Song of the Winter Solstice (Gauntlet Series 1)

Chapter 36- Hands of Destiny

Heavy with the force I have to carry to maintain the giant shield standing, heavy with a heart thinking of Killan and Meridio, heavy deciding... the world feels so damn heavy that I literally fall on the ground. My knees, my hands, I'm on the ground. My wrist slowly drops into the hard ground. It feels cold. I smell the dirt. Mossy and dusty.

My chest throbs and so my body.

I feel my blood starts to pound in my chest as I start pulling my body to my feet. I close my eyes. Breathe hard. Gather all my bearings. I can't stand, not just yet but I'm pretty sure I only want to end this adversity by killing her.

If this is the end... Atleast I'd kill The Miss before I die. Atleast.

"You surrender, and we will keep you alive, both of you!" Mariin ang pagkakasigaw ni Lady Montay.

"Idrish!" I hear Killan from afar. Sa tono nito'y tila nahihirapan siya sa kalagayan. I can even hear his laborious gasp. "Idrish, don't do it! Don't! You're surrounded by high-ranked warriors! You won't survive fighting them. Ruuuuun!"

Malakas. Buong pwersa. Nakakabingi ang pagsigaw ni Killan. Ramdam ko ang tensyon kumawala mula sa dibdib nito. I can hear fear. My blood ran cold hearing the fear in Killan's voice. My heart shatters knowing his life is at the seams because of me. Because of the gauntlet.

For the first time in a long time, I become uncertain. This feeling whirs beneath my skin and holds my throat and tightens my chest. I am almost petrified thinking about it.

My eyes become a stream of tears. My lower lip trembles as I start to cry. "W—why? Why do I have to go through this? Why do I have to make choices? Difficult choices..." Kumawala ang malakas na hagulgol sa bibig ko. Naninikip ang aking dibdib sa tuwing naiisip ko kung gaano kahirap ang kapalaran ko simula nang maulila kami nina Cali at Poras.

"Idrish," Kenru's voice was consoling. Lumuhod ito sa harapan ko para maramdaman ko ang presensya nito.

"I only want the best for Poras and Cali. Hindi ko naman pinangarap na magkaroon ng marangyang buhay. I only want to live normal. Have peace and see them grow. P—pero simula nang mapasakamay ko ang mga gauntlet na 'to, b—bakit parang ang hirap makamtan ang simpleng pangarap ko? Bakit kahit simpleng pangarap ang hirap abutin sa mundong ito?"

"It's all going to be worth it, Idrish. The sweetest triumph only comes if we work hard for them. Blood and sweat."

"Idrish, sad. Idrish, calm. Calm." Dinig ko mula sa aking likuran ang boses ni Bonbon. Pagkatapos nitong banggitin ang mga katagang iyon ay bigla kong naramdaman ang isang malamig at nakakakalmang sensasyon mula sa mga tela nitong nakapulupot pa rin sa akin.

"We're behind you, Idrish." Asik naman ni Rouma na patuloy na pinapaikot ang enerhiya sa mga kamay bilang paghahanda sa posibleng panganib. Seryoso ang mukha nito pero kita ko sa mga mata niya ang katapatan.

Kenru clears his throat as if what he's about to say will make me decide firmly, "I doubted your ability the first time I saw you. The kind of gauntlet heiresses I know is far different from you. But day-by-day here in Mors, you prove me wrong. You proved us wrong. Rouma and I almost quit on this mission. But you, killing most of the enhancers, defeating the dominus, changed the game. You earn our trust, our respect... and our loyalty."

"Kenru is right. You're the fight we don't want to lose. K—kaya kahit buhay ko itataya ko para makalabas ka ng ligtas sa arenang ito."

Nilingon ko si sir Borracho. Buong-buo ang tapang na nasa mukha nito. He means what he just said.

"Idrish heart strong. Idrish heart follow. Follow heart."

Nilunok ko ang bikig sa aking lalamunan sa tumakda. Sa wakas ay nagawa kong tumayo. Sa wakas ay ibayong lakas na ako para harapin sila.