Hello, readers! Thank you so much for reading Gazellian Series! From Zen, now we finally reached Harper's story! Hindi ko akalain na hahaba ng ganito ang series na ito. Harper was just a side character before, and now she's telling us her stories. For a better reading experience, kindly read Gazellian Series 1-8, and Venom Series first. Haha!

I also appreciate all the comments, reactions, banters, and opinions in the comment section. I love reading your thoughts! Thank you! 

Chapter 3: Challenge

Everything was in chaos after Kreios released the arrows. I couldn't help but tremble in anger, and tears were falling down my cheek. It felt like my heart was about to burst.

I looked at the place where I saw him but he was no longer there. If I could just chase him with Rosh, Blair, and Seth . . .

I wished I could toss him in the air, look him in the eyes, and force him to give me explanations. What was going on? I thought he was here for his sister. Why did he attack Claret and Dastan?

Lalong nagkagulo ang kabuuan ng bulwagan nang hindi pumayag si Zen na hawakan ng kahit sino ang katawan ni Claret.

"Mahal na Prinsipe, hayaan mong kami ang gumamot sa itinakdang babae. Mas higit namin siyang malulunasan," sabi ng isa sa mga babaylan.

Halinhinan na ang tingin ko kina Zen, Claret at maging si Dastan na kasalukuyan nang ginagamot.

"Walang hahawak sa kanya. B-baby . . . can you hear me?" Ilang beses tinapik ni Zen ang pisngi ni Claret.

He was so stubborn. If he could just let the healers help him. Nagkakatitigan na kami ni Lily sa mga nangyayari.

"Mahal na Prinsipe, hindi siya tuluyang gagaling sa dugo mo," muling sabi ng babaylan.

"I said don't touch her! Huwag kayong lalapit!" Mas malakas na sigaw ni Zen.

Wala na kaming nagawa nina Lily at ng mga kapatid ko nang bigla na lang gumawa ng napakalaking harang na yelo sa kanyang paligid si Zen dahilan kung bakit wala nang nakalapit sa kanila ni Claret.

Napailing na lang si Lily at ang tanging nagawa'y tumalikod at mag-anunsyo sa lahat ng mga naroon na tumakbo na kung mahal pa nila ang kanilang mga buhay.

Napabuntonghininga na lang ako bago ako saglit na sumulyap muli kay Zen at kay Claret na nasa kandungan niya. That's what Gazellian's love looked like— always close to madness. Tumakbo na rin ako habang dala ng mga babaylan ang katawan ni Dastan.

"He's really hopeless . . ." umiiling na sabi ni Casper.

***

Ilang linggo nang nawala sina Claret at Zen sa palasyo. I just heard that my foolish brother made an ice castle for his mate and locked her inside for weeks.

I haven't heard any news about Rosh, Blair, and Seth and their chase with Kreios. Hindi rin naman ako magkaroon ng lakas ng loob magtanong kay Lily tungkol dito, natanong ko na rin si Casper ngunit wala pa rin siyang ideya dahil ilang linggo na rin niyang hindi nakakausap nang maayos si Kamahalan.

He was still weak, and he needed days to recover more. Hindi na rin siya tumatanggap pa ng mga panauhin. But I had this inkling that the councils, advisers, and even some healers would recommend feeding him fresh blood. Lily and I tried to volunteer but Dastan refused. Alam kong hindi nais ipakita ni Dastan sa amin ang sarili niyang nanghihina.

"I know that he hates to follow the advice of the councils, but as the king, for sure he'd be forced to take someone else's blood." Sabi ni Casper.

"I told you that Lily and I volunteered."

"As if you're not aware of our big brother, Harper."

Kapwa kami huminga nang malalim ni Casper at sabay namin sinimsim ang tsaa na hawak namin.

"You think he'd take . . ."

"Dastan has a responsibility to fulfill in this empire, Harper . . ."

Mas higit na kaming nag-aalala kay Dastan kaysa kina Zen at Claret na nasisigurado namin na may sarili ng mundo at masaya na sa isa't isa.

Casper and I were in the middle of our conversation when we felt an unfamiliar presence in our palace. Kapwa kami tumayo ni Casper at sumilip sa bintana tanaw ang labas kung saan makikita namin ang mga nilalang na maaaring pumasok sa palasyo.

We were right about the unfamiliar presence— we had our visitors. There was a woman and her young aide.

"A princess?" I asked.

"Probably . . ." sagot ni Casper.

Sina Lily at Caleb ang siyang kasalukuyang kausap ng mga panauhin namin. Hindi rin nagtagal ay lumabas na rin si ina para salubungin ang aming mga panauhin.

"Hmm . . . mother went outside, huh? This princess might be special," sabi ni Casper.

"Isn't she a little bit familiar? Bakit siya narito?"

"Maybe she'll offer blood to Dastan."

"Oh, really?"

Casper nodded. "I told you I've been aware that the councils have been trying to find a better blood to feed for our brother."

"Hmm . . ."

Hindi na kami sumali ni Casper sa pagsalubong sa prinsesa, ngunit nanatili kaming nagmamasid sa kanila hanggang sa pumasok na sila sa palasyo. When Caleb noticed us as we watched them on the ground floor, all he did was grin. He was so proud that our mother appointed him to accompany our visitor.

"Isn't it a bad idea? Bakit si Caleb ang pinaghatid ni ina sa panauhin?" Ngiwing sabi ko.

"Caleb's good with conversation."

We were hoping that the arrival of the princess from the other empire would help Dastan with his recovery, but after a few minutes, we heard the commotion on the ground floor. Sabay kaming nagmadaling lumabas ni Casper sa silid habang ang mga tagasunod sa palasyo ay may kanya-kanyang kumpulan sa aming nadadaanan. Ngunit agad rin silang naghihiwa-hiwalay kapag tinititigan sila ni Casper.

Nagmamadali kaming bumaba ng hagdan ni Casper habang nakatanaw sa nakabukas na pintuan ng palasyo sina ina, Lily, at maging si Caleb.

"What's going on? Si Dastan ba ang nakasakay sa kabayong iyon?" I asked.

"Oh, no! This is all my fault . . ." Caleb dramatically said.

Napahawak siya sa kanyang noo na tila mawawalan ng panimbang. Nagkatitigan kami ni Lily habang nakangiwi sa isa't isa.

"Mother . . . napakasama kong kapatid." Sabi ni Caleb na yumakap na kay ina. "I should have checked his room first bago ko dinala ang prinsesa . . . na ang diyosa pala. Oh, no!"

Mother rolled her eyes as she tried to push Caleb away from her. "Get off me, Caleb!"

Umiiling si Caleb na humiwalay kay ina bago niya muli tinanaw ang daan kung saan naglaho na si Kamahalan na nasisigurado kong hinahabol na ang diyosa. Napasuklay siya sa kanyang sarili na tila nagsisisi siya sa kanyang ginawa.

"Hindi ko alam na umiinom na pala siya ng dugo ng ibang babae. Nasampal . . ." Humarap na siya sa amin na tila nagdaramdam. "Nasampal ang kapatid ko nang walang kalaban-laban . . ."

Lumapit na siya kay Lily ngunit hindi naman siya nakayakap kay Lily dahil itinulak na nito ang mukha niya. "Shut up, Caleb!"

Hanggang sa bigla na lang tumawa si Caleb nang napakalakas. "Hindi ko na kasalanan iyon! Hindi siya nag-lock!"

"Was he really slapped?" Tanong ni Casper. Maging sina Lily at ina ay nagulat sa tanong niya. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at napatitig sa kambal ko. Ngumisi si Caleb at tumango. I saw how Casper tried to suppress his laughter for the first time.

After a few hours, Dastan returned to our castle with a red mark on his face. Hindi na rin siya nagtagal dahil nag-anunsyo siyang magtutungo sa Deltora na nakasuot ng itim na balabal at saklob sa mukha.

***

After a few days, Zen and Claret returned to the palace. We were just waiting for them. Bago pa man dumating sina Zen at Claret ay mabilis nakalipad ang insidente sa pagitan nina Dastan at ang kanyang diyosa.

Now that the other kings were aware that King Dastan and the goddess's mate had a misunderstanding, a lot had been questioning his position as the most powerful king of this world.

Dumating na rin ang oras kung kailan higit na namin mapapag-usapan ang nangyari sa bulwagan. We talked about how we were going to extract the truth from Desmond, Kreios and Leon. Kung totoo ba na nais nilang gumawa ng kaguluhan sa Sartorias o kapwa hawak ang kanilang mga leeg at wala silang mapagpiliian. Maging ako ay hindi na rin nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob sumali sa palitan nila ng mga salita.

"Let's stop this. Give me that letter Casper." Inilahad ni Rosh ang kanyang palad. Mabilis inihagis ni Casper ang narolyong sulat kay Rosh.

I gave Casper a look. Why did he tell me the content of the letter in advance?

"This is the reason why we're all gathered today. Leon, Desmond, and Kreios are just pawns for this. There's an empire behind them. They tried to provoke us by using those three who came from Sartorias— or let's say those who had a little grudge in this kingdom. They wanted us to chase those three so that we could lose hopelessly."

May lumabas ng pulang rosas mula sa kamay ni Rosh at ilang beses niyang inihampas sa sulat na nasa lamesa.

"This letter came from the empire of Mudelior. Isa sa pinakamalakas na emperyo. They are asking for a fair match. This is their strategy to wreck Dastan in front of the thousands of witnesses to claim his throne."

Simula nang bumaba sa lupa ang diyosa at nalaman ng lahat na siya'y itinakda kay Dastan, marami ang humanga ngunit marami pa rin ang umalma. Walang may mataas na posisyon ang agad na tatanggapin na ang pinakamataas na posisyon sa mundong ito ay mapupunta sa isang batang hari, mula pa sa isang maliit na emperyo. Kaya hindi na nakagugulat na sasamantalahin ng malalaking emperyo ang pagkakataon kapag nalaman nilang nanghihina ang kapatid ko.

"Anong klaseng paligsahan?" Tanong ni Claret.

Bago pa man sumagot si Rosh ay ako na ang nagpaliwanag kay Claret.

"Ito ang nakapaloob sa sulat, they are inviting the Parsua. It is a battle of life, Claret. Sa isang bulwagan natitipon ang pinakamalalakas na mandirigma ng bawat emperyo at pinaglalaban laban ito. Matira matibay, habang pinapanuod ng naparaming nilalang ng mundong ito. Sa sandaling may dalawang kupunan na matira, ang kanilang hari ang huling maglalaban at siyang hihiranging pinakamalakas na bampira. Dito hinahamak si Dastan, dahil hindi daw basehan ang diyosa . . ."

"Ibig sabihin—"

Tumango ako sa kanya. "Isang paligsahan na legal ang pagpatay. Dugong bughaw ka man o hindi, buhay ang kapalit sa sagupaang ito."

Hindi na ako nagulat nang sunod-sunod nang nagprisinta ang lahat na sasali. Hanggang sa maagaw ang atensyon naming lahat.

Dastan leaning on the doorframe, he still looked pale and was about to collapse, but he looked so determined.

Huminga ako nang malalim. Mukhang mapapalaban na kaming muli.

***

Dahil nanghihina pa rin si Dastan ay kailangan nito ng dugo. Rosh volunteered to give him fresh blood from his collection of friends— women. Minsan ay pa-sikreto kong kinausap ang mga babaeng iyon kung sapilitan ba silang inuutusan ni Rosh o kaya'y may kakaiba sa kanilang mga mata. Ngunit sa tuwing nakakausap ko naman sila ay nasa matino silang pag-iisip.

What was wrong with Rosh and his attraction to women?

Bago niya iparada sa palasyo ang napakaraming karwahe ng babae niya para iharap sa aking kapatid, nagawa ko nang lumabas ng palasyo.

"Are you sure about this, Harper?" Casper asked.

We were hiding behind the huge branch of a tree while waiting for Rosh's collection of white and golden carriages.

"Of course! Kahit kailan ay hindi ko pa nakakausap ang prinsipeng iyon. Sometimes I don't find him helpful . . . he's . . ."

"He's wicked and playful, Harper."

Hindi ko na sinagot pa si Casper. He put two white small things on his ear before he nodded at me. Nang makita ko na malapit na ang karwahe ni Rosh ay umawit ako saglit. Agad iyong narinig ng mga kabayo, kutsero at maging ng mga babaeng nasa loob niyon.

Hindi na ako nag-aksaya ng oras at bumaba pa ako sa puno. Kaiba sa mga kasuotan na lagi kong suot sa loob ng kaharian, tinanggap ko ang ibinigay sa akin ni Casper. I wore a leather black fitted suit, tied my hair up and cover half of my face with a purple handkerchief.

Sumakay ako sa karwahe ni Rosh. Surprisingly he was awake. He was looking outside the window with his chin resting on the back of his right hand.

"Will I wait for an hour for them to wake up?"

"Bumalik na kayo. Dastan doesn't need your collection—"

"He needs power. He needs blood."

"He's being watched! His mate caught him—"

"I don't think he'd entertain the idea of his sisters feeding him. Hindi sapat ang dugo ninyo ni Lily sa magiging laban niya sa Mudelior, and what's with a peculiar outfit, Princess Harper? You are very lovely. Someone from the three suspects might get upset if he ever finds out that I've seen you first with that tightly fitting clothing."

My eyes widened. "H-how did you . . ."

He shrugged his shoulders.

"That's why I like your brother more."

"Oh, what a weird taste."

Muling tumanaw sa labas ng bintana si Rosh. "Don't worry, I don't think your brother will commit a mistake. He only needs blood. If you're worried that I might poison him with these women, you're wrong. I don't have a grudge against Dastan. Baka si Zen pa ang lasunin ko."

"So . . . I can't really stop you?"

"This is my job."

"This is not your job."

He laughed. "You better leave this carriage, little princess, I might change my mind and tell your beloved brother that I've seen you like this," hindi ako nakagalaw nang bigla niyang inilapit ang kamay niya sa akin.

He purposely pulled a part of my tightly fitted outfit on my stomach. It bounced back on my skin. He grimaced. "Nakahihinga ka pa ba riyan? This must be a human outfit?"

He looked outside of the window again, but he gave me a side-eye. "Humans and their filthy fashion sense . . ."

"Tell that again if you found your mate in this clothing, Rosh."

He wasn't attracted to me that's why he could say that, but I was sure that if his woman arrived in this world, mas malala pa siya kay Zen.

Tumaas ang kilay niya sa akin. "See you later, Princess Harper."

***

Hindi naging madali sa amin ang paghahanda para sa nalalapit na laban sa Mudelior. Since the princes of the prophecy would be one of our representatives, they needed to train. I always thought that they were hopeless before they didn't have any teamwork. But with Dastan being born as a leader and strategist who trained with them, little by little I found them working together— a slight hope that maybe they would do just fine in Mudelior.

Sumapit na ang araw ng pagtungo namin sa Mudelior.

Si Caleb ang siyang higit na nakaaagaw ng pansin dahil ay dala pa itong bandila kung saan naroon ang simbolo ng mga itinakdang prinsipe sa propesiya.

"Bakit kailangang may kasama tayong mga kawal? Baka akalain nila ay susugod tayo sa giyera," sabi ni Rosh sa mga kawal na pinangungunahan ni Caleb.

"We need loud crowds. Kailangang may pumalakpak sa inyo," sagot ni Caleb na nagpalingon sa aming lahat.

Hindi na nakasama sa amin si Lily dahil buntis na ito sa anak nila ni Adam. I promised to her that I'd take care of our brothers.

Everything was so fast, all I remembered was how our horses crossed the portals. We found ourselves in the middle of the vast sands. We saw the huge colosseum. We desperately made our horses run to follow the noises of the crowd. We entered the colosseum with our horses. We heard how different creatures threw offensive words against Dastan, but he ignored all of it as he took a blade, made a cut on his wrist, and let his blood fall into the high marbled stone column.

The huge made a bigger noise when the marbled columns were ablaze with fire as the kings dropped their blood as a part of the ritual.

Hinanap ng mga mata ko ang presensiyang alam kong mariing nakatitig sa akin. There he was, far and in the middle of the crowd, standing beside my brother, Desmond.

I couldn't help but think about how I could sneak out, corner this man and make him confess everything in our little way.