GA - Chapter 32: Dark Secret

Grimrose Academy

YUMANIG ang paligid. Nagkaroon ng malakas na hangin na parang galing sa iba’t ibang direksyon. Hindi ko alam kung anong ibig sabihin ng huling sinabi ni Jack. Ang gusto ko lang malaman ay kung anong nangyari sa mga kaibigan ko. They were all pushed and scattered throughout the old mess hall.

“Luc!” Siya ang una kong nakita. She looked fine. May mga sugat siya pero mabilis nag-heal. She stood on all fours and shook off the water on her hair and fur.

Then I saw Eli. She was pinned on the cracked wall—staring blankly as if she froze again.

“Eli!” I called. Walang response sa kanya kaya’t tinawag ko pa siya. “Eli!! Eli!! Eli!!”

Bumalik ang diwa ni Eli. Nagawa din niyang makaalis sa pader pero kinailangan niyang gamitin ang sheath ng katana pang tukod.

And then I saw the Franco siblings… 

“Z-Zed? Nix? Ate Kat? Ash?”

I would have fallen to my knees if it weren't for these vines that shackled me. Hindi ko makayanan ang nakita ko. Ang mga Franco… para silang nakikipaglaban sa mga sarili nila. Parang may pinipigilan silang lumabas sa loob nila. They looked like they were in extreme pain and struggling to hold on to something or gasping for air. It quickly reminded me of when Zed lost control.

“Anong nangyayari sa kanila?” Nanlaki lang ang mga mata ko. Tapos ay bumaling ako kay Jack nang buong galit at konting luha. “Anong ginawa mo sa kanila?!”

Humalakhak si Jack pero bigla rin siyang umubo. Napansin ko rin na mas nangayayat siya at parang tuyong-tuyo na ang balat niya. Hindi ko sure pero mukha siyang nabawasan ng lakas o powers. Nagawa niyang ngumiti at tumingin sa ‘kin. 

“Pasensya na sa itsura ko, Ms. Brea. Malaki ang naging kapalit ng ginawa kong pagkain sa Feather at pagtawag ko sa mga Demons na nasa loob nila. Maghintay ka lang nang konti. Makikita mo rin kung ano talaga sila.”

Thick black smoke started to appear around the Franco siblings, and their veins became visible, turning black.

“Kat? Anong nangyayari sa ‘yo?” alalang tanong ni Luc. Lalapitan niya sana si Ate Kat pero biglang kumapal ang itim na usok at tuluyang nabalutan ang buong katawan ng mga Franco.

Si Eli naman, hinawakan si Luc sa balikat. Umiling siya para pigilan ang kaibigan namin. Tapos ay tinuro niya si Jack.

“You! I’m gonna tear you apart!” Luc growled. 

Sumugod sila papunta kay Jack. Luc moved like a savage wolf on all fours, while Eli ran like a samurai, poised to unsheathe her katana.

Pero bago pa sila makalapit… Biglang nagkaroon ng makapal at mataas na tipak ng mga ice. Nagsilbi itong wall sa pagitan namin at nila Luc.

“Ice? Ate Kat?” Lumingon ako. Just a few steps away from Jack, there I saw the Franco siblings. Pero iba na ang itsura nila. Their eyes were crimson red while the whites were pitch black. Some parts of their skin looked like reptilian scales. Their muscles writhed beneath their skins. Their aura… like the first time I saw Trish—dark and ill intent.

“Uh g-guys? A-Anong nangyari sa inyo?” nanginig kong tanong. Masama ang kutob ko. Parang may hindi tama.

They were wearing some sort of gothic armor that has sharp edges from their neck to toe. Magkaka-iba ang theme at design ng suot nilang ‘yon pero parang galing sila sa fantasy video games. 

“Tal’ithra the Demon Ghost, good to see you again,” bati ni Jack kay Ate Kat.

Ate Kat looked frozen in place. Her expression was blank, her skin pale with a bluish tint. Her hair had turned white, stiff with cold. She wore an armored dress made of ice crystal that gave off a faint, icy mist. Crystal horns rose from her head like a crown. She was like the queen of ice but not in a dreamy way.

“Svranos the Vampire Demon, welcome back to the human world.”

Ash now looked more vampiric. His ears were pointed, his skin was exceptionally pale as if he were long dead. From his forehead horns shaped like inverted bat wings. He wore pitch-black armor marked with intricate blood-red patterns, and a vampire’s cape draped behind him, like an armored version of Dracula. 

“Demon General Xanargos. It is a pleasure to be in your presence,” Jack said with a slight bow. 

Nix looked like a human born from hell, with clear demonic features. He wore crimson-red armor that looked like it came from a lava dragon, with embers glowing along its sharp edges. Horns grew from both sides of his head that looked draconic. His hair was covered in crimson flames. Just standing there, he felt like a Dreadlord, much like Sir Azrael.

“And of course… the Lycanthrope Demon Ed’wrathos.”

Tuluyan akong lumuha nang makita ko si Zed. Ibang-iba na kasi ang itsura niya, halos di ko na makilala. He stood nearly nine feet tall, huge and covered in black fur. He had fully become a Lycan—a wolf that stood on two legs, wilder and seeming hungry to kill. He wore armor made of chains and spikes. His long canine fangs were always visible. He has curved horns pointing forward. He looked furious, like he wanted to tear something apart at any moment.

“No… Zed…” I whispered.

“You!” Tinuro ni Ate Kat si Jack. Ang boses niya parang dalawa. Nandoon pa rin yung boses ni niya pero may kasabay na malalim at mababang tono. “You dare summon us. State your name, demon.”

“Maligayang pagdating sa mundo ng mga tao. Ako ay si Demon Irvathos o mas kilala bilang Jack the Ripper sa mundong ito. Isa lamang akong taga sunod ng Lord Chronika. Pinatawag ko kayo para palayain. Alinsunod sa utos ng aking panginoon.”

“Ang alyansa namin ay kay Dreadlord Azrael Warden of Dreadhell. Isa kang lapastangan!” sabi naman ni Nix, doble rin ang boses niya. Susugurin niya dapat si Jack pero biglang nagkaroon ng mga chains na gawa sa itim na usok at ginapos siya nito kaya’t di siya nakagalaw.

“Pasensya na. Paalala lang mga mahal kong bisita. As your summoner, you are all bound to grant my wish. Dito sa mundo ng mga tao mas makapangyarihan ang ritual kaysa sa alyansa,” nakangiting sagot ni Jack.

The chains were hurting Nix so bad. Parang kapag hindi siya kumalma ay kaya siya nitong patayin.

“Tell us what you desire?” Ash asked. He too has this double demonic voice.

“Patayin niyo ang lahat ng pipigil sa akin na i-summon ang Lord Chronika.”

“And your sacrifice?”

“Ang aking sarili at ang naipon kong isang libong souls sa loob ko.”

“That’s not enough, you imbecile,” sabad ni Ate Kat. “We’re not common demons. And you summoned the four of us.”

Ngumiti si Jack. “Sinubukan ko lang naman. Kung ganon… ang aking kahilingan ay… protektahan niyo lang ako hanggang sa mai-summon ko ang Lord Chronika.”

“Pumapayag kami,” sabi naman ni Nix at nawala ang mga chains sa katawan niya.

Bakit gano’n? Parang hindi sila ang may kontrol sa mga sarili nila? Anong nangyari? Are they still my friends?

The ice wall melted. Eli and Luc attacked Jack but they were repelled by Zed and Ash.

“What the—” Luc was surprised as she stepped backward. “Anong ginagawa niyo bakit niyo tinutulungan yang kalbo na ‘yan?”

Walang nakuhang sagot si Luc. Nakatayo lang ang mga Franco sa harap ni Jack na parang mga bodyguard.

“Hoy Jack! Anong ginawa mo sa mga kaibigan ko?!” galit kong tanong.

Tumawa si Jack bago sumagot nang naka-kibit balikat. “Tinawag ko lang naman ang mga Demons na nakatira sa mga kaluluwa nila at humiling. Hindi ako ang naglagay niyan sa kanila, a— si Azrael. Hinihiram ko lang ang kapangyarihan nila.”

Napakunot noo nalang ako. Hindi ko maintindihan. Kung si sir Azrael ang naglagay ng mga Demon souls sa mga Franco, bakit napapasunod sila ni Jack ngayon?

A memory hit me. It was when I was with sir Azrael inside our minds. Patay na dapat ang mga Franco noon pero sinagip sila ni sir Azrael dahil iyon ang hiniling ni Dean Clea sa kanya. I could still remember exactly what he said…

“Clea’s wish was simple—save the younglings. It was beyond my abilities but I found a solution. As Warden of Dreadhell, I sought out souls—those I could bind to the children, to sustain them. In the end… they survived. But such a thing does not come without consequence.”

Ito ba yung consequence na sinasabi niya bukod sa pagiging Grimborns ng mga Franco?

“Mukhang di mo maintindihan, Ms. Brea. Hayaan mong ipaliwanag ko.”

Wala akong choice kundi ang makinig sa sasabihin ni Jack. Pero baka makakuha ako ng clue kung paano ko ibabalik sa dati sila Ate Kat.

Jack told me about the Franco siblings origin, which I already knew. But he was the one who filled the gap about their secret…

“...At dahil soul binding ang ginawa ni Azrael sa mga Franco, naging posible ang pag-summon ko sa kanila. Ang kinailangan ko lang malaman ay ang mga pangalan ng mga Demons na nasa loob nila. Karunungan na nakuha ko mula sa panginoong Chronika.”

Mukhang naiintindihan ko na. The demon souls inside them were put by sir Azrael. They weren’t summoned like how Evos do it. Kaya no choice ang mga Franco ngayon na sundin si Jack ay dahil sa summoning ritual.

“Ngayon. Wala silang ibang gagawin kundi ang sundin ang kahilingan ko. Kahit sino ang dumating protektado nila ako at magtatagumpay ako,” dagdag pa ni Jack.

Wala akong clue na nakuha para makatulong. Kailangan ko pa siyang pigain.

“Hindi ka ba nag-iisip? You sacrificed yourself for that? Okay… Let’s say you summoned your so-called Lord Chronika… Ang sabi ng mga Franco kay sir Azrael ang alliance nila. Meaning they will take your soul and then fight your Lord once you're done and then sir Azrael will arrive too. While your Lord Chronika falls— you are long gone.”

“Para ka talagang musmos at walang muwang, Ms. Brea.” Humalakhak si Jack saka nagpatuloy. “Kaya ka nga nandito ay para kainin ng Lord Chronika. Ang Aether sa loob mo ang magbibigay sa kanya ng lakas na higit pa kahit kanino.”

Shoot! All I did was to uncover his schemes. He calculated everything. This… Everything that is happening right now was all according to his plans. Mas lalo lang akong natakot sa mangyayari.

“Ipagpaumanhin mo, Ms. Brea. Magsisimula na ako sa aking ritual.” Umupo si Jack sa sahig nang naka-cross ang mga binti. His hands were in prayer. His eyes were closed while he muttered words that seemed ancient and unknown.

No! Nagsisimula na siya. Kailangan mapigilan ang mga plano niya. Something should be done. Something unpredictable. Una, dapat mapigilan ang mga Franco sa pagprotekta sa kanya. Pero sino ang may kakayahan na gumawa no’n? Lalo na ngayon na Demon form sila? Kaasar! Di ko alam. Guluhin ko kaya muna siya?

“Kalbo! Kalbo! Kalbo! May naghahanap sayo.”

No response.

“Hoy! Yari ka sa nanay mo magdamag ka sa computer shop.”

Wala pa rin.

“Jack! Patay ka nandito na si sir Azrael…”

Grabe sobrang focus niya sa ginagawa niya at kumpyansa niya sa mga Franco.

 “Oy Jack! May ipis sa ilong mo! Naiwan mo ‘yong sinaing!”

At walang nangyari. Nagmukha lang akong ewan. Kainis!

Umalingawngaw ang tunog ng sword clash sa paligid. Eli was fighting both Ate Kat and Ash. Ginagawa niya ang lahat para harangin ang ice sword ni Ate Kat at mga binabataong baraha ni Ash. Hirap na hirap siya at may mga sugat na siya sa braso’t ibang parte ng katawan. 

Luc grunted and whined like a wounded wolf each time she was hurt. She would have died from Zed’s attacks if not for her super regeneration, but he was simply too strong for her.

“Luc! Eli! Please just run! Save yourselves!” sigaw ko. I realized that the Francos don't attack—they just defend and repel them.

“Not an option! We will save you!” sagot ni Luc. Sinubukan niya ulit umatake na parang isang wild animal, pero mas mabilis at mas malakas si Zed sa kanya. Dalawang kalmot sa katawan ang inabot niya.

“Luc!” Sinubukan ko ulit kumawala pero wala talaga. I can only beg him to stop. “Zed, please stop!”

It was so hard to watch. Luc was covered in wounds, blood everywhere. She regenerated, but I could still see the pain in the way her chest moved with every breath.

“That’s it!” Luc said in frustration. “Eli, let's use our secret technique.”

“Agree.”

Umatras si Luc at Eli nang ilang hakbang. 

Secret technique? Ano kaya ‘yon? I hope it will be enough.

Eli slid her katana back into its sheath. She held it upright before her and closed her eyes. After a few seconds, her shadow moved. It tore itself from the floor and stood beside her, an exact clone of her shaped from pure darkness. It had no eyes, no mouth, no face at all. Even the katana in its hands was made of shadow. 

“Shadow clone? Go, Eli!” cheer ko.

Si Luc naman huminga nang malalim saka umalulong nang sobrang haba. Siguro mga fifteen seconds din ‘yon. Tapos ay biglang sumulpot ang dalawang translucent dire wolves sa tabi niya. They were blueish like ghosts.

“Whoa! Luc what are those?”

“My spirit wolves! Ang nanay ko kasi ay isang Shaman. This is something I got from her.”
Astig! Now I think they can even the odds—hopefuly.

Habang nakatingin ako kay Eli at Luc, na-realize ko na nagawan nila ng paraan ang mga weakness nila. Eli could randomly freeze in the heat of battle, so she got a clone that can defend and attack for her. On the other hand, Luc said she was the disgrace of the wolf clan because she can’t transform into a full lycan. Kaya wala rin siyang wolf pack. But with her spirit wolves—she just got her own.

“Sandali!” 

Isang boses ng babae ang narinig namin. At mula sa butas ng pader na ginawa ni Luc kanina, pumasok sina Xiaoyan, Krishna, at tatlo pa nilang kasamahan sa Elite Team.

“Kami ang tatalo sa mga demons na ‘yan,” sabi ni Xiaoyan.

Inilibas ng Elite Team ang kani-kanilang mga Arma Lux—unique weapons na gawa sa Aether; a gold and white light. Iyong kay Krishna tower shield, iyong sa isang lalaki na maskulado at malaking tao—giant gauntlets, harp at crossbow naman ‘yong sa dalawa pang lalaki, at kay Xiaoyan… isang Rapier.

“Don’t be stupid. Hindi sila mga normal na demons. Kaya kahit ayaw ko, I propose a team up,” sabi ni Luc kay Xiaoyan.

Xiaoyan raised a brow. “We don’t need you. Nobody is stronger than us. We are the Elite team.”

Umiling-iling nalang si Luc. “Unbelievable. Bahala kayo sa buhay niyo.”

Oh crap! Luc was right. Ibang level na ang mga Franco ngayon. Dapat talaga mag team up.

“Elite team! Attack!” hudyat ni Xiaoyan. 

Mukhang coordinated naman ang Elite team. They have this team formation na parang matagal na nilang ginagawa. Sa unahan si Krishna at ang shield niya habang nasa likod niya ay ‘yong maskuladong lalaki at si Xiaoyan. Iyong dalawa nilang kasama para bang naiwan sa backline pero naka-posisyon na rin.

“I’ll handle this,” sabi naman ni Nix. He drew his intricate design fantasy-looking dagger from its back hip holster. Bigla itong nagliyab—kulay crimson.

And then… Everything happened so fast. Nasundan ko kahit papaano. Nix teleported and appeared at each of them one by one. Mas mabilis siya ngayon compare noong nakita ko siyang nagte-teleport. Inuna niya ‘yong dalawa sa likod. Then the muscular man, Krishna, and lastly Xiaoyan. He burned their Arma Lux with Hell Fire and knocked them out with a single strike. They didn’t even have the time to react. They were wiped out in a minute.

Grabe! Kinilabutan ako. Tingin ko pinagpawisan ako ng malamig. Nix is on a different level. Paano kami lalaban sa kanila?

“What?! Pambihira ‘yan! Ang yayabang niyo pero bagsak naman agad kayo?” Luc exclaimed in disbelief.

“Not really.” Dumating si Winona galing siya sa kisame, tumagos siya mula doon saka tuluyang bumaba. “Sadyang ang katapat talaga ng Arma Lux ay Hellfire ni Nix—it can burn anything.”

“Anong ginagawa mo dito multong chismosa? Go! It’s dangerous here,” sabi ni Luc.

“I’m here to help mga teh.”

Luc crossed her arms “At pano naman?”

“Alam ko lahat ng abilities at powers ng mga Franco. And at this point, information is a weapon.”

“Well… We could use whatever you know. Just stay out of range. Hindi sila umaatake kung di mo sila susugurin.”

Tama! Malaking tulong nga kung alam namin ang mga kakayahan ng mga Franco. Luc and Eli can survive their attacks and we could probably think of a plan on how to stop them. Good job, Winona! May silbi din pala ang pagiging Marites mo. 

“But the problem is… Kahit pa alam natin kung ano kaya nilang gawin… Me and Eli are not enough to fight the four of them even with shadow clone and spirit wolves,” dagdag ni Luc.

She’s probably right. Kainis! Heto ako walang magawa. If only I could help them, maybe we can do something. 

“Then allow us to help you.” Dean Clea arrived.

“Dean Clea!” Nakangiti kong pagtawag.

Lagot kayo mga Franco. Nandiyan na Nanay niyo.

“Dean Clea, can we call for reinforcements?” tanong ni Luc.

Umiling si Dean Clea habang nakatingin sa mga anak niya. “Azrael warned me that this day would come. My kids… I’m sorry. It was my fault to keep this secret from you all. I thought I was protecting you.”

Tumulo ang luha sa mga mata ni Dean Clea pero agad din niyang pinunasan.

“But don’t worry. We have a back up plan in case this happens. It’s time to meet… your secret brother.”

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