Four Forever [Completed]

64 - Water - Denied

(POV Avery)

Lumapit kaming apat sa harapan ni Zarkus. We kept our distance as a sign of respect to this Primordial god. He is smiling at us, but there is something sinister about his smile. Something dark, something cunning.

"Father, we are here to request for your help," panimula ni Mackenzie.

"Request denied," nakangiti na sagot ni Zarkus.

"What? Denied agad? Hindi mo pa nga alam kung bakit kami nandito eh."

"I am well aware of your Underworld expedition, Artemisia. I just allowed it because I am just bored, but I can't help you, my child. The Penman prophecy is bound to happen."

"Bound to happen? Are you trying to tell us that Arthos and Aliya are going to die?"

"Yes," maikling sagot ni Zarkus.

Nagkatinginan lang kaming apat dahil sa sinabi ni Zarkus. Nasabi na sa amin noon ni Aristraeus na nakasulat na sa prophecy ni Penman ang pagkamatay ng dalawang elemental gods. Buong akala namin ay mapipigilan namin ito, pero mukhang kahit ang Primordial god na nasa harapan namin ay walang maitutulong sa amin.

"Father, is there anything that we can do to help them? There must be another way!" nagmamakaawa na pakiusap ni Mackenzie.

"There is nothing we can do, my child. Their death is inescapable, a divinely preordained game plan of the Creator."

"Father, the souls of the elemental gods are powerful enough to create an opening in The Void. Wala ka po ba magagawa para tulungan sila? You are a Primordial god. Bakit hindi kayo mag-join forces nina Zeon at Zaius?"

"Artemisia, these things are beyond my control. I may be the god of darkness, but I am no hero. All I can do is show you how the god of fire and the goddess of air passed into oblivion," sabi ni Zarkus sa amin at itinuro ang floor.

Napa-atras kaming apat nang mapuno ng itim na usok ang sahig. In a few seconds, the black smoke dissipated and we can clearly see Arthos, Camilla, Aliya and Shawn as the floor became an instant high-definition screen.

"Chaz, anong gagawin natin? Kahit si Zarkus ay hindi tayo matutulungan."

"As I have told you a hundred times, my father is an asshole, but the god of light never ever let me down. I still believe something good will happen. There is still a way to help them."

"Paano kung mangyari ang prophecy ni Penman? Paano si Arthos at Aliya? Paano ang pinsan mo na si Camilla? Paano ang anak ni Zaius na si Shawn Castelo?"

"This may look like a tragedy, but this may be a blessing in disguise. Let us trust the Creator's plan," confident na sagot ni Chaz.

Tumango lang ako kay Chaz. Arthos and Aliya are like my siblings. Ilang libong taon ko na silang nakasama at naging parte na sila ng buhay ko. Umaasa ko na may mangyayari na himala para maligtas sila.

"The other elemental gods are in Paradiso right now. This is a secluded section of the Underworld which serves as the resting place of the immortals. The Reaper King made an audacious move to bring them to this place," panimula ni Zarkus.

Paradiso looks like a paradise. The endless green grass and the perfect view of the icy mountains remind me of high quality Windows wallpapers na sa mga desktop PC ko lang makikita.

"Chaz, sino ang kasama nila Arthos?" tanong ko kay Chaz nang makita ko ang isang babae at isang lalaki sa screen na hindi ako familiar.

"That guy is Reuben Pineda. His grandfather and my grandfather are good friends. Sa pagkakaalam ko, Reuben is courting Camilla. What the hell is he doing there?" nagtataka na tanong ni Chaz.

"The other girl is Magnolia Fuentes, fiancee ni Shawn Castelo. Anong ginagawa nila dyan?" dagdag na tanong ni Aristraeus kay Chaz.

Nabalot na naman ng itim na usok ang marble floor ng throne room at naglaho ang images nila Arthos sa floor. May pakiramdam ako na may ipapakita na naman na scene sa amin si Zarkus.

"Lilith, one of the three most powerful guardians staged a rebellion with the help of invincible creatures from The Void. It is believed that there are several immortal gods who joined her cause. The most prominent ones are Raseth, Heinna, Ashera and Belthashar. Just like all of you, they were worshipped before in the ancient world," sabi ni Zarkus at nawala uli ang itim na usok sa sahig.

Lumitaw ang mukha ng dalawang lalaki at ng dalawang babae. All of them are wearing white clothes. Parang mga drawings ng gods and goddesses from ancient mythology books. These are the images of the Renegade gods when they are still living in the Old City. If they were part of the rebellion, hindi na namin sila naabutan ni Aristraeus.

"Lilith gave them a specific task. To spread wickedness in The World of the Living. You are all probably aware that they can obtain their power in the sinfulness of the world," dagdag ni Zarkus.

Naglaho ang mukha ng apat na Renagade gods at lumitaw uli ang parang footage nila Arthos at Camilla sa Paradiso. Napahawak ako sa braso ni Chaz nang matitigan ko ang mata ni Reuben Pineda. His eyes are glowing na parang may suot na gold contact lens. Dahil sa kakaibang histura ng mata niya, nagmukha tuloy siyang isang hair-raising reptilian creature.

"Chaz, that man is not Reuben Pineda. My pharaoh father had a painting of Raseth in his worship room. Reuben Pineda looks chillingly-identical to the Egyptian god named Raseth," sabi ko kay Chaz.

"Raseth is one of the Renegade gods. I know all of the names of the Renegade gods, but I don't know how they look like. If I had known it earlier that Reuben is indeed Raseth, that Renegade god is no longer breathing now, " mahinang sabi ni Chaz pero nakatikom ang kanyang kamao sa galit.

"Chaz, mahina na ang kapangyarihan sila Arthos at Aliya. Camilla and Shawn's powers are also not activated. How can they defeat these Renegade gods? Anong gagawin natin?" mahina kong tanong sa kanya sabay hawak sa kamay niya.

Bigla kami napatingin kami ni Chaz kay Mackenzie nang bigla itong lumuhod sa harapan ni Zarkus. She is probably begging for her father's help.

"Father, we can't let them die. We need to help them. I am begging you, father. Please lend us your strength," nagmamakaawa na sabi ni Mackenzie.

"Artemesia, please understand that all the immortal gods have unique set of tasks. The elemental gods are truly blessed as they were given a rare opportunity to find the other half of their souls, to fall in love, and to have a happy ending. Not all immortal gods get to have that chance."

May point naman si Zarkus. Kahit maikli lang ang panahon na ibinigay kay Arthos at Camilla, kay Aliya at Shawn, sigurado ako na naging masaya sila sa panahon na 'yon.

If I will be in Arthos or Aliya's place, I will still feel fortunate despite of this impending doom. Falling in love and being loved in return is one of the best gifts that one can ever have. Hindi siguro kailangan na happy ending ang dulo. Minsan importante din ang mga happy moments throughout the journey.