CHAPTER 9
Rassia
I am currently seated beside my father, with special seats granted by the Emperor.
Each high-ranking house has been assigned its own table, carefully arranged within the courtyard.
Katabi ko ngayon si Caspian, hindi ko rin alam bakit ito nandito sa lamesa ng mga Quentin at hindi tumabi roon sa mga Laurent, as if naman na kapamilya namin ito.
Nilingon ko ang aking Ama at si Caspian, mukhang maayos naman sila.
Ano kaya ang pinag-usapan nilang dalawa?
Si Hyacinth naman ay naroon sa table ng kanilang house. Nakita ko pang napatingin ito sa dako ko at kumaway na may mga ngiti sa mga labi. Ngumiti ako at pasimpleng kumaway din sakanya.
"So... you made a friend, huh?" tanong ng aking Ama, napansin yata iyon.
"Y-yes, father." namula ako nag-iwas ng tingin.
"Hmm, that house is from Oskandor, It would be a hassle to visit each other." sambit nito at sumimsim ng kaniyang wine.
Hindi ko alam bakit kailangan namin itong pag-usapan. Never kaming nag-usap sa mga ganitong bagay.
"We can exhange letters, father." I replied.
"Akala ko allergic ka sa tao," biglang singit ni Caspian. "Pero mukhang may exception pala." sabay tingin ni Caspian sa mga Anarov.
"Ano bang ginagawa mo dito? Hindi ba doon ang pamilya mo?" itinuro ko ang mesa ng House Laurent. "Naligaw ka yata?"
"Grabe ka! boring doon! at 'di ako titigilan ng aking ina kakaturo sa mga ladies na pwede kong asawahin." Napakamot siya sa kanyang batok.
"At tsaka… it’s better here," he added with a smile. "Walang lumalapit… because just looking at this table feels like you’ve suddenly committed a sin… even if you haven’t done anything at all." inosente niyang sambit.
I slowly turned my gaze to Caspian and glared at him.
Beside me, I could also feel my father’s gaze land on him, it was steady and heavy.
He was looking at Caspian with one raised brow, as if silently questioning where exactly he got the confidence to speak like that at a Quentin table.
Then my father let out a slow sigh, shaking his head. He rolled his eyes and looked away, as if Caspian wasn’t even worth the effort of a proper reaction anymore.
Hindi ko na pinansin si Caspian at ibinaling ko na lamang ang aking tingin sa gitna ng courtyard kung saan gaganapin ang Summoning Dance.
A voice echoed across the courtyard, drawing everyone’s attention.
"Let the performances begin! By order of His Imperial Majesty, the summoning dance demonstrations shall now commence! Let the stage be opened and the ancient rites be witnessed once more! We begin with none other than the distinguished House Castelan!"
Ang tunog ng palakpakan ay umalingawngaw sa buong courtyard, kasabay ng masiglang bulungan at halatang pananabik ng mga noble na hindi maitago ang kanilang pananabik sa susunod na magaganap.
Sa gitna ng courtyard, nagsimula ang performance ni Lady Castelan.
Her backup dancers formed a perfect circle around her, every movement precise and elegant, like a living ballet choreographed by nobility itself.
She stepped forward, her body flowing with the music, then began to spin slowly…
then faster, until her entire figure looked like she was dancing with the wind itself.
Then suddenly, habang patuloy ang kanyang pag-ikot, unti-unting lumabas ang kanyang mana.
Isang berdeng liwanag ang bumalot sa buong katawan niya, glowing intensely habang sumasabay sa kanyang bawat galaw.
The same green mana also flowed to her backup dancers, connecting them like threads of energy in a synchronized performance.
Sa gitna ng liwanag, unti-unting nag-form ang isang malaking animal spirit. A giant tiger.
Malaki ito, at nakakatindig balahibo sa laki at presensya. Ang katawan at mata nito ay umiilaw rin ng green mana. The tiger moved around her, circling her ballet-like performance, as if it was dancing with her every step, every turn and every motion.
"Woah, that's lady hera. Interesting." I heard Caspian murmured.
Napanganga na lang ako sa mga nakikita ko, sobrang ganda rin ni Lady Castelan.
Her presence alone was already elegant, pero mas lalo pa siyang naging kamangha-mangha habang kasabay niyang umiikot ang kanyang berdeng mana at ang malaking spirit tiger.
Para bang natural lang na bagay sa kanya ang kapangyarihang iyon, as if the tiger itself was born just to follow her grace.
Hindi ko maalis ang tingin sa kanila. How does it feel to have an animal spirit? It must be nice… to have something that answers your call, something that stands beside you no matter what.
Napatingin ako sa Imperial Seats, nakita ko ang Emperor at Empress na tila namamangha rin sa mga nakita sa courtyard. Napadako naman ang tingin ko sa tatlong bakanteng upuan kanina sa Imperial seats na ngayon ay may isa na palang nakaupo.
It was Vincenzo.
He looked completely uninterested, as if the grand performance below him was nothing more than a passing distraction.
Nakahalukipkip siya, naka-cross ang paa, habang iniikot-ikot ang glass ng wine na hawak niya, the red liquid swirling lazily as he watched the courtyard with bored, almost indifferent eyes.
He was no longer wearing armor. Instead, he was dressed in his prince attire. It was black and gold, with subtle red details woven into the fabric like thin traces of flame.
He looked... presentable...
Maya-maya lang, nahuli niya ang tingin ko.
His ruby eyes met mine, agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin. I feel my heart skipped for a reasons I didn’t want to understand. What the hell? paano niya naramdaman ang mga tingin ko? sa layo ko at sa dami ng tao?
I straightened myself, trying to act normal, but I could still feel his gaze lingering even from across the Imperial seats.
"Idiot. You want him." a seductive evil voice whispered.
Huh? sino iyon? luminga-linga ako sa paligid. Ngunit maingay ang paligid at hindi ko alam kung sino iyon. Tinapik tapik ko pa ang aking mga tenga. Baka Isa lang iyon sa mga noble lady na nababaliw sa prinsipe.
Many houses had already performed. There was even a lion spirit that roared so loudly it shook the courtyard, an eagle that soared so high it disappeared into the clouds, a giant fish that swam through summoned water in mid-air, and a panther spirit that moved so silently it felt like a shadow had come alive.
Each performance was more impressive than the last, and I found myself watching in pure awe, completely absorbed by the display of power and beauty.
Mangha-mangha ako sa mga napanood, unable to hide my amazement as every house tried to outshine the others.
But then, I remembered who was next.
The next to perform is Russel. I’m so excited!
Russel finally stepped into the center of the courtyard, and the atmosphere immediately shifted.
He wore black and blue, a combination that made him look colder, like a blade pulled straight from darkness.
Half of his face was covered with a black cloth, revealing only his eyes.
He looked less like a performer and more like an assassin stepping into a ritual only he understood.
Behind him, his backup dancers entered in coordinated formation, dressed in deep blue. Their movements were disciplined, synchronized like a shadows following a single command.
Russel danced with his sword. His blade moved in perfect sync with his body.
Every motion carried a hidden threat, quiet yet undeniably dangerous.
As the music swelled, his movements grew faster and sharper, each step and swing becoming more refined, as if the air itself was being cut apart by his rhythm.
Kumakalat na ang light blue mana mula sa kanya, bumabalot sa buong katawan niya at sa espadang hawak niya, na ngayon ay tila buhay na rin sa dami ng mana na umiikot dito. Biglang lumakas ang hangin sa paligid, at ramdam agad ang biglaang lamig.
Maya-maya, isang puting lobo ang unti-unting lumitaw mula sa kumakalat na mana. May light blue mana rin ito, na kumikislap habang gumagalaw kasabay ng hangin.
Compared sa ibang spirit na parang anino lang ang itsura, ang kanyang spirit ay mukhang totoong lobo, malinaw, at buhay tingnan. Pero kahit ganoon, ramdam pa rin na isa itong Animal Spirit dahil paminsan-minsan ay tumatagos ang anyo nito.
According to the book I read in the Quentior Library, All spirits are divided into two absolute categories. Animal Spirits and Sovereign Spirits.
Animal Spirits are Ordinary Spirits. They are the most common.
They represent animals and natural instincts, and there are many of them across the world.
They can form contracts with multiple humans, grow stronger through experience and their master’s mana, and unlike higher beings they can still be injured or even destroyed.
On the other hand, the Sovereign Spirits. The Nine Crowned Rulers of all spirit-kind. They are the absolute rulers among spirits.
Only nine exist in total.
They stand as equals, no hierarchy of power binds them, for each one is absolute in its own existence. They do not die, only return to slumber beyond time itself.
They awaken only when they choose a master.
Talagang impossible para sa akin na makapag-summon ng Sovereign Spirit.
Like, maging totoo tayo dito, Eternal Sovereigns ang pinag-uusapan natin, ang Nine Crowned Rulers ng spirit-kind.
At ako? Wala nga akong maramdaman na mana e.
Parang spiritually unemployed lang ako na walang qualifications, at walang special aura.
The courtyard broke into applause, everyone clearly impressed by what they just saw. Some nobles even looked like they couldn’t believe it, still stuck on how strong Russel’s summoning was.
Russel's animal spirit is strong because of his massive mana he inherited from our father. It’s pretty obvious Russel is air dominant, the way the wind kept shifting around him, the sudden drop in temperature, and how everything seemed to move with his flow, like both he and his spirit were just part of the same wind.
"As expected from a Quentin." the Emperor said, as he lightly applauded Russel’s performance.
Lumingon ako sa aking ama na may mga ngiti sa labi habang pumalakpak para kay Russel. Sa dami na nag perform kanina ngayon ko lang itong nakitang pumalakpak.
"Ang galing ni Lord Russel! akala mo hindi otso anyos ang edad!" sigaw ni Caspian sa tabi ko.
Tumayo ako at pumalakpak, nakita ko si Russel na napatingin agad sa akin at ngumiti. Kumaway pa ito. Hindi ko maiwasang matawa. Sobrang cute n'ya.
At last, the announcer’s voice rang out across the courtyard, drawing everyone’s attention once more. Napaupo ako dahil doon.
"And now… the final performance of the day. The Princess, Cayena Mori Vacardi, will now perform!"
Napalunok ako sa narinig. This is it, I will finally meet her.
Napanganga ako nang makita ang babae sa gitna ng courtyard.
It was Cayena. She had long, straight silver hair that flowed down her back like liquid moonlight, and striking ruby eyes that seemed to catch and hold every bit of light around her.
Matangos ang kanyang ilong, and her lips were naturally full and well-shaped, giving her a quiet, almost untouchable elegance.
The subtle makeup on her face only enhanced her beauty, making her features stand out even more under the courtyard lights.
She had fair, flawless skin that made her look almost unreal.
She's like Vincenzo if he was a woman.
She was wearing a yellow bedlah, rich in color and detail, with gold accessories that shimmered with every small movement she made.
Her outfit highlighted her grace and confidence, and a small piercing at her navel added an unexpected edge to her otherwise regal and delicate appearance.
I think she will perform a belly dance.
As the music started, Cayena finally danced. Wala siyang backup dancers, siya lang. Standing alone in the center of the courtyard as if she didn’t need anyone else.
Her movements were flawless, controlled yet effortless, like the music was flowing through her instead of the other way around. She began with subtle motions, her torso and hips moving in perfect rhythm.
Lumilitaw na ang kanyang yellow mana habang patuloy siyang sumasayaw, unti-unting bumabalot sa kanya na parang isang belo ng liwanag. Kumikislap ito sa bawat galaw ng kanyang katawan, sumasabay sa kanyang ritmo na para bang ang mana mismo ay bahagi ng kanyang sayaw.
Then, from the rising energy, a giant cheetah spirit finally appeared.
It was wrapped in the same yellow mana, glowing softly as it moved into form.
The creature was sleek, graceful, and undeniably feminine.
Every line of its body is elegant and refined, with a presence that felt both powerful and beautiful at the same time.
You could easily tell it was female, not just from its aura, but from the way it moved.
The cheetah circled Cayena as she danced, mirroring her movements with effortless grace, as if the two of them were connected through the same pulse of mana.
"Walang duda, maganda nga siya..." natulalang sambit ni Caspian.
Kung alam mo lang Caspian, she will soon be your lover. Napailing nalang ako sa naisip. Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin iyon dahil baka maiba ang tadhana.
Napatingin ako muli kay Cayena. Wala akong naramdamang inggit sa kanya at all. Instead, there was something else… admiration. The kind that made you want to get closer, not compete.
I admire her.
Napayuko ako at pinaglaruan ang aking mga daliri.
I want to become her friend.