*Kaloy's P.O.V.*
"Ganito lang iyan kamahalan." Alisya said as she showed me how she searched for gold by using her bare hands. She flattened her palms on the mountain side and slid it to the right, she went on for a few centimeters until her hand lit up on a certain spot and she got her mini pick axe and mined in that certain spot and for sure, gold was buried in there. A whole vein of gold by the way.
"Mainam." I said approvingly as she handed me the gold nuggets that she's able to collect and I placed it in the bucket that I'm holding. She gave me a sweet smile and continued on with her job.
It has been two months since I've been visiting the mines in Lumayan since my mother introduced me to the daughter of the nobleman of the miners, Alisya. Yes, we do have miners here, the gold that we use in performing some rituals and offerings doesn't just come out of an abracadabra. And there are certain engkantos who are really gifted in this part. And yes again, my mother was adamant about me choosing an engkantada for a bride that is why she has been introducing me to the daughters of her noblemen comrades five months ago. Some of them were okay while some were, not my type at all. Alisya was one of the better ones who actually is responsible with her duties and who's not the flirt type. I would really consider her to be the future queen of Lumayan, but I really don't want to marry her because of a certain mortal. Speaking of, it has been half a year since the last time I saw her but that doesn't mean I have longed for her less.
"Kamahalan?" I snapped out of my thoughts, noticing that we already reached the mouth of the mineshaft and an array of armies are waiting outside. It was Polano, one of the generals that came forward to meet me.
"Polano." I greeted curtly.
"May ulat ang ating mga espiya mula sa Dalaket, kailangan ka sa palasyo." He informed. I nodded to that and turned towards Alisya.
"Sige, mauna na ako." I said, kissing the back of her hand which made her blush.
"Dalhin mo na lang 'yan." She said, referring to the bucket of gold that we just mined and I nodded gratefully. Without wasting any second, I strode towards Polana and the troop and made them hang on to me as I used one of my gifts to teleport us to the main gate of the palace. Yes, I can do that.
We matched our way inside, well me and the general because the others went back to their posts along the way. In the Punong Bulwagan, I saw my mother standing in front of the throne discussing with the other generals and three soldiers dressed in a camouflage suit and I instantly recognize them as our spies.
"Ina." I greeted and they all turned to us.
"Anak." "Kamahalan." "Mahal na prinsipe." They greeted in unison and I acknowledged them all as I joined them around the table where a map is laid.
"May naulat ang ating mga espiya na kakaibang aktibidad mula sa mga kaaway na tila ba sila ay naghahanda para sa isang digmaan." My mother started off. "Sa hilagang tangawa ng ating kaharian kung saan gubat lamang ang nakapagitan sa atin at ng Dalaket, may kutob ako na ito ang rutang tatahakin nila sa pag atake, kung tayo man ang punterya. Kaya kailangan nating paigtingin ang mga bantay natin doon." She explained further, moving some of the stationed flags.
"Siyang tunay ina. Ngunit maari rin nilang baybayin ang mabatong dalampasigan at doon pumasok sa pamayanan ng ating mga mangingisda sa silangan." I pointed out, moving another flag to the outline of the shore in the map.
"Oo nga rin, kailangan natin hati-hatiin ang ating mga kawal upang masiguro natin na hindi sila makakapasok dito." A general seconded.
"Kailangan na rin nating paigtingin ang mga pagsasanay, lalo na sa mga baguhan pa lamang." Polano said.
"Tama, tama. At kailangan natin ng mas maiging mga mata sa galaw ng mga kaaway." Mother said, looking suggestively at me. "Ipapatawag ko si Kalista at kayo ang aatasan kong bantayan ang bawat kilos ng mga Dalaketnon gamit ang mahiwagang kawa Kaloy."
"Masusunod ina." I agreed. It is quite reasonable to do that since I am very much needed in the castle at the same time, I need to be updated by the every move our enemy, especially my nemesis. And what better way to do both of that at the same time than to use the magical caldron?
"Polano, ikaw ang susubaybay sa pagsasanay ng mga bagong kawal. Agtu, pangunahan mo ang pulutong na magbabantay sa hilaga at Marko, ikaw naman sa silangan. Kayong tatlo, bumalik kayo sa pag-eespiya ninyo at kung ano mang maiuulat ninyo ay agad ninyong ipaalam sa pulutong na pinakamalapit sa inyo ng sa gayon ay makapag-handa sila." She barked out more commands before dismissing all of us. "Anak?" She called out when I was about to leave too.
"Ano iyon ina?" I asked, turning back to her. She waited until we are left alone in the throne room before she spoke.
"Mukhang napalapit ka na sa anak ni Ambrosyo sa minahan." She started off, sounding pleased. Of course.
"Mainam sya ina. At marunong humawak ng responsibilidad." I said honestly. I mean, Alisya works with hffr own hands despite being noble, she mingles with the commoners and does things as if she's a commoner, which is quite impressive since most noble engkantadas would just sit around and wait for the sitting prince to somehow choose them as their queen since that's how the rules go. They must've forgotten how they to use their gifts properly or whatnot.
"Isang magandang katangian para maging reyna, hindi ba?" Now she's implying.
"Parang ganoon na nga." I smiled forcefully. If we talk about duties, I would really approve of Alisya to become the queen however, it isn't just about duties when you pick a queen. It's about spending a lifetime being tied to that person, building a family with her, and... Those thoughts alone would make my heart clench for it desires another, not Alisya.
"Hindi naman kita minamadali anak. Ngunit pagkatapos sana ng banta ng mga Dalaketnon, sana pag-isipan mo na ang tungkol sa mga bagay na iyan." With that said, she turned her back to me and made her way to, who knows where.
Not rushing me my foot! She had literally endorced those engkantadas to me a few months ago. I really don't understand the Hippocratic mindset of my mother. Yes I'm annoyed but I just sucked it all into a deep breath and eventually made my way to my room. It didn't take long for my half-sister to arrive, bringing her caldron in and I welcomed her to the room next to mine where she'd be staying at for the time being.
"Kumusta mahal na prinsipe?" She started off as the automatic sliding doors closed and I placed the heavy caldron on one of the tables in her room.
"Ayos lang Kalista." I answered. "Kailangan tayo ni ina upang pagmasdan ang galaw ng mga Dalaketnon mula sa mahiwagang kawa pagkat may nabantayan ang mga espiya na mukhang banta sa seguridad ng kaharian." I explained and she nodded, eventually stirring the boiling water using her bare hands. Of course a mist appeared and the main entrance of the Dalaketnon's castle appeared. From the scene shown on the water, their generals are talking to some Tiyanaks. Too bad we can't hear their conversation because that's out of the scope of Kalista's magic when you're displaying a live scene.
"Nikikipagtulungan sila sa kanilang mga kaalyado. Mukhang malaki itong balak nila mahal na prinsipe." She voiced out.
"Mukha nga, ngunit palabas naman sila ng lagusan patungo sa mundo ng mga mortal." I pointed out when I see the troop leave using their portal. It's the only one in this dimension that is not under Lumayan's control. And yes, our kingdom has a hold of almost all of the portals because the cliff of the moving portal, which is the oldest portal that ever existed that allows our connection to the mortal realm, falls on our territory.
"Baka maghahasik na naman sila ng lagim sa mundo ng mga tao."
"Ngunit bakit? Anong dahilan nila?"
"Siguro upang magparami. Alam mo naman na may kakayahan silang gawing katulad nila ang mga tao."
I nodded at what she said. "Kailangan natin bigyan ng babala ang mga kaibigan nating tao upang may magawa sila para tugunan ito." I said, referring to the albularyos and tambalans that practiced our ways and asks for our blessings. Of course we can't let them be. Kalista opened her palm at me and I fished out some gold bars from my pocket so she can perform the ritual to send them a message through a dream. Yes, that's how powerful my mother's lineage is. But of course the bloodline of the king holds more power that is more mysterious than the deepest waters. It took Kalista an hour to deliver those warning dreams and when she's done, I have to catch her in my arms to keep her steady because she all but collapsed. Yeah right, there were a good number of shamans under us and delivering a warning dream or a "talimad-on" uses a lot of power.
"Ayos lang ako..." She said weakly and I nodded, gently laying her down on the bed. I called one of the guards and instructed him to get my sister something to eat. "Matutulog lang ako sandali, ikaw muna ang gumamit sa kawa." I nodded again as she closed her eyes.
Magic overuse sure have that effect on us so I let her rest and went back to the caldron, that's still displaying the enemy's camp. I dropped some gold bars in it to zoom in and get a better look at the Dalaketnons who truly are preparing themselves for something like a war. "Kamahalan, nandito na ang pagkain." The guard that I instructed said.
"Ilagay mo na lang sa kabilang mesa nagpapahinga pa ang aking kapatid." I said dismissively as I noticed a troop of Dalaketnons along with some Tiyanaks arrive at their camp. One of them carries a sack on his shoulders and I'm sure they've already abducted a mortal. I dropped another piece of gold to zoom it out a bit and at the entrance of the castle, Lakan himself came out and met them. His men handed him the sack and he eagerly unwrapped it. Apparently, it was a female, the woman they've abducted and her fiery red hair had my heart racing. Even if she's facing away from my point of view, her physical features are very familiar. I took a deep breath, looking around to make sure that someone was not looking and when I made sure of that, I dropped a much bigger piece of gold, one of those that Alisya offered me and chanted. "Mahiwagang kawa, pinakamamahal ko ay iyong ipakita." Another mist occured but when it cleared, the setting didn't change.
I can still see the kingdom of Dalaket but this time, a particular human girl came to focus. Her hands and legs are tied but she's struggling to set herself free. I can also see Lakan, leaning closer to her struggling figure on the floor and was angered when he held her chin to make her look at him and just gave her a threatening look. That is it! I don't know how he got a hold of Season when I haven't found her for months now but I'm not going let him treat her like that. And no! I'm not going to let him touch even a single strand of her hair. "Kalista. Wake up." I said, shaking my sleeping sister, opting to speak in English as we always do everytime we talk about Season. "Wake up for awhile please." I shook her a little harder until she eventually woke up, irritated.
"Bakit? Anong nangyare?" She asked with her eyes stillclossed.
"Lakan somehow managed to abduct Season. I saw his men bring her in their camp and, I have to go save her."
"What?" This time she's fully awake. "Where?" She asked, rushing to the caldron where the scene shows Season being tied to the bed. God! What the hell is Lakan planning? "You can't just go there, it is obvious that Lakan knows about your connection with Season lest he wouldn't imprison her like this."
"How would he have known?"
"Hello, many of his allies had attacked her like that Balbal, perhaps they reported the incidents where you helped her."
"Yes but, Season is protected, don't tell me your brother's amulet didn't work."
"If we're able to locate her now that means, she's not wearing the amulet. But either way, it's not very wise to just act on impulse right now. Our kingdom is on high security mode, you can't just go there and make it look like you want to start a war. Think about it!" I know she's speaking the truth but...
"What do you want me to do? Let Lakan have his way with her? I can't do that. I made up my mind. Don't worry, I'd be careful." I responded as I rushed to my room to change my outfit.
"Kaloy!" She called out but I didn't listen. Now that I found Season again, I won't let her go and I won't let her be on the hands of the enemy. I had to have her safe in my arms. Or well, atleast have her safe and away from Lakan, if ever she'd refuse to be in my arms. Dressed in a gray and brown colored light armor, which would blend really well with the dull colored walls of the haunted house-like castle of the Dalaketnons, I slung my sword's holder behind me and marched outside.
"Mahal na prinsipe. May naitalang pag atake ang mga Dalaketnon sa hilagang bahagi ng kaharian." A guard said as soon as I got out.
"Nandoon na ang pulutong nina Agtu doon at ang ibang mga kawal na dati pang nakabantay doon, ipatingin mo kay Kalista kung kailangan ba nila ng mas marami pang tauhan at kung oo, iulat mo ito sa aking ina, nang sa gayun makakapadala pa tayo ng karagdagang kawal doon." I instructed as we walked down the hall.
"At saan po kayo paparoon?" He inquired.
"Sa misyon ko. Apitong!" I called to the guard who is posted on the next corner and he took off his helmet and bowed before me as the other guard left to go to my mother. "Isama mo ang lima mo pang kasamahan, may pupuntahan tayo."
"Mahal na prinsipe, kung manliligaw ka lang sa anak ng pinuno ng mga minero, huwag muna ngayon pagkat may banta ng digmaan." I whacked his head at his statement. As good as he is with the sword, my friend's braincells are somehow loose.
"Tawagin mo na ang kasamahan mo, pupunta tayo sa kaharian ng kaaway." I said and his eyes widened.
"Papunta na sila rito, hintayin na lang natin!"
"Sundin mo na lang ang utos ko!" And he did obey. When he gathered the five soldiers that I've been talking about, I let them hang on to me and I used my teleportation power to take us straight to the side entrance of the Dalaketnon's haunted mansion, just behind the tall bushes so that they won't see us. "Kailangan natin pumasok ng hindi nila namamalayan, patulugin o patayin nyo na lang ang lahat ng kawal na madadaraanan natin."
"Bakit ba? Ano ba ang ginagawa natin dito?" Apitong asked.
"May ililigtas tayo." I answered, observing the guards that are standing in the side entrance.
"Si Alisya ba?" Goodness! This guy is irritating! But he's the only loyalist to me that I can bring right now.
"Hindi. Yung babaeng tunay kong mahal." With that, I signaled for them to charge, getting on behind the two guards who eventually fell on the floor. "Tara na."