The Zodiacs

Chapter 2 - Hebbe Taurr

Hebbe Taurr

Taas noo kong pinagmasdan ang magandang tanawin sa harapan ko ngayon. Kitang-kita sa mga mukha nila ang kasiyahan sa nangyaring selection. Lords, noble families, leaders, and notable people in the House of Taurus are here, celebrating my triumph and wishing me good luck for the Upbringing. Hindi ko rin maipagkakaila ang sayang bumabalot sa akin ngayon dahil matagal na akong nag-aantay para sa araw na 'to at sa wakas ay nangyari na siya. Nangyari na ang matagal ko nang pinaghahandaan at inaasam, ang manalo sa selection at ipresenta ang House of Taurus sa Upbringing.

Sumimsim ako sa baso ko habang patuloy na pinagmamasdan ang nangyayaring kasiyahan nang biglang may bumulaga sa likod ko. Nakita kong si Marres ang gumawa no'n, ang matalik kong kaibigan na anak ng Chancellor.

"Why are you here staring at us? Halika ka na, Hebbe! You should join us celebrating your victory!" masayang sambit nito habang ipinapakita kung gaano kalaki ang kaganapan sa harapan namin ngayon.

Ngumiti ako at sumama sa paghila niya papunta sa iba pa naming mga kaibigan. The feast is happening inside the Great Hall of Taurus, you can see in every area of this place the symbol of the Bull. The symbol of our House. Shivers went to my spine as I imagined how it would be like to bring and represent the House's name in the Upbringing, in front of the All Empire. I can even feel the thrill right away now. It's filling me up and giving me purpose. This is the best thing that has happened in my life and I will do everything in my power to secure a seat in the Odiacus Council and to bring pride in the House.

As I mingle with my friends, one of the Elders went to us and asked for my attention. He said that the Chancellor and the rest of the Elders wanted to talk to me on the matter of the Upbringing. Nag paalam naman ako sa mga kaibigan ko at agad na sumunod sa Elder. Habang papasok kami sa chamber kung nasaan nag-aantay ang mga taong kakausap sa akin, hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko na makaramdamn ng sobrang pagkasabik. Is this it? Is this how they will orient me with the rules and obligations I must attend to in the Upbringing? I have never been so thrilled in my life. I have prepared whole my life for this, I have competed with the most feisty, strong, powerful, and influential Tuareans but I stood up amongst them. I know in myself that I was born for this, that this is made for me.

Sumalubong sa amin ang Chancellor na naka-upo sa kaniyang High Chair habang nasa gilid naman niya ang mga Elders. Ang kasama kong Elder na tumawag sa akin ay pumunta na rin sa gilid ng iba nitong mga kasama at hinarap din ako. Pagkatapos ng ilang segundong pagharap sa kanilang lahat, yumuko ako at ipinakita ang paggalang ko.

"I congratulate you for your triumph in The Selection, Hebbe Taurr. May the I rise in you," bati sa akin ng Chancellor.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at hinayaan ko na lamang na ipakita ang labis na pagkatuwa ko sa mga nangyayari. Tumango akong muli sa harap nila dahil sa sinabi ng Chancellor.

"Thank you, Chancellor. Shall the I rise in me," mataas kong tugon dito.

Inayos naman ng Chancellor ang kaniyang upo bago tuluyang sabihin ang pakay niya kung bakit niya ako pinatawag. Ang ilang Elders naman ay humakbang palapit sa akin habang ang iba naman ay pumaroon sa gilid ng Chancellor.

"A secret message was sent to us. It is stated that the House of Aries will not be represented by Roen Arres anymore, but his younger brother Rogan Arres. Roen pledged back to their symbol that made him lose his power and I say, this is a good sign from the stars to us. And as we rule the second house, I must say and believe that you have the complete chance of securing a seat in the Odiacus Council. The House of Aries will not be a problem to us anymore,"

Hindi ko alam kung anong dapat ang maramdam ko sa binigkas ng Chancellor sa akin ngayon. I may not know Roen Arres personally, but he's famous in the All-Empire because of his outstanding skill as Arien. Everyone thinks that he will not lose in the Upbringing because for centuries House of Aries has been in the council, they have molded their entrants into perfection from the first day it was born to its last day until The Selection. I wonder what made Roen pledge back to their symbol. It must be devastating for their House. Nevertheless, people should not underestimate his younger brother. I have never heard of him but I think he will still be a strong and worthy competitor because he is an Arien and Ariens are known to be powerful, so I will not lower my guards.

"I don't believe that the House of Aries will not be a problem to us. They're still strong even without their alas. We may not know this Rogan Arres but I suggest, Chancellor, we should not look down on him. He may surprise us," I said.

The Chancellor abruptly laughed along with the other Elders after those words came out of my mouth. My face got confused because of their reaction, I scanned the whole place to look at them and all I can see are the faces of people who underestimate the strongest House in the All-Empire. Ganito nalang ba talaga kataas ang tingin nila kay Roen na sa puntong 'to ay iniisip na talaga nilang wala ng magiging laban ang House of Aries dahil hindi na siya ang magrerepresenta rito? I don't like how they are acting now on the matter, they're careless.

"I don't believe this is a silly matter to laugh at, Chancellor and dear Elders. Whoever will be presenting the House of Aries, I will still compete with him with how I planned on competing Rogan Arres before and the other entrants of different houses. Please don't mock them again," I insisted as I made my stance stronger in front of them.

Napatigil sila sa ginawa. Nakita ko sa mga mukha nila ang hindi pagsang-ayon sa sinabi ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganoon na lamang ang tingin nila, nakakasiguro ba silang mahina at hindi mananalo ang Rogan Arres na pilit nilang minanamaliit? Hindi ba rapat ay lalo lang kaming maghanda dahil hindi namin kilala o wala kaming alam sa taong makakalaban ko sa Upbringing? Kung iniisip nilang mamaliitin at hahayaan ko lamang ang magiging representatibo ng House of Aries ay nakakamali sila. That is not my way. I respect and fight fairly with my opponent because that is how I was raised and will always be.

Tumayo ang Chancellor at dahan-dahan na naglakad patungo sa akin. Habang naglalakad siya ay magkatama ang mga mata namin. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin niya, hindi ko mabasa ang ekspresyon na mayroon sa mukha niya. Kung magagalit siya sinabi kong hindi pagsang-ayon sa pangmamaliit nila kay Rogan Arres ay wala akong magagawa kundi tanggapin ang galit na mayroon sila para sa akin. Hindi ba nila kaya na mayroong magsabi sa kanila ng mga bagay na dapat nilang marinig at malaman? Hindi ba nila kaya na may hindi sumasang-ayon sa lahat ng mga bagay na sinasabi nila?

"We're done here, Hebbe Taurr. You may get back to the feast," the Chancellor ordered.

Tumango ako sa huling pagkakataon at umalis sa chamber na 'yon nang mag-isa, bago pa ako tuluyang makalabas doon ay mayroon akong narinig mula sa kanila pero hindi ako sigurado kung kaninong bunganga nanggaling iyon.

"I'm afraid this will be a problem,"

Pagkarinig ko no'n ay dali-dali akong bumalik sa pagsasalo. Naramdaman ko ang maliit na kaba na dumaloy sa akin. I have never felt this feeling for a long time until now. What does it mean? Am I the problem? But, why? I didn't do anything. I wasn't doing anything. Expressing what I think about the matter can't be the reason why they said that. Saying what you think is not a crime nor something to be punished for. People should learn that no matter who you are, no matter how high your rank is, there will be someone who will oppose you because you're doing something wrong. People will not do it if they know you're not harming anyone or anything. But I guess, they still have a long journey to understand that idea.

Napangisi ako sa nangyari at nagpasya na lamang na kumuha ng alak at uminom. Nakita ko sa bandang kalayuan si Marres na nakikipag-usap sa mga ibang kaibigan pa namin. She's so different from her father. Lively, graceful, and almost perfect lady that any Taureans could want for. She's one of the reasons why I'm doing this. I want to win for her and for the house but like what I heard in that chamber, I'm afraid that this will be a problem.