✔ How To Tame A Succubus

[30] Merlin

"Merlin?"

Napabalik ako sa kasalukuyan nang tawagin ako ni Geniana. Since we entered the forest, she was looking at me with worried eyes, biting her lip as if she wanted to say something else but couldn't form the words to do so. All things aside, I know she only means well. She has always been a kind-hearted witch, albeit a little delusional sometimes.

"I'm sorry, I got a bit distracted. You were saying, Nian?"

"Wala. Para lang kasing ang lalim ng iniisip mo kanina. Nag-aalala lang ako na baka malunod ka na," she joked.

Lihim akong napangiti.

"Even if I were drowning, I doubt anyone can save me right now."

Hindi na ako sumagot nang mang-usisa pa si Geniana. Wala ako sa mood i-entertain siya o kumalas sa pagkakalingkis niya sa braso ko.

She confessed that she had no idea about my brother's murder. Pero dahil sa history ng pure witch bloodline nila, hindi malayong may alam ang isa sa mga kamag-anak nila sa insidenteng naganap isang dekada na ang nakararaan. In the end, she admitted that her ancestors practiced Dark Arts---including forbidden magic. Kaya heto kami ngayon, bibisitahin ang ancestral home nila para mabigyang kasagutan ang pagkamatay ni Meric.

Sa kabilang banda, kanina pa kami sinisilip ni Johannes sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata. The moon shining through the canopy of trees contoured sharper shadows across his face.

"Dapat nakahiga na lang ako sa kama ngayon at nag-re-review para sa Necromancy Exam next week," napabuntong-hininga si Johannes. "But I doubt they'd even allow me to step foot on campus again since I helped you escaped."

I shrugged. "Bagsak ka rin naman sa exam kahit na mag-review ka pa."

"Gago!" Johannes punched me on the shoulder, before laughing his ass off.

Soon, we were just laughing at the irony of it all. A few weeks ago, we were just two average wizards in training. Ngayon, mga "wanted" na kami sa wizarding realm at tuluyan nang hindi makaka-graduate sa Nightspell School of Wizardry. Not that I was expecting to graduate, anyway. Pumasok ako sa paaralang iyon nang may iisahang hangarin: ang imbestigahan ang pagkamatay ng kapatid ko at maghiganti sa mga taong nasa likod nito. I knew from the very moment I stepped foot on campus that I have no future.

That I might never live long enough to make something out of myself.

Maybe in another life, I can just be a normal wizard student like Johannes.

"Johannes?"

"Yep?"

"I'm sorry," I apologized. "Nasira pa ang mga plano mo sa buhay. It's not too late to turn back, just say I used a manipulation spell on you to help me escape back then."

Umismid naman ang kaibigan ko. "At magmukha akong mahina? Nah. Isa pa, walang maniniwalang tatablan ako ng mga spells mo. Mas magaling kaya akong wizard sa'yo!"

"Kaya pala ako ang napiling wizard scholar abroad."

"Hoy! Sinuwerte ka lang. Ayaw kasi nilang mawala ako sa Pinas."

"Sabi mo, eh."

I smiled, grateful. What on earth did I do in my past life to deserve such a friend?

"Malapit na tayo sa paanan ng bundok," Geniana announced. It pulled me out of my reverie. Sa 'di kalayuan, napansin kong kumukaunti na ang mga puno. It was a clear night, a perfect setting to recharge gemstones under the moonlight. Johannes and I followed her through the dirt path, passing by medicinal herbs and fireflies.

Ilang sandali pa, bumungad ang tanawin ng isang puting bahay sa paanan ng bundok. The white smoke from the chimney gave us an indication that someone was still awake at this hour.