Luminaria

Chapter 11

Celestrian

"Mercy, Your Majesty! Spare us, we beg of you!"

Umalingawngaw ang nagmamakaawang tinig ng dalawang guwardiya sa loob ng madilim na silid. Their bodies drenched with blood, lay with dismembered parts strewn across the floor.

"Oh... the last finger."

The man infront covered his mouth in act of despair, before ruthlessly breaking the last remaining finger. Sabay na namayani ang tawa at iyak ng tatlong magkaibang boses.

"Skin," malamig na turan ng pigurang nakaupo sa trono.

The man named Alecto sighed with anticipation as he grabbed his knife, deftly peeling and strapping the skin from both guards. Dahan-dahan ang paggalaw ng kutsilyo sa balat ng mga ito, pinapalasap ang diin ng sakit.

"Feet."

No one dared to look away as they all witnessed how the single word from the man on the throne sentenced their bodies to a slow death.

Bawat parte ng kanilang katawan ay unti-unting nauubos. Tadtad ng latay mula sa latigo at halos lumabas na ang ugat sa leeg dulot ng labis na pagmamakaawa. Nagkalat ang amoy ng dugo sa sahig hanggang sa tuluyang napasalampak ang kanilang katawan.

"Please... end our suffering now. Kill us, Your Majesty," begged by one of the tortured men in weakness. Kung kanina'y nagmamakaawa silang mabuhay... ngayon, nais na lamang nitong madaliin ang kamatayan.

The figure of their king rose from his throne, moving deliberately toward the guards now trembling in fear. His presence dominated the entire place as everyone tried to stifle their gasps.

He took the sword from Alecto's hand, the latter now smirking in anticipation.

"Head," the king whispered, bago walang pag-aalinlangang itinaas ang espada at iwinasiwas sa ulo ng dalawang guwardiya. Blood splashed not only from their lifeless forms but also from the faces of their subjects, who dared not to blink.

Nabasag ang katahimikan sa mapanuyang tawa ni Alecto na ngayon ay nakatayo sa kanang gawi ng hari.

"It would have been my pleasure to do it myself, Your Majesty."

Their dead bodies slowly turned into black ashes before disappearing completely.

"This is the consequence of such foolish irresponsibility..." A hush fell over all as they stood frozen, hearing the merciless voice of their ruler. "How shameless it is to let two royalties escape from our territory. You've wasted the key to our establishment!"

Lahat ay napayuko sa bahagyang pagtaas ng tinig nito.

He raised his hands, and black smoke slowly shadowed into a demon.

"No power from other realms will exit Melanos without facing death..." The black demon roared in respond, soaring away to guard the palace.

"Ilang indibidwal ang nabihag ninyo ngayon?" walang emosyong tanong ng hari kay Alecto, nakabaling sa papalayong anino ng halimaw.

"Less than twenty, Majesty."

Mas lalong nabalot sa galit ang mga mata ng pinuno.

"Is that what you refer as a wonderful news, Alecto?" mapanuya nitong tanong bago muling bumalik sa pagkakaupo sa trono.

"Sort of it... We've got a remarkable individual infected from Melanos," he confidently responded.

"From what realm?"

"Ocean Realm, Your Majesty..." The King scoffed, directing his dark eyes to the man.

"Would you also like your head to be separated from you? How is that remarkable? Half of your slaves who are now infected are from the Ocean's Realm!" Alecto didn't flinch, hearing his authoritative yell.