LUNA: The Rebellion

72: LUNA

Maingat kong inilagay ang pana at palaso ni Pandora sa harapan ng kanyang malaking lapida. Pagkatapos ay sunod ko namang pinatong ang kanyang paboritong bulaklak. She didn't have a specific favorite flower but I remembered she mentioned about all white flowers were her favorite because it reminded her of her hair. Ganoon 'rin ang ginawa ko sa mga lapida nina Charlotte, Acey, at Ophelia. Nag-iwan ako ng mga paborito nilang mga bulaklak. Their tombstones were placed beside each other. They were huge and tall and massive and the stone used was in the color of white. The stones stood as though it were statues in the middle of a vast field of plain grass.

Umatras ako ng kaunti para makita silang apat. I sharpened my nails as a sign of respect and gratitude. Despite the blazing sun above me, the breeze was cold to the skin.

Isa isa kong tinitigan ng mabuti ang kanilang mga lapida. The unsaid words inside my head wanted to be set free, yet I was opposed to the idea of talking to them just because I knew for a fact they'd laugh at me for doing it. Naalala ko nanaman ang mga panaginip ko nung nasa coma ako ng limang taon. I've dreamt about them too. And we've talked there. I might not have remembered the exact words we said to each other but the smiles and laughter they made were as vivid as the memories I had with them.

Umiyak na ako kagabi. Iniyak ko ang lahat. I promised myself after that night, I wouldn't cry for the same reason again.

And I'd make Pandora sad if I were to cry here in front of her stone.

I bent down onto my knees and bowed low. This, I could only do to show how much they mean to me.

"When the dark sleeps, the moon awakes," I muttered under my breath, "and so the witches come to play"

The wind howled into my ears as I closed my eyes. I don't believe in prayers but this time, I prayed to the Moon Goddess, Simphia, and to the Tripple Goddess. May the souls of my friends reach eternal peace and happiness that they couldn't seek here.

Seconds had passed. Minutes. I was still bowing down. Only when my knees and legs hurt did I decide to stand up.

Bago ako umalis ay pinuntahan ko 'rin ang lapida ni Francis. Pagdating ko 'roon ay may nakita akong alak na nakasalin sa baso. This was probably Eliseo's. I recieved information he had been visiting his son's stone more frequently. Hindi pa kami nagkakausap ni Eliseo ngunit ang sabi ni Midnight ay kasama ito ngayon ni Scorch.

Zarax, Cayden, and Midnight decided to spare them from death since they were a great help in the war. Though, hindi ibig sabihin non ay hindi na sila magbabayad sakanilang mga ginawa. As an act of mercy, they only exiled them from their respective kingdoms. Scorch was to continue being a Guardian of Severus by protecting it from the outside and by keeping it safe from any potential threats that may come in the future. While Eliseo was to do the same for Ladon.

I also heard Eliseo was on the verge of committing suicide after hearing his firstborn's death but was persuaded by Ravi to go on. I have yet to ask Ravi for the details but I hoped Eliseo realized Francis was not his only son. I hoped he thought about his other children because all his children have only ever done was wait for him to go home.

I gathered my hair into my hand and tied a portion of it. Kinuha ko si Bluezold mula sa hita ko at walang pasabi sabi ay pinutol ko ang parte ng buhok kong nakatali. A dragon's hair was sacred, and you only cut a part of your hair to give it to someone you respect or cherish. In my case, I was giving this portion of my hair to honor Francis.

Hindi man kami nagkaroon ng sapat na oras ni Francis ay nirerespeto ko parin siya bilang isang mandirigma at anak. And he was my General too. I respected his decision not to get the dragons involved in the war but when I needed them the most, they came.