CHAPTER 31.2
ArgumentBEFORE THEY COULD reach the city, a war immediately began and they were out here defending themselves while also paving a way for themselves. They can’t lower their guards for the fear of ending up acting carelessly since even though they’re faced with weaker opponents, that doesn’t mean that they could rest easy and wallow in the feeling of relaxation and confidence. If they don’t pay attention, they could be killed and it can’t be called ‘luck’ if their guards weren’t raised in the first place. It’ll be their own fault if they die in the midst of battle.In the midst of paving their way to the castle, they regrouped. Sa ikalawang pagkakataon, magkasama na naman sina Selene at Lucas sa iisang grupo ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, kasama rin nila si Merlin at Sir Fernandez. The other groups are led by Captain Favian, Chief Knight Fernandez, and Chief Knight LyteCHAPTER 31.3Like a Neglected Puppy “YOU WON’T SPARE me a bit of your attention, would you?” Lucas asked as he was following Selene around. She was on her way to her own tent to rest for a bit but since Merlin and he had a conversation, he decided to confront her. Unfortunately for him, things weren’t looking good and Selene has been ignoring him. Muntik pa itong magmal-ninja ulit kung hindi lang siya alerto’t nabantayan niya ang pagkilos ng dalaga. That’s why it became easy for him to tail her around like he’s her dog or something—minus that he isn’t her dog, of course. “Nag-usap lang kami ni Prinsesa Luan pero kung umasta ka, parang mayroong nangyari sa ‘ming dalawa!” aniya. Lucas almost face palmed but when he realized that he can’t do anything to give Selene the opportunity to disappear from his sight, he stopp
CHAPTER 31.4Pissed Off LUCAS HAD BEEN into the Izquierdo Kingdom’s palace before but it had never been this... different. The palace he had been into prior the war was that albeit it looked majestic, huge, artistic, and beautiful; there’s a looming aura of danger and it looked intimidating, like a haunted castle pulled out from a story book. It didn’t even help that the skies were unusually dark even though it’s already evening and the booming sound of thunder made the entire atmosphere intense. Sa hindi malamang dahilan, pakiramdam niya ay nakikiayon ang panahon sa kanila’t alam nitong magiging malagim ang tadhana nila sa oras na salakayin na nila ang loob ng palasyo. But still, whatever lies to once they entered the palace has to wait. Their troupe has an entire army of Izquierdo knights waiting for them at the front gate and they’re all prepared for the war— to defend their K
CHAPTER 31.5Tricked THEY KNEW THAT IT’D be difficult to go past through all the traps that King Morfran prepared. Sure, there were no puzzles but the fact that each trap were intricately placed so that they won’t notice them immediately is uncanny. It’s unlikely that King Morfran would be this cautious to the point that everything was prepared with excellent precision. All traps were made to either decrease their numbers or kill Selene for good and fortunately, none of these traps had succeeded. “Walang susuko! Ito pa lamang ang simula at sigurado akong sinusubok lamang tayo ni Haring Morfran!” sigaw ni Merlin noong oras na tila ba pagod na pagod na silang magmatyag sa paligid at maging alerto. Hindi naman normal na agad mapagod sina Lucas pero sa mga oras na ito, parang isang malaking parusa na tignan ang buong paligid bago sila gumawa ng kilos. Not only that the traps are holding them bac
CHAPTER 32.1 Fall and Make Up NOONG ORAS NA magising si Selene, awtomatikong rumehistro sa kanya ang pananakit ng ulo mula sa pagbagsak. Mahina siyang napamura dahil hindi niya inaasahang dahil kinabahan siya sa paglapit ni Lucas sa kanya kanina’y may mangyayari sa kanyang hindi maganda. Sa kasamaang palad, huli na noong napagtanto niyang nahulog siya sa patibong na sinet-up ni Haring Morfran at hindi siya agad na maililigtas. At first, she thought that she’s done for. She’ll fall to a place she’s unfamiliar of and she might meet her doom since she’ll be out here alone. Hindi niya lubos maisip kung anong posibleng gawin sa kanya ni Haring Morfran sa oras na malaman nitong nahulog siya sa patibong nito. Paano kung pahirapan pala siya at i-torture hanggang sa katawan mismo niya ang bumigay? It scares her to die miserably. But then, she has a vague recollection that someone jumped from the sam
CHAPTER 32.2Unanswered Questions NATATARANTANG PABALIK-BALIK ng lakad sina Sir Lyte at Sir Sephare magmula nang mawala’t mahulog sa dug trap sina Prinsesa Selene at Prinsipe Lucas samantalang si Merlin, pagod namang pinanonood ang mga ito. Halos sampung minuto na nang mawala sa mga paningin nila ang dalawa at kahit na lihim ding natataranta si Merlin lalo na’t alam niyang dalawa lamang ang mga ito sa kung saan tapos hindi nila alam kung sino ang posibleng makaharap ng mga ito, pinipilit niyang pakalmahin ang sarili. ‘They’re not weak. They can protect and defend themselves just fine.’ This was the thought that kept on spiraling inside his head. It’s like a broken tape, playing over and over in his mind. He kept on persuading himself that even though Princess Selene isn’t fully trained about using magic. Prince Lucas is also a skilled swordsman although he lacked experience, they would be ju
CHAPTER 32.3Three Doors HE SHOULDN’T HAVE opened the wardrobe in the first place. So that he’d still somehow be able to squeeze answers from Selene, of why she’s acting strange and has been desperately avoiding him like he’s a virus. Of why she has been eluding every question that he’d throw where she’s forced to answer what might be bothering her or what makes her uncomfortable around him. He shouldn’t have been curious of that wardrobe. Now, he can’t help it but to curse that motherfucking thing. “Nakalabas na tayo sa wakas!” masiglang anunsyo ni Selene noong oras na makalabas sila mula sa pasilyong dinaanan nila. “Ang dilim do’n. I can’t believe I have to waste five minutes of my mana just so we could get here without patting uncertain things. Pa’no kung ahas na pala ang nakapa natin?” Mabigat ang pagbuntong hininga ni Lucas at
CHAPTER 32.4 Head under Water “IN THE MIDST of the night when all rests and the wind blows as if on a conquest, the clock clangored and the owl hooted— then silence befell on the dark and empty hallways.” Naniningkit ang mga matang pinagmamasdan ni Lucas si Selene habang binabasa ang bugtong na natanggap nila pareho mula sa liham na natagpuan nila matapos nilang halukayin ang buong lugar. Lucas still feels exhausted from finding any clues which may lead them from getting out of this place but even though he tried to be patient and cooperative, everything about this entire place seemed to test him. Everything puts him on edge. Gusto niyang magwala pero ayaw niyang biglang mabawasan ang cool niya sa harap ni Selene o hindi naman kaya ay magbago ang tingin ng dalaga sa kanya. But yes, he’s slowly losing it. “I hate riddles,” he blurted out when they both fell in the hands of
CHAPTER 32.5Escaping a Violent Demise WHEN LUCAS REGAINED composure, the room where they were was already filled with water and they’re already trapped with no place to escape. But he didn’t want to lose hope, there could still be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, he wanted to grasp upon the idea that the deities hasn’t turned a blind eye on them. They will be saved. But fúck this entire situation. Lucas turned to Selene and his grasp on her wrist tightened as he pulled her closer to him. When she told him that she doesn’t know how to swim, who would’ve thought that it wasn’t a lie? Mahinang napamura si Lucas dahil mukhang magpa-panic si Selene anumang oras lalo na’t hindi nila alam kung paano sila makakatagal sa ilalim ng lupa. He still doesn’t know if they could be killed if they’re drowned but he didn’t want to die, and if they