Waves of fire came gushing out like a fearless breeze across the lands. Cries of agony reverberated through the whole place. The stars were outshined greatly by the light emitting from the burning cinders, breaking down everything on their way.

Yet three people stood silently at the middle. Their gazes were penetrating, they were glowing. One in bright gold which could pierce even the brightest sun, who could stroke the clearerst skies, and who could cleanse the blackest night. Then there's the opposite one.

Her eyes clouded the light, her pupils fading through their colours. Her glows could overpower the brightness of the sun. Black. Her eyes were dipped in too much darkness as if everything she sees are nothing but black. Shadows were screaming all around her, it left a gloomy sensation, it was discord. But she looked so peaceful.

Then there she was. Her silence was defeaning. Her eyes glowing the palest blue, which could enthroned the highest skies, which could roam the deepest oceans. She was the embodiment of something so mysterious, something powerful. No words could describe her, she was like something that is not of this world.

She was evil yet kind, she was strong yet weak, and she has everything yet she has none. Everything was a matter of choice she did not make, she chose to have nothing. She was tired of it. Her face spoke no such emotions, but the air around her was heavy as if it carries her burdens instead. And everyone was aware of it.

"You don't even feel anything even at the death of your own daughter." The one with the golden eyes said.

And then it hit me. The girl laying on the corner not far from where they stood, was her daughter. She was not dead, she was breathing. But it was barely. Her small body was curled up in suh a way like she has been so much. It angered me when I looked at them.

"Ke'ala, you do understand, don't you?" Tanong nung isang babae na may madilim na mga mata. Lumapit siya sa bata at lumuhod sa unahan nito.

"Touch her any further than that and you will see what I am capable of."

"Oh we know what you are capable of. Pero hindi lang sa'yo may galit ang mundo." Nakangiti niyang sagot.

"Don't pretend to have emotions when you don't have any, Ke'ala." Wika naman nung isang babae. Nakadirekta ang mga gold niyang mata sa kunakausap nila.

"Then what are you suggesting I do, Iyana?"

"Kill yourself."

"You both know I can't."

"Walang ni isa ang may kayang patayin ka."

"I know you both can." Ngumiti si Iyana sa sinabi niya.

"You're really asking us to kill a friend?"

"Our friendship isn't like any other. It isn't like any tales where we end up happy and satisfied wih our lives. It isn't."

"Ako na ang magsasabi, Ke'ala. Hindi ka namin kayang patayin. Not because we wouldn't, it's because we just couldn't." Sabi nung babae habang kinarga ang maliit na bata na hanggang ngayon ay wala paring malay.

Sa isang iglap ay may nabuong kidlat sa kalangitan. Mas tumindi pa ang sunog sa paligid, napapalibutan na nito sila pero parang wala lang ito sa kanila. Mas lumakas pa hangin sa paligid na para bang madadala ang kahit sino. Biglang yumanig ang lupa, nahuhulog din ang mga malalaking bato.

"Where are you taking her, Andrea?" Her voice was cold and sharp, commanding.

"If there's someone in this world who can kill you, you know who it is." Sagot ni Andrea at mas hinigpitan ang pagkahawak sa bata.

"She can't."

"Then just like what happens in any other parallel worlds, we will kill her." Iyana sighed. "Or she would turn out worse than you. All our hardworks from those years will be all for nothing if she were to live."

"Iyana, Andrea...I am warning you."

Hindi na sila nagsalita pa dahil ilang segundo ang nakalipas, tumigil na sa paghinga ang bata. May nakabaon nang dagger sa likuran nito na pumasok hanggang sa dibdib niya. Nagising ang bata, pero walang boses ang lumabas sa bibig niya. She looked so petrified, she looked like she was in so much pain yet she couldn't even cry out.

Blood replaced her voice habang kinakarga parin siya ni Andrea na para bang pinapatahan ang bata, telling her sweetly how it'll be over soon. My gaze left them and turned to Caelesti as she suddenly disappeared. The skies went dim. The fire stopped spreading and faded away like they were never there. The wind had vanished along with her trace. No one knows what was happening.

Napaluhod sa lupa si Iyana, bumigat ang paghinga niya. Tumutulo ang luha niya na para bang nasasaktan siya ng sobra. Napunta ang tingin niya kay Andrea na pumipigil din ng luha. Natapos narin sa wakas ang paghihirap ng bata, and they were glad it was all over for her.

"Am I...Am I that such a monster, Andrea?" The latter nodded her head in agreement.

"We all are." She sighed as she carressed the child's back. "How many are left?"

"We spent years murdering the child and still, they are never-ending. What do you think is the answer to your question?"

"I was hoping na sasabihin mong wala nang natira. Dahil pagod na ako, Iyana. Pagod na pagod."

They watch as the skies above them crumbled, falling apart. The ground was breaking, everything was shattering, breaking, fading. Nasisira na ang lahat ng bagay na nandito sa paligid. Pero habang nangyayari ang lahat ng ito, walang tunog silang naririnig. It's like they were watching the world ending in silence.

"This world is breaking. We should leave." Tinaas ni Iyana ang isang kamay niya at magpalabas ng malaking space. Inihiga naman ni Andrea ang bata sa lupa matapos nito siyang halikan sa noo.

"I hope for the world to accept your existence in your next lifetime." She prayed, and with that, they slowly walked towards the space.

"Where is she?"

"Showing her wrath for the whole world to see."

"Tama ba talaga ang ginagawa natin, Adrea?"

"Iyana, alam mo ang sagot sa tanong mo. Mali ang ginagawa natin pero para sa kinabukasan ng lahat ng mundo, gagawin natin 'to."

"I hope the world would just end without people suffering."

"I wish for that too." She smiled, bitterly. "But the world isn't that kind."

Sabay ng pagkawala ng space ay ang pagkawala din ng mga pigura nila. Bumalik ang tingin ko sa walang buhay na bata na unti-unti nang kinakain ng nawawasak na lupa. And there, she suddenly appeared beside her daughter, still without emotion.

Nagising ako na pinapawisan, parang nauubusan din ako ng hininga. My head was throbbing, ang sakit ng buong katawan ko as if I was being crushed by an unknown force. May pilit ding nagsasalita sa isipan ko pero hindi ko maintindihan ang mga sinasabi nila. They were like bees buzzing around and I knew they were there, yet I couldn't hear them clearly.

Napaupo ako sa hinihigaan kong kama sabay hawak sa magkabilang sentido ko. Mas gumulo lang ang isipan ko simula nung nakita ko ang nakaraan ni Caelesti sa fountain na iyon. What I saw in that dream wasn't a vision, but it was something occuring at the present.

Parallel worlds. Another mystery. At alam ko na si Caelesti ang babaeng iyon, her daughter was killed in front of her. But she doesn't have any emotions, at least that's what they thought. She didn't pretend to have emotions that time, she was showing her wrath in a different way...like ending the world. So that's what happens when she let her emotions lose.

Napabuntong-hininga nalang ako at binuksan ang bintana na nasa tabi lang ng kama ko. Napag-alaman kong umaga na pala at tumataas palang ang araw. Nasasanay na talaga ang katawan kong gumising ng ganito kaaga.

Also, lately I've noticed how my visions don't come anymore like how they used to before I went to this island. I came here trying to figure out the woman they call Caelesti The Traitor, and I ended up knowing a part of me instead. Seriously? Her daughter? Now anyone tell me I'm just dreaming.

But I'm not. I'm aware of this reality more than anyone else, and I'm not going to go throw tanthrums and deny the whole thing. Because what I saw when I was being drowned in that Alitheia Fountain all connected to what I saw in that dream. It was the truth.

Nakakatakot ang nakita ko sa nakaraan niya. Na kinuha ako mula mismo sa sarili kong ina at paulit-ulit na sinaktan sa harapan niya para lang pilitin si Caelesti na patayin ang kaniyang sarili. How can they be so...monstrously evil? They may claim what they do is for the world, for the people, for the future, but what I saw was something people won't say 'right'. It was a horror.

A horror I have long forgotten. How did I even survive? Bakit ako nandito? Paano ako napunta dito? Sino ngaba talaga ako maliban nalang sa katotohang anak ako ni Caelesti?

And the sad truth about that horror is that...she didn't even contain a single emotion when my small, frail body was screaming in so much pain and yet...she just left me there dying, never once again showing up. Pero nandito ako Mavró Isle, ako mismo ang humanap sa kaniya. Isn't that usually the other way around? Does she hate my existence that much that she would just rather watch me killed in front of her?

It was different from what I saw in that dream, but at the same time they are very much alike. Ewan ko, basta naguguluhan ako. Siguro nga mas mabuti pang hayaan ko nalang ang nakaraan ko maging nakaraan. Because what matters is that, even after knowing all those things, gusto ko paring maprotektahan si Caelesti.

I don't want her attention at all, I don't want her acknowledgement, I don't need her to be a mother to me, and most especially, I don't need a family. I just want her to be happy, be satisfied, to live the life she has always wanted...to be free.

To live.

Binaba ko na ang mga paa ko at tinahak ang daan papunta sa labas ng kwarto. Nasanay na ako sa tahimik na pumumuhay dito sa isla, at nasasanay narin ako na sa tuwing lalabas ako ng kwarto ko sa umaga, walang sumasalubong sa aking tao dahil walang laman ang buong bahay.

Dumerecho ako sa kusina at uminom ng isang basong tubig tsaka binasa ang mukha ko. Agad ko namang napansin ang nga hakbang ng paa papunta sa direksyon ko at mabilis na pinunasan ang aking itsura. Inabala ko pa ang sarili ko para malaman kung sino ang taong ito.

"I'm assuming Caelesti isn't here." Tumango na lamang ako sa sinabi ni Ziandra.

Kagabi pa wala si Caelesti dito—no, scratch that. Simula nung araw na nalaman ko ang katotohanan ay hindi na siya nagpakita sa akin. And it had been three days since, but I see no presence of hers in this household. Ayaw ko namang hanapin ang taong ayaw magpakita sa akin. O siguro may ginagawa lang talaga siyang iba. Either way sounded like she's avoiding me though. But knowing Caelesti, that thought is impossible.

"Pansin ko din na wala ang iba nitong mga nakaraang araw." She smiled to reassure me.

"Huwag kang mag-alala, may ginagawa lang talaga ang lahat."

"And you don't?"

"I did have one, tinapos ko na. Kaya hinahanap ko si Caelesti para ibalita sa kaniya but it seems she's not here. So..." she trailed off and smiled at me expectantly.

"So?" I was urging her to continue.

"So you're coming with me."

"Bakit naman ako sasama sa'yo? Saan ka ba pupunta?" Ginulo niya ang buhok ko bago tumalikod.

"Sumunod ka nalang."

Dahil narin sa curiousity ay sumama nalang ako sa kaniya. Wala din naman akong gagawin. Nitong mga nakaraang araw kasi prang ang sibrnag tagal lumipas ng mga oras, wala kasi akong kinaaabalahan. Hindi tulad noon na palagi akong sinasama ni Caelesti sa kung saan.

It's funny how things are easily changed before people could even do anything about it. Well, of course they couldn't. Hindi naman nila alam na magbabago ang lahat sa una palang. Some people may say change is constant, but I know deep down they kind of hoped it isn't, that's why some are having a hard time accepting new things.

But I guess I'm kind of different. The moment I knew Caelesti was my mother, I accepted it and I didn't cause any sort of dramas. I hated it as much as she did. Our relationship didn't exactly change, she remained more of a mysterious person than ever now though. I'm not interested about my past, I never were, maybe I did once, but my thoughts are completely engulfed by her at the moment.

I refuse to know anything regarding my pasts, for perhaps they aren't great memories otherwise I wouldn't forget them the first time I took a step on this isolated island. Even if I do have the chance to know, I won't take it up for its offer. I'm fine just with the way things are, at least now everything seems so peaceful.

"Hey, saan mo ba talaga ako dadalhin?" Pilit ko siyang sinusundan habang inaalis ang mga nakasagabal na sanga sa dinadaanan ko. Nandito kasi siya tumungo sa may kakahuyan, except that the woods here are actually pretty much dead.

"You're impatient."

"Of course I am."

"And you didn't deny it." I heard her chuckle.

"Because that's the truth." I never was a patient person.

"Don't worry, malapit na tayo."

"That's what you said like fifteen minutes ago."

"How do you expect to protect Caelesti if you get tired that easily?" Hindi naman ako nakasagot kaagad sa sinabi niya. May punto nga siya. "You're more on saying than actually showing, that's why Ellise doesn't like you."

"I don't like her either." Natawa siya ulit.

"You didn't deny what I just said about you just now."

"Because I couldn't deny it." Alam ko na wala pa akong nagagawa para patunayan kay Caelesti na kaya ko siyang protektahan at puro salita lamang ako, but I'll do everything I can when it actually matters.

"At this point, you'll be the one needing protection. And I don't want to babysit so..." tumigil kami sa isang malaking espasyo sa gitna ng kakahuyan.

Sa sobrang lawak ng area ay nakikita ko ang lahat. There are several rocks layered on one corner, may ilog din na umaagos sa kabilang parte. But on the center, may malaking bilog dito na parang ring na gawa sa bato. It looks old but it was still sturdy when we came closer.

Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Ziandra na ngayon ay nakatayo sa ibabaw ng ring. Medyo nataranta ako nang hinagis niya sa akin ang isang dagger. Nasalo ko naman ito pero nasugatan ang hintuturo ko dahil sa sobrang talim ng dulo nito.

"You want a fight?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko sa kaniya.

"You make it sound like you can beat me."

"And you're saying I can't?" She smirked.

"Get here kid." I sighed and crawled up the ring.

Hanggang sa beywang ko ang taas ng unang palapag nito so when I was standing up on it, I feel like I could see the whole place more clearly. The wind was blowing making my long black hair to sway gently behind my back, the skies are dim too, indicating a downpour anytime soon.

Hindi pa nga ako nakapaghanda ay nasa unahan ko na siya kaagad at akmang sisipain ako nang mabilis kong nailag ang katawan ko sa gilid. I thought that was it but she turned around and gave another shot. Kaya napahiga ako sa lupa dahil sa lakas ng sipa niya sa tiyan ko. No, I think she even purposely held back.

"This is too much." I complained, sitting up. I watch as her eyebrow lifted.

"Too much?" She laughed. "Narinig ko kay Millard na natalo mo ang mga nakabantay na monsters kaya ka nakapasok sa isla, you even broke his ancient barrier and took him a few days to set up another one."

"And?"

"And I was thinking you aren't that bad but," she offered me a hand at tinanggap ko naman ito. "You're unbelievably weak." Before I was even aware of it, napahiga na naman ako sa lupa because she twisted my arm in such a way that mad me fall.

"That hurt!" Tumawa na naman siya at lumakad palayo sa akin.

"You didn't even feel insulted by that remark, did you?"

"Why would I feel insulted?"

"So you think what I said was the truth?"

"I didn't deny it."

"You don't have to." She sighed. "You don't have any desire to get stronger."

"Sino ba naman ang ayaw lumakas?" Pinagpagan ko ang sarili ko tsaka tumayo. This time, mg grip over the dagger tightened.

"You." Hindi ko alam pero hindi na ako nagulat sa mga sinasabi niya.

I do think I'm weak, but I do think I'm strong either. I want to get stronger but I hold no such desire to pursue that will. It's not about me being lazy, in other words I'm just satisfied with the way I am.

"You don't know what you're saying, Ziandra."

"Oh I don't?" And there was that smirk again.

Sinugod niya ako but I managed to block her fist this time. I raised another hand para tamaan siya ng dagger pero agad naman siyang nawala sa unahan ko. I turned around to meet her but she was too fast that she kicked my knees. Napaluhod ako sa sakit, gritting my teeth.

"Damn it...are you trying to kill me?!" Binitawan ko ang dagger para hawakan ang tuhod kong pakiramdam ko ay masyadong naapektohan.

"See? I know what I'm talking about." She pointed her finer at me with a serious face. "You're weak. Very so. Malaki nga ang spiritual energy mo pero useless din naman ito kung hindi mo alam kung paano iyan gamitin ng tama."

"I can handle myself." I insisted.

"You say that but you're writing in pain." I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

"I'll gladly writhe in pain if I could protect what I'm trying to protect in the very beginning. But that doesn't apply to you."

"Something's holding you back." I flinched. "You want to be stronger but you're scared, aren't you?" I looked away.

"Now you even know what I feel." Sarcastic kong sabi.

"It's obvious. I've lived far longer than you, after all." She crouched para mapantayan ang lebel ko. "What scares you anyway? Are you scared because you may not be able to control your power? Scared that if you become stronger you might break? Or scared that—"

"I'm not scared." I said as a matter of fact. "It's just that...if I become stronger I might break someone else instead."

"What's that if it's not fear?" Pinatong na naman niya ang kamay niya sa ulo ko at ginulo ito. "She wanted you to kill her, so whether you like it or not, you will break her."

"You don't understand." Napabuntong-hininga ako at tuluyan na talagang umupo sa lupa. "I rather just kill myself than me killing her."

"Is it because she's your own blood that you feel so much concern?" I laughed, bitterly.

"It's not because her blood is flowing within mel.

"Then what is it? Love? Or is it out of pity?"

Sa una ay hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ganiyan nalang ang nararamdaman ko sa kaniya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kaya kong saktan o ipahamak ang sarili ko para lang maprotektahan siya. But as time goes by, I wonder day by day why and then I figured out a certain fact that made me realized the answer.

"It's because she's my mother." That answer silenced her. "Isn't that enough reason why?" She smiled and shook her head.

"You were a small child when she left you. Shouldn't you be angry instead?"

"Naiisip ko rin iyan. Na dapat magalit ako sa kaniya, na dapat kamuhian ko siya. Pero hindi ko magawa. Rather, I hate the world instead for making her this way."

"You are just like her in almost every aspect but your personality mirrors him a lot." Natatawa niyang sabi. 'Him'? Who? Magtatanong na sana ako nang magsalita siya. "It'll always be your choice on what fate will you choose to walk on to or what kind of ending you'd want for her."

"Why should I be the one to decide on that?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Because I'm the one who she thinks should kill her?"

"Not because you're her killer." Tumayo siya na hindi parin nawawala ang ngiti sa mga labi niya. "You're her daughter."

"She doesn't think of me as one." She walked away almost ignoring my remark.

"And you are her last hope." Pumwesto siya sa kabilang side ng ring at nagpalabas ng isnag dagger sa kamay niya na mula sa lalagyan nito sa kabilang tuhod ng paa niya. "Tell me, what do you really want?"

"So you want me to be selfish?" Pinilit kong tumayo at nagawa ko naman, pero paika-ika parin ako kung lumakad.

"Yes, because like your stupid father, you aren't."

Father huh?

"What I want..." I look up to meet her waiting gaze as she played with the dagger she was holding.

Kasabay ng malungkot kong ngiti ay ang pagbagsak ng ulan na kanina pa gustong bumagsak. Napatingin ako sa madilim na kalangitan at hindi ko alam kung bakit ganoong imahe ang nakikita ko. Kung ganoon nga lang sana kasimple ang lahat...

I closed my eyes and see her walking down the paved path with different blooming flowers beside her figure. Then she would smile as the fresh air mixed with the pleasing fragrance of the surroundings reaches her nose. Her blue eyes would glisten under the haze of the sun, the garden singing her name as her emotions would tell them so. She was happy, satisfied with the moment.

Then there was another guy, his face covered by the parasole he was holding as he leaned closer to her pace. His hand held hers, tightly, as their gazes melted against each other's stares. Their hearts racing in synchronization, and there were no words left to be anticipated. They were both aware of what those heartbeats simply mean.

"Mommy! Daddy!" A small child came rushing out of the house not far from where they both stood. I could see the way they looked at back other first before laughing first before meeting the girl.

She held the parasole for the man to carry the girl over his broad shoulder, laughing in delight. The image was starting to blur, it was starting to fade. I reached outy hand...but immediately decided to drop it. It was such a heartwarming scene, something I'd like to protect.

Before the image vanished, I saw her glanced behind, her eyes searching me. It was as though she could see me. Her lips twitched into something I couldn't comprehend, her hands reaching for me, but she couldn't.

"Cel—" her next words were cut off as the scene was engulfed by darkness.

"What do you want?" Bumalik ang lahat sa akin nang tinanong ulit ako ni Ziandra.

I blinked before I realized what I just saw. I smiled. I don't know if it was a sad or a happy one though. Tuluyan na talaga akong nabasa dito ng ulan. Kasabay nito ang pasimpleng pagtulo ng luha ko na nagpapasalamat akong natatakpan ng ulan.

"A world she can call her own." I grabbed the dagger from the ground and looked at it.

She ran towards my direction and aimed her dagger at my face, but I stepped backward and blocked her blade with the one I was holding. Hindi ako masyadong makagalaw dahil sa kondisyon ng tuhod ko sa kaliwa, kaya medyo nahuli ako nung sisipain na naman niya sana ako sa tiyan. I somehow managed to avoid that one though with a turn at ibinalik ko sa kaniya ang sipa gamit nung isa kong paa.

She moves backwards after I hit her shoulder. Pero mas bumilis lang ngayon ay mga galaw niya. Bumalik kami sa close-quarter-combat kung saan nagpapalitan lang kami sa tira. Sa tuwing umaatake siya gamit yung dagger na hawka niya ay nasasangga ko naman ito gamit nung sa akin.

Electricity travelled her palm as she struck me down with it. Before her electricity could hit me, I built a magic circle in front of me to counter her ability. Nag-crack ang magic circle na ginawa ko pero kasabay nun ang paglabas ko ng apoy papunta sa direksyon niya. She was caught off guard and it burned her cloak so she took it off and threw it away.

"You suddenly have the will now?"

"I don't care about being stronger or not," tinapunan ko siya ng dagger at sumugod papunta sa kaniya. "As long as I can give her that world."

She avoided the incoming dagger but as soon as she did ay sinuntok ko siya ng buong makakaya ko sa sikmra. Sa lakas nito ay natilapon siya sa lupa sa ibaba ng ring. I saw her wiped a dripping blood from her lip before she sat back up. Tumalon ako pababa at lumapit sa kaniya.

"What kind of world?" Tanong niya habang tinulungan siyang makatayo.

"A world with joy and laughters."

"With whom?"

"A family."

"You just want to play family with her." She said shaking her head with a chuckle. But I just laughed and somehow I managed to make that one sound optimistic.

"I don't plan on being in that picture, Ziandra."

"What?" She stopped and looked at me with a frown.

"I'll give her a world she can call her own," I turned around to see Caelesti walking to where the two of were standing. I smiled seeing her. "Even if I'm not part of it."