Chapter 15

i almost killed my comrade

Kei was a lifesaver.

We were continuously running on the narrow strip of land to get away from the school of mermaids trying to pull us below the water. Their shrill laughs and menacing smiles were a sight that was even more terrible than a ghoul's face.

I tried channeling the fear inside me through my eyes, but I couldn't concentrate because a lot were happening around me. Kei was almost carrying me already because the mermaids were persistent on attacking us. They could alter the conditions of the sea in their favor, and I watched in horror as a huge wave rose, almost engulfing the surrounding in darkness.

Moria turned her head at our direction. "Hurry!"

Kei tightened his grip on my waist as I hunched uncomfortably on his right shoulder. The sand exploded and hardened into dunes from Moria's power, temporarily blocking the waves from drowning us, just like what she did in the desert.

For almost two hours, we continued running and evading the mermaids' attacks. Irus and I were useless the entire time, and I felt bad for Kei and Moria. Every minute, I was hoping that we'd reach a landmass, but I couldn't see where we were going because it felt like I'd fall off from his shoulder if I move even with a minimal motion.

Naramdaman ko naman ang pagbagal ng takbo ni Kei at doon lang ako nagtangkang gumalaw. I moved my upper body with difficulty and caught my breath when a shore finally came into view. The few mermaids who followed us hissed angrily from afar. I just realized they halted from a significant distance, and I wondered why. Was the Northern Continent off-limits to them? Or was this a territory for other races in the sea?

Ibinaba ako ni Kei at nagtangka akong muling tumingin sa pinanggalingan namin. I saw the mermaids diving underwater already without any intent to follow us. Perhaps there was something here that even them could not fight against.

"Lady, come," called Kei.

I turned to their direction, but momentarily paused when I realized we were already in the Northern Continent. Somehow, it felt surreal. This was their home. My home.

The white and fine sand of the shore was a stark contrast from the rocky coast of Margula and Rusnia. Inland was a temperate rainforest, and thick mosses were everywhere. We were running the whole day and the sun was starting to set when we trudged inside the forest. Exhaustion had washed over us. Fortunately, the forest was a good and a much safer place to set up a camp.

Moria glanced at Irus' cocoon. "Come out."

The thick branches and vines started to unravel and revealed his bandaged face. He stood guard as soon as he stepped out of his sanctum. The sun had yet to set, but the thick canopies of trees block its rays from penetrating the forest ground, allowing him to move without being incapacitated.

Kei and Moria already lay dormant as soon as they hit the ground. No wonder since they were running nonstop while looking after us.

Irus sat on a boulder a few meters away from us with his rapier ready. Lalapit na sana ako sa kanya pero agad niya akong pinigilan.

"Stay with them, lady," he said, a hint of warning on his tone. "The creatures in the North are far stronger and powerful than those that we have encountered."

The dread in his words sent shivers down my spine. "What do you mean? What creatures are waiting for us?"

His eyes darkened, but another voice answered my question. "The North is the home of not only the undead, but also the skinwalkers and magi, the strongest creatures to walk on this planet, lady."

Turning around, I saw Moria already dusting off the soot and dirt on her clothes. "Unlike the ones we encountered in the mainland and southern countries, the north is darker and colder, a place where these creatures could comfortably live. And contrary to the southerners' belief, there are few humans living here, but their numbers are scarce, which allows the stronger creatures to take control of every territory."

True enough, the North felt ominous, but strangely, it also felt . . . familiar.

Napatingin naman ako kay Irus nang bigla siyang tumayo. He disappeared like a burst of wind and came back with several heads of bloodsuckers and ghouls. I grimaced as I saw the blood trickling down their necks, and their faces frozen in terror.

Halos mapatalon ako nang biglang bumangon si Kei. "We should move." His brows furrowed, as if something more terrifying was looming. "I can feel several mages around."

Agad na napalingon sina Moria at Irus sa kanya. Their faces were filled with apprehension. Mages are by far the most powerful undead we had encountered and several of them meant trouble.

Without any protests, we continued moving, but as we went deeper in the forest of Urbedza, the colder it got. My limbs were turning numb, and my body was shivering from the bitterly cold wind and mist despite wearing my rouska.

"Your body is still not used to this, lady," Kei murmured as he draped his cloak over my shoulders.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras na kaming naglalakad. Sometimes, Irus would disappear, and we would hear muffled cries and screams elsewhere, then he would return with new specks of blood and grime on his uniform.

My mind reeled as I let out a quivering breath. Then something strange happened. Suddenly, it felt like something just punched me in the gut. My legs staggered as I tried to find my balance, but my body had already given up on me. My head and stomach roiled in pain, and I could feel the life draining from my eyes.

For the first time, I felt something more intense than fear. It was death.

***

"Victoria, you should never leave alone."

"We will always be by your side. We need to protect you."

My eyes fluttered open as memories of my grandparents flashed before me. Orbs danced before my eyes. Blinking hard, I tried to get back my bearings. It was only after a few minutes that I realized my retainers were beside me, dread and worry visible on their faces.

Sinubukan kong bumangon pero nanghihina pa ang buong katawan ko. I tried recalling what happened before I passed out. Ang natatandaan ko lang ay may naramdaman akong kakaiba. It was as if the grim reaper had come for me. I was in the brink of death.

"What happened?" I asked, but it came out as a hoarse whisper.

Bigla naman silang lumuhod at yumuko sa akin. Next thing I knew, they were ready to strike their limbs with their weapons already.

Gasping, I held my palm and tried to intercept them. "S-stop!"

Fortunately, they listened, but they were still considering hurting themselves as a punishment for what happened to me. I truly appreciate their concern and loyalty, but sometimes, it's too much.

Dahan-dahan akong bumangon pero napayakap agad ako sa katawan ko dahil sa lamig. My rouska had returned to its bracelet form and the only thing that was keeping me warm was Kei's cloak. I was considering using it again, but my fingers were still numb. Agad naman akong tumingin kay Moria para humingi ng tulong.

"I need my rouska."

She immediately understood what I meant, and swiftly made a small cut on my finger. The three winced as soon as they caught the scent of my blood, but Moria managed to trickle a droplet onto my bracelet. Upon transformation, I laced it with a cloth bandage as quickly as possible while they tried to control their cravings by keeping a considerable distance from me.

Nang masiguro kong secured na ang daliri ko ay agad ko rin silang tinawag at muling tinanong kung ano ang nangyari.

Moria drooped her head in shame. "We were near a sacred ground earlier, lady. I apologize for not noticing it quickly."

"Sacred ground?"

"We were too focused on avoiding the paths that may be filled with creatures that we have forgotten about several sacred grounds in the forest," Kei explained. "We almost let you die, lady. We deserve the highest punishment for negligence of duty."

They bowed deeply once again while I was lost in thought for a moment. Sacred ground, huh? So that was the fatal weakness of someone like me. I suddenly realized how I would never go near any churches or cathedrals when I was still a living being. Akala ko dahil hindi ako lumaking naniniwala sa mga ganoon, especially when my grandparents didn't even teach me anything about religion. It turned out I was instinctively avoiding places or activities that were considered sacred or holy.

My thoughts receded when they were suddenly on their toes, their hands hovering around their weapons.

Kei knelt before me. "Pardon us, lady. I know you are still in no shape to walk, but we need to move."

***

Halos hindi na namin makita ang paligid dahil sa kapal ng hamog. Kei had to carry me on his back so we could continue walking while Moria and Irus stood guard in front and behind us, respectively.

The forest seemed eerier now. The thick fog and the expansive lattice of leaves above cloaked the woods in darkness. Besides the occasional hooting and howling of the unseen animals, and the snapping of twigs under our feet, the forest was quiet . . . as if it were holding its breath.

I heard Irus unsheathing his rapier and the moment I turned around, a dozen of bloodsuckers came attacking him. Shrieks and snarls of terror filled the night as he slaughtered every one of them, leaving nothing but their decimated bodies.

Moria cursed under her breath. "I can feel their presence." She turned to my direction with a bleak expression on her face. "Lady, we may need your power. You must learn how to use it."

I averted her eyes in embarrassment. "I-I tried, but . . . I'm sorry—"

"Try using it to me."

For a second, I thought I misheard her, but she was dead serious. Agad naman akong ibinaba ni Kei. He stood guard with Irus while Moria stayed in front of me.

"I can't do that—"

"You have to, Lady," she insisted. "The North is much more dangerous than you think, and the three of us might not be enough to protect you, especially when they are determined to annihilate you. You have to, at least, awaken that dormant power inside you even if we are still too far. That's the only way to protect you once we can't."

Her eyes peered into mine. The unyielding look on her face didn't have any room for protest.

"Are you really sure about this?"

She gave me a thin smile. "I am, lady, and do not worry too much. I can heal myself."

With a defeated sigh, I agreed to her request. She told me to imagine every creature that had pursued us relentlessly, and the terror that I felt every time we were cornered. I tried to focus on her as I recalled every situation that almost cost me my life. The fear and anxiety I felt every time we encounter something that wanted me dead—from the bloodsuckers to the mermaids.

A familiar sensation crept up my body. My insides felt hot, burning with rage and terror, and I stopped shaking from the cold. I could feel it coursing through my veins until it reached my eyes. And then it happened.

I watched in horror as blotches of black and purple appeared on Moria's face and arms. Several veins in her arm started to implode as she chanted some archaic words.

Panic coursed through my body, and I ran towards her. "I'm sorry!"

My body trembled in fear and guilt as I watched her slump on the ground. Halos paiyak kong tinawag sina Irus at Kei dahil sa nangyari. She started convulsing and I broke into sobs, repeatedly apologizing for what I have done . . . until runes appeared on her arms and face.

"M-Moria . . ."

I was about to touch her face when she suddenly gasped. The blotches on her skin started fading away and I whimpered in relief, thankful that she was still alive . . . as an undead.

Bigla naman siyang yumuko sa akin. "Apologies for worrying you, my lady. Please, do not shed your tears for this worthless servant who could not even protect you earlier."

It took me a while to calm down. Paano naman kasi, I almost killed my comrade, and if that happened, I wouldn't know what to do. What's worse was we continued walking as if that thing didn't even happen.

Dahil medyo okay na rin naman ang katawan ko ay hindi na ako nagpakarga pa kay Kei. Still, he stayed beside me. I was still sniffling, trying to quell the emotions beneath my gut, when I felt a threatening presence.

The three immediately surrounded me, their weapons ready.

"Fænden," they murmured indignantly, probably a curse, as the presence grew stronger.

Kei tightened his grip on his knife, the djall, if I remembered correctly. "They are here."

As if on cue, someone emerged from the fog, and a gasp was caught in my throat as I saw a familiar face. A wry smile escaped her lips as she met my gaze.

"Oh, hello, Stryzyga," Leone, the mage who almost killed me in Kariota, greeted. "Let me kill you properly this time."

Two more mages came out of the shadows, along with several undeads--Katteris, bloodsuckers and ghouls. And on her signal, they all charged at us.

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