Kabanata 23
Truth

***

CLEOBELLE / SINCLAIR

"We've arrived, your highness," Ifrid smiled as he guided me out of the fiery carriage. 

I was then welcomed by an unexpected sight. A world that everyone thought as a simple myth for children.

The place is blinding and warm. It's filled with mythical creatures and all kinds of spirits living together in peace. 

I felt like I've set foot in heaven after being stuck in hell for eternity.

"How. .  . No one can come here unless you're a spirit," I commented, given that I was able to set foot in this place.

It's weird, because  it's the first time I got here, but it felt like I've known this place forever.

"Am I—" 

Ifrid didn't let me continue my words. "No, you're not a mythical creature or a spirit your highness, as it's not possible for us to have a child with Lumins." Ifrid laughed.

"Right. Spirits are born literally from anything but s*x." I frowned.

"Yeah, just like how I was born from a small light, while the beautiful ice spirit queen, was born from an ice rose inside the spirit world. She was then chosen to be the queen due to her fate to serve you, and I, became the fire spirit king because of my lord," he stated, making me halt.

"How is that connected to me?" I hissed.

Just who is Ifrid's summoner?

"Let's go?" He grinned, ignoring my question.

I just followed him because I was curious.

Nakapagtataka lamang dahil ang lahat ng nadaraanan naming mga elemento ay dikit nang dikit sa akin. 

"They like you. . .Just like the old times," Ifrid smiled.

Lalo akong nagtaka doon.

"Anong ibig mong sabihi—" natigilan na lamang ako nang bumungad sa amin ang isang matayog na puno.

"Naririto na tayo, kamahalan," ngiti nito saka iminwestra ang malaking punong kulay pilak at tila ba'y nakakalbo na.

"Oh tapos?" nauubusan nang pasensyang sabi ko. 

"Do you know?" he smiled at me. 

"What?" I frowned.

"Only fairies can summon us, spirits. We're born with a sole purpose to serve them. They are our life, our salvation. . . " he said those words with a lonely smile.

"This might be a selfish request; but please don't die in this life again your highness, as I don't wish to see Elsa Die yet another time.  . . It breaks me as much as I see how your death breaks him," he mumbled between his breath.

Him? Who? 

"Elsa also die when I do?" 

Mariing tanong ko sa kanya. Malungkot lamang siyang ngumiti sa akin saka marahan akong itinulak sa matayog na puno.

Nagulat na lamang ako nang mawalan ako ng balanse at bigla na lamang akong higupin ng kawalan.

Sa isang iglap ay nahulog ako sa isang mababaw na tubig na abot lamang hanggang sa aking paa. Ito na ata ang pinakamalinaw na tubig na nakita ko.

Napakalamig nito at kahit anong paggalaw mo ay malumanay lamang ang kanyang alon. 

Wala akong ibang nakikita kung hindi ang tubig na aking inaapakan at ang maliwanag na kalangitan. 

The place has the most vibrant azure skies and the clearest waters that mirrors it; exactly like the dream I had before. . . 

Nakaririnig din ako ng mga hagikhikan na tila ba ay mula sa mga alitaptap na malayang lumilipad sa buong paligid.

Sa gitna nito ay nag-iisang matayog na punong pinalilibutan ng mga ulap at pinoprotektahan ng tila ba ay nababasag nang dome.

Mabagal akong naglakad patungo roon  at naabutan ang lalaking nakatayo sa ilalim ng puno at hinahaplos ang pangalang nakaukit roon. . . Cresia.

"I told you if you leave this place, I'd consider you dead. . . " I heard him whisper.

"Titus. . ." I mumbled his name when I recognized his figure. The mysterious man I've encountered before.

He then faced me with a bright smile I've never seen him have before.

"You're back at last; My daughter. . . " he stated in a calm tone, making me halt.

"You're saying you're my father?" I asked, not knowing what I'd feel. 

Ngumiti siya sa akin at dahan dahang tumango.

"T*ngina, pinatulan mo si Vespera?" hindi makapaniwala kong saad na malakas na nagpatawa sa kanya.

"You're as fiesty as your mother,' he chuckled. 

Sumama ang timpla ko doon. Wala akong pakialam kung tatay ko siya; pwede bang bigwasan ko siya kahit kaunti?

"Don't compare me with that woman," I coldly stated making him smile. "How did you two even have a child and what the f*ck are you?" I asked in an irritated tone.

"My name is Titus, and I'm the king of fairies," he revealed. 

Hindi ako nakasagot agad doon.

"That's bullsh*t," I exclaimed. "Why would the King of fairies be my father out of all creature? It's more believable if my father is actually an orc, considering Vespera's taste," I hissed.

Malungkot niya akong nginitian.

"Do you know how I met your mother?" he smiled making me frown.

"I don't like to hear that boring love story, I'm here to know how to cure Aslan's curse so I can be free from this f*cked up loop," I glared at him.

"Still impatient, I see," he chuckled. "I'm still gonna tell you the story though," he winked, annoying me.

"It all started at the early years of Lumina. . ." He started.

"I was also the King of fairies back then, but I was young and reckless. I went out to Lumina and there, I encountered a demon who have caused chaos all around Lumina. We clashed, but I couldn't help but think how she was the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. I couldn't stop thinking about her after that."

"Until that day when Lumins was about to kill her due to her wicked deeds, I helped her even though I know I shouldn't meddle with their business—"

Pinutol ko na ang kwento niya bago pa humaba.

"And then you feel in love. Happy ever after. The end. Now what?" I said impatiently making him laugh.

"We did fell in love. We even had a child—but it's not a happy ending," he gave me a lonely smile.

"I need to go back to the world of fairies to stop the other demons from evading. While I was away, she was killed by Lumins. She sacrified herself to protect our child. . .  Cresia." 

"Wait what? What story are you telling me?" I asked, not being able to get the context.

They had another child?

"When Cresia found out the truth, years after her mother's death, she left me and ran away from this kingdom to avenge her mother. I couln't blame her as she witnessed how her mother died," he continued. 

"Ha?" Reaksyon ko dahil hindi ko siya maintindihan.

"Cresia became the first witch; born from the King of fairies and the demon Queen who betrayed her kind. . . The witch who died at the hands of the first emperor of Lumina."

"Ano bang sinasabi mo? Pwede bang diretsahin mo na lang ako at wala akong panahon sa mga kwentong hindi ko naman maintindihan!" iritang sambit ko.

So Vespera is basically a demon and they had a child. Then both of them died? What the heck is he talking about? 

"I thought I'd never see both of you," he gave me yet another lonely smile.

I'm very confused right now.

"Thousands of years after that, I remained alone. Until one day, when I visited the place where Vespera died, I met a wounded woman. A witch who looks exactly like the demon queen I loved thousands of years ago. . . Her name is also Vespera." he stated.

"As fate would have it, the woman standing in front of me at that moment was the reincarnation of my beloved. Unfortunately, she appears to despise me and it pains me to see how much she loves another man—the ruler of Aurorium."

Pagkukwento niya.

"Are you even sure Vespera is your past lover's reincarnation? She has a twin you know?" I hissed.

"I knew the moment I saw her that she's my beloved." he smiled at me.

"Kahit ano pang maging itsura niya ay malalaman at malalaman kong siya ang pinakamamahal ko," sagot niya.

Edi sana all.

"Since she was badly hurt, I took her to this kingdom, and no matter how much she made me feel she hates me, I helped her recover." he smiled, remembering what happened.

Napangiwi ako doon. 

"She stayed with me for some time and that day when she finally recovered, she initiated to make love with me; Only to escape the next day."

"Eww too much info," I commented.

Nailing lamang siya doon.

"I refrained myself from chasing after her as I believed that our paths may have crossed as lovers in a previous lifetime, but in this life, she hates me and no matter how long she stayed with me, she still want to chase that man. I thought I didn't stood a chance so I decided to just forget her. "

Isa lang ang masasabi ko. . . Kahit kailan talaga ay napaka t*nga ni Vespera. 

"If her soul didn't visit me just some time ago, I wouldn't even know we had a child." 

"Okay na? Tapos na ba? Akala ko makaaktulog ako eh," sambit ko. 

"Thanks for still listening to me. You're a bit kinder than Vespera as she'd just start chanting a curse whenever I tell her stories," he laughed. 

Is my father actually a masochist?

"Now anser me Titus, how can I lift Aslan's curse and be free from the never ending loop?" I asked.

Sumeryoso ang mukha niya doon.

"Cresia, our first child, has a special power that nobody has in this world. Considering that you're also our child, you might have it," he stated.

"What power?" I asked seriously.

"One of her powers is that she can remove all kinds of curses. If you can awaken your power, you might be able to lift that curse yourself," he answered.

"How can I awaken that power?" I asked.

"I can help you, but I have one condition. . . " 

Sinalubong ko ang malungkot na mga mata ng aking ama.

"You can never step foot out of the fairy kingdom again. You'll stay here as long as you live. .  ."