Emy was feeling better when Monday came. Maybe it was because of the new medicine Anika was giving her. Or maybe because of that someone who nursed her at the dawn of Saturday.
She sighed as she remembered. It could be a dream or reality but there was really no indication that Sebastian had appeared and taken care her.
Oh well... She had more things to attend with. She'd rather focused on them than those people na wala naman sa Ming ngayon.
Maaga pa lang, bihis na siya para sa isang linggo na namang training niya. Dahil tapos na rin naman ang klase sa Ming Academy, sue could stay with the Chief for a week to train intensively.
She could still feel her insides shivering kapag naaalala niya ang mga ginawa nila last week. Pero masasabi rin naman niya na may epekto ang mga iyon sa kanya.
Her mind is more focused now kesa nitong mga huling araw na napakarami niyang gustong gawin. And her insides are stonger now.
In fact, on their last day last week, she was able to accomplish everything na pinapagawa sa kanya ng Chief. She found whatever she needed to find with less vomitting.
Masakit din naman kasi para sa kanya na masabihan ng futile. She wanted to be everything other than that word.
Kaya naman she spared no moment and gave her best kahit pa sabihin na halos mangayayat siya ng husto dahil sa kakasuka.
And now, she prepped to go to train again.
Ayaw pa nga siyang paalisin ulit ni Feng but she insisted.
Walang nagawa ito kaya naman she just watched as Emy went out of their house.
***
Two months na ganoon ang naging setup ni Emy.
One week siyang magtetraining kasama sila Chief Wei at Haow sa gubat. Pagdating ng weekend lang siya uuwi sa bahay nila.
During those days, her skills drastically improved. Buong aspeto ng pagkatao niya ay mas naging mas maayos.
Well, kung alam niyo lang ang nilala pa ng training niya. If during those first weeks, the chief secured her safety against the wild animals from the forest, the remaining weeks, she lived her life as if she was being hunted.
Yep. She even experienced how to be a prey.
The chief told her afterwards na mas maiintindihan ng isang hunter ang kanilang prey if they had been in their shoes for several times.
Of course, the chief has crazy ideas. But it was nonetheless effective. No matter how intensive it was. No matter how much wounds and bruises she got.
All for the sake of becoming a great hunter.
And sa loob lang ng dalawang buwan ay nagawa niya iyon.
She still goes training in that forest sometimes kapag may oras siya, but she had different priority now.
Pasukan na naman kasi ulit sa Ming Academy and it is already her second year. Nakakakalahating taon na rin sila sa probinsya na iyon. But Emy can't say anything bad at all to that place. It was where she gained more knowledge and skills afterall.
Pero na lang ng may mga taong dumating sa lugar na iyon isang araw.
It was weekend morning that day. She had her bow and arrows behind her para magpractice sana. But there were people who suddenly came and stopped in front of their front gate.
Sinalubong sila nila General Lei at General Hans. Nandoon din sila Lei Chen Marco at Feng.
At dahil papalabas na rin naman siya inabutan niya ang mga ito doon sa may gate. And there she saw Sebastian and the rest of his royal guards.
Sebastian was talking to her family habang may nakakalokong ngiti sa mga labi niya. Alam niyang na receive na ng dalawang general ang circular ng Emperor.
It was still a secret though. At tanging ang mga opisyales pa lamang ng kanyang ama ang nakakaalam ng mga iyon.
But his purpose today for finally coming here in Ming is not for them but for that lady na nakatayo sa likuran ni Feng.
They met each others gaze at hinayaan niyang si Vaughn ang magpatuloy ng pinag-uusapan nila. He is the son of Minister of War. He learned that the guy can be trusted kaya naman hinayaan niya itong maging confidant niya sa ilang mga pagkakataon.
"His highness has to stay in Ming for a short period of time and we hope na mapagbibigyan niyo dito siya sa inyo tumuloy sa loob ng mga araw na iyon." Vaughn said.
"Why here? Hindi ba at mas appropriate na sa Chief's house sila tumuloy?" Lie Chen said habang nakakunot ang noo niya.
Naaalibadbaran siya sa itsura nitong Vaughn na ito. The guy has also long hair like him. But it was tied behind him. He was also wearing a black suit and armors na maikukumpara sa puting puti naman niyang suot.
Mukha silang Yin Yang and people might end up laughing at them kung makikita sa ilang magkaharap ngayon. But they have a serious matter at hand kaya naman no one was laughing.
"Yes. But His Highness would rather stay in a place kung saan may mga taga Grey City like General Hans. No offense sa inyong mga tagaMing."
Of course, Lie Chen was offended. Pinalalabas pa ata ng mga ito that the Ming people can't be trusted.
Ha! Truth be told, it was them who can't be trusted at all.
He opened his mouth to retort but General Lie stopped him by speaking first.
"Of course. If his highness has already decided to stay in our humble abode, then ipapahanda ko kaagad ang isa sa mga kwarto." General Lie said. He looked at Sebastian and waited for his confirmation. But he was busy sightseeing.
Even Vaughn and General Hans noticed it. They followed his gaze and saw where it landed.
Nangunot ang noo ni General Hans dahil doon. But he remained quiet.
Vaugh, however, leaned towards Sebastian at saka bumulong dito. Napilitan tuloy ang huli na alisin ang paningin niya kay Emy.
A playful smile appeared on Sebastian saka tumingin kay General Lie na nakataas na ang isang kilay ngayon sa kanya. The general is not stupid afterall.
"I really intend to stay here in your residence, General Lie. One has to trouble you."
General Lie can't decide whether it was a good decision but it's not like he has a choice. Agad din ay nagpatawag siya ng mga tao niya upang ipaayos ang tutuluyan ng prinsipe.
When Emy thought na tapos na ang pinag-uusapan ng mga ito ay lumalpit siya kanila Feng at Francis para magpaalam. Agad naman siyang pinayagan.
"Oh, Miss Hans is going out. How about you walk with me and give this prince a tour around Ming?" Sebastian said with a smirk. Pinanliitan siya ng mga mata ni Emy.
This guy is testing her family's patience.
Nangunot ang noo ni Franco when he heard Sebastian.
"Why would Emy do that? Kahit prinsipe ka pa, you can't just ask her randomly to walk with you." Franco is always that straightforwardly stupid, yes. Those people who knew him ay sanay na. But others might get offended.
Dahil offensive ang sinabi niya, Vaughn took his sword and point it towards Franco's neck. He meant the guy to take his words back.
Pero hindi niya inaasahan that an arrowhead will be pointed on his neck too.
The other royal guards are about pull their swords too. But just a gaze from Emy caused them to hesitate.
"Yah, son of Minister of War, you can't just pull out your swords inside someone's residence. Hindi ka ba tinuruan ng nanay mo ng manners."
"How dare you---" Pero napatigil siya sa pagsasalita ng idiin ng bahagya ni Emy ang palaso sa leeg niya which caused a drip of blood to appear there.
Agad siyang napaatras at ibabaling na sana niya sa dalaga ang espada niya but he caught Sebastian's gaze. There was a serious warning in there. So he had no choice but to put down his sword. Then he unbelievably looked at Emy.
It was not just him. Even Franco and Feng was shocked. Lie Chen was also surprised but he found it too funny na kayang kayang mapaatras ni Emy ang anak ng Minister of War. So he suppressed a laugh.
The two generals, however, don't know what to make out of it Emy's action. Prinsipe pa rin si Sebastian and one has to be careful in offending him.
However, the latter just shook his head.
"Now, now, Emy... Don't be too hot-headed. Vaughn was just joking."
Emy raised an eyebrow at him.
Franco, however, can't simply understand why this prince is being familiar with his precious cousin. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Emy upang itabi ito sa kanya.
"What are you doing?" Emy asked him.
"Protecting you from wolves in the sheep clothing."
She rolled her eyes saka inalis ang kamay nito.
"Uncle, Aunty, Grandpa Zhang, I will just walk outside with the Fifth Prince."
Yun lang at naglakad na siya palabas.
Even Sebastian was stunned. But he immediately smiled and saluted at her family bago tuluyang sumunod sa dalaga.
***