*Kaloy's P.O.V.*
Her dragon form amazes me. That's for sure. This is the second time that I got to see it and even if it's ought to be something that any normal being would fear, I'm not at all normal. However, Lola Ligaya's reaction had me worried. I've never seen the old lady so scared in my entire life. Hell she's not even afraid of Diakno, Lakan's father even at her old age but, now. Now she almost fainted at the sight of Season as a dragon.
"What's the matter grandma?" I asked as the dragon just sat there, looking at us.
"Ang n-nilalang na iyan! W-wag kang lumapit sa kanya! Hindi siya dapat nakapasok dito!" She heartily exclaimed.
"Lola, kumalma kayo. Alam na alam kong si Season yan at wala syang masamang gagawin sa atin." I tried to soothe her but she vigorously shook her head.
"Hindi! Hindi! Isa syang banta sa ating siguridad. Maaring maubos ang ating lahi ng dahil sa kanya!" My forehead creased at her statement.
"La, kung gusto man nyang ubusin ang lahi natin ay hindi na sana nya kami iniligtas mula sa mga Dalaketnon." I pointed out because as far as I know, Season did nothing but help protect our kind and me.
"Mas mabuti pang makalaban ang mga Dalaketnon kaysa sa kanya!"
"Hindi nga natin sya kalaban La. Sabihin mo nga muna, ano ba sya?" I asked since that is the main reason why we are here. "Anong uri ng nilalang ba sya?"
She took a deep breath before answering my question, this time in English so that Season would understand. "If I'm not mistaken, she's a witch from China. The descendant, promised to destroy our kind after we drove her ancestors away." Her statement baffled me and I guess Season too because I noticed how she turned back into her human form.
"I'm what?" She asked softly.
"You are the phantom that my grandmother had told me to ward off! So get lost!" Lola Ligaya shouted, even attempting to use her dying power to hit her but I stopped her. Firstly because, using a dying power would endanger her and secondly, I don't want her to hurt Season in any way. "You're a monster!"
I saw pain flash in my beloved's eyes and I instantly didn't like the look of this. "Tama na La! Wala syang ginagawang masama sa atin, magpahinga ka muna." I softly said and used one of the gifts that I rarely use to make her fall asleep. "Don't go anywhere, I'll be back." I told Season before I teleported Lola Ligaya back to her space in the cave, instructing some of my men to look after her as I teleported back to where we've been. There I saw Season sitting on a rock, hugging her knees. "Hey..." I said as I wrap an arm around her shaking shoulder. Is she crying?
"K-kaloy... Am I really a monster?" She asked, still not looking at me so I placed a finger under her chin and made her look at me.
"No you're not." I sincerely said when our eyes met. She's far from a monster, hell she's the opposite of hideous. She's beautiful and kind hearted...
"But, that's what they always say. The mambabarang said it when she tested out what kind of creature I am, and now your grandma said it when she saw me. It would've been okay if these people are retarded old hags who doesn't mean whatever they say, but... They clearly know what they're talking about and I... I don't." She said. I too, don't know what to say to her right now, so I just bring her in for an embrace which she didn't refuse of.
"Do you believe that you're a monster?" I asked, kissing the top of her head.
"I don't know..." She answered, burying her face on my chest.
"Even when you let Quinglong out, did you do something monstrous?" I went on because I know that the answer to that is no.
"No... But the fear in your grandma's eyes says otherwise..." I breathed in at that. It's true, she reacted as if Season did something...
"However, it wasn't really you that is monstrous. She talked about your ancestors." I pointed out.
"Yes, the ones from China who I know nothing about. I mean, my mom is Chinese but I never got to know her because she died while giving birth of me, and my brother knows only little about her."
"How about your father... Maybe he'd know something about your mother?" I suggested. Not that I know a lot about her family but, I guess it's reasonable enough that her father would know more about her mother.
"If only we're in good terms. But, once I get out of here I'd go back to Tennessee and ask him." So they're not in good terms, that's probably the reason why she opted to stay with her brother even after her nephew died. But wait... She's going back to Tennessee? Away from me? I can't help but feel a tightening in my chest at that. It almost makes me want to loose this war just so I can always have her here, beside me. But then again, I am Lumayan's prince, Lumayan's future king and that future is coming so soon now that my mother is gone. So I can't fail my people, who are seeking for stability in our own land and my people, who died in the honor of our race and kingdom. I guess this is just one of the harsh truths about whatever I have with Season, it wouldn't last. It wouldn't last no matter how much I want it to because we are too different. Our priorities are very different, I'm here, certain of who I am and what I should be, while she's out there, seeking the truth of who she really is and what she's meant to do. "I can't just accept the monster word that they described me with, without knowing the whole truth about my being." You see? That's what I'm talking about.
I nodded at her statement while gently stroking her hair. "But you know what, who you are and what you're meant to be isn't always defined by your past, sometimes it's who you choose to be that matters the most." I felt her shift in her position in my lap when I said that as she now raised her head from my chest so that pur eyes would meet.
"And right now, I choose to be on your side, no matter what they say about my ancestors." A smile graced my lips at that and I can't help but lean closer to her as she does the same. "I'm on your side."
To hear that she somehow choose me and to be with me is already enough for the butterflies to flutter in my stomach and they exploded when our lips touched ever so slightly until I can't hold back anymore. It's been so long overdue, so I pulled her close, deepening the kiss. As I sated the hunger that I've been feeling since I met her. I want her, I want this way. And a fraction of a moment, I thought she does too as she kissed me back with the same fervor but...
"No..." She said as she pulled away from the kiss and from me entirely as she stood up. Still dazed, I stood up too, wanting to know why but before I could speak, she beat me to it. "You're with an engkantada who is more suitable to be your Queen."
And once again, my heart is aching. I mean, when I started coming to terms with Alisya, I know I said the same thing as she did and it made me feel better but now that I'm hearing it from her, the woman that I truly love, I can only feel pain. But of course, one of my hands cupped both of her cheeks and before I could stop it, the words just flowed out of my mouth. "I don't want a more suitable queen, I want you to be my queen."
Tears streamed down her face and I kissed them away one by one. "I want you too..." The way that she said it told me that we both understand that we can't really be together, no matter how much we want to. It is once again our differences that is breaking our hearts. But I guess right now, as in, in this moment, we choose to set it aside as we shared yet another bittersweet kiss.
Three heart wrecking days in the mermaid's cave is already enough for all of us to win Lumayan back. It's just so hard not to be on your comfort zone. And because most of my men are fully recovered, thanks to the fact that we are healer engkantos and we recover a lot faster than any other creature, the surviving generals and I decided that it's time for us to fight back. Although there are only about half of the army remaining after our loss, we have the mere people who are willing to fight with us, just as long as we take that battle near the shore, which wouldn't be a problem because we do have the fishing docks of the east, which we can easily enter, considering the scope of Kataw's power but... I'm afraid it's not enough.
"You still up?" Her melodic voice resounded in my ear and I can't help but smile, despite my stressed state.
"Yeah..." I said as I pulled her closer to me so that she's now sitting on my lap. In front of her is a little sand box which I used to map out our battle plans with the use of some stones.
"What do these mean?" Season asked as she studied them while I peppered little kisses on her neck.
If you're wondering how we got this, intimate well... That's what that kiss did to us, but we are only like this during the night, when most of my subjects are already asleep, including Lola Ligaya who would always look at Season with narrowed eyes. Although we are thankful that she kept quiet about what Season really is. I reckon, only the ones of her age would believe her because they're the only ones who knew of her ancestors and our generation wasn't really taught about them. I mean I would've known if they did because as a prince, they taught me everything about the kingdom. And I mean everything. "It's our battle plans. This is where we would come in, through my power." I started off, pointing on the representation of the dock that I drew in the sand. "And this is where Kataw and his men would be since they can only fight on water but they're good with arrows and all, so that would help but..."
"But what?" She asked, urging me to continue.
"We're not only dealing with the Dalaketnons, we also need to deal with their solid allies and I don't think, I don't think our army would be enough." I honestly said. "I mean, it would be helpful if we could recruit one more race to help us."
"So why don't you?"
"The nearest to our kingdom are the Tikbalangs whose strength, speed, and size would surely be a good asset for us, especially against the giants however, they've long been decided to be neutral, not wanting to meddle with wars, even if I beg them and offer them a lot of gold." I said, dragging my palm down my face.
She turned in my lap, putting her legs on either sides of my hips as he fully faced me, with her hands on my shoulder. "The Tikbalangs? The one headed by Tikbulanon?" She asked.
"Y-yes, how did you know the name of their current king?" I wondered. I mean, she told me she was attacked by a tikbalang before but-
"Long story. But his human name is Fernando Perez, my brother's business partner and he owes me something. I mean we're friends, and even if he refuses to help you, I ummm, I had tamed four Tikbalangs with his help before so, I might as well borrow them for a bit." I was stunned at her statement. First of all, it's hard to tame a Tikbalang, and she what? Tamed four?
I put a stray strand of her curls behind her ear and smiled. "You never cease to amaze me. Tomorrow at sunrise, I'm taking you with me." I said as I stole a kiss.
"Of course. Good night." She said after we pulled away and finally got off of my lap as she curled on her space in the cave, just close to mine. Damn I'm smitten.
As scheduled, when the sun rose, Season and I, along with a soldier of mine prepared to go to the Tikbalangs. We brought with us a medium sized box full of gold nuggets to help with our sought for alliance. Kalista, Teodoro, Alisya, and some of the generals wished us good luck before the three of us vanished using my power. After a minute or so of being in the state of teleportation, we reached our destination. Huge trees littered the area and in some of their branches, I saw were horses just chilling around. We moved our way through the bushes with all the intention of being noticed and I guess our efforts worked because one of the Tikbalangs jumped down to greet us or well, question our arrival while another one went to fetch their king, I guess.
"Bakit narito ang prinsipe ng Lumayan?" The one that came down to greet us asked in a neutral tone.
"Magandang araw din sa iyo kaibigan. Nais ko sanang makausap ang iyong hari." I calmly stated.
"Gaya ng aking inaakala." He nodded and just after that, a group of Tikbalangs came our way and along with them is Tikbulanon, their king. We bowed at each other but when he spoke, it wasn't a greeting for us that came out of his mouth but rather...
"Season?" He seemed really surprised to see my companion and Season came to him with a hug.
"Fernando." Season said after they let go of the quick hug.
"What are you doing here along with the prince of Lumayan?" He asked, finally looking back to me.
"Allow him to explain." Season said, not wanting to steal the spotlight and I smiled. When she stepped back beside me, I made sure to pull her closer by putting an arm around her waist. Yeah right, this one's possessive.
"Of course, let's go to the receiving area first, come, come." Tikbulanon said and eventually led us to their receiving area which is actually an outdoor long table made out of a large fallen trunk, surrounded by chopped logs utilized as chairs. "Anong maipaglilingkod ko sayo?" He asked when we are settled but I believe he already have an idea as to why we are here.
"Kaibigan batid mo naman siguro ang nangyare sa Lumayan at sa aming mga engkanto." I started off and he nodded, confirming my presumption. "Nais sana naming hingin ang iyong tulong upang mabawi namin ang kaharian at upang maibalik sa normal ang pamamalakad sa ating mundo, lalo na sa mga lagusan." I continued. Silenced stretched between us after that as he appeared to be thinking so, I motioned for my man to open the box that he placed in the table and his subjects' eyes twinkled when they saw what's inside.
Tikbulanon cleared his throat. "Bago ako magdedesisyon. Nais ko munang malaman kung bakit kasama mo sya." He said, pointing at Season.
"Ah, sya ay binihag ni Lakan at akin syang niligtas at dinala na rin sa aming kampo upang maisauli sa kanyang mundo kapag maaayos na ang lahat." I explained but his next question surprised me.
"Ibig sabihin, ikaw ang syang nangangalaga sa kanya noong mga panahong nabihag sya ni Tikubal kaya hindi sya masyadong naapektuhan sa kapangyarihan nito?" I looked at Season then back to him again. I guess this guy knows more than I would prefer him to know.
"Ako nga." I confirmed since that was the time that I had given her protection without her permission and knowledge.
He nodded. "Alam mo kaibigan, ayaw namin ng gulo." I bit my lip at his statement, thinking that he would refuse like what his father did when my father asked for their alliance at a time of war when I was younger, but his eyes landed on Season for a fraction of a moment before it came back to me and he continued. "Ngunit utang namin ang aming kalayaan at utang ko ang aking pagabalik sa tronong ito sa... Sa iyong sinta. Kaya tatanggapin ko ang iyong alok." Wait, what?
He agreed? He really did agree? He did. I smiled gratefully and shook his hand. "Maraming salamat kaibigan."
"Huwag kang magpasalamat sa akin kundi sa kanya." He said, looking at Season. Another thing that I can't quite believe on his earlier statement is that the fact that they owe a lot from Season. I don't know how exactly that happened but I really am grateful that she's on my side, literally, at a time like this.
"Hulog sya ng langit."
"Kahit na tao sya?"
"Maniwala ka kaibigan, hindi sya basta-basta.."
"Naniniwala ako."