Ruthvann

This is the day that we have to execute well the plan on accomplishing the mission. Honestly, I don't have enough physical energy for this because this is my first time doing such mission with other people whom I barely know except Zachariuss. He is the only one I am close with that's why I always sticking myself to him.

While riding this old-fashioned black carriage maneuvered by the guy name Polyphemus, I can feel the strong tension inside. Upon observing, Arachne is always staring at Zachariuss while the other guy name Typhoeus is staring at her. Zachariuss the unbothered King doesn't even care of the tension while I, I am actually feeling awkwardness and feel belittled because of the two's strong energies and power within them. Zachariuss and Arachne.

"By the way, we will help you to regain your memories back, leader. It's a good step to know us little by little." Arachne suddenly spoke, Typhoeus stared at her with confusion on his face while Zachariuss didn't care of what she said.

"That is not the goal here, Arachne. Let our leader remember his memories by his own, it is dangerous to force his brain to remember everything." Hindi ko alam kung sasang-ayon ba ako sa sinabi ng lalaki o hindi? He's actually right, that it is dangerous to force someone's brain just to remember his forgotten memories. But the way he delivered his words, I kinda doubt if he really wants to make Zachariuss remember all the detailed past.

"Tsk, ano ka ba Typhoeus? Oportunidad na rin 'to para matulungan siya upang mabalik ang alaala niya. Hindi 'yon pamimilit!" Iritang sagot pabalik ni Arachne sa kaniya. Mas lalo kong naramdaman ang tensiyon sa loob dahil sa pagtatapunan nila ng mga kakaibang tingin.

"Leader, how about you decide?" Arachne asked when he suddenly turned her head towards Zachariuss. Naghintay ako sa reaksiyon niya at nakitang sumilip ito ng kaunti kay Arachne pero agad din inilihis pagkatapos.

"Don't call me that, it's irritating." Halos takpan ko ang bibig ko dahil sa gano'ng sagot ni Zachariuss pero si Arachne ay ngumisi lang at parang hindi tinablan ng panggaganoong trato sa kaniya. Mukhang sanay na sanay na siya sa ganitong ugali ni Zachariuss, mukhang matagal na matagal na nga talaga nilang kilala ang tinatawag nilang 'leader'.

"Then I'll call you by your name, Zachariuss."

"Arachne!" Biglaang sigaw ni Typhoeus, pero hindi natinag si Arachne at humagikhik na lang.

"It's really nice to finally call you by your name without informality, Zachariuss... it sounds so pleasing." Hindi ko alam kung ano ang meron kay Arachne pero nagsisimula na akong makaramdam ng irita sa kaniya. Para bang pinipilit niya ang sarili niya na mapansin ni Zachariuss na kahit alam niya namang ayaw na ayaw ni Zachariuss na dinidisturbo.

"You're being too much, Arachne. You should know your right place." Typhoeus uttered, Arachne just rolled her eyes at him.

"Are you hungry?" Nabigla ako dahil sa biglaang tanong ni Zachariuss sa akin. Nakatingin na siya sa akin ngayon ng mariin na siyang ikinalunok ko ng malalim. Rinig na rinig ang boses niya sa loob kaya alam kong nakatingin na ang dalawa pa sa akin.

"H-Hindi pa naman." Bulong ko, he nodded and suddenly held my hands that made my cheeks suddenly became hot. His touch is like burning my skin that made my whole body heated by a fire.

"Tell me if you're hungry okay? I think there are trees that bare fruits in this forest." Nahihiya na lang akong tumango habang nakatitig sa kamay niyang nakahawak sa kamay ko. In my periphery, I saw how Arachne's dagger eyes glaring at our hands that made my heart nervous.

I am not dumb... hindi ako bobo para hindi malaman na may gusto siya kay Zachariuss. Her words, eyes and even gestures elucidating such adoration towards him. Her eyes sparkled whenever he stared at Zachariuss, her lips is always smiling and she always doing sexy poises to seduce him!

Napatingin na lang ako sa bintana habang ramdam na ramdam pa rin ang init galing sa palad ni Zachariuss. The sun is smiling, and I saw how the trees starting to sway their bodies because of the wind's blew. The birds are flying freely like they are so happy because of their sweet freedom.

Days and nights after, gano'n pa rin ang eksena. Mag-tatalo sina Typhoeus at Arachne kapag hindi sila magkakaintindihan. Tapos laging nagpapapansin si Arachne kay Zachariuss habang ganoon naman si Typhoeus sa babae, si Zachariuss naman ay tatanungin lang ako kung ayos ba ako o gutom na ba ako. Kapag gabi ay hihinto kami sa ligtas na lugar at kukuha ng pagkain, magpapahinga at matutulog ng sandali. Si Polyphemus ay mukhang hindi naman napapagod at tahimik lang na minamaneho ang karahe gamit ang malaking ordinaryong itim na kabayo.

Nadaanan na namin halos ang Villador at kitang-kita doon ang wasak na mga gusali sa loob. Ramdam na ramdam ko pa rin ang kakaibang pakiramdam sa loob ng bansa habang dumadaan kami, na para bang hinihila ako nito para pasukin ang wala ng buhay na Villador. Naramdaman ko rin sa mga oras na 'yon na biglang tumahimik ang loob ng karahe. When I observed their faces, they seem so gloom but serious. They mumbling something that I can't even hear because of my sealed enhanced senses, it is to avoid being drained by the power of it. And I amazingly didn't even know that they can combine those expressions one at a time. Ramdam ko rin no'ng pagdaan namin ay biglang bumagal ang takbo ng karahe, si Zachariuss naman ay mariing nakapikit ang mga mata.

And when I realized, there's something that triggers them when seeing the country that we all came from before. And I think that's the friend Kuya Ruthven is talking about, if I remember it correctly, her name is Nieve.

Kuya Ruthven actually already warned me that they'll become like this when we'll crossed path again with our country. Para ngang hindi ko nakilala si Arachne dahil sa biglaang pagseryoso ng mga mata niya habang nakatanaw sa mga gusaling wasak na wasak. Nasa ibabaw bahagi kasi kami ng hindi ganoon kalaking bundok at nakikita namin ang bansa na nasa hindi rin ganoon kalayo ay kalalim mula sa aming dinadaanan. Kitang-kita ang malaking kabuuan ng bansa habang umuusok pa ang ibang gusali mula ro'n, walang kabuhay-buhay at lahat ay malungkot kung tignan.

I asked Kuya if he has plans to rebuild and make Villador stand again but he said that he has nothing to do with the monster country again. He wants to forget everything and buried them all in that place. I understood him and he has the rights to feel saddened because of what happened to him and to his relationship with the Queen before.

"T-That's fuck." Napalingon kami kay Arachne nang magsalita na ito. Sarkastiko itong tumawa na siyang mas lalong nagbigay ng kakaibang pakiramdam sa loob.

"I can't even forgot her face, her innocent face that saved us all." She added, bigla iyon nagbigay sa akin ng lungkot. Napabaling ang mga mata ko kay Zachariuss na ngayo'y seryoso ng nakatingin kay Arachne. Hindi ko mabasa kung ano ang iniisip niya pero mukhang nag-aalala siya sa babae, napangiti na lang ako ng tipid at lumingon ulit sa bintana.

We are now far from the view of Villador. And I feel that the horse is already walking fastly, same with the moment that we are not yet crossing path with that country. The heavy feeling is slowly fading and I can tell that it was one of the serious situations that I've ever encountered in life that I can't even breath properly because of the tension inside.

"She's happy now, and let's be happy... for us, and for her." Typhoeus uttered. Arachne hissed but still she nodded, they really love that girl. At kahit naman ata ako kapag namatayan ng isang matalik na kaibigan ay magiging ganiyan rin ang mararamdaman ko. Losing a closest friend is actually hurtful because you already made a strong relationship together by collecting such beautiful moments but suddenly will... gone.

I think they are attempting to ameliorate their relationship after what happened but seeing them like this? I think it's too late, but hopefully, they will made it again together.

Napatingin ako kay Zachariuss, he didn't notice that I am staring at him because of being occupied by things inside of his mind. I am suddenly amaze because of his pulchritudinous unique charm that even his eyes are blank and dead, his physical beauty is screaming strong appeal and gorgeousness. Ilang araw na kaming magkasama pero napapahanga niya pa rin ako sa ganda ng mukha at katawan niya.

Can I still do this kung hindi siya nawalan ng alaala? Magiging ganito pa rin kaya kami kalapit sa isa't-isa kung nasa kaniya pa rin ang alaala niya? Mukhang hindi, I think he is more serious and cold when he has still his memory.

After hours of travel, we suddenly felt that the carriage already stopped. I looked at the outside and it puts me in awe when an unfamiliar place welcomed us. Hindi ko nakitaan ng pagkamangha ang mga kasama ko lalo na sina Arachne at Typhoeus, mukhang nakarating na sila sa lugar na 'to.

My head turned when the door suddenly opened, Polyphemus appeared. He checked on us with his calmed and relaxed expression and then sighed deeply.

"We're here." Napatingin ako kay Zachariuss na nakatingin na rin pala sa'kin ngayon. Nahiya ako bigla dahil baka may dumi sa mukha ko kaya lumihis kaagad ako ng tingin.

Unang bumaba si Typhoeus, he offered his hands for Arachne but the girl rejected it that made him kinda sad. When I was about to go out, Zachariuss suddenly stopped me at siya ang unang lumabas. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang ilahad niya ang kanan niyang kamay habang nakatingin sa akin. His well-built body covered Typhoeus' wholeness that made me shy.

"Be careful, let me hold your hand Vann." Nahihiya na lamang akong tumango at tinanggap ang kamay niya habang ramdam na ramdam ko ang paninitig galing sa iba pa naming kasamahan. He's making me crazy all the time! I felt like a Princess, but inside of this Prince's body!

"We can't go inside having the carriage with us, it's suspicious. We are here to save the Serpentes, secretly." Taka kong tinignan sa mga mata si Polyphemus nang sabihin niya 'yon, napansin niya ata ang mga paninitig ko kaya napatingin din siya sa mga mata ko. He smiled awkwardly to me that made me more confused. What did he say?

"I-I thought we are here just to look for the Serpentes? I-I wasn't informed that, w-we are saving that being." Anong ibig-sabihin nilang ililigtas ng pasikreto ang Serpentes? Anong ibig-sabihin no'n ni Polyphemus?

"Sinabihan ako ni Haring Ruthven na hindi ka sabihan sa katotohanan kung hindi pa tayo nakakarating. Alam niya na tutol ka sa mga ganitong misyon."

I am weak, and I don't know how capable I could be when it comes to battle that's why I am not really into saving-someone kind of mission. My brother knows it and now he is putting me in a situation that he knew that I am weak of? What's with him?

"Don't worry, I'm here with you." Napalingon ako kay Zachariuss nang sabihin niya 'yon habang hawak-hawak pa rin ang kamay ko.

"Don't be scared." He added that made my heart feel nervousness more. This jittery feeling can make me distract at kapag gano'n, hindi ako makakapag-focus! And if then, I'll disappoint the Royalties and make them devastated or disconsolate knowing they are counting on me!

"H-Hindi ko alam makipaglaban, Z-Zach." Bulong ko. Nakita ko kung paano lumambot ang ekspresiyon niya pero kalauna'y naging matigas ulit. Umigting ang mga panga niya at huminga ng malalim.

"Zach? Are you calling him Zach?" Tumingin ako kay Arachne nang itapon niya sa akin ang tanong na 'yon. Ngumiti ako ng tipid at tumango pero ngumisi lang siya at tinignan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Agad akong nainsulto sa ginawa niya. Sikreto kong itinago ang isa kong kamay sa likuran at ikinuyom iyon.

"Feeling close, Prince Ruthvann?" I was awestruck because of what she said and at the same time, crestfallen. Binitawan ko ang kamay ni Zachariuss at nahihiyang napayuko.

Am I? Am I being feeling close to Zachariuss? Am I crossing the line too much?

"Arachne! 'Yang bibig mo!" Dinig kong sigaw ni Polyphemus. Umangat ang ulo ko at nakitang umiiling lang si Typhoeus na nakatingin sa babae.

"Bakit?" Kunyaring takang tanong ni Arachne na siyang mas lalong nagpasikip ng puso ko. She is being too much, I guess.

"Hindi mo na kinikilala kung sino ang kinakausap mo, Arachne! Hindi mo na alam kung saan ka dapat lumulugar!" Saway sa kaniya ni Polyphemus na siyang nagpahagikhik lang sa babae.

"L-Let her, Polyphemus. She's actually right." Nasabi ko na lang.

"If it is not because of Vann, I already killed you right here, right now, you useless woman." Lahat kami nagulat dahil sa biglaang pagsalita ni Zachariuss gamit ang napakaseryoso at napakalamig niyang boses. Even Arachne was stunned, her lips are now turning pale.

"Talk fucking like that again, you'll see how monstrous I could be." Bigla akong kinilabutan sa dagdag na sinabi ni Zachariuss kaya hinawakan ko na lang ang kamay niya. Napatingin siya do'n and suddenly, his expression calmed.

A minute passed by, Polyphemus coughed and sighed.

"L-Let's go inside the country, let's save the Serpentes and go home. We can't disappoint the Royalty." I slowly nodded of what he said.

Iniwan namin ang carriage sa hindi gano'n kalayo pero sinigurado naming walang makakakita at dapat ligtas ang kabayo.

Minutes after walking, nasa harapan na kami ng mga matatayog na gusali and all of those has concrete glasses as their windows and sliding doors! This is the first time I've seen such buildings that almost made of glass!

"Base of what I've heard from King Ruthven, those glasses are made of quartz that produced by that Serpentes." Polyphemus suddenly said that made my heart felt something unusual. Wait, what if they used that Serpentes' power to produce a lot of quartz then use those to make glasses? As far as I remember, only one Serpentes could guard a specific mineral or stone. Mapapalitan lang ito kung namatay na ang tagabantay. Kung iisipin, lahat ng mga nakikitang babasagin na glass ay galing sa kaniya. Kung palaging ganito, hindi malabong nanghihina na ang Serpentes.

"T-This is ridiculous." I softly mumbled while roaming my eyes around the buildings. Their country is also big but not as big as Villador, I don't know if they are advance country but I can say that this place is not easy to deal with.

"Are you hungry?" I slowly turned my head towards Zachariuss and he is now staring at me with questioning kind of stares. I smiled at him a bit and shook my head.

"Nah, I'm good. Nervousness took away my hunger." I uttered.

"Don't be nervous, I'm here." He replied.

"I know, Zach. You're always there." Sa mga araw na nagkasama kami sa biyahe ay unti-unti kong nakikilala ang katauhan ni Zachariuss. Hindi niya man naaalala kung sino siya dati, may ideya na ako kung sino at ano ang kaya niyang gawin.

He's the Guild Leader of Angelli Guild, consisting of fifty plus members and has an Angel's halo Guild Tattoo. Arachne and the others considered him as their friend but I think Zachariuss treat them the other way around. He is expressionless when he is thinking something, his glares are deadly when he's mad and irritated, and he is smirking and giving small smile when he's in a good mood.

He controls dark power related, I don't know what kind of creature he is but I know he's strong. Wala pang nakapagsabi sa akin kung ano ang totoong anyo niya pero hihintayin ko na lang na malaman ko.

Naglakad pa kami ng naglakad at nag-obserba kung ano ang mga nasa paligid at kung anu-anong klaseng nilalang ang mga nandidito. I can't sense and define what races they are from, they're seems nice and respectful but for sure they are just disguising.

"Mukhang wala silang pakialam kung may bagong salta ah? Did they already expected us to be here?" Arachne. 'Yon din ang napapansin ko, na para bang walang pakialam ang mga nilalang kung sino kami. Our energies are showing, they can actually sense it but they are acting like they are unbothered. If it's really an acting, we are kinda in a serious situation right now. If they already expected us to be here, this is already a serious matter.

Kahit kinakabahan, pinipilit ko ang sarili kong huwag matakot. Tinatagan ko ang puso at isipan ko at naging mas maingat sa paligid. Kung nasa sitwasiyon nga talaga kami na kung saan puwede kaming atakihin nilang lahat, kailangan kong lumaban kahit alam kong mahina ako at wala pang pinag-aralan tungkol sa pakikipaglaban.

"Just be careful, if they are going to attack us then we'll fight. We can't assure Queen's request if they'll attack us first." Typhoeus said that made my heart felt so nervous.

"They are too damn many, we are just few. And we can't even know if our Prince here can fight." I immediately closed my eyes when I heard some mockery in Arachne's voice. Nagsisimula na naman siya.

"Prince Ruthvann, you can fight right? But don't worry, we are here to fight with you so don't waste your energy and powers." Polyphemus said to me that made me stopped.

Anong magiging gamit ko rito kung gano'n?

"So what's the point having him with us? Isn't it too heavy for us to carry him all the time?" Right. Ngayon, tumingin na ako kay Arachne. She is now smirking at me like she is planning on something. She really loves to humiliate me in front of them, huh?

"I-I can fight." Nasabi ko na lang.

"Don't force yourself, Vann." Umiling lang ako kay Zachariuss and gave him a small smile.

"I can't just let all of you carry me like a luggage, Zach. Arachne's right, what's the point having me with you if I can't do anything with this team?" He stopped because of what I said. I finally smiled sweetly at him after that, and gave him stares that assures him that I can do it as well.

"Don't worry Zach, I also have powers and I think I can finally use them."