Curse of the Fallen Deity (Zarsothian Tales #1 | Volume 1 & 2)

Chapter 9: Dygaians

WILL and power are the weapons of every warrior— swords, magic, wit — but too much power is poisonous. It does not guarantee you an instant death but rather lingers into your veins, not leaving every part of your soul untouched, and drowns you with it. 

Greed and cruelty. 

I shifted sideways on my bed, avoiding the questioning look on Shaye's face beside me. Her brown eyebrows were creased just as her lips curled to form a slight pout. 

"What happened?" she asked. 

I titled my head and signalled her to go out. Paulit-ulit naman siyang umiling at umusog papalapit sa higaan ko. 

"Hindi ako aalis dito hangga't hindi mo sinasabi kung ano talaga ang nangyari," pagmamatigas niya. 

Umiwas ako ng tingin at humugot ng malalim na hininga. "You're being nosy again, Shaye." 

"I don't care," mabilis niyang sagot. "I need to know how and where you got all these burns!" 

Napairap ako sa kawalan. 

These burns... That Carwell. For almost thirteen years after my demise, I was invincible, and yet he managed to affect me like that. 

Later after the incident, nagising akong hindi maipinta ang mukha dahil sa sobrang hapdi na bumabalot sa buong katawan ko. Tila unti-unting sinusunog ang aking kaluluwa, malayong malayo sa sakit na nararamdaman ko noong ako'y nagsasanay pa lang. 

That Carwell is something. Hindi ko alam kung ano pero kailangan ko iyong malaman. Hindi ako makakapayag na babaliktarin niya ako. We never know, even the most loyal dog can bite its master. 

"Ara?" 

Pinikit ko ang mga mata at hindi inalintana ang presensya ni Shaye. Ilang sandali pa lamang ay bahagyang umuga ang higaan ko, senyales na tumayo na siya mula sa pagkakaupo rito. I opened my eyes slightly, enough to see Shaye's petite figure walking towards the doorway of the hospital room I'm confined in.

Though tugged with unnecessary wires, my body feels light — feels normal. As though Carwell did not wreck the whole training building into pieces. Iyon ang unang narinig ko nang ako'y magkamalay, that he did not just damage the training room but almost wiped out the entire building. 

No matter what you think about it, his power is extraordinary — and that is alarming. 

I jerked my head forward as a loud slam of the door echoed. Furrowing my eyebrows, I shot a questioning look at Boris who just entered. 

"What are you doing here?" I asked in a cold and blank tone. 

Kinunot niya ang noo pero kalaunan ay ngumiti rin. "Visiting you?" 

Napabuga ako ng hininga sa sagot nito. I shifted my gaze on the blank ceiling, trying to ignore Boris' presence but the latter just kept on mumbling things. 

"Can you shut up?" I let out a loud and heavy sigh. "Let me rest, will you?" 

My forehead creased when he gave me a sly grin. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay ngunit patuloy lamang ito sa pagngisi. Humakbang siya papalapit sa 'kin saka ako kinindatan. 

"I have good news," panimula niya. "And I'm sure you'll be pleased with it." 

Hindi na maipinta ang mukha ko at tumagilid ako mula sa pagkakahiga. Hindi ako interesado sa kahit ano mang balita niya. 

Good news, my ass. 

"I'm giving you your second mission." 

Kaagad akong napamulat ng mata sa kanyang itinuran. Did I hear it right? My second mission? I'm not even done with the first one.