A/N: Thank you for sticking around. I dont know if this chapter is even worth reading. I hesitated writing this for a long time. I struggled with this one. I hope you can share your thoughts about this chapter. Thanks everyone! :)

Tale 46
Accalia

The rumour of the king of Lux and the youngest grandmaster alchemist of Aralon getting engaged spreads like wildfire.

Every women who fantasized and adores the young king was heartbroken.

Every man who admires the youngest alchemist was bitter.

All the members of Thousand Crows and Bloodmoon Alchemy Guild wails in despair.

“My future wife!”

“The goddess! Wuwuwu!”

“My heart cant take it anymore! Nooooooo!”

“My love, I will take you back!”

“Noooooooo! The goddess Amara! I wont accept this!”

“Why? Why?!”

“My waifu!!”

“That lucky bastard! My wife! Huhuhuhu!”

Samantala, wala namang kamalayan si Amara sa nangyayaring gulo. Abala sya sa pagiging isang mabuting guro sa mga bago nyang apprentice.

Nakatulala ang lahat sa dalaga.

Her voice is very clear and enticing. The words escaping her mouth are like flowing water,  clear and easy to understand.

“I feel like I understand everything now.” Lhey

“Everything makes sense all of a sudden.” Zoe

“I wonder if Master is the incarnation of the goddess of alchemy..?” Stephany

As usual, Amara’s lectures were like the words of the gods.

A soft knock on the door disturbed the class.

“Aurio is back.” Saad ni Arya

Tumango si Amara at in-excuse ang sarili, agad nagreklamo ang lahat.

“Master you cant do this to us!” Zoe

“She’s right!” Oxa

“Master, what will happen if you dont have Moonlight herb during a Calming potion refinement? Dont just leave without answering!” Lhey

“Yes, please dont leave us hanging..” Dior

“This is so unfair! Please finish the lecture first!” Stephanie

Amara laugh it off, saying she will continue some other time.

“So how’s our visitors?” tanong ni Amara

“The thieves already left, traumatized.” Arya

Amara was amused.

“Anyway, where’s Lucas?” Amara

“He escaped.” Arya

Natawa si Amara.. That lazy pessimistic guy is really something.

Amara went to the receiving room of the mansion and saw Aurio elegantly sipping tea.

“..........”

“Amara welcome back to the guild.” Aurio smiled

His smile is the happiest smile she have seen.

“What happened to you? You seem..... weird.” Amara

As far as Amara knows, Aurio went back to his village along with Natalia. Why is he alone now?

“I finally have a being that is like a sun in my life.” Aurio said with a smile as if he’s in cloud nine

“Huh?” Amara

“It’s only now I realized that my life has been colorless, with no meaning at all. Until now, I was only a withering flower in a barren wasteland. But when that person look me in the eye, I became a blooming flower.” Aurio

As Aurio continue his narration, Amara’s expression started to become odd.

“You probably dont understand this feeling.. It’s like taking off a dirty shell and being reborn.” Aurio said animatedly

“.........”

And soon, Amara came into a conclusion.

It’s either Aurio fell inlove, or he got sucked into a religion.

And finally, firm resolution rose within his eyes.

“Amara, I finally decided to devote my entire life to this person.”

“...... what exactly did Natalia do to you?” Amara

“S-she... She turn me into a man.” Aurio blushed like a shy maiden..

“..........”

Amara knew that Aurio meant it simply as him falling inlove. But why does his choice of words odd?

“Where’s Natalia?” Amara asked, trying to change the subject somehow

“She’s still in my village.. Everyone likes her.. So she decided to stay behind.”

“..... why does it sounds like that the two of you are planning your marriage already?” Amara

Aurio covered his blushing face, acting like a shy maiden all over again.

“.........”

“So I heard you’re looking for me..?” Aurio asked after a while

“Nuh, I was just worried for nothing.” Amara

“Hehe bro, you really love me!”

“In your dreams. Come on, drag your butt, I want you to meet my apprentices.”

“You’re not planning to throw all the responsibilities of teaching them to me, right?”

“I actually do.”

“.........”

How cruel as usual!

***

“Why are you coming along?” tanong ni Aurio

Amara simply shrugged.

“How about your apprentices??”

“Sapphire and Arya is there to babysit them.” Amara

“...... ok.”

Aurio then focused his attention to the toys that was displayed at a small booth on the way towards his small village.

“What do you think? Would Aura like this doll with blonde hair? Or the one with black hair??” tanong ni Aurio

“Just buy both of them.” Amara

“Im not a spendthrift like you!”

“Whatever. Just choose the blonde one.”

“The blonde one is kinda like you. The black one is kinda like Natalia... Sir, I would like to buy the doll with the black hair.” Aurio

“........” Amara

What a lovestruck fool.

“So you have two younger siblings huh..?”

“Yep, my brother is eight years old this year. While my cute little sis is five.”

“I cant believe they’re so unlucky to have such a foolish older brother like you..”

“Whatever, you’re just jealous because I like them more than you.” Aurio

Amara laugh, “You’re delusional.”

At nag-asaran pa sila hanggang sa marating ang bungad ng baryo sa liblib na kabundukan.

“Hmm? Why is it so quiet??” nagtatakang komento ni Aurio

Nagkibitbalikat naman si Amara.

“That’s uncle Julius’ home, he often give us vegetables when I was still a kid.. How odd, he’s usually out in his backyard during this time..”

“It’s a little hot today, maybe he’s indoor.” Amara shrugged

“Yeah, you’re right.. Nyways, that one is auntie Helena’s house. She’s my mom’s childhood friend.. Maybe she’s indoor too..?”

“Do you want to stop by to greet her?”

“That’s a good idea.” Aurio

Aurio led the way... “Hey Auntie! Im bac—”

Amara who was walking behind him was confused why he suddenly froze..

“What’s wron—”

Blood.

The entire house was a mess..

A woman was lying on the floor, blood is everywhere.

“What happened??” Amara shook Aurio’s shoulder

“S-she’s dead.”

The entire scenario felt odd..

Amara dragged Aurio outside.

Aurio was still in a dazed so Amara didnt have a hard time dragging him along.

They checked the next house and the same scene greeted them.

Blood.

The weird silence of the village.

Realization slowly dawned on Aurio.

“....Mother.. Father..”

Before Amara could even stop him, Aurio already run off.

Amara noticed some weird scratches on the floor and the walls.

It was not an animal attack. But something similar.

She choose not to divulge on the reason for what happened. She ran after Aurio, worried.

Amara crossed through space and appeared behind Aurio.

Standing in front of a simple home, Aurio is staring at a woman.

“Natalia...?”

The woman stared back at them..

Her hands were filled with blood.

Like a puzzle, everything fell into place.

“Natalia... W-what have you done?”

“So you’re back...” she answered nonchalantly, wiping the blood on her hands on the cloth she’s wearing like a lunatic

“How could you do this?!” sigaw ni Aurio

Natalia shrugged... “I dont know.. It just happened.”

Hindi matukoy ni Aurio kung ano ang nararamdaman nya sa mga sandaling ito...

Galit.

Poot.

Pagkamuhi.

Kawalan.

“Paano mo to nagawa??”

Nagkibit balikat lamang si Natalia.

“You know how I feel for you.”

Natalia ignored him.

“You said you never felt something like it before.”

Natalia remained silent.

“I tried to stop myself. I tried to denied it over and over again. But one day I woke up realizing how beautiful your smile was. I hear music in your laughter. I see flowers in your presence. The moment I tried to tell myself that I wasn’t inlove is the moment I realized that I was. But how could you do this? H-how could you..”

Nagbuntong hininga si Natalia.. “Dont you get it? I lied.”

Sa mga oras na ito, gusto na lang mamatay ni Aurio.

“Natalia.... Accalia.” Amara’s voice resonated in the air

“Nice to see you again, Amara.” The woman greeted with a smile

“Why would you do something so evil..?” Amara

“Cause Im evil.. Demon’s blood runs through my veins, duh.”

Amara did not respond.. She raised her hand and a ball of fire appeared in her hands.

“Are you planning to destroy this village? Suit yourself.” Accalia smirked

Hearing that, Amara hesitated.

“Remember this, every fairy tale needs a proper villain. You need me, or you’ll be nothing. Besides, we’re alike, you and I.. Except, you’re the boring version of me. Cause you’re on the good side.” Accalia

Her eyes lingers on Aurio for a while before she vanished.

Silence prevails.

The two remained motionless for a while.

Aurio was the first one to move.

Amara watched as Aurio slowly opened the door to their home.

He saw his father first. He’s embracing his mother, shielding her from the sword that is impaled on both their hearts.

Remembering his father’s laughter and jokes, Aurio felt his chest tighten.

And seeing his protective mother, bloodied, dead, made him want to scream his heart out.

“Mother, Father, I failed you.. I failed everyone... I-Im sorry.. Im so sorry..”

Everyone in the village is kind. They’re family.

They genuinely care for Aurio and his family.

But everyone is now dead.

Pakiramdam ni Aurio, isa itong masamang panaginip. Sana isa na lang itong bangungot.

Humagulhol sya na tila isang paslit.

Sumigaw.

Nagmakaawa.

Sana isa lang itong masamang panaginip. Gusto nya nang magising.

Gusto nyang makita ang surpresa sa mga mata ni Aura sa manika na pasalubong nya. Ang ppagsusungit ni Aurelius. Ang ngiti ng kanyang mga magulang.

Lumipas ang oras.

Aurio found his little brother’s bloodied body, holding tightly on their little sister. His other hand holding a huge kitchen knife.

Aurio fell on his knees.

He can clearly envision his little brother, desperately trying to protect their sister. But failed.

“Aurelius, you’re so brave.. Brother is so proud of you.” He said as he hugged the two small bodies, tears spilling out of his eyes.

Amara kept her mouth shut as Aurio silently wept.

It was a long night.

A night of sorrow, a night for all the lost souls.

Aurio decided to burn down the entire village.

As morning came by, the ashes of those who departed was carried away by the wind.

From the ashes they rise, to ashes they fall.

~~~~~~~~~~