4: Home bound
1049 Words
After Patricio encountered his destiny earlier, he rushed back to go home. He was excited to tell his brothers about his destiny. She was all he can think of. He was humming a happy melody when...
"Mierda! I need a gift for my little sister!" He swore to himself. Usually, they were not allowed to go outside the woods. But he was permitted just for today to get something special for her. He was planning on buying her a coloring book. "I must go back, or they will be annoyed at me."
Or maybe I can disguise a stack of leaves into a book. That would be a great way to play with my sister's birthday.
He grabbed a handful of acacia leaves from his way home. Chanted a few casting spells and there you have it. A hardbound coloring book. It looked and felt like paper but in reality, it was just leaves. When you try to color the pages it would turn into dried leaves.
This is perfect.
He would have time to buy her a book later on. He was hoping to see Edith again. She was so beautiful. Her long brown hair freely swayed on her back. Her slender body and thick Spanish accent. He could watch her all day and still want more of her.
Is she human? That might be a problem in the future. I hope she is like me a käma-käma. Or an engkanto. That would be much easier as we live in the same place.
He was daydreaming of their future. He envisioned walking side by side with her while they roam around the palace.
As he was nearing the entrance to their land. He murmured the words so he will be granted passage.
"Salamangka" He announced. The veil that shrouds their dwelling from outsiders began to be lifted, creating an archway the size of two doors and as high as bamboo.
On the outside, you would see a vast area of trees, plants, shrubs, and vines intertwined and cohabiting. Even at noon, the place looked dark as sunlight rarely touched the grounds from the thick layers of leaves and branches. But inside, the place was transformed into a spacious palace. Full of light and buzzing with activity.
Their kingdom was occupying the underground of the whole woods and you can only access it via the main gate near the hacienda of the Gobernador Vicente.
A few years ago, there were no gates and anyone can freely come and go from their palace but since a lot of trespassers had wandered into their place, Iñigo decided to put a barrier for all engkanto living in the woods.
It ensured that they were safe from intruders who are after their treasures.
Ah yes, as ground dwellers they have a lot of precious stones and metals which makes them rich in terms of humans. But for him, those are shiny things that he can use to play.
"Pat your back! How was the town? Did you find anything interesting?" His older brother asked him.
"Oh man, give me some space here. I just got back, and you are suffocating me already. Btw, you stink!" He responded.
"Stop dodging the question, Patricio! Did you or did you not get what we told you to buy?" Juan was not in the mood to join my silliness today.
"Alright calm down brother. I got it, here take a look." He then showed him a square item. He wrapped the color book in a set of leaves to look like it was a gift-wrapped in the manila paper.
"What's inside that? Don't tell me you made it out of leaves?" His forehead was crunched. He saw my gift and found out immediately. Patricio shrugged a bit and nodded.
"How did you know? I made sure to make this one much better than the last one." He quipped to Juan.
"As you said the last one. I did not think you will buy anything from the town this time. You always have something come up to forget it." Juan scolded him.
"Then why let me buy these? I wanted to buy this time I swear. But was caught up when I saw my destiny." Patricio explained his side.
"Are you joking? Or this is true? Where is she?" He was excited for his little brother.
"Calm down, I just saw her and talked to her for a few minutes. I was able to get her name. Her name was Edith. But other than that, she won't tell me where she lives." He tried to give him a more convincing tale. He knew what he said was true, but he should have bought the gift before meeting her. If only he did not stop by the town plaza playing with some of the little kids. He used his tricks to put a stone in front of one of the kids who was running making him stumble into the butt of his playmate. It gave him a laugh.
"How lame of an excuse is that? Have you lost your charm with the ladies?" He asked. He knew that once I speak all the ladies just say yes to me. Even if I didn't put any effort into it. It was my talent.
"I was just mesmerized by her beauty. And she seems to be unfazed by my smooth-talking. Can we just give this to our sister? I promise to buy the real deal later or tomorrow. Please?" He was begging him. He knew that if Juan agreed then no one will question his gift.
"Alright, just today. You better bring your destiny here the next time you go outside. I want to see her. I am intrigued by her. On how she was able to resist you, little brother." He then dismisses him from the gate.
As soon as Juan gave his permission, Patricio smiles and hums a melody while walking towards the palace. He smiled and nodded to everyone he meets along the way. He felt like he was floating.
She would soon be my wife. He would make sure to bring her home the next time they see each other. That way he could lure her to stay in the palace for the rest of her life.
- Writer
