"Did you have fun?"

"Shut up."

"Didn't it feel good? You finally felt how it feels like to cut through the flesh of humans.."

"Shut up!"

"You even saved your mother. Isn't that nice? Right? Zai.."

"I didn't do it on purpose! I-I was just scared!"

"Oh but you did.. you killed those bad guys that almost raped your mother."

"Shut up!"

Natigilan si Zai at biglang napatingin sa pintuan noong marinig ang dahan-dahan na pagbukas nito. There she saw her mother.

She got off the bed and ran to her as fast as she could then hugged her waist. Naramdaman naman niya ang paghawak nito sa kaniyang ulo at buhok. Humigpit ang yakap niya rito noong marinig ang isang mabagal at nakakakilabot na pagtawa sa kaniyang isipan.

After her mom died, the voice stopped. She could care less. Nagpatuloy ang mga araw na gano'n ang nangyayari. She trains, she learn then she train again. Neverending training is what she wants and what she could only do.

"That's because your stupid mother got in the way. I'm glad that she killed herself. She finally used her brain for the very first time."

A string snapped. Hindi alam ni Zai kung paano nangyari. She was conscious and also not. She knows she's moving but her mind is wandering elsewhere. Bumalik lamang ang diwa niya noong hinawakan ni Zenlhoir ang baril na kaniyang itinututok sa isang patay na babae. There was blood all over and she couldn't remember how she did it but she knew that she killed her herself.

"You look like a monster."

It was painful but she has to accept it. She's a monster and there's a demon inside her. How ironic.

"He just called you a monster. He insulted you."

So you really are inside my head.

"Will you let that pass? That was painful right? Just kill him already."

Why would I listen to the likes of you? Shut up and behave.

--

"I can still remember it.. the feeling of my blade ripping her arm off." Zai stared at Zera's shock and scared expression. She watched as she slowly take steps back until she finally left her room.

Zai walked to the door and slowly closed it. She squinted her eyes when she heard a disgusting slow laugh.

"You scared her."

Zai smirked as she walk to the closet, "So you're still there huh."

The voice chuckled, "I've always been here. Waiting for you to hand it over to me."

Zai removed her clothes to change into something more comfortable. "That's not going to happen."

"Oh come on.. Just hand it over. I'll conquer the world and be the king of both Archodonia and Earth. I'll give you everything you want."

"Not interested."

Nagtuluy-tuloy ang mga araw ng gano'n. There are some times that he'll suddenly talk then there are times that he'll just stay quiet.

"I better go. It's nice to see that you're doing great. If you need anything, you can come and ask me." Caliver nodded. Zai stood up and left the infirmary.

"Why did you apologize to that guy? Did you lose your pride?"

Zai squinted her eyes, "Shut up, Ephraim."

"You're weak. Hevrions are proud and majestic demons. You're a disgrace to your own kind."

"Said someone who is trapped inside another person's body. You're quite pathetic yourself."

Zai smirked when she felt his anger. The voice spoke again but this time, anger is evident. "You dare to call me pathetic? How brave of you."

'Pag may pagkakataon ay sinusubukan nitong kontrolin ang katawan ng dalaga but Zai always resisted. Her grip on him was always tight but since her body started to weaken, she's barely keeping him away.

Mother Lilia sighed, "Alright. But we have to go to our village first before we can do that. It's safer to be surrounded by witches. They can handle things if something went out of hand."

Tumayo na ang babae at ngumiti sa mga ito, "Then we shall go."

But she looked back at Zai when she shook her head. Zai opened her eyes, "I won't leave unless I speak with the king."

Mother Lilia smiled, "Well that can be arranged."

--

"How dare you do other things before you report to me? Is that more important than your task to report to your king?!"

"Don't shout at me, Escenier. Remember that a king must be stoic at all times."

"Don't pull that b*llshit on me! Where are your report papers?!"

"Kailangan pa ba no'n? All I have to do is report it to you, right?"

"Damn you Zenlhoir!"

"Goddammit! I told you not to shout at me Escenier! I'm just a meter away from you. And consider your position and age!"

"Don't involve my age here, you bastard!"

"Accept it!"

Feniel sighed as he watch the two argue. He's impressed that Zenlhoir could actually shout at the king like that. No one even dared to speak against the king before.

Zenlhoir is younger than the king for three years. Labing pito ito noong magtrabaho bilang personal guard ng prinsipe but he was able to yell at the prince when he suddenly shouted at a maid that made a small mistake in preparing his food. Simula no'n ay palagi ng nag-aaway ang dalawa.

The previous king and queen were interested in Zenlhoir. No one dared to approach the prince before because of his arrogance but the strange boy just stood up to yell at him. That's why they didn't fire him no matter how much arguments they have.

Mysteriously, the two also work together perfectly. In fighting, paper works, and anything else. Ang problema lamang ay sadyang maikli ang pasensya nila sa isa't isa.

"Feniel!" Feniel jerked up when the king yelled out his name.

"Yes, your majesty?"

"I do not look old, do I?!" mabilis na tanong nito. Feniel mentally sighed. The king is also conscious of his own age. He's only 27 yet he thinks he's old because he's about to reach the end of the calendar.

"No, you look handsomely young, your majesty." the king smirked at Zenlhoir when he heard what Feniel said.

Bumuntong hininga naman si Zenlhoir, "You don't have to spoil him every time, Feniel. Lumalaki lang ang ulo niya."

Akmang sisigaw pa ang hari ngunit pinutol ito ng isang kalmadong boses, "Oh stop with your kid fights. You are both grown-up men."

Mother Lilia suddenly appeared before them along with Zai and the others. Escenier squinted his eyes at the strangers as he sits on his throne, "Why did you bring those criminals inside my house, Mother Lilia?"

Zenlhoir clicked his tongue, "Where is your respect? You damn king."

"Oh shut up, you rebelling--"

Ngunit mabilis na pinutol ni Feniel ang usapan ng dalawa, "Please stop arguing in front of the witch tribe's leader."

"Shut up." sabay na saad ng dalawa. A string snapped. The two looked away when Feniel glared at them.

Mother Lilia chuckled with the scene, "Escenier, these children have something to discuss with you."

May naglagay naman ng upuan sa harap ni Sinbad because of Zenlhoir's order. Ibinaba naman ni Sinbad si Zai sa upuan. Nanatiling nakatitig ang dalaga sa matalim na mga mata ng hari.

Escenier rested his cheek on the knuckles of his hand, "Speak and make it fast. I don't have time for criminals."

Zai's sharp eyes stared into his, "I want to form an alliance with you."

After a long silence, they heard the king's laughter. "Alliance? With a criminal like yourself? How absurd!" he said and continued laughing.

"This is no laughing matter so don't laugh, blondie." saad ng dalaga na seryoso pa rin ang mukha. The king squinted his eyes at her but Zai ignored it and just continued to speak, "I'll get to the point. I want to form an alliance with you because clearly.." she squinted her eyes, "You can't win against Shaera on your own."

Hindi naman nagustuhan ng hari ang kaniyang mga sinabi, "What did you say? What do you know about our--"

"Even if your people has more enhanced skills because of the Hevrions' genes, they can't win against Shaera's force. I've fought her subordinates and I could easily tell that your people will just get killed if they face them. And obviously, they won't even put a scratch on the Hevrions that Shaera just revived. It's a suicide if you ask me."

The king gritted his teeth and was about to speak but Zai continued, "And the guns? Yes, let's say they can kill a demon or two but if you run out of ammo you're dead. You're in the middle of the battlefield and if your ammo runs out, you can't run back to the base to get some. Some of the Hevrions that were revived came from Earth and guns are their basic tools that they hold regularly. We can't hold on to the fact that Hevrions hates to work under somebody. Shaera might even be forcing them so let's the drop the idea of talking to them."

Tumingin naman si Zai kay Mother Lilia bago ibinalik ang tingin sa hari, "It seems that the witches are willing to give you a helping hand but just to remind you, your numbers are low. Shaera can control all of the citizens in Centrio and she wouldn't hesitate to use them. Including the king, the headmaster of the academy, the best royal knights, the students, the teachers, and the generals. Centrio is full of skilled and experienced fighters. It wouldn't be that easy."

Tumitig ang hari sa mga mata ng dalaga at nagsalita, "And forming an alliance with you will help us? Ha." he glared at the girl, "Don't mock me you damn brat."

"I'm the best ally you could ask for in this world, Northernium's king." saad ng dalaga na lalong nagpatahimik sa buong kwarto. "I and these guys behind me will lend you our strength. I can also give you some of my blood if you want, a pure Hevrion's DNA. You can do whatever you want with it. I'll also improve your weaponry. I have more knowledge than Zenlhoir when it comes to firearms. I can make anything you want." Zai smirked, "And also, you don't want us to expose this country's secret, do you? That's why we're the best ally you can ask for. Or most likely to say, you don't have a choice."

Escenier remained silent. Yumuko naman si Feniel para bumulong dito. "I think she is right, your majesty. We have advantages here. And also, we can't afford our secret to be exposed. If the other kingdoms knew about it, I'm pretty sure that the citizens' lives will be in danger."

Pinagmasdang mabuti ng hari ang mga mata ng dalaga. He then looked at Mother Lilia at nakita naman niyang tumango ito. Muli niyang ibinalik ang tingin sa dalaga, "How can I trust you?"

Itinaas naman ng dalaga ang kaniyang kilay, "Pardon?"

"If I happen to agree and our alliance finally comes to an end, how can I be sure that you won't expose Northernium's secret to Centrio? And we are also currently speaking with the prince of Westernia here in this room. He is also soon to be the king of his own kingdom, how can I trust that he won't tell anyone and he won't use that information against my country?"

Sinbad stared at the king with his stoic expression, "Then you shall behead me."

Lahat ay napatingin kay Sinbad dahil sa sinabi nito. "If ever that happens, behead me at once. As the first prince of Westernia, I won't back down on my words. I am also certain that I won't expose such things to my people. Like my father, I want peace and treaty with the other kingdoms for our people to feel relieved. I do not want my citizens to fear the possibility of an occuring war against other nations. The people's lives are more important than a piece of land."

Tinitigan ng mabuti ng hari ang prinsipe habang nakaluhod ang isang tuhod nito at bahayang nakayuko ang ulo. Ang kamay nito ay nasa kaniyang dibdib. You can feel that he's a royalty with how he acted.

Zenlhoir shifted his gaze to Escenier. Seryoso itong nakatitig sa prinsipe ngunit napansin niya ang saglit na paglambot ng matatalim na mga mata nito.

The king looked at Zai, "How about you?"

Zai spoke, "That won't happen. A Hevrion never backs down on their words. I'm not interested in a war after a large one. And also," Zai stared directly at his eyes, "I want this alliance between you have a longer due. Not just after the war finished."

Escenier saw pure honesty in her sharp gaze. He has no problem in prolonging the alliance but because of that, he wants to ask something. He squinted his eyes, "How about if Centrio attack us? Taking advantage of our weakened state?"

Zai closed her eyes temporarily and when she opened them, they all saw determined and resolution in her eyes. "Then I'll betray Centrio for you."

Lahat ay nagulat sa kaniyang sinabi. Asta spoke up, "Zai! What do you think you're saying?!"

Ngunit hindi siya pinansin ng dalaga, "If ever that happens, I, Zaivrin Hevrion, will put my loyalty on the king of Northernium, Escenier Lithium until I perish."

Mother Lilia looked at her with shock and worried expression, "Young one, what you are saying is a serious matter--"

"I know and I'm not going to take it back."

Mother Lilia stared at her determined face, "You'll make the same promise that Barron did with his king?"

"If ever Centrio do attack this kingdom. I'll make it. I'll swear it."

Escenier sighed. Zenlhoir and Feniel chuckled. Feniel smiled, "I thought I heard a love--"

"Goddammit, shut your trap, Feniel." Escenier said as he massage his temple with one hand.

But Feniel and Zenlhoir continued chuckling. Escenier felt Zenlhoir's hand on his shoulder, he's still chuckling but it seems dark, "Don't take it seriously, you bastard. There was no other meaning in it. My sister is just straightforward. Make sure you stay 5 meters away from her, you hear me?"

But he backed away when Escenier shoved his hand away by moving his shoulder harshly, "I know that, you dumbass! I wasn't thinking of anything!" he then sighed and looked at Zai, "Fine. Then what do you want in exchange of all that?"

Zai looked at the window and hummed. She glanced at the others then back to Escenier. "How about a breakfast?"

Muling napuno ng katahimikan ang silid. "Ha?" saad ni Shane at Asta.

Escenier sighed and Zenlhoir too. Feniel and Mother Lilia chuckled. "What an interesting girl."