Chapter 51: Jar
Nanatili akong nakayuko habang pinagmamasdan ang pinagsama-samang mga buhangin sa pagitan ng aking mga kamay.
I'd seen Kreios use his ability a lot of times, in combats, protection, and as a sign of his power, but it felt so different right now. His sands were swirling— creating its own hurricane in our hands, and its grain glowed in gold and in other different colors, illuminating in my cheeks.
I felt butterflies in my stomach as the whispers of the sands spinning in our hands sounded like a song— a lullaby I thought only I could give.
I was still young when I first saw the jar and chose it because it was attractive to my eyes. Even though I had an inkling that could be used just like how the other relics helped my siblings, still the feeling was so overwhelming that I was lost for words.
Hindi rin nagtagal ay lumapit na rin sa amin ang magkapatid na Le'Vamuievos at dumungaw sa mga kamay namin ni Kreios.
"You should have told us earlier. Tch, nabasa tuloy ako," Pryor complained.
"I volunteered. Kayong dalawa ni Rosh ay nanguna sa akin," ngiwing sagot ni Kreios.
Marahang yumuko si Rosh at pinagmamasdan niya iyong banga na nabubuo sa buhangin. Nakahawak ang isang kamay niya sa kanyang baba. "This can be a good business in Deltora."
"Pottery? We don't have someone in Deltora with the same ability—" natigil si Pryor nang tumayo nang tuwid si Rosh.
"We don't need another vampire. We have magicians from Fevia Attero. I am trying to hire some. My mate's pets might have the ability to—"
Kreios rolled his eyes. "Stop exploiting magicians from Fevia Attero, Rosh."
Bumuntonghininga na lang ako at pinagpatuloy ko ang panunuod sa pagbuo ng banga.
"When did he give this to you? You told me that you never met him," I looked at Kreios accusingly.
He smiled awkwardly. "To be honest, our meeting isn't something that I think would help us, and I did not recognize him. I just had a hunch that it was him."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa kanya.
"Huh?" sabay iyong magkapatid na Le'Vamuievos.
Kahit ako ay hindi makapaniwala. How couldn't he recognize my father? It was him who told me that he wouldn't forget an encounter if it was with my father.
"I don't understand, Kreios. How didn't you recognize him? He's purposely meeting his children's mate to leave a clue."
When I thought I already knew how Father moved in his game, giving us clues through our mates and the relics that would lead us the way, he purposely hid his identity when it was Kreios.
"Maybe he was telling you the truth, and King Thaddeus hid his identity in purpose," sabi ni Rosh na siyang nasa isip ko.
"Maybe his encounter with King Thaddeus is something he was too ashamed, so he tried to purposely forget—" unti-unting humina iyong boses ni Pryor hanggang sa hindi na niya iyon ituloy nang tila matauhan siya sa ibig sabihin ng mga sinasabi niya.
"Damn it," he whispered.
"Like you?" sabay na sabi nina Rosh at Kreios.
Napailing na lang ako.
"You mentioned a jar. I don't remember King Thaddeus giving me a jar."
Pinagkrus ni Rosh ang kanyang mga braso bago sumilip sa likuran. "It's draining. How long will it take to form that jar?"
