#THE_RED_CRYSTER
©Sir Zach
EPISODE 65
Meanwhile, Ca-ssy was walking down the street, still in pursuit of Amanda. She was about to fly up in search of future sister-in-law when she heard her name. She found Amanda once again, this time, with a frown on her face, walking with another soldier of Aeros.
The soldier was in a state of confusion, rubbing his nape as he walked with Amanda.
“Amanda?! Why in the world are you suddenly disappearing?!” Ca-ssy asked with her voice raised.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry, Ca-ssy! The soldier of Terene told me that someone needed help! I rushed immediately while you were taking care of the child.” Responded Amanda.
Pointing her thumb to the soldier next to her, she added, “I found him, unconscious earlier, lying on the ground.”
“Someone hit me on the head,” said the soldier. “I did not see who it was.”
Fortunately, the soldier could heal, just like many of the soldiers of Aeros. The bruised that was earlier evident, disappeared in minutes.
The tale of the soldier made Amanda and Ca-ssy look around.
“Well, we need to look into that, but before anything else, Amanda, I’d like to talk to you about your sudden violence over a mere child,” said Ca-ssy. She quickly grabbed Amanda’s arm and pointed out, “You just aided a wounded child, and then you go out hurting another!”
“What?! No! I don’t understand, Ca-ssy!” Amanda asked, utterly confused.
“It’s her! She was the one who hurt the child!” Said an old woman. More of the crowd followed, pointing fingers at Amanda.
“What’s going on?” Amanda asked, looking at the villagers.
“Lady Ca-ssy, you can’t let Amanda go unpunished for what she did!” Yelled the old woman in a red scarf over her head. Her tone was close enough to sound like a man’s voice. “Who hurts a child?! What kind of woman is she?!”
The old woman turned to the cluster and said, “You must speak up! This Amanda cannot abuse her authority like this!”
It did not take long for people in that same village to speak their minds, following the encouragement of one old woman in a red scarf.
Ca-ssy had to push back Amanda behind her and said, “We will speak to Amanda about this and rest a-ssured, she is already regretful for what happened?”
“Regretful? Ca-ssy? I don’t even understand what is going on?” Amanda tried to reason with her, but the more they settled in the same location, the more people came out from their homes, giving Amanda judgment.
To Ca-ssy’s opinion, it was not helping anyone at all. She turned to Amanda and said, “Go back to the castle! Stay in the room until I return. I will handle this.”
Looking at the soldier, she said, “Gaurd Amanda’s room and make sure she does not go outside!”
“Ca-ssy!” Amanda tried to object, Ca-ssy insisted it was for the best.
Amanda was so frustrated that her anger reflected in her flames. She lit up in seconds while announcing, “Stay away from me!”
Her phoenix wings erupted from her back and she flew up in the sky, toward the direction of the village.
Ca-ssy felt her chest in pain. She saw the hurt in Amanda’s eyes, but she had no choice at that point. The crowd was angered, and she needed to ease the tension in the village.
When she returned her attention to the people, she said, “I will investigate the matter -”
“What is there to investigate, Lady Ca-ssy? We clearly saw Amanda pushed down the boy and was ready to kick him!” It was the old lady again, fueling the anger of the people.
Soldiers of Aeros who were previously spread across the village finally found her. They acted to disperse the crowd as Ca-ssy said, “There must have been a good explanation for what happened. For now, let us not judge and I can promise, we will look into it.”
“Let us not easily forget how Amanda had aided our nation, please. I ask for everyone’s consideration!”
It took a few more convincing for Ca-ssy to let the villagers return to their homes. Only then did Ca-ssy walk back, hoping to speak to the same boy whom Amanda had bumped into.
Unfortunately, she could not find the boy, nor the same people whom she handed to the boy to. She instead found the old lady wearing the red scarf, sitting on a porch from one of the old houses. She was smiling as she was rocking her chair.
“Grandma, I’m sorry to ask for your help, but do you know exactly where the boy whom you were referring to earlier?” Ca-ssy asked, leaning forward to the old lady.
Hearing no response, she asked again, “Grandma?”
“Oh, Lady Ca-ssy, it’s you,” said a woman in her mid-ties. She walked closer to the old lady and said, “Grandma doesn’t speak anymore. She fell ill a year ago and since then, she never spoke again.”
With a heavy sigh, the woman said, “She doesn’t even recognize us anymore.”
“She – she doesn’t… Speak?” Ca-ssy asked with a complete grimace.. It was just half an hour ago when the same old lady with a red scarf was practically frying Amanda with her words.
______
Hiding behind the pan-try area of the castle, Keelan was letting out an evil grin. He looked at his men, who were equally smirking at his plans. He muttered, “It’s time to ruin Amanda and cast her away from Aeros.”
He immediately shifted into a soldier of Aeros and deliberately made his way to the servants working at the pan-try. “Have you heard the news?”
“What is it, Lyle?” Asked one loyal servant of Theo.
“Lady Amanda became abusive to a child in the northern village! She has gone out of hand!” Reported the said soldier.
“What? She goes around, having an affair with Sir Keelan and now he attacks a child?!” Exclaimed one of the cooks. “Amanda has to be reported to Master Theo! That is the only way!”
“Yes! And the young master should know as well!”
The same group rallied more of the servants and other soldiers to complain to Theo, and by the time Ca-ssy returned to the mansion, her father was already agitated.
“Silence! Do not spout nonsense about the woman that helped saved our nation! Are you even thinking straight!” Theo’s face was red in anger. He was a ruthless person, but he was always just. He never judged base on accusations.
“But – Master Theo – ”
“What’s going on here?” Ca-ssy also went straight to the great hall, hoping to talk to her father. Instead, she was met by a group, already requesting for Amanda to be banished.
She walked in there with Razul, Khalil, and Keisha, who immediately followed behind her after her arrival at the castle.
“Lady Ca-ssy, is it true about the report of Amanda hurting a child?” Asked Farid, Kyle’s father, and the general of Theo’s army. He was beyond shocked hearing the news.
Ca-ssy raised her hands to everyone who was present and said, “It may seem that way – ”
Before she could even resume her thoughts, the crowd gave their horrific reaction.
“I can’t believe that Amanda would do this?”
“I thought she was a nice person?!”
“No! I won’t simply believe that?!” They all turned to Keisha. “Amanda and I had our differences, but she put it aside and befriended me.” She sneered and added, “These accusations are rubbish!”
She looked at Ca-ssy and said, “How could you say that Ca-ssy?!”
“Everyone, please! Please!” Ca-ssy called their attention. She looked at all those who were present and said, “For now, all I can say it. Do not and I repeat – do not believe everything you see!”
She walked around, making sure that everyone was paying attention to her and said, “For now, let me investigate on the matter!” Directing to the door, she asked the crowd, “Kindly leave us to discuss the situation… Please.”
“I’d like to ask only Razul, Khalil, and Kiesha to remain with my father and the general,” said Ca-ssy. she turned to one older soldier and ordered, “Please go to Amanda’s room and have her join us. Also, have Kyle come to this meeting.”
It took only minutes for Amanda and Kyle to arrive.
When everyone was settled in their seats, Ca-ssy ordered the doors to the great hall closed. Only then did she speak to them.
First, she turned to Keisha and said, “Thank you, Kiesha, for defending Amanda. I wasn’t sure at first, but now I could definitely conclude that you have already changed. And what made you change? It was Amanda’s good heart.”
Amanda, who was earlier upset, eased following Ca-ssy’s words. Still, she put her arms across her chest, still feeling defensive.
“Before anyone judge Amanda, I want… to test everyone in this room,” said Ca-ssy.
They were all confused, but nevertheless, they let Ca-ssy do as she requested.
She turned to Kyle and asked, “Kyle, back when we were studying on earth, what was the favorite pizza that I and Chris used to order?”
Kyle: “What the heck, Ca-ssy – ”
Ca-ssy: “Just answer. Damit!”
Kyle: “New York-style pizza. Duh.”
She turned to Amanda and probed, “Christopher thought you had a fever the first time we met. Why?”
There was nothing but turmoil in Amanda’s face. Nevertheless, she awkwardly replied, “Because you sensed my unusual warmth? I can’t believe you remember that… What’s going on, Ca-ssy?”
Ca-ssy pointed a finger at Amanda and said, “Good answer.”
Ca-ssy: “Keisha, how did Amanda defeat you on your fight?”
Keisha: “Focusing on her low kick to my leg?”
Ca-ssy went on and on with her interview, testing everyone’s identity… even her father. She asked, “Father, why did you never changed our diapers when we were babies?”
Everyone’s eyes wide-ned. They all turned to Theo, also curious to know.
The great Theo, the master, and ruler of their land sensed his head filled with annoyance. He thought, ‘Why this question?’ He sneered and said, “Change your question, young lady! Change it!”
“Okay – okay. It was the first thing that came up to my mind,” replied Ca-ssy. “Anyhow, what was the gift you gave me on my eighteenth birthday?”
“Your mother’s bracelet,” said Theo.
When Ca-ssy was done, she finally said, “Good. Everyone seems to be the right person.”
“What in the world is going on, Ca-ssy! Tell us now!” Theo demanded, his tone had never been so upsetting.
“Amanda,” said Ca-ssy. She turned to her father and said, “Father, At first, honestly, I thought Amanda had an alter ego, but now… I think… someone is pretending to be Amanda or anyone for that matter just to shame Amanda’s name!”
Ca-ssy began to share what observed back at the northern village, starting with seeing one kind of Amanda to another one. Then she told about running after Amanda but suddenly disappearing. The oddest example she could give was the most apparent; the old lady with the red scarf.
“I would never hurt a child,” said Amanda with a frown.
“And I realized this after connecting the dots. You couldn’t have possibly been the one hurting the child if you were aiding one soldier who had fallen unconscious!” Added Ca-ssy.
Razul had his brows furrowed when he said, “Come to think of it, the Amanda I saw a few days back who was.” He looked at Amanda apologetically and resumed, “She was being so bossy – but that was also the day that I was certain she was on earth!”
For those who had witnessed Amanda’s supposed alter ego, they shared their experience, and it utterly shocked Amanda. It was the first time she heard of it!
‘No wonder!’ She thought. ‘No wonder some soldiers and servants were evading her gaze, some even giving her that disgusting glare!’
‘No wonder they thought I’d leave ca-sserole for Keelan! fu-ck!’
While a serious discussion was happening inside the great hall of Aeros’ castle, Christopher had apparently returned from the earth. He reappeared inside his chamber, thanks to Abasi’s wormhole.
Missing his woman, the first thing Christopher did was look for Amanda. He was immediately told that she was at the great hall with his father and sister.
However, just as he made a turn to the hallway, he frowned at the sight of Amanda, walking towards the library. He called for her, “Amanda! Amanda! There you are! I thought you were with father.”
“Hey! Where are you going?” He swore he saw her hesitate, but ultimately, Amanda turned to him and said, “With your father? No, I just came from my room. From the opposite direction.”
Christopher frowned and leaned back. “Oh. Well, no matter.” He grabbed her hand and said, “Come! My love. I’m so tired. I want some unity now! And I want five rounds!”
“Unity?” Amanda asked with one brow raised.
Smirking at his woman, playing innocent, he said only with his mind, “You know. How about I pounce on you from behind? You like that a lot.”
Unfortunately for Christopher, the woman before him did not answer. She merely grimaced at his actions.
Still, he spoke to her in the head and said, “Amanda?! I want to have se-x! Now!”
Of course, he could not say it out loud. There were soldiers guarding the castle just meters away from them. He could only speak to her in his head.
“Chris? Are you back? Why are you thinking about se-x now? I’m at the great hall talking to your father and sister! It’s very urgent! Come here!” With eyes wide-ned, Christoper swallowed his own spit.
Amanda said she was at the great hall, but she was before him?
He let go of the woman in front of him and maintain to speak throu-ghhis mind. He asked, “You are at the great hall?”
“Yes! Come here! There is an urgent matter pertaining to me. You need to know this!” Replied Amanda throu-ghhis head.
He tilted his head in confusion and put his hands on his waist. Still, throu-ghtheir secret means of communicating, he asked, “So if you are there? Who is this in front of me? fu-ck! I just asked her to make unity with me!!!”
“I’m coming! I’m coming! Don’t you dare make unity with someone else! I’m going to kill you!, Just hold own the woman in front of you” He heard Amanda spoke.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 66