The Kings Of Kartia: Legend Of The Moonguards

1: The Beginning

What am I even doing here, a few steps away from hiring my own set of guardians when I'm confident I can fend for my own? I should be kneeling down on old Lady Barbara's living room, drinking warm tea with her habang ikinukwento niya kung paano niyang pinainom ng lason ang kanyang unang asawa.

I've heard the story countless times, and I have started na kamuhian na ang marangyang sala kung saan niya ako parating pinauupo. Being there means I have to listen to all her pointless blabberings, but hey, anything is better than what we're supposed to do right now.

Sinabi ko naman nang hindi ko nais na magkaroon pa ng mga gwardiya na bubuntot sa akin at puprotekta, ngunit hindi pinakikinggan ng aking mga magulang ang aking pakikipagtalo. Kaya ngayon, nakatayo ako sa harapan ng isang napakagandang imprastraktura, one of the honorable Guild Houses of Kartia. Their flag swayed proudly with the wind; the image of a shield adorned with feathers and stars on either side.

Napabuga ako ng hangin, defeated. What's more humiliating is that I stand out. Kaiba sa mga mandirigmang labas-masok ang aking kausotan. I wore robes of fine silk in contrast to their leather armors. I carry a staff of my noble house in contrast to their little daggers and iron maces and battle-withered swords. My shoes are a work of a fine craftsman, and they wore boots with dried mud and torn straps.

Mas maganda ang aking kasuotan, but does it even matter? I don't belong here. I feel like a sheep in the middle of wolves.

Some of the mercenaries of the guild would regard me with blank faces, others with respect, and some with irritation as I bear the symbol of the House of Moon on my hat. My stature is one of higher rank, someone who draws varying reactions from people.

"Let's go home," I told my servant, a middle-aged woman named Tess. She is a beautiful woman despite her age, at medyo mataba na rin siya. Dati ay naalala kong mapayat at ligawin si Tess, noong bata pa ako. She never married, just devoted all her time and her love to me. Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako sa kanya o maaawa.

"Not so quick, my lord," she hushed. "Mapapagalitan tayo ng iyong ina. Let's be quick if you want this over with."

"But I don't need another bodyguard!" I exclaimed, exasperated. Natatakot ako sa mga taong nakikita ko. I am intimidated by how strong they look compared to me, who is a weakling. "Look at them! They're savages!"

I said it out loud, there.

Stupid Caserd.

One of the mercenaries must have picked up what I said. Habang naglalakad ay napatingin siya sa akin at napahinto. Tapos ay humakbang siya patungo sa akin nang galit ang mukha.

"Who are you calling savages, young lord?" he thundered as he neared. I felt the blood drain off my face as he approached, and I was immediately scared. He was a big man, hard muscles and thick face hair, mukha siyang isang barbaro.

"Anong ginagawa ng isang katulad mong malambot ang buto sa isang lugar na tulad nito?" singhal pa niya.

"Now stop it." Si Tess naman ang nagtaas ng boses at humarang sa harap ko. "I will not tolerate the slightest disrespect towards my Lord Caserd of the House of Moon!"

The big guy stopped in front of her, unmoved by her words. Nakipagtitigan lamang siya, at pagtapos ay kinuha ang malaking espada na nakasabit sa kanyang likuran. He swung it ferociously, pero hindi natinag si Tess.

"I command your leave before I alert the guards of this guild!"

"Stop talking down on me," iniangat ng malaking lalaki ang espada sa harapan naming dalawa, and he heaved it downwards as he shouted, "whore!"

As he brought down his blade to strike us I felt a tingling sensation in my stomach. It must have been because of what we discovered about me a few days back. The thing about Gifts? Nevertheless, it was not enough, and it did not matter. We are going to be killed. Ang espada, tatama ito at dudugo kami hanggang sa mamatay.

Ayan na. Ayan na.

It came in slow motion and cut the two of us in half.

Not.

Before the blade actually hit Tess, a black-haired man dashed and kneeled in front of us, pulled his sword as he did so, and stroke back with his sword packed with enough force para salagin ang pababang talim. His blow was strong enough to disarm the bigger guy, and with the opening he got, he turned around while kneeling, bringing one of his foot up and kicked him on the face.

Napaurong ang malaking lalaki, at dala ng pagkabigla ay napatitig muna ito ng sandali.

"Seraf you son of a btch!" bulyaw niya sa lalaking nagtanggol sa amin. Bumunot siya ng dalawang patalim at muling sumugod.

But he stopped when he realized someone else was standing not far from us, the steel tip of her arrow ready to fly. Napalingon ako nang mapagtanto ito. A woman, long yellow hair extending to her back and braided on the sides of her ears, stood calmly on the sides. She wore tight fitting clothes covered on the back by a black cape, intensifying the color of her hair. Her clothes looked expensive, different from what most of the people in this place wore. Nakatutok lamang ang kanyang palaso sa barbaro, and her hands shook not even once. She has a beautiful face and the confidence to match.

"Seraf, ano nanaman ba 'tong pinasok mo?"

Tumawa ang lalaki sa harapan namin. Ngayong tapos na ang komosyon, mas napagmasdan ko siya. Tulad ng babae, maganda rin ang kanyang kasuotan. His hair is black, and he looked like a squire of the royal army, only a little different. He wore no full armor but a mithril breastplate, strapped and fastened by leather belts on his body. May shoulder pads at knee pads siya na gawa din sa balat, and his boots were of high quality and were remarkably clean.

"Sorry, Simone. I was only protecting Lord Caserd."

"House of Moon?" she replied. She looked at me na parang inaanalisa ang buo kong katauhan. "And what business should one of the nobility have here in our guild?"

"Beats me," the guy named Seraf said. Tumayo na siya at nagpagpag ng alikabok na nakuha niya dahil sa pagluhod. "But our newbie member here is a little hot-headed, don't you agree?"

They both regarded the barbarian-looking man with cold eyes.

"Let's take him inside, see what punishment is fit for attacking a noble guest," ibinaba na niya ang kanyang pana at palaso at hinatak ang malaking lalaki palayo. "Maswerte ka at hindi mo nagasgasan ang batang 'yon, dahil bukod sa mapapatalsik ka dito, tiyak na sa kulungan ang bagsak mo..."

Nang makalayo na ang dalawa, hinarap naman kami ng lalaking nagngangalang Seraf. He looked handsome with his ensemble, I admit I felt a little insecure because of how gallant he looked despite not being a knight. I have always wanted to be a knight, wear their armors of gold. "My apologies, my Lord. We'll see to it that he is disciplined."

"Are you a member of this guild?" I asked. I want him. And her. Suddenly the idea of having my personal guards isn't as repulsive as it had been before coming to this place.

"As a matter of fact, I am." He bowed courteously and left us.

Ang mga tao na nagkumpulan sa paligid namin ay nawala na. Ragged and dirty, I thought at first. But now that I look closer, there are a few of them who bore the symbol of their Guild house proudly, dressed like honorable warriors whose presences commanded respect.

Hinarap akong muli ni Tess at inayos ang aking damit, pinagpag ang mga dumi na lumipad patungo sa akin.

"Interesting day," she muttered under her breath, a tinge of irritation touching her voice. Medyo mabigat din ang kanyang mga daliri habang pinapagpagan ako. Then when she finished removing whatever it was she was removing from my clothes, Tess started to walk towards the house.

"Now come, let us do what we came here for."