The Ruler of Westeria

TROW 20| Ancestral Tributary

Emerald

I narrowed my eyes as I look at the foolish brother that I had kneeling on the red carpet floor. Hindi siya makatingin sa akin nang diretso sa mukha. He should feel ashamed, because of being impulsive, he caused such a disaster.  

"Do you know what you've caused, Sage?" Yumuko siya dahilan upang igilid ko ang ulo ko't umayos nang upo sa trono na kinauupuan ko.

"You angered the Ancient Goddess and a wildfire spread across our region devouring almost 60% of our vegetation. Alam mo ba kung ano ang kalagayan ng ating rehiyon?" I tried to compose myself and be as calm as possible, but eventually I could not hold my anger and caused a mild earthquake. 

"P-please calm down, your highness!" He exclaimed when he noticed the ground shaking. Agad ko namang pinakalma ang sarili ko. 

"Our people are suffering from hunger, Sage! The provisions left could not even provide their necessities! Your recklessness caused such a disaster!" Wala siyang ibang nagawa kun'di ang yumuko lang at makinig sa panenermon ko. 

"I know I was wrong. . . but it was partly the Glacial Archon's fault for provoking me." Mahina niyang wika na siyang hindi nakaligtas sa aking pandinig. 

"The Glacial Archon provoked you?" I asked with my eyebrows raising. Since when did the Glacial Archon have the capability to provoke someone? She's the most gentle woman I know. 

"You have to believe me, your highness. I know my judgement was clouded the moment I knew your life was in danger, but I would never come to that extent if she hadn't provoked me." I knew my brother since birth and it's the truth that he won't do anything irrational unless provoked. However, that does not justify the result of his actions. 

"The magic amulet that was bought to me wasn't a handiwork of the Clan of Glazedale but only a replica." Usal ko na ikinagulat niya. 

That's right, I figured it out the moment I had woken up and re-examined the amulet. The gems used in the amulets are submerged in moon drip water which makes it invisible in the mirror. Noong sinuot ko iyon kanina at tinapat sa salamin ay lumalabas pa rin doon ang imahe ng hiyas. 

I trusted the merchants and maids to take care of it that's why I didn't have time to check it. Now that I think about it, there must a rat in my palace. 

"Someone is trying to discord the harmonic relationship we had with the Ozlevine's, which means this incident was carefully plotted by someone and they used you as a tool to drive conflict with the Glacial Archon." Upon my words, I saw how anger crossed by brother's face. Anger with the thought he was used by someone. 

"I. . ." Hinayaan ko siyang mag isip-isip sa kabobohang ginawa niya. Ayos lang 'yan. Hindi naman masama maging bobo minsan. 'Wag lang abusuhin. 

But there is something I'm curious about that I wanted to ask. 

"How did you say the Glacial Archon provoked you?" Inangat niya ang kaniyang tingin sa akin. 

"She came here looking for me to ask for the antidote to cure the poison I inflicted to her brother," he paused to look at my reaction. 

Poisoning the Ruler of Ozlevine? Hah! He must've lost his mind! 

"What poison did you use?" I asked as I tried my best to calm down.

"F-flaming Herqusax, your highness." Mariin ko na lang ipinikit ang mga mata ko hanggang sa hindi ko namalayang unti-uting ginagapos ng matitinik na baging ang kapatid ko na siyang rinig na rinig kong dumadaing sa sakit. 

Flaming Herqusax is a deadly poison extracted from killer butterflies, rosary peas, and wolfsbane exposed to methylmercury. It causes a burning sensation in the victim's organs that are fatal to his nervous and circulatory systems. Knowing Xiovenn holding the Oculus of Ice, Flaming Herqusax is the poison that contradicts the flow of his mana that might cause damage in his core.