After Light: Journey To The Empyrean (Agnes, Book One)

Chapter 7

Tiningnan ko ang aking makakasama sa paglalakbay. Bawat isa sa kanila ay may kanya-kanyang dala na gamit. Kadalasan ay isang malaking bag na tanging mga sandata lamang ang laman.

I notice a woman standing near her bike. Tinitingnan niya ito na parang pinag-aaralan kong paano gamitin. I know she can manage. I remember her, she was the civilian my fellow priest brought into my village. I heard her name is Ophelia, a full-blooded witch but was raised by the council.

Nang mapansin niya akong nakatingin sa kanya ay mabilis siyang yumuko at nagbigay galang. She look at me with her round innocent eyes and smile.

"Magandang umaga ho, priestess Agnes." maligaya niyang saad. I just nod at her remark and look at the two gents arguing about something.

"Hindi ko rin gusto ang pinag-uutos ng konseho Larco but what can I do? I must leave my dear village under the command of that...ugh.. woman." ma-dramang saad ni Eulesis.

"Words Eulises. Words." maikling saad ni Larco bago pumunta sa kanyang bike at sinuri rin ito ng maigi. Bago pa ako mapansin ni Eulesis ay naglakad na ako palayo sa kanilang dalawa.

Nasa hindi kalayuan naka park si Angus na katulad ko rin ay walang dalang bag maliban nalang sa kaniyang espada na nasa kanyang likuran. Hindi tulad ng iba na may maraming pangangailangan para sa mahabang paglalakbay katulad ng pagkain, lalagyan ng tubig at iba pa. We can live without those only a few blood of wild animals will do. We've both been living with only animal's blood and we have survived a few wars, killed a thousand vampires in every encounter and protected our villages against them for a hundred times.

"You look good in your ponytail." bigla niyang saad kahit hindi naman nakatingin sa akin.

I smirk.

"Oh thank you dear brother but I am still mad at you, so don't waste your breath if you have one." I sarcastically said and rolled my eyes. I left him in his post with a devilish grin.

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Isang mahinang bulungan ang naging tugon ng mga nakikinig. Angus stood up and cleared his throat.

"I think he is right. Alam natin na kaya nating makipagsabayan sa bawat lahi pero hindi natin naisip ang posibilidad na magkasama silang lulusob sa atin." pagsang-ayon ni Angus sa sinabi ng high priest.

"I have researched about this book for a few years now and I heard that this book was given by the late Marcus Vanclair, himself to the ruler of the alley who was his mate before he vanished into thin air living his vampires under his generals command, the purebloods." litanya ng aking kapatid na seryosong nagsasalaysay ng kanyang mga nalalaman.

"So can you suggest anyone who will be with you in this journey?" Tanong ng isang konseho.

He looks at me like he wants me to be with him. Alam niya sa isip ko na ayokong pumunta dahil marami pa akong kailangan gawin sa Vilmore. I can't just in trust Vilmore's people in Franco's hands not that I don't trust him but I need to insure the safety of my people especially after what happened.

"I want Agnes to come with me." He said in full authority. The high-priest look at me and smile devilishly. He clap his hands and look at the council in front.

"May I suggest Your Greatness, Larco the priest of Silleret and Eulesis the priest of Pembrook to be in this journey, so is the witch, Ophelia." saad niya habang bahagyang nakayuko sa harap ng mga konseho.

I heard Eulises groan but he can't say no because the council seems to agree. I look at the elders talking while the high-priest wear their grins.

Alam ko kung bakit nila kami minungkahi para sila ang mamuno sa bawat village. I don't know their plans but it seems like they are planning to govern the villages by themselves and take us out of the picture.

I stood up and and walk towards the platform in the middle. I smirk looking at the high-priest who seems to forgot who he's dealing with.

"I have nothing against us being in that mission. If ever we succeeded we will be the heroes of the century. Now, what can we have in return?" malumay kong saad habang nakatingin sa high-priest na nagmamagaling kanina. I saw him struggle for an answer.

"Ano ba ang gusto mo priestess Agnes?" mahinahong tanong ng isang membro ng konseho. I grin looking at the high-priest who is looking at me like he already knows what my answer is.

"A position in the council." malakas kong saad na ikinaubo ni Eulises.

Isang matinding katahimikan ang bumalot sa loob ng hall. Lahat ng mga mata ay nakatingin sa akin na parang hindi nila inaasahan ang aking kapangahasan at matalas na paraan ng pakikipagsalita kahit sa harap ng konseho. Nang walang salitang lumabas sa kanilang mga bibig ay magalang akong yumuko.

"We will be on our way as you wish, your greatness. May I ask permission to leave this place because I need to prepare for tomorrow's voyage."

A member of the council gesture his hands approving my request. Magalang akong yumuko sabay talikod at lakad paalis. Leaving them wondering why I suddenly wanted a position in the council.

I snorted at the thought of it.

Hindi ko kailan hinangad ang position sa konseho. Nagkaroon lang ng kaunting galit dahil sa high-priest na nagmamagaling kanina. I smirk remembering how his reaction looks like the moment I said I wanted a position in the council.

Pathetic human.

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"Gather up people." Eulises shouted while clapping his hands. I saw Angus groan looking at how childish Eulises acts while Larco just look at him with total boredom like how he always does. Tahimik lang akong lumapit sa kanilang apat.

Bago paman magsimulang magsalita si Eulises ay biglang may mga bike na dumating sakay nito sina Demor, Jay at Verleen. I look at them, the only people I trust to protect Vilmore are here.

"Anong ginagawa niyo dito?" madiin kong saad sa kanila. They all look at me knowing my tone they know I am not in the good mood looking at them.

"I'm sorry priestess pero pinatawag kami ng konseho kahapon para samahan kayo sa inyong magiging paglalakbay." magalang na saad ni Demor habang tahimik lang sina Jay at Verleen.

"Sino ang kasama ni Franco sa pamumuno sa Vilmore?" tanong ko sa kanila na seryoso lamang nakatingin sa akin.

"May mga high priests na ipinadala ang konseho na siyang magiging kasama ni Franco sa pamumuno habang wala ka, priestess." sagot ni Verleen.

I just nod as an answer.

"So, we are all gathered here with one goal to recover the book of Gehenna and end this misery against the witches. May the gods guide us towards success and deliver us away from death." saad ni Eulises habang nakasaklop pa ang dalawang kamay at nakapikit. Larco didn't acknowledge his words of wisdom and went towards the backseat of his bike and open the scroll where the map is revealed inside. Iniwan namin ang nakapikit na si Eulises at pinalibutan ang mapa na hawak ni Larco.

"We are here in Silleret, northern part of the city. Straight to here is the valley of Blenheim. At exactly zero-five hundred we will arrive at their main town. We will stay there for a night and proceed to another land." saad ni Larco sabay balik ng mapa sa kanyang bag.

Kaniya-kaniyang sakay na kami sa aming mga bike at paharurot nito paalis. Hoping for a successful adventure towards a new land far from the place we called home.