AN; I decided to update two days earlier and I had doubts updating this chapter for some reason but oh well...

A Friend and A Foe

Silverrium could only block and avoid all their attacks altogether, but he couldn't even have a chance to release a counter spell. Masyadong mabilis ang mga atake ng mga Elites. They work perfectly well together na kahit saan man pumunta ang kalaban ay may nandiyan na aatake sa kaniya. Silverrium is indeed powerful, but he's still in a big disadvantage fighting six people all at once, each has equal power as him—or even surpasses his.

"Light creation magic: Piercing Sunlights!" Bigkas ni Silverrium nang makalayo-layo na siya sa kanila.

The skies once again unfolded into lights, and sunlights came rushing forth like raindrops, except that they're capable of hurting. Kayang-kaya nilang lahat na pigilan ang spell na ito, pero parang napagdesisyunan na nila nang tinignan nila ang isa't isa, that only one of them would do it. And it was that woman who first arrived stepped up for the job.

As she placed her big sword momentarily beside her, darkness started enveloping it. Hanggang sa biglang lumakas ang enerhiyang nararamdaman ko sa kaniya, not exactly on her, but her sword. Parang may pumapalibot dito na itim na aura. I don't feel any energy coming from her on par with the rest of the Elites, but to let out an energy like a bomb waiting to explode, her energy capacity is no joke. Is she hiding her real energy? Pero paano? Wala pa akong nakarinig na gumagawa nun.

Before the sunlights could hit the ground, she slashed her sword through the air in front of her, at biglang bumalik ang mga atake kay Silverrium. The sunlights with an invincible speed, got repel back to the one which casted them. Dahil sa sobrang bilis ng pangyayari, wala ng oras mag cast ng spell si Silverrium to protect him. The sunlights easily pierced through his body, creating holes all over it. Blood continued to spill like a faucet. It was an unbearing sight.

"One of us could just finish him. I overestimated him base on the Headmistress' information. I see no reason for all of us to be here." Wika nung si Elric Bane.

"Tiyak na alam din ito ng iba and couldn't be bother to attend this small reunion." Terha Yin said, feeling her annoyance.

"Kung ganoon ay ako na ang tatapos sa kaniya haha!" Sev Flynn stated, hoping for an agreement from his comrades. Pero walang pumansin sa kaniya. "Tss you could at least look at me ya know!"

Bumagsak sa lupa ang katawan ni Silverrium with a thud on the ground, sa lakas ng pagbagsak niya ay may tumipon na namang mga alikabok. But with Thomas' single swing of his long sword, the sight before us cleared. Unang lumapit si Terha tsaka sumunod ang iba sa likuran niya as she then pointed her long explosive gun to his beaten body.

"Where is the relic?" Tanong niya, threatening his life. Pero tumawa lang ng tumawa si Silverrium.

"Why should I tell you?"

"Hindi mo ba naiintindihan ang posisyon mo? With one pull of my trigger and you will disappear from this world completely." Disappear? Why do I feel like there's something more to what she said?

"Hindi ako mamamatay." Sa simpleng mga slaita niyang iyon, nagdala ito ng maraming tanong sa isipan ko. Alam ng mga Elites na may iba pang kahulugan sa sinabi niya.

"My ability lets me erase everything in a single touch. I genereate that energy through my bullets making anything disappear in a single shot. It doesn't completely work well with humans, but since you're a monster it won't be compicated." Tinutok niya ang baril niya sa ulo ni Silverrium.

Mula dito ay makikita ko ang ngiting bumubuo sa labi niya. While being surrounded by six powerful people, their presence are nothing to him at all. He doesn't feel even the slightest of fear or threatened. He's a monster capable of having an emotion, and a form of a human, but even monsters feel threatened and humans feel fear. Pero siya walang nararamdamang ganoon, the expression on his face doesn't lie. Para bang may pinaplano pa siyang iba.

Silverrium's body once again, started glowing. Silver lights spread across his body, even his eyes. Alam naming lahat na may gagawin pa siya, and they won't just stand there doing nothing. Before she could pull the trigger, his eyes wander around, finally settling them on mine.

"Nasaan ang relic? Huling pagkakataon mo na ito." Si Thomas naman ngayon ang nagtanong.

"Iba dapat ang tinatanong mo sa bagay na yan." His smirk didn't disappear, and he remained looking at me.

"He's persistent. I'll just erase your whole existence right here right now."

Hanggang sa hinila na ni Terha Yin ang trgger, it made a silent sound as the bullet went through his body. Kasabay nito ay ang unti-unting pagkawala ng katawan ni Silverrium, hanggang sa wala nang matira as if he wasn't there in the first place.

"Ehh??! Yun lang yun?! I didn't even break a sweat!" Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Sev Flynn.

"All your movements are too sloppy. I have to reduce my speed to match yours." Sabi nung babae, her cold expression never changing. Marami pa siyang sinabi pointing out all the flaws in their movements and honestly hindi ko ito maintindihan. Ang bibilis nilang lahat na halos hindi ko na makita ang mga galaw nila.

Andrea and Iyana touched me from behind kaya napatingin ako sa kanila. I felt deep anger and hatred from Andrea, na para bang hindi niya na kayang manatili dito. Iyana was too tired na napapakapit nalang siya sa balikat ni Andrea para makatayo.

"We need to get out of here." Wika ni Andrea at mabilis na tumango si Iyana.

Iyana lifted her hand, opening her palm tapos ay sinara niya ito. One moment later, bigla nalang umiba ang paligid namin. But before any of that took place, nakita ko ang huling tingin ng babaeng iyon sa akin. They all stood perfectly fine looking at us, under that unfolding skies which brought rays of sunlights that seem to have illuminated everything. Shadows were seen on the ground, as the sun finally rise after long hours of terrible darkness.

Ni hindi ko nga naramdaman ang pagbukas ng space ni Iyana. We were back in the base, the knights are everywhere, tending the students and people from the town. May pumalibot sa aming ilang Knights, but Iyana was already unconscious. She used the last of her energy to get us out of there. Dinala niya din ang iba, na ngayon ay kinuha ng mga Knights gamit ang stretchers. They also led Andrea and I to another tent for healers to tend to our wounds.

Ang bilis ng mga pangyayari. One moment we were just infiltrating the town, then I found myself battling with some blacks, tapos napadpad ako sa Sigillum, and finally there comes Silverrium. Everything finally ended thanks to the Elites' arrival. Pero mas naging maayos sana ang lahat kung dumating sila ng mas maaga.

Ilang minuto ang nakalipas, ngayon ay nakaupo ako sa may maliit na upuan hawak-hawak ang mainit na baso ng kape as a woman, a healer, heals Andrea's wounds just on the opposite sides of my seat.

"You did great jobs for students. As expected of Magnus' children." Sabi nung Knight na kakadating lang sa tent. "Ako ay si Aric Verto. I am the Captain of the first squadron of Knights." Thomas may be the head of all Knights, means he has the highest authority pagdating sa mga Knights.

Pero alam kong nahati ang mga Knights sa walo, leaving each one of them a Captain. Each squads are large that they are scattered among the North, East, West, and Southern Territories. Balita ko ay may dalawang squadron na nakabantay dito sa North, at dalawa din sa bawat Territories.

He's only a few years older than Thomas himself. Medyo mahaba ang buhok niya pero nakalagay ito sa gilid ng mukha niya. He has brown eyes and his armour is coloured in steel. Ginagamit na term ang Magnus' children para sa mga taong dito pinanganak at lumaki sa isla. Although I don't call myself as such.

"Ngunit patawad sapagkat hindi kami nakatulong bilang mga Knights sa inyo. We cannot defy the Council's orders." Wika ng lalaki, with a small apologetic bow.

Ramdam ko ang kahihiyan at pagsisisi niya, but they just couldn't defy orders from a higher authority or they are doomed. Kaya kahit galit man ako ay naiintindihan ko ang rason nila. That damn Council should just rot to hell. But they might just kill me if I said that one out loud.

"On the other hand, the Elites came to your rescue. Nauna silang pumunta dito to ask for full details habang ang iba ay balita ko, dumerecho na doon." This has been bugging me for a while now actually.

"Kung hindi kayo pinayagan ng Council na lumaban, bakit nandun ang mga Elites? Is it okay for them to send out those important people? Or do those Elites take orders from someone else?" He flinched at my question, as his eyebrows furrowed. When I sensed his composure, I continued asking, "or is there something else happening between the Knights, Elites, Saints, and Council?"

I felt shockness from the woman on the corner na ginagamot ngayon si Andrea, hindi ko alam kung bakit. Andrea only frowned at my question but said nothing to support me. I may be overstepping myself from asking such a question na parang delikado itanong but let's just say I'm just some random curious student.

"Ehem!" He coughed, obviously an act to regain his composure. As if understanding something, mabilis na tumayo ang babaeng healer at lumabas ng tent after bowing in front of this guy. "There is no such thing as small fights between our Governments. Our country is peaceful, at masisira lamang ang kapayapaan na ito kung may nangyayari mang ganoon."

"Hmm that didn't seem to have answered my first question, First Knights Squadron Captain Aric." Then I felt it, that uneasiness inside him. I decided to push the matter deeper, hindi ko lang alam kung kailan siya susuko. "In the first place, I merely asked kung may nangyayari ba, but I didn't specify it to 'small fights' like you did."

Ibig-sabihin ay may namumuong away sa pagitan ng mga authorities na ito. Does that mean each factions are doubting the rulers of this country? At masisira ang kapayapaan? It seems to me na malaki ang rason ng 'maliit na awayan' na ito enough for the peace to might break.

Pinaghihinalaan ko na ang rason kung bakit hindi pinadala ng Council ang mga Knights nila para tumulong ay dahil alam nilang sumusunod na ngayon ang mga Knights sa mga Saints. And because of that, the Council feel threatened that their authority might already be weakening over the years. Kaya kahit alam nilang ipapadala ng Saints ang mga Knights, they sent out a strict order that Knights should not enter the warzone between the blacks and the students.

Parang sinasabi nila sa mga Saints na sila parin ang may pinakamalakas na awtoridad sa buong isla. And they were testing whether the Knights will follow these orders or follow the Saints. If they did follow the Saints, the Council could have used it against them as an act of insubordination and even demote the Saints for it making them look bad in front of the people. Because everything in this island is about merit, to give the people the pleasures they need para mapasunod nila ang mga ito.

That's why the Headmistress told us before na huwag umasa sa Council, or at least that's what she's trying to tell me. Dahil alam niyang hindi sila tutulong. That's why the Headmistress and other Saints from other Territories were forced into a decision to let the students go. And that traitor from the Council is using this chaos in the government para mapasok ang Black Clan without anyone taking notice amidts the chaos. Then while everything is set on motions, nakapasok ang Exodus sa isla.

Pero nandiyan ang mga Elites. If the Council gave out an order for anyone not to interfere, balit nandun ang mga Elites kanina? Ibig bang sabihin independent sila? Far from the Council nor the Saints' authority? O may sinusunod lang talaga silang tao?

"What are you possibly saying? I'm just stating facts." He smiled. But if he knew my ability to detect emotions, he wouldn't have done that. Because I knew very well he's faking it. At hindi ko sana malalaman ito kung hindi na siya ngumiti. "Well I have more important matters to deal with, Miss..."

"Adriana Claies." I forced to erase a forming smirk on my lips by biting my tongue. Foolish, yes I know.

But giving him my name will only give me more problems in the future. Kaya ginamit ko ang pangalan na binigay ko kay Alvin, that black guy from Sigillum. In the end, nagpalabas nalang ako ng isang normal na ngite, without any malice.

"Miss Claies." He ended. "But I shall ask you not to spread some baseless...stuffs." In other words, he's telling me to shut up. "Otherwise who knows kung saan banda ng mundo tayo ulit magkikita." Hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng warning yan, but does that mean we'll be seeing again each other soon kung may lumabas na ganitong usapan sa huli?

"I couldn't be more thrilled to see you by then." In other words, I'm saying I'll be prepared. He smiled again at lumabas na ng tent with his hands clenching.

To be saying things like this kahit alam kong confidential ang nga bagay na ito, is suicide in my part. Malay ko kung ano ang gagawin sa akin ng Council sa mga pinagsasasabi ko. And yes, ganoon ka delikado ang Council. And yes ganito ako kagalit. How dare they leave us out there! For what?! To show the Saints and Knights that those damn Councils have the biggest authority? Na kaya nilang mapasunod ang lahat? Damn them.

"Many people could have died!" Andrea landed her fist on a small round table beside her, at hindi na ako nagulat na nawasak ito. "But you just stepped into something you shouldn't." She frowned, obviously mad at the way I pressed confidential matters. As the daughter of a Saint, sigurado akong alam niya ang mga bagay na ito pero nanahimik lang dahil ayaw niyang mapasali sa gulo. She didn't want to stain her mother's name any further.

"Sumusobra na sila Andrea. They should at least know na hindi lahat ng tao ay sangayon sa kanila. Hindi ka ba nagagalit?"

"Of course I am! Pero hindi mo gustong kalabanin ang Council, Keila." It was as if she's trying to hold me down, calming me. "Trust me, they're worst than nightmares. I just don't want you getting into troubles." I was mocking her, as I placed my hair behind my ears.

"How do you know that?" She only kept her gaze on mine, pero hindi siya sumagot. "And troubles? Nice words coming out from your mouth, Andrea." Bigla siyang tumayo at mabilis na hinawakan ang dalawa kong balikat, looking straight into my eyes.

"Seryoso ako Keila. Once the Council sets their eyes on you, you won't be able to escape."

"Like how they set their eyes on you." Sabi ko sabay alis ng mga kamay niya. Alam kong hindi ko dapat sinabi yun, dahil medyo nagalit siya. Because all those Cursed Mark stuffs still buffles her.

"Ngayon pa lang sinasabihan na kita, don't step into landmines." It was a metaphor for her warning, saying that I shouldn't meddle about these things too much. "Someone like you shouldn't think matters like these." Bigla nalang sumeseryoso si Andrea kung tungkol sa Council ang pinag-uusapan. At 'someone like you'? Ano ang ibig niyang sabihin?

"Andrea alam ko kung ano ang ginagawa ko."

"But you don't! Isa ka sa mga tao sa islang ito, one of their people. That's why you can't meddle, exactly because you're under their government." I smirked. So that's why she's so concerned?

"But I'm not." Parang nagulat siya sa sinabi ko at biglang napatingin na naman sa akin. "Hindi ako maghahanap ng away sa Council, Andrea so relax." Dahil ayaw kong gumulo na naman ang buhay ko. "What I'm saying is that, I won't back down if they did something again that could cause my own death." Yun lang naman ang sinasabi ko. I don't want to die, not yet. Especially not in this place. May mga sagot pa akong hindi natanong, kaya hindi muna ako mamatay hanggang sa masagot lahat ng iyon.

"What do you mean by saying 'I'm not'?" She crossed her arms, studying me.

"I trust you, kaya sasabihin ko ito sayo." I paused for a moment, looking away. "I don't have to follow them, and they can't do anything against my decisions." As if pulling me on hers, I looked back to meet her confused looks. "Andrea, I'm an outsider."

Shockness dwelled form her face, she was speechless. Alam niya kung ani kalaking krimen ang pagpasok sa isla na walang official permission. It's a crime the same as trespassing, only this time punishable by death. At sinabi ko sa kaniyang isang outsider ako, kaya natural lang na hindi niya alam kung ano ang sasabihin.

I've been in this island for almost a year already, kaya hindi niya siguro maintindihan ang lahat lalo nang alam niya na hindi lamang ako isang ordinaryong studyante. She've always known I was working for her mother even if I hate to admit it. She's puzzled, she can't understand why would her mother resort to such a tactic. Pati ako ay hindi ko din alam kung bakit niya ako tinulungan nung araw na iyon.

Tumayo ako mula sa kinauupuan ko at tinignan siya ng derecho. Nagulat nalang ako nang bigla niyang sinummon ang isa niyang dagger at tinulak ako sa pader. With her dagger stabbed beside me on the wall, I can feel anger from her. That same small dark building figure inside her heart is only growing. Hindi ko parin alam kung ano ba talaga ito.

"The person that woman trusted more than her own daughter, is an outsider?" Seryoso niyang tanong, fury was seen just from the way she looks at me.

So that's why she's so angry? Ilang taon siyang naghirap to gain her mother's trust, her acknowledgement. Pero ako, isang outsider, someone who she doesn't even have connections to, not even one of her people, ay pinagkakatiwalaan niya, na wala manlang nga akong ginawa to gain her favour. For her it must be so unfair, and she probably only hated her mother more. She probabaly hated me too. Tumingin siya sa ilalim para itago ang mga tumutulo niyang luha.

"Nagagalit ako. It hurts. Alam mo man ang mga nararamdaman ko pero hindi mo ito maiintindihan Keila. You have no idea how many hardships and sacrifices I've been through just for her to notice...yet you..." she clenched her fists in anger, but then she held my shoulder tightly. Tapos tinignan niya ako ng derecho, despite those tears, a slight smile itched from her lips.

"Yet you're someone I just can't get myself to hate..." nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Hindi ko ito inaasahan, given her nature she would have already punched me or something. She would have already hated me. "You're someone I already regard as my closest friend." I was left speechless by her words and watched her as she stormed off the tent.

Hindi ko alam. A friend? I never intended to have someone as one sa buong buhay ko dito sa isla. I decided not to trust people yet I did. I decided to be alone yet I was always surrounded by people. Unang beses kami nagkita ni Andrea, alam kong hindi na kami magkakasundo. But it's funny how all of those changed over these past months.

Akala ko gusto ko ang pagbabago na ito, but actually now it terrifies me. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mangyayari sa kinabuksan. But just like she said, I too, have already regarded her as my closest friend. Who was it that helped me every time I was in a pinch? It was always the two of them.

Argh nakakainis naman. Kung alam ko lang na masasaktan ko siya ng ganito sana hindi ko nalang sinabi. But if I had told Iyana first, magagalit din kaya siya?

"Seriously what do you think were you doing?!" Nagulat ako nang biglang pumasok mismo si Iyana, her arms crossing in front of her. Narinig niya?

"So you heard." I let out a heavy sigh and sat right back to my earlier seat.

"From the moment the Captain entered, kanina pa ako dito sa labas. I was hoping to talk to you two about the Council stuffs but you blurted something out that you shouldn't. Akala ko ba empathy ang ability mo? You should have spared her feelings!" Is she trying to lecture me?!

"Ah don't remind me." Inis ko salita. "Akala ko ba nagpapahinga ka?"

"Kanina pa ako nagising. Nagpapahinga ako kanina pero hindi mawala sa isip ko ang mga nakalap nating impormasyon kaya pumunta dito—anyway," she paused and looked away. "Huwag muna nating pag-usapan yan. You should talk to Andrea. Ayaw kong mag-away kayo sa harapan ko." I frowned.

We're always fighting! Pero tama nga siya. Palagi kaming tatlo nag-aaway but not like this. It was her saying she doesn't want things to get so complicated between us. Iyana is too observant. I smiled and immediately stood up, passing by her.

"Thanks, Iyana." I muttered, she only smiled back.

Dried leaves beneath my shoes gave off sounds that'd indicate anyone that I was walking here in the woods. Hindi ko alam kung saan pumunta banda ang babaeng yun pero alam kong nandito siya. And now I'm actually chasing her, at ano naman ang sasabihin ko? Apologise? Then what? Argh ang tanga ko naman kasi, bakit ko pa sinabi? If I had known such a thing would happen sana hindi ko nalang pinaalam sa kaniya. I was careless, I was hoping she'd understood. But I was wrong. I've always hated scenes like this, dramas.

I annoyingly kicked a pile of leaves away kaya aksidente akong natamaan ng isang paparating na sanga. I hissed in pain as I caress my head. Sa dinami pa kasing lugar dito pa siya nag walk out. She's probably venting out her anger right now, kung nasaan man siya.

Soon, I found myself reaching the ends of the trees. Nang makarating ako sa dulo ay nakita ko si Andrea doon na nakaupo sa may malaking flat na bato, throwing rocks at the river. Sa unahan kasi ng mga kakahuyan na ito ay ilog na, that boundary between the North and the East.

"So that's how you vent out your anger huh?" Tanong ko habang lumalakad mula sa likuran niya. She was surprised but didn't turn around at pinagpatuloy lang ang pagtatapon niya ng bato. "I was expecting you to be throwing punches on trees." Just like the fist time I saw her so angry and frustrated, yung natalo siya kay Hana Treywon. But now she's a rank nine, she came a long way reaching that point.

"Tsk. Anong ginagawa mo dito?" She asked annoyed, as she took off her cloak at tinapon sa ilog. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero dahil siguro sa hindi niya na kaya ang bakas ng mga natitirang dugo. It revealed her long leathered pants na nakatago ang ilalim sa mahabang leathered boots niya. She wore a sleeveless shirt coloured in white na may mga dumi nadin.

"I'm sorry." I said awkwardly. Wala siyang sinabi sunod, only letting the breeze fill that gap of silence. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin, because we're not used to stuffs like this. "Look, hindi ko sinasabi na mas pinagkakatiwalaan ako—"

"Don't bother explaining." Walang dalang galit ang salita niyang yun, at nagulat ako dahil diyan. "I told you. I can never bring myself to really hate you. Hindi ako galit sayo, well siguro kaonti lang kanina, pero hindi na ako galit. Rather, I feel disappointed in myself more." Her words are very solemn. Lumapit ako sa tabi niya at hindi niya na kailangan tumingin sa akin.

"My father was the one who made me realised how great of a person is my mother, that I should be proud of her as the Northern Saint. I'd brag about that every time." Come to think of it, wala akong narinig tungkol sa ama niya. "We were a happy family. But when my father died from an unknown cause, I realised my father was only shielding me from the truth. From the truth that my mother is the kind of person who doesn't care about her own family."

"Pero kahit alam ko yun simula bata palang ako, sinikap kong makuha ang pagmamahal niya, ang atensyon niya. Her acknowledgement. " This story is familiar. "I'd train so hard every single day, umaasa na balang araw tignan niya rin ako ng pagmamahal tulad ng pagtingin niya sa mga tao niya. That one time I saw kids running down the street playing with each other, I could only resist the urge to play so happily like that without a care. I was envious of them, kasama nila ang pamilya nila, masaya ang buhay nila. Pero ako puro pagsasanay lang ang ginawa ko."

"Then one day the entrance examination for the elementary level took place. People gave so much expectations, sinasabi na makakaya ko ang pagsusulit na ito, habang ang iba naman nagsasabi na kahit wala daw akong gawin tiyak na makakapasok ako dahil ina ko ang Headmistress." Her eyes wander around the flowing river, the rocks clenched under her fist.

"Pero hindi ako nakapasok. That frustration...I felt like dying. I couldn't get in because everyone that went on with the exam plot against me, every single one of them, because they were jealous, saying that I shouldn't pass that exam, that I shouldn't outshine them. They made sure I fail every phases." Plot against her?! Bakit wala akong narinig na balita tungkol nito?!

"At siguradong alam din ito ng Headmistress, pero wala siyang ginawa. Akala ko sobrang hina ko lang talaga that I don't deserve her attention. My mother suffered a great embarrassment but she didn't say anything to me, thinking back she probabaly hated me. I was close with my sister back then, she would always help me train." She sighed. "But when she found out I failed, akala ko talaga mas tutulongan niya lang ako sa pagsasanay. But she despised me, she said I shouldn't have been born, that I'm a failure." Then she showed a smile, a bitter one, the one filled with so much remorse.

"I had thoughts about dying once, thinking that if I did disappear she'll notice me finally." My eyes grew wide nang marinig kong sinabi niya yun at biglang napatingin sa kaniya. "Of course I would, hindi ako ganoon kalalakas para itaboy lang lahat na paghihirap na binibigay sa akin mg mundo. That feeling like everything is against you, that no one's on your side."

In short, wala siyang kakampi dahil pati ang mundo mismo ay ayaw sa kaniya. She got through all of those things on her own, na walang kasama sa buhay. She reach this point na walang tumutulong sa kaniya. She gained reputation through her own means at hindi dahil sa ina niya. She was always alone, at yan siguro ang rason kung bakit ganoon ang personality niya, that refuses help from everyone else making sure she does everything on her own.

So that's why she's so strong. Because unlike her, I always had to depend to anyone.

"But that was the last time I thought of giving up. That everyone who hurt me must pay the price, that I get up every morning, fight, to the point that I'll even get revenge on life and my existence itself." Tapos ay napatingin siya sa akin.

"Then you came, you and Iyana. Maraming nagbago sa buhay ko simula nung dumating kayong dalawa. I even cared so little about my mother's acknowledgement anymore at ang iniisip ko nalang ay ayaw kong magpahuli sa inyong dalawa." She stood up, only few inches away from me.

"But then you're an outsider, that my mother acknowledge you, my rival who came from the outside, more than me, her own daughter. That hurts. But I don't hate you, Keila, I can't. Matalik kitang kaibigan who's been with me simula una palang. You and Iyana were the only people I can trust, who never really left my side after all we've been through."

"We went along with all of your stupid ideas, we didn't like it at first, but those were the most enjoyable moments of our lives." Nagulat siya sa sinabi ko at ngumiti nalang. Tinaas niya ang kamay niya at nilagay sa tabi ang buhok ko sa kaliwa. My left eye in view.

"Remember that time where I destroyed your left eyesight? Well of course you do. I still regret doing that."

"It has already healed, although there may be a mark left inside."

"Our promise." Wika niya, then a memory came into view.

"This eye," tinaas ko ang buhok ko para ipakita sa kaniya ang naka bandage kong mata. "It's a proof that someday, the two of us, will battle to death and we'll finally settle everything between us." All those misunderstandings, anger, jealousy, we'll settle all of it for good.

"At sisuguraduhin kong ako ang mananalo." Sabay naming sabi na siyang ikinagukat ko. But then I smiled and offered her my hand.

"I wouldn't forget it." I smiled.

"When that time comes, I only hope we'll still remain as friends, Keila." Seryoso niyang salita. I let out a fist and slowly hit her right shoulder. She seemed surprise for a moment though.

"Don't be stupid. I never intended to have friends, but when I do, I don't plan on loosing them."

AN: The Eastern battle and the Silverrium arc finally ended! And obviously starting a new one at malapit na matapos ang librong ito. Siguro ang next arc ay ang final arc na or may isa pa na arc, but it will greatly help in Keila's character development!

For those who have reached this far, marami pong salamt sa suporta at sa pagbabasa! 😍 😊

And please bear with me, may book two pa po ito, because if you've read the prologue, this is hardly just the beginning. At siguro dito ko nalang ilalagay 😁.

So for those who made it this far, I wish you'll see me at the end. 😊

Buuut! I hope this chapter isn't a disappointment. Thank you for reading!