The soothing crimson light was embracing me as I looked at the woman next to me. Her dull pale brown eyes were languidly watching her reflection, a peculiar woman who was looking at her façade. The luminosity of the surrounding changed; it was brighter than before. From the center up to the end, the water began to crystalize as if it wanted us to get the stone.

Alexis and I exchanged glances. And as I gulped, darkness suddenly captivated the surrounding. I felt a sudden pang on my head, na tila para bang may isang memorya na pilit hinahalungkat sa loob nito. And as I shut my eyes, the feeling of nostalgia embarked.

The perfect view of the Alchemy Kingdom was being registered in my mind; it was forcing itself to be imagined by me. At nang buksan ko ang aking mga mata ay saglit akong napatigil. Ang walang hanggang kadiliman ay nais akong kainin at kahit saan ako luminga ay walang kahit anong makita maliban sa itim.

Even Alexis is nowhere to be found, and slowly the vicinity began to crumble; the darkness slowly subside, and a soothing brilliance from the sun emerged. Bricks began to appear as they gradually transform into houses, buildings, and a castle. My eyes suddenly softened when an arch made from bronze appeared, and as it says ‘Alchemy Kingdom— Home of the Alchemists,’

As I looked at it, memories began to rush inside my head. Hindi rin nakatakas dito ang memorya ng mga kalokohan namin ni Glifford noong mga bata pa kami.

Suddenly, I felt a  burning sensation on my chest. Aside from that, my body began to ache; my skin, limbs, and even the bones were throbbing as if they are being squeezed and crash hardly until my body minimizes.

Nang dahan-dahan nawala ang sakit ay marahan kong binuksan ang aking mga mata. Ramdam kong may kakaiba sa ‘king katawan, hindi ko lamang malaman kung ano ito.

“You don’t have regrets, huh?”

I looked behind and saw a guy. Just by looking at his face, I can quickly tell that we are the same age. I raised a brow when I noticed that I was looking up to him.

A sly smile appeared across his face, which made me crooked. I moved back a little and did the most embarrassing thing; my trouser suddenly loose and I don’t know why.

“Amputa,” I cursed.

I was caught off-guard when the guy charged towards my direction with his tainted sword. Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang tumakbo, naiwan ko rin ang pantalon ko dahil gulat. Hindi man lamang akong hinintay na magsuot bago sumugod.

The realization struck into my mind like lightning; the numbing sensation earlier was already a clue, the moment I look up to him even though we are supposed to be the same height and losing that stupid pants— clues that I was back into my child state.

I clicked my tongue as I galloped to the houses. It was a good thing na mahaba ang puting polo na suot ko at hindi nito nalilimitahan ang bawat galaw ko.

“Hoy, ibalik mo ako sa dati!” I shouted.

“Ayoko,” he bluntly said.

He once again swayed his sword to me as he was really eager to end my life. His pitch-black eyes squinted when I avoided him, and with all my might, I kicked his stomach.

Alam kong hindi ganoon kaepektibo iyon lalo na sa estado ko ngayon ngunut hindi masamang subukan ito. Once again, he looked at me with his dead eyes and smirked.

“What do you want?” I asked.

His suddenly turned serious, “Those who defy the laws must be punished,”

He swiftly ran towards my direction and kicked the side of my stomach, and while I was soaring the air, he kicked me once again, making me hit the ground.

I gritted my teeth and activated my blessing. Ayokong ginagamit ang blessing ko upang makapanakit ng iba ngunit wala akong ibang pamimilian.

The guy back off when I covered myself with yellow flames. He became cautious and lifted his sword. He knows how can deadly my flames can be.

As the only child of Hephaestus who was bestowed with the blessing of his sacred fire and as a renowned king vessel, most of the demigods know the name Garet Lockser. And they know that I am already close to achieving the Ethereal Flames— the fire that pulverize anything.

I concentrated my flames, sand they slowly crawl into my right palm as they form into a sword. As I grasp it, my eyes narrowed to my opponent. Hindi ko mapigilan ang hindi mapangisi nang makita ko ang kaba sa mga mata niya.

I moved faster than lightning and immediately kicked his legs, making him fall.

“Argh,” He groaned. I jumped backward when I noticed his sword moving.

The eerie and weird surroundings failed to escape my sight; the castle, buildings, and trees were slightly swaying. I was preoccupied that he successfully wounded me when he lunged his sword to my side.

I beamed at him. Isang kakaibang kirot ang naramdaman ko sa aking tagiliran kasabay nito ang panghihina ng aking tuhod. Napangiwi ako nang hawakan ito, napansin ko rin ang kakaibang sugat na natamo ko. Ito ay naagnas at nabibiyak, unti-unti rin itong kumakalat sa aking katawan na nagbibigay ng kakaibang kirot.

“Son of Hades…” I unconsciously muttered.

A sudden rage from his eyes appeared. With my knees weakening, he slowly made his way towards my directions while gripping at his sword tightly.

And when he lifted his sword, everything turned into silhouettes. They were protecting me from his anger.

“Stop, Dark,” A melodious voice said. The sting from my side slowly vanished when single light glimmers; it was healing my wound. “Huwag mong ipasa sa iba ang galit mo.”

“Tsk.” He suddenly turned his back. Muli kaming sinakop ng kadiliman at ang tanging nagbibigay liwanag sa amin ay ang munting ilaw sa aking gilid.

“I’m sorry. He loathed the gods more than anyone, but Dark is a good guy.”

“Who are you?” I asked.

Alam ko na ang kumakausap sa akin ang liwanag sa tabi ko. I was no longer surprised with mythical creatures like this one.

“I am Apara. A guardian of this forest,”

“The Dim Forest?”

She suddenly laughed, “No, the forest within it.” When the wound vanished, Apara, went in Dark’s direction. And out of curiosity, I followed her and saw dark looking at the horizon of the endless dusk.

“Do you know that gods are more wicked than the Seven Kins?” Dark suddenly asked. I didn’t move nor speak, “They don’t deserve to be called gods…”

“Why do you loathed them?” I asked.

His eyes shifted to mine, “Dahil mga palamuti lamang sila sa mundong ito. The demigods can continue living without them—”

“You are wrong,” I bluntly said. “Kinakain ka ng galit mo kaya mo na sasabi iyan. Hindi mabubuhay kung wala sila.”

“That would be better,” He uttered. “A prince like you wouldn’t understand me. Kung nagtatakha ka kung bakit kita kilala, pinadala ako ni Hephaestus upang ibalik ka.”

“Bakit hindi mo ako pwersahi—”

“Manigas ang tatay mong kakahintay sa Christopher n’ya.” He mumbled. Alam kong hindi niya intensyon na inisin ako ngunit napakabaho talagang pakinggan ng pangalan na iyon. “I was watching you… Simula noong dumating kayo sa Achaea.”

“Stalker,”

“I am not. May kakaiba sa dugo ng mga king vessel, you might not notice it, but… The Stone of Pyre responded to you.”

Nagtatakha akong tumingin sa kanya, ito ang isa sa dahilan kung bakit nais kong umalis sa kaharian. Marami pa ang bagay na hindi ko alam.

“The stone in the middle of the lake. Hindi ko alam kung anong mayroon sa dugo n’yong mga king vessel dahilan para magpakita sa inyo ang mga batong iyon.”

“What do you mean?”

“Wala ang lake na iyon sa kabuuan ng Dim Forest ngunit ng magpakita ka rito ay bigla na lamang ito lumitaw.”

I nervously laughed, “You must be kidding.”

“No, I will join you to collect all those stones. Ikaw ang magiging susi ko para matupad ang pangarap ko.” He mightily said. Ilang beses kong kinurap ang mga mata upang kumpirmahin kung seryoso ba s’ya.

“What stones?”

“Stones of Semideiour, the keys to open the Gates of Mt. Olympus,”

#