The dusk overwhelming the entire Dark Continent vanishes into a bloody, crimson horizon, acting as a sign from heaven and hell that the obstacle ahead will bring all the pain in the world upon them.

Aizelle and Phoenix watch the moon peaking on the highlands, its peculiar crimson hue, along with the silence embracing the dreadful land of the Kins sinks. Outside of the hideout, the two of them rest on top of a huge rock.

“Do you think I’m unfair?” Aizelle asks. She slowly rests her head on Phoenix’s shoulder, who immediately caresses her hair.

“You’re not.”

“I… I messed up. Hindi ko naman gustong sabihin ‘yon kay Sue. Wala akong intensyon na masama pero nang makita ko kung paano siya magdalawang isip para sa’yo—”

Tumigil si Phoenix sa paghaplos sa buhok ni Aizelle at ngumiti habang nakatingin sa buwan, “Masyado ka namang loyal sa akin,” natatawang sambit ni Phoenix.

“They know nothing about you, but I do.” Seryosong humarap si Aizelle kay Phoenix dahilan upang dahan-dahan na mawala ang ngiti sa labi nito. “And I am doing because I am your friend, not because I am your life.”

“Alam ko. Alam ko, Aizelle. Kaya ako ang nahihirapan sa pagiging selfless mo. Ako na lang lagi ang iniisip mo. Palagi kong iniisip kung kailan… kailan mo pipiliin ang sarili mo?”

Dahan-dahan na nag-iba ang emosyon sa mga mata ni Aizelle habang pinapanood si Phoenix. Alam n’ya sa sarili niya kung ano ang nais ipahiwatig nito, ngunit para sa kanya at sa mata nina Eros, imposibleng makamit niya iyon.

“Phoenix… I am not my mother. You’re not Tito Alendis,” Aizelle stated, looking at him melancholia written in her eyes. “No one could do what my mother can. No one could control the feelings of love like her. I may be her daughter, but I can never be like her.”

“So… you are just letting go of Light because of me?”

“Not because of you. But because of the weight being me.”

Phoenix stares at her. In Aizelle’s eyes, her resolve was already written, as if any word from his mouth could never change it. No one could change it unless it were her.

Aizelle laughs, “We are like Tito Garet and Tita Freya.”

“We are not. We are our own people. They may be the strongest as one… but I know we can add something to the history.” Phoenix grins, standing from the top of the rock. He slowly extends his harm to Aizelle, who’s still sitting beside him. “I’m all better. Let’s go back inside.”

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Sunken pit eyes gaze at the renowned unconscious daughter of the moon—the creaking sound echoes, along with the whisper-like screams of people’s pain and agony. Crystals and expensive stones cover the tavern as Aicelyn’s body floats in the air, with a sphere of glass surrounding her.

“The living and the dead… that stolen life from 10 years ago will be your demise, cursed demigod,” Belphegor utters, looking at Aicelyn with sadness in his eyes. “I don’t know if you’re lucky that Garet nurtured you with his gift… but the pain will never seize upon you.”

Belphegor lightly taps the glass, the glistening golden speckle of dust showers to Aicelyn, gathering on the top of her. In a blink, forgotten memories of yesterday begin to appear in the glass, projecting every moment stolen in her memories.

“I shouldn’t do this,” Belphegor whispers in his mind... “Satan will definitely torture me for this.”

The Kin of Sloth remain watching the peculiar scenery while arguing to himself; an heir of darkness, a demon, a deviant like him should never help the demigods, their prey. Yet, a single resolve matters in the deepest part of his corrupted heart.

Demons claim lives, yet he wanted to give one.

And all these traitorous acts are only done because of the mortal he fell in love with.

“Ironic, huh?”

Aicelyn slowly absorbs every memory as the sphere of glass slowly cracks. And when the glass shatters, Aicelyn’s body slowly lands on a gigantic crystal, catering to her body. As she confusedly groans, ice slowly covers the tavern, making the entire vicinity grows colder.

“A mission for four of three; North, East, and South…”

“The blessing is thy curse; thou curse will be the blessing…”

“Why borrow something against the taboo?” Wala sa sariling pinanood ni Belphegor si Aicelyn. Ilang taon na ang nakalilipas mula nang makasalamuha niya ang mga Rule-Breakers at maranasan ang muntik na pagkamatay sa kamay ni Garet.

Ngunit dahil isang tagasunod lamang s’ya, ang manumbalik sa Divine Continent ay wala sa kanyang plano. At sa loob ng sampung taon, pinanood lamang niya ang babaeng nasa harapan niya. Paminsan-minsa’y ginugulo niya ito sa panaginip nito, pinakikita ang kaibigan na naging estranghero sa kanyang isip.

At dahil parte sila ng kasinungalingan at kasalanan ng mga nakipagkasundong baguhin ang pagkabuhay at pagkamatay, alam ni Belphegor ang katotohanan sa likod ng Great Prophecy. Isang gawa-gawang propesiya upang manatiling nakatago ang nag-iisang susi sa katotohanan.

Seryosong pinagmasdan ni Belphegor si Aicelyn, dahan-dahan nitong binuka ang kanyang bibig.

“Your end will be my beginning.”

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

“Oh, Styx!” A thunderous scream echoes in the cave; a dark alley filled with jagged stones and rocks welcomes upon the four maidens setting to an adventure. “Lyn, be careful!”

A beautiful woman, just like her mother, Aphrodite, pulls her friend away from the sharp stones and rocks. Her beautiful chocolate brown hair sways as force embraces her body.

Sabrina Anderson. A woman from an elite family in the Amore Kingdom, with the blood of the Goddess of Beauty in her veins. She was personally chosen by the King of Cerulean Kingdom, Alendis, to become the royal attendant of the first princess, Aicelyn Hailey. Sabrina was known as the most beautiful and mightiest warrior across the continent. Despite being born as a noble and not a royal, lot of royal-blooded princesses could never defeat her.

“Thanks, Sab!” The woman with enchanting ash gray hair replies.

Aicelyn Hailey Lean. The heiress of the Cerulean Kingdom, born as the daughter of Artemis, her life embraces the mystery against the myth. Aside from being blessed by the power of the moon, she received the Royal Gift of Pyre, the spirit of flame, from Aphrodite. Yet, even after claiming the most incredible gifts, she remained outranked by her royal attendant.

“Let’s tahimik. I think I’m hearing something!” A tongue twisted by a thousand knots says. Sabrina and Aicelyn glance at each other after rolling their eyes because of the gibberish language of their friend.

Serena Brinleigh Undersea. The only heiress of the Undersea Kingdom and the most peculiar child of Poseidon. After receiving her Royal Gift of Clamoire from the Spirit of Undine, she vowed to limit herself from using what she received from Poseidon in order for her not to be compared to her brother, the strongest demigod in the Demigods Academy.

“You’re like nakakarindi!” The last maiden teases, receiving a cranky glare Serena, “Geez. Bakit ko ba naging kaibigan ang abnoy na ‘to?”

Celine Salvante. Daughter of a Titaness, Gaea, the Goddess of Earth. She is the second princess of the Cerulean Kingdom, being the daughter of the second prince, Axel. She possesses the blessing of the Earth as well as the Royal Gift of Binderia from the spirit of Terra.

“Serena… bakit nag-iba yata ang kulay ng mga mata mo?” Tanong ni Aicelyn habang pinagmamasdan ang mata ng kaibigan na litaw na litaw sa dilim.

Wala sa sariling napasapo sa ulo si Sabrina habang nanlilisik ang mga mata kay Serena, “Sa ating apat, siya talaga ‘yong pinakabobo. Sa sobrang bobo n’ya, pumunta siya sa Fountain of Prophecy!”

“I’m na curious lang naman why Zeusy’s daughter make pasok-pasok to that lugar. And then, nag-miracle ‘yong eyes niya like ang beautiful noong color. I am not nasabihan naman na there is a nakakatakot na voice inside.”

Nanliit lamang ang mga mata nilang nakatingin kay Serena, pilit na iniintidi at pinoproseso ang mga salitang sinambit nito.

“It’s Zeus, not Zeusy. Stupid,” bulong ni Celine.

Taas kilay na sinilip ni Aicelyn si Sabrina habang nakangisi ito rito, “Daughter of Zeus, huh? You mean, the demigod who defeated our mighty Sabrina from the last Grand Olympian Games.”

“Tch!” Sabrina glares. “I’m not informed that she can already use her blessing.”

“Sue, right? Late bloomer siya pero nasa Primus Section na agad siya,” sambit ni Celine.

Serena’s eyes sparkles while remembering the GOG from last week, “The guy cheering for her is super g’wapo! Little Philomena’s brother! What was his pangalan? Right, it was Phoenix! I am going to make him my jowa!”

Aicelyn grimaces, “Sa tingin mo ba may makakatagal sa ka-conyohan mo bukod kay Night? I doubt that.”

“Night is different. He’s going to be my husband kaya while Phoenix is jojowain lang. I need to collect, duh!” Serena argues as if she is making a point about their current topic.

Celine laughs and pulls Sabrina near her, and while pointing to her friend, she utters, “What if gumaya ka kayna Lyn at Sab? Mga loyalist.”

Endless laughter immediately echoes in the entire tavern, yet it suddenly ceases, along with their feet.

The massive golden gate glimmers in the darkest path, welcoming the four maidens, along with the ferocious, deadly gatekeeper guarding it. The gigantic skeleton stands in front of the gate with its sunken pit eyes. The tracks of his sight remain undetectable. It holds a silver mace, larger than them, while its body is covered with a silky black robe.

And as the gatekeeper remains unaware of his guest, the four maidens tries to compose themselves to engage into a fight.

Aicelyn, Celine, Sabrina, and Serena must passed through the golden gate. They need to collect the rarest Ambrosia in order to cure the demigods in the outskirt of Cerulean Kingdom.

In the North, they have collect the Marjoram of Aphrodite, while on the East, they’ve collect the Crimson Acanthus Mollis and on the South, the last ingredient is the Ambrosia— the rarest one that can only be seen in the Cryptic Chambers.

“Its labi is not kissable,” Serena jokes. Yet, even thought they want to laugh, no one dares, for its timing is the right moment.

Ginala ni Celine ang kanyang mga mata, pinag-aaralan ang buong paligid at inaanalisa ang kalaban sa kanilang lahat. Tahimik lamang siyang nagpaplano kung paano nila matatalo ang napakalaking gatekeeper nang hindi sila ganoong mapapagod.

“Stations,” utos ni Celine.

Mabilis na umalis sina Serena at Aicelyn, gano’n din si Celine dahilan upang maiwan si Sabrina sa gitna. Pinalibutan nila ang walang kamuwang-muwang na gatekeeper at hinihintay ang hudyat ni Celine.

Sabay-sabay na nagpakawala nang malakas na prisensya ang apat dahilan upang umangat ang ulo ng skeleton. Tiningnan nito ang apat sa direksyon, ngunit nanatili itong lito dahil sa iba’t-ibang lugar ng mga ito.

Mahigpit na hinawakan ng gatekeeper ang kanyang mace, biglaan nitong inatake ang direksyon ni Aicelyn. Mabilis namang nakaiwas si Aicelyn, ginamit niya pa ang ataking iyon upang atakihin ang gatekeeper. Hinawakan ni Aicelyn ang mace at nag-thumbling siya ro’n habang mabilis niyang napapayelo ang sandata ng gatekeeper.

Nang tumalon paatras si Aicelyn, ang kalupaan na tinatapakan ng gate keeper ay agad na gumuho’t dahilan upang mabaon ang mga paa nito sa ilalim. Tumingin si Celine kay Sabrina matapos niyang gawin ang kanyang atake.

At sa isang iglap, ang napakalaking skeleton ay lumulutang sa ere dahil sa maliliit na perlas na nagpapalutang dito. Nang nawala ang mga perlas, isang malakas na pagsabog ang umalulong sa buong paligid kasabay ang bagyo ng mga alikabok.

Naglaho sa paningin ng gatekeeper ang tatlong babae’t natira si Sabrina sa kanyang harapan. May pilantik na inayos ni Sabrina ang kanyang buhok, inaakit ang skeleton habang palapit siya rito.

At sa sandaling iyon, ang plano ni Celine ay nagtagumpay.

“From bloodlust to attraction, huh?” Celine whispers.

With the use of Serena’s royal gift, Sabrina slowly floats, still attracting the gatekeeper who fell in their trap. In just a blink, her lips brushes to the skeleton’s, making him petrify.

“Ayoko talaga ng planong ‘to,” inis na sambit ni Sabrina nang tuluyan na maging bago ang gatekeeper. Dahan-dahan siyang binaba ng pearl hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang nakapabalik sa lupa.

“Are you doubting my plan?” Celine asks, making Sabrina wryly smiles.

Serena pouts while staring at Sabrina, “I have a tanong. Did you sway-sway your buhok in front of my g’wapong kapatid? It that dahilan why he is nagkakandarapa to you?”

“Gago, hindi!” Depensa ni Sabrina, “Kay Bristol nga lang ako.”

“You mean, your ugly top 1 brother, Serena?” Aicelyn confirms, making Serena nods. “No offense, Serena. Your brother is not even that handsome.”

Celine face palms, “And you’ll do everything to boast how handsome Aizen is, huh?”

“Of course! Aizen is the most gorgeous among the Primus Section— I could die just with his smile!”

Sabrina smirks, “Iyan ba ang dahil kung bakit gusto mong pumasok sa Demigods Academy? Ang problema lang, ayaw kang payagan ni Ate Rhealia.”

Aicelyn puffs her cheeks, with her being childish and such, she didn’t know that her back lightly pushes the petrified skeleton. The thunderous bang of the skeleton left them speechless.

“Oh, fuck…”

Laughter and smiles once again plasters in their faces and as they enters the golden gate, none of them knows…

…that their happiness will soon vanish.

#