CHAPTER 11
Rassia
I am here at the Quentior Library. Pagkatapos ng banquet, naisipan kong magbasa-basa at alamin ang kasaysayan ng mundong ito. Ginagamit ko rin ang pagbabasa para madistract sa mga nangyari at kahit papaano, makalimutan si Vincenzo.
After the banquet, naging laman ako ng mga dyaryo.
Ang insidente ng pagligtas sa akin ni Vincenzo mula sa pagkahulog sa hagdan ay naging usap-usapan, at mas lalo pang kumalat ang mga bulung-bulungan tungkol sa ugali na ipinakita ko sa okasyon.
Sabi nila, maganda raw ang naging imahe ko noong gabing iyon.
Pero kahit ganoon, hindi pa rin nawawala sa isip ko ang lahat ng nangyari.
I'm glad Father never mentioned anything.
Mas naging magaan ang pakiramdam ko dahil doon, parang kahit papaano ay pinili niyang huwag nang dagdagan ang bigat na dala ko pagkatapos ng banquet. Hindi ko alam kung sinadya ba niyang balewalain ang mga usapan, o kung talagang ayaw lang niyang palakihin pa ang nangyari.
Napailing nalang ako at binuksan ang makapal na librong na sa harapan ko.
Origin of the Grand Empire of Erenhal Sartorias
A Long time ago, In the earliest records of the empire, it is written that its original name was Erenhal, a name once used widely across the land.
During that time, Vampirism was regarded as the highest form of royal blood, an ancient inheritance that marked those born with it as rightful heirs regardless of house or origin.
The vampires of Erenhal held positions of great authority, and rule was closely tied to lineage and blood.
Over time, tensions rose between the ruling bloodline and the Holy Cathedral.
The Cathedral held the belief that such beings were not part of divine design, and that The Goddess would not will their existence to continue.
Acting on this conviction, the Cathedral formed alliances with several powerful mage houses, leading to a large-scale conflict often referred to as a Holy War.
The goal of this war, according to Cathedral records, was the removal of vampiric rule, while Erenhal accounts describe it as a betrayal of an existing order.
The conflict resulted in the collapse of the vampire lineage and a major restructuring of the empire.
In the generations that followed, the name Sartorias gradually came into common use, replacing 'Erenhal' in most official and public records.
Today, the empire is formally known as Erenhal Sartorias, though 'Sartorias' is the name most commonly spoken, while 'Erenhal' remains a historical term associated with its earlier era.
Napabuntong-hininga ako habang ibinababa ang libro sa mesa, ramdam ko pa rin ang bigat ng mga impormasyong nabasa ko.
Parang mas lalo lang gumugulo ang isip ko imbes na luminaw.
Ang daming naganap, ang daming digmaan, ang daming bersyon ng kasaysayan na hindi mo alam kung alin ang totoo.
May mga bampira pala?
Erenhal Sartorias. Erenhal Bloodline. Vampires. The Highest Form of Royal Blood.
At mas nakakatakot isipin, ilang bahagi ng katotohanan ang sadyang hindi kailanman ipinakita?
"Lady Rassia."
Natigilan ako sa boses na biglang sumingit sa katahimikan ng library.
Dahan-dahan akong napalingon.
I saw our Head Butler, Mikhael na tila kakapasok lang sa library.
Head Butler Mikhael looked like he was already in his fifties.
His brown hair was neatly combed back, though a few strands had turned gray with age.
Behind his glasses were sharp blue eyes that seemed to observe everything, as if nothing could escape his notice.
Despite his composed appearance, he carried an intimidating and strictly disciplined presence that made even silence feel heavy in his wake.
Sandali siyang tumingin sa akin, pagkatapos ay sa librong nasa mesa. Hindi agad ito nagsalita, tila malalim ang iniisip. Matagal ang tingin niya sa librong binasa ko.
"I believe," mahinahon niyang sambit, "that history is never written in full... not because the truth is unknown, but because it is always controlled. What you are reading, Lady Rassia, is only what has been allowed to remain. The rest was removed... long ago."
Napatitig ako sa kanya habang unti-unting bumibigat ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa.
"So vampires really exist long ago, Head Butler?" tanong ko at sinusukat ang bawat reaksyon niya.
"Yes," mahinahon niyang pagpapatuloy, "Some believe they were evil... others believe they were good."
I stared at the head butler, listening to his words, but my thoughts were louder than his voice.
I believe vampires are evil.
That was the first thing that settled in my mind, firm and unshaking.
In my previous life... the vampires I saw in movies were always the same.
They are Monsters. Creatures that hunted humans, that took lives without hesitation, that smiled while others suffered.
They were never misunderstood, never neutral and always the villain.
Always something to fear.
How could something like that be called the highest form of a royal blood... something worthy of a throne?
The Holy Cathedral would never do something without reason.
They are supposed to be the guardians of faith, the ones who uphold order and protect the people from harm.
It doesn't make sense for them to destroy an entire bloodline unless there was something truly dangerous about it.
So if they acted against the vampires, then it must have been the right thing to do.
Kumunot ang noo ko nang may naalala. The Quentin House stood as one of the oldest allies of the Blood of Old Erenhal. Nabasa ko ito sa Quentior Museum na konektado rito. Ibig sabihin ba nito ay may betrayal na naganap? Kailangan ko itong tanongin sa Head Butler.
"Quentin... and Vacardi..." I murmured, still staring at the closed pages of the book.
"They were once allies of the Blood of Old Erenhal, weren't they?"
The head butler stood a step behind me, as silent as ever, as if he had been waiting for that question.
"Yes, Lady Rassia," he replied calmly. "Both houses were originally sworn not to a single bloodline, but to the empire itself."
The butler's gaze lowered for a moment, as if recalling something buried deep in history.
"When the Holy Cathedral declared the power of Erenhal a threat to divine balance," he continued, "the houses was forced into a choice. To remain loyal to their vampire allies... or to uphold their oath to the empire above all bloodlines."
The name of the empire originates from the Erenhal bloodline itself, which is why it is known as Erenhal Sartorias.
"...And they chose the empire," sambit ko habang nakatingin sakanya.
"The oath they followed was made under Erenhal's own rule." he added.
"How ironic." hindi makapaniwala sa narinig.
"Yes," he confirmed. "Vacardi and Quentin turned their blades against the Blood of Old Erenhal."
I exhaled slowly. "So that's how the war started..."
Hindi agad sumagot ang head butler.
Only after a moment did he speak again, his voice is lower now. "When the war was over, there was no true victory, only survivors who had to decide what the empire would become."
I looked up slightly. "What happened to them?"
"Your ancestor, Aurelius Quentin, was said to have slain seven hundred and one of the Erenhal bloodline," he said. "Beaumont Vacardi, in turn, was credited with the deaths of the Ten Rulers of the Empire."
"...Aurelius Quentin later supported Vacardi's rise as Emperor," he added. "And in return, Beaumont Vacardi granted him the title of Duke." he paused a minute.
"....The Cathedral eventually agreed, convinced by what had been proven during the war and the strength they had witnessed on the battlefield."
"So in the end..." I murmured, "they didn't choose sides. They chose what they think is right."
"Yes, Lady Rassia."
"You're quite knowledgable, Head Butler." ngiti ko rito.
Parang lahat ng gusto kong itanong ay maisasagot niya.
"I am the Head Butler for a reason, Lady Rassia." seryoso pa rin itong nakatingin sa akin.
Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na totoo pala ang mga vampire noon pa. Akala ko mga mages, powers, at kung anu-ano lang na nilalang ang umiiral sa mundong ito.
Hindi ko rin ito nabasa sa novel na naalala ko, lahat ng atensyon roon ay nakatuon lang kina Cayena, Caspian, at Rassia.
At sa mga ala-ala naman ni Rassia, wala rin akong mahugot na kahit anong sagot.
Para bang ang mundo niya ay limitado lang sa mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya, at hindi kailanman umabot sa mga nilalang na nasa likod ng kasaysayan.
Kaya mas lalo lang lumalawak ang tanong sa isip ko.
Kung may mga bampira pala... ibig sabihin ba noon, may iba pang nilalang na hindi ko pa alam?
Mga lobo na kayang mag-anyong tao? Mga engkanto na nagtatago sa anyo ng hangin o liwanag? Mga witch na humahawak ng kapangyarihang hindi kayang ipaliwanag ng mga libro? O mga elf na matagal nang itinatago sa ibang bahagi ng mundo?
May demonyo kaya?
"Lady Rassia... hindi pa rin ako sanay na naririto ka at nagbabasa ng libro." rinig kong sambit ng head butler nang tumayo ako at naghanap pa ng ibang libro.
"At ang mas nakakagulat pa," dagdag niya, may bahagyang paghinga na parang hindi pa rin makapaniwala, "inaalam mo pa ang kasaysayan ng Erenhal Sartorias."
Hindi ako agad makasagot.
Hindi rin ako sanay. Hindi ako sanay dito. Hindi rin ito ang mundong alam ko noon.
"Why, bawal ba?" sambit ko habang seryoso ang aking mukha at lumingon sakanya.
Nakita kong nagulat ito at napalunok. He looked intimidating yet napapalunok siya sa akin?
Bahagya akong napangiti sa nakita. "Just kidding, Head Butler. As you can see... tumatanda na ako. Sign of maturity..." I giggled.
"Hindi pwedeng puro sakit sa ulo at walang alam sa mundo ang isang lady ng House Quentin, The Dukedom.... Right?"
"...and you should report this to Father, The Duke. Dapat alam niyang nag i-effort na akong mag-basa."
"Yes, Lady Rassia." he nodded.
"By the way, Head Butler..." umupo ako ulit sa lamesa at ininom ang gatas na idinala ni Elena kanina.
"Mayroon pa bang mga lobo... engkanto, engkantada, duwende, o kung ano pa man na nabubuhay?" tanong ko habang nakatingin sa malaking bintana na katabi ng lamesang kaharap ko.
Sumimsim ako ulit sa aking hawak na gatas.
Parang habang mas marami akong nalalaman, mas lalo ring lumalawak ang hindi ko alam.
"May mga bampira..." napahinto ako sandali, "...sigurado ako, may iba pa rin sigurong mga nilalang na katulad nila na umiiral."
Nagbuntong hininga ang Head Butler at pumunta sa isang section ng mga libro. Mukhang may ibibigay ito sa akin na libro.
"Ofcourse, Lady Rassia. There are four major continents in this world, each shaped by different beings, powers, and histories. Here, read this..." inabot niya sa akin ang makapal na libro.
"Masasagot ang mga katanongan mo riyan... " tinanggap ko ang libro at bahagyang ibinuklat.
"Ngunit ikinalulungkot kong kailangan ko nang magpaalam, Lady Rassia. Napadaan lang ako rito because The Duke has entrusted me with a task that requires my immediate attention." The Head Butler respectfully bowed.
"Thanks, Head Butler. You may go now." ngiti ko rito.
Nang buksan ko ang libro, hindi ko maiwasang mamangha sa mga nabasa ko. Para bang bawat pahina ay may dalang bagong mundo na unti-unting lumalawak sa harap ko.
The Four Continents of the World
Vermeleyon - is the continent where vampires and mages once coexisted.
However, after the fall of the Erenhal bloodline, the vampires were believed to be extinct.
Now, only mages remain, and the existence of vampires has faded into forgotten history.
Though they are human, the people of Vermeleyon possess powerful abilities, making it the most politically and magically advanced continent.
Nervales - is the land of beasts and shapeshifters. It is known for its wolf clans, a creatures capable of taking human form. Strength, survival, and instinct define this continent, where power is earned through dominance rather than lineage.
Adamiyan - is an ocean-based continent, composed of vast seas and scattered islands. It is home to pirate factions, sea mages, and unknown creatures lurking beneath the waters. Trade, danger, and freedom shape life here, where alliances shift as easily as the tides.
Palazan - is a mystical continent inhabited by witches, engkantos, engkantadas, and dwarves. It is a land deeply connected to nature and ancient magic, where unseen forces and hidden realms exist alongside the visible world.
Nang mabasa ko ang mga ito, pakiramdam ko ay unti-unti ko nang nauunawaan ang takbo ng mundong ito. Sapat na ang kaalamang ito upang simulan kong pag-aralan ang kapangyarihan. Hindi na ako ganap na mangmang sa mundong ginagalawan ko ngayon.
Ngunit kasabay ng paglawak ng aking pag-unawa ay ang mabigat na katotohanang pilit kong iniiwasan.
Nakakahiya.
Isang kahihiyan sa House Quentin na may isang kagaya ko na walang mana, walang kapangyarihan.
Sa mundong ito kung saan ang lakas ang sukatan ng halaga, para akong isang aninong walang silbi, isang pangalang nakadikit sa isang makapangyarihang angkan na hindi ko man lang kayang panindigan.
Wala akong kakayahan.
Napatayo ako at nagpalakad-lakad, hindi ako mapakali, habang paulit-ulit na bumabalik sa isip ko ang katotohanan.
Wala akong kapangyarihan.
Hanggang sa bigla akong napatigil.
Espada.
Kung wala akong kakayahan, espada na lang ang magiging tanging pag-asa ko.
Hindi lahat ng lakas ay galing sa mana. Hindi lahat ng halaga ay nasusukat sa kapangyarihang ipinanganak sa dugo. Kung hindi ko kayang gumamit ng kapangyarihan, matututo akong lumaban gamit ang talim.
Huminga ako nang malalim, mas naging matatag ang desisyon ko.
Mag-aaral ako ng espada.
Pero bago iyon... ipapaalam ko muna ito at tatanungin ko muna ang aking ama kung bakit wala akong kakayahan. Kung bakit sa lahat ng Quentin, ako ang tila pinagkaitan.
Isa akong Quentin.
I rushed through my father's office and pushed open the large doors with a force that echoed across the room. He is in the middle of a meeting with four commander knights, most likely the highest-ranking officers of the dukedom.
All their eyes turned to me.
"Father! I want you to teach me how to use a sword! As the daughter of The Late Nadea Saint Quentin!"
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The Blood of Old Erenhal - Vampires