Chapter 20

Ryleigh stood beside me as we faced Henric. 
 
"Felina," Henric called and his cat guardian dissolved into spirit particles, enveloping his whole body. After a few seconds, his blonde hair grew longer and cat-like ears emerged from his head while his round eyes became vertical slits.
 
"The Prodigy," bulong ni Ryleigh kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.

​"What?"
 
"It's him. There are rumors about a kid tactician who led many Exorcists to their deaths. They don't really know him but they said he has long blonde hair and piercing gaze."
 
Henric's gentle aura changed into something menacing and that frightened me. 
 
"Scared?" he said with a sly smile. "I can hear your shallow breathing. I can smell your fears."

"He's coming," Ryleigh whispered and he positioned himself in a defensive stance. I followed him.
 
All of a sudden, Henric lunged at us with a formidable speed to the point that I couldn't even see his movements. I called Carlos' name and he tossed me onto his back.
 
"Jerry, infremo!" I shouted and Jerry growled loudly at Henric's direction but he moved so quick it didn't affect him even a little. Wow. His speed and agility were second to none.

"Bob, dankana!" Ryleigh yelled and a claw-like shape made with spirit particles attacked Henric but he easily avoided it.

"Your attacks won't touch me if you guys aren't even in the same form as me. Or is it because you can't transform yourselves yet into the half-guardian form? Is this really the extent of your abilities?"
 
If he said those things to rile us up, then it was very effective. Napakunot ang noo ko dahil may halong pagmamaliit ang tono niya at kahit hindi ko tingnan ay alam kong mas nainis si Ryleigh lalo pa't binanggit ang hangganan ng lakas namin.
 
"Are you done attacking?" tanong niya at biglang naging seryoso ang expression niya. "Then it's my turn."

The next thing I knew, he was already in front of me, his sharp claws pointed at my neck. "Your reflex is too slow."
 
My instinct was telling me to choose flight over fight but my pride decided to fight back. I immediately moved forward and felt the stinging sensation of his claw on my neck but I ignored it and kneed his stomach. Dahil hindi niya inaasahan ang pag-atake ko ay hindi siya nakaiwas at nalaglag siya mula sa likuran ni Carlos. I used that moment to escape and I realized I was holding my breath the entire time. 
 
"Hey! Watch out!"
 
I was suddenly hurled in the air but I landed on Bob when Ryleigh caught my arm. When I turned around, Henric was already attacking my guardian. 
 
"No! Carlos!"
 
Even though Carlos was a bigger and faster cat than Henric’s form, he was still losing to him. Henric hissed while attacking Carlos and I got no choice but to send him back to the spirit dimension. However, a crazy move came into my mind. 
 
“Jerry!” I called and jumped onto his back. Tumingin din ako kay Ryleigh at mukhang naintindihan niya kaagad ang gusto kong gawin.
 
Jerry ran toward him and he growled loudly. Nakita kong nawala ang concentration ni Henric sa pag-atake kay Carlos at napatingin siya sa amin ni Jerry. After all, cats and dogs were natural enemies.
 
“Carlos, so-hai!” sigaw ko at agad na tumakbo papalapit sa akin si Carlos hanggang sa nasa tabi ko na ang dalawa kong guardians.
 
I had been learning some basic incantations but I could only cast a few that I was confident with. This time, I wanted to assess my ability and growth. I wanted to see my own potential and I knew the Spirit Masters were helping us through this kind of test.
 
“Bob!” sigaw ni Ryleigh at tumalon siya mula sa likuran ni Bob. “Es hyva fe vies diaz. Morien alav sativa chroina il piero mergus. Comvien han!” Bob disintegrated into spirit particles and they surrounded Ryleigh.

Guess I had to do it, too.

“Carlos, nes-sa.” Kahit masakit para sa akin na hindi ko nagamit nang maayos si Carlos ay kinailangan ko siyang ibalik sa spirit dimension dahil ang tagal na niyang nasa labas.
 
I got off Jerry's back and he barked as if he was supporting my decision. 
 
“Are you ready, Jerry?” I asked and he barked again. “Then let’s do it. Es hyva fe vies diaz. Morien alav sativa chroina il piero mergus. Comvien han!”
 
My body felt heavy as I uttered each word, even though the guardians were supposed to use the spirit particles around and not our stamina.
 
Jerry's physical form disappeared and spirit particles surrounded me. I was surprised when my memories with Jerry suddenly flooded my mind. 
 
“Alagaan mong mabuti si Jerry, Reika.” Those were Papa's words when he finally gave Jerry's wooden tablet to me. “Jerry has been a faithful guardian of our predecessors so be a worthy Divian to him.”
 
Nakaramdam naman ako bigla ng matinding init at halos mapasigaw ako dahil sa bilis ng daloy ng mga alaala ko kay Jerry. I felt something strange inside and outside my body and I realized I was starting to merge with Jerry.  
 
Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto o kung segundo lang ba lumipas ang lahat ng ‘yon. When I opened my eyes, I was still in the same room and Henric was still standing in front of me, but everything was different. I could only see yellow, blue and gray but I could sense everyone’s movement faster and easier. I could hear more clearly and I felt uneasy because my ears were moving on their own. But what was most troubling was that I could smell everything: their distinguishing odor and even their presence. Henric's aura smelled like sunflower and it was pleasant. He didn't even reek of any negative feelings. 
 
Agad naman akong napatingin sa side ni Ryleigh at namangha ako sa nakita ko. His hair became more unruly and the white of his eyes turned into black. His fingernails became claws while his wrists were surrounded by brown furs.
 
“Hooh. You both managed to be in the half-guardian form. Interesting,” Henric remarked and he suddenly charged at us. 
 
I don’t know if it was because of my enhanced senses or Jerry was affecting my actions but I easily deflected Henric’s attack and I could read his movements during the last seconds. Ryleigh attacked him with his claws but Henric was way faster than him. However, Henric halted and stared at us with a worried expression. 
 
“I can smell your life force . . .” he mumbled. “Cies kai.”
 
His half-guardian form dissolved and he and Felina returned to their normal appearance. Bigla siyang lumapit sa amin kaya naman napaatras ako.
 
“Undo the form,” utos niya. “Both of you have ran out of stamina and you’re using your life force to maintain those forms.”
 
I got alarmed after hearing that and I hastily released our form. 
 
“Cies kai!” we simultaneously chanted and I could feel my enhanced senses gradually disappearing. 
“Your guardians are as exhausted as you so it’s better to leave them for a few minutes. They can use the spirit particles in this room to replenish their strengths,”he said as Carlos and Bob returned to their original form.
 
Nakahinga naman ako nang maluwag nang sabihin niya 'yon.
 
“But you guys, on the other hand, can’t use the same method. That’s the difference between Divians and guardians.”
 
Henric sent Felina back to the spirit dimension and he was the first to get out of the room. Napaupo naman ako sa sahig at yumakap kay Jerry dahil sa halu-halong emosyon na nararamdaman ko ngayon. I managed to do the half-guardian form together with him but it was not enough. That form took up too much of our stamina and the sensation was no joke. I realized I was really lacking as a Divian.
 
“Shall we go?” tanong bigla ni Ryleigh kaya naman pinabalik na rin namin ang kanya-kanya naming guardians sa spirit dimension.

“Natatakot akong lumabas,” sabi ko dahil sa sinabi kanina ni Henric sa amin. Nagulat naman ako nang bigla niyang nilahad ang kamay niya sa harapan ko.

​“Hold my hand. You might faint.”
 
I didn't know if I heard that wrong but I confirmed it was right when he reached for my hand. He led the way while I looked at our hands. I still couldn't get used to this side of him. 
 
He was always the confident yet temperamental type but his caring and genuine character was much more appealing.
 
“And you?” I asked but he remained quiet. “Mukhang mawawalan ka rin ng malay kapag nakalabas tayo sa room na ‘to.”
 
Hindi siya sumagot hanggang sa makarating kami sa harap ng pinto. He slowly opened it but before we stepped out, he turned around and looked at me.  
 
“Then please take care of me,” he said as we both walked out of the room. 
 
My strength was immediately pulled out of my body. My insides felt like they were being crushed and it everything was spinning so fast. I felt the two of us collapsed, but before I totally lost my consciousness, I once again heard that familiar voice calling my name.

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