Chapter 1

ZANE'S POV

It's been four years since the last time I saw Eleena. She's never been found. Parang nawala ng bula. When that time happened, I never go back to the Imperial Palace. I decided to take Gregor, Lesly, and Anne to the Winter Kingdom dahil yun ang panghuliang paubaya ni Eleena samin ni Christina.

Apat na taon ko na ding di nakikita ang Emperor na yun. Sa loob nang apat na taon walang celebrasyon ang nangyari sa Imperial Palace. Sa pagkaka alam ko 'di narin lumalabas si Caspian sa palasyo niya.

Sinubukan kong habulin si Eleena nung gabing yun. But I failed... Hindi ko na siya makita. She already left.

"Zane, is there something wrong?" nilingon ko si Christina. She's looking at me with those worried look.

"I'm fine, Christina" sabi ko sumandal sa upuan.

"Still thinking about Eleena?" I nod.

"Don't worry too much, Zane. The good thing is we know that Eleena is still alive. Dont you trust her? She's a brave woman, Zane" sabi niya at tinapik ang balikat ko.

Yeah, we know that she's still alive since the golden tree is still there standing. But that tree doesn't look the same anymore. Leo told us that the leaves are now few and it doesn't bloom golden flowers anymore. Since it doesn't have a proper ritual from Eleena every year.

If that tree continues to be like that...

It will slowly die.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako. Where would she be right now? Is she doing well? Kumakain ba siya nang maayos? I stood up and head to my table. I open the drawer and grab the box. I opened it and saw Eleena's hair.

I bought it from the Black Market. When I was looking for her, I saw this on a glass box and on salw. I was shock when I saw this hair. Alam kong sakanya 'to nanggaling since only Eleena have black hair in this world. I ask the seller where he get it. He said a woman with a cloak sell it to him. I bought it even if it was expensive. She sold her hair just to have money.

"Zane" tawag sakin ni christina.

"What?" sabi ka habang ibinalik sa drawer yung box.

"I missed her" napatigil naman ako at tinignan si Christina. She's acting like a brave woman but she has a soft side for Eleena.

"I know, Me too Christina. Me too" I sat beside her.

"I should have allowed you to do your plans to Eleena. I even saw sometimes when Anne is crying. She misses Eleena so much" malungkot niyang sabi. Anne became her personal maid when I bought them here. Lesly goes to the academy and Gregor became my Butler.

"Don't stress too much. You're getting married in two weeks" I said and wiped her tears. Tumango naman siya at niyakap ako.

"I hope that she'll show up someday"sabi niya at kumalas sa yakap. I nooded. I hope she'll show up.

"I want to see her on my wedding" Sabi niya. Eleena is one of Christina's close friends.

"Don't worry, I didn't give up on finding her" I said. Napalingon kami sa pintuan ng may kumatok.

"Come in" I said and stood up. Pumasok naman si Gregor.

"Captain Lux wants to have a word with you, Your Highness" sabi niya. I sat in my table and look at him.

"Let him in" I said. Nag bow naman siya at binuksan ang pintuan. Bumungad naman si Lux at bumati sakin.

"Greetings, Your Highness" he said and bowed.

"What do you need, Lux?" i said. Nag paalam muna si Christina na bumalik sa Kwarto niya. I called George to escort Christina to her room.

"I came here to report about the Wandrod Village" he said. I know this issue about the Wandrod Village. It was attack by the goblins. Wandrod Village is one of the mining sites in Winter Kingdom. They want to steal the possesions that the village have.

"What about it?" I said.

"The village is doing fine for now since the goblins withdrawed. They just can't give up. They keep coming back in numerous groups. The knights we sent were badly wounded and they have poor state of guarding the village right now" he said. These f*cking goblins don't know the word surrender.

"Ready the horses for tommorow. I'm going to the Wandrod Village. I want to see what are their condition" I said.

"Yes, Your Highness" he said.

"You can go now" sabi ko.

"I shall take my leave, Your Highness" sabi niya at lumabas ng office. Hayst. I have to teach those f*cking goblins a lesson.

Lumabas ako ng office at bumungad naman si Ken my personal Knight.

"Your Highness" gulat niyang sabi.

"There's no need to react like that, Ken. I'm not a ghost" seryoso kong sabi. Bakit ba magugulatin tong si Ken.

"I apologize, Your Highness" sabi niya at nag bow. I massaged the bridge of my nose.

"Is there something wrong, Your Highness? You look troubled" taka niyang sabi.

"I'm going to the Wandrod Village tommorow and cut that calling. Dalawa lang tayo dito." Sabi ko at naglakad. Sumunod naman siya sakin.

"Should I wipe them out for you, Zane?" Rinig kong sabi niya.

"No, I'll teach them a lesson by myself" sabi ko.

*Fast Forward*

ELEENA'S POV

"Obi! San ka pupunta?"Tawag ko sa kanya. Lilipad na sana siya.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako.

"Gagala kananaman?? Ang aga pa oh. Hay naku Obi lagot ka talaga sakin pag may makakita sayo. " banta ko sa kanya. I decided to give him some freedom since siya lang naman ang kasama ko dito. Nagaalala ako kay Obi baka may makita sa kanya at mapapahamak. Inaabuso nung pinayagan ko eh.

Napasapo nalang ako sa noo ko. Humarap naman siya sakin. Tinignan ko ang mukha niya at napangiwi nalang ako. Pinakitaan ba naman ako nang nakakaawang mukha.

Langya talaga tong ibon nato! Naku!!!

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako.

"Fine, But! You must careful. Ayaw kong mapahamak ka" sabi ko. Mukhang natuwa naman ito at umikot ikot.

"Don't you ever make a mess, Obi. Naiintindihan mo ba ako?" Sabi ko habang tinuro siya. Tumango tango naman ito.

"Mag iingat ka" sabi ko. Lumipad na ito papalayo sakin. Napamaywang nalang ako at humarap sa maliit kong bahay.

Napatingin ako sa tambakan ko nang kahoy at wala na itong laman. Hayst, Kailangan ko papalang mangahoy ngayon.

Sa loob ng apat na taon dito ako nakatira. I've been living here in a mountain called Wonfez. This is a territory of the Wind Kingdom. Dito ang napili kong bundok kasi walang mga bandidong nakatira at malayo rin sa Imperial Palace.

I grow my own crops and build my own house. Maliit pang ito at di kasing ganda nang gawa ng ibang karpentero. Pero yan lang talaga ang nakakayanan ko.

May konting gamit din ito dahil binenta ko yung buhok ko. Kaya binili ko na ang mga kailangan kong gamitin.

Unang dating ko dito ay parang gusto ko nalang sumuko. Pero tinatagan ko ang sarili ko. Di pa dito ang katapusan ko. Kaya nagtuto ako paano mag tanim at gumawa ng bahay.

Di naman ako namomroblema sa gagamitin ko dahil libre yung kahoy.

I'm starting to wonder kung ano nangyari kina Anne. Kung kamusta na sila. Di ko narin alam kung anong balita nang Imperial Palace o kay Caspian. Pagkapasok ko nang bundok nato ay di na ako umalis pa kahit nandyan si Obi para isakay ako.

The Golden Tree...

Di ko nadin alam kong anong sitwasyon ng punong yun. Apat na taon nang hindi nagawan ng ritual.

Napangiti nalang ako ng mapait. Kung pumunta man ako at isalba ang puno. Mamamatay lang ako dun.

Napailing nalang ako at kinuha ang espada. Dapat di ko na siya iniisip ngayon. Kinalimutan mo na siya diba Eleena?

ZANE'S POV

"Your Highness, the horses are ready" sabi ni Gregor. Tumayo naman ako kinuha yung espada ko sa gilid.

"You're going now?" Napalingon naman ako ni Christina. I just nooded.

Tumayo naman siya at binigay sakin ang isang cloak.

"Gamitin mo to baka magkasakit ka. Bago lang tumigil yung snow kaya medyo malamig ngayon" sabi niya. Isinuot ko naman toh at tinignan siya.

"I'll be going now" I said and opened the door.

"Mag iingat kayo" ngiting sabi ni Christina. I immediately get out ofn the palace. Nakita ko agad si Ken at Lux na nakasakay na sa kabayo nila. Medyo makapal ang snow ngayon di tulad kahapon.

I hop on my horse and look at them.

"Let's go" I said and the horse starts running.

*Fast Forward*

Isat kalahating oras ay nakita na namin yung village.

"Ano yun?" Rinig kong sabi ni Lux. Agad kong nilingon ang village. Ang daming usok. Di normal ang usok ang lumalabas galing sa village. Parang sunog.

"Let's hurry" sabi ko at pinabilis ang takbo ng kabayo.

Pagkadating namin sa gate ay may kumapit saming isang kawal.

"Your Highness!" Sabi niya at dalidaling lumapit samin.

"What is going on?" Seryoso kong sabi. May mga sugat siya sa katawan.

"Umatake ulit ang mga goblin. Madami sila ngayon. Konti nalang mga kawal ang natira. Bumalik na po kayo sa palasyo" sabi niya. Napataas naman ang kilay ko. Bumalik?  Tsk! I'm not weak you f*cker! I can kill many goblins as I like.

Agad akong naglakad papasok at binangga siya na ikinatumba niya.

I immediately headed to where the screams are. Nasusunog yung nga bahay. The goblins were killing my people.

"Tulong!!!"

Nilingon ko naman at sino yun. It's a woman holding her child with a wound on it's stomach. I immediately rush to her.

"Y-your H-highness." Utal niyang sabi. Tinignan ko naman si Ken at agad itong tumango.

"Follow him. May gagamot sa anak mo sa labas" sabi ko at tumayo. Agad naman itong sumunod kay Ken.

Nakarinig akong maraming yapak na papalapit samin. Kinuha ko agad ang espada ko at humarap.

I saw multiple goblins heading towards us.

"Uy mga pre, nandito pala ang hari" sabi ng nasa gitna nila at tumawa. Tumawa naman ang kasama niya na parang mga baliw.

"This is my territory. No one gives you a permission to destroy it" galit kong sabi. Pero ngumisi lang sila.

"Gagawin namin ang gusto namin" sabi niya. Napangisi naman ako.

"Then, I have no choice but to kill all of you" I said and pointed my hand on them. Nakita ko namang sumeryoso yung mga mukha nila.

"Wīñfrêz lår-----"

"Your Highness!!"

napatigil ako nang may isang malaking bagay na bumagsak sa kanila. Lux immediately protected me. Di ko agad makita sila dahil sa snow.

I heard they started screaming. I immediately stood up and look at them. Nagukat ako sa nakita ko.

They were burning.

Napansin kong ibang kulay na apoy ito. It's black. Where did that came from?

"Your Highness" tinignan ko naman si Lux pero nakatingin ito sa ibabaw at na may gulat sa mukha. I look up and suprised in what I saw.

It's a phoenix.

A black phoenix...

Or should I say Eleena's Familliar...

It's Obi...

DONE CHAPTER 1

PLEASE LIKE, COMMENT, and SHARE

A/N- Yey!! Naka update narin si author ng isang chapter!!. Sana nagustohan niyo ❤️. Love y'all!