Sin of Lust

CHAPTER 29

Sin of Lust by Swapie Achilles

CHAPTER XXIX

OCTOBER

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Myoral asked with her brows furrowed from concern as she looks at Blanche who’s packing her things for her travel, “you don’t have to take seriously everything this kid says.” She gave her a hug.

“I know but I… I don’t want to let that dream be buried to the back of my mind and resurface again when is everything is too late.” She said. “And Lona made me realize one thing,” she crouched on her level and put her hands on her cheeks while she bestowed her with a smile.

“My heart will always dwell to the place where my family is.” She gave her a quick kiss on her forehead. “Bye-bye…”

Lona gave her one last hug and Lienzo joined in. It’s been a year since she found herself helpless in this city with nothing but her herself, literally.

Yet, amidst her hopelessness she found these people who didn’t care about her appearance, and never did judge her even once. They didn’t force her to tell the things she doesn’t wanted to talk anymore but instead, they supported her.

There are times where people will not see the good in someone and that’s fine, but no one can deny that a little kindness will surely turn someone’s life around for the better. And she was one of those who have given a chance to live once more, yet there’s still the dark side of that she will never erase.

That there’s someone who got killed in behalf of her.

“Can you not stay for a little longer?” Lienzo asked, his small arms are wrapped around her waist while water from his innocent wide eyes are cascading. “I’m going to miss you, Blanche.” He sniffs.

Blanche pats her head and let out an apologetic smile, “I’m sorry, Lienzo. But I really have to go. But I promise you when everything is done, I’ll visit you, okay?”

“Okay…” he lets go of her, rubbing his swelling eyes.

“Bye-bye Blanche.” Lona waves her hand while the other is holding her brother close to her.

“Well then, see you in a bit…”  Myoral said, also waving her hand, “or maybe not.”

“I’m sorry, this is all what we can give to you as farewell.” Julius put a loaf of bread in her satchel and a bottle of water.

“It’s more than enough.” She smiled at them, “see you in a bit.” She chimed before she went away.

Blanche started her journey back to her home, with nothing except for a few coins on her pocket enough for her to buy some necessities, and a loaf of bread and bottle of water enough for her for a couple of days if she consumed it in minimum.

“How long will I get there by foot?” she asked herself as she walks on a savanna in the middle of the day. “I’m thirsty, but I can’t drink now or else I’ll have no water to drink later.”

Her figure is unsteady, indication that she’s tired.

But luckily, there was a wagon coming closer to her, “Hey, young lady, where are you going?” an old man asked her.

Blanche slowly turns her head to see who’s speaking and there she saw an old man on a wagon, and this made her façade grew bright, “Hi! Uhm… I was going to the boarder or City of Biringan and City Afifio.”

“And you’re planning to walk there?” he asked with slightly quaky voice, as his tiny hands pull the reins of his uneasy horses.

The lady sheepishly nods her head, “Yes, I was planning to.”

“That’s will be a long walk, why don’t you come and join me?” the old man offered, “I was going there too.”

Blanche didn’t hesitate to jump on beside him and said, “Well then granny, let me take the rein, so you can seat back, relax, and enjoy the ride.” She grins.

“If you say so.” He replied.

And there they are chitchatting all the way to the boarder of City of Afifio and Biringan, sharing some of their stories together.

And there they learned each other’s named and some of their background.

“Oh, I see. So, you’re planning on sending money for your son, because he said he needs some, am I right? Mr. Nado?”  she asked, her eyes remain on the road and her hands on the reigns.

“Yes.” He replied with a small smile on his face, “He said he needs extra money, because he didn’t have salary last month.”

“Salary?” she inquires, “may I know what’s his job is?”

“He said he’s working at the defense system of the Afifio.” He stated with breaming pride on his sunken eyes, “isn’t my son, great? He’s one of the wizards who’re tasked in defending our city. He’s strong!”

Blanche wasn’t able to respond because she once heard it before, to have a position in the defense system is an honor and that could bring fortune as well as a compensation of laying their lives to protect the city, and yet here’s the father of one of the members, sending money for his son.

“Y-Yes, you’re right, that’s one heck of an honor.” She smiled at him, perfectly hiding the suspicion in her.

Her eyes travel down to his hands and saw how calloused his palms are and the back of his hands have gashes and he didn’t even have shoes nor slippers, he’s literally barefooted. And there he is, not wasting any second, he went out to send money for his son.

“How many times he didn’t get his pay?” she asked, “oh, I mean if that’s too much you can just shrug it off.”

“Nah, it’s fine.” He smiled, “he said he’s not receiving his salary for the past six months, I think. So, I’ve been sending him some since then.”

“But the problem is, I don’t know if I can give him next month.” His voice became sad, “I’ve already sold my horses and these two are the only ones I have. If I sell them…”

“Hey, granny…” Blanche intercepted, “what’s your son’s name again?”

“Loxo… he’s name is Loxo.” He replied, “you know, I can see him a mile since he’s big.” He let out an exhausted laugh.

Blanche can’t feel anything but hatred towards that Loxo, she doesn’t know what the real story is but she can’t bare to see an old man being lied to like this.

The lady was confused at this point but she chose not to speak.  “Loxo, huh…” she muttered under her breath.

“What about you young Shaira?” Nado asked her, “what’s your business why do you need to go to the boarder?”

“Oh, I was going to get to the City of Biringan. I want to return to my family.” She answered truthfully, “though I’m sorry, I have to lie with my name.” She internally apologized.

“Nice… nothing beats the place where someone is waiting for to come home.” He smiled as he looks at the clouds above them, “unlike the clouds, they have nowhere to go and just floating on the cheeks of an endless sky till they disappear.”