CHAPTER 72 #4
Tinanguan siya ng lahat ng Erenhal.
"You are an Erenhal, Cayena. You are not useless. We just want to protect you. Hindi dahil hindi ka immortal ay mas mababa na ang halaga mo sa amin. You have your own strengths, and communication is just as important as fighting on the battlefield. You have a role in this,
and we trust you to handle it." Lucius looked at Cayena.
"Thank you, Lucius."
"Communication and evacuation for civilians are settled. We can fight Erishkigal, but that doesn't mean we can afford to underestimate her. We still don't know the full extent of her abilities, how many demons are under her command,
or what she needs to accomplish before she can finally destroy Arcadeya. Kaya bago tayo magdesisyon kung paano siya haharapin, kailangan muna nating malaman kung saan siya maaaring lumitaw, ano ang mga posibleng kahinaan niya,
at kung paano natin malalaman kung tunay na siya ang nasa likod ng mga nawawala. We need information before we need strength. Once we understand our enemy, saka natin malalaman kung saan natin dapat gamitin ang bawat isa sa atin." Rassia said.
"But the problem is, we don't have any idea. Wala tayong sapat na impormasyon tungkol kay Erishkigal, wala tayong alam kung nasaan siya, kung ano talaga ang kailangan niyang gawin para maisakatuparan ang kaniyang plano, o kung gaano kalawak ang kapangyarihan ng mga demonyo na kasama niya.
We've spent years searching for traces of her, but every lead seems to disappear before we can reach it. We can't create a proper strategy against an enemy we barely understand. Kaya ang pinakamahirap na bahagi ng laban na ito ay hindi kung paano natin siya lalabanan...
it's finding her before she makes the first move." agad na tugon ni Lapileon.
"Well, well. You can trust in your abilities and strength. You, Erenhals are the highest form of royal blood, are you not? And you, Rassia... you are the Orythea. You possess my powers and the Eternal Phoenix.
Hindi natin kailangang malaman agad ang lahat tungkol kay Erishkigal para malaman kung ano ang kaya nating gawin. We may not know where she is or what she is planning, but we know what we have. We have power, experience, and each other.
Kaya imbes na matakot dahil hindi natin alam kung gaano siya kalakas, gamitin natin ang lakas na mayroon tayo ngayon. If she is preparing for war, then so are we."
Napatingin lahat kay Lucy Pearl. Her words seemed to settle heavily among the Erenhals.
Lucy Pearl simply remained calm, her black eyes reflecting the faint light inside the room.
"She's right..." ani Vladimir matapos ang ilang sandali.
Devi smirked. "We also have a demon with us..."
"Listen. Remember what I have told you. The demons' weakest spot is their neck.
If you manage to strike there, you can weaken them enough to stop them.
And never forget that they turn to ashes when exposed to sunlight, so don't let them force you into places where they have the advantage.
Use the environment against them. Kung kaya nating ilagay sila sa lugar na may sapat na liwanag, mas mapapadali ang laban natin.
We may not know everything about Erishkigal yet, but at least we know how to deal with the demons under her."
Tumango ang mga Erenhal kay Lucy Pearl.
"Our goal is to defeat Erishkigal," ani Anastacio, his voice firm and unwavering.
"We have one purpose, and that is to stop her before she can destroy Arcadeya."
Tumango si Rassia.
"Even if sacrifice becomes necessary... then so be it. I know none of us wants to hear that, but we cannot enter this war pretending that everything will end without a price. If protecting Arcadeya requires us to give something precious, then we must be prepared to make that choice.
Hindi ko sinasabing kailangan nating isakripisyo ang ating mga sarili, but if the time comes when there is no other choice left... then we must be willing to pay that price. We are fighting against something that even the gods and goddesses failed to destroy.
Kaya kung kinakailangan nating magsakripisyo upang tuluyang mapatigil si Erishkigal, then we will do what must be done. Whatever the cost may be."
Kumunot ang noo ni Lucy Pearl habang napatingin sa kaniya.
"Master..." tanging nasambit ni Anastacio.
"Erenhals... we are leading this war. I am counting on you. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang naghihintay sa atin kapag tuluyan nang nagsimula ang laban, and I won't pretend that everything will be easy. But I know that if we stand together, we have a chance.
Kaya kapag dumating ang oras na kailangan na nating harapin si Erishkigal, I want all of you to remember why we are fighting. Protect Arcadeya, protect the people, and protect each other. If the time comes when sacrifice becomes necessary, then we will face that choice when it comes. For now,
I simply need you to stand with me. I am counting on every one of you..."
"Tch. Rassia... there will be no sacrifice. All of us will survive, got it? So stop talking as if some of us are already destined to fall. We will fight, we will protect each other, and we will all come back together. That's the only outcome I'm willing to accept." Devi said.
Napatayo si Rassia at tumalikod sa kanila. Tahimik niyang pinagmasdan ang lungsod sa labas ng bintana.
"The war... each side will lose something."
Saglit siyang natahimik.
"That's the truth of every war. Kahit gaano tayo kahanda, kahit gaano tayo kalakas, there will always be something that gets taken from us. Maaaring isang lugar, isang tahanan, isang alaala, isang taong mahalaga sa atin... or perhaps something we never expected to lose."
Sandali siyang natahimik.
"But I'm not saying this because I have already accepted defeat. I'm saying it because I want all of you to understand what we're facing. Hindi natin kontrolado ang lahat ng mangyayari once the war begins. We can prepare our strategies, protect the civilians, gather our allies,
and strengthen our forces, but there will always be things beyond our control."
Marahan siyang huminga.
"So if the time comes when we are forced to make a difficult choice, I want us to be ready..."
Lucy Pearl stared at Rassia while drinking her wine.
Tahimik lamang siyang nakatingin sa kaniya, tila sinusubukan niyang basahin ang nasa isip ni Rassia. She slowly lowered her glass, her black eyes remaining fixed on her.
Natapos na rin ang kanilang pagpupulong matapos nilang mapag-usapan at mapagplanuhan ang lahat ng kailangan nilang gawin.
Bago siya tuluyang umalis, nagpaalam muna siya sa mga tao ng Mysarea.
Marami sa kanila ang hindi napigilang maiyak.
Some of them had grown attached to their queen, especially after everything that had happened in Mysarea.
Hindi man nila matagal na nakasama si Rassia, she had already left a deep impression on them.
Samantala, sa labas ng mga pader ng Mysarea, naghihintay pa rin ang libo-libong Mysarea Knights.
Nakatayo sila sa harapan ng napakalaking bato double doors, tahimik na naghihintay sa kanilang reyna.
The sound of their armor could occasionally be heard whenever some of them moved, but none of them dared to make too much noise.
Sa unahan nila ay naroon sina Dragoroth at Razareth. Tahimik na naghihintay ang dalawang dragon habang marahang nagkikiskisan ang kanilang mga ulo sa isa't isa.
The heart-shaped ruby necklace around Razareth's neck was also noticeable. It sparkled faintly as the sunlight reflected against her scales.
For a moment, Razareth suddenly flew toward the top of the tall walls of Mysarea. She landed there and spread her massive wings, looking over the city below.
Then she suddenly roared. Her loud roar echoed throughout the walls of Mysarea when Rassia finally appeared from the stone double doors. Mabilis ding sumunod si Dragoroth at tumabi sakanya.
Nasa tabi ni Rassia sina Anastacio at Lucy Pearl, habang nasa likuran naman nila sina Agarus, Katarina, Stain, Lazlo, at Raja.
They were all wearing black, matching the color chosen by Rassia for their departure. Nasa gilid din ang mga Erenhal, who had come to bid farewell to Rassia and the Mysarea Knights before they separated.
Tahimik na nakatingin ang mga Erenhal sa kaniya, while Raquim was tightly hugging Cayena.
"Mysarea Knights." taas-noong sambit ni Rassia habang nakatingin sa libo-libong kawal na nakatayo sa kaniyang harapan.
Agad namang sabay-sabay na pinatunog ng mga kawal ang kanilang mga sibat bilang tugon sa kanilang reyna. Umalingawngaw ang tunog ng mga bakal sa buong paligid ng Mysarea.
"Will you follow me to the Grand Empire of Erenhal Sartorias? Will you fight for your queen?"
Muling pinatunog ng mga kawal ang kanilang mga sibat, louder than before.
Rassia slowly raised her chin.
"We will set foot on the continent of Vermeleyon, where I live. We will enter the Grand Empire of Erenhal Sartorias, and we will take it. Help me fight my enemies. Stand beside me as I face those who stand against us, and fight with me until we reach the empire that awaits us. And I swear to you,
all of your names will be written in history. Not as ordinary soldiers, but as the ones who stood beside their queen when she marched toward the Grand Empire of Erenhal Sartorias. No... not only beside your queen, but beside the Empress of Erenhal Sartorias and the Queen of Mysarea."
Umalingawngaw ang tunog ng mga sibat sa buong paligid. Kasabay nito, umalingawngaw din ang malakas na dagundong ni Dragoroth mula sa itaas ng pader.
"Anytime, war will spark on that continent. And I know you are ready for it. You are also aware of the demons who might appear once we set foot on Vermeleyon. Hindi natin alam kung kailan sila susulpot o kung gaano karami ang haharap sa atin, but I know you are prepared to fight them.
Kaya mula sa sandaling nakarating tayo sa kontinente na iyon, stay alert. We are not only going there to take Erenhal Sartorias. We are stepping into a land where the real war may begin at any moment."
"We will fight for the Red Queen!"