Desiderio Domini

Chapter 17

“Dessert! Another batch of sweets to wash away that strong taste of exquisite cheese from your mouths. Dried Fruits and Nuts Preserved in Whiskey. This will be a delight that you will all be talking about until our next feast!”

Ibinaba ng waitress ang isang platter ng dessert at mabilis ko agad itong tinikman. Lasang-lasa ang alak na naghalo sa katas ng mga pinatuyong nuwes giving it a rich, aromatic and quite intoxicating flavor.

“What do you think of my empire, Vladira?”

Napatingin ako sa emperatrist and inclined my head, “Sasagutin ko ba iyan while fearing for my existence or not? To be honest, taka ako at hindi pa ako napaparasuhan after everything that I have said to you since we met. Kilala kayong mga engkanto at engkantada na mabilis mabwisit sa tao and even quicker to dish out punishments worse than death.”

“Indeed. That is one of our, well, interesting quirks. We have little tolerance for idiocy and senseless babbling. But don’t worry, we have a sacred pact with your kingdom, my dear. Isasauli nila ng buo at matino ang counterpart mo as long as I did the same. If there is one thing as famous as our temper, iyon ay ang pagsunod namin sa mga kasunduan to the letter, so answer to your heart’s and mind’s content. It has been too long since I welcomed a mortal in my court that is not terribly ill at gusto kong malaman ang opinion ng lahi na pilit iwinawangis sa amin ang kanilang bansa at gobyerno.”

I looked around us and outside the window only to find oppulence, grandiosity and excess.

Kung sagarang karangyaan lang din naman ang pag-uusapan ay wala na talagang makakasapaw pa sa mga enchanteds.

They are really at the height of everything, even in decadence not just in power alone.

Pero gaya ng mga engkanto and engkantada na pinamumunuan ni Empress Iseria, everything here is static, unchanging and fixed.

Ganito na sila noong nasa kweba pa lang ang mga tao at ngayong nasa tamang level na kami ng pag-iisip para maimbitahan sa kanilang kontinente, nothing ever changed, it is still the same.

I should know since nakita ko sa mga plaques ng building na nadadaanan namin on our way back to the castle from shopping earlier na lahat ng mga ito ay ginawa way back when god has just made mortals from ashes.

I looked at the cabinet ministers and ministress who, like the empress, ay naghihintay ng sagot ko samantalang walang pakialam sa mundo ang katabi ko na kinakain na pati ang tira ko sa aking plato, “I have read and seen ancient scriptures and scrolls at our Royal Library and even back then, it showed the very same thing I saw with my very own eyes here in Arcticia. Sa sobrang tagal ng mga nagdaang libo-libong taon, and maybe even more since mortals and immortals have different definition of time, wala pa din kayong pagbabago at all?”

To my surprise, tumango ang empress sa sinabi ko as the members of her cabinet sighed in resentment sa sinabi ko as if they cannot deny what I have just said themselves.

I let them ponder over what I have just said as the final part of our seventeen course has arrived finally.

“Congratulations to the marchioness who managed to survive our gruelling seventeen courses without batting an eyelash! Few survived this long intact. For you, the Imperial Kitchen has created a brand new Boisson! Chocolat ala Marchioness! This creamy, sweet and hot drink is perfect for someone who needed rest and relaxation after an excellent feast! We hope you will enjoy it as much as we enjoy concocting it to your tastes!”

Pinasalamatan ko gratefully ang waitress na nag-abot sa akin nito and immediately drink from the large hot mug of chocolate milk.

A warm feeling flooded my body and heart after I took a sip as the taste and warmth reminded me of those nights na nainom ako ng mainit na tsokolate na tinimpla ng tatay ko para makatulog ako peacefully away from harm.

“Compliments to the chef and crew, napakasarap nitong hot drink and the rest of the courses. Wala talagang sinabi kaming mga mortal when it comes to grandeur and magnificence in all aspects, including gastronomic achievements.”

The cabinet members raised their glasses at me and drinked to my honor as finally I am about to know why napaka-daming alak ang ginamit sa pagluluto ng course namin, even more than what they usually do, I presume.

“Now that we have reached the end of our meal, I guess it’s only fitting that I finally introduce you to the heir of my Imperial Throne formally, Marchioness Vladira of House Thanasia.”

Napatingin ako sa empress who nodded curtly at my quiet seatmate who immediately answered her summons and stood right next to her like an expressionless guard, stalwart, cold and unfeeling.

“Behold, my son, spawn of the greatest mortal ever graced our lands, Caspar, the Imperial Crown Prince of the Empire of Tundira and its Vassal States!”

Tumayo lahat ng mga ministro at ibang mga basita when they heard their empress’ announcement.

This time, mukhang na-offend ang empress dahil hindi ako tumayo at nagbigay galang gaya ng ibang bisita.

“If you kindly forget, it’s your cue to grovel, my dear...”

Nagtaas lang ako ng kilay sa sinabi niya at napatawa after I took another sip of the delicious and calming hot chocolate beverage, “Hindi nga ako tumungo sa iyo on my own volition, you expect me to do it in front of him, at that state? Please, just kill me.”

Kahit harapang nilait ko na ang nanay niya sa harap niya, he just remained speechless, calm and unmoving. Walang pagkakaiba sa mga engkanto na kinaboringan ko kanina.

So this is what he looks like if he is born a full enchanted, pathetic.

Nakakarinding katahimikan ang namagitan between me and the empress who is seriously contemplating now on ending my existence based on her raging and silent aura emmanating dangerously from her body right now, so much, napa-atras ang mga ministro and genuflected out of sheer fear.

Pagkatapos kong uminom ulit sa aking mug ay naalala ko kanina ang pautol naming usapan, “Kanina tinanong mo ako kung ano ang masasabi ko sa estado ng imperyo mo. Well, let me just continue my answer habang may tyansa pa ako. Oo, nasa kaitas-taasan na kayo naming lahat, not just us mere mortals but also the rest of the immortals, so much, it will only be a mere fantasy to even dare reach your level. But let me tell you this, at alam ko na alam mo na din ang fact na ito, given enough time, trial and error, and a little bit of luck, malalampasan din ng mga taong kagaya ko ang mga enchanteds.”

“Oh really?”

Tumango ako patronizingly sa empress na halatang mas lalong nagpa-inis sa kaniya, “Oh yes. You can count on it. It is not a matter of if, not when. For you see, perpekto man kayo sa aming paningin, meron pa din kaming natatanging katangian na hindi ninyo maaatim.”

I saw that she is barely controlling her powers from lashing out at me dahil nakapatong ang kaniyang kaliwang kamay sa kanan signifying that she is trying her hardest not to finish me off which I am really grateful for.

“At ano naman iyon na meron kayong mga pinakamahihinang nilalang na wala kami?”

I giggled sarcastically and smiled sadly at her, “Oh, wag kang mag-alala, hindi lang ang enchanteds ang wala nito. Pati na rin lahat ng mga immortal are lacking of what we have. Mortality.”

“At kailan pa naging magandang katangian ang kaiksian ng buhay when you lot are merely nothing more than mere footnote in our history,” balik nito sa akin as if she still not get what I am trying to point out all along.

“Mortals doesn’t suffer what you beings are suffering for the eternity you call life. Para kayong mga bangkay na buhay sa paningin naming mga tao. Perpekto, malalakas at magagaling, but stagnant, unchanging and unmoving. Namamatay man kami agad at walang panghabang-buhay na panahon gaya ninyong mga immortal, we still lived our ephemeral life to its fullest. We have the spark of life na wala kayo. Alam namin na maiksi lang ang aming mga buhay kaya may drive kami to change, to adapt, to improve and to strive for something more than a mere dream and make it a reality through sheer force of will and perseverance. At kung hindi man kami magtagumpay in our limited lifetime, meron kaming mga anak, kaibigan, heck ibang tao na kukuha ng aming nasimulan at ipagpapatuloy ito hanggang sa mapagtagumpayan ito in the end. Ang mga ninuno ko noong unang panahon ay nasa kweba at nakain na kayo sa inyong mga kastilyo at palasyo even by then. Now, I am here, dining with you all and you’re all still the same. Let that sink in.”

To my surprise, nawala ang killing intent ng empress at kumalma ito bigla as she look at her son who is quietly staring at me with that soul-less eyes of his na kanina lang ay puno ng buhay, and humanity.

“Kailangan ko pang lasingin ang anak ko para lang maging perpekto siya sa paningin ko. The son, that I would have if he doesn’t remember any trace of his mortal lineage. Mukhang tama nga ang asawa ko all along. Ang anak niya daw ang pinakamalaking regalo na maibibigay niya sa mga engkanto at engkantada for saving his life.”

I nodded and smiled sadly at Caspar, “Hindi mo, ninyo alam, kung gaano kalaking biyaya ang prinsipe sa inyong mga engkanto. He wields the unbriddled power and immortality of the strongest being in the world and also, have the spark of life that mortals enjoys. Isipin ninyo na lang, if given chance to do so, he will bring about a golden age of innovation and prosperity us mortals enjoys every few centuries or so na nag-iimprove ng aming teknolohiya at kakayanan that slowly pushed us higher than where we were before. That, and hindi ka mamromroblema sa maiksing buhay ng mga tao. He is an immortal to boot, and nothing beats the consistency and stability of change if the one who will be leading the revolution will never die and will continue doing his job until he succeed. Walang ganiyang option ang tao at all. Napakadaming revolutionary ideas and technologies ang nawala na lang sa amin because of our fraility and instability. Well, if you prefer to have a “perfect enchanted son” then be my guest. Lasingin mo na siya every single minute of his existence para hindi ka na mapa-alalahanan ng “pagkakamali” mo just by having him.”

I then give a pitying look ang anak niya and snorted.

“I’d rather die if I will suffer the same fate as he is right now. I can only imagine what he is feeling right now. In a way, pareho lang kami ngayon. Kailangan naming makibagay para matanggap ng mga nakapaligid sa akin. But his fate is worst, at least choice ko to be suffer just to be accepted. While he has none at all.”

Napatingin sa kaniya ang mga ministro niya at mga bisita na nakakinig ng aking sinabi.

Wala akong pinagsisisihan sa mga nabitawan kong mga salita for they are all what I really think and feel right now. I don’t want to pretend to like what they are doing or saying just because bisita nila ako.

Dinala nila ako dito, so suck it up.

After a few minutes of silence, huminga ng malalim ang emperatrist at itinaas ang kaniyang kanang kamay.

From it appeared an icy orb which seemed to suck out the spirit of alcohol from the mind of his son and in a few seconds, bumalik na sa dati ang hitsura ng prinsipe as his mother shattered the orb and scattered it to the winds.

“Wala na akong maituturo pa sa pagiging engkanto sa anak ko, I think this is the perfect opportunity for someone to teach him kung paano maging tao,” she then looked at her son expectantly and sighed, “At first I thought I can use you as a handmaiden here to suggest some needed reforms and such to my empire, but I guess mas mapapakinabangan ka ni Caspar more than myself.”

Napakunot ang noo ng prinsipe at tumingin sa ina habang naguguluhan, “Anong ibig mong sabihin, nanay?”

“You have a year to learn from her on how to act, think and feel like a mortal, Caspar. Kahit anong basa mo sa mga libro mo, hindi mo matututunan ang mga bagay na malalaman mo by interacting on a personal level sa kagaya mo both in lineage and age. It’s a bonus na miyembro siya ng isang high ranking family, outcast they may be, it will be useful as you will deal with the mortals’ convuluted aristocracy sooner rather than later,” paliwanag nito patiently and for the first time since I arrived here, I saw the empress look at her son just like how a normal mother will to her ignorant child.

Maybe being whisked away here is not that bad at all.