Hello! It took me 9 days ata to update kay sorry na. I had too much on my plates pero dahil wala kaming pasok 'til Monday, susulitin ko 'yon para makapag-update.

Enjoy reading!

PS: dedications are open, please comment or you can message me if you want.

**

Luna.

"What the hell happened to your back?!"

I quickly put on my robe and faced the lass who had entered my room. My grip on the robe tightened the moment Sefarina approached me.

She tried undoing my robe off of me kaya nagpumiglas ako. "H-hoy! Sefarina, wala nga!" Giit ko.

That didn't make her bulge any less because she tried even harder to snag my robe! She flicked my forehead and looked at me with wide eyes, clearly intending to threaten me.

Para namang matatakot niya ako?

"Kung wala, bakit mo tinatago?" Her answer made me hug my body even more.

"Hinuhubaran mo na kaya ako!" Maktol ko at binigyan siya ng mapang-akusang tingin.

"You're clothed underneath, Luna. 'Wag mo akong lokohin." Taas kilay niyang sagot.

Napahinga naman ako ng malalim at binitawan na ang hawak ko sa roba. 

She exclaimed, covering her now-partially parted mouth and staring at my bruised back in the full-body mirror behind me.

"H-how..." Gulat niyang tanong na ikinakibit balikat ko.

I tried to make an excuse. "I've got those from our training, Sef. Lady Doreena told me that it will take time to heal."

Even I was surprised at how quickly my back worsen. Lagi naman akong nagpapahinga and until now, they won't let me leave Teadra.

"I know! Nakita ko 'yan, Luna pero hindi ganyan kalala." Singhal niya habang hinahanap ang mata ko. 

"And don't even try to deny it." Aniya sa seryosong boses.

Napakurap ako ng ilang beses bago padapang binagsak ang katawan sa kama ko. Gumaling nga yung binti ko, lumala naman yung likod ko.

"Answer me, Luna lang!" Dabog niya at pilit akong binangon sa kama.

I tried facing her so she would stop grumbling.

"I don't know, okay? I have no idea!" My honest answer made her stop.

She let out a sigh and walked over to the edge of my bed to stroke my hair. She sat beside me, one of her legs folded on the bed.

"Are you feeling well?" Sefarina softly asked while fondling my back.

"I don't..." Mahina kong sabi bago mariing pinikit ang mga mata ko.

'Die, child.'

"Do you want to stay in Renvela for the mean time?" Aniya sa pinakamalambing niyang boses.

'That's right, keep on stumbling... until you have no strength to ascend anymore.'

Damn, nightmares.

Kailan ba nila ako papatahimikin?

Dumilat ako at kinindatan si Sefarina na tumaas ang kilay sa biglaang pagbabago ng reaksyon ko. 

"Baka hindi na ako makabalik 'pag ganon." Asar ko dahilan para hablutin niya ang dulo ng buhok ko.

"Ouch! Isusumbong kita!"

"I'm serious here, Luna lang! Pagpunta natin bukas sa Renvela, magpa-iwan ka na muna." My face grimaced.

Para namang napakadali ng gusto niyang gawin ko?

I rolled my eyes and messed up my hair. Tomorrow is papa's birthday, which explains why we're all returning to Renvela.

"Nope. That won't do, sister." Agad kong tanggi at bumangon para magsuot ng tsinelas.

Sef instantly followed me the moment I began walking out. 

"Come on, babe. Alam kong may bumabagabag sayo." Pilit niya.

"I'm going to the infirmary." I smiled sarcastically as I ran through Nallum's parched grass.

I walked into the infirmary without knocking. I didn't have time to catch my breath because Lady Doreena's thunderous voice startled me.

Sino na naman ba ang kaaway nito?

"— naman tumakas?! Sword, you better listen to me or I'll tell your mother about this!"

"I'm sorry, okay? This won't happen again, Auntie."

Nanlaki naman ang mata ko at hinanap ang pinanggagalingan ng ingay para maki-usosyo. 

I never had the chance to know Lady's family. Ngayon ko nga lang nalaman na may pamangkin pala siya.

Well, hindi naman kasi ako gano'n ka-chismosa para alamin ang talambuhay ng bawat isa.

"There'll better be no next time, young man. You know how important a per—"

"Hello to everyone's favorite student." My body froze.

Napapikit ako at pasimpleng napailing bago nakangiting hinarap si Master Kreme na mukhang sinisilip din ang tinitignan ko.

"Hello, Master." I tried to laugh as I pinch the bridge of my nose.

Saktong namang bumukas ang pinto na iniluwa si Lady Doreena. 

Great, she probably knew I overheard their conversation..

"Wha— Luna."

My hand waved instinctively before embracing my body. Clearly, she wasn't expecting me to return to her domain.

Akala naman niya makikinig ako na 'wag ng bumalik dito?

The infirmary has been my second home, you know.

"Ikaw bata ka, hindi ka pwedeng magpakalat kalat! Tomorrow's your father's big day!" Mahina niyang sermon sakin at tinampal pa ang pwetan ko.

"Hindi naman ako nage-explore, Lady! Ipapatingin ko lang po 'tong likod ko." Agad kong tanggol sa sarili at tinuro pa ang likuran ko.

Mabilis namang napalitan ng pagaalala ang ekspresyon niya. 

"Kreme, I need to check on this unyielding kid first. Let's talk later."

Lady Doreena draped her arm on my shoulder to assist me. On the other hand, Master Kreme's moving his index finger back and forth. 

Again, para namang natatakot ako?

I stuck my tongue out at nagpadala na kay Lady sa loob ng kwarto.

"Can you remove your robe for a while?" Tumango ako at sinunod ang sinabi niya.

"What happened? Hindi ka ba nagpahinga?" Panic niyang tanong at agad akong pinadapa sa kama.

She moved my long hair that's covering my bare back to have a better view. I winced in pain the second she tried to press her hand on my back.

"That's odd."

Mabilis akong lumingon sa direksyon ng lalaking nagsalita. Ang makapal nitong kilay ay magkasalubong habang nakagilid ang ulong pinaga-aralan ang litaw kong balat.

"Sword! You should learn how to knock!" Harang ni Lady Doreena rito.

"Auntie, kanina pa ako nandito. Kayo kaya 'tong pumasok." Inirapan niya ang Lady at inangat ang ulo para ibalik ang tingin sakin.

Napataas naman ang kilay ko at hindi na dumagdag pa. Dinukdok ko ang aking mukha sa unan at pinanatiling komportable ang sarili.

"Still—"

"Saan mo nakuha 'yan?" Inangat ko ng bahagya ang ulo ko para sumagot. He's obviously asking me.

"Training." Bagot kong sagot at muling binagsak ang ulo.

"Again, where?" Seryoso nitong tanong kaya huminga ako ng malalim at kinalabit si Lady.

Lady blew a loud breath at tinampal ang ulo ng pamangkin. 

"She already told you, didn't she? Leave at once."

"No. That can't be the case, Auntie. Those aren't bruises."

Umawang ang bibig ko at napalingon sa kanya. 

"That's why I can't see any visible marks." Bumaling naman ang tingin ko kay Lady.

"Huh?"

I wasn't able to finish my assumptions due to the lad who pressed his palm on my back without second thoughts!

"Putang--"

"Sword!"

Mabilis akong bumangon at balak sanang sipain ang lalaki kung hindi lang ako nito nahatak pabalik sa kama.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko habang nakatingin sa karayom niyang hawak na ngayon ay nakatusok sa aking leeg.

Please tell me that he didn't kill me.

"Tara nga rito, Sword. Pasapak, isa lang."

"Sefarina, ang tagal nating hindi nagkita tapos ganito na lang ang ibubungad mo sakin?"

"Kung hindi ka ba naman tangina, sinong may sabing gawin mo 'yon kay Luna?!"

"Shh, darling. Sword is an expert in the field of medicine and poison."

Mabilis akong bumangon at nananaliksik ang matang hinanap ang walang hiyang lalaki na 'yon. How dare him made me faint?!

"Ikaw." Duro ko sa lalaki that made all of them turn to my direction.

"Oh pixies! You should remain seated, beautiful!" Iraia moved to push me a bit back on the bed.

Kinulong niya ang mukha ko sa kanyang mga palad at pinagmasdan ang buong mukha ko. I didn't remember bruising my face kaya bakit ganito siya makatingin?

"Do you still feel any pain, Luna?"

Kumunot naman ang noo ko at pinakiramdaman ang likod ko. Hindi tulad kanina, wala na ako nararamdamang kirot.

Tinanggal ko ang kamay ni Iraia sa pisngi ko at tahimik na naglakad papunta sa lalaking nagngangalang Sword. 

He took a step back and even tugged Sef's shirt.

"Pa'no 'yon?" Napaubo siya at kamuntikan nang matumba.

Hinatak naman ako ni Lady palayo kay Sword at pinaupo sa kama para pakiramdaman ang pulso ko bago tinignan ang ilalim ng mata ko. 

"Sword's assumption was right. You were poisoned." Natigilan ako at tinuro ang sarili ko. 

"Fulumbra's a liquid that can be extracted from the flowers in Southwestern region. Considered as lethal because the name of the poison itself means slow death." Paliwanag ni Sword habang pinaglalaruan ang ibabang labi.

"During the early years, ginagamit nila ang Fulumbra para sa mga prisoners, to torture them in the slowest way possible." Kinuha niya ang karayom at pinaglaruan 'yon.

"Maswerte ka at buhay ka pa, binibini." Napaangat ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya.

"The longer the poison stays in your system, the more likely you are to die." Bigla siyang umambang itutusok sakin ang karayom kaya napatalon ako palayo sa kanya.

"Sword, you fucker!" Inangat ko ang kamay ko para pigilan si Veton na nags-stretching na.

"Sa una, panlabas mo pa lang ang sinisira— your bruises. Habang tumatagal, ang loob na ng 'yong katawan ang winawasak."

That explains why Lady and I didn't notice any bruises because it had already entered my body. I shook my head in disbelief, sighing.

What is it this time?

"You see, no one knew that the antidote is also the poison itself." My brow raised.

Pasimple kong pinagmasdan ang karayom niyang hawak.

"Alam ng lahat na mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ang pagkuha ng Fulumbra. Who would dare to defy the Cinco?" Enfys butted in.

Umalis naman si Arrow sa pagkakasandal niya sa pader at nagsalita. "Someone powerful, someone who can bend the rules."

I blinked.

No doubt, it's my great grandfather.

Lady Doreena made me stay for the rest of the day to monitor my vitals. Si Sef naman ay kumuha lang saglit ng pagkain at bumalik din agad para samahan ako. According to her, Pream and Damien weren't around dahil pinatawag sila sa palasyo sa Renvela.

"Hindi na talaga kita pwedeng iwan mag-isa." Iling niya at humiga sa kama.

Umirap naman ako at dumekwatro habang pinapanood siyang komportableng magpahinga na dapat ay ginagawa ko. 

"Your grandfather still has some balls to do that to you, huh?"

I almost choked on my own saliva. Bakit ko ba 'to naging kaibigan?

"Knock knock." Tumaas ang kilay ko at nilingon si Sword na nasa pintuan.

Biglang bumangon si Sef at tinulak palayo si Sword na natameme. "Hindi ka welcome."

"Huh? Hindi naman ikaw yung binibisita ko."

Hindi ko sila pinansin at humiga na lang. 

—

I woke up feeling somewhat weary, but thankfully, the pain had already subsided. It was a wise decision on my part to allow Lady Doreena to examine me kasi kung hindi, malamang ay kahit bumangon ay hindi ko na magawa.

"Good evening, sister! It's time for you to wake up and bathe!" Sinimangutan ko si Sefarina na nakangising nakatayo ngayon sa may pintuan.

"Kailan pa ako nakauwi?" Tanong ko nang makabangon.

"Kanina." Tinulak niya ako sa loob ng banyo.

Ang hindi ko nagagamit na bathtub ay ngayo'y puno ng isang kulay puting likido. Napangiwi ako matapos masinghot ang pamilyar na amoy ng gatas.

"Anong gagawin ko dyan?"

"Tomorrow is the King's birthday, you are his daughter and that makes you a Princess."

Lalo akong napangiwi sa pinagsasabi niya. Kailan pa 'to nagka-pake sa pagiging prinsesa ko?

"So?" Taka kong tanong.

Huminga siya ng malalim at sapilitan akong nilublob doon. 

I hissed as its warmth enveloped my body, despite the fact that my peniogre was still on.

"It's a tradition, honey. All nobility must soak their bodies in warm milk under the moonlight before a celebration. The main reason is to cleanse and honor the Luna. Dapat sa Renvela mo 'to gagawin, pero you declined, so I was assigned to help you."

I let out an awkward laugh. 

Akala ko ayaw lang talaga akong umalis ni papa kaya pinipilit niya akong manirahan muna pansamantala sa palasyo pero isa rin pala ito sa dahilan. 

"Hindi pa naman ganon kasama ang budhi ko para gawin 'to, Sef." Ngiwi ko.

"Tanga, hindi ko naman 'yan sinabi. This will help you cleanse the toxins in your body, mainly your scars and wounds." Tumaas naman ang kilay ko.

"How is that possible?"

She heaved a sigh at winisikan ako ng gatas sa mukha. "Again, this is a tradition, my friend. It is included in the long list of our kingdom's beliefs. So, please."

She motioned her hand at magalang na yumukod.

"Enjoy, Your Highness."

Umamba akong hahablutin siya kaya dali-dali siyang tumakbo palabas habang tumatawa. Sinandal ko naman ang likod ko bago tinanaw ang buwan mula sa malaking bintana sa aking gilid.

Until now, saksi pa rin ang buwan sa lahat ng nangyayari sa buhay ko. Magmula noong mapadpad ako sa mortal realms, hanggang sa malaman ko ang totoo kong katauhan.

The moon served as my journal, the only eyewitness to every moment of my pain and triumph.

I smiled and let my thoughts wander.

**