It only takes three days… three days for everything to turn upside down for me. My father dies, my freedom is gone, my status as a maginoo, my right to the Putong na Ginto, and now, my freedom. And also, that mercenary asshole… my cheek still aches because of his punch. I roll to my left. Salim— I mean, Giben is still sleeping.
I let out a long breath, hoping it will carry away the pain in my feet, the sting in my knees, and every bit of exhaustion clinging to me. This is the first time I've truly been able to pause and think without my head on the line. What the hell really happened to Salimbay? Where is she? Also, the woman who saved us last night was Hiraya, and the boy named Wan. I turn my gaze to where Hiraya "placed" him last night. But he's not there.
What the—?
I roam my eyes around the tent; no one's here but me and Giben. After a while, a tangy and sour scent of tamarind wafts into my nose. I stand up and silently chant a panawag spell to conjure a dagger. My steps match the drumming of my heartbeat as I get closer to the flaps of the tent. My hand slides the flaps, and there she is. Squatting in front of a cauldron. She's cooking what seems like a sinigang. A classic Tunduvan dish of pork meat and sour tamarind broth.
"Oh, you're awake." She says, she stands up and grabs a bowl, fills it with sinigang, "Here, eat."
I take the bowl and smell it, "Thanks." I utter before sipping the broth. Now that the sun's up. I have a clearer view of her face now. She has a slanted, round red eyes, like those of cats. She also has a sharp and well-defined nose. Meanwhile, what strikes me the most is her skin. Saying it's fair would be an understatement. Her skin is pale, not white. Like all blood inside her was drained.
"Does it taste good?" she asks,
"Huh? Ah, yes, it is." I answer. And it's true. The meat is tender, with thin fats, and the little it has melts in my mouth. "By the way... your student, where is he?"
"Wan?" Her tone is cold as she drops the ladle. She turns around and face me, I cannot read her expression. Like she's sad, or disturbed. I don't know. Then she speaks, "You still didn't get it?"
Shivers start to run all over my body. What the fuck, is she serious!? She gazes at the cauldron, the meat dances on the boiling broth. She turns toward me once again and nods after sensing that I finally get it.
With a monotonous tone, she adds, "Where do you think I get the meat?"
"WHAT THE—!" I roar, doubling over as I cough and vomit out the meat in my mouth and whatever else I'd swallowed.
Out of nowhere, Hiraya... the bitch laughs as if she's dying. "HAHAHAHAHA – HAHAHAHAHA!!" her eyes start to tear up while roaring in laughter and holding her stomach, "HAHAHAHAHAHA YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN YOUR FACE!! HA HAHA HAHAHA!"
Few more moments and I finally understand. This motherfucker, my face heats up as flushes of red cover it. "ARE FUCKING WITH ME!?" I yell.
She gasps for air as she tries to stop laughing. She wipes the tears on her eyes and says, "Don't worry hahaha..." she puffs a smoke, "Wan's still alive. As I said last night, that kid's like a cockroach. Hard to kill."
She hands me another bowl of soup, "I told him to go to the capital."
"Nilad!?" I exclaim, "But he's still wounded."
"Yes, to buy some stuff. Foods and all..." she adds, as if it's the most normal thing in the world.
If I weren't starving, I won't even have the appetite to grab the bowl she's handing me. But yeah, fuck it. I accept the bowl and eat once again. So, this woman is also like Giben, an outworlder.
"You got questions." She remarks.
"Yes." I answered immediately, if I'm to be with this person and her student. I must know things about her. "You and Giben came from the same world, right?"
"Yes, we are." Thin ribbons of smoke come from her mouth while speaking. "What about it?"
I ask her how long she's been in Teya, that's how he calls our world. She didn't answer, but just a flicker... I see a hint of longing in her eyes. She answers my question with a short, "Too long..."
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Just outside the forest, where Mayari and Given were both taking a well-deserved rest, the world moved on. Let us shift now to the capital — Nilad. The crown jewel of Tundun, and its largest city. Within Nilad lay the famed park they called 'Plaza Nuevo.'
The entire plaza was drowned by shouting, cursing at the three people on top of a wooden stage in front of an Iberian temple dedicated to their goddess Yemon. The three were stripped naked, nothing to hide in front of hundreds, if not thousands, of people now shouting for their death.
This is not new to the Tunduvans. Plaza Nuevo was a place of joy, tragedy, and 'justice'. This park was a known site of execution for those who betray the empire of Iberia, and for those who break its law, such as murder, drug trafficking, and others.
The executioner moved to place the noose around their necks. Ropes that will embrace their necks and send them to the embrace of death later. Just right below the stage, ten Iberian soldiers lined up in front of the stage. Their rifles ready, eyes like hawks, vigilant and predatory.
The crowd around the stage roared loudly, enough that made the whole area feel like it was shaking. They nearly broke into a frenzy as some of them hurled rotten vegetables and other trash at the three. Between the chaos, Governor-General Yizmael Sandoval got up on stage. The Governor-General gestured for the crowd to calm themselves.
"People of Tundun!" He shouted, his tone stern yet calm. He bowed his head as if hiding the pain on his face, "Like you, I'm also in pain." He walked towards the edge of the wooden floor, "But, more than that... I am also mad!" he pointed at the three convicted criminals behind him. Their body were covered with wounds, some even looked fresh, they're also bruised and shaking. One of them, the one on the right, seems to be staring into oblivion. Like sanity had already forsaken him.
"These three are also Tunduvans like you! And despite their traitorous acts and crimes, they are still MY people, sons of Iberia!" Yizmael gazed at the one on the left, who was visibly shaking, and his left hand was already rotting because of the infection from his wound.
Below the wooden pedestal, some nobles of Tundun were silently watching the spectacle. Aslon and Kuyo were both watching Yizmael. Beneath Aslon's red robe is a clenched fist. His nails were digging deep into the palm of his hand. His teeth gritted as his eyes were forced to watch the drama unfold.
"The Governor-General of Tundun has pretty good acting chops," Nieves remarked while gazing outside the window of their room. The hospital where his brother was confined was just meters away from the plaza itself.
"Haven't met him in person..." Nemo replied while chewing an apple. "But compared to Pailah, and Binuangan's Governor-General, this one seems to be a little dramatic indeed." He turned to Nieves, "The fuck's his name again?"
"Yizmael Sandoval, a minor noble back at Iberia, Dad says." Nieves' still glued to the show outside. "And remember, we need a clearance for him for our passports once we leave Tundun."
Back at the plaza, Yizmael continued his performance, "Beloved Tunduvans, I want you all to know that the execution that is about to happen isn't just Iberia serving her justice!" He placed his hand on his chest, "It's also her way of protecting you from these people!"
Some spat on the ground whispering, "Protecting my ass..."
"Shhh, do you want your family to be sent to prison?" a woman silently barked at him.
Yizmael turned to the three prisoners. He placed his hand on the man in the middle who's wearing a bakal na pira, "With a heavy heart. These three babaylan from the temple of Kan-laon must be put to death for the peace of Tundun. These babaylans are terrorists in collaboration with Penumbra!" He faced the crowd, the majority of whom were cheering for their death.
"We're not terro -."
Before the man in the middle could finish his words, Yizmael embraced him and whispered, "After all of this his done, I will turn Tundun upside down and kill your wife and children." The man's eyes widened, his throat shook and started to beg.
Yizmael walked in front of the stage again, "Babaylan Arturo Manuel, Rikardo Jonil, and Aro Haldana… your partnership with the group Penumbra has led to the tragic loss of thirty-two Iberian civilians, nine Iberian soldiers, and two Tunduvans.
These are not just numbers; they are families broken, futures stolen. As Governor-General, it is my duty to ensure such bloodshed does not stain this Kingdom again."
His face started to contort into sadness, "And so… by the authority granted to me by His Majesty, and the benevolent Iberian Empire, as Governor-General of Tundun… I sentence you all to death!" He signaled the executioner to pull the lever that would open the trapdoor beneath the platform.
The convicted flailed like fish out of water as they grasped for air. The man in the middle, Rikardo, died instantly as the force from the fall broke his neck immediately. Meanwhile, the remaining two tried to move their feet, as if the air were solid ground. A few more moments later, their skin started to turn purple as so their lips.
Kuyo stared at the dying bodies with blank expression. Meanwhile, Aslon tried hard not to look away. His whole body shaking, eyes burning as he tried to force his tears from falling.
After an Iberian doctor confirmed their deaths. A fat priest who's wearing a red and white cassock bowed and started to pray, "Oh great god Yemon, may you grant their souls peace in your kingdom."
After the ceremony, Yizmael went down to greet the two elders. He smiled at them, "Elder Kuyo, Elder Aslon, good morning!"
Aslon quickly offered a smooth smile as he and Kuyo bowed in front of him. "Good morning, Governor-General." They both said.
"At first, I was saddened at the death of Rakta." Yizmael remarked, then he added, "But because he's no longer here. I can finally grant justice." Despite his smile, Kuyo noticed the slight pulsing of veins on Aslon's forehead.
Yizmael focused his attention on Aslon, "By the way, I'm quite hungry. Elder Aslon, aren't you even going to invite me into your house?"
Aslon replied, "Ah, yes. Perfect timing. My eldest son Sula, is there as well." After that, Kuyo bowed and excused himself. Aslon returned the gesture with a bow of his own. Once the other elder departed, Aslon quickly climbed into the carriage, and the two of them set off toward his home.
The ride home was quiet, only broken by small conversations initiated by Aslon. A few more minutes, they reached Aslon's home. His home – if you can call it that – was only slightly smaller than the Datu's palace. The carriage rode on the red bricks of the house's path towards the main entrance of the house itself. Both of them got down as Aslon asked his slave to call for his sons. He and Yizmael went straight to the patio. His two sons meet them there
"Father, Governor-General." They both bowed in respect.
Aslon placed a gentle pat on Sula's shoulder, "Ah, Governor-General, this is my son Sula."
Yizmael smiled "Ah, the Diplomat. I heard his missions to the other three kingdoms."
Sula bowed deeper, eyes twitching. Yizmael turned to Masala, "And you're Masala? An Arbikezer corporal, right?"
"Yes Governor-General." Masala answered with a stern tone.
Yizmael patted their heads like good boys. Aslon interjected and brought the topic back to Sula, "Sula here just came back from a diplomatic mission at Pailah and Puliran."
"Yes, I heard." Yizmael, smiled and told them they can now stop bowing.
After the 'pleasantries', they started eating. Aslon's slaves prepared a whole roasted chicken, marinated in honey, garlic, and mustard. There's also a bowl of chicken broth and a glass of a 3-year-old white wine. Upon smelling the wine, Yizmael's nose was immediately caressed with the soothing note of a light lemon zest and a hint of light honey.
After lunch was over, Yizmael praised the food and especially the wine. He lit his pipe and said, "As payment for your hospitality, let me entertain you my dear elder."
Aslon's right brow slightly raised its corner as he echoed Yizmael's word. Yizmael just chuckled and called one of his bodyguards. "Aslon, this is Ari, a Mago from Iberia." Ari has emerald green eyes and a sharp nose. "This is Arde, an Ikugan like your favorite dog Marahuyo." Aslon's jaw tightened after hearing those words from Yizmael. "And last here is Bai, an Agta." Bai has a muscular body, and standing at around 9'2 feet.
"They're my newest recruits," Yizmael noted. Yizmael whispered something to Bai and Ari. After that, the two bowed and left. Aslon's children felt like they were covered by a thick slime as the atmosphere got heavy due to the anticipation.
Aslon tried to shift things by asking, "By the way how's the situation against that terrorist Dagohoy?"
Yizmael's body stiffened a little as disgust showed on his face, "Tsss, that Ijo de grandisimo puta!" he cursed as he blew thick smoke from his mouth and nose. "That son of a bitch gives Iberia a bad name. Even Miguel got his hands full because of that damn terrorist!"
"Miguel? As in Governor-General Miguel Sonza from Binuangan?" Aslon tried to clarify.
"Yes, that damn ikugan's group hides in the mountains of Lohob." He leaned on his chair, "That mountain sits at the boundary of Tundun and Binuangan." He started to rub his forehead, "and now, this upstart Kario Sakay and his group adds to my problem."
"Penumbra?" Masala murmured.
"Yes, boy, his terrorist group called Penumbra." He smirked a little, "However, compared to that monkey Dagohoy. Penumbra is merely a tool for the empire."
"Tool?" Aslon echoed.
Yizmael's posture changed, same as the topic, "Anyway, Bai and Ari will be here soon." Aslon decided not to press Yizmael with further questions. Even so, worry flickered across his face as a theory quickly formed in his mind. He forced himself to hide it. Yizmael rose to go to the bathroom. Aslon instructed one of his aliping saguiguilid to accompany him.
"Marta, please attend to the Governor-General for a moment," Aslon said.
The young woman bowed at once and followed Yizmael. Aslon noticed the Governor-General's lingering gaze on her. He stood abruptly. "Ah, Anton… perhaps it would be better if you were the one to accom—"
"SIT DOWN!" Yizmael's voice cracked like a whip. "Come, woman."
Aslon dropped back into his chair, stunned. He drew a long, shaky breath, looking as though he had just lost a bet with fate. His eyes were fixed on nothing, empty, hollow.
Moments later, a scream tore through the entire household. Sula and Masala shot to their feet, but their father stopped them instantly.
"SIT!!!" Aslon thundered. His face flushed red, and his nails dug so hard into the table that they scraped the wood.
"But, Father!" Sula protested, panic in his voice.
"My son… remember this…" Aslon rasped, his voice nearly breaking. "There are times when we must endure humiliation for the sake of our family… and for Tundun."
Minutes crawled by before Yizmael returned with Marta. The girl's lip was bruised, her hair disheveled, the hem of her skirt torn. Her eyes were swollen and red.
"Hhhmm, the food in Tundun truly is delicious, hahaha…" Yizmael joked.
The three men of the household clenched their teeth, rage burning behind their forced composure. A short while later, Arde finally arrived—but he was alone.
He saluted Yizmael. "Governor-General… my apologies, but the two siblings have taken their own lives."
Yizmael's brows drew together. "Pah… let it be." He turned to Aslon. "My apologies, my friend. I'll make it up to you next time."
He stood and, with his three guards, headed for the exit. Aslon escorted them all the way to the gate of his home. The three were left at the Patio, while Marta sobbed heavily, gripping her own shoulders.