They took their stance when Zai closed her eyes. Tahimik ang lugar. They're keeping their guards up for a sudden attack just like what they'd expect Ephraim to do. Ngunit tumagal na ng ilang minuto ay hindi pa rin gumagalaw ang katawan nito. They were confused.

"What the hell...?"

Zai stared at Ephraim as he sits down on a fancy red chair. His cheek is leaning against his knuckles as he smile at her with amusement. She wondered why he's still here but she didn't bother to ask and just turned her back to walk away. It's better to go somewhere she can't see him.

Ngunit bigla namang lumitaw ang lalaki sa kaniyang harapan. Nakaupo pa rin ito sa eleganteng silya at ganoon pa rin ang posisyon nito. "Oh come on, Zai. Don't you want to speak with me? Don't you owe me a 'thank you' for not controlling your body right now?"

Zai clicked her tongue, "If you're going to say something, say it."

Ephraim smirked, "You used up most of your life energy on that boy, didn't you?" he then casually leaned on the backrest, "Do you want me to tell you how much time you have left?" his voice gradually became serious, "Though I'm pretty sure you know it yourself."

His expression then turned dark as he stare coldly at Zai, "Your stupidity is getting the best of you."

Zai smirked, "Did you really think I didn't think this through?"

Ephraim gritted his teeth as he clench his both hands. He glared at Zai, "You b*tch. You dare to take advantage of me?"

Zai sharpened her gaze at him, smirk still not disappearing, "You won't let this body die, would you?" Zai showed a mocking grin, "This is the best vessel you could ever obtain. You wouldn't let it rot. I know that much."

Ephraim stood up and the fancy chair suddenly broke into pieces behind him. "So you gave that boy your 50 years worth of life energy because you know I wouldn't let this body decay? How confident of you."

Zai stared directly at his enraged eyes, "Am I wrong?"

Silence ruled over them after that. Staring at each other with their glaring eyes. But eventually, Ephraim grinned, "Alright.. I'll give you an enough amount of life energy for you to live but," Zai squinted her eyes at him. She did expect there will be a catch. Ephraim smirked, "I'll do what I want with this body. You can survive an everyday wound, can't you?"

Zai smirked, "Then it's a deal."

Ephraim grinned then he flicked his fingers.

Asta's and the others' eyes widen when Zai suddenly groan. Nanghina ang katawan nito ngunit mabilis naman itong sinalo ni Trois upang hindi ito bumagsak sa sahig. Medyo malalim ang paghinga ng dalaga at pinagpapawisan rin ito. Sinbad checked her condition and they felt relieved when he said that she's fine. "It's just a fever."

Shane sighed in relief when he saw that the four outside is doing good as well. He smiled at the other and told them that they're fine. Rui smiled in relief then he went out along with Shane and Bonzo who got bored inside. Dumako naman ang tingin ni Lin kay Claysen na kasalukuyan pa ring walang malay. Napansin agad ni Ero kung gaano kalalim ang iniisip nito. He squinted his eyes, "If you know something,you better tell us."

Lin sighed and scratched the back of her head, "Okay."

--

Shaera smirked as she look down on all the Hevrions that are bowing their heads at her. "Now this is a lovely sight to see."

The Hevrions clenched their jaws as they balled their hands into fists while they're staring down at the floor. Barron kept his stoic expression.

"Rise," katulad ng sinabi ng babae ay umayos na sila ng tayo. Gising ang kanilang diwa ngunit tila sunud-sunuran lamang ang kanilang mga katawan sa mga salita ng babae. No matter how much they hate it, they can't do anything in their current situation. Shaera leaned on the backrest of the throne, "Isn't it nice Barron? To serve a God like myself."

Nanatili naman ang walang emosyong pagtitig rito ng lalaki. He then smirked, "You still call yourself a God? Weren't you strip off of your title? By Shoru himself. I wonder how you felt when you realized how superior your little brother is than you."

Shaera's gaze sharpened and she clenched her jaw with the name he mentioned. All she felt was anger and hatred. But she closed her eyes and when she opened them, she was already calm. She then smirked, "I'll make sure that my idiotic brother of mine will kneel in front of me. So you don't have to worry, Barron."

One Hevrion spoke up, "What do you want? Ordering us to come all the way here to the throne room. Such a pain in the ass." said the man who has the left side of his head shaved. May mga piercings ito sa tenga, labi at ilong. May mga tattoo rin ito sa gilid ng leeg at umabot ito hanggang sa likod ng kaniyang palad. Sa kabilang kamay ay may hawak itong isang baseball bat na kaniyang ipinatong sa kaniyang balikat. You can already see that he's a deliquent.

The side of Shaera's lips raised, "Go to the three other kingdoms and return with the sacred books," she then sharpened her gaze, "And cause trouble in the process."

--

Claysen slowly opened his eyes. What he saw was blurry at first but it eventually turned clear afterwards. The room is quite dark at ang tanging liwanag lang ay nanggagaling sa apoy ng kandila.

"You're finally awake," his mind is still in daze as he glance at the person sitting beside the bed. Ero stared at his eyes, "Be glad that you're still alive, kid."

Claysen slowly sat up then he put his hand on his head when he felt it ache, "Aren't I suppose to be dead?"

"You owe it to Zai." sagot naman ni Ero at tumingin sa kabilang kama kung nasaan ang walang malay na babae. May bimpong nakalagay sa noo nito at mayroon ring planggana na may lamang tubig sa maliit na lamesang nasa ulunan nito.

Ero glanced back at him. His expression was serious and he seemed like he has something important to say, "Kid, we have to talk."

"Didn't she overdo it?" Shane said with a solemn expression. Rui also has the same expression while the others have stoic faces. They heard about the boy's situation from Lin. They knew what he is and they knew what Zai did when Asta told them what Zai said.

They all glanced at Rui when his shoulders began to shake while he's sitting down. His folded knees are being leaned at by his chest and his arms are hugging his legs. May mga tumutulo na ring mga luha sa mga mata nito. "Does that mean.. Zai will die soon?"

Lahat ay nanatiling tahimik. They don't know what to say to the crying boy. Ngunit bigla silang tumingin sa direksyon ni Trois noong bigla itong nagsalita, "Don't be stupid. Zai won't die," sabi nito habang nakaupo sa gilid ng barko at nakatanaw lamang sa madilim na dagat, "If you know her, you should be aware that Zai wouldn't do that without a plan. Zai has always been like that," lumingon naman si Trois sa bata at ganoon pa rin ang suot nitong madalas na ekspresyon, cold and spine-chilling. "So stop crying, you crybaby."

Rui nodded and wiped his tears away. Noong mawala ang mga ito ay bumalik na ang kaniyang madalas na ekspresyon. Trois then glanced at the nautical bridge, "That brat should be awake by now. Ero is currently talking to him."

Muling ibinalik ni Trois ang kaniyang mga mata sa dagat, "It was Zai's decision. The brat has nothing to do with it. So you better clear up those faces of yours."

Shane who was sitting on the floor beside Rui looked up when he wondered about Trois' words. His eyes widen when he saw the others' dark and cold expression. Mabilis niyang iniwas ang kaniyang tingin. He pursed his lips and hugged his knees tighter.

Bonzo looked at them from where he is sitting. His back is leaning against the mast. He could feel the cold atmosphere surrounding them. He then looked at the nautical bridge where Zai is. He squinted his eyes. Just what the heck did that girl do for them to be so affected by her?

Claysen's eyes are wide open as he stare back at Ero. He couldn't believe what he just heard. Ero told him everything. The reason why Zai killed him and the reason why Zai is currently having a bad fever. Ero stood up, "That's all I have to explain. I'll leave you alone now." saad nito at lumabas na ng silid.

Pagkalabas ng silid ay naging tahimik ang buong kwarto. Claysen's shoulders tensed as he grip the blanket tighter. He gritted his teeth, "Damn it. I.. never told you to do that." but.. you have my gratitude.