"Untie me! Mom! Dad!" Claysen gritted his teeth as he try to loosen up the ropes on his limbs. He glanced at his parent's direction and saw them just standing there as they clasp their hands near their chest. Just like the other strangers, they're wearing maroon colored cloaks and their faces are covered with a white fabric. They're enchanting something along with the other persons in the dark room he's in.

He clenched his jaw. He knows it's just a dream. A memory that always hunts him. Yet he can still feel the fear that stayed in his system along with this memory.

Madilim ang kwarto na kaniyang kinalalagyan at ang tanging nagsisilbing liwanag rito ay ang mga kandila na nakapatong sa mga maninipis na posteng nakapaligid sa kanila. Mayroon ding mga kandila ang nakapalibot sa kaniya, they are placed in every corner of the magic circle that he is laying on.

He clenched his hands. His mother and father brought him here and he was oblivious of what's going on. Until he found himself already tied up and his parents smiling at him. Saying that they're proud to be the ones who gave birth and raised the Oblatio. He don't even know what that means.

"Let me go!" he once again shouted. But they didn't listen and just continued with the enchantments.

Claysen's eyes widen when the fire on every candles began to turn blue. The magic circle also started to glow. He had a bad feeling about it and he resisted even more. He can hear his loud heartbeat and he feels like the enchantments just got louder along with his heart.

Claysen began to yell when he felt his insides burning up. It feels like his every cell is burning. Sumakit rin ang kaniyang ulo at tila ba isang galaw lamang ay iikot na ang mundong kinalalagyan niya. His eyes began to hurt as blood comes out of them. Nagsimula ring magdugo ang kaniyang ilong at bibig.

The blue flames began to move and it got bigger. He can see it on top of him. The people around him along with his parents began to kneel and they put their foreheads on their hands that are on the floor. They continued enchanting.

Despite the situation he's in, Claysen can't help but to curse his parents inside his head. They gave him everything he wanted since he was born but if only he knew this is the price, he should have left that mansion before this could even happen!

Claysen gritted his teeth as he clench his hands. Someone..

Claysen's eyes widen when the fire suddenly went to his body and forced its way in. It feels like his body was being torn apart and being burned alive. Even if it's just a dream, it hurts so much! Someone, please wake me up!

"Hey kid," Claysen's eyes suddenly opened wide and he was greeted by a ray of sunshine coming from the open window. Mabilis rin ang pagtaas-baba ng kaniyang dibdib na tila ba hinahabol niya ang kaniyang paghinga. I woke up. He slowly sat up as he put his hand on his right eye.

Tumingin siya sa direksyon kung saan nanggaling ang boses at nakitang nakasandal ang babae sa gilid ng pinto. Her arms are crossed on her chest as she stare at him with her emotionless eyes. She stared at him first before she continued speaking, "It's almost noon. Get the hell off the bed." she said and left. But before she left, she gave him a glance first.

Claysen moved to the side of the bed. That girl woke him up on purpose. He knows that. He clenched the fabric that is covering his chest and he clenched his jaw as he look outside the window. When will it stop? Damn it.

Lumabas na siya at nakita naman niyang may sari-sariling ginagawa ang mga ito. He knew their names yesterday by listening but they're still strangers so he's still not comfortable with them. He can't trust them. He can't even trust his own parents, how can he trust strangers?

He looked around. The guy named Shane is sitting on one side and in front of him are herbal plants. Mukhang may ginagawa itong kung anumang medisina. Sa tabi nito ay naroon ang doktor na nililinis ang kaniyang espada, using a silk ball on a stick. He really don't know what that is. Mukhang tinuturuan rin nito ang binata sa kaniyang ginagawa sa mga herbal plants.

Asta is fishing and he can see Bonzo sleeping while leaning on the mast. Trois and Rui are peeling some potatoes and Sinbad is talking to Zai about some things. Mukhang seryoso ang usapan ng mga ito.

"Oh you're up! Help me with these." saad ni Lin noong dumaan ito sa kaniya. May dala-dala itong lubid. Claysen stared at her first before helping her out.

"There's no guarantee that he won't burst again. It will trouble us no matter what time he does. If he burst here, the boat may sink. It'll also be troublesome if he lose control when we arrive in Easternia. They might think we are attacking their country. What are we gonna do with him?" Sinbad asked Zai. Then he squinted his eyes at the black haired boy, "Isn't he suspicious as well? I've seen many fire manipulators before but none of them has a blue flame. His fire might be more destructive. You managed to stop him from burning down the boat before but you can't kick the boy again. Ero said so himself."

Zai could still remember how much Ero scolded her for being reckless. Saying that she didn't even consider how fragile a kid's body is. It went on and on that she almost wanted to throw the old man off the boat.

"Then just throw him out," tumingin naman sila kay Bonzo. Nakapikit pa rin ang mga mata nito ngunit hindi pa rin nawawala ang pagkakunot ng pagitan ng mga kilay nito. He opened his right eye and looked at them, "Magiging sagabal lang 'yan."

Sinbad sighed and shook his head. "We can't. My conscience will bother me if that kid drowns."

Bonzo straightened up his back as he smile, "Then I'll do it."

Muling bumuntong hininga si Sinbad dahil sa sinabi nito. Sinbad glanced at Zai ngunit wala na sa kaniyang harapan ang babae. Naglalakad na ito patungo sa batang lalaki.

Claysen stopped from folding the rope in circular motion when he saw Zai walking to his direction. Zai's emotionless eyes stared at his, "Show me your flames again."

Claysen's eyes sharpened, "No."

Zai's eyes sharpened as well, "I'm not asking you to. I'm ordering you. If you won't do it then jump off the boat, kid."

Claysen put the rope down on the wooden box beside him, "Don't say it like it's an easy task. You don't know how much pain I have to go through every time it shows up."

"The boy is right, Zai. I've seen many fire manipulators get burn by their own fire. They all ended up dead. And his fire is unique, it might even kill us if it just burst out. He can't control it." saad ni Asta noong lumingon ito sa kanila.

"That's why he has to control it now," Zai looked down on Claysen, "Show up, you say? Then that could only mean that it can just suddenly explode at us any moment, right? Because you can't even stop it from leaking out. We can't carry a bomb with us, brat. It's either you jump off the boat or you control it right now."

Claysen clenched his jaw, "I told you, I can't control it. If I let it burst, I can't stop it! What are you gonna do after that?"

Zai smirked, "Kill you, of course."

Natigilan naman ang bata sa narinig. Ero chuckled, "Aren't you pressuring him so much?"

Claysen glared at Zai, "You won't do it."

Asta snorted before she began laughing as she keep her eyes on the sea. The others also chuckled. Asta looked at his direction, "Believe me, she will."

Natahimik naman si Claysen at tumingin sa mga mata ng dalagang nasa kaniyang harapan. There were no signs of dishonesty.

"You're gonna do it or not?" tanong ni Zai rito.

Claysen clicked his tongue, "Fine."

Zai smirked and let him walk to the middle of the deck. The others also created some distance, making sure that they're far enough from the boy. Claysen breathed out and he clenched his hands. He tried to control it many times before but it just ended up causing trouble. The last time he tried to control it, he burned the entire forest. He also couldn't move for three days after that.

He glanced at Zai and saw her looking seriously at him. He looked at his hand. Well, it's fine if he dies anyway. It's better to choose death than live a life as a walking disaster. He.. has no purpose.

The sea wind blew and at the same time, blue flames burst from his place. Sinbad and the others looked up to see how big the flame is. But Zai's eyes remained on the boy who kept yelling. His small body is producing large flames that it's almost unbelievable.

Asta and the others slowly backed away as they feel the heat. Sumasabay rin ang kanilang buhok sa hangin. Asta closed her one eye because of how high the temperature suddenly become. How come this kid still has his skin intact? It's too hot!

Zai remained on her place. Hindi ito humakbang paatras habang tinitingnan ang batang lalaki. Claysen fell on his knees as he continue shouting out of pain.

Zai squinted her eyes when she heard a familiar chuckle in her head. So you've woken up.

"Now this is a fine greeting. You got yourself involved with an Oblatio huh.. I don't know if your luck is good or bad."

"Oblatio? An offering?"

Ephraim chuckled as he also look at the screaming boy, "Yeah, in Latin, Oblatio means offering. There are some people who use humans as an offering in exchange for prosperity or wealth. I didn't expect that that kind of ritual still exist until now." he laughed. And Zai could feel how excited he is, "And you got the luck of a devil, Zai. What you're seeing right now is the flames of Hellias. That boy is the new vessel of that cursed flame. It only appears once in a thousand years and you're lucky that you get to witness it."

Zai's eyes sharpened, "In other words, this boy's clan used him in exchange for wealth?"

"Obviously."

Zai smirked, "Now that's interesting."

Ephraim then let out his creepy chuckle, "Though I doubt that the boy could survive after this. His body will burn. His body is too young to bear those flames. His clan must've been impatient and did the ritual early than scheduled."

Zai's eyes widen when the boy's scream got louder. She could swear that she saw blood drop on the floor and it turned into fire. She clenched her jaw and pulled out her sword.

"The only thing you can do is end his suffering. Isn't life unfair? I'm quite sorry for the boy. Maybe he should just enjoy life in his next lifetime, if he ever has." Ephraim chuckled.

Claysen can feel his body aching. Katulad ng dati ay tila ba sinusunog ang bawat parte ng kaniyang katawan at tila ba sinasaksak siya ng ilang beses ng walang tigil. Umuubo na rin siya ng dugo at konti na lamang ay alam niyang bibigay na ang kaniyang katawan. He glanced at his arm and saw his skin slowly burning.

It was too painful. He wants it to end. He looked at Zai's direction and saw her drawing out her sword from its sheath. A smile crept on his face. It'll end.

Zai clicked her tongue when she saw a small smile on the boy's lips. "What an annoying brat."

"What? You're planning to save him? How would you do that? There's no other way than killing him." Ephraim said with a low tone.

Zai squinted her eyes, "There's a way, isn't it?"

Ephraim kept quiet. Zai clenched her jaw, "Say it."

Ephraim laughed, "Even if I say it, it's still impossible! Haha! The only way for him to control that flame is to experience its maximum heat! What I mean is, he must go to where it came from. You understand Zai? He has to go to Hellias in order to live a good life. It's impossible to escape death, Zai. That kid must accept that he's just unfortunate! Hahaha!"

Zai smirked, "So there's a way huh."

Ephraim became quiet after that. Zai did feel him smirked but he kept quiet. Zai stared at the boy. She then spoke, "Ero," Ero looked at Zai when she called his name. Nakatalikod pa rin ang babae sa kaniya at hindi siya tinitingnan. Nakita niya ang biglang paghigpit ng hawak nito sa sariling espada. "I'll kill you if you will let the boy die."

Ero was confused, "What-- hey Zai!" hindi na niya natapos ang kaniyang sasabihin noong tumakbo na ang dalaga patungo sa batang lalaki.

"Zai!" they called when she suddenly went inside the flame.

Claysen coughed blood once more but all of a sudden, someone grabbed his neck and pushed him to the floor. He coughed again because of the impact. Idinilat niya ang kaniyang mga mata at nakita ang dalaga na nakatitig sa kaniyang mga mata.

"What are you staring at? Just do it already. You're getting yourself burnt if you stay here another minute."

Ngunit nagtaka na lamang siya noong biglang nagkaroon ng ngiti sa mga labi ng dalaga. It was cold and spine-chilling. "Hey brat.." Zai chuckled, "Have you killed people with this fire?"

Claysen's eyes widen and they squinted afterwards because of a sudden memory. "Yeah.." he honestly answered.

Ngunit lalo siyang nalito noong lalong lumaki ang ngiti ng dalaga, "Then that's good."

"What-- ah!" his eyes widen and he coughed blood when Zai suddenly stabbed his chest, his heart to be specific.

Zai smiled, "Go see them in hell."