Heartbound

Heart 32: A Lost Soul

"Avery, do you want to hear the truth?"

AVERY

The ground continues to tremble as I chant more spell. Ginagawa ko ang makakaya ko upang hindi mahanap ni King Aulius ang kinaroroonan ko habang pinipigilan ko siyang atakihin si Zirrius. May mga pagkakataong napipilitan siyang gumamit ng mahika upang maiwasan niya ang mga atake ko.

Nakatayo pa rin ako sa likod ng malaking pillar. The King is good with swords and he can match the attacks coming from Zirrius with overwhelming speed. Maybe the king is cut for wars. He's cut for battles while Zirrius is still growing some warrior bones. Maybe the King is a great warrior in his time back then, when he's still serving his brother as his King.

I don't know anything about his past. I don't know anything about him so I can only assume these things from his good fighting stance.

Sinubukan kong sirain ang sahig kung nasaan nakaukit ang magic circle pero natigilan ako sa nangyari. When I shattered the floor, the magic circle started to float in the air. It doesn't matter if I shatter the floor or try to erase its lines, the ritual will still continue regardless of my attempts to break it down. It will still be whole. The lines came from the medallion itself and only if I can break the medallion, the ritual will be interrupted successfully.

"It's futile. You can't destroy the magic circle," sabi ni King Aulius. "You can't interrupt the ritual no matter what you do. Just surrender and accept defeat." There's triumph in his voice. Sa palagay niya, wala ng makakapigil sa kanya. Mas lalong bumilis ang galaw niya. Pinagpapawisan na si Zirrius habang pilit na iniiwasan at pinapantayan ang bawat kilos ni Haring Aulius. He's on the defensive now.

Napapaurong si Zirrius. Hindi siya makagamit ng ibang mahika dahil alam niyang hihigupin lang ito ng medalyon. Halatang nag-iisip pa siya ng mga maaaring gawin. He tried to knock off King Aulius on the ground using his fist and arms and legs but to no avail. The King is good with martial arts.

"Then we will destroy the medallion," mariing saad ni Zirrius. Napansin din niya ang pinanggagalingan ng enerhiya ng magic circle.

Malakas na tawa ang pinakawalan ni King Aulius kasabay ng pagtatangka niyang itarak sa puso ni Zirrius ang espada. Muntik na akong mapasinghap nang malakas. Mabuti na lang nailagan ito ni Zirrius.

"The medallion can never be broken or destroyed by anyone. Only those who created the medallion can destroy it but they're already gone. Long gone."

Natigilan ako. Kung ganoon hindi namin ito masisira? Pero paano kung nagsisinungaling siya? Maybe he's lying. Maybe he just doesn't want to reveal the weakness of the medallion.

"Sa tingin mo maniniwala ako sa 'yo? You've already deceived the people in this kingdom. You deceived us. You sacrificed a lot of lives for your own selfish desires!" sigaw ni Zirrius. Halatang hindi siya maniniwala kahit ano pa'ng sabihin ni King Aulius. Nanginginig ang kamay niya habang lalong lumalakas ang pag-atake niya gamit ang espada. Mas mabilis niyang iwinawasiwas ang espada at sunud-sunod na sinusugod ang hari.

Walang emosyong ngumisi ang hari kay Zirrius. "Not everyone can live the life they dream of. Zirrius, some are working hard for their dreams and I'm just one of them. I sacrifice lives to achieve my dreams."

"What kind of flawed argument is that? Have you already lost your soul? Did you sell your soul to the devil?" galit na tanong ni Zirrius.

Natigilan sandali si King Aulius, muntik ng dumaplis sa leeg niya ang espada ni Zirrius pero nakagalaw siya agad.

"Maybe you're right. I already lost my soul," he admitted with sudden rush of emotion. Hindi alam ni Zirrius kung ano ang sasabihin dahil sa biglaang pag-amin ng hari.