LUNA

15: Six Witches

Binigyan kami ng tig-iisang posas ng prinsipe bago siya umalis kanina. Iron-made handcuffs made to weaken any witches who will be bound by them. Iron doesn't really weaken us to the point of being helpless, iron only weakens the magic energy in us. Physical strengths are untouched and unharmed. If you're a witch of combat, then it will be easy for you to find a way to escape iron.

On our way to our areas, nag-usap lang kami ni Nym. Even though I don't feel like speaking at all, but I guess speaking to someone like Nym will give your conversation a little thrill.

"Hindi mo ba 'ko tatanungin kung bakit ikaw ang pinili kong makasama ko?"

"No, at kaya ko nga hindi tinatanong kasi wala akong pake kung ano man ang dahilan"

"Sungit. Kala ko ba friends na tayo since ikaw lang bumoto sakin na maging coven leader?"

"It surprises me that you'd actually believed my word for that"

"For the record, no one wants to work with anyone here. Alam kong sinabi mo lang ang sinabi mo sa almusal kanina para hindi ka mayare sa prinsipe"

"Ah"

"You're harsh, but you think with your brain"

"Matagal na 'kong patay sa lupang to kung bobo ako"

15 minutes kaming naglakad bago namin marating ang mga pwesto namin. Mas malayo ang pwesto ko kesa sa kanya— the signal will be tapping the dagger on our golden armor corset two times if may dumating na witch. Then if nakahuli kami, tatlong tap sa corset. If nakawala, isang tap. Dahil nga sa heightened ang mga senses namin, maririnig namin ito ng walang ka hirap hirap. But that also means na maririnig din ng targeted witch ang tunog na yon. It's a double edge plan, and we're gonna ba fast enough before the witch could even figure us out.

Nandito lang ako nakatago sa sangay ng isang malaking puno. The green-almost brownish leaves of the big tree keeps me out of sight from those beneath me. Mag ta-tatlong oras na pero wala paring dumadating. Medyo nangangalay na ako sa kakahintay dito at parang gusto ko nang pumatay ng hayop sa sobrang gutom.

Out of boredom, I started to scratch the tree's rough skin with one lengthened nail. Carving lines after lines. Making sure I wouldn't create sound while doing it.

Napapamura ka na lang talaga minsan.

I'm a very impatient witch, but I'm not that stupid to destroy my cover.

2 hours ang byahe mula dito hanggang sa palasyo ng prinsipe. So nung dumating kami, tanghali na— but now, hapon na. Mag fa-five na ata and it's not a good sign if you ask me. Hunting at night will always double the risk. But then a sound of metal on metal echoed through the forest's atmosphere.

3 taps.

Agad akong napalingon sa harapan dahil don. My forehead creased, and I straightened my spine from the immediate tension building. After 5 seconds, tinunog niya uli ang corset.

I blink. My neck snapping at the southern part of the forest.

Bahagya akong napangisi sa napansin.

Zarax already caught her witch.

"Bilis ah"

Well, if you're voting for yourself to be a coven leader dapat lang maipakita mo ang rason kung bakit.

Nawala ang ngisi ko sa mukha ng dumampa ang bagong hangin sa balat ko. Everything in me tingled when I smelled new bloods coming, and then the sound of metals followed— Nym tapped once. Once.

Automatiko akong kumilos. I immobilized myself on the branch, controlled my breathing, and sharpened my eyes. When the breeze carried their strong smells again, I unconsciously grinned when I scented fear on them. Another wind blew, and I quietly shifted myself on the branch after identifying their direction. Nang mapansin kong hindi sila iiba ng direksyon, alam ko kaagad na hindi sila ganoon kagaling sa pag gamit ng kanilang mga ilong. These witches can smell me, but I think they're too caught up to even recognize my presence from whatever Nym did to them.