Ever After

XXXIV. An Apology

Nakataklob ako ng isang kulay asul na balabal habang binabagtas ang kapatagan ng Winzellia. Mahirap nang makaagaw ng pansin ako lalo na't ang alam ng lahat ay patay na ang prinsesa Victoria.

Ngunit bago pa man ako makalapit sa gate ng palasyo ay may humitak na sa akin na isang babae patungo sa likod ng isang puno. Ang gabay ng kasalukuyan.

"Hey, bakit mo ako hinitak?"

She gave me an unbelievable look, "Baliw ka na ba talaga, Eerah? What do you think you're going to do? Show up as if you just have rose from the dead?"

Napaawang ang labi ko sa sinabi niya. She's right. What I am going to do is totally absurd. Magugulat ang lahat at magtataka.

"Anong gusto mong gawin ko?"

"You already escaped. Bakit bumalik ka pa?" Asik niya sa akin. Napayuko naman ako. I couldn't blame her if she's mad at me. I escaped, I ran away from the mission.

"I'm just confused that time. But I promise not to runaway again. I want to help saving this world."

"Hindi mo kailangang tumulong, hindi mo kailangang mangialam. Alam mo ba kung anong naging epekto ng pangingialam mo? They will suffer more in the future than they did back then."

Hindi na ako makatingin nang maayos sa kanya. She's right again. But I looked straight at her eyes and shook my head. "I won't let that happen again. They will be saved this time."

She let an amused laugh. "Do you really think that you can save them?"

I know where they ended up back then. And all I need to do is to stop it from happening. "Yes, because I know how to."

"Fine. We won't stop you from what you want to do. But you need to finish your mission no matter what."

Ngumiti naman ako at tumango. Akmang aalis na ako nang magsalita ulit siya.

"You have to hide your identity for the mean time. Once the dark kingdom kmew you're here again, I don't think you'll suvive this time."

Tumango naman ako at ngumiti. Akmang aalis na talaga ako nang magsalita na naman siya.

"By the way, you seem to be so sure that you want and you can save this world, huh? Let's just see then."

* * *

Pinilit kong maglakad nang maayos kahit na sobrang bigat ng mga bakal na suot ko. I'm wearing an armor just to cover my identity.

Many things have changed in the past month that I'm gone. I think, after what happened to me that night made Victoria's parents aware of the dark kingdom. Hindi man nila ito sabihin ngunit halata ito sa kinikilos ng bawat isa sa palasyo.

Mahigpit ang seguridad sa kaharian. Marami rin silang sinasanay na mga kawal. Marami rin silang pinapanday na mg espada.

At first, I was shocked to see the mayor of Aspel in the Winzellia's palace but later on, I understood everything.

Nakipagtulungan ang Aspel sa kaharian ng Winzellia. There are men in training here in Winzellia that came from the city. I also saw Flinn and Eric here. I wouldn't be surprised if they already knew that the girl they know as Eerah is the princess.

Napangiti ako nang marinig ang sinabi ng isa sa mga nagsasanay na kawal mula sa Aspel.

"Naipabalita ang palihim na pagtulong ng prinsesa ng Winzellia sa mamamayan ng bayan ng Aspel kung kaya't labis na nalungkot ang lahat sa pagkamatay nito. Isang mabuting kaharian ang Winzellia. Hindi nagkamali ang alkalde sa pakikipag-uganayan dito."