Notorious Nightingale

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Napagdesisyunan naming maglakad muna sa kastilyo habang nag-uusap. May mga kasambahay at mayordomo na rin ang mga naglalakad sa loob ng kastilyo at may mga hawak silang kagamitan. Mukhang sila ang mga pinili ni Marshall na magtrabaho dito sa loob, may mga iba ring mga nakasuot ng pilak na kutamaya kung saan may ruwisenyor na tsapang nakapinta sa tapat ng kanilang puso. They must be the knights. I see what Marshall did here—he not only rebuilt the island to become my empire, but he has also taken care of those who will work for us. He exceeded my expectation.

They all bowed and curtsied as we walked pass them. Mahaba ang mga pasilyo at may mga nagsisilakihang mga haligi na may mga linyang disenyo. Nang marating namin ang dulo ni Genesis kung saan ang malawak na beranda ay agad naming natanaw ang isla. Naglakad kami papunta sa berindilya habang pinagmamasdan ang Nightingale Island. Sa ibaba mismo ng kastilyo ay ang siyudad. May mga tao ang kasalukuyang naglalakad sa mga kalye at kita ko rin ang tulay na ginawa ko at ang malaking estatwa ng aking sarili sa mismong entrada ng isla.

Ang mga daanan sa siyudad ay gawa sa ladrilyo at ang mga bahay at edipisyo ay may mga marun na bubong at ang kanilang mga pader ay gawa sa pinagdugtong-dugtong na mga laryo. Tumingin ako kay Genesis habang dinadama namin ang lamig ng hanging humahampas sa aking mukha. Nasa isa sa mga apat na tore kami.

“So, what is the truth behind my powers?” I started.

“Naalala mo ba ang kuwento sa iyo ni Marshall noon kung saan nagmula ang iyong kapangyarihan?”

Agad namang naglaro sa aking isipan ang nakaraan kung saan nag-usap kami ni Marshall patungkol sa kasaysayan ng aking kapangyarihan.

“The true story is that Arthur summoned God and when he met God, Arthur asked for a power that is unrivaled and can be inherited in order to sustain his name, the Nightingale. God agreed and gifted the God’s Eyes. However, there is a trade-off. The law of equivalent-exchange.” Pagkukuwento ni Marshall.

“And what was the trade-off?” Hindi ko napigilang tanungin.

“Arthur and God made a deal as well that the power must only be used for goodness, any evil intentions will have bad effects on the wielder. When wrongfully used, the God’s Eyes, the holder will become blinded with madness and insanity.”

“Yes, I remember. If my power is used with evil intentions, then I will turn mad like the rest of the Mad Kings who were wielders of this magic.”

“That is only half of the truth.” Sagot naman ni Genesis. Bigla kong naalala tuloy ang sinabi ni Lilith, there are many myths in the world that only tells us half of the truth, like the case of Wynonah’s ancestors, Meredith and Mario. So, if the same applies to the story that Marshall has told me, then it is a myth he knows, and not the real history.

“So, what is it that is not yet said?”

“I’ve been meaning to tell you the truth after you finally learned to control and contain your magic.” Ngumiti si Genesis, may ilang hibla ng kaniyang puting buhok ang sumayaw kasama ng suntok ng sariwang hangin.

“Why?”

“Because if you learned of the truth and you still haven’t mastered your magic yet, then I am afraid you may totally lose control and die. Your magic comes with a lot of risks, you of all people know that already.” Tumango naman ako, “which is I deemed it fit and saw it best to leave half of the truth as a secret yet, until you are ready.”

“And I am ready now?” I asked.

She nodded. “Marshall did not lie about the story between Arthur and God, wherein Arthur summoned God and asked for a magic that is unparalleled. It is also true that there is a trade-off, as it is a means with conforming with the ways of nature.”

“The law of equivalent-exchange.” Hindi ko maiwasang sabihin. I got that idea from Vandersnatch, I wonder where he is right now. Not that I care.

“Yes, the law of equivalent-exchange. In exchange of great power, the wielder of creation magic is only allowed to use it for goodness, if the wielder uses it for evil intentions, then the wielder will become mad.” Genesis reiterated, “that is half of the truth only, as the whole truth is...”

“Is?”

“Every time you use your magic, it eats a part of you. I do not know which—maybe your soul, your heart, or your mind... But every time you use your magic, you lose a part of yourself.” Seryoso ang boses ni Genesis. Hindi ko maiwasang matulala habang nakatingin sa kawalan matapos ng aking marinig.

“Does that mean I am losing myself right now?” I whispered.

“Perhaps, perhaps not.” She replied. “And it also goes that if you misuse your magic and use it for evil, it will eat more parts of you.”

“That explains why they turned mad... My ancestors who became mad kings...”

“Yes, either they overused their magic, or they were conquered with bad and evil energy.” This explains why Genesis seemed uncomfortable every time I used my magic—what Margaux told me about being toxified was true too. There’s so much disadvantage with my magic, but given how powerful it is—I guess it is only fair. “You may be thinking that you are invincible, Zendaya, but you are not. You are weak that is why you are given this magic to compensate for it.” Aniya.

Hindi ako umimik at nakinig lamang ako.

“Too much power is deadly.” She added, “it may blind you and change you as well, especially if you rely on it too much.”

“What should I do, then? I need this magic in order to make my dreams come true.”

Ngumiti si Genesis, “it is time to recall your reasons again, Zendaya... Why did you build your Night Court?”

“To have allies who will help me fulfill my dreams...”

Chapter 72

“Right.” She grinned, “you’re not alone. Me, you, and your Night Court are also sharing that vision of yours already. You have people who are also fighting your battles.” Saad niya, “only use your magic when it is extremely necessary. You have your Night Court to do the work.”

She was able to tell me the whole truth—about how disadvantaged I was, and she was also able to tell me the solution that will compensate for it. Ngumiti ako. I was glad that Genesis was here, I felt like I had a mother.

“Going back, it is false that if you misuse or overuse your magic, you will die, like what has been told to you about your ancestors who turned to Mad Kings, starting with King Arthur, Prince Matias, and King Prius.” Saad ni Genesis, “you will not die, Zendaya, you will become an embodiment of evil. That’s what it means to lose yourself.”

Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata at muling naalala ang mga linyang binitawan ni Marshall noon.

“There is a book called Prophezia, a foreshadowing of the future, which says that when someone with God’s Eyes is born and walks the Earth, there will be catastrophe... And the holder of the said eyes will be the Messiah, either the Messiah will save the world, or further cause its downfall.”

“Genesis, if my ancestors who turned mad after overusing and misusing didn’t die from the creation magic itself, then what did they die from?” Hindi ko maiwasang tanungin iyon. Nagtataka na ako kung ano talaga ang pumatay sa kanila.

“It is not what did they die from, Zendaya, it is who did they die from.”

“What do you mean?”

“I still remember it... Before the Mad Kings died. I was suppressed already as their mind was in a chaos. But I can remember it.” Nakita ko ang kilabot at takot na nabahid agad sa mukha ni Genesis, “the same man.”

“The same man?”

“Yes... He perhaps is immortal because he never aged.” Right... The mad kings come from different generations. So, it makes sense to assume that.

“You mean to say, the mad kings died from one man only?” I clarified.

“Yes. I witnessed their last moments, after all.”

“Can you tell me more about that man?” I was curious already.

“He can use many magic.” Aniya. “Black hair that reminds me of the night sky, but darker, and his eyes...”

“What about his eyes?”

“They were golden and deep.”

Biglang bumilis ang pintig ng aking puso. I already had a person in mind, but I did not want to believe that it was him. It cannot be... Maybe there is another guy. I had the option to let Genesis look into my memory of him, but I chose not to. I was afraid that it would be him. I don’t know why.

“Do you know his name, Genesis?”

Umiling siya, “I am afraid I don’t.”

Tumango lang ako at muli kong tiningnan ang isla. “A man who can use many magic...” I whispered. “I have a feeling that whoever that man is, we’ll cross paths someday.” Or perhaps our paths have already crossed.

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