CHAPTER 73 #2
"Narinig ko ang inyong mga hinaing ngayong araw. Alam kong marami sa inyo ang nawalan ng tiwala sa pamahalaan dahil sa mga batas at desisyong nagdulot sa inyo ng paghihirap. Hindi ko inaasahang mawawala agad ang inyong pag-aalinlangan, ngunit bilang inyong Emperor,
pananagutan kong pakinggan ang inyong mga tinig."
Bahagya siyang tumango.
"Umaasa akong bibigyan ninyo ang imperyong ito ng pagkakataong patunayan na kaya nitong magbago. Hindi ko hinihingi na kalimutan ninyo ang lahat ng inyong pinagdaanan. I only ask that you give us the chance to correct what has gone wrong."
Sandaling nanatiling nakatingin si Lurtheron sa mga mamamayan bago dahan-dahan niyang ibinaling ang kaniyang tingin sa kabilang bahagi ng paligid.
Sa pagkakataong iyon, hindi na sa mga ordinaryong mamamayan nakatuon ang kaniyang pansin.
It was now directed toward the figures dressed in black cloaks.
"Now, to all of you wearing black cloaks. I have tolerated your interference long enough. You have obstructed Imperial forces, defied lawful orders, and repeatedly challenged the authority of Erenhal Sartorias... If your actions are proven to be part of an organized attempt against the Empire,
then you may be charged with high treason."
"... but what concerns me most is your hidden identities. You conceal your faces and names while moving among my people armed and unidentified. So I ask you plainly..."
Umigting ang panga ni Lurtheron bago muling nagsalita.
"Who are you? who do you serve?"
Ang iba sa mga mamamayan ay napapatingin na sa mga Mysarea Knights. They remained completely still beneath their black cloaks, showing no signs of fear or hesitation despite the Emperor's accusation of high treason.
Wala ni isa sa kanila ang gumalaw. None of them appeared threatened by Lurtheron's words, as though the accusation meant nothing to them.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Lurtheron nang bigla niyang maramdaman ang isang presensyang papalapit.
Siya lamang ang nakaramdam nito, dahil nanatiling walang reaksyon sina Caspian, Dazro, at ang iba pang mga kawal.
Mabilis niyang nilibot ang kaniyang tingin sa paligid, desperately trying to locate where the presence was coming from.
No... it can't be.
That familiar presence...
Unti-unting bumigat ang kaniyang paghinga habang lalo niyang nararamdaman ang mana na papalapit. It was unmistakable.
It became stronger...
No... that's impossible.
Mabilis na tumalikod si Lurtheron at nagsimulang maglakad palayo sa gilid ng terrace. Agad namang sumunod sa kaniya sina Caspian, Dazro, at ang dalawa pang kawal, their hands already moving toward their weapons.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" tanong ni Caspian, his expression turning serious.
"Prepare yourselves. Someone is coming."
Nandilim ang paningin ni Lurtheron habang lalo niyang nararamdaman ang presensyang papalapit. What had initially felt like a single presence was now becoming heavier, spreading across the distance like an approaching storm.
No... there are many of them.
Could it be...?
Bahagyang nanigas ang kaniyang katawan.
Is this the threat from my dreams?
Nagkatinginan sina Dazro at Caspian. Neither of them had sensed anything yet, but Lurtheron's expression was enough to make them understand that something was terribly wrong.
"What do you sense, Your Majesty?" maingat na tanong ni Dazro.
Lurtheron did not answer immediately. Muli niyang tiningnan ang mga mamamayan sa ibaba bago siya muling lumapit sa gilid ng terrace. His blank white eyes swept across the entire plaza, carefully observing the crowd as the strange presence continued to approach.
Muling nagkatinginan sina Caspian at Dazro.
"Ser Camero."
Agad na tumingin ang isang kawal kay Lurtheron.
"Order the citizens to leave immediately. I want every civilian out of this area before whatever is approaching reaches the capital."
Tumango agad si Ser Camero.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Do not panic them. Keep the evacuation orderly, but do not waste time. Get them away from the palace and move them toward the secured districts. I don't care if they question the order. Their safety comes first."
Lalong naging malamig ang kaniyang tinig.
"And make sure the black-cloaked knights leave with them. I don't want anyone remaining here unless they are prepared to defend this empire."
Nag-alangan ang kawal sa utos ni Lurtheron. Alam nilang hindi magiging madali ang pagpapalis sa napakaraming tao mula sa plaza, lalo na't kanina lamang ay puno pa ito ng galit at pagtutol.
Tumikhim si Caspian habang bahagyang pinagmamasdan ang emperor, tila nagtataka sa biglang pagbabago ng kaniyang kilos.
Lurtheron is one of the most talented mages in the empire... no wonder he was able to sense something that none of us could.
But what is it that he sensed?
I can't feel anything. Neither can Dazro or the other knights. Yet he looks as though he has just sensed something far more dangerous than anything we have encountered before...
He wouldn't order an immediate evacuation without a reason. Lurtheron may be unpredictable, but he isn't careless when it comes to protecting the capital...
"Your Majesty, hindi magiging madali ang pagpapalis sa mga tao," maingat na sambit ni Dazro habang pinagmamasdan ang napakaraming mamamayan sa ibaba.
"Marami pa rin sa kanila ang hindi lubusang nagtitiwala sa korona. Some may refuse to leave, especially after everything that happened today... at kung bigla nating ipapakita sa kanila na nagmamadali tayong paalisin sila nang walang malinaw na paliwanag, baka lalo lamang silang mataranta.
They may think that the empire is hiding something from them."
Nanatiling kalmado si Lurtheron, ngunit hindi niya maiwasang makaramdam ng matinding pag-aalala.
He kept his expression composed, refusing to let the knights around him see the uncertainty beneath his calm demeanor.
Patuloy niyang nararamdaman ang mga presensyang papalapit, and the more he sensed them, the heavier the uneasiness in his chest became.
"Alert the people that something is coming. We have no choice. Use their fear to get them away from here before the threat arrives. Keep the roads around the palace clear and make sure no one remains behind."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Sandaling natahimik si Lurtheron bago muling nagsalita.
"Send several Imperial Knights to escort Lady Hera back to her estate immediately. I do not want her traveling through the capital while this unknown presence is approaching... keep the route secured and make sure she reaches her estate safely."
Napakurap ang ilan sa mga kawal sa narinig nilang utos ni Lurtheron.
"As for Lady Athena, send additional maidservants and Imperial Knights to her residence."
Pasimpleng napataas ang kilay ni Caspian, sapat lamang upang hindi iyon makita ni Lurtheron.
This fuckass... halata naman na mas nag-aalala siya kay Lady Hera. The way he immediately ordered several knights to escort her back to her estate...
Bahagya siyang napatingin kay Lurtheron bago muling ibinalik ang kaniyang tingin sa harapan.
He has more concern for her than the mother of his own child.
Seriously? even now? may paparating na kung anong banta, tapos ang unang nasa isip niya ay siguraduhing ligtas si Lady Hera.
Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ba ako o maiinis.
"If I may, Your Majesty. Lady Athena is not in her residence. Kagabi pa siya lumisan, at kasalukuyan siyang bumabyahe ngayon sa Avelli. Ayon sa huling ulat na natanggap namin, she left the capital city without any problems and is currently somewhere along the road leading to Avelli.
We have not received any report of trouble involving her or her escort, but considering the presence approaching the capital, I thought you should know." ani isang kawal.
Tumango si Lurtheron matapos marinig ang ulat.
"Then send Holy Knights to her. Find her, secure her route, and make sure she reaches Avelli safely-"
Natigilan si Lurtheron. Maging sina Caspian at Dazro ay napatingala nang biglang mamula ang buong kalangitan.
Sa isang iglap, isang napakalaking pulang liwanag ang bumaba mula sa himpapawid at tila tumama sa mismong throne hall ng palasyo. The entire palace was suddenly bathed in a deep burgundy glow.
Rinig ang mga sigawan ng mga maidservants sa loob ng palasyo habang nagsimulang magsipagtakbuhan ang ilan.
Ang mga mages na may sapat lamang na mana ay napaluhod at napayuko, unable to withstand the overwhelming mana presence that suddenly filled the entire area.
Ang iba naman ay nanginginig habang pilit na humihinga, habang ang ilan ay napahawak sa kanilang ulo dahil sa tindi ng presensyang kanilang nararamdaman.
For them, the mana presence was simply too much to handle.
Napalunok si Dazro habang nakatingala sa kalangitan, clearly struggling to comprehend the overwhelming presence above them.
Samantala, nanatiling kalmado sina Caspian at Lurtheron, ngunit hindi maitago sa kanilang mga mata ang bahagyang pagkagulat. They could both feel the immense pressure in the air, yet neither of them dared to move.
Tila biglang yumanig ang buong palasyo, ngunit hindi iyon isang lindol. It was the sheer pressure of the mana presence spreading through the entire area.
Bawat haligi at pader ay tila nanginginig sa paligid, habang ang hangin ay biglang bumigat at naging mahirap para sa ilan na huminga nang maayos. Even the strongest mages could feel the overwhelming pressure pressing against their bodies.
The mana did not simply feel powerful.
It felt threatening.
Nagmamadaling tumakbo ang isang Holy Knight papunta sa direksyon ng Emperor. Halatang nanginginig ang kaniyang katawan habang pilit niyang inaayos ang kaniyang paghinga. Namumutla ang kaniyang mukha, at tila hirap siyang magsalita habang patuloy na nililingon ang direksyon ng throne hall.
"Y-your M-majesty! y-you won't b-believe this! kailangan mong makita a-ang mga p-presensiyang naroon! at... at..."