He's the Man with a Tail

Chapter 14: Endgame

“Not all stories end with a happy plot.”

☾

Tinahak nila ang daan palabas ng library. Patungo ito sa main hall ng hacienda where Harold is expecting them to be. Nagbago rin ang suot ng kanyang ama. From a vintage king's outfit to silvery armor. May simbolo ng buntot ng sirena na nakaukit sa bandang kanan ng dibdib nito. A water sword materialized on his hand too.

“If you really have a power then I'm sure it's flowing in your body like a water. Just feel and use it, but don't let it control you, princess.”

Aché think of her mother, and Saero. Their hacienda, and her goal. Unti-unti niyang naramdaman ang paglabas ng 'di pamilyar na enerhiya mula sa katawan niya. It was hot. Nakakapaso. She lightly screamed in pain.

“You can do it, my princess. I believe in you. Once we get there, release that magic.”

Patuloy niyang pinigilan ang sarili at inipon ang nakakapasong enerhiya. She badly wanted to release it but it's not the time yet. Nagmadali silang pumunta sa main hall.

“Now!”

As if on cue, agad na tinutok ni Aché ang kamay sa bungad ng main hall and a blinding light covered the whole place.

***

Saero was slowly regaining his consciousness. Napansin niyang parang gumaglaw ang kinaroroonan niya. Some men are talking to each other too. If only his hands are not tied, he would surely punch this guys.

Palihim niyang binago ang itsura. Nawala ang buntot nito at muling bumalik ang dalawang makikisig na binti. The problem is he's naked.

“Droplets of water I command thee, hear my plea and what I wished you to be,” he chanted a rain spell. Isang iglap lang ay bumuhos ang malakas na ulan na sinabayan pa ng kulog at kidlat. Liquid matter materialized over his body and in an instant, suot-suot na niya ang isang modernong klase ng damit.

His siren sense was telling him something's odd. He can feel a growing power somewhere. Saka pa lang niya nakumpirma na nasa loob siya ng sako when the two men holding him tossed him like a rice. Bahagya siyang gumulong sa malamig na sahig. Hindi niya alam kung nasaan siya.

He felt two presence running towards their direction. One that is superior and one that is growing. Maybe this is the thing his siren sense was telling him. Mate.

There was a sudden release of light energy in the whole place. The feeling was new. He never felt a power like this before. Nagawa nitong pira-pirasuhin ang sako kung saan siya nakasilid. Doon pa lang siya nakagalaw ng maayos at agad na tinanggal ang posas sa kamay. The light was still there. Somehow, it's helping him to go.

“A-Aché?” Doon niya pa nakita kung sino ang pinagmulan ng enerhiyang 'yon. Her hair was flowing gracefully as if it's inside a dome of water.

Katabi nito ang isang pamilyar na lalaki sa mukha niya. It's the late King of Phelinium, King Aczeth. Buong akala niya patay na ito base sa mga sabi-sabi na nahulog ito sa isang tao. He can tell that he is Aché's father. Their aura are similar.

Unti-unting nawala ang liwanag na bumabalot sa paligid at bumungad sa kanilang harapan ang mga tauhan ni Harold na bahagya pang kinukusot ang mga mata.

“What a nice show, Aczeth.” Nagmula ang tinig sa entrada ng main hall. It was low, but intoxicating. The hall was filled with a clap coming from the same man.

Unti-unti nilang nakita kung sino ang lalaking 'yon. Harold. Harold Reliee.

Aché can't imagine her Tito is the one who killed her mother just for greed. She felt no mercy towards him. Kung hindi lang siya nanghihina matapos magpalabas ng kapangyarihan, she would surely give him a punch.