32 Chapter 28: Reflection

The walk going back to Sulad became long and arduous for Calista, especially after learning the gruesome secret of the lauded ceremony. She walked mindlessly as her thoughts tried to piece together certain scenarios of how the children end up with them. Her mind went into darker territory as she speculated the children's cause of death. At one point, she wanted to ask them directly as to how they died but restrained herself from doing so.

The children were terrified and understandably so. While guiding them through the winding hallway, Calista couldn't help but tried to observe the children silently. The girl she is carrying in her arms is no older than 4 years old, asleep. Her head conveniently resting in Calista's shoulder while she sucks her thumb.

The boy who was around 7 years old walked alongside her. He firmly latched to her hand while looking around his surroundings. His eyes fixated at the ethereal lights that danced around the air. Calista noticed through the boy's constant reactions his fascination and terror towards the glowing spheres.

Lastly, Calista glanced at the girl following them from behind. She was around her early teens, maybe 12 or 13 at most. She looked straight into the hallway, not even bothering to look around and feed her curiosity with the floating lights. The girl had a stern face encapsulated by a stoic aura, that could well be her cope-up mechanism.

To Calista, the children's fear is normal, especially when you take into consideration the trauma that they might have endured during the ceremony. She saw the fear in their eyes. The young boy constantly shifting his sight as if being vigilant and through the young girl's reluctance to walk unless carried.

She felt that in those two younger ones, but the third one was different. Her eyes didn't sparkle when she saw the flaming orbs. She never trembled, even while looking at Tagahatid. She looked into her eyes once more and realized that the girl was a walking husk of her former self. Devoid of emotion, the girl unnerved Calista, but she doesn't know why.

A moment passed and they finally reached the throne room. The children pried their eyes on the vast room. They saw the monolithic posts that acted like sentinels to the throne room. The throne located at the end of the hall was elevated in a way that overlooks the entire throne room.

Calista has stood beside the throne and she knew pretty well that elevation enables one to see the entire room. It was designed so that anyone who entered this room cannot escape the watchful eyes of her Master.

She put the young girl down so her arm could rest. Surprisingly, her arm didn't hurt but it could because of how light the girl was. Calista pitied the girl. She pitied them all and the life that was taken away from them at such a young age.

The younger children huddled closer to her, she was expecting that. With the vast throne room, the tall posts, and the overlooking throne, they might've felt too insignificant as the entire place overwhelmed them with its size. It was daunting for them.

" Can I go home now?" the younger girl said to Calista with tears welling- up her eyes.

"It's okay, Balinsayaw," the boy hugged her, " This is our new home," he added.

The boy had tears welling up his eyes as well, but he chose not to cry. He wants to be brave for her. Calista's heart was crushed as she looked at them helplessly. Will she be able to comfort them? What kind of words should she say to them? All these questions plagued her mind as she observed the boy shushing down the girl.

"Quite down, Balinsayaw!" the older girl scolded her, " I don't want to spoil my stay here with your tears."

" Don't be mean to her," the boy spurted as the younger girl sobbed even more.,

" Enough. Please, don't fight!' Calista stepped in to mitigate the tension, " There, there. Don't cry your safe here, Balin...sa-"

" Balinsayaw," the younger girl timidly replied.

Calista smiled at her and stroked her hair, calming her down. She also patted the boy's shoulder that elicited a smile from the brave young fellow. After that, she tried to introduce herself once more.

" Greetings again! I might have told you my name already, but I'm telling it again. My name is Hiraya, and I am the katabang of our Great Lord Sidapa. You are currently in Sulad, the Tree of the Underworld and this is his throne room." she explained.

"Greetings Lady Sidapa! I will speak on behalf of these other 2 whiny kids. My name is Maya, the crying girl over there is Balinsayaw, and that boy is named Manaul." she said, " We came from Dacungcahoy, a place in the Living World where everything is twisted and dark and full of-" she trembled in anger as she tried to explain.

" Dacungcahoy is a beautiful place with lovely people!" the boy spat back, " Do not soil your-"

" Your what? Family name? Here?!" she barked, " I spit on my family name! They don't deserve an ounce of my respect! Matter of fact, they should all die!"

The younger ones sobbed once more and soon after, their cries echoed in the throne room. Calista was appalled with Maya's demeanor towards the younger children. She wanted to chastise the girl for her insensitive remarks.

She glared at Maya, which at least evoked the girl to stay silent while she tended to the younger ones. Calista, cannot help but wonder again as to what sort of suffering she had to go through to elicit such hatred towards her village.

The children had finally settled down to Calista's relief. Soon after, her Master finally appeared walking across the hallway with a huge smile cracking in his face. He glanced at them and climbed up the steps to his throne.

" Welcome, children, to my abode!" He exclaimed, " I hope you enjoy your temporary stay here before heading over to Skyworld," he smiled again.

His aura was lighter than usual, Calista noted. Usually, her Master had a sombered look, and most of the time, he is sarcastic. This time is different, he looks genuinely happy and content of what he did. It's as if his twisted mind has found comfort in these children's suffering.

Calista was disgusted with the ceremony, but more so, towards her Master, who planned the whole ordeal. She wanted to speak out in contempt for such a barbaric practice he instilled over the people of Dacungcahoy. She wants to curse him, spit at him, and slap him hard, but even then, it won't be enough for the years and lives wasted because of the damned ceremony.

Still, she kept all those emotions to herself. She doesn't have the right nor power to contradict him. The last thing she wants is to be torn again to pieces or worse. She bit her lip as her Master continued to smile in front of the tortured children.

" I don't want to go to Skyworld!" Maya protested.

Calista felt her heart drop to her stomach. She's horrified for the girl's fate now that she spoke of line. Calista took a glance at her Master who sat silently in his throne. He was looking at Maya intently. His cold stare penetrated Calista more than the audacious young girl.

" W-what are you saying?" Calista grabbed Maya by the arm and tried to reason with her, " Maya, please don't do this. Please, be quiet! You don't want to garner the wrath of my Master!" she whispered as the tension rose in the room.

" Master, please forgive her she--"

" I don't want to go there!" Maya yanked herself out of Calista's grip and kneeled to him, " I will sell my soul if I have to. I want to take my revenge on that wretched place! I want them all killed!" she wept.

The other two children started to cry. Their wails echoed throughout the halls. Calista tried her best to comfort them while deep down she prayed hard for Maya's safety. She prayed that her Master would show her mercy and just keep a blind eye on the incident.

Sidapa raised his hand, gesturing to the children to stop crying. When they did, he finally stood from the throne and slowly walked down the steps. He approached them slowly with a calm, unmoving face. Calista's heartbeat synchronized with his Master's steps. She was ready to defend the children and would go as far as to reason out with her Master about Maya if she has to.

Sidapa topped in front of them. Calista waited in batted breath as she tried to predict her Master's next move. Calista saw her Master flinched. She readied herself to cover the poor teen from her Master's wrath.

Instead, she was dumbfounded to see her master knelt in one knee and messed the young boy's hair. She was still not certain what he'll do after that, so she was vigilant. He then shifted his attention to the little girl and caressed her hair to calm her down even more. Lastly, he stood up and nodded at Maya with a concerned look written all over his face.

" Children should not think about vengeance," he said. " Let the gods do that for you! As for you three, live your life in happiness and be reborn in a happier life. You all have my blessing."

The response shocked and impressed Calista. Her Master being as benevolent as this was a first for her. She looked at him with pride written all over her face. Upon seeing this, Sidapa nodded and smiled at her.

After that heart-warming moment, Sidapa instructed her and Tagahatid to lead the children to Kumbirihan to dine with him after he did some errands. Calista was instructed to sit with the children and entertain them while they wait for him there.

Calista bowed in response to his Master's request. She took the children with her and suggested following her to Kumbirahan where a huge feast awaits for them.

" Where is Kumbirahan located?" asked the curious Manaul.

" Uh-I don't know actually," she replied, " Let's ask Tagahatid where it is!" she added.

" Pfft. A katabang that doesn't know the place she lives in. Lovely!" Maya blurted.

Calista was not prepared for that burn. She looked at her with a confused look on her face as she struggled to find a comeback line. She just dropped it altogether and went to Tagahatid to ask about the place they're going.