The Underworld Prince Next Door

CHAPTER 32

Hundreds of millions years ago. There are only one realm in the world. There is no races, no inequalities, no unfairness and no violence. It may be called as a paradise to every creatures living at that age.

But nothing will last forever.

Because of greed and pride, the united realm spit into three. The Mortal Realm, Underworld or Nether Realm, and the Heaven or Supreme Realm.

Amongst the three, the only realm who have more survivors are the Mortal Realm. The second from the highest are the Nether Realm. And the least yet powerful race of all are the Supreme Realm.

But, despite of their numbers, the mortal races have short lives than the two realms that considered as the Immortal Realm.

One year in Mortal Realm is equivalent to one day in both Immortal Realms.

The bloodlines of these races gave both advantages and disadvantages of both races.

If the mortal race have short life span compared to the two races, they obtained the majority of land the two races once have.

If the Nether races have the strength of gods, compared to the Supreme races, they became the number one race that is always being hunted because of the power of their blood.

And if the Supreme races have the most numbered ability and eternal life, they are bound to witness the other races fall with their loved ones below.

That is why the Supreme races have made a promise that they would not get involved in trivial issues of both races. But, it doesn't mean that they will not send any kind of help toward the party that is deserving to gain their help.

To make a balance toward the three races. The Nether King and Supreme King decided to grant the Mortal Realm an Immortal every one thousand years or every three years and three months of the Immortal Realm as their guardian and protector.

But the luck of the Human Immortal can only be determined by themselves. Their lifespan can be compared to a true Immortal. But on how can they managed to survive until the Supreme and Nether Realm decided for their ascension. This phenomenon was called, Fate of Immortal.

There is another fate that is compared to the Fate of Immortal is more rare and cannot be find every a thousand years. And that is the Fate of Phoenix.

Fate of Phoenix is the destiny wherein can only be seen every one hundred millions of years. In other words, the chances to produce it is one in a hundred million.

This fate is more valuable than the Immortals. Because this fate symbolizes the rebirth, and eternal life.

Rebirth for those who died and no chances to undergo reincarnation. They can even choose their own life as a bonus. But there is restriction in here. On what it might be is, no one knows but the fate bearer only.

Eternal life, this is only applicable to those bear its fate. What is the limitation might be, no one knows, too except for those fate bearer whom bodies died.

There are rumors that this fate has another mysterious ability. But whatever it is. The mystery of it will never be unveiled until the Jade Vermillion Phoenix fate-bearer ascended.

HARRIET'S POINT OF VIEW

Nang maramdaman ko ang kakaibang init sa katawan ko ng araw na iyon, agad akong gumawa ng isang barrier para mapigilan ang kapangyarihan na patuloy na dumadaloy sa katawan ko na makalabas at makasakit sa mga nagbabalak man na dumalaw. Isang barrier na hindi basta-basta masisira.

Nang matapos ko iyon, naging kampante na ako at nagsimulang mag-meditate sa gitna ng aking hardin.

May kalmadong puso at malinaw na isip. Pansamantala kong pinutol ang aking koneksyon sa mundo at itinuon ko ang aking atensyon sa enerhiya na patuloy na dumadaloy sa aking kaibuturan. Tila ba nasa gitna ako ng isang ipo-ipo. Hindi ako makaalis sa gitna.

Pilit kong inabot ang labas ng ipo-ipo ng enerhiya. Huminga ako ng malalim at inisip na isa lamang itong tubig na kaya kong kontrolin.

Sa wakas, sa ilang beses kong pagkakamali at pagkakalunod sa hindi masukat na enerhiya na nasa paligid ko. Nagawa kong kontrolin ito na para bang ito ay tubig na nakokontrol ko sa mundo.

Tumagal ang pagpapakalma ko dito ng permanente. Habang nangyayari iyon, unti-unti kong naramdaman ang kakaibang init sa katawan ko. Mas matindi iyon sa nadarama ko sa tuwing nagbabago ako ng anyo.

Hindi ako makahinga.

Dito na ba ako mamamatay?

Sa paglabo ng aking mga mata, nakita ko ang imahe ng mga taong malapit sa akin.

Si Master na kahit hindi ako tunay na anak, ay hindi ako pinabayaan at sinukuan. Nagsinungaling man siya sa tunay niyang pangalan o pagkatao, hindi ko maaatim na magalit sa kaniya kahit pa ayoko sa mga sinungaling na tao. Naiintindihan ko siya. At hindi magbabago ang pagtingin ko sa kaniya.

Si Crow na una kong naging kaibigan mula ng mamulat ako sa mundo. Hindi niya ako inwan at pinabayaan kahit pa hindi ko masuklian ang kaniyang nadarama para sa akin. Alam ko na hindi ko pa siya lubusang kilala, pero sapat na na siya si Crow na una kong nakilala sa trabaho. Alam ko na hindi ko pa siya lubusang kakilala, pero sapat ng hindi niya ako kailanman pinabayaan para paniwalaan ko ang mga sinasabi niya.

Si Dark na misteryoso sa umpisa pero mapagkalinga sa huli. Pinagbantaan man niya ang buhay ko, hindi ko magawang magalit. Alam ko na may mga dahilan ang bawat bagay na nangyayari kaya naman, sa likod ng takot na nadarama ko, patuloy ko pa rin siyang iniintindi.

Si Evans na nakilala ko lang matapos kong makatakas mula sa teritoryo ng Area 666. Sa likod ng kaniyang posisyon sa siyudad, hindi siya nag-atubili na lapitan ako at kaibiganin. Patuloy niya akong tinutulungan. Patuloy niya ring pinatutunayan ang kaniyang sarili sa akin. Hindi pa man ako handa sa mga ganitong bagay, hindi magbabago ang trato ko sa kaniya anuman ang mangyari.

Si Louie na naging ikatlo kong kaibigan bago si Evans. Kahit hindi ito pala-salita at pala-ngiti, sapat na ang kabaitan niya sa akin. Palagi niya akong binabantayan at pinoprotektahan sa mga panahon na wala si Evans. Hindi man sabihin ni Louie, alam ko sa aking sarili na masaya siya sa kung anuman ang nangyayari sa amin ng kaniyang Master, anuman iyon.

Si Steven naman na minsan ko lang makita dahil sa pagiging City Lord niya rin sa ibang area. Kahit hindi ko man siya palaging nakakausap, at nakakasama. Dahil kaibigan siya ni Evans, tinuring ko na siyang kaibigan ko na rin.

Silang lahat ang mga tao na gusto kong protektahan hanggang sa huli. Alam ko naman na mahirap sa tulad ko ang mamatay, pero hindi din ako sigurado kung hanggang kailan na lang din ako mabubuhay.

'Nahihirapan akong huminga. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang rito na lang ako. Ayoko pang sumuko. Kailangan pa nila ako. At, gusto ko pang makilala ang tunay na mga magulang ko! Ayoko! Hindi ako susuko! Hindi ito ang makakapigil sa akin na gawin ang mga nais ko!'

Mula sa ilalim ng ipo-ipo, pilit ko pa ding inaabot ang itaas. Hinihiling na sana, makaligtas ako at mabuhay matapos nito. Sa pagpikit ng aking mga mata, naramdaman ko na kumalma na ang kapaligiran. At sa pagmulat kong muli, bumungad sa akin ang isang babae na kahawig ko.

"Huwag kang matakot." Malumanay ang kaniyang tinig na nagpakalma sa akin.

Inabot niya ang akin kamay. Malamig iyon na para bang yelo sa lamig. Nanginig akong saglit pero agad din akong nakabawi. Maingat, dahan-dahan niya akong iniangat mula sa walang hanggang kadiliman na tanging ang malaking bola ng enerhiya ang nagpapaliwanag.

Nagpalinga-linga ako at nakitang kami lamang dalawa ang naroroon, nakalutang o kaya ay mas magandang sabihin kong, kami ay lumilipad.

"Sino ka? Bakit naririto ka?" Tanong ko sa kaniya.

"Ako ay ikaw. Ikaw ay ako. Sa mas madaling salita, iisa lang tayo." Sagot niya.

Lalo akong naguluhan. Alam kong simple at naiintindihan ko ang mga sinasabi niya. Pero, paano?

"Alam kong madami kang katanungan. Pero ang mga kasagutan sa mga iyan ay hahayaan kong ikaw ang tumuklas. Naririto ako para gabayan ka. Gagabayan kita sa huling hakbang mo bilang ang ikalawang Jade Vermillion Phoenix descendant."

"Huh?"

"Close your eyes and feel the essence of heaven and earth. The Mortal, Supreme and Nether Realm. The essence of people around you. The essence of the space, nature, animals and all the source of your power. Let that power be your wings that will guide you to fly up to the sky. Let the heat and cold enter your body like it is your blood. Let everyone, everything be a part of your flesh and soul."

Bawat salita niya ay sinunod ko na walang tanong-tanong. Unti-unting nilunod ako ng panibagong bugso ng enerhiya. Pero, sa halip na malunod at hindi makahinga sa pwersa, mas maluwag ang aking paghinga. Mas gumaan ang aking pakiramdam, mas luminaw ang aking puso't isipan. Ito na nga ba ang huling kabanata ng pagbabago ko? Kung ito man, aaminin kong, gusto ko pa.

Unti-unti ay lumabas ang isang pares ng mas malaki at kulay pilak at pulang mga pakpak sa aking likuran. Ang mahaba kong kulay pulang buhok ay nagbago't pumares sa aking buntot at pakpak. Umihip ang malakas na hangin sa aking kapaligiran.

Pero, bago ko pa man makita ang liwanag sa mundo, muli akong binalot ng kadiliman. Kadiliman na ni mumunting liwanag ay hindi ko makita. Kadiliman na napakalalim na hindi ko mawari ang distansya.

Hindi nagtagal ang kadilimang iyon na lubos kong pinasasalamatan. Ngunit sa hindi malamang dahilan, nagsimula ang liwanag na ipakita ang mga larawan na para bang ito ay mga alala.

Seven thousand mortal years ago, the two year old Princess Harriet was playing at the field with chrysanthemum her Queen mother Lisorette planted for her. She cheers and scream while having fun with the butterflies flying around, and her pet bunnies that are hopping around her. This sight is a scene Lisorette's heart feel an unexplainable joy.

Aside from her once in a hundred million years birth that carries the blood, body and Fate of Phoenix, this everyday scene of her one and only Princess are remarkable memories she will treasure the most.

Malik, on the other side feels the same way, too. He loves his daughter very much. He loves his son, Cairo. But his love toward his daughter can't be easily measured.

Cairo, who is the only Prince of the Supreme Realm dotes his little sister. He knows how rare it is to have a girl as offspring that's why he understand his parents so well. He inherited his father's black hair and his mother's silver and sharp eyes. Qualities every woman wishes to be his wife. But interfamily marriage is in their clan. Before Harriet managed to be engaged to the Third Nether Realm Prince, they are already married. The marriage that will strengthen their family bloodline and also to maintain the relationship between the two royal siblings.

He loves his sister so much that he made everything to protect her in the dark like the Fifth Underworld Prince do.

But, one day. After the five-year-old young Dark's visit, an envoy of Mortal Realm came and when he saw Harriet's face, he abducted it that Gail participated in the dark. Unfortunately, Joseph the Fifth Prince witnessed it all.

Then, the big wave of catastrophe finally befall to the Mortal Realm. And everything went blank.

Harriet's tears didn't stop for flowing down her cheek. Cairo who just arrived saw it and immediately kneeled down to dry his sister's tears. Lisorette and Malik felt a heavy weight on their heart was removed. Their Princess is finally healed.

Dark, her engaged second husband watched the siblings intimacy. He feel happy somehow that Harriet is finally free from the shackles of the dark of knowing nothing. He also feel joyful that Cairo, his best friend arrived in time.

Crow and Evans are puzzled. Crow do not know who Cairo is. While Evans felt his hope lessened. He didn't know really what is Cairo to Harriet, but he feel jealous.

Everything is finally going back in what they supposed to be.

But still lurking in the dark, the three jealous Nether Realm Princes still watched until Harriet finally opened her eyes.