CURSED

27- A Witch in Training

Bleik was brought to a two-storey house on top of a hill. Maganda ang bahay na may sky blue na pintura at may apat na columns sa may main entrance.

"Welcome home," nakangiting sabi ni Hanaleese nang makapasok sila sa loob.

Like what Bleik expected, the inside of the house was luxurious in an old-fashioned way. Tila mga antiques ang mga muwebles.

"Bahay mo 'to?" tanong niya sa babae.

"Well, it used to belong to a member of Silent Magic. He sacrificed his wealth to me to gain power."

Masamang tingin ang ipinukol ni Bleik sa babae. "So, aside sa pag-seal mo sa bibig nila, kinukuha mo rin ang kanilang kayamanan."

Nagkibit-balikat ito. "Mouth is a very impure part of our body, Bleik. It can cause pain to other people. Let's say, with our words. And it can paralyze our self-control by indulging too much on food. Gluttony is a sin. And there's so much more that mouth can do to lead us to our downfall."

Bleik puffed a frustrated breath. "Wow ha. Gluttony is a sin but killing other people is fine. What a logic. Baka nawalan ka na rin ng tamang pag-iisip."

Hindin agad sumagot si Hanaleese. Humarap ito sa bintana kung saan kita ang maliit nitong community at ang dagat.

If it was a different place, Bleik would have admitted that the place was a paradise.

"People will always want something they don't have. The thrill of imagining na makukuha mo ang isang bagay, it's blissful. That's why poor people dream of being rich. And rich people dream of being richer. Our desires are unending."

Hindi sumagot si Bleik pero nakinig siya. Waiting for what else Hanaleese was about to point out.

"These people, they want to gain powers. Those who are already supernatural, they want to have more. Sealing their mouth severs their connection to the essential part of being human. Now that there is a gap between the human and the magic world, I create a bridge for them to cross. So they can tap to some powers that the nature has."

"And the supernatural beings you kill?"

"Sacrifices," sagot ni Hanaleese saka tumingin sa kanya. "Giving their wealth to me, it's one way to sacrifice. But these material things don't give them too much power. A supernatural being, on the other hand, is a source of great magic. They kidnap them, I do a sacrificial ceremony. I get the power of the supernatural and I share some to the one who kidnapped him. They feed me, I feed them."

Hindi alam ni Bleik kung masusuka s'ya o ano. This was truly evil.

"Survival of the fittest, Bleik. That's how we continue to live. Hindi ito bagong concept. This is animal instinct."

"Ano'ng plano mo sa akin?"

"I will train you to become the greatest witch. Mas magaling pa sa akin."

"No, thank you. Wala akong planong pumatay ng mga inosenteng nilalang."

"You don't need to kill anyone. You have magic in your blood and you can use it. Unlike me, I had to do something para magamit ang kapangyarihan ng Vertex blood ko."

"Why? Paano kung patayin kita kapag mas malakas na ako kesa sa'yo?"

"That would not be in the near future, so, I'm not worried."

Suminangot si Bleik. Ang lakas din kasi ng bilib nito sa sarili. At ang baba ng tingin nito sa kanya.

And the Ulirang Ina Award goes to, surprise, surprise, Hanaleese Galvier.