CHAPTER 19- FALIANT

E L A R I E N ••P●V••

We have reached the shore at dawn and the fog that covers forest is completely disappearing as the sun shows up with her golden light in the east. Peeped out over of the highlands and the birds began to sing. The waves keep on rolling on our feet and its so refreshing, it urges me to go for a swim. I Inhaling the fresh breeze of salty air and relax myself from worrying..  Even for a short time then mamaya dilemma na.

Aewa had tied up the boat. And Naea look around at the beach no signs of any souls around. I'm patting Jamai's back after got sea sick. She's dizzy and Spike carried her at nagsabay sabay naman ang tatlo na naghahawakan ng kamay na naglalakad. Napanatag ako dahil mabuti na ang lagay nilang apat. Thanks to Aewa. His such a husband material. Ket di pa kame just a pretend couple for the Deities. But its like, him and I are totally connected to each other. Maybe his special to me.

"The place is safe. Dun tayo dadaan"-said Naea. "I'm not sure but we have might arrived at the faliant empire. I have been on sail before,this beach is familiar. I'm pretty sure this was it, but stay alert, di ko pa kabisado ang lugar nato just incase there's a threat. Ela just make sure the deities are secured. And Aewa don't leave Ela she needs you.."

"Makakaasa ka sakin Naea" sabay naming dalawa na kinabigla ko

Naea's ability is very useful, she can see everything from afar and aside from that she has a night vision too. Incredible. All of them has their unique abilities. And me from mere village girl, became one of them by accident. And i owed aewa too, for giving me the half of his ability. But it doesn't affected him at all. I'm anxious that I'll be the cause of downfalls..

Naglakad lang kame at tanaw namin sa ibaba at nandun ang isang palasyo nakatayo. Wala akong masabi sa natatangi nitong ganda. It was surrounded by the mountains and it's standing in the center.

We walked down on a steeped mountain. And had paused a while because the path is way to risky to climb down lalo na may bata pa kaming kakargahin. Nyne jump on a log and slide down gracefully without tripping over--he just went smoothly and flip after he landed down and Aewa snapped us out from our reverie. I couldn't do that! my brain keep saying it. I can't!

He leave us stilled on our spot-watching him safely landed down the slope and made it look easier but nu-uh. Gusto ko magtry pero I'm having a qualm to try it. I know the outcome, I couldn't even lift my weight so bad, tsaka mapapahamak ko pa si komori kapag babagsak kami sa lupa at napakataas pa pwedeng malasuglasog ang aking katawan.

Nagising naman siya bigla at tumingin sa dinadaanan namin she look at me at medyo kinakunot ng noo ko bat ganon siya makakatitig sakin. Di ko naman siya huhulugin bigla niyang tinakpan ang mata ko ng mahigpit at di ko maalis kase dinadala ko siya

"komori mahuhulog tayo!"-my legs are all shaking while stepping down the slippery slope while shutting my eyes like an idiot.

"Mommy open your eyes"

I open my eyes gently and I'm stepping on a grass. Binaba ko siya at napatulala nalang. I looked up and scratch my head how did I get down? Bigla bigla nalang ako nasa ibaba at nakita ko siyang ngumisi. I was about to ask and she put her point finger on my lips to shushed me. Nasa taas yung iba kong kasama at tila tulala rin samin. Komori and the other kid just wave there hands and just a blink on an eye. My comrade just landed safely.

"Wow?!"-manghang wika ni spike and pumamewang na tumitinghala sa itaas "Thank you dear Deities "-said she and komori just nodded

"Komori wants to play"-binaba ko na siya.

"Me too!!" They played hide and seek and even roll on the grass. We have walked through the emerald grass at naglakad papunta sa Kastilyo but sadly it was all abandon no wonder kanina wala talaga akong nakitang anino sa kalayuan. We have a stop and they're having a meeting and a shadow covers the light of the day and we saw a whale pass by us, with a palace carrying on its back. Napasighap lang ako sabay tulo ng laway ko na nakatinghala sa kalangitan.

Not just it the ground to shook and the bricks began to crumbled even levitated on the air and build something on its own and turn into a stair. The whale just stop on where the brick stair was build. May mga nakita kaming tao dumudungaw samin sa itaas at bumaba ang balyena sakto ng tama ng katawan niya sa hagdanan. May bumaba na tao at tulala lang ako sa mga kakaiba nilang panamit. Di ko pinansin ang nagsalita kundi ang nasa likuran niya na wala man lang buhok at di ko maipaliwanag ang kanilang itsura.

"Neighboring kingdom I presume?!"-a woman speak, she has the same crimson eyes like komori. Dark curly hair above her shoulder and the her clothes resemblance that she might have a higher rank.

The deities hid on my back. She turn away and tell us to follow her and go upstair. Its like i'm walking to heaven. Abot ng ulap ang hagdanan at hinigpitan kolang ang hawak sa kanila at di tumitingin sa ibaba. Kinakabahan ako sa bawat tapak ko ng hagdanan na parang pakiramdam ko guguho.

She welcome us and we heard a trumpets and a loud bang of drums as a greet for our arrival. The people has different look they have scales on their skin. It makes me uncomfortable but they are beautiful, their ears are longer than human's ears. Just unique but they have a human figure. The double door widely open and we saw a lot of people inside and clapping as we have entered. I saw the window and Even the flippers of the whale above the clouds.

There's a throne and I saw a bit amaze and scared at the same time because these one doesn't even look like human anymore. Akala ko nakakatakot na ang kaninang mga sumunod sa babae pero mas natakot ako dito dahil napakarami nilang nakatingin samin. It does have a long head and its eyes is bigger and it has no nose and the color is pale but the smell its like a fish that got out water. Malansa.

I heard a chuckles secretly from spike at trying to hold her laughed. She pinched herself biting her lips just trying to stop herself, muntik narin akong matawa sa mukha niyang namumula, not yet but I think it'll be worst.

"𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘵𝘺𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯?"-the woman began to speak. Natulala lang ako sa binigkas niyang mga salita samin. At nagcontinue siya at pinahiran ko ang ilong ko

"Anong lenguahe yun?" tanong ko

"Quenya. She's the queen of faliant empire"-biglang sagot ni spike.

I never heard these before. Sa tagal ko ring naglakabay ngayon ko rin nalaman na may iba rin lenguahe ang  kahariang etheria. I was lost in oblivion. Bumaba lang si komori na nakayakapa sakin at lumapit sa isang lalake na nasa trono at medyo may katangkaran ito sa kanya. And she tries to make friends. He was gregarious on komori. Spike approached her majesties and bowed. I saw those mischievous grin on her lips.

"Our apologies your highnesses for our arrival and we have disturbed you. But we have a problem back in jaffa and were looking for something. And this is way important. And also were running out of time your highnesses"

"𝘔𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘺𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯?"

Pinaharap naman ni spike ang mga bata at tinuro niya isa isa "These girls are Deities of dreams.." the queen was stunned to speak and Hanako puff into a cat and sleep on Nynes arm. 𝘶𝘯𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥

"Ano daw ang sinabi spike?"-tanong ni ram sa kanya.

"Sino daw hinahanap natin at mukhang nabigla siya sa narinig niya nung sinabi kong phenominal being ang mga batang kasama natin"

Ang galing ni spike. How can she understand those language. Lahat kami nagkatinginan and they had no idea that spike can understand different language. All I know na matagal na sila magkasama nina naea pero di rin pala nila alam.

"𝘈 𝘥𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦? 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘺𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘦-𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯? 𝘯𝘪 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘺𝘦"

Narinig ko ang pag scoff ni spike sa reyna ewan ko ba kung may sinabi itong hindi masama dahil nakita ko ang kaunting irita sa mukha ni spike.

Lahat kami nagkatinginan mukhang si spike lang ang nakakaintinde sa mga salita nung reyna.

Kinalabit siya ni ram ulit para magtanong as spike grinning and mic with annoyed in her facial expression

"Anong sinabi niya spike?"

"Bat naparito daw tayo at sa huli niyang sinabi mukhang hindi daw tayo makakapagkatiwalaan na protectahan ang mga deities"

"ABA'T!"

Spike pinched Ram's nose, his getting in away and even making things worst. They communicate until I saw the smile on the queens face. While us left wasted on spike's back and tumbleweed rolled. This is a bit frustrating. Tunganga kaming lahat pero mas okay kesa walang nakakaintindi samin.

"Never underestimate us your highness" manahang wika ni Spike at natulala ako ng magsmirk siya at pinaninindigan ang kanyang sinabi

"Well then. I was wrong. I welcome you to my empire. Let us welcome the deities in our kingdom such honor. And for the huntress and hunter lets have a feast "-sigaw niya at nagpalakpakan ang mga tao. Biglang nag ibang anyo ang lugar at mas napasinghap ako from that moment the place turn into a grand ball.

"Nakakahiya naman sa mga dyosa kapag hindi namin sila iwewelcome sa aming kaharian"-batang lalakeng prinsepe

Lumapit ako sa malawakang lamesa and full of silver and golden platter. The food looks so delicious. Kumuha lang ako ng pagkain at nakita ko si hanako na nakahiga sa malaking cake.

Di naman na offend ang nagbabantay ng pagkain at hinayaan lang si Hanako dun. I saw Jamai in the corner covering her face and didn't want to interact. Si Komori nag eenjoy lang ng kinakain niya. Mukhang nahihiya si Jamai sa mga tao. Inalis ko ang kamay niya na nakatakip sa kanyang mukha at bigla siyang naging mushroom.

Kinuha ko lang siya na may sapin sa kamay dahil nakakalason ito. Inilagay kolang siya sa bangko at di parin siya ng ibang anyo.

"Maari ba kitang masayaw?"-biglang lahad sakin ni aewa ng kanyang kamay na kinatulala ko dahil nakatali ang kanyang buhok at bukon dun oara siyang prinsepe. Medyo uminit lang konte ang pisnge ko pero di ko pwedeng iwan ang mga bata

"Aewa di ko pwedeng iwan ang mga bat--"

"Enjoy the feast. And bring them back home safely"-wika ng prinsepe at nakita ko ang pagtango ng reyna.

Tinanggap ko ang kamay niya at napasinghap ako sa paghawak niya saking balakang at manahan akong sinayaw.

"BAGAY! PWEDE NA!"-dinig kong sigaw ni spike na kasayaw si ram.

I never dance before but he just made me a good dancer. Nakatingin lang ako sa mga mata niya at nilapit niya bigla ang kanyang mukha sakin na kinadilat ko. Bigla niya akong ni nose to nose ang akala ko hahalikan na niya ako.

Pero nabigla ako sa pagdikit ng kanyang mainit na labi sakin at ramdam ko ang koryente saking katawan sa ginawa niya. Hinawakan niya ang pisnge ko at diniinan ang halik. Nakadilat lang ako hanggang sa binitawan na niya.

He twirl me gently at tulala parin ako hanggang sa nagbow siya at hinalikan ang aking kamay at ninakawan ako ng halik sa labi.

"What?"

"You little thief"-ani ko sa pagkabigla na medyo nawawala pa sa katinuan. He face me and lick his lips na kinalunok ko naman habang nakatingin sa kanya

"I'm sorry di ko napigilan e"-mala seductive niyang pananalita at di parin nahuhupa ang tibok ng puso ko.

Hinawakan ko ang labi ko at nakadilat parin ang mata. Bat parang ramdam ko parin yung mga labing iyon. Di ko alam na ganito pala ang pakiramdam ng mahalikan. Parang nawawala ako sa sarili. Kinikilig ako na medyo naiinis!

Umalis ako sa harap niya dahil nawawala ako sa mga titig niya sakin hindi ako pwedeng majnlove sa kanya. Di pwede!

The commotion disturbed the people in the Great hall. The soldiers rushed outside and i heard a siren. A signal of in coming danger. Agad kong binigyan pansin ang mga bata at wala na sila sa kanilang inuupuan.

"KOMORI!!"-sigaw ko at hinanap namin sila maraming tao at di namin sila makita. My eyes widen as i saw a ship outside the window and its about to crash!!

"RUN!!!"-sigaw ng mga tao at nagsialisan sa malaking kastilyo at di pinagbabangga ako. Napabagsak ako at napangiwi ng naapakan ako ng mga tao at sinubukan kong magtago sa lamesa pero bigla nalang umiikot ang paligid at nasubsob ako sa dingding kasama ng ibang mga faliant.

Bigla nalang naramdaman ko ang malakas na pagtama ng barko sa balyena at tumagos ito at namula ang buong paligid. Wala na akong nakita ng may biglang bumagsak sakin .

➖➖➖

Napamulat ako at wala akong makita kundi usok at napasuka ako sa lansa ng amoy at basang basa ako. Natakot ako sa nadatnan kong duguan ang buong hall at nakita ko rin ang mga nagkakamalay na faliant at lahat sila nagsigawan sa takot. Napangiwi ako ng maipit ang aking paa at namanhid mula pa kanina. Basang basa ako ng dugo mula ulo hanggang paa.

"Ang mga bata!"-sigaw ko at wala akong narinig na boses nila. "KOMORI WHERE ARE YOU! JAMAI HANAKO!!"

"Ela!"-nakita kong naliligo rin sa dugo si naea at inalis ang lamesa at inalalayan akong tumayo.

"Nasan sila?!"

"Hindi ko alam"

Napakaswerte ko at di ako nabagsakan ng mga cemento hindi ko kayang makita ang mga taong nabagsakan at may nakita rin akong putol na katawan.

Nakalabas kami at di ako makapaniwala saking nakita. Napaiyak ako sa sa mga faliant na humagulgol na nakatingin sa kanilang gumuhong palasyo kasama ng kanilang mahal sa buhay. Tumagos talaga ang barko sa katawang ng balyena.

Napaiyak rin ako sa mga paninisi nila pero hindi lang iyon ang inisip ko dahil maraming nasawi sa kanila. Imbes na  kami saktan nila pero umiyak nalang silang nagtutulungan sa mga kasamahan nilang natabunan ng mga gumuhong gusali. We want to help pero itinakwil nila kame at napaluhod ako habang nakakalayo na kame dahil dalawa nalang kami ni Naea ang naiwan. The smoke reached the blue sky and ruin the light and faded into darkness. I had loose my hope sa lakas ng pagbagsak namin possibleng nabaon ang mga bata sa gumuhong palasyo.Napaluhod ako and my minds is all a mess. What are we gonna do now!