Tears Of Asteria (TAGALOG)

Chapter Eight | His Offer

After Ondreus left, me, the king and Aefos were left sitting in silence inside the king’s office. I was awkward, hell- I’m petrified. What to do? What to do?

Bahagyang umubo si Aefos at tumingin sa ‘kin, “How’s your stay here, Lady Asteria?” tanong niya sa ‘kin.

Nagulat ako dahil sa ‘kin siya umimik at hindi sa nananahimik na hari sa harap namin. “Okay naman, mabait silang lahat at inaalagaan ako ng maayos,” ngumiti ako sa kanilang dalawa at nagpatuloy, “Thank you for saving me, your majesty, sir Aefos.”

Did it seem too dry? My gratefulness couldn’t be conveyed enough in words, but I hope my sincerity reached them. Thinking about how well I’m being treated here, I really am blessed to at least experience being taken care of.

“Then that’s good a-,” naputol ang sinasabi ni Aefos dahil biglang nagsalita si Persaeus, the king of this kingdom I’m staying in.

“No need to thank us. A tooth for tooth, an eye for an eye, is what they say. Frankly speaking, I’ll let you stay here despite your unknown origins in exchange of becoming an ally,” aniya.

An ally?

“The only fact we know about you is, you’re a criminal from Lumina Kingdom based on the clothes you wore when we rescued you but aside that, we know nothing more unless we choose to pry,” pagpapatuloy niya.

My eyebrows slightly raised but I immediately composed my expression in case it might offend him. An ally, huh?

I mentally smiled in victory when I realized what it meant. I can’t lose this chance. This is an advantage. I could be of use to this kingdom’s royalty, and so will they when the time comes.

But before jumping, I need to know if it’s safe for me or not.

“What do you want from me?” tanong ko sa kaniya. Wala akong pera, lupa, o iba pang mga pagmamay-ari. I could give them small information about Lumina kingdom, but I think it would be too insignificant since I barely go out of my palace hence, I don’t know much about my own homeland.

“Your power,” sagot niya sa ‘kin. His ruby red eyes seemed to spark so brightly; I could see a faint image of fire. His gaze screamed power, dominance, and enthusiasm that tells me I could trust him.

But aside his captivating aura, my mind was filled with confusion when I heard his answer.

My power?

I can’t and don’t even know how to use this power of mine. I don’t know anything about it and so does the world. My power’s not so common as the other elements.

Like I said, cursed elements aren’t the same in every cursed element user. Every cursed element user has its own differences. For example, like the one I read in a book I found; one could absorb the fire element, one could turn a person into stone when one meets the eye, one could turn every plant they touch into poison etc. The cursed element is unpredictable, and most cases seemed so harmful, hence the name “cursed element”.

The Cursed Element can either make the user affect the other elements or make the user unaffected by other elements. The past civilization thought of this element as overpowered. Threatened, they deemed this power as taboo.

This mindset continued for centuries until today.

I’m at a disadvantage since I couldn’t promise him the power he’s expecting.

Napatingin ako sa mga mata niya at umimik ulit siya.

“Cursed element user ka, hindi ba?” paninigurado niya.

Tumango ako bilang sagot.

“I don’t think I have the power you want,” sagot ko sa kaniya. Kabado akong sumagot pero mas mabuting sabihin na lang ang totoo dahil mabubuking naman ako if I claimed that I know how to utilize my element.

What will happen to me now? Will they kill me now since I’m useless?

Napapikit ako ng mariin dahil sa kaba at tahimik na nangangambang sana makaligtas ako sa loob ng silid na ‘to. Things can’t end like this. It shouldn’t end like the things I thought of.

“Why so?” tumaas ang kilay niya habang mariing nakatingin sa ‘kin.

“I don’t know how to use it,” sagot ko.

“Is that all?” tanong niya sa ‘kin.

“What? Yes?” I answered in an asking tone. Is that all? What does he mean?

“Then that’s it,” maikli niyang sabi.

“What? What do you mean?” my eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Can’t this guy talk in more details? Will it be too deadly for him if he specified or atleast added some deatails?

“You will be able to stay here with food, a palace, maids, anything. We would give you anything you ask in this kingdom, or even possessions from outside the Isikros lands. You don’t know how to use your power? So be it, I will train you. Learn and utilize your power and as an exchange, be an ally, Isikros kingdom’s ally,” aniya.

The offer is tempting pero is this a trap? An ally for what? What will I be used for?

An eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.

“Your offer sure is tempting, your highness, however, I have many doubts in this deal of ours,” sabi ko.

“Our deal, huh? I assure you that this is an honest deal of ours. Just the fact that I didn’t force you--,” his eyes stared at me and suddenly, my breathing, my heart, my organds, every little fur in my body seemed so heavy. Such pressure. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko at nahihirapang huminga. Nahihirapan akong napahawak sa sofa na inuupuan ko at mahigpit na ginawang suporta ito.

“Your highness, please stop! Mapapatay mo siya ng wala sa oras!” rinig kong sigaw ni Aefos sa walang awa na lalaking nakamaskara.

“-- is enough evidence that I want to be on equal terms with you in this deal.” Pagtatapos niya sa pinagsasabi niya.

I was gasping for air the moment he released his pressure on me and tears threatened to fall from my eyes. It felt so heavy than the chains I had when I was in prison.

A king is a king, after all.

“Are you alright, Lady Asteria?” tanong sa ‘kin ni Aefos. Nakalimutan kong nandito pala siya at nakikinig sa ‘min. His presence was erased the moment I focused and locked eyes with the king.

Tumango ako bilang sagot kay Aefos at inayos ang pagkakaupo ko. Inalalayan niya ako in which I’m grateful for. It’s comforting to atleast feel that someone was concerned for my well being after feeling like I was once again at Death’s door.

Persaeus crossed his legs and sat so leisurely as if he didn’t kill me with his pressure recently. I’m sure that was just the tiniest bit of his power.

I inhaled and then exhaled. I gathered my thoughts, my courage, and the drive to survive if I wanted to make Lumina’s remaining royalties lives a hellhole.

“Do tell me your doubts, Lady Asteria,” Persaeus stated and tilted his head as if he was amused.

I gripped on the gown I was wearing that Marianne and Penelope put so much effort on and once again, looked at him.

“How would you know that you can trust me? A criminal from Lumina with unknown origins at that. Why do you need me as an ally? What will you use me and my power for? A stranger from Lumina, Isikros Kingdom’s enemy, staying here? Won’t your people hate that, your highness?” sunod sunod kong tanong sa kaniya.

I could see his eyes shrink in amusement behind the mask he’s wearing as if he’s smirking. Well, he must be. Nakakapagtaka lang kung bakit siya nakasuot ng maskara ngayon hindi kagaya kanina.

“You have no way home, my lady. Someone desperate to survive would cling to the tiniest threads they could find on a cliff. Sa ibang salita, I don’t think you’ll have the courage to turn down this offer of mine. Me, the king of this kingdom. I could give you and provide you anything. Perhaps you could betray me once you know how to utilize your element but that’s a variable I’ll leave for now. For the second question; it’s for defense. Someone powerful with a cursed element couldn’t compare to a thousand war machines this kingdom has. Lumina didn’t see you value, didn’t they? And as for you origins, only me, Aefos, and my assigned shadow knows about this. Wala nang iba.”

His assigned shadow? Lahat ng hari may mga tinatagong alas. Shadows must equal to secret forces, right?

His eyes shrinked behind his mask and I could clearly tell that he knows I couldn’t refute him. God knows I have nothing to lose, and I have something to gain here. And what’s more, he could help me utilize my power.

“Are you satisfied now, Lady Asteria?” tanong niya sa ‘kin.

Hindi ako nakaimik sa kaniya at bigla nalang siyang tumayo.

“I’ll give you time to think it through. We’ll meet again soon, Lady,” aniya at saglit na napatingin sa brooch na nasa damit ko.

“The Viese Crest suits you,” huli niyang sabi at tuloyan nang umalis. Napatingin ako dun at mas lalong humigpit ang hawak ko sa gown. King’s guest.