*Note: Expect that there are typos and wrong grammars here*
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"I need to help Lyon. He needs my help."
"That's bullshit, Raid—"
"Reiko, language."
Suway ni Viera sa kaniyang anak nang marinig niya itong nagmura. They are having their conversations about the favor that Lyon asked for Raiden. Wala nang nagawa si Raiden kundi tulungan din si Lyon dahil naaawa siya sakaniya. I know he doesn't need his pity, but he can't help to feel that way to him.
"Are you even thinking, Raiden? You're going to pretend to be the king, you're going to steal Lyon's identity!"
Reiko was really frustrated to her brother dahil hindi niya maisip kung bakit pumayag si Raiden sa alok ni Lyon. She doesn't even know why would Raiden pretend to be the king.
"Reiko, calm down. Please."
Pumagitna na si Viera at pinakalma si Reiko. Alam kasi niya na mauuwi lang sa away ang kanilang pag-uusap kaya pumagitna na siya sa dalawa.
"I will be the one to decide on this, since I'm your mother."
Sabi niya kay Reiko. Wala na siyang nagawa kundi ang bumuntong hininga at tumango sa sinabi ng kaniyang nanay. Viera then turned to his son, she smiled at him and caressed his cheek.
"I'm not going to stop you in helping Lyon, Raiden. I know Lyon is important to you, if that's what you want, then help him. But I want you to not forget us. We're not going to tell this to anyone, even Reiko. We'll keep this as a secret, but I just want you to come here every weekends, okay?"
Viera is aware that there's no use in protecting Raiden from the palace anymore, because he is now in his right age to make decisions. She doesn't want for Raiden to live his life full of regrets.
"Mom, ikaw din?!"
Reiko exclaimed because she can't believe that her mother will agree on Raiden. Iniisip lang din niya ang pakanan ni Raiden kaya hindi siya pumayag sa gusto nito. She wants Raiden to think of his self too at huwag lamang si Lyon, but what can she do if Raiden is really sure with his decision?
She just rolled her eyes and stormed outside of their living room. Napabuntong hininga na lamang ang mag-ina dahil sa inakto ni Reiko.
"Just understand your sister, Raiden."
"Naiintindihan ko naman si Reiko, mom. But I just want to help Lyon, he's very vulnerable right now."
Viera flashed a painful smile and slowly nodded. Naaawa rin siya para sa kalagayan ni Lyon dahil wala na siyang mga magulang ngayon. He lost them at the same year, time and day.
"Poor Lyon." Viera whispered as he caressed Raiden's back.
That late afternoon, pumunta na nga si Raiden papunta sa kaharian nila Lyon. He knows that after this, he will lose many things including the love of his life, Elora. Masakit man para sakaniya pero kailangan niyang tanggapin dahil ito ang pinili niya. He chose his best friend over Elora.
"Lyon is waiting for you in the balcony."
Nagulat siya nang makita niya si George. Ngayon lang niya kasi ito nakita ulit pagkatapos ng limang taon. Napansin ni Raiden ang pagtanda ng mukha ni George pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang kaniyang pagiging makisig. George Hilton has a very broad body with a skin color that is like a charcoal, but he was actually a good looking archimage.
"Are you okay?"
Natanong iyon ni Raiden dahil napansin niya ang paghabol ng hininga ni George.
"Yeah, I just carried the big statue of King Antonio that will be displayed later."
Hindi na nagulat si Raiden sa naging dahilan ni George, because it was his mystique. He has a human strength, kaya madali lang iyon para sakaniya.
"But I should be the one who is asking if you're okay. Lyon's favor for you is not a joke, it's a heavy one, Raiden. You'll lose everything after this. You have a choice to back out, but why didn't you?"
Nagulat nga talaga si George nang makita niya si Raiden na pumasok sa loob ng kaharian at sa pagkakataong iyon ay alam niya na pumayag ito sa naging alok ni Lyon at dahil na rin sa naging kautusan ni Lyon kanina.
"Well, Lyon needs me badly that's why I can't say no to him."
"Lyon is really thankful to have you as his best friend. We now need to go to the balcony, he is waiting for us there."
Tumango na lamang si Raiden kay George bilang sagot. They marched towards the highest floor of the castle where the huge balcony lies. Pagkarating nila roon, ay nakita nga nila si Lyon. He was still dressed in thick robe with scarf that is covering his neck.
"Prince Lyon, Raiden is here."
Napalingon si Lyon kay Raiden at hindi niya maiwasang matigilan nang makita niya na may mayroon na ring mga purple veins na nagpapakita sa kaniyang pisngi.
"We'll just do this fastly, so that we will able to do the coronation on this day."
He said seriously, Raiden and George just silently nodded as they walked towards him.
Lyon breathed heavily as he placed both of his hands on the side of his hips and he raised it a little. Then suddenly, thin purple lights in a form of veins were released in his hands, the purple lights were surrounded again with purple smoke like what happened earlier.
Tinitigan iyon ni Raiden at hindi niya mapigilang mamangha, it was his first time to see the dark mystique of Lyon.
But Lyon was feeling confident in using his mystique right now, compared years ago. It's like he already accepted his fate, and his mystique.
The light started to move, sinundan ni Raiden ang direksyon ng kapangyarihan na iyon at unti-unti itong bumaba sa kaharian and it slowly made its way to go outside of the palace.
Even if they can't watch it, the archimages immediately stopped from what they were doing when the purple light strikes their heads, and it was the moment that Lyon had already controlled their minds. After it, they just continued moving and working normally.
Pero habang pinagmamasdan iyon ni Raiden ay alam na niyang maraming tao ang mawawala sakaniya. His friends, Jackson, Aleah, Harem, Lorie, Trovis, Professor Benedict and most especially Elora. Masakit man para sakaniya pero tinaggap na niya ito.
The mystique spread its way up to the hidden place of the Artix World, to every kingdoms, and to every archimages. Truly, the Aether was indeed powerful.
After which, Lyon stopped from releasing his mystique to prepare himself for the coronation. The archimages who are inside the palace knows the situation of Lyon and they are prohibited to tell it to the others, and also for his plan on making Raiden the king outside.
Lyon just wore a simple king dress, it was just a golden suit with a red cape, his arms were covered with the golden suit and so as his neck with the help of the coat. It was just a simple coronation with simple designs in the palace. Wala naman kasing nga bisita. They just held a private coronation.
A royal march was played as Lyon walked towards the king's throne in the red carpet that they have prepared.
"This is such a very remarkable day for us as we named another king in our kingdom that will mark a great history for the next years. A king that will be very considerate to his archimages, to his people and to his loved ones. A king that will continue the legacy that his father left before he died. A king that will be kind and brave. Our new leader, King Lyon Aberforth Hambridge!"
The royal guards and some of the archimages in the castle clapped their hands for Lyon as Barry put the crown's king above Lyon's head. It was a symbolic wedge-shaped crown with jewelries in every section of it but on the center lies the big ruby jewel.
Lyon held his breath as he felt the weight of the crown im his head. Bigla niya tuloy naalala ang kaniyang tatay. He is not even sure if he would really continue the legacy of his late father, because Lyon knows that his father is a greater king than him.
"Congratulations King Lyon." Barry whispered.
"Long live the king!
"Long live the king!
"Long live the king!"
They shouted as they bow in front of Lyon. When Lyon saw that, it really strikes him that he's now the king.
Actually, it was never his dream to be the king, he just wanted to have a normal life like the others, but he knows he can't do anything since he is already tied to his fate of becoming the king.
Nang matapos ang coronation ay agad na lumapit si Lyon kay Raiden at niyakap niya ito ng sobrang higpit.
"Thank you, Raiden. Thank you for helping me. I owe you a big one." Napangiti si Raiden at niyakap din niya pabalik si Lyon.
"Can I just go to my home one last time?"
Raiden asked when he broke the hug. Gusto lang niya kasing umuwi muna kahit ngayon lang dahil alam niya na mas madalas na siya sa palace kaysa bahay nila.
Lyon immediately nodded at him. Of course, it's his best friend kaya hindi niya ito pagbabawalan.
"Thanks Lyon."
But before leaving, Lyon advised Raiden to cover his face with cloth so that the people won't recognize him because he will go to his home. Raiden obliged it and covered his face with a red scarf. By this time, siya na kasi ang kinikilala ng mga archimages bilang hari.
Raiden was just silent at he went outside the palace. He's happy that he helped his best friend but he can't help but to feel empty, his mind was just filled with Elora. He wanted to fly in Curceo Kingdoms just to have a glimpse with her, kahit hindi na niya ito lapitan. He just missed her girl.
Mas tinakpan niya ang kaniyang mukha para hindi siya mamukhaan ng mga archimages, mas lalo na at hindi siya nakapangbihis bilang hari.
"Raiden,"
Pero bigla siyang napatigil nang may biglang tumawag sakanya. He slowly raised his head and his eyes widened when he saw Elora standing right in front of hee. He blinked twice just to check if he's just hallucinating or not. But it's real.
Elora slowly marched towards Raiden and hugged him tightly. Hindi naman makapaniwala si Raiden na nayayakap niya ngayon si Elora pero nagtataka pa rin siya kung bakit nakikilala pa rin siya ni Elora bilang Raiden. Kaya humiwalay si Raiden sa pagkakayakap para itanong ito sakaniya.
"How? Why do you recognize me?"
"I should be the one who is asking. What is happening? Kanina kasi, as I traveled here, I noticed purple lights strike on every archimages. They didn't die or groaned in pain nang natamaan sila, but I noticed that it is a mystique that is used in controlling minds. Of course, I wasn't affected because I'm a mind controller too. But can I know what is happening?"
Napalunok si Raiden nang marinig niya iyon kay Elora. But he was actually happy deep inside because Elora can still recognize him as Raiden. He didn't think twice anymore, sinabi na niya kay Elora ang totoong nangyari at ang kaniyang kalagayan ngayon pati ang kay Lyon at sa mga magulang nito.
"Where is Lyon?"
"He's in the castle. He doesn't want to be seen."
Hindi rin makapaniwala si Elora sa mga narinig niya kay Raiden. She suddenly felt sad for him, dahil naging magkaibigan din sila. She wanted to meet and talk to him because he knows that it was hard for Lyon, but she understands Lyon. Pero nalulungkot din siya para kay Raiden dahil pakiramdam niya ay siya ang naiipit sa sitwasyong ito. That's why she hugged Raiden again to comfort him.
"I'm just here, Raiden. I will never leave you again."
Elora whispered which made Raiden to smile and it feels like the disappeared.
"You're going to stay?"
Tumango si Elora habang nakangiti kahit hindi iyon nakikita ni Raiden.
"We are in this together."
-:-
Thank you for reading!
ecyela