The Song of Teardrops (Van Doren Series #3)

Chapter Eighteen

Nyx's fate

We fled across the sea. Priam carried me behind his wings while Nyx flies behind us. Sa bawat maliliit na mga kaharian na nadadaanan namin ay hindi ko maisawang hindi maramdaman ang kalikasan sa loob ng mga ito. They were just like in Axiom. Lost and perishing.

"Malapit na ba tayo?" Tanong ko.

"Oo," sagot ni Priam. Hindi nagtagal ay bumaba na ang kanyang lipad. We descended on an island where the a small castle is visible from afar. Hindi ko na masyadong napagmasdan pa iyon nang pumasok na si Priam sa mga kakahuyan.

Lumapag kami sa lupa. Nang makababa kami at agad akong napatingin sa harapan. There's a long grass field in front, where stands the knights of a kingdom. Mabilis akong hinila ni Priam mula sa likuran niya bago tinulak sa likod ng isang puno.

"Hide here," bulong niya.

"What are they fighting for?" Tukoy ko sa nakita ko.

"Their kingdom," sagot niya. "Another kingdom wants to seize it from them for their King... who lost his mind. There are rumors saying he's under a curse. They say he was controlled by a witch."

"They are about to fight another kingdom that's controlled by a witch. Ito ba ang sinasabi mo?"

Tumango-tango siya.

Napasilip ulit ako sa harapan. "At ang kahariang ito..."

"They are just protecting what's there's."

"Pero..." Napasinghap ako habang tinitigan ang mga nakalinyadang mga kawal sa harapan na tila ba may hinihintay mula sa kalayuan. "P-Pero bakit may mga batang lalaki dito?"

In the midst of knights, there are little boys hiding behind them... even elders are here... struggling to hold heavy swords. They all looks so afraid. Bumigat ang paghinga ko. Sino ang nagpapunta sa kanila dito? Hindi pwedeng--lalaban din sila?

Hindi makapaniwalang mapailing-iling ako.

"They are needed to fight too... This kingdom is too small. They need every man they can get." Priam whispered harshly. "Walang masyadong mga kawal sa kahariang ito kaya kinakailangang lumaban ng lahat."

"But, they are just children!" I hissed. "They will die... even if they have their powers to protect them." Matigas kong sambit. A child cannot endure this. They can't endure madness caused by a witch.

"Thalia," for the first time, he called by the name he gave me. Bahagya niyang inangat ang baba ko para lumipat ang tingin ko sa kanya. Mahina siyang tumango-tango sa harapan ko. "Yes, they will die. Innocent people always die in wars... But now, you're here. What do you think the goddess of tears can do?"

Natahimik ako. Umalis na siya sa harapan ko matapos niyang tanungin iyon. Lumipad siya ulit at patagong lumapit sa mga kawal. He hid behind a tree and there, he also waited.

"What the goddess of tears can do..." I quietly murmured his words.

"You can defeat the witch."

Napalingon ako kay Nyx. He's now in his shadow form. Ngumiti siya bago tinangkang lumapit sakin. "If... what he's saying is true, if the kingdom that is about to attack here is controlled by a mad king, then you can face the witch who's controlling him--"

"I can't reveal myself here, Nyx." Pagpigil ko sa kanya. "But yes, I will fight the witch... Pero lalabanan ko ito ng patago at sa paraang kahit siya mismo ay hindi ako makikita..."

He nodded with respect. He stayed in front for a while as if there's still something he would like to say. Pero tumikhim na siya at hindi na nagsalita pa. Humakbang na siya papalayo.