Lumina Academy: Light and Shadow (Realm Series #1)

Chapter 33: Penelope, The Golden Phoenix Supreme Guardian

Chapter 33: Penelope, The Golden Phoenix Supreme Guardian
 
Third Person’s Point Of View
 
Habang nilalaban ng prinsepe ang pinuno ng mga rogue vampires ay bigla na lamang sila nakaramdam ng isang nagagalit at nakakikilabot na presensya. Mabilis silang napatigil ngunit napagtanto naman kaagad ng prinsepe kung kanino nanggagaling ‘yon. He thought that the princess summoned one of the electric cats and unconsciously waiting for Zephyr’s cuss.
 
“Fuck!” Rinig naman niyang mura ng kalaban niya dahil naramdaman din nito ang nakakikilabot na presensya.
 
Kita naman niya ang takot na dumaan sa mga mata nito kaya natuwa siya sa nakikita. Akmang susugod na ulit ang prinsepe ng bigla na lang itong mawala sa harapan niya at nakita na lamang ito sa isa sa mga itaas ng puno habang nakangisi sa kaniya and he can already see what coming next.
 
“Hanggang sa muli, mahal na prinsepe.”
 
He released his purple flame to stop the man but he had already vanished even before his flame touch him. He cuss under his breath before vampires attacked him. ‘Fucking asshole!’ He is mad right now that’s why he killed every vampire that came in his way. With the use of his sword together with his flame and lighting attacks, he easily killed the rogue vampires. His sword was blazing with his purple flame and became a killing machine.
 
When he was done with the vampires, he didn’t waste more time and run where the princess was and he can’t help but feel worried when he saw how many rogue vampires are that the princess was fighting. He bulldozed where the vampires who tried to hurt his beloved and leave no life. He’s merciless while killing the vampires who want to hurt his beloved and it made him angrier. He doesn’t like the idea of hurting his Hope in any way and he won’t let that happen.
 
He did his best to go near the princess that was busy fighting too but vampires are too many that it gave him a hard time. While he was fighting the vampires, he was also glancing where the princess was and that’s when he noticed that she didn’t summon one of her guardians, instead, she was only using their power and their lighting was protecting her body—protecting her from the vampires.
 
Just like the prince, she was killing the vampires and very skilled when it comes to battle but she still can feel her fear towards the vampires. If it wasn’t just the sibling’s lightning surrounding her body, she is sure that vampires will get a chance to touch her. Because right now, every time that vampires are trying to touch her, the lighting surrounding her body was protecting her—killing the vampires in no time.
 
She’s still trying to conquer her fear but it wasn’t easy. If it wasn’t just about Prince Aiden’s presence, she is sure that she’s already crying—or maybe she already died in the hands of these vampires. Prince Aiden and her were both busy fighting but they are glancing at each other—checking each other out. As long as they wanted to summon their guardians, they know that it will draw more attention which they avoid happening.
 
But then, Prince Aiden didn’t see the vampire’s attack and he just felt the vampire kick him in his stomach. Since vampires are naturally strong physically, he was thrown but he controlled his body. His back lifted and landed his feet on one of the branches of a tree. Tumingin siya sa ibaba at nakita ang mga bampirang pulang-pula ang mga mata at gustong-gusto ng inumin ang kaniyang dugo.
 
He’s panting but he still can manage. He positioned himself to attack once again but before he can do that, his attention turned where the princess was when he noticed a movement there. But he just stilled when he noticed the leader of the rogue vampires behind her and was ready to attack her while she’s busy fighting.
 
Worry consumed him and he can’t help but shout her name. “No… Hope!” He tried calling the princess’ attention but it looks like she was too preoccupied with attacking her opponent. His heart raced because of worried and he was about to teleport there when an unexpected thing happened.
 
When Nelson—the leader of the rogue vampires was about to pierce his sword to the princess’ back, a golden light suddenly appeared between them—blocking the man who was ready to kill the princess. Ang nakasisilaw na liwanag na parang ipo-ipo sa una na maya-maya pa ay bigla na lamang naging parang isang pakpak na bumuka, at kasunod no’n ay ang nakaririnding ingay na parang gawa ng isang ibon.
 
Everyone stopped as they heard that terrifying sound and they can also feel the overwhelming aura that coming from that creature. And when the sight was clear, the prince just stilled when he realized who that creature was. Everyone saw the light turn into a bird—a golden phoenix to be exact and this phoenix was blazing with the golden fire—one of the legendary fires here in the whole magic world.
 
Hindi nakagalaw ang prinsepe sa kinatatayuan at nakatitig lamang sa nilalang na parang mayroong pino-protektahan. Nakita rin niya kung paano binalutan ng apoy ang lalaking gustong-gusto niyang patayin at ilang mga bampira na naabutan ng apoy nito. They screamed and some of the vampires run for their lives when they witnessed a terrifying scene.
 
‘Another supreme guardian just appeared right in front of me… Penelope, the golden phoenix guardian…’
 
He was watching how magnificent the supreme guardian—Penelope—while flying above the sky—giving light on the dark sky but he could see through the magnificent supreme guardian’s eyes that she is mad—beyond mad while killing mercilessly the vampires who tried to fight against her. But then, there’s one question that lingered in his head.
 
‘Who’s the summoner? Who is her summoner?’
 
They will just going to appear when the summoner wants to. But then… who is the summoner of the golden phoenix? Madaming tanong sa kaniyang isipan ngunit ng maalala niya ang prinsesa ay bigla na lamang siyang napatakbo sa kinaroroonan nito while Penelope was killing all the vampires who dared to come in her way.
 
Penelope was making a sound while killing the vampires, at sa ginagawa nito, alam ng prinsepe na galit ito—kitang-kita rin ito sa kaniyang mga mata. She was fuming mad like her summoner was hurt by the vampires. His head was in turmoil because of Penelope’s sudden appearance, but when he saw his beloved sitting on the grass, he suddenly got worried. Mabilis niyang lumapit dito at dinaluhan ito kaagad ng yakap.
 
His sword disappeared and he doesn’t care if the electric cats’ lightning was currently surrounding the princess’ body that might hurt or worst kill him. Instead, mas lalo lamang niyang hinigpitan ang yakap sa prinsesa at nagtagis na lamang ang kaniyang bagang ng maramdaman ang panginginig nito. Hindi gumalaw ang dalaga kaya ang akala niyang hindi siya nito yayakapin pabalik ay nagkakamali siya.
 
The princess hugged him back and a sigh of contentment just came out on his mouth. Then he felt her buried her face on his neck—na isip-isip niya ay inunahan siya nito na ikinatawa naman niya ng palihim. Ramdam niya pa rin ang panginginig ng prinsesa kaya naman mas lalo niya pa itong niyakap ng mahigpit. Dahil may ideya na siya kung bakit ito takot na takot sa mga bampira ay parang gusto na lamang niyang ubusin ang lahat ng rogue vampires na nandito.
 
“Don’t worry, prince, me too, I wanted to do that too…”
 
He stilled but still manage to look where Penelope was that still busy killing all the rogue vampires. He was sure that it was Penelope—he is sure because she is giving him the feeling that only a supreme guardian could give. He wanted to ask the guardian but he can feel that the guardian doesn’t want to talk to him. She was busy killing—protecting them and he noticed that.
 
“P-Prince of fire…”
 
He avoided his gaze where the guardian was and look at the princess in his arms. He was feeling worried about her that he didn’t realize that the electric cats’ lightning was also surrounding his body. He was too preoccupied because of what was happening but he turned his full attention to his beloved who is now calming down. He was about to ask her when he heard Penelope’s voice again in his head.
 
“Get out of here now, prince. Take the south wing, it’s safe there.”
 
He doesn’t want to be ordered around—even it was the supreme guardian but since he wanted to take his beloved to a safe place, he obeyed the guardian. He carried the princess who rest her head in his shoulder before he looked at Penelope before taking the south wing—like what the guardian said, while still carrying the princess carefully like she was a precious thing. He runs while being vigilant in his surroundings.
 
He needs to know who’s the summoner of Penelope and why she suddenly appeared out of nowhere. And another thing is… she appeared like how Zephyr appeared before.
 
‘Before my Hope gets hurt…’
 
***
 
Hope Lorelei Lara Sapphire Watson
 
Huminto sa pagtakbo si Aiden ng makarating kami sa isang sapa. Ibinaba naman niya ako na mayroong kasamang pag-iingat pero napangiwi na lang ako dahil ramdam ko ang hapdi sa mga paa ko. May mga sugat ang paa ko dahil naka-paa ako kanina pa. That’s also the reason why vampires are keep on coming in my way—because I have small cuts in my feet and they can smell my blood.
 
Aiden was holding me in my waist while his eyes were darted in my bare feet and he just sighed before looking at my eyes. He looks worried that’s why I smiled slightly at him—telling him that I am alright. Wala naman din akong dapat ipag-alala sa kaniya dahil mukhang maayos lang din naman siya. I just let myself be drowned and lost in his eyes again that only he could pull me from drowning and can find me from being lost.
 
I know that he has a lot of questions in his mind because of Penelope’s sudden appearance. I don’t know that Penelope appeared until I heard her making sounds. You see, my guardians can summon themselves but it was only happening when they know that I already needed them. I am just thankful that it was only her who appeared—not all of them.
 
Aiden and I are both preventing summoning our guardians but Penelope knows what she’s doing and also, Aslan won’t let her if something bad will happen. However, Aiden will have a lot of questions to ask but he wasn’t sure who he will be going to ask. One of the supreme guardians just appeared right through his eyes and what just happened made me think that my guardians are trusting Aiden.
 
He carried me again at maingat na ibinaba kung na saan ang nakatumbang maliit na katawan ng puno. Then he kneel one of his knee then he check one of my feet and here’s my heart again ngunit tila nasasanay na ang sistema ko—lalo naman sa tuwing nararamdaman ko ang kuryenteng dumadaloy sa katawan ko sa tuwing nagtatama ang aming mga balat. 
 
“Stay still,” he said before he rip the hem of his polo before walking towards where the stream is at binasa ito habang hinintay ko naman siya.
 
While waiting for him, tinignan ko naman ang paa ko at nakitang madumi ito at nagdudugo ang maliliit kong sugat. Bumuntong-hininga naman ako dahil naaawa ako sa paa ko. Ngumuso ako ng maramdaman ko ang pagkirot nito kaya hindi ko na ginalaw pa. Nabugbog ang paa ko dahil mabato ang kung saan ako nakikipaglaban kanina.
 
Habang hinihintay si Aiden ay naalala ko naman bigla sina Mimi kaya nanlaki na lang ang mga mata ko. Baka nag-aalala na ang mga ‘yon, lalo na si Mimi! I also remembered my baby and I can already imagine him crying for looking for me! Oh, deities! Kailangan na naming umuwi kaagad dahil baka iyak na ng iyak ang anak ko! Naku po! Hindi ko alam kung ilang araw na kaming wala dahil magkaiiba naman ang oras sa bawat realms!
 
“What’s with that look?”
 
Nakanguso naman akong tumingin sa prinsepe ng apoy na nakalapit na pala sa akin. Lumuhod siyang muli sa harapan ko at maingat niyang kinuha ang isang paa ko. I watch him how he gently wipe the dirt na parang iniiwasan niyang masaktan ako na lalo na namang ikinabilis ng puso ko.
 
He really has an impact on my heart and I’m not dumb to know what’s the meaning of this kahit na wala pa akong experience. Pero nagkaka-crush naman ako, eh, at ganito ang nararamdaman ko sa tuwing nandiyan yung crush ko ngunit… ibang-iba ang binibigay ng prinsepe na ‘to sa akin.
 
I still need a confirmation or sign that I have a crush on him—but, isn’t it obvious already? Tsaka, crush lang ba talaga?
 
Pagkatapos niyang punasan ang isa ay tumingin siya sa akin na ikinalunok ko na lamang. Parang napugto naman ang hininga ko ng magtama ang paningin namin. This man didn’t failed to captivate me with those blue eyes. I wonder if he does feel the same thing… this prince… matatakot na ba ako sa nararamdaman ko sa kaniya?
 
“Put it here,” saad niya na tinutukoy ang paa kong tapos na niyang punasan bago niya inalis ang kaniyang sapatos at ipinatong ang paa ko ro’n.
 
Npakurap na lang ako habang nakatingin sa paa ko at sa paa niyang nakasuot na lamang ng itim na medyas. “But…” nabitin ang sasabihin ko ng tinignan niya ako ng masama na ikina-nguso ko na lamamg lalo.
 
Sungit.
 
Pagkatapos ay tumayo na naman siya upang linisin ang tela’ng pinangpunas niya sa paa ko at bumalik rin kaagad. Tulad ng ginawa niya kanina sa isang paa ko ay pinunasan niya rin ito na may kasamang pag-iingat. Napatitig na lamang ako sa kaniya dahil sa ginagawa niya. He’s aloof and cold to everybody—pili at iilan lamang ang malalapit sa kaniya—but look at him right now, may itinatago rin pala siyang ka-sweet-an and I am lucky because I experienced it—he let me experience it.
 
Hmm… ang swerte naman ng magiging-girlfriend nito.
 
“Just stay here,” he said when he’s done. “I’ll just hunt. Just call me when something bad happens, got it?” Wala sa sariling napatango-tango ako habang bahagyang naka-nguso ang aking labi.
 
He stared at me for a second before standing up. Then he turned his back at me but before he could take one step, I called him. “Prince of fire…” he look at me from his shoulder. “Be careful,” wika ko na ikinatango lamang niya. Hindi ko makita kung ano ang naging reaksyon niya dahil nanatili siyang nakatalikod sa akin hanggang sa tuluyan na nga siyang naglakad paalis para mag-hunting ng makakakain namin.
 
While me, I stayed where I’m sitting. Penelope came back to their realm already and there is no threat anymore. I just sighed while still can’t believe that we were in a different realm—especially when I came face to face the creatures that I don’t want to cross my path anymore. But I guess, it helps me conquer my fear of them. I just have to win over it and hopefully, I will get finally free from it.
 
And then there’s the prince of fire…
 
Dahil sa nangyaring ito, nakita ko ang ibang side ng prinsepe. But I know, after this, he will be back to his old self again—avoiding everyone again, but at least, I saw his soft side. Aiden Axel… that name didn’t leave my mind anymore and I was happy to see his different sides except for his cold façade that everyone used to see from him.
 
Napatingin naman ako sa sapa ng mapansin kong parang may mga lumalangoy do’n na isda at napangiti na lamang ako. Hmm… bigla tuloy akong nag-crave ng seafood at sisiguraduhin kong kakain ako no’n pagka-uwi namin. Ikinumpas ko naman ang kamay ko sa hangin habang nakatutok ito kung na saan ang sapa at hinuli ang isdang malaki—kasya na para sa aming dalawa ni Aiden. Lumutang ito at kinontrol ito patungo sa kinaroroonan ko.
 
Inilibot ko ang paningin ko upang humanap ng tuyong kahoy upang sa gagawin kong pag-iihaw ngunit habang inililibot ko ang paningin ko ay narinig ko na lang bigla ang boses ni Aiden na medyo nagpagulat sa akin. “Did you walk?” Seryoso ang boses nito kaya lumingon ako kaagad sa kaniya at nakitang nakakunot ang nuo nito habang nakatingin sa akin—handa na upang sermonan ako oras na tumango ako.
 
“No…” I answered at tila nakahinga siya ng maluwag bago napailing-iling at lumapit sa akin. Tsaka ko naman napansing mayroon siyang dala-dalang baboy ramo na medyo may kalakihan at hindi ko mapigilang mapanguso. “Kawawa…” naisaad ko na lamang na ikinatigil naman niya.
 
Mukhang sanay na sanay siya, ah. Pero kung sa bagay, baka sa tuwing may misyon sila ay nagha-hunt sila ng kanilang makakain because after all, he is already junior—third year now at tsinismis lang naman ‘yon sa akin ni Gen.
 
“You… want me to free it?”
 
Naptingin naman ako sa kaniya bago ibinalik ang tingin sa kawawang baboy ramo—it is still a baby and I can’t stand seeing it die just because we are hungry. Umiiyak ito at tila hinahanap ang nanay kaya mas lalo akong nangulila sa aking anak. Tila naiiyak pa ako habang nakatingin sa baboy ramo dahil sa samut-saring nararamdaman ngayon hanggang sa marinig ko ang kaniyang pagbuntong-hininga.
 
“Forget it,” he said then freed the wild boar na kaagad namang tumakbo palayo sa amin kaya hindi ko mapigilang maging masaya para dito.
 
Buti na lang hindi pa niya napapatay…
 
“Ba-bye…” I even waved my hand at the running wild boar.
 
Maya-maya pa ay nakarinig na lang ako ng mahinang tawa kaya kaagad akong napalingon kay Aiden at nakita siyang nakangiti na parang ewan while looking at me and there’s amusement in his eyes. I just pouted at him before he smiled at me and get the fish instead and I just let him do whatever he want to do. Hindi ko na lamang siya pinansin pa at inilibot ko na lang ulit ang paningin ko sa paligid.
 
Looks peaceful but still dangerous.
 
Binalik ko ang tingin sa kaniya at nakita nag-iihaw na niya. Ang bilis naman ng kilos ng lalaking ‘to and I noticed that the color of fire was purple and I can’t help but feel amaze when I saw the purple flame this close. It was truly magnificent just like the golden fire. Tahimik akong namamangha at gano’n din siya—tahimik lamang at abala sa pag-iihaw ng isda na mabilis na naluluto.
 
Tahimik lamang kami hanggang sa basagin niya ito. “We still don’t know when we will get home,” wika niya na ikinalungkot ko na lamang dahil sa pag-aalalang nag-aalala na sa akin sina Mimi, lalo na ang pag-aalalang baka hinahanap na ako ng baby ko.
 
“We should find a way to go home immediately…” mahina kong wika habang pinanonuod kung paano maluto ang isda. “My baby misses me, so am I…” wala sa sariling saad ko at nagulat na lamang ako dahil bigla na lang sumiklab ang apoy na alam kong siya ang dahilan.
 
Malamang, apoy niya ‘yan, eh.
 
“Hala!”
 
Tinignan ko naman ng may pagtataka si Aiden ngunit lalo akong nagtaka ng makita ko siyang madilim ang mukha habang umiigting pa ang kaniyang panga. Hindi siya nakatingin sa akin dahil nanatili lamang ang tingin niya sa iniihaw niya kaya napailing na lamang ako.
 
Ano na naman kayang problema ng prinsepe na ‘to?
 
***
 
Ingrid Genevieve Taylor
 
Tatlong araw. Tatlong araw ng nawawala sina Lara at Prince Aiden at nag-aalala na kaming lahat. Hindi namin malaman kung na saan ang dalawa pero walang sumusukong hanapin sila. Alam naman naming kaya nila ang sarili nila at sana ay na sa ligatas silang lugar. Hindi rin namin alam kung magkasama ba ang dalawa o hindi, pero sana naman, magkasama silang dalawa.
 
Tatlong araw na ring nagwawala si baby Caelum dahil hindi nito nakikita ang nanay niya. Walang araw na hindi ito iiyak kaya naman nag-aalala na kami pati sa kaniya. Nalaman din namin kay Titiana na kayang maramdaman ni Caelum kung na sa panganib o kung may nangyaring masama ba sa nanay niya kaya sa tuwing nagwawala siya ay todo ang kabang nararamdaman namin.
 
Wala pa kaming lead kung na saan ba ang dalawa. Hindi rin naman maramdaman ni Titiana kung na saan si Lara kaya nahihirapan talaga kami. Everyone are looking for them ngunit halos masuyod na namin ang buong Luminaria realm, wala talaga sila and that’s when we assumed that they are in other realm na mas lalo naming prinoblema. Sana lang talaga ay magkasama ang dalawa kung na saan man sila.
 
Bumuntong-hininga na lang ako at tumingin sa paligid. Nandito kami ngayon sa office ni Tita Raine at mukhang bibigyan niya kami ng misyon. I just hope that it’s all about Lara and Aiden. It was too late for us to learn that they were abducted dahil wala kaming naramdaman and it was Tita AM who told us that they were abducted ngunit hindi alam kung saan sila napunta.
 
“It’s been three days…” panimula ni Tita Raine bago bumuntong-hininga. “We need to visit the other realm to find them and I hope, they are in good condition,” she sighed and I noticed the dark circles under Tita Raine’s eyes. Visit the other realm? How? “Now, Alphas—” napatigil naman si Tita ng bigla na lamang bumukas ang pinto ng office niya at iniluwa no’n ang nilalang na nakasuot ng gold hooded cape kaya hindi namin makilala kung sino ito.
 
What the—
 
Bigla naman kaming napatayo at inihanda ang sarili sa kung ano man ang pwedeng mangyari. Hindi pamilyar ang presensya nito at hindi namin matukoy kung kalaban ba ito o kakampi kaya kailangan naming maging alerto. Ang ipinagtaka ko lamang ay kung paano ito nakapasok sa academy o sa lugar namin dahil ramdam kong hindi siya taga-dito at taga-ibang realm siya and I can not determine if she is an immortal or not. Ang hirap malaman dahil hindi niya kami hinahayaang malaman ang bagay na ‘yon.
 
“Who are you?” Rinig kong seryosong tanong ni Lucas dito.
 
Nakita kong isa itong babae dahil kita ang mahaba nitong buhok. “Just passing by…” sagot nito at napanganga na lang ako dahil sa tono ng boses nito.
 
Her tone shouts authority—even her presence—ang tono ring hindi mo mapipigilang makinig sa kaniya at bawat utos nito ay susundin mo ng walang pang-aalinlangan—bawat salita niya ay pakikinggan mo—you will choose to hear every single word that she will say like your life was depend on it. Her presence is normal but we know that she is far from being normal. She was only hiding it and I don’t think I will be ready oras na pakawalan niya ang kaniyang tinatagong presensya.
 
“Just spill it, young lady,” rinig ko namang wika ni Tita Raine at kalmado ang boses bago ko narinig ang kaniyang boses sa aking isipan—sa aming isipan. “Relax, Alphas. She’s harmless.”
 
We relaxed but we never lower our ground until she spoke again. “You don’t need to be worried about them…” nagtaka naman kami dahil sa narinig mula sa kaniya at nagkatinginan pa kami. “They are in good condition right now but… you need to fetch them now,” wika niyang muli at mayroong na lang siyang biglang inihagis na bagay sa lamesa ni Tita Raine. At dahil titig na titig ako sa kaniya ay nakita ko sa forearm niya na mayroon siyang parang bracelet armor and it is also gold and shining.
 
“Who are you?” Tanong ni Tita habang hindi pa rin inaalis ang tingin sa babae. “And why would I trust you?” Muling tanong niya dito at seryoso na siya.
 
“Like what you’ve said, headmistress—I am harmless and don’t worry, I’m your daughter’s friend,” nagulat naman kami sa sunod na sinabi nito, gano’n din si Tita Raine at walang nakapagsalita sa amin. “And to answer your question of who I am…” at tinaas niya ng bahagya ang kaniyang hood at nakita namin ang kaniyang mapupulang labi, at dito pa lang, alam ko ng maganda ang babaeng ito.
 
Ang gandang kababaliwan ng lahat ng lalaki—ng lahat ng nilalang na nabubuhay.
 
“I am… the Queen Goddess…” as she said that, napanganga na lamang kami. “See you in mortal realm… Alphas,” the last thing she said before a golden light suddenly surrounded her until she disappeared into thin air.
 
Nakanganga pa rin ako dahil sa gulat sa nangyari. Wala ring gustong magsalita ni isa sa amin dahil mukhang nagulat rin sila sa kanilang nasaksihan at pare-pareho ang aming tanong ngayon.
 
Who is she…?
 
***
 
Author’s note:

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