Chapter 5- Black mage

Pumasok na kami sa gubat ng Vulkaria. Ang sabi-sabi ay may mga kabahayan at taong naninirahan dito pero bahay lang ang nakikita ko. Kahit isang tao ay wala. Ang buong buong gubat rin ay napapalibutan ng maitim na mahika. Ang puno, hayop at halaman ay puro wala na.

"This looks so dead." Sabi ni Aquarius habang hawak niya ang isang usa. Sinaway naman siya ni Valthy na 'wag yun hawakan. Tama naman, it may have some disease that may spread immediately to everyone. But I don't think the Zodiacs get sick.

"Punta na tayo uhm guys. Gabi na, baka may matulugan tayo dito..." Sabi ni Veronica. Na gaya ko ay tumitingin sa mga kabahayan. There may be people inside, takot lang siguro silang lumabas.

"There's an inn!" I exclaimed. Pwede na siguro kung dyan kami.

"That's good! Pwede na yan!" Sigaw rin pabalik ni Valth at kinaladkad na si Aquarius papunta doon. Sumunod kaagad si Veronica sa kanila. I glanced at Leo who had been quiet the whole walk. Kahit noong nakarating kami ay tahimik pa rin siya. Di naman halatang mahal niya ang laway niya, ano?

"Tara na Leo." Aya ko. Tinignan lang ako nito at nagsimula na siyang maglakad. Sumunod kaagad ako sa kanya at humawak sa may laylayan ng damit niya nang maramdaman kong parang may nakasunod sa amin. I glanced at my back only to see no one.

Sumunod na kami sa kung saan sila Nica. Pumasok na kami sa inn. May luma itong disenyo, but not that old to the point it will easily break. May mga paintings din na di ko pa nakita kahit kailan. May mga libro, parang reading area ata yun. Everything looks clean despite having that old inn vibe.

"May the light of Sol bless you my lovely guests." Someone greeted. We all look at the place where the voice come from. A girl emerged from the shadows. She looks pretty. With her short curly black hair and red eyes.

"And to you too." We answered. Lumapit ito sa pwesto namin at tinignan kami isa-isa. Like inspecting us. When it was my turn to be inspected. Weird kasi nagtagal siya sa akin. I stared at her, on her red eyes. Tinitigan rin niya ako pabalik. Something about her eyes fascinates me. Parang hinihigop nito ang buong pagkatao mo.

"Well, all of you look harmeless," she said the pouted. "everyone in this place became anxious, especially when the whole forests were covered with this black magic and all living things. Except the humans died."

"Are you, perhaps a noble?" Veronica asked. I mentally nodded, agreeing at what she asked. Only nobles are give the privelege to learn this said language. Pero tinuruan pa rin ako ng kambal. Ang pasaway.

"I was...." Sagot ng babae at nag-iwas ng tingin. "By the way, I'm Annaliese! And I already know your names!"

She look ecstatic as she said that. Mahika niya ba ang malaman lahat ng impormasyon ng isang tao.

"You're Veronica, Valthazar, Leo and Aquarius, Zodiacs huh. And oh! My favorite star! Hameira!" She had that look of distaste when she mentioned Leo and Aquarius. Pero sumigla bigla ang mukha niya nang banggitin ang pangalan ko. "So this will be your rooms!"

Binigay na niya ang susi para sa mga kwarto namin. My cheeks heated when I learned that me and Leo will be staying in the same room. I mean yes, we've been together for these.past few days. Pero iba pa rin, we're not that close. Also, parang ayaw niya pa rin sa'kin kahit na minsan ay sweet siya.

Pumunta na kami sa mga kwarto namin. Ang swerte ni Nica at solo niya ang buong kwarto niya. Mag-isa na lang kasi ako sa buhay kaya mas sanay ako na nag-iisa. Having someone here with me now, it's still new to me.

"Leo... Uhh. Matutulog na ako." Sabi ko pagkatapos kong mag-ayos para matulog. Humiga na ako sa higaan namin. Placing one pillow between us then immediately covered my whole body with the blanket.

"Yeah, good night." Was the last thing I heard before I fell asleep.

Nagising ako sa gitna ng gabi nang may narinig akong kaluskos, saktong sa pinto talaga namin. Nilingon ko si Leo at nakitang tulog na tulog siya sa upuan. Teka, hindi siya tumabi sa akin?!

I shook my head because of what I had thought. Baka mabait siya o talagang nandidiri siya sa akin kahit na ako Ang nakatakda sa kanya.

Rinig ko pa rin ang kaluskos kaya lumapit ako sa pintuan. I touched the doorknob to open it, just then. I felt something flowed within. Binuksan ko ang pinto at nagsimulang maglakad. But this isn't me!

I'm not the one who's controlling my body!

I don't know where my feet is taking me. I can't even control the situation that I'm in right now dahil wala akong mahika. Kung meron lang, pero imposible. I can't even shout for help.

Biglang huminto ang katawan ko sa isang pinto. Bumukas ito at gumalaw na naman ako papasok. My eyes can move on its own so somehow, it's okay.

"My, my you're finally here. You took the bait! Haha!" Someone said. I look at the direction, Kung saan nandoon ang boses. Biglang lumabas sa dilim ang isang baba... Annaliese!

"Annaliese! Tulungan mo ako! Di ko magalaw ang sarili kong katawan!" Paghihingi ko ng tulong. Desperada na ako, gusto kong makawala dito.

"Oh my, you're seriously asking me to let you go? Oh no my star!" She said and shook her head like she disagree that she'll let me go.

"Who are you?!" I asked. She laughed like what I said was funny for her.

"Haven't you realize it yet, my star? I'm Annaliese the black mage." Then she laughed.

"Please.... Save me. Leo..." Biglang lumapit sa gawi ko si Annaliese at hinawakan ng mahigpit ang pisngi ko. I can feel her nails digging in my cheeks causing for some blood to flow out.

"Now, now. Why don't you enter that mirror my dear star..." Binitawan niya ako. Anna licked her nails, kung saan nandoon ang dugo ko. Then she waved her hand, ancient letters formed in her hands. The black energy if the mana flows out.  She chanted those words while my body started walking towards the words.

Umilaw ang salamin. Kahit wala akong mahika ay ramdam ko ang malakas na mahikang nakapaloob dito. Kahit anong pilit kong hindi sumunod, my body won't budge. My feet entered the mirror, I can feel my whole being pulled inside. Pero bago pa man ako makapasok ang buo kong katawan. What Annaliese said made me even more confused.

Who am I? Ano ba ako? I'm just me right?

"Hameira Estella Martimme. The daughter of the sun and moon. Sol y Luna."