Third Person

Kane balled his fist when he entered the abandoned warehouse in the middle of Ravenburgh's deep part of the forest. Pagpasok niya'y bumungad sa kaniya ang tatlong kariton na pamilyar sa kanya. The wagon has Ashfell's insignia which signifies that the property inside it was owned by his region. 

Kane just lost the caravan of wagons that contained hundreds of weapons and armories. They said it was ransacked by the outlaws, and he wanted to investigate it personally. And this is where his investigations lead him. 

Tinitigan niya lang ang kariton na mayroong nakatambon na mga dayami. Inikot niya ang paningin niya sa loob ng abandonadong warehouse at hindi niya maiwasang mapasinghal sa kawalan. It was abandoned, yet it was so clean. There was no pecs of dust or even cobwebs around as if it was thoroughly prepared. 

He wished he was wrong, but when he opened the wagon and found the weapons and armories he lost inside, he couldn't help but to feel betrayed. Reed has the most numbers of military forces in the Westeria. He got skilled warriors and trained war horses, all he needs were strong weapons. 

But it never crossed his mind that he would be scheming behind him. They were supposed to do an exchange in the weapons and war horses, and they have been anticipating each other's cooperation regarding this matter. But that incident happened and he was not able to provide for their agreement. 

"What would he get from doing it?" He asked himself. 

And it downed into him that if Reed wanted more weapons and armories, he could just falsify and play an act as if it was stolen by someone else. He could act as a disappointed victim where in fact the outlaws who stole it were his men. 

Reed knew very well  he would make up for it and would eventually do every methods he can to provide even if it's gonna be months late.  In that case, he will get double amount of the weapons. 

"So this is how you're gonna play it?" He chuckled as he lit a small flame in his hand. 

He knew Reed had a greedy nature, but he never thought it would be this worse. Did he actually thought he would let it go like nothing happened? Well, he's mistaken. No one messes with him and have their way with it. 

"Warriors. War Horses. Weapons and armories. Are you planning for rebellion, Reed?" Bulalas ni Kane habang may kakaibang ngisi sa labi.

Lumabas siya ng abandonadong warehouse at walang pag-aalinlangang sinilaban ito ng apoy. Reed started this himself, and he would not back down either. As an Archon, it look's like he's declaring war against him and his region. There's one thing that he must make Reed realize. 

The finest steel has to go through the hottest fire. 

*♛♚♛༊*·˚

𝐗𝐈𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐀 moved her fingers. She can feel her body laying on something soft with an unfamiliar hand holding hers. Kumunot ang noo niya nang maalala kung ano ang nangyari sa kaniya. She probably passed out due to fatigue and hunger. That son of a bitch wasn't lenient towards her, and didn't even feed her.

Remembering what pain she went through, she opened her eyes only to find a man lying beside him holding her hand as if his life depends on it. Xiomara tilt her head and lean in to take a closer look. Mahina itong napasinghap nang makilala kung sino ito. 

When she roamed her eyes, that's when she figured out she has returned home. Pero paano? At paanong narito si Alec sa loob ng silid niya? What in the world happened when she passed out? 

Akmang bubulyawan na niya si Alec nang makita ang maamo nitong mukha na tila ba sarap na sarap sa pagtulog habang hawak ang kamay niya. She want to yell at him for being away when she was facing death. Ano pa ang silbi ng pagiging knight niya kung wala naman ito noong mga panahong kinakailangan niya. Ni hindi niya nga alam kung saang lupalop ito napunta. 

Seeing him this close, she couldn't help but to appreciate how blessed this man is in terms of his appearance. Her eyes traced the thickness of his eyebrows down to his aristocratic nose and ivory lips. Dumako naman ang tingin niya sa perpekto nitong bagang na para bang gusto niya makitang tumatagis. 

How can someone as handsome as this is only a fictional character? 

She just shakes her head. Ibinalik niya ang pansin niya kay Alec. Suddenly, she noticed his face grimaced. Nabahiran ng pagtataka ang mukha ng dalaga nang makitang tila ba nanaginip ng masama ang binata. Umigting ang panga nito't biglang humigpit ang pagkakahawak sa kamay niya.

Xiomara hissed when she felt the tightness of his grip on her right hand. She extended her free hand and was about to touch his hair to wake him up when Alec opened his eyes and immediately pinned her down. 

Gulat siyang napatingala sa binata. He was pinning her left wrist on the bed with his left knee in between her legs. Alerto ang mukha nito, and his eyes were fierce as if he was ready to pierce anyone with his blade. Xiomara could feel his heavy breath as she could feel her own heartbeat going berserk over his sudden reflexes. 

What is he gonna do? 

Matagal na nagkatitigan ang mga ito. As she thought, maybe he had a nightmare and someone's trying to harm him. Seeing him acting like this the moment he wakes up, maybe she's right. Instead of reacting differently, Xiomara gave him a blank stare as if his murder intent doesn't scare her a bit. 

"If I were you, I'll get myself together before I lose my limbs." Pambabanta nitong wika sa binata. 

Alec's eyes went soft. Dali-dali itong umalis mula sa pagkakaibabaw sa dalaga at biglang umiwas ng tingin. Tumayo ito sa kaniyang harapan at biglang yumuko upang humingi ng tawad sa kapangahasang ginawa nito. 

"Kneel." Napaangat ng tingin si Alec. 

"I don't like to repeat myself. On your knees, now." Alec had no choice but to obey her. Lumuhod ito sa kaniyang harapan samantalang nakaupo naman sa kama ang dilag habang nakadekwatro. 

"Say, what am I supposed to do with a person who neglects his duties and responsibilities?" The moment she said that, he knew she was talking about him. 

As her knight, he should stay beside her and protect her with her life, but at the time she needed him, she was nowhere to be found. He was busy burning Imp Weeds in the forest, and he didn't thought she would be fearless enough to journey alone to Terrasierra without waiting for him. 

"What should I do, Alec?" Her voice. Her voice sounded sweet and modest as he ask him, but there's something different in her tone that he could not decipher. 

"Punish the person." Diretso niyang sagot dito. Xiomara lift her hand to touch his chin. Nakangisi ito sa kaniya na para bang may kakaibang bagay na naglalaro sa isip nito. 

"How should I punish you then?" He was dazzled by her question. She will personally punish him? That would be a great honor on his side. 

Imagine being punished by a person who they labeled as a weak and fragile woman. His mistress is a yandare. And goddamn it, it gives him excitement down every fiber of his being.

"I want you. . ." Halos hindi na huminga ang binata nang i-angat ng dalaga ang ibabang bahagi ng kauotan niya, dahilan upang makita niya ang makinis at maputi nitong binti.

". . . to kiss my leg and apologize." Alec gasped at the thought.

"May I beg your-"

"Then beg, Alec." He bit his lower lip. 

Fuck.

Tinitigan niya ito sa mata sa pagbabakasakaling nagbibiro lang ito pero nagkamali siya. Seeing her sharp gaze at him, she was dead serious. 

Alec couldn't help but to feel astounded with her demeanor. Is this how the Glacial Archon shows her dominance over her people? 

Inilapit ng dalaga ang kaliwang binti nito sa nakaluhod na binata kaya naman walang ibang nagawa si Alec. He held her right leg and gently kissed it. He felt how her body went stiffed for a moment as if she was out of breath. Hindi niya alam kung namamalikmata lang siya pero nang umangat ang tingin niya upang tingnan ang reaksyon nito'y nakita niya ang pamumula ng mukha nito.

"I apologize for leaving you, my mistress." Namumungay mata nitong wika. 

Xiomara on the other hand felt her face heating up. She didn't do that because she wanted to, she just needs to establish superiority. Alec's been acting so cheeky even when he confronted on killing her the first time they met. She just wants him to realize how his life was under her control. 

Xiomara cleared her throat and tried to control herself from embarrassment. That was a bold act, she couldn't even believe she did that. But anyway, moving on. . .

"Tell me what happened, and most importantly, who brought me here?" Binawi nito ang kaniyang binti sa binata at umayos ng upo. 

"I. . . I was running an errand that's why I left early in the morning." Lie. That was half lie. He did ran an errand but it was for another purposes. 

"It never crossed my mind you will not wait for my return. My mistress is so impatient." He let out an inaudible chuckle, and that did not escaped from Xiomara's ears. 

"I was looking for you everywhere in the Evergreen Forest, then I went to the Town Square where I found your face all over the announcement boards," pagsasalaysay nito na siyang ikinatango-tango ng dalaga. 

"I heard the guards escorted a woman who looks like the wanted criminal, I knew it was you so I infiltrated the palace and look for you. However, I could find you." Xiomara could feel how disappointed he is for failing to find and protect her. 

"And then I found you, but I was too late." He clenched his fist like he just remembered something that instantly made him fuming mad in anger. 

"You were lying unconscious outside the town outskirts." Xiomara's forehead knotted. 

"Hindi ba ikaw ang nagligtas sa akin?" Alec gave her a confuse face. 

"What do you mean? I found you on the outskirts while the whole town of TerraSierra was burning into shreds." 

Nagulumihan naman ang dalaga. As far as she can remember, bago siya mawalan ng malay ay natatandaan niyang may lalaking nagligtas sa kaniya. He even asked who did such thing to her. He carried her on his arms while everything was burning around them. 

If that wasn't Alec, then who the hell is that man? 

"Mistress?" Umiling si Xiomara nang may maalala siya. She shouldn't be worrying about that right now. What's more important is her brother. 

"Nasaan ang kapatid ko?" Akmang tatayo na ito nang pigilan siya ni Alec. 

"Ligtas na ang kapatid mo." 

Ligtas? Sage never gave her the antidote. How the hell did he managed to live and survive? Things aren't making some sense anymore!

"He's alive? How? Who gave him the antidote? I need to see him!" Saktong may kumatok sa pinto niya kaya naman napatingin siya roon. 

Alec stood up from kneeling and opened the door. Pagbukas nito'y iniluwa mula roon si Noe na mukhang balisa. 

"Noe, what happened to my brother? Is he safe? How's his health?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong dito. 

"Greetings to the Glacial Arch-" 

"Answer me!" Atat nitong atugal na siyang ikinagulat ni Noe. He never saw her agitated like that. 

"He was cured by a local physician, your highness." Parang nabunutan naman ng tinik si Xiomara nang makumpirma na totoo ang sinasabi ni Alec.

"He only regained 1/4 of his mana and as soon as he woke up and saw your condition he left and went to Terrasierra in so much haste." Napasapo na lang ng noo ang dalaga. Knowing how protective he is, seeing his sister with many wounds and bruises will instantly make him mad. 

"That's why I'm here, I'd like her highness to please stop him. I've never seen him so furious all my life." Ngisi lang ang naging sagot ni Xiomara na siyang ikinaamang ni Noe. 

Smirk? How can she smirk when her brother is about to murder the Terra Archon's brother? Noe thought to himself while looking at her reaction. 

"Let him. As his dear ol' friend, you knew him better than anyone else. His anger can only be satiated with blood. No one can stop him until he's satisfied." Nagtanginan naman si Noe saka Alec. 

Sage, that bastard. She needs to get even with him. Although it may seem like she's using her brother's emotion to avenge her, she couldn't care less. She doesn't have enough mana to even defend herself, so she'll use people as her tools. 

Napatakip ng bibig si Xiomara. Did she just say use people as her tools? She sounds like an evil maniac obsessed with manipulating people. She's Xiomara Serai Glazedale, the heroine of her story. She should always be righteous and kind. She shouldn't be thinking that way. 

*♛♚♛༊*·˚

𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐄, Terrasierra was in chaos after the wildfire that devoured almost half of the region's vegetation. Their homes were burned, the forest, the animals, even the people. No one escaped unscathed from the cruelty of that man. 

They did not just lose the lives of their loved ones, but also their way and source of living. Even their riverine waters had dried out due to the heat of the fire. The people of Terrasierra screamed for their Archon's help as they were suffering from hunger and commodity. From this day on, they will suffer from scarcity. They will never have the same import of goods and services from the other regions. 

The whole Westeria will be starved. 

"Your Highness!" The Terra Archon opened her eyes when she heard one of her trusted knights called her. 

"The Holy Priest has arrived!" Umayos naman ito ng upo. 

"Let him in." 

The huge door of the Throne Hall opened, and an old man came in. He was wearing a plain white robe with a small smile on his face. He bowed," Greetings to the Terra Archon." He greeted. 

"You may rise." The old man look at the woman in front of her. 

She's but a beautiful and wise ruler with emerald eyes. The way she sit on her throne was so elegant and demure. Her emerald crown fitted her royal dress embroidered with silver and jade gems. 

"What do I owe the Archon the favor?" Magalang nitong tanong sa dilag. 

"I tried reviving the land with my power, however, due to my spiritual core being damaged, my mana is temporarily limited. Which means I could not repair the land as soon as possible. What do you suppose I should do in this situation?" The priest bowed his head beforehand. 

"I'm afraid it would cost my life if I gave you my thoughts, your highness." Kaagad naman na umiling ang Arkon. 

"No. You are free to talk as you please. You got my word." She assured him. 

"Then, I shall talk, your highness." Tumango naman bilang pagsang-ayon ang dalaga. 

"His highness committed a grave mistake by harming the Glacial Archon. It seems that the Ancient Goddess was enraged and she punished our land by bringing this calamity that would not just affect the livelihood of our region, but also to Westeria itself." Napasapo na lang ng noo si Emerald. 

After knowing the truth of how stupid his brother his, she wanted to kill him. How could he put the Glacial Archon's life in the harms way without proper conviction? The Clan of Lionheart fights for justice and yet he proved them wrong. Declaring a person a criminal without proper evidences, planning an execution without even giving her the chance to prove her innocence. That's not justice but pure bullshit. Whenever she thinks about it, it gives her courage to beat him to pulp.

"I was aware of my brother's foolishness. Is there a way to appease the Ancient Goddess' anger?" Dahil sa winika ng Arkon ay lihim na napangisi ang baylan. 

"I have received an oracle from the Ancient Goddess before I went here, but I'm afraid what she asks for as a punishment will be heavy for her highness." Emerald's eyes glimmered with pride. 

Heavy for her? She's a woman and she's a ruler. She'd been though a lot of hardships and difficulties. What's heavy? Being a woman enough is a burden for her. 

"You may speak about the oracle, Holy Priest." 

"Then I shall tell, your highness." The priest closed his eyes and a small light from his hand appeared. 

"On the 13th day, under the twinned moon in the sky, the Judgement of Fulmination shall be summoned, and the sinner must take 51 strikes of lighting to appease the Ancient Goddess' anger." Napakurap-kurap ang Arkon. 

Fifty-one strikes of lighting? Can he even take it? Taking the Judgement of Fulmination could cost his spiritual core damaged, or worse, it could kill him. 

But she hand no choice. She hasn't fully recovered yet. It would take her months before she can use her powers in full potential and revive the land in just a snap. In her condition, she could only exhaust herself by reviving a one hectare land. She couldn't take the risk of putting her people in starvation and losing trades and bargains to other regions. 

"If that would subdue the Ancient Goddess' anger, then I shall comply." Diterminado nitong sagot. 

In either way, her brother deserves a punishment. She will never tolerate someone who is so full of injustices. She'll just have to make sure he'll survive then. 

"You may take your leave. Please take this as a token of appreciation, your holiness." Emerald then gave him a green apple. It wasn't a simple fruit, but it was a fruit of youth that would turn anyone into their youngselves if they ate it. 

"You're most welcome, your highness." The Holy Priest bowed his head and left the Throne Hall as the knights accompanied him. 

As soon as the palace gates closed, a tricky smile escaped from the old priest's lips. He raised the apple at the level of his face and watched how its green color changed into red. Just then, the old man's face changed into a young man. He was wearing a black robe and thick cloak embroidered in gold that compliments the mask in his face. 

Isang matagumpay na ngisi ang muling namutawi sa labi niya lalo na't lahat ng bagay ay umaayon sa plano niya. Everything he was doing was going against the storyline of the book he read. 

He refuses to be that villain of that story. The villain who had fallen because of love, the most non-existent thing in the world. 

G O L U C K Y C H A R M