Saving Grace [Completed]

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

"YOU see how important Amadora is and everything that she owned to this kingdom and its people?" Ani lalaki ng may ngiti sa labi. "She saved everyone, and their future."

"But... but was not her sacrifice in vain? Because the dynasty died..." Hindi maiwasang tanong ni Taliya.

"The dynasty died, but not the people of Balintuna, Taliya." Napakunot lalo ang noo ng dalaga. "But the kingdom was gone... forever."

"The kingdom was gone forever but not its people." Tumalikod na ang lalaki at naglakad papalabas sa silid. Litong tinitigan ni Taliya ang paligid bago napag-isipang habulin ang matandang lalaki.

"You mean the people of Balintuna did not all die on that earthquake?!", habol ni Taliya at hinabol ang papalabas na matanda. Sabi sa mga nabasa niya ay naglaho ang lahat matapos ang malakas na pagyanig at pinaniwalaang walang nakaligtaas sa kahit sino man sa mga ito dahil doon.

"I have said enough, Taliya.", ani matanda at tuluyan nang lumabas ng silid. Agad na sumunod ang dalaga.

"There was another story!" Sigaw niya dahilan upang mapahinto ang matanda at humarap sa kanya. Ipinikit niya ang mga mata at pilit iniisip ang nabasang iyon. It was different from all that she had read hence, she thought that it was not true. "I've read that one story that is different from all." Bulong niya habang kinakatok ang isipan.

Nang maalala ay agad niyang tinignan ang matanda.

"There wasn't an earthquake.", bulong ni Taliya. Iyon ang sabi sa kwento. "The earthquake is just a story to keep the invaders out of the walls of the kingdom... the story was made up to make it look like the land is cursed and is now the land of the dead..." Sunod-sunod niyang saad habang pilit inaalala ang mga salita sa lathalang iyon...

"But the truth is... everyone was alive... and that the last king had ordered his people to disseminate to the lands that they had been protecting from the people outside for hundreds of years..." Recognition flashed in her head. Noong una ay hindi niya iyon pinaniwalaan dahil hindi iyon ang kwento ng mga guro sa kanilang eskwela noon. "And the prominent people built their own tribes, promising to protect the lands given to them on behalf of their king and the dead queen... and they did... they succeeded protecting the land for hundreds of years more... until the Spaniards came to invade the now divided people of Balintuna..."

Taliya was stunned and frozen on her spot for God know's how long... Tila ay ngayon pa lamang niya natututunan ang kasaysayan... How it fits perfectly to everything... How it fills the gap in history.

Through the years, the divided people developed their own ways of life, adapting to the places they were given. Retaining some of the culture and practices while changing and enhancing others...

"And what happened to the king?" 'di kalaunang tanong niya.

Umiling ang matanda. "There are things that I am forbidden to tell you, things that our family is sworn to protect." Misteryosong tugon ng matanda. "I have shared with you some of the story that is only known in our family in exchange of the Sapphire bracelet, but that is all of it, Taliya... People can believe the story of Balintuna or not, it does not matter. What matter is we protect the history and share it to people as much as we can..."

"But why?", tanong niya... "But why would you protect something that a lot of people deny?" Tanong niya. Pilit kinukuha ang lahat ng impormasyong kaya.

"A lot of people believe what their great minds let them comprehend." Nagtungo ito sa isang lamesa kung saan may nakahandang tubig. "They would not believe a story unless it is proven to them with all the scientific facts and evidences" Nagsalin ang matanda ng tubig sa baso. "But my family does not need it." Uminom ito.