Desiderio Domini

Chapter 12

Indeed, sinabi ko sa sarili ko na gagawin ko ang lahat para makatulong sa guild.

But looking at the fearsome and deadly looking queen of the enchanteds walking towards my direction ever slowly made me realize the logic of accepting this job.

Once in a lifetime of our reigning monarch, bumibisita sa Sapienos ang empress ng mga engkanto para sa “Royal Visitation” for several days bago umuwi ulit sa kanilang kontinente ng Encanteria, the second largest continent in Gaia located at the far frigid north of the mortals’ homeland.

Sinasabi nilang ang mga engkanto ang pinakamalakas na nilalang sa mundo at ang Imperyo ng Tundria ang pinakatatakutang gobyerno sa mundo.

Thankfully, may angking mapagmataas ang mga ito at ayaw na ayaw nilang namamakialam sa mga buhay-buhay ng mga “mabababang nilalang” kaya never pang nagkagyera sa pagitan ng Kingdom of Tribon and Empire of Tundria since the dawn of time.

Hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko na mapasinghap ng makita ko ng malapitan ang mukha ng emperatrist.

Grabe, ibang-iba talaga ang hitsura ng mga tao, o ng ibang mga immortal sa mga enchanteds.

They are beautiful beyond words, fabulous whatever they wear and sexy without trying.

Pinakamababa na ang six-footer sa mga babae at six-footer ang pinuno ng mga engkantada kaya tinitingala talaga siya ng mga tao. Ang mga engkanto naman ay normally naabot sa six-three o six-five.

Napakiusapan ako nila Gaius at Sasha na maging maiden representative ng Neox para pamilian na magiging temporary handmaiden ng emperatrist.

Whoever will be chosen will be honored for life by the enchanteds as someone who passed the meticulous and eternally high standards ng pinuno ng pinakalamalakas na lahi sa mundong ito.

Sixty girls will be chosen from the sixty guilds and the lucky guild of the chosen will be awarded with monetary aid and other treasures straight from the legendary vault of the empire.

Kaya talagang full blast sagala edition ang lahat ng mga babaeng nakapila sa magkabilang gilid ng red carpet sa labas ng kastilyo ng reyna bago siya sumakay sa limosine na nag-iintay sa kaniya to bring her at the teleportation portal that will warp her back to Encanteria.

“Pinadala ka dahil sobrang busy ang Hazemancer ninyo?”

Napalingon ako sa katabi ko at sa kabwisitan ko, ito ang Photomancer ng Aindrac Order.

Dahil nakahanay kaming lahat by our guild’s rank, katabi ko syempre ang pambato ng number one guild sa mundo.

Saint Slyf Turos, ang Guild Madam ng Aindrac at pinakasikat at iginagalang na Photomancer whose focus I just learned is light.

That explains her haughty and confident personality.

Kaya niyang lumaban pag nagkagipitan.

“Actually ako lang ang walang schedule for this week kaya ako na ang pinili to fill in, Your Eminence,” magalang kong sabi as the representative of Prestige Society na anak ng Earl glanced at our direction quietly at nakikinig lang sa palitan namin ng “pleasantries”.

“Aww, nakaka-awa ka naman. Pinaglilinis ka na ba nila ng inidoro dahil wala kang pakinabang kagaya ng kasama mo? Sikat na sikat na siya at madami nang income for Neox, pero ikaw? Taka ako na hindi ka pa lumalayas sa kahihiyan dahil hindi ka nakapasa sa masteral. O kasing tigas ng mga bangkay ang pagmumukha mo?”

Hindi ko alam bakit niya ako sinusubukang galitin.

To be fair, tama naman siya, matigas talaga ang mukha ko.

Matigas sa mga lait, taunts and petty ridicule words. I have heard the worst before I even reached my second grade kaya walang-wala na sa akin ang mga matatalas na dila.

But I am curious on what is she trying to do here?

Bakit niya ako sinusulsulang magalit kay Wynda?”

“And you consider yourself part of the top eight guild?”

Mabilis akong napalingon sa malamyos na boses na napakalamig sa tenga that sent shivers down my spine.

The empress is close by.

Sa kasalukuyan ay nilalait niya ang sixth to fourth representatives brutally.

“Lulubog ba ang daliri ko pag itinusok ko sa mukha mo ang daliri ko?”

“What’s with the hair?”

“Seryoso, eto na ba talaga lahat ng mga dilag ng pinagmamayabang na mga guilds ni Zabel? You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Tumapat na ang naka silver and blue diamond studded gown na head of state ng mga engkanto sa anak ng earl at mukhang hindi din siya natuwa sa ceremonial clothes nito.

“Mali ka ata ng pinuntahang event, dear.”

Mukhang nasaktan ng sobra sa sinabi ang representative ng Prestige Society at magalang na nag-curtsy before stepping back humbly and fearfully like the rest of brokenhearted women before her.

Mabilis na itinikwas ni Slyf ang kaniyang ginuntuang buhok at nagsummon siya ng halo sa likod ng kaniyang ulo as she is already smiling triumphantly.

Well, I can’t blame her at all for assuming that.

Kumpara sa aming dalawa, siya na ang siguradong pipiliin ng empress.

Besides, mukhang sasabak siya sa beauty pageant sa ganda ng gown na suot niya, complete with matching pieces of jewellery among other things.

Compared sa akin.

“You wore that knowing that I would be seeing it?” malamig na tanong ni Empress Iseria sa akin as she looked down on me na para bang any moment ay pagyeyelohin niya ako completely before shattering my frozen body to countless of pieces.

Yep, you’ve done it again, Vladira.

You managed to get under someone’s skin without even trying.

I think it’s one of the specialty of my family.

Sabagay, nakasuot lang ako ng all black ensemble of ripped jeans, torn old shirt and weathered boots.

Wala nga akong nakapatong sa mukha maliban sa itim na mascara at lipstick para maidivert ang attention ng mga tao sa kaitiman ng make-up ko at hindi sa malabangkay na kaputlaan ko.

Sasha and the muses didn’t tell me na magsuot ng matino, basta umattend lang at mag-uli na din after kaya nagpambahay na lang ako ng damit.

I just met her glowing glacial eyes piercing through my very soul and beyond and shrugged my shoulder nonchalantly as if to say it is what it is so better suck it up.

Ganiyan naman ako kahit sino pa ang makaharap ko. Tanggapin o isuka, I couldn’t care less as long as komportable ako sa suot ko, bahala na ang iba.

Besides, wala na sa akin kung mamatay man ako helplessly.

Utang na loob ko pa.

But then again, mukhang matagal pa akong papahirapan at babalyahin kaliwa’t kanan ng pesteng mundong ito.

“Hmph, you’ll do.”

Napakurap ako sa sinabi niya at hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin o gagawin as she walked past by me at tumigil sa harap ni Sylf na nakapagkit pa din ang pekeng ngiti sa kaniyang mga labi as she just heard the words from the enchanted.

Hindi na nag-abalang magsalita ang empress at inikot na lang ang mga mata niya after looking at the poor Photomancer without second glance as she began walking towards the car.

“Ikaw!”

Napatingin ako sa isang malaking bulto ng engkanto na nakasuot ng crisp black suit at itinuro ang sarili ko.

“Oo, ikaw!” inis na bulyaw nito sa akin as he grabbed my shoulder and pushed me to follow the empress who entered the limousine and the door is being kept open habang iniintay nila ako.

The personal guard of the empress shoved me inside unceremoniously before slamming the door shut.

Sa sobrang lakas ng pagkakatulak sa akin ay napaupo ako sakto sa tabi ng emperatrist ng mga enchanteds who is looking at me with a poker face.

Nagsimula nang umandar ang sasakyan at naglabas ng glass of priceless wine ang kasama naming guard sa backseat from one of the compartments at iniabot ito sa katabi ko complete with lemon and small umbrella.

“Too bad you’re underage. I am sure masasarapan ang mga gaya mo sa lasa ng Lambana 1478. Remind me to send you a bottle in your eighteenth birthday,” malamyos na sabi nito as she raised her glass a little, “Here’s to your sheer audacity. Cheers.”

Uminom na siya with utmost class and grace hanggang sa kahulihulihang patak ng alak before throwing the glass outside the window without a care in the world.

“Do I have to explain kung ano ang pinasok mong gulo, young girl?”

I looked at her cold eyes and shook my head slowly in answer.

Oh boy, hindi na kailangan pang ipaliwanag.

Alam na alam ko kung gaano kalaking kalat ang nagawa ko right now.

Nakuha ako bilang Mortal Handmaiden of the Empress of Enchanteds herself.

Kung sa iba ay isa sa mga moment that you have to thank god for this supposed blessing not just for myself but for my guild as well, pero for me personally, isang malaking sakit ng ulo ito.

Dahil napili ako, I have to stay in the continent of Encanteria for exactly a year during which time, magiging personal na alalay ako ng emperatrist at her leisure.

It is kind of a timeless tradition between the monarchs of mortals and enchanted. Dumating ang emperatrist na may kasamang isang dalagang engkantada in her first life cycle chosen from the high ranking pureblood families in her Imperial Court to act as the handmaiden of Queen Zabel sa loob ng isang taon and in turn, she can pick from one of the maiden representatives of the guilds of mortals in return.

Ginagawa daw ito as a sign of trust and solidarity between nations and beings.

Wala kasing gaanong napapadpad na engkanto sa Sapienos at mga tao sa Encanteria maliban na lang kung for official business between states or if may napalad na tao sa pampang nila sa norte kaya ang once in a lifetime exchange na ito ay importante to get a glimpse of what is each other doing for decades, ergo, century.

“If only there are more mortals like you,” she mused absentmindedly as she looked outside the window as we travel down the busy streets of Libertad, “Sigurado ako na kita mo na ang mga kasama mong babae kanina. Mga walang tiwala sa sarili and have to hide in their clothes, pieces of jewellery and make-ups just to make themselves predictable. Don’t they have no confidence at all?”

I faked a caugh and rolled my eyes, “Hard to have a self-confidence when faced by perfection incarnate herself.”

Napataas ang kilay ng personal guard ng emperatrist sa sinabi ko as if he is surprised that I even managed to speak at all, “Iba itong nakuha mo, Your Majesty.”

“A massive understatement,” she replied curtly before raising her eyebrow at me, “I am perfect, yes. But clearly hindi sapat para mapa-atras ka. It’s either you are confident enough or just a fool who doesn’t care for her life.”

“Why not both?”

She let out a little laugh as the car stopped finally in front of a heavily guarded teleportation portal location connected to Encanteria judging by the huge ammount of snow and ice it is producing steadily.

The empress waited for one of her guards to open the doors for us and the moment we stepped outside, we are met with a rain of flashes from cameras while she saluted at the soldiers from the Royal Armed Forces garissoned at the teleportation portal.

Hindi ko na gustong mabalya pa ng mga gwardya niya kaya mabilis na sumunod ako sa kaniya and we walked side by side papunta sa nagliliwanag at nagyeyelong portal kasunod ang hindi mabilang na mediamen and women.

She stopped at the edge of the shimmering gate turn around and made a short statement, “Wala pa ding pinagbago ang Sapienos, same old, same old. Nagkaroon lang ng reyna after centuries and I think that’s about it. Oh, and you lot managed to produce someone like her. And here I thought mankind is slowly losing its touch through the eons. Until then, Tribon.”

Hinawakan niya ang aking braso at sabay kaming naglakad papunta sa  portal at muntik na akong mapamura sa sobrang lamig ng hangin na nagmumula dito.

“Better cast an undead skill or something para hindi ka lamigin, iyong huling dinala ko dito three centuries ago ay halos isang taong agaw-buhay after she stepped inside the warp portal. I’d rather not have you suffering the same fate, I have yet still to break you apart, my dear.”

Iyon lang at pumasok na kami sa portal and in a whirl of dizzying light, ice and biting cold, nakalabas na din kami sa kabilang ibayo and I knew that I have to do something right now o mamamatay talaga ako.

“Deadman’s Breath!”

It’s a spiritualist’s skill para magbago ang structure ng katawan ko close to someone dying.

Yes, iyong mga moment na bumababa na ang temperatura ng katawan bago malagutan ng hininga.

It worked well.

Kahit dama ko ang lamig sa balat ko, hindi ako naaapektuhan at all adversely.

“Dropping your core body temperature to barely twenty one degrees, not bad, not bad at all,” nakangiting wika ng emperatrist as my vision finally aligned with my brain as the effect of warping is the delay of visual and mental connection for a minute or so after you stepped to the other side, “Welcome to the capital of my empire, the Glacial Capital of Arcticia!”

Ang unang-unang umagaw ng pansin ko ay ang dambuhalang kastilyo sa gitna ng syudad hundred times larger, grander and beautiful than our own Royal Palace of Libertad.

“Is it made of snow and ice?” tahimik kong tanong as the aurora borealis, the norther lights in the skies is being reflected in its entirety.

“Oo. Pero may mga diamante din, marmol at iba’t ibang materyales. Afterall, kahit mga engkanto at engkantada kami, hindi kami maninirahan sa basta na lang yelo at nyebe. That would be extremely uncomfortable, not to mention quite pathetic,” natatawang sagot nito sa akin as she raised her left hand and let out a wave of pure unadulturated enchanted magic that blasted the very clouds away from the skies and snow began falling gently, “There will be enough time for you to tour around the city and castle, my dear. For now, why not we go to my throne room first so that we might get acquainted properly.”

Iyon lang at naglakad na siya papunta sa direksyon ng kastilyo niya and every enchanteds who saw her prostrated themselves in her wake as I followed her quickly while thinking of how I can control the damage that I have done.