“The Occident?” Jorge repeated what the Bakalito uttered. The Bakalito breathed again and spoke.

“Yes, the Occident. They be tryin’ to use one of their members to secure a presidential position.”

“Tsismis ba ‘yan. They said that the government is currently searching each Rajah’s family line.”

“No…”

Tvuj raised her hand. “Rajah?”

“They are the governors of Buhanggilog’s prefectures,” Hojun answered for her, “Rajahs are made of the datus, the country’s only royal bloodline.”

“Then I highly doubt that there is an Oksidentano that carries datu blood.”

“There be one, ya’ll.”

They all looked at him in surprise. Datus were the remnants of the Golden Age, in which most of the nobility either married into commoners or died. The remaining royals took up government positions as Rajahs that controlled Buhanggilog’s two prefectures. The previous president, Antonio Tovar was a datu himself. But to think an Oksidentano had datu blood…

“The local tsismis is going around. They have a potential candidate that they can use to take presidency. Another company is going to fund their campaign, that Kazaàd company…”

“Al-Wa…” Suruj uttered, tightening his fist. “We better stop them right now. But why were you with the datus?”

“That was a datu of the Luzo Prefecture… We be tryin’ to negotiate something of our own to rival the Occident but…”

“Could you please enlighten us on where the Occident will set up their campaign?” Hojun cut to the point.

“I dunno. We think it's in the Luzokapital since the Piyesta de Kadayawan’s firework festival is starting there in a few days…”

She stomped her foot on the chair. “Are you telling the truth?”

“Yes, I am telling the truth ma’am. Now… Can you please give that asylum to my family and I?...”

Jorge could read the confidence on the Bakalito’s face. If the Occident managed to secure a political candidate to take over Buhanggilog, then it would impose itself over the people. There would be an outrage. The Kapulisan and the Militar de la Tier̃a would be under the Occident’s control.

“We better head back to the Luzokapital this instant.” Jorge stepped towards the balikbayan box and lifted up his father’s feodora. Now that he looked at it a second time, he realized what his parents were all along. Jorge wore the feodora, and folded his mother’s dress into his pocket. He couldn’t really do anything, but if it were to protect the Kamaong Batikan and the gang from more violence…

“Then we shall head out in the morning.” Hojun decided, crossing her arms. “However we need someone to get this Bakalito to Silla.”

Mister Gyeong and Seung-Hyeok stepped forward. “Well shall take care of it m’lady. I can teleport them there with a sahar spell. As for the paperwork, I’ll deal with it when I arrive.”

“Good. Mister Gyeong and Seung-Hyeok, you take the Bakalito and his family to Silla, while Jorge, Suruj, I and…”

“Tvuj.”

“Jorge, Suruj, Tvuj, and I will be returning to the Luzokapital.”

“What will we be doing when we get there?” Suruj raised a question.

Hojun answered immediately. “It is obvious that Al-Wa is operating there for the presidential campaign. We find the Occident, we find Al-Wa. And Tayang…”

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

Soon after that declaration, they split up inside the large complex. A bickering came from Mister Gyeong and Seung-Hyeok about why they were going to sleep inside a warehouse, but eventually they settled down, they closed the lights to the building. Nobody could afford to travel the town at night, not with Bakal out on their trails. As Jorge stared out the small window etched in the wall, not many lights greeted his gaze.

“How have you been, Jorge?” Hojun walked up to him, looking out the same window. “I don’t think we’ve seen each other since… I apologize for those two.”

Jorge scratched his head. “Yeah… But I think they’ve warmed up to me, I hope. Where are the others?”

“Mister Gyeong and Seung-Hyeok are keeping watch of the Bakalito, while Suruj and Tvuj went somewhere else… I don’t know much about them, though it seems to be the first time they’ve reunited in quite a long time.”

“Tvuj has been looking for him since forever. So I think they deserve some alone time.”

“It seems so.”

Jorge couldn’t help but rub his arms at the awkwardness. He didn’t know what to say to Hojun, after all the thoughts he had during the search for her. How he wanted to know more about her. How she saved him, and how much he wanted to thank her.

“Th-”

“T-”

“Go ahead.” Jorge bottled up that weird feeling. He couldn’t say it.

“The cat seems to be doing well. I take it Mister Gyeong has been irritated.”

“Borja? Sometimes I think Mister Gyeong might kill him.” Jorge responded, as Borja came to the utterance of his name. “Borja hid in a jeepney’s engine, and apparently he interfered with the sahar in it.”

Hojun bent down and petted Borja lightly over his back. “Then Borja must have a sahar level of his own. All animals, regardless of species, have some sort of sahar level. Controlling the particles though, that’s a different story.”

“So humans are the only species that learned to control the particles?”

“Currently. I don’t think I’ve encountered any research regarding animals that have any level of saharic mastery.”

“Really? Then there’s a chance Borja could chant a spell?”

Hojun smiled and glanced up at him. “Perhaps.”

A little soon after their conversation ended, Jorge eventually went to sleep.

At morning’s light, Jorge’s ligaments ached in pain. Standing up from the empty shelf he slept on, he was sure he could sleep anywhere.

“I guess not…” His thoughts continued aloud.

Everyone gathered at the doorway. The sun brightened Jorge’s dried skin, as others stretched and yawned. The chilly air pervaded through the area, appearing with people’s exhalation like a ghost.

“This is where we split.” Hojun directed, “Mister Gyeong, I hope that it will take less than two days to take this Bakalito and his family to Silla.”

He bowed, forcing the Bakalito to kowtow as well. “Your wish is my command, m’lady.”

“Though there is something bothering me.”

“Hm?...”

“Are you not worried in the slightest of me going alone to the Luzokapital?”

Jorge knew how Mister Gyeong felt during the search for Hojun. There was no doubt that he would be concerned about her. And yet, the elder guard shuttered and sighed.

“As I am quite concerned about your safety m’lady, it is ensured by Tarique and Miss Tvuj.”

Jorge instantly saw the face of Suruj, who seemed to realize that Mister Gyeong purposely left out his name. Suruj turned his head away. What did he do when he and Hojun were together? Unfortunately, Jorge had to bite his curiosity.

With a farewell they departed as planned, the group of four heading for the Mutyang Hilaga caravan station. The wind blew over the city, the sandy dust resting over the brick skywalks and eaves of the buildings. For the last time, they gazed at the Laguna Sagar. This town was the turf of Bakal, yet Jorge didn’t see any Bakalito in sight. Were they out somewhere?

Tvuj ran ahead of Jorge and the others and turned back. “Hey guys, since it’s our last time here, do you think we can go somewhere?”

“Tvuj, we don’t have time for that.” Suruj shook his head.

“Aw, c’mon. Hojun gave that Mister Gyeong two fricking days!” She pouted, and placed her hands on her hips. “The view is nice, and the atmosphere is great.”

“Not with Bakal out there. It’s too dangerous.” Jorge rationalized, thinking about the Bakalito hostage. Something told him that their presence was not welcome.

Hojun leisurely sauntered over to Tvuj. “Why not?”

“Ano ba ‘yan?” Suruj and Jorge both let out. Suruj formed an x with his hands. “‘Di pupunta kami eh.”

“We are going. However, we shall make this quick.” Hojun eyed Tvuj, who appeared to understand what she was signaling. “We shall be in the Luzokapital by the afternoon.”

Jorge facepalmed, while Suruj shrugged his shoulders. They walked faster to catch up with the two in the distance.