One night, I had this dream. A very familiar one.

I was gasping for air and continue running. I can feel the pain beneath my feet as I tried to climb against the huge root of an old oak tree. I don't want to stop. I just want to run. Run away from them. Run away from the things that scares me. Away from the people who keeps on telling me that I'm not worth it. That I'm useless, powerless.

But in the middle of the dark and cold night, in the middle of the wild forest, he came after me. He found me again. He whispered my name and told me my worth that others can't see.

Val Isaac Montealegre, no, Val Isaac Salvatierra, saved me that night. He saved me from my self-doubt, my pain, and my own family.

And now... he's about to do it again.

"For the third time, we almost lost her."

Iyon agad ang narinig ko noong nagkamalay ako. I feel numb. Ni hindi ko maigalaw ang katawan ko. I'm too weak. And... and I'm alive. Again.

"How can she do this to me?" It was Val Isaac voice. Naramdaman ko ang paggalaw ng kamang kinahihigaan at natitiyak kong may puwesto sa tabi ko si Val. "Maddison? Can you hear me? I'm here. Please, hear me," mahinang wika nito at hinawakan ang kanang kamay ko. I want to hold his hand too. Gusto kong sabihin sa kanyang naririnig ko ito ngunit ni pagmulat ng mga mata ay hindi ko na magawa ngayon.

Am I really still alive? Bakit tila mas lumala ang kalagayan ng katawang mayroon ako ngayon? Anong ginawa nila at bakit nagkamalay akong muli? Akala ko'y tuluyan na akong mamamaalam sa mundong ito.

"Sir Val, nakaalis na si Barrett. Help will be here soon," rinig kong sambit ni Storm. "She'll be fine. She's Maddison Montealegre, remember? She may be stubborn but she's strong. Nagawa niya ito mag-isa sa loob ng isang taon. Kakayanin niya rin ito ngayon. She... she can survive this one."

"We're almost finish with our spell. We tried this to her for a couple of times, but we failed. May kulang pa," rinig kong sambit Salve at nagsimulang mag-chant ng spell na palaging ginamit niya sa akin.

Bahagyang gumaan ang pakiramdam ko ngunit alam kong hindi pa rin nito nababago ang anyo ko. Pinapagaling lang nito ang kung anong karamdaman ko ngayon at hindi kung anong nangyari sa katawan ko.

"Maddison told us she used the Absolute Cancel spell. Isa ito sa pinakamahirap na spell dito sa Agartha at iilan lang ang nakakaalam at kayang gamitin ito. We need more high rank healers to counterpart the spell," sambit pa ni Servano na siyang ikinatigil ko. "More healers, the higher the rank, the higher the chances to save her."

"Bakit hindi niyo ginawa ito noon?" tanong namna ni Storm sa kanila. "Bakit hindi kayo nanghingi nang tulong? The Franco Empire rule this place, right? Sakop pa nila ang lupaing ito. May mga healers din sila sa loob ng imperyo nila."

"She lost her memories. For eight months, we don't know her name. We just know that she needs help." It was Salve again. "We tried everything. We thought our knowledge about healing magics were enough to help her. And besides, when she finally gained her memories, she stopped us from asking help from the empire."

"And why is that?"

"We don't know either but now, I think I know the reason why. Franco Empire and Montealegre Empire. Those two empires are allies. And seems like Maddison was trying to hide. Hindi na rin namin ito tinanong kung bakit." Servano said again.

"I'm not hiding, Servano," maingat na sambit ko at dahan-dahang iminulat ang mga mata. Finally! Nagawa ko na ring imulit ang mga mata ko!

Agad na bumungad sa akin ang nag-aalala na mukha ni Val Isaac. Mabilis niyang hinawakan ang mukha ko at marahang hinaplos ito. "Maddison." He called my name again.

Napakurap ako at tipid na nginitian ito. "I'm sorry, Val-"

"No, it's okay. It's not your fault," mabilis na wika ni Val at hinalikan ako sa noo. "You'll be fine, okay? Trust me."

"I'm sorry," ulit ko at pinikit muli ang mga mata ko.

"Maddison?" tawag muli nito sa akin.

"Hmm?"

"Don't leave me again, please," nanginginig na sambit ni Val at hinaplos muli ang mukha ko.

"I'm sorry." Tanging nasambit ko na lamang sa kanya.

Ikinalma ko ang sarili ngunit biglang nag-init ang buong katawan ko. Tila natutupok ang buong katawan ko dahil sa enerhiyang nais kumawala sa akin. Gusto kong sumigaw ngunit ayaw ko nang dagdagan pa ang pag-aalala nila Val Isaac. I'm used to this pain. I can endure it again. For them. For him.

"She's doing it again," rinig kong sambit ni Servano at mayamaya lang ay naramdaman ko ang paglapit nito sa puwesto ko. Kahit nakapikit, alam ko kung ano ang gagawin ngayon ni Servano. He's going to block my magic again. Masyadong malakas ang kapangyarihan ko at kung lalabas ito ngayon, mas lalong manghihina ang katawan na mayroon ako ngayon. Alam niya ring tinitiis ko lang ang matinding sakit na nararamdaman ko ngayon.

"What's happening to her?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Storm.

"She's too powerful. Masyadong malakas ang kapangyarihan nito at hindi kinakaya ng katawan niya. My brother will block her magic. Mas lalong malalagay sa panganib si Maddison kung hahayaan nating gumamit ito ng kahit anong kapangyarihan."

"Block her magic?" Storm asked again. "Damn it! But the High Priestess broke the-"

"We need the seal." rinig kong sambit ni Val Isaac.

The seal?

"What seal?" It was Servano who asked them.

"Iyon ang ginamit nila noon para maprotektahan si Maddison sa kapangyarihan nito. She was young back then, and now, we need it again to protect her life. Marahil kaya'y hindi gumagana ang spell niyo sa kanya dahil pinipigilan ng kapangyarihan niya ang kahit anong spell na pumapasok dito."

"Who casted the seal before?" tanong naman ni Salve at tumulong na rin sa kapatid niya sa pag-block ng kapangyarihan ko. I can feel their magic on me. Again.

"The leaders... the representatives of every empire of Agartha," sagot naman ni Storm sa naging tanong ni Salve.

"What? Paano natin makakalap lahat ng lider ng mga imperyo ng Agartha? Maddison needs it now! We can't delay it any longer!"

"Sir Val, the Archmage! His power is equal to all the leaders of the empires." It was Storm again. "He already passed his power to you. You can use it to seal Maddison's magic power again!" Natigilan ako sa narinig. Slowly, I open my eyes. Nagtagpo ang paningin naming dalawa ni Val Isaac at noong akmang magsasalita na sana ako, mabilis niyang itinapat sa dibdib ko ang kanang kamay nito.

"Don't do it, V-Val," pigil ko sa kanya.

"This will save you," aniya at ipinikit ang mga mata.

"The Archmage... did he really pass the throne to you?" I asked him. Kita kong natigilan ito at iminulat ang mga mata. "Kung gagamitin mo ngayon ang kapangyarihang ipinasa sa'yo, then, ano pa ang gagamitin mo p-para mapangalagaan ang buong A-Agartha?"

"Huwag mo nang alalahanin ang bagay na iyan, Maddison. I'll give you the seal. Ibabalik kita sa dati mong anyo!"

"V-Val, tanggap ko na ang k-kapalaran ko. Huwag m-mong sayangin ang kapangyarihang mayroon ka n-ngayon. Mas kailangan ito ng A-Agartha."

"Paano naman ako?" seryosong tanong ni Val na siyang ikinatigil ko. "I need you more than this power. I need you more than the throne they're about to give me, Maddison!"

"Do it, Val Isaac. She's losing it again!" It was Servano. Maging si Salve ay nakiusap na sa akin na hayaan na si Val Isaac sa gagawin nito.

"Maddison!" sigaw ni Storm at nilapitan na kami. "Your mother needs you. Lady Catana is about to lose everything, too! Ikaw na lang ang rason kung bakit nananatili pa ito sa Montealegre Empire! She believes that you're still alive! Please, accept the seal! Ito na lang ang tanging paraang mayroon tayo ngayon!"

Natigilan ako sa mga narinig mula sa kanila. Is this the right thing to do? Tama bang sumang-ayon ako sa plano ni Val Isaac? Tama bang ipahamak ko na naman ito? He's the next Archmage of Agartha, for Pete's sake! And without his father's power, he can't be the next ruler of our kingdom! That's not fair! No. Hindi ko kayang gawin iyon sa kanya! Damn it!

"Just... just let me go," mahinang sambit ko at muling ipinikit ang mga mata. "I won't be sad anymore. I s-saw you before losing again with my o-own power. I'll be fine, V-Val Isaac, so please, just l-let me go p-peacefully."

"No, Maddison. I'll save you and I'll bring you back to our empire, just like what I always do," rinig kong sambit ni Val at nagsimula nang mag-chant nang spell na siyang magbabalik sa akin ng seal na siyang inalis ng High Priestess noong nasa Wilhelm Empire kami.

"Her body is reacting!" sigaw ni Servano at naramdaman ang paglutang ng katawan ko.

Val Isaac Salvatierra. I can't believe that you're actually doing this for me. You're truly a great Agarthian. Strong, powerful and brave. You're truly the opposite of me. Walang-wala ako sa kung anong kaya mong gawin.

I'm sorry, Val.

I'm sorry for giving up easily. Kahit maibalik pa ako sa dating anyo ko, hindi ko alam kung may sapat pa akong lakas para harapin kayong muli.

Val Isaac, I'm sorry for making you sacrifice again. This will be the last time. Hindi na mauulit ito.

I'm sorry for the pain. I'm sorry for running away again, for leaving you. Again.

"It's not w-working," Val Isaac uttered then called my name. "Maddison! Can you hear me? Maddison!"

"Damn it! Maddison!"

I'm sorry, Val. Please forgive me.