Amir's POV:
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Someone's knocking at my door while I'm writing some proposals. What a disruption.
"Come in!" I uttered while keeping myself on track.
"Mahal na Prinsipe, paumanhin sa disturbo. Kayo po ay pinapatawag ng Mahal na Hari, nasa Bulwagan ng Trono po siya ngayon." uttered the lady's maid.
I nodded ahead.
"Tell him I'm coming right after I've done writing," I uttered.
"Granted, Your Highness," she said. I stood up and behold her. She startled and automatically bowed.
"You may leave," I said, with deep-tone utterance.
She briskly walked away from the room and closed the door. I put away all the things at my table and put them inside the cabinet before I exit my room.
...
"Your Majesty," I uttered, kneecapping in front of the Royal Majesty.
"Prinsipe Amir, you may stand," King utterances with a deep-commanding tone.
"They said you're calling me, so I came to know what is it the matter for you to summon me," I said while chin-up standing.
The King and Queen gazed at each other and looked at me afterward. The King deeply sighed.
"The Queen and I, we'll be gone for weeks..."
Still poise. But deep inside of me, I was inquisitive. Why will they be gone for that long? And both of them — together? Usually, a King will cross and be gone for a few days just for a summit or proposition from other realms and the Queen will remain in the vicinity of the realm as her obliged to care for its people and resources within. Why both of them? And it will take weeks? Where are they going?
"You. Prince Amir, I will pass over temporarily the ruling of the Palace in your hands." King added.
I wonder. Took my gaze to the Queen who was looking at me with a mistrustful sight.
"Why not your son? Nexus. He's older than Amir and I know our son can lead well." Queen uttered.
"No, Prince Nexus has its obligation too. It will be overwhelming for him if I let him rule the Palace while his having worked too..."
"Why? My King... "
"It's just momentary, Queen. It appears in the manner of your voice that you mistrust Amir. Am I right?" King uttered and dominantly gazed at the Queen.
"It's not what I meant. We'll be gone for weeks and Nexus who has more experience of being Royalty can rule than Amir who... "
"Nexus was having training at Bhaltair Village." The King's utterance. Cutting off the Queen from speaking her thoughts.
She was stunned the moment she heard that her son was having warrior training at the Bhaltair Village. She stood up from her seat and confronted the King.
"What? Why didn't you tell me?" She furiously voiced.
"Cause I know you will intercept. It's for the honor of our son, I don't want him to be a coward when a war arrives and the time that the throne will pass at him."
"He agreed on this and decided not to tell you, either. He's out there training as a warrior at the Bhaltair." King said with a calm and dominant on his tone.
They both looked at me, the Queen turned back to her seat and gazed at me with utmost disgust. I knew from the start that the Queen was unlikely and unpleasant to me. But still, she's a Queen, so I have to act and show her respect — in a pretender matter.
"So, Prince Amir will temporarily rule the Palace, putting the populace, resources, and information in charge."
"Besides, the Safeguard Council has given him a case that they only entrusted to Prince Amir," King added, while grabbing a small box just beside his throne and giving it to me.
"This box contains a serious case. Aside from ruling the Palace, you need to close that case. It's quite overwhelming, but you have to, Prince Amir." He said, then patted my shoulder right ahead.
I gazed at the Queen who was staring at me furiously. I smiled at her and bowed to both of them before I left them at the Throne Hall.
Three primary suspects in a brutal killing in the Almaciga Mountains, among three, one is the culprit, and the others were innocent. A Young Lady from Central Village was the witness to the brutal crime, find and let her help you to solve it. See other information from the boxes. Make this case solved. Prince Amir.
This was written from a small sheet of paper in the box. As soon as I opened it, I saw a sheet of paper and forensic sketches of the primary suspects.
Then...
I suddenly woke up feeling a bit fine from what happened earlier. I can feel my right leg a bit but aching, probably an aftershock. I glanced at it and was surprised that it was a well-treated; clean plaster. I was bedridden on a clean mattress and was inside a pretty sturdy and tidy hut. My clothes were changed into a sort of lapover. I couldn't stand, well, so I peeked over trying to see who was outside and alarm them that I was awake.
"Uhm, hello! Is there someone outside?" I asked.
I lay down and paused for a while, waiting for someone to hear me. Suddenly, I heard footsteps from outside, mumbling and chattering around. Then, Niala and Mill entered the hut, gladly.
"Prinsipe Amir! Salamat at gising ka na!" Niala exclaims gaily.
"Now, you're awake!" Mill calmly uttered.
"Yeah, But still not fine," I uttered.
"It's okay, we can stay here as long as you're fine," Mill added.
"Kaya mo bang tumayo?" Niala asked.
"Probably," I answered.
Then suddenly, Mill held the crutches for me to sling for. I thanked him and took it. I sling my arms on both crutches as a support for me to stand.
"Andiyan sila sa labas. Hinihintay nila ang paggising ng Prinsipe Amir" Niala whispered near my ear.
I moved outside the hut. To my delight, I saw the people of this village, with all smiles on their faces. They tried to kneel on me, but I refused to do so.
"No need to kneel. It's only for the King," I uttered.
"Ikinagagalak namin ang iyong presensiya dito sa aming pamayanan, Mahal na Prinsipe," utterance of the old lady wearing a headband with tattoos all over her body.
"It's okay, we were supposed to be the ones who should be glad and thankful for what you did to me and for helping my companions," I said. Thanking them with a smile
"Mahal na Prinsipe, maligayang pagbabalik at pagdating sa nayon ng Osanyin; ang nayon ng mga manggagamot at magsasaka, ang nayon na masagana sa pananim, mga malulusog na hayop, at mga tradisyunal na medisina," Utterance by a very welcoming tall and enthusiastic man.
"Mahal na Prinsipe, mayroon kaming kaunting salu-salo para sa inyo at sa mga kasamahan mo," she said, a lady whom I was stunned because of her long-silky braided hair that almost reached the ground.
We followed them through to where the banquet was. This is not the first time I went here but I was still astonished by the living of the Osanyin people. The place is uncluttered, and the ambience has immense freshness; cool breeze of air and surrounded by grasslands and gardens. People here were joyful and kind. They all treat each other like family. Kids were playing around flying a kite, playing clackers, happily. This environment puts a smile on my face. It brings contagious positivity. No wonder the palace always treats this village as special — the bread and butter of the Realm.
"Mill," I called his attention while we were just right behind walking. He glances at me.
"Did you see him?" I asked.
"No. He's not here" Mill answered back.
"Then, where is he?"
"Maybe, he's up to a mission," he answered.
As we reached the banquet, they welcomed us with lots of fruits and healthy vegetables on the table. Drooling inside. I gulped a bit and smiled at them.
"This is too much to welcome us,"
"Prinsipe, kulang ito kumpara sa proteksiyon at suportang binibigay ng Palasyo sa amin. Kaya't kahit papaano ay makapagbigay din kami sa inyo" the long-hair lady uttered.
"Salamat po," Niala shortly replied.
We sat down on a wooden chair, and people around us joined us. I was seated at the center, opposite me from the other side of this table was an old lady with body tattoos; people called her Inang Matilda. Niala and Mill were seated beside
me. We enjoyed the feast. Then, suddenly Inang Matilda uttered.
"Matanong ko lang mahal na Prinsipe,"
"Yes, what is it, Inang Matilda?" I responded after chewing up the food in my mouth and devouring it.
"Sa nangyari sa iyo, gusto kong malaman kung ano pakay mo dito" uttered with calmness in her tone.
I gazed at her, exchanging gazes with Niala and Mill. I can't just reveal my intentions here. This mission is quite personal and it has nothing to do with the village.
"Kasi po —"
"Hindi kita tinatanong, Iha." Inang Matilda uttered. Intercepting Niala from speaking.
Mill slightly giggled.
"Okay po, paumanhin," Niala uttered. Zipping her mouth.
I turned my gaze to Inang Matilda.
"So, I have a mission here but it has nothing to do with the village, it has nothing to do with the crops and livestock or even the medicines," I said.
People around the table started mumbling and gazing at each other. While Inang Matilda maintains her gaze on me like she's trying to get inside my brain and look over it.
"What's the mission," she said, with now, a raspiness in her tone.
"Mill, did you bring the sketch?" I said looking at Mill who nodded and grabbed the folded sketch out of his pocket. He gave it to me and I started to unfold it, show it to them what my intention was here. I certainly raised and showed them the sketch. People were gasping, shocked, and calm.
"This..." showing the sketch
"He is my mission!" I said.
"Now, if you know him, tell me where is he, right now." with composure utterance.
I looked over at Inang Matilda and saw her talking with the tall guy and the long-braided lady while people around the table were chattering and mumbling. She turned gazed at me and rattled the bell that she was holding.
"Tahimik," She calmly said.
Everyone was hushed. She deeply sighed.
"Mayroon siyang misyon. Ito'y itinalaga sa kanya ni Maestro Ki Bou... "
I took a glance at Niala and saw her lip arch.
"Umalis siya kaninang umaga, naging suliranin ito kanina sa pamayanan namin, sa kadahilanang ayaw namin may lumabas sa Osanyin ng mag-isa at walang kasama. Nagpumiglas siya at pinilit ipagpatuloy ang misyon ng mag-isa. May umalma, mayroon pumayag. Nahati ang desisyon dito ng lahat, ngunit sa huli, kaagad nairaos dahil nangako siyang babalik ng ligtas na matapos ang misyon at dala ang pambihirang halaman na tinatawag na Arnica Montana na makikita lang sa mga bundok ng Almaciga,"
"What's with this plant? What's his mission?" I keep asking.
"Sasagutin ko lahat 'yan, Mahal na Prinsipe..."
She arches her lips and gazes at everyone around the table.
"Ang Arnica Montana ay isang pambibirang halaman na tanging makikita sa bulubundukin ng Almaciga. Ang matingkad na dilaw na mga bulaklak nito ay ginagamit upang gumawa ng mga paghahanda, maipawi ang pananakit ng kalamnan, mabawasan ang pamamaga, at mapabilis ang paggaling ng sugat..."
"So, ganun kahalaga pala ang halaman na ito?" Niala curiously uttered.
They all nodded. Like it was valuable to them.
"Nakita mo kung paano sila tumango, ganun kahalaga sa amin ang halaman na iyon,"
"Eh, bakit hindi kayo gumawa ng paraan? Mas lalo niyo lang dinagdagan ang trabaho niya," Niala uttered with shoulders crossed over her chest.
"Dahil nangako siya. Alituntunin ng mga mamamayan na kapag ika'y nangako, ito'y panindigan mo. Nangako siya, paninindigan niya. At saka, mabigat ang binitawan niyang pangako. Maliban sa mahirap niyang misyon, ay doble din ang hirap para makakuha ng Arnica Montana. Sa katunayan, kaya naming lumakbay papuntang Almaciga at kuhanin niyan, pero gaya ng sinabi ko...nangako siya,"
Inang Matilda said.
"At ang misyon niya, ihatid ang sariling gawang gamot sa Lelantos Village dahil sa matinding pangangailangan ng isa sa mga mangangaso nila,"
She added.
"Malayo ang Lelantos Village mula rito diba?" Niala asked.
Inang Matilda nodded.
"So, he's heading at Lelantos?" I uttered with full solemnness on my complexion.
Inang Matilda glanced at me with a smile on her face.
"Tama, anak. Kaninang umaga lang siya umalis. Maaaring maabutan niyo pa siya kung aalis kayo ngayon, pero sa sitwasyon mong iyan..."
"Then, we'll go tomorrow. We will stay here for a night if you allow us," I uttered.
"I will, Mahal na Prinsipe." She said.
"Lusaka! Ihatid mo sila sa kanilang matutuluyan mamayang gabi at ipaghanda ng hapunan. Kailangan mo rin magpahinga, mahal na Prinsipe."
She said. Then rounds the bell and people bowed in sync, Niala and Mill bowed after. The banquet has just ended.
At night.
After we had dinner and took a bath.
I and Mill have a separate hut with Niala, her room was just opposite us. We are having our stuff prepared for tomorrow. We're going to follow him from Lelantos Village.
knock! knock! knock!
I turned my gaze at the door and saw Niala peeking at us, smiling.
"Tapos na kayo?" she asked.
"Why?" I said.
"Punta tayo doon. May bonfire 'dun, bakante. Tara na!" she invited.
I and Mill both looked at each other, then turned back our gaze at her. She turned to gape at us too.
"What? Kung ayaw niyo, e'di 'wag!" she uttered in annoyance stamping her foot and leaving us.
We both chuckled as soon as she left.
We followed her though, and saw her at the empty campfire; someone came first there, and she was alone sitting on one of the logs. I hemmed and turned around as she heard me. She just rolled her eyes at us.
"Seriously? You do that to a Prince?" I uttered, arching my lip forming a smile, and chuckling.
"Wala ka naman sa kaharian mo, eh! She replied.
"But still, it was engraved on his blood," Mill said.
She makes faces. She is short-tempered.
The heat coming from the fire touches my skin — it's not burning but the warmth of it caresses the epidermis. Flickers and harmless. I brought my hand closer to the fire, and slowly I could sense that it burned. Fire ravishes from afar and drives you closer to it, but once it does, it's scorching and fatal. Now, I understand the moth and the flame. It's a decision you made, you have to make it right because, with one unwise decision, life will be shattered into pieces, changing life's course. Like a moth to a flame; someone is tempted to what's something dangerous, someone drowning in misery, alone. 
"Prince Amir, be careful. You'll burn your hand," Mill uttered with concern.
"I know,"
"Amir, matanong lang," Niala uttered caressing her neck.
I looked at her.
"Can you tell me about your family?"
I didn't hesitate to answer it directly.
"They are all dead,"
"Ay, sorry," uttered in a whispering manner. Ashamed for what she did. She turned gazed at the ground and plucked some grass.
Hushed.
After that awkward situation out there, we constantly go back to our spaces. That ends the night.
- END.