A Shadow of an Illusion

Chapter 21

Warning: Mentions of death, killing, and violence

Third Person’s Point of View

Everything happened so fast right after the knight told that to Menrui and Hemera. Bigla na lamang nanghina at nahimatay ang kawal na iyon na mas lalong ikinagulat ng dalawang magkasama ngayon.

Nilapitan ni Hemera ang lalaking sumigaw na may naka-pasok sa loob ng palasyo at laking pagka-dismaya niya nang wala na siyang maramdamang pulso sa taong iyon. Tumayo siya at akmang sasabihin kay Menrui na wala nang puslo ang lalaking iyon, pero laking gulat niya nang bigla na lamang sumigaw si Lady Menrui.

Naka-tingin ito sa lalaking naka-higa at wala nang buhay sa hallway kaya naman lumingon ulit siya sa gawi ng lalaking iyon, pero agad siyang nag-iwas nang mapansin niya na bigla na lamang may mga dugong lumabas sa lalaking iyon.

Nanginginig ang mga kamay ni Hemera dahil sa nakita niya, pero pinilit niyang magpakatatag dahil sa isip niya, kailangan niyang mailigtas ang Goddess sa kahit na anong paraan na maisip niya.

With that in mind, she grabbed Menrui’s arm as she ushered her to walk. “Come one now, Milady, we cannot do anything about it anymore. He’s already dead,” she said and she knows that her voice was shaking but she still stood her ground and tried to calm herself.

This is the first time that something like this happened inside the palace. Kahit sinong tao ang nagtatangkang pumasok sa loob ng palasyo ay agad na nalalaman ng Emperor o ‘di kaya naman ng butler nito na si Grim, ngunit ngayon na wala ni-isa sa kanilang dalawa ang nasa loob ng palasyo, walang sinuman ang naka-pigil sa taong pumasok sa loob ng palasyo.

No one even had a chance to stop it, not even the barriers around the palace. And all Hemera could think of the reason why, it was because the person who invaded the palace was strong enough to break the barrier.

Mukhang hindi lang din nag-iisa ang taong naka-pasok sa loob ng palasyo dahil na rin sa sunud-sunod na pagsabog na naririnig nila sa paligid ng palasyo. Mukhang marami ang mga ito at kailangang siguraduhin ni Hemera na hindi masasaktan si Menrui.

Kahit sino man iyon, kailangan niyang masigurado na ligtas ang nag-iisang tao na maaaring maka-talo kay Erebus. Kahit na sinabi ng Lady sa kaniya kanina na gusto na niya ang Emperor, naniniwala pa rin siya na mas matimbang sa Lady ang kagustuhang mailigtas ang mundong ito kaysa sa nararamdaman nito para sa Emperor.

Kahit na gulat at takot si Menrui dahil sa nakita niya, mas pinili na lamang niyang sundan si Hemera dahil alam niyang may mas malala pang mangyayari kung magtatagal sila sa puwestong iyon.

“Let’s go this way,” sabi ni Hemera kaya naman tahimik lang na sumunod si Menrui.

Kahit na gusto niyang tulungan ang mga tao sa loob ng palasyo, hindi niya magawa dahil sa takot na naramdaman niya. Hindi niya lubos na maisip kung bakit nangyayari ito sa loob ng palasyo.

“We were having a hard time entering this palace but why the h*ck did this happen?” she mumbled to herself, and luckily, Hemera did not hear anything because she was focus to find a safe way for the Lady to take.

“We should come this way,” sabi ni Hemera makalipas ang ilang minutong pananahimik niya.

Lumiko sila sa isang pasilyo na konektado sa isang hagdanan pababa sa second floor ng palasyo. They were focused on the chaos going on around them, and Hemera was alert because something might happen any time from now, and she has to protect Lady Menrui at all cost.

Hemera halted when she noticed the shadows of the people, and she knows that it was the invarders. Napa-tigil din si Menrui dahil kay Hemera at tinignan niya kung ano ang dahilan kung bakit ito tumigil sa paglalakad.

She catched the glimpse of the shadows too, and she thought that her eyes were playing tricks with her because she thought that those shadows were people who are moving around so fast that you won’t be able to see them if you are not alert enough.

Menrui was about to ask Hemera if what she saw was true, but she alredy heard what Hemera had whispered to herself.

“Those are the ninjas of Iga,” she said that made Menrui think.

The land of Iga, located at the border of Wind Domain and Water Dimension. Ito ay isang ninja village na kakaunti lamang ang populasyon, pero masasabing ito ang pinaka tahimik ngunit isa sa pinaka malakas na village sa Wind Domain. Ito ang kaisa-isang village na hindi masakop-sakop ni Erebus dahil na rin sa angking galing ng mga taong nakatira rito.

It is also one of the unlawful village that never followed anyone and they just went to do everything that they wanted without them caring about the law.

That village has been quiet ever since Erebus started to take over the whole world, and if what Hemera had said was true, why did they move now?

Walang maisip na dahilan si Menrui, at mukhang ganoon rin si Hemera dahil nakita niya kung gaano ka-seryoso ang tingin nito sa mga mala-anino na gumagalaw sa paligid.

It seems as if they were one with the shadows and wind because of how fast they are moving. Hindi masyadong makita nina Hemera ang mga ninja na iyon, kaya naman minabuti niyang umalis na lang sa lugar na ‘yon at humanap pa ng iba pang pwedeng nilang madaanan para mailigtas ang Goddess.

Tumingin si Hemera kay Menrui nang makahulugan at mukhang naintindihan nito ang gusto niyang gawin dahil tumango ito sa kaniya. Tumango rin siya rito bago naghanap ng pwede pa nilang madaanan.

Hemera took her time to think of other ways inside the palace because after all, the one she needed to keep safe is the Goddess. Kailangan niyang pag-isipan nang mabuti para masiguro niyang ligtas ito at walang mangyayaring kung anong masama rito.

‘I have to keep her safe or else, everything might be ruined,’ she thought as she started to scan every corridor that they could find.

Sini-sigurado niya na walang kahit sino ang nandoon, kahit na ang iba pang mga tauhan ni Erebus. Mas lalo pa siyang nag-iingat dahil may nararamdaman siyang ibang presensiya ng mga tao sa paligid niya, and it looks like the Lady felt it too because she could see in her peripheral vision that the Goddess become so tensed.

She tried to think of any way so that they could escape safely when she felt a presence of a person behind her. Hemera gulped when she felt that someone was strong base on his or her aura.

Menrui become also alert because she felt the presence of that person too. At alam niyang hindi basta-basta ang taong nasa likod niya. She reached Hemera’s arm that made Hemera look at her.

“We need to be prepared,” she mouthed to Hemera that made Hemera nod at her.

Naramdaman na nilang papalapit na sa direksiyon nila ang taong tinutukoy nila at naghanda na silang lumaban. Menrui started to enchant a spell into her mind, and Hemera, on the other hand, prepared herself to fight.

Alam niya ang sarili niyang lakas kaya naman alam niyang may magagawa siya para kalabanin ang taong papalapit sa kanila. Her goal was to keep the Lady’s identity a secret until the end, that’s why she needed to prepare herself to use her magic she was not able to use these past few years.

“Let me fight this person, Milady,” sabi ni Hemera na naging dahilan kaya tumingin sa kaniya si Menrui.

Menrui saw how serious Hemera is about fighting the person who was getting nearer and nearer as time goes by, so she just let it go and took a step back so that Hemera will have enough space to do whatever she likes.

After all, this would be the first time that she will see the true power of Hemera, the chosen one of Celeste. Makikita niya na kung bakit ito ang pinili ni Celeste at hindi ang isa sa mga Royal Family ng Land Realm.

She knows that Hemera was strong, but she never saw her use her magic and this might be the best timing she could ever think of so that she could see it up close. Kahit na hindi ito ang oras para isipin ‘yon, hindi mapiligilan ni Menrui ang sarili niya na ma-excite sa makikita niya.

Nakita niya kung gaano ka-seryoso si Hemera pero mas pinili niya pa ring maging alerto dahil baka may iba pang darating at hindi makayanan ni Hemera na labanan ang mga ito nang sabay. After all, the enemies right now were the ninjas of Iga, and she knows that they should not underestimate their strength and intelligence.

Hemera prepared when she felt that the person they sensed earlier got closer, and when she heard a hurried footsteps getting near in their direction, she held the dagger, that she always have in her clothes, in her hand tightly as she prepared to fight.

‘Only a meter left,’ she thought as she closed her hands and tightly held the dagger.

It’s been a while since she fought and she could feel the excitement that she never felt since she become this palace’s maid. The bloodlust that she never felt ever since the kingdom that she was serving fell into Erebus’ hands.

She feels the presence of that someone and when she felt that the person was near enough, she immediately spin around, that made Menrui shock and amazed at the same time, then she held the person tightly as she held the dagger on that person’s neck.

“F*ck, Hemera. I know that you are thirsty to fight someone but could you please remove the dagger on my neck,” said the familiar voice that Hemera knew.

That made her wake up from her bloodlust as she frowned and looked at the person she was holding tightly.

“Fawn?” nagtataka niyang tanong.

Lumingon naman si Fawn sa kaniya at sinamaan siya ng tingin na para bang wala lang sa kaniya ang dagger na naka-tutok sa leeg niya.

“Yes, it’s me,” Fawn said, sarscatic, as he glared even more at Hemera. “Now, could you remove the dagger that is pointed on my neck?”

Mukhang nakabawi na si Hemera sa pagka-bigla niya dahil tumango siya bago niya pinakawalan si Fawn sa mahigpit na pagkaka-hawak niya. Menrui, on the other hand, got slightly disappointed that it was Fawm because she really thought that she could already see one of the chosen fight.

“I really thought that I could already see Hemera fight,” Menrui said and she did not even bother to hide her disappointment.

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni Fawn dahil sa sinabi niya. “Milady!” he shouted that made Hemera facepalm.

“Could you lower down your voice? The invaders might find out that we are here!” pagsaway na bulong niya kay Fawn pero hindi siya nito pinansin.

“I almost got killed because of her and you’re saying that?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Fawn.

“I told you to be quiet!” Sigaw ni Hemera na nakapagpatingin sa dalawa niyang kasama.

Menrui just shook her head because of Hemera as she said, “You were just shouting at us, then you said that we should be quiet?” She even raised one of her eyebrows at Hemera.

Napayuko naman si Hemera at sinabing, “I’m sorry, Milady. I will be careful from now on.”

Tumango lang si Menrui dahil sa sinabi ni Hemera bago niya itinuon ang pansin niya kay Fawn. “Bakit ka naman kasi bigla-bigla na lang diyan nalabas sa kung saan-saan?”

“In my defense, Milady,” pagsisimula ni Fawn at nagsimula na siyang maglakad kaya naman sinundan siya ng dalawang kasama. “I am just walking so casually to the two of you, but the both of you are so tense that’s why you did not notice that I am the person who was walking in your direction.”

Wala naman nang nasabi pa ang dalawa niyang kasama dahil sa sinabi niya. Mukhang napagtanto na ng mga ito ang ginawa nila kanina. They should calm down a little so that they could really focus on what is really happening around them. Hindi ‘yong para silang mga taong laging alerto pero mali-mali naman ang ginagawa.

“And you should focus in your surroundings because our enemies are a ninja,” Fawn lectured them and Hemera just rolled her eyes at him while Menrui was looking at somewhere else. “Hindi sila basta-basta lamang mga wizard. They are considered as one with the winds because of the way they moved, and because of how light their footsteps are.”

“Because they are one with the winds.” Pag-uulit ni Menrui sa sinabi ni Fawn.

Tumango naman si Fawn at nagsimula ulit magsalita. “Yes, Milady. It is as if they are one of them that’s why they are hard to find or even feel.”

“Aren’t they are the one you are talking about?” tanong ni Menrui habang naka-turo sa direksiyon na tinatahak nila ngayon.

Sabay namang napa-tingin sina Hemera at Fawn sa direksiyon na itinuro ng Goddess, at sabay silang napa-mura nang mapansin nila ang mga ninja na nasa harapan na lang nila bigla. And it is not just one ninja, but there were almost ten of them that was blocking their way.

“Are you the Emperor’s wife?” tanong ng isa sa mga ninja na nasa harapan nila kay Menrui ngunit walang sumagot sa kanilang tatlo. “You must be her,” sabi nito bago tumingin sa mga kasamahan niya at tumango.

Mukhang nagakaintindihan agad ang mga ito dahil isa-isa silang naglabas ng mga armas nila na itinatago nila sa kanilang mga damit.

“I think they are after Lady Menrui,” sabi ni Hemera at tumango ang dalawang kasama niya. Itinuon niya ang pansin kay Menrui bago niya seryosong sinabi, “We need to protect you at all cost, Milady.”

Menrui was about to complain but Fawn beat her from saying anything as he agreed to what Hemera had said. “She’s right, Milady. After all, we needed to keep your identity a secret so you need to stay out of this fight for the meantime.”

Wala naman nang nagawa si Menrui dahil sa sinabi ni Fawn. Sumang-ayon na lang siya sa gusto nitong mangyari dahil tama naman siya na kailangan nilang i-sikreto ang tunay na katauhan niya. And also, she could see the magic that the two of them holds.

Nang makita ni Hemera na sumang-ayon na si Menrui sa gusto nilang mangyari, agad niyang sinabi rito, “Then go to the safest place that you know inside the palace while we try to stop these ninjas from catching you.”

“I don’t think that is possible, Hemera,” sabi ni Fawn habang naka-tingin sa may bandang likod nila.

Hemera and Menrui both turn their heads towards that direction, at sabay silang napamura nang makita nilang napaliligiran na sila ng mga ninja. There was almost twenty of them now, and the two, Hemera and Fawn, knew that they will have a hard time fighting all of them.

“Then we need to fight in order to make a way for the Lady,” sabi ni Hemera bago humarap sa mga kalaban niya.

Fawn, on the other hand, faced the ninjas that was behind them, while Menrui took a step backwards so that she won’t be a burden for those two.

Then after that, everything was a blur. All Menrui could see was the fast movement of Fawn and Hemera as well as the ninjas that they are fighting. She was amazed to see that the both of them could catch up the speed of the ninjas who were considered as ‘one with the winds.’

Hemera was focused on defending herself because of the ninjas simultaneously attacked her, and when she had a chance to fight back, she immediately casted a spell that took down almost three of the ninjas she was fighting.

On the other side, Fawn dodged the magic spell that the ninja had casted as he rolled down on the ground, and when he stood up, he immediately fought back even if he was having a hard time catching up with them.

The fight was almost going non stop for almost an hour now, at napupuruhan na si Hemera pati na rin si Fawn. They already have too many wounds because of the fight but they still kept on going. They also started to feel tired because of this fight going on for almost an hour. Dahil na rin sa sunud-sunod na paggamit nila ng magic at pagpigil sa mga ito na umatake, nagsisimula na silang maubusan ng hininga.

They kept on fighting until a ninja appeared out of nowhere that made the ninjas they are fighting stop and look at that ninja. Sila rin ay napatigil dahil sa biglang pagdating ng taong iyon at akala nila ay sasama ito sa laban ngunit laking gulat nila nang magsalita ito.

“We already accomplished our mission in this palace.” Iyon lamang ang sinabi nito bago ito nawala at sumunod dito ang mga kalaban nila Hemera.

Dahil sa narinig, agad na tinignan ni Fawn ang direksiyon kung nasaan dapat ang lady, ngunit laking pagkadismaya niya nang hindi niya makita ang Lady doon.

The both of them sat on the floor of that corridor because of exhuastion. Naririnig din sa paligid ang paghinga nilang dalawa.

“I hate to say this,” Fawn said as he tried to catch his breath then he looked at Hemera. “But even if we call for Helios, we will never have a chance to catch them. I think...”

“Don’t even think about it, Fawn,” Hemera said with a warning tone but Fawn did not pay attention to her warning.

“He is the only person that could save the Lady for now, Hemera. Alam kong alam mo ‘yan,” pagpupumilit na sabi ni Fawn kaya naman napa-buntong hininga si Hemera. “We cannot even defeat them, and I am sure that we won’t be able to fight them again because of our state right now. The only way to save the Lady is to tell everything that happened to Erebus.”

Napa-tahimik si Hemera dahil sa sinabi ni Fawn. Alam niya na totoo ang sinabi nito at si Erebus lamang ang tanging makakapag-ligtas sa Lady ngayon. At base sa obserbasyon niya nitong mga nakaraang araw, gagawa at gagawa ng paraan si Erebus para mailigtas ang Lady.

With that in mind, Hemera stood up and Fawn followed her. “Ikaw ang magsasabi sa kaniya at hindi ako.”

Fawn just nodded his head at her as they started to find where Erebus is