nagsisimula na akong lamigin.

Tumango na lang ako sa guard and allowed him to take me away in a flurry of snowflakes at ang huli kong nakita ay si Caspar na hawak ang tiyan at tawang-tawa habang naiiyak while being talked to calmly and slowly being surrounded by the most powerful of the empress’ own bodyguards.