THE MASTERS

Dragon IX

Someone's POV

As I stared at the entirety of my constituency I couldn't help but grin. I would not have had it if it were not for my perseverance in beating the former leaders here in Dragonania.

As I drank from my cup of wine, I suddenly heard footsteps that seemed to be in a hurry. I looked at the door of my room when someone knocks on it.

"Pumasok ka." I said and waited for whoever was knocking on my door. It didn't take long for it to open and spit out my disciple who was my spy in the other world. Its face is different so I avoided my gaze, I don't want to ruin my day.

"What brought you here? May balita na ba?" Balewalang tanong ko rito habang sumisimsim ng alak.

"Mahal na Hari, may masama po akong balita." Sagot nito na bakas ang kaba sa boses. I tighten the grip on my wine glass.

"Gaano kasama?" Malamig na tanong ko. Narinig ko ang paglunok nito.

"M-malaki po." Alangang sagot nito na halos pabulong na and that made me gritted my teeth.

"Magsalita ka." Mariing utos ko.

I woke up in a good mood but this spy seems like wanted to ruin it.

"Bali-balita po sa kabilang Palasyo na... bumalik na daw po ang Dragon ayon sa mga Oracles." Ang kaninang pagpipigil ko ng inis ay napalitan na nang galit. I agressively faced him and in a blink, I'm now holding his collar.

"Tangina. What did you say?! That useless creature came back?! Ginagago mo ba ako ha?!" I shouted on his face that made him tremble in fear. I pulled his collar to intimidate him even more.

"T-to-too po ang si-sinasabi ko m-mahal na Hari! Sa katunayan po ay may pruweba na sila dahil sa paglakas ng pananggala ng Palasyo at sa hangganan." Paliwanag nito. Marahas na itinulak ko siya na 'agad tumilapon sa labas ng silid ko.

It can't be! That weak creature can't come back again! Did they think I would be scared because of her return?! Hah! My legs will never tremble just because of that creature! Maybe they forgot I was the reason why that Dragon disappeared from this world. I will not hesitate to do it again this time. No one can stop my plans! Wala! Dahil mag-uumpisa pa lamang sila ay haharangin ko na sila ng aking mahika.

I let out a loud shout and immediately my whole kingdom became even darker. I can already hear my disciples sympathizing with my anger. That Dragon, naduwag ba kaya matapos ang ilang daang taon ay babalik na siya?! Did she get stronger? Hah, what did they think? Will they beat me that way? Maybe they also forgot that I just quickly defeated the Whitenian who was protecting that creature back then?

"Nasaan ang walang kwentang nilalang na iyon?" Nangangalit at malakas na sambit ko. Naramdaman ko naman ang madaling pag-pasok ng alagad ko.

"Base po sa nakalap kong impormasyon ay wala pa po sila dito sa Dragonania. Nasa mundo po sila ng mga tao upang makilala ang bago nilang tagapangalaga." Mabilis na sagot nito. I creased my forehead by what I heard.

"Nila? What do you mean by that?" I asked.

Napalunok ito bago muling nagsalita. "Mahal na Hari, bali-balita rin po kasi sa Whitenians Palace na hindi na lamang daw po iisa ang magbabalik na Dragon. Apat na po sila ngayon," He answered while trying hard not to stammer.

You see, she couldn't handle me alone so she looked for an ally. Did that creature really think they could handle me? They are becoming too complacent with their number. Maghahanap na nga lamang ng bago nilang Master ay doon pa sa mundo ng mga tao kung saan sila-sila rin ang nagsisiraan upang mas maging mataas kaysa sa iba. Those incompetent humans, bagay silang masakop ng katulad ko.

"Papuntahin mo dito si Hilda, ngayon din." I command. Yumuko naman ito bilang pag-galang sa akin bilang kaniyang hari.

"Masusunod po Mahal na Hari." Sagot niya at kaagad nang umalis ng aking silid. Wala pang ilang minuto ay may kumatok na ulit sa aking pintuan.

"Ipinatawag ninyo raw po ako?" Tanong nito matapos buksan ang pintuan.

"Tipunin mo ang pinaka-magagaling na kawal ng Palasyo at ipadala mo sa mundo ng mga tao, ngayon din." Seryosong utos ko sa kaniya bago tinungga ang laman ng kopita.

"Maaari ko po bang malaman ang dahilan nito Mahal na Hari? Ano pong nais ninyong ipagawa sa kanila doon?" Magalang na tanong nito.

Napa-ngisi ako at hinarap ang seryoso ring mukha nito.

"Hanapin ninyo ang mga bagong tagapangalaga ng mga Dragon. Kailangan ninyong maunahan ang mga kalaban na mahanap sila. Dalhin ninyo sila sa akin dahil ako mismo ang puputol ng kanilang kaligayahan." Naka-ngising sagot ko. Nakita ko ang pag-angat ng sulok ng labi nito bago muling yumuko sa harap ko at tuluyang umalis.

Maghanda na kayo mga Dragon. Hindi pa man kayo napipisa ay tiyak na mamamatay na ang mga bago ninyong tagapangalaga.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! "

Rose Ann's POV

Earlier, Cristina, Ate Catherine, and I were here at Tito's chicken coop, which is Cristina's father — Tito Jerry. They own this big poultry since my two uncles are really fond of cockfighting. Lola said that they seemed inherited it from Lolo because Lolo's cockpit was always full back then at palagi ring laman ng sabungan.

It also has the size of a chicken coop, the chicken coop is divided into two parts. Ang isa ay para sa mga manok na pinanlalaban habang ang kabila naman ay para sa mga inahing pinapa-itlog, may mga 45 days ding inaalagaan sila at kaka-benta lang nila niyon noong nakaraang linggo kaya naka-tengga muna siya ngayon.

Halos 200+ rin na inahin ang inaalagaan nila dito kaya kinailangan naming tumulong sa pagkuha ng mga itlog. Hindi ko lang alam kung ilan iyong mga pinanlalaban pero tingin ko nasa 50+ naman 'yon.

It's okay for us to help here since we're used to this kind of work because sometimes we do this as a contest. Whoever has the most gathered eggs is the winner. 'Wag ka! It is also difficult to take the eggs especially if the mother was guarding them. Para-paraan na lang talaga ang pag-kuha ng itlog para hindi kami matuka ng nanay.

Pang-sampu na itong nakukuha ko at so far wala pa naman akong sugat. Ewan ko lang doon sa dalawa. Pero narinig ko ang isa sa kanila na sumisigaw kanina kaya malamang na nadali na iyon ng nanay.

Makikita ko na lang mamaya kung gaano na karami ang sugat nila.

Mukhang ako ngayon ang mananalo ah. Humanda sila sa 'kin, ako naman ang magpapa-hirap sa kanila.

After I put the tenth egg I got in the basket I approached the other side. I managed to lift the barrier of the chicken coop enough for my hand to enter. The hen was asleep so I gently reached for the egg that was under her. This is the most difficult part na kukuhaan ng itlog kasi wala nang parang tubo na naka-connect sa nest ng inahin para gulumong ang itlog palabas ng cage.

I closed my eyes tightly when my finger touched the sticky object and held my breath. Fudge, the scent of my hand is for sure aromatic. I lifted the barrier of the cage a little more because the egg was at the far end of the cage. I smiled when I got it and immediately removed my hand and closed the cage. I put the egg in the basket and wiped the gloves I was wearing on the side to remove the chicken droppings that stuck. I only use the plastic gloves because the two of them were ahead of me in the rubber gloves. Kaya ramdam na ramdam ko ang stickiness ng ipot. Even though I was wearing a mask, I could still smell the stench. Sheez.

I was about to move to the other side when suddenly the hen I took the egg from just now yelled. It was as if she were confused and rattled the barrier of her cage. Confused, I approached it again and lifted the barrier that I should not have done. The hen flew quickly and ran to the floor.

I was about to follow it when I was suddenly dazzled by the light that suddenly appeared inside the cage when the hen had escaped. I covered my eyes with my arm and immediately removed it again when the gloves with chicken droppings almost touch my face! The light inside also disappeared at gulat ang kaagad na rumehistro sa mukha dahil sa kung anong tumambad sa akin.

Nanlalaking mata na nilapitan ko ang kulungan at siniguradong totoo ang nakikita ko. May Itlog dito na hindi normal ang laki at kakaiba pa ang shell nito. Para itong may kaliskis ngunit halata dito na napaka-kinis nito kung hahawakan. Fudge? Paano nagkaroon nang ganito kalaking itlog dito? Imposible namang galing ito doon sa inahin e kakatapos niya pa lang mangitlog, mga ilang araw pa bago siya mangitlog ulit.

I removed the gloves I was wearing before touching it because it was embarrassing to touch it with feces because of its smoothness and the very white of the Egg. I don't know why but I smiled when I touched the Egg. It was warm in my hands and its smoothness was really even as if it had no irregularities even if it was made of scales carved into a shell.

Napa-tigil ang pag-sipat ko dito nang may panibagong liwanag naman ang lumitaw sa harap ko mismo. Hindi ko na nagawang magulat dahil sa hawak kong Itlog, baka kasi mabitawan ko ito at mabasag. Sayang naman, marami ang maluluto nito pagnagkataon.

Imbis na gulat ang rumehistro sa mukha ko ay pagkamangha ang naramdaman ko dahil sa paglitaw ng isang babaeng naka-ngiti sa akin. Nakakamangha rin ang itsura niya.

"Hi, Rose Ann." Sambit nito.

She's so white! As in! Napaka-puti niya at halos kasing puti niya na ang snow. Her hair is also white, blue eyes, a perfectly sculpted nose, deep red lips.

Shocks, ang ganda ng babaeng 'to! Albino ba 'tong isang ito? Hindi normal ang itsura niya lalo pa't ang suot nitong dress na sumasayad sa lupa ay parang victorian style.

I'm not good at describing pero she looks so magical. Para siyang galing sa libro ng fairy tale. Idagdag pa ang grand entrance niya na hindi kayang ipaliwanag ng science. Tapos alam pa niya ang pangalan ko-------wait what?

"Kilala mo ako?" I asked curiously. Ngumiti naman siya at tumango. Sheez, ang ganda rin ng ngiti niya at ng ngipin niya, huhu.

"Simula pagka-bata ay kilala na kita Rose Ann." Sagot nito habang humakbang pa-lapit sa akin. Para naman akong natuod at hindi man lang nagawang umatras. She's still a stranger to me kaya baka kung anong gawin niya sa akin. Malay ko ba kung stalker ko siya o ano.

"Excuse me but who are you?" Kaagad na tanong ko sa kaniya nang akmang hahakbang pa siya papalapit sa akin.

"White. I am Goddess White." Sagot niya na ikina-laki ng mata ko. Ano daw? Goddess?

"Goddess? Are you kidding me? Mas maniniwala pa ako kung sasabihin mong diwata ka pero Goddess? Nah." Umi-iling-iling na sagot ko.

"I'm not forcing you to believe me." Sagot niya at nabaling ang tingin niya sa hawak ko.

"Alam mo ba kung ano 'yang hawak mo?" Tanong nito sa akin kaya napa-taas naman ang kilay ko.

"Of course yes, itlog 'to." Sagot ko.

"Yes, that's an Egg. But do you know what kind of Egg is that?" Tanong ulit niya kaya napa-isip ulit ako.

"Hmm. Sa laki ng itlog na ito ay posibleng itlog siya ng Ostrich pero dahil sa mga ukit-ukit sa shell niya ay hindi ko na alam. Ngayon lang ako naka-kita ng ganitong klaseng itlog sa buong buhay ko." Sagot ko. Napa-ngiti naman siya at inangat ang kamay para himasin din ang itlog na hawak ko.

"Would you believe me if I say that this Egg is a Dragon Egg?" Tanong nito na ikina-taas ng kilay ko.

"Hindi. As far as I know, dragons are just mythical creatures na hindi nag-e-exist sa mundo." Sagot ko. Kagaya n'ong nababasa ko sa w*****d. They are not real in reality but real in our imagination.

"As expected. But no, you're wrong. Isa nga itong Itlog ng Dragon." Naka-ngiting sagot niya pero bakas ang kaseryosohan sa boses.

"How can you say so?" Hamon na tanong ko sa kaniya. Nakakaramdam na ako ng kakaiba sa kalamnan ko, sheez chill ka kang self! Baka umasa ka lang sa wala.

"Because I'm the one who's protecting it along with the other Dragons Eggs." Sagot nito na ikina-laki na ng mata ko.

"Tell me, you're just making fun of me, right? It can't be true! They are not real!" Kaila ko pa rin kahit nanginginig na ang kamay ko habang hawak ang Dragon Egg daw. Fudge. I think I'm hyperventilating for Pete's sake!

"Calm down Rose Ann. What I said is true, the other four Dragon Egg was already distributed to their new Master or their new owner with the help of the other Gods and Goddesses." Sagot niya. Para na akong sasabog dahil sa halo-halong emosyon. F-fudge? Totoo ba talaga ang sinasabi siya? Am I really holding a Dragon Egg?! A f*****g Dragon Egg?!

"So it means... I am the new Master of this Dragon?" Bakas ang excitement sa boses na tanong ko. Nakita ko ang pag-bago ng hilatsa ng mukha niya kaya napa-kunot ang noo ko.

"I'm sorry Rose Ann. What I said was true, that's really a Dragon Egg... but......there is no Dragon inside of it." Tila gumuho ang mundo ko dahil sa huling sinabi niya.

W-what the actual fudge?

"What the chicken are you talking about? Why did you call this a Dragon Egg if there's no Dragon inside of it?!" Bakas ang inis na tanong ko.

"I'm sorry to ruin your mood pero wala talagang lamang Dragon ang itlog na 'yan. Pero... may bagay na nasa loob niyan na pareho ang katumbas sa mga Dragon. It can help to make the Dragons unite... again." Sagot niya na ikina-tingin ko lang sa kaniya. Wala na, nawala na ang interes ko dito dahil sa sinabi niya. Akala ko pa naman makaka-hawak na ako ng Dragon. Tsk.

"So what do you want me to do with this?" Tanong ko at itinaas ang Itlog gamit ang isang kamay. Wala na akong paki-alam kung mahulog at mabasag ito, wala namang dragon sa loob nito so what for?

"Please be careful on holding that. That is also important Rose Ann." Bakas ang pag-aalala sa boses nito kaya pa-irap na ibinaba ko ito at pinakita na hawak ko na ito nang dalawang kamay.

"Whatever." Mahinang bulong ko. Napa-hinga naman siya nang malalim dahil sa reaksyon ko.

She just ruined my mood!

"You need to go home and show it to your grandma, alam niya na ang gagawin diyan." Sagot niya kaya napa-kunot ang noo ko.

"Ano namang kinalaman ng Lola ko dito?" Taas kilay na tanong ko sa kaniya.

"I think sa kaniya mo na lang malalaman kung ano iyon. Sa ngayon ay kailangan ko na munang umalis, don't worry we will meet again. Soon. Bye for now Rose Ann. Please protect that no matter what, and please... be careful." Sinserong sambit nito bago tuluyang nilamon ulit ng liwanag kagaya kanina.

Balewalang nilagay ko ito sa basket nang mga itlog at naglakad na paalis doon. Kailangan ko munang i-uwi ito dahil baka balikan ako ng Goddess na 'yon. Malapit lang ang subdivision namin sa poultry nila Tito kaya mabilis lang akong naka-uwi.

When I entered the house, Lola was not there. I went around the house but she was not there so I just went to the bedroom and laid the Egg on the bed surrounded by a blanket. Maybe it will roll and get cracking, the Goddess will blame me for that.

I stared at it for a while before leaving it.

I immediately went back to the poultry because I didn't want to lose the fight with my cousins. I'll take care of that Egg later since Goddess White said that Lola knows what to do about it. As if Lola could do something about that, hindi nga 'yon naniniwala sa aswang, sa Dragon pa kaya?

I got busy getting the eggs again until we finished and I was the winner. The two are already full of wounds so I have the last laugh this time.

Not just in Dragon, tsk.