Fire Heart: Her Secret

Chapter 15

Daniella's POV

"Let's proceed to the second riddle." Napalunok ako. This is making me nervous, I don't even know why. Tumango si Ash sa Agila.

"What walks on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon and three at night?" Never heard of this riddle my whole life.

"Man: as an infant, he crawls on all fours; as an adult, he walks on two legs and; in old age, he uses a 'walking' stick." Kaswal na sagot ni Ash na ikinangiti ko. Why would I be nervous now? I know he can answer it all. The team trusts him.

"Very good. Ikatlong bugtong." 

"Fire away." Tumango si Gregor.

"I am a ship that can be made to ride the greatest waves. I am not built by tool but built by hearts and minds. What am I?" Nakita ko ang pagkunot ng noo ni Ash. Alam nya ba ang sagot? I can't read him but I see the team furrow their brows.

"Never heard this before." Rinig kong bulong ni William kay Irene na tumango, bumaling ako kay Ash. He looks relaxed but I can feel something. "Alam niya na ang sagot?" Tanong ko kay William pero nagkibit-balikat lang siya.

"Hindi namin alam. Actually, narinig na namin lahat ang mga bugtong niya pero ngayon lang namin narinig ito." May halong kaba ang boses ni William. Umawang ang bibig. If he can't answer this, does this mean we won't have the stone?

"Not sure Gregor but, my answer is Friendship." Bahagyang nagsalubong ang aking kilay. Paano naging friendship ang sagot? Sinulyapan ko ang Agila na natahimik sa sagot ni Ash. Damn eagle, just announce it if he's correct or not, you're making us nervous here!

"Magaling Prince Ash." I sigh in relief and smiled pero nawala din agad dahil sa sinabi ng agila. 

"Prince!?" Gulat kong bulalas kina William at Irene at agad naman silang napatango, lumingon ako kay David at Christian na nakangisi. "Bakit ngayon ko lang nalaman?!" Nakita ko ang pagpigil ng tawa ni David habang sila ay nakangisi lang. Lumingon ng kunti si Ash sakin, he's showing me the side eye as he looks at me casually. That look...I feel flustered somehow.

"Dahil sinabi ng agila?" Baling ko kay David at inirapan siya. Sa ganitong sitwasyon, gusto ko siyang suntukin but the stuff I learned today hasn't quite sunk in yet. "Seriously? Sagutin niyo ako ng maayos." Inilipat ko ang tingin ko kay Irene na nakangiti lang sakin.

"That look is familiar to me. Since he doesn't want to be treated as a prince, we didn't tell you he's the prince. He deserves to be regarded as a student and a mage, not some royalty." Nanlaki ang mata ko at lumingon ulit kay Ash. Right now, nakatalikud na siya sa amin. When you think about it, he didn't exactly exude prince energy. I'm assuming he's just a powerful mage in the academy that everyone adores.

"Huling bugtong prinsepe." Lahat kami ay napatingin sa agila. Meron pa? May tumulo na tubig sa aking mukha at agad napatingala sa langit. It's starting to rain, and we could get soaked if we don't finish this now.

"Ipinanganak sa ating mundo ngunit lumaki sa ibang mundo. Kakaibang mahika ang taglay at may dugong diyosang nananalaytay. Sino siya?" I was frozen in place, this riddle. Nakita ko ang pagsulyap ng Agila sa akin ng tinanong niya kay Ash ang bugtong. This eagle knows me. Lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko, dahil siguro ay kinakabahan ako. How many of them know me anyway? First was the guardian and now this creature in front of me?

"The hell Gregor hindi alam ni Ash yan!" Inis na sigaw ni Irene sa kanya pero umiling lang ang Agila sa amin. "Nothing is impossible for the Prince Ash." 

Ugh, don't expect him to answer that as if he knows. It is impossible for him. 

I glance at Ash who seems to be thinking deeply with his brows furrowed. This guy is thinking about it! Hindi mo alam ang sagot Ash, ako lang ang makakasagot nyan!