A Shadow of an Illusion

Chapter 30

Menrui’s Point of View

I was currently roaming around that forest again. Nagustuhan ko na atang dito maglakad-lakad kapag ang dami kong iniisip at kapag gusto kong tumakbo sa mga problema ko, na alam ko namang hindi ko magagawa pero sinusubukan ko pa rin kahit na sa konting oras lang ay mawala ang problema ko.

Hindi ko na rin mabilang kung ilang araw na akong namamalagi rito sa mundong ito, and somehow, I do not want to go home anymore. Somehow, I wanted to stay at Cynth’s side even if there were still so many problems that surrounded us.

At least he already took a step forward so that he could really change his self. I still remembered that day when he really agreed to free everyone in the dungeon. I still could not believe that I made him agree to do something like that.

I remembered that day, clearly, that he immediately agreed to free everyone from being imprisoned in the dungeon.

“Free everyone that you imprisoned in the dungeon,” I told him with a serious expression on my face.

Nakikita ko ang pagkagulat sa mukha niya, pati na rin ang pagtango ni Hemera sa akin na para bang sinasabi niya na ituloy ko lang ang ginagawa ko. I silently agreed to Hemera and I did not remove my gaze from Cynth.

“Menrui,” Cynth said and I know that he will disagree with what I wanted, but I did not let him say anything.

“If you can do that, and if you will show it to everyone, then they can finally believe that you wanted to change,” I told him as I reached out for his hands and squeezed it. “That would be your first step on changing, Cynth, dahil kung wala kang gagawin para patunayan na nagbabago ka na nga, then everything that you did these past few days will be nothing for them.”

“But...” I could see that he was hesitating but I know that I could still push him to do it.

“Cynth, if your really want to change, then you can do it,” I told him and I gave him an encouraging smile. “Alam ko na kahit ano mang nagawa ng mga taong iyon, alam ko na mapapatawad mo sila kung susubukan mo.”

Kung ano man ang iniisip niyang kasalanan ng mga taong iyon sa kaniya, alam ko na mapapatawad niya agad ang mga ‘yon dahil alam ko na nagbabago na talaga siya. Alam ko na magagawa niya iyon dahil sa pagbabago ng ugali niya nitong mga nakaraang araw.

After all, he just said that he told someone that he could change, so I must say that he was trying to do so but he just did not know how he could do that. And I will gladly help him to find a way in order for him to show to the whole world that he wanted to change.

“Think of this as a small step forward, Cynth,” I told him, so soft that gave him a courage to do what I told him. “Think of this as a start of your new beginning. Show to the whole world how serious you are about this.”

Kahit na walang kasiguraduhan na papayag agad siya, I still tried to persuade him to do so. After all, this is our chance so that we can avoid the war, the possible death of many people, the possible sacrifices of someone, and above it all, we can free the world without any bloodshed.

Ilang minutong natahimik si Cynth at mukhang pinag-iisipan niya nang maigi kung papayag ba siya o hindi. I thought that I still needed to tell him something again so that he could really agree, but I was shock when I saw him nod his head at me as he looked straight into my eyes with a smile on his face.

“Alright,” he said that made me want to jump because of joy. “I will free them right away. If that will make everyone believe that I really want to change myself.”

Instead of jumping because of joy, i just gave him a huge grin to show him how happy I was because of his decision.

Inalis niya ang pagkakahawak ko sa mga kamay niya at nagpaalam na sasabihin niya kay Grim, pati na rin sa mga tauhan niya na nagbabantay sa dungeon, na pakakawalan na niya ang mga tao sa loob ng dungeon.

Nakita ko kung gaano siya kadesidido no’ng sinabi niya iyon, kaya naman alam ko na gagawin niya talaga iyon nang walang pag-aalinlangan. Alam ko na gagawin niya iyon nang hindi nagdadalawang isip kung tama ba ang ginagawa niya o hindi.

I was left in that hallway with Hemera who also have a huge grin on her face. Lumapit siya sa akin at ini-angkla ang braso niya sa akin. She even nudge at me, still wearing that proud smile on her face.

“It looks like you succeed on persuading him, milady,” she whispered to me that made me smile even more. “And looks like this plan might work if he will keep this up.”

Tumango lang ako sa kaniya bilang pagsang-ayon. “We can really make this plan work,” I told her.

Pagkatapos no’n, napagdesisyunan ko na yakagin si Hemera sa kwarto ko para ‘mag-usap’ kami sa mga ‘bagay-bagay,’ pero ang totoo ay gusto ko lang sabihin sa kaniya ang iba ko pang mga plano pagkatapos nito.

“I cannot imagine that you immediately succeded on your plan, milady,” sabi sa akin ni Hemera pagkapasok na pagkapasok pa lang namin sa kwarto ko.

Ako naman ay binigyan siya ng ngiti. “Hindi ko rin alam na papayag siya kaagad sa sinabi ko.” I told her, honestly. “It looks like fate is really on our side this time, and it looks like it’s doing a favor for all of us,” dagdag ko pa na agad naman niyang sinang-ayunan.

“Maybe, as the time goes by, we can make him free one of the kingdoms that he invaded,” sabi ni Hemera sa akin kaya agad naman akong napatango.

She is right. Cynth can really do that if he wanted to. After all, I could see determination in his eyes that he really wanted to change his self and live the life that was once his. Alam ko na makakaya niyang gawin iyon nang hindi ko sinasabi sa kaniya, dahil nakikita ko na gusto talaga niyang magbago.

“He can do that on his own,” I told her with a smile.

“You mean, you will not tell him to do it, but you wanted him to do it because he wanted to?” she asked as if she wanted to confirm if she understood what I just said correctly.

Tumango ako sa kaniya at tumingin sa labas ng bintana ng kwarto ko. “He can do that,” I told her with a smile on my face. “I believe that he can. After all, I witnessed how much he changed in a span of almost a month.”

Hindi ko napansin ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Hemera nang sinabi ko iyon dahil nakatingin pa rin ako sa labas, pero na-imagine ko ang ngiti na ‘yon sa aking isip nang sinabi niya sa akin, “You really fell for him.”

Mahina naman akong natawa dahil sa sinabi niya. “Maybe, I did.” That was the time that I looked at her then I gave her a warm smile. “I really did fell for him, and I just did not notice that because I was too afraid to admit to myself that I already fell for him.”

“I just hope that you can find your happy end, milady,” sabi sa akin ni Hemera. “And I know that it will happen if this plan of yours will work.”

I looked down to hide the tears that was threatening to fall on my eyes. “I just hope that everything that you just said will happen,” I mumbled to myself.

Pagkatapos ng araw na ‘yon, naging usap-usapan sa loob ng palasyo ang ginawa ni Cynth no’ng araw na ‘yon. Some even said that he ws possessed by someone, but I know that Cynth is really the one who wanted to free those people who got imprisoned in the dungeon.

Kahit na kanina, no’ng bago ako umalis, patuloy pa rin ang usap-usapan sa loob ng palasyo kaya naman minabuti ko na pumunta muna kay Cynth para sabihin sa kaniya na huwag na lang pansinin ang mga naririnig niya sa palasyo dahil tama naman talaga ang kaniyang ginawa; na tama naman na pinakawalan niya na ang mga taong iyon na wala naman talagang kasalanan sa kaniya.

I was glad when I saw him smiled and nod his head at me. He even told me that he was fine by it because after all, alam rin niya sa sarili niya na hindi madaling paniwalaan na nagbabago na siya. Na hindi madaling paniwalaan na ginawa niya ang bagay na iyon, pero ipinangako niya rin sa akin na mas papatunayan pa niya na kaya talaga niyang magbago para na rin sa sarili niya.

That made let out a sigh of relief, because I thought that it would make him back out, but I guess tha he was really determined that he could do it, even if everyone around him thought the other way around.

Right now, I wanted to walk around the forest that was near his palace so that I would be able to clear my mind. Masyado na rin kasi akong maraming iniisip, at sa isip ko, baka magkasakit na ako dahil sa ginagawa ko. At hindi ko hahayaan na mangyari iyon dahil marami pa akong kailangang gawin.

And one of it is if I should already tell Cynth who am I, but I know that this is not the right time to do so. After all, he might suspect me that I am supporting him just because I wanted this world to be free, but that was wrong.

After all, I really wanted him to change because he wanted to. Para na rin may chance pa para magakasama kami. Para na rin malaman ko kung tama ba na siya ang una kong priority kaysa sa mga bagay na problema ng mundong ito.

I shook my head to remove that thought in my mind. After all, I am here to clear my mind of worries, and so far, I was able to clear my mind with worries, and I just appreciate the things around me, so I should not really think of stressful things because I know that my mood will change again because of that.

But it looks like the fate was not on my side right now, because I sensed that something was wrong in this forest. It felt like something bad was about to happen so I immediately prepared myself.

Makalipas lamang ng ilan pang mga minuto, nakaramdam ako ng napaka lakas na magic sa paligid. It was too powerful that it overwhelmed me, and made me wanted to run and hid but I did not do any of that.

Kaysa magtago ako na parang isang duwag na tao, ang ginawa ko na lamang ay ang maging alisto sa kung ano man ang mangyayari sa loob ng gubat na ito. Kailangan kong maging matapang sa kung ano mang mangyayari, dahil hindi ko na gustong ulitin pa ang nangyari noong araw na sinalakay ng mga ninja ang palasyo ni Cynth.

Kung sino man ang taong naririto sa loob ng gubat ngayon, alam ko na hindi lamang siya basta-basta isang wizard lamang. It felt like he or she was as strong as the six of us, the gods and goddesses, that is why I know that whoever this person is, he or she is a real deal.

I stay vigilant, until I saw that the sky turned dark as if a really strong storm will come even though it was really bright just a minute ago. I tried to calm myself down because I know what will happen right now.

She’s hear. Elysium is here. Siya lang naman ang nag-iisang tao na alam kong makagagawa ng bagay na ito. And it looks like something serious had happened because it felt like she wanted me to know that something was wrong.

At ang lahat ng nasa isip ko ay nakumpirma no’ng may bigla na lamang lumitaw na isang video clip na gawa sa magic. Mukhang may kailangang sabihin sa akin si Elysium kaya niya ginawa ang bagay na ito.

“Menrui,” pagbati niya sa akin. I was about to greet her back, but I was stopped because of what she said next. “I recorded this because it felt like something was wrong, and it looks like I was right because right after Helix entered our palace, a very unusual breeze entered too. It looks like he was really pissed and I thought that it has something to do with you, because he told me that he will go in that world to meet you.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang narinig ko iyon. I did not meet Helix by chance? Did he really planned to go in this world to meet me? But why the h*ck he did not tell me that he came here because of me?

Also, I was sure that he was not in our world right after we met in the forest that day, but it seems like I was wrong because I am sure of what I just heard in this video clip.

Ngayon, nasisigurado ko na may mali talaga kay Helix no’ng pumunta siya rito. Alam ko na hindi totoo na pumunta siya rito nang dahil sa akin, dahil nakita ko kung paano siya nagulat no’ng magkita kaming dalawa rito.

Dahil sa gusto ko pang malaman kung ano pa ang nangyari sa mundo namin, napagdesisyunan ko na panoorin muli ang mensahe na gustong sabihin sa akin ni Elysium.

“It looks like he was already outside of my room,” sabi niya bago siya lumingon sa pinto niya at itinuon muli ang atensiyon niya sa magic circle na alam ko na nasa harapan niya. “Kung ano man ang dahilan kung bakit siya galit ngayon, tatandaan mo na sa‘yo lang ako magtitiwala dahil alam ko na kapakanan ng mundo ang una mong inaalala.”

After she said that, I saw Helix barged inside her office. Nakita ko rin na pinipigilan siya ni Ephernios na makapasok, ngunit wala rin siyang nagawa dahil sa lakas na taglay ni Helix ng mga oras na ‘yon. Nakita ko rin kung paano sumunod sina Celeste at Eurybia dahil sa kaguluhan sa loob ng palasyo namin.

Nakikita ko ang kaguluhan sa mukha no’ng tatlo, pati na rin ang kalmadong ekspresiyon sa mukha ni Elysium, at higit sa lahat, ang galit na makikita sa mukha ni Helix. He looks really upset and angry that time, and even I, the one who was just watching it, was so scared as I was looking at his face.

“It is all your fault.” Ang bawat salita na lumalabas sa bibig ni Helix ay may kaakibat na galit.

“What do you mean by that?” Elysium asked with that always calm voice of hers.

“It was all your fault that is why Menrui got betwiched by that man!” Sigaw niya na maski ako ay nagulat din.

Pati ang tatlo pa na kasama nila ay nagulat at mas lalong naguluhan sa nangyayari dahil sa sinabi ni Helix.

“Did you know what she just told me when I met her?!” he asked but no one dared to answer him, and he just continued to tell what happened. “She told me that she could change him! Kahit na alam naman niya na hinding-hindi mangyayari iyon!”

Umiling-iling ako dahil sa narinig ko. “No, it was wrong. What he said was wrong!” Sigaw ko kahit na wala namang makaririnig sa akin dito sa loob ng gubat.

Mali siya. Nakikita ko na kaya talagang magbago ni Cynth at napatunayan niya na iyon dahil sa ginawa niya no’ng araw na pinakawalan niya ang mga tao sa dungeon! Alam kong magbabago siya, kaya bakit niya sinasabi ang mga bagay na ‘to kahit na wala naman talaga siyang pinagbabasehan?

Itinuon ko muli ang pansin ko sa video clip na iyon.

“Is that what she really said?” Elysium asked and she was still calm even if the situation is almost a chaos.

“Yes, she said that she could change him.” i glared at Helix but I could not really do anything because after all, this was just only a video clip.

“Then, if she really believe that she can do that, might as well witness it,” sabi ni Elysium na labis na ikinagulat ng tatlo niyang kasama. “After all, hindi na natin kailangan pang labanan si Erebus kung talagang kaya niyang baguhin ang isang taong akala natin ay wala nang pagbabago pang makikita.”

“Are you really serious about that?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Helix sa kaniya.

Tumango naman si Elysium sa kaniya, at ‘yong tatlong iba pa nilang kasama ay nananatili lang na tahimik at pinapanood ang dalawang nagkakasagutan ngayon.

Dahil sa naging sagot ni Elysium sa kaniya na mukhang hindi niya nagustuhan, bigla na lamang niya sinugod si Elysium nang walang pasabi. Ako ay nagulat dahil sa nangyari at nag-panic. Nakita ko rin na ganoon ang nangyari kina Celeste at no’ng na-realize na nila kung ano ang nangyayari, agad nilang sinubukan na pigilan si Helix.

“Ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo?” galit na sigaw ni Ephernios kay Helix no’ng nagkaroon siya ng chance para mapigilan si Helix sa pag-atake kay Elysium. “Pwede naman natin ‘tong pag-usapan nang mabuti kaya bakit kailangan mong sugurin si Elysium?”

Pagkatapos ng pangyayari na ‘yon, naputol na ang video at nalipat iyon na naka-focus na kay Elysium ang screen. Mukhang tapos na rin ang pagtatalo nilang lahat dahil tahimik na ang paligid niya.

“We are okay now, Menrui, but I could not afford to leave the palace with Helix still acting like that,” sabi niya bago sumeryoso ang mukha niya. “Kung totoo man ang sinasabi ni Helix, kung iyon talaga ang bago mong plano, hindi ko alam kung kaya kitang suportahan, dahil hindi ko rin sigurado kung kaya niya talagang magbag,” she said that made my heart sunk. “I only said that to Helix because I wanted to confirm something, at dapat mong alalahanin na may tumutulong sa kaniya na isa sa atin kaya hindi siya basta-basta isusuko lamang ang mga bagay na nakuha niya sa mundong iyan.”

Biglang bumilis ang t***k ng puso ko dahil alam ko na kung ano ang susunod niyang sasabihin.

“Menrui, you have to go back to our world now,” sabi niya sa akin at nagbigay pa siya ng araw, oras, at lugar kung saan kami magkikita. “You have to, even if your new plan is still going on. Even if you wanted to finish that plan of yours that we do not even know if it will succeed. May mga bagay pa tayo na kailangan nating tapusin, at kailangan ka namin ngayon dahil ikaw lang ang may hawak ng mga importanteng bagay na makapagtuturo kung sino ang nag-udyok kay Erebus para gawin ang mga bagay na ‘to.”

She looked behind her again then she turned at my direction again. “Iyon lang ang kaya kong sabihin ngayon. Aasahan ko na magkikita tayo sa araw na ‘yon dahil doon ko sasabihin ang lahat ng kailangan nating gawin.”

After that, the video was gone, and I was left thinking.

Ano na naman ang nangyayari? Akala ko ay magiging ayos na ang lahat kapag nagbago na si Cynth, pero mukhang mali ako dahil sa sinabi ni Elysium. It looks like she was already certain about the traitor. And she is right, I am not originally from this world, so i should go back to my home.

But a question was left in my mind:

Do I really want to go back?