[√]Lady of the White Rose

29: Confusion

VESPER

"Block all the information regarding Kuya Kaido's missing corpse. Make sure not a single get out!" Utos ko kay Alfonso na agaran naman niyang sinunod. Hindi na nga ako natulog at inasikaso na ang insidente bago pa lumala.

Kasama ko ang Third Squad at inimbistigahan namin ang sementeryo. When I arrived at his grave, my heart almost sank when I saw how messed up it was. It looks like it was dug up in a hurry. The shovel was even left behind.

I spent two days busy taking over the investigation. I wasn't even able to do a single paper work because of this unforseen events. Also, I'm wondering why I didn't even saw it beforehand. No visions or whatsoever. Kaya naman napatingin ako kay Aya na tahimik sa tabi ko mula pa noong ibinalita ni Alfonso sa akin ang nangyari.

"Aya," tawag ko rito. "Why didn't I foresee any of this happening?"

There's no response from her. She remained silent.

Napabuntong hininga ako bago sumandal sa sopa. "You know, Aya, I've been trying to dig and search everything to uncover the mysteries of what the hell is happening to my life. Napapaisip na lang ako, may mali ba sa ginagawa ko? May kulang pa ba sa effort at sakripisyong binibigay ko? Bakit hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin alam kung ano'ng tunay na nangyari kina papa at sa buong first squad? Why is it that I feel like I was just running in circles? There were evidences found but I don't even know what they were. I feel so stupid."

I still received no response from her so I continue.

"You're the most revered Goddess in this Kingdom, and you claimed that you know everything, can you... Tell me everything... As your saintess. I-I at least wanted to know if father and Kuya Iklis are still alive." Mababaliw na ako.

"V, it's not good for a human to know everything. Just continue what you've been thus far, the truth will come to light sooner or later. Be patient. Everything has their own perfect timing. Be patient, my child."

"But I'm your Saintess,"

"You're still a human." Diin nito. "Puntahan mo si Gran dahil may isang mahalagang impormasyon siyang hawak na makakatulong sa iyo. Hindi ko maaaring ibigay sa'yo ang lahat ng sagot sa mga katanungan mo, ikaw mismo ang kailangan ang tumuklas sa kanila. Sa ngayon ay babalik na muna ako sa templo, babalik din ako kaagad. Mag-iingat ka, V."

Hindi pa ako nakakasagot kung payag ba ako na umalis siya o hindi ay bigla na lamang itong naglaho na parang bula. Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako ng malalim dahil sa ginawa niya.

Let me gather my thoughts first. Let's recall all the misfortunes that happened in my life for the past months. My father and brothers got into an accident, kuya Kaido died, father and kuya Iklis was still missing. Gran reported to me last time that they found traces of magic and beast flesh around the place where father's aura was also found. No clue about kuya Iklis so far.

Then, assassins have been coming in and out of our estate like it's an unguarded place. But since Aya started living with me, the assassination attempts has stop. Then there's the royal family and the Frontera's branch families that obviously looking down on me. Maintaining the family's standing and image.

And now, Kuya Kaido's missing corpse...

I raised my hand, a flicker of golden light form on the tips of my finger and slowly wrap around my whole hand. I place it in my chest as I took several slow, deep breath. To calm my nerves. To heal my aching heart. Give it a steel-like resolve because if I don't, I might fell apart before I resolve any of my problems.

Nang kumalma ang pakiramdam ko ay mabilis akong tumayo sa aking kinauupuan. Dumiretso ako sa wardrobe ko at nagbihis ng mas komportableng damit.

Nang matapos at nag stretching ako ng ilang sandali. Binuksan ko ang bintana at tumalon. But I didn't fall, I float in the air, just like how Aya taught me last time. I then teleported outside the estate.

Bago ako dumiretso sa Mucul Village, kung nasaan si Gran ay dumaan muna muli ako sa puntod ni kuya Kaido, to check how's the investigation is going on. When I saw that everything's going smoothly, I immediately teleported to the Mucul Village.

I was in the clift where father and kuya Iklis's carriage fell down. Dumungaw ako upang tignan ang ibaba. It was already dark but it was way more darker beneath the clift.

"Young Lady Vesper?"

I was brought back to reality when I heard a familiar voice behind me. When I turn around, I saw Gran's confuse face.

"Duchess," pagtatama ko rito.

Tila natauhan naman ito, mabilis itong yumuko upang magbigay galang sa akin. He address me as Duchess afterwards.

"Let's not talk here, there might have been eyes around us. Let's go somewhere safer where we can have a private conversation."

Gran immediately agree to my suggestion, siguro ay ramdam niya rin naman na hindi ligtas ang mag-usap kami sa labas. Iginiya ako nito sa loob ng gubat. Malayo-layo rin ang nilakad namin bago narating ang isang malaking punong kahoy. Tumigil ito sa harap nito at may kinapa-kapa bago may tila isang pintuan ang bumukas.

It wasn't just a huge old tree but a secret hideout?

Hindi na ako nagtanong pa at sumunod kay Gran ng tahimik, kahit pa gusto kong itanong sa kanya kung paano niya nagawa ang lugar na 'to. It's cool.

"Duchess, bakit kayo naparito? At mag-isa ka lang? Bakit hindi ka nagpasama sa mga Knights? Paano na lang kung may nangyaring masama sa'yo?" Nag-aalala nitong pag-uusisa.

"Gran, I'm fine. Huwag ka mag-alala at kasama ko ang Diyosang si Malaya."

Tila natigilan naman ito sa aking sinabi. Kumunot ang noo kong nakatingin sa kanya. "Why?" I ask.

"I don't think it's a good thing to put your safety in the hands of God or Goddess. They're not as good as you think they are. And they don't always answer your prayer however hard you pray."

Bumukas ang labi ko ngunit agaran din naman nagsara. Gusto kong magsalita, gusto kong sabihin na hindi ganun si Aya, ngunit bigla kong naalala ang sarili ko kay Gran. I remembered praying to Malaya while holding the corpse of my brother, asking, begging her to return my brother to my arms. At that time, I received no response, like she didn't even exist.

But then, one day, she suddenly appeared and claimed that I am her Saintess.

As her Saintess, I wanted to take her side, and told Gran that Malaya isn't a blind and deaf Goddess but as Vesper, as a helpless girl who once prayed to her, I choose to remain silent.

"Anyway, I received the reports. Marami akong mga katanungang ukol dito," umupo ako sa upuang hinatak nito. He prepared tea for the both of us before sitting in front of me. Humigop ako sa tsaa.

"You can ask anything that you want to know, Duchess. However, I am afraid that I can't answer all your questions dahil hindi pa rin kami tapos sa pag-iimbistiga hanggang ngayon."

"Naiintindihan ko," ibinaba ko ang tasa ng tsaa. "In the report I received, you mentioned about finding traces of magic as well as father's aura in the same place, is there a chance that the Magic Tower is involved in this case?" Maingat kong tanong rito. Kahit ako ay hindi rin sigurado dito ngunit malakas ang kutob ko sa bagay na ito.

"There is only one Magic Tower within the Lorence Kingdom, but there are two Grand Mages ruling the said tower. Do you think the tower is a small place for two kings to rule?"

"What do you mean?" Bakit ba hindi na lang niya ako diretsohin, ang daming pasakalye, nahihirapan ang mga brain cells ko sa pag-intindi.

"The Magic Tower might and might not be involved with this,"

Huh? Bakit mas lalo atang gumulo ang lahat?