[√]Lady of the White Rose

67: Decision

VESPER

"Father, Kuya, I'm leaving." Binalingan ko si Lyn at binilinan itong siya na ang bahala sa dalawa habang wala ako. Isang tango ang sinagot nito sa akin bago yumuko. Pinagmasdan ko silang dalawa sa huling pagkakataon bago tuluyang lumabas ng silid.

Nadatnan ko sa labas ang dalawang bata, sina Ren at Kyle. Ginulo ko ang mga buhok nila at naghabilin na magpapakabait habang wala ako. Dumiretso ako sa karwaheng naghihintay sa akin sa labas. I took a quick glance at the coachman driving the carriage to make sure that I know him, and what happened last time will not repeat again.

Nadatnan ko sa loob ng karwahe sina Ashley at Chain. Binati nila akong dalawa.

"Sina Rence?" Ashley inquired.

"Kanina pa sila umalis, hindi ba nagpaalam sa iyo?" Umiling-iling ito. Rence already left to do another task, together with Grand Mage Hina they're going to overturn the Magic Tower before proceeding to take the throne.

Alfonso was left at the mansion, I left a lot of work for him to do. The estate and the people, I know he'll manage them well. Meanwhile I send Aidan to to the Caliber. Para bago tuluyang makaharap ni Rence ang ama niya ay wala na ang mga kakampi nito, hindi na siya mahihirapan pang talunin.

We're going to cut off the king's limbs one after the other, that's the plan. I hope it works. Even tho we've reviewed the plan numerous times, I still feel anxious. Like something wrong is gonna happen.

"Sigurado ka bang hindi na kami sasama sa iyo, V?" Paninigurado nina Ashley at Chain. Bakas sa mga mukha nila ang pag-aalala. Sinabi ko kasing ako na lang mag-isa ang haharap sa hari para sa negosasyong inaalok nito.

"Yes, you can go help Aidan. I know you wanted to even the score with your family," sambit ko kay Chain. "Ashley, alam ko ring nag-aalala ka kay Rence, puntahan mo na siya. Trust me, I'll be fine." I reach for her hand and squeeze it to reassure her that I'll be fine.

Nagkatinginan pa silang dalawa ni Chain bago bumuntong hininga.

"Basta mag-iingat ka. Hwag kang mamamatay, papatayin kita kapag namatay ka!" Banta nito. Natawa naman ako dahil sa sinabi nito.

Pagkatapos ng ilang paalala ay umalis na rin silang dalawa. Nang maiwan ako mag-isa sa loob ng karwahe ay tila parang bulang naglaho ang ngiti sa labi ko. I give the coachman a signal to start moving the carriage. I close my eyes and started reviewing the plan inside my head once again.

I'm checking if I miss something or if the plan's moving at all. Napahawak ako sa ulo ko nang makaramdam ng matinding pagkirot. Humugot ako ng ilang malalalim na buntong hininga. Ilang sandali lamang ay nawala na rin ang pagkirot nito. Pinunasan ko ang butil butil na pawis sa noo ko bago umupo ng maayos.

Lately, I've been having a rather bizarre dream... No, a nightmare perhaps.

My fingers stop fidgeting and a soft chuckle escape my lips. Ridiculous.

I know from the back of my mind that it's neither a dream or a nightmare. I know what those are. Even though I saw them while I was asleep however, they weren't dreams nor nightmares. They're something else... Far more frightening.

"Your Grace, we've arrived."

Napamulat ako ng mga mata nang marinig ang sinabi ng kotsero. Hinawi ko ang kurtina sa loob ng karwahe at tinignan ang labas. Madilim ang paligid. Malamig ang simoy ng hangin at nagkikislapan ang mga bituin sa langit. Lumabas ako at inayos ang pagkakasuot ng cloak ko.

Sinabihan ko ang kotserong hintayin na lamang ako bago ako tuluyang pumasok sa loob ng madilim na gubat. Beyond the forest lies a cave, I enter inside. I walk for about five minutes before a huge double door appear in front of me. I raise my hand and medium size golden ball of light float in front of me.

I float towards the door and the golden light envelope the whole door and with just a single flick of my finger, the door creak open. The ground and the ceiling of the cave shook. Pumasok ako sa loob nito. Isang maliit at mahabang daan ang bumungad sa akin. Isang malalim na bangin ang makikita sa magkabilanh gilid nito.

I gulp before taking the first step walking above the thin narrow road. The golden light continue to light my way above my head, it follows me as I take each step with trembling limbs. A single misstep, I'll fall and die.

Ramdam ko ang paunti-unting pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Ramdam ko ang pagdaloy ng pawis sa likuran ko. Inaaamin ko, kinakabahan ako ngayon. Natatakot. Wala akong ibang gustong gawin ngayon kung hindi ang tumalikod at umuwi.

But... If it's not me, who will do it? Who will take father and Kuya Iklis's souls from these people?

Natigil ang mga paa ko sa paghakbang nang makita ang malaking espasyo sa harap ko. On the far side, an elevated space was found. It looks like an altar where offerings was made. And a huge space in front of it with a mark engraved on the ground. Mori's mark. A scythe with a red spider lily.

"You came," A baritone voice echoed.

Sinubukan itong hanapin ng mga mata ko. Isang tao ang lumabas mula sa altar, may hawak itong candle holder at isang maliit na kutsilyo. Trailing behind him is another person wearing a black cloak carrying a tray with two bottles.

My heart skip a beat. I know even with just a single glance that those bottles were the souls of my family.

"Welcome, Saintess." He continues. "Hindi na sana tayo aabot sa ganito kung sa una pa lang ay tinanggap mo na ang alok ko."

"To get tied with some bastard? No thanks. I'd rather just faceplant into a bowl of water and die." I answer monotonously with a blank face. The king burst out laughing as if what I've said was really amusing. I watch him laughing like some sick psychopath for a while.

He wipe the tears off the edge of his eyes.

"Hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa. You know what I'm here for. I want the souls of my family." I directly stated. I continue walking until I reach the empty space infront of the elevated part.

The corner of his lips arc upward. "I see. You want their souls." Itinaas nito ang kamay niya at lumapit naman sa kanyang tabi ang tauhan nito. "But are you up for a negotiation?"

Mula sa aking kinatatayuan ay kita ko ang mapaglarong ngiti nito. The mischievous glint in his eyes also gave away the hidden ill intentions he's hiding. However, even if I know that he's planning something fishy, I still needed to listen to what he would say. After all, I was the one that needed something from him.

Kailangan kong mag-ingat habang nasa kanya pa ang mga kaluluwa nina papa at kuya Iklis. Baka mainis ko siya at kung ano pa ang gawin niya sa kanila. I can just skin him alive after I secure their souls.

"That's what I'm here for. What do you what in return for their souls?"

Kinuha nito ang isang bote at sinuri sa harapan niya. Halos mahigit ko ang hininga sa kaba nang makitang tila walang ingat niya itong hinawakan. Pakiramdam ko ay mabibitawan niya ito.

"These souls aren't that cheap you know. A swordmaster's and an aspiring knight, both were quiet difficult to obtain. I expect the price to be valuable as well."

"What do you want?"

He pause and stared at me in the eye for a while. Tanging mahihinang ugong ng hangin sa loob ng kweba lamang ang maririnig. Pasimple akong lumunok habang hinihintay nito sabihin ang nais niyang kapalit sa kaluluwa ng pamilya ko.

"You," he utter. "I want the Saintess's soul in exchange for Duke Vallerian and Iklis's souls."

Tila ba isang bomba ang inihagis nito sa akin. Nabingi ako at walang ibang marinig sa aking paligid. I was dumbfounded. Stunned. I don't know what to do.