*Season's P.O.V.*
It's been two days and I found myself rather getting accustomed in this life underground. During the day, I'd tail around Kalista and Alisya in the kitchen, preparing some food and medication for everyone and those who still needed treatment respectively. They don't seem to mind my presence so much, as long as I can help and the girlfriend is actually very nice. She genuinely cares about Kaloy and her race so, I couldn't really hate her anymore. Wait, did I hate her in the first place? Why? Gosh! And during the night, when their mechanical clock would struck something that looks like the number nine, I'd sneak up through the empty halls and into the empty bathtub to freshen up, like right now. I'm submerged in the cool water butt naked, trying to calm my nerves down. Such anxious thoughts would just creep in my mind and it ain't really helping me right now.
When I decided that I had enough of the cool waters, I changed back into yet another gray colored gown that's more robe-like and easy to wear before I walked out of there to get some sleep. Dimly lit halls and dancing lamp flames greeted me when I stepped out into the tunneled hallway and I took in a much needed breath. It's quite creepy venturing in these winding tunnels at this hour, but I have to suck it up cause why not? There are night guards who are posted along the doors of the main hall anyways so I don't need to worry too much. For my two days stay in here, I had followed the same route upon going to the kitchen kind of chamber, to the room that I'm using, and to the bath chambers but tonight, a fallen rock caught my attention because it was highlighted by a white colored light that can only come from the moon.
"All the entrances are blocked."
"Even the air ventilators here are covered in a way that won't let light in..."
Those words echoed in my mind from my conversation with Kaloy and Kalista the past two days and I wondered at its credibility if light from the moon can seep through. I followed the source of the light and found myself climbing on a steeply tunneled Earth before I was able to reach the opening that's almost horizontal and was surprised to know that I can fit through there and I could actually get out if I want to, which I did.
Lumayan's majestic beauty under the moonlight graced my sight and I can't help but fall in love with the ambiance. Here I am, standing on a rather cliffy mountain, overlooking a majestic land that's gloomily illuminated by the moon. I felt the breeze kiss my face and I finally felt relaxed, free from the anxiety even, and I love the feeling. Although I want to stay longer, I opted to be responsible and just return inside, making sure to seal that hole with a flat rock from the inside. Yup, I struggled to do it but I did it anyway and this time continued to my usual route.
"Magandang gabi." The soldier on guard greeted.
"Magandang gabi to you too." I greeted back as I walked into my room, finally getting that goodnight sleep that I deserve.
The next day was just like the days prior, cooking and cleaning are my main chores and I don't really mind, there are a lot of us who is helping one another anyways. We were clearing away the dishes after a hefty breakfast for the whole community when the ground suddenly shook and everyone panicked. Kaloy stood up, trying to calm everyone.
"Kailangan natin ng mata sa labas, Kalista!" He called out and his half sister rushed beside him. Somebody fetched them a basin filled with water and I saw light come out from Kaloy's palm and transfered into the water as Kalista threw some gold bars into it before stirring it up with her hand. A mist appeared around the basin just like what happened when we were on the spring and I saw how Kaloy's worried face turn hard when he saw what's projected on the water. "Ihanda ang hukbo!" He commanded and Kalista almost fell to the ground, if it wasn't for Teodoro who caught her. "Nandyan sila sa labas kasama ang mga higante. Alisya!"
"Kamahalan?" Alisya immediately appeared in front of him as soldiers lined up with their weapons, abandoning their meals.
"Siguraduhin mong ligtas ang kababaihan at ang mga bata, at ihanda mo sila kung sakaling kailangan ninyong tumakas." He instructed.
"Masusunod Kamahalan." She bowed and immediately went to action, rounding up the women and the children as well as the elderly. I can't help but feel a little something upon seeing how efficiently they work together. She's queen material not because she's regal but because she's responsible. They'd work well together.
With a heavy heart, I watched from the side as Kaloy let the array of about 30 barely armored soldiers hold on to him before they vanished into thin air. I know I should probably join the group of women and children that Alisya is leading somewhere but I can't help the worry that's creeping on my system and when nobody was watching, I ran to a different hall, knowing exactly where I am going. I took a sharp turn to the narrow path that I followed last night and climbed the steep wall, pushing open the rock that I used to cover it. Soon my eyes adjusted to the bright surroundings and I found myself at the mountain's cliff again, this time, it ain't the serene silence of the night that greeted me but rather the sound of war, clanking swords, battle screams, heavy thumps, and many more. The entrance of the mine that used to be as empty as a dessert now became full with soldiers fighting, and creatures of all shapes and sizes hurdled each other.
Kaloy's army is obviously outnumbered, and offsized because there are like more than a hundred Dalaketnons waiting outside and five gigantic creatures with them. I don't know what god these creatures believe in but I hope they're praying to him or her right now. Gosh! Only a miracle could save them. I watched the fight like a movie scene from an aerial view and my eyes scanned the area and rested on the prince of Lumayan who's dueling with two Dalaketnons who looks so similar. Does Lakan have a twin? I can't help but wonder because I am seeing two physical form of the guy who initiated my kidnapping and they both are charging towards Kaloy. It's as if having two hims ain't enough because when Kaloy managed to behead the other one with a swing of his sword on the perfect timing, the body just disappeared and another Lakan look alike charged towards him. What kind of trick is this? What exactly is the nemesis of him capable of?
Nonetheless, despite the unending supply of Lakans who would just appear when one would disappear, the mighty prince fought them all with his own ability. Yes, I noticed how a white ball of energy would appear on his palm every once in awhile and he would use it to take down an upcoming enemy. However, his power is not unlimited and I also noticed how he's slowing down now, 45 minutes into the fight. He was visibly catching his breath after finishing yet another Lakan look alike when one of the giants stomped infront of him, making the ground shake a bit. The giant held a huge, heavy looking hammer that would surely smash its victim into a flat potato. And right now, the prince is the ugly beast's target. I almost want to scream when I saw how the giant was about to strike, it's a good thing that Kaloy still managed to produce that white concentration of energy to hold up the strike but I can see that he's struggling to do so. The strainer muscles in his back became really evident and I don't know how much longer he can take it that I'm tempted to do something to help. From my position here, I moved my eyes around his location to somehow look for something that can help his situation but what I found was something that can worsen it. There, a few meters behind Kaloy stood Lakan in a dark cloak just like his doubles earlier, unnoticed by the battle busy crowd, but this Lakan emits a more powerful aura that I'm so sure that he's the real one, if those others were fake. He had with him a dagger and I saw how he line himself up behind Kaloy, adjusting his aim.
Gosh no! If I screamed here and get their attention, I don't want to distract Kaloy and make him let go of the energy that's holding back the giant's hammer. And if I jumped and try to stop Lakan, I'm not sure if I'm gonna make it in time because they are not directly below me. But, things happened so quickly and suddenly the dagger was surrounded by a purplish thunderbolt and soon enough Lakan actually threw it.
If I debated on screaming and jumping just a few seconds ago, I ended up doing both. "Kaloy!" I screamed as I launched myself on air.
*Kaloy's P.O.V.*
Everything happened so fast yet somehow in slow motion at the same time. I don't know what I'm supposed to feel and do when I heard her scream behind me. Even more so when I saw the baned dagger that's flying my way and I realized that I've let go of the energy that's holding back the giant's hammer. I'm totally cornered that I don't even know what prayer I want to send to our supreme being, Bathala. I'm so sure that I'd die at this rate and Season, what the hell is she doing here, jumping in to what? Take the dagger's shot? Before I can even move, not that I know where to move exactly a bright light blinded almost all of us and there emerged a scaly creature standing at approximately 3 meters, and is 7 meters in length from its head which has a single horn up to its wagging tail that sent the baned dagger flying over the mountains. It leaped over me with its powerful legs, directly attacking the giant that was about to smash me with its hammer earlier, effectively knocking it to the ground unconscious. It turned sharply my way again and my eyes landed on the Dalaketnon that its got its eyes fixed on, Lakan. He looks as shocked as I was when the creature that can only be a dragon lunged towards him, but of course he was quick with his reflexes to dodge its attack but impressively, the dragon still managed to hit him with its tail, sending him to the other side of the battlefield where everyone resumed their own fights after the shock that its appearance brought about.
It circled its body protectively around me and I don't understand what's going on until our eyes met. Its jade green orbs spoke to my blue ones and although I'm confused, I'm certain it's her. Season. It has got to be her! Because I can't see her anywhere since this dragon showed up. Is she some sort of a goddess? I can't think straight as it too averted its eyes to the battlefield where we are clearly loosing. The bluish-green dragon lowered its body to the ground as if telling me to get on to its back but I'm hesitant. Then a giant came to attack and the dragon fought back too, making sure to cover me. When it was able to knock out a second giant, it looked at me again, lowering its body one more time, huffing as if telling me to get the hell on its back and this time, I did.
Within minutes we both surged through the battlefield, the dragon headbutting, stomping, and kicking on the enemies as I guided it also being able to eliminate a few of them with my sword. Then the three remaining giants surrounded us and I was about to maneuver my ride in fighting those three but it released a powerful roar followed by a stomp. Thorny plants started protruding from the bare ground. They grew in a way that pierced through the enemy's individual bodies and they had nothing left to do but retreat before one thorny plant could impale them and I, along with my men were left in awe. The deadly plants that suddenly grew eventually retracted back to the soil when there isn't a Dalaketnon left in the area and still awestruck, I got down from its back.
I looked at it intently, and it came near me, closer and closer until our forheads connected. I felt the sparks ignite and my heart is racing when that happened and I knew then and there that it is indeed her. Season! I can only feel this way when I'm with her. Although I don't understand how everything came to be, I'm happy. I really am. For reasons that I can't fathom. I held its face on arms length when we pulled away and then a bright light blinded us again, so I shielded my eyes. When I opened them again I came face to face with the redhead beauty that captured my heart. A smile of relief is stretched through her face and her eyes bore a certain kind of emotion into mine. It's like the world around us faded away, leaving only the two of us. I wrapped my arms around her, wanting to inquire so many things from her but...
"Season? Season!" I exclaimed when she suddenly fainted in my arms. It's a good thing that I still have a little energy left and I owe that to her, that's why I'm still able to carry her unconscious body. "Pabuksan ninyo ang pintuan!" I commanded to my still dazed men as I am too exhausted to use my teleportation power.
When they finally were able to open the heavily vaulted mine entrance I sped walk through the winding corridors with Season in my arms. "M-mahal na prinsipe? Isa ba siyang dyosa? Anak ng Bathala? Paano nya po nagawa ang ginawa nya kanina?" A soldier whose name I don't know, dared to ask.
"I don't know." I answered. Because that's the truth, I myself am baffled by whatever happened just a few minutes ago. I have never seen a creature just like her. The first time I saw her, I thought it was only her fighting skills and spirit that attracted me, however, I've always thought that she's a normal human that happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time that's why she have frequent encounters with mythical creatures but right now, I'm starting to question that. A lot of possibilities ran through my brain but we already arrived at the main hall and it was Teodoro who met us. "Nasaan ang iba?" I asked seeing as the room is basically empty.
"Sa isang silid nagtatago. Ano ang nangyare? Kanina ko pa sya hinanap, sumali ba sya sa labanan?" He fired as he checked Season up, getting her pulse and all.
"Tawagin sila upang matulungan ang mga sugatan." I commanded first and he immediately obeyed and left to get them. When he came back, the community came back with him and the women attended to the soldiers as expected.
"Anong nangyare? Bakit nyo po kasama si Season kamahalan?" That was Alisya who asked when she saw Season's unconscious body.
"Pagkat hindi nyo pala sya kasama at sa hindi ko mabatid na dahilan ay sinundan nya kami." Before I could finish explaining, a soldier who was barely injured butted in our conversation.
"Siya ang nagligtas sa amin. Kung hindi siya dumating ay maaring patay na kaming lahat ngayon! Ipinadala siya ni Bathala, isa siyang makapangyarihang nilalang!" He said. Way to go dude.
Alisya, Kalista, and Teodoro who are attending to Season and I paused and looked at me questioningly. I slowly nodded, agreeing with the soldier. "Muntikan na akong matamaan ni Lakan habang abala sa pakikipagdigma sa isang higante nang bigla ko syang narinig na sumigaw upang balaan ako. Pagkatapos nun ay biglang nagliwanag at nagpalit anyo sya."
"Nagpalit anyo? Anong klaseng nilalang ba sya?" Kalista asked.
"Akala ko bang isa lamang siyang tao?" Alisya seconded.
Right, as if I don't have the same question and reaction. "Akala ko rin. At sya ay naging isang dragon. At ang dragon na iyon ang siyang nagpapanalo sa amin." I answered.
"Dragon?" Teodoro asked.
"Isa ba siyang dyosa? Anak ng Bathala? Ano?" Alisya fired and I can only sigh because I don't know as well.
"Tanungin natin siya paggising niya." Teodoro suggested and we all agreed. We won't really know.
"Kamahalan? Ayos ka lang ba?" Alisya asked, diverting her attention to me.
"Oo ayos lang ako." I answered as she gave me a much needed glass of water. I once again looked at Season as Teodoro said that we should take her to her room. "Ako na." I said when a soldier attempted to carry her. No way am I letting anyone else hold her, not even my most trusted men. I don't care what they must be thinking right now.
"Alisya, ikaw muna ang bahala dito, at papa." Kalista said. She probably wants to talk to me about this and I'm glad that the both of them didn't argue too much so we made our way to her assigned chamber. "You know that the soldier could've carried her here with no problem at all right?" She lightly teased when we managed to get inside and she locked the door. As usual we speak English when we discuss about my feelings.
I rolled my eyes at her as I laid Season down on the bed made out of hay, covered with a fabric. "You know I'd rather not let anyone else touch her."
"Jealous much?" My sister chuckled.
"Shut up Kalista. There's something we don't know about Season."
"Well, you always said she was different before. Maybe this is what you've sensed a few months ago." I'm not quite sure if that's exactly it. For all I know, she's different because of her effect on me or the way that I react when she's around.
"I don't think so, she never showed signs of being one of us, paranormal beings. I mean, you saw how she's affected by our kind, hell, I was even able to possess her." I pointed out.
"Okay okay. We don't know what she is but now our kind knows what she means to you and vice versa." Here she goes again.
"I could care less about what they'd think. In fact she's already a great asset for us. We need to prepare for their next assault though. Which means, we need to move out of here as soon as we can."
"I'd say tomorrow... But where would we go?" She asked which made me let go of a sigh. My heart feels heavy at the fact that we are treated like rebels in our own land, but we'd have to, for now.
"I'd take care of that..." I reassured, caressing Season's hair just to calm myself down.