CHAPTER 67 #3
"We also waited. For you, Little Red."
Nanatili akong napatulala sakanila, unable to speak.
"We knew that one day, the Orythea would be born. We didn't know when, or where, or what kind of person you would become."
"But we knew one thing."
His gaze softened.
"We had to remain alive long enough to find you. Because when you were finally born, the second prophecy would begin."
"We spent centuries searching for Erishkigal... and waiting for the Child of Fire who was destined to face her."
"Kinausap ko sina Aurelius at Beaumont tungkol kay Erishkigal. They didn't want to kill us, but it had to be done. They knew what I was asking them to do. They knew that once they killed us, the entire world would believe that the blood of Old Erenhal had finally fallen.
They didn't want to carry that burden, but they understood why it had to happen."
Napabuntong-hininga siya.
"I told them that the war would never end as long as we remained in Vermeleyon. Maraming madadamay. The Holy Cathedral would continue to hunt us, more kingdoms would join the war, and countless innocent people would continue to die."
"So I gave them an order. To kill us. End the Erenhal bloodline in the eyes of the world, then leave Vermeleyon and search for Erishkigal across Arcadeya."
Ang mga Erenhal...
Sinakripisyo nila ang sarili nila para sa Arcadeya.
They were determined to achieve immortality, kahit fifty percent lamang ang chance na magtagumpay sila.
They knew that there was no guarantee that they would survive, but they still chose to take that risk because they believed it was the only way they could continue protecting Arcadeya from the threat that was coming.
Napayuko ako at mahigpit na hinawakan ang aking kopita.
They were willing to die, knowing that even their immortality might fail.
They didn't know if they would come back.
They didn't know if their plan would work.
But they still did it.
For the people.
For Arcadeya.
At sa huli, they allowed the entire world to believe that they were nothing more than monsters who deserved to disappear.
"You sacrificed... for the people..."
I slowly looked at King Drakkon, still trying to process everything I had just learned.
"I never expected it."
Napayuko ako sandali, feeling the weight of my own words from the past.
"Patawad kung marami akong nasabing hindi maganda sa inyo nang una kong pagtapak dito. I was clueless... and I was an idiot."
I let out a quiet sigh, my fingers still wrapped around my glass.
"I judged you without knowing the truth. I thought you were simply hiding here while the rest of the world believed the Erenhal were already gone. I didn't know that you had sacrificed everything just to protect the people."
I looked at them again.
"Now I understand why you did it."
Nakita ko ang paglambot ng ekspresyon ni Haring Drakkon.
"You are my only hope, Little Red. So take the Erenhal Sartorias as soon as possible. Kakailanganin mo ang Erenhal Sartorias. Hindi lamang para sa iyo, kundi para sa buong Arcadeya. The time will come when you will need the empire's strength, its people, and its resources to face what is coming."
Sandaling huminto si Haring Drakkon bago muling nagsalita.
"You are the Orythea. You are the Child of Fire spoken of in the prophecy. If Erishkigal truly awakens, you cannot face her alone."
His gaze remained fixed on me.
"Take back what belongs to your bloodline, Little Red. Restore Erenhal Sartorias and bring it back to its former glory."
Nanlaki ang aking mga mata.
What did he mean by 'belongs to my bloodline'?
Napatingin ako kay Cassandra, ngunit agad kong nakita ang pag-iwas niya ng tingin.
"Master... Aurelius Archimedes Quentin, Cassandra's ex-lover, was supposed to be the second emperor. And the bloodline of Quentin is supposed to rule the Grand Empire of Erenhal Sartorias..." rinig kong sambit ni Anastacio mula sa likuran ko.
Napalingon ako sa kaniya. What the fuck?
"Wait..." wala na akong masabi dahil sa natuklasan.
So Aurelius wasn't simply one of the loyal Erenhals who fought beside King Drakkon... he was supposed to inherit the throne...
My eyes slowly shifted toward Cassandra, who still refused to look at me.
"Ex-lover, huh?" biglang sumingit si Lucy Pearl mula sa tabi ko, her lips curling into a mischievous smile.
"Kaya naman pala mainit ang dugo sa'yo, Rassia."
Napabuntong-hininga ako bago muling tumingin kay Cassandra. She was still avoiding my gaze.
Hmm... Interesting...
So Cassandra was Aurelius's former lover...
And Aurelius was supposed to be the second Emperor of Erenhal Sartorias.
The more I learned about the past, the more complicated everything became.
"Then why did Beaumont become the second emperor?"
Napatingin ako kay Haring Drakkon, waiting for his answer.
"Even we, the Erenhals, wondered about that," ani Haring Drakkon. "Ngunit naniniwala akong dahil ito kay Cassandra."
Napalingon ako kay Cassandra.
"W-well..." nauutal niyang sambit, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden attention. "Aurelius was indeed my ex, but he wasn't my mate. We never had a child or anything like that. Let's just say... he was my first love."
Bahagya siyang umiwas ng tingin.
"And Beaumont had a crush on me, so... baka nag-away sila or something."
Napatingin ako sa kaniya nang may pagtataka. So that was the reason behind their complicated history?
Napabuntong-hininga si Anastacio mula sa likuran ko.
"After Cassandra's death, my previous master didn't want the throne, so he passed it to Beaumont."
"Labis ang pangungulila sa iyo ni Aurelius, Cassandra. Kahit nagkaroon siya ng asawa, ikaw pa rin ang kaniyang iniisip hanggang sa kaniyang huling hininga."
Biglang natahimik si Cassandra. Her expression changed completely.
Wala na ang pilyang ngisi niya kanina. She simply stared at her cup, her fingers tightening around it as if she was trying to hide whatever emotions were suddenly rising inside her.
"I didn't expect you to be my ancestor's ex, Cass."
Napangisi ako habang tinitingnan siya. I couldn't help myself after everything Anastacio had just revealed.
"Kaya naman pala..." I tilted my head slightly. "Look at me. Do I remind you of someone?"
Napansin kong bigla siyang umiwas ng tingin.
Aha.
"Kaya naman pala nahuhuli kita minsang nakatitig sa akin."
Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Cassandra bago siya napasimangot.
"Shut up!"
Napatawa ako. "Why? I'm just asking."
"You're getting too comfortable, brat!"
Mas lalo akong napangisi. "Well, you're the one who keeps staring at me."
"Because you remind me of someone, okay?!"
Bigla siyang napahinto, as if she realized she had admitted too much. Napatingin ako sa kaniya nang may pang-aasar.
"Someone named Aurelius?"
"Rassia!"
Napatawa ako habang mabilis siyang umiling at muling uminom sa kaniyang kopita, clearly trying to hide her embarrassment. For someone who had lived for centuries, Cassandra was surprisingly easy to tease.
"So... Little Red, while you are taking back the Erenhal Sartorias, I will go to a faraway place for a while."
Napatingin ako kay Haring Drakkon.
"Ngunit ipinapangako kong darating ako sa tamang oras. Kailangan kong makahanap ng solution upang matalo si Erishkigal. I cannot simply sit here and wait for her to awaken."
"Where?"
Drakkon looked at me for a moment before answering.
"Where your husband is."
Biglang nanigas ang katawan ko.
"He's achieving his immortality, yes... but I also need to know his plans. I don't want him to carry that burden alone."
Napahinto ako at napalunok.
"At ang iyong ama, Little Red... I believe he is with Vincarion. May plano ang dalawang iyon. I saw it. We were there..."
"Your grandfather used his magic to turn your father into gold particles, but he didn't completely die. It was part of their plan."
Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa aking kopita.
"Your father survived... with Vincarion..."
Napapikit ako sandali, trying to hold back the emotions that suddenly overwhelmed me.
Fuck... I'm glad....
Napahinga ako nang malalim bago ko muling tiningnan ang apoy sa fireplace.
Father...
For the first time in a long time, I allowed myself to feel relieved...
Wherever you are, please be safe with Vincenzo....
I'll wait for both of you...
Naramdaman ko ang marahang paghawak ni Anastacio sa balikat ko. His presence alone was enough to calm the storm inside me.
"Master... I am your Sovereign Spirit. I can also feel your emotions. Everything will be alright. Just trust them and have faith in them."
Bahagya akong ngumiti.
My father was strong.
He didn't earn the title of Great Swordmaster and the Golden Lion of the Empire for nothing. He had survived countless battles, faced powerful enemies, and became someone the entire empire respected and feared.
And Vincenzo...
He was known for ending a war with nothing but steel.
I knew how strong they were. I had seen it myself. I had witnessed what they were capable of, yet somehow, the thought of losing them had always made me forget just how powerful they truly were.
"They are strong..."
Napangiti ako nang bahagya, though my eyes were beginning to sting.
"I should have trusted them."
I miss them so much...
Please come back to me safely...
Tumikhim si Lucy Pearl at muling uminom mula sa kaniyang kopita, as if trying to break the sudden silence inside the chamber.
"So, Drakkon... what do you want to ask me?"
Napatingin si Haring Drakkon sa kaniya, then briefly glanced at me and Anastacio.
"I guess let's just do it here, with Little Red and Anastacio."
Bahagyang tumaas ang kilay ko.
King Drakkon turned his attention back to Lucy Pearl.
"You are one of the High Angels, is it not? Then tell me... how can I enter Gadesea?"
Agad na nawala ang bahagyang ngisi sa mukha ni Lucy Pearl.
"You want to enter Gadesea?"
Tumango si Drakkon.
"Yes."
"That's risky."
Tahimik siyang tumingin sa kaniya.