Beyond the Stars

Chapter 17: The River (Part 2)

The river pulled me deeper, but instead of drowning, I was watching. Like a ghost, unseen, unheard.

Hiwaga and Sinag appeared before me, sitting close together in their small home. Then, in a flash of light, the poor woman they had welcomed turned into the goddess Cassiopeia.

"You've been asking for a child since then. That's what you both desire, and with that I give it to you," the goddess said. Her voice was warm but commanding. "Because of your act of kindness, this child I give to you. Take good care of it. Continue to be kind to others. I might reward you again if you do so." And just like that, she disappeared.

"What did she mean by 'reward us again for being kind'?" Hiwaga asked, confused.

"With reward or not, I'm happy whenever we do something good for others. I know you feel the same way," Sinag answered with a smile. Then he laughed, lifted her into his arms, and kissed her. "The goddess told us we're going to have a child! That's the greatest reward I could ever receive! I don't care about anything else. We'll have a child, Hiwaga!"

Time moved forward, and I saw Hiwaga's belly grow. Sinag was patient, kind, always by her side, enduring her moods and comforting her when she wept. She sang to the child in her womb, whispered stories, prayed for her health.

Then the day came. The villagers gathered, offering help and comfort. A midwife held up a crying infant wrapped in cloth. "It's a girl," she said, handing the baby to Hiwaga.

"What will we name her, Ga?" Sinag asked gently.

Hiwaga's eyes welled with tears. "We used to ask for a child in the stars. That's why we'll name her Tala."

Sinag's smile was so bright it almost hurt to look at. "Tala," he repeated. "Perfect."

The river shifted again, days turning into months. I saw their happiness in small things—the way they laughed at Tala's giggles, the way they shared food with neighbors, the way they prayed together under the stars. It was almost perfect. Until the moment it wasn't.

Tala sat on the floor, giggling as she clutched something shining in her tiny hands. Sinag and Hiwaga froze.

"I-Is t-that—?" Hiwaga stuttered.

"C-Cassiopeia's r-ring... the ring of immortality," Sinag whispered, his face pale.

Hiwaga clutched her chest. "That ring is the reason why our sides are against each other! They will surely know about this and they'll come rushing here! They'll play dirty for the ring, Sinag. Tala will get involved! I don't want her to get hurt. She's just a child!"

Sinag hugged her tightly. "Don't worry. I won't neglect the both of you. I won't let anyone hurt you, especially Tala. Don't cry, my love." But even as he spoke, fear hid behind his eyes.

Then came the pounding on the door. Harsh, violent. "I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THE RING! GIVE US THE RING!"

Hiwaga trembled. Sinag stood, determined, ready to defend their home. He grabbed his weapon, but there were too many outside.

"I can't leave Tala alone... but I can't abandon Sinag either," Hiwaga whispered in anguish. She placed Tala into a basket, tucking the ring beneath her blankets. Kneeling, she stared up at the heavens. "Goddess of Cassiopeia, I need to protect my husband. Please, even if we do not survive, protect Tala. I want her to live. Please don't let anything or anyone harm her."

She kissed Tala's forehead. "Mama and Papa love you, my dear. Always remember that." Then the basket shimmered and disappeared before my eyes.

The couple fought bravely together, side by side, but their strength couldn't match the army that stormed their home. Blow after blow rained down on them, until at last, they collapsed. Sinag's arm still reached for Hiwaga's hand as the light faded from both of them.

The men ransacked the house, overturning everything in search of the ring. They found nothing. Their shouts of frustration echoed, and then the vision blurred.

The river released me, and I gasped for air as I broke the surface, my body trembling. The truth weighed heavy in my chest. Tala had lived. Somewhere out there, she was alive.

"How are you, Angeline?" Blessica's worried voice cut through the night.

"I—I'm fine," I stuttered, even though my lungs still burned.

"Who's at fault? Therondia or Caspian?" Carmen demanded.

I swallowed hard. "N-no one. King Caspian and King Therondia drowned for competing for the ring, and Princess Hiwaga and Prince Sinag loved each other dearly until their last breath. They even had a daughter." My hands shook as I added, "I need to find their daughter. Maybe she still has the ring. She needs to face your queens and kings."

The group fell silent. Even Carmen had no words. At last, Danilo muttered, "Can we rest first? We were here the whole day. It's already nighttime."

I nodded, letting them return to the woman's hut we had borrowed for shelter. But I couldn't sleep. Not after everything I had seen.

I sat in the corner, staring at the necklace around my neck—the one my mother made me wear before I came into this world. It glowed faintly, as if answering my thoughts. I turned it over in my hand and realized the charm was a key.

Heart pounding, I reached into my bag. The wooden box my mother had given me was still there. I slid the key into its lock. Click. The lid creaked open, revealing a stack of folded papers. My hands shook as I picked one up.

On the outside it read:

To: Angeline
From: Eden

Eden. My mother's name.

I unfolded the letter slowly, every breath shallow, every heartbeat loud in my ears.

Dear Angeline,

If you're reading this, that means you're ready to find out the truth...

And then everything around me seemed to stop.