Glistening Lantern (Gazellian Series #7)

Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Competition

The magical ropes around the females' waist slowly disappeared and turned into pecks of diamond dust floating in the whole plaza. The different colors of confetti continued to pour, and the claps of the audience never left my ears. But all those beautiful happenings around me were nothing compared to the burning gazes of Caleb and Howl had to each other. 

But it wasn't all about the brewing attention of people, but what I have heard from Howl.

Tama ba ang pagkakarinig ko?

How could he possibly identify that Caleb's not from here? Ngunit dapat ko pa ba iyong ipagtaka? He's the famous train wizard after all! His title is nothing if he's not powerful enough to easily identity an Attero or not.

Is this the end for us? Will he how report us? Should I beg...?

Kung kanina'y na kay Howl ang atensyon ng halos lahat ng mga manunuod ng sayaw, ngayo'y unti-unti na rin nilang napapansin ang lalaking may hawak sa iisang panyong hawak ng tanyag na Attero.

I suddenly want to draw a dagger or a knife to stab Caleb in his eyes for his insolent move! We did all our best to hide our identity, but where the hell did he get his confidence to join the dance and compete with one of the famous celebrities of Fevia Attero?

Hindi lang si Caleb ang ngayon ay kumukuha na rin ng atensyon, dahil maging ako'y pinagtitinginan na rin ng mga kababaihan.

I could hear different insulting whispers!

How could I ever make an enchantment charm? I couldn't even make a damn simple spell! At sa tingin ba nila'y magagawang mapasailalim niyon si Howl Paladein?

Habang umiikot ang sarili kong isipan dahil sa sitwasyong kinahaharap ko, at sa dalawang lalaking kaunti na lang ay masisira na ang panyong kanilang pinag-aagawan, mas lalong dumami ang pumasok sa aking ideya.

There's no way that Howl would take an interest in me, unless he has a deeper reason. What if he's already aware of us? What if this is already a trap? This whole dance is to lure Caleb, the outsider, away from his hiding. 

Kumuyom ang mga kamao ko. Higit na dumagundong ang pintig ng puso ko. Saglit na umikot ang paningin ko sa paligid, nagawa man naming makatakas sa mga Callista, sa paanong paraan kami tatakbo ni Caleb sa mga oras na ito?

How could he fight the whole magicians of this plaza? Kung si Howl pa lang ay siguradong...

I should beg. They will kill Caleb. I will never accomplish my heart and blood oath! I will disappoint my ancestor.

Handa na akong lumuhod sa gitna ng buong plaza at magmakaawa kay Howl at sa lahat na wala kaming balak na masama ni Caleb, nang higit na nanlaki ang mga mata ko at umawang ang mga labi ko sa ginawa ni Caleb.

Dahil sa halip na itago niya ang kanyang sarili, hinayaan niyang tuluyang madala ng hangin ang talukbong na nagtatago sa kanyang kaanyuan.

His grayish silver hair that turned into bronze shone with the brightness of orange light from the slowly setting sun. As he tried to pull the white handkerchief his cloak move with the wind, showing what beneath those unattractive covers, the gasps from the female Atteros went from a different direction as Caleb's firm body with his fitted all-black suit, boots, leather belts, and gloves perfectly contradict Howl's elegant persona.

Hindi magkaintindihan ang mga kababaihan ng Attero kung saang panig titingin.

Is it the elegant Howl Paladein De Voss that glistened like a celebrity with his warm colors, or the stranger... outsider with a rugged, sexy... what? Caleb whatever his name is... foolishly, insanely, sinfully handsome...