"I am amazed by your whole being..."

AVERY

The map is a complex one but I can understand the way it is designed. There are hexagonal stars for each towers. I assumed that it is inside the tower somewhere. There are also texts written in ancient elven language. I can see that the hexagonal stars and ancient elven texts are connected and it only means one thing. To drain and consume life and turn it into a massive and destructive power. Kung sino man ang gagamit ng medalyon, siya ang magiging pinakamalakas sa lahat. Siguro ito ang gustong mangyari ni Seth. He wants to be the most powerful in this world.

But there's a way to fight him. I can reverse the position of each hexagonal stars and it will have an opposite effect. The life drained from the people inside the magic circle can be brought back to them. They can consume the life they lost once again. Mabuti na lang nasa iba't ibang kaharian ng mga tao sina Verone, Rigel, Zion at Priestess Vienna. Madali na nilang mababago ang hexagonal stars gamit ang kanilang dugo. Shin can take care of all the towers here in Alveria.

Hinawakan ko ang puting telang ibinigay ni shin. I chanted a spell to draw the whole map of the human kingdoms to be the reference point and a magic circle, a reversed version of the magic circle from the map given by Priestess Vienna. Black ink appears on the white cloth. I recreate the magic circle and create a reversed image of the hexagonal stars on each towers. Habang ginagawa ko ang spell, pinagpapawisan na ako ng malapot. I could feel the heat rising from my body.

Samantalang ginagawa ko ang spell, pinoprotektahan naman ako ni Shin mula sa mga atakeng nagmumula sa medalyon. Maging si Lianna ay nakatayo na sa tuktok ng palasyo. She's attacking me using lightning but I can't focus on her now. Hindi ko alam kung paano siya nakarating doon. Maybe Seth controlled her to be able to reach that place. Her body and mind are probably exhausted.

I continued chanting the spell and draw the magic circle. I need to be meticulous and accurate with every details. Hindi ako maaaring magkamali kahit isang guhit lang. Halos isang oras kong ginawa ang magic circle. Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko nang matapos ang spell. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag dahil buo na ang magic circle na magliligtas sa lahat.

Bumaling ako kay Shin. Ipinakita ko kay Shin ang ginawa kong bagong mapa. Itinuro ko ang kinaroroonan ng mga tore sa Alveria. "You have to create new hexagonal stars in these locations. Replicate these hexagonal stars I have created and erase the old ones. You can only create these hexagonal stars through the use of blood. Do you think you can do that? Do you need help?" nag-aalalang tanong ko. He's just a child and excessive loss of blood might kill him.

"I can manage. Pwede naman din akong gumamit ng ibang dugo kung sakaling hindi ko kayanin, 'di ba?" saad ni Shin.

Tumango ako. "As long as you can create these hexagonal stars, any blood will do. Once all these hexagonal stars are changed and created on every towers, I can perform the ritual to reverse the effect of this magic circle," sagot ko.

Tumango si Shin at kinuha sa kamay ko ang puting tela. "Let me memorize this first. Take care of Lianna and the medallion in the meantime," sabi ni Shin at sinimulang pag-aralan ang magic circle na ginawa ko.

Habang pinag-aaralan niya ang magic circle, gumagawa naman ako ng paraan upang maiwasan ang bawat pag-atake ng medalyon at maging si Liana ay inaatake ko gamit ang iba't ibang uri ng mahika. I used the water from the rain to send spears on her way. I used earth to attack her using vines. Iniiwasan niya ang bawat atake ko, pero dahil sunud-sunod ang mga ito kaya hindi niya maiwasan ang lahat. Nagkakaroon siya ng sugat sa iba't ibang bahagi ng katawan pero hindi ko man lang napansin sa mukha niya na nasasaktan o dumadaing siya.

She's emotionless. Her face is just blank and her eyes are lifeless. I'm not even sure if she's still conscious, if she still has control over her emotions or feelings. In short, she just became a tool or a weapon that Seth can freely use.

Makalipas ang dalawampung minuto, ibinalik na ni Shin sa 'kin ang mapa na ginawa ko. "I'm done."

"Bumalik na tayo kina Damon. Kailangan niyang masabi agad kina Verone ang dapat nilang gawin. I need to perform the ritual as soon as possible," sabi ko.

Tumango si Shin. He instructed the enormous eagle to fly towards the throne room. I attacked Lianna once again. I chanted a spell. Ginamit ko rin ang kidlat upang atakihin siya. Lightning strikes the top of the palace and Lianna has no choice but to jump away from it to avoid my attacks. Napansin ko ang ilang pasong natamo niya sa katawan. Dahil kidlat ang tumama sa kanya, tiyak nasunog din ang ilang lamang loob niya pero tila wala siyang nararamdaman. Sa palagay ko, kahit bumalik ang kontrol niya sa sarili, hindi na rin magtatagal ang katawan niya. I look at her with pity. I really don't want to kill her when she's being controlled.

She went back inside the throne room. It seems that she noticed where I am heading. Maybe it's better that way. Siguro tapos na si Zach sa paggawa ng magic circle. Siguro maaari ng makalaya sina Lianna mula kay Seth.

Nakarating kami sa harap ng throne room na sira na ngayon at kalahating bahagi na lang ang natitira. Tumayo ako sa likod ng agila ni Shin. "Ikaw na ang bahala sa mga tore Shin. Kami na ang bahala rito," sabi ko sa kanya. Tumango si Shin.

"Alright. Be sure not to die," paalala ni Shin sa 'kin. "You must survive to save all of us here."

Ngumiti ako sa kanya at iwinasiwas ko sa hangin ang kamay ko upang magpaalam. Tumalon ako mula sa agila at bumalik sa loob ng throne room. Lumipad na palayo si Shin kasama ang alaga niyang agila.

Sa loob, nakita ko sina Damon at Zirrius na nakikipaglaban kay Lord Kelvin. Katulad ni Lianna, wala na ring pakialam si Lord Kelvin kung puno man siya ng sugat at galos sa katawan. Hindi niya iniinda ang sakit at patuloy lang na lumalaban. He doesn't even care about the magic he's using, even if those magic destroy his body. Humans can't handle such powerful black magic.

I block the attacks of the medallion and went straight to Damon. Agad kong ibinigay sa kanya ang bagong mapang ginawa ko. "Send this image to Verone and the others. They need to recreate the hexagonal stars inside each towers. They can use blood to do that. They must find the original hexagonal stars and erase them all and create new ones," sabi ko sa isip ko.

Tumango si Damon at agad na tiningnan ang mapang ibinigay ko. "Kayo na muna ang bahala kina Lord Kelvin at Lianna habang nakikipag-usap ako kina Verone," sabi ni Damon. Agad siyang lumayo sa 'min at lumabas sa throne room.

Tiningnan ko si Zach na sumenyas naman sa 'kin. May itinuro siyang lugar kung saan maaaring dalhin sina Lianna at Lord Kelvin. Naintindihan ko naman ang gusto niyang ipahiwatig. He's ready to perform the ritual anytime. We just need to bring them to the magic circle. Somewhere behind the curtains.

Mabilis akong lumapit kay Zirrius at ibinulong sa kanya ang dapat gawin. Patuloy pa rin sa paglaban sina Kendrick at Ayen sa ibang kawal. Samantalang napansin ko na wala na sa loob ng throne room si Leo. Natigilan ako. Did he go after Damon? Nag-alala ako para kay Damon. Kailangan kong magmadali. We need to deal with Lianna and Lord Kelvin first. Hinarap ni Zirrius si Lord Kelvin samantalang tumakbo naman ako patungo kay Lianna.

Seeing Lianna's state, she looks like a walking corpse, one with dead eyes covered with blood all over her clothes and body. I feel bad for her. I hate Seth for being so heartless. How can he use humans for his own greed and evil intentions?

I chanted a spell that can blow her away towards Zach's position. He removed the curtains and I noticed that he made the magic circle on one of the walls of the throne room. Zirrius did the same with Lord Kelvin. We pushed them towards the magic circle and pinned them against the wall using vines. Zach started chanting the spell. I could hear the ear-splitting screams coming from Lianna and Lord Kelvin.

Zach successfully released them from Seth's control after several minutes of performing the ritual. I noticed that Zach already drained his energy. Bumagsak siya sa sahig. Dumating naman ang kapatid niyang si Rein at agad na tumulong sa kapatid. Since she's a healer, it will be better for her to check on Lianna and Lord Kelvin. Lumapit ako kay Zach at tinulungan siya.

Si Zirrius naman ay lumapit kina Lianna at Lord Kelvin. He looked at them with conflicted eyes. I can see pity on his eyes.

"Help them," sabi ko kay Rein at itinuro ang kinaroroonan nina Lianna.

Tumango naman si Rein at agad na lumapit kina Lianna. Sinubukan ko naman pagalingin ang ilang sugat ni Zach. Hindi siya nanghihina dahil sa sugat kundi dahil sa magic circle na humihigop ng lakas at buhay niya.

"You must be strong. Magpahinga ka na muna. Hindi ka na maaaring gumamit ng mahika dahil baka bawian ka na ng buhay," sabi ko kay Zach. "The magic circle is draining your energy. You're just a human and you can't hold it any longer. I'll deal with the magic circle as soon as possible."

Nahihirapang tumango at ngumiti nang matipid sa 'kin si Zach. "Salamat." Hindi na ako nagsalita at isinandal na lang ang likod niya sa pader.

Tumingin ako kay Rein. Napansin ko na may sinasabi si Lianna kay Zirrius pero sa mahinang tinig lang. Hindi ko na rin ito maintindihan. Hawak ni Lianna ang kamay ni Zirrius, habang malungkot na nakangiti. I just look away. She's dying and I don't want to take this moment away from her.

Narinig ko rin ang sinabi ni Rein na wala ng pag-asang mabuhay sina Lianna at Lord Kelvin dahil sa mga sugat na natamo ng katawan nila, sa lamang-loob at maging sa labas. Hinihigop na rin ng magic circle ang buhay nila kaya huli na ang lahat para sa kanila. Ngayon kailangan ko na lang hanapin kung nasaan si Damon.

Lalabas na sana ako sa silid nang may narinig akong pagsabog sa kabilang bahagi ng pader. Gumuho ang isang bahagi ng pader ng throne room at nakita ko ang paglipad palayo ni Damon. His face is covered with blood and his wounded body hits the tree that is just outside the palace.

Natigilan ako. Mula sa sirang pader. Lumabas si Leo hawak ang mapang ginawa ko at matalim ang mga matang tumingin sa 'kin.

"You're really getting in my way," mariing sabi niya. Sinunog niya ang mapang ginawa ko at nilipad ng hangin ang mga abo nito. He slowly transformed back to his original form. A gorgeous elf with blue dead eyes. May pagkakahawig sila ni Severus pero mas mukhang batang tingnan si Seth.

May mga munting ilaw na pumalibot sa kanya na tila mga alitaptap. Those lights are the lives from each person from this kingdom. I grit my teeth. So he's really Seth?

He chanted the rest of the ritual and the medallion went berserk. I can no longer hold back the magic coming from it even if I create a huge shield. The light chases after me. It is ready to strike my heart. Nanigas ang katawan ko. Tila natulos ako sa kinatatayuan.

Nang matauhan, sinubukan kong tumakbo pero halos nababalot na ng liwanag ang buong silid at wala na akong lugar na pwedeng takbuhan. Sinubukan ko pa rin gumawa ng shield pero nabasag lang ito ng liwanag. Sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko dahil sa kabang nararamdaman. Sobrang lapit na ng liwanag at hindi ko na ito matatakasan. I don't want to die yet. I don't want to end my life this way. I still need to save every person here. I still need to come back to Elfania and save the elven race.

"Avery!" sigaw ni Zirrius. Mabilis na tumakbo si Zirrius at hindi ko inaasahang sasaluhin niya ang liwanag na tatama dapat sa puso ko. He is struck by the lights coming from the medallion in my stead.

Blood gushes from his chest and mouth. He can't move and I can only scream his name. I am horrified as I look on his body hanging in midair. Napansin kong kumalma bigla ang medalyon. The light disappears and Zirrius' body fell on the floor. He's not moving anymore. Agad na lumapit ako kay Zirrius at pinakiramdaman ang pulso niya. No. His heart and pulse are no longer beating. Natulala ako. I feel empty inside. I can feel the lump on my throat. My throat is burning and hurting. Hindi ko napigilan ang pagpatak ng luha ko.

But I can still feel his presence somewhere. I looked at the medallion. It seems that his soul was trapped inside the medallion. He became the sacrifice and the magic circle is fully activated now. Maging si Rein ay lumapit kay Zirrius at sinubukang pagalingin ang sugat niya.

"I'm afraid, he's already dead," mahinang sabi ni Rein.

Umiling ako. Hindi ko matatanggap na patay na siya. "Continue healing," nanghihinang sabi ko. "We can still take back his soul. We can still bring him back to life." Tahimik na tumango si Rein at ipinagpatuloy na lang ang panggagamot.

Tumayo ako at hinayaan na si Rein na pagalingin ang sugat ni Zirrius. Matalim na tingin ang ipinukol ko kay Seth. He's the reason why we are suffering. I can no longer allow him to play with us. I can no longer allow him to play with every human lives here. I must stop him no matter what.

Greed is the root of evil that I must cut off from him.

***