Echoes of the Abyss (Delaney Series #2)

Chapter 8: Selection

Selection

Adelaide's POV

It's been a month... a month since I last saw the Prince and a month since my parents died.

"Ayan na ba ang mga bulaklak na ipapadala
sa palasyo?" Tanong ni Flora sa akin habang nakatingin sa kumpol ng bulaklak na hawak ko.

"Oo, maaari mo bang ipadala ito ngayon din?"

Ngumiti siya sa akin at kinuha ang bulaklak sa aking kamay. "Ako na lamang ang maghahatid nito, ito lang ba?"

"Hmm," nakangiti akong tumango sa kanya.
I looked at the entire garden when Flora left.

There were flowers and new plants that I took care of because they reminded me of my parents.

The time I spent in the garden with them was the motivation I used to keep going. I may have been in pain... so much that I wasn't able to function for weeks, but I am still here.

Those creatures did me wrong but I promised myself to always have a good heart, and be kind, but also be brave if I needed to.

I could still hear the voices, the echoes from an unknown person and it's driving me nuts. Ngunit hindi ko ito hahayaan na sirain ang buhay ko.

I left our mansion, riding my horse to buy the vase from the same shop.

"Magandang Araw," bati ko sa babae.

She was an enchantress. "Magandang Araw," nakangiti niyang bati. "Have you heard about the news from the palace?"

"Bakit? Anong meron?"

"They're looking for new town leaders," sagot nito sa akin. "The guards arrived this morning, balita ko ay pati sa ibang bayan ay naghahanap sila ng mga pinuno."

"Hindi ba't mayroon ng pinuno ang ibang bayan?" Usisa ko.

"Binalita na bumaba na sa pwesto ang ibang mga pinuno," sagot niya. "Sumali ka, alam kong kaya mong maging pinuno ng Erderos."

"Talaga?" Nag liwanag ang aking mukha sa aking nalaman.

"Oo, sumali ka," aya nito sa akin.

"Susubukan ko," sagot ko sa kanya. "I'll get the vases."

It was a transparent vase that has gold in its foot, and a diamond on its handle.

Her palms glowed and then the vases were wrapped by thin sheets of pink lights. "Salamat."

"See you again, next time, Lady Adelaide," paalam niya sa akin.

I saw guards from the palace that were roaming around the town, maybe because of the search for new town leaders.

"Those who wish to join shall meet us in the forest at dawn," a guard said.

Dawn.

I didn't go straight home after that, I went to the mountains and sat on my usual spot. The wind was calm and everything was peaceful.

"Oh you will not be having that peace once we get you."

"Lubayan nyo na ako!"

I got up, wanting to leave now.

Ever since Leon did something to that creatures, hindi na ulit sila nagpakita sa akin, hanggang pakikipag usap nalang ang nagagawa nila sa akin.

I don't know what he did but I was sure that he did it right. Hindi pa ako nagpapasalamat sa kanya.

Maybe next time, I get to talk to him again and thank him for saving me.

~

"Wala ka ng ibang kailangan?" Tanong sa akin ni Flora, gumising pa siya ng madaling araw para makita ang pag alis ko.

"Wala na, maraming salamat, Flora."

Yumakap siya sa akin. "Mag ingat ka, Lady Adelaide."

The cold wind was brushing my face with
every step my horse takes. My brown hair was messy because of how fast my horse ran.

"Easy," I whispered to my horse.

There was this unusual feeling in my heart. I know that this is just me, wanting to step out of my comfort zone, I wanted to lead.

"You think that you will be chosen?" I heard the voices again, it echoed in my mind, even its laughter was too loud.

Louder than the crickets, the sound of my horse running, it was loud, so deafening

"Tumahimik kayo," I shouted in my mind.

I heard laughters one last time before the voices disappeared.

They will never be successful to putting me down, I have experienced the most painful thing that could happen to me and I survived all that.

Their voices might be loud but my courage is strong.

I stopped my horse and all the guards from the palace looked at me when I arrived, may ibang nilalang din na galing sa Erderos, mga sasali sa selection.

"I guess she is the last one?" The guard said.
Bumaba ako sa kabayo ko at tinali ito sa isang puno.

When I finished tying my horse, I surveyed the surrounding and saw Auroravale's highest
guard, the bird which transformed into a man.

Evette?

Tumingin din siya sa akin at pasimpleng tumango. I smiled a little at him and then he started speaking.

"I guess we all know why you are here, our city is in need for new leaders," panimula niya. "Your skills will be tested, to see if you are fit to be a leader, a guard will come to each of you, and will tell you what you need to do," dagdag nito.

"May fortune favor all of you," he said and then he turned into a beautiful owl before flying away.

There was only six of us, and we were approached by guards. Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na ako lamang ang nag iisang babae.

"Sigurado ka bang sasali ka?" Tanong ng isang guwardiya sa akin. "Hindi isang biro ang selection," he said.

Finding a new leader is called selection. "Kaya ko ang aking sarili," sagot ko sa kanya.

Tumango lamang ito sa akin. "Your first task is to look for the palace's missing relic," sabi niya.

"What relic?"

"A gemstone found in an ancient tree."

A gemstone? It should be easy because I only need to find the tree to see the stone right?

"But you need to keep in mind, the tree is guarded by beasts, and other creatures so the task will not be easy," he added.

"Ang bato rin ba ang hahanapin ng ibang kalahok?"

"Oo, kaya simulan mo na bago ka nila maunahan," aniya.

I looked around and found that the others were on their way to find the stone because they're not here anymore.

My problem now is to locate the tree. It's the palace's relic so it should be here in Auroravale.

Bukas na ang siyudad kaya maaari na kaming lumabas ngunit alam ko na ang bato ay nandito lamang sa Auroravale.

It is the palace's relic so I know that it is important at hindi nila ilalagay sa malayo ito. And if it's a tree, ang bayan namin ang may pinakamaraming halaman kaya may kutob ako na nandito lang sa Erderos ang punong iyon.

"Salamat," saad ko sa guwardiya.

"Safe travels," sagot nito.

Sumakay ako sa aking kabayo, madilim pa rin ang buong paligid at alam ko na hindi magiging madali ang aking paghahanap kaya kailangan kong ihanda ang aking sarili.

I'm thinking of going to the nearest forest first, kung kailangan kong puntahan lahat ng gubat sa Erderos ay gagawin ko.

Ako na lang mag isa ang nasa lugar kasama ang mga guwardiya, natitiyak ko na nag uumpisa na ang iba sa paghahanap ng puno.

I guess I got to move now.