E N D E M I O N
It finally ended. The long ardous day of training. Although it took about an hour, I still feel extremely tired. The lethargic feeling lingered even after a whole, mostly because I haven't slept for the whole day before and after that day. I was busy with Sakumi. That girl didn't know the perilous journey ahead of her. Even I hated that bloomian for being clumsy, there's still inside pitted a delicate soul. She might be the worst but she tried her best even how many times I drive her to go back. But she's not easy to deal with. That woman is ambitious and quite mysterious in a mask of innocence.
I raised my arms watching the mist swirling around like snakes crawling onto my skin, the mist felt like a touch of snow, falling above me, it's been a months already when the winter past here.
The mist disappeared and a mark reappear of clover lit in a splitting second then faded away. An indication that the bruises completely healed. And I wrapped it again with linen so she won't suspect a thing.
Without her noticing, I always keep my eyes on her, she's not like those ladies would gave up because they have that in mind that women can't surpassed the men's strength. She has her own little world, belief and dedications. Wonder what drives her to stay.
But I want to send her back home so she would be safe. She's just a flower, a fragile one.
The whistling of the leaves was a bit suspicious and I slowly pull up the dagger and listen on the voices around me until I found it's location. I didn't move an inch, waiting for the right moment to release the dagger through the target, until I finally decided to tossed it like a flash of lightning, the leaves bended sideway because of the force that I released from that blade. And heard a thumb sound. And heard no cried of pain or sound of falling body
I missed..
"Wonderful!" I heard a chuckles. It's been a years already, hearing the crunchiness of his footsteps and he finally revealed himself as stepped out in between the trees.
I put my hand on my chest with a slight bow "Master Shitoru" I said in a respectable tone. He look at the dagger first and tossed it to me and I catch it then out it back and he whacked my head by surprise and I crouched down in pain. "What was that supposed to mean!?"
"That's for an unwelcoming greet!" He tossed another dagger and it fell on the grass. The one that I tossed out of the window. "You have a nice girl eh, sayang di ko kayo napanuod"
My eye twitch "You didn't know what you did!" I shouted a thunderous roar at his face but all he did was grin, "You old baboon!" he did do that on purpose and that woman seen me naked. Twice and this man was the responsible for that! I grab his collar, gritted teeth and gave him a head bang. Sa lakas ng pag untog ko napayuko kami sa sakit.
"You little...! You have not respect my arrival!"
I scowled, Ang tigas ng bungo Niya bwisit "ughhh" I groaned with mock of annoyance " that woman saw me naked!"
"Ohhhhh hehehe well you should owe me for doing t...." I whacked him and It almost felt like my patela broke because of his skull, nataranta naman ang mga alagad niya at Inalalayan siya.
"Endemion!" I heard my father voice, that voice happens to be my biggest nightmare. I turned my back and saw him walking towards us I turn my gazed away. I never want to meet his eyes I could die at that moment.
"Me old pal!" Master Shitoru just climbed on his back, bawling and accused me for not respecting his arrival at the manor.
Master Shitoru's men came and help the maid to prepare the table and arranged the table cloth, the cook rushing to prepared the food. People around here became busy.
"I'm gonna teach you some manners!!" He shouted back at me
I looked into the distance, taking the vibrant surrounding filled with blossoming trees. The wind blew with a renewed vigour, disheveling my hair even more. He happens to be my master. He was my father's trusted companion, at that time I saw my father always doing meditation with him, sparring, fighting and even doing a heavy workout just to build the average strength, becoming the soldiers to protect the people, when the time arrived, darkness will come and imbalance the seasons. Alluring the Stonecore to oblivion.
I know for once that one day, I'll embarked on a journey. But I dont know if I go back home, proudly shouting the triumph of victory or rather come back home, dead
Even for a boy, who's just turning 4 years old already embraced the danger of the future. I even forgot to have a chance to play like any other kids at my age. It was too early for a boy to have a matured mindset.
Maybe because I was surrounded with people whose willing to fight for justice and for the future of Trezelia.
Zethara already in peace but here, it's still in chaos. I don't know if there's any miracle to heal this land. I never heard that each season is in peace there always an unexpected attacked, ambushed just to stop the Stonecore from crossing the land. When the moment the Stonecore losses itself, Its body became was heavy and sometimes created a crater in it's wake and the residents on that specific area would be squashed like a bug.
Trezelia holds the responsibility to change the season there is always a threat to that and many men already sacrifices themselves, not to let the darkness will lay it's finger to the Stonecore. Four season with four new core.
Apat na bagong itinakda ng panahon.
Cryptal the kingdom of spring and we have our little rebels on us. Who always runaway from his responsibility. The bearer of summer was prince Alastair of Clementure. For Autumn bearer, Prince Levian of Lothaire, the changing seasons that would end the summer and gives color to the world. The last is Davianglace the bearer of winter. In it's cold existence he has a soft side.
Wonder what will happen to Trezelia with these new core.
I'm not supposed to be in this mess. I can just live on my own, choosing peace over destruction but those scene will only exist on my memory because the Stonecore is always the main target.
Four seasons must stayed in line and if they lost their way. I don't know what will happen.
Each inhalation, deep breath I took brought a symphony of scent, as if the very essence of spring was bottled in the air. The world seems, alive vibrant with the arrival of a new season, vibrating blooms burst forth from the corner, painting the landscape with an artist brush stroke.
I went back to the yard and saw a patch of dried grass. I ordered my butler to plant something and remove the dead grass.
Someone patted my shoulders and I brush it off. "You had slipped again didn't yah"
"It was an accident" I said while standing a few meters away from the butler whose plowing the ground. The air became too stiff at that moment and my breath ceased.
"So that's explains the linen on your arms"
"Oh this? She accidentally hit my arm, she was out of control because I was rushing her, and my glove slipped out and when he jumped overhead I used my arms to blocked the attacked"
"Oh... So a she! I wanna meet that gal" he's on his dog attitude again and sniffing the hall, looking for feminine scent.
"Stop that!"
"Try me" master Shitoru just disappeared and I quickly followed behind. I can't just let this hungry old man find his way to sakumi, even for a man in his 70's. But people still failed to guess his age and sometimes they thought his on his early 40's.
And one thing I hate about this old man is his lust for younger girls .
10 minutes ago
It happens and his just plan to planted a kiss on sakumi's knuckles. The audacity of this old man bugs me. The conversation keeps going and we went to the yard and saw his new recruited men and their eyes darted to her direction. Calling her attention by waving their hands, some are winking.
Something heat rising up to my head, an urge or something is bugging me at that moment.
I keep standing in between just to prevent this old man from doing unnecessary touch on sakumi. She's not that important to me but this time I felt a little bit weird. What is wrong with me. I must not get affectionate with this bloomian.
• • • •
I leave her on Master Shitoru care. I'm going back to the lab. My butler gave me something that were brought by master Shitoru. My father was nowhere to be found. I look at the coloured fluid in the glass tubes. Napaisip naman ako na mag experiment sa lab.
I turn my eyes back and saw Sakumi doing well. As I focus more on her, I couldn't help but to noticed at the way curves seemed to flow like water, sculpting to perfection with an almost supernatural grace. I just shook my head trying to collect myself together.
And when master Shitoru gave her sword, I shifted my way back to the manor.
My footsteps clinking on the marble, creating echoes on the empty corridors. Nakatingin lang ako sa apat na glass tube na may iba't ibang kulay.
Dad would've kill me.
I open the lab door and locked it. I remove my tuxedo and hang it on the coat rack. I started to make an experiment. I wore goggles, gloves and mask to avoid inhaling the smoke. It took me about three hours straight to do the procedure perfectly.
If he caught me sneaking in the lab.
I'm still grounded after the incident
The machine stop mixing the fluid. I remove my goggles and put the new made antidote. I put out a syringe and I injected it on myself until the fluid completely entered my veins, at first I felt nothing not until my vision becames blurry and something knocking inside my brain para akong pakiramdam ko na may pumukpok sa ulo ko na kinalumpo ko sa tabi.
"Gahhhh!!!!"
"My lord... Help called the healer at once! Hurry!!"
A Moment later...
I shifted my gaze away and readying my ears "You what?!" Dad passed from perplexed to being equally upset and surprised. He whacked my head. Pinagalitan siya ng manggagamot pero binatukan naman niya ito. "You should test it first on a bunny before inserting that thing inside you!"
"Dad, d'you know how many poor animal that were killed in doing the procedure.."
"Yun nga yung dahilan kaya tinitest muna sa mga hayop bago mo subukan ano akala mo sa sarili mo may siyam na buhay? Baliw ka talagang bata ka... Tsaka wala akong punatay na hayop dahil ginamot ko eh Ikaw ano akala mo sayo hayop?"
"My duke calm down, calm down" my butler pull him way and let him sat on the sofa and gave him a cup of green tea to relax him.
"I'm sorry dad"
"Better not do that again your creating pain on an old man's heart" his being emotional. "How many antidotes is there?"
"Apat pero isa palang ang natest ko"
"Labas ako na ang gagawa makagawa kapa ng lason" pananaboy pa niya sakin at may biglang kumatok sa pinto. Pinagbuksan naman agad at may maid na may dalang mail.
She bowed first and speak softly "One of the viscount residence of chestnut Vill, he want to meet you right away to investigate, people used to called it cursed, but it's no curse at all, the sickness are spreading faster and the city next to that specific area was already infected by the virus" said the maid and father folded the paper.
"Virus, please ready the carriage"
"Right away my duke" the butler leave hurriedly
"And as for you!" His index finger made me flinched "Stay out of my lab"
I sighed "It's my lab dad"
"Whatever!"
My father is a doctor and a professional herbalist of the kingdom, who spend most of his time studying botany. He quenched himself in thirst for knowledge.
I left the manor and rode my horse to the yard and watched her silently improving herself. And I must say, for a walking stem, she's a natural.
There is something on her that make her gone this far. She has a gallant heart without her noticing. When I remember that time when I asked for a duel I never been so excited.
I want to fight her again but this time with real sword. Maybe buying her a new one after all the spring season is almost ending. The new season is coming. If it wasn't for her I should be in the palace by now. It was disappointing but I can't just dump her and sent her back.
That woman will kill me, whenever she grin. I know she can ruined my reputation, it chills me down to my spine,
Sakumi is like an silent assassin. A person that can always escape without being caught. I don't why but there is something on that woman that I feared.
"That your girl over there"
"So?"
"Buy something after all she's your partner, a lady must be treated well"
"I hate you"
"You have no choice, you saw what I saw on that woman, you know she has something. Can you do something for the old man?"
"What?"
"She's a treasure chest and you might be the key to unravel the mystery inside. Teach her the way I taught you before, you won't be disappointed with that woman"
He tossed me the sword and slap the horse and it gallop away and I drop my left arm and yanked her up to the saddle.
We went to town to buy her a new sword. I must trained her and she can finally embarked on a journey with me. Maybe I had finally accepted her to be my partner. Kahit ano man ang gusto niyang iparating ako nalang ang bahala. Hindi ko rin alam kung magtatagal siya.
As we reached the town. I hopped down and pulled the rope and stop at the workshop and handed him the sword that was supposed to be my gift.
"Add something" I said and I gave him another pouch of gold coin, clinking inside and he opened it with a smile, greedy eyes lit up and he nodded.
I can't give her a normal one, she's a flower, a fragile thing that wouldn't last long, her time is fast and shes just depending on the seasons.
I feel something burden me, because this woman just vowed to protect the noble rather than living peacefully back to Fluerishia. Like a rose, beautiful, raising proudly with thorns that could bleed a greedy hand to pluck her out from her stem.
There's more of her that I want to discover, it maybe because it's my first time to meet such woman. Who embrace swords than grace.
The horse neighing and it lunged forward, hearing her screeching voice, I shield my eyes with my arms as the dust fog the place.
"I'll be back" I said and the wielder bowed, I saw a speck of dust pouring from the pouch and he puloured it on the sword.
I followed it's track and the people starting to crowd the streets which makes it more difficult for me to catch up, I squeeze myself in the crowds.
Nang makalabas na ako at hinanap ang mga bakas sa lupa ay nawala na. Nagtanong tanong narin ako sa mga tao kung nakita ba nila ang nagwawalang kabayo at tinuro naman nila sakin.
Binilisan ko na at laking tuwa ko ngakita ko siya at medyo napangiwi ako ng makita ko siyang mauntog sa pinto.
I catch her and secretly casting a healing incantations, healing her from the inside.
When she finally recovered from her senses we happens to find an Inn. I've decided to start our little journey.
Hopefully she won't regret coming with me.
Hay nako bat ko pa ba iyon poproblemahin.
Losing her is a least to my problem
Hays ewan san na ba yon
Fast forward....
I look at the place and she knead the mattress and father that she lay down with a sigh in relief. I sat down for a while and the chair feels like I was back home.
Di ko rin napansin na nakatulog na siya at napailing nalang ako ng makita ko pa siyang suot suot ang sapatos niya. Inalis ko nalang ito at binalot siya ng kumot. Nakita ko ang kaunting punit sa kanyang damit, mga bakas ng mga tama sa kanya ni Master Shituro. Thankfully she didn't noticed the minor cut she got from him.
I removed the few strand of hair on her face and I never knew that she was actually pretty up close. She move a little and saw a scar on her neck. It's has the size of my in index finger. My power won't leave a single scar. Maybe she got these somewhere back home. But it's so big.
Ughhh why did I just became so curious on a flower. An uncanny flower who bloom without a petals yet beautiful even shes6a walking stem.
Bumaba na ako oara mag order ng maiinom at sakto namang nakita ko ang paborito kong alak. I drank the brew and heard the bell tinkling, a new costumer came in. Medyo magalaw naman ang mata ko at napansin ko Ang mga taong pumasok na kakaiba ang dating, gaya ko ang mga mata nila nakamasid rin sa paligid. And my guts already told me that these people are up to something. They sat by the corner, tapping their foot on the floor.
I ordered again to buy me sometime to study their movements. And found out that they are mercenaries.
May umupo naman sa tabi ko at Isang Babae. Her breast was full and it's like it's a bout to ripped her fitted dress and I shifted my gazed away and knocked my head after been mesmerized. The temptations are killing me. I drank the last one and finally went back and I take a few glimpses on the corner and they're gone.
I walked by the hallway and happen to met them by accident,walking on the opposite direction may dala dala silang babae'ng lasing na binubuhat nila sa kanilang balikat. I tried to act normal. Binuksan ko na ang pinto sa ming kwarto at napansin kong pumasok naman sila sa Isang silid, Magkatabi lang kami.
3 minutes later..
I covered her ears and. I just hummed a bit so she won't wake up. She was so innocent I don't want her to hear it.
Dinig ko ang naghihiyawan na boses ng mga babae at tunog ng pagtatagpo ng mga katawan sa isa't isa. Napapakagat labi ako ng wala sa oras ng marinig ko ang mga ungol ng mga babae.
I was surprised when she wrapped her arms around me. And I tried to wriggle away pero mahigpit ang pagkahawak niya sa damit ko kulang nalang pupunitin na niya.
Wala akong magawa kundi tumabi nalang sa kanya habang nakayakap sakin. Para siyang maliit na bata. I looked down at her and I was amused, admiring how cute she looked when she was asleep.
In just a few moment my heart starting to beat rapidly.
It's a sin to sleep with a person in the same bed.
That words keeps repeating on my head.
I pressed my eyes shut. Masyado na akong nalilibugan sa ingay nila at may kayakap pa akong Babae. Mas nabaliw ako ng ibaon niya ang ulo niya sa dibdib ko.
"Mom, I home" I heard her talking in her sleep and that calms me down. She's so innocent I couldn't just took advantage to that. She's pure. Para siyang bulaklak na hindi pa nahahawakan ng kahit sino.
I caresses her cheeks, putting the strands of her hair through her hair. And I wondered why did I didn't noticed this beauty before. Her lips twitched ever so slightly, almost as if she were about to smile, however quickly reverted to it's usual reserve state, leaving me with an intriguing sense of curiosity. She was like a glimpsing a shooting star, fleeting and beautiful but hard to catch.
In our quiet moment of silence, I often found myself studying her. I know there were something hidden. Like a treasure box that were locked and needed to be opened by using keys or forcedly open by force.
She had a layers beneath her surface, emotion swirling like a currents in the vast ocean. I smiled and kissed her forehead. And for a second thought. I wondered why did I just do that.
What is happening to me?
I put my arms around her, feeling her small size. I can smell her sweet scent and it just stuck deep inside my nose repeatedly.
Nang maramdaman ko parang Hindi na mahigpit ang pagkayakap niya dahan dahan na akong bumaba at binalik ko naman ang kamay ko para takpan ang tenga niya.
Hanggang kailan ba sila matatapos. Kanina pa yun ah!
"Love you" natameme naman ko ng bigla siyang magsabi nun. I felt like my face is burning....Ahhhh what is wrong with me!!