FROM a distance, small birds of different kinds harmoniously chirped, waking Prince Sari up. He lazily rubbed his eyes as he pulled his back away from the hard wooden bed that made him uncomfortable throughout the night. He softly groaned, feeling an unfamiliar ache running down to his spine. He never felt this tired his entire life. The feeling was overwhelming. “How can someone endure sleeping on a bed like this, Sinag?” the Prince complained with a sour expression. Sinag chuckled at the Prince’s reaction before responding, “For someone who grew up in a palace and had always slept in a nice bed, this is the closest descent bed for mediocres, my Prince,” he explained. “Ugh…” Prince Sari couldn’t argue. It was finally proven that he was showered with nothing but luxury. “I’m sorry for what I said,” he apologized, and Sinag chuckled. “It’s fine. I am just glad that we managed to exit the Royal Palace without getting caught, my Princ
“LEAVING ALREADY?” approached an old man when Sinag and Prince Sari went downstairs to see the owner of the mentioned inn.“Hello, Mister. Are you perhaps the owner of this inn?” Prince Sari immediately asked.The old man was surprised at the sudden question, but he managed to smile and confirmed it, “Yes, I am. Did you enjoy your stay, my Prince?”“Of course!” Prince Sari exclaimed, then held both of the old man’s hands and gently squeezed them. “Mister, I will be honest. I had a tough time sleeping last night and everything here is very unusual for me. I mean, I have no idea how normal people lived their lives. I never knew something like this existed.”“Thank you, my Prince,” the old man responded. “But this place is falling apart. I don’t even have the money to repair some of the damaged parts. Lately, I am not receiving any customers due to the ongoing rumors,” he told the Young Prince with a sad expression.Prince Sari’s heart melte
“JUST what are you doing in here, Liwanag?!” Liwanag got up and dusted his clothes. “I overheard your conversation with Sinag, my Prince,” he confessed. “So that’s why you followed us here?” Prince Sari intervened with crossed arms. “How did you end up beneath the carriage, anyway? What if you fell? That was reckless of you, Liwanag,” he scolded, but with worry.Liwanag’s face turned apologetic after hearing all of those from the Prince. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t stay still after knowing that you were plotting to throw yourself right into danger,” he reasoned out.Prince Sari sighed. “Liwanag, I’m not mad. Okay? I just don’t want you to get yourself hurt,” he defended.“I know!” Liwanag agreed. “And that’s why I’m here! I will protect you, Prince Sari!” Both Sinag and Prince Sari’s eyes widened.Then Sinag joined in their conversation, “Sorry for being rude but, the Prince deeply thought of the consequences of his actio
AS LIGHTNING struck followed by the loud roaring of thunder, a man was brought to his knees as blood gushed out from his back after being stabbed with an *itak which caused him instant death. The culprit was also a man who secretly snuck behind him when he was not looking. To their left, several men were also fighting to their death. The color of crimson was everywhere. Pained screaming of innocent civilians caught in between the war echoed. The rain finally poured, washing away the blood of all the wasted lives but not the sorrow of those who lost their loved ones. “We’re all gonna die.” One wounded man who lost both of his lower limbs said to himself while crying in despair. Hope was no longer present in his eyes. He was done for. Keeping himself alive would only burden the people who would tend to him. So, with a pained expression, he slowly picked up his itak drenched in blood and pointed it towards himself. He was trembling while doing so. “Please, forgive me. This
「Part 1 continuation」“Tch! The man with his ridiculous suggestions dare to speak!” The man who strongly disagrees to everything they have talked so far talked back while crossing his arms. Even though his face was hidden under his hood, his gesture clearly showed his repulsion towards the man who spoke his mind just now.“What can you say about this, Simuno Apollo?” The woman asked yet another man that sat on a chair that had a different pattern. He was the only one who did not bother hiding his face. He looked like he was already in his fifties with his short silvery white hair and beared that covered his chin. “Should we tell the people of this tragic incident or should we take desperate measures in order to protect Kabinihan from being tainted?” All the attention was now focused on the man they called Simuno Apollo.“This is indeed a shocking event,” Simuno Apollo started, making most of the people in the meeting nod in agreement. “And this is a gr
PRINCE Sari, age 12. For as long as he could remember, everyone called him “Prince” or “Young Prince” because he came from a Royal Family. They always stated that he was an important person in their kingdom. They also said that one day, he would become King of Kabinihan. Prince Sari had no idea what it all meant back then. Even now, he still couldn’t understand everything or what was his real purpose in this world. “Young Prince, how is the soup? Is it to your liking?” A middle-aged woman dressed in all white asked the kid Prince nervously. She just served a different kind of soup today. They were anxious to let the Young Prince have a taste before they introduced the soup to other Royal members of this palace. If the Prince didn’t like it then they would get rid of it immediately. “It’s delicious. I like it!” Prince Sari honestly commented while putting on a smile. The woman was relieved by his words. The nervousness she was feeling just now slowly faded away. “
「Part 1 continuation」“Good afternoon, Prince Sari.” An old man greeted the Young Prince when he arrived at the garden. He was the child’s personal butler and he was sent here to witness the Prince spar with the said Mandirigma. Technically speaking, that shouldn’t be his job but maybe people from the higher ups were expecting the worst to happen to their future King. “Good afternoon,” Prince Sari greeted back while smiling before gesturing a subtle vow to him. The butler felt honored when the child did that simple but very meaningful gesture to someone like him. Since the Prince was little, he was always told to act like a Royalty at all times. He must be careful with his words, actions and even the slightest gestures could affect his title as Prince. If he was to act like a normal child who loved to play around and did some silly pranks sometimes, that could spread a negative rumor amongst the people. Growing up, he found it really challenging. Whenever he saw c
“ARE you ready, my Prince?” A middle-aged butler whose name was Amarang asked the Young Prince. He was the same butler who witnessed the Prince’s practice duel with the young Mandirigma, Sinag, the other day. Prince Sari thought the people in the palace would make a big deal about his lost on the duel but surprisingly, there was no negative commentaries. Even the Simunos — a mix of elders and higher officials of this kingdom that acted as peace keepers — didn’t react much. Maybe they knew that the Young Prince didn’t have a chance in the first place. “Yes, Amarang,” Prince Sari replied as soon as he finished dressing up with the help of his personal maids who were mostly women that were a few years older than him. Since the Prince was the Chosen Vessel, he was surrounded by women his entire life. This had become normal for the child and made it easier for him to become soft-spoken. Of course, the unaware Prince thought it was all normal, but some men and boys his