Felicita had always thought maps were boring—just paper and ink, charts of places she'd never been. But as she and Kalden walked through the narrow paths leading to the outskirts of the city, she was beginning to understand their true power. In this world, maps didn't just show directions—they held secrets, whispers, even warnings.
The air smelled of burning wood and damp soil. The quiet buzz of the markets was far behind them now, replaced by the rustling of wind through trees and the faint croak of frogs from a nearby creek. Kalden walked a few paces ahead, silent except for the occasional glance over his shoulder to make sure she was still following.
They reached a small hut perched on stilts at the edge of a field overgrown with wild grass and pink lilies. The door bore a faded mark: a feather quill inside a spiral sun.
"This is the home of Lola Laya, the royal mapmaker," Kalden said, stepping aside. "She's not like the others. Be respectful."
"Okay…" Felicita replied, heart pounding. Something about the place felt ancient, older than the rest of the city. Older than time.
Kalden knocked once, then twice. No answer. He looked at Felicita, then pushed the door open. It creaked like it hadn't been moved in years.
Inside was dim. Bundles of herbs hung from the ceiling. Rolled scrolls filled bamboo shelves, and the floor was covered in overlapping rugs stitched with Baybayin symbols. In the middle of the room sat an old woman, eyes closed, hands resting on a glowing orb that pulsed with a soft blue light.
"I've been expecting you," the woman said before either of them could speak.
Felicita froze. Kalden bowed slightly. "Lola Laya."
She opened her eyes, cloudy but bright at the same time. "The girl from the other thread," she whispered, looking directly at Felicita. "The Bahandi bearer."
"I… yes," Felicita said, stepping forward slowly. "I was told you could help me find the second gem."
Lola Laya smiled faintly. "Ah, the Kuwintas ng Panahon. Many have tried. All have failed."
Kalden tensed beside her. "We don't have the luxury of failure."
"True," Lola Laya murmured. "Which is why I didn't burn the map."
She reached under the floor mat and pulled out a metal case etched with familiar swirling patterns. Her hands trembled as she opened it, revealing a thick scroll tied with a braided cord of gold and crimson thread.
"This map cannot be read with the eyes alone," she warned. "It was made with Ink of Memory—a rare dye mixed with the waters from the River of Forgotten Names. You must feel it… listen to it."
Felicita reached out and untied the scroll. As it unrolled, it shimmered like heat rising off pavement. At first, the map showed only lines and symbols, but then, like ink reawakening, images surfaced: an archipelago, twisted pathways, hidden gates, and a constellation of pearls scattered across mountain ridges.
In the center was an island she didn't recognize—shaped like a teardrop, surrounded by jagged cliffs.
"This island doesn't exist on any modern map," she said.
"Because it no longer exists in this time," Lola Laya whispered. "It is a memory. One you must reach."
"How do I even get there?"
Kalden pointed to a spot marked with a golden spiral. "That's where we start. Near the old ruins in Bato-Lumot. The gateway opens when the moon turns full and touches the water at dawn."
Felicita studied the lines. Her gem vibrated faintly.
"It's responding to the map," she said.
"Of course it is," Lola Laya replied. "The Bahandi Gem is your compass now. It will glow when you're near a fracture in time. But be warned—where there are fractures, there are watchers."
Felicita looked up. "Watchers?"
"The Tagapangalaga ng Anino—Guardians of the Shadow," Kalden said grimly. "They were created to protect timelines from collapse. But lately… they've started attacking even harmless travelers."
Lola Laya nodded. "They sense instability. The Bahandi Gem draws them like light draws moths. If you are not careful, they will tear you from this thread of reality."
A chill ran down Felicita's spine.
Still, she rolled up the map and held it close. "Then we better move fast."
Before they left, Lola Laya pressed something into Felicita's hand—a small stone carved into the shape of a spiral.
"It will show you safe passage if the path is unclear," she said. "But only once. Use it wisely."
Felicita thanked her, bowing low. Kalden nodded too, but his jaw was tight. He hadn't spoken much during the visit, but something about the map seemed to trouble him.
Outside, the wind had picked up. The trees swayed in rhythm like they were whispering secrets to one another. The two of them began walking again, the city growing distant behind them.
"You've seen that island before, haven't you?" Felicita asked as they crossed a wooden bridge.
Kalden didn't answer immediately. When he did, his voice was low.
"My brother disappeared there," he said. "Years ago. We never found him."
Felicita stopped in her tracks.
"I'm sorry."
He shook his head. "It's not your fault. But I need to know if he's still out there. If this gem brought you here, maybe it'll show us the truth."
They walked in silence for a while, the map safe in Felicita's satchel, the gem tucked against her chest, still pulsing gently.
As they reached a bend in the path, the gem flared.
Kalden froze. "Did you feel that?"
"Yeah," Felicita whispered.
The air thickened. A ripple shimmered across the trees, like someone had thrown a stone into the fabric of reality.
And then—
A figure stepped out of the distortion. Clad in black, face half-hidden behind a mask made of bone. In his hand, a twisted shard that resembled a broken gem.
A Watcher.
Kalden unsheathed his dagger. "Run," he ordered.
Felicita didn't move.
"No," she said. "We fight."
Her voice trembled, but her feet stood firm. The gem pulsed brighter, answering her defiance with ancient strength.
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End of Chapter 7