chapter seventeen;
moonlit night

—

WE left the owls for them to think of what step they should take. Beasts were still independent; they weren't part of any Kingdoms even if the land they were occupying was a piece of the Kingdom. They were separate from the whole of Cielo, and each Kingdom had accepted that.

Still, Kallisto had given them a choice. It wasn't like they would serve the crown, it was just that they needed to cooperate, and when there were issues, they wouldn't be neutral anymore, as they needed to take the side of Kallisto.

In my eyes, it might be a balanced opportunity, but for the owls, it might be a different business. Kallisto also cleared to them that they still had their freedom; it was just that when he needed some help, they needed to return it.

It wasn't really a deal where the owls were at a disadvantage. It was actually really good for them. I just hope they'd see it that way. The owls were keen and particular, so sooner or later, they would approach Kallisto.

Why? Because the owls were wise.

"Why aren't you questioning why I left them alone to think?" The deep voice of the Second Prince echoed as the two of us were walking to the tiny celebration in the hills of this outskirt.

Yule was with us; he was currently sitting on the shoulder of Kallisto, whereas Willow was left to watch the owls. We still needed to be careful as we were still in Cudthon.

"Because that's the right thing to do?" I answered Kallisto, and his one eyebrow arched upwards. "You wouldn't be able to persuade someone if you push them too hard. It's better to give them a choice. And the proposition you gave them was good," kibit-balikat na dagdag ko pa.

Hindi na lang siya nagsalita at naglakad na lang ulit kaming dalawa hanggang makarating sa parang mini-market sa lugar. May mga building sa kabilaan ng daan, at may mga stall din. The curious and invisible Yule was extending his neck, looking at the things that the people were selling.

"You still want the skewers?" Kallisto suddenly asked while I was glaring at it and gulping because of its smell. Kaagad akong tumango sa kanya kaya naman mabilis kaming dumiretso sa stall na 'yon.

Buti na lang nakapunta kami ro'n nang walang humihingi ng tulong, kasi kapag meron pa rin, pakiramdam ko mag-iiba ang tingin ko sa simpleng skewer.

Yule seemed to want the skewer, too, because he was clapping his paws together, looking at it with sparkling eyes. Sabi ko na talaga magkalahi kami ni Yule, kasi halos gano'n din ang reaksyon ko, eh.

Kallisto gave me three sticks of skewer while holding three, too. Binayaran niya rin 'yon pagkatapos.

"Thank you!" masayang sabi ko ro'n sa nagtitinda bago kami magsimulang maglakad ulit.

And while walking, I saw how Kallisto was sneakily feeding Yule. At mukhang tuwang-tuwa naman si Yule dahil do'n. Nako, kaya naman pala gustong-gusto ni Yule 'tong si Kallisto, eh.

Well, hindi ko rin naman masisisi si Yule kasi baka ipagpalit ko rin siya sa pagkain.

The place was a little bustling but it felt so comfortable somehow. There were a lot of smiling faces and little laughter. It was really nice to be out like this. I hoped that one day, Kallisto could trust me fully to let me go to different parts of Cielo.

He could come with me if he wanted, too. Basta h'wag siya mang-aagaw ng yaman!

There were a lot of varieties to buy and to look around, so it was fun. Kahit simpleng gano'n lang pakiramdam ko gumaan ang pakiramdam ko. It was like nothing really dreadful happened earlier.

Grabe 'yong speed namin mag-move on, 'di ba?

Ilang saglit lang din nakarating kami kung saan maraming taong nagkakatuwaan at nagsasayaw. The lights at the field in the hill were shining so luminously. Kahit may distansya pa rinig na rinig mo na kaagad ang kasiyahan sa kanila.

I became excited and pulled Kallisto with me to run towards that place. Nang makalapit napangiti kaagad ako nang pagkalawak-lawak. Naks! May parang pa-contest kasi may mga nagsasayaw sa gitna.

They were having so much fun; some were even singing along to the upbeat song.

I had never experienced something like this in the world where I came from, so my heart was beating so fast. There were even some children who were running around in the place.

If only Avalon didn't exist in this world, I would be having this kind of fun always. Just a peaceful life by the sea or mountain. Without anything complicated and just enjoying the nature. It would have been perfect.

Ilang saglit pa biglang nag-iba 'yong tugtog at lumakas ang palakpakan. People went in the middle again, and now they were by pair. Kasi kanina mga solo lang 'yong nagsasayaw sa gitna.

The couples danced with smiles on their lips. It was like a folklore dance where there were steps, but at the same time, it was also free because others were adding steps or just grooving on their own flow.

And I couldn't believe how good they were. I couldn't help but clap along while bobbing my head to the music.

Nako, kung may dance contest lang sana baka sumugod na ako sa gitna at nag-dance break ng akin. Talo sila sa mga move ko, nako! Gagawa pa ako ng challenge at trend dito. Naks, instant sikat!

Pero syempre ayoko no'n, mamaya mahagilap pa ako ng Avalon o ng Shrine dahil sa dancing skills ko, pagkatapos pilitin nila ako maging dance instructor, nako, hindi pwede paano 'yong tamad life na pinapangarap ko?

While I was watching them dance, the other people went to the middle to dance, too, and I was swept away by their enthusiastic spirits. That was why I ended up on the dance floor, too, without intending to be there.

There was a huge crowd around me, so I immediately tip-toed and extended my neck to look for Kallisto. Mamaya isipin pa no'n tinakasan ko siya. Nako, overthinker pa naman 'yong lalaki 'yon, daig pa ako. Ako humour-thinker lang gano'n.

The music became more upbeat, and the people around me started to dance in a rhythm with jumping and laughing. I couldn't help but smile and also danced a little because of their high spirits.

Pero syempre pigil ako, mamaya bigla akong mag-break dance rito, e 'di nganga silang lahat sa galing ko.

I just continued looking around, and I saw a tall man in the middle of the crowd. The bright white-yellow lights were shining down on his golden hair, making it sparkle beautifully as if underlining how much he stood out in a crowd.

Like me, he was searching for me, too. Yule, who was sitting on his shoulders, was cutely looking for me, too.

Gusto ko sana sila taguan para bigyan sila ng mini heart-attack pero pinagtitinginan na kaagad si Kallisto no'ng ibang mga babae rito. Nako, mga sis, hanap na lang kayo ng iba, taken na 'yang gusto n'yo.

Taken by me, syempre!

Napa-flip hair tuloy ako ng wala sa oras at saka lumapit papunta sa kanya. Nakatalikod pa naman siya mula sa akin kaya naman gusto ko sanang gulatin, gusto ko sanang i-imitate si Sadako, kaso pink nga pala 'yong buhok ko ngayon.

Ano 'yon? Pink Sadako Version 101.

Lumapit na lang ako sa kanya at kinuhit siya sa likod at bago pa siya makaharap nagsalita na ako. "Excuse me, are you lost?" I asked with a mischievous smile.

When we were face to face, his forehead immediately knotted with my question, but his eyes were relieved to see me in front of him.

"What?" he asked shortly.

"Oh, I thought you were lost; I was planning to give you the direction to my heart." Itinaas-baba ko pa ang kilay ko sa kanya, at sunundot-sundot ang baiwang niya, pero mas lalo lang kumunot ang noo niya.

"What?"

"Grabe siya sa what! Hindi ka man lang ba kinilig sa banat ko?" asar na sabi ko sa kanya.

"What?"

"Nako, dapat na yata kita sanayin sa mga gano'ng banat para naman sa susunod hindi na 'what' ang reaksyon mo. Nakakahiya sa effort kong mag-isip ng banat 'no." I pouted at him, and he just shook his head at my ridiculous idea, but Yule nodded and agreed with me, so I'd go with Yule's advice.

He was about to say something, but we were getting pushed by the dancing crowd.

"Let's dance!" the people in the middle added because the two of us were the only ones who weren't dancing.

Kallisto shook his head and was about to walk out from here, so I grabbed his hand with a smile. "Can I have this dance?" I joked around him. Syempre, alam ko naman na hindi mag-i-initiate si Kallisto, kaya inunahan ko na.

"What? I'm waiting..." I told him, but I was impatient, so instead of hearing his answer, I just grabbed his hand to put it in my waist, and I put my other hand on his shoulder.

"Do you even know how to dance?" tanong ni Kallisto sa akin, at mayabang akong tumango sa kanya.

I didn't waste any second and danced with the crowd.

Syempre, sobrang galing ko 'no!

Sobrang galing manapak ng paa.

"You are one of a kind terrible dancer." I pouted because I couldn't argue with what Kallisto told me.

Well, magaling naman talaga ako mag-breakdance! Kaso hindi naman ako na-inform na sobrang iba pala no'ng by pair na dance! Ano magagawa ko wala naman akong experience no'n!

Nasa may ilalim na kami ng puno ni Kallisto ngayon, malapit sa cliff no'ng hill. It was peaceful in here. You could definitely see the city lights of Cudthon and the sea. It was so relaxing.

We went in here after carrying me like a sack when I stepped on his feet multiple times when we were dancing. He couldn't take how awful I was and brought me here.

We could still hear the loud noises of the people that were still dancing and having the time of their lives near here.

But it was still enlivening, especially with the cold breeze that was embracing the two of us. Yule went up to the branch of the tree above us, resting a little.

Samantalang nakaupo lang kaming dalawa ni Kallisto habang tanaw ang magandang tanawin sa harap namin. I couldn't help but hug my knees. This world... this place... this was really Fatebound.

But it didn't even feel fictional. It was even more real than the world where I came from.

The wind blew again, and the strands of my hair flowed with it.

While thinking about Fatebound and how the story would go now that I had changed a lot of things, I saw a glistening violet jewel ring on my finger.

I haven't really gotten the chance to ask him about this.

Why did he give me this? Mahal na ba niya ako? Luh, kapag gano'n, yes, father, I do na kaagad. Wait, kasal na nga pala kami. Naks! So wala na bang divorce na magaganap sa amin? Yaman ko na rin ba ang yaman niya?

Joke!

But on a serious note, why did he give me this?

Trust? Maybe some, but not entirely.

The image of Portia was still lingering around him. Of course, this body and face were still Portia's, and no matter how much I became different from his eyes, he'd still have doubts. I couldn't blame him, though. It was natural to feel that way.

"Hey... Kalli..." I murmured; even though he didn't say anything, I knew that I had gotten his attention.

"Why did you give me this ring?" I whispered quietly.

There was a silence.

I thought he didn't hear it, so I wasn't really planning on repeating the question. I just let the silence embrace me.

But suddenly, I heard his heavy sigh, so I turned my head to look at him. He was staring at the crescent moon and the constellations in the sky.

"Even if it's a contractual marriage. You're still a Celeste and now a Princess of the Kingdom. Sooner or later, His Majesty would summon the two of us in the Palace," mahinang sambit niya sa mga kataga.

"Do... you still hate me...?" maingat na tanong ko sa kanya.

His eyes shifted to stare at mine directly. I felt nervous and conscious looking at his violet orbs, but I didn't dare avoid his gaze. It was just mystifying to see the glow in it.

But then, he shook his head then leaned his back against the tree while his one arm was straight while resting it on his one angled knee.

"Really? How could you not hate someone like me who killed your knights?" Pahina nang pahina ang boses ko nang tanungin ko 'yon.

I felt closer to Kalli because of all the times we spent together—it was already a month or more. It might not be that long, but it was fun. Never in my life have I experienced something this fun.

"Then, why didn't you hate Willow?" he questioned back, and my lips almost parted at him. I wanted to say something, but no words formed, so I kept my mouth shut.

"No lives could be brought back. What happened already happened. What I could do was just accept it and make it make sense..." he whispered as if talking to himself. "I tried denying you countless times, but it never worked. You are just everywhere."

Hinayaan ko lang siyang magsalita, kasi minsan lang siya mag-open up ng ganito. Kasi palagi 'tong business minded, eh. But hearing his words comforted me. It felt like I was really Evienne in his eyes, and not Portia, even if my body and face weren't mine.

"What happened with Willow... I just thought that maybe that's what happened to you." Napaamang ako saglit sa sinabi niya. Woah. That conclusion. Although it was a misunderstanding because it was far from reality—it was the only thing that would make sense for him.

And probably the smartest conclusion that one could arrive at with an open mind.

"Maybe you didn't really intend to kill my people. Instead, you were a victim, too."

My heart hammered in my chest loudly.

Kallisto was really a better person than me.

He thought like that about Portia. But, here I was judging Portia and denying her entirely. It might be because I knew Portia, but if you think of it... if this was real-world and not just my novel. I didn't see Portia's back story at all. She was just a villain in my eyes.

"Maybe you were out of control that night, too... it was the only thing that could make sense. I couldn't even really ask you what happened because that's cruel when you don't remember anything."

My heart hurt in guilt. Napaiwas ako ng tingin dahil sa narinig.

"Don't you keep remembering these murderous eyes, and bloody face?" I questioned with heaviness as I hugged myself tighter.

There was a short silence at first, but he spoke with a light voice.

"I honestly forgot about the eyes that were full of killing intent the past days..." Halos mapanganga ako sa sinabi niya.

"I could suddenly only remember the eyes that became small and arcs with warmness, the voice that was full of mischievousness, and the face... that always shined brighter than moonlit night."

I was speechless. I wanted to think of something, but my mind was blank.

I could only stare at his violet hue gaze.

And it stared back at my moonlit eyes.

"Kalli..." I murmured absentmindedly, and he tilted his head like asking what I was going to ask this time.

But I didn't add to it. I just wanted to say his name, and with an impulsive decision I threw myself to hug him.

Of course, he was so shocked that he nearly lost his balance sideways.

Aalisin niya sana 'yong pagkakayakap ko sa kanya, pero mas hinigpitan ko lang 'yon. "Thank you..." I told him sincerely. "I promise you... I'll really do my best for you, and for this Kingdom!"

He could only chuckle with my promise to him as I felt him pat the back of my head.

"Then... please this stay this way..." Those words might be simple, but I knew it was full of meanings and hopes.

"I will..." I murmured in almost a whisper, wishing he didn't hear it.

With that, he stood up, and my eyes just followed him, I thought he'd walk first, and I'd watch his back like the usual, but instead, he reached out his hand on me. Syempre, tinanggap ko kaagad 'yon, bakit aarte pa ako? Si Kallisto na 'yan, oh.

While holding each other's hand, Yule jumped to sit on Kallisto's shoulder, remaining invisible in the eyes of others, as we walked back together to the inn where we were staying.

I couldn't stop smiling because it felt like a huge wall just collapsed in front of me, and a brighter tomorrow was waiting for me... of course, with Yule, Willow, the dragon egg, and... Kallisto.

***

THE next days were quite eventful.

The owls agreed with Kallisto. They would stay near his Palace in the forest there. There were some houses in there that had been used as storages, so they would clear that out for the owls.

It was also reported that the mess in the Cudthon forest was now cleared. Sobrang bilis talaga ng kilos ng mga tao ni Kallisto. At syempre bumalik na rin kami sa palasyo niya, gamit 'yong portal ni Stepmother.

I went with the owls to help them settle down, too. They were already provided with a lot of things, and they seemed happy with it mainly because the children were all safe. I heard that in a few months, they would go with their first transformation phase, so I was excited and told them to let me know if they ever needed anything.

They were afraid at first, pero sa huli nakapalagayan din nila ako. Syempre, ako pa ba? Sobrang sociable ko kaya. Kaya kung kaibigan na nila si Yule, syempre ako rin. Sa akin nagmana 'yon si Yule eh.

The dragon's egg was also in my room. It was still wrapped with the abyss and invisible. But it was safe because I was also protecting it with my Celestia. There was no sign that it would hatch anytime soon, though.

Further, Kallisto was really busy because he needed to do a lot of reporting and works for what happened. He also went with Stepmother to a secret place to see some progress about the information that they could get about the monsters.

Kahit busy si Kallisto kasi kailangan niya pa rin mag-report sa Palasyo ng Hari, nagawa pa rin no'n sumabay ng lunch sa akin kasama si Willow at Yule. We talked about some progress, and it was slow.

They couldn't really pinpoint what happened for the mutated monsters to result in that way. They were trying to know if it was natural or it was manmade. Kabado ako syempre, kasi alam kong manmade lahat 'yon, pero hindi ko naman pwedeng sabihin basta-basta 'yong nalalaman ko.

Nagsisimula pa lang kami ni Kallisto sa usapang tunay na tiwala, 'no. I couldn't really afford to overload him with information that had no basis aside that it was from Fatebound. We might go back to square one if ever.

Then after we had dinner, he went to my room so the Celestia and abyss could settle.

Akala ko aalis na siya pagkatapos no'n pero dumiretso siya sa may gilid ng kama ko at tinanggal ang pagiging invisible no'ng dragon egg. I walked towards it, too. He inspected it using his eyes.

"Dragons are shrewd." I looked up at Kallisto when he said that, and I nodded. They really were. That was why it was so sad that the dragon that was on Fatebound was too late to save.

It also made me wonder what really happened to it. Fighting the mutated monsters wouldn't really make it that weak. They were the strongest creatures in this world. It felt like there was something more.

Was it because of this egg? Napakunot noo tuloy ako ro'n sa itim na itlog.

There was no egg in Fatebound. And as far as I know about the dragon's background. The weakest time that the dragon would go through would be their pregnancy and birth because the baby dragon was getting all of their mana and all those things.

So... the only conclusion that I could come up with was that the dragon was weakened to the extent that it died was because of the egg and the relentless attacks from Avalon.

My heart became heavy.

"The dragon inside the egg would know what the mother went through..." Mas lalo lang akong nalungkot sa sinabi ni Kallisto dahil 'yon din ang pagkakaalam ko base sa sinulat ko noon.

"That's why it could be dangerous for us, too." Natigil ako sa pagtango dahil sa sinabi niya.

"What do you mean?"

"It might treat us as an enemy when it hatched because it went through a lot." Natahimik ako saglit dahil do'n. That was true. But, I'd make sure it wouldn't.

"No, your abyss is keeping it alive, and my Celestia is keeping it safe. Like what you say, dragons are shrewd. So, it'd know that we are not enemies." Natawa siya nang marahan sa sinabi ko at saka naglakad ulit. Ngayon papunta naman siyang veranda.

Sumunod ako sa kanya.

Napalunok kaagad ako nang makita ko siya habang nakatingin sa bilog na buwan.

Jusko, bakit sobrang gwapo kasi?

"Sana buwan na lang ako," I started as I stood beside him. He looked at me with flicked eyebrows. "Para sa akin na lang iikot ang mundo mo!" masayang banat ko sa kanya, at saka tumawa.

I looked at him, then laughed more—he seemed so horrified because of what I had just said. Grabe ang sama talaga ng ugali nito! Hahampasin ko sana siya sa braso kaso bigla siyang nagsalita.

"Sometimes, I feel like monsters wouldn't scare me anymore because you are far more horrifying."

Walangya talaga 'to!

Grabe ang bibig shot to the heart mga pinagsasabi! Kulang na lang umimik ako ng 'boom panis' kaso para sa akin nga pala 'yong sinasabi niya. My gosh!

Sinimangutan ko na lang siya at umiling na lang siya sa akin.

Natahimik kaming dalawa, samantalang nag-isip na lang ako ng panibagong banat para sa kanya. Ano bang banat 'yong mako-caught off guard siya? Hmm.

Kung i-surprise ko kaya siya na boiled egg na 'yong dragon? Char! Baka ako ang maging fried human kapag nangyari 'yon.

Gusto ko pa humaba ang buhay dahil bubuhayin ko pa sina Yule at Willow. Kahit minsan bias na si Yule kasi bet na bet no'n umupo sa balikat ni Kallisto. Wow ha, nakatulog lang ako no'n, pinagpalit na ako ni Yule!

Habang nag-iisip ng kalokohan bigla na lang nagsalita si Kallisto kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.

"I forgot to tell you. But my father, the Seventh Kingdom's King, was requesting us to go to the Main Palace for a banquet," he mentioned casually, which made my mind stop functioning for a second.

"What?"

"It's probably time to introduce you to my Father, the King, and my brother, the Crowned Prince."

Pakiramdam ko sumakit ang ulo ko dahil do'n.

Oh, my gosh! Meet the father-in-law and the brother-in-law na pala kami! Jusko! Ngayon lang yata nag-sink in sa akin na kasal talaga kami ni Kallisto at hindi na 'to 'yong joke-joke lang sa isip ko!

"And... Father would probably ask us to go to Elysia instead of my brother for the Lantern Festival."

Nabingi yata ako sa narinig ko.

'Yong gusto kong takasan na pangyayari... biglang nasa harapan ko na nang walang warning!

Kallisto, bakit ang hilig mo magbagsak ng bomba?! Ikaw kaya bombahin ko?!

Patayin n'yo na lang yata ako... bakit ang hirap mabuhay nang tahimik dito...

"Kalli..." mahinang tawag ko sa kanya na parang nakalutang ang kaluluwa ko. "Bakit nga ulit kita pinakasalan?" wala sa sariling tanong ko.

"Because I'm good looking?"

My eyes widened, and my mouth hung open.

Did he just joke?!

Or did he just read my mind?!

The latter sounded better because it felt appalling that Kallisto knew how to joke! Parang ang creepy! Parang hindi siya si Kallisto, jusko!

Ang weird kaya na Prince Joking siya, dapat Prince Bomb-Dropping lang siya gano'n! Mas bagay 'yon!

But on a serious note... I couldn't help but gulp in the nervousness that was slowly wrapping my body.

If the King ordered us to go to the Lantern Festival in Elysia, I wouldn't be able to protest about that...

Damn, it was really my doom.

But... I have Kallisto with me, now, right?

I could survive that event, right?

"Hey, Kalli... can you promise me, one thing?"

"Hmm?"

"Can you... believe in me when the time comes?"

Please, trust me this time. Please...

"I will... Evienne..."

And that was the most reassuring promise I had heard my entire life under the moonlit night.

—

Merry Christmas! 🎄

PS: Ai! Thank you so much for reading and loving this story! 💗 You kept this one alive. Always always wishing all the best for you! Love you. 💗

ツ