The Scepter of Marahuyo

Chapter 036

Al laughs. “As if you’re sure you will win. There will be other mages that will join. I’ve heard there are amazing ones from the other towns. We’re not the only town with good mages,” Al responds.

I peer at Olivia, and when she catches me, she smiles. She doesn’t know that she will become the new Ruler in four years, which is why I also think that this is the perfect time to become a Scepter. I will be able to prevent Olivia from becoming a Ruler. And if I even fail that and there’s a need to replace the current Ruler, they will have a hard time getting me out as a Quad. Only, I have not yet decided if I will really join it.

“I will join too,” Aicelle says. Everyone looks at her. “What?” she asks.

“I thought Ruberg sent an invitation for you to join their Scepter selection?” Al asks.

“Yes. But it won’t happen until after the middle of the year. So I can join the Benia selection before that.”

We are all eighteen now and are about to know what will be our designation. Aicelle is the first to receive hers. On the previous timeline, it's only Ruberg Scepter selection, but now that the Benia Scepter position is available, she has more options.

“How about you, Holly?” Olivia asks. “Are you also joining?”

“Of course,” Ethan says. “These three are inseparable.”

I feel movement behind me, and Aaron sits between Ethan and me. He places his hand around my waist and asks, “What’s this about?” he asks. For the past two years, he’s become comfortable with my friends.

“Ethan was saying that Holly’s gonna join the Scepter selection,” Al says.

“You will?” Aaron asks.

I don’t dare to look at him.

“She already received the invitation. It will be weirder if she don’t join, having Master Orson as her--”

I feel Cara’s blessing under my feet, and when Al stops, I know that it is Cara’s doing.

“The current ruler is a guy right?” Aaron whispers. He removes his arm around me, and I am forced to turn to him. “That means you are willing to marry him?”

“I--”

I inhale when I see the emotion in his face, and my breathing stops. Everyone at our table goes silent. I don’t know what to say. Should I just say it out loud?

“I’m not joining,” I blurt out, and when I see the relief in his face, I feel guilty.

I look back at the table and notice Al mouthing, ‘What?’ as if he can’t believe my decision not to join.

“Why is this table so quiet?” Zoey interrupts and places a massive pitcher of alcohol on our table. “Let’s drink!”

Zoey is one of the mages that works for Benia’s government. Right now, he’s designated as a researcher under Master Deborah’s jurisdiction. His anito is similar to Ethan, which is strength-based.

“Don’t influence them. They’re the best of the crops in Marahuyo,” Nico says, who’s under Zoey’s arms. He’s struggling to get out of Zoey’s hold around his neck.

It is a strange sight. Nico towers over Zoey, but he’s being overcome by Zoey, who’s much smaller than him. Nico’s huge build, as opposed to  Zoey ’s lean body, adds to the bizarre sight. That’s the strength a blessing can give a mage.

“Oh! I know!” Zoey exclaims. “You’re Ethan and Cara! You’re those lovers who pulled that act during the ati-atihan festival two years ago! Are you two still lovers?”

Without waiting for an answer, Zoey looks at me. “Holly! Why didn’t you tell me! I am a fan of that stunt they pulled off! They even involved a bugsok! Brilliant.”

My cheeks redden at the praise, and I look away. “They’re still together, as you can see,” I answer instead. There’s no need to tell him that it was my idea. “I haven’t introduced you to my friends right? Let’s go over your table,” I suggest, changing the subject and attempting to get away from further questioning.

Zoey lets go of Nico, who coughs from being finally free from Zoey, and says, “Let’s!”

****************

Master Orson is sitting on a protruding rock with his back on me. We are on a cliff overlooking the setting sun. The shadow behind Master Orson casts an eerie glow, but the one he’s looking at is beautiful. An orange light is painting the farmlands inside Marahuyo. The forest on the left side has the same glow but with a reddish tinge. I survey the same place Master Orson is looking at. I am just happy that he’s here alive, and we can finally talk about things we never had the chance to do before.

The view looks peaceful, and I start to feel comfortable. I sit beside the stone and just stare at the scene.

“I’m gone, Holly.”

That’s when I realize that I’ve been dreaming the exact same thing over the past two years. Master Orson is already dead. Tears start to fall, and I wipe them angrily. But then the whimpers became sobs, and the sobs became uncontrollable weeping. I cover my face with my hands, but the tears won’t stop.

“Shhh, it will be fine, Holly.”

It’s Aaron’s voice, and with it, I wake up to see him hugging me to his chest and massaging my back so I can breathe easy. I sit up, wipe my tears and look around. I am still in my room, and it’s the middle of the night. I remember getting drunk, and Aaron helped me to my room. But once my body touched my bed, I instantly fell asleep.

I get up from my bed and search for the water bottle I always keep in my room. I gulp it all down in one go. And Aaron--he stays in my bed and watches me. I massage my head. He’s not supposed to see me in this state. I purse my lips. How will I explain this show of weakness?

“How’s the guests?” I ask, instead of going straight into the topic.

“How often does this happen?” he asks.

I turn away and place the bottle back in its place. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Always, huh,” he says, answering for me.

“When I fell asleep, you should have returned to your room,” I evade.

“Holly.”

I hear him get up from my bed and approach me. I feel the need to leave, so before he comes close, I move to the door. He stops my advance. I swallow my fear.

“Holly, look at me.”

I don’t want to. So I remove his arm on my path, but instead of allowing me, he pushes me against the wall and forces me to look at him.

To be continued...