Chapter 48: Prayer

Rosh handed me his iconic red rose, and when I was about to take it, Kreios took it. Agad niyang pinutol ang tangkay niyon sa mas maliit at inilagay niya iyon sa sulok ng isa niyang tainga.

Kreios crossed his arms and held his head high. "Thank you."

My mate was supposed to be ridiculous with a bud of red rose behind his ear, but with his silk noble clothing right now, he looked utterly perfect. He was indeed a son of a goddess.

When I glanced at Rosh, he looked insulted. Maybe he was just expecting that every rose should only fit him.

"Paano kayo nakarating dito?"

"Did Queen Leticia help you with the portal?"

Magkasunod kaming nagtanong ni Kreios.

"Don't you think Deltora has its own portals?" pabalang na sagot ni Pryor.

Bumaba na rin si Rosh sa kanyang kabayo. Ilang beses niya pa itong hinaplos at kapwa nila ipinagdikit ang kaninang noo sa isa't isa.

He looked like some of the colorful illustrations from Divina and Dawn's human books. Kaya naman pala hindi nakapagtataka na tuwang-tuwa iyong mga bata sa kanya.

Hindi lang si Kreios, kundi pati na rin si Pryor ay napaatras at napangiwi habang pinapanuod si Rosh na madramang nagpapaalam sa kanyang puting kabayo.

"Sadya bang ganyan iyan?" tanong ni Kreios.

"Yes. Minsan ay natatakot na rin si Marah sa kanya. Umiiwas na rin si Tobias kapag hindi na kayang panuorin," umiiling na sagot ni Pryor.

We waited for Rosh and the white horse's dramatic parting scene until the white horse crossed the portal as Rosh watched him like a longing drama king.

Nang magsarado na ang lagusan ay saka muli siya humarap sa amin.

"Did I accidentally summon you?"

Nasa isip ko na maaari nga naming kailanganin ang tulong ni Rosh. Surprisingly he had few encounters with my parents.

Nagkatinginan sina Rosh at Pryor sa isa't isa.

"Yes," sagot ni Pryor.

"No," sabi naman ni Rosh.

Sabay ang sagot ng magkapatid. Isa lang ang ibig sabihin niyon, may nagsisinungaling sa kanila.

"Come on, just tell us." Kreios rolled his eyes.

Tama si Kreios. We should be aware of how they reached us.

"Ano ka ba, Rosh! Just tell them that we used our portal, and you felt like they needed your help! Ganoon lang naman lagi. Hindi ba?"

"W-what? No! Pryor robbed my white horse, and I followed him! I was not aware that he'd still follow his failed mission which he obviously announced that he was no longer interested," katwiran ni Rosh.

Saglit kaming nagkatinginan ni Pryor. We were aware of Luna's group and their conflict with Pryor.

"W-What? Stop lying, Rosh!"

"Pryor, you're looking for her? Nasa itaas siya," sabi ko.

Halos hindi maipinta ang mukha ni Pryor nang lumingon siya sa akin. As if I had said something to offend him. "Why would I look for that witch, Gazellian?"

Napasipol si Kreios at biglang natawa si Rosh na nakapamaywang.

"A witch, huh?" sabi ni Rosh.

"Luna's a talented one," tumatangong sabi ni Kreios.

Hindi sila matinginan ni Pryor dahil nasa akin iyong nanliliit niyang mga mata habang nakakuyom ang kanyang mga kamay. "I am not looking for her!"

"Alright. Let's not push my dearest brother, shall we? He has some complication in his heart, so..." Rosh said playfully.

I blinked. "R-really? Have you tried asking Claret about it?"

"Heart? Maybe the side effects of getting buried under the ground?" sagot ni Kreios.

Susugod na sana si Pryor kay Kreios nang agad akong nagtungo sa unahan ni Kreios at si Rosh naman ay iniharang ang likuran niya sa kapatid niya habang napasapo na sa kanyang noo.

"Doyle, I am here to help you. Don't bully my little brother."

Kung ako si Pryor mas iinit ang ulo ko sa tono ni Rosh. He sounded as if he was mocking him.

Sa halip na pumiglas pa sa kapatid niya ay itinulak niya na ito at hindi na dumikit pa sa kanya. "Are you even on my side? Shut up."

"That makes sense. Rosh can't locate us, but..." hindi man tapusin ni Kreios ang gusto niyang sabihin ay nakuha ko na iyon.

Kumunot ang noo ni Pryor at ngumisi si Rosh. They found us because Pryor could find Luna... are they really mates?

Naglakad na papalapit sa amin si Rosh at lumingon siya sa paligid. "So, shall we start? What clues does our dear king left for us to solve?"

Ipinaliwanag ko muna sa kanya ang naging karanasan namin sa itaas, ang mga nilalang na nakilala namin sa itaas at ang paraan kung paano kami nakarating dito. I also told him our discoveries about the women that should have been offered to the ceremony but were believed were saved.

Iyong lagusan na dinaanan nina Rosh at Pryor ay hindi na nagliliwanag, kaya iilan na lang ang lagusan na ngayon ay pipiliin namin.

"All the dead ends have names of the previous women, but we never found the exit that they used before they left this place," I said.

"I happened to experience this before, inside Fevia Atterio's old ruin. Should we separate?"

Umiling ako sa sinabi ni Rosh.

"Alright."

"Am I really involved here?" tanong ni Pryor.

"Why don't you leave? We don't need you here," pabalang na sagot ni Kreios.

"Luna's—" nang marinig iyon ni Pryor ay naglakad na siya sa harap ng isang lagusan. "I think we should go here. I can feel a life inside."

"Really?"

Hindi makapaniwala si Rosh na tumabi sa kanyang kapatid.

"Yes. Ano ang tingin mo sa akin?"

Nagkatinginan kami ni Kreios at nagkibit balikat na lang siya. Sumunod na kami sa magkapatid na basta na lang pumasok sa isang lagusan.

I was expecting that I'd experience a similar feeling every time we use a portal, but it felt as though we just stepped in a regular door. Hindi lang ako ang mukhang nagulat sa ganoong pakiramdam dahil maging ang mga prinsipeng kasama ko ay napalingon din sa lagusan na ngayon ay unti-unti nang nagsasara.

Nang sandaling tuluyang naglaho iyon ay humarap na akong muli sa unahan. At nakatuon na rin sa iba ang atensyon ng magkapatid. Kapwa ang mga iyon nakatungo.

"Is this what you call life? A fish?" tanong ni Rosh.

Naglakad kami ni Kreios sa tabi ng magkapatid at yumuko roon. There was indeed a fish.

"You're also a fish boy?"

"Huh?" sabay lumingon kay Kreios ang magkapatid.

"Iyong long hair sa Deltora. Hindi ba iyon nakakapag-usap sa isda?"

Ilang beses napatango si Rosh at lumingon din ito sa kapatid niya. "Indeed. Since Pryor is an animal shapeshifter—"

"Come on, stop sharing our family secret."

"They're aware."

Habang nagtatalo silang tatlo ay lumingon ako sa paligid. It looked like we were really in the middle of a cave but surrounded by obsidian stones. Naglakad ako sa gilid at marahan kong hinawakan ang batong nakapaligid sa amin. Malamig at basa iyon.

Hindi naman ganoon kalamig sa lugar na iyon. Tumingala rin ako at pansin ko na matatalas na bato rin iyon. Napasinghap pa ako nang may tumulong tubig sa tungki ng ilong ko.

I glanced at the fish, still alive from the small amount of water on the shallow ground. Muli akong lumapit sa mga prinsipe at higit kong tinanaw ang nasa harapan namin.

It was impossible to notice that this place once had water because the huge shallow in front of us was like a dried pond. Puro bato man ang nakikita ko ay may iilang lubak na naroon at may natitira tubig.

"This place held water..."

"Did they take the Holy Water somewhere?" tanong ni Pryor.

"Mauubos ba iyon?" dagdag ni Kreios.

I bit my lower lip and tried to think deeply. Kung ito ang huling destinasyon ng mga babae, nasaan ang lagusan kung saan tuluyan na silang nakawala?

The first destination was to trick their possible pursuers, but this place... what does this mean?

"Rosh, do you think they found it?"

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong magtanong sa kanya. Nahihirapan na ako. Sa tuwing makararating kami sa isang destinasyon ay tila patuloy na lumalayo sa amin ang Holy Land.

"Well, nothing is impossible for him, but that does not guarantee that he doesn't fail."

Huminga ako nang malalim at nagsimula akong muling maglakad sa unahan, hanggang sa makarating na ako sa pinakadulo na sa sandaling humakbang pa ako ay nahuhulog na ako.

"They said that the Holy Land can only be found by women..." panimula ko.

Hindi lingid sa kaalaman ko na tatlo pa lang ang mga babaeng kilala kong nakarating doon. It was the Blue Fire, Freya and Veda. Wala na akong nabalitaang nilalang na nakarating doon.

I thought Father and Danna happened to reach it, but with this constant dead end, I couldn't help but doubt it.

What if I just assumed it? What if they were just here to give way for those women?

May narinig din akong nakarating si Atlas sa lugar na iyon. He stole a portion of water to the Holy Land to preserve Veda's body from decaying. Pero totoo nga kayang nakarating siya?

"Rosh, did you ever reach the Holy Land?"

"Huh? It's a place just for women. I know that most of the women there will invite me, but I respect the ancient traditions."

Kreios and Pryor snorted. I didn't even look at Rosh while he was trying to lighten up the mood.

Pakiramdam ko ay malapit na ako.

"W-Why every creature in this world is interested in the Holy Land?"

"It has the water of youth—life." Agad na sagot ni Pryor.

Ramdam ko ang biglang bigat ng tensyon sa pagitan ng dalawang magkapatid. Of course, they were aware how the water preserved Veda's body.

I had been gone from Sartorias for far too long, and the last time I could remember was when Rosh was hesitant to meet us because of our situation, Kalla and Finn, and their sister's involvement. I didn't have any time to learn how Pryor took it, and I just had a brief conversation with Tobias before I left.

I couldn't help but feel guilty.

Tama ba na narito ang magkapatid na Le'Vamueivos? They needed time to heal.

"You told us that you were looking for the Holy Land, but you found yourself here in Entertainment District, got caught up in a game, and discovered women who were being offered in this traditional ridiculous game that had been operating for centuries. You, Claret, and your father failed to know it?"

Kung kanina ay may tono pa ng paglalaro ang boses ni Rosh, ngayon ay mariin na iyon habang nakatitig siya kay Kreios.

"Do you think this huge empire has no flaws? Every empire does, Rosh. And this Entertainment District has been living like an individual country— detached from my laws, rules, and everything—I've roamed the district, and no one even recognized me."

"And you're fine with that?! What kind of—" hindi na napigilan ni Rosh ang kanyang sarili at marahas niyang hinawakan ang kasuotan ni Kreios at inangat ito.

"You are a king now, Doyle!"

Inaasahan ko nang papalag si Kreios sa kanya ngunit hindi gumalaw si Kreios kaya higit akong natigilan.

I had already known Kreios as a cunning king. He was willing to appear foolish and useless to everyone while trying to do what he thought was right. He didn't want any validation.

Pero hindi ko akalain na maririnig ko ang mga salitang ito mula kay Kreios.

"It doesn't mean that I am as compassionate as the current King of Nemetio Spiran. I will only give effort to those who respect me. The Entertainment District does not even give a damn about my existence. I will rule Mudelior and protect those who acknowledge me. I had enough of charities, Rosh. I had enough of kindness. I tried to side with that approach, but what did it give me?"

Bahagya nang nakayuko si Kreios at natatakpan na ang kanyang mga mata ng kanyang buhok. The rose bud from his hair fell off.

Nang sabihin iyon ni Kreios unti-unting lumuwag ang kamay ni Rosh at binitawan siya. He was talking about Desmond's death, and probably his failed friendship that led Livius...

"M-maybe with Harper... I'll be able to see that track again," mahinang sabi niya.

"K-Kreios..."

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Pryor sa akin at tumalikod si Rosh, pansin ko ang pagkuyom ng mga kamay niya habang tanaw niya ang kalawakan ng nasa harapan natin.

"Can you tell me more information, Harper," sabi ni Rosh.

Pilit kong inalala iyong mga bagay na maaaring magturo sa amin Holy Land. Pero sa tuwing hinahabol ko ito, lagi kaming nakararating sa mga bakas na iniwan ng mga babaeng inalay noon.

It was Kreios who told me that it was Danna who told Desmond that he should find someone who had the same ability as her.

"The women came here..." ulit ko.

"Were they aware of the Fountain of Youth?" tanong ni Pryor.

Tipid akong napangiti. "It's a popular legend in every Entertainment District. Father purposely spread a rumor in Entertainment District that there's a Holy Land... and it could be here."

Biglang suminghap si Kreios. "What if those rumors aren't meant to confuse? What if he just literally spread it and let creatures think that it was an absurd legend? Paano kung sinadya niyang isipin ng mga maghahanap na paraan niya lang iyon para lituhin sila?"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi ni Kreios. "What do you mean?"

Lumingon na rin sa akin si Rosh. "He wanted to inform every generation of women. He wanted them to dream— wish and pursue that mysterious water even if it is ridiculous to think. He wanted the rumors not to die down. The rumors are not meant to confuse but to remind the women that there's hope in this—" itinigil ni Rosh ang sasabihin niya at sabay-sabay kaming napalingon sa harapan namin.

To the empty hollow space with traces of water.

I bit my lower lips, and my eyes watered. Halinhinan ang tingin ko kina Kreios, Rosh at Pryor.

"T-the women from the Entertainment District told me..." I choke.

Nasapo ko na ang aking mukha habang sumisikip ang dibdib ko. "T-They told me that the Holy Land will never be find, because it will find you."

"Those women were wounded..." mahinang sabi ni Rosh.

"The power of the water from the Holy Land will heal them, not just from physical abuse, but emotional..." bulong ni Pryor.

My lips trembled and I looked at Kreios. "Those women... they didn't just escape. The Holy Land found them..."

"And with every woman who was sacrificed...you were deeply connected. No wonder why you were destined to be this empire's queen, Harper..." mahinang sabi ni Kreios.

Tumango ako sa kanya.

"Go, darling love..." he whispered inside my mind.

Hindi na ako nag-aksaya ng oras, agad akong tumalon sa ibaba at nagtungo ako sa gitna. Then I started to kneel and clasped my hands together.

Slowly, there were imaginary women around me— with different beauty, skin color, and hair— but with only similarity, their eyes with a glimpse of hope.

At first, I could count them, twenties, thirties, forties—until hundreds of women were kneeling around me. The hair on my nape stood when I glanced at them, they were smiling at me— nodding. My hands trembled, and tears continued to glide down my cheeks.

Because these women summoned the Holy Land by how I would summon it right now— no wonder why among my brothers and sister, father entrusted me with this mission.

Because just like these women, I could sing— like a performer they had to live in.

The moment I parted my lips and tilted my head up— the misty figures of women around me opened their mouths and followed my song like a prayer.