THIRTEEN.

PREMONITION.

❝ Stellar magic is a form of magic that is related and based on the stars and celestial bodies. And these are the most basic lessons from Chaos' magic. Because she is the beginning, and all magic comes from her source. In order to find magic, you must understand what it means.❞- Notes from the Book of Fates

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"COME HERE," was the sole command that slipped from Chaos's lips.

Walang isa sa kanila ang sumagot sa kanya, at hindi man lang nagalit si Chaos sa naging reaksyon ng dalawa. As the currents of destiny began to change, they realized that their carefully laid plans could take an unexpected turn.

Saku unsheathed his knife, revealing a weapon unlike any other. Its blade twisted into a mesmerizing zigzag pattern, and from its tip shimmered hues of violet and gold, suggesting that this was far from an ordinary knife. It held secrets and strength, a true tool for the challenges that lay ahead.

As the scene unfolded, dark orbs began to swirl around the knife, pulsating with a shimmering, shadowy energy. Next to him stood Willhelmina, her vine-weapon crackling to life, a fierce blaze of orange light illuminating the tension in the air.

Suddenly, an unusual message began to swirl through the air, weaving its way around like a whispering breeze. Hindi alam ni Willhelmina kung saan 'to nagmula, pero malamang ay mula kay Chaos at sinusubukan silang dalawa. Kung ito ang istilo ng laro na gusto palabas ng mga logosmiths, mali ang kanilang piniling kalaban.

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Overhead loomed a thick blanket of dark clouds, steadfast and resolute, serving as silent sentinels guarding the heavens. Once more, Chaos found her voice, and it resonated with a clarity that demanded attention.

"As twilight descends, the shadows will gather, heralding the arrival of night. You must steel yourself for whatever may come, for you have crossed the threshold into my dominion—an expanse known as the Empty Valley."

"'Empty Valley, you say?" Wilhelmina repeated, her voice laced with curiosity. "Could that be the portal she spoke of?'"

In this realm, the rise and fall had long since turned to discontent, their uneasy relationship shaping the very fabric of existence. Here, fragments drifted like delicate stars, scattered across an endless abyss, flickering like feeble lanterns struggling against the suffocating darkness.

Is it the presence of Chaos that lingers in this realm? The atmosphere bore down like a weight, thick and suffocating, while the black holes loomed above, as if observing their every move. With each step upon the ground, it felt as if they were treading on a landscape of jagged polygons—an uncanny terrain where reality blurs.

It was as if they had slipped into a dream, one that threatened to engulf them completely, leaving them questioning the very fabric of what is real. What kind of place is this, truly?

Saku surveyed the realm once more, his gaze darting about as the crystal fragments shimmered, slipping in and out of view like elusive phantoms.

Moving cautiously toward the guards, he was met with a low grunt of warning. "It's hardly surprising, really. After all, her devoted sentinels stand as guardians over these powerful shards we've witnessed. They are the thin line between creation and annihilation. Chaos would never place those Ethereal Guards here without good reason," he mused, his eyebrows arching playfully as a mischievous smirk crept across his lips.

"Teka nga, h'wag kang malikot!" saway ni Willhelmina sabay hila sa braso ng lalaki. Napailing na lang siya pagkatapos.

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With a knowing glance, Saku turned to her, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

He folded his arms and began to contemplate, meandering further as thoughts swirled in his mind. "Hindi naman tayo dadalhin ni Chaos dito nang basta-basta lang. Gusto niyang makita natin sina Goddess Nyx at Lord Erebus. At this very moment, they have crossed the threshold."

Wilhelmina knitted her brows together in concern as she turned to him. "What's our plan for finding them?" she asked, her voice filled with determination.

Saku gazed intently into her eyes, leaning closer as he spoke. "If we make it through this night and its shadows," he began, his voice steady, "understand that this is more than a mere test—it's a trial we must confront together."

Hindi alam ni Willhelmina kung anong isasagot. Sandali siyang nanahimik at nagulat nang may kinuha siyang libro.

More than just a simple book.

May nagbago sa hangin. Ang lugar ay napaligiran na ng isang kakaibang enerhiya. In an unexpected twist, the brown leather seemed to awaken, the images upon it swirling and moving as though infused with their own spirit. Shadows of black orbs floated through the cavern, gliding gracefully among the towering stone formations that loomed around them.

In that mystic moment, it felt as if the two companions were witnesses to something utterly extraordinary, a spectacle that transcended the ordinary world outside. Before them unfolded a vast forest, where towering trees loomed in shadows beneath a sky that danced with hues of blue and red magic. It was as if the very essence of Chaos had come alive, whispering its secrets into the hearts of those who dared to gaze into its depths.

In that moment, she felt a sudden sharpness in her chest, as if the very air around her had frozen, stealing her breath away.

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"The Book of Fate...?" she murmured, her voice barely escaping her lips. Her eyes widened in astonishment as she blinked a few times, trying to comprehend the weight of the book he held in his hands.

Hindi puwede 'yon. Hindi niya dapat i-activate ang librong 'yon na pwedeng makagulo sa kapalaran ng iba. Alam niya 'yan! Lalo na't si Hades mismo ang sumulat ng librong 'yon, kaya siguradong delikado ang anumang mahika na nasa loob nito. Napakagat na lang sa labi si Willhelmina, hindi mapakali habang paulit-ulit niyang tinitingnan ang libro.

Where did he actually obtain it?

If destiny didn't dictate that they were meant to be enemies, perhaps she could have seen him as a potential ally—someone she could have enlisted to be part of her own forces. Not due to any notion of him being a villain, but because deep down, she sensed a bond of trust between them. Pero marami nang pagbabago na nangyari ngayon. Marami din siyang katanungan na gusto niyang malaman.

What is the nature of his bond with his father? What drove him to wipe out the six nations? Such questions linger in the air.

"Mina, it's time to head out," Saku urged, jolting her from her reverie and pulling her back to the present.

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In that fleeting instant, soft black curls adorned with whispers of pink danced upon her hips as she blinked. And then, like a dream unfurling, the realm transformed.

In realms where time unwinds its threads, they weave their rules, where past and present blend. Before them stands a clock, its tick at mid-point, and as shadows deepen, the air grows dense.

The fog rolls in, thickening the night, obscuring paths, snuffing out the light. Silence wraps the world in a shroud so profound, and no echoes break the stillness, no whispers sound.

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Saku murmured softly, as if weaving a spell into the air, "Le trúut liopeel zi."

Willhelmina stepped closer to him, locking her gaze with his as if ready to share her thoughts. But before she could utter a word, he gently pressed his fingers against her lips, silencing her.

A playful smirk danced across his face as his touch left a lingering warmth on her cheeks.

"We're on our way to Erebus," he announced, a hint of excitement lacing his voice.

"The god of darkness, you say?" she asked, her brow furrowing. "Are you suggesting the shadow of the underworld?"

He gave her a knowing nod. "Chaos is his mother, and Nyx is his wife. It all began with them."

Erebus is one of the primordial beings in the Greek creation myth. He is the son of Chaos, who is also the mother of Erebus's wife, Nyx, the personification of night.

In the beginning of the universe there was Chaos, the formless abyss from which the form of the universe emerged.

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Chaos was joined by other primordial deities, including Gaea, the personification of the earth; Tartarus, the underworld in the depths of the earth; and Eros, the god of love.

From Chaos sprang her children, Erebus and Nyx.

These beings were usually portrayed as forces or phenomena rather than the more anthropomorphic gods of popular mythology. It's not surprising that these realms are connected to her now that the test has commenced.

Now they found themselves at the threshold of legend, beckoned forth by the ancient truth that had finally come to light.

"Shouldn't we step inside?"

Hindi siya sinagot ni Saku. Lumapit 'to sa kanya nang sobrang lapit at tinitigan siya nang diretso. And there it was. He decided to make his move. Drawing nearer to her, he wrapped his arms around her, encapsulating her in a gentle embrace that felt almost like a warm hug.

He nestled his face against the soft curve of her neck, his arms enveloping her in a desperate embrace, as if trying to hold onto someone teetering on the edge of departure. In that moment, he knew he simply couldn't let her slip away.

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Willhelmina blinked rapidly, her cheeks flushed with warmth.

"Saku...!?"

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, and breathed softly against her ear, "Are you prepared for what lies ahead? What if I'm unable to keep you safe?"

His words faltered and fumbled, wavering like he was struggling to push a stubborn knot from his throat. Doon naisip ni Willhelmina na hindi lamang siya nag-aalala para sa kanya; na takot din siya.

Natatakot siyang baka mamatay siya ro'n, at kung ano mang pagsubok ang maaari niyang harapin kapag nakita niya si Erebus.

With a tremor of emotion, he bit down on his lip, his voice almost a whisper. "I can't bear the sight of your hands stained with blood."

"Hindi ako aalis," bulong ni Willhelmina habang siya'y humarap dito, inabot ang kamay nito at hinawakan 'yon. Alam ni Saku na sa t'wing siya'y magdedesisyon, ang kanya lamang ang masusunod.

He inclined his head ever so slightly, a troubled furrow deepening between his brows. His jaw quivered, betraying an inner turmoil, and for a heartbeat, he seemed to be suspended in time.

His lips quivered into a sad smile, as if an unseen weight was pressing down upon him, anchoring him in that poignant moment.

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He sighed deeply and mused, "If we weren't enemies, none of this would have happened."

However, they're indeed enemies by fate.

Then they started walking, and the shadows stretched out next to them, moving like they were alive, almost like sneaky little creatures curious about what they were up to.

They followed along, just wherever the path led.

"Sige nga," sabi ni Saku. "Ano'ng alam mo tungkol kay Erebus?"

"A bit," she replied, taking a deep breath in. "They claimed that Erebus and Nyx created Aether, the bright air, and Hemera, day. Nyx alone, however, was said to have produced Thanatos , Hypnos, the Moirai , Nemesis, and many other dark phenomena."

"These beings to both Nyx and Erebus. Erebus and Nyx's children were largely abstract, as they were only lightly personified forces of nature.

"It was Gaea's line that produced most of the well-known Olympian deities, including Zeus and Hera." And with a quiet determination, she pressed forward.

Right. And they say that many children go to Erebus and Nyx together. Once again they are mostly dreadful forces of nature.

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And in addition to Light and Day, Erebus and Nyx were the progenitors of Love, Guile, Toil, Envy, Fate, Old Age, Death, Darkness, Misery, Lamentation, Fraud, and Obstinacy, among others.

As the world around her began to grow colder, Willhelmina sensed the creeping chill that heralded the arrival of nightfall.

The darkened skies loomed above, and she could feel her body shiver in response. Each breath escaped her lips like a wisp of fog, cooler and more pronounced against the gathering dusk.

Wala siyang alam kung ano'ng mga pagsubok ang naghihintay sa kanya sa realm ni Chaos. Pero handa siyang harapin si Erebus, anuman ang mangyari.

She warmed her hands together, a thoughtful pause lingering in the air, before finally responding to him, "In that work Chaos, Night, Erebus, and Tartarus were the first primordial entities, and "blackwinged Night laid a germless egg in the bosom of the infinite deeps of Erebus."

"After ages pass, the egg hatches and Eros springs forth. Eros and Chaos then mate and produce birds." With a gentle resolve, she replied yet again.

Saku couldn't help but smile at her, clearly taken aback by the depth of her knowledge. However, Willhelmina's expression shifted; she frowned, her brows knitting tightly together as she shot Saku a sharp glance filled with irritation.

What now? Hindi na siguro siya magugulat kung gagamitin na naman siya ni Saku kung saan-saan, at baka hindi na rin nakakagulat kung siya mismo ang magtapon sa kanya sa portal ni Erebus.

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He had already committed a sufficient number of villainous deeds for the day; this hardly came as a surprise.

Delikado si Saku, at alam niya 'yon. His secrets ran deeper than the shadows you believed them to be.

At that moment, a subtle shift occurred. Beneath him, shadows swirled like an unseen current, as if he existed on a different plane altogether.

He remained perfectly still, his gaze unwavering. His attention was entirely fixed on her, tracing every movement, imprinting her essence in his mind.

Only she occupied his sight, a solitary focus amid the encroaching darkness. Yet, behind that intense stare, a threat stirred, lurking just out of view.

With a playful smirk dancing across his lips, he declared, "Well then, Willhelmina, it seems you're on your own now."

She took a cautious step back, her brows knitting together in a tight furrow, her lips pressing into a thin, hard line.

Inhaling sharply through her teeth, she flinched at the unexpected words. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, her voice laced with a mix of confusion and concern.

He turned to her, his gaze intense and unwavering. "Take your keys. Seize control of your destiny. I've always believed in you, my dear Archduchess. Pero pagkatapos nito, hindi mo na ako makikita."

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Hindi naiintindihan ni Willhelmina ang sitwasyon at nagbigay na lang siya ng isang pag-iling bilang sagot. Muli niyang tinawag ang pangalan nito, "Saku!"

Maraming maaaring dahilan sa mga sagot niyang 'yon. Hindi makikita? Hindi puwede 'yon! Hindi niya pwedeng hayaan na mangyari 'to!

Her hands extended toward him, desperate and yearning, but he recoiled, stepping back into the shadows where a crimson aura flickered around him. As he murmured an incantation, the air crackled with an intensifying magic that enveloped them both.

In that moment, it was as if Willhelmina were bound in chains, being pulled away from reality and thrust into an uncharted realm, a place that existed only in dreams and whispers.

"Es tqerti de adni."

Sa mga pagkakataong 'yon, muling umuusad ang oras dito.

At sa lugar na 'to, tanging ang tadhana lang ang may kapangyarihang magbukas ng mga bagay na nararapat para sa 'yo. In that very instant, the ominous clouds twisted and roiled with fury, as if the portal itself was struggling to break free from the depths of its own shadowy confines.

As she parted her lips, a scream was poised to burst forth once more, but time had slipped away from her grasp. The moment had passed; the choice was no longer hers.

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With the portal wide open before her, there was no way to retreat. In an instant, it engulfed her completely, pulling her into its depths.

Her hand stretched out, yearning to bridge the distance, but it fell short. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't reach him. And in the depths of her heart, confusion reigned—why was this so?

The ache was profound, as if she were plummeting into a sea of broken glass, each shard cutting deeper than the last.

Iisa lamang ang kanyang nalalaman: kailangan niyang harapin si Erebus sa portal na 'yon nang mag-isa. Wala nang ibang nag-aalala para sa kanya kundi ang sarili na lang niya.