A Dragon's Plight (ONGOING)

CHAPTER 17

Sabay kami ni Freya na agad na umalma sa plano niya. Nang magpalipat-lipat ang tingin ng aming mga kasama sa aming dalawa, pinili niyang manahimik at hayaan akong magprotesta.

Agad kong nilahad ang pagtutol ko. "Masyadong delikado ang gusto mong mangyari. Ano na lang ang gagawin namin kung mahuli at saktan ka nila?" I couldn't bear the thought of seeing him hurt again or worst, dead at the hands of our enemies.

Walang kahirap-hirap na binuhat niya patagilid ang silyang inuupuan ko paharap sa kanya bago siya lumuhod para magpantay kami. He smiled tenderly while caressing my cheeks. "They won't kill me because they want me on their side." He tried to reassure me.

Napakunot ang noo ko. It's true that they want him and probably won't kill him. But what if they hurt him when he resists their plans for him? "Maaaring hindi ka nila patayin pero paano kung torturin ka nila para pumanig ka sa kanila? O kaya pano kung gamitan ka din nila ng mahika katulad ng ginawa ni Callix para gawin kang bihag? What if they somehow manage to put you under their spell like what they did to your father? Marami silang p'wedeng gawin bukod sa patayin ka. And we simply can't put you at risk."

"Hindi nila magagawa 'yun." Siguradong-sigurado siya sa sarili niya. At bago ko pa makuwestiyon ang sinabi niya ay nagpatuloy siya sa pagsasalita. "Because I trust you to keep me safe. There isn't any magic more powerful than yours and I know you'll think of a way to protect me with it. We won't go back to the dragon city right away. You'll have plenty of time to practice whatever protective spell you want me to wear. I suggest you start your lessons with Alaric again."

I was touched with what he said. Walang puwang ang takot sa puso niya dahil nangingibabaw ang tiwala niya sakin at sa kapangyarihan ko. Kapangyarihan na binigay niya kasama ng buong pagmamahal niya. It's that love that makes us powerful and it is only right that I use that power to protect our love.

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Just like Rigo said, I immediately began my lessons with Kuya Alaric the next day. He brought all the journals that I wrote in my previous lives.

Tinanong ko siya kung paano nagawang itago ng angkan nila ang mga libro nang makita ko ang isang kahon na puno nito. "How did you manage to protect all these? Paanong walang ibang nagtangkang magnakaw ng mga 'to? One book in the hands of an evil dragon is dangerous enough. Pano pa kung lahat ng 'to mapasakamay ng ganid sa kapangyarihan?"

He smirked at me. "That's simple. Iilan lamang ang may alam ng tunay na nilalaman ng mga diary mo. If someone tries to read it, it disguises itself into an uninteresting pocketbook or textbook or whatever the reader is most uninterested in. That's how it works for everyone,  except for Rigo, who can read every single word you wrote in it, and the firstborn male of every generation of my family. Ang pinagkaiba nga lang namin kay Rigo, hindi namin nababasa ang mga sinulat mo. The book presents itself to the males of our family in the form of what we desire the most. Para mapukaw ang pagnanais namin na protektahan ang mga ito."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. "Really? What do you see when you try to read it?" I asked him, curious as to what his answer might be.

"Some appear to me as books detailing the history of our race, some are story books about the draconis corde, there are books about my ancestors and their roles in helping you in your previous lives." He shrugged after answering my question. "I guess your journals tried to satisfy my diverse interests."

Napatango ako. It makes sense to me somehow that my previous selves have enchanted their journals as protection. It's that realization that gave me an idea on how to protect Rigo.

I gathered a few books within my reach and laid them side by side on the table in front of me. I reverently touched them to get a feel on the magic used on them. As my fingers glided on the journals, the covers glimmered as if recognizing their owner. I closed my eyes to heighten my other senses, trying hard to decipher how the protection spell works.