Echoes of the Abyss (Delaney Series #2)

Chapter 10: Harmless Threat

Harmless Threat

Adelaide's POV

When I went out of the forest, I was shocked to see an owl coming to me and then when it landed on land, Evette appeared in front of me.

"Congratulations on completing your task, My Lady," he said.

He sounded sincere, ngunit kita sa mukha niya ang pagtataka habang nakatingin sa bato na hawak ko. "May gusto ka bang itanong?"

"How did you get the gem and find the cave?"

I smiled. "Let's just say that nature led me the way," sagot ko. "Kailangan mo bang kunin to?"

He shake his head. "You can keep it, My Lady," he said. "Your next quest is to find a kadupul flower."

"Huh? Hindi ba't sa gabi lamang ito namumulaklak?" Tanong ko.

Kadupul flowers are hide to find, I cannot even summon it using my own power. It is rare because it dies easily.

"You need to bring it alive," he told me.

I closed my eyes, frustrated now because of the task. Ngunit magagawa ko rin naman ito diba dahil sa kapangyarihan ko?

"How is that even possible?" I asked, frustrated now.

"I'm sorry, My Lady, I am only told to rely the information."

I sighed. "It's okay," sagot ko na lang sa kanya.

"Very well, I'll take my leave now, Lady Adelaide," he transformed into an owl again but I heard him talk before leaving. "A prince wishes you good luck."

A prince? I smiled a little when I realized what he meant. "Thank you."

The sun was rising and it's rays was going inside the forest, lighting the place. "I guess we need to go?" I talked to my horse.

I went home to the mansion and Flora was shocked to see me enter the door. "Tapos na ang selection? Bakit ang bilis mo?"

"I will be out tonight," I said. "May alam ka ba kung saan namumulaklak yung mga kadupul na bulaklak?"

"Huh? Sa gabi lang namumulaklak yan, namamatay rin agad kapag pinitas," she said. "Sa isang lugar lang meron dito nyan ngunit hindi ko alam kung totoo nga ang lugar na iyon."

Nakuha ng sinabi niya ang atensyon ko. "Saan daw?"

"The flower was said to bloom in the place where the heavens and the underworld meet," she said lightly. "See? Anong lugar yan?"

"Oo nga," malalim akong bumuntong hininga.

"Para saan ba ang bulaklak? Utusan mo kaya ang kapangyarihan mo."

I closed my eyes and tried to summon the flower while Flora just stood there waiting for me to finish.

"Ayaw talaga," natatawa kong sabi. "Hahanapin ko nalang mamayang gabi," saad ko sa kanya.

I excused myself from Flora and stayed in my room the whole day, waiting for night to come.

Nang mag gabi ay nagpaalam ulit ako kay Flora na aalis ulit. "Mag ingat ka, Adelaide."

Tahimik na ang bayan nang lumabas ako, tanging tunog na lamang ng mga kuliglig ang maririnig at ang mahinang huni ng mga ibon.

I was riding my horse and stopped in the middle of the town to think where I can find that certain place.

"Where the heavens and the underworld meet," I whispered to myself.

Hindi ko alam ngunit nakita ko na lang ang sarili ko na nakatanaw sa malaking palasyo na nasa aking harap.