Desiderio Domini

Chapter 20

“Kumalma na ba?”

Tumingin kami sa head ng imperial guard na sa gulat ko ay sugatan ngayon.

His armor is torned apart revealing his bruised torso and icied body na kahit elemento na sila ng yelo, hindi pa din niya matanggal.

Akmang sasagot ito sa emperatrist pero napapikit ito sa sakit as he slowly tried to thaw himself out to no avail.

Bumuntong hininga ang nanay ng prinsipe at tumayo sa kaniyang trono bago nilapitan ang nangangatal sa lamig na engkanto and using her vast formidable powers over ice and cold, tinanggal niya ang yelo sa katawan ng guard niya completely before returning to her throne.

“A thousand gratitudes, Your Imperial Majesty!”

But she waved her hand as if it’s nothing and nodded at him to speak now.

“His Highness, the Imperial Crown Prince has finally calmed down and is now sleeping peacefully at the imperial castle infirmary.”

The empress took a sigh of relief and closed her eyes as she massaged her temple stressfully, “Buti na lang at tumigil siya agad. If not, he will take the entire west wing of my house out of comission for dozens of years. Ilang daang taon ko pa naman ni-renovate ang entertainment room. Tell me, nadali din ba niya iyon?”

“No, Your Majesty. We managed to contain him and the damage in the library and the lounge.”

“Well, I guess tuwa siya at hindi galit so it is not “that” bad. Still, malaking problema kung magigising siya na nasa ilalim ng nyebe at yelo ang pinakamamahal niyang library. Take the entire Imperial Civil Guard Regiment and make sure na maayos niyang aabutan ang pinakamamahal niyang lugar ng kastilyo when he woke up.”

Sumaludo agad ito at magalang na yumuko sa akin sadly, “Nakakalungkot na makita mo siya in that state. If I may speak freely, sana hindi nagbago ang tingin mo sa aming prinsipe. It’s just, at times when he loses control over his emotions, he lets out this unbelievable surge of uncontrollable powers.”

“Actually, I am rather impressed. What I saw back then is something even more than what regular soldiers are capable of, ergo, it may be something you are more than capable of, captain?”

To my surprise, ngumiti proudly ito at tumango sa akin, “I literally have to grovel and beg him to stop because he is already on the verge of decimating me and my enchanteds.”

“Ilang beses nang muntik malusaw ni Caspar ang mga sundalo at gwardya ko, my dear. These kind of accidents normally happen twice or even thrice weekly noong bata pa lang siya,” Empress Iseria said nostalgically as she and the captain exchanged meaningful looks about the prince’s childhood, “The older he gets, the lesser his outbursts are. Which is quite sad, if I might be honest.”

“Sad?”

“Well, kita mo naman siya pag normal lang siyang nagamit ng kapangyarihan niya. Even a Spiritualist like you can hold your own for a while against him. Pero kaya mo kaya if he is at that state you saw earlier?”

Umiling ako agad, “What he is using earlier is something way beyond even mortals’ capabilities. Siguro iyon iyong immortal in him.”

“Exactly. In a way pareho kayong dalawa ng anak ko at kaya din kita pinili ay dahil gaya niya, there’s a duality hiding beneath your seemingly unreadable facade. Ang pagkakaiba nga lang, hindi kontrolado ni Caspar kung kailan lalabas ang kaniyang tinatagong sarili.”

“Of course, kung ano pa iyong tinatago nating ugali, iyon pa ang hindi natin makontrol and at the same time, can do things we never thought was possible,” I admitted as she removed a hair rubben band from her head and showed it to me before pointing at the two arm rests in her chair.

“Tingnan mo ito, Vladira. Allow me to use the distance between these two arm rests in my throne as a visual representation of my power right now. Now, tingnan mo ang rubber band na ito. The normal size represents my son’s power right now.”

Napakurap ako at nagtaas ng kilay, “Pathetically weak compared to you, that’s rather clear to see, Your Majesty.”

“Totoo. Infinitesimally inconsequential to mine,” she agreed and to my surprise, she suddenly pulled the rubber band on both sides and stretched it so far it easily crossed the gap between two arm rests and she let it snap into place between them, “Ngayon, eto ang kapangyarihan niya once he lost control of his mortal emotions. My captain here is the third most powerful enchanted existing right now in Encanteria.”

Magalang na nagbow ang nagligtas sa akin respectfully, “Mahuhulan kaya ng marchioness kung sino ang pinakamalakas na enchanted?”

“That’s easy, it’s the empress,” I answered simply that made the ruler of the empire giggle patronizingly at my direction.

“Quite close, but you see, my dear, pangalwa ako,” she then proceed to extend the rubber band even farther and now, it is stretching farther in length than the arm rests, “It’s your honorary sibling who is the most powerful enchanted. Tingin mo ba sa aming mga engkanto at engkantada na ang kaisa-isang iginagalang ay kapangyarihan, they will accept him as my heir to the throne if he is pathetically weak without any hope of ever surpassing me? As I said before sa iyo, namana niya in entirety ang lakas ko bilang engkantada and at the same time, he inherited the unpredictable explosiveness of my departed husband.”

I nodded slowly as I finally get it, “Pinagsama niya ang kapangyarihan mo at ang tendency ng mortal mong napangasawa to go beyond the normal limits using his sheer emotions. I just remembered one thing about Melchor Bustamante at kung paano sila nagkakilala ni tatay. Hindi siya matanggap sa guild dahil sa kaniyang kakaibang ugali. Much like my father, well more like sa element ni tatay kaya siya hindi makasali sa guilds, though I wouldn’t say my father didn’t have morbid tendencies. But I digress.”

“The Emperor Consort is really something else, he is really weak on normal circumstances, pero kung kinakailangan, he can unleash a power so powerful by surrendering all that he is in his emotions with wild abandon. That’s the power that made us enchanteds accept him as our empress’ consort even if he is a mere mortal,” paliwanag ng kapitan pero mukhang hindi impressed ang nanay ni Caspar.

“Hmph, this is what happens when all you have is power without control, Vladira,” binatak niya to the maximum limit ang rubber band and it finally snapped in half before falling to the ground, deshrivelled and broken, “Ganiyan ang nangyari sa asawa ko, my dear. He pushed his powers to the limit in wanton destruction to save the children of my, no, his empire. A noble sacrifice, I will give him that much, pero a waste nontheless. A terrible, terrible waste and loss. Ayokong magaya sa kaniya ang anak namin.”

Magalang akong tumango as I smiled a little, “Well, sa halos one year na pag-uusap namin, I have observed one peculiar thing.”

“And that is?”

I looked at the empress and smiled happily, “Pareho kayong takot magkalat.”

Kahit ang kapitan ng mga gwardya niya ay napangiti sa sinabi ko despite his better judgment at mukhang hindi naman natuwa ang nanay ni Caspar sa sinabi ko, “Hindi dapat ikatuwa ang basic na dapat ginagawa ng kahit sinong nilalang. Dapat lang na maging conscious siya sa mga pinag-gagagawa niya dahil lahat ng maipupula sa kaniya ay sa akin ang deretso and I wouldn’t have any of it.”

I glanced at the captain who grinned at my direction before personally offering to bring me at the imperial castle infirmary to visit the prince who is resting there.

We both bowed respectfully at the empress who just waved us away but I caught her staring mournfully at the rubber band on the floor.

Tama nga si tatay.

Kahit immortal ka pa, a loss is a loss...

-0-

Two months later...

“Behold, the fabled vault of the Empire of Tundria, Vladira!” proud na sabi ni Caspar pagkapasok namin sa isang underground bunker sa pinaka-ilalim ng kastilyo nila, “Hindi man kasing dami ng sa mga dwende, I can assure you, we beat them in terms of quality.”

Napatango na lang ako as my eyes laid the priceless treasures neatly displayed in glass cases resting in velvet pillows as if nasa museum lang kami ng mga kayamanan.

Mula sa hindi mabilang na mga alahas of all shapes and sizes to the exotic weapons and armors to the mountain-like stacks of gold and priceless gemstones, nandito na ang lahat ng pinaglalawayang wordly and materialistic dream come to life ng mga mortal na gaya ko.

“Lahat ng madadala mo once you left the vault are yours, sabi ni nanay. Go on, choose, dito lang ako. Hindi man kita pwede tulungan magdala, pwede naman kitang bigyan ng idea kung ano ang the best na pwede mong mga kuhanin.”

Natawa ako sa kaniyang sinabi at nagtaas ng kilay sa kaniya as I stretched my arms and looked around us, “Sige nga, ipaliwanag mo sa akin kung ano nga ba ang dapat kong kuhanin dito na treasure ng Tundria?”

As expected, nagsimula itong magpaliwanag enthusiastically and I just walked with him sa palibot ng mas malaki pa sa grand basilica ng Libertad napunong-puno from floor to ceiling with riches enough to blow even the minds of the most greedy human.

Pinanood ko lang si Caspar na magsalita as I try to memorize his facial features para maikwento ko siya kay Mors in detail. Sa loob ng isang taon na pagsasama namin, we learned to trust each other deeply to the point na kung may masasabi man ako na tao na maituturing kong tunay na kadugo kahit hindi kami magka ano-ano, siya na iyon.

Even if he isn’t fully human himself.

“Nakikinig ka ba, Vladria?”

I smiled and nodded at him as we reached the highest stack of displays using a lift showcasing the precious pieces of jewellery from all corners of the world.

“Oo naman, Caspar. Anyways, kung ikaw ang papapiliin sa mga nandito, ano ang kukuhanin mo?”

He stared at me for a moment before shaking his head slowly, “Nothing. Wala akong pakialam sa material na karangyaan. These are all the property of the empire, it is better off being used for the betterment of the continent or as gift to the beings that helped us in one way or another. Living a resplendent life without having to work at all for my entire existence is a priceless treasure enough for me.”

“Bakit ba hindi ako nagulat sa sagot mo? Though I agree completely. Such treasures are better used for the citizens of your empire and gifts to the ones who did your nation a great service,” I replied meaningfully as I looked at the door of the vault wide opened and filled with powerful imperial guards, “Correct me if I am wrong, pero sabi ng nanay mo, I can keep whatever I can bring outside this vault, right?”

Tumango siya slowly, “Yes. Though you better hurry up, as much as I don’t want you to leave, the teleportation portal between Sapienos and Encanteria will not last very long. Mamili ka na at lumabas na tayo.”

“Very, well, I’m done here. Let’s go, Caspar,” I said quietly as I wrapped my arms on his and pulled him towards the entrance.

“Teka! Hindi ka pa nakakakuha ng kahit ano, Vladira!” protesta nito pero umiling lang ako as I smiled to myself.

That’s what he thought.

And he is completely wrong.

Wala na lang siyang nagawa nang lumabas na kami ng vault at isinara na ulit ito ng mga imperial guards.

Naghihintay sa labas ang emperatrist with an eyebrow raised high, “And here I thought marunong kang sumunod sa instructions unlike my son here, my dear.”

“Well, as far as I am concerned, I followed your directives, Your Majesty,” taas noo kong sabi sa kaniya na nagpataas lalo ng kaniyang kilay, “Dinala ko ang kaya kong dalhin palabas ng vault.”

“What, are you playing tricks now?” inis na tanong nito and I just answered her with silence and then a few seconds later, bumaba ang tingin niya sa aking mga kamay na naka-angkla sa braso ng prinsipe and her jaw dropped.

For the first time since I met her, she was actually speechless.

“Vladira...”

I looked up at the Imperial Crown Prince and grinned sadly, “In my eyes, ikaw ang pinaka-importanteng kayamanan ng imperyo mo. The treasures I saw inside pales in comparison to you. Always remember that, Caspar. You are worth way more than what you think. Taas-taasan mo naman ang tingin mo sa sarili mo. Be more like your mother, look up, not down.”

“Salamat ng madami...”

“Walang anuman. Pero I am still highly dubious as to why I am the one chosen to teach you when there are more successful and exemplary mortals, I still do not know. What I do know is I did my best to share to you the things that my parents imparted to me before they passed away. How to live, how to survive, how to thrive in the face of overwhelming odds and adversary when the entire world around you is crumbling and and against you. Hindi man kita maturuan kung paano maging tao, naturuan naman kitang mabuhay bilang isang mortal at its worst,” I said proudly before bowing lowly before him and then turning my back on him one last time before facing his mother who is smiling at me gratefully, “I am in your debt, Your Majesty. You have tolerated my unforgiving and disrespectful behavior unworthy of my title, let alone your presence. For that, I am eternally thankful.”

To my surprise, she suddenly looked motherly as she pleads me to stay, “Walang nagpapalayas sa iyo dito, Vladira. You can stay here permanently as part of my Imperial Council. Actually, it has been talked about my cabinet ministers. Napakadalang ng may tao na gaya mo na nakakatapak dito and managed to garner not just mine nor my son, but the rest of my citizens’ respect.”

“Kailangan kong umuwi. May naghihintay sa akin.”

Pero umiling siya, “All that waits you back at your continent are neverending sadness and grief. If you stay here, hindi mo na kailangan pang maranasan ang mga bagay na ayaw kong iparanas sa anak ko, even if it’s for the sake of experience.”

“Still, I have to return. Myembro ako ng Neox Sodality and I have a duty to fulfill as their member,” firm na sagot ko but she suddenly said an ominous warning that I know are not mere words to force me to stay.

“You may lose something more than your life kung uuwi ka Vladira. Though hindi kami biniyayaan ng maykapal ng kakayanan na makita ang hinaharap, by merely observing and knowing everything a mortal is, we can predict what they will do in the future judging by their actions and life thus far. At ang nakikita ko ay isang irreversible accident that will change everything and I don’t want you to be swept up by something you never wished for.”

Magalang na nagbow ako sa harap niya at umiling, “Even so, uuwi ako. That’s what I have decided upon, Empress Iseria.”

“Very well. But always remember, you are welcome at my castle anytime you want to return. No matter what happened and no matter how much will change, my empire’s gates are always open for someone I treat as my equal...”