10:23 AM.
My name is Amaryllis Amelia. Just a typical-normal person you can meet in the growing population of the town called Lakanyaya.
I wear dresses, I wear glasses, I wear shoes obviously, and occasionally I also comb my hair even if it is short.
Currently, I am riding a carriage towards the town of Carpero, where people often miscall it as Carpero Market. Since because of a thousand number of tourists visiting each year. They all wear a distant-disbelief face. Ask the locals themself with a question. "Why is there so many stalls!? even stairs!?" As it isn't just a simple flatten flooring town.
There are building yes, there are taller enough too. Hence there are ladders and stairs you can see lying from different places.
More legendary- or twisted, let's say if you want to go up here, you have to go there- even if you can see your path towards your designated. It is just what your eyes perceive.
Magical. But who are in the right mind to think those ideas in the first place?
I told my carriage to drop me off just that before that fountain in the middle and paid him 30 pesos for his diligent service. Then when I am stepping off, I immediately saw a guy selling his products.
Shouting. "Mooncakes, Mooncakes! Grab your Mooncakes!"
I pretended to walk past his stall and had a glanced to what are the other things he sells too, if he has what I need, but he only sells cakes.
Bummer.
He noticed me from a distance.
"Hey lady! Over there! Come here! Yeah you!"
Greeting someone can't be hurt, I sigh and get my composure as I walk towards him.
"Hello, Mister."
He replied with a sunshine. "I knew I wasn't wrong about you seeing there! You seem lost HAAHAAHAH! Anyways. Ahem!"
He sure had that confidence of a seasoned vendor, despite his appearance that looks weary, probably cause of everyday. Still, he has that dashing beauty. I must commend his genetics.
More importantly, his hair is not common in these lands. Rich- dark red shade, with black undertones. He is also tall enough to mistook him for a foreign.
"Miss. Excuse me."
"Hmm?"
Talk about embarrassing moment, I just need to close my eyes and breath lightly. Pretend I was lost in thoughts. Looking everywhere as if I have been looking for an item that I can't find.
Such lousy excuse you can say.
"Ahem… You've been staring at me for a long time, miss. I know you are a young fellow, and I can also deduce that you are also like them."
"What do you mean?"
"Young cats. They find me attractive. Isn't that concerning?" He strikes poses.
Should I strangle him right now?
That's not good. I should just let him ride with his own jokes. Merchants like him, … I think he is still a decent person, in other aspect.
Forget it, I should just smile back in a false delicate smile. One that well I think can get along with an innocent girl's expression. Since I look like one, it shouldn't pose any problem or whatsoever.
"No, it's not because of that Mister."
"Then, what is it then?"
He pondered, and I answered in advance.
"You are the only one who is selling these types of food." pointing at the mooncakes.
Though it did not surprise me for a bit. It just these days, mooncakes are not for advertising no-more. Even in households, eclipses design like mooncakes, are already not part of main celebratory.
For these products, they will only be bought by a person of many inquiries, and not by a growling stomach. Even if they look delicious.
We stared at each other for a bit, and he seems to be hesitating to answer.
He turns away his head, and pointed his finger at one of the churches, just far and outside of the market.
The Church of Perpetual.
He lowered his hand, then placed it deliberately on his waist, as if bracing himself for what was to come out of his mouth.
"You ever heard what celestial decree had been bestowed in these lands?"
Yes. Of course, I heard that celestial decree. Story was, just before when they tried to piece it again together, because they failed to find the main reason on why The True Creator chose to die when he's lifetime is as close to near-infinity.
His Majesty, Apolaki; forefront the beginning of a new age and declare that humanity should walk with their footsteps alone.
Naturally, divine being should oppose this obnoxious decision making. But it was the result of unearthing the many puzzle that was scattered by The True Creator.
I did not also buy that decree at first, but it is still the celestial decree that everyone should follow, below His and Her Majesty.
Nowadays, there are still churches and statues, even monoliths- that are praising the deities and spirits. Even now, they still retain their powers, but they are no longer a symbol of many things. Deduce or chose to live along with many, mostly. Though there are still places that are heavily protected by a deity, humanity do not know a thing or two about them anymore.
An example- A city with deserted shrines.
"I have heard it."
His eyes widen.
"You know of it?"
"I read it somewhere when I was travelling the lands of Tuguegarao, now in barren, I'm lucky to find an abandon piece of once refer as a town."
He smug. "To think a young folk like you travel that much, I envy you." He turns his back and seems of getting something out, in one of his belongings. "Have this for me."
"A scroll?" I open its contents. "No… It's a memento."
He leans towards the scroll and points his fingers in a text, right side of the memento.
"It's a bible, Miss."
He sits in one of the boxes beside him.
"Why?" I asked him.
"It says in one in many chapters. The Perpetual Mother of the Moon will always and always choose us. Even if you and I only want to believe in a fraction of her divinity. She will not leave us."
He points at one of the ships at the pier, preparing to sail.
"Just look at those thugs over there in the south of the fountain. Though they are not heavily devoted. She promised, nevertheless."
Outstanding.
Blinding me, but-
"I mean- why are you giving me this, instead of my single box of mooncakes."
"Oh. That's what you mean?"
No. "Yes." I just changed the course of the topic.
"HAHAAHAHAHAHA! So that's what you mean! Here! I'll give you a discount of 5%. That's already high discount considering the bills nowadays. Don't be shy, here take this another for free."
You're the one who is shy here mister. Though, cakes is cakes, I should still get his offer, in a polite manner.
"Keep that memento for me, will ya'?"
"Is this how you keep your customers?"
"Nah. Consider it a gift from a random being."
What a sneaky merchant, this scroll must be hiding something hidden within the texts. Especially, why would someone have a hold of a scroll instead of books for a medium of a bible.
I should read this when I have the time to do it.
"Thanks for the discount, Mister. I'm on my way off then."
I paid him 650 peso and left his stall. To be honest, it looks like he is in an idea of a business of a mini-bakery or some kind of a cake shop. Why use a stall-type? Isn't that concerning.
But what bugs me more.
650 pesos isn't a discount!!! I got scammed!! I should had chosen to strangle him, earlier. ARGHHH.
Sigh. I should give him a better farewell, just for this scroll.
I turned around and look at the mister from a far since I already walked in a distance where he and I will not hear anything from each other anymore.
I still tried to look at him directly. And when he already noticed me, I placed my right hand over my chest, as if I am anchoring for something that is great and seems to be unseen by humanity nowadays.
I, with a quiet resolve, lifted my hands to my forehead, and in one deliberate tapped of my fingers. There is a silent invocation of "May thou find slumber of golden days- tomorrow", before returning my hand to rest once more- upon on my heart. So then, my palms will meet in a prayer stance, solemn and sacred. A gesture meant for everyone to celebrate.
This should keep him within the light, and I should buy what I needed to. Or else, Alysse will be mad at me again.
Her voice always rang at my ears. "I WAS ONLY ASKING THISSS!"
Traumatizing.
The list of the things I should buy around should be in this small pocket of my sling bag.
The paper got crippled. Luckily, it is still readable.
Let's see… hmmm, …
1 order of Bagnet, in the store, at the end left turn of the market.
Enough amount of Bagoong sells in pier.
Tomato
Eggplant
Ginger
Okra
Sitaw (Yardlong Bean)
Ampalaya (Bitter Gourd)
And If you ever find someone who sells marine pastes. Better look for a Shrimp one. If no one sells it, don't bother. Come home safely.
I should collect these before 1 pm.
---
11:54 PM. I had completed the list of the ingredients my sister asks me to be bought. Though, it is only just a couple of vegetable, I can't find them all in 1 single place. So, I had to fetch them all right-left- down and up.
"I'm so beat up. I wonder if there's a convenience store nearby."
I should buy a refreshment.
Still walking aimlessly but had a plan of going home now, I happened to pass by the Perpetual Church.
Given that as- this is the first thing you will ever see when you're entering the market, it is also the last thing you will ever see when leaving the pier by the boat.
Luckily and unluckily, A guy who were selling drinks and ice creams are passing by from where I am walking. But- I also heard someone running, and it seems to be coming right for me.
"Milady!" The person who was running, called me.
Panting, he quickly knelt down as soon as he came in contact with me.
Oh my.
"H-heyy. Please stand up, will you? We're in a public place, Father. People might say something if you are suddenly kneeling like that."
That is so awkward, holyyyy sh----.
I hope passersby are not already making some stories about this. But judging his demeanor when he stood up, he kind of resembling the looks of a disciple or a priest. I guess he follows me for a request.
"Sorry for following you here, Milady. I'm actually one of the art curators in the Perpetual Church of Carpero. It's a pleasure to meet you here."
"So... Yes? I'm glad?"
Who the fvk are you!?
"Oh... Forgive me for being dense, Milady!"
"I just told you don't-."
Ahhhhhh!!!
"Don't kneel!! Just state your business and you and I will leave-"
"No."
WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO!? There are already people who are watching and fleeing the scene, flustered by what they are seeing now. Pretty please that they will not thinking that he is doing some kind of begging towards us relationship. Even to mention his appearance, he sure is handsome, but oh-god please forsake me for doing a bad thing to this guy.
Why would I think of that? I don't even know him even in the slightest speck of my entire life.
"Instead, please come with me."
What the fvk?!
-Look love, they look so majestic.
Someone from the crosswalks.
Motherf-.
.
.
.
.
"Where to, young lady?"
"Lakanyaya, please."
"As you wish.Hiyahh!!"
-the horses neighs.
.
Long story.
So, what had happened before is that he asks me to come inside of the church.
Personally, he wants to come in a secrecy, given what is already happening outside. He said he had to act like something romantically is happening, but what is really happening is that he knows me for something or someone.
I definitely asked him to- how do a mere person like him likely to get my greater name, since he already mentions it thrice. He quickly gave me options to tell.
To be honest, I am quite careful these days when I am revealing what is really who I am behind this new lifestyle of ours.
"I heard that the daughters of Anagolay, is currently residing to this oldest city in the country. I also heard that their appearance to each other is so far. Though that they are not have a big age gap. Their neighbors think they are 'a mother and a daughter living together. The elder sister looks like an elder folk who had always been progressive with each of her reb-"
"That's enough. You did make your own point."
Honestly, his words REALLY tried to get under my nose even if I'm just remembering. Although he is saying the correct information that he knows of, I still can't get off the itch of where he learnt that information.
Yet, since I'm still in a hurry because of my errands. I just went off to ask why he asked me to come inside the church. Specifically, towards the workstations of the church.
Warily, I followed him in the corridor where he agrees to me, straightforward- that we must get into the business early. Other than that, I noticed that the Perpetual Church that stands beside the Market and Pier, gets nothing new from the future, and only preservation of the past.
It sure is beautiful just like the old days. The patterns of the wall, the paths you had to take before the forgiving space, and the architecture that looks like it came from the inside of Notre Dame. Warmth. Yet... not fulfilling. Even though that there are still many people who were believing to their faith. I feel sorry that sometimes I think their belief already abandon them.
That guy who gave me the memento. He probably doesn't come to places like the Perpetual Church anymore too. I mean- if I were him. Maybe I'd do the same if I ever crossed upon the place again.
Shortly after, we reach the end of the corridor, that across of it; there is a door in the last section of the building. And as soon as I get inside of the room, he unveils a big mirror. Not just any big mirror, it is 10 feet tall, with a width of 5 of me. Absurd, but that's what my intuition tells me so.
I walk towards it and slowly lift my fingers to touch what is I am not familiar with. To my perception It's just-
"It's just a mirror." but I know to myself that this is not just some sort of any device. It's like one of those enchanted objects that've been made in the ancient times. I know that I have seen that mirror somewhere. But I don't know. I even don't have any sort of recollection of owning one of those. A mirror that has the properties of a stone, specifically a polished and whiten obsidian. But this is so massive to unearth or process.
Arghhh... this is testing my patience somewhere I don't want to be.
"Are you curious, why is a mere folk like me- ever get to ho- "
"Something like this?"
He was already at my doorsteps.
"Move even a muscle Mister, and I'll carve a smile across your throat. So wide that even the famous investigators in the town, will not have the chance to answer on how you took your last breath." As soon as he changes his tone. In one swift motion, I immediately drew my sword from the air to my hand and quickly pressed its blade against his throat.
"By begging or by praying to your goddess? Choose your words wisely, mortal." Already pleading for his life, I leaned it even further to his skin. So deliberate, I want to cut his neck by any means that time.
Soon after I felt that there is a blood dripping from my sword. I drew it back; from my palm to a draft from the window, and made him another bargain for his life. Thereafter, he never followed me again and just stood in the same spot. Up until I left his presence, he still did not make anything to make me furious again.
.
"We've arrived at exactly 1:00 PM, young lady."
I'm cooked.