The Ruler of Westeria

Kabanata 22

Xiomara

Pinagmasdan ko ang mukha ng babaeng iginuhit ni Noe. He confessed he had given a petal of Glaze Lily to the local physician that cured my brother. Lawfully speaking, he should be punished, but it was for me to decide because I am the Glacial Archon. Besides, I could not bare to punish him knowing he had no choice and he needs to decide for the life of his friend. 

But this certain female local physician who came out of nowhere. . . just who the hell is she? Looking at the detailed sketch that Noe personally draw, she look nothing like the characters I've described from my novel. 

And to think that she demands a petal of the ancient flower means she is knowledgeable enough of its power. That can't just be a matter of coincidence. Hindi pwedeng nagkataon lang iyon. Kung titingnan ay pinagsamantalahan lang nito ang sitwasyon para makuha ang nais niya. 

"Your highness?" Nilapag ko ang papel na naglalaman ng guhit ni Noe sabay gulo ng buhok ko. 

Nothing is going along my plot! It's all been messed up! 

Halos isang linggo na ang nakakalipas simula nang mangyari ang kaguluhan sa Terrasierra. I had no news what happened to the Terra Archon, ang tanging balitang nakuha ko'y gising na ito't pansamantalang nagpapahinga upang manumbalik ang lakas niya. 

Lugmok pa rin ang ekonomiya ng rehiyon ng Terrasierra. The wildfire that devoured their region was said to be caused by the anger of the Ancient Goddess. Natigilan ako nang may rumihistro sa utak ko. 

Caused by the anger of the Ancient Goddess. . . they mean Esmeralda? 

Napaayos ako nang upo. I placed both of my hands in the table as I began to think about the situation. The Goddess hasn't even awakened just yet, so how come that disaster was caused by her? The Goddess is still on her deep slumber and is yet to be revived. This doesn't make any sense. Someone else must be behind that fire. 

A certain memory flashed in my mind. Napakurap ako nang maalala ang lalaking nagligtas sa akin sa gitna nang napakalakas na ulan. Hindi ko masyadong maaninag ang mukha niya pero natatandaan ko ang mga mata niya. 

Those pair of orbs that look straight into my soul, it was blank and cold. But there was anger hidden deep within those eyes as if seeing me in that horrendous situation drives him mad. Even if I was barely conscious that time, I could remember how his shadow danced against the fire that devoured the region. I gasped when I suddenly remembered a certain person. 

Could that be him? The infamous Zaharthan King? 

Binagsak ko ang kamay ko sa mesa at nasulyapan ko ang pagayos ng tayo ni Noe sa harapan ko. Ni hindi pa nga napupunta sa exciting part ng kuwento nagpakita na siya? Masyado 'ata siyang excited? 

Napasinghal na lang ako sa kawalan. Right, that must be him. Tanda kong umuulan noong araw na iyon, subalit hindi sapat ang ulan upang patayin ang nagbabagang apoy na kumakalat sa buong Terrasierra. No one could possibly defy nature not unless it was him. Siya at tanging siya lang ang mayroong kakayahang gawin 'yon. 

Ngayon ang tanging katanungan lang sa isip ko ay kung bakit napaaga ang pagpaparamdam niya. He's supposed to show up after Xiomara was accused of trying to murder the Westerian Czar. Saka lang siya lalabas kung kailan tinalikuran na ng mga Arkon ang isa't-isa't napagtagumpayan niyang sirain ang tiwala sa pagitan ng mga ito. 

"Your highness?" Hindi ko pinansin ang pagtawag sa akin ni Noe.

Xiomara and the Zaharthan King's fate had always been interconnected. They are bound to meet and fall in love and become enemies. That's how it should be. Sa mga sandaling nasa panganib si Xiomara ay palagi niya itong inililigtas nang hindi niya namamalayan.