The Grimoire

Chapter 42: The Invisible Creek

VERMILLION

I woke up from my sleep at napatingin ako sa labas. The moon is brightly shining at nawala kaagad ang antok ko. We had no choice but to reside her for a couple of days to investigate and it seemed like connected naman ito sa mission namin. Bumangon ako at lumabas ako sa room ko. Sinalubong ako ng malamig na hangin kaya bumalik ako sa loob para magsuot ng jacket na binigay na rin dito. Infairness ha, pati jacket nila, mukhang mamahalin talaga.

Naglakad-lakad ako sa hallways at napatigil ako nang umabot ako sa duol. From here, I can see the view of the whole Zarona. The fierce ocean that almost killed us is now calm and the lights of each residences made the view more calming. I smiled a bit at napatingin ako sa ibaba.

I saw Cairo watching the same direction I watched kanina at biglang dumating si Animus. He told us to drop the titles, so I call him Animus instead of King Animus.

"Cairo," he called kaya napalingon si Cairo. Agad naman akong umatras kasi baka makita ako. "I knew I'll find you here. Still your favorite spot?" he asked. I heard Cairo scuffed kaya sumilip ulit ako. Pareho na silang nakatingin sa dagat at parang malalim ang iniisip nilang dalawa.

"May hindi ka sinasabi," Cairo broke their silence. Animus smiled at napailing siya.

"What do you mean?" he asked, and he chuckled.

"The river," he replied. "You investigated it yourself, didn't you?" he asked. Animus galnced at him and his smile started to fade. Cairo glanced at him at tumingin sa katawan niya. "Kailan pa?" bigla niyang tanong. Animus got startles at pati na rin ako. What is he talking about? "Sino ang nasa itaas?" he asked again.

"W-What are you talking about, Cairo? Don't tell me you're drunk because of that wine I ser-"

"Animus," he called at napatigil siya. "I can sense a deadly aura from you. At first, akala ko gusto mo kaming patayin o gusto mo talaga akong patayin. Well, after what happened between us, I was not surprised," he added. Between them? "But when we had our meal, the aura was inside you, it's killing you," he added again at napalunok si Animus. Cairo looked away and he sighed. "You could've sent me a letter, I would do everything to come here if I knew," he added once more.

"Aww, so now you care about me?" pabirong sabi ni Animus. "Avery good brother, huh," he added with a light laugh.

"Half," Cairo replied with a serious tone. "Half-brother, anak ako sa labas, remember?" he added at hindi ko napigilang napanganga. Should I head back? I don't think I need to hear this conversation.

"Half-brother but the worthiest of the throne," Animus replied. "Anyway, I knew you'd recognize that something is wrong. Hindi ko lang alam na mapapansin mo kaagad. You've become a strong adventurer, Cairo. Father was right." he added.

"Kailan pa iyan?" Cairo asked again.

"4 months," he replied. "I called the strongest healer from this country, wala siyang magagawa. I contacted a healer from another country, wala rin itong magagawa. It turned out na wala itong antidote. The only thing that could heal me is the death of the maker of this poison," he added.

"2 days," Cairo said at napatingin si Animus sa kaniya at halatang nagugulohan ito sa sagot ni Cairo. "Give us 2 days, I assure you that whatever is inside you will be eliminated completely," he added. Animus smiled at napatingin ulit sa dagat.

"It's been circulating in my blood for 4 months, Cairo. Eliminating it meant eliminating me," he replied, and Cairo's eyes widened. Pati sa akin. "The true nature of this poison is being killed when he is killed. In that way, the heroes, like you, will have an ethical crisis that will lead to his survival," he added. That is fucking insane. "But it's alright, Cairo. If my death would lead into much peaceful life in Zarona, I don't mind," he added.