“Greetings, princess. I am a honorary duchess known to As-Z̆onghu̐a as Gong Dongye, but you may refer to me as Ayai Toya.”

Hojun watched in awe as Gong Dongye sheathed her crescent blade so elegantly. It made her forget the burning pain in her abdomen and the fatigue in her bones. Hojun mustered up what energy she had left to walk forward.

“The… former champion of the Dineh Kazaàd?...”

“Yes, I suppose you may reference me in that context, miss.” Gong Dongye gave a bow before turning around. “Now, I shall attend to your aides. It is of utmost importance that they be inspected at once.”

Did the formal champion ever speak that politely? Or was it because Hojun was from one of the Houses of As-Z̆onghu̐a? As Gong Dongye treaded promptly over the ruins, Hojun followed suit.

The once-thriving city block now lay in ruins, its buildings reduced to rubble and ash. Crumbling walls and broken windows stood as the only remnants of what was once a bustling urban road of the Luzokapital. The smell of smoke and decay perforated the air, as dust and debris drifted lazily in the stagnant wind. The ground was littered with debris, broken glass, and twisted metal, a haunting reminder of the violent forces that brought this area to its knees. The deafening silence sung an elegy, broken only by the occasional creak of a broken beam or the mournful cry of a distant siren.

“Gong Dongye…” Hojun blurted out the thoughts that escaped from her mouth, too tired to even care.

“I told you that you may refer to me as Ayai Toya, correct?”

“Right, Toya…”

They stopped over at someone on the ground. It only took one glance to notice Jorge lying among the rubble. His skin was a pale color, while his sparse breathing jerked his bleeding chest up and down.

Hojun rushed to his side. “Jorge! You’re alive?!...”

“M’lady, please stand back, as I will treat him.” Toya went on her knees, carefully observing the wounds on his body. “He is anemic. Luckily, since he was not shot with sahar-charged bullets his injuries are curable with a healing spell. However, he needs time to regain his strength.”

Hojun did not know what relief she had when Toya chanted a healing spell on him. Toya’s hand glowed, doing the kerubin’s work. As soon as Jorge’s breathing began to stabilize, Hojun embraced him in her arms.

“Jorge, Jorge! I’m so glad you’re alive…” Hojun sank her face into his shoulder, while his body lay fatigued and inanimate.

“Borja… Alejandro…” With emotionless eyes, he repeated those names. “Hojun…”

Toya stood up, cleaning her hands. “He did a good job of holding on to his life with the amount of gunshots he took. Any longer and he would have bled to death.”

As Hojun supported Jorge up, they slowly waddled with Toya through the ruins. Another few strides away, they spotted Seung-Hyeok. Hojun quickened her pace, to see if Seung-Hyeok had already passed on. For a few seconds, they didn’t see any movement. He had been shot four times, with one in the head. Until they saw his fingers twitch.

“Toya, is he still alive?” Hojun called out to her, while the blue-cloaked woman checked Seung-Hyeok’s pulse.

“He is, but barely. The bullet seemed to have grazed him, but his body is still in shock.”

“Can we heal him?”

“Yes, however he might be forever impaired. Are you sure you want me to heal him, m’lady?”

“Yes, yes of course.”

Toya chanted again, and this time she slung Seung-Hyeok around her own shoulder. Both Jorge and Seung-Hyeok would be okay. The last one to check on was Mister Gyeong. Since Jorge and Seung-Hyeok’s wounds were treatable by Toya, Hojun hoped that Mister Gyeong would be as well. But she was wrong to be optimistic.

By the time they reached Mister Gyeong, it was clear that he had already passed on from this world. Spilt brain matter was evident around the debris near his body, and being the elderly man he was, wouldn’t even recover from a clear shot to the dome. Hojun looked away, trying to not let the grief overtake her.

Toya bowed in respect, “I apologize that I am unable to save one of your aides.”

“No, no, please don’t apologize. I can’t thank you enough for saving Jorge and Seung-Hyeok.” Hojun replied with sadness in her voice. “I’m grateful for what you’ve done.”

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For a while, they stood solemnly for a vigil. Hojun expressed her farewell to Mister Gyeong, the elder man that stayed by her side throughout her entire childhood, and watched her grow up into the person she was now. Now he laid here peacefully, free of having to watch over her ever again.

After a couple minutes of silence, they regrouped with Suruj and the other person carrying Tvuj around her back. The Azu girl just stood there, without uttering a word. It seemed tiring for her to support Tvuj for the longest time.

“This is the honorary marchioness known as Hou Yizi, but her real name is Izdaha Saya.”

Hojun put two and two together. Both of them were the foreigners that were granted these titles soon after the collapse of the Dineh Kazaàd. She had seen them during her arrival in Dyak-ar-salaam. However, she only knew them in name, and not in appearance.

“Toya, Izdaha. There is somewhere I need to hurry to.”

Katipunan Square. The original intention of this battle, to stop Llorenç from attaining the presidency. But by this time, it would be too late. But still Hojun, Toya, and Izdaha marched on in unison down the destroyed road.

The fires that broke out in the initial street spread to other parts of the city. As they walked on, many civilians ran past them in panic. Edifices crumbled, as cries for help rang from above. Smoke belched from nearby skyscrapers, while dozens of alarms screamed. But amidst the destruction, Hojun saw people rushing into the blazing buildings.

She blinked twice. The people were a mix of vaquero hats and bandanas, each bringing civilians out one by one out of the burning complexes. They yelled at each other, hurrying into the conflagration before bringing out more survivors.

“Doña Hoyun!”

The Kapitan’s voice. Hojun looked to the side to see him waving. As he headed over to Toya and them, he quickly filled in on the situation. The gangs decided to help save the people inside the buildings. Most of their members stayed with their own, while some didn’t care about their sides.

“Anyone that can still move, gather them and we shall go to Katipunan Square. Those who want to stay and help the citizens, stay.” Hojun ordered, as the Kamaong Batikan’s Kapitan ran off to relay the message. Like a school of fish, people gradually began to flood the streets. Members from all three gangs all limped, hobbled, and walked forward in one direction.

Hojun couldn’t believe the sight she was seeing. It was as if a protest was marching in the Luzokapital among the ruins. Reädjusting Jorge on her back she trod on. The battle was over, and Tayang was gone. There was only one more person left to deal with.

When they finally arrived at Katipunan Square, it seemed as if a big procession had ended. Colorful streamers decorated the ground, and the Kapulungan National Hall stood proudly erect and intact compared to the rubble a few blocks down. With a gabled roof and fiberglass windows, scaffoldings hugged multiple sides of the building. It would only take once glance to know that it was one of the most well-kept buildings in the city.

People in suits and ties were huddled atop the stage, with the man in question standing in front of a lectern. Hojun, Toya, and Izdaha stopped near the front of the podium.

“Llorenç, so you actually took the candidacy…” Hojun set down Jorge, letting him lean against her leg.

Llorenç responded straight from the lectern. “It appears that the Occident did an excellent job in keeping you away.”

“Yeah, they did. I am here to prove that all Buhang, all people are capable of malice. However, within that some are capable of kindness, and brotherhood.”

“It is impossible for the three gangs to unite in arms. Not after they’ve killed on both sides,” the Oksidentano scoffed, “‘Brotherhood’ or not, what have you shown me?”

Hojun, tiredly gestured with her hands and turned around. “This.”

Gang members slowly flooded the plaza. The mixture of vaquero hats, blue and green bandanas blended together while standing side by side in droves. Many had injuries, burns, and bandages covering their bodies, others’ clothes seemed beyond repair. Nearby residents, curious about the sudden congregation formed at the tail of the gathering.

“... Just because you got them all to stand together does not mean anything.”

“Then just because you say that all Buhang are inherently evil does not mean anything.” Hojun threw the statement back at him. “Llorenç, you bear a grudge against every person in this country, yet you take the position of Pangulo. I don’t believe you have the mind to do any harm to the Buhang people.”

“You…” Llorenç tightened his fist on the lectern. “You don’t know what I have seen, what my mother has been through.”

Hojun solemnly shook her head. “I don’t know what you have seen or have known. But I have gotten an idea of you from what actions you take.”

Throughout her journey in Buhanggilog, she had seen many things. The corruption within the government system, and the discrimination faced between many social divisions. But those weren’t just the characteristics that could describe a country. Buhanggilog, like Azutami and As-Z̆onghu̐a had their own problems. As-Z̆onghu̐a’s Laoyuang and Al-Qarakh Houses fought for power, and the Azu emperor was busy invoking tension between the nations.

In Buhanggilog, the ancient value of hospitality rang true. It was the core belief among many Buhang, and what Hojun witnessed with her own eyes. A country, was a people with a diverse culture, society, and mannerisms.

Sirens blared as Kapulisan buggies pulled up into the plaza. Armed officers came out in droves, forcing those in the back of the crowd to get on the ground.

“Hands around your head, now!”

“Get on the ground!”

“Move it!”

One by one, gang members knelt and put their hands behind their heads. Even the Oksidentanos, who had supposedly planned for Llorenç’s candidacy, found themselves in handcuffs. It didn’t matter if they were civilians, Kamao, Bakalito, or Oksidentano. The Kapulisan were apprehending anyone in this congregation.

“I know you didn’t expect this, Llorenç.” Hojun kept her head up, even after the Kapulisan imposed their power over her, forcing her knees to the pavement. After figuring out the truth, there was nothing to be afraid of no more.