It was already almost midnight when a convoy arrived in the grounds of Petang Asol. Noises from the car engines and headlights awoken the town's residents.
Although the office hours are long over, the mayor of Petang Asol made haste to welcome his important guests. It will be the first time for Petang Asol to be the venue of the Council. It was a great relief for the mayor of Caliphagay, that this time, he is not tasked to please the true powers of the region. The burden unfortunately fell to the mayor of the humble town of Petang Asol.
It may sound burdensome, but if the mayor does this well and garner the good graces of the Clan, then he might get their support during the next election.
It was late, and most of the people in the convoy lack sleep most especially Ziron Kandas' group. However, proper decorum dictates that they show their respect to the political leader of the town. After greeting them, the mayor then asked some of his house servants to show the guests to their rooms in his humble home.
He had already prepared the rooms after he was told that some of the members of the Clan will be arriving late due to unmentioned reasons and that it would be wise if he offers the best of his house's rooms as a transient for the clan members to sleep for only tonight as by tomorrow, all of them will be heading to the venue of The Council of Elders, the Great Hall of Petang Asol.
The mayor made sure to welcome his guests by offering to the fatigued people what Petang Asol was famous for, its hot springs. Every home in the town of Petang Asol has a pool of hot spring in the front or back yard or inside the shower room. Some were simple pools; some were carved to look naturally and there were those that were extravagantly designed. One such lavish pool was found in one of the luxurious inns beside the Great Hall.
There was steam around the pool of sulfuric water where two young women were in. Both women's cheeks flushed as the warm water impede their skins. The oldest of the two had waist-long, wavy hair. She was taller and slender than the younger one who, in contrast had shoulder length hair. With one glance, one can see that the taller woman had the sweet charm while the younger one had the intimidating beauty.
Their leisurely time was disturbed when another one barged in suddenly and clumsily jumped in, splashing the water everywhere.
"Galiya!" one of the young women shouted, "Why do you have to be so annoying!"
The childish person laughed, "That is for leaving me behind Ayna!"
Ayna, stood up. She wanted to drill some seriousness on her mischievous younger sister, but Galiya went and ran to seek protection from the other woman.
Ayna, knowing her sister's intentions shouted, "Gendle! Don't defend that one this time. You must not spoil her!"
Gendle laughed with that charming laugh of hers and replied, "But I am not the older sister that should be disciplining her. Besides, I do feel guilty leaving Galiya behind."
Galiya once again won this round. She put out her tongue teasingly and Ayna was only able to sigh.
Gendle laughed seeing the faces of her friends. Although Ayna and Galiya seem to always fight, truthfully, these two have a bond. A bond born from being oppressed by their own clan for having the non-gifted eldest son as their father and for being merely members of the female population.
Arman Pakjawan was not supposed to be the heir of his sub-clan. He was the youngest of two. However, his eldest brother, Casius, the supposed heir did not have a gift. Arman then rejoiced as their father decided that the Pakjawan needs a summoner if they ever wanted to stay on par with the Kandas. The eldest was forced to step down and kneel to his younger brother.
Then, Arman was even more accepted by the whole Pakjawan subclan because he had born a son who will take his position while Casius, yet again was a disappointment, as he bore two daughters instead. Since then, Arman and the rest of the members of the sub-clan of Pakjawan has looked down upon the House of Casius.
Gendle's father was also looked down upon by the Pakjawan and Kandas. The Pas-ang don't really have any power, they merely function as mediator between the two. These family affairs might be the reason why Gendle and her twin brother became close with these pair of siblings.
Although these siblings are eight years apart, you will know at first glance that they share the same parents. Galiya was good at irritating her mature, older sister but she idolizes her a lot to the point that she would copy Ayna as much as possible: her hairstyle, the way she dresses, the brands of her shoes & bags, and she would rather hang-out with her sister's friends rather than kids around her age.
"I thought you were already asleep. So, I didn't wake you up." Ayna explained.
"I was. But I heard someone arriving. Honestly, the walls in my room are so thin that I can hear a whisper from the next room!" Galiya explained.
Gendle intrigued by what Galiya said voiced out, "But its late…oh wait…maybe the others arrived already. I was told that something dangerous happened to Elder Ziron and his companions on the way here and that even the three Calpo's had to help."
"Is that so." Ayna contemplated, "I wonder if Emy is involved too. I hope that girl's alright."
Gendle nodded in agreement.
"Hey, hey, you know I heard some people talking that the other twin is coming too. What was her name, I forgot…." Galiya interrupted.
Gendle answered, "Jade?"
"Yeah. That one."
Upon hearing the name, Ayna was surprised, "Isn't she the one with the heart problem?"
Her younger sister nodded. Galiya was ecstatic that she was leading the conversation. She continued to gossip, " I also heard that the Kandas found Selena's grandson."
"Huh?" Ayna once again surprised, "She had a child?"
Gendle commented, "It wouldn't be a surprise though?"
Ayna did not comment. Selana's love affair was an old gossip that they heard among the old men and women at parties when they were children. For romantic women like Ayna and Gendle, Selena's faithful love with her 'normal' lover was a romantic novel come true.
After half an hour more, the trio decided to end their leisurely time and head-back to their rooms. Gendle stood first, and the two younger women were awed by how the woman's body was captivating. Her long wavy hair arranged so innocently, covering her curves. They were of the same gender but Ayna and Galiya blushed in embarrassment knowing that their own bodies pale in comparison from Gendle's.
Just before they went in the elevator that led to the floors of their suits, they saw people come in through the door leading to the inn's lounge.
"Gerson!" Gendle called out. Seeing the exhausted face of her twin brother made her call his name out loud.
Although his name was the only one called out, the people behind Gerson looked at Gendle as well. Luther and Rue, who were behind Gerson, would always think how these pair of twins would look so much alike. Gendle was really a female version of her handsome and gentle twin brother, Gerson. Except for the hair length, the presence of an adam's apple, and Gerson's spectacles, anyone could immediately see that they are twins.
Multiple births are not rare within the clans. Frequent intermarriage has passed down the genes of being able to bear twins. Take for Emerald and Jade as an example. Besides the previous mentioned two, this pair of twin: Gerson and Gendle Pas-ang, stand out because besides being attractive, both were born with the gift. In the clan's existing history, it was rare for both twins to be born with the gift.
"Why are you still awake at this hour?" Gerson took few strands of Gendle's wet hair, "You really had to soak in the springs this late at night?"
Gendle smiled and commented, "It would help in sleeping well. The three of you look so tired, you might as well go to the springs."
She was referring not only to her twin brother, but also to Rue and Luther who went to help Elder Ziron.
Before anyone of the three could reply, an arrogant voice came from the people sitting on the lounge's couches, "I doubt that you were able to help there.". To add in the insult, there were chuckles that followed.
There was another group of people who spent their leisurely time, not in the relaxing hot springs, but in the inn's lounge with some booze.
"Perhaps so." Luther replied in contempt, "Bryan, while your kin was in danger you decided to stay here and drink. At least Gerson came to represent Pas-ang's loyalty." His eyes gazed at the young man in casual clothes who sat boastfully in the lounge's couch.
Bryan only grinned and the one who re-butted was the tan skinned woman who was sitting beside him, "Why don't you condemn those behind you? As I know, the house of Casius Pakjawan's loyalty went down the drains when their daughters soaked in the springs."
Ayna's eyebrows twitched but she remained silent. Unlike her immature, hot tempered little sister, she is the mature, cool headed one. However, tensions were rising in the lounge that even the inn keeper who felt it hid behind the shelves.
"Melissa, don't be harsh." The man beside Melisa, who was obviously heavily drunk, said, "There were no orders for them to go. As I believe, the house of Casius will only move at the command of their master, right Bryan?"
Byran still did not reply. But the arrogant grin in his face affirmed the statement otherwise.
Another added pressure appeared when Andrei arrived and sat across the drunken man, "I must say, that is rich coming from you Myrus. If ever someone can be compared to a dog who sits and fetch at the command of his master, that someone is you. Now stand up and fetch me my drink."
He wanted to disobey, but a drunk Myrus, not even a sober Myrus, could never stand against the heir of Sagubo. As he was told, he poured a cocktail drink into a glass and handed it to Andrei.
Bryan laughed at the scene of power tripping. Among all the people here, Andrei, who was a year younger than him, relates to him the most.
"And, is the heir of Taray safe?" Bryan sarcastically asked.
Not ignorant of Bryan's tone, Andrei replied, "Why would you care to ask? I know for sure that Emy's best interest is not in your mind."
Bryan grinned, " I also know Andrei, that Emy's best interest is not in your mind. How about the younger twin? I heard she got stuck in the void as well."
Luther, who found it uncomfortable hearing his cousins names come out from the lips of these arrogant men, suddenly stepped forward "Both Emerald and Jade are safe, in fact.."
Before Luther could finish his statement a girl's high-pitched voice was heard coming from the entry to the inn's hot springs, "Are you serious!!! I have to play my brother's keeper right after I come back?!"
Melisa annoyed of the sudden presence of this teenager commented, "Great. The most annoying among you had to show-up."
The girl was pulling another teenager, a boy, by the ear. The one being dragged was not showing any signs of pain even if his ear was being pulled so roughly. People who don't know these two would laugh at how hilarious they look at the moment. The shorter girl with a boyish haircut dominating the taller boy who had the longer hair tied in a messy ponytail.
With a flat affect the male teenager defended himself saying, "But Verna, I can't help it. I was getting dizzy, and my head was hurting that is why I dozed off. The pool was conducive for sleeping."
Verna stopped pulling him. She was too short compared to her brother's height. In an act to show dominance, she lifted herself up by tiptoeing and again berated her lax brother, "Everywhere is conducive for your sleeping! Light-headed?! Dizzy?! Are you that stupid! Who would spend 4 hours soaking in the hot spring?! No wonder you felt that way!!!"
Because Verna was busy criticizing her brother, it was late for her to notice the group of people who were laughing at what she said. She just turned around when she saw her brother ignoring her and his gaze was away from her.
"Vincent" Melisa called out, "How long are you going to burden your little sister of your sloppiness."
Although she was not the one demeaned, Verna's ears pricked. No one can insult her sibling except her, "If ever my brother's sloppiness has burdened me, people will hear it from me and not from anyone else."
The short comic relief from the tension was over, and the pressure enveloped the lounge even more. Gendle, being uncomfortable with the situation tried to distract that girl's famous short temper.
"Verna, I did not know you went with them. You must be tired."
Verna nodded and with a mocking tone of voice she replied, "I had too. The Tohey who was supposed to be there was busy drinking all night.
Everyone knew that Verna meant Myrus.
Gerson massaged his already aching temples. He fixed his eyeglasses and surveyed the people in the room. This is the first time that all of his generation's heirs had gathered in one place. During the previous years of the Council, the current clan heads did not bring some of them because they were still deemed young and immature. Gerson silently thought that the elders made a mistake by bringing some of them along. Because truthfully, most are still childish.
The only missing one in this unexpected confrontation is Emy who is in her bed, trying to get some sleep for tomorrow's Council of Elders.