The Royal Knights (Completed)

Chapter 45

Lucilfer; The God Demon

“Captain!” with my remaining strength and power, I managed to run after him. I saw him falling in the depth of darkness. Ang iba ay halos gumapang na papunta sa kinaroroonan ko. Mga wala ng lakas at ang atmosphere na lamang ang tanging gumigising sa kanila. Nakita ko si Elliot na nakayanan namang maglakad kahit nahihirapan. Para bang isang hakbang pa ay sasalpak na rin siya sa lupa. Hindi, hindi rin siya makakaabot. Napatingin akong muli sa malaking butas, it's just a matter of time before Captain vanish in that pits of darkness, and I'll never see him again. I know, I don't know how but I do know. And I'll never let that happen.

“Elliot.” napatigil siya at tinignan ako, naghihintay sa anumang balak kong sabihin. Lahat sila ay naghintay, umaasang may magagawa pa. Malaki ang kasalanan ko at alam kong hindi sapat ang gagawin ko para makabawi sa kanila. Hindi ako mismo ang may gawa ng lahat pero ako pa rin ang may hawak ng katawang 'to. Hindi sapat ang dahilan na nawalan ako ng kontrol sa katawan ko—sa lahat. Ako pa rin 'to at kasalanan ko ang pagiging mahina. Kaya naman buong loob ko silang hinarap— nanghihingi ng tiwala, ng lakas ng loob. “Wait for him, save him.” I smiled. This may be the foolish thing to do but will surely help somebody so I don't mind. And he's not just somebody— he's someone, someone important to me, he's everything to me. Elliot's will is strong enough for me to leave the rest to him. He's the last resort. I trust him more than I trust myself. I jumped, searching for him in this very dark space. And finally I hear his voice, here I am falling after him, staring at his body, at his face, at his eyes that never stopped on looking at me. At his mouth that keeps on yelling my name, asking why am I here.

“Iris! What the hell are you doing?!” without a word, I draw out my light whip. Ito na ang natitira kong lakas at ang tangi kong magagawa. Isa lang sa'min ang maliligtas. We're all worn out. Kahit pa pilitin nilang tumulong, kahit pa subukan niyang iligtas kaming dalawa, masyado na silang nanghihina. Si Elliot na nag-iisang nakayanan pang tumayo ay naghihintay, nag-iipon ng lakas sa sandaling magpakita si Captain para tulungan niya.

I tried to reach his arms with my whip. And the moment I coiled it to him, he keeps on screaming, complaining. Even the darkness didn't help to cover the tears in his eyes. He didn't stopped on cussing, blaming himself. And I couldn't find a word to answer, to explain why am I doing this. Just doing things enough for him to understand but still denying everything right before him.

“Captain.” but this is what I wanted to do, there's no doubt, his life is more valuable than mine. And he's worth saving. I'll never regret saving his and throwing mine. “Live.” buong pwersa kong hinila ang whip pataas. Sa sandaling magkatapat kami ay inilag ko ang braso kong pinilit niyang abutin. Walang mangyayari kung magpapadala ako ngayon sa emosyon ko. Pareha lang kaming babagsak kung mananatili akong kakapit sa kaniya. Mas kailangan siya roon. Mas importante siya. Siya ang mas nakakaalam ng lahat kaysa sa'kin. Ngumiti ako, walang halong sakit, walang halong lito, walang halong pagsisisi, walang halong lungkot. Just a genuine smile, assuring him that everything will be fine.

Bago pa mabatak ang whip ay kinuha ko na ang nag-iisang patalim sa likod ko at pinutol yon para mapalakas ang pwersa hanggang sa maabot niya ang bunganga ng butas na ito. Halos mabingi ako sa pagsigaw niya sa pangalan ko. Inunat niya ang mga braso niya, pilit akong inaabot kahit pa na palayo siya sa'kin. Napangiti na lamang ako nang makita ang mga halamang umabot sa kaniya. Nakangiti akong pumikit, naghihintay sa kung saan ako babagsak at kailan.

At least he's safe. Thank you, Elliot, everyone.

——

“The princess is finally awake.” I can't open my eyes— no, I don't want to open my eyes. I don't want here. I want to escape. I want to turn back time where I can still hide and run away. But I knew it was impossible. I want it but I don't like the idea doing it. My life exchange for him. I'm more done fine knowing that. “Irisviel, welcome to Hell.” I slowly opened my eyes waiting for the light to dazzle me but there's none but darkness. I'm shocked that I can still see. Ah yeah, power of these eyes. And it really looks like we're in hell.

“Do you know me?” he's a demon hiding in an appearance of a human. Who's he? Why's here? What does he need? Those are the questions that I want to ask him but everything was just too tedious to even let a word escape my mouth. There's something in both my hands and feet that keeps me on moving and I can't tell what that is. “I heard Lucis stated my name. Even though he knew it's a taboo.”

Kumabog ang dibdib ko nang biglaan niyang hinawakan ang magkabila kong pisngi, marahas na inangat ang mukha ko para tignan siya. His thirst of blood and murderous intent that keeps my mouth shout. This is the very first time that I felt sudden intense trepidation of being overpowered. I never face anyone that can make me scream louder inside my head, desperately reaching anyone to help me escape from his chains that locking my soul.

Sa iisang palad na 'yon, para bang daan daang ahas ang bumabalot sa'kin. The moment his skin touches mine, it was like hundreds of voltage come through my veins. Halos hindi na ako makahinga. Para akong sinasaksak ng daan daang beses sa talim ng mga mata niyang nakatitig lang sa'kin.

“Now, then..” naglakad siya patungo sa hindi ko malamang direksyon. Madilim, mapula ang paligid. Hindi ko napansin na may kaunting liwanag sa parteng 'yon. Pero halos manigas ako nang makita ang anino niya sa likod niya. Even though he has this human form, his shadow can't lie, it's a monstrous demon that even the shadow itself is making this virulent sensation. Nakakalason. Gustong gusto ko nang bumagsak dito at pakinggan ang tawa niya habang pinapanood akong unti unting nawawalan ng buhay. “Allow me to introduce myself please.” naupo siya sa trono niya. “Lucilfer, The God Demon. The one who set the game.” labis ang takot na naramdaman ko sa pagngiti nito. Kanina ko pa gustong bumagsak, lalong pinapalala ang sitwasyon na kinakaharap ko ng mga ngangatog kong tuhod. Kahit pa ang larong binanggit niya ay parang dumaan lang sa tenga ko at hindi na dumiretso pa sa utak ko para isipin ko pa.

“I have known you since since the moment you were born, Dianus Irisviel Montmorency.” doon na mismo nawala ang atensyon ko sa takot. Napuno na ng tanong ang isip ko. Naguguluhan sa mga sinasabi niya. Napakunot na lamang ang noo ko dahil hindi ko pa rin magawang magsalita. Bigla siyang tumawa na nagpatindig ng balahibo ko. Gusto kong mapaurong kung hindi lamang sa mga bagay na nakabalot sa ilang parte ng katawan ko. “All of your battles have been in the palms of my hands. I am really grateful that all of you cooperated with me. Everything went as I planned.”

Gustong gusto ko siyang kwestyunin pero wala na akong lakas. All I know is that he's the mastermind that has overseen everything from the beginning til this end. “I'm still grateful to my beloved son even though he's proved himself to me that he's that useless. You know him, right? Lucis. Lucis Eraclea.”

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nararamdaman ko o kung meron pa ba. Hindi ko alam kung naiintindihan ko pa ba ang nga sinasabi niya o hindi na. Kung nakakahinga pa ba 'ko sa mga oras na 'to o nagbibilang na lang ng oras para tuluyan nang dumilim ang lahat.

“Hopeless, eh? You've just met me and I'm still not giving you my very best present that I prepared especially for you a long time ago. This is unique, a very rare one. I bet you just seen it from a portrait? Well, it's good to know that you desire it.” he's way too talkative for a demon. A logic is far more needed here. Even just for talking is making me ask to hang me to death. It's killing me. He's slowly killing me without any weapons. “ Close your eyes.” wala akong sinabi o ginawa. Pinanatili ko ang mga mata kong nakatitig sa kaniya pero sa gulat ko ay may patalim na dumaloy sa kanang mata ko kaya naman agad akong napapikit. “Do as you are told.” nakangiti lamang siya, kalmado na para bang walang ginawang pananakit.

After a minute, he told me to open my eyes. I did but I can only open my left eye and I needed to blink 'cause of my blurry vision at first.

“Irisviel?” I suddenly can't breathe. And with a second, my memory with the soul of my mother came back. Her words that made me confused. It's the person I least expected.

Save your father.

And the moment his name flashed inside my head, I stated it right before him. “Shirogane?”