"Humina na ang pwersa ng portal. Their sphinxs are now conscious. Kapag nagpatuloy pa ang paghina nito, maaaring pati ang mga pure elementals ay maging conscious na rin," wika ni Cros Alina.

"In time, makakalabas din kayo rito," he assured and his lips rose a bit for a smile.

Malayo si Luel mula sa kanila. Masaya siya na tinutupad ng mga creators galingsa mortal realm ang pangako nila. Pero hiyang-hiya parin sa naging dulot ng plano niya noon. Kung hindi ko lang talaga pinaghinalaan si Master Cros.

Hindi na siya tumingala nang lumapit si Zach sa kaniya. Hinayaan niya siyang umupo siya sa tabi niya, at narinig siyang nagbuntong-hininga. "Are you feeling guilty?"

Luel did not answer. She just pursued her lips together, and continued tapping her fingers on the table.

"It's not your fault, Luel. You should take a rest," mahinahong wika ni Zach sa kaniya.

How can I take a rest? Nawala siya ng isang taon. She should make up for the days that she was gone, but she didn't know how.

"Ano nang plano, Master? Wala bang balak ang mga council members? Headmasters of Academies? Isang taon na kaming stuck dito," Avarice said.

She used her light powers, and Elara immediately scolded her. "Hindi mo puwedeng gamitin ang kapangyarihan mo."

"Lahat nalang hindi pwede," wika ni Avarice.

Krystal sighed, "Maaaring ma-trigger ang portal, Avarice. Let's wait a little more."

"Let's face it," Avarice said. "There's a greater possibilty that we'll be stuck here forever because the portal won't be destroyed."

Master Cros shook his head, "But there's still a possibility that it may be destroyed. It weakened. I'm finding a way do not worry."

Luel kept silent upon overhearing the conversation. She turned to Zach then.

"Babalik muna ako sa Anika mansion, Zach," deklara ni Luel bago tumayo.

Zach caught one of her hands and made a frustrated sigh. He looked worried at her, "Sasamahan na kita."

"H'wag na, Zach. Sabi mo nga 'di ba? Magpahinga ako, kaya magpapahinga ako. Alangang samahan mo pa ako," Luel said while faking a chuckle.

Tumingin din siya sa iba. When she first returned, they were all surprised. Lahat sila- well except Zach- akala ay nawala na siya dahil ng portal.

Wala na rito ang ibang elementals like Zian, Zia, Oreon and Zeonn. They've probably resumed with their own lives.

She gave Zach's shoulder a little pat before summoning her black wings, and flew away from Aeria. Her expulsion was lifted a few days after she disappeared. Some people really only realize the worth and importance at the end, and I am one of those people.

Nawala na kaagad ang kaniyang pakpak nang makarating siyang muli sa Anika mansion.

Ngayon palang, namimiss niya na kaagad si Sinclair.

She gulped as she entered Sinclair's room again. Naaalala niya ang mga memorya at panahong magkasama pa sila. I guess, it will never happen anymore.

Tumingin siya sa red rose na naiwan niya pala rito. Hinawakan niya 'yon, and for her, it symbolized hope through sorrow.

Sinclair must be fine now that she's in the mortal world, Luel thought.

"Aw," daing niya nang bigla siyang matusok muli ng rose thorn. Gamit ang kaniyang damit, pinunasan niya ang munting dugo.

"There'll be a portal to other worlds, Sinclair," Luel turned immediately. Nagulat siya nang makita si Lady Anika at ang kaniyang ina sa kuwarto. Isa ba itong ilusyon o pangitain mula sa oracle? Tanong ni Luel sa sarili niya.

"A portal? Sino namang gagawa noon? Delikado ho iyan, 'di ba?" Sinclair asked.

Lady Anika nodded. Doon napagtanto ni Luel na nakikita niyang muli ang nakaraan sa pamamagitan ng oracle.

"Matagal pa bago mangyari iyon, at mamamatay na siguro ako sa tanda. Alam mo namang ang Anika bloodline lang ang makakapigil ng portal."

"Nalalaman ko po iyon. Kung gan'on, paano?"

Lady Anika smiled, "I had no heir because as soon as I give birth, hindi kakayanin ng puso ko. But I guess, I need to sacrifice."

"You will give birth?" Sinclair asked. She now looked serious and worried. May anak si Lady Anika, Luel realized.

Tumango si Lady Anika, "But no one must know until he becomes 18. The Anika bloodline only manifests powers of all elements when they reach the age of 18."

"Bakit naman po hindi dapat malaman ng iba?" Tanong ni Sinclair.

"Hindi ko alam kung sino ang bubuo ng portal. If he or she wants to succeed, he would have to kill my child. He must not die, Sinclair," Lady Anika said.

"Hindi ko rin ipapaalam sa'yo kung saan ko siya unang dadalhin. You must find him, but keep distance too. He will be the key to destroying the portal."

Nawala na ang pangitain. Luel was back to reality, at hindi man lang niya nalaman kung sino ang anak ni Lady Anika.

Did he reach eighteen? Magiging problema kung hindi pa siya eighteen, pero mas malaking problema na hindi alam ni Luel kung sino.

But at least, there was a clear picture of hope now. All she has to do is trust herself and have faith that she will find the lost Anika.

She steadily stood when the lands suddenly rumbled. May malakas din na hangin na humampas sa kaniyang balat. She held her short hair, and squinted her eyes to prevent dust from coming in.

Nagulat siya nang bigla na namang dumating si Zach. "Luel! The portal has been triggered."

Mabilis na hinila ni Zach si Luel palabas. "They are conscious now, and we thought... we thought the portal has been destroyed. But it was just triggered. Sooner or later, it will open."

"Huh?" sambit ni Luel, "Pero bakit naging conscious sina Alcaeus? Kung mas natrigger pala ang portal."

Zach turned to her, "They are, but they lost their element."

"W-what?"

"Tuluyan nang naabsorb ng portal ang element nila kaya mas naging malakas 'yon."

Hinawakan niya nang mahigpit ang braso ni Zach at pumunta sa portal gamit ang kaniyang vampire speed. He looked at Zach who was about to puke. What the heck was that? Nagmura pa si Zach sa isipan niya. He's been to rides, pero nakakasuka na bigla ka nalang nahila ng isang bampira.

Bumitaw na si Luel nang makarating sa forest. The portal seemed brighter, and the trees... had lives! Marami ring galang mga sphinx. She noticed the Team Aryan, and Team Narain with Yuri.

Zian caught a glance of Luel. Napahawak siya sa puso niya, at para bang inatake sa puso, "Putek! Bakit ako nakakakita ng multo?! Patay na ba ako?!"

Luel's eyebrows made a furrow. Hindi niya nalang pinansin si Zian, at tumingin sa taas. Maraming mga galang ibon ang naroon. Zeonn's dragon almost covered the sun, so it became dark. His ice blades hit the weak points of the uncontrollable sphinxs.

Master Cros called the vampires. Siya ang tinatawag na 'Master' ng mga bampira. He was in control of them, and the vampires weren't responsible for the massacre of sphinxs back then. It was the force of the awakening dragon which is now sealed with Sinclair.

Zia was trying to take control of the alive trees along with Master Cros. Her sphinx, Fenrir, ate and devoured the carnivorous plants. Si Oreon at Yuri ay nagsama, making their fires stronger. Yuri's black phoenix went up the skies, killing untamed sphinxs with just the heat of the black fire.

Zach already called his sphinx, Cerberus. The three headed dog multi-taskingly killed sphinxs. Shit, ba't biglang nagsama-sama rito lahat ng galang sphinxs?

Ginamit naman ni Luel ang kaniyang pakpak at ginamit ang kaniyang angel blood to tame the sphinxs. Ang mga na-tame niyang sphinxs ay nakikipaglaban na sa iba.

The other masters and council members joined, surprised to see Luel, but now wasn't the time for more questions. Nilayo nila mula doon si Hanie at Arenspade, pero nanatili si Alcaeus.

The Berseker army and other students and officials are in the borders of Qidian, pinipigilan ang pagpasok pa ng ibang sphinxs sa forest.

Hundreds of untamed sphinxs are in ruckus because of the portal's strong force.

Akala ko ba napahina na? Isip ni Luel.

Nagulat siya nang biglang makita si Alcaeus sa baba n'ya. She was in the air, flying. Napababa siya, ngunit hindi nilapat ang paasa lipa. Nag-alalang tumingin siya sa kaibigan.

"What are you doing here, Alcaeus? You're still weak. Dapat sumama ka muna sa mga Masters," wika ni Luel.

Alcaeus smirked a little, "I'm not a Berseker for nothing. I still have my physical strength."

Napalingon bigla si Alcaeus nang lumapit sa kaniyang rogue wolf. Isang hampas lang ni Alcaeus doon, tumalipon na sa malayo ang wolf, malapit kay Zach. Napatingin si Zach doon, pero binalewala rin. The wolf whimpered in pain.

Nagtaka naman siya nang bahagya nang makitang nag-freeze ang wolf na hinampas ni Alcaeus. Ice? Hindi ba't Earth ang element ni Alcaeus, at nawala na ang element niya... bakit naman nagyelo ang wolf?

Luel looked a Zeonn. Nasa ere siya, malayo kaya imposibleng siya 'yon. It only points out Alcaeus. May ice element siya?

Could it be... he's the lost heir of Anika?

Aerilon Academy
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

One more chapter, then epilogue.

Thank you for reading!