The Lost Orb [PFS #1, The Bearer]

49 "Down to Ashes (Part 2)"

THIRD PERSON'S POV
Era 972

THE CANDELABRAS burned dimmer that one evening. The man in front of her rests his hand on the table, fingertips drumming lightly as he waits for her words to reveal itself. Naging mabigat ang atmospera sa loob ng kanilang silid.

The sound of his fingers tapping further stresses the silence gwaning in the room. A door is slightly opened nearby them so to keep an eye on their children while the night is slipping deeper.

Malalim naman siyang napahinga. The strings uniting her thoughts starts shuffling in chaos. She can't come up with an answer that would sort all of these things out, or one that will put it in their places. Still, she needs to be open with him even so.

"How about we return to Asleria Kingdom? We're already in a tight spot to further hide from the enemies. The Aslerians are likely the only ally we have at present. They would for sure accept our seeking of refuge."

"Babalik ka sa lugar na tinakasan mo?"

"Kahit na humingi ako ng tulong sa Grand Arbiter ng Zavied, siguradong sa kaharian lang din ng Asleria nila ako itatapon," inipon niya ang bigat na nakadagan sa kaniyang dibdib bago ibuga iyon.

"I can't escape alone. I can't abandon you and the children here. My absence will only make your safety vulnerable and I can't let that happen." Paulit-ulit na pag-iling niya.

Mabigat na sumara ang talukap ng mga mata ng kaniyang asawa at gumawi sa ibang direksyon. A visible gulp traced the skin of his neck. Heavy. Rough. "Have you ever thought of that when you accepted their request?"

She sealed her lips tightly instead. Hindi niya nasalubong ng tingin ang pwesto nito. There's a slow fire scorching inside her, and one apology isn't enough to dissipate it. This is the result of her own making, so she lets it consume her from within. Hindi pa nga iyon sapat upang tapalan ang pagkakamali niya.

"I was blinded. I got blinded again by . . ."

"You still clings to honor." He finished. "What sustains your will to live isn't what you consider superficial things in this world, rather, their creed that binds with you. Your duty. Your long held weak spot is none other than your undying loyalty to them."

"This family isn't superficial to me. You all matter to me. Why would you say that?" She suppressed the emotion building up in her.

"Dahil hindi mo muna tinimbang kung anong mas importante sa 'yo," kalmadong bitaw niya sa kaniyang mga kataga. Kahit bahiran pa siya ng pagkamuhi, hindi niya magagawang sigawan ang kahit na sino sa kanila. "I tried saving you. I thought I saved you. I tried my best to divert you from that blind devotion of yours, but I guess there's no helping it. The honor, the duty you swore your life with wouldn't help you once you fall. You know that very well, Vanessa."

She executed a fallen royal blood from the Hadean Empire, she's aware of her action. Her self-awareness is a lethal aspect of her that she kept treasured. But things shouldn't be in this predicament na halos magdulot na ito ng hysteria sa pamilya niya.