A Shadow of an Illusion

Chapter 29

Menrui’s Point of View

Isang araw na ang nakalipas magmula no’ng nakita ko si Helix sa loob ng gubat na ‘yon. Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin malaman kung bakit siya naroroon at higit sa lahat, hindi ko pa rin maisip kung bakit bigla siyang umalis nang wala man lang pasabi.

I mean, he really said that he needed to do something, but I felt like something was wrong with that. Kasi kung hindi naman siya sang-ayon sa plano na sinabi ko sa kaniya, sasabihin niya naman iyon nang diretso sa akin, hindi ba?

Knowing him, and his attitude that is, he would immediately say if he is against it or not. That is how he is, but yesterday, he was like a very different person than the Helix that I know, and I am sure that in a short period of time that I am not in our world, he will not change that much.

“Something was really odd with him,” I mumbled to myself as I crossed my arms thinking of any possible reason why Helix did something like that.

Come think of it. Nag-iba ‘yong tono niya no’ng sinabi ko sa kaniya na gusto kong baguhin ang plano namin. Para siyang galit na hindi ko maintindihan. It seems like his tone got cold, and to think that I never heard him like that, I don’t know what to say anymore. But somehow, somehow, he really sounds so scary when he said that he needed to do something and then suddenly, he just disappeared.

“Something is really not right,” I whispered to myself again as I continued to gaze at the scenery outside my window.

At kailangan kong malaman kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari sa kaniya, dahil pagkatapos naming mag-usap sa gubat na ‘yon, sinubukan ko siyang hanapin pero hindi ko siya mahanap sa kahit saang parte ng gubat na maaari niyang puntuhan.

Sigurado rin ako na hindi siya gumamit ng portal dahil alam ko at mararamdaman ko iyon kung gagamitin man niya ang portal papunta sa mundo namin. It feels like he just vanished in the thin air, just like how his magic works that is.

Kaya naman alam ko na naririto pa rin siya sa mundong ito hanggang ngayon. And somehow, it felt like I was obligated to find him because if I don’t, something bad might happen in this world. Kahit na wala namang kasiguraduhan sa feeling ko na ‘yon, malakas pa rin ang kutob ko na may mangyayari kung hindi ko agad siya mahahanap.

But one question is left in my mind: Paano ko naman kaya mahahanap ang isang taong ayaw magpahanap. I mean, I spent my whole day yesterday finding him, but I did not even had a chance to catch a glimpse of him. Hindi ko na nga rin nagawan ng paraan para maka-usap ko si Elysium dahil na-occupy ang isip ko nang dahil kay Helix.

Kahit ngayon, siya pa rin ang inaaalala ko kahit na mas marami pa akong kailangang isipin. Maybe I should stop thinking of him for now and focus on my other goals. I can just find him tomorrow, or maybe a day after that, so that I can confirm what just happened or maybe, I will be able to know what he wanted to do in this world.

After all, he is one of the suspects that betrayed the gods and goddesses, and because of what he did yesterday, kahit na ayaw kong isipin ang bagay na ‘yon, mas naghinala pa ako sa kung ano ba talaga ang ginagawa niya sa mundong ito.

“You were mumbling to yourself for almost an hour now, milady, and I am getting scared.” Narinig kong sabi ng pamilyar na boses ng babae sa likuran ko.

Napatingin ako sa direksiyon niya at napangiti nang pilit sa kaniya. “Hemera,” I greeted her.

Napa-buntong hininga siya bago lumapit sa akin at umupo sa katabing upuan ng kinauupuan ko ngayon. She looked straight into my eyes and asked, “Do you have another problem again? Do I have to give you some advice again?”

Ngumiti ulit ako sa kaniya at umiling bilang pagtanggi sa sinabi niya. “No, it is nothing, really,” I answered her question.

After all, wala pang nakaaalam, maliban sa amin ni Elysium, na may traydor sa parte namin. At kung sasabihin ko sa kaniya na naghihinala ako kay Helix, siguradong maiisip niya agad na may isang traydor sa mga god at goddess na kasama ko.

Hindi ko pwedeng hayaan na malaman niya iyon, o ng kahit sino na naririto sa loob ng palasyo, dahil sigurado akong magkakagulo na naman ang lahat. SIgurado akong mag-aaway-away lang ang mga kasama namin at hindi pwedeng mangyari iyon.

Kaya nga ako nagplano na hikayatin sila na kayang magbago ni Cynth para wala nang kailangan pang mag-sakripisyo, kaya bakit ko gagawin ang bagay na alam kong magiging dahilan para maglaban-laban ang lahat? Bakit ako gagawin ang isang bagay na maaaring maging dahilan para magka-watak-watak kaming lahat?

I promised to myself that I would do anything that I could so that we could save everyone in this world, without anyone sacrificing their lives that is, that is why I will never tell them this even if it kills me.

I saw Hemera’s brows raised, and I know that she did not believe me that it was nothing, but to my relief, she just let me go as she sighed and dismissed that topic. Mukhang may iba pa siyang pakay kaya siya nandito sa kwarto ko, pero hindi pa rin ako nagsalita at hinayaan siyang sabihin ang dahilan kung bakit siya naririto.

“Nevermind that,” she said then she sighed again as if she have a problem. “Actually I am here because I wanted to tell you something, but I am afraid that you might hate me if you will find out about it.”

Napa-kunot naman ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Nagtataka ako kung ano ang bagay na sinasabi niya dahil para talaga siyang problemado ngayon. There is only way to find out though, I need to ask her.

“What is it?” I asked her and I still have a frown on my face.

“I told them about your problem,” she said that made me stop and looked down on my lap.

Alam ko na sina Helios at Fawn ang tinutukoy niyang pinagsabihan niya ng problema ko. After all, the three of them were the only one who were so close with one another inside this palace, that is why I do not have to think thoroughly on who was just talking about.

“You did.” i did not bother to look at her, afraid of whatever she would say to me.

“Yes,” she said and then she started to explain things. “Kaya rin ako naririto, dahil gusto ka nilang maka-usap para sa mga susunod na plano mo, milady.” That was the time that I looked at her.

Gulat akong nakatingin sa kaniya dahil hindi ko akalain na iyon ang sasabihin niya. I thought that they will get angry, but it seems like they still wanted to follow my plan, even if I really wanted to change it. Or maybe, I just misheard what she just said.

“What did you just say?” tanong ko sa kaniya para i-kumpirma kung tama ba ang narinig ko o hindi, pero nagulat ako nang makita ko na ngumiti siya sa akin.

“We still wanted to follow your plans, milady,” she said with a smile on her face. “Kahit na ano pa ang plano mo, kahit na gusto mong baguhin ang mga nauna nating mga plano, mas pipiliin pa rin namin na sundan ka at suportahan ka sa mga plano mo.”

“Hemera.”

That is all that I could say because I am really speechless right now. Hindi ko akalain na hanggang dito ay susundan pa rin nila ako kahit na hindi naman talaga nila kailangang gawin ‘yon. After all, I am just nothing to them, even if I am a goddess that is, and they are following their Royal Family’s commands that’s why they do not have any reason to follow me anymore if I decided to change my plan.

“That is our decision, milady.” She still had that smile on her face, and she even reached out on my hand so that she could squeeze it. “Alam namin na kahit ano man ang plano mong gawin, iyon ay ang mas makabubuti para sa mga tao rito. I know how selfless your are, milady. That is why I know that you are thinking of the people’s safety first before anything else.”

Hindi ko pa rin alam ang sasabihin ko kaya mas pinili ko na lang na manahimik at isipin kung papayag ba talaga sila sa plano na naisip ko.

Pero sinabi naman nila na susundin nila ang plano ko kahit na ano pa ‘yon, hindi ba? Kaya naman mas malaki ang chance na papayag sila at susuportahan ako sa mga plano kong gawin, hindi ba?

They will not act like Helix that just suddenly disappeared without telling me what was his opinion about the matter, right? Tama. Hindi naman sila katulad ni Helix na bigla-bigla na lamang nag-iba no’ng matapos kong sabihin sa kaniya ang plan ko.

With that thought in my mind, I looked straight into her eyes and asked, “Nasaan sila? Para naman maka-usap ko na sila at masabi ang plano ko.”

I saw how Hemera’s smile widen and then she stood up as she said, “Follow me, milady. Nasa hide out sila at hinihintay kang makapunta roon.”

Napa-kunot ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi niya. “Magkasama kayong tatlo kanina?”

Tumango si Hemera sa akin. “Yes. In fact, I just told them earlier about everything that you have told me these past few days.”

Napailing na lang ako dahil sa sinabi niya at sinundan siya nang tahimik.

Kagaya ng dati naming ginagawa, nang makita namin na malapit na kami sa labas ng palasyo, nag-enchant si Hemera ng magic spell para walang makapansin kung saan kami pupunta. I even strengthen the spell that she made so that no one could really notice us.

Makalipas lamang ng ilang mga minuto, nasa ‘hide out’ na agad kami. Agad ko ring nakita sina Helios at Fawn na nag-uusap, or should I say nagtatalo, sa receiving area ng ‘bahay’ na ito.

“You should stop bickering, you two.” Pagsaway ni Hemera sa kanilang dalawa no’ng makapasok siya sa loob ng ‘bahay’ na ‘yon. “Nandito na si Lady Menrui. Mahiya naman kayo at ngayon niyo pa naisipang magtalo.”

Iginaya niya ako paupo sa isa sa mga single sofa na naroroon kaya naman agad akong pumunta roon at naupo. Si Hemera naman ay patuloy pa rin sa pagsaway sa dalawang kani-kanina lang ay nagtatalo pero ngayon ay tahimik na para bang nakikinig talaga sila sa sinabi ni Hemera, kahit na nakikita ko naman na hindi talaga dahil nagsisikuhan sila na parang nagtuturuan kung sino ang may kasalanan kung bakit nangyari ito.

“Ano na naman ba ang pinag-aawayan niyon ngayon, ha?” tanong ni Hemera sa kanilang dalawa na naging dahilan para mapatingin silang dalawa kay Hemera. “At bakit ba sa tuwing makikita ko kayong dalawa, nag-aaway kayo, ha?”

Walang nagsalita sa dalawang pinapagalitan niya at nagpatuloy pa rin sila sa pagtuturuan kung sino nga ba ang may gawa at naabutan namin silang dalawa na nag-aaway dito.

“Ano?” tanong ni Hemera na kahit ako ay medyo natakot na rin sa kaniya. “Walang magsasalita sa inyong dalawa?” paghahamon niyang sabi kaya naman napailing ako.

At para na rin hindi na mag-away-away pa ‘yong tatlo, at para na rin hindi na magkagulo pang muli ‘yong dalawa, at isama na rin si Hemera, napagdesisyunan ko na sawayin na lang silang tatlo at simulan na ang pag-uusap naming lahat.

“You should stop it,” sabi ko sa kanilang tatlo na naging dahilan para mapatingin silang tatlo sa akin. “Baka mag-away-away na naman kayo dahil dito.”

Sabay-sabay naman silang napayuko at nagsabi ng, “I’m sorry, milady, we will not do it anymore,” kaya naman napailing na lang ako at hindi na nagsalita pa.

Makalipas ang ilan pang mga minuto na tahimik na silang tatlo at mukhang naghihintay na lang ng sasabihin ko, napagdesisyunan ko na magsalita na kung ano ba talaga ang plano ko.

I looked at the three of them and then I took a deep breath. “Alam ko na alam niyo na kung ano ang nangyari nitong mga nakaraang araw,” I started to tell them.

Nagkatinginan naman sina Helios at Fawn bago sila sabay na tumango sa akin. Hemera, on the other hand, just kept on gazing at me as if she was intently listening every words that I will say, so I started to tell them my new plan so that this world can be free in no time.

“I have thought of a plan that does not recquire anyone to sacrifice. It can also be used so that we could stop a war that we know will happen anytime soon if I complete my mission.” I looked at the three of them and I could see that they were listening intently to every word that I said.

Kaya ko ‘to, kung papayag sila agad, I can have someone to persuade the others that could tell them that Cynth can go back to the way he was, or much better if he will change for the better. Mas marami ang maniniwala na hindi na namin kailangan pang makipaglaban para lang sa kalayaan ng buong mundo.

“My plan is to help Erebus to change,” sabi ko sa kaniya at nakita ko ang kaguluhan sa mga mukha nila kaya naman mas minabuti ko na sabihin pa sa kanila ang nasa isip ko. “Alam ko na hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman niyo na nagbabago na si Erebus ngayon, hindi ba?” I asked them.

“Yes, milady.” Si Hemera ang sumagot sa katanungan ko kaya naman napatango ako sa kaniya.

“And I tried to open up the topic to him,” I said that made their eyes widen in shock, but I still kept on going. “And he said that it will not be easy, but he will try.”

“Do you think that he can really change?” Helios asked and I could hear doubt on his voice. “I mean, yes, base sa sinasabi nina Fawn at Hemera sa akin, nagbabago na talaga ang pag-uugali niya at hindi na kagaya ng dati, pero sa tingin niyo ba ganoon na lang kadali para sa kaniya na iwanan ang buhay na siya mismo ang gumawa?”

“I agreed to what Helios had said, milady.” This time, it was Fawn who talked about his opinion. “I saw how much he changed these past few days because of you, but I do not think that he can easily let go of his life. Alam ko na nagbabago na siya, pero sa tingin ko, hindi agad niya basta-basta bibitiwan ang mga lugar na sinakop niya,” he added.

Hemera does not talk but I saw that she nodded her head at me as if telling me that I should go on and tell them what I have in mind in order to persuade them that we can really change Cynth. Tumango rin ako sa kaniya at nagsimula muling magsalita.

“I know that it will be hard,” I told them as I did not look away from them. “But I have something in my mind so that we can really prove that he can change for the better version of him.”

“What is it, milady?” Hemera finally talked and asked me that question.

“Gusto kong sabihin sa kaniya na pakawalan ang mga nakakulong sa dungeon.” I could see frown on their faces and i know that they were having a hard time believing that Cynth can really do that.

“Do you really think that he can do that?” Helios asked and I know tha he still have a doubt that Cynth can do that.

“That is why I will try it now,” sabi ko sa kanila. Akmang tututol pa sila pero hindi ko sila hinayaang magsalita. “I know it will be hard but we have to do something so that we can prove that he can really change.”

“Lady Menrui is right,” sabi ni Hemera kaya napatingin kami sa kaniya. “Kung wala tayong gagawin para mapatunayan na kaya niyang magbago, hindi natin malalaman kung totoo ba iyon o hindi.”

Nagkatinginan sina Helios at Fawn dahil sa sinabi ni Hemera bago ulit nila itinuon ang atensiyon nila sa akin at tumango.

“Then we trust you that you can succeed this plan, milady,” sabi ni Fawn sa akin.

“If this will really work, then we don’t have to go to war anymore,” pagsang-ayon naman ni Helios na lubos kong ikinatuwa.

“Then we should go and find him now, milady.” Tumingin ako kay Hemera at tumango,

Pagkatapos no’n, umalis na kami ni Hemera sa lugar na iyon para hanapin si Cynth. Si Fawn naman ay nagpaiwan para hindi pa rin makahalata ang mga tauhan ni Cynth na may binabalak kaming gawin.

Kapapasok ko pa lang ng palasyo pero agad na akong sinalubong ni Cynth ng yakap. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero agad kong hinaplos ang likod niya na para bang pinapakalma ko siya dahil nararamdaman ko na may mali sa kaniya.

I could see that Hemera got shock but did not react to what she just saw. Nanatili lang siyang nakatingin sa aming dalawa ni Cynth.

“Everyone thinks that I cannot change,” he whispered to me that made my heart ache because of the sadness in his voice. “They think that I cannot go back to my normal life.”

Hinagod ko ang likod niya bago ako kumawala sa yakap niya at tinitigan siya. “If they cannot believe in what you said, then show them, Cynth. Show them that you can really change yourself.”

Kumunot ang noo niya at nagtanong, “How?”

I looked at Hemera for a second before I looked at Cynth again.

“Free everyone that you imprisoned in the dungeon.”