The Grimoire

Chapter 30: Under the Moonlight right above the Train

At this point on, we could say that we barely managed to do a part of our mission. Although we lost some of our comrades, we are fortunate enough to gain another one. The tragedy did damage most our emotional status, but I think it strengthened our conviction to win this war. 

The five of us waited at the train station, far from the citizens and tourists that wanted to get in the same train. Just like before, we will be going in a different gate since we are so-called VIPs. Habang naghihintay kami, napansin ko si Kel na parang hindi mapakali, maybe because this is his first time going out of town, and the fact that we only met a few days ago might be quite bothersome for him. Halatang-halata ang nerbyos niya at kung saan-saan nalang siya tumitingin, and he even kept looking at his watch. Leo gently tapped his shoulder to calm him down and well, kumalma naman siya ng konti. Huminga siya ng malalim at sumandal siya sa gilid niyang metal rail.

Hindi pa namin na-plano kung ano ang susunod naming pupuntahan pero sabi ni Cairo, baba raw kami sa station na minsan lang tinitigilan. Sabi pa niya, this station is actually inside a cave at isang beses sa isang buwan lang ito dinadaanan dahil sa napakadelikado nito. People like us who possessess magic might survive if tragedy occurs, but the normal ones can't kaya tina-timing rin ng train na okay lang ang weather conditions kung dadaan kami doon. I'm not sure how the weather really affects that place pero iyon lang ang sabi ni Cairo. I'm not really sure why he told us that we'll drop by there, pero may tiwala kami sa kaniya. He's never wrong when it comes to strategies.

As I was taking my time to appreciate the surroundings while waiting for the train, bigla akong nakaramdam ng kirot sa likoran ko. It wasn't a normal pain, it looked like it cmae from inside me which was disturbing. Agad akong napahawak sa likoran ko pero wala naman akong nahahawakang bagay na pwedeng maging rason kung bakit ako may nararamdaman ngayon. It felt like a sharp burning needle that pricked from inside me at para bang gusto nitong lumabas. Umatras ako ng kaunti at niramdam ito kasi habang patagal ng patagal, pasakit ng pasakit ang nararamdaman ko.

"Hey," tawag ko sa kanila and I pretended that I wasn't in pain, and I gave them a nervous smile. "Punta lang ako sa CR saglit," paalam ko at tumango sila. 

I immediately ran towards the comfort room at tumigil lang ako sa entrance kung saan ako sinalubong ng malaking salamin. Sinandal ko ang likoran ko at napapikit ako habang niraramdam ang sakit. Napayuko na rin ako at hindi ko naiwasang hawakan ang dibdib ko kasi sumasakit rin ito. I started to catch my breath at napatingin ako sa salamin na harap ko, and for a split second, I saw another set of images.

I was playing in a beautiful garden filled with flowers that were surrounded by fire. It seemed like the flower was made of fire itself. I tried to touch it and I was surprised when I realize that it didn't burn my fingers. In fact, the fire was warm, and it tickled me. I laughed as I touch each one of them and I saw a guy who was watching me from a far. He was a kid, like I am in this memory. I do not remember what he looked like, but I do remember his warm smile towards me.

I ran towards him, and I noticed that he was holding a book. A book that holds our language. I looked above and I noticed a strange barrier above us. I also noticed that the garden that we were in was filled with land as if we were underneath it. Napatingin ulit ako sa kanya and he handed me the book.

"The Grimoire of Inferno," I mumbled at napahawak ako salamin at pilit na inaalala ang mga sumusunod na pangyayari. 

I stared at myself in the hopes that another set of memory will come back, but no. All I am seeing was my left eye that turned into blue. I took my eyepatch from my right eye and saw both of my eyes with blue colors although my left eye's original color is yellow. Just when I was about to put back my patch, bumalik ulit ang naramdaman ko sa likoran and this time, both of my blue eyes shined with a maze mark like Ishara's orb back then. Ishara's Labyrinth to be exact.