The Merchant's Heavenly Contract

2

A very familiar place. Kahit na mabibilang sa kamay ang ilang beses kong pagpunta rito, pakiramdam ko, tahanan ko pa rin 'to.

The smell of the grass and trees, the lake as well. The sunlight hitting my skin is comforting, like the sun is hugging me. My smile didn't fade as I walked towards the biggest temple here. An open entrance, but just pure darkness.

Walang pagaalinlangan akong dumeretso hanggang sa binalot na 'ko ng kadiliman. Marahan akong pumikit, parang bumagal ang pagtakbo ng oras nang muli kong buksan ang mga mata ko.

This is it.

As if I was teleported once agan, the place changed. Sa loob ng lumang templo sa gitna ng kagubatan, napunta ako sa loob ng isang modernong lugar.

It cannot be compared to the 5-star hotel I've been to in different countries. Umikot ang mga mata ko. I would love to own a place like this.

Everything shouts elegance. Every piece of furniture has a touch of gold or diamond. A dome greeted me, with a glassroof, using the natural light to lighten the place. In the middle, is one counter.

My smile widened when the woman behind the counter saw me, our eyes met. Lumiwanag ang ekspresyon niya at kumislap ang mga mata, literal.

"ZALLI!!!" malakas na bunyaw niya nang makita ako. Nakangiti akong lumapit at binaba ang mga gamit ko nang mapunta ako sa tapat niya.

"It's been a while, Laonya," I greeted her.

She squeaked, making her pointed ears go up.

Green eyes with transparent eyelids, face with unnoticeable scales, neck with gills. Skin is slightly light with a touch of blue, also unnoticeable at first glance, she just looks pale. Short blue hair.

She looks like what I used to remember her.

Laonya, daughter of God Tlāloc—god of rain and earthly fertility.

"Ahhh! I missed you! Hindi ka pumupunta rito!" She's very jolly as usual. Kulang na lang ay tumalon na siya sa counter para yakapin ako dahil sa sobrang pagdungaw niya rito.

I chuckled. "Well, I'm quite busy." Inabot ko ang bag ko. "But I have something for you."

Mas lalong namilog ang mga mata ni Laonya, napaangat na siya sa counter para lang masilip ang kinukuha ko sa bag.

"Oh my! Let me see! Let me see!"

May kinuha ako sa bulsa ng bag. Habang naghahanap, biglang may napansin si Laonya na nakatingin sa pulso ko.

"Eh? Zalli, where's your literia?" she asked. 

Hindi nawala ang tingin ko sa bag nang sinagot ko siya. "Oh, I sold it," I casually answered her.

Kahit wala sa kaniya ang tingin, kita ko ang pamimilog ng mga mata niya. "HUH?! But it was give to us for a reason! It's essential!"

I couldn't give my full attention to her since I'm looking for something. But, she's not wrong. Literia is a device that mythos has given to us. It's a translator. With that, we can go to any part of the world without worrying about communication. Since by using literia, we can understand and speak any language we want. 

"I'm a merchant, Laonya. Speaking different kinds of languages is one of my skills. I was traveling around the world since I can remember." Umangat na ang tingin ko sa kaniya at kinindatan siya. "Selling that device helped me more than using it. It was quite a fortune."

She pouted, but her expression instantly changed when I managed to pull out what I was looking for in my bag. Napasinghap ang babaeng kaharap ko nang masilayan ang gintong kabibe na binaba ko sa harap niya.