Scars of Chaos

Chapter 43

Third Person’s Point of View

Weeks have already passed, and during those days, the people back in the camp were really worried and were hoping that the Titans would come back as soon as possible to stop the darkness from crawling towards them. Ramdam na ramdam na nila ang papalapit na digmaan kung kaya’t ang takot na pilit nilang iwiniwaksi ay mas lalong lumalaki.

Habang abala ang lahat sa paghahanda ng mga kagamitan na gagamitin sa paparating na laban, ang hari at reyna nama’y nasa loob ng kanilang tent at trina-track kung nasaan na ngayon ang mga Titans sa pamamagitan ng isang magic item na tanging ang royal family lamang ang puwedeng gumamit. Ang magic item na ito ay isang hand mirror na nagtataglay ng mahika. Sa pamamagitan nito ay puwede mong ma-track ang kahit na sino hangga’t sa mayroon kang essence ng mahika ng taong iyon.

“Did you find them?" The king asked the queen as he approached her.

Tumabi ang hari sa kaniyang reyna at masuyo itong hinawakan sa kamay. Nang makita niya na walang imaheng ipinapakita ang salamin ay nag-aalala niyang binalingan ng tingin ang reyna. “Don’t worry, they are the best warriors. They will be fine.”

Napabuntong hininga naman ang reyna at sumandal sa balikat ng asawa. “It’s been weeks since they left, and I’ve been monitoring them since then, but after they found the last gem, they suddenly disappeared. Hindi ko na maramdaman ang kanilang mahika sa kahit saang lugar, and the magic item isn’t helping!” Hindi niya napigilang mapaluha. Ang hawak niya sa kamay ng kaniyang asawa ay bahagyang humigpit, sunod niyang tinignan ng malamlam ang hari. “The war is tomorrow, and they are still not back. I am terribly worried. I am hoping that they are all okay, especially our daughter.”

"Hey," the king gently cupped the queen’s face. Hinarap niya ito sa kaniya at masuyo itong tinignan. “Our princess is safe because she’s with her friends. Sigurado ako na kung nasaan man sila ngayon ay ligtas sila,” he said as he caressed the queen’s cheeks with his thumb.

“Tomorrow we will be fighting thousands of dead armies. It is a battle between the dead and the living, so we need much help there is,” nanghihinang saad ng reyna. “Many will fall."

“And they will not be forgotten. Nakasalalay sa digmaan na ito ang buong mundo,” the king said. “If the reign of the phantom queen continues, many will continue to suffer. Mas mabuti nang tapusin natin agad, kaysa dumami pa ang inosenteng madamay. The Titans are fighting somewhere out there, so we should hold on too.”

Natigil lang sila sa kanilang pag-uusap nang ipaalam sa kanila ng guwardiya na nagbabantay sa labas na nais pumasok ng lord commander upang magbalita. Kaagad naman nilang inayos ang kanilang sarili para harapin ito. Shortly after that, the headmistress, Leia, entered the tent together with the lord commander on their side.

“Your grace,” the two said, showing respect.

“There are reports from the watch guards near the battle grounds; they said that the phantom queen was seen alone on the said ground last night." The lord commander then gulped as sweat began to form on his forehead. “She was seen pulling the dead bodies of the soldiers from different houses. Many bodies are from the house of Mystique, one of ours, your grace. According to the reports, the bodies were wrapped in some kind of black smoke as the phantom queen pulled them. It is believed to be her magic. In addition, the dead bodies are now half buried to the ground with flags of the different houses they serve buried through each of their heads.”

“H-How cruel…” Napahawak na lamang ang reyna sa kaniyang bibig matapos iyon marinig. Kaagad naman siyang dinaluhan ng hari at saka pinaupo.