CHAPTER 14

E N D E M I O N

My head is killing me the chicken is already making noises outside, morning have come to wake the people from their deep slumber. I saw her move and then sat up, stretching her limbs and look around the place until she saw me sitting in the corner. She paused for a while staring at me, blinking her eyes several times. Her brain is still processing.

"Good Morning" I greeted and she woke up from her senses.

She jump down the bed and touch my face in surprised. Nataranta siya na bat daw ako namumutla. Di mo lang alam anong pinagdaanan ko. I was in between stopping the temptations causes I have a woman sleeping in my room. After what I heard that night. I forgot to sleep, insomnia was taken over me. I just face the wall for the whole time.

I massage my temple and hold my thing, it still arousing.

"Sensya na kung kinuha ko ng bawat espasyo ng kama, nadala ako sa pagod ko pasensya na talaga next time sa baba lang ako matutulog"

"Okay lang masaya naman ang gabi ko"

"Sure ka? We di nga mukha kang hindi nga nakatulog,. pasensya na po talaga!"

"Nakatulog naman ako wag ka mag alala" in my head. Hindi naman ako pwedeng matulog at pano kung magising siya at marinig niya ang mga pinaggagawa ng kabilang kwarto. "Take a shower first were going somewhere"

"Oh sure, sure wait lang mabilis lang to"

Napaisip naman ako kung ano ang susuotin niya at hindi naman ako papayag na susuotin niya ulit ang damit niya na ginamit niya kahapon. "Sami. Wait"

"Hmm?"

"Maya kana maligo, I'll bring us breakfast. And also don't leave the door open wait for my return" I said and she nodded right away. Madali siyang kausap.

I stepped outside and couldn't believe their guts, those people ruined my whole night until now. Their underwears are scattering are all over the floor. And the people past the hall are making the same expression as mine. Tinabi ko nalang ng mga ito gamit ang sapatos ko at bumaba para bumili ng pagkain.

After few minutes.

I return back to our room and stop when I heard it again. Bat di pa kayo tapos!! I waddled over the door and knocked hurriedly and she open it. I saw a confused expression from her innocent face and I put the food on the table. "Kain na tayo"

She took a spoonful of food and stuff her mouth. And heard them again. Another veins popped out on my face. Those people are messing with me again!

"They sure are loud aren't they?"

"Ahahah they are just... Don't listen to them they're just singing"

"Oh" I sighed in relief when she bought it.

My eyes twitch its getting louder and louder. I saw how she listened to the sound and I covered her ears and she look so confused and stunned. She's trying to pull her face away from my grasp "What are you doing?" She asked while chewing her food

"There's a bug!"

" .....A bug where?!"

"Cover you ears now! they are mostly finding a place to make it their home" she covered her ears hurriedly and I swatted the place. Just to tricked her. Kung pwede lang sigawan yung mga iyon na tama na kase nakakasagabal na sila sa kabilang kwarto. Okay lang kung ako lang mag isa but I have an innocent angel here. She's too young to enters the matured world. Where pleasures and finding mates was considered to be normal.

When I heard them finally reached their climax the sound stop and I sighed in relief and sat down on my chair and sip peacefully on my coffee. "Thank goodness they're done"

"Parang ang panget naman ng kantang yun, di pa maayos ang lyrics"

"Nagriritual ata Sami, kain ka nalang wag mo na pansinin"

"I heard them saying faster oh faster I'm coming...coming where?" I spilled my coffee after hearing it, napaso din ang ilong ng lumabas din dun ang kape na ininom ko "And also I heard an unusual moaned and it's weird and a bit intere....."

I shoved the bread on her mouth to hushed her and stood on my feet and went to the door. This is getting out of hand. I slammed the door behind me and went to the next door. And knocked. Konte nalang sisirain ko na ang pinto nato.

I heard a footsteps tapping on the marble floor and open the door and I groaned in disbelief. Nakahubad yung lalake sa harap ko kitang kita ko ang nakalaylay nitong.... Mukhang pagod na pagod.

"Bakit?" Mukhang wala pa itong pakealam.

Bakit daw?

Abat!! Di ba nila alam anong ingay ang ginagawa nila. I sighed and talk slow "I have an angel with me can you lower your voices"

My eyes accidentally saw a woman's arms grip tightened on her pillow. Kitang kita ko ang mabilisan niyang pag alog sa kama. Damn! I shifted my gaze away. Mukhang di pa tapos ang iba.

"Oh sorry dude"

"Sure" I said and he close the door. I shut for brief moments. After what I saw I couldn't get it out of my head. My eyes darted on a beautiful polished wall and knock my head. The impact just shook the place.

➖➖➖

We left the Inn, may dala dala pa akong bukol sa noo ko at kanina pa niya akong tinitingnan. "Baba ka nga" utos ng pandak sakin at dinungawan ko siya. May nilagay siyang malamig na dahon sa noo ko at binatukan ako na kinasungadngad ko sa lupa.

"Ano naman ang napaisip mong untugin ang cemento kanina!"

"It was to stop myself"

"Stop yourself on what?"

"Arousing"

"Owsing?" Her brows knitted together in confusion "Ano yun?"

"It's nothing," I shortly replied and patted her head and continued to walked on the rocky road. The carriages past us, hearing it's squeaking wheels.

"So where are we going now?"

"Taking you for a hunt"

"Hunt?" She tilt her head with curiosity, waiting for my respond.

"It's a...." I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. How am I supposed to explain those words to a flower. She's not a flower trap nor even a pitcher plant.

"Okay the explanation is that. Hunting is ... the activity of searching for a particular thing."

She awed for a while "So this hunting can help me improve?"

"Yes hundred percent"

"So, di kana maghahanap ng ibang partner pagnakahunt ako?"

I nodded and she huff an air, readying herself, hopefully you won't regret it. After all you choose to come with me than going back home

"Yes! Can wait" she was so excited, hopping like a rabbit and tapped her fingers on the scabbard with a hum. Sana hindi siya mahimatay pag nalaman niyang halimaw ang haharapin niya mamaya.

The morning dew on the grass danced with the sunlight ambling through the grass and passing by the small streams we made our way towards the plume grey smoke, rising from the other side of the mountain. A small village come into view consisting of small cottages thatched with dried purple grass, flower bloomed and trees brimmed with smoke fruits, life rich soil, food growing in neat lines.

Nagtanong tanong lang ako kung saan pwedeng makabili ng kabayo at tinuro naman nila kung saan ang barn.

Sa di kalayuan may nakita akong mga magagandang kabayo na malayang tumakbo sa malawakang lupain.

We saw a beautiful hut standing beside on the stream with a windmills spun over the breeze. We went to meet the people lives in that hut and saw a middle-age man with a little girl might be around 12-14 years old, plowing their garden. And a woman from behind them harvesting the carrots from the ground.

They raised their heads and stop.

The farmer remove his cap and put it on his chest with a bow.

"Ano po ang kailangan nila?" Manahang tanong nito samin.

"Can I buy one of your horse? We are going on a journey this bloomians feet are withering already"

Sakumi frowned at me "I can walked you know I'm not that weak"

"Sami, we're on a hurry if we walked by foot then it'll take a week for us to be there on time" I said and turn my gaze back to the farmer and they look at each other and have a little chat "So? Name your price"

After a few seconds they nodded and tell me the price and Sakumi mouth dropped. "Are you serious? Meron po ba discount?"

Her facial expression was priceless. I put out a pouch of gold coin and they were stunned "keep the change" I said and they looked at the pouch and the farmer hurriedly picked our ride. And it's a beautiful one.

"Wow!!" Sakumi expression says it all. And ran her fingers to the horse body "She's beautiful"

"It's a he not she" I clarified it and she just do a duck face and turn her attention back to the horse and she kinda like it "I'll take it"

I put my arms on her waist and assisting her up to the saddle. Umakyat nadin ako pagkatapos. By the looks of it, it's definitely a hybrid one and also tame. "Put your arms around me"

"Eh?"

I sighed nonchalantly and grab her cute hands and put them on my waist, she's almost like hugging me from behind. She just startled and pushed herself back and just grab my clothes.

"Have a safe journey!!!" They wave their hands to us as we rode away.

• • • • •

When the morning change into mid day I've decided to take a break and stop by the river. Umiinom naman ang kabayo sa di kalayuan na nakatali sa puno.

I saw a fish swimming and I pulled out my dagger and waited for the timing and I released it. Hinubad kolang ang sapatos ko at hinila pataas ang pantalon ko tsaka kinuha ang isdang at inalis ang dagger.

She already set up a fire, just by using rocks. I never knew she can do that. She blow the smoke and the orange red coloured devoured the woods and she put few dried leaves and wipe her hands then take the fish. Nagluto naman siya at inilagay ito sa dahon na mula sa dahon sa saging.

"Di kana kakain?"

She just frowned at me and I asked her to wait for me and grab something for her. Naghanap hanap lang ako ng prutas sa mga Puno at nilagay lang ang mga nakuha ko sa bag at mabilis anong bumalik.

She steam the fish again and put it back to keep it warm. Inabot kolang ang nakuha kong prutas at kinain ko na ang niluto niya.

I have misjudged her but actually she can survived alone in the wilderness.

Maybe there's more of her that I didn't know.

We had our lunch and the fish was cooked perfectly. Even it was lack of seasoning it still has the perfect bite of salt. How can she make this simple smoke fish, into something this delicious.

I heard the crunchiness of the luscious apple and she chewed it slowly.

"You know you can make a perfect bride"

She just turn red and recoils a feet away from me. "Heh!! Manahimik ka" she steaming in anger and I find it cute. How can she still be cute without trying so hard.

"Ibig kolang sabihin masarap ang luto mo"

"Thank you pero don't say such ridiculous words it's a bit embarrassing!" That just make me chuckle.

"It's true yah know"

She approached me, squinting her eyes "Stop it polished ass"

Those words was like an arrow strike deeply inside my chest. I raised my hand an act of surrender "Fine, you won"

"Yes!"

"Nga pala are you ready to have your first hunt?"

"Oh" she clap her hands with excitement "Ngayon na ba?"

"Pagkatapos natin kumain may pupuntahan tayong lugar na posibleng pugaran ng mga nilalang na ito"

"Sige I'm ready, Basta maimprove kolang ang skills ko at hindi ako maging pabigat"

After finishing our lunch we continued to find the nearest mountain, where few monster coming down to hunt humans. I stop walking and she bump her face on my back, sumilip naman siya at natunganga. I rotted on my spot watching the barren land. I hopped down.

A low, ghastly growl was heard. The horse began to panic "Jump Sami!! Jump!" Utos ko at inilahad ang kamay ko para saluin siya. She had no choice but to jump but my calculations is wrong. Hindi ko siya nasalo, nahulog lang siya sa harapan ko.

"Wow thank you ah"

"Sorry, okay kalang?"

"Hindi, naawa nga ako sa lupa e kung okay lang din ba siya" inis na sambit niya at tumayo sabay pagpag ng kanyang damit.

Another growl interrupted us again. I looked around and put her beside me. My eyes were focus, fixing my gaze cautiously in the direction where the noise was last heard. This place is a perfect spot for breeding monsters. Bringing their heads will give us fortune. And then it finally came. Ramdam ko na ang paggalaw ng lupa.

"What is happening!!"

"Sami that's your first hunt" I said. I already hold my sword in a defensive stance.

"What now? In the middle of Gaiverianquake?"

"It's not it, it's a..." I pulled her in front of me and heard her gasped in shocked.

The creature gradually emerged from the lake. Water ran in rivulent down it's scale body. A pair of crimson red eyes, hungry, baring it's fang. It let out a menacing roar. In a flash, the creature lunged straight to us and claws swiping in her way. She leapt to the side to avoid it's claw.

She was horrified, feeling her body trembled " kala ko ba finding something, you're feeding me to a monster how could you!!"

"Di kita ipapakain dyan kailangan mo yang talunin!"

"Its big! Kala ko ba maliit lang!"

"I didn't say it was small"

"Gagi ka talaga!" Tarantang sigaw nito at minumura ako. I left her and leapt away. And she's already panicking. Which is not good. "lord Endemion!! Lord Endemi... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh"

Parang masyado ko siyang minamadaling matuto paano lumaban. My hands are ready to attacked but I must leave her to see if her stamina could even survive, this first hunt is just a piece of cake for a person like me who done before. Pero sa mga tulad niyang first time mahirap ito sa kanya.

And this maybe her first time see and encountered one.

I was just watching her from a distance and avoiding the falling debris. The ground is moving like a Gaiverianquake. I jumped up to the trees and it's tails keeps swaying. Napakatulis din ng buntot nito dahil napuputol nito ang mga puno.

My breath ceased when her sword flew out from her grip. I immediately push myself up to lunged forward and an ear-splitting whoosh sound was heard leaving dirt explosion and I managed to catch her on time before its claw hit the ground.

The advantages was it's big and heavy body move slower than humans speed. She punch my abdomen with force and I almost lost my lunch.

"That's for not telling me"

"Sorry, I just want to see if you are the one"

"The one? Sure I'll be the one, your partner and always will be" she almost about to attack but I yanked her and the claw hit the ground. Pag natamaan siya ewan ko nalang baka di ko mapulot ang bangkay niya

I pull out my sword and managed to slice across it's broad chest, leaving a gash of red behind, a loud cry of pain erupted from the creature throat. I want to finish it but this is Sakumi's first hunt.

"Sakumi!" I called her and she knew the drill and slashes the monster. The light of the creatures eyes slowly turn died out. And we watch the monstrous beast before us slumped onto the ground.

"Not bad"I patted her shoulder. And she just jump, cheering and hugged me by surprised. "I did it! I did it.... I meant we did it!"

We look at it's towering height, and fishy smell with mixture of sea weeds that were washed ashore lingered around us.

I went to see the lake and saw a dark hole, I believe that's were the creatures egg. It's a reptile one. I dip my fingers on the water. The water is warm and it felt like the eggs was about to hatch. I turn to see Sakumi and she's looking at the monster, running her finger tips on its scales and smell her hand and barf.

Minsan talaga natatawa ako sa ekspresyon niya. I removed my gloves and trailer my hand on the dirty water and it completely dried up. The cracks form on the ground.

And I quickly put back my gloves.

"Sakumi come here" tawag ko at dali dali siyang lumapit at napakamot sa ulo

"Teka nasan ang tubig?"

"Ahh, sumisid" turo ko sa malaking butas. She was still puzzled. But I didn't want to explain because I don't want to lie "Balik lang ko okay, call me if there's something wrong" I said and jumped down and when landed I saw a large opening it's like a cave inside.

Di na rin ako nagpadalos dalos at pinasok ko ang pugaran nito at nakita ko ang mga itlog. My calculations is right because in three days time, this egg will hatch. The greater in numbers are enough to swallow a whole village population.

Pasensya na pero di kayo pwedeng mabuhay. Hinawakan ko lang ang mga ito at mabilis silang natunaw at naiwan lang ang masangsang na amoy.

"My lord Endemion!!" I heard her scream and rushed outside and climb up, panting and look for her, she just snatch me, giving me a tight breaking embraced

"S-sami I can't breath!"

"I thought your dead!!"

"Baliw kala ko napano kana bat kaba sumigaw?"

"There are people here bringing weapons with them"

My shoulder slouch with a sighed, I grab her head and shook it. "Ikaw talaga!"

I stood up and the village people already surrounded the monster. Akalain mo yun aatake sila kung kailan patay na yung halimaw. I jump up and plucked one of it's eyeballs and jumped down. "The rest is yours" Sabi ko at masaya silang sumigaw. May iilan sa katawan ng halimaw na iyon na pwedeng ibenta sa bangko. Malaking pera rin iyon.

Tinangay kolang si Sakumi and continued our little journey and she's create a distance between us and swatting the air. Medyo nangangamoy na nga ang mata kinuha ko sa halimaw na iyon.

➖➖➖

I lead her to a city named Zenaben, a city mostly mercenaries and hunters comes here bringing their hunts as an exchange for gold.

Maraming ganap sa Lugar na ito. I leaned at Sakumi and her eyes turn to stars. Nakahawak lang siya sa damit ko at panay lingon sa paligid.

I carefully scanned the place, glaring on the unfamiliar faces on the streets, Hindi ligtas ng lugar na ito lalo na sa babae. Hinawakan kolang ang kamay niya at Natunton na namin ang napakalaking building

It's been a years already, pumasok na kami and I pushed her head down, avoiding the old man's ax.From a distance I saw Marvan smirk.

"Oyy Buhay kapa?! Himala!"

Oddly, I found myself oddly immune to the unusual tendrils of irritation that's his presence incited within me.

And we patted each others shoulders. "Di namamatay ang masamang damo Marvan"

".....And what do we have here?" He bend a little to see Sami up close. He took Sakumi's hand and about to kiss her knuckles. I just cleared my throat and that made him stop. He raised his head and started to grinned.

"Oh.. I see"

"Your being delusional, ayaw kolang may ibang taong hinahawakan siya"

"Do I looked like a strangers to yah?" Your girl here is such lovely flower" medyo naiirita na ako ng pagpipisilin niya ang pisnge ni Sakumi

"You knew I'm a flower?"tanong naman sa kanya nito na kinataneme niya

Marvan was confused and wants me to answer. Because he was puzzled " It's because she's a flower Marvan"

"Oh hahaha ironic, Diba bale let have a cup of coffee tsaka Its nice to meet you bloomian" he just snatch her away from me "We have a lot to talk about, that man over there is an old pal, last time I saw him was he was devoured by the beast I thought he was dead, and also was eaten by....." He keeps talking and talking. He just exposed me. I just shook my head. Here we go again.