Casseus tilt his head as he watched his own reflection in the waters of the hot spring. He got his name from his great-great-grandfather, his face from his father, and his willful attitude from his mother.
Mataman lang itong nakasandal sa isang malaking bato habang nakababad ang katawan nito sa bukal. His body was built like a teenager when in fact he's just nine years old. Well, according to his grandpa, the age of Gods are different from the rest of the immortals. One year of normal immortals is equal to two years in Gods.
Which means he's 18 years old.
The odd thing is, that case was only for the pure-blooded Gods. Casseus only have half of his being as a God which does not explain the phenomenon happening in his body. His mother grew up like a normal immortal, what makes him different?
He just shook of the thought in his head and calmed his mind. Of course, he would be different. His mother was said to be stronger than his grandpa, and the Unknown God resides within her. Kaya naman ay simula nang ipanganak siya'y nag uumapaw sa inerhiya ang katawan niya.
He was having his peaceful moment alone when he heard someone approaching. Mabilis siyang nagmulat ng mata't napakunot ang noo niya nang makita ang nakakatanda niyang kapatid.
"What are you doing here?" Reese raised an eyebrow at him. Inirapan pa siya nito kaya lalong kumunot ang noo niya.
"Bawal ako rito?" Mataray niyang sagot dito.
"I mean this is-"
"This is the only hot spring available. Mother and father was on the other side. Alangan naman distorbohin ko baka maudlot pa paggawa ng bunso natin." Casseus just shrugged his shoulders and rested his head on the rock.
He agreed with her. The both of them need quality time with each other. After hearing their story from people, he knew they've been through a lot of pain for their love. Sa hindi malamang dahilan ay belib siya sa sakrpisyo na ginawa ng kaniyang ama. He loved her too much that he's willing to hurt himself just to keep her alive.
He closed his eyes, and seconds later he heard someone's footsteps on the water. Pinakiramdam niya ito't naramdaman niya ang paglubog ng tubig isang metro ang layo sa kaniyang harapan. His older sister was probably just in front of him.
The hotness of the spring made him feel a bit sleepy, hanggang sa hindi niya namalayan na nakaidlip na pala siya. He woke up when he heard noises around him. Nakakarinig siya ng boses ng mga babae na nagkukwentuhan at nagtatawanan.
When he decided to open his eyes he was horrified to see naked women in front of him. Mabilis na napatigil sa pagkukwentuhan ang mga ito't napatingin sa kaniya. Buong akala niya'y sisigaw ang mga ito't magtatakip ng katawan pero tinitigan lang siya ng mga ito.
Casseus cleared his throat as he tried to divert his gaze into something else. Those women never felt even an ounce of embarrassment. They were so bold and prideful of their body and figure.
"Casseus!" When he heard her voice, he was sure that was Eliora, Master Canaan's daughter.
"What?" And he just wanted to applaud himself for not stuttering. Nakatalikod siya sa mga ito't wala siyang balak lumingon.
"Para ka namang others, halika dito!" Mariin niyang pinikit ang mga mata niya.
Parang others? Does the fact that he's a man do not bother them at all?
"Awe, let him Eli. He might be shy." Mapanuyang wika ni Marzanna na siyang nag-iisang anak ni Aerus.
"Eh? Bakit naman siya mahihiya? We used to take a bath together when we're kids!" Paghihimutok ni Callie, Yael's daughter.
"When we're kids, he's just a two year old baby back then and we're like 5 years old." Apila naman ni Zielle dito, ang unica hija ni Vexus.
"And now he's still a kid! He's just nine years old and we're 18!" Casseus face became stoic upon Kalila's statement.
What the hell did she just said?
He tried to calm himself down. She's Master's Arden's daughter, he needs to be patient. Calling him a kid, sure, he could take it.
"Yeah, Kalila's right. Come on now Casseus, no need to be so shy." Gatong ni Eirena. Napahilamos na lang ng mukha ang binata. He didn't know his Uncle Flame's daughter is this confident.
"Sevyn." It felt like lightning bolt struck him when someone from behind hugged him. He can feel her body pressed against his bare back.
"A-Arcana." Sa pagkakataong ito ay hindi niya na mapigilan ang sarili niya sa pag-utal. And yes, he doesn't need to look back to know who it was dahil iisang tao lang ang tumatawag sa kaniya sa ikalawa niyang pangalan.
"Why don't you tell them the truth?" When her hands travelled on his chest he felt himself shuddered. She was tracing his packs with her slender fingers.
"The truth?" And it took him a while to ask that because he was giving too much attention to the tension he's feeling from her touch.
"That you are also an adult like us base on God's age." Yes he was already an adult on God's age, but they're treating him like a kid!
Hindi naman siya nagtataka kung paano iyon nalaman ni Arcana. After all, she's the daughter of his mother's most trusted Knight. Being Caiz Perfecto's daughter made her know all sorts of things that others don't know.
"If you keep on acting like this, they'll continue to treat you that way." She stopped tracing his packs and blew an air on his left ear.
"Hoy, Arcana! Anong binubulong-bulong mo sa bata ha? Mamaya puro kabalastugan na naman tinuturo mo diyan!" Eliora blurted out as she walk towards their direction.
Bata? Can't they see his body was too fine and well built to be called a child?
When will they realize that he's just at the same age as them and walking around him, not to mention taking a bath with him naked, acting all that confident and bold with their body is not a good idea! And any normal man would have towering libido seeing them like this!
"Snap out of it, Casseus!" He slapped his face lightly and faced them.
"I am not a kid." His voice was serious as he stared at them. Hindi siya kumurap habang tinititigan ang katawan ng mga itong natatakpan lang ng kanilang buhok at hamog na dulot ng init ng bukal.
"Eh? But you're just nine ye-" Hindi natapos ni Zielle ang sasabihin nito nang biglang naglakad upang umahon ang binata.
Pinanood nila itong maglakad hanggang sa tuluyan na nga itong nakaahon sa tubig. Nakatalikod ito sa kanila kaya naman kitang-kita nila ang buong likuran nito. When he faced them their eyes widened in shock. Halos mangamatis ang mukha ng mga ito sa pula't naisin man nilang umiwas ng tingin ay hindi nila magawa.
In front of them was a body of a person they just called a kid. Now they realized something. Ang katawan nito'y masyadong matipuno't makisig para sa isang bata. His body was a type that any woman would drool and swoon over.
"Is this what you call a kid?" Taas noo nitong wika habang ibinabalandara ang nakahubad-baro nitong katawan na nagmamalaki sa kanilang lahat.
"Bakit ang laki?" Wala sa wisyong wika ni Eliora. When she realized what she said, she covered her mouth blushing with embarrassment.
"Uhmm..." Kumurap-kurap ng mata ang mga ito't biglang inilubog ang buong katawan sa tubig na para bang nahihiya. It's like they're aware for a fact that he's definitely not a kid. Ilang beses na nila itong tinatawag na bata, they we're acting like his older sisters. Kaya nga malakas ang loob ng mga itong maligo nang kasama siya sa kadahilanang bata naman ito.
"I dare you to call me a kid once again and you'll be having one inside you." Walang kahit isa ang umimik at nagpasalamat naman ang binata sa isip-isip niya.
Bukod sa nagulat ang mga ito sa komprontasyon niya'y sadyang nakakagulat naman talaga ang mga salitang lumalabas sa bibig nito. Since when did he became this vocal and tactless? Madalas ay tahimik lang ito't napakapormal. Not until today. He felt like a different person.
"Hi, kid." Casseus catch his breath when Arcana called him.
He was just trying to put on a show so they would stop calling and treating him a kid. He wasn't as daring and confident as they think. Sa katunayan nga'y kanina pa ito nahihiya habang nakatayo sa kanila harapan.
"Now that I called you a kid..." Muntik na mapabuga nang malalim na hininga si Cassues.
Why the hell did he even say that?
"Mind giving me one now, your highness?" He could not believe Arcana's audacity. He had no memory of his master being like this.
When he look at her, he noticed she's the only one sitting on the small rock just beneath the spring. Ang iba'y nilukob na ng kahihiyan kaya kaniya-kaniyang lubog ng katawan ang mga ito sa bukal at tanging ulo na lang nila ang nakikita. Arcana on the other hand was just sitting there with her legs crossed and chest covered with her hair, unbothered.
"I know, I know..." Tumayo ito habang nakatingin sa anim niyang kaibigan na nakatingala sa kaniya.
"My father's probably gonna kill me when he heard me saying this." She murmured rolling her eyes heavenwards.
"Yeah." Kalila crossed her arms and stood up from the waters. Hanggang bewang niya ang tubig at 'gaya ni Arcana ay natatabunan ng mahabang buhok niya ang dib-dib nito.
"We are your Dame Princesses, and we should protect you will our lives." She added while staring at his face, trying to avoid glances on his lower body.
If his mother had Knight Princes, he had Dame Princesses. Dame, a female knight.
"And each one of us could be your queen in the future." Wika naman ni Eirina't tumayo na rin ito mula sa pagkakalublob sa tubig.
"The queen married from the prince of your empire, so her son must marry someone from our land." Nakangising wika ni Callie sa mga ito.
"That's not fair, his heart should choose!" Apila ni Marzanna.
"It's only fair, besides, her majesty was first engaged to my father." Mapanuyang sabi ni Arcana sa mga ito.
Then they started bickering who he should choose, and where he should marry. Napasapo na lang ito ng noo habang pinapanood silang mag bangayan sa harapan niya. He needs to find his older sister, siya lang ang makakapagpatigil sa kanilang pito.
"Casseus! Cassues, putangina!" And speaking of the devil.
"Tangina!" Pinagkunutan niya ito ng noo dahil kanina pa ito mura nang mura.
"What happened?" When Reese landed her gaze on his body her jaw dropped. But then, she had no time to be shock so she slapped herself.
"Why are you-"
"Listen, Flynn is looking for me!"
"So?"
"You need to hide me!"
"Ha?"
"Bingi ka ba?"
"Ano ba kasing ginawa mo?"
"Pinasabog ko kuwarto niya." Diretso niyang asgot dito.
"Pinasabog mo lang pa-"
"WHAT?!" They all shouted in unison.
Napahilot ng sentido si Casseus. Minsan ay hindi niya alam kung sino ba ang bata at matanda sa kanila. She's so stubborn and mischievous to be his elder sister. Kapag may pagsabog na naganap ay walang ibang may kagagawan nito kun'di siya lang. She loves explosions.
"Itago niyo ako! He's gonna kill me!" She was walking around frantically as if she was trying to figure out what to do in such a critical situation where her life depends.
"Yes! Alam ko na!" Napaatras si Casseus nang bigla itong maghubad.
"ATE!" Tinulak siya ng kaniyang kapatid sa tubig kaya bumalugsok siya roon. Habol hiningang bumangon ang binata't pinanlakihan ng mata ang kapatid niya.
"Hawakan niyo siya." Arcana held his left arm and Kalila was on his right side.
"Pumwesto kayo, bilis!" Sumunod naman ang mga ito samantalang gulong-gulo naman si Casseus sa pinanggagawa ng mga ito.
"You mean we'll act like-" Hindi na natuloy ni Eirena ang sasabihin nang gumalaw na ang mga ito.
"What the hell are yo-" Arcana grabbed his left arm under the water and snaked it around her waist. Kalila did the same as she lean her head on his chest.
Paglingon niya sa kaliwang bahagi ng kaniyang likuran bumungad naman sa kaniya ang mukha ni Callie, sa kanan naman ay si Eliora. Ang mga ito'y nasa sahig at prenteng nakahiga sa kaniyang likuran habang nakatukod ang siko ng mga ito. Unlike everyone in the spring, may telang nakatabon sa katawan ng mga ito.
Si Eirena naman, Marzanna at Zielle ay nasa magkabilang gilid habang ginugulo-gulo ang buhok.
"Yes, look at him as if you wanted to seduce him!" Turo ni Reese sa mga ito.
"Ganyan nga Marzanna! Anak ka talaga ni Uncle Aerus!" Pagpupuri niya pa rito.
"Valkareese!" Mabilis itong napamura nang marinig ang dumadagungdong na boses ni Flynn mula sa malayo.
Mabilis na lumusong sa tubig si Valkareese. Lumanghap ito ng napakaraming hangin bago inilubog ang sarili sa ilalim ng tubig kung nasaaan naroon sila Casseus at ng iba pang babae. It's a matter between life and death and she hopes her brother could understand the situation.
"Valkareese where-" Natigilan sa paghihimutok si Flynn nang bumungad sa kaniya ang pangyayari.
He's seeing Arcana, Caiz' daughter kissing Casseus neck, and Kalila, Arden's heir leaning on his chest and the rest of them staring at him like he's some sort of food they all wanted to eat. Sa nasaksihan ay hindi kaagad nakapagsalita si Flynn.
What the hell is going on?
"Have you seen Valkareese?" Arcana gave him a glare.
"Are we in the situation to be caring about her, Uncle Flynn?" She stopped kissing his neck and gave him a sly smile.
"Can't you see that we're busy?" Kalila countered.
"You're busy?" Hindi makapaniwalang wika ni Flynn.
First of all he could not believe his eyes. He had no idea that Casseus could do this, or even thought of doing this. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang magiging reaksyon ng ina nito kung sakaling isumbong niya ito.
"His highness needs our help. As his loyal subjects, how could we say no to him?" Hearing what Callie said, Casseus had a grasp of the situation.
Ginalaw nito ang paa niya't sinipa sa ilalim ng tubig ang nakakatanda niyang kapatid. Maraming paraan para makatago ito pero talagang ito ang napili niyang gawin. Ano na lang ang iisipin ni Flynn sa kaniya? Siya pa ang mapapasama rito.
"Besides, we're grown up women we can give what he wants better than anyone else." Marzanna whispered as she twirl the ends of her hair looking at Casseus.
"We live to give him satisfaction." Dag-dag ni Zielle.
Napaamang naman si Flynn sa mga pinagsasabi ng mga ito. He could not believe his ears as much as what his eyes could see.
"Have you seen her?" Casseus bit the skin inside his left cheek. As much as he wanted to smack her sister for making things uncomfortable for him, tutal ay umabot na rin sila sa sitwasyong ito'y wala na siyang choice kun'di panindigan to.
"Why? What happened?" He acted calm as if he knew nothing about the reason why he's fuming in anger.
"She just gave me a late gift from my birthday and it was a fucking bomb!" Halatang-halata ang inis sa boses nito kaya muntik na naman masipa ni Casseus sa tubig ang kapatid niya kung hindi siya nakapagpigil.
"I have not seen her, Uncle." But his statement did not convince Flynn at all. Nagsimula itong umikot-ikot sa paligid ng bukal at sa mga batong nakausli sa pagbabakasakaling nagtatago lang ito.
Akmang lulusong na ito sa tubig nang tumikhim si Casseus,"I think you should leave, Uncle." Kumunot naman ang noo ni Flynn habang may nagtatanong na mata.
"You have no right to see even a small skin of my women." Mabilis na ipinikit ni Flynn ang kaniyang mga mata.
He had forgotten about that. Nakalimutan niyang halos hubad na pala ang mga ito sa kadahilanang naka tuon ang atensyon niya sa paghahanap sa babaeng 'yon.
"Forgive me, your highness. I did not mean to intrude your..."
"Session." Dugtong nito na siyang ikinakagat ni Casseus ng labi niya.
Session to hell with it!
"If we'll see her, we'll inform you, Uncle Flynn." Eirena said politely. Saglit na natigilan si Flynn.
"Ei, did your father knew about this?" Kaagad na nakaramdam ng kaba si Eirena. If Flame would find out what she's doing she will definetly be grounded.
"One of us will soon become his bride, so there's no need to tell father about it." Sagot nito.
"Suit yourself then. Now if you excused me, your highness. I must find your sister." Nakapikit naman itong tumalikod at naglakad na paalis.
Napahinga naman nang maluwag si Casseus. Pinikit niya ang kaniyang mga mata habang pinapakiramdaman ang bilis ng tibok ng puso niya dahil sa kaba. When he opened his eyes saktong umahon sa harap niya ang kapatid niya ng may ngisi sa labi. Para bang nang-aasar ito sa kaniya.
"I was under the water and you know what I saw? It's your rock hard di-" Mabilis niyang tinakpan ang bibig nito upang tumahimik.
"What's going on here?"
Tila ba nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig ang lahat ng naroon nang makita ang hari at reyna sa kanilang harapan. The queen look at them with a serious expression on her face. Wala nino man ang kayang basahin kung ano ang nasa isip nito.
Pero hindi doon nakatuon ang pansin ni Casseus kun'di sa leeg ng ina nitong puno ng kagat ng lamok. Hindi lang siya sigurado kung lamok nga ba ang may dahilan ng pantal na iyon.
"I said what's going on here, Casseus Sevyn Elvinov?" She asked in a warning tone.
"M-mother it's not-"
"Ikaw ba si Casseus, Valkareese?" Napalabi naman ito sa pambabarang ginawa ng ina.
"M-mom..." Sinubukang pakalmahin ni Casseus ang sarili niya. He don't want to see her mad again. The last time she was mad it was chaotic. Napakahirap pa nito suyuin. Kulang na lang maging dragon ito't bumuga ng apoy.
"It's not what you think."
"Not what I think? Casseus you're bathing with the princesses of Elysian and Hidden Empire! What will your Uncles think of your beha-" Natahimik ito nang salubungin ni Frost ng halik sa labi.
Umirit naman kaagad sa kilig si Valkareese at iba pang prinsesa na naroon nanonood. Isa-isang hampasan ang mag ito't halos masubsob sa bato ang pagmumukha ni Casseus sa panghahampas na ginawa ni Arcana at Kalila.
"Does this scenario not ring a bell to you?" Nakangising wika nito. And that's the first time they saw the queen of the empire blushing over something she remembered.
"Naalala mo? You were the one who suggested to do that para lang makatakas." Ngayon ay nakakunot naman ang noo ng mga anak nito kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng kanilang ama.
"Maybe that's what happened to our son. Don't jump into conclusions, okay?" Pagpapakalma nito.
"Come on now, you need to rest. Pagod ka, remember?" Isang kakaibang ngisi ang pinakawalan nito na naging dahilan upang sikmurahan siya ng reyna sa hiya.
"Shut up." Irap nito bago lumayas sa bukal.
"Thanks, dad!" Sabay na wika ni Reese at Casseus dito. He just gave them a thumbs up and run to chase his queen.
Casseus face suddenly became serious. These women seemed to enjoy what happened earlier. Hindi siya papayag na hindi makaganti sa mga ito lalong-lalo na kay Arcana na para bang napapantastikuhan makita ang pagkalito sa mukha niya kanina. It's like seeing him flustered red fascinates her.
"Since you got all your efforts to do it, why not go all the way?" Natigilan naman ang mga ito sa naging wika ng binata.
"After all, I've said it. You are all my women. What could be so wrong for you to kneel and serve me?" They gasped.
And those women were just too stunned to speak.