Harmony's POV

"We are finally back," ika ko habang naglalakad kami palabas sa Mossy Forest, and as usual hindi umimik si Kaitlin.

Gaya nga ng inaasahan ko, isang linggo na ang lumipas sa labas ng Labyrinth at sa loob ng Danjon dalawang araw pa lamang ang lumipas. The flow of time in that place is significantly different from this world. Ipinagpapasalamat ko rin na habang naglalakbay pabalik dito ay hindi ko nakasalubong ang second male lead at ang female lead. Sa totoo lang ay hindi pa ako handa na mag cross ang landas namin ni Phil, marahil siguro hindi ako handang malaman kung ano ba ang tunay niyang kalagayan, kung katulad ba ni Zeferino na nakaratay dahil sa ginawa kong pagbago sa tadhana ni Harmony o kung ano pa mang pagbabago sa character niya.

"Your Highness?" napatingin ako kay Kaitlin nang magsalita ito. "How did you know about that Artifact Magic Weapon?" I was startled by her question.

"I just read it in...in one of the books in the Imperial Library." Tumangu-tango siya at hindi na muling nagsalita pa. Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag dahil hindi na siya nag tanong pa.

Napatingin ako sa hawak kong Flute at napangiti. Princess Myrtle did indeed fulfill my request, as expected of the Princess of the Limerence Kingdom. Earlier, we passed through the part of the forest where we first saw Myrtle, and there she was, waiting for us to arrive to hand over this Artifact Magic Weapon. I haven't tried this weapon yet; it might be a good idea to test it on the first enemy we encounter on our journey to find the Magic Stone.

Pagkalabas namin sa gubat ay pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang Mossy Forest. "I was wondering why Velther didn't come with us." Humarap na ako at nagpatuloy na sa paglalakad.

"As he said, the two of you should meet at the fountain in Limerence Town because he has something important to do, Your Highness." Tanging tango na lang ang naging tugon ko sa kaniya at hindi na nagtanong pa.

Ano naman kayang importanteng gagawin niya at kailangan mauna pa kami rito sa Limerence Kingdom?

After walking for more than half an hour, we finally arrived at Limerence Town. I pulled out a small piece of paper from my pocket that I had found among Melody's belongings in the Danjon. It had her handwriting on it, saying 'Orlea'.

Kaitlin and I looked up together at the writing above the store. "Orlea's Jewelries..." Nagkatinginan kami ni Kaitlin ng sabay naming sabihin iyon.

Pumasok kami at isang simple at tipikal na jewelries store ang bumungad sa amin. Walang ibang tao pero kamangha-manghang ang mga alahas na naririto, kakaiba rin ang nararamdaman ko sa pagpasok pa lamang namin dito. Na kung titingnan ay normal na store lang ito pero sa oras na pumasok ka at magtagal ay mararamdaman mo ang kakaibang energy sa bawat sulok ng lugar na ito.

"I've been waiting for you," napalingon ako sa isang matandang babae na lumabas mula sa isang kwarto. Everything she wears is black, including the veil on her head.

She bowed to me and lifted her veil from her face. "Sa wakas ay dumating ka rin, Harmony." Nagsalubong ang kilay ko.

What? Harmony?! Did I hear that correctly?! Did she just call me by my name? Doesn't she know that I am an Imperial Princess?

Ikinagulat ko naman ng hugutin ni Kaitlin ang kaniyang espada at itinutok sa matandang babae. "The act of referring to the Imperial Princess as Harmony is considered blasphemy. I implore you to apologize immediately for your audacity." Mababakas ang panganib sa boses ni Kaitlin ng bitiwan niya ang mga katagang iyon.

Tumingin ako sa matanda para lamang mangunot ang noo dahil sa halip na takot ang makita ko sa kaniya ay tila naaaliw pa siya sa ginawa at sinabi ni Kaitlin. "What the—ahem." Tumikhim ako at hinawi pababa ang espada ni Kaitlin na nakatutok sa matandang babae. bumuntong-hininga naman siya saka ibinalik ang espada.

"I apologize for the actions of my knight, but we did not come here with the intention of starting a fight." Mas mainam ng isipin niyang Knight ko si Kaitlin. Well, mukha na rin naman siyang knight ko kahit pa isa siyang maid.

She chuckled. "I am well aware. Please forgive me for being disrespectful, Your Highness." Yumuko siya at nang mag-angat ng tingin ay nakangiti na siya.

"How did you know I was coming?" sa halip na sagutin ang tanong ko ay inaya niya kaming pumasok sa silid kung saan siya lumabas kanina.

When we entered, she directed us to sit in the chair positioned in the center of the room. The dimly lit room instantly illuminated as she waved her finger, revealing a table and its contents. At the center of the table sat a glass bowl, but it was no ordinary glass bowl; it exuded a magical aura.

"I knew you would come as Melody said before she said goodbye to the world." Napatingin ako sa kaniya ng mag salita siya at gano'n na lamang ang gulat ko nang makitang nag bago ang kaniyang anyo.

Napatayo ako at agad na kinuha ang Artifact Magic Weapon at itinutok sa kaniya kahit pa nasa itsurang plauta pa ito. "Who are you? And why did your face change?!" ang matandang mukha nito kanina ay kasalukuyan ng bumata. It doesn't seem far from my age if you look at it.

Her white hair, which was once gray due to old age, has now miraculously turned black. It cascades in beautiful curls, and her previously wrinkled skin has transformed into a smooth and youthful complexion. Her eyes sparkle with a soft pink hue, and delicate moles adorn the side of her gracefully arched eyebrows, above her slender nose, below her right almond-shaped eye, and on the corners of her luscious lips.

"Relax ka lang, I'm not bad—" I cut her off.

"How can I be sure?" kunot-noo ko pa ring tanong. Si Kaitlin naman ay nakahawak sa handle ng kaniyang espada.

"You're fun to watch, you know? Don't worry, there's no need to be on guard with me. We both know that your mother wouldn't allow you to come here if I were going to harm you, right?" natigilan ako sa sinabi niya at naisip na tama siya. Malabong gawin 'yon ng aking ina gayong mahal na mahal niya ang kaniyang anak.

I slowly lowered my weapon. "Kung gano'n, bakit ako pinapunta rito ni Mel—ng aking ina?" napangiwi ako dahil muntik ko pang masabi ang pangalan ni Melody.

"To help you in locating the missing pieces of the Magic Stone." Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at hindi makapaniwala na alam niya ang tungkol sa magic stone at sa planong paghahanap namin dito.

"Paano mo...nalaman ang tungkol sa paghahanap namin sa magic stone? Who exactly are you? No, the right question is, what are you?" natawa siya kaya kumuyom ang mga palad ko. Pinagtatawanan niya ako gayong seryoso ako sa mga oras na ito!

"I'm not joking with you! Who are you really? And how is my mother so sure that I will go to you?!" hindi ko na napigilang sumigaw. Lumingon ako kay Kaitlin at umiwas siya ng tingin kaya nakaramdam ako ng inis.

What is really going on? Am I really the only one here who has no idea?!

Nakakainis na kahit natapos ko ng mabasa ang 'Inheritors of the Throne' ay parang wala pa rin pala akong kaalam-alam sa ginagalawan kong ito. Ipinagtataka ko kung bakit alam ni Melody na magtutungo ako sa Danjon at hahanapin ang mga piraso ng Magic Stone. Paano siya nakakasiguro na mangyayari ang mga nangyayari ngayon? How?! How, when she was dead before the chapter even started? How did she know all of this when it wasn't even written in the book? And the woman in front of me, her character doesn't exist in any of the installments of the Astaria Series...so how?

"Your Highness, calm down. You need to calm down." Rinig kong sabi ni Kaitlin at ng babae pero hindi ko sila magawang pagtuunan ng pansin dahil ang usip ko ay punong-puno ng mga katanungan at kalituhan.

To stop the thoughts racing through my mind, I swiftly slapped myself with both palms. "Your...Your Highness?" bumuntong-hininga ako.

"So, what's your name?" tanong ko sa babae. Nagtataka man ay nagsalita siya para sagutin ang tanong ko.

"I'm Orlea, your mother's close friend. And I'm a witch." Tumaas ang isa kong kilay.

Witch, huh? Orlea...hmmm. Her character isn't really familiar.

Tinitigan ko siya. Isasantabi ko muna ang mga katanungan sa isipan ko at magfofocus kasalukuyan. I don't think I'll get any answers if I keep asking questions in my mind. Even if I ask them, it seems like I won't get any answers either. So for now, I'll just go with the flow.

Wait, aren't witches forbidden creatures in the entire Astaria Empire?

"Are you a witch? But didn't my ancestors suppress witches like you for a long time? So how is there a witch in this kingdom?" bumuntong-hininga siya.

"It's a long story but all I can say is, I'm the last witch among my kind." Tipid niyang tugon at base sa sagot niya ay mukhang iniiwasan niyang magbigay pa ng maraming impormasyon.

"Okay. So, how can you help me?" I asked, and she stared at me for a moment before answering.

"Patingin ng kanang palad mo," nagtataka man ay pinakita ko sa kaniya ang kanang palad ko. Hinawakan niya ito at itinapat sa bowl na gawa sa salamin na nasa gitna. "Hmmm..." napasinghap ako ng humaba ang kuko niya at hiwain ang palad ko.

"Ack!"

"Your Highness!" tumayo si Kaitlin at inilabas ang espada saka itinutok kay Orlea. "What do you think you're doing to the princess?" hindi siya pinapansin ni Orlea, ni tapunan ng tingin ay hindi nito ginawa. Nakatutok lang ang mga mata niya sa palad ko na tumutulo ang dugo patungo sa mirror bowl.

"Ano...ano bang kalokohan ito?!" napangiwi ako at gustuhin mang kunin ang kamay ko sa kaniya ay hindi ko magawa dahil sa hindi ko malamang dahilan ay biglang hindi na ako makagalaw.

"You're an overthinker, don't you know that? Don't worry, cutting your palm won't kill you." Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya at hindi na nagpumiglas pa. Hinayaan ko na lang siya sa ginagawa niya dahil tama naman siya, hindi ko naman ikamamatay ang ginagawa niya.

I glanced at Kaitlin and noticed that she had sat down again. Then, I shifted my gaze back to my palm. Makalipas ng ilang segundo ay inalis na niya ang palad ko sa tapat ng bowl, agad naman itong kinuha ni Kaitlin upang lagyan ng bandage ang palad ko. Orlea placed something else in the bowl and began uttering words that I couldn't comprehend, particularly in a hushed tone. Following that, smoke engulfed the bowl, and all of a sudden, a necklace materialized, floating in the air.

"What is that necklace for?" ngumiti siya.

"Take the necklace; it will help you locate the pieces of the missing Magic Stone. With it, you can sense the presence of the magic stone, although it won't directly reveal its location. Nonetheless, it will help you in your search." Tumango ako at ngumiti saka kinuha ang necklace at isinuot.

"Thank you, this is a big help for us."

"That's nothing. If you still need my help, don't hesitate to come here. This place is always open for you, and I will do everything I can to help you. It's my way of repaying your mother for saving me before." Ang lawak ng ngiti niya habang sinasabi 'yon at hindi maipagkakaila ang sensiridad.

"If so, I will ask for something else," humugot ako ng malalim na hininga't pinakawalan ito 'tsaka tumingin kay Kaitlin. "Could you please give us a moment of privacy, Kaitlin? Kindly wait for me outside." Tumango lang si Kaitlin at lumabas na.

May pagtataka sa ekspresyon ng mukha ni Orlea at dahil do'n ay ngumisi ako. "What do you want me to do?"

"I just want to know something..." She sighed and nodded slowly.

༻༺ ༻✧༺ ༻༺

Kasalukuyan akong naka-upo sa isa sa mga bench na narito sa Fountain ng Limerence Town. Hapon na at mag-isa lamang ako ngayon na naghihintay kay Velther dahil nagpaalam sa akin si Kaitlin na mauuna na siya sa tinutuluyan namin para dalhin ang mga gamit na dala namin.

"Why does Vel take so long?" naiinip kong tanong sa aking sarili habang nakatingin sa fountain.

"So, you made me a pet name?" napapitlag ako nang biglang may nagsalita at paglingon ko ay parehas na nanlaki ang mga mata namin dahil muntik ng magtama ang aming mga labi.

So close!!!

Umatras ako dahilan para mahulog ako sa inuupuan ko. "You! Who are you?!" kumunot ang noo niya at nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng ma-realize kong sino siya.

Ang mahaba niyang silver hair ay umikli na umaabot hanggang leeg niya, and although the color of his other eye has changed, I cannot forget the deep shade of his dark red eye, resembling smoldering coals. His mismatched eyes have become dark red, his black right eye has disappeared. Maging ang sungay niya ay nawala na.

This man in front of me...is this really Velther? He looks like a human now!

TO BE CONTINUED...