The Soul Cultivator

Tale 41

Rox's

"How did I got in this predicament?!"

"Just bare with it, it'll only took a few hour-" Lord Axcel

"What?!" Medyo napalakas ang aking boses na siyang ikinatingin naman ng mga taong nakapaligid sa isang malawak na lamesa kung nasaan kami nagsisikainan...

"Ahem, I would like to thank all of our Clan branch leader and second in lead for attending our official welcome home t-" Xian got interrupted by a very angry old relative.

"Kasinungalingan! 2nd Zen died without a wife, there is no way that that ill-mannered kid is his son!" Sigaw ng 4th branch leader.

I can hear a lot of people agrees, there is no way I could convince them with our- my lies.

"You want proof? Here's the proof..." Brother Xian bluntly said as Ran, Can, and Man distributes the scrolls in their hands.

"Where did they came from?" Tanong ko sa sarili dahil wala naman sila dito kanina.

"Hindi ito totoo!" Biglang tayo nung isa sa pinakamatatandang elders ng Clan, he threw the scroll towards brother Xian- which is besides me.

Before it hit me, because the old man can't aim, I stopped it with my Craft. The scroll he threw floated in front of my face as I calmly look at him.

"Alam nang lahat kung gaanong ka seryoso ni 2nd Zen pag dating sa ating Clan, hinding hindi siya magdadalawang isip na sabihin kay ZenSe- Madam Hai kung may roon man siyang naging kasintahan nung siya'y nabubuhay pa! Hindi ko tatanggapin na anak niya iyan dahil ki- kilala ko ang aking pamangkin..." Galit nitong sigaw habang ako'y tinitignan ng masama, natigilan naman siya ng titigan ko lang siya ng mataimtim.

"Zenro calm down..." Lord Axcel held my hand under the table as he tries to calm me down, I did not realize that the floating scroll is shaking because of my temper.

"So- sorry..." I looked away and just focused on the foods on the table... I kinda missed these dishes.

The scroll fell into the table and rolled into brother Xian's hands.

"Everyone took this sudden announcement differently than what I expected... Sorry, you can go to your Chamber while I sort this out!" Bulong saakin ni kuya Xian at mukhang flustered siya sa sudden outburst ng aming mga Elder.

Even though he looks tough outside, he still has the softness in him.... That's why mother always told me to keep an eye on him.

"But I-" Naputol naman ang aking pagtutol ng hawakan ako sa braso ni Lord Axcel.

Fine...

Oh brother Xian, you really don't know how to handle all of these on your own.

Clearly everyone disapproves the leadership of the first branch, as far as I know most of the elders did not liked my father that's why mother always helped father to establish his status on the clan. And now that their firstborn inherited the clan, most of the elders wants to take the crown. Luckily brother Xian is the only best suited Zen to lead the clan, besides me, no other mature Zen is eligible to take the crown.

"Mauuna na po ako..." Pag hihingi ko ng excuse habang naka titig lang ang mga nasa paligid, waiting for somebody to speak.

"No, stay. He needs to see what his clan wants to say." Another old man.

"Zen Palin is right, kung siya nga ang anak ni yumaong 2nd Zen ay dapat lamang malaman niya ang mga sasabihin natin... After all, he'll be living here from now on, it's best to let him learn the customs of our clan immediately!" Another old man...

"Thanks Zen Oin!" Zen Palin

Zen Oin? Ugh, his looks became more rugged and old since I last saw him. By the way he's Ran's father, and Zen Palin, I think he's in first branch. They are best friends ever since.

"Tsk, typical 2nd branch. Always sucking on the leader's toes, pakitang tao!" Rinig kong bulungan sa gilid.

I've always known na maraming galit sa 1st branch but I didn't know they can be so coarse , if mother was here they'd shut their mouth and never open them again!

"It's okay Zero, go back..." Ngiti saakin ni kuya Xian but I know he's ashamed and hurt for me-

I can't let them treat my brother like this, he immediately sheltered and accept me when he found out I am his brother's son- even though these are all fake he didn't hesitated to believe. 

"No, I'll stay. Salamat po tito Xian but I think I should stay and listen to what they have to say..." Saad ko bago maupo muli na ikinatigil nila.

"Zenro?" Bulong saakin ni Lord Axcel na nginitian ko lang.

Nakita ko namang nginitian ako nila uncle Oin na siyang tinanguan ko nalamang, if this is a battle, I found a few trustworthy allies.

"Ahem, anyway... If he is indeed 2nd Zen's son, why didn't 1st Zen knew about this, did 2nd Zen purposely hid his offspring from his own Clan- the same Clan he protected with his life?!" Saad ni Elder Diras.

"You were there that day happened weren't you Elder Diras?" Saad ni kuya Xian bago pa ako makapagsalita.

"Anong ibig mong ipahiwatig?" Elder Diras

"Maybe 2nd Zen doesn't want his children to have the same fate as his..." Lord Axcel 

Woah! 

Napatulala nalamang ako sa dalawa kong katabi dahil sa kanilang mga sagot, the Elders of my Clan are always scary and mean but I didn't know kuya Xian's confident and Lord Axcel's coldness could make these old farts shut their mouths.

"It's hard to admit but Lord Rivoan is correct, maybe Rox doesn't want his son to inherit his position to the Clan-" Xian

"What do you mean? Didn't Rox loved his duty as the 2nd Zen, hinding hindi niya ipagkakait ang nararapat para sa kaniyang mga anak. He is part of the 1st branch, of course his son won't be treated like a servant-" An elder from 4th branch argued.

"Being part of the 1st branch doesn't mean it's already a privilege..." I cut them all.

"Explain young one, what do you mean?" Uncle Oin

"Just like Lord Axcel, he's a son of the King but do you see him sitting on the castle enjoying life or exploiting their wealth?... I don't have any resentment against my father or his clan, he did what's best for me even though I still find my way back to my- his family." Saad ko na ikinatango ni Lord Axcel.

"You're too wise for a kid who grew up without a father-" Elder Diras

"Uncle Diras!" Sigaw ni Kuya Xian.

"It's okay Uncle Xian, it doesn't bother me at all. He can talk to me in any way he wants to, I'm pretty sure my father's soul wouldn't mind how badly his Clan treats his son." Patago akong ngumisi ng makita ang mga gulat nilang mga mukha.

"Don't you ever mention that again, it's a taboo to mention your father's soul!" Another elder warned me.

I knew it, now time to ask them about what really happened!

"Why? May nangyari po bang masama bago pumanaw ang aking ama, didn't he died of natural cause?" Tanong ko na ikinatinginan nila sa isa't isa!.....