Excelium II: Hunting Season

Kabanata 31

Ero's Point of View

I was busy sweeping the inn's front when people started to stand by the side of the road. Tumigil ako sa pagwawalis at tiningnan ang dahilan. Dumaraan ang mga guwardiya na nagmula sa palasyo. Lahat ay umiiwas ng tingin at nagtatakip ng mga bibig noong makita ang lalaking dala-dala ng mga ito.

It was none other than Fedrino Vesiliente who is laying on a stretcher and being escorted by the medical team. His left arm is gone and so as his right leg. Dumudugo pa rin ang mga sugat nito at may ilan rin siyang mga kalmot sa katawan. Kasunod nito ay ang mga tauhan niyang nakaposas.

Everyone in this city knows how illegal Fedrino's businesses are. No one just dared to say a word. Even though it's a private property, the king must've found ways to arrest him now.

Lahat ay muling napatingin kay Fedrino noong ito'y nagsalita, "Damn that woman..! I'm gonna kill her when I see her again! I'll bring her to hell!"

I sighed and went inside the inn, along with the broom. I put it on the side and approached the inn owner. The small chubby old woman showed a kind smile, "Mag-iingat ka sa paglalakbay mo. Siguraduhin mong dadalhan mo ako ng pasalubong pagbalik mo."

Ngumiti naman ako rito, "'Wag kang mag-alala Nang, magiging maayos lang ako."

Pagkatapos kong magpaalam ay nag-impake na ako ng mga kailangan. While putting all I need in a bag, I happened to glance at the small picture frame beside my bed. I smiled and picked it up, staring at my wife's and daughter's smiling faces. "Don't worry. I'll make sure that she'll pay for what she has done to the both of you." I put it inside my bag and closed it.

After changing clothes, I put the drawstring bag full of necessities on my shoulder and went out. I bid goodbye to all the staffs and went out of the inn. Hindi ko alam kung makakabalik pa ako but I'm really thankful that they took me in and gave me a job. I quitted being a doctor a long time ago.

I walked through the forest and listened to the sound of the wind, leaves, humming birds and cicadas as I walk on the grassy road. Medyo mataas na ang mga damo at halatang walang masyadong dumadaan. Tumigil ako noong makita ang isang pamilyar na bahay sa harapan ko. I smiled as I remember my daughter's laugh while she's playing with her mother.

I opened the door, it creaked but it opened quite smoothly. Pumasok ako at ang tanging naririnig lamang sa loob ng pasilidad ay ang bawat yapak ko. May mga damong tumutubo sa gilid, making its way through the wooden planks. Maalikabok na rin ang bahay at may mga daga at gagamba na rin akong nakikita. That's expected, since they died, I never came back here again.

I walked out of the broken backdoor and saw two gravestones three meters away. Medyo mataas na rin ang mga damo na tumutubo sa paligid nito at may mga dahon ring nalaglag dito. I smiled as I remove the leaves from them.

"It's been 2 years since I last came to see you, that was the day you both died. Sorry if it took me a long time." I said, calmer as I can. But as I stare at their graves, the memories just won't stop resurfacing.

Two years ago, my life has finally settled on a normal cycle. I don't want to ask for anything more. I have my wife and my 5-year old daughter. I'm contented.

But before I could have that life, I was lost and it's like I was always accompanied by bad luck. I wasn't from this world and that made me struggle when I wandered here. I was born in Tokyo, Japan. I'm just one of those random faces among the masses. I don't have that much interesting achievements except for learning the sword arts of my country.