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Chapter Eight: Sierra Mountains

-chapter eight-

"What do you say, Solace? Let's make this our greatest adventure!"

[Town East, City of Gaea⁠—]

NASA LABAS ako ng isang potion shop. Hinihintay ko si Feyre na matapos sa pamimili. Hindi niya ako pinasama dahil sa commotion na nangyari kanina. When we were buying for my scabbard, nakalimutan kong wala pala akong suot na mask at hinubad ko ang cloak. It attracted attention, forcing me to hide and escape.

I sighed and looked around the market. Maraming players ang dumadaan habang nag-uusap o kumakain. Some of them looked cozy, aakalain mo dito na sila tumitira. Napailing na lang ako. Kahit ako naman ay parang nahuhulog na ang loob sa larong 'to.

I decided to walk around the market for a while. Matagal pa naman siguro si Feyre dahil maraming tao sa loob. Mukhang may gulo din siyang sinisimulan kasi narinig ko ang pagsigaw niya. To avoid further conflicts, I will escape. Hihi. Feeling ko tuloy mas mabuti pang Rogue ako dahil sa lagi kong pagtatago sa dilim.

Natigilan ako nang dumapo ang mga mata sa isang mesa na puno ng dyamante. The stones and crystals sparkled and glimmered in the table. From the plain white diamonds to the ever-breathtaking opals with oceans and galaxies inside. A rainbow of colors formed in the table, making it the most radiant and beautiful art in the market.

Bahagya akong lumapit at tumayo sa gilid. Women, of course, flocked in the table. They discussed the beauty of the sapphires and how it makes them gorgeous even more. Napunta ang atensiyon ko sa isang kulay asul na kristal. Oddly, the crystal shone brighter than the rest. It created an almost different beauty - astounding but underappreciated.

"It is beautiful. It compliments your eyes." isang pamilyar na boses ang narinig ko sa tabi.

Mabilis akong lumingon dito. The same mysterious and peculiar man from the forest appeared. His obsidian eyes was emotionless and bored as he stared at the crystals. Yumuko siya ng konti, dahilan para medyo matabunan ng buhok ang mata. My eyes drifted to the back of his neck. His hair is longer than the last time. It almost reached his shoulders now.

"It's the only precious stone in this treasure box," aniya. "the others are just plain rocks."

He gave me a quick sideway glance. Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Ako lang ba o parang may pinapahiwatig siya.

"Thank you for helping me back then in the forest." pasalamat ko sa kaniya.

He turned to me, his face still impassive. However, I can see questions forming in his eyes. Akala ko magtatanong siya but to my surprise, he walked away. Hindi ko na lang iyon pinansin. Maybe his questions wasn't that important. Or he wasn't willing to ask it. The important things is, I have already expressed my gratitude.

Tiningnan ko ang paalis niyang pigura. A group of people came and stumbled in his direction. In a blink, he was gone. I immediately took a sharp intake of breath. Parang hindi ako nakahinga kanina, ah!

"Oh, there you are, Sol! Come on, let's go!" sigaw ni Feyre habang tumatakbo papunta sa'kin.

Hinatak niya ako at sabay kaming lumabas sa market. Tinuntunon namin ang daanan papunta sa Vanadey Forest. Sa likod nito ay ang Sierra Mountains. Gubat, gubat at gubat na naman ulit. Napapa-isip tuloy ako kung walang karagatan dito.

"Feyre," tawag ko.

"Oh?"

Kasalukuyan niyang hinahasa ang dalawang daggers habang naglalakad. We are entering the darker part of the forest. Maririnig mo sa bawat kaluskos nito ang trahedyang batid. If this was a horror game, I would have fainted already.