S A K U M I ✿
I stretched my limbs and I hit something and the thud sounds hitting the floor woke me up from my deep slumber. Bolting upright my blurry vision focused and with the little light the early morning sun gave me, a looked around my room, my heart racing from the rude awakening. After collecting myself together I push the cover away and retrieve the candle holder from the floor, setting it back to the table next to me.
I stretch again and sat by the edge of the bed and soon opened the window, some fresh are seeped straight in to me. I cleaned up my room and the take a shower. I hurriedly change and someone knocked on the door. I dried my hair first
"Come in" I said and a maid came with a tray of food and left without a word and I sat down on the sofa. But as soon as I took a bite I lost my appetite when I remember what I did to lord Endemion and I can't move on. He didn't even let me nurse him he just keeps saying it's fine. It's just making me feel uneasy!!
When I'm done the maid came and told me that madam is out of town she was summoned by someone and Lord Endemion is already in the yard with his master.
I rushed immediately to the see them on the yard but my feet keeps pulling me away and my conscious told me that I should wait for the lord's decisions if he wants me to joined him. Tsaka may kasalanan din ako sa kanya.
Tsaka di ako basta basta nalang pupunta. Someone touch my shoulder and I look back to see who it was and saw a man with a nice beard, had a masculine appearance with his tall and statuesque frame towering above most others in the hall. His bulging biceps and broad shoulders spoke of his rigorous exercise regimen. The sinewy muscles ripping under his skin lent a powerful presence to overall form. He seemed strong and discipline. His beard suits him well.
I turn my shoulder and bow to the gentleman, I must show respect to everyone around here, di ko rin masiguro kung isa rin siyang nobility ayaw ko ring matawag na bastos "Good morning po" pag gigreet ko with a sweet smile and he take my hand and about to kiss it but someone yanked his collar and that made him stop. And the force pulled almost choked him.
He groaned in annoyance and stood up and I saw Lord Endemion standing right beside him with a fake smile. I began to startled and bowed. "Good morning lord Endemion..... Amph how's your arm?" I asked worriedly and he raise it and saw a linen wrapped around his arm. "I'm very sorry
"It's fine you don't need to apologized over and over, and by the way you have a good aim" he said and the man smile and about to kiss my hand again but he stop him. And this time it's too aggressive and the poor man almost fell backwards.
"This is Master Shitoru the wielder of sword and balance" He introduced me the man in front of me and he still didn't let my hand go.
It's rude if I don't respond "It's nice to meet you po i'm.."
"Miss gorgeous" he had his chance and feel his lips on pressed on my knuckle but it was just for a second when lord Endemion whacked his head.
"This is Sakumi the bloomian from Fluerishia" lord Endemion retorted and yanked me to the yard and my lips left open. I saw men stop their sparring and looked at us by surprised. I hate being crowded with men.
"Hi!"
"Hi miss" sabay bow nila at nagwave naman ang iba. Hindi ako natutuwa dahil ayaw ko sa maraming tao lalo na kung lalake lahat tas nakatingin sakin sa ginagawa ko.
"Hello rin po" I said with a smile. I flinched when I felt an intense aura behind me and I look back and saw no one. But I'm sure I feel someone is watching me.
Master Shitoru clap his hand to get our attentions and they began to line up and someone yanked me and put me in front. I'm the smallest one in the platoon.
"Boys you know your assignment, I can't teach you today because I'm going to teach miss gorgeous here, this is here first time to joined the platoon" he said and I heard a gasp on them "I know it's the first time but Lord Denzelbert allowed this woman to joined our exercise"
Mas kinabahan ako pero nanatili akong kalmado habang nakatingin sa kanya. "Lord Endemion would you mind" he said and someone tossed him a sword and he catch them without even looking at where it will landed, like he already knows the estimations and distanced.
He walked towards me and kneeled on one knee, being dramatic and hand me the sword like a knight offering his sword to the Queen. My eyes twitch.
It was awkward and corny. I take the sword and he taught me the basic one. I was surprised and glad because he didn't touch me but used the scabbard and arranged my posture and how I glide smoothly through the air with even giving full of my energy, but rather move like a bamboo and bend like a wind, move like current water on the stream and gentle like clouds. I don't know how many hours past then I was enjoying his company. It's like whenever his body move I want to do it right, every inch of it.
It was tiring but exciting at the same time.
"Okay take five" he said and clap his hand "You're a natural" he said it and I felt so relief. "I'll teach you again and maybe for our next meet, we'll do it with a real sword okay lang ba"
"Opo" nakakatakot pero gusto kong matuto.
As the time slipped he called in the center and he tossed me the dummy sword and I catch it and it was such a relief when I catch it on the mid air "Focus on the target don't panic but be alert, as you started to serve the monarchy, you have already sold your soul" he said and I heard a cheering coming from the platoons, watching me.
"Amhp pwedeng dalawa lang po tayo di ko comfortable pag may mga tao sa paligid"
"You heard her men, get out!"
The boys chuckles and bowed before they disappeared on my sight and entered the manor. And on just a blink of an eye, I felt the aura that was screaming horror, like clouds forming and thunderstorms roar. I gulped and I felt like I was at war.
I took a deep breath, and suddenly. The air around him seemed to crackle with energy, he was preparing for a powerful technique and I knew it's my last hour. I focused on my inner calm and heightened my senses. Time seemed to slow down as I watch master Shitoru unleashed his sword, once again this time, instead of trying to dodge or blocked the attack, I decided to redirect it.
This pressure is like a deja Vu, that time when I sparring with Lord Endemion. That time I even forgot to breath because of the pressure.
And I couldn't wait to see my blood again. It was just exciting and I tapped my foot on the ground.
As the blade light hurtled forward me, I matched it's trajectory with a fluid of movement of my own with a precise swing. His first attempt grazed me but thankfully I stop it
Using the momentum from his kick, master Shitoru twirled in the air, bringing his sword down in a swift yet simple overhead strike. I barely managed to raise my blade in time to blocked. My arms juddered under the force of the blow.
I gathered my energy and unleashed a shockwave of repulsion using my sword as the medium, creating a wave of force that pushed him back.
The impact disrupted his balance, and he almost stumbled for a split second, which I used to my advantages. I lunged forward with a quick thrust. Aiming for his chest, but he managed to twist away in time, snickering at me when I failed to hit him. But I turn back to assault another attacked but I only slightly grazed his arm and he flipping backward creating a distance between us. As he landed on the ground with clap on his hand.
"You seems good at playing a sword, ladies strength is weak for a man's strength, yet you managed to pushed me back and blocked my attacked, lord Endemion just taught you well so proud of my old student"
"I almost died that day"
"But still, I haven't teach someone this good at first, but you surprised me. Lord Endemion won over me when he reached his puberty but you, you have something that piqued my interest. Our class stop for today I have to talked to someone, good job keep up the good work I can't wait to teach you more but today I gave him a few tasked to wander around the city and basta you know when you get there just do your best if you want my help I'll be here, don't hesitate to asked"
I was on cloud nine "I can wait to learn sana po di kayo magsawa na turuan ako"
I heard a sound of galloping horses and someone just yanked me up without a warning and he put me in front of him and he rode the horse away. I thought it was kidnapping not until I saw a linen wrapped around his arm.
It was awkward and my stomach feels weird. Mabilis ko naman nakilala kung sino ang nagpapatakbo ng kabayo kaya kampante lang ako. We crossed the bridge and stop at the town. He stop on a shop and heard a metal clanging. Black smoke is ruining the blue sky. As we go further he hopped down and handed his sword to an old man, and he put out a burning metal to the water and heard the loud steam sound.
And he wipe his sweat before he took the sword. Nag uusap lang silang dalawa. I look around the place and heard a clicking metal and saw lord Endemion reach a pouch of coins. And the old man excitedly put it on his pocket and unsheathed the sword and studied it. The horse are neighing and I'm afraid if it just ran away.
I don't know how to tame a horse.
It's seems uncomfortable with me until it just gallops in a great speed and I tightly gripped my hands on the rope, screaming for my life.
"Lord Endemion!!!" Yan lang ang tanging naisigaw ko na nakapikit ang mata
"Move away!! Crazy horse on the loose!!"
Nakayakap nalang ako leeg nito dahil sa takot at bigla itong huminto at tumbling ako pababa at nasarapan ako sa pagkahulog ko sa lupa. Tumayo naman ako at tumakbo ito paalis. "Bwesit sakit!" reklamo ko at bigla namang may nagbukas ng pinto sa harap ko at napahalik ako dun. Muntikan pa akong matumba pero napigilan ko. Maiyak iyak na ako sa lakas ng pagkatamo sa mukha ko lalo na sa ilong ko.
"Sami!" I heard lord Endemion from a distance and I wipe my noise and saw a blood coming up.
Nakita ko naman ang pagkataranta niya at pinahiran ang ilong ko ng sleeve niya. "Pasensya kana.."
I waved him off dismissing him and rub my head "Okay lang maganda naman ang pagkalanding ko tsaka yung masakit lang yung may biglang nagbukas ng pinto"
He hold my hand and look around and stop on a big building. It's an Inn. One look from the outside I can tell it wasn't anything like an ordinary Inn. Back home there are lots of Inn in every alley and they didn't look like this one. It stood proudly on the cobbled streets, catching the eyes of every passerby with its charmed presence.
It's wall, constructed of sturdy stone blocks, bore the mark of time with ivy and mossy gracefully clinging to their weathered surface.
"Want to eat something?"
"Ah diba para sa mga manglalakbay lang ang pwede sa loob"
"Manglalakbay naman tayo Sami ano akala mo satin tsaka magsisimula na ang paglalakbay natin kailangan kitang ipapain sa halimaw?"
"Ano?!"
"De joke lang" I frowned at him and his snickering at me.
Above the door, a hand-carved wooden sign proclaimed the name of the Inn with pride, it's lettering adorned with subtle flourishes.
"Let go inside" he called me and I stayed on my very spot while he excitedly opened the door and saw me a few feet away.
"It's my first time to be in this kind of place" I looked up at the towering building with awed, carrying stars in my eyes, but still anxious but I know I'll be safe while his around.
Hay what am I doing. I should not acted like this dapat ipaalala ko na hindi na ako Bata tsaka isa na akong manglalakbay.
I let out a big sighed and followed him "I thought you're not coming"
"Why wouldn't I be, tsaka wala akong pera bat pa ba ako mag eenarte "
The air was filled with the comforting scent of freshly baked bread and stews, prepared by the inns skilled cook. Soft candlelight flickered gently, casting a warm glow over the friendly faces of patrons and creating an ambience of merriment.
In the corner, a minstrel was playing a violin, his soulful melodies filling the air with sweet music, the innkeeper a stout and jovial figure, moved from person to person, checking every guest in the dining area was well taken care of and had their best night. Kumain din kami at halos maluhay luha ako sa sarap ng pagkain. Natatawa lang siya sakin pero hinayaan kolang siya. After finishing our food.
I just followed him from behind, nakahawak lang yung kamay ko sa damit niya. May nilapitan siyang babae at nag usap lang sila nakita ko naman ang pagnakaw tingin sakin ng babae at may inabot siya kay lord Endemion. "Have a good night Po sa newly couple"
"....." Natameme lang Ako sa sinabi niya. Umalis na kami at nakangiti lang sakin ang babae at binalingan ng atensyon ang bagong dating na costumer.
We ascended the stair and find our room. I heard a keys clicking on his pocket. Napakaraming kwarto ang nadadaanan namin at panay tingin lang ako.
"Oh here we are" he said and open the door and as he opened it my mouth left hanging. It's was beautiful inside. Pumasok lang siya at tinawag Ako papasok.
"Ah are we sleeping on the same room?"
"Of course"
"Ah, actually my mom told me that it's not a good image for a woman to sleep with a man. Lalo na pag di Sila kasal "
He sighed and walked towards me while I'm rooted on my spot and he patted my head. "D'you trust me?"
"Ah no...O-of course"
"You hesitated"
"I'm sorry"
He genuinely smile at me and he just caresses my cheeks and that made my stomach feels weird "Di ko papayag na matulog ka sa ibang kwarto wala tayo sa bahay para hayaan kita matulog ket saan mo gusto, lika na kailangan mo nang magpahinga may lalakarin pa tayo bukas"