The Illuminated Maiden

Chapter XXV

Liwangin rose from her bed in the dead of the night, gasping for air. She ended up coughing away, and even struggled to step out from her bed, trying to reach for a cup of water. She stumbled as she went along. She looked around for her bride, Maagin, but even Maagin needed some rest and could not attend to her needs all the time. Eventually, she reached the table where there was a clay cup beside a jug with water. Liwangin was fortunate enough to see the cup already filled, and she gulped down on the fluid right away, granting her temporary relief. She gasped and wheezed, resting her arm on the table.

"Maagin . . ." she said after gathering all her strength. "Maagin!" She waited a few minutes after blurting out her bride's name, but there was no response. She sucked in some air and sat on the floor, rubbing her forehead right after.

She stood up and rushed to her wardrobe. She opened it and grabbed some robes, changing into them from her bed clothes. She also grabbed a cloak, pearl in color, and wore it over herself, covering her head with the hood. She walked away from the wardrobe and looked under her bed. From beneath, she drew out a weapon, a long, single-edged blade. She drew it out of its white scabbard adorned with gold. The blade was tapered, with a small spike on the flat of its tip. Its guard resembled wings of a bird, with avian patterns embedded on its gold-plated hilt. She sheathed the sword.

She tied it to her side. She inhaled some air and then opened the door, making a creaking sound. She peered out and looked around to see hallways lit by orbs. It was, for the most part, empty, except for when Liwangin went out of her room and closed her door. She turned around after doing so, and jumped from where she stood upon seeing a petite figure wearing a tunic. This diwata was shrouded in darkness, but the faint light coming from the orbs allowed Liwangin to make out who it was.

"Maagin," she said. "You startled me. What are you doing at this hour?"

"You called for me, remember?" Maagin answered. "Is everything all right? And why are you dressed as such, Lady Liwangin?"

Liwangin shook her head and placed her hand on Maagin's shoulder. "There is not much time for me to explain, Maagin. I have to leave at once. I can sense great peril coming to the human world."

"I do not understand, Lady Liwangin." Maagin's face narrowed. "What great peril do you speak of? Does this have anything to do with Princess Paglinawan and the rest?"

"They spoke of it before, but I saw it for myself," Liwangin answered. "Bloodshed. The fall of realms—even empires. It was all in a dream. Soon enough, without the intervention of our kind, even Araw might fall, along with Sriurvana."

"I am not well-versed in politics as much as you and the other ladies," said Maagin, "but . . . we have always been against intervening in the matters of humans."

"You are correct." Liwangin beamed at Maagin. "That is why I am setting off alone, not as a politician of Araw, but as an individual. Paglinawan . . . she needs someone to guide her, and I am not certain Kabael will be enough. He was even reluctant to heed my request, and I had not heard from them in days."

"What is so special about the Princess of Hamabar?" asked Maagin. "I am sorry, Lady Liwangin. My curiosity is besting me."

"It is all right," replied Liwangin, "but I cannot elucidate everything to you now, Maagin. Know that matters have grown ever complex. Yet you need not worry. I shall return to make you, and everyone, understand."

"All right, Lady Liwangin," said Maagin. "I wish you great fortune in your journey."

"Thank you." Liwangin embraced Maagin. "There is, however, one thing that I yet need to do, and that is to take care of things here for me."