LUNA

13: Bumpy Ride

R-18. Read with caution. Sexual scenes are present in this story. :)

—

Being this close to anyone in particular is a nightmare. Every time he breathes, every shift of his hardened muscles, every words reverberating from his chest— I can feel it. Hindi ako komportable sa pwesto naming dalawa pero hindi ko yon pinahalata. Let the prince think that I like him pressed against my back. Let the prince think that I'm liking his cold hold. Hindi naman sa sobrang dikit ng katawan namin sa isa't isa, pero para na niya akong yinayakap sa position namin sa itaas ng kabayo niya. Hawak hawak niya ang tali ng kabayo kaya nakabalot saakin ang braso niya— Pinipilit kong hindi sumandal sa matigas niyang katawan. Balancing myself on top of the horse's saddle was an easy task for me to do, and I can't help but to feel proud of myself about it.

Halos lahat ata ng mga mortal na nadadaanan namin ay napapatingin sa gawi ko— oh, of course they'll stop to greet and watch their handsome crown prince, but the eyes became viciously piercing when it darted to me. Thanks to my heightened senses, I can hear their murmurings and judgments about me.

"Sino yan? Bagong laruan nanaman ba ng prinsipe?"

"Pink hair and pink eyes. Iba din beauty ng babaeng to. Normal pa ba yan? Kaya pala nabighani niya ang prinsipe"

"Why is a royal guard riding with the prince?"

"Tignan niyo. Puros mga babae ang royal guards ngayon. And their uniforms are different from the normal ones we see everyday. Bago sigurong mga recruits"

"Whore"

"Ugh, sarap sakalin ni ate. Dikit na dikit kay prince Cayden"

I find it entertaining to hear them talk about me in a bad way. But I find it more entertaining to see that the other witches following behind us hardly refraining themselves from baring their canines and snarl at every mortal we pass by. Blondy looks irritated the most. Nym is the only one grinning at everything. Blanko lamang ang mukha kong pinagmamasdan ang lahat.

This is Viantla City. The capital city of Lapetus. Home of the rising sun. It is said that you can witness the most extravagant sunrises here in this city— true. I've been watching it happen everyday from the dooms forest. We've been riding for about 20 minutes now, and the crown prince told me that mayroon pang tatlong streets para makalabas kami dito. Ngayon, nasa isang street kami kung saan puros mga restaurants ang madadaanan mo.

"Here you can buy the most delicious sweets you could ever taste in your whole life" I hear him again behind me, talking like I do not know anything about his kingdom. For the record, sa 50 years na nandito ako, pinag-aralan ko ang mapa ng kingdom niya. I know that if I go northward now— I will be heading to 3 more lands before entering another forest. Continuing from there, mararating mo ang mga iba't ibang guilds ng mga mortal—The most dangerous route kasi nandito lahat ang mga trained race killers. Another flat land, tapos mararating mo na ang border. Either climb the border or find your way through the well-guarded gates, your choice.

Then, tapos kana sa tradisyon.

Hekate, the black witch kingdom will be behind that border waiting.

See why I didn't leave dooms forest agad agad? It's pure stupidity to move forward without preparing yourself for the worst. Especially kapag nasa guild land kana. Who knows what type of race killers I will be facing there?

"Zarax looks not so happy that I'm riding with you" I told him without any hidden emotion in my impassive tone. Kung titignan mo, blanko lang mga mata nitong nakatingin sa harapan. May sentinel ito sa likuran niya ginagabayan siya sa pagsakay. But I can smell her annoyance towards me, and I kinda like it. "Baka gusto niya dito"