CHAPTER 70 #3
it would be foolish to throw away something that could help us survive."
Hinawi ni Rassia ang kaniyang buhok at napatingin sa terrace.
"And the same goes for Lurtheron..."
Anastacio and Lucy Pearl remained silent as they listened to their master.
"It's actually a good thing that he's strengthening his army. At least he's preparing his people instead of remaining blind to the threat. I don't need to like him to recognize that."
Anastacio nodded. "I agree, Master. We have to be on the same side of the coin. Even the strongest empire would struggle if it had to face an entire demonic army alone."
Bahagyang natawa si Lucy Pearl sa kaniyang naisip habang iniikot ang wine sa kaniyang baso.
"Are you really sure the Holy Cathedral will team up with you? Alam mo naman ang utak ng mga iyon, utak-kulto. May mga paniniwala silang hindi basta-basta natin mababago. They believe they are the ones chosen to guide the people,
and they probably won't easily accept someone like you standing against their authority."
Marahan siyang napailing.
"Even if Erishkigal becomes a threat to everyone, don't expect them to suddenly forget everything they've done to you just because the world is in danger. They may agree to fight the demons, but that doesn't mean they'll agree to follow you.
They might even try to use the situation for their own advantage."
Tumikhim si Anastacio. His orange-red hair glowed faintly under the light coming from the room, while his golden eyes remained fixed on Rassia. He stood casually by the terrace, his upper body uncovered as he listened to the conversation.
"Lucy Pearl is right, Master. They won't obey you unless they fear you."
Napahilot si Rassia sa kaniyang sentido habang napabuntong-hininga.
"That Holy Cathedral. They're always a pain in the ass... every time I think I have enough problems to deal with, they somehow manage to add another one... but don't worry, their downfall is near."
Bahagyang ngumiti si Rassia. Her expression remained calm, almost as if she wasn't worried about the Holy Cathedral at all.
"Desmond is doing his job right now. I already gave him everything he needs, and I'm certain he'll know what to do with it."
Nagkatinginan sina Anastacio at Lucy Pearl. They both knew exactly what Rassia was talking about, and neither of them needed to ask for an explanation. They already knew her plan, and they both believed it was an excellent one.
Soon enough, the Holy Cathedral and the Erenhal Sartorias Empire would once again become the subject of newspapers across the continents.
Binuksan muli ni Rassia ang kaniyang palad. Ilang sandali lamang ay pinaikot niya roon ang kaniyang apoy, watching the flames dance quietly above her skin.
Maya-maya, may sumama ring itim na mana sa apoy. Unti-unti itong nabuo hanggang maging isang maliit na itim na punyal sa kaniyang kamay.
Tahimik na pinagmasdan iyon ni Anastacio.
Rassia then used the dagger to make a small cut on her skin. Tinitigan lamang niya ang sugat habang marahang humihinga.
"I reject."
Sa mismong sandaling binigkas niya ang mga salitang iyon, biglang naglabas ng itim na liwanag ang sugat.
Mabilis itong nagsara. The wound disappeared within seconds, leaving her skin completely healed.
Tahimik na pinagmamasdan ni Rassia ang kaniyang kamay. She simply stared at the place where the wound had been.
I also didn't use this power against Aryo because Rejection has a cost.
Hindi ko dapat ginagamit ito nang basta-basta.
This isn't simply a healing ability. I can use Rejection to return something to its normal state, and I can even use it to heal myself by rejecting the damage done to my body.
I already understand how this power works and I know what it is capable of.
But that doesn't mean I should use it carelessly...
Rejection is one of my demonic powers... I will only use this when the situation truly demands it...
Sana ay hindi ko ito magawang gamitin... if that time comes...
Anastacio remained silent for a moment, but his expression showed that he was genuinely worried about his master.
"Master, please don't use that against Erishkigal unless you absolutely have to. Alam kong kaya mong gamitin ang kapangyarihang iyan, and I know you understand its cost better than anyone, but that doesn't mean I want to see you pay that price..."
Napahilot si Lucy Pearl sa kaniyang sintido at napailing bago tumingin kay Rassia.
"Rassia, makinig ka. Kahit ako ay hindi ko ginagamit ang kapangyarihang iyan palagi. I know you've already mastered it, but don't you dare overuse it. Alam mo kung ano ang kakayahan ng Rejection, at alam mo rin kung ano ang kapalit nito. Save it for the moments when you truly need it,
especially if you're going against someone like Erishkigal. I don't want you to realize too late that you pushed that power beyond what you should have."
Tumango si Rassia at mahinang natawa.
"Alright, alright. Masyado kayong nag-o-overreact. I know what I'm doing. I have Raquim, after all. Alam ko ang limitasyon ng kapangyarihang ito, and I know when I should use it. So relax..."
Lucy Pearl raised her eyebrows while looking at Rassia.
This brat... Is she really thinking about using that one power of the Eternal Phoenix... and Rejection at the same time?
Lucy Pearl knew exactly what that combination could mean. The Eternal Phoenix was already a power that demanded an incredible amount of mana, while Rejection carried its own cost. Using both simultaneously wasn't something that should be taken lightly, even for someone like Rassia.
If she combines those two powers, the result could be devastating... but the strain on her mana core could be just as dangerous.
Napahigpit nang bahagya ang hawak niya sa kaniyang wine glass.
And knowing this brat, she won't hesitate if she thinks it's necessary...
I knew her well enough to understand that she wasn't the type to retreat simply because something was dangerous. If she believed that using both abilities would give her even the smallest advantage against Erishkigal, she would probably consider it.
I need to stop her from using them recklessly when that time comes...
Lucy Pearl glanced at Anastacio. Their eyes met for a brief moment. He seemed to understand her concern immediately.
Ilang sandali pa ay may narinig silang katok mula sa double doors.
Bahagyang ngumiti si Rassia nang maramdaman ang presensiyang iyon.
Nagkatinginan muli si Anastacio at Lucy Pearl bago nagpasiyang bumalik sa dimension ni Rassia. Tahimik silang nawala sa silid bago muling tumahimik ang buong paligid.
Maya-maya, marahang bumukas ang pinto.
"M-mommy... I can't sleep with Uncle Thaddeus... he's snoring so loud..."
Mahigpit ang hawak ni Raquim sa kaniyang teddy bear na ibinigay sa kaniya ni Lapileon. Bahagyang gusot ang kaniyang buhok at halatang inaantok pa habang nakatayo sa may pintuan.
Napangiti si Rassia.
"Come here, Raquim... my little boy..."
Agad namang tumayo si Rassia at humiga sa kanilang malambot na kama. Tinapik niya ang bakanteng bahagi sa tabi niya, hudyat na doon humiga si Raquim.
Mabilis namang humiga si Raquim sa tabi ng kaniyang ina. Marahang kinumutan siya ni Rassia bago siya niyakap.
"You can sleep now, Raquim. Mommy is here..." mahinang sambit ni Rassia habang marahan siyang humihimig upang antukin ang kaniyang anak.
Sumiksik si Raquim sa kaniyang bisig at kumportable siyang humiga roon.
"Mommy..."
"Hmm?"
"How long until Daddy comes home?" mahinang tanong ni Raquim.
Bahagyang dumilat si Rassia at tiningnan ang kaniyang anak.
"I'm almost seven now... when will he come back? I want to see him already."
Sandaling natahimik si Rassia.
"I heard Daddy is really cool. Sabi nila, he even ended a war without using his power..."
Napangiti nang bahagya si Rassia habang marahang hinahaplos ang buhok ni Raquim.
"Is that what they told you?"
Tumango si Raquim. "Yes. Is Daddy really that strong?"
Rassia looked at her son for a moment.
"He is. Your daddy is stronger than you think."
Raquim's eyes slowly began to close.
"Then... I want to meet him..."
Rassia's hand gently paused on his hair.
"I also want to see your daddy as well..." mahinang sambit ni Rassia habang patuloy niyang hinahaplos ang buhok ni Raquim.
"I miss him every day, every minute, and every second..."
Saglit siyang natahimik bago napatingin sa marangyang kisame, as if she could somehow see the sky beyond it.
"And every time I look at the sky, I still find myself thinking about him."
Mas hinigpitan niya nang kaunti ang yakap kay Raquim.
"We'll wait for him, Raquim. He'll come back soon..."
Bahagyang ngumiti si Rassia kahit may lungkot sa kaniyang mga mata.
"We'll wait for Daddy together."
Raquim finally fell asleep in his mommy's arms. Later on, Rassia slowly drifted to sleep as well.
Mahangin ang marangyang silid, at nanatiling bukas ang terrace. Marahang gumagalaw ang mga kurtina dahil sa malamig na simoy ng hangin. Sa isang sulok ng silid, naroon ang uwak ni Raquim, tahimik na nagbabantay sa kanilang mag-ina.
A moment later, a dark figure quietly entered the room.
Walang ingay itong lumapit sa kama at inayos ang kumot ni Raquim. Hinawakan nito ang maliit na kamay ng bata, silently watching him sleep.
Then the black figure turned toward Rassia.
Matagal nitong pinagmasdan ang mukha niya, as if trying to memorize every detail after being apart for so long.
Dahan-dahan itong yumuko at marahang hinalikan ang noo ni Rassia. Rassia remained asleep, unaware of the presence beside her.
The figure gently brushed a few strands of hair away from her face.
"I miss you too..." it said quietly that even the wind almost carried the words away.
For a moment, the figure simply stayed beside them, watching over Rassia and Raquim.
Then the shadow slowly disappeared into the darkness of the open terrace.
Mabilis na nagmulat si Rassia at napabalikwas mula sa kaniyang pagkakahiga.
"V-Vincenzo?"
Isang luha ang dahan-dahang pumatak mula sa kaniyang mata.