The night sky of Tundun cloaked the whole kingdom. At Nilad, Tundun's capital, where all of this began, Aslon's carriage finally entered the large metal gates of his mansion. The tapping sounds of the horse's hooves echoed along the brown brick pathway of his yard. It had been a long day for his old bones. At this point, he was basically the current de facto leader of Tundun now that the Datu was dead.
"We're here now, Ginoong Aslon," a bald man said.
Aslon rubbed his temples as the door opened. He got up and stepped down from the carriage. His mansion sat near the center of Tundun, close to Plaza Nuevo. He stood in front and was greeted by two aliping saguiguilid. Both were wearing brown saya and tops.
"Good evening, my lord." They said in chorus.
Aslon nodded at them in acknowledgement. "Your sons are here, my lord." The older alipin added as Aslon walked inside.
"Father!" Said two young men to Aslon. both have sun-tanned skin, but the similarities end there. Aslon's eldest mirrors his piercing eyes like and broad shoulders. Standing beside him is the youngest. He looks as young as Mayari. His eyes carried a gentle gaze, filled with unsaid things.
"Sula!" Aslon smiled upon seeing his son. He walked towards the young man and hugged him. The two broke the hug, as Aslon asked how his travel fared.
"Just fine, Father," Sula answered. "By the way, I apologize for not being present at Datu Rakta's burning rites."
"That's fine," Aslon said, placing a reassuring hand on Sula's shoulder. "Have you already eaten? I asked Tsoleng to cook your favorites." Both of them moved straight towards the dining room, leaving the younger one at the front.
One of their aliping saguiguilid – a slave with no belongings of their own – the younger one, felt a sting of sympathy for him. "Ginoong Masala, should I escort you to the dining?"
Masala's trance was broken, "Oh, it's alright, Maria." He said. None of this was new to him. At this point, it would surprise him more to be noticed in any way that felt kind.
"Masala," his brother called, "Let's go!" If anything, his brother's smile at him is the only thing that makes this house feel home. Masala offered a faint smile and walked towards the dining room.
They sat together at an oval wooden table made from ironwood. Tsoleng placed a bowl of tinola, its clear broth steaming, the ginger and green papaya glowed softly beneath the surface. Another one served pork adobo, its tender meat coated in a glossy mix of soy, vinegar, and slow-cooked spices.
"Uy! My favorites!" Sula blurted out, like a kid.
Aslon smiled, his eyes creased in satisfaction upon seeing the smile on his son's face. "Of course, it's been two months since you last came home."
They started eating, Masala cheerfully told them about his diplomatic missions to the neighboring Kingdoms of Pailah and Puliran. Aslon's eyes sparkled as he heard his eldest son's accomplishments. On the other end of the table, Sula just watched as his brother gathered all the attention like a blackhole suspended in a dead space. Sula noticed his brother. The sight of him being left once again sends a tug on his heart. And so, he shifted the attention to Masala.
"So, Masala," he said, "How's life as an Arbikizer?"
Masala's face seemed to shine a little upon hearing his brother's question. He immediately answered, "It's all well, Brother." He drank a glass of water.
"The rebels Penumbra—"
"Terrorists." A stern interjection from Aslon came down. "Call them terrorists, boy."
His tone was serious, and he didn't even bother to look at his youngest son.
"I'm sorry, Father..." Masala bowed his head, his eyes filled with unspoken words. Sula saw how his brother's eyes changed. Probably wanting to shift things into a more positive vibe, Sula asked, "Bro, is it true that some of the Penumbra members are baylan?"
"Yes, though they're all but amateurs and beginners compared to our kingdom's baylans, Brother," the young soldier answered before sipping his tea. Then he proceeded,
"Some of them were alipin... slaves who managed to escape before their abilities manifested, or before they were contained with bakal na Pira."
Sula's gaze softened, the kind of look meant for wounds that weren't his.
"Poor slaves... deceived and used by their leader Kario..."
Perhaps noticing how he had further dragged the mood down, Sula tried to lighten it up. "By the way, I spoke with General Dabo yesterday. He kept praising you, haha... You really are something!" he offered a glass filled with wine to his brother, "I can already see it bro. hahaha, Masala..." He framed his hands in the air as if shaping an invisible square., "the youngest Arbikizer captain in history." Sula smiled, truly smiled for the first time this evening.
They went on, Sula eating all his favorites, Aslon laughing at his firstborn's stories, even to the point of tearing up. Sula, on the other side of the table, drowned in silence as he watched his brother become the center of their father's universe once again.
After that meal, Aslon went straight to his room. Locking the door, he exhaled sharply and removed his satin top. He poured a hot tea that his alipin had prepared a minute ago and took a sip. Despite all the chaos, Aslon managed to break a smile.
"That's a new look..." a calm voice said. "You look happy." For a moment, Aslon was startled, but he hid it immediately. He took the lamp from his bedside table and pointed it at every corner of his room. And then—there he was. Sitting casually in one of the room's corners. A man with long red hair.
"Nemo..." Aslon whispered as he sipped his tea once again. He walked towards the window, the one facing the palace itself, kilometers away, "and yes, I'm in quite a jubilant mood. My son is here, and also..." he paused for a bit, as he let the cool breeze from the outside caress his weathered face, "an opportunity for my family now arises, without me lifting a much of a finger.
Nemo stood up, the moonlight highlighted his features sharply – his high cheekbones, and slender yet well sculpted arms. "So, I guess, you don't need me anymore?"
"No." Aslon calmly said, "Stay here at Tundun, there might still be things that need your expertise."
The evening almost passed as usual, until... the quiet was broken by a couple of loud knocks on Aslon's door. Aslon woke up. He brushes his hair up and straightens his clothes. He walked to the door and opened it.
"My lord, my lord!" Marahuyo was sweating, her breathing deep and hurried. "The palace is on high alert. Princess Mayari and her maharlika escaped the palace!"
Aslon stood silent, and it only took him 2 seconds to decide. "Listen, find Nemo. Tell him to execute plan number four."
"Number four, my lord?" The rise in Marahuyo's tone made the question sharper than she intended. She straightened slightly, as if trying to make sure she had heard clearly.
"Yes, number four." Aslon echoed, "Tundun cannot run like a headless chicken. If Mayari's head is the cost..." his lips quivered for a moment, his eyes went heavy as if trying to stop himself from saying the next lines, "then so be it..."
"Ye – yes my lord..."
Meanwhile, under the same night sky. Mayari and Given were both running for their dear lives. They've been running for at least an hour now. Mayari, of all her regality, sweats like all the water inside her body has been expelled. Given, on the other hand, is used to running, and hard training. They continued running, occasionally stopping to push the tired princess.
Back in our world, we said "curiosity kills the cat." And sure, no one here had ever heard that saying in this universe… but that didn't mean it stopped being true in this place. Given, curious to see if the guards chasing them had been able to catch up, sneaked her head up from the tall bushes. And just like a horror movie, one of the guards saw her, their faces came close to each other.
Given's instinct flared up. She immediately tried to attack with a punch. But this is no competition. There was no pointing system in real life, no rules to protect her from "illegal" attacks. Before she could even land a punch, the barrel of the soldier's rifle was pointed at her face. Her stomach churned as sweat raced from her forehead.
Five more guards readily surrounded them. all pointed their rifles at them. Given's face turned white, while her knees into jelly. The hair on her back raised as she stared at the barrels of the guns in front of her.
"Maharlika Salimbay! In the name of Tundun Council of Elders, surrender!" One of them shouted. Given wanted to reiterate that she's not Salimbay, but her throat choked from the panic and fear she's feeling.
Mayari glanced at Given's shaking hands. And so, she breathed as if summoning all her courage. She stepped in front of Given as if shielding her. "Give me a break," she snapped. "We all know your rifles are about as useful as a candle in the rain." Her eyes roamed at each of them as she added, "We both know you have no authority to lay a hand against a Maginoo without a proper trial."
One of the guards, their leader, approached Mayari. He lowered his gun and pleaded for her to surrender. However, before he could even finish his sentence, his head rolled on the ground after an unseen blade sliced through his neck.
"WHAT THE FUCKKK!!!" G iven yelled as she slumped on the ground. She stared at the lifeless head, its lifeless eyes gazing at her. Her throat couldn't contain it any longer as she started to vomit. Meanwhile, Mayari tried to stop gagging as she turned her head searching for the one behind it. Seconds later, two more died, their bodies cut in half. Till only two remained.
"Good evening, Princess Mayari." A voice greeted her from the darker side of the forest. The moon lighted his long, crimson hair, waving as the wind blew around him. "I'm here to collect your head."
"YOU ANIMAALL!!!" one of the remaining guards shouted as he fired his rifle towards the man. However, the one he's facing is no mere man. He moved faster than the bullets could reach him. In an instant, the man had already choked his neck.
The man – Nemo – gazed at the guard as he lifted him. The other remaining guard also tried to fire at Nemo, but Nemo used his free hand and waved at the shaking guard upward. The poor guard's body was sliced in two. As this is happening, the one he's choking finally bites it.
Mayari staggered backward; meanwhile, Given, still slumped on the ground, could not even move a muscle. Like a cat playing with its food, Nemo savored every moment of it. He slowly walked towards the two women.
"GIVEENN!!! WHAT THE HELL!! MOVE!!!" Given said to herself as she tugged her knees, trying to force them to move. Her eyes welled with tears as snot mixed with it, "P – please... do – don't kill me..." Given begged for her life as Nemo stood in front of her.
Nemo stared at her, bewildered to see a 'maharlika' begging for her life like a baby. A few more seconds, Mayari summoned a dagger once again and rushed at Nemo. Nemo raised one of his eyebrows as he let his fist meet the young princess' cheek. Mayari flew meters away from Nemo.
Nemo then took Mayari by the collar and pointed his finger at her throat. When he's about to wave it like he did on the others, Given's knees finally moved. She desperately grabbed Nemo's arm before he could wave it.
"D0NT!!" she begged while clinging to Nemo.
Nemo leaned his head sideways and asked, "Are you really a maharlika?"
No answer came from the lady. Instead, she clung tighter to Nemo's arm. Nemo flailed his arm to remove Given. After a few more seconds, he managed to get free from Given's grip.
Nemo brought his attention back to Mayari. He's finally about to tighten his grip on her neck and slice her open, but then he felt a sharp pain in his ankle. Given bit Nemo's ankle, which caused him to drop Mayari.
"Fuck," he uttered. He grabbed Given by the neck to kill her, but upon looking at her face filled with agony. Nemo felt something different. His face twisted—not in rage, but in confusion. Instead of killing the maiden, Nemo threw her meters away from him. He shook his head weakly.
Mayari groaned as she pushed herself upright, her right cheek already swollen and darkening. She staggered toward Given, each step tight with pain, determined to reach her. But Nemo yanked her back by the hair, dragging a gasp from her throat.
Before he could do more, a voice cut cleanly through the chaos, almost bored, almost amused. "Oi, oi…" Nemo exhaled, the sound long and tired, as though the gods themselves had decided to interrupt him for sport once again. He lifted his head and saw a silver-haired boy perched casually on a thick tree trunk, moonlight catching on every strand like shards of snow.
The boy leaped down the tree. Nemo lets Mayari free and focused on the silver-haired boy. Mayari gazed at him; he was the same boy earlier, and she also noticed that he had a metal brace on his wrist, like a chainless cuff. "Bakal na Pira?" the princess whispered to herself, as if asking a question to herself. Nemo lets out a sharp wind by waving his hand but the boy simply swayed his body left to avoid it. Nemo squinted his eyes. That wind is as fast as sound. He smiled faintly feeling that an amusing fight was about to start.