CHAPTER 66 #3
The flames continued to reflect in Rassia's eyes. Anastacio could feel the dangerous aura radiating from his new master. It was unlike anything he had ever felt from Aurelius. His previous master had been powerful, but Rassia's presence carried something far more unpredictable.
For a moment, Anastacio simply studied her. Then, a faint smile slowly formed on his lips as the surrounding flames reflected in his golden eyes.
"Whatever decision you make, Master, I will support it. Whether you choose to become the savior they believe you are... or the threat they fear you might become. You have been chosen by me, and I will stand by your side."
Tumango si Rassia at muling ngumiti.
"Let's be a good team, Anastacio... with Lucy Pearl."
"Gladly, Master. Once you awaken from this realm, you will be able to summon us whenever you wish."
Sa mga sumunod na araw, nanatili si Rassia sa realm ni Anastacio upang matutunan ang lahat ng kakayahan ng Eternal Phoenix.
Anastacio also taught her how to summon Lucy Pearl and himself at the same time without disrupting the balance of her mana. He also taught her how to freely allow both of them to enter and leave her personal dimension whenever they wished.
Hindi na kailangang hintayin ni Rassia na tawagin sila sa bawat pagkakataon. Lucy Pearl could leave her dimension whenever she wanted. Anastacio could do the same.
They were no longer simply spirits bound to her power. They were now companions who could freely stand beside her.
Dumating na rin ang araw na tuluyan nang papasok si Anastacio sa dimension ni Rassia.
Meanwhile, in Rassia's dimension, everything looked completely different from Anastacio's fiery realm...
The entire place was dark and strangely quiet. Blackness stretched across the horizon, while countless broken pieces of glass floated endlessly through the air.
It wasn't simply dark. It felt empty.
Almost like a reflection of the parts of Rassia that she had never allowed anyone to see.
Lucy Pearl, as usual, was sitting on her throne like the queen she is. She idly examined her long black nails, completely uninterested in everything around her.
Maya-maya ay napatingin siya sa isang maliwanag na biglang lumitaw sa kabilang bahagi ng dimension.
The flames slowly gathered together, forming a human figure.
Anastacio stepped out of the flames, his golden eyes calmly surveying the dark realm.
So this is Master's dimension... it's completely different from Aurelius's.
His dimension was bright. It was surrounded by an endless ocean, always bathed in the warmth of a golden-hour sky. Peaceful... almost like the world itself had chosen to rest there.
But Master's dimension... it's nothing but darkness...
Lucy Pearl raised an eyebrow.
"So we're going to fucking share a dimension now?" maarteng tanong niya, clearly unimpressed.
"It's an honor to meet you, Lucy Pearl. The fallen angel who stole the crystal gem." ani Anastacio nang makita ang brilyanteng naging itim na nakaukit sa dibdib ni Lucy Pearl.
"Fuck it, you're glowing! lumayo ka nga roon!" sigaw ni Lucy Pearl habang mabilis na tinatakpan ang kanyang mga mata.
Matagal na siyang hindi nakakakita ng ganoong kaliwanag na apoy. Sanay siya sa madilim at tahimik na mundo ng sariling dimension ni Rassia, kaya halos naninikip ang kanyang mga mata sa matinding orange-red glow ni Anastacio.
"Is that really necessary?" mahinahong tanong ni Anastacio.
"Yes! you're basically a walking sun!"
Anastacio glanced at the flames surrounding his body.
"I am the Eternal Phoenix."
"I don't fucking care! be the Eternal Phoenix somewhere over there!"
Tinuro ni Lucy Pearl ang kabilang sulok ng dimension habang patuloy na nakatakip ang mga mata. Anastacio simply stared at her for a moment before calmly walking away.
"There. Better?"
In Vlymir
Three years had passed since Rassia entered the cave to perform the summoning ritual.
The Erenhals continued to wait for her return, but they did not spend those years doing nothing. While waiting, they strengthened their abilities, sharpened their skills, and pushed their mana beyond the limits they had once known. Even the Triberus were trained by the Erenhals.
Vlymir was filled with heavy mana. The air itself was full of magical energy, making it difficult for ordinary humans and weak mages to stay there for long.
And while they continued preparing for Rassia's return, none of them could know just how much she had changed during those three years.
Maulan ngayon sa Vlymir, kaya malamig ang temperatura. Nakasuot ang mga Erenhal ng makakapal na itim na fur coat dahil sa lamig. Ganito rin ang lagay ng panahon sa mundo ng Arcadeya.
Maingay ang banayad na kalansing ng mga kubyertos habang kumakain ang mga Erenhal. Sa gitna nila, nakaupo ang anim na taong gulang na si Raquim sa tabi ni Drakkon.
Sinusubuan siya ni Cayena, ngunit bahagya lamang siyang ngumiti at marahang umiling.
"I can handle it, Aunt Cayena... I'm six now..."
Napangiti si Cayena at ibinaba ang kutsara.
"Alright, alright. You're a big boy now."
Tumango si Raquim bago muling itinuon ang kanyang pansin sa pagkain, habang tahimik lamang na nakatingin si Drakkon sa kanya.
Even though Vincentius Raquim was only six years old, he already had a strong knowledge of mathematics, especially medicine. The Erenhals had taught him far beyond what a child his age would normally learn, making sure he understood the basics while slowly introducing him to more advanced lessons.
He was also being trained to summon his own animal spirit. The Erenhals never forced him to rush, but they wanted him to become familiar with his mana and learn how to control it from a young age.
Despite his young age, Raquim was already tall for a six-year-old. He had also grown confident and independent, although he still had a little bratty side whenever he didn't get what he wanted.
Still, beneath that attitude was a well-mannered and intelligent child who listened to the Erenhals and respected the people around him.
Habang kumakain ang mga Erenhal, biglang nagtanong si Lapileon kay Raquim.
"Raquim, what would you do if a mage's mana core was damaged after a powerful spell?"
Bahagyang nag-isip si Raquim bago sumagot.
"If the damage is severe, I wouldn't let a normal healer handle it. They can stabilize the mage, but repairing a damaged mana core requires a proper medical procedure. A doctor would need to examine the core first and carefully remove the unstable mana before attempting to repair the damaged parts."
Napatigil si Lapileon halatang namangha.
"... that's correct."
Ngumiti naman si Drakkon habang marahang pinunasan ang kanyang bibig gamit ang table napkin.
"Good, Raquim. You're just as intelligent as I was back in my younger days."
Napangiti si Raquim at bahagyang tinaas ang kanyang baba, halatang natuwa sa papuri.
"I know, Grandpa."
Natawa ang ilang Erenhal sa sagot niya, habang si Drakkon naman ay napailing na lamang.
"Still a little brat, I see."
Raquim simply smiled before continuing his meal.
"Mabuti naman at naiuwi natin agad rito si Raquim bago ang pagbabalik ni Rassia, Lapileon..." natatawang sabi ni Thaddeus.
"It's your fucking idea, idiot. Kapag nalaman iyon ni Rassia, ikaw ang ituturo ko."
Napataas ang kilay ni Cassandra. "Ano bang pinaggagawa ninyo sa Holmeia?"
"Well... we traveled around and bought Raquim foods that you can't normally find here. Some rare fruits, sweets, and different kinds of dishes." sagot ni Thaddeus.
"That's it?"
Nagkatinginan sina Thaddeus at Lapileon.
"Well... we also took him around Holmeia so he could experience different things." ani Lapileon.
Natalia crossed her arms.
"You took Raquim around the world without telling Rassia?"
Thaddeus smiled awkwardly.
"Technically... yes."
"Good luck explaining that when she comes back."
Habang nagkukuwentuhan ang mga Erenhal, hindi maiwasang mapangiti si Raquim habang tahimik na nakikinig sa mga kuwento nila tungkol sa kanyang ina.
Madalas niyang naririnig ang pangalan ni Rassia mula sa kanila, ngunit sa tuwing ikinukuwento nila kung gaano kalakas at katapang ang kanyang ina, lalo lamang lumalaki ang kanyang paghanga rito.
Napatingin siya sa mga Erenhal, bahagyang ngumiti, at muling ibinalik ang kanyang tingin sa pagkain.
My mother... I want to see her...
I can't wait to finally meet her...
Ilang taon na niyang hinihintay ang araw na makikita niya mismo ang kanyang ina. And he had no idea that the day of her return was getting closer.
"You know, Raquim? your mother is a brat. She annoys the hell out of me," pabirong sambit ni Cassandra.
"Your mother has always been stubborn," dagdag ni Morticia. "Kapag may gusto siyang gawin, mahirap siyang pigilan. Kahit alam niyang delikado, minsan ay ginagawa pa rin niya."
"And don't let that pretty face fool you," singit ni Lucius.
"She's a menace."
"She's also strong," ani Drakkon. "Not only because of her powers, but because of everything she's surv-"
Natigilan ang lahat nang biglang magbago ang temperatura sa loob ng hall. Nanindig ang balahibo ng mga Erenhal at sabay-sabay silang napahinto sa pagkain, as if something had stunned them.
The flames in the fireplace suddenly burned brighter, while the candles around the hall came alive with stronger flames. The water inside the nearby containers began to boil, releasing thin trails of steam into the air.
Then, the sunlight suddenly broke through the large windows of the castle.
Kaninang maulan at malamig ang buong Vlymir, ngunit sa isang iglap ay nagbago ang lahat. Unti-unting uminit ang temperatura, hanggang sa maramdaman ng bawat Erenhal ang kakaibang init na bumabalot sa paligid.
Hindi ito ordinaryong pagbabago ng panahon. It was as if something ancient had awakened.
Maging ang mga ibang erenhal na kasalukuyang nagsasanay at nag-iisparring ay biglang napatigil. Napatingin sila sa paligid nang maramdaman ang biglaang pagbabago sa hangin at temperatura.