"Doc! Doc!" natigilan si Ero sa pagbubuhat ng isang kahon na puno ng mga herbal plants noong marinig ang pagtawag sa kaniya ng isang residente. Nagmamadali ito at nadapa pa sa kaniyang harapan dahil doon.

Hinihingal ang binata at tumingala agad ito sa kaniya na may bahid ng pag-aalala. Natataranta rin ito sa hindi malamang dahilan. Ero grimaced. Sino naman ngayon?

"Si hepe at si magandang ate! Nag-aaway!"

Napaisip naman si Ero sa sinabi nito. Nang malamang si Zai ang kaniyang tinutukoy ay napabuntong hininga na lamang siya at saglit na napasabunot sa kaniyang buhok. Mga bata talaga..!

Maraming mga tao ang nasa harap ng bahay ng hepe. Walang nagtangkang lumapit man lang sa porch ng kaniyang tahanan habang kanilang pinakikinggan ang gulong nangyayari sa loob. Nakakarinig sila ng mga nababasag na mga muwebles at mga pagkalabog sa mga dingding at sahig.

They flinched when they heard the voice of the girl raised na nasundan ng pagbasag ng isa pang bagay, "Damn you! Frēo!"

The citizens are glad that there are no children around. But they're not sure if they should intervene and stop the two from wrecking the chief's place. It is an important facility that should be respected.

Ero squeezed himself out of the crowd at nakasunod naman rito ang binatang nagbalita sa kaniya. Noong siya ay makarating sa pinakaharap ay kasabay nito ang biglang pagkasira ng mga pinto ng bahay. Mula sa loob ay tumalsik ang dalawa at lumapag sa lupa.

They're wrestling each other. Locking each other up and stopping every movements with their own limbs. Magulo na ang buhok ng dalawa at may iilan ring mga sugat. Zai's hand is pulling Frēo's long hair habang ang kaniyang paa ay nasa dibdib nito. Habang ang mga binti ng binata ay nakayakap sa bewang ng dalaga at kaniyang hinahatak ang isang braso nito.

They're both clenching their teeth. Frēo spoke up, "I won't change my mind! I want a marriage in exchange for an alliance!"

Zai gritted her teeth, "You were the one who asked for one. So why are you giving me a condition of your own?! I should be the one asking for something in return!"

"That doesn't work that way!"

"How does your brain even work?!"

Muling bumuntong hininga si Ero. Minsan lamang magpakita ng emosyon ang dalaga at tuwing ginagawa niya iyon ay nagmumukha itong umaakto sa kaniyang tamang edad. All he ever witness everyday is the Zai acting like a grown-up kaya sa mga ganitong sitwasyon ay mas gugustuhin niyang manatili na lamang sa gilid ngunit hindi maaari 'yon.

Sumimangot naman si Frēo sa dalaga, "Bakit ba ayaw mo akong pakasalan? I'm strong, I'm a chief and most of all, pinanganak akong gwapo!"

Zai clicked her tongue, "Where the hell did your humility go?" she then smirked to mock him, "Are you that desperate for a wife? There's so many other women out there."

Frēo's innocent eyes looked eagerly at her sharp ones with determination, "You're the only one suited to be my bride! The only woman whom I'll give the rights to command me until death."

Zai grimaced out of disgust as a cold wind run down her spine, "What the f*ck?" tinulak naman na niya palayo lalo ang lalaki gamit ang kaniyang paa. "Get off!"

Napaglayo lamang ang dalawa noong hinatak palayo ni Ero ang dalaga at hinatak naman ng ilang mga residente ang kanilang hepe. Zai fixed herself and her usual expression gradually came back. However, there's still a hint of irritation in her eyes.

Pormal itong humarap sa hepe na pinapagpagan ang sariling mga braso, "We'll take our leave. We'll send you letters to keep you updated about the situation."

Frēo's eyebrows furrowed, "About the allian--"

"No conditions." mabilis na saad ng dalaga at nagsimula ng maglakad papalayo.

Frēo shouted, "That's not fair!"

Zai clenched her teeth and whispered, "He better fix that brain of his."

Frēo frowned when the girl instantly vanished from his sight. Pinagpagan naman niya ang kaniyang balikat, "She's the only woman who can stand against me, it's a given that she's the most suitable. Why is she so eager on refusing me anyway?"

Ero shook his head at sa pangatlong beses ay bumuntong hininga siya. "Give it up. Zai isn't that type of woman," he then nodded his head as a farewell, "We're going."

Ero walked away and followed the girl who's already almost out of his sight.

Lumapit naman ang isang binata kay Frēo na nakasimangot pa rin. "Chief, kung gusto niyo ng asawa marami akong kilalang single! Yung palaban ba gusto niyo? Marami akong pwedeng ireto!"

Ngunit nagtaka naman ito noong ngumiti ang kaniyang hepe, "Only she would do."

The boy looked at him with a surprised and confused expression. The side of his lips slightly raised as he awkwardly look at the chief's eyes, "Y-You're serious about that?"

The chief just chuckled and turned his back. Nanatili namang naguguluhan ang binata, "Oi Chief!" ngunit hindi siya nilingon nito, "Chief!"

Lahat ay nasa barko na at nag-aayos na lamang ng iilang mga gamit. Zai is standing as she cross her arms on her chest when she felt his familiar presence. She clicked her tongue and suddenly threw a dagger to his direction. But Frēo easily caught it and his feet landed on the deck.

Lumapag ito sa harap ng dalaga at ngumiti ito ng matamis. Zai glared at him, "You're starting to get on my nerves, you piece of--"

Lahat ng mga mata ay nanlaki sa sunod na ginawa ng lalaki. Frēo put the side of the blade on Zai's lips and he kissed the other side. Shane dropped the box he's carrying as his jaw drop as well. Asta teasingly grinned at Sinbad. Ero just shook his head along with Bonzo. Claysen and Rui just stared at them. While Trois' usual creepy expression didn't change.

Muling ngumiti si Frēo sa dalagang masama pa rin ang tingin sa kaniya. She wasn't even startled nor flustered. Her arms are still crossed on her chest and her gaze just turned sharper and colder. Ngunit tila ba hindi iyon napapansin ng lalaki at ngumiti lamang dito. Showcasing his white perfect set of teeth and his fangs. He chuckled, "When you come back, let's get married."

Asta faced the ocean as she put her hand above her eyes as if she's seeing something from afar. Sumipol rin ito at nagsalita habang dumadaan sa kaniyang likod si Sinbad na may bitbit na kahon, "Woah, I can really see some crazy thunder storm right there!" saad nito at biglang tumawa habang pinagmamasdan ang madilim na mga ulap sa kalayuan.

Zai frowned at Frēo, "You're gonna get off the boat or I have to throw your corpse off?"

Mahinang tumawa lamang ang lalaki at nagsimula ng maglakad sa gilid ng barko. He faced Zai again and walked backwards, "I'll wait for your letters."

Zai clicked her tongue and turned her back to walk away from that spot, "It's not love letters, you nitwit."

Tumawa lamang ang lalaki at sa isang iglap ay nawala na ito. Only leaving a gust of wind. Zai looked at Sinbad, "Let's set sail." tango lamang ang isinagot ng binata at nagsimula ng mag-asikaso.

He let out a low growl when Asta teasingly waltz around him as she hum then she'll begin to laugh. Mula sa pagkakayuko ay napatuwid na lamang ng tayo si Sinbad at galit na lumingon kay Asta noong bigla na lamang nitong pinalo ng malakas ang kaniyang pang-upo. Malakas na tumawa si Asta, "Uminom ka na lang ng gatas, bata!"

Natigilan lamang ito noong nabunggo nito ang likod ni Ero. Ero glanced over his shoulder to her, "You should act your age, Asta. Hindi ka na bata." saad nito at naglakad na palayo.

Asta looked away and pouted. She glared at Sinbad when she heard him scoffed. Sinbad smirked, "I heard he no longer have a wife. There's vacancy."

Mabilis na namula ang mukha ng babae dahil sa sinabi nito. She just looked away and began to walk away. Sinbad shook his head and continued what he is doing.

The sun is already setting when they crossed the borders of Southernia. The weather is fine as they sail to the last kingdom but for some reason, the atmosphere seems cold.

"How are we gonna get in?" tanong ni Bonzo habang pinaglalaruan nito ang isang baraha sa kaniyang mga daliri.

"If Shaera really wants the book that you're suppose to have, isn't she just going to give us some way in? A trap, I guess?" saad naman ni Shane at hindi siguradong tumingin sa kanila.

Rui spoke up, "She wouldn't do that," tumingin naman silang lahat dito, "For the past weeks, she hasn't sent a single pursuer to capture Zai. Since she had her hands on the enchantment book. So I'm thinking that she currently have her hands full on that book."

Zai nodded, "Low-level gods like her can't use the book without doing a certain ritual. Only those who has the 'creator's power' can use it freely," Zai smirked, "He didn't trust them that much huh. How pitiful."

They just sighed and shook their head with what the girl said. Sinbad spoke, "So she has no time for nuisances. If the barrier is really tight, then how are we suppose to get in?"

The side of Zai's lips. Shane, Sinbad, and Trois looked at one person when they remembered something. Asta grinned, "It's where I come in, right?"

"What's the point of letting you come with us if you can't get us in?" Zai said.

Asta chuckled, "Oh right. That's also one of the reasons why you let me join your bandwagon."

Bonzo grinned, "Now that's settled, what'll we do after we get in? Cause trouble from the start?" he excitedly asked and suddenly popped a confetti.

Zai smiled excitedly, "Isn't it obvious?" her smiled turned into a smirk, "We gotta barged in their main core."

Trois smiled widely, "I'll get to see Layn!"