CHAPTER 65 #5
Napangisi si Thaddeus.
"So you're saying I should bring Raquim there just to make her curious?"
"Exactly."
Bahagyang umiling si Lapileon, ngunit hindi niya maitago ang maliit na ngisi sa gilid ng kanyang labi.
"That's actually not a bad idea..."
Tumikhim naman si Lucius habang pinagkrus ang kanyang mga braso. "Yari kayo niyan kay Rassia. Paniguradong hindi papayag 'yon. Ikaw talaga, Thad, kung ano-ano ang kadiliman ng takbo ng utak mo."
Napatingin siya kay Lapileon. "At ikaw, Lapileon... parang gustong-gusto mo rin ata?"
Bahagyang umangat ang kilay ni Lapileon. "Who said I like it?"
"Your face. It's suspicious..."
Napailing si Lapileon at muling tumingin kay Raquim.
"Rassia will take years to summon a Sovereign Spirit..."
Meanwhile, outside Vlymir Castle...
Naituro na ni Drakkon kay Rassia ang mga pangunahing kaalaman at kahalagahan ng kanyang Eternal Flame Mana. Matapos ang ilang panahon ng patuloy na pagsasanay, kontrolado na rin ni Rassia ang sarili niyang apoy. Hindi na ito basta sumisiklab kapag nadadala siya ng emosyon.
Nasa isang malawak na bahagi sila ng kagubatan kung saan walang ibang nilalang na maaaring madamay sa kanilang pagsasanay.
Pinili ni Drakkon ang lugar na iyon dahil napakalakas ng enerhiyang nailalabas ni Rassia kapag ginagamit niya ang kanyang mana. Ayaw niyang magkaroon ng panganib kay Raquim sakaling hindi niya makontrol ang kapangyarihang kanyang ilalabas.
Tahimik na nakatayo si Rassia sa gitna ng kagubatan habang nakatingin kay Drakkon.
"I know you already know how to control your fire. Now, I'll teach you how to separate your demonic mana from your Eternal Flame Mana, Little Red."
Bahagyang tumahimik si Drakkon bago nagpatuloy.
"Hindi mo maaaring gamitin ang dalawang mana nang sabay. Kapag pinilit mong pagsabayin ang mga ito, maa-activate ang iyong anti-magic."
Tumango si Rassia bilang tanda na nauunawaan niya. "So I have to separate them before I use either one."
"Exactly. Your demonic mana and your Eternal Flame may both belong to you, but they are not the same. Magkaiba ang pinagmulan at katangian ng dalawang kapangyarihang iyan."
Tumingin si Rassia sa kanyang mga kamay.
"Ang Eternal Flame ay kailangan kong kontrolin gamit ang isip ko, habang ang demonic mana naman ay kailangan kong pigilan na sumabay sa apoy."
"Correct." bahagyang tumango si Drakkon.
"It's important that you learn how to summon a Sovereign Spirit and call upon them freely, then command them without hesitation. Kailangan mong ma-master ang sarili mong dimension, especially when it comes to Lucy Pearl. Kapag kaya mo na siyang palabasin ng iyong dimension,
hindi na kailangang magsiksikan ang dalawang kapangyarihan sa loob ng katawan mo."
Sandaling tumahimik si Drakkon bago siya muling nagsalita.
"Now, I'll ask you, Little Red. Between your Eternal Flame Mana and your demonic mana, which one do you want to dominate within your body?"
Bahagyang napaisip si Rassia habang nakatingin sa apoy na marahang nagliliyab sa kanyang palad.
Ilang sandali siyang hindi sumagot.
"Since I'll be able to summon Lucy Pearl once I have a Sovereign Spirit... then I choose my Eternal Flame."
Tumango si Drakkon. "That's good to know."
"Why?"
"Because the Eternal Flame is yours. Your own power. Meaning, it is a part of you from the very beginning."
Bahagyang tumingin si Drakkon sa apoy na marahang umiikot sa palad ni Rassia.
"Your demonic mana is something you carry within you, but the Eternal Flame is something that belongs to you. It responds to your will, your emotions, and your very soul."
Bahagyang napatingin si Rassia sa kanyang kamay.
"So if I make it dominant..."
"Then your body will naturally recognize the Eternal Flame as your primary power. The demonic mana will still remain inside you. Hindi mo ito mawawala. But from now on, your Eternal Flame should be the power that your body recognizes first.
You won't have to fight against your own demonic mana every time you use your flame. You simply have to keep the two separated and make sure you remain the one in control..."
Bahagyang ngumiti si Rassia. "I understand."
"Good. Then from now on, we'll train until your Eternal Flame becomes as natural to you as breathing, so you can finally perform the ritual to summon one of the Sovereign Spirits..."
3 years later...
Three years had passed since Rassia began training under King Drakkon.
For three long years, she had learned to control her Eternal Flame Mana, separate it from her demonic mana, and keep both powers from interfering with each other. What once felt like two conflicting forces within her was now something she could distinguish with ease.
And now, the day they had been preparing for had finally arrived. It was time for Rassia to perform the summoning ritual.
Nasa labas ang lahat ng Erenhal, nagtipon sa harap ng kweba kung saan isasagawa ni Rassia ang summoning ritual.
Tahimik silang nakamasid sa kanya habang nakangiti si Rassia, karga ang tatlong taong gulang na si Raquim.
"M-mommy..." inosenteng tawag ni Raquim kay Rassia habang mahigpit na nakahawak sa kanyang damit.
Bahagyang natawa si Rassia.
"Raquim... be a good boy when mommy isn't around, 'kay?" marahan niyang hinalikan ang noo ng kanyang anak bago siya tuluyang iniabot kay Cayena.
Agad namang kinarga ni Cayena si Raquim.
Napangisi sina Lapileon at Thaddeus habang pinagmamasdan si Raquim na nasa bisig ni Cayena.
"Don't worry, Rassia. We'll take care and spoil him while you're gone," ani Lapileon.
"And we'll teach him everything you don't want him to learn," dagdag ni Thaddeus, sabay ngisi.
Napatingin si Cayena sa dalawa. "Please don't. Alam kong may tinatago kayong kalokohan."
However, Lucius and Vladimir were smiling proudly at her while crossing their arms over their chests. Dimitrius and Devi remained with their usual serious expressions. Natalia and Morticia had their usual soft reactions toward Rassia, while Cassandra simply raised an eyebrow as usual.
"Little Red, don't strain yourself... take a rest if you need to. We... we will wait for your return. Keep my advice in your mind," said Drakkon, sounding like a worried parent sending his child away for a long journey.
Sa mga nagdaang panahon, tila unti-unting tumayong ama na rin si Drakkon para kay Rassia. Makikita iyon sa paraan ng pag-aalala niya rito, sa bawat payo, sa bawat pagsasanay, at sa paraan ng pagtingin niya kay Rassia na para bang isa na rin itong anak na kailangan niyang gabayan.
Napaismid si Rassia dahil sa tono ni Drakkon na para bang isang nag-aalalang tatay.
"Yeah, yeah... just keep my baby safe and please, don't teach him such bad habits or whatever. And I'm especially talking to you, Thaddeus. I know you. Don't even think about teaching my son your nonsense. When I came back... I expect Raquim to still be my sweet little boy...
not a tiny Thaddeus with Cassandra's attitude."
"Hey!" mabilis na sigaw ni Cassandra at Thaddeus.
Hindi na siya pinansin ni Rassia at muling tumingin kay Drakkon.
"And you, King Drakkon... don't worry too much. I'll follow your advice. I'll rest when I need to, drink those disgusting potions you prepared, and I promise I won't push myself beyond my limits..."
When they had finally said their goodbyes, Rassia turned toward the cave.
It will take years for me to come out of this cave. But I will make sure that the moment I step out again, I am already strong enough to make those fools lives miserable...
The Erenhals watched in silence as her freshly cut, long red hair slowly disappeared from their sight, swallowed by the darkness of the cave.
Cassandra stepped forward and glanced at Thaddeus.
"Let's seal it." suot ang kalokohang ngisi nito.
Thaddeus immediately nodded. "Gladly."
The two of them approached the entrance of the cave.
"We'll seal the cave so we'll know when Rassia is finally back. And if she somehow manages to break our seal..." Cassandra paused and smirked. "Then she's truly gotten stronger."
Samantala, sa loob ng kweba, tila naramdaman ni Rassia ang biglang pagbabago sa paligid.
Naramdaman niya ang malakas na mana na unti-unting bumabalot sa buong kweba. Agad niyang nakilala ang dalawang presensyang nagmula kina Thaddeus at Cassandra. Napangisi siya habang patuloy na naglalakad patungo sa gitna ng kweba.
Can't wait to summon you... sovereign spirit of Aurelius Archimedes Quentin.
The Eternal Phoenix, Anastacio.