Prey of the Lion

Chapter 22: The Twins and the Twin Moons

Chapter 22: The Twins and the Twin Moons

I no longer pried to Akane’s personal life, especially about her home that she lost, since she was sad and I do not want to do anything further to cause her more sadness. Nagkaroon ng bahagyang katahimikan, bago ako tumikhim at napagdesisyunan na bumalik sa topiko. I do not like invading her private space and her privacy, so doing this will do good for both of us.

“Let’s proceed to the Twin Moons.” Saad ko. “I know somethings about it, but I am not sure whether I know enough, or just some tip of the iceberg.” I smiled at Akane.

“Ano ba ang alam mo tungkol sa Twin Moons?” She asked.

“Well, the golden moon is Aurum, and the purple moon is Ostrum.” I smiled, “they are like the Yin-Yang, wherein Aurum is light, and Ostrum is dark.” Tumango lang si Akane habang sinasabi ko iyon. “It is said that the moons are named after the most powerful magicians who used to walk Terra Forma, and they happened to be twins as well. But they were of the opposite characteristics, Aurum was kind and good, while Ostrum was cruel and evil.”

“Well, that is true... Partly. However, did you know that Terra Forma used to not have any moon at all?” Akane smiled at me, ako naman ay naintriga sa kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin. “You are right about the Twin Moons, but there is the truth, the untold truth... Only a few people know about this too.” Akane smiled, “can I trust you with this information?”

“My lips are sealed.” I acted like I was zipping my lips, and Akane chuckled. I never thought she would be intellectualist, it seems like she knows a lot... Well, as someone who came from the Empire Academy, it will be no doubt why.

“Like you said, once upon a time, the greatest magicians of all time were born in Terra Forma, that was long ago, even before the rise of empires and kingdoms have took this magical world.” She started, there was a brief pause, and then she continued. “Terra Forma used to have the darkest night, and only the stars were seen in the night sky. There was no moon yet.”

“Ostrum and Aurum, that was the name of the magicians. They were twins, and they were the exact opposite... Perhaps that is why Ostrum was misunderstood. Ostrum wasn’t evil, he just did not want to conform to the norms and culture that he knew were detrimental. He questions a lot of things, and people did not want that. Aurum was the opposite, however, as he never questioned culture itself, and complied accordingly.”

“Ostrum was painted as a vicious deviant, therefore, because of his views.” I said.

Tumango naman si Akane, “yes, he was just misunderstood—that is why people always say in myths and legends that he is evil, when the truth is, he isn’t.”

Tumango naman ako.

“The twins developed their magic further, and turned into the greatest magician of all time. However, Ostrum was growing more powerful than Aurum, and Aurum grew jealous of his brother because of the progress that he was making... In addition, they both fell in love with the same woman named Magdalene, however, Magdalene has chosen Ostrum because she saw in him the genuineness that she wanted, and Magdalene was the only woman who ever understood Ostrum and his radical views, opinions, and thinking.”

Tumango naman ako, I was taking notes in my head... But I do not know why, but the flames inside me seems to be raging more as I heard of the tale. Like there is something mad and furious within, I just do not know. It wanted to be released, and I felt the tension start to form in the Grand Library. Thankfully, Akane seems to not notice the sudden change of ambience and atmosphere.

“Of course, this made Aurum more jealous because Ostrum was getting his way with everything, from magic to the woman that they love. Which is why Aurum decided to betray Ostrum by saying that Ostrum sold his soul to the devil, that is why Ostrum had more magical potential than him, and he said that Ostrum also used the devil to brainwash Magdalene into thinking that she is in love with this devious man.”

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata dahil sa aking narinig. Hindi ako makapaniwala na may ganito palang pangyayari.

“Magdalene defended Ostrum, of course, however, no one believed her as she was still deemed to be under the influence of the devil. Ostrum was persecuted. Aurum thought it was already a victory, as he finally ruined Ostrum. He decided to make a move to Magdalene, and said that if only he will choose him finally, she will be free from the devil’s influence. However, Magdalene was mad at Aurum and said that he was the devil reincarnated.”

“Aurum grew furious, and said ‘if I cannot make you mine, then no one shall’, and in the end, he killed Magdalene.”

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata dahil sa aking narinig. It was too morbid and too tragic.

“Ostrum found out about this, and he finally lost his sanity. He was mad and insane. After all, he lost the only woman he ever loved, and the only woman who understood him and his soul. It was Aurum’s action that corrupted Ostrum, and so, Ostrum summoned the Otherworld God, Hadez, and made a pact with him—he wanted revenge against the cruel world, against Terra Forma, but in order to do that, he needs more power.”

Tumango lang ako.

“Hadez offered Ostrum the magic called Mortem, whereas this serves as a magic that takes away life, and the life taken shall be given as an offering to Hadez. It was a give-and-take pact.”

“Aurum’s conscience started to eat him alive afterward, and Ostrum was already wreaking havoc across Terra Forma with his deadly magic. Aurum wanted to apologize to Ostrum for his sins, however, he was already too late. The damage was done and irreversible, and Magdalene was gone.”

“What happened then? Did they fight?”

“In order for Aurum to atone for his sins, he decided to summon Hadez too, and made a pact... Hadez has given Aurum the magic to give life, Anima, however, there is a price to pay everytime that magic is used.”

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata, “what price?”

“Do you know the law of equivalent exchange?” Akane asked. I shook my head. It was the first time that I heard of it. “Every time that Aurum uses Anima, his time is deducted.”

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata dahil sa aking narinig.

“Of course, that was only fair. It is nature and the law.” Akane said, “as magic itself also relies on nature... If you disrupt the flow of nature, then you will be erased by nature itself. That’s the fundamental law of equivalent exchange. It is to keep balance and Aurum accepted it.”

Does that mean that Leo knows of this? Hindi ko maiwasang mag-alala sa kaniya dahil sa aking narinig. I have to warn him and tell him about this... I looked at Akane and she seemed to see my worried expression, I faked a laugh.

No one knows of the magic that we both wield, for people, Leo’s magic is just healing magic, but it was something else... How long does he still have? He has been using his magic ever since he was the Emperor. I want to warn him.

“But of course, Aurum could not let that happen... So, he made a condition with Hadez... That instead of his own life, he can just sacrifice another living thing—for example, plants... Plants have life too, and such.” Aniya.

“Hadez found Aurum amusing because of his wit, and thus, he agreed... And thus, he also declared that the magic Anima and Mortem shall be indispensable magic in Terra Forma, meaning, when the host dies, the magic shall find another host... And such. Hadez said it was more entertaining that way... And he also said another condition, that the soul of the Mortem wielder, Ostrum, shall be immortalized... And the only way to stop it is for it to be sealed.”

“Meaning, he can be unsealed... He can be back anytime... Ostrum, I mean.”

Ngumiti si Akane at saka tumango.

Biglang sumakit ang ulo ko. Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata at natakot nang bahagya dahil pakiramdam ko ay may mga matang nakatitig sa akin. They were purple too, and they looked furious. I opened my eyes, at doon ko lang napansin na tila namumutla ako at pinagpapawisan.

“Are you alright, Prince Lark?” Akane asked, concern was visible on her tone, however, her eyes seems to be telling something else, as if she was observing me. Or I guess it is just me and my paranoia.

“I am alright.” I faked a smile.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Akane matapos ang ilang sandali, “Prince Lark...” She gasped, “your eyes are glowing?” And the moment she said that, I saw from my peripheral vision how the flower at the flower vase at the middle of the table, wither away.

I gasped, scared. Mukhang hindi naman napansin ni Akane iyon, tumayo ako agad, at saka ako tumingin kay Akane, “lumabas na lang tayo rito sa Grand Library. Medyo naiinitan ako. Doon na lang tayo sa Garden, doon na lang natin ipagpatuloy itong usapan. Mas maganda doon, mas malamig.” I reasoned out.

“Sige, Prince Lark.” Nakangiti si Akane na tila nagtagumpay siya sa nais niyang mangyari.