The Wizard Guardians (Part 1 And 2)

Chapter 30: Archer Tower

"You killed them," bulong ni Ad habang nakatingala sa tower na nabalutan na ng makapal na layer ng yelo. Kulay puti na ito. Dazzling white under the sun's rays.

Adriel heaved a deep sigh, a puff of steam issued from his mouth. Tumingin sa kanya si Henry.

"We can't afford to fight then by hand. Hindi na dapat tayo mag-aaksaya pa ng lakas, ngayong maglalakad nalang tayo," he protested.

"That's not the case! If we reached Ephiphyran Castle and attempted to pursue the king, with us already slain some of his men..."

Tama ito, naisip ni Henry. Pero may punto rin naman siya. Umiling nalang siya, dahil unti-unti nanaman siyang nakakaramdam ng pagkainis rito.

"I didn't kill them," he said flatly. "They're just frozen."

Hindi nakatugon si Ad. Tiningala ulit niya ang tower. Napailing nalang siya, bago ibinagsak ang leather bag at hinalungkat roon ang robe at travelling cloak. Hindi na niya kaya ang lamig ng lugar; his body is reacting negatively to it.

Once he put on the robe and the thick, travelling cloak, he stood up and felt the heaviness of the clothing. Ni hindi siya makagalaw ng madali dahil sa suot. He just hoped that they would not get engage on another fight or he will never be able to defend himself.

"Can you unfreeze them once we got out of their range?" tanong ni Ad kay Henry.

"They were raised above the ground about 500 meters and the wind here was stable. Their shots will be as accurate even when we were about a mile away from the tower. My ice magic can only range for about a half mile." Pagpapaliwanag ni Henry.

Adriel stared at him. Was he talking about distance-judging?

"So," he said, anyway, "what are we going to do?"

"Follow me." Tumalikod si Henry at nagsimulang maglakad.

Adriel was confused. Is his brother acting leader? Sinusubukan ba siyang pangunahan ng kapatid niya? Hindi naman siya naiinis pero nawe-weirdohan siya rito.

But then he followed. They once again walked in the clump of trees getting thinner and thinner, and the  frost covering them and the ground thicker.

Hindi nagtagal ay lumulubog na ang bawat tapak nila nang ilang sentimetro sa malambot na snow.

"Can you do something?" Adriel asked Henry hopefully.

Huminto si Henry sa paglalakad. Huminto rin si Ad at tiningnan niya ang likuran ng kapatid.

"You'll slide if the snow's impacted."

Walang nagawa si Ad kundi ang tiisin ang mahirap na paglalakad sa snow. Sobrang nalalamigan na siya, sobrang nabibigatan sa suot, at sobrang naiinis na. Masyado siyang nag focus sa paglalakad na hindi na niya namalayan na huminto na si Henry.

"Ad, mauna ka."

Napahinto si Ad at tiningnan si Henry. Henry have a plan. Adriel sensed it though.

"What? Anong gagawin mo?" tanong niya kay Henry.

"Ako na'ng bahala. Lumakad ka na. Susundan kita, just give me a minute."

"Just tell me kung anong gagawin mo," iritadong sabi niya kay Henry. Hindi niya gusto ito. Hindi siya komportable sa kung anumang gagawin nito.

"Just go. Do you think you can help? Ad, we're surrounded by snows,  the opposite of fire." He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Tinitigan ni Ad si Henry. Napabuntong-hininga nalang siya. Tama ito. Kahit labag sa kanya. Tama si Henry. Napailing nalang siya at tinalikuran si Henry, saka siya nagsimulang lumakad.