Ikatlong Persona

Everything seemed to be surreal. It felt like waking up from a nightmare disguised as a dream. It's been three days ever since the wedding and Flare's still sleeping safe and sound in her own room guarded by the most skilled knights of the Lost Continent's fortress.

Her room was designed like a medieval royal bedroom with red and gold motifs of thick and fancy silky fabrics. The wall was filled with abstract paintings and carved ancient writings on the wall.

At the center of the room there is an enormous ancient crystal chandelier filled with red candles. Below is a center table enfolded by a red satin fabric filled with different types of fruits and red roses.

Other than that, there are huge windows covered with red curtains and dragon statues on the side, carpeted floor and ceiling designed with different constellations in the sky. It was a very unique and majestic room prepared for their highness the princess, the queen.

"How is she?" Caiz asked impatiently after the private royal doctor checked her pulse.

Sa naging tanong ng prinsipe ay inangat ng manggagamot ang kaniyang ulo't marahang yumuko upang magbigay galang rito.

"Maayos naman ang kalagayan ng mahal na prinsesa, aking prinsipe," sagot nito.

"But why isn't she waking up?" nagtatakang tanong ni Yael dito.

"Releasing the spirit of the Cosmos Queen requires a lot of inner and soul energies that exhausted her, knowing she wasn't even trained to do it yet resulted her in that state." Arden explained.

Napatango-tango naman ang mga ito dahil sa kaniyang paliwanag. What she did created a sudden shock in her core. Nag-uumapaw ito sa lakas dala ng samo't-saring emosyon na nararamdaman niya.

"Kailangan niya lamang magpahinga nang mabuti upang mabawi ang lakas niya." Nakangiting wika ng manggagamot.

"Can we do something to make her feel better sooner?" aniya ni Canaan sa mga ito habang nakatitig sa maamong mukha ng natutulog na dalaga.

"You can share your magical prowess  to heal up her wounded inner core." Napalingon ang mga ito nang marinig ang barintono't ma-awtoridad na boses na iyon.

Sabay na nagsiyukuan ang mga ito sa pagdating ng lalaking tinitingala nilang lahat. Ang hari sa lahat ng nakikilang hari, ang siyang tagapangalaga ng kontinenteng kaniyang kinasasakupan.

Magical prowess means the power stored within them through years of practicing and cultivating their soul energies. It may take up their physical and magical strength upon sharing but it can be stored back in no time. 

The question is, why them when the king is a lot more powerful. He can give as much as magical prowess as he want to his daughter but then he rather let the Knight Princes do it. Hindi naman iyon problema sa kanila. They are willing to do it, and they'd be honored. Sadyang nagtataka lamang ang mga ito. 

Pumwesto ang mga ito sa magkabilang gilid ng higaan nito't sabay na inangat ang kamay upang itapat ito sa katawan ng dalaga. Sa oras nang pagbuklat ng kamay ng mga ito't magpalabas ng iba't-ibang enerhiya ay kaagad na umilaw ang tattoo nang mga ito na nakaukit sa kanang bahagi ng kanilang leeg. 

It's a tattoo representing what tribe they're from. Ordinary tribesman's tattoo is located in their arms while royal bloods have them on the right side of their neck. 

Sa paglipat ng mga enerhiya ng mga ito sa katawan ng dalaga ay nakatitig lamang ang hari sa mga ito. Wala sa sarili itong napangiti nang masilayan ang maamong mukha ng kaniyang anak. She's his only hope, his light and sole reason to live. Siya na lamang ang natitirang ala-ala ng minamahal niyang kasintahan at hindi siya papayag na pati ito ay kunin sa kaniya. 

That's why he will do everything to keep her safe, to keep everyone under his reign safe and sound. Hindi na niya hahayaang maulit muli ang nangyari ilang dekada na ang nakakalipas. He will make sure it will never happen again. 

Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay nakita ng mga ito ang paggalaw ng daliri ng dalaga, dahilan upang mas lalong nag-focus lalo ang mga ito sa ginagawa. They were determined enough to share their prowess just to make her recover. 

"Stop." The king ordered, and so they did. Kapansin-pansin ang panandaliang pag-anhag ng apat na kulay ng enerhiya sa katawan ng dalaga. 

Colors of blue, red, light, and yelowish energies were all over her body being absorbed within her. Pinagmamasdan nila ito nang maigi nang tuluyan nang gumalaw ang mga daliri nito't sa wakas ay nagmulat na rin ito ng mga mata. 

Nang magmulat ang mga mata niya'y kaagad na napahinga nang maluwag ang mga ito. The Knight Princes were happy and relieved she finally regained consciousness while on the other hand, the king was smiling genuinely as he stared at her. 

Finally...

When Flare opened her eyes, her eyesight was blurry for a second. Nakikita niya lang ay ang pulang kisame ng hinihigaan niya. The first thing in her mind was asking herself what happened. Then memories of what happened three days ago flashed in her mind vividly. 

The last thing she remembered was her transforming into another form of a woman they called the Cosmos Queen. Pagkatapos ng pangyayaring 'yon ay wala na siyang maalala kung ano ang nangyari. Ni hindi niya nga alam kung nasaan siya ngayon at kaninong kwarto tinutulugan niya. 

"Your Highness." She heard them greeted. Kaagad na dumapo ang paningin niya sa apat na lalaking matamang nakatingin sa kaniya. 

Nakayuko nang konti ang ulo ng mga ito bilang pagbati at paggalang sa kaniya samantalang siya'y diretso lang ang tingin sa mga ito na para bang sinusuri ang kanilang buong pagkatao. She then tried to lift herself up to sit on the bed which she successfully did without their aid. 

Matapos niyang maupo ay napadako kaagad ang tingin niya sa lalaking nasa kaliwang bahagi ng kaniyang higaan, dalawang metro ang layo mula sa kaniya. 

It was that man, the man who claimed himself as her father.

 She was about to ask where she is, but she kept her mouth shut instead. There's no point to ask, for sure she's not in Elysian Empire. After all the things that happened to them in the wedding it's impossible for them to stay in that land and hide when they clearly have somewhere to go. 

The Lost Continent, the land only visible for people who wanted a new beginning of life. 

"Can you leave us for a moment?" Tumango ang makikisig na prinsipe't ngumiti muna sa dalaga saka muling yumuko sa naging utos ng hari bago lumabas ng silid. 

"How are you feeling?" There's that feeling again, Flare thought to herself. Kahit noong unang beses niya itong nakita'y pakiramdam niya may kung anong mainit na bagay na humahaplos sa puso niya. 

It felt so warm and pure, no malice at all. 

"Good." She replied. She was looking at him straight in the eye like she was trying to read his heart and soul. Wala siyang ibang maramdaman dito kundi panlalambot ng puso at pagiging komportabe. 

Maybe this is what they called the 'lukso ng dugo'.

Slowly, he walked towards her. Umupo ito sa malambot na kamq habang nakaharap sa dalaga. Ang mga mata nito'y malamlam at sa hindi malamang dahilan ay napakamalumanay ang ekspresyon sa mukha nito. It was like he was admiring a beautiful art in front of him. The art of him and his beloved. 

"Can I hug you?" For some unknown reason, his question somehow made her lips twitched into a small smile. Unknowingly, without feeling any awkwardness between them, she opened her arms encouraging him to come closer and hug her.  

The king felt so surreal. He just can't help but to get teary eyed with the scene he's seeing. It was his beloved daughter smiling at him welcoming him to hug her for the very first time. He would not trade anything for this, and he will promise to protect her no matter what happens. 

And just when their arms linked with each other, Flare felt something touched her heart. It was warm and gentle. The hug they're sharing somehow calmed her down and the king felt the same. Ni hindi man lang namalayan ng hari na tuluyang may tumulong butil ng luha mula sa kanang mata niya. 

Tears out of the overwhelming happiness he felt...

Kinabig ng hari ang ulo ng anak nito't hinigpitan lalo ang paghawak dito. He felt like he was hugging his beloved wife. Ang maisip sa pagkatapos ng ilang taong pagtitiis niyang wag magpakilala rito ay sobrang hirap pero heto siya ngayon at nagtatangis sa bisig ng kaniyang anak. 

"I missed you..." Kumalas ito mula sa pagkakayakap sa anak. He then patted her head softly using his left hand while other one's wiping her tears. 

Hindi man lang namalayan ni Flare na habang yakap niya ito'y kusang tumulo ang luha nito sa labis na kaligayahang naramdaman. She never felt this for once in her whole entire life. This is what she should feel when the king and queen of the Fire Tribe once told her she was their daughter. 

That's the reason why she felt nothing special at all. 

"Tell me everything without leaving a single detail." Wala sa sariling napangisi ang hari nang marinig ang tanong ng anak. Seryoso lamang ang mukha nito habang naghihintay ng sagot mula sa kaniya. 

Sumeryoso na rin ang mukha ng hari't biglang inangat ang kanang hintuturo. Sa oras nang pagdikit ng hintuturo nito sa noo nang dalaga ay sunod-sunod na imahe ang kaniyang nakita mula sa mga pangyayaring naganap ilang dekada na ang nakakalipas. 

Flare's facial expression suddenly changed. Kumuyom ang kamao nito't nagtatagis ang bagang sa mga nakikita. She cannot believe what she's seeing. She cannot believe the land she thought was her home, the empire she thought she would defend, the people she thought she could trust were the ones who inflicted so much pain and sorrow into her heart and soul. 

They will pay dearly...

Sa kabilang banda, halos tatlong araw na hindi makatulog ng maayos ang reyna mula timog. Queen Winter was worried sick about her eldest son. His condition wasn't stable. Five out of seven spiritual points of his body were severely destroyed. 

The royal doctor said he was even lucky to be alive. He made himself a human shield against the disastrous spell created by the four kings of the continent. The amount of soul energies combined in that single attack was enormous and deadly. 

The fact that he's still alive proves how strong he is. This means his magical prowess was stronger than the four king's soul energies combined together. However in his state right now, he may survive but he won't be as powerful as he is before. In a worst case scenario, he may regain consciousness but he can no longer use his element.  

"Frost..." His name trembled on the queen's lips. Hawak nito ang kamay ng anak habang nakaupo sa tabi nito.

She was no longer attending her duties in the palace. She won't let the chamber maids tend him and only the royal doctor is allowed inside. She spent three days inside his room looking out for him without enough sleep and appetite to eat. 

The door opened, and the king entered the room. Kaagad na nanlambot ang puso nito sa nakita. Seeing how his queen was devastated and his son lying on the bed almost lifeless made him want to just dry out the water in his body and die. 

But no, he mustn't. He needs to set things right. He needs to make it up and figure how to cure his son. Alam niya sa sarili niya na hindi sang-ayon ang kaniyang reyna sa kanilang plano. He even hid a big secret na hanggang ngayon ay dahilan kung bakit masama pa rin ang loob sa kaniya ng kaniyang minamahal. 

Alam niya sa sarili niya na hindi magandang plano ang nais ng mga ito subalit wala rin siyang magagawa sapagkat kagustuhan ito ng nakararami. As much as he wanted to disagree to support his queen, he just can't. 

"What are you doing here?" Malamig na tanong ng reyna. He felt himself having a cold feet. His queen used to be so warm and gentle, but now it's different. Her eyes were cold and distant, the smile on her face when she talks to him were gone. 

"Get some fresh air at least and eat your meal." Malamig pa rin ang tono ng pananalita ng hari subali't hindi alam ng reyna na nagpipigil lamang ito. 

The king's weakness was his queen. He may act cold and merciless in front of many people but he's a warm and passionate man when it comes to his queen. He badly want to hold her hand and hug her, tell her everything's gonna be alright. He wants to calm her down and beg for forgiveness for what he did. 

However, he know his queen better than anyone else. Alam niyang kapag galit ito ay mas gusto nitong mapag-isa at huwag kakausapin. Kapag kumalma naman ito'y kusa itong lalapit sa kaniya upang kausapin siya nang masinsinan kahit alam niyang sa pagkakataong ito ay mahihirapan siyang lumapit dito. 

He know how she hates keeping secrets from her. Matatagalan siyang makuha muli ang loob nito't handa naman siyang harapin ito dahil aminado siyang nagkamali siya't nagkasala. He will face her cold treatment. 

"Tingin mo makakaya ko pang kumain sa kalagayan ng anak ko?" She answered sarcastically. She stood up and walked towards him. 

The queen was angry. Kung nakinig lang sana ang mga ito sa kaniya'y hindi sana manganganib ang buhay ng anak niya, hindi sana manganganib ang buong imperyo, ang kanilang mga kaharian at ang kanilang kinasasakupan. 

"None of this would have happened if only you listened to me," she said with a grim look on her face. 

"You see what greed can do? You see how your grave fear for nothing and selfishness did?" sumbat nito. Walang nagawa ang hari kun'di ang umiwas ng tingin sa naging wika ng kaniyang reyna. 

As long as there is greed, there will always be suffering.

"If something bad happened to my son, I will never forgive you," wika nito. She went passed him and slammed the door  shut. 

Naiwan sa loob ng kuwarto ang hari't wala itong ibang nagawa kun'di ipikit ang kaniyang mga mata. He is worried about his son's life as well lalong-lalo na't ito ang hahalili sa trono niya. Siya lamang ang natatanging may kakayahang pamunuan ang timog kontinente kung sakali mang may mangayring masama sa kaniya. 

Dahil sa maling disesyon niya'y hindi lang ang anak niya ang napahamak niya kun'di ang buong kinakasakupan niya. He's pretty sure a big war will break out. Hindi nila alam kung kelan ito at ano ang hudyat ng pagsisimula ng madugong labanan na ito subalit kailangan nilang maghanda. 

With Frost's five spiritual points damaged, and Leether Vexus Sinas' turned out to be an impostor from the Lost Continent, that means they only have the Air and the Fire Prince and princessess. Hindi nila mababasta-basta ang apat na matitipunong lalaking nagsisilbing tagabantay ng hari na 'yon. 

Violence is not the key to everything but things got into this point and they can't do anything about it anymore. Kailangan nilang panindigan ang disesyon nilang nagbunga sa ganitong resulta. They need to face it and even if it would take their lives they have to defend the people and the entire Empire. 

Even if their race would become extinct...

On the other side, the knight princes were taking a hot bath in a lake near the palace. Naka hubad baro ang mga ito't Caiz was releasing fire energies making the water hot and steamy. Nakasandal ang kanilang likod sa bato't nakadipa ang mga braso ng mga ito't pikit mata na dinadama ang kakalmahan ng tubig.

"Arden, are you good?" Sa naging tanong ni Canaan ay biglang nagmulat ng mata ang binata. Is he okay? Why wouldn't he be?

"Of course," he answered shortly. 

"I mean the king and queen of Gravil Continent..." Muli na lamang niyang pinikit ang kaniyang mga mata. 

Alam niya kung ano ang nais sabihin nito. He lost his parents, and even if he faked himself as the Gravil continent's dead son, they loved him like their own without knowing the truth. Was he moved during that time? Did he developed filial love as he was pretending? 

The answer is no. He knew all along they were the ones who killed his mother and father. The one who wrecked havoc in their homeland, destroyed their continent and killed their tribesmen. God knows how much he wanted to murder them on their sleep. 

"Believe me when I say he doesn't feel anything towards them." Caiz commented after hearing Arden's thoughts. 

Napailing na lang si Arden dito. He forgot to block his thoughts. Maybe he was carried away with emotions again, his biggest enemy. 

"I wonder what they were thinking right now..." Canaan murmured out of the blue. He's probably referring to the kings and queens of that cursed continent. 

"Panigurado'y nahahanda sila sa digmaang maaaring maganap. They will take any measures again to try and wipe out or existence," Yael stated and paused for a bit as he smirks. 

"The only difference is that, we're not kids anymore." Isa-isang sumilay ang ngisi sa labi ng mga ito. 

Their parents were all killed when those mother fuckers snuck in and attacked them. Lost Continent was a peaceful place. Walang nag-aamok dito at mas lalong walang nanghahamon mang-amok dito. It was a land living in unity and harmony.

Although they are skilled and strong enough to go to war, they have no hands on experience. Hindi nila ito napaghandaan at mas lalong hindi nila ito inaasahan. Ni hindi nila alam kung sino ang sumugod sa kanila't ano ang dahilan ng digmaang 'yon. All they know is that they have to fight for their land, and they lost in numbers and dirty tricks on their hands. 

"Magic against magic. Weapons against weapons. Princes against Princes. Kings against one King. Queens against one queen. The battle of greed and pride they started and we'll finish," Makahulugang wika ni Caiz. 

"Before that, her highness needs to learn how to bring out four of her forms that embodies her being."  Caiz said tilting his head sideways. 

"She already released the Cosmos Queen out of her unknowingly. Even chanted an oracle without the blessings of the stars, moon, and sun..." 

Cosmos Queen, the queen of celestial bodies. It caries the hope of the stars, the mystery of the moon, and the power of the sun. But before she can take the form of the Cosmos Queen, she must receive the blessing first, but she did not. 

She forced it out of her...

"She only have to let out the other three," dag-dag ni Arden. 

"The Queen of the Seven Seas." Canaan whispered as he started to imagine what she would look like. He lived for watching a queen walk in the waters of his domain. 

"The Mythical Queen of Wonders." Wika naman ni Yael habang binabasa ang buhok nito. Everyone in their tribe have the spirit animal of their own. He wondered what form would be the queen is taking. 

"The Queen of Dragons." Caiz could imagine it even if he never really saw her transformed with her dragon form. He can imagine how blazingly captivating she would look like. 

Arden couldn't help but to wonder why the king of all kings need her when he can wipe them out with just a flick of his fingers. Yes, he's that strong. He can strike whenever he wants and rob the life out of them. 

"So why?" Pabulong na tanong ni Arden sa sarili. 

"Ano?" Umiling ito sabay ayos ng upo. He just shook his head and brushed his wet hair up, small droplets of water falling from the strands of his hair down to his biceps. 

"The king said he had a surprise for us later at the feast..." pag-iiba na lang nito ng usapan na siyang ikinatawa ni Canaan at Caiz. 

"Been so long since a woman ever warmed my night." Nakangisising wika ni Canaan. Yael scoffed and cocked his head sheepishly. 

"And when was the last time? Lemme guess, three or two days ago?" They all laughed. If Elysian Empire have Aerus, then the Lost Continent have Canaan Sparrow. 

Of course, the surprise is no other than women. The king declared a huge feast for welcoming his daughter. Gaganapin ito mismo sa gabing bilog ang buwan upang tumugma sa kasiyahan ang pagpipiging na gaganapin. 

Sabay na napangisi ang apat. Now that Canaan mentioned it, it's been a long time for the three of them at least. They got a harem of their own and they're getting bored and wanted new ones. 

They're men and they're not saints but they can make you kneel. 

"The king loves to spoil us with sinfully hot blessings..." Yael said as he chuckled. 

"Princes and their harems..." Iiling-iling na sabi naman ni Arden.

Napatigil sa pagkukwentuhan ang mga ito nang may umahon sa kanilang harapan. Nagulat ang mga ito sa biglaan nitong pagsulpot at pag-ahon sa kanilang harapan. Her red hair moved up violently along with droplets of water. Umawang ang bibig ng mga ito't tila ba bumagal ang pagtakbo ng oras habang pinagmamasdan nila ito. 

Pagbagsak ng mahaba't pulang buhok nito pabalik sa kaniyang likuran ay saka ito nagmulat ng mata't nanunuyang tumingin sa apat na binatang nakahubad-baro sa harap niya't nakikita niya ang pang-itaas na pangangatawan ng mga ito. 

She was barely naked as well, the steamy water was the only thing that kept her body hidden. Matapos makabawi sa gulat ang mga ito mula sa pagsisinghapan ay mabilis na tumalikod ang mga ito. Namumula ang gilid ng tainga ng mga ito na naging dahilan upang mapangisi ang dalaga. 

"Bakit niyo ako tinatalikuran?" She asked nonchalantly. She knows the reason why but she loves teasing the hell out of them. 

"I order you to face me. Wag kayong bastos." Sabay na nagkatinginan ang apat at napakagat-labi na lang habang dahan-dahang humaharap dito. 

Pagharap ng mga ito'y pinigilan niyang wag matawa sa mga hitsura nito. Hanggang bewang ang tubig sa lawa't nakatayo ang mga ito kaya naman kitang-kita niya ang matitipuno nitong mga katawan. Their biceps and triceps, down to their perfectly v-shaped manly waistline. Ang magkabilang kamay ng mga ito'y nakasiklob sa kanilang harapan na para bang may tinatakpan. 

How cute...

"Princes and their harem, huh?" Kaniya-kaniyang kamot ang mga ito. Si Canaan ay napakamot na lang ng noo. Si Caiz naman ay sa likuran ng tainga. Si Arden ay sa ulo, at si Yael naman ay sa pisngi. 

"How about a queen and her harem of princes?" Mula sa pagkakaupo sa tubig ay dahan-dahang tumayo ang dalaga. Her long hair covered her chest and body. Napaatras naman ang mga ito't isa-isa na namang napaiwas ng tingin. 

"Y-your Highness..." They chorused making her laugh. Mabilis na naibalik nila ang tingin sa mukha ng dalaga nang tumawa ito. Her radiant laugh can illuminate any darkest place of the continent. 

"Should've seen your faces..." Bumagsak ang katawan nito sa lawa't hihingal-hingal na tumawa habang pinapanood ang 'di maipintang reaksyon ng mga binata sa harapan niya. 

Muling nagkatinginan ang mga pinsipe't natawa na lang din. They forgot, they do have a harem of their own, but they're a part of the queen's harem as well. Dahil aminin man nila sa sarili nila o hindi, they protected her with their life not just because it was their duty and responsibility. 

It was because they admire her as a woman. 

Itutuloy...