CHAPTER 21

S A K U M I ✿

As the sun began it's slow descent forward the horizon, a warm and golden hue settled upon the city-states. The ethereal light cast long shadow that stretched across cobblestone streets and aged building, lending an air of tranquility to urban landscape. The bustling energy of the day gradually mellowed giving a more contemplative atmosphere as the world prepared the embrace of twilight.

I slowly chewed every dates until there's nothing left on the Tupperware.

I keeps hearing a buzzing sound whenever we past several beautiful maiden on the streets. Staring like a predator that spotted it's prey crossing their territory.

Such beauty, and he knows that.

Every woman he passes couldn't help but to leaned on him, breaking their neck just to glimpse every single angle of his face. Watching him glide into the pathway. His carrying radiance with him, his charm was enough to make woman fall onto their feet.

Their eyes turn hearts and as he looked at them they giggled and others are falling on their spot, just got star struck from his charm and ethereal madapak beauty.

"Who's that woman following prince Nilfiem!!"

"Such audacity she's trying so hard to get his attention ewww!!"

"Hey get out of there sluts your ruining our view!!"

Another veins on my head is about to pop. I was offended, how can I ruined or blocked him his towering over me. Hanggang kili kili lang naman ang taas ko sa kanya.

Tsaka kainin nyo na di ako mabubusog sa gwapo.

Without alarming me, he just caresses my cheeks. "Don't fret my dear"

Their voices became louder and louder, like buzzing bees swarming on the flower. The prince stop and the ladies turn to looked at him, eyes were opened wide. It was as if the conversation they were having up until that point hadn't taken place at all, the place had fallen that quiet.

"Forgive me ladies, the woman standing in front of you is a Guardian"

"Guardian? That skinny woman won't last long on a journey"

"Obviously she just wants to get closer to him"

"Scary stalker I say..."

Konte nalang masusuntok ko na sila sa mukha.

"Watashi ni wa anata wa kawaiku kanpeki desu " he said, I blinked several times, unable to understand his words. Is he talking to me? Probably not, he knows I can't understand nihongo.

The women flabbergasted and as I look at them. I couldn't even hear them breatht. The color of their faces turn pale white, eyes were blank and had a shadow over then, their lips lost their color, dried up and cracked. This was the faces that someone made a during considerably severe emotional breakdown "We're sorry for our arrogant behavior towards her presence"

"It's okay, we'll now take our leave, don't need to stress about it, she's the guardian of my the new crown prince"

"Oh, thank goodness" they sighed in relieved

"You're always be the best bearer for us" sabay sabay pa nila, minsan nakakatakot ang mga babae. Pabago bago ng emotion.

"Your highness your so humble and kind hearted as always"

"It is an honor to be your prince. We may take our leave, don't need to stress yourselves you know you're always gorgeous" he said it with a genuine smile and turn his back to them and continued walking up the slope road.

"He said it to me!"

"No me!!"

"Meeee!!" After that compliment, now they are arguing. And its louder than the last time.

I even wonder why I haven't felt the same. I have questions my gender if I was really a woman or not. Bat di ko kayang magreact ng gaya ng ibang babae pag nakakakita ng ganitong kagwapong nilalang.

Di bale wala rin akong pake. Basta ang alam ko nag asked siya ng Dates tas ako naman yung kumain.

Pansin kong malapit nang kumakagat ang dilim. He lure me to a shop, not just any shop that were selling products but a stick. A STICK!!

As we entered I feel an electric shock just hit my entire being and I almost collapsed but luckily my stamina was not that weak anymore. An old lady with a stout height, peered and saw how her eyes widen in shock and waddled over the door and pulled the door opened.

"Come in, come in oh please come in your highness!!" She said excitedly and as we entered I saw a bunch of sticks displayed on the room, on my left there's a display of katana and next to it's are axes and many more. Kaso panira ng aura yung stick sa tabi ng spears. "Find something to your liking" the prince walked and went to katana display and took one, he pulled out the blade with awed on his face. He slightly touch the blade and saw a drop of crimson blood on the table as he remove his finger.

That's so sharp!!!

"I'll take this one" he said, his voice was so beautiful, bagay na bagay talaga sa kanya. Charming. He just lick the cut on his finger. Di ko alam pero parang kiniliti ako sa ginawa niyang pagdila duon.

Naglibot libot naman siya at magstop sa stick. Anong gagawin niya dun? Kung spear nalang kaya bilhin niya. "Two bostaff please"

"Two bostaff coming right up"

Oh so bostaff pala ang pangalan. Lumapit naman ako sa kanya para magtanong " What are you gonna do with this stick your highness?"

"Stick?!Sam this is not just stick"

"So what can this thing do?"

"Kicking a nemesis ass"

"Pero kung pukpukin lang sila would only leave a minor bruises it won't do anything"

"Sam" he inhaled an air, I think I split some nerves in there, I should have pressed this mouth shut "You have insulted my favorite weapon" his voice was like a thunderstorm, nakakatakot I gulped in terror and apologize for being arrogant. "I'll teach you using this bostaff with balanced of martial arts "

"For real?" Nakanganga lang ako sa sinabi niya. Yung prinsepe pa mismo ang magtuturo sakin. OMG "I will be honor your highness!"

He leaned forward and feel his warm breath on my ears. " Drop the formalities when we are alone, just addressed me when we are surrounded with people"

"But your highness..."

"What did I just said?"

"Yes your highnes.... Sorry po. Ano nalang po ang itatawag ko sa inyo?"

"Maybe call me by name, Nilfiem" he said, dumating naman ang matanda na hawak hawak ang binili ng prinsepe at di rin kami nagtagal at lumabas na di ko pansin na Gabi na Pala. Bilis ng oras ah.

"Prince Niflheim..?"

"It's Nilfiem my dear Sam"

"Oh sorry magkapareho kase ang pangalan nyo e, Nilfiem.. Nilfiem..."

"Di ka nag iisa, let's scurry back to the temple"

"Mm..hmmm" I nodded.

As the evening progressed, Prince Nilfiem senses remained sharp, attuned to the ever-changing environment around him. He observed the gradual shift in colors as the sky darkened, the emergence of the first stars, and the way the town's light began to paint against the night canvas.

"When I finally descended the throne, please took care of the prince, it's not because his my brother. It's was because he was the spring itself. And you know what he can do to you, specially in Fluerishia, and you should be prepared for the danger you'll be shouldering when he ascended the throne. And you as his guardian don't let the Kurasami lay it's finger to the core"

"Amph may I know the history itself if you don't mind me asking because I'm new to this"

"Of course, at that time billions eon's ago, the Deity blessed the pure soul, a baby, five babies. Born at the same years, time. The constellation of the planets reveals the prophecy. The wise Deity decided to balanced the season when God, Glomeir and Goddess Glodiafera created a place for the creatures to live. Dimensions, and the second dimensional space was Gaivera, home of the creatures born with beautiful features, powers with unusual features, shapes and sizes. Moving on. As the Goddess blessed the world the deity of seasons also blessed the babies, entrusting her powers so these individuals will balanced the world, the power as one is beyond powerful and dangerous for Gaivera so she was instructed by the Goddess fhiti, she saw the future that Gaivera is not far away from destruction" he sighed and looked at me being absent minded "I see. Telling all those at once are way too complicated masyadong mahaba at mabibigla ka at mas maguguluhan" he said and he walked down a slope road.

Light's flickering on the lamp post. I'm carrying the weapons with me. Tsaka di naman ako shunga para ipadala iyon sa prinsepe.

"Pero gusto ko malaman lahat, on how we was exist and who are these Goddesses that gave us life and the purposed of why are we brought into this world"

"When we get back, I promise to tell all the history. And also the Kurasami are the dark ones. They are the responsible in luring the Stonecore out from its season, they want to kill the blessed ones. So you should stop them before it's too late"

"So means I will kill them too? Was that murder?"

"It's not actually, they are just some bad spirit created by black magics, corpses that were given another chance to mingled in the living, they are just a speck of dust walking with us"

Relished the softness of the evening light of my skin and the distant echoes of laughter from the bustling city beyond. A symmetrical row of juvenile trees flanked the perimeter of the house, their slender trunks adorned with an abundance of fruits and vibrant blossom. "So these five babies.."

"These five babies are the seasons Sam, Spring, Summer, Autumn and winter"

Binilang ko naman at bat apat lang? Ano yung isa. Di naman siguro iyon ang sinasabi nilang Dark ones? Possible din baka di ko lang narinig ang isa

"So... What happen to the fifth...." Our conversations was interrupted. I saw a shadow above me, roof clattering. And just for a few moment, we heard the laughter coming from a distance. I heard a swoosh sound from the air and a vine rose from the ground, creating a shield and an arrow hit the vines with a thumb sound. Tumagos lang ang dulo nito. Kung hindi niya naharang malamang sa malamang natamaan ako sa leeg

A group of men approached the light, showing their faces. Meron isa sa knila na may hawak na hostage at Isang babae na may puting buhok at natali ang paa at kamay nito pati narin ang kanyang bibig.

"And what do we have here" one of them began to break the silence. The people on the street run away and others are beginning to close their shops, slamming the door and window shuts.

"Stay close Sam, we've been spotted. I have trouble you on our date"

"You want another dates? I thought you don't like it" I said and his shoulder slouched. He swayed like a delicates leaves by the gentle breeze.

As the men took a step forward, i glared at them. Holding a steady gaze on our opponents, prince Nilfiem hand gestured me to hand him the bostaff and I drew out the katana slowly, taking a defensive stance.

"Let me took care of these your highness"

"...Okay then I'll be here watching" he said and sat down, the group of men just watch him sat down and then look at me synchronizing with a face of confusion mark on their faces.

I just smile at them with a peace sign. The men approached me, swinging their swords and batons with a look of menace. They all charge at a time, but to their surprise, I dodged their attacks easily and struck them without holding back in a matter of minutes.

I knocked them out every single man, without getting a scratch, on my observation they are just a simply weak people with uncoordinated fighting skills.

The prince just clapped his hand and I mockily bowed my head.

"You aren't finish" he said and I heard a clattering footsteps,  running away holding the hostage.

I didn't waste a single seconds and I rushed and slashes him on the back. He shouted, cried in pain as the blade hit his flesh and I catch the hostage before she fall on the ground.

Inalis ko na agad ang mga tali at hinila ang tela na kagat kagat niya.

"Thank you!!" She just jumped on me, with her on top of me, her hands are on the side of my head.

after that she stood up, I sat up after, she smile marginally, cupping my face in her palm and placing a small peck on my lips. And that was just shocking.

"Sate.. sate if it isn't the ladies-in-waiting of Lavelle. Carelessly, you just got yourself kidnapped" he said with a hint of mockery on his tone and she just shifted her gazed away, crossing her arms above her chest.

"It wasn't my fault I was on my way back to the temple"

"Way back? So anong ginagawa mo dito sa city? Weaponless"

"Pake mo, I hate bringing weapons. Tsaka ayaw ng mga lalake na mas malakas pa sa kanila ang Babae, mahihirapan akong magkaruon ng nobyo, tsaka gusto kolang maglibot libot tsaka malapit nang aalis ang aking Princess sa trono at babalik nako sa dati kong buhay"

"So sad"

"Chee! Ikaw din anamn aalis na sa trono mahiya ka naman"

"Pero isa parin akong prinsepe.." he didn't finished his last sentence when I heard her sniffled, already admitting her defeat to their nonsense argument.

"Meanie!!!!!!" She was so adorable.