The Immortal Blood [Taglish Version]

CHAPTER 59 - POMPEII

Jade Cardwell

IT is like I was transported to biblical times as Eleazar narrated his life. Everything is too much to take right now as I feel like I am listening to a fantasy epic story.

"Let us take a quick break," utos ni Raphael kay Eleazar.

Hindi na niya hinintay ang sagot nito at kinuha ang kamay ko papunta sa likuran ng bahay nila kung saan naroon ang malawak na garden. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko siya kakausapin ngayon na nalaman ko na siya ang Vessel ng Immortal Blood.

"I am sorry for the whole lot of information that you have to deal with," bulong ni Raphael habang nasa harapan kami ng isang fish pond na may fountain.

"Are you also sorry for breaking my heart?" bulong na sagot ko sa kanya.

"I did not mean to hurt you---"

"And you expect me to believe that, Raphael? Pwede mo naman ako kausapin noon. You can just tell me that you want to officially end our relationship. Pwede mo naman sabihin sa akin noon na ayaw mo ng long distance relationship. You don't need to deliberately hurt me so I can forget you---"

In just one step, Raphael is in front of me and is now cupping my face. I was already lost for words when he suddenly kissed my lips. Mabilis ko siyang tinulak dahil baka may makakita sa aming dalawa.

"What's wrong with you? Kasasabi lang sa akin ni Eleazar na ikaw ang Vessel ng Immortal Blood. It means that you are destined for someone else---"

"Do you think I care about destiny?"

"We are not meant to be, Raphael. Dapat alam mo na 'yon bago mo pinaglaruan ang puso ko!"

"I will decide who is meant for me! Not the Immortal Blood in my veins, not the Protectors, but me!" mariin na sabi ni Raphael bago tuluyan na tumalikod sa akin.

I am now filled with confusion. Parang gusto niya sabihin na mahal niya ako, pero hindi niya masabi sa akin. Naputol ang pag-iisip ko tungkol sa amin ni Raphael nang makarinig ako ng tunog ng espada. A sound of the sword being drawn out from a scabbard. Paglingon ko, nandoon na si Eleazar hawak ang isang silver na sword.

"This is the Lumine sword," sabi ni Eleazar habang lumalapit sa akin.

"Ito po ba ang weapon ni Azariah? Parang sword ni Archangel Michael?"

"This sword is not from this world, but from heaven. Rai Zahl often called it Caelum."

"Curious po ako sa nangyari sa inyo sa Greece. Is it true na na-trap po kayo sa volcanic lava?" tanong ko habang hinahawakan ang Lumine sword.

"I lived with Ishmael's family. I was able to train and took care of the succeeding heirs of Ishmael. For seven generations, I protected their identity and ensured that no harm will come their way. Around 79 AD, Levon, the seventh Vessel and his family lived in a Roman city when an unexpected natural disaster happened," sabi ni Eleazar na itinuro ang isang bench sa tabi ng fish pond para doon kami maupo.

"Pompeii eruption? Ano po ang nangyari?"

"Nagkaroon ng volcanic eruption, lindol at pagbaha. Nahiwalay ako sa pamilya ni Levon. After the continuous tremors, pyroclastic flow from the volcano reached our city and consumed everyone alive. Nasa mataas na bahagi ng ciudad ang tirahan ni Levon kaya alam ko na nakaligtas sila."

"Kahit ang isang imortal Protector pala ay walang laban sa pyroclastic flow."

"Nagising na lang ako pagkatapos ng ilang taon. A group of treasure hunters found me trapped beneath the city's ruins during their excavation. Apparently, my body was petrified due to the lava flow from the volcano. Without the Immortal Blood to strengthen me, my body was hardened beyond recognition."

"Paano po kayo nabuhay kung petrified kayo?"

"One of the hunters accidentally broke my cast. When the air touched my body, I was released from being petrified and my burnt body slowly regenerated. Dahil divine tools ang Gladium at ang Compass of Light, these survived the catastrophe."

"Pero hindi niyo na po nahanap si Levon o kung sino man ang Vessel ng Immortal Blood ng panahon na 'yon."

"Jade, tinuruan ko sila kung paano magtago at kung paano lumipat ng lugar na walang masyadong tao na makakapansin sa kanila. Ilan taon ko sila hinanap pero nabigo ako hanapin ang mga ancestors ni Raphael."

"Nagkaroon po ba ng kapatid si Raphael or ang ibang Vessels?"

"Wala na. Nag-iisang anak na lalaki palagi ang tagapagmana ng Immortal Blood," sabi ni Eleazar at ipinahawak sa akin ang Lumine Sword. Mukha itong mabigat dahil malaki, pero nakapagtataka na magaan ito.

Habang nag-uusap kami ni Eleazar, napansin ko na naglalakad si Raphael pabalik sa garden. Inabutan niya ako ng isang glass ng orange juice at nagpumilit na sumiksik ng pag-upo sa pagitan namin ni Eleazar.

"Ang dami ng upuan sa loob. Bakit diyan ka umuupo?" tanong ko kay Raphael.

"Gusto ko dito sa tabi mo, kaya huwag ka makialam. Eleazar, bakit hindi mo ikwento kay Jade ang tungkol sa Shadow Spirit na si Alarcus."

"Sino si Alarcus?" tanong ko kay Eleazar dahil ngayon ko lang nalaman na may pangalan pala ang mga Shadow Spirit.

"Jade, do you remember the Shadow Spirit who massacred a whole village during biblical times? Rai Zahl believed that that the first one who takes hold of a human body host is Alarcus, the leader of the rebelled guardians."

"Ano po ang nakakatakot kay Alarcus? I mean, no offense sa mga Shadow Spirit. Alam ko na nakakatakot sila. Ano po ang meron kay Alarcus?"

"There is a rumor that Alarcus has the power to kill you in your dreams once you say his name three times. Of course, that is just a rumor based on some ancient supernatural texts," nakangiti na sabi ni Eleazar.

Inirapan ko lang si Raphael dahil halata naman na tinatakot niya ko. Sinabi ko pa naman ng tatlong beses ang pangalan ni Alarcus. Baka mamaya dalawin niya ko sa panaginip ko.