"Kailangan nating maghiwalay ng dadaanan," pahayag ni Salinas. 

Natigilan kami sa paglalakad ni Nott dahil sa pahayag ng prinsipe. Nang lingunin ko si Graen ay mukhang alam na nito ang pahiwatig ng sinasabi ng prinsipe. It's as if all the lines have been drawn with him and he's agreed to whatever was the decided plan between him and the prince.

"B—but why? Isn't it safer if we travel together? The defense will be stronger if there are the four of us. We can unite our strengths to fight whatever or whoever is out there!" angil ko habang nagpabalik-balik ng tingin sa tatlong lalaking nasa harapan ko.

"We call this in House Flos as a royal protocol. To keep the royal lineage, two heirs cannot travel together. In this situation, it's a safety measure to keep the plan to work whether something happens. An ambush, for example, could bring our plan to its knees." His eyes pinned on mine. The powerful gaze accompanied by a seemingly functional plan and delivered by a royal and soothing voice kept me petrified for a while.

Hindi ito kumurap. Nakatitig ang kulay abo nitong mga mata sa mukha ko na tila binabasa ang bawat ekspresyon nito. Kusang nahulog ang aking mga panga. Napipi ako habang pinoproseso ng utak ko ang sinabi nito.

"Lorem" wala sa sarili kong wika na nangangahulugang kaakit-akit ito sa aking paningin. Ipinagkanulo na naman ako ng malandi kong sarili. I can't blame myself. This prince is insanely attractive. Like his looks can bring Mount Gorm to its knees by just gazing at it.

"Quid?" tila iritableng tanong nito. Napailig-iling pa ito dahil sa narinig mula saakin.

Hindi namang napigilang tumawa ng guardian langaw na si Graen.

"Ibig kong sabihin, p—pa—p—para kang galing sa impyerno dahil sa pagtitig mo," palusot ko.

"Huh? Why?" masungit pa rin nitong sambit.

"Because you're kinda hot!" biro ko saka tumawa at naglakad paalis sa harapan nito.

Muling humagalpak si Graen na tila aliw na aliw sa mga kaganapan.

"Lind," banta ni Nott na tila hindi nagugustuhan ang palitan namin ng salita ng prinsipe. The tone of his voice serves like a warning.

Wait, is he warning me not to flirt a bit?

"Pull yourself together, Lind. There is no time to f-"

I cut Nott's sentence and say, "To a—answer back to his grace?" Kumunot ang aking noo. Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang prinsipe. "That's one reason why slavery and hierarchy keep ruling this country: most of its people are afraid to speak their mind, ask questions, revolt, and object if needed."

"I think he meant you have to stop flirting with the prince, Lind." Singit ni Graen. "Nott has a p—"

"Do not interrupt me, Graen guardian!" I sigh. I am getting too engage in this conversation. Muli akong bumaling sa kausap na prinsipe na nakahilig na ang ulo at naghihintay sa sasabihin ko. "I wasn't flirting, your grace, I was trying to mock your patience!"

He smirks. He rolls his eyes, showing his rejection of my defense.

Oh, diba? Lusot! Now with the counter rebuttal. "I only want to know why are we being separated? We just met you. I don't trust anyone, especially royal blood like you and a green fae who never rescues a contender when in need."

Nawala ang ngiti ni Graen at ng prinsipe. Graen looks at the eh prince as if directing him the answer I am soliciting.

"We need a distraction for you to get to the Mir tree. If we climb the blue mountain together, the enemies will gather together and focus on just one spot of target. Us!" the prince answers.

"So, we divide and conquer," Nott deduces. "C—can I rely on this green elf?"

"What?" Graen asks in shock.

"He's one of the best warrior elves of this region," Salinas explained on Graen's behalf. Seryoso ang mukha nito. I can't see any doubt or any lie in his eyes.

"Sinabi niya na isa siyang guardian elf, then why am I going with you?" I ask. Tinaasan ko ito ng kilay saka binawi ang tingin at napahalukipkip. Kapag pinatagal ko pa ang pagtitig sa mukha nito'y baka mawala sa katinuan ang aking isipan. He's damn destracting!

"You don't want to underestimate Prince Salinas, Lind. I admit that I am as remarkable as he is, but he is from the House Flos. He can keep you alive." Sinalo naman ni Graen ang prinsipe. I can see the confidence in his face as he tries to defend his grace's ego.

Napabuntong hininga ako. Nang lingunin ko si Nott ay saka naman ito nagsalita.

"It's okay, Lind. Go with the prince. You'll be safe with him," pagpapaubaya nito. Tumalikod na ito kasabay ng paglipad ng laylayan ng kasuotan nito.

Natigilan ako habang tinatanaw ang lalaki. Bakit pakiramdam ko'y tila namamaalam ito sa kaniyang sinabi? Bakit parang kutob ko'y ay hindi magandang magaganap sa mga susunod na oras? My gut feeling has never failed me. Why do I feel like this would be the very last time I'm seeing him?

Nagsimulang magrigodon ang aking dibdib habang pinagmamasdan ang paglayo ng lalaki.

"Nott!" malakas kong tawag.

Tumigil ito at mabilis akong nahagilap ng kaniyang mga mata. His jaw tightens. His gaze is questioning but later on, softens as he sees me rushing towards him. Bahagyang bumuka ang mapupula nitong labi. Marahil ay dahil sa labis na pagkagulat lalo na nang mabilis ko itong niyakap. Mahigpit.

Sinamyo ko ang amoy nito. Dinama ko ang pagtaas-baba ng dibdib nito hanggang sa yumakap na rin ang mga bisig niya saakin.

"Please live," tipid kong sambit. Marahil ito na ang kumpirmasyon mula saakin na pumapayag ako sa plano ng prinsipe.

"I will. I'll see you in front of the Mir."

Umungol ng nakakaloko si Graen na tila nang-aasar. He chuckles softly. "I did not ask for cheese, but why am I being served one?"

Humiwalay ako sa pagkakayakap kay Nott at sinamaan ng tingin ang green elf. "Gusto mo bang yakapin din kita?" biro ko saka humakbang palapit sa lalaki. Inilahad ko ang aking mga bisig habang palapit sa lalaki.

"Oh, no. No! No!" tanggi nitong namumula ang mga pisngi habang umaatras palayo saakin. "I can't have any romantic affection with you. Ayaw kong matulad kay Kenru. My tears are precious!"

"We're not even close, bangaw! I won't give you warm hugs either. Ever!"

"The feeling is mutual. Responding to hugs is not even my thing!" natatawa nitong untag saka nilakad-takbo ang distansyang namamagitan sa kanila ng palayong si Nott.

"Then why are your cheeks burning?" I tease to divert the nervousness that's beginning to lurk in my chest.

"Stop flirting and be serious, now! Live and save the rest of us!" sigaw nito kahit na ilang metro na ang layo nito mula saakin.

Tinanaw ko ang dalawa hanggang sa tuluyan na silang mawala sa makakapal na kumpol ng mga halamang kinumutan ng mumunting mga dagim na nagsimulang kumalat sa paanan ng kabundukan.

I sigh deeply. The tension still lingers in my chest. Umikot ako saka bumaling kay Salinas na tila kanina pa nababagot sa paghihintay. Nakahalukipkip ang mga bisig nito at aala pa ring bakas ng ngiti o pagkagiliw sa mukha nito.

"Let's go. A lot of time has been wasted," masungit nitong sabi saka naglakad paakyat sa asul na kabundukan.

Sumunod ako habang bumubulong, "Please lead me to where I should be... lead me."

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