Episode 7

Chapter 6

I just looked in the hallway even though he was completely out of my sight but I immediately sighed and turned back to the dining room to finish what I was going to eat when...

"That was really touching, Yani dear."

My eyes widened as I turned to the speaker. Oh God. "Uh-uhm Ki-king Gabi," I stuttered.

"Good thing I can understand Filipino," he said and smiled foolishly.

Shacks. Of all people, "Ho-how long have you been there?" I stuttered again.

"About a minute ago," he replied, still not losing his crazy smile.

"You heard everything?"

"Yes," Just great King Gabi.

“So, going to your room for a bathroom break huh? Nice excuse my dear,” he smirked. Great. It was obvious in his voice that he was teasing me. I just stopped talking.

"So, you can feel him?" he asked suddenly with a serious tone.

I was a little surprised by the sudden change in the expression on his face but I understood what he meant. The truth of that…

"I think," I replied because I was not sure.

“Mm-hmm. Maybe, just maybe…” that smirk returned to his lips. “Finally! My son has a soulmate.”

I was surprised by what he said. “No King Gabi, it's not what you think—”

“What do you think of my son? Handsome right?” he cut me off with matching up and down of his eyebrows.

"King Gabi, please enough of this," I answered a little irritated. It’s no longer funny.

“Haha. I'm just making fun of you,” he smiled with great joy. Wow King Gabi. He thinks like a child.

"So, ready to go?" he asked.

"Ready for what?" I asked back.

“For the tour.”

I wondered and thought about what he is saying before I knew what he meant. “Ah right, Main Cabin tour. Yes, yes. I'm good to go,” I answered happily.

“Really? It's like you are not,” he said while looking at my feet so I also looked.

Oh right, I am bare footed. Why didn’t I thought of that? “Ah hehe. Sorry but I'm not really comfortable with my shoes.”

"If I were you, you shouldn't have said that," said King Gabi.

Huh? I was confused by what he said.

“You are not comfortable with the shoes?!”

I turned around immediately because someone spoke. Oh shacks! Again, to everyone else to hear that, “E-Edmondo, I-I mean Prince Edmondo.”

“What’s wrong with the shoes?!” Prince Edmondo asked and approached me.

“Huh? Well uhm...”

“Is it big? Small? Too tight? Tell me!”

Calm donw bro. Just a moment. "Uhm well… it has heels," I said.

They both fell silent when I said that and I could see that King Gabi was trying his best not to laugh. Yes, I know the shallowness of the reason.

“Heels? What's wrong with the heels? It's too short” Yes Kuya. My feet are ashamed of you. “Sorry. I'm not used to it,” I answered with embarassment.

“Okay. I'll change this quick. Wear something first while I take off the heels,” he said, took it and ran away.

Wow, he’s really, something. He’s serious about his career.

“Sorry for that. Edmondo gets worried once his customers are not really comfortable with his works. He’s a perfectionist actually,”said King Gabi.

"I can see that," I replied.

“Yup. Each of my sons are special at something and most of them wants every little thing to be perfect.”

I turned to him. “Is that so? Does that mean that each of the prince have uhm talents?”

“Of course they are unique from each other. And as their father maybe I'll tell you their unique characteristics later in the tour.”

“Really? That's great,” I smiled at King Gabi at the same time.

"So, what shoes will you wear?"

"Oh right," I once entered my room and took a pair of flat shoes. I put it on right away and went out. "I'm ready," I replied with a smile.

“Good. Come follow me,” he said as he walked and I followed him.

As we walked, "So before I tour you around the Main Cabin, let me give you a brief introduction of this place itself," he said as he opened a door.

When we entered, it was dark. When the door closes, the room automatically lights up. Wow amazing. It is not that bright and dark at the same time. Just the right brightness for us to see a big machine in the middle.

"Come here, Yani," King Gabi invited and I approached where he was. "So ready?" he asked me.

“Yes. Ready!”

He smiled. "So, Welcome to Eullenuum Nation!" and at the same time he pressed a button. When he touched it, various structures of houses, cities and everything in it suddenly appeared. I can't explain.

It 's just like transparent dioramas made of light from the big machine he pressed on. It seems like in movies that someone projected different things from the light but it was not on the screen. Like floating stuctures of buildings. What do you call it again?

“Everything you see in this hologram is the whole of Eullenuum Nation...”

That’s it, holograms! "…It is a nation that is especially made for extraordinary people like you that can control different elements," explained King Gabi.

“Wow. Awesome,” I’m like an ignorant child here who thinks this is the most beautiful thing that I have ever seen.

"And this is what we call the Main Cabin..." and at the same time, he pressed the hologram of a large building. “...it's just a big establishment in the outside but in the inside, the whole of the Main Cabin is like a city. And by the way, we rather call them cabins rather than cities.”

I did not say a word because I was still amazed. My eyes are already glimmering at what he is showing to me.

“I hope you are listening.”

"Huh?" I returned to reality. “Uhm yes. It's just... amazing.” Even though I say 'amazing' over and over again, it is still not enough to explain what I am seeing. This is too wonderful. It’s more than I can imagine.

“As you can see, the Main Cabin is the biggest cabin of all. Here, you can see everything in it like the hospital, different rooms for the maids working here in the Main Cabin, different stores and shops that are lined up for our consumers, the biggest stadium for different events, of course my office and other more. It's really, really big so as to put everything we need in place. And don't worry, you'll get to see them in real after this...”

"Uhm King Gabi, what are those?" I was pointing to a row of eight doors.

“Oh that, those are special rooms. I hate to spoil you so I'm not going to say what's in there first because it will be a surprise later once we get there,” he replied with a smile.

Aww, why is that? "Okay."

“Don't pout. Don't you get excited?”

“Yes. I am actually excited,” and smiled at him. I also don't like spoilers but it would be nice if he said that now, right? It seems ironic to me. He continued speaking.

“Now, the Main Cabin is connected to eight different cabins. Each ruled by my son.”

“Oh. No wonder they are princes,” I commented.

“Yes and actually whenever I give a tour to someone new, I give the details to each cabin except to the cabin where they belong.”

I stopped and processed what he said first. I didn’t get it. "Huh?"

“What I mean is, if for example you're a water girl, a girl that can control the water element only, then when I will tour you, I will give a brief detail about the different cabins except for the water cabin because you will be toured by the prince, specifically by my son Eaux, the water prince, in the water cabin. Get it? ”

“Aahh…” while nodding my head as an agreement. "…but why?"

“Because once you are 'just a water girl', you are forbidden to go to the other cabin. You'll understand it later once we dive in to each cabin but for you dear, since you're not a water girl and you can control all eight elements, I suppose you will have a tour to all the cabins and the princes will be your tour guides to introduce the cabin so all I have to do is just give a brief description about each. The details will be their responsibility.”

“Ah okay. I'm getting it but still confused,” I replied.

"Don't worry you'll fully understand it later," and then he pressed a new hologram. “So for the next cabin, we have the Water Cabin. Just a plain beach but if we dive deep… there it is, the Water Cabin.”

Wow. Underwater city, I mean cabin. Underwater cabin. Amazing. I can't breathe in the beauty of this place. If this Water Cabin is cool, how about the others?

“Then next, the Air Cabin. Their land is located up the sky supported by big puffy clouds…”

Ooohhh ... “Then the Earth Cabin, located between mountain ranges…”

Woooww... “Then we have the Fire Cabin which is located inside a volcano that's why it is so hot…”

I was surprised by what he said. "Wait, I have a question," I said. "What if the volcano exploded?"

"Oh to tell you frankly, that is one of the best event in their cabin," he replied.

“Best time? They are happy with that?”

“Yes. They are fire people anyways so they can withstand the temperature of the lava. The volcano remains dormant for a year and after it, the volcano explodes which in other words they call it 'Explosion New Year'.”

“Wow. That's new.”

“Yup. I was also surprised when I first heard that.” Seriously, first the body temperature of the prince which is 40 degrees then now, there is this 'Explosion New Year'. They are really weird. How about the others?

“So next, we have the Electric Cabin. A city full of lights and technologies. Most of their things are operated by electricity…”

“...then we have the Metal Cabin, everything is made of metal and their cabin is like inside a factory building. All living things in there are actually robots, even animals...”

"Cool," I commented.

“...next, the Nature Cabin. The city is the jungle itself and the trees are there homes…” Oh I see that coming. They’re nature guys so you can expect them to be really eco-friendly.

“And last but not the least, the Ice Cabin. Every little thing in it is made of ice. By the way, see that beautiful ice palace?” he said while pointing.

"Yes," I replied.

“That is Jethro's place and he made that all by himself.”

"Really?" I was astonished to hear that. “So beautiful.”

“Indeed. Everyday it's winter in there.”

"Oh cool."

“So that's all the cabins but let's go back to the Main Cabin. Do you ever wonder why we made this cabin?”

"Uhm…" I thought about his question. "…for people like me, who can control eight elements?" I answered back with a question.

“Well that could be but you're the only living person that has that ability but the main reason is that the Main Cabin is where 'main' events really take place. By what I mean 'main events' is that, do you remember what I told you earlier that some people are forbidden to go to a certain cabin? ”

"Uuhh yes."

"Then because of that, let's take again the example that if you're just a water girl, you can't go to the Fire Cabin because once you go there, you might as well evaporate."

I was surprised by what he said. “Really? Water people evaporate?”

"Uhm it's actually a figure of speech meaning that they will die because of dehydration."

"Ah okay." I imagined things when he said that.

“There are other more reasons and soon you'll learn about it but once you are a water girl, mostly your close friends are water people but thanks to the Main Cabin, anyone can go here; fire people, water people, air people, you name it, so you will notice that this is a diverse cabin.”

“Yeah. That was great,” I just commented.

“You said it and another thing, the Main Cabin is also the best place here in our nation to export products from your own cabin. For example, if Edmondo needs a delivery of clothes to a certain cabin, he can deliver it here in the Main Cabin by giving it to a delivery guy from the cabin where he wants to deliver it. That is why there are lots of markets and shops in here. You will see later the different products that they sell.”

"Oh okay."

"So everything ends here," at the same time, he pressed the button again so the holograms disappeared. “Now let's go and check out what's really in the Main Cabin. And also for you not to get lost in this big place,” he said and at the same time we left the room.

As he said, we looked at everything in the Main Cabin, the shops, markets and other places. Seriously, it's nice here. It's like you're wandering around a city without leaving a building, cool right? So whether it is raining or sunny, you can still go shopping. Then...

“Oh by the way, we have an underground office where only the princes and I can go in because any concern or happenings in each cabin are talked down there. We don't want anyone to hear a single thing so purposely we locate it there.”

"Wow can we go?" I asked.

"Just like I said earlier, only the princes and I can go so the answer is clear."

"Awww," and I pouted. Wow. Acting like a child.

“Don't worry. There will come a time that you can go down there.”

I just sighed. And when is that hah dear king? Wait a minute, it got me wondering…

"Uhm King Gabi?" I asked.

"Yes dear?" he replied.

"I was wondering, what element can you control?"

King Gabi suddenly stopped walking and did not speak so I also stopped walking.

Oh wait. Is this also one of the questions that should not be asked? Shacks! What if it was actually a secret and just like Jethro, he also has that ddark side inside him? Oh no! They are even related!

“U-uhm you see King Gabi you don't really have to answer—”

"I can't control anything," he whispered which I stopped and was silenced.

There was silence between us and it was really awkward because of that.

"Uuhh can I ask why?" I asked so the silence was broken. I can read the atmosphere between us now but I was really attacked by my own curiosity but huhu I wish that this habit of mine being curious and asking questions in no time, I hope nothing bad will happen this time.

"I'm sorry dear but it's a long story," was his simple answer.

“Oh okay. Uhm I understand.” Okay. No more questions Yani. Zip your mouth.

"So…" he said but I seemed to be terrified when he said that. He turned to me and smiled at me. "…do you want to know what's behind those eight doors?"

I was surprised by his sudden change of mood. I just smiled back.

"Yes please," I replied.

When we arrived, there was a large door right in front of us and when it opened, there were eight doors in a row. Each has a symbol at the top of the door.

"So first, let's go to Eaux's room," and went to the door with the 'water drop' symbol at the top of the door.

"Wait, wait, wait…" I said so King Gabi looked at me. “Eaux's room? You mean the water prince?” I asked.

"Yes dear," King Gabi replied.

“So that means, these are their rooms? The eight princes' rooms?”

“Nice observation. Surprise,” King Gabi said happily. Ah. That was the surprise he was saying earlier. It looks like I was really surprised there. What can they have in each room?

King Gabi opened the door to Prince Eaux's room and when it opened…

"So just a pool," I said. I felt depressed because I expected to be something ‘luxurious’. He’s a prince.

“It's not just a pool dear. Come,” we went inside an elevator together. Oh wow. At least there’s an elevator.

Upon arriving at the said floor and when the elevator door opened... woah, awesome. So it's not really just a pool.

There’s a transparent clear glass in front of us and we can see right through what’s inside the pool. There is a jukebox inside and an oversized glass at the other end so we can see our reflection.

"So, any idea what does he do down here?" King Gabi asked me.

"Uhm wait..." I started to think. Just a moment really. I saw a setup like this already. Hmm I'm not sure but is it okay to guess?

"He dances?" I asked the answer.

“Correct. He dances underwater.” I'm right? I thought he’s going to laugh because who dances under the water? But wait...

"How can he dance underwater?" I asked.

“He’s a water guy, Yani. He can hear the beat of the jukebox even though he is underwater. The jukebox is waterproof specially made for this pool so it works. Also, water guys can think clearly if they are underwater.”

"Ooh awesome," the person who made the jukebox is what I mean.

"So now you know Eaux's thing, let's proceed to the next room."

There you go Yani. His special room is luxurious, isn’t it?

Next up is a small wind symbol at the top of the door. So it’s the air prince. To this day, I still don’t remember his name.

"Uhm who's room is this?" I asked. I know it’s the air prince but I want to know his name.

"Turuki's, the air prince," replied King Gabi. Ah, his name is Turuki. I wanted to write that down but I didn't have a pencil and paper with me. I hope I won’t be able to forget about that again.

When it opened, a breeze greeted us as we entered and many picture frames are hung on the wall. Wait a minute, I will guess again.

"Photography?" I asked.

“Yes,” Boom. I was right again. “He has a lot of cameras and he is the best photographer that I ever met here in this nation because he always get the exact angles of every view perfectly. He was able to take the entire cabin at perfect angles. I think he has a photo album of it but I don't know where he kept it.”

"Ah…" so if Prince Eaux is a dancer, the water prince, this air prince Prince Turuki is a photographer. Maybe I can remember their names better now that I know what is inside in each room here.

"So what's with the air in here even though there are no windows?" I asked while looking around.

“It's a special wind that only circulates in this room. He can relax with this kind of air.”

Okay. It’s like a breeze and it really is relaxing. We also got out immediately and went to the next room.

There is a small stone symbol at the top of the door. Earth, so that means, it’s Prince Edmondo’s. Hey, I know this. What else could there be but a sewing machine and lots of different fabric. Upon opening the door... ops. I'm wrong.

"So this is Edmondo's fun time."

The room is full of picture frames of cross stitches. Then there are also many different things that are crocheted and knitted. There are also many threads and crochet hooks on the table. "...he not only sews dresses but he can also cross stitch, crochet and knit wonderful things."

Okay, I won't judge anymore. "But because of his busy schedules of different deliveries of clothes, he seldom comes here."

Ah that's how it is. King Gabi's example earlier that he always has delivery is really accurate.

We also left the room immediately. The next one has a small fire symbol at the top of the door. Ah, none other than the great fire prince. What could be his talent?

As soon as the door opens, you can feel the heat from inside but it is not that hot as if your skin is about to be burned. It seems like the heat is the same as in the Philippines. There is a stove and various cooking utensils hanging and rows of cabinets up on the wall.

Ah I get it. “So what else Fuego wants to do is none other than to cook. This is where he experiments his recipe before he let others taste it.”

We actually went in and King Gabi opened every cabinet there was. "Wow, so many ingredients," I commented.

“Yes. Every ingredient and utensil is here. One fact about him is he don't bring cooking books in here. He cooks whatever that pops out his mind and he always experiments different kinds of food.”

“Really? What a guy,” I said.

"Indeed he is," and we went out after.

Seriously, I was sweating when I was in there. Okay. So there are four and there are four more.

Next, there is a small lightning symbol at the top of the door. Okay so the fire prince is Prince Fuego and this is the electric prince, and I don't know his name yet. We stepped in front of the door,

"Please scan your eye," said a voice. King Gabi immediately leveled his eyes on the door. Wow. An eye scanner.

"King Gabi, you may come in," at the same time the door opened and King Gabi entered. When I stepped on front of the door, the door closed first and, "Please scan your eye," so of course, I did what King Gabi did a while ago.

“Different eye. Not allowed to come in.” I thought so. Great. I can no longer remember his name or even know his talent.

Then suddenly, door opened alone causing me to be surprised.

“Sorry about that dear. This is his security but I pressed something in order for you to come in temporarily.”

Yes! Thank you, King Gabi. When I entered, the room was full of beakers, chemicals and various experimental equipment. It smells like chemicals in here.

"So he's a scientist," I said.

“Yup. That's Zoltar's thing. He loves science very much that he owns a lot of laboratories and this is one of them.”

Ah okay, Zoltar is his name and wow. It looks like he is too young to have many laboratories. What a genius.

We also went out because the smell is making me dizzy. Here you go, eye scanner. I’m coming out.

The next door has a small symbol of a leaf. Nature prince. And if I remember correctly…

When the door opened, there was a white wall. There are large canvases on the side with no paintings and there are also piles of buckets of different colors of paint and paintbrushes.

I'm right, painting is what he wants. I also remember his name because of that.

"Well, looks like Feesy didn't paint right now," said King Gabi.

"Yeah," I agreed. It’s obvious in the piled large canvases in here.

“Actually, he always repaint these walls. You might think he's painting on canvases but most of the time if he's here, he paints the wall.”

I was slightly surprised and looked at the wall. Ah okay. So he paints on the wall.

"So that means these are thick walls made of different paintings?"

"Yes, he would paint it white again if he won't like it." Ganun. I really thought he was just painting on the piled canvases.

The next one has a small 'screw' symbol at the top of the door. Metal prince, he’s a robot so what could be his talent?

When we got to the front door, suddenly there was a red light. Like before, it also scanned what touches the red light causing it to scan our whole body.

"King Gabi, you may come in but the intruder is not allowed." Wow. He immediately found out that King Gabi was the one person but wait, what am I? Intruder? Like hello po, talking machine. I am not a bad person.

“Just let her in. She's a visitor here,” said King Gabi.

"I have no permission from Prince Aes." Ah Prince Aes is the name. Wow, what a loyal scanner.

“We'll just look inside. We won't touch a thing,” King Gabi assured.

Then later on, he scanned again. “The intruder has no malicious intent. She may come in,” and the door opened.

Just a moment, what? Malicious intent? Wow. Deep word. Nosebleed.

So here, it’s a simple room with a metal wall. “Simple you may say while looking around but behind those walls are different tools and materials for a machine. He always makes a machine here.”

Ah, that's his fun time. Because he’s a robot, it is easy. Maybe Prince Aes is smart. What is he good at, in math or in science? Or both?

We also went out. There you go, talking machine, I did nothing wrong. I just looked around.

"Okay, so last but not the least..." said King Gabi.

Honestly, this is what I have been waiting for the most and this is it. This is it. Let's see what this coldhearted prince has in his room. We stood in front of the door with a small snowflake symbol at the top of the door.

"So let's see…" said King Gabi as he held the door knob of the door. He paused first. What's up? Don't tell me he also has security?

He turned it around and... it opened. Nothing surprising. Or maybe later someone will suddenly attack us?!

"Wow, that's rare," he said.

“Huh? Why? ” I asked. Does that mean he really has a security?!

“You see, this room is always locked. He won't let anyone come in. I don't know why he wouldn't put a security in it but anyways, we have to make a quick look before he comes.”

Oh, I see. That's his security but it seems scary if we enter. It was as if King Gabi was panicking. When I saw what was inside...

I was shocked and my eyes widened. You've got to be kidding me. That white-haired dude's fun time is...

"As you can see, the room is full of different instruments made of ice," said King Gabi.

Music? I cannot believe. How can a numb person like him play music? Oops. I already said that I will not judge anymore but here I am now. Sorry.

"It is unbelievable for a guy like him but he plays the best music of all may it be rock, jazz, pop, country and other genre."

"Really?" I really can't believe that.

“Yes. Since he can control ice, he made sure his instruments are made of ice so he can play them. He can make a piano play by itself while he is playing the guitar.”

“Woah. That's awesome I should say,” I commented. That is not sarcastic.

“Indeed but the fact is, we never heard him sang before. He plays the melody only.”

“Oh. So you mean, he plays the instruments without singing?”

"Yes." Ahh okay. That's… understandable?

"There are a lot of hidden things about Jethro that few of us only know about," it was obvious in King Gabi's voice that he said that sadly.

"But what if you heard him sing?"

King Gabi was slightly surprised by my question and looked at me. Suddenly, he gave me a smile.

“Then I'll be the happiest father if that happens. To hear my son sing, will be the greatest gift that I will ever receive…” he replied.

I was speechless. "…that's my only wish before I die," he added.

Aww. That made me cry. Haha I’m being dramatic. “Don't worry, King Gabi. He'll sing to you someday,” I said to somehow cheer him up.

"Yeah," he replied, but he was still sad.

It’s so awkward when you talk to King Gabi about Jethro. Hay that guy.

“Okay. Let's end here. We better get going before—” he turned and did not finish what he was going to say. I turned to see why.

"Jethro, you're here," said King Gabi. Uh-oh. White-haired dude alert. He did not say a word and just bowed his head.

“Look Jethro—”

"What are you doing?" he groaned.

"Jethro, let me explain—"

"Don't you know..." he cut him off again, raised his head and gave us a very serious look. There is again that evil aura that is surrounding him. "...barging at someone’s place is a grave thing?"

"Jethro, please understand."

Suddenly the cold wind blew I did not know where it came from (I think it’s from him) and soon I was surprised because suddenly there were ice spikes rising towards King Gabi.

I immediately went in front of King Gabi to block him and made a fence of fire. As a result, thick smoke builds up.

"Just a moment," I said. “I don't know what the reason is that you are angry and you plan to hurt your own father but King Gabi is not at fault here. If you want to vent your anger, can you do it to me instead?”

Gradually the smoke between us disappeared and we saw him still looking at us seriously, and then he bowed his head again. Gradually the ice he had made disappeared until it was completely gone. I sighed in relief.

Whew. That was close but wow. I look like a heroine here. I thought he would not listen even if I said that because I’m just a girl that just came here in this nation while he’s a prince so if we take a look at it, he has the right to do whatever he wants but he still obeyed me.

"Jethro, I mean Prince Jethro," I began. "I myself will apologize—"

"Get out!" he replied so I stopped. Great. I’m already apologizing.

"Yani come on," King Gabi pulled me out of the room into the hallway.

Just great. He seemed to be much more respected than his own father. Well what can I say, he's a numb guy. What if I didn’t block his attack a while ago? Something could have happened to King Gabi.

If I used to be very scared with him these past few days, now, not that much but I will admit I was really scared of what happened earlier because he can even hurt his own father. I suddenly remembered what I had done before.

It was as if we really had a resemblance.

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