The Zero Curse

Chapter 15

ZERO's POINT of VIEW

"Zero." Napalinga-linga ako sa paligid nang marinig ang boses ni Exiquel, pero tanging kadiliman lang ang nakita ko.

Nas'an ako? Bakit bigla nalang nagdilim ang paligid? Is this one of Phoenicia's traps?

I shook my head as questions continued flooding my thoughts. Hindi na dapat ako mag-isip ng kung anu-ano, at sa halip ay mag-isip kung pa'no ako makakaalis dito.

My thinking was interrupted by the sounds of footsteps in my back. Recouping my composure the best I could, I faced the person behind me. To my surprise, it was my father- Seraphin.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?" tanong ko. "Anong kalokohan 'to, 'Pa?"

Papa chuckled. "Sorry to burst your bubble. I'm not your father. I just borrowed his features."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa sinabi n'ya. Borrowed his features? "Then, who are you?"

"I'm an Astral sent by Cosmos, the all-knowing, the source of power," he answered. Mas lalo lang nagsalubong ang kilay ko dahil sa pamilyar na terms.

"What kind of joke is this?" tanong ko ulit- ngunit ngayo'y english naman, hehe. "Do I need to kill you, so I could get out of here?"

Once again, he answered me with a chuckle. "No, Zero. You won't be able to go out here if you kill me. This is neverland, a place where lost souls are stuck, and it is us, Astrals and Celestials, who allow others to go out."

Without further ado, I made an ice sword and pointed it at him. "Anong kailangan mo? Kailangan ko nang lumabas dito." Nanlaki naman ang mata ko nang maglaho ang ginawa kong ice sword, at hindi ko na rin magamit ang kapangyarihan.

"This is a place where time is stuck. Your physical body won't be affected unless I let it. I have control over this space."

Nagtiim-bagang ako, at mariin na pumikit. This man is getting on my nerves, huh. Lumapit ako sa kaniya, at kinwelyo na siya- natigilan lang ako nang mapagtantong hindi ko siya nahahawakan.

"Mukha ka na tuloy clown, Zero," aniya at tumawa na naman. I gritted my teeth as I looked at him.

"I bet you don't remember Summerland, or the time you bargained for reincarnation."

I stopped in my tracks when I heard the word Summerland. For a reason, I thought it was familiar. Then suddenly, memories flashed in my mind.

I went to Summerland, the place where my mother truly belonged. And I bargained with King Ezra Gwydion. But how does he know all of it?

"You're aware that your mother is from Summerland, the realm of Souls. That only means that you're half mortal, and half a living soul like Callista. You cannot save Exiquel and share your soul with her, then."

Mas lalo namang kumunot ang noo ko. "Anong kinalaman n'on sa pagsagip ko kay Exiquel?" tanong ko, nanggigil sa paraan ng pakikialam n'ya.

He tapped his head with his finger, as if telling me to use my wits. "You're a different being from her. Once you share your soul, there is a great possibility that you might end up killing her and making her stuck in Summerland."

"Malaki ang posibilidad na ang kaluluwa na mabigay mo sa kaniya ay ang parte ng kaluluwa mo na namana mo kay Callista, and if it happens, the one you shared your soul with will be stuck in Summerland- and will never reincarnate. Others can share their souls with you, but you cannot share yours to them."

Hindi ko kaagad nakuha ang sinabi n'ya. But after a while, I finally got it- then it hit me. I wouldn't be able to save Exiquel, and I didn't bargain for her reincarnation!