The nightfall’s curtains spread in the vicinity, the resting cricket’s lullaby and hush of the wind conquered the deafening silence. As the rule-breakers eyes glimmered with the notion of belief and determination, the group once again decided to part for the meantime in order to save both God of the Wild and Hephaestus’ son. And without their leader, Alyssa led the group.

She ought to protect and guide them with her blessed eyes. Alyssa heaved a sigh as she watches the silhouettes’ of the rule-breakers, who were headed towards Kronos, and as they vanished from her sight, her glistening golden eyes shifted to Freya, whom she was eager to talk to.

Alyssa never wanted to hurt a friend nor be a burden to blossoming bond, but all she wanted was to save the person who acknowledged her worth. All that was left in Greenwood Haven was Freya and her, while Alexis was in search of a way to contact her mother in the manor.

“Freya,” Alyssa called. Her eyes leisurely softened when she met her mellow lilac eyes, it was tired, yet it was filled contentment and happiness, “I—I have to—to… I have to tell you something.” As her voice cracked, Freya knew that there was something wrong.

“Alyssa… Do we have a problem?”

Alyssa frustratingly bit her lip and shut her eyes forcefully, “Garet… You…” even though her lips were trembling endlessly, she slowly conquered it by opening her eyes. As she looked straight into Freya’s eyes, the determination to save the king vessel overtook her whole, “Your feelings… Don’t pour emotions towards Glifford.”

“D—Do you have feelings—”

“I don’t.”

“Kung gano’n pala, bakit?”

“You are the reason why Garet’s life is in grave danger.” Alyssa’s words were blunt and bitter, and with Freya being corrupted with anger, she sardonically looked at her friend along with a grimace plastered in her face.

“Hindi ko alam kung bakit ka ganyan—”

“A fucking damsel! Hindi mo ba alam kung sino ka sa buhay ni Garet? His own servitour doesn’t know her place! You are Garet’s servitour, dumbass!”

“I don’t believe you—”

Alyssa’s temper arises while gritting her teeth. All of a sudden, the eeriness filled the vicinity as the particles of the living things around the Greenwood Haven gathered around Alyssa; with every particle which possesses the shades of the primitive colors turning into speckles of gold as they fill Alyssa with ominous energy. Freya was stunned. It was her first time to witness such an enchanting yet deadly view.

“Alyssa! Stop!” Freya shouted. Her eyes widened as she witnesses the magnificent manor was turning into a lifeless cave; she felt guilt, especially that it was her friend who was draining the life within the vicinity.

And when Freya was about to call for her friend again, she noticed something on her hand. It was a tangled silver string. Words failed to come out of her mouth, yet her tears did. And as she followed the trail of the silver string, the end was tangled to their king vessel. But what caught her attention was the burned part of it, as if it was supposed to be cut, yet somehow it detaches for some reason.

“Hindi mo pa rin gets?” Hindi nagawang lingunin ni Freya o ‘di kaya’y tugunan ang tanong ni Alyssa. Nanatili pa rin ang mga mata niyang nakamasid sa lalaking nakahimlay sa gilid.

Nang dahan-dahan na luminginon si Freya kay Alyssa, napansin niya ang paglalaho ng pilak na tali. Tiyak at sigurado siyang si Alyssa ang dahilan kung bakit n’ya nasilayan ang bagay na hindi niya dapat nakikita. Isang yakap ang ginawang tugon ni Freya kay Alyssa hanggang sa tuluyan na silang nabalot nang pagtatangis nito.

At sa pag-aalo ni Alyssa sa kanyang kaibigan, tiyak s’yang masakit para sa kaibigan ang balitang ito. Especially after knowing that her feelings were the reason for the king vessel’s downfall.

“Hindi ko kaya… paano ko pipigilan ang nararamdaman ko? For the last two months, being with Glifford was my serenity. He was my peace. He was my home. I don’t want to eradicate my feelings… I don’t want to let go of the man of my dreams.”

Alyssa’s world felt upside-down. She felt that she would be the reason that their group will fall into pieces. Yet, all she wanted was to save the man, who connected all of them. The man who showed her that being different doesn’t make you less; instead, it makes you more enchanting. And when Alyssa was about to let go, Freya lightly pushed her and wiped her tears.

“But… If it is the only way… I will be willing to let go,”

“Freya…”

Freya chuckled and avoided Alyssa’s eyes, “I always have been a lousy dreamer, but I’ve never thought that my newfound dream will cause great misery to the one who saved me from the shadows. So, if eradicating these feelings means his life, then I will be willing to let go the man of my dreams just for him.”

The door suddenly burst open, a pair of menacing pale brown eyes caught their attention. Just by looking at them, Alexis already knew what happened. She’s not Athena’s child for nothing.

“You told her?” Alexis asked Alyssa.

“Wala akong ibang choice…” Minata ni Alyssa ang dalawang bagay na hawak ni Alexis. Ngunit agad din natumaas ang kilay n’ya dahil sa kakaibang pustura nito; nakasandal ito sa pader at palihim ang pagngiwi na ginagawa, na tila ba’y may kinukubli ang maamong mukha nito.

“Have you contact your mother?” Freya asked, and she shook her head.
“But I got much better in return.” Alexis smiled.

“Something is not right…” Alyssa thought. Her eyes were a gift from gods, and not a single soul could lie in front of her, especially that she could see beyond what others see. And just by looking at the smile plastered on her comrade’s face, she knew what it really means.

A fucking lie.

Dahan-dahan na lumapit sa kanila si Alexis at tila kahit isang tingin ay hindi nito binigyan ang natutulog na si Garet. Alam n’yang naroroon ang lalaki ngunit tila may pumipigal sa kanya na sulyapan ito. Pagod at hirap na inaot ni Alexis ang isang babasagin na botelya kay Freya, may nilalaman itong kakaibang likido na hindi mawari kung asul, rosas o puti ba.

“Only you could save him,” Alexis stated. She looked at the peculiar liquid, which she handed to Freya, “It was a potion made by Eros and Aphrodite themselves. And with that… You can conceal your feelings for Glifford, but it can only last for 20 years.”

“What if—”

“And before that happens, you and the king vessel must finish your battle. I’m not that stupid not to notice my first meeting with him… The Spirit of Pyre was living within him. And if he holds the flame of tranquility, your job is to kill the king of the Kins.” Alexis drifted her attention towards Alyssa and frustratingly bit her lower lip, “I thought of fifty strategies in order to defeat Kronos… But only one can lead us to triumph with a hundred percent assurance.”

Ngumiwi si Alyssa sa kanya, “Oh, ba’t ganyan ka makatingin?”

“You might lose your eyes…” Alexis whispered.

“Literal ba?”

“No… I mean, you might lose your blessed eyes.”

“Then… I might get back to my original world?” Alyssa worriedly asked, making Alexis nodded, “Damn. Hindi pa rin ako makakanood ng concert ng iKON kahit na umalis pa ako rito…”

“You’re unbelievable.” Freya glared, her eyes set to the other thing Alexis was holding. It was the infamous hourglass made by deities, Horae, and unlike an ordinary hourglass; it was peculiar as if the time and space themselves were held captive inside, the sand was magically scattered inside the glass, “Why do you have that, Alexis?”

“Alyssa’s eyes and this hourglass will be our key…”

With that being said, a wandered soul was watching. He stiffened, eyes locked on a particular demigod. As Garet watched the three maidens, insanity and disappointment began to lurk within him. As Freya gives life to the pasture and living creatures, Alyssa’s overpowering blessed eyes were leisurely stealing it, and when golden eyes glimmered, the entire Greenwood Haven were all of a sudden covered with golden specks of dust.

“I’ll go… Stay with him, and drink that.” Alexis dashed towards the battlefield, making Freya left in confusion.

“Bakit hindi siya tumingin kahit isang beses kay Garet?” Tanong ni Freya sa kanyang sarili. Ang mga mata n’ya napunta sa botelyang kanyang hawak, saglit siyang pumikit bago niya ito tuluyan na nilagok.

Walang naging kakaiba sa pakiramdam ni Freya. Tila ba’y walang nangyari na akala mo’y uminom lamang siya ng isang mapait na inumin hanggang sa dumapo ang kanyang mga mata kay Garet, unti-unting bumabalik ang kulay ng balat nito at ang mabibigat na paghinga nito ay naging normal. Ngunit nanatili pa rin itong walang malay, nilingon n’ya si Alyssa na patuloy pa rin na binabalot ng gintong ilaw.

Buntong-hiningang lumapit si Freya kay Alyssa at inalay sa buong paligid ang halos lahat ng lakas niya upang matulungan ang mga lumalaban sa kanilang ibaba.

As the golden specks of dust reached the demigods and gods on the battlefield, a sly smile curved into Artemis’ face. The raging battlefield became a quick, deadly field; those overpowered by Kronos’ immediately lost the battle and were being protected by light magic.

“A—Artemis, what is this? Why can I—”

“It’s Alyssa.” Artemis smiled. The curtain of gold is not a peculiar scene for Sophia, yet these specks of gold were different from the Elysian Continent’s scenery.

“Mga hunghang. Hindi porke’t binigyan n’ya kayo ng mata ay matatalo niyo na ako.” Isang matigas na yabag ang ginawa ni Kronos dahilan upang tumalsik si Artemis. Ngunit dalhin sa kanyang kapangyarihan ay naging dahan-dahan ang pagtalsik nito hanggang sa inagaw niya ang pana rito upang ipangtarak kay Artemis.

Sa isang iglap ay nakawala si Artemis sa paningin ni Kronos dahil pinalibutan siya ng mga kaluluwa na dahan-dahan siyang hinihigop. Alam ni Psyche sa sarili n’ya na hindi sapat iyon at sa isang hawi lamang ay naglaho ang mga kaluluwa at ang matatalim na mga mata ni Kronos ay pumukol sa kanya. At sa isang iglap, siya ay nakulong sa isang mabigat na palad at mga kuko nito ay unti-unting bumabaon sa leeg niya.

“Artemis can no longer lift a finger to me. What a naïve grandchild…” Kronos mumbled. He snickered and tightened his grip to the Goddess of Soul, “You’re a mere mortal turned into a god… I can still rob the immortality within you.”

A flare of light suddenly blinded Kronos, and when his mighty grip gradually loosen. Sophia immediately used the chance to save Psyche. Kronos fast-forwarded his time in order to overcome the blindness. And he was agile enough to send the two women flying until everything went pause that even the time manipulator was befuddled.

Numbers and letters began to float before their eyes, along with several loading bars above their heads. The glint of glitching crimson light illuminated as Kronos eyes’ slowly laid to the demigod who just arrived.


“Secret Art: Infinite Void!” Alexis chanted. Suddenly, everything went calm, even the sound of the crickets and the crackling of walls hushed. The battlefield turned into nothingness. As Alexis’ eyes gradually close, a sudden sound of ‘ting’ eradicated the calmness, and out of nowhere, the majestic hourglass appeared in front of Kronos.

“Please… Finish him…”

Dahan-dahan na nawalan ng malay si Alexis hanggang sa tuluyan nang sumuko ang katawan n’ya ngunit bago pa man siya bumagsak sa lupa ay may pares ng kamay ang sumalo sa kanya. Ang walang buhay nitong mga mata ay natitig lamang kay Kronos.


“Get them out of here,” Garet ordered while looking to his other comrades who already fell. And with Kronos chained with an invisible shackle, the rule-breakers used the chance to save the others.

While Alendis eyes’ were locked to a certain being, a demigod like them, he frustratingly bit his lower lip and covered the floor with ice, and carefully took the Kronos’ child, “I won’t let this child be the vessel of your evilness.”

Mabilis na umalis ang iba hanggang sa magtama ang paningin ni Garet at Dark, “Maguusap tayo mamaya. Sa ngayon… protektahan mo ang anak n’ya.” Naintindihan agad ni Dark ang turan nito nang kuhanin n’ya si Alexis sa bisig ni Garet.

At ngayon na handa na siya upang ibuhos ang galit n’ya kay Kronos ay unti-unting sinakop nang kakaibang liwanag ito mula sa hourglass. Patuloy na sumisigaw at nagwawala si Krnos dahil sa kakaibang sakit at hapdi na ginagawa sa kanya ng hourglass.

“Garet…” Buntong-hiningang lumingon si Garet sa dalawang kaibigan.

“Ano bang sinabi ko, Savannah?”

Inis siyang tiningnan nito saka tinuro ang d’yos sa kanilang harapan, “Dalawang d’yos na ang kasapi namin kanina ngunit dehado pa rin kami. Sa tingin mo ba’y kaya mo ang bobo na ‘yan?”

“Haha. Bobo, it’s nakakatawa.” Parehas pinandilatan nina Garet at Savannah si Glifford sa kanilang gilid, na agad din naman na tumahimik.

“I can handle him on my own… Especially that she already half of the job,” Garet whispered.

Takha s’yang tiningnan nina Savannah. Tila nagtatanong at puno ng kuryosidad ukol sa sinabi ng kaibigan ngunit kahit anong salita ay wala ng sumunod dito. Sa isang iglap lamang ay nabalot ng asul na apoy ang buong paligid, walang pasabing sinugod ni Garet ang nagwawalang si Kronos.

Napatigil si Savannah nang mapansin n’yang sinusugod ni Garet ang parteng kung saan mahina ito, nang dahil sa pag-aalay ni Alyssa sa kanyang kakayahan makita ang mga bagay na hindi kayang masilayan ng iba.

“Sa tingin mo makakasingit tayo sa pahangang ‘yon?” Tanong ni Savannah kay Glifford habang pinapanood ang pagpapagilas ni Garet ng kanyang estilo.

“Hindi. Panonoorin ko lang talaga siya kaya sumunod ako,”

“Tangina. Seryoso ka ba?” Tumango lamang si Glifford sa kanya at napasapo s’ya sa kanyang ulo, “Bakit may kakaiba sa mga mata ni Garet? Galit? Pagkamuhi?”

Tila nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin kay Glifford at mapait nitong pinanood ang kaibigan, “Galit,”

Nang mawala ang kakaibang liwanag mula sa hourglass ay nahulog ito hanggang sa tumungo ito sa direksyon nina Savannah. At ang mga buhangin na kanina’y nakatigil, ngayon ay umiikot na tila nabahiran ito ng mahika.

“Alexis… Alexis did this?” Savannah quizzically asked. She knew that Alexis is strong, but it didn’t even crossed her mind that her friend could actually control a sacred treasure that only gods could use, “Then—then when he said—”

“He can defeat him alone,” Glifford stated.

Kronos glared towards Garet, but most of his magic was now gone. He was just a vessel of nothingness. He roared, but it didn’t scare Garet, not even an inch.

“I—I’m not going to let you win, King Vessel! I am the true king!”


Garet smirked, “You were overthrown by your children. A true king shouldn’t belittle like that, right?”

“A fake king like you will never understand the blessing of the divinity—”

“Is that why you overthrow Uranus, and now you want to take revenge by using a mere child as your vessel?” Garet languidly looked at Kronos and with a heavy heart. His sword glimmered the hues of the hottest fire. And once again, the fire surrounded them as Garet’s eyes turned blue, his menacing aura slowly filled Kronos’ mind.

“It seems like you are the spriggan…”

Garet lifted his head and smiled to his grandfather, “Begone,”

Kronos hysterically laughed, and before Garet could fully pierce him, he slowly disappeared into a speckle of dust.

“I will come back… and will scatter tenebrosity, Lockser.”

“And I will be willing to defeat you,”

Kronos smirked at him, and before he disappeared, his words sting into Garet’s mind.

“A strong remark from someone who was silently defeated by Poseidon, huh?”

#