Chapter 7

quake
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I couldn’t move. The crow’s red eyes continued staring at me and I wasn’t sure it it would attack me or not. Suddenly, it cawed so loud that the aquainas scampered and swam to the furthest part of the lake. Even Carlos reacted and let out a guttural growl. He bared his fangs and ran toward the tree were the crow was.
 
“S-stop, Carlos!” I said. “Cessante!”
 
Carlos halted but he kept on growling and glaring at the crow and it cawed continuously in return. Tumingin ako sa paligid at sinubukang hanapin kung sinuman ang nag-summon sa kanya pero wala akong nakita.
 
“Charlie, sal-ve!”
 
Nagulat ako nang marinig ko ang boses ni Lexi at pagtingin ko sa likuran ay nakatayo siya sa kabilang side ng lake. Charlie appeared above her and he charged toward the crow’s place, but before he could land an attack, the crow disintegrated into its spirit particles.
 
Agad kong pinatakbo si Carlos papunta kay Lexi at lumipad naman pabalik sa kanya si Charlie. 
 
“What the heck was that?” tanong niya nang makababa ako mula kay Carlos.
“A crow,” I replied. “It was observing me, or maybe it was for Master.”
“That’s dangerous. Crows and ravens are usually used by Seers to spy on someone, just like Ray.”
 
Right. Ray is a raven and one of Tita Aina’s guardians.
 
“Do you know why Seers use them?” We both turned around and saw Master sitting on the terrace as she lit her cigarette. “Because they have high cognitive abilities that give the Seers fragments of insights. I’m sure that that crow is owned by a Seer.”
“Do you think the Seer is an Exorcist?” tanong ni Lexi.
“Yes. I’m sure of it.”
 
Pinabalik sa amin ni Master sina Charlie at Carlos sa spirit dimension at pumasok kaming tatlo sa bahay. Madilim pa rin pero naghanda na si Master ng breakfast dahil gising na ang diwa namin.
 
“Sa tingin mo kailangan nating sabihin kay Master ‘yong tungkol sa prophecy na sinabi ni Mama?” bulong ni Lexi.
“I think so,” sagot ko naman. “That crow was just suspicious. Sa tingin mo ba ay si Master ang target no’n . . . o tayo?”
“Pero nag-aalangan pa rin ako. Sabi ni Mama, dapat ay tayo lang ang nakakaalam no’n.”
 
“Anong kailangan na kayo lang ang nakakaalam?” biglang tanong ni Master kaya agad kaming tumigil. Hindi namin napansin na nasa likuran na pala namin siya.
 
Lexi and I exchanged looks. Lexi seemed already decided.
 
“Master, may kailangan kang malaman,” she said.
“Is that related to the crow a while ago?”
“S-sort of,” sabi niya sabay tingin sa akin.
“Tita Aina told us a prophecy,” I continued and her expression turned grim.
“Go on.”
 
I took a deep breath and recited the prophecy.
 
“Where the havoc has ended,
Another will be started;
Fangs and wings shall decide,
The Shadow will be your guide;
Hell will breathe its fire and rage,
Until the seal and the Guardian break their cage;
The dead shall take the blame,
And the Divian burns in flame.”
 
Master’s face became pale and we didn’t expect her to react that way.
 
“M-Master?”
 
She sipped from his cup and tried to calm herself down.
 
“Why didn’t you tell me about this earlier?” she asked and there was a hint of anger in her tone.
“S-sorry po,” sabay naming sagot ni Lexi.
“We need to go to the headquarters in the Capital. Maghanda na kayo.”
 
Magtatanong pa sana ako kung para saan pero tumalikod na siya at naglakad papunta sa kwarto niya. Bumalik na lang kami ni Lexi sa kwarto namin at nag-prepare sa pag-alis.
 
While waiting for Lexi to finish, my gaze drifted to the wooden tablet on the table. It felt weird knowing that it was already an empty vessel. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na natawag ko na ang main guardian ko. However, I was still scared to call her again since it feeds on my life force, given that my stamina wasn’t enough to sustain her true form.
 
“Rei!” tawag ni Lexi na nasa harapan ko na pala. “Kanina ka pa tulala r’yan. Tara na, baka naghihintay na sa labas si Master.”
 
We went outside and walked into the opposite site of the lake where Master’s praevala was parked. We boarded the flying vehicle and traveled in the sky for quite some time, until we saw the changing landscapes—the scenic view of the forests and mountain ranges from the outskirts slowly turned into bridges and buildings from the urban center of the Capital. 
 
We flew at a higher altitude until we reached a certain skyscraper. She parked the praevala on the rooftop and I was stunned when I saw a row of praevalas and other strange vehicles on the parking spaces.
 
“Master, nasaan tayo?” tanong ni Lexi nang makababa kami sa sasakyan.
“Gavin’s place,” she replied. “Lily, sal-ve!”
 
I didn’t expect Gavin’s place to be this extravagant but why did Master summon Lily?
 
“Tatayo lang ba kayo r’yan o sasakay kayo?” sabi ni Master habang nasa likod siya ni Lily. Kahit na naguguluhan ako sa nangyayari ay sumakay kami sa likod ni Lily at agad siyang lumipad.
 
“Gavin and his people are the only ones who can access this building from the main entrance,” she explained. His office is in the 150th floor, the topmost floor, and unexpected visitors must use the rooftop as the point of entry. The only way to access the floors is to summon a flying guardian. Watch.”
 
We were already in front of the topmost floor and I almost gasped when a bridge suddenly appeared in front of us. At the other side of the bridge was a doorway leading inside the 150th floor.
 
“Oh my god!” Lexi exclaimed as Lily disintegrated.
 
Akala namin ay mahuhulog na kami pero nag-land kami sa bridge. It was a bit nauseating because there were no support on either side of the bridge and we could still see everything below us.
 
“And only the spirit particles of guardians can initiate the emergence of this bridge,” Master continued as she walked toward the doorway.
 
Nang makapasok kami sa loob ay agad ding nag-retract ang bridge at nagsara ang doorway hanggang sa maging glass window ulit ang paligid no’n.
 
“It’s been a long time since you last visited here.”
 
I didn’t notice Gavin sitting on the sofa until he talked. He was just wearing a robe, his bare chest peeking, while holding a glass of red wine.
 
“Why the hell are you dressed like that?” Master complained.
“I just took a bath,” he explained. “And you? Why are you here?”
“I have to tell you something,” sabay tingin niya sa amin ni Lexi.
“That can wait,” he said. “Actually, I was about to go to your hideout but since you’re already here, you just have to go with me.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Divine General called all Spirit Masters for a meeting.” Gavin put down his wine glass on the table and stood up. “And I’m sure he’ll be delighted to see you again.”
“I am not a Spirit Master anymore,” she retorted. “I don’t have any business—wait!”
 
Nagulat na lang kami nang biglang hatakin ni Gavin si Master palabas ng office at naiwan kami ni Lexi na nakatulala roon.
 
“Oh-kay, what did just happen?” Lexi whispered and I heaved a sigh in return.
 
Bigla namang bumukas ang pinto. I thought Gavin and Master was finished talking but Yano and Ryleigh appeared in front of us instead.
 
“You’re really here,” Yano exclaimed.
“We should’ve been training,” Ryleigh grumbled.
“Sayang, hindi tayo pwedeng sumama kay Sir. Gusto ko pa namang makita ang iba pang Spirit Masters,” dagdag ni Yano at dumiretso silang dalawa sa couch. Ryleigh immediately closed his eyes and rested his head while Yano gestured us to sit on the couch in front of them. Napatigil kami sa pag-upo nang may maramdaman kaming vibrations mula sa itaas.
 
“They’re leaving,” Yano commented and we saw a praevala hovering in front of the floor.
 
Pinanood lang naming lumipad ang praevala hanggang sa mawala iyon sa paningin namin. Oh god. Master really left us here.
 
“So, what brings you here?” biglang tanong ni Yano.
“Hindi rin namin alam,” sagot ni Lexi. “Gavin just dragged our Master with him and now we don’t know what to do here."
Ryleigh suddenly glared at Lexi and I felt her hand on mine. “Sir Gavin,” he said, and then he closed his eyes again. What was wrong with him?
“Don’t mind him,” sabay ngiti ni Yano kay Lexi. “Anyway, hindi n’yo talaga alam ang ipinunta n’yo rito?”
 
Bigla kong hinigpitan ang hawak sa kamay ni Lexi dahil baka sabihin niya kay Yano ang tungkol sa prophecy. Iba pa naman ang effect ng glasses sa kanya kaya baka hindi niya mapigilan ang bibig niya.
 
“Y-yeah,” she mumbled. “Uhm, ano pala ‘yong meeting na sinasabi ni Ga—” Lexi flinched when she saw Ryleigh’s eyes fluttered open. “Sir Gavin kanina?”
“Ah. Hindi n’yo ba nabalitaan?”
“Ang alin?”
“Some Spirit Masters were attacked by Exorcists,” Yano said. “The Divine General gave them a notice to attend an emergency meeting.”
 
My skin crawled upon hearing the news. Were the Exorcists really that desperate to obtain the ancient seal of immortality?
 
On the other hand, I got curious about the Spirit Masters, as well as the Divine General. So far, sina Gavin at Master pa lang ang kilala ko.
 
“How many Spirit Masters are there?” tanong ko.
“Five,” Ryleigh suddenly replied but he was looking outside. “There are supposed to be seven but two of them stepped down.” His gaze shifted to me. “Surely, one of them is your Master.”
“Do you know the other four—"
 
My question was cut off by a strong tremor. Napakapit ako nang mahigpit sa couch at sa kamay ni Lexi.
 
“W-what’s happening?” Lexi asked, her voice trembling.
 
Suddenly, the skyscraper in front of this one collapsed and I felt the panic rising through my throat.
 
“Shit,” Ryleigh cursed and he left the room in hurry even though the quake wasn’t stopping.
 
Nang medyo humina na ang pagyanig ay tumayo rin si Yano. We followed him to the other side of the room where the elevator was. He pressed a series of numbers and the door opened. Pagpasok namin ay agad akong napasandal dahil hindi ko inaasahan ang bilis ng pagbaba no’n. I felt dizzy and squeezy throughout the descend.
 
Pagkahinto ng elevator ay agad kaming lumabas ng building.
 
It was already a pandemonium outside. People were screaming as buildings crumbled, debris falling everywhere, but what made me sick to the stomach was the crow flying from the adjacent building.
 
“Why is he here?” Ryleigh muttered.
 
We followed his gaze and saw a huge guy standing amidst the falling debris. He was wearing an eyepatch on his left eye and on his hands were four short blades. With a swift move, the large debris turned into dust before it could hit him.
 
Lexi and I gasped in amazement. All of a sudden, the guy disappeared and I couldn’t even see his movement.
 
“W-who’s that?” I asked, still in disbelief.
“Lark,” Ryleigh answered. “A Spirit Master, and right now, he’s the strongest among them in strength and power.”

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