"Now listen, Avery..."

AVERY

Nanginginig ang kamay at kalamnan ko dahil sa galit kay Seth. Seth is also the one who controlled Severus to conquer Elfania before. Siya ang dahilan ng pagkamatay ng sarili niyang kapatid. Wala talagang puso si Seth at walang pinipili. Kadugo man o hindi. I can't forgive him for all the evil things he had done.

He's the reincarnation of the Dark Emperor who fought with Sin before. A dark emperor who was the most powerful elf that time who had the power to destroy everything. But fortunately, Sin was born and she was able to defeat the Dark Emperor. And I have a feeling that this medallion is related to Sin. Maybe she's the one who created this medallion to defeat the Dark Emperor? Hindi ko alam ang pinagmulan ng medalyon pero sa palagay ko, may kinalaman ito sa kanila.

Kung nandito lang si Zion, baka matulungan niya akong ibalik ang kaluluwa ni Zirrius sa kanyang katawan pero dahil kailangang baguhin ni Zion ang ilang hexagonal stars sa Sumeria, hindi siya agad makakapunta rito. Natatakot lang ako na baka nararanasan ng kaluluwa ni Zirrius ang mga narasanan ko noon. I'm afraid that his soul is slowly melting somewhere in the magic circle.

Unfortunately, I can't see his soul like he did before when we were fighting for Elfania, against Severus.

"Pinatay mo talaga si Leo?" mariing tanong ko kay Seth. His copper brown hair was cut short. His sapphire blue eyes are full of cruelty as they rest upon me. His features are almost perfect but he's heartless and cruel. A cruel smirk curves on Seth's thin lips and I can feel the enormous power coming from him. His existence is suffocating. My heart pumps on my chest. Gusto ring manginig ng tuhod ko dahil sa lakas niya pero pinigilan ko ang sarili. Pinilit kong maging matatag. Ayaw kong ipakita kay Seth ang kahinaan ko. I don't want him to know that I'm intimidated by his presence.

"I killed him when he's eight. Together with Zirrius' father, the former king of this kingdom. Simula nang tumapak ang mga paa ko sa kahariang ito, hindi ko na sila hinayaang mabuhay pa. Of course, Aulius witnessed it with his own eyes. But since I controlled him, he can't get his facts straight," diretsong sagot ni Seth. "I disguised myself as his useless son." Mas lalong lumalim ang galit ko sa kanya. Ikinuyom ko ang kamao. I want to punch him and kill him but I can't.

Naglakad siya patungo sa kinaroroonan ng medalyon. Nagngingitngit naman ang kalooban ko dahil sa mga sinabi niya. He's really heartless and he doesn't even care about anyone. Kinuha niya ang isang punyal at hiniwa ang kanyang palad. Lumabas ang dugo roon, tumulo at pumatak ito sa magic circle. Biglang lumindol sa buong paligid. He just used his blood to fully activate the magic circle. And this looks like the beginning of a catastrophe.

"Lahat kayo ay mamamatay sa lugar na ito," saad ni Seth. "All of you will become a sacrifice. I will regain my power once again. I will soon become the most powerful being in this world. I will reclaim my throne," mariing wika niya. Kitang-kita sa mga mata niya na hindi niya hahayaang pigilan siya ng kahit na sino.

"Are you the one who made this medallion?" tanong ko. Naglakad ako palayo kina Zirrius upang hindi sila madamay sa napipintong laban namin ni Seth.

Seth clenched his fist and his jaw tightened. "No. It's Sin and her lover," seryosong sagot ni Seth. "They used this medallion to defeat me and they almost destroyed the world because of it and that's the reason why they are cursed now. Pero mabuti na rin na isinumpa silang dalawa. Wala ng makapipigil pa sa 'kin. There's no chance that they will be together ever again."

So Sin and her lover used this medallion to fight the dark emperor? But I don't know the details on how they did that and probably can't do the same thing now. I silently chanted a spell. I can't let him do what he wants. "Huwag kang maging kampante. Nandito pa ako!" mariing saad ko. Mula sa kapangyarihan ko, gumawa ako ng espada na nababalot ng nagniningas na puting apoy. Mabilis akong kumilos at inatake si Seth. Nasalag naman niya agad ang aking espada gamit ang espada niya na nababalot ng itim na mahika.

He used force to push me away and I was blown outside the throne room. Bumagsak ako sa maputik na lupa at tumingala sa kinaroroonan ni Seth. He's looking down at me now. Napansin ko naman ang magic circle na mas mabilis ng humihigop ng lakas ng bawat nilalang sa loob ng magic circle. It was blinking with golden light.

Tumayo ako at hindi ko na hinintay pa ni Seth na bumalik sa throne room. Tumalon na siya pababa sa kinaroroonan ko. "Hindi ka na dapat lumaban pa Avery. Masyado akong malakas para sa 'yo. Although I only have half of my original power, you can't even compare to me at this level. Tanggapin mo na lang na katapusan mo na. Na wala na kayong pag-asa," seryosong sabi ni Seth. "Sa tingin mo ba mananalo ka pa laban sa 'kin? Hindi mo ako kayang talunin. Hindi mo ako mapapatumba."

Tumakbo ako papasok ng kagubatan nang maglakad siya patungo sa direksiyon ko. Kailangan kong mag-isip ng paraan para talunin si Seth. Hindi ko kakayaning labanan siya nang mag-isa. Kung nandito lang sina Verone, may pag-asa sigurong matalo namin si Seth pero wala sila.

Natigilan ako nang marinig ko ang tinig ni Damon sa isip ko. "Avery, where are you?" tanong ni Damon.

"In the forest," sagot ko. "Ayos ka lang ba?"

"I'm alright now. Kababalik ko lang sa throne room at nakita ko ang kalagayan ni Zirrius. His body was critically hit by the medallion. It will be a problem. Baka hindi na tanggapin ng katawan niya ang pagbabalik ng kaluluwa niya. His body will surely reject his soul because of his critical condition," seryosong dagdag ni Damon.

Nakagat ko ang labi ko habang mabilis na tumatakbo palayo kay Seth.

"His body is severely injured. There is too much blood loss. I'm afraid his body might not be able to hold on anymore," seryosong sabi ni Damon. "Kahit gamutin man siya ni Rein, hindi pa rin ito sapat."

"Wala bang ibang paraan upang mailigtas siya?" gusto kong maiyak dahil sa mga sinasabi ni Damon. Ayaw kong mawalan ng pag-asa pero nauubusan ako ng rason upang maniwala na maililigtas ko pa si Zirrius.

Natahimik si Damon. "Mahalaga ba talaga siya para sa 'yo?" tanong niya.

"Ano'ng klaseng tanong 'yan? Of course! He's important to me! He's my mate! His death is equal to my own death as well!" I answered without thinking.

"Hmmm. Then I know a way to save him. You don't need to worry now. Just believe in me. I can preserve his body and restore it back to its healthy constitution. But you must promise me that you will bring his soul back to his body. Do you understand? You must reverse the spell as soon as possible. And you must live and survive," Damon instructed.

"But the map I made has been destroyed. Are you able to convey the information to them?" nag-aalangang tanong ko.

"Yes. I have sent the image to Verone and the others. They are probably altering the hexagonal stars now. You have to check the original map in your hands and you'll see the changes. You can't communicate with me while I'm restoring Zirrius' body. You have to rely on yourself now. I won't be there to save you," seryosong sagot ni Damon.

Nagkaroon ako ng pag-asa dahil sa sinabi ni Damon. "Sige. Ako na ang bahala kay Seth. I'm leaving Zirrius in your care. Thank you, Damon."

"No worries. As long as you're happy, I'll do anything for you. You must take care of yourself from now on," sabi niya. "And Avery... you're really important to me and I wish you all the best in life. I know you'll be a good ruler of Elfania. You must believe in yourself and never give up, alright? Be strong." Napakunot ang noo ko. Bakit masyadong emosyonal ang mga sinasabi niya? Tila nagpapaalam. Nakagat ko ang labi ko at umiling. Maybe he's just trying to lift my spirits up, right?

Bago pa ako makapagsalita pinutol na ni Damon ang koneksiyon namin. Hindi ko na nagawang sabihin na hindi siya maaaring gumawa ng ikapapahamak niya. May masama akong kutob. Gusto kong bumalik sa palasyo upang makita si Damon pero nakahabol na si Seth sa 'kin. He's more powerful than me and the lightning bolts are chasing after me. I dodged and rolled on the ground to avoid his attacks.

Pilit kong pinapagana ang utak ko upang makaisip ng paraan para mapigilan siya. Tiyak na hindi siya ganoon kadaling patayin. I chanted a spell and draw a magic circle in midair. Blue lights showed up and I summon three hellhounds. The hellhounds roar and jump out of the magic circle. I ordered them to fight Seth and they immediately run to Seth.

Dahil lumalakas ang paghigop ng kapangyarihan ng magic circle, ipinagdadasal ko na sana mabago na nina Verone ang mga hexagonal stars. Kahit ako ay nanghihina na. I'm sure the people inside this magic circle are already on the verge of death. Tumalon ako sa isang puno. May mga inukit ako sa mga sanga ng puno habang palipat-lipat sa iba pang puno.

Hindi ko matatalo si Seth kung lalabanan ko siya nang mag-isa lang. Narinig ko ang malakas na sigaw ng mga hellhounds ko. Nang lingunin ko sila, halos wasak na ang kanilang mga katawan at hindi na makatayo pa. Nakagat ko ang labi at ipinagpatuloy ang ginagawa. I was running in a big circle. I'm jumping from one tree to another and carve some figures on every trees using my Angel Fire sword.

Nang matuon ang pansin ni Seth sa 'kin, itinigil ko ang ginagawa at muling gumawa ng magic circle para tawagin ang mga hellhounds. Sampung hellhounds ang muling umatake sa kanya. Muli kong ipinagpatuloy ang ginagawa sa mga puno hanggang sa matapos ko ang ginagawa kong magic circle.

Kinalaban ni Seth ang mga hellhounds. He strikes every hellhound with lightning. Tumakbo naman ako sa kinaroroonan niya at gamit ang espada ko, tinangka kong itarak ito sa dibdib niya. He just waves his hand and I am blown away by a strong force. My back hits a tree helplessly and some of my bones are already broken. I can taste the metallic blood on my mouth.

I felt so weak. Dahil ba napunta na halos lahat ng kapangyarihan at lakas ko sa medalyon? Nanginginig ang tuhod na tumayo ako. I wave my sword and a sea of Angel Fire directly attacks Seth. With the use of dark fire, he matches my every moves and attacks. Naglaban ang mga apoy na kinokontrol namin. Mariin kong kinagat ang labi at pilit kong ibinubuhos ang buong lakas ko upang tapatan ang lakas niya. Sa kasamaang-palad, hinihigop din ng magic circle ang ibang lakas ko at ang ibang kapangyarihang pinapakawalan ko.

Because I can't hold it anymore, the Angel fire disappeared and was swallowed by the dark fire. The dark fire went straight to me and ready to swallow me as well. Gumawa ako ng shield gamit ang mga halaman pero hindi sapat ito. Nilamon lang ito ng apoy ni Seth at naging abo.

Before I was engulfed by the dark fire, I remembered to call for a familiar name. I was so desperate to be saved. "A!" malakas na tawag ko. I feel bad for calling his name but I have no choice. Biglang lumabas sa harap ko ang isang demon fox. He immediately subdued the dark fire. His red and blue eyes gleamed with irritation. "You're calling me too late. If you die, I'll die. That's our contract," mariing saad ni A. I was just thankful that he's here and he came.

"Salamat at dumating ka," mahinang sabi ko kay A.

"You can't win against him," he said with worry. "He's too powerful for you. You can't kill him. And this magic circle is draining your energy. You're at a disadvantage."

Umiling ako. "The magic circle will not be a problem soon. Ang kailangan ko ngayon ay oras. We need to hold on until this magic circle is altered and then I'll find a way to deal with Seth," sagot ko sa kanya. "Let's fight him for now. Let's keep him busy."

Napailing si A. "Wala naman akong magagawa kundi ang sundin ka, hindi ba?"

Tumango ako. Sabay kaming sumugod kay Seth. I used some ball of fires to attack him. I also chanted a spell and created some magic bombs made of water. I threw it towards his direction and A is coordinating with my attacks. I used every magic I can chant while secretly checking the map. May ibang parte na ng magic circle ang nabubura sa mapa. Napansin ko rin na humihina na ang paghigop ng magic circle sa kapangyarihan ko hanggang sa tuluyan na itong tumigil.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Seth dahil sa nangyayari sa magic circle. The magic circle turned back to its original color black. It's no longer blinking with golden light. It's no longer draining life. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag. Malaya ko ng malalabanan si Seth. I checked the map and the new hexagonal stars are already in progress. I can finally see a new light of hope now.

***