Witchcraft

Tale 58

Tale 58
Dragon Words

“When you're against a stronger foe, be like water. Learn to bend and take the shape of your container. Your enemy will assume that you're weak and easy to take down. But no, just like water you will be ready for a chance to drown everyone.”
-WizardInTraining, a guide to Wizardry by Helena Fox

“Charm is it really okay that we didn’t use the relics of Elda to subdue the god Ean?” tanong ni Aliya habang nag-aalmusal sila sa inn na kanilang tinutuluyan sa Andorra

“Yes.” Charm

Nagtataka ang magkakaibigan. Isiniwalat sa kanila ni Charm ang mga nangyari subalit Hindi pa rin nila maunawaan. Dapat ba talaga silang magtiwala ng ganun na lang? Hindi ba magiging isang threat si Ean sa hinaharap? Isa syang diyos! At maaari syang lumitaw muli kung nanaisin nya!

Mukang seryoso si Charm kaya nagkibit-balikat na lamang ang magkakaibigan. She can fight a god so why worry?

“Today is the day. My powers.. Huhu..” saad ni Flay

“Dont worry too much. Charm is with us this time.” August

“Bibisitahin ba natin ang lugar nyo Javen after natin maitayo yung pillar?” Aliya

“Although I'm scared to face them, I want to be brave and face my people.” Javen

“Ngayon na isa ka nang totoong mage, for sure magiging proud sayo ang buong bayan mo.” Flay

“Sana nga.” Tugon ni Javen.. Malaki ang utang na loob nya sa mga kababayan nya para sa mga sakripisyo ng mga ito para sa tagumpay nila ng kanyang kakambal sa kanya-kanya nilang larangan.

“Hindi ba natin bibisitahin sina Louise? They are your loyal followers.” Tanong ni Flay

“I already checked on them yesterday. They were doing great. I left them letters.” Charm

“Hindi ka man lang nagpakita sa kanila?” Javen

“No need. Erigor entered military training. Yvonne went back to visit her family. Louise is currently busy in taking over her family's business. I don’t want them to be distracted. I don’t want to tie their lives with mine. I don’t want to take their freedom. When the time comes, I want them to follow me out of their own free will.” Tugon ni Charm kaya di na nakakontra pa sina Flay

“That applies to all of you too.” Dagdag ni Charm

Nagkatinginan ang magkakaibigan.

“We are together because we're friends. You're not tying us down Charm. We want to travel with you.” Saad ni Javen

Tumango si Flay. “She’s right. This is more like a road trip with friends. Except, there's no car or a proper road. Only portals. Heck, come to think of it, this is probably the weirdest road trip ever.”

Natawa na lang sila. Friendship means doing weird things together, right?

Sa gitna ng naglalagablab na disyerto ng Uddara, makikita ang pigura ng ilang kababaihan. Abala sila sa pagguhit ng larawan sa kulay gintong buhangin. Ang mga babae ay walang iba kung Hindi ang grupo nina Charm.

“Hindi pa naman perfect circle.” Reklamo ni Flay

“Oh edi ikaw na lang magdrawing.” Reklamo din ni Aliya

“Ikaw yung dating architecture student diba? Ikaw na magdrawing!” balik ni Flay Kay Aliya

“Nagshift ako sa business ad remember? Hindi ako magaling magdrawing.” Nakasimangot na tugon ni Aliya

“Architecture din ako dat—” Charm

“Shut up Charm! Di ka marunong magdrawing!” Flay and Aliya

“.........” -Charm

“Knock it off.. I think it's a perfect circle. Si Aliya din naman ang nagdrawing last time, so I think wala namang problema sa drawing nya ngayon.” Sabat ni Javen

“Tsk. Ang ingay nyo talaga Flay at Aliya... Just get into position. Para matapos na natin i-set up itong magic circle.” August

“Charm wag mo damdamin ang sinabi nila.” Natatawang saad ni Tanisha sabay pat sa balikat nito.

“Pero come to think of it, originally Architecture ang course nyo before right? Bakit di kayo marunong magdrawing??” usisa ni Flay

“Nang-iinsulto ka talaga? Charm upakan na natin ang isang ito!” Aliya

“I'm just asking an innocent question.” Flay

“Pero seriously, why architecture? Mukang hindi naman yun ang passion nyo?” tanong pa ni Flay

“Gumaya lang ako kay Charm.” Aliya

“I just think it's cool.” Charm

“Come to think of it, namimiss ko na yung mga classmates nating linta.. Kumusta na kaya sina Catherine? Pati na sina Philip.. You girls taught them some unforgettable lessons two years ago.” Aliya

“Yeah I remember them. Sila yung may party right? Yung nag magic show?” Javen

“Yes. Palagi nilang inaaway si Charm. I hope they learned their lesson.” Aliya

“Whaaaaat? Inaaway nila si Charm?! Naghahanap ba sila ng gulo??!” React nina Flay at August

“Chill. I misspoke. Hindi nila directly inaaway si Charm. More like minamaliit.. They call her nerd, dork, manang. Yung ganun.” Aliya

“Loko ang mga yun ahh! Kung alam ko lang sana kinalbo ko silang lahat!” August

“Bad yung iniisip mo.” Alivia

“It’s not entirely their fault though. I dress up like a nerd to avoid too much attention.” Charm

“Pero it's still wrong to call you names.” Tanisha

“They are enemies. Nasa black list na natin ang mga taong yun from now on!” Flay

“Hindi pa ba sapat na naturuan na natin sila ng leksyon?” Javen

“Gods. Syempre hindi yun sapat! Do I have to explain this word by word? Remember, when you confront an enemy, slap the face, set fire to their house, loot it while it's  burning, and laugh the whole time you're doing it. No need to hold back! Bakit ka magiging mabait? They came for a beating, then you are obliged to give them one. Simple as that.” Saad ni Flay

“You sound like a villain. “ Javen

“Minsan talaga iniisip ko kung bakit kita naging kaibigan Flay.” Sabat ni August

“Minsan tinatanong ko ang sarili ko kung tamang mga tao ba ang nasamahan namin ni Samara.” Sabat ni Astrid

Natawa si Tanisha. “We are straying off from what we came here for. Let's get to position. Time is running.” Paalala nya sa mga kaibigan

“She's right. Get to position!” sigaw ni Flay