The Scepter of Marahuyo

Chapter 025

Sleep and waking up are both easy for me this time. No nightmares. As if all has been lifted and I have no more problems. As though life finally decides to agree with me the second time around. And as I sip on the tea that Aaron prepared for me this morning, I smile, thinking, why am I even losing my mind just because there is a change in Ethan and Cara’s relationship?

“What time will you leave for the Academy?” Senyor Pablo asks as he approaches us from the back of the counter.

“In half an hour,” I say. 

The sun is still not up, but it’s better to start the ride early so I’ll be able to have enough time before the first class begins.

Senyor Pablo places two weapons on the table. 

“What is that?” I ask.

“A buntot-pagi and a gunong,” Senyor Pablo answers. “Orson told me to give this to you if he wasn’t able to return here on a Monday morning.”

“Are these two both from my parent’s stash?” 

My hand runs through the buntot-pagi. It is a type of whip that is most effective against the monsters from outside the zone. The whip itself is made from a stingray’s tail, and its hilt is covered in cotton to make it easier to grasp. It’s lethal to most night creatures.

“Buntot-pagi is from your parent’s stash, but the gunong is from Master Deborah. She says that you need to practice it before you do another visit outside this weekend.”

I nod as my eyes examine the gunong. It is more straightforward, a much smaller form of the kris and kalis that Master Deborah and Nico were using. From what I’ve read, it is an excellent match for the buntot-pagi. I am not sure in what aspect, though.

“Do you know how to use any of them?” Senyor Pablo asks.

“Honestly, no.”

“I’ll teach you when you return this Friday. But during the week, always carry it with you. Make yourself comfortable in holding it.”

I nod again and drink the last of my tea. 

“Are you sure you’re not going to put any solid food in your stomach?” Senyor Pablo asks.

“No, I’m good. I can eat at the Academy.”

So I take the dishes on the table, but Senyor Pablo says, “Leave it. I can take care of it. Go for now. I’m worried for Orson.”

I look at Senyor Pablo. He’s tapping his finger on the table. His hold on the cup of tea is shaking. But why would he be worried? Master Orson is in excellent health, and no one could kill him either--being one of the most powerful mages of all time.

Nevertheless, I agree and go to my horse. Aaron follows.

“Are you sure you don’t need me to come with you? We can use the cart.”

I shake my head. “It will be faster on horseback. See you on Friday.” I say and hit the side of the horse.

I am out of view of the inn sooner than I expect. Somehow, the nervous demeanor that Senyor Pablo gets to me. But thinking that something happened to Master Orson is alien to me. He’s alive even when I was dying on my previous timeline. 

Suddenly, ghastly thoughts enter my mind, and my hold on the reins tighten. It can’t be, right? But then I let the horse run faster than ever. Nagging thoughts. I brush my ideas quickly and focus on the road. I need to see Master Orson.

Once close enough to the Academy, I climb down from the horse and leave it without adequately tying it. I run the flights of stairs towards Master Orson and hope that he’s not there. My breathing hitches, and I feel like tears are coming even if there is no logical reason for it.

I see the closed door and ram into it, hoping that Master Orson is behind his desk, and then he’ll raise his head and smile at me. 

However, it’s a different view that greets me. Sir Philip is collapsed on the side of the room. The nurse and Ma’am Cherry are in the center of the workroom while all the other teachers are on the side as if they cannot believe what has happened.

I approach the area where the work desk is and tap Ma’am Cherry to let me see. She gives way when she sees it’s me. And then I see him. Master Orson in a pool of his own blood. He’s leaning on his work desk, his head lolling on one side. His open palms facing upwards. His unseeing eyes are open, but it’s only the whites that are visible. And in his chest--a part is missing--a gap wide enough to cause the pool of blood that he’s sitting on.

My hands automatically go to my mouth to suppress the cries. I can’t cry because I tend to lose something when I cry. This ain’t real. The scene in front of me can never be real! Master Orson will not die while I’m still alive. And not while I am only sixteen years old. This can’t be! But the wail that’s about to escape my mouth reduces into that of a whimper. I try to curtail it, but it turns into sobs that start to wrack my body. I tremble. I begin to reach for Master Orson, but the nurse stops me. I get angry and slaps her hand away. I need to touch him. Maybe he’s just sleeping. Perhaps he’ll wake up when he realizes the state I am in. He cannot leave me!

I feel my anito activating, but I don’t care about stopping it. A cool wind revolves around my body as if it has a mind of its own. I feel my body getting more robust, and so I hit the nurse, and she’s blasted off towards the other end of the room. I outstretch my hand towards Master Orson, but then Sir Philip stops my hand.

“Holly, you can’t. The Quill, he needs to see it first, for us to know what happened.”

I don’t care. Master Orson will wake up once he knows it’s me. I try to pull out from his hold, but he’s much stronger than I am. I am already twenty-two! Old enough to know what I am doing! He may be called a genius at his age, but I am from the future! This ain’t real! I know better!

My body loses strength. But do I really? Do I really know what I am doing? So, again, I drop to the ground, and this time, I cover my face and let the tears flow. Then uncontrollable grief and anger wracks my body but still, no sound comes out. 

I hear a commotion outside and an announcement of the Quill arriving. Steps approach, but I’m not in the mood to show any sense of decorum. 

“Holly.”

In just a single word, my crying halts. It’s been a long time since I last heard that voice. I look up from my grief and see Axel kneeling before me. He reaches for my face and wipes my tears. This show of kindness surprises me that I throw myself to him and hug him. I saved him from my previous timeline, but this time, he didn’t know that. All I am to him is a little kid he left under Master Orson’s care when he saves me from the same fate as my parents.

I know. He can save Master Orson too! But before I can request, he speaks, “Holly, I know it’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, but for now, let’s go to the infirmary.”

“You can save Master Orson! I know you can.” I blurt out.

If nothing else, he’s the most excellent warrior I have ever had the opportunity to know. When he saved me from the high-level monsters, he was only fifteen years old then. Very far from me, who’s already sixteen years old and has 21 years of experience, but can still be reduced to this state. He definitely must know something.

He looks at Master Orson’s body and at me. “Master Orson is gone. I won’t be able to reverse that.”

“You can!” I get angry. Even someone I admire can’t do that? It’s just unreal. “You saved me before. You can save him too!”

“He’s past saving, Holly,” he responds.

I feel like I am losing air. I hyperventilate. Axel seems to understand it and gestures at the nurse. I feel myself being carried, but my mind keeps on going back to Master Orson.

To be continued...