Umbra and Lucem

Chapter 2

I can clearly hear the ticking of the clock. It's so loud, as if there's no chaos outside this room. I looked at Kare, I wondered what she's thinking. Will she sacrifice herself or is she relying on me? And why am I calling this a sacrifice? This is not a sacrifice, Adelad. Stop this nonsense. This is an honor to perform. Okay?

"We have to decide, Adelad," pagbabasag ni Kare ng katahimikan.

I looked at her with uncertainty. People outside are waiting for us, waiting for our answer. I know for certain that she doesn't want to perform it, neither do I! I don't want to give up my physical body!

"I don't want to. Natatakot ako. Hindi ko kaya,"

Lumapit siya sa akin sabay hawak sa mga kamay ko. "You can do it. I know you can. If I could perform it, you know I would! I'm pregnant, Adelad. I can't choose to do the ritual over Selo and this baby that I'm carrying!"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya, oh my god! I can't believe she's using the pregnant card! We both know that this is our responsibility! Why do I have to be the sacrificial lamb?!

Inalis ko ang pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko at lumayo sa kaniya. "I can't believe that you would go that far. Using your baby as an excuse?!"

"I could have miscarriage if I do the ritual and you know that, Adelad! Hindi ko 'to ginagawa para sa sarili ko lang! I'm thinking about my baby's safety! Your niece!"

"Please do the Ascending. I'm begging," she added while caressing her bump.

I looked away and tried to stop myself from crying. Am I being selfish? Am I? Am I the asshole here for looking for myself? To worry for myself? Ayoko lang naman maranasan 'to, ayokong mag take risk. But in order for me to do that, Kare would have to do the ritual-- jeopardizing her pregnancy and If she loses the baby, that's on me.

"I can't risk my soul and body,"

There was a pause between us before she decided to push it all to the limit. "We both know that's not the real reason why you don't want to do it. You better move forward, Adelad. It's been ages,"

Wow. She's really using everything she knows about me. Why bother arguing with someone who uses your past to make you do something she wants?

The quarrel hasn't even started yet, but I already lost. It's decided, then. I will be the one who's going to do it. I will do the Ascending.

"Better pray that my soul is strong enough for this s**t. I better come back to my physical body," I marked as I opened the door and faced the other Naturalists.

I saw their faces, they all lifted up when they saw me. So, this is it. Kung sino man ang makakuha ng katawan ko, she or he better use it correctly. I hope these people will guide her or him, my body is scared as heck.

"Is it decided, Adelad? Sino ang gagawa sa inyong dalawa ni Kare?" Salubong sa amin ni Maester Eprio, isa sa mga member ng Lucem Council. Of course he's a Naturalist too, just like all of these people around us.

"I am. I will do the Ascending, Maester Eprio,"

As I closed my mouth, their eyes widened. They were all praying and hoping for this. If the wall hasn't just fallen, I wouldn't be here in this position. Why would they think that a Naturalist is the reason behind the fall? Ganoon na ba ang tingin nila sa mga kauri nila o natatakot lang talaga sila na maubos ulit ang lahi namin? Now, I have to go to Neutrum. I don't even know what to expect there beside for the Ancient Souls that they're talking about.

"Ha, finally." You could hear the relief in his voice, "Now, we have to do the ritual quickly. We all know that my absence in the Council will raise suspicion. We can't afford Lucems knowing our secret. We have to act fast, okay?"

Tumango ako at sumunod sa kaniya. Only young Naturalists can do the Ascending and all of these people except for Kare and I, are all elders. Their soul and physical body can't handle the energy stress that the ritual would bring. So, the responsibility will definitely fall on the younger Naturalists and unfortunately, that's us.

Binuksan ni Master Eprio ang pinto ng isang kwarto at doon kami sinalubong ng isang matandang babae. Mayroon siyang mga gamit na panligo at panlinis ng katawan. Is this what they call cleansing before the ritual?

Bago ako pumasok sa loob, hinarap ako ni Maester Eprio. Inilapag niya ang dalawang kamay niya sa balikat ko. I could see the fear and hope in his eyes. "We will be forever grateful for this deed, Adelad. Ikaw ang makakatulong para manatili at hindi maubos ang lahi nating mga Naturalists. May the ancient souls bless you. Good luck on your journey, Adelad. We will be waiting,"

Tumango ako at dumiretso na sa loob ng kwarto. Master Eprio really just said it. Fearing that our race would be on the verge of extinction again is the real reason why they want me to do this. They're afraid that Lucems and Umbras will know that we still exist. Our people are still afraid of these two different races after losing The war between them a century ago.

"Please take off your clothes, Adelad." The madam with the towel and scrubs told me.

I followed her orders and she made me dipped ny whole naked body on the porcelain bathtub filled with white fluid. I rest my head on the pillow she provided while starts scrubing my lower body.

"All my life, I have only prepared two people for the ritual. You are the second one. I was still young when I did the first one." Paninimula niya sa akin.

Tumigin ako sa gawi niya. I'm not the first one to do this. I wonder who was the person before me and what is the reason? "What was the reason for the first one?"

"Death of a Maester,"

Pareho kaming hindi na nagsalita pagkatapos no'n. Before they told us that we have to decide whether Kare or I will do the Ascending, they explained the whole system of the ritual and why we have to do it. Ascending, it's where your soul leaves your physical body to start its journey to Neutrum--- the place where Ancient Souls of Naturalists rest. While the soul is on the start of the journey, someone who died on the exact time of the ascension will acquire the physical body of the Naturalist. Leaving him or her with the Naturalist's memories, energy, skill, knowledge, and power. So it's a risky little game. What if that someone who just died is someone who can't be tamed by my people? What if that someone is a person who has a position on the council of Lucem or Umbra?

After that is Descending. It's where the soul returns to its original body, leaving the temporary soul bodiless once more. It's cruel for sure, but it is the rules. The journey has no fixed time, it really depends on the soul of the Naturalist. I wonder how long would it take for me? And once the soul has reached Neutrum, the soul will have to ask for a new source of power and for the truth. And that truth would have to answer the question; Who was the reason behind the fallen wall?

Are they really thinking I could do that? That huge task? It's either they really have complete faith in me or they don't have a choice. I'd place my bet on the second one.

I have finished the cleansing and now, I'm wearing a long black coat and white formal dress inside. It's the two colors of our power. The balanced energy.

You could hear the tap of my heels on the cemented ground inside this hall. The sound is circulating. I could see the five Maesters waiting in front while the other Naturalists are just beside them. I immediately spotted Kare, caressing her bump again. I hate her.

"Adelad Caticovas, a born Naturalist. The future of our race. Everyone of us has pleaded our gratitude to you. We pray that your journey will be a success. May the lightness and the darkness surrounds you." Maester Ruesa started.

"May the lightness and the darkness surround you." They all marked together.

I positioned myself in the center. Embracing myself. I felt the coldness, the fear, the uncertainty of all this. Can I really do this? I hope so.

I gasped when I felt someone enfolded me with its arms. I opened my eyes and saw Kare smiling with tears in her eyes. "I could not let you do this without saying my farewell. Good luck on your journey, may we meet again."

A smile flashed on my lips. She stepped back and went to her position. I closed my eyes and let myself feel all the energy they are emitting. This is it. To the one who's going to live my body, good luck. Good luck to the both of us.

And suddenly, I feel all their power radiating at me.