"Why didn't you inform me about this beforehand?" Shane can't help but to show guilt and worry on his face when he heard what Trois said. Halatang hindi nito nagustuhan ang kaniyang ginawa.

And yet, Shane showed an awkward smile, "I thought there was no need to. Hindi mo ba gustong--"

"I don't need an artificial leg!" Shane was startled by Trois' sudden yell. Trois averted his gaze as his forehead furrows.

Bumuntong hininga naman si Shane at tumingin sa lalaking dapat na magsusukat ng binti ng binata. "I'm really sorry. But--"

"No. Trois, don't be stubborn," saad naman ni Ero. "This smith right here will take your measurements and make you an artificial limb."

Trois clenched his jaw, "I said I don't need one."

Asta stepped forward, "'Wag ka ng makulit, Trois! All of us know, including you, that you'll have trouble with just one leg. You are a speed-type fighter. You'll have difficulties in combat if you won't--"

"I can handle myself!"

"Shut your trap and let him take your measurements." lahat sila ay tumingin sa pinto noong marinig ang boses ni Zai. Just like usual, she's wearing her emotionless expression. Zai then squinted her eyes, "You're useless with that condition. I don't need something that has no value."

All felt how sharp her words were pero walang nagsalita. Trois just clenched his jaw once more and looked away as he becomes silent. Shane sighed in relief and nodded at the smith. Lumapit naman na rito ang matandang lalaki para kunin ang sukat ng kaniyang binti.

Zai walked to Ero and stood beside him. Ero spoke, "You should know that he won't be as effective as before. Smiths don't specialize in making prosthetic limbs so expect that the artificial limb won't be that good. Prosthetists and orthotists still doesn't exist in this world. Smiths are the only ones who can make a replacement for a missing body part. He'll have a hard time with his new limb," Ero gave her a sideways glance, "You'll still take him?"

Hindi naman ito nakatanggap ng sagot mula sa dalaga. Pinili na lamang ni Ero na hindi magsalita at hinayaan na lamang ang babae.

Rui stared at Trois' cutoff leg. He then glanced at his hands. He pursed his lips as he closed his both hands tights. He is swimming in a pool of regret. If only he knew how to use his threads to reattached his leg back. His threads are sharp and if it touches Trois' skin, he'll only get worse. If only he can control his threads' sharpness. He might've been a great help.

Claysen immediately noticed what Rui is thinking. He put his hands inside his pockets and his serious expression remained.

Natigilan lamang sa pag-iisip ng malalim si Rui noong biglang magsalita ang batang lalaki na nasa kaniyang gilid, "What's with that face? You look ugly. So uncool." saad nito at muling ibinalik ang tingin kina Trois. Rui sighed then he shook all the bad thoughts away.

Ilang saglit lamang ay natapos ng kunin ng matandang lalaki ang sukat ng binti ni Trois. Nanatiling tahimik ang binata hanggang sa makalabas na ito. Sa hindi malamang dahilan ay hindi nawala ang katahimikan sa kwarto. Lahat ay nanatiling tahimik habang kanilang pinakikiramdaman ang tensyon na nabubuo. They expected that Zai would say something to Trois ngunit tila ba nag-uusap ang mga ito ng tahimik. Understanding each other without words.

The first one who decided to break the awkward silence was Ero, "We'll leave for Southernia after Trois' leg replacement is finished. For the mean time, the injured ones should rest while the others undergo training. That's the only thing we could do for now."

Tumango naman ang iba bilang pagsang-ayon. Ilang saglit lamang ay biglang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Sinbad. "Zai, the king--" but before he could say the rest, something happened.

Lahat ay naalerto at tumalon palayo sa bintana noong bigla na lamang itong nabasag at narinig nila ang pagbagsak ng isang bagay sa sahig. They stared with confusion evident in their eyes at the hawk that suddenly came crashing in. May dala-dala itong isang bagay na nakabalot sa isang tela.

Sinbad immediately recognized what it is. Sinbad walked to it, "It's a messenger from Westernia."

Akmang hahawakan na ni Sinbad ang dala-dala nitong bagahe ngunit tumigil ito noong magsalita si Zai, "I wouldn't touch that if I were you."

Sinunod naman nito ang payo ng dalaga. He was curious but it's better to do what she says. Imbes na hawakan ang bagay na iyon ay inangat na lamang niya mula sa sahig ang lawin. Zai walked to the baggage it was carrying then she picked it up. She spoke as she removed the fabric fold by fold. "Shaera finally used them."

Nagtaka ang iba dahil sa kaniyang sinabi. Ngunit mabilis rin nila itong naintindihan noong makita ang bagay na nakabalot sa telang iyon. Zai stared at the book, "He didn't have to send this to us though."

Lahat ay seryosong nakatingin sa librong hawak ni Zai. Claysen was the only one who doesn't have a clue about it. Zai sarcastically smirked, "Now Shaera will know that we have Dethania. Great."

All eyes widen when Zai suddenly tossed the book to Claysen. They yelled because of shock, "Zai!" naisigaw pa nila ang pangalan ng dalaga dahil sa ginawa nito. Claysen caught the book and they waited for a few seconds to see what's going to happen.

Claysen stared confused at them, "What?"

"The punishment is useless to those who has already visited the afterlife. He won't die." nakahinga naman sila ng maluwag dahil sa sinabi ng dalaga.

Binuksan naman ni Sinbad ang maliit na lalagyanan na nakakabit sa paa ng ibon. Kinuha niya ang papel na nasa loob nito at binasa. "It seems that the Hevrions arrived in Westernia a few days ago. Father managed to send the book away before they could steal it."

"Kung gano'n, ayos lang ba ang Westernia?" tanong ni Shane dito.

Sinbad burned the letter with a small lightning in his hand, "Probably."

Asta grimaced, "You're quite relaxed despite of what you just knew. It's your kingdom, right?"

"Father can handle it."

Tinitigan naman ni Ero ang libro, "So now we have to carry that thing along with us. Such a burden."

Tumingin sila sa pinto noong nakaramdam sila ng presensya. Bonzo came in and a white owl is in his hands. "I saw this messenger by the front door." ihinagis naman nito ang nakarolyong papel kay Asta.

She opened it and read it. Pagkatapos basahin ay seryoso nitong inangat ang kaniyang tingin sa kanila, "They got Enchantra. Mother Lilia is badly injured and their village is currently fixing the damages that Hevrions caused."

Ero clicked his tongue, "We better hurry to Southernia. There's still a possibility that they didn't get the last book."

"Hindi naman natin kailangan ang Mortalia diba? We also don't need to warn them because surely, Hevrions arrived there as well." saad naman ni Shane.

Sinbad looked at Zai, "The king said that the only thing that could help you is that last book, Zai. The enchantments that you need is written in that book."

Wala namang naging reaksyon si Zai at seryoso lamang ang ekspresyon na nakatitig sa Dethania na nasa kamay ng bata. She then nodded, "We'll go to Southernia before heading to Centrio," lumingon naman si Zai kay Sinbad, "Does he wants to meet me?" she asked, guessing what Sinbad was supposed to say earlier. The man nodded.

Zai walked to the door, "Rui, Claysen, come with me." nagtaka naman ang dalawa pero mabilis rin silang sumunod dito. Zai glanced at Shane before she walked out of the door. Shane sighed when he knew what she meant by that glance. Sumunod na rin siya sa mga ito.

Nagsimula na ring maglakad si Ero palabas, "I'll go gather some herbal plants and medical equipments."

Tumango naman si Asta at nagsimula na ring lumakad palabas, "I'll go see the boat's condition. Bonzo, you help me out."

"Sheesh, you have enough muscles to do it on your own."

"You're one useless man. No wonder Aida doesn't want to marry you."

"We're not even in a relationship."

Noong mawala na ang mga ito ay lumingon naman si Sinbad kay Trois na nanatiling tahimik buong magdamag. Sinbad was about to go out of the room to give him privacy but he stopped when Trois suddenly spoke, "Spar with me."

Sinbad looked at his direction, "With that condition? Don't push your body to its limits."

Trois giggled and his usual creepy smile and excited eyes came back. Trois looked at him, "That's what you do if you have limits. You have to surpass it."

--

Barron's footsteps can be heard in every corner. The hallways are dark and quiet. Barron stopped walking as he faced the cell where Maddox is.

Maddox's hands are in shackles and so as his neck and feet as he sits down on the cold concrete floor. He has so many bruises and wounds all over his body that Shaera inflicted.

Barron stood firmly as he stare at Maddox's condition. Barron then chose to speak, "With your skills, you can easily return with a young Hevrion in hand. I am certain that the girl didn't know the existence of Halius. Hence, her body is not used to the metal's energy. And yet why did you return empty handed? Maddox."

Ngunit nanatiling tahimik ang lalaki. Barron thought he won't answer him because that is Maddox's personality but the man answered, "That girl also has a beast beside her." Barron remained silent. Maddox sarcastically smirked, "I told him that he shouldn't shackle himself to an untrustworthy being like a Hevrion and yet he didn't listen. He's like a tamed beast that's wagging his tail at his master only. How pitiful."

"Is he the reason?" hindi ito sinagot ni Maddox.

Namayani ang katahimikan sa kanilang pagitan. Barron remained staring at the man who has his name in history books. A legend that he once treated as a friend. They became enemies but Barron has no choice. His king ordered him to kill a monster like him and he had to follow his words. When a Hevrion genuinely swear his/her loyalty to a person, for some reason, his/her body won't go against that person's orders. Hevrions has their own free will even if they swear their loyalty but even if they don't want to, their mind will automatically remind them about the devotion that they made themselves.

Barron sighed. Maddox is a great king but he was the worst enemy to every kingdom. Every royalties feared him because of his abilities and power. Barron could see the domination that Maddox's mere existence is making. The nations are becoming unbalance. If he became his right hand man just like what was suppose to happen, the other kingdoms will surely fear them and that could lead to a war. The other kingdoms might join forces and destroy Maddox's nation. That's why Barron have to make it balance. He chose Centrio as the kingdom who'll stand equal to Maddox's. Leonardo Ortron was the best choice.

Maddox was hated by the entire world simply because of his power that can bring them to his feet with ease.

Maddox spoke after a few minutes, "Shaera will surely kill me sooner or later. I'll die for the second time and yet," Maddox grinned at him, "I still can't bring myself to forgive you, assh*le."

Barron stared down at him with his natural sharp eyes, "Should I feel sad about that?"

Maddox smirked, "As if you have the emotions to feel bad about it."

After speaking, Barron walked away. Turning his back from the only man that could read him like an open book.

Everything has a price. He betrayed a friend to prevent the world from crumbling into pieces.

This time around, what could be the payment?