Chapter 9

mages are terrifying (i know that now)

Roots as thick as my leg emerged from the floor and coiled around my body. I tried to get away, but they get tighter every time I move. In just a few seconds, my legs were bound, and the attacker put her right hand around my neck.

A subtle yet sinister smile appeared on her face. "Tell me, Stryzyga," she coldly said. "What is your identity?"

My whole body was pounding from fear. Her imposing aura was more suffocating than how she held my neck. I wasn't sure what she was talking about, but I doubt she would believe me if I said I really don't know anything.

The roots and vines started constricting my body tighter to the point that my legs felt numb. Before one of the roots could get a hold on my hands, I managed to free them and reached for the assailant's arms.

I almost flinched when my skin touched hers. Just like Kei and Irus, her skin was as cold as ice. However, instead of having an ashen tone, hers was as white as snow.

I remembered Kei telling me about every undead's weakness—their neck. And she just secured my weakness in an instant. Gusto kong kumawala mula sa kanya pero wala na akong lakas at hindi rin ako makagalaw.

"W-who are y-you . . ." I managed to ask as I tried to remove her hand on my neck.

Her eyes narrowed. "Oh, you need not to know."

Her grip got tighter before I could even move, and it felt like my whole body was getting squeezed even though she was just holding my neck.

I had encountered several creatures after learning what I was, but this was the first time I faced something so powerful that it made me whimper. I was terrified of her.

Fear crept in my chest and throat. I wanted to get away from her as far as possible. Suddenly, my body and eyes felt hot. It was the same sensation I felt when we were facing the horde of Katteris.

"Let me go!" I screamed as I tried to yank her arm from my neck.

There was a strange sensation that surged through my body, and suddenly she yelped as her grip around my neck loosened. Hinawakan ko rin ang mga ugat na nakapulupot sa akin at matapos 'yon ay lumuwag rin ang mga ito. I ran to Irus' direction before the attacker realized what I just did.

My body was trembling terribly from what just happened. Wala pa ring malay si Irus pero nagawa ko siyang hatakin papunta sa pinakadulo ng kwarto. Nang tiningnan ko kung nasaan ang babae ay agad akong napaatras. The smile on her face had disappeared, and she was looking at me with a disdainful expression.

That was when I realized why. Black and purple blotches appeared on her wrist, the place where I held her, and those marks started spreading throughout her arms.

"You . . ." she uttered. "You really are one of them."

Before I could make sense of what she just said, she lurched at our direction and I knew this time, I wouldn't be able to escape.

"Lady!"

Nagulat na lang ako nang biglang lumitaw si Kei sa harapan ko. He fended off her attack and she flew to the other side of the room. At the same time, I heard Irus groaning beside me.

"Irus!" tawag ko.

He slowly sat up, shaking his head as he tried to get his bearings back. Kei held my arm, and he was about to get Irus, too, but an invisible force shoved us against the wall. Kei groaned in pain as he received the full impact after shielding me from it.

"S-stay alert," Kei warned as he tried to stand up. "I need to night-travel the three of us away from here, but she won't let me do that easily."

"What is she?" I asked.

"A mage," he replied, "a powerful one at that."

Upon hearing that, Irus immediately stood up and positioned himself beside Kei. They both drew their weapons, but they looked intimidated by her powers.

Mage . . . that woman was a mage? Siya ba ang hinihintay namin? But why was she attacking us instead?

The woman flicked her fingers and Irus' rapier flew from his hand. Kei pointed his dagger at the mage, but she snickered in return.

"Fool," she mocked. "Do you think that a djall, a mere dragon's tooth, could hurt a Sithanna?"

The situation already felt hopeless. Despite the purplish bruises on her arms, she appeared calm and wasn't even bothered by them.

The mage lunged and Irus and Kei could only defend themselves as she wasn't giving them the chance to attack.

"Lady, the bag!" Kei said while trying to protect me.

Bag? Iyong dala niya kanina?

Agad kong hinanap kung nasaan iyon habang occupied ang mage sa kanilang dalawa. It was thrown at the corner of the room, and I immediately ran toward it. However, the mage noticed my movement, and managed to get away from the two to kill me.

I screamed as I was slammed against the wall by a giant root that appeared in front of me, but I managed to get the pouch before the root coiled around me again. White orbs danced in front of my eyes as the impact left me disoriented for a few seconds. Everything seemed to be fading away, even their voices . . .

"Lady!"

I felt Irus' hands around me and I realized he just cut the root and freed me from it. He went straight away to Kei to help him, but they were getting pushed by her power again.

"Throw it!" sigaw ni Kei habang saglit na tumingin sa direksyon ko.

I wasn't sure what he meant but I obliged. The bag sailed through the air as I threw it toward the mage's direction, spilling our things at her.

She wailed the moment some of the things touched her body. She backed away until her back was against the wall, and she was panting hard. A lot of things went through my mind.

One thing that grazed her arm a while ago was an underwear. Wait, don't tell me that was what made her like that?! No way . . .

Agad namang kinuha ni Kei ang pouch na nalaglag mula sa bag. He opened it and the hawthorn and the other plant they got from Batara came into view.

The mage hissed as she saw the plants.

"You may be stronger than us," he stated as he held several stems of plants in his right hand, "but a mage cowers in front of hawthorns and wild roses."

The mage suddenly gestured something while muttering under her breath, as if she were performing a chant. Even Kei who got confident with those plants in his hand started getting worried. They ran to my direction and Kei was about to night-travel us when we felt an incredible surge of power directed at us.

"No—!"

The next thing I knew, someone was already standing in front of us, her white cloak fluttering as an invisible shield protected us from the mage's magic.

"Glad I made it on time," the newcomer announced in a sultry voice.

The mage's expression hardened as she saw the woman who just protected us. Before I could understand what was happening, the mage had already fled, leaving the four of us in the darkness.
The woman collapsed as soon as the barrier disappeared. She turned to Kei's direction and gave him a death glare. He immediately put the plants back in the pouch and sealed it. He threw it away from her and gave her an apologetic bow.

"My apologies," he said, "I didn't know you'd come."

She tried to stand but her legs were still shaking, and I had to support her weight to keep her from falling. Her gaze landed on me, but I quickly averted it because I felt embarrassed.

Her beauty was unearthly. Just like the mage who just left, her eyes and lips were wickedly red. Her skin was porcelain white, and her voluptuous body was emphasized by the skimpy white tunic she was wearing. I felt ugly just by standing beside her.

Nagulat naman ako nang bigla siyang humiwalay sa akin at lumuhod sa harapan ko.

"My apologies, lady," she softly uttered while bowing deeply at me. "I arrived late. Perhaps I should punish myself by cutting my—"

"Oh, please, no!" I replied. "No more punishments, please."

I had enough of seeing them hurt themselves just because they "failed" at something. Remembering Irus stabbing himself for not being able to help us was still making my stomach churn.

Nang kumalma na ang lahat at ang paligid ay agad na nagpakilala ang babae.

"I am Moria, a mage," she announced, still kneeling in front of me.

"We need to go," Kei suddenly said. "That fight might have alerted other creatures of our existence and whereabouts."

Agad na tumayo si Moria at lumapit naman sa amin si Irus. Kei held my arms, and that familiar sensation made my shoulders tense. He night-traveled the four of us and the next thing I knew, we were back in the woods.

And just like that, I got my third retainer—a mage.

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