𝐊𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐀 𝟕𝟎 | 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 & 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓

𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘍𝘐𝘕𝘈𝘓𝘌

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐃 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐎𝐕

"Uno! What were you thinking after all the things that she did for us?" Halos mamilipit na sa sakit si Travis nang sugudin niya ang kinaroroonan ni Uno.

There Travis found him lying in the most comfortable bed surrounded by his men. Ang daming nangyayari na hindi maintindihan ni Travis. Everything happened in a flash and they didn't have time to comprehend everything.

"What do you mean? She's the reason why every man here in Shakrila is on the edge of dying." Hindi makapaniwalang napabuntong hininga si Travis dahil sa kaniyang narinig.

Ang tanging hindi maintindihan ni Travis ay kung paano na lang ideklara ni Uno na kailangang ikulong si Tiara. Uno, out of men, thinks rationally and so he thought. Mukhang ang tanging iniisip lang nito ay ang pangsarili niyang kaligtasan. He thinks rationally, but he only does this for himself.

However, Travis now thinks that was so wrong. Nang magising siya ay ang una niyang narinig mula sa labas ay nakawala ang babae at ngayo'y kung sino man ang makakahanap sa kaniya ay makakatanggap ng premyo.

''How can you...'' Napahilamos na lamang ng mukha si Travis.

Uno's face was just blank because he believed that this was for the sake of everyone. For Uno, he'd rather sacrifice one sheep to save a hundred. Kung hindi nila ikukulong ang babae'y tiyak na mas madami pa itong mabibiktima. Some men might think that kissing the woman again could save them, but no.

The only thing Uno thought about was isolating the woman in a tight and secure jail, with thick bars...

"Just be thankful that I came up with the solution earlier, Travis. Who knows? Maybe even looking at her would make our condition worse." Uno's words haunted Travis.

Sa huli'y hindi niya napigilang sugudin ito nang tuluyan at kuwelyuhan. Everyone got alarmed, yet Uno just raised his hand to tell them nonverbally that he could fix everything.

Nanlilisik ang mga mata ni Travis nang higpitan niya ang hawak mula sa kuwelyo ni Uno. Travis can still feel a tingling pain all over his body yet he couldn't care less. Ang tanging naiisip niya lang ngayon ay magwala't saktan ang lahat ng pumayag na ipakulong si Tiara.

''How about, Ehmyr? What did Ehmyr said?''

Hindi na maintindihan ang mga sinambit ni Travis dahil nabasag ang kaniyang boses. Tears started forming in his eyes again. Wala na siyang magawa kun'di iiyak na lang ang lahat. He bit his bottom lip. Nangangatal ang buong katawan niya sa galit.

"We decided to replace Ehmyr because he's a minor. He justified that the reason why the woman has a mark is because she lost something precious too. However, we all know that, according to the law, a minor is a minor."

Lalong umakyat ang dugo ni Travis sa kaniyang ulo nang marinig ang naging sagot ni Uno sa kaniya. Marahas niyang binitawan ang kuwelyo ni Uno.

''Val! Flame! Zex! Lolong!'' He called for his dearest friends who are laying from a far but all of them avoided his gaze.

Halos nagwawala nitong sambit nang pasukin niya ang loob ng silid. Lumiko siya't dumiretso sa kulungan kung saan dinala si Tiara. His heart started beating fast and his whole body shook. Aminado siyang hindi pa mabuti ang kalagayan niya't may konting kirot at hilo pa siyang nararamdaman.

Ngunit para kay Travis ay mas mabuti pang mamatay sa ganitong paraan kaysa saksakin sa likod si Tiara...

''Pati ikaw, Flame?'' Tila nawawalang pag-asa na sambit ni Travis. Sunod niyang kinuwelyuhan si Flame. His body is covered in bandages because he has the slowest healing process of all.

''Paano kung may epekto rin ang titig niya, Travis? I thought she was here to save us from the curse but what happened?'' Hindi makapaniwalang sambit ni Flame dahil kahit siya'y natakot sa nangyari sa kanila.

''Ano naman ngayon? Ang ibig niyong sasabihin ay imbes na tulungan siya'y ang una niyong naisip ay ikulong siya? How heartless can you be? Imbes na tulungan siya... kinulong niyo pa. Hindi niyo pa nga yata pinapakain.''

Unti-unting napaluhod sa sahig si Travis at humagulgol. His gaze shifted to the prison cell where he found someone familiar inside.

"We jailed him because he destroyed everything inside." Halos hindi na makilala ni Travis si Uno nang ito'y magsalita. Sa huli ay wala siyang magawa kun'di titigan ang tulalang lalaki sa loob ng presinto.

It was Damian who wears expensive clothing yet it looks old due to the dirt and tears. Nakaluhod ang lalaki sa sahig habang yakap ang kaniyang mga tuhod. Nakatulala siya at kanina pa hindi mapakali kakaisip kung saan ba napunta si Tiara. Iniisip niya kung buhay pa ba ito o hindi.

''How could you do these, Uno? I thought you love her—''

''How about you? Do you love her, Travis? Maybe you're confused. You love her because she's the only woman in this world. She's the only woman and that's the only thing that makes her special. Nothing else.'' Puno ng pait ang bawat salitang pagkasambit ni Uno.

Travis couldn't stop himself any longer so he punched him in the face. To Travis, everything that Uno said reflected his own emotions and fragile ego. Kung ano ang binibintang ni Uno sa iba'y 'yon ang totoo niyang nararamdaman. Diyan talaga magaling ang mga lalaki, ang manuro ng iba sa gawain nila. Takot sa sariling multo kung tawagin.

"Yes! I love her! Mahal ko si Tiara! Hindi ako magkakaganito kung wala akong nararamdaman sa kaniya!''

Hindi natigil ang pagtulo ng luha mula sa mga mata ni Travis. Samantala nama'y agad siyang hinawakan sa magkabilaang braso ng mga kalalakihan. He wanted to punch everyone who agreed to jail her.

How could they do this to her? After all she had done to help them, they instantly betrayed her when she became the one in need of help.

''Huwag kayong magsalita na parang hindi niyo siya minahal! I respected her the most! But you... look at what you've done!''

Nagpupumiglas na saad ni Travis hanggang siya'y paluhudin upang lagyan ng gapos ang kaniyang mga kamay. He went berserk when he saw Arthur walking from afar.

''Arthur! How could you! You loved her first!'' Kahit na mahigpit ang pagkahawak sa kaniyang mga braso'y nagawa niyang kumalas sa mga ito para lang hawakan ang kuwelyo ni Arthur.

Arthur looked nonchalant. Kahit bahid ng pagsisisi ay hindi makikita sa kaniyang mga mata. Travis's fist landed on Arthur's face. Nag-iwan ito ng marka't pamumula ng pisngi nito.

Travis's fist landed on Arthur's face. Yet, he didn't look hurt. He even had the audacity to never change his decision to jail Tiara. Nanlabo ang mga mata ni Travis nang subukan niya uli tumayo.

"Wala kayong utang na loob! I love her too! I was willing to drop everything for her!" Travis's voice echoed around the room.

Walang tigil ang pag-agos ng kaniyang luha. Ang daming tanong sa isip niya na nasa harap na ang sagot ngunit tila hindi niya ito matanggap.

"Jail him, Uno." Arthur looked away. Lalong nagwala si Travis nang muli siyang hawakan sa magkabilang braso.

"Arthur! How could you—" Akmang susugudin na sana muli ni Travis si Arthur nang paluin siya ng makapal na kahoy. Napadaing siya sa sakit at napaluhod.

"We have no choice. I have no choice to follow the King's orders, Travis." Arthur swallowed hard. Hindi niya mang lang binawi ang kaniyang desisyon na para bang isang segundo lang niya pinag-iisipin ang lahat.

Travis despised how Arthur can't look straight into his eyes. He even had the audacity to side with the king? Is this how a crown prince acts? Nakakatakot kung paano siya mag-isip. Nakakakilabot. Nakakasuklam.

She was there when you had your lowest point but now that it's her turn, you suddenly dropped her. How could you say that you love her?

"What do you mean that you have no choice? Aren't you the crown prince? You have the power to protest or, better yet, convince the king. You have the power to remind him how men in this world manage to read beyond the age of 25 because of Tiara." Nanginig ang kalamnam ni Travis dahil ngayo'y nakaluhod na siya sa sahig habang ang mga kamay niya'y nasa likod at nakagapos.

He was covered in tiny wounds and scratches all over his body. He could feel his mouth and throat becoming as dry as a desert, but he didn't care. He didn't mind his luxurious shirt getting dirty. He didn't mind being dragged across the floor like garbage. Wala na siyang paki kung dati'y tinitingalaan siya ng kaniyang mundo. Ang tanging iniisip niya lang ngayon ay walang iba kun'di si Tiara.

"You don't know anything about royalty because you're a commoner, a commoner who was given a chance to be a scholar. I wish I hadn't protested against a distant relative's proposal to let commoners study. All you do is talk." Sa oras na ito'y tinitigan ni Arthur si Travis. He looked down at him while he knelt on the floor.

"I'm a commoner but I'm a person. I can understand a common human emotion. Don't you feel any shame, Arthur?" Nagpupumiglas n saad ni Travis. Imbes na sumagot ay isang blankong tingin lamang ang ginanti sa kaniya ni Arthur.

Flame, Val, Lolong, and Zex were present in the room. Lahat sila'y nasa gilid lang na tila ba sarado ang kanilang mga mata't tenga. They watched as Travis shouted in despair, frustration, anger, sadness, and hopelessness while being dragged by Arthur's men. Lingid sa kaalaman nila'y nasa likod ng pinto si Uno habang pinapanood ang lahat ng nangyayari.

''How could you do these, Uno? You loved her.''

Uno's gaze shifted to Ehmyr's face. Hindi niya inasahan na makakalabas ito mula sa silid at ngayo'y nakatayo na sa kaniyang harap. Bukod sa pagputol sa karapatan ni Ehmyr na magdesisyon kung ikukulong ba si Tiara ay pinutulan din nila ito ng karapatan lumabas ng silid.

"I'm doing what's right for everyone. I am after the safety of every man." Tila nagpalting ang mga tenga ni Ehmyr dahil sa narinig. He stood tall in his position while maintaining his original physical appearance. Hindi ito natatakot na humarap kahit kanino sa totoo niyang pisikal na anyo.

''Naririnig mo ba ang mga sinasabi mo?''Ehmyr can't help but to scoff. Talagang hindi na magbabago ang magiging tingin niya sa mga matatanda.

Adults are nothing but twisted crybabies hiding in grown men's bodies.

"You used to announce to this continent that I was the best scholar among all but now that everything has turned upside down, you'll say that I have no right to make decisions for myself because I'm a minor. You're the whole circus, Uno."

''Don't provoke me into jailing you too.'' Umigting ang panga ni Uno.

"Cowardly people indeed resort to violence when they don't want to hear the truth," Emyhr whispered. With that, Uno gestured to his men to jail Ehmyr as well. Tahimik namang nanonood si Arthur mula sa malayo sa lahat ng mga nangyayari sa kanila.

Out of nowhere, Val stepped in because he wanted everyone to know that he has a concise. Hindi na rin niya matiis ang lahat ng kaniyang mga nakikita't naririnig. It wasn't true that he disagreed with the decision to jail Tiara. He was supposed to disagree, but Arthur bribed him.

"You don't need to go this far. Ehmyr can be a big help if he has any idea on how to counter what is happening to every man who has received their mark." Anthonus stepped out. Nalukot naman ang noo ni Travis. Anthonus gestured for him to go with him, and so he did.

''Are you willing to give your heart to her, Travis?''

Hindi malaman na Travis kung bakit tila iba ang kutob niya sa tono't pananalita ni Anthonus. Travis couldn't even tell why Anthonus brought him near the cliff. Napatigil na lang siya sa paglalakad nang tumayo si Anthonus sa gilid ng bangin.

''I'm willing to give my heart to her.'' Hindi naman nagdalawang isip si Travis na panindigan ang tanong ni Anthonus.

You heard it right. Travis is willing to sacrifice everything for her. Lahat ay kaya niyang isuko alang-ala sa kaniya. The moment he disagreed to imprison her, everyone blackmailed him to remove him as Shakrila's greatest scholar.

They even told him that he needed to pay double the coins from the taxes. Sinabihan din si Travis na babawiin lahat ng kaniyang ari-arian galing sa buwis ng taong bayan ngunit wala siyang paki. Lahat ay kaya niyang ialay para sa kaniya.

"Really? Then give it to her," he said.

It was too late for Travis to speak when Anthonus forcefully shoved his hand into Travis's chest. Blood splattered from the hole in Travis's chest. Ang bilis ng pangyayari na tila ba huli na nang maramdaman niya ang lahat.

Anthonus gripped Travis's heart tightly before pulling it out from his body. Doon niya napagtanto na hindi si Anthonus ang kaniyang kaharap kun'di ibang tao.

"Don't worry, I'll give your heart to her,"

Anthonus grinned. Walang tigil ang pagtarak ng dugo mula sa bunganga't butas sa katawan ni Travis nang hugutin palabas ang kaniyang puso.

Travis's body fell off the cliff, while Adonis, inside Anthonus's body, let go of Travis's body.

Travis died instantly. He died, and only the culprit knew it. He died without seeing the love of his life, without fighting for her, and without confessing his real feelings for her.

Pinaslang siya nang inaakala niyang kaibigan. Nahulog ang katawan niya sa bangin at kailan ma'y hindi na matatagpuan.

Everything is now in a mess, but this isn't the end because there's a lot more to come. Greediness and selfishness are the roots of evilness in this world, anyway...

Sa kabilang banda nama'y ay higit dalawang oras ang ginugol nila Kier at Tristan upang makita ang kinaroroonan ni Sanzo. The boundary of Kazva and Shakrila has scorching heat but Kier wouldn't mind the sweat flowing through his body. Gusto niya lang makita si Tiara at itakas sa mundong ito.

There are a lot of questions running through his mind, and he is the type of person who would dare to seek every answer he needs to know.

''Sino ka at bakit mo ako tinutulungan?''

Habang nakasakay sa kabayo ay isang sulyap ang binigay ni Tristan mula kay Kier nang magsalita habang ito'y nakasakay sa likod niya. Patuloy ang pagindak ng kanyang alagang kabayo na si Vishnu.

''Dapat bang hindi?'' Naging maiksi lamang ang sagot ni Tristan. Isang haplos lamang sa ulo ang ginawa niya ay ito'y naintindihan ng kabayo.

Vishnu is Tristan's rescued pet. Una niya itong nakitang nakatali at akmang ibebenta na sana sa isang black market. Sa murang edad ay naintindihan na agad ni Tristan ang nangyayari nang ito'y maligaw sa isang night market.

Tristan used to go out with Top a lot. At sa isang gabi ng kanilang paglabas at isang gabi na kung kailan nahiwalay si Tristan kay Top ay natagpuan niya si Vishnu.

''He's already here.'' Naunang bumaba si Tristan upang alalayan si Kier bumaba kay Vishnu. He carefully guided Kier. Saglit silang huminto sa ilalim ng isang matayog na puno upang saglit na magpahinga.

''Who?'' Nagsalubong na lamang ang mga kilay ni Kier dahil hindi niya pa rin alam hanggang ngayon kung bakit siya dinala ni Tristan sa ganitong lugar.

When Tristan looked ahead, it was a signal for that person to reveal himself. Natulala na lamang si Kier nang makita si Sanzo na nakatayo. Ang katawan niya'y puno ng mga benda na tila ba nakipagbakbakan ito. Kier got alarmed however, Tristan assured him that Sanzo means no harm.

''Ano'ng ginagawa niya rito?'' Hindi mapigilang tanong ni Kier. Isang diretsong tingin naman ang sinagot sa kaniya ng dalawa.

"This is an emergency. I'm serious when I say that I'm the solution to the woman's problem."

Pumasok sila sa kuweba't agad na inalis ni Sanzo ang tumatakip na cloak mula sa kaniyang katawan. The two looked at him, full of questions. Sanzo lowered what was covering his cleavage to reveal a unique mark on his body.

He admitted that he may be comfortable, and this is the first time he revealed his secret. Ngunit dahil gusto niyang makatulong ay kailangan niyang gawin ang bagay na ito.

''Is that a pictogram of a woman's gender symbol?'' Nagtatakang saad ni Tristan nang makita ang isang nagliliwanag na marka mula sa katawan ni Sanzo. Hindi naman maintindihan ni Kier kung ano ang pinag-uusapan ng dalawa.

''Ano'ng mangyayari kung pinindot ko 'yan?'' Agad na siniko ni Sanzo si Kier dahil sa sinabi nito. While Sanzo's face remained poker-faced, it was evident that he knew they still had a lot of questions in their minds.

''If the solution to the man's mark on the woman's neck is the touch of a woman, I think I can help her because our clan has kept a secret for decades.'' Sanzo gulped big. He traced the mark on his chest.

''What secret?''' Tristan asked.

Sanzo looked away for a moment because he didn't understand why he was risking his life by revealing his clan's secret. His clan had been keeping this knowledge hidden in Kazva, and no one else knew about it. Dahil sa totoo lang ay kung sakaling malaman ito ng iba'y tiyak na aabusuhin lang siya.

''I can gender bend.'' Silence enveloped the three of them the moment Sanzo confessed.

Gender bending is the ability of someone to change into the opposite gender, not only in physical appearance but also in voice, mindset, and personality.

This ability is not new to everyone, yet it became famous due to mythology. Ang sabi ng karamihan lalo ng ng mga matatanda'y kathang-isip lamang ito. Karamihan ay hindi naniniwala rito't pinaniniwalaang kuro-kuro lang.

However, they were unaware that Sanzo's clan had practiced and concealed it for decades in order to maintain their own peace.

"How do you gender bend?" Tristan asked. Napaiwas na lamang ng tingin si Sanzo dahil hula niya'y masyado pang maaga para sabihin kung paano.

''It's too early for that. May iba pa tayo kailangang isipin. Look at this.'' Kinuha ni Tristan ang bagay na nakatago mula sa kaniyang bulsa. The three of them stopped when they saw a black stone as small as an egg. It was made of Vantablack, the darkest color in the world, yet ironically, it shone brighter than a diamond.

''What's that?'' Sanzo asked.

''The black stone. This is the prison realm where Anthonus' soul sleeps.''

Their eyes widened as they realized what Sanzo said. However, before Kier could speak, he let out a shriek upon seeing a large shadow. Na-alarma ang dalawa dahil wala naman silang nakikita na dapat bang ikasigaw ni Kier.

''What's wrong!'' Akmang hahawakan ni Tristan ang braso nito ngunit ito'y agad niyang tinabig.

Kier continued to shout as the enormous shadow grew even larger. Before he knew it, the shadow had entered his body once again.

Hindi alam ni Sanzo at Tristan ang gagawin nang mapasabunot si Kier at halos magdugo na ang kaniyang anit sa lakas ng pagkasabunot sa kaniyang buhok. He wasn't a fool who couldn't understand what was happening.

When Kier told Tiara that he felt like someone resided inside his body, he wasn't kidding. Alam niyang may ibang kaluluwa sa loob ng kaniyang katawan.

Isang nakakabinging sigaw ang kumalawa sa mga labi ni Kier at upang bawasan ang sakit at hinablot niya mula sa kamay ni Sanzo. Kier wasn't a fool because he knew that the only way to release Anthonus' body from inside the black stone was to destroy it, even at the cost of his own life.

Hindi na siya nagdalawang isip na ibato ito't nang mabasag sa sahig ay isang kulay gintong hugis ang lumabas mula rito. It was Anthonus' soul inside the stone all along.

''Kier! No!'' Meanwhile Tiara was watching what was happening to Kier and his companions. Hindi na siya nakatiis pa kaya naman ay hinawakan niya ang bolang crystal.

She grabbed tons of magical items and teleported Kier's body beside her. Naiwan namang nakatulala sila Sanzo at Tristan dahil bigla na lang nawala ang katawan ni Kier.

''Kier, please 'wag...'' Napaluhod na lamang si Tiara sa sahig habang nakahiga ang katawan ni Kier sa sahig. Her hand shivered as she felt that his body was cold. Hindi niya alam ang buong pangyayari dahil siya'y kinakausap ng kaniyang lolo.

''Tulong!'' Tiara shouted. Sumigaw siya sa loob ng heavenly realm ngunit ang tanging nakita niyang nanonood sa kaniya ay ang puti, itim at kulay orange na pusa. Tears never stopped dripping from her eyes as she held her best friend's cold body.

''Bakit, Kier? Bakit? Sinabi ko sa iyo na may iba pang paraan 'di ba? Kier naman. Dumilat ka, 'wag mo ako iwan dito.'' Tiara whispered helplessly. Minsan ay gusto niyang tanungin kung ano ang nagawa niyang masama para pagdaanan ang lahat ng ganito.

She didn't wish to be here in the first place. Hindi niya namang ginusto na maging lunas siya sa sumpa ng mga kalalakihan dito. She wondered why, out of all the people in her world, she was the one who got transmigrated here.

Walang kaso kung sa kaniya lang mangyari ang lahat ng sakit ngunit hindi niya kakayanin kung pati si Kier, ang matalik niyang kaibigan ang sasalo sa lahat.

''Please! Dash! Carden! Hideo!'' Tiara cried helplessly while the cats just stared at her while tears streaming from their eyes. Humagulgol siya ngunit kahit umiyak siya ng dugo ay walang mangyayari.

Tiara didn't cry when they jailed her, nor did she cry when they tried to feed her spoiled milk and bread. She didn't even shed a tear when they made her do a walk of shame barefooted.

Puno rin ng malalaki sugat ang buong katawan niya nang batuhin siya ng mga taong bayan kahapon ngunit hindi man lang siya naluha.

But now, seeing Kier's lifeless body in her arms, it broke her the most...

What broke her the most was the fact that the only way to release Anthonus' soul from the black stone's prison realm was for Kier to sacrifice his body.

She couldn't take it anymore, so she made the decision to go back to her world. Hinablot niya ang isang pinagbabawal na magic item mula sa mesa. Dash jumped into her arms to stop her, yet she didn't hesitate to throw Dash onto the floor.

In an instant, Tiara transported through the portal to her world. Saglit siyang natulala dahil ang portal ay ang own version ng farm house ng kaniyang lolo sa mundong ito.

Yet, the moment she opened the door, a blinding light greeted her.  Ang akala niya ay ang bubungad sa kaniya ang farm house ng kaniyang minamahal na lolo ngunit nagkamali siya. And before she knew it, that woman entered her body and they became one.

Her eyes widened when she saw a gorgeous woman bathed in light. The woman had a perfectly sculptured body, luscious long hair, and her arms were open as if the goddess were welcoming Tiara.

Sa halip na makaiwas ay tila ba may grabidad na naghihila ng kaniyang katawan palapit dito. She felt as if there was an irresistible gravity pulling her body towards the Goddess.

Finally, the Goddess of Light is here but this isn't the end, for wherever the Goddess of Light is the Dark Prince is always present.

The Dark Prince will also follow the Goddess of Light into the real world.

𝙏𝙊 𝘽𝙀 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙏𝙄𝙉𝙐𝙀𝘿...