Sand Scented Jar (Gazellian Series #9)

Chapter 41

Dedicated to: Jenny (Thank you so much for attending our TOS meet and greet event! )

Chapter 41: Found

Mariing nakakuyom ang mga kamay ko habang gumagala ang mga mata ko sa paligid.

Different creatures from different clans towered on each side of the aisle. I couldn't see their faces but their shadows, and their eyes glinted in delight as they were about to witness great entertainment.

Kasalukuyan nang umaagos ang buhangin sa naglalakihang butas sa pader at unti-unti nitong tinatakpan ang mga paa ko.

Sa kabila nang daang mga aninong may mga nanlilisik na mga mata, may iilang mga mata akong malinaw na nakikilala. It was how the cloaked woman who was now revealing her face— Harper and the red-haired woman who was standing by her side— were looking down at me, taunting and challenging me.

There was a time in my life when I was in a similar situation, yet this one was quite different. Creatures around me looked at me with contempt, unlike when I stood in a huge arena in Sartorias, where our citizens cheered for my success, not for my suffering.

Kumirot ang dibdib ko.

I used to face tough situations with my brothers and sister, yet in this journey, I had to accept that I'd be alone— with my newfound family. I was grateful to have them— these women and Kreios, but I couldn't help but think of my siblings.

The cut on my cheek stung again. I felt the trickle of my blood, but I chose to ignore it. The way they looked at me— the way these creatures surrounded me to witness entertainment was how the embargoes were treated in Sartorias.

I always thought that it was Zen's power that would make me feel cold— but right at that moment, it felt like I was in the middle of winter, and it felt so suffocating that I had to muster the strength to stop one of my hands from clutching my chest.

When I first entered the Entertainment District, each creature in this place seemed to live in its own world—the sounds scattered everywhere yet it was lively. The moon shone brightly above the dark sky, overlooking the red arc at the entrance. Connected to the arc was a web-like red string, with hanging red strips of cloth spreading from the arc's end to the last house of pleasure on the end of the aisle, like a carpet draped in the air—a roof—with dangling red ribbons with the wind.

Despite the nature of the place—it was no doubt a beauty for its combination of the bright color of red with the dim light of the lanterns— added to the uniform structural old design of each house of pleasure. But the beauty of this place was slowly fading away as my eyes were suddenly engulfed by darkness— shadows of those faces with evil smiles brought by anticipation of someone else's misery.

Bagaman nakararamdam ng ako ng takot at kaba, hindi ko maiwasang isipin ang naranasan ng mga naunang kababaihan na inialay sa larong ito. The way they suffered—the fear, the hope... even the ruthless thought that someone on the other side might die in their place.

Sa mundong ito, higit na mahina ang mga kababaihan. Lagi silang talo. They were mostly known for entertainment. Kahit sa panahong ito'y ganoon pa rin ang karamihan sa tingin ng nakararami. I couldn't blame my father for trying... for seeing a new world where women could show their worth and power— those were his dreams that these women who brought me into this situation saw hope in him. Yet, it was also the very reason that they trapped me here— to make me realize that my father had failed them.

Mas malakas na sigawan ang umalingawngaw sa kabuuan ng lugar na iyon nang sabay na umagos ang tubig na naririnig ko mula sa kabilang panig at ang mga buhangin na bumububos mula sa mga butas ng nagtataasang pader.