The Song of Teardrops (Van Doren Series #3)

Chapter Forty-three

Ignited Tomb

Pinasada ko ang kamay ko sa pader ng pasilyong dinaanan namin. Nangunguna si Naeil sa paglalakad at hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko sa likuran niya na mamangha sa paligid. There's nothing inside these walls just like Naeil said. Walang mga palatandaan kung anong klaseng palasyo ito o kung sino ang nagmamay-ari rito noon.

It's just empty.

Wala sa aming dalawa ang nagsalita. Tahimik lang si Naeil habang isa-isang binubuksan ang bawat silid na madadaanan namin habang ako ay nanatili lang na nakahawak sa sariling lampara para bigyan siya ng liwanag sa paghahanap.

I think my words a while ago silenced him. But I wouldn't take those words back. I must draw a line between us. Him and his brothers must know I'm not just another creature in Astraea that they can manipulate. I have to remind myself that the realms are still their territory, they can do anything they want here. Even to a goddess.

At isa pa, napakadami rin ng mga rason nila para hindi ako pagkatiwalaan.

Napatikhim ako bago nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Kakalabas lang ni Naeil ulit sa pang-ilan ng silid na napasukan niya para hanapin apoy na nagsisilbing puso ng bituin. Pero wala pa rin. We've already reached the lowest part of the castle, but still, no heart. Not a single, powerful, ignited fire in this place.

"Well... Maybe there's no bond after all." I said as I stopped on the last door before there's only walls and darkness beyond the archways.

"I still haven't opened it yet." Naeil coldly said behind me.

Napalingon ako sa kanya.

"Huwag na tayong umasa pa, Naeil. We're already at the end..." I said. "There's nothing else there. I can feel it."

"You can only feel it, but I can smell it, Thalia. There are flowers inside." He said then smiled a bit. "This may be a tomb."

Kumunot ang noo ko. I tried to smell the flowers from the inside. Napahakbang ako papalapit nang mayroon nga. Napatingin ako kay Naeil nang nauna siyang pumunta sa pintuan at binuksan iyon. He gaze at me and sighed. He offered his hand.

"Bond or no bond, I won't regret trying to find it with you here," he said.

Napatingin ako sa kamay niya. Napalunok ako bago dahan-dahan iyong tinanggap. Tama siya. Kahit papaano'y sinubukan pa rin namin.

"I want to tell you something, but you have to promise me first not to mention this to my father," he murmured as he walk me inside the tomb.

I slowly nodded.

"I used to speak with my grandfather." Panimula niya. "He find his way through realms just to get to know us."

My mouth parted. Hindi na ako magtataka pa. That sounds like something King Cassius would do. That also explains why Naeil knew so much about Astraea and his family even though he's not completely born to it yet.

"He told me secrets. Those he can't speak of in reality because of his position. Those he can't tell anyone. Words he won't risk to be heard that he won't even dare to whisper them." He muttered and glanced at me. "If there's one Van Doren you trust, I know it would be him. I trusted him too."

Napakurap ako. "Anong gusto mong sabihin?"

"I'm saying that if you ever need anything, or anyone, you always find me in the realms..." he said. "Even if we don't have a bond or a proper friendship, I'd still like to help you in certain ways I can."

I felt something in me stirred and elevated. I would appreciate that, but I wouldn't need it. Not in the other world I would be soon. And our aspirations would never be the same with each other. We will always perhaps contradict.