The Grimoire

Chapter 8: Night

While we were strolling around, I found myself staring at an antique store, so I decided to go in. Nang pumasok ako, I saw artifacts that I have never ever seen before including stones, books, at iba pa. Napatigil ako sa isang bato na may nakaguhit na lugar. It looked like it was floating in the ocean and the place were filled with plants and temples. I saw a young man with a white hair sitting on top of one of the temples at bigla kong naalala ang lalaking nakita ko kanina. 

"That's the remaining carved drawing that existed from the legendary country of Babylon," biglang sabi ng isang matandang babae na halatang nagmamay-ari ng shop na ito. "Napulot ko lang iyan sa karagatan habang ako ay namamasyal malapit sa karagatn kung saan nawala ang Babylon," she added.

"Ganon po ba," I replied, and I formed a fist habang tinitigan pa ito. This is the last piece of my home. "Magkano po?" tanong ko.

"Naku iha, hindi ko na ito binibenta. Balak kong i-preserve to para sa mga kabataang katulad mo at magkaroon sila ng kaalaman sa mga nawawalang Babaylan," she replied at napatingin ako sa kaniya. Does she mean that she wanted to preserve my ancestor's existence? "Kahit na sabihin ng mga tao na tapos na ang angkan nila, naniniwala pa rin ako na may buhay pa na nagtatago lang sa sulok ng mundong ito," she added with a bright smile.

I stared at her eyes and noticed something odd. She was wearing contact lenses. Napangiti lamang ako at napatango at nagpaalam para lumabas ng shop. I stopped in front of the shop at napatingin ako sa kalangitan. She is one of us. I'm certain of it.

"Hey," tawag ni Evie sakin at nakita ko siya na tinuturo ang mga gusto niyang bilhin. "Kanina ka pa kita hinahanap, nandiyan ka lang pala. Tara na," she insisted habang hatak ako papasok sa isang clothing shop. I mean, gusto rin namang bumili but I don't have enough money. All i have here is enough to buy some foods na gusto kong tikman. Isa pa, nakabili na rin ako sa Arcadia.

She took one of the yellow tops and she showed it to me. I just nodded at her to give my approval kasi maganda naman talaga. She then took something else at agad na nagbunta sa cashier para magbayad. Napakaganda sigurong mamasyal na katulad niya- walang iniisip na pera kasi mayaman na.There is no doubt that she can buy anything, she's the princess of the richest country in the whole world.

After we finished visiting more stores, napagdesisyonan namin na bumili ng makakain habang hinahanap sina Leo at Cairo kasi magkahiwalay kaming namasyal. Napatigil ako when I saw an eyepatch with unique designs. The eyepatch that I usually wear is plain white at ako lang ang gumawa at nagtahi nito. I kind of want to buy an eyepatch pero hindi ko lang alam kung kasya ba itong pera na dala ko. I was about to walk away pero nabigla ako ng may nabangga akong tao. Umatras ako ng kaunti and there I saw Cairo standing beside me, holding some plastic bags with the things he brought, and a box made of magic wood. Hindi ko napansin na nasa loob pala siya sa shop na tinitingnan ko at bigla na lang siyang lumabas mula doon kaya nabangga ko siya.

"I'm sorry, hindi kita napansin," paumanhin ko. He just nodded and he signalled me that we'll head back to our cars.

Naunang naglakad si Cairo patungo sa parking area at sumunod kami. Agad kaming sumakay sa sasakyan para bumalik sa Schoolomance because it's getting late. We're not that far kaya sandali lang ang travel time namin. We passed through multiple buildings and some dark roads until we reached the Dead City. It's getting dark kaya ang creepy niya tingnan but for some reason, the only feeling I have right now is sadness. Napatingin ulit ako sa sirang Temple at  nagbabakasakaling nandun pa siya but I don't see him anywhere.

"What are you looking at?" Cairo asked at nakalagpas na kami sa Dead City.

"Oh, nothing. I just find it sad that a part of Terrax has been destroyed like this," I replied at umiwas na ako ng tingin sa labas.