Kasalukuyan akong nakahiga sa bed ng infirmary. Ewan ko ba kung matatawa ako or makokonsensiya sa mga nangyayari ngayon. Nagpapanic yung mga tao sa paligid ko kahit na kanina ko pa sinasabi na okay lang ako.
"Your Highness, the foods that were served today have been checked and there was no poison in them", rinig kong sabi nung assistant ni Ash.
Talagang wala kayo makikitang lason doon dahil wala naman talaga. Yung hanapin niyo yung ahas na uminom ng lason.
"How is she? Why is she not waking up?", bakit nandito pa si Chadwick?
"Just like what the other healers checked, we found no traces of poison in her system. Everything is fine", ewan ko kung pang-ilan healer na yan na nag-check saakin.
Iminulat ko ang mga mata ko. "Alex!", agad na lapit saakin ni Prim na maluha-luha pa.
"Why the tears? As what the healer said, I'm fine", nilapitan naman nila ako lahat (Charlotte, Chadwick at Ash).
Tinulungan naman ako ni Prim at Charlotte na punasan ang mga dugo na tumigas sa bunganga ko. Ugh!
"Actually, the lady is anemic", sabat nung healer. Did I vomit too much? "I advise the lady to eat foods that will increase her red blood cells counts. I will send the list later".
"Thank you", pagpapasalamat ko kay Charlotte dahil siya halos nagpunas saakin.
Pagkatapos nun ay pinag-skip na ako next classes ko. Ang nakakainis pa doon ay binuhat nanaman nila ako papuntang dorm room ko na akala mo naman nalumpo ako.
"My lady!", gulat na sigaw ni Letty nang makita niyang duguan ang damit ko.
Tinulungan akong magpalit ni Letty saka nila ako pinilit na matulog ng maaga. Mga imba! I'm okay! Inexplain na rin nila kay Letty ang nangyari, ibinigay na rin sakaniya yung list na dapat kong kainin.
Kunyaring ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko. Naramdaman kong nagsilabasan na silang lahat-- "Ria", maliban sa nandito pa si Ash.
Iminulat ko ang mga mata ko at tinignan si Ash. Well, would you look at that, the crown prince seating on my bed. Umupo ako at tinignan si Ash.
"Tell me that you are fine".
"I'm fine besides this is not the first time it happened".
"So you are telling me that you vomit blood often?"
"No-- I mean, it's the second time but it won't happen again".
"Second time? And how can you be so sure that it won't happen again?", ngumiti nalang ako tsaka saglit na napatingin sa may closet ko kung saan ko hinagis kanina si Zaggy. Mamaya ka saakin!
"Ria?"
"I promise. It won't happen again".
"These are the books you requested", inabot saakin ni Ash yung mga librong pinag-usapan namin last time. "I hope this will help you, whatever you are looking for".
"Thank you, Ash"
"Well, I'll leave you now and take care of yourself", then he patted my head before leaving my room. What the hell was that?
Binuksan ko ang pintuan ng closet ko. "You son of a b*tch", bungad ko kay Zaggy. "Didn't we agree that before you drink the rare poisons, you will tell it to me first?"
"Did we? My bad", dinaanan lang ako nung ahas tsaka umakyat sa higaan ko. "What's with all the books?"
"Okay, so we are done discussing my stuff? Do you know what ruckus you have caused?"
"You mean your ruckus?"
"Zaggy!"
"Fine. Fine. I apologize. But rest assured that that will be the last time you will be vomiting blood. Thanks to me, you are now 100% immune to poison. You can now drink all kinds of poison and you will be fine".
"Even if you are the one who drank it, there won't be an effect on me? No more blood?"
"Yes"
"Good! Because if there's a next time I'm going to skin you".
Tinawanan lang ako Zaggy. Sinamaan ko nga ng tingin. Umupo ako sa tabi ni Zaggy tsaka sinimulan basahin yung mga librong hiniram ko kay Ash.
=================
And none of those books are helpful. Isinauli ko kaagad kay Ash yung mga libro since it is still a property of the imperial. Nakihiram lang ako.
Days passed...
Weeks passed...
Months. Two months had passed. It's weird because it's quiet. Nothing is happening well except for Daryl. He's been visiting my room every night.
Hindi naman siya pumapasok sa kwarto ko nasa may terrace lang siya kaya naman ako nagkukunyaring tulog na. My day is so peaceful while my night gives me anxiety.
Tsaka nilagyan ko ng maraming lock yung terrace ko. "Keep your windows open". Keep it open, my ass. Baka kinabukasan hindi na ako gumising kasi tinegi na ako.
What else happened in the past 2 months?
Prim doesn't change. She's still talkative and very passionate about her designing class. She's making me her model for her designs and it's extremely tiring. Chadwick is annoying as always and his face is stupid. The crown prince has been supervising my meals and making me come to the book club every day.
What else? That's right, it's-- "Alex", napatingin ako kay Charlotte na umupo sa tabi ko. Literature class namin ngayon. And yes, in the past two months we've become friends. She's actually a good girl. She's kind and lovely na medyo may pagka-kalog din pero dahil ata sa influence namin yun ni Prim.
"Tomorrow is our free day. Do you have any plans?", napaisip naman ako. It's free day tomorrow it means, the students can go outside the academy once a month.
"Well Prim and I planned to go visit Luminus Square tomorrow, you can come with us. Girls Day".
"Really? I'm delighted to come with you tomorrow. Girls Day then".
Natapos nalang ang Literature class namin na wala akong naintindihan. The professor only discussed the book the 5th Emperor wrote, I think? I'm not sure since I wasn't listening very well.
"See you tomorrow, Alex", paalam saakin ni Charlotte. "See you", tsaka kami naghiwalay ng lakad. Next is my Archaeology class. Kakaupo ko lang ay biglang pumasok na rin ang professor namin.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today's lesson is about Demons",huh? Napatigil kaming lahat dahil sa sinabi ng professor namin.
"But Sir isn't demons a myth?", isa sa mga kaklase ko ang nagtanong.
"That's right. Demons are just a folktale. Just stories told to scare the children. There were no records to prove the existence of demons here in Keshian even in other countries", dagdag nung professor. Even the novel didn't mention demons either. So demons aren't real here?
Go to my room people, you will see the living myth there.
"But why do we still need to study about them if they aren't real?", tanong naman nung isa. Ngumiti naman yung professor dahil sa tanong na yun. May inilabas siyang lumang book or journal.
"This is a journal wrote by a mercenary named Barry Ferrell from Merriole Kingdom. In his journal, it is said that he had encountered a demon. I'll be passing down the journal and it's up to you if you like to read it", ibinigay nung professor yung journal doon sa katabi ko.
"Fascinating. When did he allegedly encounter the demon?", mukhang nagulat pa sila dahil ngayon lang ako nagtanong or nag-cooperate sa klase. I just rolled my eyes.
"It seems like Lady Eveque is getting interested in my class", sabi niya tsaka tumalikod at nagpunas ng luha? What's wrong with him? "It was 200 years ago".
Hmm? I'll ask Zaggy about this later.
"And this year, our class is going on an expedition", and again napatahimik ang lahat.
"Expedition?"
"Yes, I've been requesting this for years ever since I got that journal and got approved. That is why in two weeks we will be departing to Merriole Kingdom".
Merriole Kingdom is a neighboring country located in the eastern part of Kershian. The two kingdoms are part of the peace treaty that is why we are able to enter their country as students.
Two weeks huh?
"Lady Alexandria, it's your turn to read the journal", inabot nung katabi ko yung journal. I'm just gonna skim it and get the most important things.
The more I think about it, I'm going to be able to visit another country. This excites me and we will be studying demons and try to prove their existence, even though I am contracted to one.
======================
"Zaggy, there's something I need to ask you", agad na tanong ko kay Zaggy pagkapasok ng kwarto ko. Hindi na ako nagpunta sa book club, nang nakita kong pupuntahan ako ni Ash ay agad akong tumakbo at nagtago. Araw araw nalang ako nandoon, baka naman pwede lumiban ngayon di ba?
"What?", bagot na bungad saakin si Zaggy.
"Did you know that demons are only a myth here? Not just here in Kershian, even in other countries".
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Well in my archaeology class earlier, we were talking about demons. As you may know, your existence was not yet proven as to why people don't believe in demons".
"Should I reveal myself?"
"Of course you can't! My professor showed us a journal from 200 years ago and it said that a mercenary saw a demon in Merriole Kingdom. Is there any chance that you know that specific demon?"
"Hmm? How should I know? I don't really get in touch with the other demons".
"Why? Are you some kind of a loner? An outcast? Emo?"
"Shut up!"
"You're so useless. How come you don't know. Anyway, my class is going to Merriole Kingdom for that matter".
"When is that?"
"We'll depart two weeks from now".
"Great! It's a vacation!"
"It's not a vacation, it's an expedition and who told you that you are coming with me?"
"What? You are leaving me? How could you? If you wanna know whoever that demon is, I am the only one who can know it", pinanliitan ko ng mata si Zaggy.
"How could I take you with me, you're a snake, a poisonous snake to be exact. Even if the people here are used to having you as my pet, it's different to the people of Merriole, okay? There's gonna be a lot of questions, worst, their gonna be suspicious of me".
"I see. If that's the only problem, then I--", napanganga na lang ako ng biglang nag-transform na parang tao si Zaggy. "..I'll be in my human form".
"YOU HAVE A HUMAN FORM?!"
"Yes, didn't I tell you that before?"
"No, you didn't. You fraud!", tsaka ko siya pinalo palo ng unan.
After I satisfied myself in beating Zaggy, I looked at his human form again. He has messy black hair and piercing red eyes just like when he is a snake. His skin is tanned and he got those tattoos all over his arms. "You're handsome".
"I know", kibit balikat niyang sagot.
"You're human form is a no".
"What? Why?"
"It's because you have questionable horns on your head!", sabay turo ko sa mga sungay niya sa ulo. "You're human form is imperfect".
"Tch!", bumalik siya ulit sa pagiging snake.
"We will talk to this again before we depart, okay?"
"Fine".
Whether I like it or not, I need to bring Zaggy. I mean he's right, only he can identify the demon in Merriole Kingdom if there is really a demon there. And of course, he's my spirit guardian. I'll be using him as my shield when things get dangerous, especially Merriole Kingdom is a country full of swordmasters.
/Kinabukasan/
Nakasakay kami ngayon sa carriage papuntang Luminus Square. Kasama ko ngayon sila Prim at Charlotte and today is our Free Day. Una muna naming pinuntahan ay ang dress shop nila Prim. Well, it's been a while since the last time I bought a dress for myself.
/At the Devenney Shop/
The shop has a sophisticated vibes. Magaganda yung mga dress, as expected for the Devenney. They only heir talented designers. I looked at Prim, the next designer. Ang dami niyang kinukuhang mga damit eh puro uniform naman suot namin sa academy. Natutulog ba ito ng naka-ball gown?
Tumingin naman ako kay Charlotte, tahimik lang siyang namimili ng damit. Nagtingin-tingin na rin ako ng damit, nakakahiya naman kung aalis akong walang binili dito.
"Alex!", nagulat ako kay Prim hindi ko namalayan na nasa tabi ko na ang gaga. "This gold gown suits you", sabay pakita niya sa gintong gown. Napangiwi nalang ako. Saan ko naman susuotin yan?
"It looks beautiful, but where would I wear this?".
"Hehehe... I heard the heads that there will be an incoming banquet next month and you need to wear this!", masayang sabi ni Prim. Napakachismosa talaga.
"Banquet?", ulit ni Charlotte.
"Yes, that is why we will buy the gowns we will be wearing in advance!"
Wala na kaming nagawa ni Charlotte dahil hinila na kami ni Prim sa fitting room and it was hell.
Matapos ang apat na oras sa shop nila Prim ay sunod na aming pupuntahan ay yung restaurant na nirecommend ko.
May restaurant kasi ako na gustong kainan kaya tatawagin ko sila. Tsaka na-drain ang lahat ng energy ko sa pagsusukat ng mga dress kanina. Nagmukha kaming zombie ni Charlotte habang si Prim ay energetic pa rin.
Mabuti nalang at medyo malapit yung restaurant na pupuntahan namin sa shop nila Prim kaya konting kembot lang ay nakarating na kami doon.
Pumasok na kami doon at bumungad lang naman saamin ang masarap na amoy. Shit! Lalo akong nagutom. Sikat itong restaurant na ito sa Luminus Square kaya naman maraming kumakain dito. Mahirap din makapagreserve ng table dito kata naman 2 months ago ay nagpareserve na ako.
A staff guide us to our table and it is located at the veranda para may privacy kami. Umupo na kami sa pwesto namin tsaka tinignan ang menu.
"The food here looks delicious, as expected of your taste, Alex", ani ni Prim na hindi makapili sa menu.
"I agree", mukhang wala na talagang energy si Charlotte pero mukhang gutom na rin siya dahil sa ang dami niyang inoorder sa waiter.
"Then, how about you, milady", tanong saakin nung waiter.
"Yes, I would like some--", napatigil ako sa pagsasalita ng makita ko mukha nung waiter.
WHY IS DARYL HERE??