This story had been on-hold for a long time. A gentle reminder from the author to please re-read the story to familiarize yourself with the details before reading this update. Thank you!

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Chapter 8: Assessment

The second prince wants to be the king.

Kung narinig ko ito noong nasa village pa ako, iisipin kong nababaliw ang sino mang nagsabi nito. Prince Keegan is known to be vile, wicked, and selfish. Hindi iaasa ng mga tao ang buong kaharian sa kanya.

Pero kung ito ang hangarin niya at isa ako sa mga nagt-trabaho para sa kanya, ito ang magiging hangarin ko.

Kasalukuyan kong hinihintay si Hera sa isa sa mga kwarto sa Wicket Hall. Ngayong araw opisyal na magsisimula ang training ko bilang  isang sentry. I need a lot of polishing to do. My skill is as good as a rickety steel door covered in rust.

Pinagmasdan ko ang kwarto kung nasaan ako. Makikita ito sa underground ng Wicket Hall, the official residence of the second prince. Ilan lang ang pintong makikita sa madilim na corridor at isa ang kwartong ito sa likod ng makakapal na bakal na pinto.

There's nothing inside the room except for the cold stone wall and smooth stone floor. It's a gigantic empty room that can fit a hundred people inside. Hindi na ako magtataka na may ganitong klase ng estraktura sa loob ng palasyo. The Nightcourt basically consumes one third of the entire city of Epolla.

Ang mga nakita ko nitong mga nakaraang araw sa palasyo— the main castle building, the maze garden and courtyards, the dungeon— there  were nothing but scratch on the surface. Kung magtatagal ako sa lugar na ito, kailangan kong pag-aralan ang pasikot-sikot ng palasyo before I find myself lost in its nasty corners.

Bumukas ang bakal na pinto at pumasok si Hera. Pinagmasdan niya ang ayos ko. Suot ko ang isang itim na uniform tulad ng sa kanya— a comfortable fitted pants and black jacket-like top kung saan malaya akong nakakalagaw. There are also small pockets and compartments where one can sneak small weapons. Hera's long hair was in an a top knot while my short hair remained grazing my shoulders.

"You look prepared for a physical training," puna niya bago lumapit sa'kin.

"Kaya tayo nandito, hindi ba?" My voice echoed inside the empty room.

Kumunot ang kanyang noo sabay halukipkip ng mga braso. "May alam ka na ba sa mga kaya mong gawin for you to aim for a physical  training?"

I couldn't help the glare that shoot from my eyes. Then what are we doing here?

Hera placed one of her palms against the stone wall and exerted a small amount of force to push it. May kumalas mula sa batong pader at unti-unti itong gumalaw, revealing what seems to be a dim narrow corridor behind the wall.

Naglaho ang pag-aalinlangan ko dahil sa pagkabigla. Agad kong sinundan si Hera papasok sa makitid na corridor, into a hidden room inside the large empty training room.

A long glass table was occupying most of the space in the rectangular room where a gigantic map of the kingdom was spread beneath the  glass. Ilang silya ang nakapalibot sa mahabang mesa. Attached to the walls were the floor-to-ceiling shelves that housed hundreds of books  and paper scrolls. Some of the scrolls were spread open on the table where I can see the writings, tags, and pins of places I wasn't even familiar of.

Hera watched me marvel at the room's find details. "We call this the strategy room," she mentioned. "The other rooms are mainly to keep weapons."

She motioned for me to sit in one of the armed chair surrounding the table.

"Parte ba ito ng training?" tanong ko sa kanya. Hindi ko pa rin maiwasang mabahala. Are we not wasting time by dealing with things such as lectures?

"This is the most important part of the training."

Nanatili siyang nakatayo sa paanan ng mahabang mesa. Wala akong nagawa kundi ang umupo at sumunod. She's like a drill sergeant na binabantayan ang bawat kilos ko. Hera spread several paper scrolls on the long table.

"You look displeased. It only shows how you have no idea what you're up to."

Wala akong karapatang mainis sa sinabi niya dahil 'yon ang totoo. Wala akong alam sa kanilang ginagawa. I never bothered to know anything about the royals. The only thing I know is sentries exist to protect the royals.

Was I wrong?

Tila nabasa ni Hera ang tumatakbo sa isip ko. "Being a sentry isn't always about protecting the royals from physical harm and obvious threat to their security. We have Nightguards for that. Being a sentry is all about strategy."

The scrolls on the table contained details plans. Written on the paper were names of people, blueprints of different structures, actions taken. Ilan sa mga ito ay matagal nang natapos.

"Whatever the second prince's goals are, we make them happen," pagpapatuloy ni Hera. "That's why we're hired. Protecting the prince isn't our only duty. Parte lang ito ng mga bagay na kailangan nating gawin."

Tahimik kong pinagmasdan si Hera sa sulok ng aking paningin habang pinapakita niya sa'kin ang mga nakaraang plano na kanilang napagtagumpayan.

Hera... she knows what she's doing. She even looked dedicated and passionate about it. She's the type of person who will reach great highs by being a sentry.

To be the king.

Hindi ko naisip kung gaano kalayo ang gustong makamit ng pangalawang prinsipe. I swore my service to him because in my perspective, he's nothing but a royal who had no apparent care for the throne.

That was his image circulating in the kingdom. Mas madaling magtrabaho para sa mga tulad niya na walang pangarap o walang  gustong gawin sa buhay. Pero mukhang nagkamali ako. I bit more than I can chew.

"You need to learn the assessment of your skills," Hera told me. "Currently, you're in the lowest level when it comes to being a royal sentry."

"Level?" tanong ko.

Kumunot ang kanyang noo na tila inaasahan na dapat alam ko ang tungkol sa bagay na ito. Pero paano ko gagawin 'yon? That's some internal shit and I was only a civilian days ago.

"These levels are used to determine the mastery of one's ability," Hera said. "Naka-base din dito ang magiging rank mo bilang isang sentry sa loob ng palasyo."

Isang scroll ang binuksan niya at pinatong sa mesa. Laman nito ang ilang hindi pamilyar na mga salita at illustration. Tinuro ni Hera ang ilan sa mga ito.

"Neo-sentry. Most new sentries in the last five years belong in this category," she told me. "Arch-sentry. They usually have five years to a decade of experience. Night-sentries are the highest order of sentry. Madalas, sila ang nagsisilbi at pinagkakatiwalaan ng hari at reyna sa pamamalakad ng kaharian."

With her palms against the glass table, humarap nang tuluyan si Hera sa'kin.

"Kung napapansin mo, ang tradisyonal na basehan ng level ay kung gaano katagal ang isang sentry sa kanyang serbisyo. You won't last in this field if you're not skilled enough. Sentries with years of experience are people who have proved themselves to the Nightcourt, thus gaining the rank."

"Nasaan ka sa mga ito?" Hindi ko alam kung gaano na katagal si Hera sa serbisyo. Pero mukhang ilang taon lang ang agwat niya sa'kin. Maybe three years at most.

"Neo-sentry," sagot ni Hera. "I've been serving the second prince for two years along with Khino. Mukha lang siyang walang modo but he's the most skilled neo-sentry in the castle with five years worth of experience."

"Hindi ba dapat isa na siyang arch-sentry?"

"Most of his experiences came from growing up in the castle. Kung gugustuhin niya, maaari na siyang umakyat sa arch-sentry level. But arch-sentries usually serve the king, queen or the next in line for the throne. He remained loyal to the second prince kaya nanantili siya sa pagiging neo-sentry."

Khino... indeed he doesn't look like the part who have that kind of level. He appears too carefree to be a sentry. Kung tutuusin, mas nakakatakot ang pagiging istrikto ni Hera.

Pero kung totoo ang sinabi niya, hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit si Khino lang ang kasama ng pangalang prinsipe sa paglabas nito sa  palasyo ngayong araw. Normally, an entire entourage of sentries and guards accompany the royals whenever they leave the castle. But a  sentry with the skills of Khino must have been enough to protect the prince.

Pinagmasdan ko ang paper scroll na nakapatong sa mesa. "Saan ako sa mga 'yan?"

Pinagmasdan ako ni Hera na tila may sinabi akong nakakatawa. "A person in your level is closer to a civilian than a sentry. The title won't easily be vested to you just because you swore your loyalty to the prince."

Tumalikod siya sa'kin at may hinanap mula sa mga nakasalansan na scrolls sa shelves.

"You have to prove yourself before you gain the title. That's why we're rushing your training. Sa oras na malaman nila ito, they will make you join the competition."

Bumalik siya sa mesa at nilapag ang isa nanamang scroll. A a large name was plastered on it. The Annual Sentry Quest. Minsan ko nang narinig ang tungkol sa competition na ito. Isa ito sa pinakamalaking event sa Nightcourt na dinadaluhan ng mga maharlika mula sa iba't-ibang bayan.

It's where the royals screen the contenders through different test and combats where only the best ones can gain sponsorship and become sentries.

The possibility of joining already crossed my mind kahit noong nasa bayan pa ako. To join the competition for money. Dahil kahit hindi mapili bilang isang sentry, the nobles who are also spectator of the event, can hire contenders based on the skill they've showed during the competition.

Pero wala akong lakas ng loob noon. Wala akong alam sa kaya kong gawin. And meeting Hera, Khino, and other skilled sentries serving the royals, I'm glad I didn't push through with my foolish idea. Because I would die in this place.

Ilang pangalan ang nakita ko sa scroll. Listahan ito ng mga nanalo sa Quest at ngayon ay parte na ng Nightcourt. Isa sa mga nakalagay na pangalan mula sa competition three years ago ay ang pangalan ng taong kaharap ko.

Hera Huntington.

"You were part of it..." I murmured.

"Of course," she commented. "Lahat ay dumaan sa competition na ito bago makapasok sa Nightcourt. You're one of the rare few who came from a strange circumstances."

"Kahit si Khino?" tanong ko.

"Coming from a long serving sentry family doesn't make you exempted from the competition," paliwanag ni Hera. "As far as I'm aware of, maaga siyang sumali dito. Siya ang pinaka-batang contender sa taong 'yon but he topped the men's division."

Unti-unti akong nac-curious kung ano ang kayang gawin ni Khino at Hera. Everything I know about their abilities so far were from mere observation and conversations. And looking at Hera, siguradong isa din siya sa mga nanguna sa competition.

Ito ang hindi ko maintindihan. With their skill, they have the power to choose any path and they chose to serve the royals. Pero sino ba ako para manghusga? I chose the same path they're walking on out of desperation.

I needed it. I had to stomach it.

For the entire day, Hera had been frustrated about me having no idea of what my skill can do. Compared to them who trained and regarded their skills as something to be sought-after by the royals, my entire life, I was taught to conceal it.

"It's nothing but a rusty dagger at this point."

Hindi napigilan ni Hera magbuntong-hininga. She's right. Sa level na meron ako ngayon, kahit ako magtataka kung bakit tinanggap ng pangalawang prinsipe ang alok kong maging sentry. I'm starting to think it's for his amusement.

"At least, Khino's initial assessment was right," Hera finally said. "You can control other people's ability for a limited time and in the expense  of your entire strength."

It took a moment before I was able to answer. "I don't think control is  the right term," I told her. "I just steal abilities for a few seconds to save myself from danger."

Buong araw nang hindi maipinta ang mukha ni Hera kaya nabigla ako nang makita ang maliit na ngiti sa labi niya sa salitang ginamit ko. "Steal, huh? Kaya ba madali kang nakapasok sa loob ng palasyo noong gabing 'yon?"

Madali?

The things I experienced that night was far from easy. If not for my desperation, I would have died in that very dungeon they locked me into. I faced death and stared at it right in the eyes.

But I was also aware that everything is operated by magic in this castle. We were all taught since we were young that magic is an expensive commodity only royals and nobles can afford. For their security, for their convenience. That's how the system works here. From the electricity lightning up the entire, the stone walls and barriers surrounding the Nightcourt, and the skills of the guards in the dungeon I stole and use against them.

Pinaliwanag ko ang lahat ng ito kay Hera. Kung paano ko nagawang makapasok sa palasyo noong gabing 'yon. Muling sumilay ang ngiti sa labi niya.

"You're indeed a thief." I would rather hear that word from someone like Hera who made it sound like a compliment. "Hindi nakapagtataka bakit tinanggap ka ng pangalawang prinsipe."

Sana totoo ang sinabi niya... na may dahilan kung bakit niya ako tinanggap. Because someone like Prince Keegan can easily dispose of me if he finds me useless.

"You have the potential to be a worthy sentry but your ability has  several weaknesses."

Pinaliwanag ni Hera ang tungkol dito sa paraan na madali kong maiintindihan. According to her, my ability can only be parallel to my physical strength.

"What you can steal heavily relies on what you can control," she told  me. "Maging si Khino, ito ang nadiskobreng kahinaan mo. You're good at controlling static energies like electricity and security barriers because they don't have restraining power to fight back. But once you deal with people who have skills more than what you can handle, you'll die even before you can steal from them."

Morbid. Pero ito ang eksaktong mangyayari kung walang pagbabago sa aking kakayahan. I'm a ticking time bomb in this place just waiting to explode.

"Ito ang magiging focus natin sa mga susunod na araw." Tuluyang tinatapos ni Hera ang lecture na nagtagal ng buong araw. "To strengthen you up so you can steal anything... and from anyone."

Sa unang pagkakataon, isang bagay ang hindi ko inaasahang makita mula sa kanyang mga mata. It's the anticipation. Tila ba maging siya gustong malaman kung hanggang saan ako magtatagal.

But the anticipation for the detailed and well-planned training was short-lived. Noong hapong 'yon, pagbalik namin sa drawing room sa itaas na palalag, ilang ingay ang narinig namin mula sa main door ng Wicked Hall.

"Open the door. It's the Nightguards!" one of them hollered.

Natigilan si Hera sa aking tabi. Maging siya ay hindi nakagalaw. Bumadya ang hindi maipintang expresyon sa kanyang mukha. "Shit,"  she cursed under her breath. "Wala ang pangalawang prinsipe at si Khino ngayon."

"May problema ba?" tanong ko.

Mukhang may hindi magandang mangyayari. Patuloy sa marahas na pagkatok sa pinto ang mga guwardiya. Hera gritted her teeth before facing me.

"They normally turned a blind eye on whatever act the second prince pulls inside the castle. Pero mukhang nalaman na nila ang tungkol sa'yo."

Huminga si Hera nang malalim upang ibalik ang pagiging kalmado niya. She clasped both of her palms before facing the rattling door.  Mahinahon niya itong binuksan.

"You are not allowed to wander into the Wicked Hall without the second prince's permission."

Nanatili akong ilang hakbang ang layo mula sa pintuan. Lalo akong humanga kay Hera dahil halos doble ng laki niya ang dalawang Nightguard sa kanyang harapan.

"Kailangan naming dalhin ang babaeng criminal sa Nightcourt."

Napansin ko ang muling pagkuyom ng palad ni Hera. "The criminal you're referring to is now a sentry of the second prince. Kailangang ipaalam muna ito sa kanya--"

"This is the Queen's order."

Tuluyang hindi nakapagsalita si Hera. The severity of the situation dawned on me. Hindi maaaring pumasok nang tuluyan ang dalawang guwardiya sa loob ng Wicked Hall kaya nanatili silang naghihintay sa paanan ng pinto.

Ipinaalam ni Hera na kailangan niyang sumama pero maging ito ay kanilang tinanggihan. I could feel Hera seething in anger a few steps  from me. Pero ano nga ba ang magagawa ng mga tulad namin kung utos ng reyna ang pinag-uusapan?

I walked to the door. "Babalik ako," I told Hera before the guards dragged me out.

The two burly Nightguards dragged me out of the outbuilding like I'm nothing but a rag. Doon bumalik sa'kin kung ano ako sa palasyo. Isa parin akong kriminal sa kanilang paningin. Even if I swore my loyalty and alliance to the second prince, I needed to gain the title before becoming one of the sentries.

Malayo ang main castle mula sa Wicked Hall na makikita sa pinaka-dulong bahagi ng Nightcourt. Kung hindi lang nakatira dito ang pangalawang prinsipe, iisipin ng sino man na isa itong abandunadong estraktura. It's far from the glory of the Nightcourt. But one can be easily be blinded by its radiance.

Hindi ko napigilang dumaing dahil sa marahas paghila nila sa braso at balikat ko. I was no longer aware of my steps while the courtyard and  garden passed before my cloudy gaze. The only thing consuming me was the searing pain from their hold.

Kinaladkad nila ako hanggang sa makarating kami sa loob ng isa sa mga hall ng Nightcourt. Nawala ang liwanag mula sa labas at napalitan ng gintong liwanag mula sa mga nakasabit na crystal chandeliers sa dome ceiling.

Bumalik ang kaba at takot sa sistema ko tulad noong gabing tumapak ako sa Nightcourt. It's still early afternoon pero naninikip ang aking dibdib sa alaala ng gabing 'yon.

Pabalya nila akong binitawan sa harapan ng dalawang nakasaradong pintuan. "Hintayin mong tawagin ka sa loob," sabi ng isa sa mga guwardiya.

Lumayo sila sa'kin ng ilang hakbang at bumalik sa station nila sa hallway kung saan sila ang taga-bantay. Naiwan akong mag-isa sa tapat ng pamilyar na pintuan. The room beyond that door was the throne room. Alam ko dahil dito ginanap ang pagtitipon noong gabing 'yon. Dito ko nakita sa unang pagkakataon ang mga namumuno sa kahariang ito.

Lumipas ang kalahating oras bago ako pinatawag sa loob. Muli akong kinaladkad ng dalawang guwardiya papasok sa pinto habang nakapatong ang isang palad nila sa aking ulo upang pwersahin akong yumuko. I could only witness things from the corner of my eyes. The wide empty hall, the intricate carvings of vines and flowers on the walls, the thick carpeted floor under the soles of my shoes, and the smell. It's a distinct combination of flowers and metals.

Nakayuko ako sa harapan ng trono ng reyna with my eyes directed at the floor. Siya lang ang nasa hall at nakaupo sa kanyang trono noong oras na 'yon. But the fear the scene incited in me remained the same. Nasa harapan ako ng taong kayang gawin ang ano mang bagay at wala akong magagawa kundi ang tanggapin ito.

May kausap siyang tao sa kanyang tabi habang nanatili ako sa harapan niya. Walang pagmamadali sa kanyang kilos kahit matagal ng oras ang lumipas mula noong pinatawag niya ako. Hindi ko mapigilang silipin siya mula sa sulok ng aking paningin. The thrones beside her were all empty. But she remained regal with a thick long gown with the bold color of red and gold.

Dumako ang paningin ko sa koronang nakapatong sa kanyang ulo. The distinct red stone glistened from the gold metal of the crown. It's so close I could touch it. Kung mahahawakan ko ito, kung makukuha ko lang ito, matatapos ang lahat. I no longer have to serve anyone. I no longer have to be in the Nightcourt. I could save my grandmother through this stone and go back to the village.

But I failed.

"Narinig ko ang tungkol dito."

Kausap pa rin ng reyna ang taong nakatayo sa tabi ng kanyang trono.  Ang boses niya, ngayon ko lang narinig ito nang malapitan. The voice that holds ownership over every live in the entire kingdom. An authoritative and stern voice.

One of the Nightguards tipped my head up, just enough for the Queen to have a look at my face. Pinagmasdan niya akong mabuti mula ulo hanggang paa.

"He's really doing anything to infuriate the family these days."

Ang taong nakatayo sa kanyang tabi... hindi ko matignan. That's the same man who nearly killed me in the dungeon. The one with a magic so powerful I could feel it sipping into my bones without any strength to stole it.

"A random criminal, really?" The queen placed a delicate hand on her forehead before breathing a sigh. Walang pag-aalinlangan ang sumunod niyang salita. "Dispose of her."

What?

Tila binuhusan ako ng nagyeyelong tubig. Pilit akong umalis mula sa pagkakahawak ng dalawang guwardiya. Pinagmasdan ko ang reyna. "Your highness--"

But she was no longer facing me.

"Mahal na reyna," mahinahon na sabi ng taong nasa kanyang tabi. "Maaaring magkaroon tayo ng problema sa pangalang prinsipe kung hindi ito ipapaalam--"

"You heard my order," tanging sabi ng reyna. "Who knows what she can cause in this place. I doubt the second prince checked the background of this criminal before accepting her. She could be a spy plotted by the rebels into the Nightcourt."

Muli siyang napahawak sa kanyang sintido na tila sakit lamang ng ulo ang dulot ng usapang ito... na tila hindi niya pinag-utos na kumitil ng isang buhay.

"I wouldn't want to ruin the Nightcourt's security just because the second prince brought in a new toy. She's a criminal who messed with the castle's security. Dispose of her."

Nanginginig ang buo kong katawan. This... no... this isn't what's supposed to happen. I didn't crawl from death to only come this far.  And these people... who are they to decide of someone's fate just because of the crowns in their heads?

Clasping my trembling hands, I removed myself from bowing. Tinitigan ko ang reyna sa kanyang mga mata. Bahagyang kumunot ang kanyang noo nang muling makita ang aking mukha. On her face was an impersonal expression regarding me as nothing but a thing she can dispose of.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo?!"

Two guards grabbed the back of my head and forced my entire body against the floor. Nasubsob ako sa sahig forcing me to lower my head once again. I greeted my teeth, silently seething in anger. Akala ko noon ang bayan ang pinaka-delikadong lugar sa buong kaharian. Nagkamali ako. In the village I can still be who I am. But in this place, I'm nothing but an insect.

"Bring her back to the dungeon and dispose of her quietly," muling sabi ng reyna. "I don't want people talking how a lowly criminal was able to step into the castle."

The queen was already preparing for her next engagement... like my life was nothing but a short agenda in her day. Muli akong kinaladkad  ng dalawang guwardiya paalis sa harapan ng reyna. Pero hindi ako natinag.

Muli ko siyang tinitigan sa mga mata kahit halos mabali ang leeg ko  dahil pilit akong pinayuyuko ng dalawang guwardiya. In my head was a certain thought— the clearest thought I've ever had since I came into this place.

Your highness, that crown in your head... I'm going to steal it from you.

The side of my head hit the floor for the second time. My entire body rattled from the impact. I gasped for air and tasted metallic blood from my mouth. The guards had their palms against my head and their entire body against my back.

Hindi ako makahinga. Their heavy bodies were cutting the air circulation from my chest like I'm being squeezed by heavy walls. Will they be able to kill me in this very spot if the queen permits?

"What are you doing to my sentry?"

Isang pamilyar na boses ang aking narinig. I tried to look beyond the palms squeezing my head against the floor. Someone was standing by the wide open double door. He stepped inside the hall with apparent distaste and annoyance on his angular face. Sinundan siya ni Khino at Hera papasok sa hall.

Naramdaman ko ang bahagyang pag-kalas ng pagkakahawak sa'kin ng dalawang guwardiya as if the words of Prince Keegan holds the same amount of power as the Queen's.

Pero hindi pa ako tuluyang makatayo. Their hands remained ceasing me. I was only able to kneel against the floor. Nanatili ang reyna sa kanyang trono, pinagmamasdan ang lahat. Sa kanyang mukha ay iritasyon na hindi maitago.

Prince Keegan faced the Queen's throne but his words were directed at me.

"You're not supposed to kneel in front of anyone but me."

***