Snow Lotus: He Who Gleams Greater than the Snow Under Moonlight

Prelude

A sinister aura of five horns, glowing violent red like a newly-forged sword. Noble robe grotesques that only those of a banished evil could wear, and the most unforgettable two-faced mask he always has on. I was still thankful I could only see him in my dreams, yet every time I wake up, the reality's becoming twisted, until it seemed like it mixed with the non-existent.

I have a clue that he might be a demon, but for the sake of my tenability, I would address him as an unknown entity that kept on visiting me in my dreams. Nag-umpisa ito ilang linggo ang nakakaraan at sa tuwing dadalaw siya ay lagi ko siyang namamataan sa hindi kalayuan.

A creepy stalker was easy to spot and revealed because they were always near. Keeping a closed-circuit camera with their naked eyes all day out of jealousy and obsession. Pero iyong demonyong may limang sungay ay pwedeng napakalapit lang sa akin. A close relative, comrade and fellow—or someone whose a ribbon tied with me but always in an asymptotic line of view.

O baka hindi ko talaga siya kilala.

I don't want to be a bother to my friends about this self-emitted fear of mine. Last time, I jumped up to a conclusion that I was affected by a wild ability from a mission year ago that I never noticed. Siguro masyado lang akong pagod recently kaya nagkakaganito ako.

But repetetive dreams? Repetitive dreams maybe some kind of mental illness or inflicted ability or my third hunch which is the stalker thing.

To resolve this case, I went to a psychologist and to an ability psychologist. Both of them said I do not suffer any kind of severe mental illnesses that may trigger these dreams, nor I am under an influence of an ability's effects.

However, may iisang parehas silang sinabi sa akin.

"Maybe, someone is trying to reach out on you?"

"You know, literal na nililigtas ninyo ang mundo at kung saan-saan kayo nagpupunta."

Ending with that conclusion, I tried to contact the country where entities with horns exist in this world, however, the current Supreme Court of Ignivlasius itself confirmed they don't recognize a demon—or a vampire—or a monster passing the specific physical attributes I gave them.

I bowed my head in a surge of defeat. He may be a new being who came into existence or a shy ability wielder who wants to mess with me. Either way, his persistency is not good for my health.

"Still thinking about that?" A sweet, thin voice asked me. I just mumbled at her. "Don't worry, it will be okay. Sige ka iitim iyang buhok mo." She said jokingly, pertaining to my white hair.

I was born with albinism. Bluish-pink eyes, white skin, white hair, generally a white complexion. Maselan ako sa sinag ng araw, subalit maswerte ako at normal naman ang paningin ko.

"Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko..." Matapat na sabi ko sa kanya. "Nasaan si Deoxyno?"

"Fetching the new kid." Binigyan niya ako ng isang mainit na cup ng tsaa at umupo sa tabi ko. Napatingin ako sa bintana kung saan umuulan ng pagkalakas-lakas.

"Ahh." The sweet aroma of the tea warms the room. Nakakakalma sa pakiramdam ko. "Bagong timpla ito, what flower did you use here?" I asked Fubuki while looking at the saturated scarlet drink.

"Wisteria flowers." May kinuha siyang isang platito ng hindi pa nababalatang mansanas. On the other hand, I reached for the knife to peel the fruits. "In our culture, it symbolizes success and good luck."

"Kaya Foccacia-chan, sana mawala na ang mga bumabagabag sa'yo sa handog kong tsaang ito." Nakangiting sabi sa akin ni Fubuki. Napangiti din ako pabalik sa kanya.