SHEA'S POV
I just had a very strange dream. A weird and a very realistic one.
"Shea," a faint voice whispered behind my ear. Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang mga mata ko only to see a familiar face.
"Kiyan,"
Bigla siyang ngumiti. I can see his relief nang makita niyang gising na ako. Bakas pa rin sa mga mata niya ang pag-aalala.
Medyo hilo pa ako and my mind is in a haze. I barely remember what happened before I fell asleep.
"How are you feeling?" tanong niya.
Unti-unti akong bumangon as I look around. Pamilyar ang silid na ito. This is the Alpha's dormitory. Ito ang silid kung saan una akong dinala ni Kiyan noong first year pa lang ako, at kung saan sinundo ako ni Paxton.
Si Paxton...
"What happened? Bakit ako nandito?" tanong ko.
"You don't remember?"
Pumikit ako at pilit inaalala ang mga nangyari.
Ang laban kay Lucifer...
Ang Exitium...
Ang nakakapagtakang pag absorb ng Sword of Destruction...
At si Paxton...
Nanginig ako as my memory began to surge.
"Wala na si Paxton..." bulong ko ng hindi namamalayan.
Napatingin ako sa lalaking nasa harapan ko ngayon.
"You killed me," diretsong utas ko. I was void of emotions.
Tahimik lang siya at hindi ako sinagot. Nanginginig ang buong pagkatao ko. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako mag sisimula o ano ang dapat kong reaksyon.
Huminga akong malalim upang kalmahin ang sarili ko.
"What happened? Where is everybody?" kalmado kong tanong.
Isinarado niya ang librong kanina niya pa binabasa saka tumingin sa 'kin.
"The war was over. Lucifer was defeated---never to be seen again. Our Masters ordered us to rest first before our final battle," paliwanag niya.
Muli akong huminga ng malalim. I don't know where to start. Kung ano ang unang gagawin ko at ang kailangan kong unang malaman.
"What exactly... Happened? How am I alive?" I was still confused. I know he killed me and there's no way that I could still be alive after I was killed by the opposite.
Unless...
"It's the Apostle of Love," diretso niyang sagot.
"Eloiny?"
Tumango siya at hindi na sumagot. And by that, I know what he meant.
Napatulala ako sa kawalan. My heart is shattering into pieces. Nag simula akong humikbi. Palakas ng palakas hanggang sa napuno ang buong kwarto ng iyak ko.
I cried my heart out not minding his presence.
Biglang tumayo si Kiyan at tumabi sa 'kin. At walang pag alinlangan, bigla niya akong niyakap. Wala na akong iniisip pa but the pain and sadness I have now. Para akong sinasaksak ng paulit-ulit thinking that Eloiny and Paxton are never coming back.
"Do you hate me?" tanong niya nung kumalma ako ng kaunti.
Hindi agad ako nakasagot.
If life means living without Paxton and Eloiny, then I don't want it.
Iyon ang iisipin ko kung makasarili ako. Pero iba ang sitwasyon ngayon. Mas mabigat ang kailangan kong gagawin na desisyon.
"Kiyan," tawag ko sa kanya.
He gently looked at me. Ang dating mga mata na kasing lamig ng nyebe ay ngayon nagkakulay na. Ngunit nakikita ko rin kung gaano na siya kapagod. Alam kong bawat malalaking desisyon na ginagawa niya ay doble ang konsensyang balik sa kanya. The weight he's carrying now is more painful than I can imagine. He's the one making heavy decisions at hindi ko alam kung ilang beses na niyang isinarado ang puso niya para sa kapakanan ng mas nakararami that even others cannot fathom to understand.
Whatever his reasons of making those decisions even using a life as a sacrifice, hindi ko na iyon tatanungin. Even the feeling is so painful na gustuhin mo nalang iwan ang lahat.
"No. I don't hate you. It's just... I hate the things that are happening to us. I just can't help it but to blame myself that I still have to rely on others to stay alive. To the point that someone has to sacrifice their life for me. Ginawa ko na ang lahat para lumakas so others would not carry the burden I have. I did everything in my power to protect them but it wasn't enough. Even my familiar and my bestfriend sacrificed their life for me. And you made those very heavy decisions because I was too weak to fight for myself. That you also have to carry those burdens that was supposed to be mine alone. Nakikita ko sa mga mata mo kung gaano ka na kapagod sa lahat ng 'to, Kiyan. And I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
Muli na naman akong umiyak sa balikat niya. I bawled like a child. My world just shattered into pieces. I don't know where to put all these emotions and so I cried and cried hanggang sa napagod ako. Kiyan remained silent pero nanatiling nakayakap pa rin sa 'kin.
"Gusto ko na itong matapos lahat, Kiyan. I just wanted to disappear just like Paxton and Eloiny. But I would be too selfish if I do that, right?"
Kumalas siya sa pagkakayakap sa 'kin at pinunasan ang luha ko. Basang basa na rin ang balikat niya.
Humihikbi pa rin ako pero tila lumiwanag ang buong silid nang ngumiti na naman siya. A rare sight before but now ay palagi ko nang nakikita.
"Stop worrying about the things you cannot control. Even we disciples have limits too," he uttered habang patuloy pa ring pinupunasan ang luha ko.
"Ren and Eloiny died knowing that it will all be worth it in the end, my Queen."
Tumingin ako sa mapupungay niyang mata, "Half of me died with them, Kiyan. I will never be the same without them."
Pareho na kaming pagod sa lahat ng 'to. At alam kong gusto na rin ni Kiyan matapos 'to.
"I want to do something,"
Nagtataka naman akong tumingin sa kanya, "What is it?"
Umilaw ang mga kamay niya and an image flashed in front of us. It was an amusement park.
"I want to go there," diretso niyang saad. Para siyang bata.
Napatigil ako as I carefully watched the children just simply enjoying the moment, living their lives, and not thinking about anything. Malungkot akong ngumiti.
I understand what Kiyan is trying to tell me.
I simply nodded and said, "Tara."
~*~
Narito kami ngayon sa loob mismo ng Amusement Park sa mundo ng mga ordinaryong tao.
Common realm.
Iyan ang tawag sa mundo kung saan ako nanggaling at kung saan ang mga taong walang kapangyarihan ang namumuhay.
We just teleported right inside the place and people was too busy to notice us since most of them are having so much fun. Except for this one kid who's staring at us na nanlalaki ang mata, at halos malaglag na ang panga sa sahig as his ice cream fell on the floor. Nag-iisa lang siya at mukhang nawalay sa magulang.
"Woah!" the kid exclaimed pero nakatulala pa rin sa 'min.
I decided to play a few tricks on him so I turned my eyes into dark blue at panandalian itong kumintab. An ice cream formed in my hand saka binigay ko sa kanya.
Natawa ako nang nakatulala pa rin siyang tinanggap ito kaya sumenyas nalang ako na wag siyang maingay.
"That kid was too funny. That wasn't poison, right?" Kiyan chuckled.
"If that was poison, I should've give it to you instead," irap ko.
"I would be honored to taste it,"
Napangiwi ako habang nakatingin sa kanya. "You're gross."
Muli na naman siyang ngumiti as he grabbed my hand.
Para na naman akong nakuryente sa ginawa niya. First, he chuckled which is very rare; and second we were too close. Pero hindi ko na yun iniisip pa.
I just want to live in the moment. Bago kami mag patayan.
We enjoyed different rides, nag food trip, nag-usap ng mga nonsense, and watched the fireworks together. Just living an ordinary life that we wish we had. At sa buong oras na yun, nakita ko ang totoong Kiyan Hayashi.
A happy, gentle, and childish man that I never thought would exist in him. It calms my heart seeing how happy he is the entire time he's with me. But it breaks my heart thinking na pinagkait sa kanya ang ganitong happiness ng daang daang taon because of the very heavy responsibility he has to carry and a role to play for hundreds of years.
Ganito pala kasaya maging ordinaryong tao. Kasama ang taong mahalaga sayo.
If only we were born on a different timeline, we would have been bestfriends.
"It's been a long time since I felt something like this," he said out of nowhere still looking at the sky.
We were sitting on the grass enjoying the night sky and the fireworks display.
If only we could stay like this forever.
"Felt what?" tanong ko.
"Being happy. So long that I almost forgot what it feels."
"Me too,"
Ngumiti siya at hinawakan ang kamay ko. We have gone so far now. Sobrang daming nangyari simula nung pumasok ako ng Myrrh Academy. And even though our fate caused us so much pain, I'm still thankful that I got to meet a lot of great people who became a part of my existence. And I don't want to end our story without being happy even once.
Aside from moments together with Paxton, this is the happiest and unforgettable part of my journey. Even some may say that we're selfish, I still have no regrets.
But I guess this ends here...
"I want you to do something for me, Kiyan," panimula ko.
Humarap naman siya sa 'kin.
Pinakita ko sa kanya ang singsing na suot ko. The Sword of Destruction.
Umilaw rin ang kwintas na suot niya sa loob ng damit niya. The Sword of Creation.
It looks like our weapons has connections to each other. Just like me and this man in front of me.
"Bago tuluyang mawala si Paxton, I managed to save a part of his soul in the Sword."
Halatang nagulat naman si Kiyan sa kanyang narinig.
I continued, "It was just a split second before you killed me. On that very moment, wala na akong ibang iniisip pa kundi pano siya mailigtas. Sa tingin ko iyon rin ang posibleng explanation kung bakit naabsorb ng espada ko ang Exitium. Maybe at that time, even Paxton was still alive, he and the Sword became one. Their strong desire to protect me triggered a hidden power that was beyond my understanding."
Mula sa pagkagulat, muli siyang ngumiti. A genuine smile but I can see the sadness in his eyes.
He sighed and looked at me, "From the very first time that he sacrificed his life for you without any hesitation, I knew I was already no match for him,"
Napakunot ang noo ko, "What do you mean?"
"His love for you is unconditional, Shea. At doon pa lang, talo na ako."
I was dumbfounded. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko. Maliban pa doon ay hindi ako sanay na nag tatagalog siya.
"Kiyan I---"
"His love for you grew so much that even he knew he was gonna die, his strong desire to protect you never wavers that it attracts the power of your sword to become one with it."
Napatulala ako. Hindi ko alam pero muli na namang tumulo ang luha ko as our memories together flashed before my eyes.
"Kiyan..." I can see the pain and sadness in his eyes and it is very frustrating because there is nothing I can do.
Iniwas niya ang kanyang tingin at tumingala, "And I cannot compete with that. Even I am next to the most powerful being in the universe, no one can compete with that."
Hindi ako nakasagot.
"I know you love him too."
Napahawak ako sa kwintas ko kung nasaan ang Sword of Destruction. Malungkot akong ngumiti.
"I do. I do love him," diretso kong sagot. Huminga akong malalim. Magaan pala sa pakiramdam kapag may sinabihan ka ng isang bagay na matagal mo nang kinikimkim.
Are you listening Paxton? Siguro. Chismoso ka eh.
"Ang sakit naman 'non. You know I like you, right?" sabi ni Kiyan sa pabirong tono.
Hindi pa talaga ako sanay na normal na siya mag salita at nagbibiro pa. Tapos nag tatagalog pa.
I chuckled, "Yeah, obviously. Who wouldn't?" pabirong ko ring sagot.
"Tss..." he glared at me.
Nag tawanan kami. It feels weird and magical at the same time. We were happy yet sad pero ineenjoy lang namin ang company ng isa't-isa. We're like bestfriends.
"Someday you'll find yours too," sabi ko sa kanya at pareho kaming nakatingala sa kalangitan.
Tapos na ang fireworks. We are just enjoying the stars and the moon, and the beauty of creation and darkness.
"Nah, I'm still too broken to think about that," he said in a playful tone pero alam kong seryoso siya.
"I'm sorry..."
Napayuko ako. Di ko talaga alam ang sasabihin ko.
Nabigla ako nang hinawakan niya ang ulo ko at ginulo ang buhok ko.
"Don't be. You deserve each other---but in another life I guess. Mistresses and Familiars cannot be together."
Tiningnan ko siya at ngumiti, "But we're still friends, right?"
Ngumiti lang rin siya at hindi ako sinagot. Bigla siyang tumayo at pinagpagan ang suot niya. Inalalayan niya rin akong tumayo. A jolt of electricity traveled throughout my body. Not because of his touch but because we are already being called by our Masters.
"It's time..." he uttered.
"Kiyan, I need you to do something for me. This is my last favor to you. In exchange, I will give you this."
Umilaw ang kamay ko. A seed appeared in my hand. Kasing laki lang ito ng buto ng almond as I handed it to him. Nakalagay ito sa maliit na pouch.
"What is this?" tanong niya.
"When the right time comes, that seed will become the tree of Creation and Destruction. It will not grow by my power alone so I need you to take care of it. Once its flowers bloom, everything you wish for will come true."
"Is this what you're asking me?"
"No, Kiyan. That is my gift to you for all you've done for me. Kapag inalagaan mo 'yan ng tama, that tree will start to bloom at least 2,000 years from now."
"That is a long time,"
Ngumiti ako, "I know. That tree will be the one to keep the balance of the world for the next 2,000 years, so our descendants—the next disciples—shall no longer kill each other. So they don't have to suffer the pain like we did. And you Kiyan, can rest too."
He gave me a questioning look, "How was that even possible? The law was made by the most powerful being in the universe."
Lumapit ako sa kanya as I caressed his face. His soft, gentle face, that I will be seeing for the last time. "That's why I need you to kill me again."
Nanatili lang siyang nakatingin sa 'kin as if he was expecting that I'd say something like that. "What are you planning to do?" tanong niya.
"Once I am dead, I will convert my life into magic power and join forces with you, while providing enough dark magic to the tree. We could activate an immense magic spell, strong enough to alter or cancel the law created by our masters and there is nothing they can do about it."
Hindi na siya nag salita. Because I know he's also prepared for this.
"Kiyan, I've had enough of this. Do you want to continue this tragedy that's been repeating for thousands of years?"
We are slowly vaporizing. Unti-unti na kaming napupunta sa realm kung saan nakatakda ang Grand Battle. The Battle of the Prophecy. And I hope will be the last one.
"Fine. I'll do it." His eyes glowed ominously like I am looking at a god.
Napangiti nalang ako, "Thank you. In exchange, I will give you the most unforgettable fight you've ever had in your entire life."
Ngumisi siya, "I'll be looking forward to that."
THIRD PERSON'S POV
The battle of the prophecy is about to begin.
An arena was prepared by the two immortals for the fight between the disciples of light and dark. The place was unexpectedly filled with crowds from different realms which was invited by both of their masters.
Nandon rin ang lahat ng mga apostles ni Kiyan at Shea maging ang mahahalagang tao sa kanila.
For once in a thousand years, the God of Light and the Goddess of Darkness made themselves visible for the crowd to see.
The God of Light was clothed in a robe made with the finest silk and linen that shines among all beings. He wears a crown of jewels and staff made of gold. His long golden hair reached his chest and his overall features is outstandingly perfect. He sat on the right side of the throne with a chair also beautifully made of gold and jade.
Nagsigawan ang mga tao sa paligid as they also bowed down before the presence of the God of Light.
"Ugh, show-off," a voice was heard behind him.
From a smoke, it slowly materialized and turned into a beautiful woman clothed in a robe also made with the finest silk and linen from the Underworld. Her pale skin accentuates the color of black and blue from her long dress that is decorated with skulls and gems. Her crown was made by the most precious stones and jewels that can only be found in the Underworld. Her overall features speaks elegance and beauty feared by the mortals and all creatures that exists.
"Nice to see you too. How are you?" the God of Light smiled brilliantly towards the Goddess ngunit inirapan lang siya nito.
"Ugh, that is blinding," reklamo nito. Tumawa nalang ang huli.
"Before we start, I have a concern," panimula ng Goddess.
"What is it?" asked by the God of Light.
"My disciple's familiar was recently killed by that demon. Therefore, her strength wasn't equal as your disciple. So I guess you know what you should do?" the Goddess speaks elegantly.
"Of course. I will remove the contract between his familiar and my disciple."
They bowed down to each other as a sign of agreement and respect.
In just a snap, biglang umilaw si Alzena mula sa crowd as her contract with Kiyan disappears. Sa una ay mukhang nagtataka siya but when she looked at the God of Light ay alam na niya kung bakit iyon nangyari.
Muling umingay ang madla when two magic circles appeared at the opposite sides of the arena.
On the right side, a fine looking young man with a long, golden hair, appeared. Kiyan's physical appearance has changed. He wears an armor of light made and blessed by the God of Light himself. He has 6 angel wings that are spread majestically as he flew towards the sky. The Sword of Creation glowed ominously saying that it was ready for the final battle of the opposite.
On the left side appeared the Queen of Darkness and Destruction. Her eyes were glowing and they are very beautiful. Her two-piece armor emitted a bluish-purple glow which surrounded her body. Dragon-like wings in the color of flame and darkness spreads as she flew towards the sky where she will be facing the opposite side.
"Beautiful as ever," ngumiti si Kiyan kay Shea.
"Likewise,"
Both of them held their sword as it glows and filled the heavens with light and dark magic.
The fight between Creation and Destruction commences as the disciples gave everything they've got to make this moment memorable for all eternity. It was breathtakingly beautiful and the crowd cheered wildly. But this isn't about their fate, prophecy, or the law. This is about them. Enjoying their final moments together as the King of Light and the Queen of Darkness.
And finally, Kiyan found an opening to pierce Shea's heart.
That moment, Shea knew what was going to happen, so she smiled genuinely for the last time.
"See you after 2000 years, Kiyan. Thank you... For everything..."
The Sword of Creation pierced the Queen's heart. The crowd was wild. Napatayo rin pareho ang dalawang immortal.
Light reigns once again. But the people among the crowd who loves the queen mourned for her death. It was tragic. Napaluhod ang ama ni Shea habang tinitingnan ang anak na walang buhay at hawak ng hari.
"That was the best fight I ever had," bulong ni Kiyan. A tear fell from his eyes as she held the queen in both arms.
Unti-unting nawawala si Shea. She is slowly vaporizing in the air, and their masters have no idea that her magic is becoming one with the light.
"This is the beginning of a new hope. And I promise that your death will be the symbol of peace and balance. You have done well, Your Highness. You may now rest,"
👑👑👑
Author's note:
I do not own any of the pictures above. Ginamit ko lang yun para mas ma visualize niyo sila. Sa pinterest ko yun kinuha.
I will be uploading the Epilogue anytime soon. Merry Christmas everyone!