That Black Prince

Chapter 31

"Because its impossible to find that island! May sariling buhay ang islang iyon at hindi 'yon gano'n kadaling hanapin! It can hide itself that no one can ever find. You can't find it even in maps!" The man exclaimed exasperatedly.

Nawalan ng panimbang si ate dahil sa narinig at mabilis namin siyang sinambot.

"It's impossible to reach the island of the blue Phoenix? Then we can't meet her, The mage with the gift of wisdom and memories." Napahawak si ate sa kanyang noo at tila ba'y problemado. 

Paano na ito ngayon? Paano na ako ngayon makakabalik sa holy continent?

We were about to lose hope, not until I heard a horse voice of a man behind us. "You need a boat? I can lend you my ship."

We turned around to face this person and I was shock to see pride with his disheveled hair, commoners clothes and puffy eyes. He yawned and that confirms something...

Bagong gising talaga siya.

Tumalikod na siya sa amin na nagsimulang maglakad papalayo. "Follow me." Sumunod naman kami sa kanya.

"Hey pride, why do you have a ship?" Sloth ask while we were walking on the seashore

Tinignan siya ni Pride na parang siya na ang pinakatangang taong nakilala nito. "Have you forgotten about our task to the whole continent? All seven of us was granted a task to do for the sake of outcast. Nakalimutan mo ba talaga? O sadyang tanga ka?" Pride said in a straight forward manner.

I am still skeptical about this mission of ours. Magtatagumpay kaya kami? I wonder.....

We walk for about fifteen minutes before we arrived at the said ship of Pride. I was in awe as I stare at the huge ship. Nandoon lamang iyon sa daungan at tila ba'y naghihintay sa kanyang mga pasahero.

We started to walk on the wooden stairs in order to mount the ship. I felt the cold breeze of the wind coming from the ocean as the ship slowly moving away from the seashore. Tinanaw pa namin ang mapayapang nayon na aming nilisan hanggang sa hindi na namin ito maaninag dahil sa papalayong barkong aming sinasakyan.

"Pwede ko bang malaman kung ano ang tungkulin na sinasabi mo kanina?" Tanong ko kay Pride habang sabay naming tinatanaw ang malawak na karagatan.

I heard him scoff. Tila ba'y mayroon siyang naalala na hindi niya nagustuhan dahil sa binitawan kong salita. "Don't mind it. It's just a stupid task given by those people."

Based on his tone, I think I already have a hint on who are those people he was pertaining to.

"Small things matter, you prideful prince. Those you think were stupid or small things that you are doing will contribute to the great things that will happen in the future."

I heard his chuckle and I'm surprise when I turned to look at him and I caught him staring at me as he smiled genuinely. "You really are something, Third. You are just like her."

Was it just my imagination or did I just see adoration flickered in his eyes?

"Okay then, since you're persistent,  I'll tell you...My task was to find new islands and negotiate with them. In this way the territory of the outcast will be expanded. I will journey on the middle of the ocean for days or years. This ship is also a cargo ship because often times I will be the one to deliver the transaction of goods from one island to another. That is also the reason why I can be rarely seen in the palace. Simply because I will always choose to stay in my ship rather than staying in the palace. I like it here. Feeling the cold and the warm breeze of the ocean. Seeing the birds flying in the horizon. I felt free to be in this ship, away from the toxic place where I grew up."

Nagulat man sa mga sinabi niya sa akin ay natuwa pa rin ako dahil ito ang unang beses na nag-open up siya sa'kin.

Naputol ang usapan naming dalawa dahil bigla siyang tinawag ng isa sa mga tao niya. I watch his back as he talked to his men. He was like a captain who were commanding his crew. This is quite a sight.

Later that night while I was sleeping,  I was shock to the core when I heard people shouting. Para bang nagkakagulo ang paligid ko. Papungas-pungas akong bumangon at nagulantang ng maramdamang may basa akong naapakan. I looked down just to see water. Paanong may nakapasok na tubig sa barko? Maliban na lamang kung.....

As realization hit me, I immediately wake the person beside me. My sister was sleeping soundly in this kind of situation. I tried every means that I can to wake her up but to no avail, she was still sleeping!

Ngayon ko lang nalaman na malala pala si ate kapag tulog, hindi siya mabilis na magigising. Paano nalang pala kapag tulog siya tapos may magtangka sa buhay niya? Edi deads siya kinabukasan!?

Nakarinig ako ng mga langitngit at walang tigil rin ang paggalaw ng barkong sinasakyan namin. I saw a circled shape crystal window not too far from me. I walk closer in order to see what's going on outside, I saw heavy rains and big waves. There was a storm outside.

I divert my attention to the door when it was opened with force. Pumasok si Sloth at lumapit sa akin. "We need to leave the ship. Its only a matter of hours and it will sink."

I was filled with worry after what  I've heard. My gaze immediately darted to my sleeping sister and with all the force that I have, I pulled her out of her bed until she soak herself on the water. That move from me made her wake up from her lovely dream.

Mukhang natauhan siya at nagtaka rin kung bakit mayroong tubig sa loob ng barko. "Let's go." We followed him until we saw a boat that was slowly being lifted by Pride's men.

Kung Gano'n ay bangka na ang aming sasakyan upang hanapin ang isla. Maglalakad na sana ako palapit kay Pride subalit biglang may humampas na malaking alon at ako'y nalaglag sa ilalim ng madilim at malalim na karagatan. Ang huling nakita ng aking mga mata ay ang palapit na pigura ni Pride habang sinusubukang nitong makalapit upang sagipin ako at ang pag-ilaw ng simbolo ni Aquarius sa aking dibdib.

Aquarius, please save me.