Hojun stood silent on the rooftop. The brisk wind flew past Suruj, who had Jorge in a bind. The sun layed low, hiding itself in the town’s skyline. The clouds flooded the sky in blue and gray gradients. Like a statue, Hojun’s feet dug onto the floor. Her fingers instinctively curved, as if waiting for her Guizu Arcana to activate. Her heart thudded rhythmically.

“Hojun! You’re here!” Jorge wrestled with Suruj’s arm, but with effect. Jorge wore metal gloves, something she had never seen before.

“Quiet.” Suruj didn’t move. “Let me guess on why you’re here in Buhanggilog, Hojun al-Qarakh.”

Hojun and the wind waited for his next words. “What do you mean?”

“You came to this country, hoping to track down someone in Al-Wa after the company dissolved. You came to Buhanggilog, to find your brother, Tayang al-Qarakh, and safely bring him back to As-Z̆onghu̐a. Am I correct?”

Hojun stepped forward. “Suruj, calm down-”

“Stay back!” Suruj inched backward with Jorge. “You take one step more and I swear I will blow this barangay and everyone in it.”

Hojun didn’t know what to do. She had just finished obtaining answers from the Bakalito down below, and now Suruj had taken Jorge hostage. She clenched her fist. Hojun thought about when they stayed the night at Tala’s house. How the dogs sniffed her legs, and the whiff of sabaw lingering through the living room. For once, she stepped outside her boundaries and ended up right here, right now in this moment.

Jorge managed to break free of Suruj’s grip. Suruj snatched Jorge’s gauntlet and yanked it off. He put it on his hand and slugged Jorge in the stomach. “Here’s the deal, Al-Qarakh. You better drag your putang kuya out here, because I want to smash his head in.”

“Look, all the stuff you said is true, but-”

“But what? Your brother killed my fucking family. He killed them in order to capture me for the Dineh Kazaàd. My dad… I can’t even find him. He probably learned that my mom and brother were killed and decided to disappear off the grid.”

“Suruj! Listen to me!...” Hojun stomped her foot on the ground. “So you’re really angry at me? This isn’t like you. It only took me a couple of interactions with you.”

“Huh? Anong sinasabi mo?”

“Even after you learned that I am an Al-Qarakh… You remained civil and even braided my hair for me.” She touched her braid, which she caressed it slowly. “It’s not the cornrow that I wanted, but I know that the meticulous loops and knots… I’m sure you cherished the person that had this braid a long time ago.”

“You think you get me with sappy talk?” Suruj’s feet reached the edge of the roof, where a two-story drop met Suruj and Jorge’s eyes. “That won’t erase the things your brother did. He shot Yeow Khouw, Kwazhak’s bodyguard and friend, in the head. He prevented our escape in the Dine al-Othoji, and resulted in the deaths of everyone I knew.”

“Enough of the revenge talk. If you really hated me right now, then you would’ve killed Jorge and I a long time ago. I know that you are angry, and I promise I’ll explain everything.”

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Don’t act like you know me. We’ve only met for less than five days. You barely know anything about me.”

“...”

She had been bested in the argument, his words cutting hers away like a sword through flesh. Hojun wanted to express her anger, her own anger against her brother. Just hearing what Tayang did two years ago sparked a throb in her head. She heard footsteps.

“Then what if you meet a person that knows you, Suruj?” A voice called out from the stairs. The three turned their heads to see a girl come into view. “You’re being very loud.”

Suruj’s jaw dropped, as his grip loosened. Hojun and Jorge stayed frozen.

“No… That can’t be… You’re just an illusion. A hallucination that has came to haunt me!...” Suruj’s voice quivered into a frail one.

“I’m afraid I’m very real.” The girl smiled and pinched her cheek. “Now, can you please let Jorge go?”

He shook his head, and began to grip Jorge’s neck tighter. “Lies! There’s no way that you’re here! We left you stranded on Wakoku… We abandoned you!... I abandoned you and broke our promise…”

She continued walking towards him, whom he didn’t move. “Suruj, you saved me many times back then. I know how caring you are, and this woman knows too.”

“Stop!... You are not here! It’s impossible since we left you behind on that day!”

The sun finally slept under the blanket of the horizon, encasing everything in darkness. All went quiet. They only heard Suruj’s panting breath. As if mesmerized by the girl’s presence. Then, she closed her eyes.

“Mahou Tsubasa.”

Angelic wings sprouted from her back, illuminating the rooftop. Saharic particles floated around her like the starry sky, and the wings spread high into the air. At that moment, time seemed to freeze around them. The girl opened her eyes, sparkling in the gentle twilight.

Jorge fell to a knee. Suruj let go of him and approached the girl. His strides were clumsy. He tripped over himself, ignoring all sense of balance. His contorted face showed everything. By the time he reached her, his knees gave out. The girl caught him in her embrace.

“Hiya, it’s been a long time Suruj.” She caressed his head softly, as tears streamed down his face. “I’m Tvuj Hosyi, a person you know best.”

He sniffed the never ending mucus. He stayed there and cried, his echoes reaching Hojun as if she was next to him too. Suruj hunched over as the girl, Tvuj, settled him down onto her lap. His wails continued on into the night, as Jorge came to Hojun.

“Hojun… I-”

“I’m glad you’re okay.” She put her hand on his shoulder, letting out a sigh. “How did you manage to end up here?”

Jorge looked at Tvuj, who comforted Suruj’s sobs. “She was looking for someone, and now she’s found him. And now, I’ve found you.” He got down on one knee and bowed, “Jorge Tarique of the Batikang Kamao, is at your service, Princess Hojun al-Qarakh. I shall assist you in finding your brother, Crown Prince Tayang al-Qarakh.”

“M’lady!” Mister Gyeong rushed up the stairs, panting. “Me and Seung-Hyeok had employed this boy and girl to locate you.”

Hojun smiled for the third time, and brought Jorge on his feet. “Mister Gyeong, I had quite the journey.”

“I’m sure you did, m’lady! Did you properly brush your teeth? Who braided your hair? Did you wear your clothes properly?!”

“I’m not a child anymore, Mister Gyeong.”

Seung-Hyeok finally appeared behind Mister Gyeong. “M’lady! This boy is trying to usurp our roles!”

Hojun couldn’t count the number of times ‘m’lady’ entered her ears. Even though the honorifics proved to be jarring, she eased at the sight of the people she knew. And with her newly-obtained information, they were closer to the whereabouts of the Crown Prince. Although she needed to tell them about the Bakalito tied up down below.

“Let us stay in this building for the night.” Hojun said as the four of them gathered around Tvuj and Suruj. “And Mister Gyeong, begin an appeal for the Bakalito downstairs.”

“What? How preposterous!”

She stared at him. “I offered him asylum in Silla in exchange for some information.”

“Ah, I see… I will get to it once we find a place to rest. But still, asylum!?”