I held her hand. It was cold as a stone.
The stone glows bright in the moonlight. Its sapphire color almost blinds everyone in the room, and yet he did not seem fazed.
King Therdeo looks glum as he takes in the scenery outside of his chambers, outside of the palace. Kahit na marami siyang ipinadala na Knights Squad ay hindi pa rin nawawala ng tuluyan ang pinsala hindi lamang ng mga imprastraktura ng kaniyang kaharian, kundi ng mga mamamayan. Even from his place high up in the palace, he can still see the frightened and anxious people of Valanthea.
"This should not happen again." The King's deep voice echoed all throughout his chambers. Humarap siya sa mga tao na kasalukuyang nakayukong nakatayo sa kaniyang likuran.
Wearing his full body armor that was rumored to be made by an ancient dwarf, Richard Lancer, Captain of Alpha Claws, the fifth most powerful Knights Squad, stands tall. "I can assure you that this will never happen again, Your Majesty."
"Oh really? Pagkakaalam ko nga ay nagtago ka lang habang pinoprotektahan ng lahat ng Squad Captains ang buong palasyo, Richard." ngising aniya naman ni Dracon, ang Captain ng pangalawa sa pinakamalakas na Knights Squad sa buong Valanthea, Red Dragon.
Richard gritted his teeth. "I was not hiding. I was helping the west castle since ever since the attack of the monsters happened, the rebels suddenly invaded the castle of the Princess."
"And I thank you for that, Richard." Maliit na ngumiti si King Therdeo sa Captain dahilan upang agad din itong yumuko bilang pagbigay-pugay. Totoo na habang inaatake ni Orion Frost at ng mga halimaw na kontrolado niya ang royal capital ng Valanthea, pasikreto ring umatake ang mga rebelde sa palasyo ng Prinsesa. Therdeo was worried, but gladly Captain Richard took action.
Captain Dracon sneered, "Still. All of the Squad Captains are tasked to stay in the main palace and stand beside the King when an attack happens in the royal capital."
"Princess Carwen's life is just as significant as the King's." aniya naman ng malamig na boses ni Christofel, ang Vice Captain ng Alpha Claws. His eyes, covered with thick eyeglasses, are cold and emotionless as an ice as he stared down at Captain Dracon. "At the time, the princess was sick and fragile. It was a good thing that Captain Richard noticed and took action right away."
Agad na tumaas ang tensyon sa paligid nang hindi sumagot si Captain Dracon at tinitigan lamang ang Vice Captain. Ilang segundo rin silang malamig na nakatingin sa isa't-isa bago tumawa nang malakas si Dracon. "Ha! I always liked this new Vice Captain of yours, Richard. He has a spine for a commoner, I give you that. Kailan mo ba siya tuturuan ng tamang asal sa mas makapangyarihan kaysa sa kaniya?" In the blink of an eye, the Captain disappeared and appeared in front of Christofel. His hands are outstretched, reaching for the Vice Captain's neck.
Wala na ang masayang ngisi nito, bagkus ay napalitan ito ng masamang tingin. "Such a spine for a commoner. Do you mind if I break it?"
"No, I do not." Malamig na boses ni King Therdeo ang sumagot kay Captain Dracon. Dracon immediately stepped back, bowing his head while still glaring at Christofel in the corners of his eyes. "That's enough of mindless fighting. The kingdom of Valanthea still needs all of you united as one, especially in this time of crisis."
Bumuntong hininga ang Hari at muling tumingin sa labas ng kaniyang bintana. He cannot help but notice a group of street children sitting on the street, begging and crying, a group of adults kicking a defenseless child, two elderly hugging each other and crying as they stared at their burned house, and a family, seemingly staring at the concrete ground.
"The stone was a failure." King Therdeo drawled. Itinaas niya ang kaniyang kamay at muling napatitig ang lahat sa kaniyang hinahawakan. The Alamandine Stone. A very ancient magical stone claimed to have been used by the first King of Valanthea during their battles with other kingdoms. This stone was claimed to be blessed by the Gods and Goddesses, and when used correctly, it can summon a highly powerful entity that the Gods and Goddesses had previously blessed.
However, not all powerful beings favored by deities have been heroes. This stone was also utilized by the fifth King of the Xylem Kingdom, and instead of a hero, it summoned the most powerful humanoid beast, and produced the most disastrous calamity on the entire world of Elantris.
Muling bumuntong hininga ang Hari. His shoulders sagged, and he defeatedly placed the stone back on the table. "Many soldiers gave their lives bravely simply to complete the Almandine Stone to its core. And many Valantheans perished for my small hope of a hero rescuing us from the calamity that has struck not only to our kingdom but all of Elantris." Tiningnan niya ng diretso sa mata ang mga Captains ng bawat Squads. "Our world is on the verge of destruction, but we will fight to the very end. This will not happen again, do you hear me, Captains?"
Agad na yumuko ang lahat. Malalim at madiin ang boses ng Hari, ibang-iba sa araw-araw nilang nakikita na masayang ekspresyon nito. King Therdeo is one of the most enthusiastic Kings Valanthea Kingdom has ever had, but his failure to the Alamandine Stone has visibly rattled him. "Yes, Your Majesty!"
Muling tumingin ang Hari sa bintana nang maramdaman niya ang tahimik na paglabas ng mga Squad Captains sa kaniyang kuwarto. It seems like he cannot take his eyes away from his people, from his failure. Habang tumatagal ay mas lalong nasisira ang kanilang mundo. Monsters are appearing everywhere, even in the most unexpected places in Elantris, royalties are dying, a sickness is spreading all throughout the forsaken parts of their world, and it seems like even the natural places in Elantris like the oceans and the mountains are slowly dying.
He cannot afford a failure. For his people.
Narinig niya ang tahimik na pagbukas ng pintuan ng kaniyang kuwarto dahilan upang mapatingin siya rito. He is already expecting him, but not this early, or—napatingin siya sa kaniyang orasan—not this late.
Tahimik itong naglakad hanggang maabot nito ang upuan sa harapan ng lamesa ng Hari. Tumitig sila sa isa't-isa, both calculating each other's eyes, before the King finally speaks. "You should not barge to the King's chambers without a word of warning or even alerting my knights, Father."
"Bah, I'am the previous King of Valanthea and succeeded to produce the golden age of this kingdom for thirty years. Just let them try." Pabagsak itong umupo sa upuan at inayos ang tungkod na hawak nito. The head of a serpent showing its long tongue reflected from the cane.
The previous King of Valanthea and now the Duke of Western Valanthea frowned at Therdeo. "You look like you've aged twenty years, son." Heinrich stated.
Hindi naman mapigilan na mapatawa ni Therdeo, ngunit hindi niya magawang sumagot.
"I get it that you failed?" Tanong pa nito. Nang tumango ang Hari, bumuntong hininga si Heinrich. "We cannot afford failure this days, and you know it."
"I know, father. That's why it won't happen again." malamig na sagot ng Hari.
Bumuntong hininga si Heinrich at sumandal sa kaniyang kinauupuan. "Don't look so glum. Kings fails most of the time. I failed most of the time and it's fine as long as you learned from your mistakes. But what you did...." Nag-iba ito ng tingin at mas humigpit ang hawak sa tungkod nito. "You could have summoned a demon."
Mahinang tumawa si Therdeo. "The gods and goddesses would not have blessed a demon."
"What happened one hundred years ago said otherwise."
"It was a dark magic user, not a demon."
"And a powerful one at that."
Bumuntong hininga si Therdeo. He still has many other things to do. "What are you doing here, father?"
Dahan-dahang ngumisi ang kaniyang Ama, na naging dahilan upang mas gumaan ang tensyon sa buong paligid. "Can't I visit my own son?"
"You should have been in your Dukedom, helping the citizens. Orion Frost and his summoned monsters did not just attack the royal capital, you know."
Dahil sa pagbanggit sa traydor na Knight ay nag-iba ang ekspresyon ni Heinrich. Mas naging seryoso ito. "What happened to the boy?" Biglaang tanong nito.
Dahan-dahang umupo si Therdeo sa kaniyang upuan at sinimulang ayusin ang mga papeles na nakakalat sa gilid ng kaniyang lamesa. "Still in the hospital and critical, as far as I know it. Captain Acteon is still unconscious, and Captain Lazar...well."
The previous King gritted his teeth. Just like everybody else, he like the Captain of Elite Sun. And not just because his family is one of the ten royals of this kingdom, but because of its carefree and strong-willed attitude.
"We'll find him, father." King Therdeo captured his father's eyes. His blue eyes almost glowed as bright as the sapphire color of the Alamandine Stone. "Hindi ko man nagawa ang totoong hinahangad ko, ngunit sisiguraduhin ko na pagbabayarin ko ang lahat ng may kasalanan sa pagkawasak ng kaharian ko."
Seeing the determination and ruthlessness in his son's eyes, Heinrich cannot help it anymore. He smiled.
He really did made the right decision of passing the throne to his second son.
Bago pa man siya makasagot, may malakas ngunit determinadong kumatok sa pintuan.
"Your Majesty, it's me, Sir. Nicholas Cereno. May I come in?"
Tumingin ang Hari sa dating Hari. Tumango ito. "Come in."
Sir. Nicholas Cereno entered. With his big round eyeglasses, bright crimson hair, and prim and proper appearance, he is no doubt the marshal of the King. May hawak-hawak itong mahabang papel, at alam ni Therdeo na ito na ang report na hinahanap niya sa lahat ng nangyari ngayong araw.
Kahit na alam naman na ni Therdeo ang mahahalagang pangyayari sa pag-atake sa royal capital—katulad ng pag-traydor ni Orion Frost at ang pag-kontrol nito sa isang dosenang halimaw na hindi lamang inatake ang royal capital kundi pati ang mga lugar na nakapalibot dito—gusto niya pa rin malaman ang buong storya.
Sir. Nicholas bowed when he saw the previous King sitting in front of the King's desk. "Your Royal Highness."
Heinrich nodded his head. "Sir. Nicholas. It's been a long time."
Iniangat nito ang kaniyang tingin at ngumiti sa dating Hari. "Indeed it is."
"Is this the full report?" Tanong ni Therdeo nang lumapit na ito sa kaniya at iniabot ang hawak-hawak nitong papel.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The stories of the Captains are all verified truth except..." He hesitated. Therdeo felt something within him dropped. This is the first time that Sir. Nicholas ever hesitated while reporting something to him.
"Except what?" Did one of them betray him again? Told a different story? A liar?
"May nakalimutan lamang silang sabihin sa'yo, Your Majesty."
Agad na nagsalubong ang kilay ng Hari. Dahan-dahan niyang ibinaba ang hawak-hawak niyang papel at nakita niya pa mula sa gilid ng kaniyang mga mata na napaayos ng upo ang kaniyang Ama.
"What are you talking about, Sir. Nicholas?" Ang kaniyang Ama na ang nagtanong sa tanong na nasa isipan ni Therdeo.
He hesitated again, before blurting out, "The fight ended because Orion Frost got defeated, as you all know, but he was not defeated by one of our Captains or even a citizen."
"Then how?" Madiing tanong ulit ng kaniyang Ama.
Hindi na hinintay pa ni Therdeo ang sagot nito. Kinuha niyang muli ang papel at binasa ang lahat ng nakalagay dito.
"A man suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Based on the witnesses, this man, aside from defeating Orion Frost, also wiped out the other monsters in one single strike. He was powerful. Very powerful."
Long white hair, white eyebrows, pale skin, petite features, very red lips, tall...
Appearing out of nowhere...
Chills ran down King Therdeo's spine. He cannot help but to raise his head again and captured his father's wide eyes.
Could it be...?
Mabilis niyang kinuha ang bato na nasa gilid lamang ng kaniyang lamesa. Umiilaw ito kapag hindi naging matagumpay ang ritwal na ginawa ni Therdeo, ngunit bakit ngayon lang niya napansin? Nawala na ang ilaw nito.
"Why did you not tell me immediately?" His voice is sharp and brimming in the edge of anger.
Appearing out of nowhere...He did not fail. He succeeded.
Sir. Nicholas struck back as if surprised by the King's sudden anger. "What? Y-Your Majesty...I-I don't..."
Tumayo si Therdeo sa kaniyang kinauupuan, at gano'n din si Heinrich. Halata sa mga mata nito ang pananabik.
"Dispatch all units! Find that man and bring him to me at all costs!"
It's here. He's here. The hero that the whole Elantris needed.