Chapter 53: The House Without Stairs
Days passed, and the bond between Flora and Andoy grew deeper. Three times a week, Andoy would pick Flora up from the university, and together they'd share meals at modest eateries or spend Sundays strolling through amusement parks or taking quiet walks in Ocean Park. Their moments were filled with laughter and stories, from lively visits to arcades to serene evenings by the sea. Each encounter brought a spark of joy to Flora's heart, and though she knew these moments were fleeting due to her duties as a diwata emissary, she couldn't deny the warmth she felt in Andoy's presence.
Two months after Flora introduced Andoy as her friend to Romeo, the general noticed their frequent companionship. Despite his demanding mission against the rebels, Romeo kept a watchful eye on Flora from afar. From the tinted windows of his black car, he discreetly followed them, ensuring her safety.
As a high-ranking general, a part of him felt uneasy. He didn't like seeing Flora so carefree and happy with Andoy, yet he had no concrete reason to intervene. He saw the genuine smile on her face and sensed no ill intent from Andoy. Deep down, Romeo knew he couldn't control Flora's life, no matter how fiercely he wanted to protect her.
Still, his concern for Flora never wavered. When he couldn't personally keep an eye on her, he sent his trusted men to ensure her safety.
One morning, while riding in his car with Abby and Peter, Romeo spotted Flora and Andoy walking hand in hand, their conversation brimming with laughter.
Abby and Peter were stunned by the sight. "Wait, is this for real? Our little Flora's with another guy?" Abby asked, her voice laced with shock and a hint of envy.
"Who's that guy? Why do they seem so close?" Peter added, equally incredulous.
Romeo responded calmly, "That's Flora's friend. She trusts him. He's not doing anything wrong, so there's no need to worry."
Abby raised an eyebrow at Romeo's composed tone. To her, it was unthinkable that Romeo would be so nonchalant about another man spending so much time with Flora. "General, seriously? You're okay with some guy being that close to our little sister? Shouldn't *you* be the one by her side? What if he steals her away?" Abby pressed, her voice tinged with concern and teasing.
Peter chimed in, his eyes blazing with determination. "General, just say the word! I can take that guy out of Flora's life if you order it!" he declared, ready to spring into action.
Romeo sighed, mildly irritated by their reactions. "Stop this nonsense. As long as Flora is happy and safe with him, I see no reason to interfere."
But Abby wasn't convinced. She leaned closer, her eyes glinting with mischief. "General, look at them! They're so happy, like a couple in love! Don't you feel even a *little* jealous?"
Romeo shook his head, his expression betraying a flicker of annoyance. "Abby, why are you so persistent? Sure, he's holding her hand, but so what? She's happy, and that's what matters."
Undeterred, Abby pressed closer, her face inches from his. "General, if you let them keep going out, watching movies, shopping for clothes, they might end up together! What if Flora gets taken away? You'll lose your chance to be with her!" she said, her voice brimming with intensity.
Romeo gently pushed Abby's face away. "Can you sit properly? Why do you keep pushing me toward Flora? I've said it a hundred times—we're like siblings!"
Abby's voice rose, unable to contain her emotions. "General, you're the only one who sees it that way! Even back when we were kids, Flora admired you! She's always looked up to you, but because you're our general, she chose to follow you as a soldier instead of confessing her feelings!"
Peter nodded in agreement, his voice firm. "Abby's right, General. Flora loves you, especially because you've been her guardian. Even if you see her as a sister, you're not blood-related. Someday, either you or Flora will want to settle down, and we'd rather see her with you for life!"
Romeo shook his head, visibly exasperated. "Even you, Peter? Where did you get the idea that I could marry Flora? I don't feel that way about her!"
But Abby wouldn't relent. "General, you're the only one who can give Flora a good life! Don't you feel *anything* for her, even a little?"
Romeo gazed out the car window, watching Flora's joyful laughter as she walked with Andoy. A pang of unease stirred in his chest, an irritation he couldn't quite explain. "Honestly, it bothers me seeing them together. I don't know why, but I feel like *I* should be the one with her. I'm used to being by her side, and it annoys me when she chooses him instead."
He quickly added, "But I have no right to stop her. She's old enough to make her own choices. One day, she'll leave us to build her own life. I can't force her to stay by my side."
Abby shook her head, unconvinced. "General, it's not true that you can't give Flora a happy life! You've been doing everything for her since the beginning. I know Flora would choose you over that guy!"
Romeo looked down, his eyes shadowed with sadness. "I'm not saying I don't care for Flora as a woman. But I don't think I'm the right one for her. I can't give her the happy life she deserves."
Abby protested fiercely. "General, we've seen how much you care for her! You promised us all you'd do anything for the country's peace, and we trust you to make that happen. When peace comes, I want to see you with Flora, caring for her and making her happy, like you always have."
Romeo sighed deeply. "I'm ready to care for Flora even if I'm not her husband. But Abby, there are three reasons I can't choose her as my wife in the future."
"First, I prefer to see her as my younger sister. Second, she's too kind and gentle to be a soldier. And third, she's older than me, and she never lets me forget it!" he said, a playful edge to his tone.
He flicked Abby's forehead, signaling the end of the discussion. "Stop entertaining those thoughts. No matter what happens, I won't take Flora as my wife."
Romeo looked out the window again, his eyes following Flora. In his heart, he knew he'd promised to give her a happy life, but he also believed he wouldn't be by her side for long.
He didn't want Flora to experience the pain he had endured. He knew his life as a soldier was short, and he wasn't sure how long he'd survive.
Though it hurt to see Flora with Andoy, he chose to endure it, hoping she'd find someone else to love—someone who could give her strength and a reason to carry on, even without him.
Sadness lingered on Romeo's face as he thought of the things he longed to do with Flora as family. But he felt the limits of his time. Moments later, he ordered his men to drive away. Abby protested, hoping they could join Flora for an outing.
"Let her be. We can have fun without her," Romeo said, his voice heavy with acceptance. They drove off, leaving Flora to enjoy her time with Andoy.
---
Days later, Romeo's mission against the Katipunan, the rebel group led by Martin, pressed on. They successfully located several rebel weapon caches and captured fifteen Filipinos involved. However, only four carried weapons, raising doubts about whether all were true rebels.
"General, we caught fifteen Filipinos, but only four had weapons. I don't think they're all rebels," Peter reported.
"They're working with the rebels for money, so they're still accountable," Romeo replied, his voice firm with authority.
He asked if there was a way to identify which of the captives weren't genuine rebels. Peter sighed. "It's hard to tell, General. They're all begging to be released, and we can't be sure who was coerced into joining for money."
"What do we do? If we turn them over to Manila, they'll face harsh punishment," Abby said, her voice filled with concern.
Romeo gazed out the window, deep in thought. "Contact the governor-general of Laguna. Request an appointment for me to speak with him," he ordered.
Abby grew worried. "General, it's not a good idea to take the captured rebels to Laguna. The orders are clear—all Katipunan members must be brought to Manila. If the viceroy finds out, he might see this as defiance."
"The viceroy wants them executed publicly as a warning to others," Peter added.
Romeo understood the weight of his decision. He wanted to crush the rebels, but he also pitied the Filipinos who might have been drawn in by poverty. Staring at the blue sky, he ordered his men to prepare the car after a moment's reflection.
"Where are we going?" Abby asked, puzzled.
"To visit a friend," Romeo replied, his voice cryptic.
As they traveled, Romeo asked if the Katipunan in Pampanga had been tracked. Peter explained that the GPS signal had vanished, likely because the rebels were using new technology to block it or had discovered the tracking devices in the weapon crates.
"They're getting harder to catch. They've spread across Luzon," Peter said.
"Their leader is clever. He uses stolen money to pay various groups to join them," Romeo added.
He knew the only way to end the problem was to capture Martin, the Katipunan leader fueling the chaos.
Hours later, they arrived in a town in Laguna, stopping in front of a grand mansion. They waited outside the gate for ten minutes.
Abby asked what they were doing there, but Romeo didn't answer and stepped out of the car alone. Abby and Peter followed, confused by their general's actions.
"General, I sense a diwata emissary's presence inside," Abby said, her voice tinged with concern.
Moments later, a woman in an elegant Filipiniana dress emerged from the mansion—Maria Clara, one of the weapons and allies of Laguna's diwata emissary.
Clara approached with a smile, her presence commanding authority. Abby and Peter were startled, sensing she was no ordinary woman.
"I'm delighted to see you again, Maria Clara," Romeo greeted, his voice filled with respect. "I wish to speak with your master."
Clara laughed, gently folding her fan. "It's flattering that you remember me after five years, Romeo."
She glanced at Romeo's soldiers. "I'm sorry to say, but my master has no interest in speaking with Spanish soldiers."
The air grew tense. Romeo sighed and said, "I'm not here to negotiate for Spain. I'm here to seek help for the Filipinos."
Clara smiled, but her eyes held a warning. "My master never helps without a compelling reason. It's too dangerous for him to aid Filipinos, so I cannot grant your request to meet him."
Clara bowed, her voice respectful yet firm. "My master has no obligation to assist you, so please, General, do not involve him in your troubles."
Romeo closed his eyes, looking up at the blue sky, then smiled faintly. "No obligation, huh?" he asked, his voice tinged with bitterness. Suddenly, he released a powerful surge of energy from his body, startling Abby and Peter. His presence was overwhelming, causing his soldiers to tremble behind him.
"I was ready to die back then, but he came to save me," Romeo said, his voice brimming with resolve. "I've carried this responsibility ever since because of a meddling hero who played the savior," he added, recalling a memory of lying on the ground in Laguna's presence.
He stepped forward, determined to enter the gate, but Clara spoke sharply. "If you proceed, my master will consider it an act of defiance."
Ignoring her warning, Romeo continued walking, passing Clara. "You're bold, little General," Clara said, her voice laced with admiration.
As he moved forward, magic circles suddenly appeared on the ground. The soldiers froze in fear as the glowing seals illuminated beneath them, but before they could react, they fell into holes created by the circles. "General!" Abby shouted.
They found themselves plummeting into a dimension filled with thousands of doors—an endless, disorienting space.
"Magic cube!" Abby cried, transforming into her emissary form, Tatag. Magic circles appeared around her, forming cubes that caught her comrades.
The cubes floated, serving as platforms. "Are you all okay?" Abby asked, her voice filled with worry.
"Where are we? What is this place?" Peter asked.
Romeo's face was serious as he surveyed the surroundings. He approached a door and opened it slowly. "This is the power of Laguna's disciple, Juli—the House Without Stairs."
They entered a grand mansion parlor, filled with opulent furniture. The ceiling soared seven meters high, and the room spanned three hundred square meters. Doors lined every wall, and the number 9999 was etched on the ceiling.
"The House Without Stairs? Is this a dimension like Sasha's?" Peter asked.
"Exactly, but this dimension doesn't just trap people. It's a maze with thousands of paths," Romeo explained. "Each door leads to a different room. We need to find the right room where Juli is to escape."
Peter noticed the large seal on the ceiling marked "Room 9999" and realized the maze's vastness.
"What? If this is room 9999, does that mean we have to search thousands of rooms?" Abby asked, shocked.
Peter recalled Spanish tales about Laguna's emissary, said to be the strongest in the Philippines. "She rarely shows herself, and even when the Spanish tracked her, no general succeeded in capturing her because of this place."
Romeo revealed that the last soldiers who tried to capture Juli were trapped for three days, succumbing to hunger and exhaustion.
"While we're trapped here, Laguna's forces can attack us freely, so stay vigilant."
Romeo's men opened the side doors, but the rooms were empty. Abby feared they'd be stuck without food or water. "General, how do we get out? We can't survive three days here!" she said, her voice trembling.
"What's your plan to escape, General?" Peter asked.
Romeo smirked. "I'm not planning to find the exit. I'm here to find Laguna," he said with determination.
Abby doubted the plan, but they pressed on, moving through doors. In the tenth room, Abby noticed the ceiling number change to 7690. "General, the room numbers are different!"
"We were in room 3367 earlier," she added.
After an hour, they stopped to rest, realizing aimless searching was futile. "General, if this continues, we'll just tire ourselves out and starve," Peter said.
Romeo stood silently for a moment, then approached a door. He unleashed a surge of energy, transforming into his diwata emissary form. "Enough games! We're not here to waste time. If you want to test our strength, why wait until we're exhausted to fight?" he shouted, his voice thick with anger.
He flung open a door and froze. Abby and Peter felt a powerful presence from the other side. They entered and saw a long table where Maria Clara sat with a man in a coat, Cris, and a young man in simple clothes, Basilio.
Romeo stepped forward. "Thank you for honoring my request to appear," he said to Maria Clara.
Cris smiled. "Even if we've shown ourselves, it doesn't mean we'll take you to our master's room. He's having lunch and cannot meet you."
Cris explained that the House Without Stairs had over ten thousand rooms, with doors shifting every five minutes. "You might end up circling back to rooms you've already entered," he added.
"I'm here for the sake of the Filipinos, not as your enemy," Romeo said, his voice resolute.
Cris's smile carried a hint of bitterness. "You don't need to claim you're not an enemy. You've killed thousands of Filipino rebels who only sought freedom. Your loyalty to the Spanish makes you no ally of our master."
"What must I do to speak with him?" Romeo asked seriously.
"As our master's guardians, it's our duty to protect him. Since you ignored Clara's request, you've clearly violated this house's rules," Cris replied.
As Cris stood, a heavy presence filled the room. Chains emerged from his clothes, their ends tipped with knife-like blades that moved like living snakes.
"I'll give you a chance, young General," Cris said, pointing to a door behind him. "Our master is in the next room. We'll let you speak with him if you can pass through that door."
"So we just need to get through it?" Romeo asked.
"Yes, but it's not that simple. We must fulfill our duty as our master's guardians," Cris replied.
Romeo sighed and glanced at Abby and Peter. "I didn't want to fight, but this is better than searching thousands of rooms."
Suddenly, Romeo sensed a shift in presence. Basilio vanished from sight. "Where's their other companion?" he asked.
Before he could react, one of his soldiers cried out. In a flash, Basilio incapacitated three of Romeo's men in five seconds, his movements swift as the wind. Before Romeo could move, Basilio appeared behind him, gripping his shoulder.
"Big brother, don't be mad, but you're no match for us," Basilio said.
Romeo couldn't believe he hadn't tracked Basilio's movements. He swiftly drew his balisong and tried to stab him, but Basilio vanished like air. Suddenly, Basilio reappeared above, his foot poised to kick Romeo's head.
Romeo barely blocked the attack but staggered from its force. "He's strong," he muttered.
As he retreated, Romeo's floating balisongs attacked, but Basilio vanished again. A tiger emerged from a magic circle, biting Romeo's arm. His balisongs pierced the tiger, but it dissolved, leaving scattered energy particles.
Romeo stared at the wound on his arm, shocked that he'd been injured despite his diwata protection. "We're forged from diwata power and can bypass weaker diwata protections," Clara explained.
She added that their attacks could pierce diwata-made barriers. "Be careful. To stop us, you'll need something else to block our attacks," she warned.
"Wait, Clara, why are you telling our enemies that?" Cris protested.
"Sorry, but I don't think emissaries like them should die. They need to protect themselves," Clara replied, her voice filled with compassion.
Cris's chains attacked again, surging toward Romeo. Alert, Romeo blocked them with his balisongs, deflecting the knife-tipped chains. Cris's body glowed with energy as he charged, using the chains to strike.
Romeo's balisongs parried the chains, but Cris's speed allowed him to close the distance. A powerful punch sent Romeo crashing into the room's wall. "General!" Abby cried, her voice filled with worry.
Peter's anger flared at the attack on Romeo. Energy enveloped him as he transformed into his emissary form. Sand poured from his body, forming a massive fist. "1st Sand Art: Hand of Wrath!" he shouted.
The two-meter sand fist lunged at Cris, but he dodged nimbly, leaping toward Peter. Sand enveloped Peter, transforming him into a giant figure. He unleashed more sand fists, but Cris evaded them.
"He's too fast!" Peter muttered, struggling.
Cris's chains bound Peter's arms, restricting his movement. Cris leaped toward Peter's head, landing a powerful punch that shattered the sand giant's head. "Peter!" Abby screamed, fear in her voice.
Energy surged around Abby. "First Cube Art: Super Cube!" she shouted. Magic cubes appeared, four merging into glowing red super cubes that attacked Cris.
Cris tried to deflect them with his chains, but the blades had no effect on the sturdy cubes. Unable to counter, Cris retreated, dodging the red cubes with his speed. Abby knew her cubes couldn't match Cris's agility but controlled them to keep him away from Peter.
As Peter's sand form regenerated, Clara waved her fan, summoning a massive elephant from a magic circle. It charged Peter, knocking him back with its strength. "So powerful," Peter gasped.
Abby's super cubes struck the elephant, toppling it until it dissolved into scattered energy. "Their abilities are strange," Abby whispered, her mind racing.
As she planned to attack Clara, she didn't notice Basilio approaching from behind. She felt a hand on her back.
"Impossible. He's so fast, I didn't even sense him pass!" she whispered, her heart pounding with fear.
Despite her terror, she tried to kick Basilio, but he vanished with the wind. Turning to find him, she was shocked to see him beside her, gripping her right arm.
"How does he move so fast?" she thought.
She tried to kick him again, but he vanished and reappeared above, grabbing her head.
"Impossible. If he can break my body's protection, one hit could kill me," she thought, trembling.
With Basilio above her, holding her head, she couldn't use her cubes to shield herself. Cold sweat dripped as fear overwhelmed her. "I don't have time to protect myself," she thought.
But before Basilio's blow landed, a flurry of balisongs struck him, passing through his body like air. Romeo leaped to Abby, warning her not to let the enemy land direct hits. He charged, balisong in hand.
Cris smirked, meeting Romeo's attack. Their energies clashed, their strikes swift and powerful. Romeo's balisongs blocked Cris's chains, allowing him to close the distance.
Cris parried Romeo's balisong with his chain's blade. "Show me your skill, little General," Cris taunted.
Romeo attacked with his right hand, slashing at Cris, who blocked again. Their clash generated a powerful force, shaking the room.
"Make sure you can keep up," Romeo said seriously.
Their battle intensified, their rapid, forceful strikes destroying the floor, ceiling, and furniture. "They're so fast, it's unbelievable," Abby whispered.
She was stunned by the ferocity of Romeo's fight. Knowing she couldn't match his strength, she realized that if their enemies could rival him, she stood no chance. Her magic cubes were her only weapon, but their slow formation—taking three seconds—rendered them ineffective against such speed.
Searching for Basilio, she spotted him watching her, fear gripping her. But she knew she had to fight. As he vanished again, she summoned ten sturdy cubes to shield herself, only to feel a hand on her back.
"Sister, did you know I can pierce your body?" Basilio said.
Abby leaped, energy surging as four cubes merged. "Super Cube!" she shouted. The red cube struck Basilio, but he vanished like air. "What kind of power does he have? How can I catch him?" she thought, panicking.
Startled, she felt a hand on her neck and froze, seeing Basilio before her, his eyes cold and ready to kill.
"Have you ever lost your head, Sister?" Basilio asked, his voice chilling yet mocking.
Abby's eyes widened, fear consuming her. She knew Basilio could shatter her protection, and a single strike could be fatal. "Impossible. If he breaks my body's defense, I'm dead!" she whispered.
Her knees trembled with terror, knowing a mistake could cost her life. Caught by the enemy, she feared death.
Suddenly, she recalled her general. "Please, General, help me," she whispered.
Glancing at Romeo, locked in fierce combat, she knew he couldn't help. Peter was busy fighting gorillas and rhinos, leaving her alone. "Please, anyone, help me," she thought.
As Basilio gripped her neck, his overwhelming aura sent shivers through her. Her heart raced, and she swallowed hard in fear.
"Did you know, Sister, I can make anything I touch explode? I've touched you multiple times, so I could blow you up," Basilio threatened, warning her against any wrong move.
He didn't care who Abby was but wanted her out of Cris's fight with Romeo. "My brother Cris is enjoying his duel with your general, so don't interfere," he said.
"Why do I feel like this? I need to find a way to fight, but… my body won't move," Abby whispered, trembling, unable to think clearly or move her body. "Why can't I move my hands? My body won't obey. What do I do? Is this the end?" she thought, panicking.
She imagined bombs planted where Basilio touched her, ready to detonate.
"You have no ability to protect yourself from my attacks, unlike your sand-wielding comrade. You're the weakest in your group, so stay quiet and behave," Basilio taunted.
"Weakest in the group?" Abby repeated, stunned by the insult.
Suddenly, memories flooded back—nights spent training despite exhaustion and injuries, determined to be useful to her team. At eighteen, she was resolute. One night, a thirteen-year-old Romeo saw her kicking a punching bag.
"It's ten at night. Why are you still here?" he asked.
Startled, Abby stammered, fearing a reprimand. "General, I just want to train to be as strong as the others," she said, her voice shy.
"Train? Your training ended at five this afternoon," Romeo said.
Abby looked down, apologizing, admitting she trained until her body gave out. She confessed feeling inferior, unable to do what others could. Even Flora, younger than her, could shatter stone with a punch. She questioned why, as a woman, she couldn't match them.
Staring at her hands, she explained struggling to strengthen her punches due to her weak energy. Against strong enemies, she felt useless.
"I want to be useful to you, General. I need to do everything to get stronger," she said.
Romeo approached, stressing the importance of their health despite their need for strength. He sighed, urging her to stop negative thoughts about her abilities. "I didn't ask you to kill yourself training. Yes, I want you strong, but I don't want you punishing yourself here."
"I'm fine, General. I want to do this because I refuse to stay weak. I want to be strong like the others," Abby insisted.
Romeo faced her, gripping her shoulders. "You're not weak, Abby. You may not punch or defend like the others, but that doesn't make you weak."
"Your power lies in your magic cubes, and you can contribute to the team in your own way," he added.
Back in the present, as Basilio held her neck, Abby unleashed a surge of energy. Her fearful expression transformed into fierce determination. "I may be weaker than the others, but I'll do anything for the General!" she shouted, grabbing Basilio's arm.
Basilio was stunned by her sudden shift in aura. "I told you to stay quiet, or I'll make you explode!" he threatened.
But Abby's eyes burned with resolve, fear replaced by defiance. She lunged forward, headbutting Basilio. "Blow me up if you can, but I won't let you go!" she yelled.
"2nd Cube Art: absolute prison !" she shouted. A massive super cube trapped her and Basilio, followed by four more merging into a black cube. "Fine, I'll take you with me if I explode!" she declared boldly.
Basilio was shocked by Abby's sudden aggression, puzzled by her shift from trembling fear to fearless defiance.
He felt a flicker of fear as he tried to pull his arm free. "Let me go!" he shouted, but Abby's determination held firm.
Basilio raised his left hand to punch her but froze, struck by her resolute expression—a person ready to risk everything.
"Why do I feel my life's in danger?" he thought.
As their fight raged, Romeo and Cris's battle continued, their swift, powerful strikes destroying the room. Romeo's balisongs clashed with Cris's chains, each impact shaking the space with energy.
"I must be useful to General Romeo. I'll do anything to help him win, even if it costs my life!" Abby whispered, clinging to Basilio.
Despite her fear, she knew she had to be strong. This fight wasn't just for her but for Romeo and their mission. Deep in her heart, she was determined to prove she wouldn't give up and could contribute in her own way.
End of chapter.