Sa isang iglap, nagbalik kami sa living room. Bigla din nawala si Chicken, malamang bumalik sa medallion ni Sage, samantalang si Toothless naman ay nakahiga sa carpet.
Gabi na pero tinawagan ko si Rave para ipaalam ang nangyari. Within an hour, nasa penthouse ko na si Rave kasama si Phoebe.
"Are you sure he is in France?" tanong ni Rave ng dumating sa amin.
"Hindi din niya alam, pero he said we can start in France. Any abandoned cathedrals na may significance kay Lilith or sa mga generals?"
"There was an abandoned church in Caen, France built back in the 10th century. Alam ko, before it was built, there was a dark history in that place."
"Anong dark history?"
"You don't need to know the details, but we can start there."
"Rave, anong dark history? Tell me."
"Uhmmm... human sacrifice to ancient demons."
"Are you talking about offering humans to demons? Yung mga pinapatay na alay?"
"Demonic rituals like copulating under the presence of a demon and deflowering of virgin sacrifices in front of the demonic servants. Then, they will hang the numerous dead bodies of their sacrifice in an old ancient tree near the church as if the tree is drinking from the endless supply of blood."
"Ha? Ahhhh... Uhmmm.. Tama ka, I don't need to know the details. Masyadong gruesome. But Rave, if that is true, the place is a perfect hideout for the demon generals."
"What made you think that?"
"When Sage disappeared, I researched more on demons. Tinutulungan din ako ni Sir Rusty. I learned that demons gain more power from these rituals and evil acts. The more wicked the world has become, the more invincible they are."
"Prepare your things. I already called Quinn and Silawin, they are on their way to the airport. And Rei, one more thing..."
"Ano yun?"
"I will do my best to protect Sage, but whatever happens, I am here for you."
"May dapat ba akong malaman Rave? You looked worried?"
"It is written in the prophecy that Sage will become a demon king. I can assure you that I will offer my life for it not to happen, but you should be prepared of the outcome."
"Rave, anong outcome ang iniisip mo?"
"That Sage will soon be our enemy, someone that we need to defeat someday. Kahit asawa mo siya, you have to choose between him and your responsibility," sabi ni Rave sabay hawak sa mga kamay ko.
Biglang nag glow ang kamay niya at kahit hindi niya sabihin, I know he is transferring his remaining power to me.
Sa totoo lang, naiisip ko na posible na maging mortal enemy ko si Sage pero ang matigas na ulo kong utak, nirereject ang idea na yun. Siguro dahil hindi ko kayang tanggapin na dadating ang araw na ako mismo ang kailangan na pumatay kay Sage.
Erase Erase. Bida ko at bida si Sage, dapat happy ending!
Kung tama si Sage, si Abraxas lang ang nasa loob ng cathedral ngayon at wala ang tatlong demon generals. We flew from the Philippines directly to Caen, the northern port city in France. From the airport, it only took us a few minutes to reach the abandoned church in the middle of the city.
Sino mag-iisip na dito ang hide-out ni Lilith at ng mga demon generals? Nasa gitna ng city ang ruined cathedral na ito.
Pagpasok namin sa loob, I noticed that this is the same place kung saan nagtravel ang spirit ko yesterday. Kami lang muna ni Rave ang pumasok, pero wala na si Sage sa loob ng black steel prison. Wala din si Abraxas sa sofa. Wala na din traces ng apat na silver haired demon generals.
Biglang may slight movement sa dilim. Nakita ko si Sage na nakatayo sa may pulpit, ang elevated platform ng cathedral kung saan nagsesermon ang mga priests. He looks different. Fresh na fresh compared dun sa haggard na Sage na nakita sa black prison.
"Sage!" sigaw ko sa kanya sabay takbo papalapit sa kanya.
I am so happy to see him in person. All I want is to hug him and kiss him right now. But when I was about a few feet away from him, biglang nag materialize ang isang babae sa tabi niya na nagpatigil sa akin.
She has long blonde hair hanggang binti and she's naked. Nakayakap siya kay Sage at nakadikit ang hubad niyang katawan kay Sage as if saying he is her property.
"Lilith..." bulong ni Rave na biglang nakahabol sa tabi ko.
Hinawakan ni Rave ang braso as if nilalayo niya ako kay Sage at Lilith.
"Raviael, it is good to see you. Damn, you don't know how much I missed you," sabi ni Lilith na mas lalong dinikit ang dibdib sa braso ni Sage.
"Lilith, let him go. Ako kunin mo instead of him."
"But Raviael, you are powerless, almost human."
"Sage does not deserve to suffer. Please Lilith, let him go. I am begging you," nakikiusap na sabi ni Rave. He is trying to save Sage and he will sacrifice himself in return.
"I won't let him suffer. I will make his life as my demon king enjoyable and pleasurable..." sabi Lilith sabay halik sa mga labi ni Sage.
Si Sage naman ay parang robot na hinahalikan lang din si Lilith. Parang hinihiwa ang puso ko sa bawat segundo na lumilipas. Rave protectively pulled me sa kanyang likod para di ko makita ang mga nangyayari.
"Lilith!"
"Why are you so affected Raviael? It is either you realized your feelings for me or you already fell in love with Diwa's descendant and you are willing to die for her happiness."
"I will never love you Lilith. Never in my entire existence!" sigaw ni Rave.
Biglang may lumabas na white glowing ball of lightning sa kamay niya but instead of hurling it to Lilith, Rave pressed the lightning ball on the cathedral floor which made the whole building shook. Biglang bumuka ang lupa at nagkaroon ng malaking deep crack between us and Lilith.
"Reichel, we are overpowered. We need to go if you still want to live and save Sage someday," sabi ni Rave sabay hawak sa mga kamay ko.
Tumango lang ako dahil shocked pa rin ako sa mga oras na to. Hindi namin inaasahan na buhay na si Lilith. Rave hugged me and sa isang kisap mata, na transport kami sa loob ng isang malaking church na may Gothic Renaissance architecture.
"Asan tayo Rave? Did we just teleport to another place?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"Guardians are capable of teleportation. I am not that strong anymore kaya I can only teleport sa malapit na lugar. Nasa isa tayong church within a mile from that abandoned cathedral, we are safe here."
"Si Sage? Isa na ba siyang..."
"Yes, he is and I am so sorry. I failed to protect him."
"I will bring him back. Rave. Kahit anong mangyari, I will bring my husband back."
Weeks passed at nalunod ako sa kalungkutan. During weekends, pumupunta kami nila Uncle Syl, Lena at Quinn sa malapit na bundok para kami magsanay. Kulang na lang ang Kage Bunshin Technique ni Naruto at para na kaming mga ninja na nagtratraining sa kabundukan sa muling pagharap namin kay Lilith at sa kanyang demon generals.
They know that I am hurting, pero they also know that I won't show it to them. Ang mga aso ko lang ang nagsisilbing witness sa pag-iyak ko.
Daig ko pa ang namatayan ng asawa sa nangyari kay Sage...
*Inspirations:
Church of Saint-Étienne-le-Vieux in Caen, France
Church of Saint-Pierre in Caen, France