Twelfth of Midnight

The breeze moving along; grazing the leaves, swaying the trunks, passing through the surrounding woods, toward the thoroughly lit up city, was cold. Despite that though, I feel hot. There was that heat building up inside me, triggered by that sudden rush of blood, heart pounding so hard against my chest, and my skin tingling...it was all for that one emotion called anticipation.

I could see the tall buildings lighting up like stars from below, the echoes of their chatterings, the little traces of energies mixing with pollutions, human figures shadowing underneath, and that sound of the bell ringing across the land as the clock strike nine. Everything appeared so clear from up here, and the night seemed so perfect.

I stood up, clutching the metal pole which supported Leomer Empire's flag, fluttering through the air along with my hair. I lifted both of my hands from the side, releasing series of different magic circles which brightened up the entire dark skies like torches, and it was simply a sight to see.

The magic circles remained plastered on the air, each lines and patterns motioning into circles, as though awaiting for every magic stored to be unleashed. But it wasn't the time for that show yet, my magic would surely just bounce off due to how thick the barrier surrounding the entire city is.

The thing about this barrier is that it's artificial, anyone could tell. Which means it would have to be manually deactivated from the inside. Sometimes, I admire how far science could actually imitate real magic that soon, there shall actually be no used of having spiritual energy for the world will thrive without it. But that won't happen in this lifetime, the world is still far too lacking for something so advanced.

"I'm in." Ziandra's voice rang through the back of my mind as I heard her footsteps came into a halt, followed by a clicking sound.

"I am still not so sure about this, Ke'ala." Millard said, hearing small movements around him. "But I'm in position. Theone?"

"This is crazy." Theone muttered in disbelief, the sound of rocks breaking were reverberating nearbye. "Anytime now, Ziandra."

I took a move forward, my feet just a step away from actually falling from this tower. All of the sudden, the transparent barrier created electrical surges, eventually making the dome-like glass to slowlg fade away. The disappearance of the city's protective barrier made my magic circles thoroughly visible, halting people on their activities in wonder.

As the magic circles rounded up the skies, I can't help but sigh while my hands began to tremble once again at the thought of killing these people. I clenched it, hard enough that I could feel my nails digging through my palm. I wasn't always like this...but it makes me feel so vulnerable and I hate it.

"Ke'ala?" Theone reminded, which made me sigh.

"I know." I said out loud, more like to myself.

I reversed the circles, their positions rearranging like numbers finding their own orders, and the moment I flickered my fingers, different magic spells began to pour down like rain, sending people in astray. The sky began to ramble, thunderstorms accompanied by lightnings appeared, and the whole city shook as the tectonic plates shifted underneath; releasing several earthly spikes which protruded from the ground.

Some crumbled as buildings fell down one by one, burying the carriages and street stalls beneath the boulders. The screams of people filled the air brought by fear, anxiety, confusion, then there's that hint of anger. I sighed at the sight, jumping right down from the top of this hundred-feet tower. I used my own energy to lessen the momentum, stopping my fall just before I hit the earth.

Fires spread from house to house, the ground shaking vigorously that it had created some craters among the loosen soils. Emotions swirled inside me like I was inhaling energy and not air while I walk on the middle of the street, my surroundings coming into a blur passing by.

The flags on each towers on each sides of the city started to catch fire, burning into cinders; watched by people in despair. And I didn't like everything I was seeing. I didn't like the way I was loving it. If only it had all been real, but does that really matter at this point?

Then there came the bridge which connects to the entrance gate of the palace. Arching iron railings were placed each beside the glass-paned floors attached to metal beams underneath, acting as walls. A tall single door was waiting at the end of this bridge, its height extending far above the castle ceilings.

It was connecting to the big round-coloured window which produced several colours as streaks of moonlights hit the glass—as though a prism. Despite what was happening, I found the intricate architecture rather beautiful. I thought so as my footsteps sounded simultaneously; boots silently hitting the ground again and again, blending in with the rushing waves underneath this bridge, until they stopped.

Dozens of soldiers rushed outside the other bridge, so does the other at my right, probably thinking it was an all-out attack. Small rock particles vibrated slowly underneath, and I knew another dozen of Leos would crawl out of that single door any moment now just like over the rest of the doors attached to the bridge. But I'm not going to get out of their way just for them to pass.

The door bursted open, revealing more than a dozen of soldiers lined up as they march. Each wore a bronze-plated armour, same heavy-metallic swords, helmets, and round shields on their right arm. They did not stop when they saw me and rather kept going in their choreographed pace.

It was as though I have already been decided as an enemy without making sure whether I was a civilian or not, but I guess that doesn't exactly matter at this moment. One line on the front started running towards me, their swords lifted up on the front in perfect syncs.

Continuing my steps, I summoned my medieval sword; its size big enough to parry four swords slashed to me from upwards all at once. I pushed them over, taking another step as I made a long cut downward to two incoming soldiers; hitting them on their knees which incapacitated them from moving.

I immediately shifted my head to the right sending a sword being swung so heavily behind me and before it could reach my shoulder, I turned around and buried my sword on the soldier's arm, making him fall to the ground. The last one ran towards my direction with an angry scream, attempting to openly stab my head with his weapon which I deflected with mine and eventually hit the back of his neck with the hilt of my sword.

It didn't take a minute for the four soldiers to be knocked out, facing yet another line of four but this time, all the remaining ones attacked head-on. I adjusted the grip over the hilt, swinging the weapon around my hand, waiting for all of them to be closed enough before moving in, swinging my sword over their flesh.

Soon, I remained standing in front of the door, leaving all the soldiers unconscious or either too injured to stand up behind me. I cut the door in half, the iron loudly falling on the marbled floor inside. The hall only led to one passageway, and despite the lanterns hung unto each sides of the wall, it was still somehow dim.

Wala akong nakikita o nararamdaman manlang ibang tao habang naglalakad ako, tanging mga hakbang ko lang ang maririnig ko at ang tunog espada sa sahig habang hinihila ko ito. Lumiko ako sa isa pang daanan dahil pader na ang nasa unahan, at dito ay makikita ko na hindi na hindi na lanterns ang nagsisilbing ilaw.

Kundi ang mga may ilaw na kandila sa itaas at ang transparent na pader na gawa matibay na salamin sa kanan, at mula dito ay makikita ko ang mga bituin. Nakikita ko din ang magic circles ko sa labas, pati narin ang nagkakagulong mga tao sa syudad sa labas.

Sa dulo ng hallway ay may isang pigura na nakatayo dito nang magpatuloy lamang ako sa paglalakad. Nakatayo lamang ito sa gitna habang hawak ang rapier nito sa kanang kamay. Hindi din ito gumagalaw na tila'y parang isang estatwa.

Nakasuot ito ng mahabang brown na coat at nakatakip ang mukha ng hood kaya hindi ko makita ang itsura nito. Ayon sa pagtayo at sa suot ng damit nito, may pakiramdam ako na isa itong aristocrat dito sa palasyo o talagang ganoon lang siya magbihis. Pero wala akong pakealam sa rason at walang pag-aalangang tinapon ko kaagad sa direksyon nito ang hawak kong medieval sword.

Sa sobrang bilis nito ay halos hindi ko na nakita ang paggalaw niya ng rapier niya para isangga ang espada at sa isang iglap, nakatutok na ang hawak nitong weapon sa likod ng leeg ko. Wala din akong narinig sa kaniya, at parang sobrang kalkulado ang mga galaw nito na walang siyang sinasayang.

"You didn't have to stop." I said, unbothered by his presence behind me.

"If I had not, you could have had torn my arm."

I chuckled lightly, easing the surrounding tension. "You are no means an easy opponent, so it seems."

"Neither are you."

"Where is your Emperor?"

"How rude. You are not to address His Majesty as such."

"I don't exactly honor status unless one is worthy of respect."

"Then you shall meet your demise."

He jumped above me, his rapier aimed thoroughly above my head. I took a stab backward, letting him land on the floor as his sword stabbed underneath it with a crack. He swung his weapon right upward to my direction, it sharply-pointed top barely grazing under my chin if I hadn't moved away. I was backed against the wall when I avoided another sudden attack. I saw him smirk, victory must already be on his mind.

His rapier was pushed in suddenly in a fast motion, and it barely grazed by cheek after I moved my head slightly to the side. His weapon got stuck over the wall, leaving him immobile. I used the opportunity to kick him on his abdomen, he stumbled backward in response and managed to loose the grip on his rapier. I pulled the weapon out of the wall, feeling a small wave of energy surround it as I pointed it at his direction, and I knew it wasn't mine. Glaring, he lifted his hand in front of him in a protective manner, a red magic circle appearing just around his palm. 

"Sword Magic: Blast." Upon his words, the rapier in my hand started vibrating, making my arm tremble along it as energy threatened to let loose. 

Energy was released like a bomb got activated, pushing me against the wall which caused me to throw the weapon away as blinding lights clouded my vision. I hissed in pain after feeling my entire right arm burning; the skin being peeled off from my own flesh and the red marks spreading, the pain went even deeper to my bones, as though my arm was being roasted. The lights finally disappeared, but my vision was beginning to darken due to the earlier brightness when I heard a sigh. The man grabbed his rapier on the floor as he summoned another magic circle. 

"Sword Magic: Hundred Blade Dance!"

The weapon was slashed over me in different directions all at once, like foreshadowing his attacks in series of illusions. I avoided them all easily, his annoyance storing up before finally making a hit on my right shoulder. Grinning, he swung the sword down as my eyes widened. It felt like the pain only intensified, blood spurted out like a pouring water as I watch my arm separate from my body. I gritted my teeth to prevent a scream so hard that my lower lip must have bled. 

"Oh, that was disrespectful of me. However, I do not feel sorry. So it would be nice if you admit all your crimes such as trespassing and terrorist--" 

"You...will pay for that." 

"Without your arm?" He provoked. 

I ignored the shooting pain by cancelling it out by my ability, almost letting out a sigh of relief when it completely disappeared. I directed my energy to my cut off arm while it slowly produced a new flesh, and although it was under the process of healing, a missing advantage won't stop me from killing their Emperor to take the Guardian. I opened my other hand, the medieval sword tightly gripped around it. 

The man parted his lips to say another spell, but before he even could surround his rapier with his own energy, I dashed right in front of him. He flinched at my sudden speed as I made a side ward cross with my sword from the side of his face to the other, hitting his wide-opened eyes. He began to scream in horror, both if his hands covering what was left of his visions--although there weren't any. Blood dripped from his ruined eyesight, backing away until his back was pressed onto the glass wall behind him. 

"You...You! W-what have you done?!"

"Surely you can figure that part out." I answered, the tip of my sword now at his forehead. "Answer me, where is your Emperor?"

"I will not betray my Empire until my last dying breath--"

"Then you are useless." I stabbed the weapon right past the side of his head, shattering the glass. 

Surprised, he took his final step backwards. He let out another yell realizing he was falling, his face distorted as he struggled to grasp on something tangible. Fear radiated out of him, knowing he was falling right to his death. Sharp rocks a hundred feet below were waiting as water hit against them, the skies were still bright due to the magic circles ranging almost everywhere, thus I can see him as his body stabbed right to it; his mouth agape, blood squeezing from his spine, and his eyes devoid of any sight. 

I turned around, making my weapon disappear while I make my way forward through the empty hallway. The lustrously lit candles over my head one by one started to die out as an intense breeze came rushing in from the end of the hall. Another figure stood by at the door, but this time, there were three of them where two were clearly hidden. 

The figure, unlike my earlier opponent, wore a silver-plated armor against her chest which connected down her abdomen, leaving her stomach open. There was a dagger resting beside her hip, and as she faced me, her shadow was cast behind the door. I noticed invisible movements in it, but I wasn't able to ask for my body suddenly went stiff, causing me unable to move.

"Only one, huh? Where are the rest, you ruffian?" She unseated her dagger and did not hesitate to point it at my face. 

I sighed, tired of these tediousness. "Do not agitate me." I warned. 

She looked down to see my torn arm--still recuperating--before looking back at me and frown. "Typical Chris, he got you there, huh? Now, where is that guy?" She had this unusual accent while she glanced behind me. 

"Dead, perhaps." I answered, moving my hand to rustle my hair which surprised her for I wasn't supposed to be moving 

She suddenly pushed her dagger forward without a warning, and as instinct, I bent down my body to the back, letting her blade pass by. I flipped backwards, and as I land on my feet, she was already behind me. The lack of my arm was indeed a disadvantage against that speed, reason why she managed to make a cut on my cheek when I pulled myself aside. I grabbed her hand at the process and raised my knee to hit her bare stomach. She coughed up blood at the force after I let her face hit the ground. 

Nawasak ang maliit na parte ng sahig dahil 'dun, pero alam kung hindi siya ganoon kasimpleng kalaban. Kaya bago pa man siya makabangon ay pinatong ko na ang paa ko sa likod ng ulo nito. Ramdam ko ang inis ng babae, pero sa kabila ng inis na iyon ay may kaonting tuwa din at hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit. Napaatras ako nang biglang may namuo na itim na enerhiya sa katawan nito at nagpatuloy ito sa pagkalat hanggang sa nabalot na ng kadiliman ang buong lugar. 

Hindi katulad nung lalaki kanına ay mas nararamdaman at naririnig ko ang basat galas ng babaeng ito, pero hindi lang siya ang nandito. Tinaas ko ang kamay ko tsaka nagpakawala ng apoy para maliwanagan ang nasa malapit sa akin. Sa sang iglap ay nakahiga na ako sa sahig dahil parang may sumipa ng tuhod ko mula sa likuran. Tumingin ako sa itaas at nakita ang paparating na dalawang daggers, mabilis akong gumalaw papunta sa glid at tinapon ang apor papunta doon.

May kakaiba sa kadilimang ito, parang pamilyar pero kung iisipin ay iba ito kumpara sa nararamdaman ko kay Andrea. Andrea's dark energy is one filled with hostility yet at the same time, it makes me feel normally secured, like I could entrust my whole being with it. Pero ang enerhiya na ito, it makes me feel rather weak, na habang nandito ako ay mas mahihirapan akong gumalaw, na tila ay may kumakapit sa buo kong katawan. It makes me feel hesitant on where to attack or what to do, and I don't like it. 

One hand grabbed my neck from behind, pinning me against something solid yet cold--the glass wall. I clenched my fist and sent out electrical surges everywhere over my body, it sent the figure off me but when I had just turned around, another launched at me. My back was forcibly crashed against the glass, feeling it crack as the small broken fragments cut my skin. I sighed in irritation, blocking an incoming attack with my left arm above.

A dagger got stabbed on my hand, penetrating to the back of my palm. I took the dagger and was about to throw it on the movements in front of me when I stopped, unsure of whether the enemy was there. Because of that, someone managed to hit the back of my neck; making me kneel on the floor, my hand clutched around my throat in pain.

I once again cancelled out the stabbing feeling on my neck and let out a sigh, calming myself. Three are surrounding me, one in the left, and two are in front of me. I have always considered the condition of my mindset in battle, and it has always been my advantage in everything. But inside this surrounding darkness, that mindset is continuously being tested, making me hesitate and doubt my every decision. If this keeps up, I might just lose--which I cannot afford to.

"Surrender, you ruffian." Said another woman's voice. "Consider it an honour fighting Your Majesty, the Emperor's aids." 

Nakaramdam na lamang ako ng matalim na bagay na nakatutok sa ibabaw ng ulo ko, at hanggang ngayon ay nakaluhod parin ako. Ayaw ko ang ganitong posisyon dahil pakiramdam ko ang hina hina ko sa ganitong lagay. Isa pa, bakit ba ako nahihirapan sa mga babaeng ito? Inaamin ko na malalakas sila, pero mas marami pa ang mga nakaharap kong mas malakas pa. Sabi ni Claudious, hangga't maaari, wala dapat ang makakaalam na may nakapasok na sa palasyo. Pero simula sa pagpasok ko pa lang kanina ay tiyak na alam na nila ito, kaya wala