Chant Of The Twilight

Prologue

Author's Note:

Belated Merry Christmas, dears!

Here is the Prologue of Chant of the Twilight. Updates would be every Sunday, but of course, it is still tentative and may change due to my schedule. Thank you and enjoy!

Prologue

Maingay ang buong capital dahil sa nagaganap na week-long Spring Festival. The streets of the main road are full of decorations and vendors. Kaniya-kaniyang tawag ng mga mamimili ang mga nagtitinda. Various street products are everywhere, from cheap jewels and accessories to foods.

"Come on, Morgan. Let's enjoy this festival. Magiging busy na ako bukas dahil may street performance ako kinabukasan ng gabi tapos diretso pa tayo ng Aethelberg," Achlise pouted while clinging to her best friend's arms.

Morgana sighed in defeat. Alam niyang hindi siya kailanman mananalo sa ganitong side ni Achlise. She has weakness in this particular side of her only best friend.

"Fine, fine. What do you want to eat? My treat," pagsuko ni Morgana sa kaibigan.

"Yes!" Achlise nonchalantly cheered, "Let's taste the beef skewers right there," sagot ni Achlise sabay turo sa isang stall na halos mapuno na ng usok dahil sa nagbabagang grill.

Morgana chuckled, "Shouldn't you be with your boyfriend, right now?" tanong niya pa habang naglalakad papunta sa stall ng nagtitinda ng beef skewers.

"Psh..." Achlise rolled her eyes, "What boyfriend?"

"Bakit kasi hindi ka na pumili ng mapapangasawa sa mga nobles na nagpapadala ng marriage proposals sa'yo? Bukod sa gaganda ang buhay mo ay hindi mo na kailangan pang sumayaw," payo pa ni Morgana.

"Two skewers please," baling ni Achlise sa stall owner bago tumingin sa kaibigan, "I don't want to enter a loveless marriage, Morgan. Kadalasan sa mga ganoon, babae palagi ang nagdurusa. Lalo na sa empire natin na legal ang polygamy. I'd rather have a child that I could call family than a single trash. You know that more than anyone else."

"This woman... Not all men are like that," ani Morgana sabay pabirong batok sa kaibigan.

"Whatever. Nevertheless, I already made my decision," kinuha ni Achlise ang beef skewer na inaabot sa kaniya ng vendor, ganoon din si Morgana sabay bayad.

"But isn't a child more tiring to take care of? Bakit mas pipiliin mong maging single mom kaysa ang mag-asawa? I'm always curious about that little dream of yours," tanong pang muli ni Morgana habang naglalakad sila paalis ng stall.

They walked in the middle of the crowded and noisy main streets of the capital. Nadaanan pa nila ang Central Square kung saan may malawak itong walkway at sa gitna ay ang malaking fountain. There's also a stage in front where most announcements and program events are being held. Kung minsan ay roon din nagaganap ang mga execution na death by hanging ang sentence ng mga taong nagcommit ng treason o ng iba pang mga crimes na punishable by death.

"This may sound weird or illogical, but... I want someone that shares the same blood as me to call my family. I don't need a husband. I just need a... Family."

Humigpit ang hawak ni Achlise sa stick ng skewers. She was an orphan. She grew up while facing the harsh world by herself. She can't even remember much of her childhood before she ended up in an orphanage in Aethelberg, a countryside in the Eastern Region of Ivelhan Empire.