The Lost Prodigy

49. Freed

The moment I Ianded on the snow-covered ground, the cold instantly permeated through my tunic. Napayakap na lang ako sa aking sarili nang may dumaang malamig na simoy ng hangin. It was dark because it was still early morning. The light from the full moon would be only my guide in treading the Labyrinth.

Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na nandito na ako sa loob ng maze. May namumuo na ring kaba sa aking dibdib. What would Orion feel when he saw me here? Would he get angry at me?

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta ngayon. I am currently at a wide passage and everything here was coated in ice. Frozen.

Nainis naman ako sa aking sarili dahil hindi ako nakinig sa sinabi ni Orion sa amin kanina. I've got no clue where to head now. I don't know what direction I must take. Aabante ba ako o aatras? Dalawa lang ang pagpipilian ko pero nahihirapan ako.

I'm so doomed.

I panicked and I began hyperventilating. Napahawak naman ako sa pader na nasa aking kanan para hindi ako matumba. But I regretted it. Masiyado akong lutang at hindi ko naalalang nagyeyelo ang buong lugar. When my palm met the freezing ice, I immediately drew away because of the intense coldness. I rubbed my hands together to generate heat. Nanginginig na talaga ako. Fog was now coming out of my mouth every time I breathe.

I should be used to the cold because I grew up in the south. Pero dahil ilang buwan ko nang hindi nararanasan ang ganitong temperatura, namamaguhan ulit ang katawan ko.

But I'm already here and there's no turning back.

As I took a step forward, I ignited a small flame on top of one of my fingers. Hindi na kasi sapat ang ginagawa ko para hindi ako ginawin. Kailangan ko na talaga ng apoy. But I made it less discoverable. Para na rin sa kaligtasan ko.

The path in front of me was dark and eerie. There were also spiraling snowflakes everywhere which hindered my vision. But it was what my instinct was telling me. For many times, I have been reminded to keep moving forward. Kaya iyon ang gagawin ko ngayon.

At isa lang ito sa napakaraming desisyon na kailangan kong gawin sa loob ng maze na ito. Knowing that this complex place would be full of twists and traps, I can only rely on my instincts and decision-making skills to help me fulfill my mission.

Gale Harper has eliminated Vohn Emerin of House Animo! Ten points for House Imperium!

That voice boomed inside the maze. Nagulat ako sa lakas nun pero nang marinig ko iyon ay nabuhayan ako ng loob. Gale's inside the tournament and he might know Ella's whereabouts. I need to find him so I can get some answers.

Pero bago ako makagalaw ulit ay naramdaman ko ang paggalaw ng lupa. Something big was fast approaching in my direction.

Bakas ang pagkagulat sa aking mukha nang makita ko ang isang malaking snowball na gumugulong papunta sa aking direksiyon. Kasingtangkad nito ang mga pader ng maze at napakabilis nito. Agad na akong tumakbo at lumiko dahil naniniwala akong didiretso lang ito pero nagulat ako nang sundan ako ng higanteng bolang niyebe.

"What the heck?" komento ko na lang at nagpatuloy ulit sa pagtakbo. My steps were once again light because I used air to lessen my weight. Iyon lang ang nagawa ko dahil hindi pa ako masyadong sanay na lumipad at marami ring pasikot-sikot dito kaya tiyak na mahihirapan akong kontrolin ang aking direksyon kung palulutangin ko ang aking sarili.

But what if I try to climb on top of the maze? Will the snowball still follow me?

Mukhang walang balak na tumigil ang bagay na humahabol sa akin. But when I had achieved a huge gap between me and the giant snowball, I began climbing the high wall of the Labyrinth on my right side.
Kinuha ko ang aking punyal at ibinaon iyon sa nagyeyelong pader. It was difficult at first because the ice was slippery. Pero gamit ang aking kapangyarihan ay gumawa ako ng dagger mula sa tubig. At dahil sa lamig ng lugar ay awtomatikong nagyelo ang armas ko. Ginamit ko pagkatapos ang dalawang dagger para makaakyat sa tuktok.