Since Gazellian Series, I've been showing you the beauty of Parsua Sartorias, the mysteries of this kingdom, the puzzles left by King Thaddeus, their power, the love of the Gazellian siblings, the trees, mirrors, blue fire and even the heartbreaking histories of their past, now let's enjoy the beauty of Deltora and the story of Le'Vamuievos siblings (well, this is my favorite part of writing, it's when I have to bring you to my fictional world) aside sa iyakan. Good luck lol 

You'll see more of Deltora. While writing this it felt like I was on the boat too, I hope you'll feel the same way. Haha! I know that there are only a few who will appreciate this kind of story, but I love writing fantasy so much, and thank you for enjoying it with me. You can enjoy this chapter by listening to the music above. 

Chapter 37: Welcome

Life is really full of surprises. I thought that the colors in front of my eyes would always be black and red, but as I stayed longer in this place with the colors of the ocean, corals, and flowers, for the first time my eyes asked for more.

Maybe I had been so used to pain and sadness that everything I felt right now seemed unreal—that maybe I was just in a deep sleep, and this was just my imagination: the beauty of this place, this man with green eyes, and every story I hear about us.

I took a few more steps beside him, looking closer at his face with a mask. I just noticed that I could recognize faces the moment I opened my eyes in this world.

Was I cured? How?

If everything was true, gaano na karami ang alaalang nawala sa akin?

I sighed. "Did I ever mention to you that I can't recognize faces?"

Natigil sa paglalakad si Tobias at humarap siya sa akin. "You didn't directly tell me, but you shared your past with me."

I blinked and took a step back. "W-what?"

"You allowed me to see your past."

I gasped. "I did that?"

How much I had been in love with this man that I happened to share with him my pasts—my insecurities, fear, and things that I hated the most about myself.

He nodded.

"H-how?"

When he was about to touch me and he saw that I was looking at his hand, he stopped in midway. He sighed. "I don't think you're comfortable—" I cut him off.

"How?" I repeated.

"Can you remove your mask for a bit?"

Hindi ako nagsalita ngunit sumunod ako sa kagustuhan niya.

When he took off his mask again, he took a step closer and, this time, one of his hands gently cupped my face. He bent down, delicately pressing his forehead to mine with his eyes closed. "Like this . . ."

At that moment, a scene flashed inside my mind. I was falling, shouting with money scattered around me in the air, in a room filled with steam and heat, and before I knew it, I was in the arms of a man, dripping wet with his long hair, and eyes as green as corals.

I gasped and pushed him a little with my widened eyes. "W-what was that?"

He straightened himself again, wore his mask, and gently smiled. "It was the first time we met each other. I was the happiest even if you interrupted my bath time."

"B-bath time?"

He chuckled before he continued walking. Sinundan ko siya at nanatili akong nakatitig sa kanya. "Then there's a way, Tobias. You could just share it with me through your mind."

"With my point of view?"

I blinked. "Of course."

He smiled a little, he shook his head. "I don't think it's good to regain your memories with my point of view."

"Why not? It's still the same."

Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at muli niya akong hinarap. "I believe that it's not the same. I want you to remember it on your own, Kezalli. I don't want to force it on you."

"How is it different if we're the same character, Tobias?"

I didn't move when the tip of some of his fingers brushed my chin and gently tilted my head. "Believe me, love, it's going to be too much for you," he said, almost a whisper.

Mariin akong tumitig sa kanyang mga mata, ngunit siya ang unang nag-alis ng titig sa akin. Nauna na muling naglakad si Tobias sa akin habang magkasalikop ang mga kamay sa kanyang likuran.

"Hmm . . ."

Mas binigyan ko na lang ng pansin ang paligid.

Unlike the huge waterfall behind us, with only four grounds and being protected by the water flowing from the top, the ground level of Parsua Deltora was more fascinating. But before I could further appreciate the wonders of the floating city, I looked over my shoulder again for the last time.

I sighed, staring at the waterfall, captivated by its beauty.

I couldn't even imagine that I had just been there.

When Tobias noticed that I had stopped walking, he went back and stood side by side with me. From the ground, no one could see what was behind the waterfall. No one could ever picture that this waterfall was already a huge power of the kingdom. With the castle on top, knights and weaponry just below it, and maybe shops that cater not just to the products of the kingdom, but maybe more than that—that despite the beauty that Parsua Deltora could offer to every tourist—this empire could be deceivingly lethal for traitors.

The waterfall was surrounded by white birds flying around it. As I closed my eyes, I could feel the fresh scent of the wind mixed with the cold mist of the water, and I could hear the siren call of the birds playing around it.

Tobias allowed me to stay like that for a minute before I slowly opened my eyes again, he wasn't looking at the waterfall, instead, he was staring at me with those coral eyes.

"The color of your eyes suits you well, Tobias."

"Thank you."

Tinanaw niya na ang kanina ko pang pinagmamasdan. "Should it be blue like the color of water?"

Tipid akong ngumiti at pinagsalikop ko rin ang mga kamay ko sa aking likuran. Umiling ako kahit hindi na ako nakalingon sa kanya. "The color of the corals is already beautiful for you; I even imagined you as someone who has a tail with your long hair from that glimpse of memory."

"You mean a merman?"

I nodded. "Are you?"

"I have fangs, Kezalli."

I laughed. "I don't think I'll also fall in love or enjoy a lover with a tail, of course, I'll always prefer—" I stopped before I could further embarrass myself.

I felt my cheek burning. Mariin akong napailing at napangiwi sa sarili ko.

"If you're asking about your satisfaction—" I cut him off. Though his voice was not teasing or playing, he really sounded as if he was just in a business presentation, I couldn't help but get flustered.

I quickly tiptoed and placed my forefinger in front of his lips. "L-let's talk about it some other time? Can we talk about something else? How about the eye color again? Would you prefer the same shade of Rosh's eyes? Blue-green?"

"You can now recognize Rosh's eye color," he said monotone.

Unti-unti akong humiwalay sa kanya.

I laughed. "Of course. Siya naman kasi ang nagbabantay sa akin."

If Tobias has green eyes, Rosh has a lighter shade of blue-green eyes or gray. Tobias's eyes were more recognizable because they really had a lighter shade of green color, unlike Rosh anyone should look more into it to recognize it. While I couldn't remember the colors of the eyes of the other Le'Vamueivos, maybe just red? Iyon lang naman kasi ang madalas kong nakikita sa kanila sa tuwing nakikita nila ako.

Hindi na muli nagsalita si Tobias at nagpatuloy na kami sa paglalakad.

I started to look around. Unlike the grounds inside the tall waterfalls with only minimal noise, everything in this place was so alive: the chirping of the smaller birds, the gentle sound of the flow of the water as the saddles of the wooden boats passed by the canals, the small insects glowing with yellow lights, even the familiar sound of our boots' footsteps on the mossy ground. It felt like we were in a floating city inside a hidden forest.

The whole place of the floating city felt surreal and mesmerizing. The street might have been cobblestone, but it seemed as if everything was about to be covered by the crawling green moss around it, giving the impression that this place had been here for thousands of years.

There was no touch of modernization in this place. It had more grounds, but the canals were wider so that even bigger boats could pass by.

"Would you like to walk or ride on a boat?" He asked.

"Boat . . ."

Nakatingala na ako sa paligid habang hawak ni Tobias ang kamay ko. Hindi na tumitigil ang pagkamangha ko.

"Be careful."

Nauna nang sumakay sa akin si Tobias at hinayaan ko siyang alalayan ako hanggang sa makaupo kami sa maliit na bangka.

The small boat was just manned by an old man, with no seahorse pulling it. It has a small flag of what I assumed was the symbol of Deltora, and there's a standing thin wood where the dim lamp was hanging. The old man was wearing fancy blue and white clothing beneath it, a black tie on his waist, and a wide black hat.

When Tobias and I sat comfortably on the wooden boat, the old man started saddling.

"Show us around the city," tipid na sabi ni Tobias.

Nakangiting tumango ang matanda.

Napapanganga na ako habang unti-unting gumagalaw ang bangka.

The water was clear, I could see fishes and corals beneath it. When I gently touched the water, a small white creature with fur, gills, wings, and tail emerged from it, sprinkling droplets of water on my face.

I laughed, amazed by the sudden dance of the creature in the air with its wings leaving silver dust accompanied by the glowing insects around us, and the sound of shimmers as it played around me.

I noticed how Tobias gently leaned one of his arms on the boat and placed his chin behind his hand as he watched me with a small smile on his lips.

I waved my hand happily as the furry creature dived back into the water, but returned quickly showing me his friends, together, they waved their tails for me before they dived deeper into the water.

"It's so beautiful . . ."

Napatingala na ako.

We passed by a small bridge, elegantly embraced by crawling vines and smaller flowers. I heard children playing and running on it, some were holding baskets with petals of flowers, and they happily threw it in the air.

As the old man continued to row, other boats were passing through the canal, decorated with flags, dim lanterns, flowers, and creatures wearing masks.

"Why are you wearing masks? Bawal magpakita ng mukha rito?" Nagtatakang tanong ko.

"It's customary in this kingdom to wear fancy masks, and now that we're about to celebrate a festival, our citizens are putting too much effort into decorations."

"What festival?"

"Water festival."

"Ano ang ginagawa roon? Puro tubig?"

He chuckled. "Of course. But it's more than that. . . hindi lang taga Parsua Deltora ang higit na nag-aabang ng pagdiriwang na ito kundi ang buong Nemetio Spiran, since this kingdom has the richest tradition and culture in this world. Years passed and everything is in transition, but Rosh and I are not trying to demolish the beauty of Deltora."

Pansin ko na saglit napalingon ang matandang lalaki sa sinabing iyon ni Tobias.

"Grabe . . ."

"And I want you to experience it."

Nagpatuloy sa pagsagwan ang matanda habang wala akong tigil sa paglinga sa paligid. Nang mas lumawak na ang kanal ay doon mas dumami ang bangka na naglalaman ng iba't ibang paninda at nilalang.

Kung kanina ay tahimik at makaririnig lang ako ng ingay sa pagbukas ng pinto, ngayon ay boses na ng mga nilalang ang naririnig ko. Ingay ng iba't ibang instrumento, may mga umaawit, at halo-halong ingay, ngunit sa kabila nito ay hindi nakasasakit ng ulo.

Wala akong tigil sa paglinga habang may ngiti sa mga labi.

There were sellers and vendors wearing masks. There were always flowers, masks, and musical instruments. Boats filled with perfumes, jewelry, books, coffee, antique items, small pets, watches, fancy clothes, vases, paintings, sculptures, medicines, and even love potions! The items I used to collect inside the museum were everywhere!

Until I saw a boat filled with colored bottles. "A scent that will remove your nightmares! For good night's sleep!"

Napansin siguro ni Tobias na doon ako nakatingin kaya inutusan niya ang matanda na magtungo kami roon.

Humawak na ako sa bangka habang papalapit kami roon at napatitig ako sa mga mamahaling bote na nakita ko roon. Hindi ko maiwasang ngumisi dahil bigla kong naalala ang trabaho ko noon.

"I used to sell fake perfumes before . . . hindi ko alam kung bakit ang galing kong makabenta. I am really good in sales talk." Natatawang sabi ko.

"Ano ang nais ng magandang binibini?" Tanong ng magtitinda na nakamaskara.

Umiling ako.

Dumungaw na rin si Tobias at hinawakan niya ang ilang bote. "Do you like any scent?" he asked.

"Hindi lang pabango ang mayroon ang tindahang ito! Kadarating lamang!" Tumalikod sa amin ang tindero bago niya kinuha iyong mga bote pa sa likuran niya.

By the look of the bottles, it really looked expensive. Mas yumuko sa amin ang tindero at inilagay niya ang isang kamay niya sa labi niya na tila hindi niya nais iparinig iyon sa iba.

"A recently imported item from Parsua Sartorias— developed by Naha Corp— an oil effective for pleasure but worry no more, pump without worry—" he was cut off.

Kapwa nanlaki ang mga mata namin ng tindero nang nabasag na sa kamay ni Tobias ang isang bote na hawak niya. "This is illegal. Did it go through legal inspection from the palace?"

Napasinghap kami ng tindero habang naniningkit ang mga mat ani Tobias. Nangangatal na naglagay na sa maliit na bag ang tindero at ibinigay niya na iyon sa akin. "Thank you very much! Have a safe trip!"

Tila magkakilala sila ng matanda dahil agad na nila kaming inilayo ni Tobias sa namumutlang tindero. Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagtawa ko nang makitang kunot na kunot na ang noo ni Tobias.

"I never approved that!" iritableng sabi niya.

Mas lalong lumakas ang pagtawa ko. I never thought that this was going to be more interesting. "Ang ganda talaga dito, Tobias."

He sighed, leaned, and smiled at me. "Allow me to say this for the first time since I never had an opportunity before . . ."

He irritatingly threw the small bag with the oil on the water, he took my hand and delicately brought it to his lips with his eyes adoring me. "Kezalli Lanoire, love, welcome to Parsua Deltora."