The Spirit Martial

Spirit 46

“Are you sure we’re in the right way?” tanong ni Kali kaya napatigil ako.

“Are you doubting me? Ako na taga-rito? Okay ka lang?” reklamo ko and he frowned.

“I was just asking. Jeez, it’s been an hour!” reklamo niya kaya lumingon ako sa direksiyon niya.

Tama na man siya na isang oras na talaga kaming nandito at hinahanap ang waterfalls na sinasabi ko. Sa totoo lang, we’re getting closer and I know a short way pero umiwas lang talaga ako doon kasi may kasama kaming hindi masyadong experiensyado sa pakikipaglaban. We cannot waste more time on fighting so I had to choice the other way na hindi naman masyadong malayo, well siguro hindi masyadong malayo sa akin kasi sanay ako dito pero in their case, this way might be far.

“Look,” sabi ko at umupo sa tinatayuan kong tree branch. “I had to choose this way. I had no choice. May kasama tayo oh,” sabi ko habang turo nina Aaron na nasa likoran ni Nieve, nakatayo rin sila sa tree brach habang hinahabol ang hininga nila. Wala rin naman silang choice kung hindi sundin ang pagtalon namin sa mga kahoy para mas mabilis. “Kung dinala ko kayo sa ibang daanan, monsters will appear. Unless kung gusto niyong masayang ang mahika niyo okay lang.” I explained and took a deep breath. “Look, Kali. I’m doing this for us. Hindi natin alam kung ano ang haharapin natin. As much as possible, we have to preserve our magic molecules and save it for the boss kung mayroon man,” I added.

“Fine,” Kali said at tumingin rin nina Aaron. Woah, they looked so messed up. Halatang pagod na pagod.

“Do you wanna rest?” Kali asked at tumango kaagad silang tatlo.

“There’s river nearby, let’s rest there. The waterfalls is all the way up there. Kailangan lang natin sundan ang river,” sabi ko at agad akong tumalon palayo. Sumunod naman kaagad sila at nabigla na lang ako nang tumabi si Kailani sa akin habang tumatalon kami palayo.

“What’s with those three?” he asked. “Lalong-lalo na ang captain nila. He’s Aaron, right?” he asked again.

“Ah well, he’s a bully,” iyon lang sinabi ko at kumunot ang noo niya. What? I’m telling the truth.

“Bully?” he asked and I saw him gritted his teeth. “I don’t feel it that way, tsk,” bigla niyang sabi.

“Excuse me?” tanong ko.

“Ah! The river!” biglang sigaw ni Nieve kaya nawala ang attention ko sa sinabi ni Kailani.

Tumigil na kami sa river at agad na napaupo sina Aaron dahil sa pagod. Edwardo was the most tired of them all. Nakahiga na siya sa grass and he crawled to the river and reached for it para kumuha at uminom ng tubig. Since when did I became this stable when it comes to physical stuff? Ah, is this because of experience? Well, experience is the best teacher indeed.

“I’ll go take a bath,” sabi ko at naglakad papasok sa medyo makapal na bush para doon maghubad at maligo. Spot ko talaga iyon tuwing maliligo ako. “Walang sasama,” agad kong sabi nang marinig ko na sumusunod si Kailani. He frowned at tuloyan na akong umalis. Sila na muna ang bahala doon.

I walked through the bushes at nakita ko ulit ang kweba na gawa sa dahon- tumatambay ako doon dati tuwing umuulan dito. I smiled habang inaalala ang mga ginagawa ko dito. I had fun even though ako lang mag-isa. Naglakad ako papunta sa kweba and I went in. It was still the same, plants all over and a circle of water sa centro. I guess I’ll take a bath here.

Hinubad ko ang lahat ng suot ko at itinabi muna. I stepped into the water and the temparature gave me chills but I was happy I got here again. Tinuloy ko ang lakad until both of my feet submerged ito the water. The water was not deep so I had to walk further until the water reached my waist.

“At last,” I whispered and I scooped some water and splash it into my face at ramdam ko ang pagtulo nito. “Peace,” I added and took a deep breath.

Tumalikod ako para sumandal sana sa bato na nandito kaso nagulat ako sa nakita ko. What is he doing here?

“A-Aaron,” I called. “What are you doing here?” I asked. Ano? Nandito ba siya para saktan ako ulit? I-bully ulit? Sa tingin niya di ko kayang makipaglaban kahit wala akong suot na uniporme? Hindi ko alam kung ano talagang pakay niya so I had to summon some of my vines mula sa likoran ko. He suddenly raised both of his hands as if he was telling me na wala siyang planong gagawin. Itinaas niya ang suot niyang pantalon at umupo sa tabi while his feet is submerged.

“Chill, hindi ko alam na dito ka maliligo, I just saw this plant cave by accident,” he replied and stared at the waters. “Sorry for disturbing you, Y-Your Highness,” bigla niyang sabi. Anong nakain niya?

“W-W-Well, y-yeah, okay lang. Diyan ka lang,” sabi ko at tuloyan na sumandal sa bato.

This is kind of awkward. We never even had any serious or even normal conversation before tapos ngayon magkasama pa talaga kami. Anong klaseng sitwasyon ito? There is no way I’ll talk to him first.

“So,” bigla niyang sabi at tumingin sa akin. “Ang lakas mo na,” he added with a smirk. “I never expected that to happen,” he added at kumunot ang noo ko.

“Uh-huh, up until now, you’re still underestimating me?” I asked and he just smiled.

“Not really,” he said and he tilted his head and glanced at the mark that Kailani gave. “So that’s what it looks like in person huh, a partner’s mark. Prince Gin taught us about it before pero sino ba namang mag-aakala na makikita ko ito sa harapan?” he added at nabigla na lang ako na tumalon siya mula sa pagkaupo kaya nandito na rin siya sa tubig. It startled the hell out of me. It must be my PTSD - post traumatic stress disorder dahil sa mga bully na ginagawa niya sa akin.

He walked forward at tumigil siya sa harap ko. Kahit mas malakas ako sa kanya ngayon, mas matangkad pa rin siya sa akin ng konti.

“Did you know that marks like that can be replaced?” he suddenly asked and he opened his palm showing me a glimpse of his spirit- a sky flower, a purple flower with whit linings on its sides and center. “I asked Prince Gin how to know the compatibility and guess what? We are compatible,” he added with a smile.

Kumunot ang noo ko and I summoned my vines and I made it’s tip as sharp as a knife.

“You better stop what you’re doing. I’m not the same Cygnus, Aaron. I can literally peel off your head- right here and right now,” I said coldly and he smiled.

“If you will pair up with me Cygnus, hindi ka na mawawalay sa ina mo. You can stay here. I can give you everything, you know. You don’t wanna leave to preserve your royalty honorific? Cygnus, wake up. You’re partner is not even a true prince- he’s disowned by the royal family,” he replied and I gritted my teeth out of anger. Hindi pa rin siya nagbabago. He still wants to do what he wants! He’s really a monster. “Don’t tell me you forgot what I told you before you even left? The day I confessed to you tapos bigla ka na lang naglaho?” he asked at kumunot ang noo ko. He was serious?

He did confess to me- that’s … that’s actually the reason why he is bullying me.He didn’t actually confessed once, maraming beses na talaga. Every time may kaibigan ako, nilalayo niya ako. Siya lang ang kasama ko dati at siya rin lang ang nag-aapi sa akin dati.

“Aaron!” I shouted to stop him from moving. Hindi lang iyon, my vision turned purple and my vines doubled its number and sharpness. “I’m dead serious, you better stop now,” I added coldly.

“Awww don’t scare me like that,” he said in a sarcastic way.

I was about to respond but something felt off. The next thing I knew, Kailani was behind him wearing his golden eyes and his sharp fangs. Napalunok ako at napahawak sa bato na ansa likoran ko.

“Do you have a death wish, Aaron?” Kailani asked and he was stunned. His eyes widened and his spirit suddenly burned down when Kailani touched it. He’s angry. This is the exact expression he was wearing when I was about to die.

“P-P-P-P-Princ-” hindi na matapos na sabi ni Aaron when he teleported in front of me and grabbed his neck.

“K-Kailani! C-C-Calm down! You cannot kil-” di ko matapos na sabi nang tumingin siya sa akin and my limbs just went numb.

“Keep your mouth shut for now, Cygnus,” he said coldly.

Naglakad siya palayo habang dala si Aaron at pinaupo niya ulit ito sa gilid. He’s not gonna kill him is he?

“Watch this, Aaron,” he said coldly at naglakad siya papunta sa akin with fierce eyes.

“Kailani, calm down. Hindi mo siya pwedeng patayin, we signed a contract about it!” sabi ko at nagulat ako nang ngumiti siya. He grabbed my wrist kaya nawala ang pagkasandal ko bato. I glanced at my side where Aaron was sitting - he’s getting pale- at tumingin ulit ako sa kanya.

“I knew something is going on between your mutual hatred,” he added and he bit his lip causing it to bleed. “Do not make me repeat my self, Cygnus. I told you, you won’t like it when I get possessive,” he added.

“O-Okay I-” putol kong sabi nang bigla niya akong hinila.

My eyes widened when I realized that our lips were sealed and Aaron’s here. Agad naman siyang bumitaw sa halik namin at tumingin kay Aaron habang ako ay napatulala. Baliw ba siya?

“Aaron,” he called. “Is everything clear now?” he asked at napatingin ako kay Aaron. “Stop touching what’s mine,” he added and the water started boiling.