Soulbound

Soul 60: Beginning

"But this bond will never be broken, Mate."

AVERY

Nakausap ko na ang lahat. Nagpasya kami na maiiwan dito sina Verone, Rigel at Zion. They still need to guard the whole place. Zion will become our messenger. Pero kapag kailangan namin ang tulong nila, agad silang sasaklolo sa 'min.

Hindi ko pa nasasabi kay Zirrius ang balak namin. Hindi ko siya isinama sa pagpupulong. He doesn't seem well this passed few days.

I know he didn't want me to come because deep inside, he wants to protect me. He wants to spare me from death that may come anytime soon. But I wonder if he knows that I'm his mate.

It was already dark. Nakatitig lang ako sa maliwanag at bilog na buwan. Puno ng maliliit at maliliwanag na bituin ang langit. The whole kingdom was eeriely quiet tonight. Everyone was still mourning for what they've lost. But soon they have no choice but to perform the rites for the offering festival of the elves. Nakatayo ako sa balkonahe at pilit na pinag-iisipan ang lahat. Hindi namin alam ang totoong anyo ni Seth. Hindi rin namin alam kung nagpapanggap ba siya na si King Aulius.

Naramdaman ko ang magagaang hakbang na papalapit sa kinaroroonan ko. Lumapit sa 'kin si Verone at may iniabot na sulat.

"Galing 'yan kay Aivee," mahinang saad niya. "Sa kasamaang palad, mukhang alam na niya ang mangyayari sa kanya sa simula pa lang. She's odd, doing things on her own. Sinabi niya na hindi ito ang panahon para sa kanya."

Bahagyang nanginig ang kamay ko nang tanggapin ko ang sulat. I still can't believe that she's already gone and will never come back.

"You don't have to feel sorry for her," mahinang saad ni Verone. "Just focus on what's left now. Hindi na natin maibabalik pa ang mga patay. Just tell Shin the truth."

Marahan akong tumango. Napansin ko na nagsisiliparan na ang mga pixies sa iba't ibang bahagi ng kaharian. Somehow, they calmed the storm inside me.

Ilang minuto rin kaming nabalot ng katahimikan. "What will you do with your mate?" diretsong tanong ni Verone. Nakagat ko ang labi dahil sa tanong niya. Zirrius and I, being mates. Did it really matter now? "You can't push the bond on him if he didn't want to accept it. Siguradong naguguluhan pa siya sa nararamdaman niya ngayon. He was human before. He didn't know anything about the mating bond, the elf's ways."

"Hindi ba talaga niya alam?" mahinang tanong ko. "O baka naman hindi lang niya matanggap?" Ramdam ko ang paninikip ng dibdib ko. Siguro hindi pa niya nakakalimutan si Liana. Maaari ring si Liana ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw niya akong isama pabalik sa Alveria.

"Well, if he knows, I admire him for resisting such a strong bond," nakangising saad ni Verone. "Gusto ko sanang makita kung hanggang kailan siya tatagal. But unfortunately, I'm stuck here. I can't see this through until the end," makahulugang saad niya.

"You're making fun of us," nakasimangot na sambit ko sa kanya.