The Nobles

Chapter 1

SHE, whose spirit was sealed in the urn; opened her eyes again, accidentally released by the miners digging for treasures. Her shrine underground that was untouched for hundred of years found by humans who now dominated the modern world.

Walang nakapansin sa paglalakad niya sa pusod ng mga nagmimina ng tanso. Isang kumpas lang ng kaniyang kamay, tulad na rin ng kasuotan ng minero ang damit na suot niya. Kaya't kung madaanan man siya ng tingin ng mga ito, walang pagtataka sa kanilang mukha.

Nilabas niya ang kwebang pinasok ng mga tao. Nalanghap niyang muli ang hangin, sandaling pinikit ang mga mata para damdamin ito, ang amoy ng mundong matagal nang hindi niya naramdaman at nasilayan.

She can tell how the world had changed. Ilang taon na nga ba mula noong huli niyang tapak sa lupa? Ilang taon na nga ba nang huli siyang lumipad kalapit ang mga ulap? Hindi niya na mabilang.

A swift motion of her hand, she was sent to a place she never knew. Puno ng mga gusali, mga bagay na hindi niya maintindihan. Napakaraming tao, maingay, at may mga makinang umaandar.

For hundred of years, the humans indeed grown. Sa mga alaala niya, pinakamababa ang mga tao sa lahat, ngayon ay sila na ang pinakamalago at naninirahan sa mundo.

Naglakad pa siya kung saang direksyon nagtutungo ang ilang tao. Nabangga siya ng ilan sa pagmamadali. Her expressions never changed. Even though its been years, she is still poor on giving expressions. She's always calm, always preserve.

"Sorry, Miss!" Said by the passerby that unintentionally bumped her shoulders.

Nagpatuloy lang siya sa paglalakad, ilang sandali, sa gitna ng kumpol ng mga tao, naramdaman niya ang malakas ngunit pamilyar na presensya.

The moment the time stopped, she knew it was him. It is one of his well known power that she felt, among the likes of them.

One man who stands out among the crowd, walks towards her, full of elegance and grace.

Nakarating ito sa harap niya, agad silang yumuko sa isa't isa bilang paggalang.

"It's been hundred of years, Lady Adelaide." The humble King of the Nobles greet.

His appearance never changed, Adelaide noticed. Handsome as ever.

"Your Excellency, I am honored you made time to see me moving in this world again."

Umangat ang kamay nito upang haplusin ang kaniyang pisngi. It was a soft touch, but she can feel his overwhelming power.

"I can't believe you were released after the years you've been sealed. I immediately felt your presence and power."

Although her expression didn't change, he can read what she feels. She knew that.

"I am grateful that you meet me here yourself, Your Highness."

The side of his lips lifted slightly, "Lady Adelaide, you are the strongest Noble, how can I not bring myself to you? There are some who are still waiting for your appearance again."

Memories rushed in her mind. Truly, there are Nobles who will be delighted by the news of her released. Ilang Nobles ang agad pumasok sa kaniyang isipan.

The long wait is over, my treasured Nobles.

"I will wait for your visit on Nobilis, Lady Adelaide. I will leave now to give you time with your ever loyal right hand."

The King of Nobles vanished after that. The time started ticking again. And just like what he mentioned, another Noble made his way in front of her for the second time after the King.

Isang malaking ngiti ang sinalubong sa kaniya ni Claudius Aeneas Lawyart, ang kaniyang kanang kamay noon, at nananatili hanggang sa kasalukuyan.

"I knew it was you whom I felt, My Lady." Teary eyed, Claudius Aeneas bow in front of her.

Pinagtitinginan sila ng ilang taong dumaraan. Ilang sasakyan ang bumusina, Claudius Aeneas who already cope up with the technology invented by humans lead her to an empty alley.

"Masaya akong makita kang muli, aking Binibini." Claudius Aeneas never stopped voicing out his overwhelming happiness.

"Hindi ako nagsawa sa paghihintay, alam kong darating ang araw na ito."

Claudius Aeneas assist her to the directions. She's not good with it, and with her trust always full for him, she's following his way.

"I know they will be happy seeing you again. Nawala ang koneksyon ko sa kanilang apat sa mga nagdaang taon, ngunit alam kong magkakaisa ulit sila para paglingkuran ka, aking Binibini."

Naalala niya ang apat na Noble na iyon. Few of the Nobles she fully gave her trust aside from the King and her right hand.

"Claudius Aeneas, I meet His Excellency."

He stiffened as he heard her voice for the first time after years again. She was never a talker, and she will never be.

"My lady..." He cough a bit, "A-ah, the King will never waste a chance to see you and notice your presence."

Isang tango ang naging tugon niya pabalik. Napangiti si Claudius Aeneas sa hindi mapagkakailang mga aksyon niya, tandang hindi siya nagbago kahit dumaan man ang ilang daang taon.

Their exceptional speed brought them in front of a huge mansion. She can already feel and see the vibe her right hand man always project. Looks like she's not the only one who's not changed through the years.

"I own this whole village, My Lady. In memory that you will need a home someday."

She mumbled a quiet "thank you." The gate suddenly opened in their presense, she thought, maybe, it can detect powers.

Her right hand, Claudius Aeneas probably notice her stare at the gate, he cough again, realizing something, "A-ah, it was an automatic gate, invented by humans, My lady."

Slightly embarrassed, she just walked passed him. May mga halaman, at ilang makina na malaki na naman siyang nakita. Ilang beses napapaubo si Claudius sa likod niya habang siya ay nawiwili sa pagtingin sa mga bagay na bago sa kaniyang paningin.

"I still remember the same reaction I have years ago." Claudius whispered, but she clearly heard it.

"It was my cars, a vehicle, it is moving, my Lady."

Cars... She thought. Many strange things indeed greeted her after her wake.

Sa pagpasok sa loob ng mansion, hindi maipagkakaila ang magandang pagkakagawa at laki nito. Ngunit malayong malayo sa kung anong mayroon noon. Hindi niya maisip na sa tagal noon, sobrang dami nang nagbago.

"Claudius." She called him.

"Yes, my lady." Nataranta itong pumunta sa harapan niya. Tulad pa rin dati, he is always attentive to her.

"I wanted to cook."

She doesn't know why Claudius' face paled, back then, they were so happy whenever she cooks for them. She wonder what changed.

"Lady..." A cough again. She think, he's sick, but a Noble like them are rarely ill.

Her eyes are questioning him, he looked away. Frustrated at something, Claudius just sigh and lead her way to the kitchen.

And now that she's here, she understand his reaction. She's staring blankly in front of a rectangle thing she's not familiar about. There are also weird things that are probably tools for cooking. Only few are familiar to her.

Claudius Aeneas faked a laugh while nervously watching her staring at the strange thing.

"I think I should cook for the both of us, my lady."

She nodded at his suggestion. Sa huli, nanood lang siya habang kumikilos ang kaniyang kanang kamay. Claudius Aeneas is as graceful as ever. Isang katangiang hindi mawawala sa kaniya.

Matapos nitong magluto ng hindi rin pamilyar na pagkain, inilapag nito ang pagkain sa kaniyang harap.

"That's Adobo, a Filipino dish." Tumango siya at tinikman ito. It was delicious, just as expected from him. Laging kapag ito ang nagluluto para sa kaniya, wala siyang masasabi.

Matapos doon, they went to what he called his "sala." She sat in a soft chair, with pillows, and in front of them is another weird rectangle material. He said it was a television, when someone suddenly appeared in the television she readied her hand to release a power to kill the trespasser, but he immediately caught her hand. Nanlalaki ang mata nito.

"My lady! That... that was normal." At nagsimula ang matagal na paliwanag nito sa kaniya. Hindi niya man lubos na maunawaan, tumango na lamang siya.

Natahimik ang paligid nang magsalita ang tao sa telebisyon. Maraming tao ang nabalitaang nawawala, ito ang sabi. Claudius Aeneas suddenly turn serious, real serious. She knew, there is something else.

"What is it?" She asked while continuously watching.

"Not only humans have grown through the years, my lady. Even the half bloods. There was a treaty between the three races, but I doubt if the half bloods are taking it seriously. Many are missing and dead everywhere."

The half bloods... born because of the mating of humans and Nobles. She thought. How did they maintain the growing population? She wonder.

They are Nobles, those who are born higher than any creature living in their world. Whose powers are greater, but there are only few of them living in this world.

Humans have now dominated the world, they are the weakest among the three races. Always vulnerable and fearful. But they are wise, and they are the best in terms of surviving.

However, there are the half bloods, who are born in between, part human, part Noble. They have the tiniest population back then because humans and Nobles rarely mate, so it was such a news that they have grown larger than normal. How did they manage to evolve so fast, that's her question.

"They have been so aggressive through the years. They harmed a lot of humans, killed tons of them."

She clench her fist as she heard that. From then and now, half bloods are still their greatest Nemesis.

CLAUDIUS AENEAS wished he knew what she is thinking. Ramdam niya ang hindi mapagkakailang galit ng kaniyang pinaglilingkuran. His lady prefer to be calm, but she really has a soft side for the weak. She can't tolerate humans losing their lives because of greed.

He still can't believe that she's already here, after all those years. Biglang isang araw, naramdaman niya ang pagbukas ng selyo at ang presensya nito. It was like a dream, he wonder if he'll wake up and be slapped by reality. Ilang beses niyang pinadugo ang kaniyang daliri patago, ngunit totoo nga. Nandito na siya. The only Noble he will serve.

But s**t, he's really nervous how he will make her understand a lot of things about technology, especially things that changed. She is... as ignorant as him when he decided to live here years ago.

He is not good at teaching, how will he make her understand immediately? He don't want her to look like a fool in front of humans, he thought.

What if... Tumingin siyang mabuti sa kaniyang pinaglilingkuran bago umiling at bumuntong hininga.

Dang! Hindi pwede ang naiisip niya, she's thousand of years old to attend school. Pero, kahit ganoon, mukha pa rin itong tulad ng mga dalagang tao.

"Say it." Bahagya siyang napatalon nang magsalita ito sa kalagitnaan nang pakikipagtalo niya sa sarili niya.

"Well, uh, my lady, I wonder if you would like to attend school of humans." He smiled a little, "I think it will help you a lot to cope up." Napakamot siya ng batok niya, hindi alam kung dapat pa bang may idagdag.

"Okay." It was all she said but it truly made him happy. She's just like before, full of trust on him, on them. She's always letting them decide especially when they are thinking about the best for her.

It's an honor, to be trusted by the strongest Noble, by their protector. She's timid, almost expressionless, but Claudius Aeneas can easily read, when she's grateful, annoyed, or mad. He knows well how to handle someone whose power is as tremendous as her.

At school, after all the trouble of enrolling Lady Adelaide, they are here. Nakasuot ito ng uniporme na katulad sa ibang babae. Kitang kita niya ang angat ng itsura nito sa iba, kaya't kinakabahan siya dahil ayaw nitong masyadong tinitingnan, hindi niya tuloy alam kung nilagay niya ba sa peligro ang buhay niya. He don't want to anger her.

He carefully hold the umbrella afraid the rays of the sun might touch her skin. Tulad ng nakasanayan.

"This is a noisy place." Humangin ng malakas. Pekeng natawa si Claudius Aeneas, naramdaman ang lamig.

Patay...

Tumawa ulit siya ng peke, "Maiwan na kita, my lady. Enjoy your day, always remember the things I have told you."

Agad agad siyang tumakbo papunta sa kotse at umalis, saka lang siya nakahinga ng maluwag nang makalayo.