BAKUNAWA’S EXECUTION

Volume 2: Ydeo's Adventure and the Last Order of the Immortal Bishop - CHAPTER 13: BAKUNAWA’S EXECUTION

"Wake up Zairill, the breakfast is ready!" I heard a voice that woke me.

I'm still sleepy.

"Go ahead eat, I don't have service for today." I said.

"How about the food? Okay, if you don't want to eat, I'll go now and have a nice day." Bakunawa said.

Going out?

I’m pretty sure the rounders will escort her… right?

No.

No. Are you really a man, Zairill? You should escort a lady!

The breakfast she made is still warm. I’m sure she’s not very far. I quickly paced myself and prepare to follow her. I still able to hear her voice but something overpowered and ate those beautiful sounds. I quicken my pace, surf the crowd. But she disappeared.

It’s been an hour or so since I searched the gardens, the market place, book stores and all nearby alleys, she’s nowhere. I can hear my own heartbeat at his point; everyone could even hear my nervous breaths.

Where is she?

I didn’t hear anything about where they are going. People are everywhere but I don’t see any signs of Bakunawa.

"Hey have you heard?!"

"They caught an evil worshipper!"

"Lower your voice."

I hear the marketplace getting livelier with loud whispers.

‘Evil worshipper’ Oh no... This is bad, what if she got caught on an accident?

No.

No. This can’t happen. This should’ve not happen. Not if I could’ve prevented it.

"Seems like an outsider, I never saw her face before." I heard a large man talking.

"What a disgrace, blasphemy saying that she is Sir Pontiveros Wife!"

Outsider?

No.

No.

"Where did you saw her?" I hurriedly asked.

"What's your deal?!"

"He is Sir Zairill." The woman beside her warned the large man.

"My apologies, Sir Zairill. The woman you asked is in the Plaza. I heard that there will be an execution." the woman said.

This can't be! I hope it's not her!

I ran. Silhouettes are blurring past me. I can’t even fill the cold seats running my back.

What is this feeling?

Why am I worried to a woman I don't know?

If she is indeed an evil worshipper then she must be executed.

I can't just let my emotion.—wait.

My emotion?

That woman?! What did she do to me?!

I reached the Plaza, I can see the crowd swarming, watching the spectacle.

"Let me through! I'm from the Shrine! I'm a candidate! I want to know what's going on in here!" I shouted.

"Let Sir Zairill through!" An unknown priest commanded.

"You are?" I asked.

"I am Reverend Krusha, Sir Zairill." he presented himself.

A familiar woman is coated in blood, tight on a rope, hanged like a pig is the one being a spectacle. How could this be?

I can’t see her known energetic eyes but I know... I know her.

It happened too fast!

"She just woke me up earlier and then...."

"What is it, Sir Zairill?" Priest Krusha asked.

"Are you in charge?" I asked.

"Yes, Sir Zairill!" He replied.

Stinging hands meet his face. I want to punch him even more and kill him but I can't!

"Why did you do this to her?!" I questioned.

"She is an evil worshipper, Sir Zairill." He said, he is quite a bit confused.

"How did you know that she is an evil worshipper?!" I interrogated them.

A guard said, "This woman keeps saying that she is the wife of Priest Pontiveros, blasphemous!"

"How could that be Blasphemous?!"

"She's spreading lies around the country. It was reported that ever since this woman enter the country, she's been saying it. It will destroy the image of Priest Pontiveros." the guard replied.

"Which is why Sir Zairill we must punish the evil worshippers, for they spread evil in the world." Priest Krusha said.

"What are you an idiot?! Are you really a Priest? Aren't you ashamed of yourself?! All of the women in the country of Mala-Laya says that they are the wife of Priest Pontiveros! Then why not punish them all? I dare to every woman in this plaza, to throw a rock on this woman if they did not say such thing!" I announced.

"But Sir Zairill, this woman is an outsider!" Priest Krusha said.

"Don't give me lame excuses, Priest Krusha! What you did is unacceptable! I will take this to the higher order!" I said.

Seems like Bakunawa is still breathing, I'll take her soon to a Priestess!

"Take her down and come with me!" I commanded the guards.

"Yes Sir!"

I hope that Priestess is in her Shrine. I might hate to see her but this is an emergency!

"Quickly, let's go to the Shrine of the Lake Priestess!"

Meanwhile in the empire of Viyato.

"My Lady, please be careful!"

"I know, I know. Don't be like that; I'm just having some fun."

"Is this what a Princess would act?!" making me feel guilty.

"Aunt Mey-mey!"

"Don't call me like that, Princess Mayari. You are calling me again with your weird nicknames." Aunt Mey-mey chimed.

"But it's cute, aren't they? My nicknames." I defended.

"You have to prepare yourself for the party; a lot of people will come." She reminded.

"Aunt Mey-mey, I heard that you are the strongest Rani of Ar-pi since its foundation! They say your husband is a wise man then you are a strong warrior! What a couple you are. It feels like a fantasy."

"Looks like you've been reading too much novels again Princess Mayari, and don't call me Aunt Mey-mey, call me Your Highness, are we clear?" She said.

"Understood Aunt Mey-mey! But I'll play with my friend first!"

"You never listen."

Friend? Can you really call that as a friend? I hope this country goes well, I pity this country.

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Afterwards the incident in the Plaza, Zairill took Bakunawa to the Shrine of the Lake Priestess.

"Are you hear, Lake Priestess?!" a familiar voice boomed.

‘That voice?!’

Hoe annoying! Hearing his voice makes my blood boil!

"Priestess, Sir Zairill is here. Should I open the door for him?" a maid asked.

"No, I don't like to see his face and I don't want to see a man's face today."

"It seems that they brought an injured woman, and it seems like it is severely injured." the maid said.

"How did you know that? Ah! Yeah right.”

“Fine…take the woman in but don't let any guy enter my shrine."

"As you wish, Priestess Elyssa."

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The maid opens the door but she didn't let Zairill and the guard in. From then on Zairill didn't know what happen next to Bakunawa.

Zairill waited for weeks outside the door of the Shrine but he did not hear anything, any news or rumor about the situation inside. Worried and anxious about the case of Bakunawa, he attempted to trespass. He sneakily climbed in from one of open window of the Shrine.

Zairill entered in it however after what he saw. He couldn't believe. Tears came out of his eyes.

They treated Bakunawa and feeding her. No more blood, signs of ropes and wounds.

After seeing her better condition, my heart relaxes and legs finally gave in. I now realized the tiredness and weariness of my body.

"What am I doing?” A man should not have a weak leg.

"And who said that you can enter my Shrine?!"

"Ely?!" I said.

"Don't call me Ely!" She corrected.

"Thank you!" I said.

"Take him out! You've seen what you want! Now get out!" Priestess Elyssa said.

The maid sends me out but it’s worth all the trouble. Since I see now that she is doing alright, I can now relax.

"Excuse me, Sir Zairill."

"You’re the maid who serves Priestess Elyssa, right?” I remember her. “? What is it?"

"The woman you brought in." she said.

"What is it?"

"The truth is....." She hesitated.

"The truth is?" I ask her to go on.

"Why don't we go somewhere else?" She suggested.

I followed the maid and she informed me things about Bakunawa. I couldn't believe it I wish it is not true.

What should I do?

The maid went back to the Shrine. Bakunawa is set to be released two days from now. I guess this is on me, I have take care of her until Priest Pontiveros comes back.

I hope everything is fine.

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In the Great Desert, Priest Pontiveros is talking to his followers and to the other adventurers.

"I might quit being a Priest after this expedition." Priest Pontiveros said.

"I bet you do, be an adventurer instead. You can drink and have a lot of woman. Being a priest is boring! No alcohol? No woman? What kind of a life is that?" The Leader of the adventurers said.

"What did you said?" A follower stood up and dare for him to repeat.

"That is really a wonderful life however that is not the life I want." Priest Pontiveros said.

"What do you want then?" The leader asked in curiosity.

"I want to live in a small town with a wife and my children."

"You sound like a geezer for your age. A small town?! Don't make me laugh!" He smacked the table and in loud voice he said.

"Sir Pontiveros, even if you want to stop being a Priest, you can't just retire. You're not like these barbarians! We devote our life to the Lord!" the follower reminded.

"Yes you're right, only death will let us retire." Priest Pontiveros said.

"If you are an ordinary servant like us, you could get married, but the Bishop once said that you will lead us someday. He might want you to become the next Bishop!" The followers get excited.

"That Immortal Bishop you said?! My Grandparents are dead yet you are still alive. How come that you, Pontiveros would become the next Bishop?!" the Leader of the adventurers asked.

"Don't get work up with this!" Priest Pontiveros tried to pacify.

"However if you want a retirement, I can help you. Death is the only way right?"

"What did you say?!" the followers got mad.

"Stop this none sense fight! We should take rest and prepare for what may come next!"

"As you wish!" The followers shouted.

"Yeah right." The leader of the adventurers said.

I hope Bakunawa is alright.

Priest Pontiveros gazed to the starry night.

A long night will come.

CHAPTER 13 ENDED…