The Keepers [TKS#1]

21. Chasing Arang

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LARA

That was my first win. Hindi ako natakot at tumakbo. It felt different being able to conquer my fear and win over my fear.

Anong ginawa ko? Tanong ko pa sa sarili ko. Earlier I just felt the adrenaline. Tila automatikong naramdaman ko ang magkahalong init at kuryenteng dumaloy sa katawan ko. It felt like I was carrying an excessive energy that's wanting to come out. It was my inner energy that gathered all the heat coming from the atmosphere and created a high-pressured wave of air forming a golden flame.

Parang isang makina ang katawan kong pinaandar ng kuryenteng nagmumula sa mga ugat ko. I was able to create a size of an energy ball and lure the enemy that was trying to hurt us. I did it! Proud kong sabi sa sarili ko.

The moment after the four of us fully recovered, narealize ni Amber that the girl with a purple hair I attacked was carrying the complete ingredients at naiwan niya ito nang kumaripas ng takbo. Parang isang sinadyang pagkakataon yun. The nineteen imposible igredients of Fhaun just in one small purple bag.

Automatikong hinablot yun ni Amber at tinago na may kasamang sealing spell para hindi na makuha ng iba. She winked at me and Silex at sumenyas na umalis na at hanapin sina Alvis at Laurent. I held ruru and we headed towards south dahil dun nagtungo sina Laurent kung saan makikita ang ninetailed fox.

There is nowhere in the mystic forest that shows anything not beautiful Pinakamagandang kagubatan siguro ng Cairos ang gubat na 'to ng Parisi. Flowers bloom everywhere, the trees bend like they're trying to reach the ground, grasses carpeted every open ground of the forest and even tree barks, wild animals crawl, fly and walk freely ignoring our presence. Mga tanawing napansin ko habang tinatahak namin ang kagubatan.

It took hours to reach the meeting point Laurent told us. Malalim na ang gabi at ilang oras na lang ay lalabas na ang bilog na buwan. Ilang metro pa ay tanaw na namin ang dalawa na nagtatago sa isang sulok at tila nag-aabang ng paparating. Alvis saw us from a distance and warned us not to come closer using his hand gesture.

We stopped abruptly at naupo sa ilalim ng puno ng fire tree na napapaligiran ng matataas na ferns.

We were hunting. Yun ang napagtanto ko. Alam ko ang technique ng pangangaso dahil yun ang isa sa mga ikinabubuhay ng mga taga Easteros. You need patience. A lot of patience to wait for your target to take the bait or get closer. Aantayin mong maging abala ito sa isang bagay letting its guard down before you take a blow and hit it on its weakest part. Marahil ay yun ang ginagawa ng dalawa ngayon. They seemed not breathing or even blinking on a normal count.

"Ilang oras pa ba yan? Antagal naman!" Nainip na reklamo ni Amber.

"Shhhh..." pigil ni Silex sa nagsisimula na namang kadaldalan ni Amber. Then followed by a defeaning silence.

Nakakapanibago ang katahimikang iyon. Tila sa isang iglap ay naputol ang huni ng mga kulisap at iba pang wild animals. Tanging paghinga ko at ng bulong ni ruru ang aking narinig. Nakahalata din siguro sina Amber at Silex. I held Amber's hand, dahil sa sobrang kaba. The night was with a full moon. The mystic forest was covered with a freezing fog.

Nakalabas na ang buwan. Tiyak na lalabas na rin ang ninetails. We we're all waiting for the moment that the moon beam hits the stone believed to be the Arang's sanctuary. Isa iyong itim na bato sa gitna ng circled ground twenty meters in diameter na napapalibutan ng fire trees kung saan kami nagtatago. I glanced at the moon. It's still covered by dark clouds. Ilang minuto pa ang hinintay namin bago tuluyang parang hibla ng telang nahila ang mga itim na ulap mula sa kalangitan.