Maharlika Mahika // undergoing editing

Act XXIX

Jiyuu's POV

I was slapped awake yet again.

Kyoutani Kentarou, Elite Royal Guard, was the culprit, golden eyes forming into a sharp glare as he looked at me as I weakly sat up in my cell,

He was ordered to do this to me every day.

"Eat up." he said sternly, shoving me a metal plate with a slimy, gross substance they called food for prisoners.

I silently obeyed, even though I was gagging at the sight of the food.

After the agony of a meal, I pushed the empty plate away toward the elite, and stared at the wall.

Seventeen fresh tallies etched on the wall, one for each day of my stay.

I have been lying in the cold concrete for seventeen days, and suffering with almost inedible meals for seventeen lunches.

Seventeen sunrises and sunsets were not seen by my eyes.

I knew it.

He's never coming back for me.

The slam of the railings that encage me I heard, and I lay on the cold concrete again, lonely for another day.
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Kageyama's POV

"Thank you for your time."

I rode on, after I bothered another citizen, asking about Jiyuu's whereabouts.

Three days. I rode for three days and nothing happened.

My eyes read a nearby sign. I was in Keido, the province nearest to the mountains.

The province that was home to the Ilalim.

The province where I first found her.

A few questions to Keido residents later, I found myself in front of the Ilalim.

The Hagdan beckoned me in its arms, as if inviting me to take a peek if she was there, safe and sound with her family.

Rumors circulated the Ilalim before. Rumors like cannibals resided there, if a person with a different caste went inside, you'll be cursed for life and will not be able to come back again from the Ilalim ever again, and so on..

That's why my father instituted a law, that no one from the Itaas is to go to the Ilalim, and vice versa.

Still, I was desperate to find her. I tied my horse's reins to a nearby post, and accepted the Hagdan's embrace.

And I saw the Ilalim for the first time.

The Ilalim was gloomy, dim lights lighted a concrete sky, and shacks filled the whole underground. Streets were dusty, the children playing were filthy and the adults looked on with gloom. Magic was everywhere.

I held her picture in my trembling hands again, as I descended down the steps to enter the Ilalim fully, nervous.

As soon as I passed by the streets, no one bowed. No one paid their respect as the King walked in their gloomy world. Some even threw stones.

In this world, there is no Maharlika. In this world, Maharlika are never paid respect to. No Mahika would ever bow their heads to a Maharlika, to people who sentenced their eternal confinement to this gloom. To people who continue to discriminate them. To people who despise them.

My eyes caught two women, one that looked like a mother, and a teenager, heads bowed as I walked past.

I stopped, and walked toward them, surprised at their actions.

Mahika, bowing to me.

"Madames." I said.

They looked up, violet irises shining as they stared at mine.  Their eyes held sadness for unknown reasons.

"Your Highness." they said.

I inhaled deeply, and mustered all my courage to ask them.

"By chance, do you know where she is?" I asked, holding out the photo of her I had in my hands.

The older woman stared at the photo, so did the younger lady. When they examined the photo, they gasped in shock, violet eyes widening.

"This girl... my lord... is my daughter." the older woman replied after a few moments of agonizing silence.

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A/n

Helloooo

This is Act 29 everybody :)

Hope you liked this one (even though it has a cliffhanger)

Vote or comment of you dooooo

-starlight