The Kingdom Between Us

Chapter III: Secret

I'd return my dagger to its sheath before I picked up my broken kampilan with a rough and uneven edge, but its remaining tip stayed sharp and dangerous, like a shattered weapon that could still be used in a battle.

"Farewell!" I whispered.

Datu Maya closed his eyes as he already embraced his tragic fate. The grim reaper had hoisted the sail and was just waiting for his soul.

A handspan-long blade of my broken kampilan pierced through Datu Maya's chest. His body shook while rivers of blood flowed through his mouth. Despite the pain, his smile never faded until his very last breath.

I cut off his head to finish the job. I raised my hand and showed everyone what I was holding.

"Another victory for Paraiso!" I roared.

Paraiso rejoiced while Hiraya mourned that moment. As the victor of the duel, we tied every survivor and brought them to Paraiso.

Hideo opened his eyes with a smile drawn on his face.

"Just what I am expected," he thought as he looked at Malik.

"Would you like to ask anything?"

Malik nodded and stood up.

"What happened to the princes, princesses and queens. Didn't you kill them?"

Hideo stood up and gazed at his field.

"I didn't find anyone of them," Hideo answered painfully. "Beesides, I couldn't bring myself to behead kids and women."

A warm breeze blew through the air. It brushed against Hideo carrying away the weights of his burden. "That was relaxing," he thought.

"So, even the greatest warrior of Mayi got his weakness," Malik said.

Hideo nodded and smiled.

"I have to go."

A deep silence fell.

Tears streamed down Hideo's face as he turned his back and walked away from the three children. He closed his eyes and reminisced once more about the cursed moment of his life.

"I wanted to marry the girl I love and live a normal life. That was the wish I wanted to ask after our victory.

"She was the girl that pushed me to hold a blade and stained my hand with bloods of innocent people. But when I returned home, a wedding ceremony for her and Datu Kidlat was already being held. Ligaya, had only used me for Datu Kidlat's sake and Datu Kidlat had used me for his own ambition.

"He was eventually overthrown by his younger brother. I tried to kill him but Ligaya interfered. He and his men managed to escaped and vowed to regain the throne someday.

"How I wish there were still heirs of every Datu's that I killed. I would gladly offer them my life."

Hideo paused. He drew a slow deep breath, trying to hold back his tears from falling.

The moment he came to a stop, something crashed into his back.

"Aw! Why did you stop walking My Lord?" Malik yelped.

Hideo turned around in surprise.

Behind him, the three children had bumped into him after failing to notice he had stopped. They fell like pieces of domino. Malik was pinned down at the bottom, Bagsik was stucked in the middle and Liway lay on top of them.

"Get out on my top, poisonous man! Your smell is killing me!" Malik complained.

Bagsik was insulted. He wrapped his arm on Malik's neck and put him in a chokehold.

"I told you not to call me that again!"

Malik's eyes widened with his tounge hanging out. He couldn't say a word to call for help, only making choking sounds as he struggled to breath.

Liway quickly stood up and tried to pull Bagsik's arm away from Malik's neck.

"Let him go!"

Bagsik was consumed by rage. Liway couldn't save Malik.

"Enough!" Hideo roared.

Bagsik and Malik both felt fear upon hearing the commanding voice of Mayi's strongest man. Only then did Bagsik let go of his brother. Both were stunned and talking to themselves.

"So, this is how it feels. His voice is truly fearful," Malik thought.

"I was shakened by that voice," Bagsik thought.

Hideo was shocked by his own actions. He could see the fear in their eyes. Their cold stares gradually extinguished his anger.

"Stand up."

Malik and Bagsik stood up.

"One day, you'll both understand what iit means to be brothers," Hideo said and turned his back. "I have to go now...You should all head home all together."

Hideo left. The children watched in amazement as he demonstrate his unmatchable horsemanship.

"That's true mastery," Malik said.

"He and his horse moves like one," Bagsik added.

"I'm gonna be like him someday and protect Paraiso," they said in chorus.

Malik closed his eyes. In his mind he saw a mighty warrior performing heroic deeds and winning war—that warrior was himself.

Bagsik frowned when he saw his brother smiling. He clenched his fist and without hesitation, he landed a punch on Malik's cheek.

"Aw!" Malik cried.

He lost his balance and crashed to the ground holding his cheek.

"Why did you do that, Bagsik?"

"Because I know what you are thinking," Bagsik shouted. "In your imagination I was just an underling of yours!"

"No, that's not true!" Malik protested.

Liway stepped between them, as she was afraid Malik would received more punches from his older brother.

"He is your younger brother, Bagsik! Why are you treating him like that?"

"Stop defending him! I'm just getting even!" Bagsik answered.

"Why would I stop defending him when his own brother won't?"

Bagsik's anger melted away.

"Don't you love your younger brother?"

As Liway was waiting for Bagsik's answer, she and Bagsik noticed something. Malik's cry was slowly fading, a sign that he was running away.

"Come back here, Malik!" Liway shouted, "Come with me, Bagsik!"

Liway quickly ran after Malik, but he was quicker even though he weighed more.

"Wait for me, Malik!"

Liway stopped. She saw Bagsik relaxing under a tree. By the time she looked back at Malik, he was already entering into the woods.

Instead of following Malik, she came back to talk to Bagsik. She picked up a twig and gently tapped Malik's older brother, but he pretended he was asleep.

"I know you're awake. Get up and let's find Malik!"

Bagsik lay on his left side, trying to ignore Liway while pushing the twig away.

"Seems like I care!"

Liway stood with her hands on her hips and took a deep breath.

"You love him, don't you?"

Fake snores were the only answers she got. This kind of behavior almost pushed Liway to her limit, but she controlled herself.

"Don't you remember what Lord Hideo told us. We should all go home together!"

Bagsik scratched his head in frustration. Now, he did not have a choice but to look for his younger brother.

"Ok! Ok! Let's go and find that fluffy boy!"

They looked for Malik in the woods, but couldn't find even his footprints. Hours had passed and they still couldn't find any sign of him.

"Come out, you Moron!" Bagsik roared.

The animals living in the forest were disturbed by the thunderous sound of Bagsik's voice.

"Please, try to be patient. If Malik would hear your angry voice, he'll probably run away from us."

The woods were not a safe playground for kids like them but they didn't care. The only thing on their minds was finding Malik. They walked slow while Malik continued running farther away from the two of them.