"Open your eyes. We're here." bulong ni Jethro sa dalaga.
"Saan tayo?" She asked as she opened her eyes and left the buckling embrace of Jethro.
Hinayaan niyang maglibot ang kanyang mga mata sa kapaligiran. They were on top of a hill or whatever, a higher ground than the actual place of their dimension.
It is a peaceful looking village kung saan makikita mo ang mga taong nainirahan dito. There are houses of the same looks, with backyards of the same sizes, just different taste of designs and gardens.
Dahil elevated na area ang kanilang kinatatayuan, natatanaw din niya ang isang palengke kung saan maayos na nakikipag-interact ang mga tao sa isa't-isa
Nothing's strange at it except that it's only one small or average village in the midst of a wide, green field... And wait, there's more.
Looking further, there is a big Greek-like building. Para siyang White House o Malacañang o kung ano pa man ang pwedeng itawag diyan.
"Is that like the White House or the Main Palace or Capital or what?" tanong ng dalaga.
"Ah. That's the Prior Sovran."
"Woah. What a name. What the kind of redundancy. Parang priority na nga, sovereignity pa. Kidding."
"Hahaha. Yah, seems like you got it right. Diyan nakatira si headmaster. Pero hindi ibig sabihin non na siya lang at mga authorized na mga tao ang nakakapasok. Maaari ding makapasok dito ang mga taong nangangailangan ng kung ano mang tulong sa kanya."
"But what kind of help? It seems like they're all contented. While looking at this village, all I see is happiness and peace. No crime. No cruelty. Or maybe nagkakamali lang ako. First impression lang naman e. Share ko lang."
"That's another thing. You got that right again. You're a keen observer, kid. Hahaha. You see, the help they're seeking for is when theh loose their happiness and peace inside them." He answered, while closing his eyes to enjoy the breeze in the hill.
"How? I mean...How can you loose happiness in a world that's full of happiness?"
He smiled.
"Nympha, look---"
She sighed at the name. Kinusilapan nalang niya ang binata at bahagyang tumawa ito. And then he continued with his statement.
"Ano bang nakikita mo?" He asked.
"A village?"
"Yeah right. A village. A piece of land. Exactly. Felice nga pala, tirahan ko. Parang ang oangalan nito, it is a piece of happiness. And again, just a piece of land in this world. Marami pang ibang lugar dito. But what bothers us most ay yung darkness. Nagroroam lang sila dito sa dimension namin. Naghahanap ng mabibiktima, ganon."
"You mean, there are normal-looking people who roams around, bringing darkness?"
"No. They're not like us. They do not look like us. Para silang usok o kung ano man. But they can make people be someone they are not. You know what, maybe it's better if you receive answers from the headmaster."
She looked at him. Still confused.
"Okay," she agreed. Even if she doesn't know what she's up to.
***
They were atlast inside the Prior Sovran. And how amazing it is inside. Chandeliers are at the top and paintings are everywhere. May red carpet pa. Bongga bongga din e noh.
"Magandang umaga, Je. Magandang umaga, Miss," pagbati ng mga yaya sa palasyo.
"Magandang umaga," tugon ni Jethro.
