Why Do Monsters Never Repent?

The world is a vast place. One will never truly know how other people go on with their lives, they can only focus on each of their own reach. But sometimes, it amazes me how despite living in different continents, countries, kingdoms...there is always called that majority that will lead most people into a belief, uniting despite living different lives, in different places. When they write fairy tales, heroes will always prevail in the end--they always do so for children like it that way, because it'd be one of the only few things that could distract their innocence from how cruel reality actually goes. 

I found myself thinking such wonders as I stare at a rack of books hid behind a transparent glass, the name "Children's Bookstore" engraved just above the arching door beside me. But the whole building was close to a ruin, leaving only two wooden pillars from both sides to support the whole ceiling. It was the same for the rest of the chained buildings. Along with the large boulders of rocks blocking the cracked roads, some dead corpses were lined up beside the streets; their bodies being covered cloths, and there were some crying on the corner. 

Leomer Empire was a thriving continent. Many people would come from different nations to start a new life in this place, and among those places, the Capitol was the one shining with fortune and money. But all that's left were ruined buildings, dead bodies, and lost people not knowing what to do. Most of them were innocent, unaware of how everything actually seemed to be. All the illusions on the entire continent disappeared, and it was accompanied by a total destruction. May it be economy, their industry, agriculture...everything vanished in an instant the moment I beheaded their Emperor. 

"Don't mess with me, bastard!" 

I looked over my right, seeing two groups of people having an argument. Some wore noble clothes, while some wore commoner ones. Their Empire fell, which means money and power won't really matter in this place anymore. They could still seek refugee to other countries, but I doubt it'd be all that easy especially that the New World Order is brewing. In other words, they have nowhere to run to. 

"Do not act high and mighty! The Empire has fallen, our Emperor might even be dead, and the Officials have abandoned us! We are all going to die here whether you like it or not."

"The rations of foods won't last. Imagine what other cities are experiencing now."

"They will probably march here in Capitol to seek help, but we have no way of helping them!"

"Which Kingdom attacked?"

"Surviving soldiers said that the Empire even allied with Zyrendel to fend off the attacks upon the Emperor's order, but the enemy is obviously far stronger. There are only less than a hundred soldiers left stationed here in the Capitol, we have no way of defending ourselves."

"Other countries might use this as an opportunity to overtake Leomer."

The argument and discussions continued on, but I couldn't bear to listen for my eyes drifted to a boy holding a newspaper. But that wasn't what attracted my attention, it was the headline for an article he was reading, along with an image. I covered my head securely with my cloak as I started walking deeper down the alleyway. I could see several people just sitting around, while there are those resorting to stealing in order to get by.

I saw a familiar figure leaning over the wall at the end, but I stopped before getting close. She was closing her eyes, both arms crossed in front of her. I knew she felt my presence, but she made no effort making that obvious. Until she finally sighed and threw something over my direction. I caught the crumpled paper, still looking at her. I opened what I had in hand, a wanted poster immediately catching my eyes, but it didn't truly bother me.

"So Kion managed to finally gain support and is steadily moving up the ladder as an heir by releasing an article: Keila Willar's true identity as Caelesti of the Unknown, exploited from her crimes by Zen Arkion of Zyrendel." I remembered from that newspaper, while clutching the wanted poster in my hand with my face on it. "But that's not all, there's also that Caelesti of the Unknown's successful attack over Leomer Empire. Is that your way of cornering me?"

"These people need to know the truth. Zyrendel promised to help the survivors get by somehow, but everybody knows Zyrendel can't take care of the whole continent."

"The decision I made...was that a wrong one?"

"I don't know. But I want you to regret it. Remorse, Keila."

"I don't feel such."

"Then it could only mean one thing." She walked past me, her shoulder lightly bumping mine. "You're a monster hiding behind a human skin, or you don't even try to hide it at this point."

"Is that so?"

"I know so." She smiled, patting my shoulder before tucking a hood over her head. "Perhaps it's because we're friends...that I don't actually hate that monster."

"Andrea--" I turned around, only to stop myself when she leaned her face closer, our distance an inch apart.

"Save it. For the next time we meet shall be in battlefield." 

I watch her walk away without saying anything, and she soon began to disappear from my view. Exodous must be making a move, reason why she's leaving. Iyana must be already somewhere else now, devising a plan. Them leaving must also mean that Zyrendel has made a choice in which side they would join in this upcoming war. Judging by the fact that Zyrendel always been a free Kingdom housing both regulars and irregulars. 

In the first place, the existence of irregulars weren't all that well-known before the New World Order declared both versions. In other words, most irregulars only came out to the surface when they were given the chance to fight for their rights. It has been believed that there are actually more numbers of regulars compared to the latter, but over these past generations; there are people who were born a regular and evolved to being an irregular like Andrea after claiming a forbidden power similar to a dark energy. While there are some races with bloodline that are far enhanced than normal humans, like mine. 

I could only wonder how this world would turn out after the war. Well, I claimed responsibility upon stopping both versions from making a mess out of this world, I don't want it to get destroyed after all. The war is indeed another way of saving this world, killing thousands of people regardless of who wins, reducing the immense amount of energy that's overflowing and leaking everywhere. But what of the world after that said war? 

It would be another cycle of revenge and hatred that will spark to another war years later. I'm saying it would never end and that there will never be peace. Though I don't really care about that fact. Activating the Etherion Tower which would eventually absorb this world's leaking energy while automatically cleansing it and would power up the Spirit Land which in itself is lacking energy, would save both worlds without the need of war. 

Surely they knew that possibility. But as Claudious said, that plan might bring dangers to this world instead. After all, nobody will ever know what would the Spirits do with such technology. Plus, even without the problem of this leaking energy, the New World Order is bound to commence no matter what happens. The murder of Kalvin, the Sky of the Leomer Empire, only hastened that said war leaving both versions to start off the battle. 

But was I supposed to wait for both Orders to complete their preparations before I could get the Guardian myself? It is clear that they do not care about this world at all. Over these past years, the world has been constantly changing, the leaking energy has been changing lands, killing lives, and catastrophe such as earthquakes, volcano eruptions, tsunamis, and many more have already been taking place in different places. 

Yet they claim that this war should occur, for what exactly? To know which of them all should rule this world? To know which of them should live and have their peace? It might sound selfish coming from me, but for them...they have had enough. Discrimination just for being different, being suppressed because of fear, hiding because they do not want to die...I do understand where irregulars are coming from. But regulars have only been doing such acts because they are aware that deep inside, they are weak and that if they don't show supremacy, than they will be killed instead.

It's solely because of fear that they are capable of violence. After all, hostility is that one emotion that is born out of fear. They have that fear because of how this world has been since the past, perhaps that's the reason why they don't really care about this world at all. The thing is, everybody knows all these things, and they are left with no choice but to choose a side and fight. In my case, I chose to side with this world despite my hatred against it. I chose this world to save because I have the power to choose that option, the power to be different from the rest.

"You're back." Silverrium was the first I saw the moment I opened the door. 

Apparently, it was decided that we'll prolong our stay here in the Empire--or it used to be, until Lucis finds the missing land of Crozos, a continent where Athánatos people used to peacefully live. As stated before, Crozos was somewhere along the continent of Leomer Empire which grew drastically these past few years--until I put a stop to it. Currently though, we have this small cabin as a camp just near the woods. 

"Nasaan na ang iba?" Napaupo ako sa silya para magpahinga.

"Lucis and your other two spirits left just a while ago. They seemed to have found some sort of a breakthrough. The alchemist kept jumping in joy." Napabuntong-hininga niyang wika. Napangiti ako sa nalaman dahil parang nakikita ko narin ang nangyari. "Habang si Finé naman ay lumisan sa kabilang city kasama si Ziandra para makahabol sa bagong impormasyon. Ellise went to spy on the remaining aides the Emperor might have left. The Dragonborne was out testing her abilities. Si Aeryn naman...hindi ko siya nakita ngayong araw."

"Si Laire?" Hindi ko nararamdaman ang koneksyon ko sa kaniya dito.

"Ah pumasok siya sa gubat. There are still a few remnants of the former Emperor's soldiers out there. They might come to target you for revenge. Although the idea is foolish."

"Revenge might be foolish, but sometimes it's the only way to quench anger." Tumayo ako sa kinauupuan ko at ngumiti kay Silv na nakakunot ang noo. "Let's go meet her."

Napabuntong-hininga ulit siya at tumayo na lamang din. "Sigurado ka bang ayaw mong magpahinga? Halos dalawang linggo ka rin nawalan ng malay sa pagkaubos ng enerhiya mo."

Dalawang linggo na ang nakalipas simula nung namatay ang Emperor ng Leomer Empire at ang lumipas matapos kong gamitin ang halos lahat kong natitirang enerhiya para hindi masira ang buong continent. Napupuno kasi ng ilusyon ang buong lupain, kaya nung namatay si Kalvin ay bigla ding nawala ang mga ilusyon na ito na siyang rason kung bakit sirang-sira ang buong Leomer ngayon. 

"I've had enough rest." Lumabas ako sa cabin at tumungo papasok sa kakahuyan kung saan sumunod din naman si Silverrium. 

"You seem to be pushing yourself too hard these past few days." He stated, drawing out his sword to cut off the blocking bushes and stems. "Hanggang ngayon hindi ko parin maintindihan kung bakit mas pinili mong gamitin ang enerhiya mo para maligtas ang mga tao, ang mga tao na ngayon ay kinamumuhian ka dahil sa pagpatay mo sa Emperor nila at sa pagsira ng kanilang mga bahay."

"That's exactly why they hate me, Silv."

"At tinatanong ko kung bakit mo parin sila niligtas. If it weren't for your immense energy, half of the continent would have had disappeared along with most lives. In exchange for all that, you're still hated, seen as a monster. Alam kong hindi nila alam kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari, but nobody will blame you if you get angry at least."

"What's the point of getting angry at a bunch of people who have no idea what's happening? May karapatan silang husgahan ako dahil pinatay ko ang taong nagbibigay sa kanila ng pag-asang mabuhay ng mapayapa."

"Sometimes, I seriously don't know if you're twisted or just a fool."

Tinulak ko ang malalaking sanga na humaharang sa daanan ko, at nakita ko na lang ang sarili kong nakatayo sa gitna ng gubat na napapaligiran ng matataas na punong-kahoy. Ramdam ko ang liwanag ng umaga mula sa tumataas na araw sa kalangitan. Sa dulo ay  may isang ilog kung saan bumabagsak ang tubig mula sa itaas ng mabatong pader. Sa ilalim ng talon ay may isang pigurang nakatayo dito. Nakasuot siya ng mahabang itim na cloak at dahil malapit siya sa tubig ay nababasa siya, mukhang umiinom kasi ito. 

Napansin niya siguro ang presensya namin ni Silv kaya humarap ito sa amin. Mula dito ay nakikita ko ang maiksing buhok nito na kulay brown, madali lang itong maaninag dahil sa sikat ng araw. Ang kulay ng mga mata nito ay parang katulad nang kay Silverrium pero kumpara sa demonyo ay parang walang kulay ang sa kaniya. Mabuti na lang at hindi siya tuliyang bumalik sa pagiging deactivated niya kahit na nawala ako ng halos dalawang taon sa mundong ito.

Nagulat ako nung una ko siyang nakita dahil hindi ko inaasahan nan magkakaroon ng human form ang isang guardian katulad niya. Naalala ko noong sinabi niyang kaya niyang gayahin ang form ng mga tao kung iyon ang gugustuhin ko pero mas kampante kasi akong nasa isipan ko lang siya palagi. Sinabi din ni Silv na napilitan lang siyang ibahin ang anyo niya dahil nahati siya sa isipan ko nang aksidente akong mapunta sa kabilang mundo. Palagi naring magkasama ang dalawa simula nun bago sila makita ni Aeryn. 

Speaking of the female demon though, we watch her jump from the top of the fall and safely land on the rushing river. The splash she made was huge that it got Laire completely soaked. The guardian merely shrugged her off, looking at the demon without any particular expression before she wiped off her face with her palms. I glanced at Silv and notice him shook his head with a chuckle. A common occurrence?

"You two have been here since early morning, let's head back. Hihintayin na lamang natin ang balita mula sa alchemist kung nandito ba talaga ang hinahanap ni Ke'ala sa Leomer dahil kung wala, aalis din tayo dito." Silverrium said when we got closer, setting a magic circle above Laire to dry her off in an instant while Aeryn just frowned in question.

"The Demon Silverrium means to say we are only awaiting for Sir Lucis Voltron's final confirmation before leaving." Laire translated in a monotonous tone, one that reminded me that she isn't a human capable of having emotions. "And Ke'ala, would you wish for me to return to your consciousness?"

"No. It's amusing seeing you in your human form so you may have that form however you see fit, and drop the formalities, Laire."

"Understood."

"That Guardian only ever listens to you." Aeryn mumbled, sighing. "You go on ahead. I met Ellise just a while ago, she seemed to be following a group of people."

"Out here in the woods?" Tanong ko at tumango ito. 

"We scanned for the Emperor's remaining loyal soldiers, we found some gathering which we quickly wiped off. Those Ellise have been following might another group of remnants. That woman doesn't like working with people, but she might meet some trouble along the way so I'll go help her out." 

"Hmm." I thought out loud, looking at a distance. "This might be a good chance to know what you're all capable of, so let's all go meet up with her."

"Although I can sense you are just bored." Laire announced in her usual monotone voice, looking at me without any particular expression. "What? You said not to use formalities."

The two demons laughed while I just smiled at the sight. Naunang naglakad si Aeryn dahil alam niya ang pupuntahan habang kaming tatlo ay nakasunod lang sa likod. Nagkwe-kwento si Silverrium tungkol sa naging buhay niya noon bilang isang Heneral ng Demon Army,'yung mga panahon kung saan matindi ang labanan ng mga regulars at irregulars. Sa mga panahong iyon kasi, nalaman ko na isa sa pinakakatakutan ng mga regulars noon ay ang mga demonyo kung saan may naghahari pang tinatawag nilang Demon King.

Mahigit sampung taon din ang tinagal ng labanang ito at isa si Silverrium sa limang Demon Generals na sinisilbihan ng direkta ang hari nila. Dahil sa mga demonyo, naging mapayapa ang buhay ng karamihang irregulars buhat ng unti-unting pagbawas ng teritoryo ng mga tao dahil sa patuloy nilang pagwasak ng mga kaharian, lupain, at ng iba pang lugar kung saan maraming regulars ang tumitipon. 

"Those peaceful days were used to be called Irregular Era. Regular were hardly seen around those times in fear. After almost twenty years though, the last Demon King passed away without anyone to take his thrown. That was when the remaining regulars drove out the irregulars again and the tides of the battle changed to their favour--even now." May halong galit na wika ni Silv. Kaya pala grabe na lang ang galit niya sa mga tao nung una namin siyang nakalaban.

"I wasn't born until a hundred years ago, and there were no more elder demons to tell the tales." Aeryn said. So that's why she has been wandering around and became an aide to one of the Alberich's Commissar before I found her. "So I have always been wondering why there hasn't been any demon king around for the last centuries."

"Not just any demons can become a King all of the sudden, Aeryn. Not even us Demon Generals were capable. A Demon King can only be called as one as such being exceeds the power of the past Kings."

"How would demons even know if there's a King around." I questioned.

"Because such being can command a demon, because such a powerful entity is connected with all with demon blood--even monsters, and we all unconsciously gather around that being. But no demons have been sighted with such, perhaps not for another few centuries." Silverrium answered.

"Then how did most demons and powerful monsters end up stored inside Sigillum?"

"The last Demon King, he made a relic capable of storing anything in any quantity. Now called Sigillum. The relic is to be used in order to store the remaining regulars inside. But the King died and regulars have started a revolt to drive us irregulars out of the surface. The four other Generals have exhausted their mana just to activate Sigillum and store all demons and monsters inside. They weren't able to store everyone, but it was still a large number. For years and years, demons have lived inside in peace."

"They left you to take care of the rest?" Aeryn asked.

He smiled. "They stored me inside as well in hopes for me to serve the next Demon King. Until that battle back in Magnus happened, with Black Clan hoping to claim the relic and extract its powers--because of their foolishness, I was thrown out back in the world. I was patient, kept waiting for the next King to set us all free."

"But that said King never appeared and you decided to just trample down humans on your path." I continued.

"Not until the Sigillum, which took drained all of the four Demon Generals' mana, became a part of your consciousness; giving you the power to activate it however you want. You have such an immense spiritual energy that it can be frightening, yet you don't use it like most humans would."

My eyebrow lifted. "How would they use it?"

"Domination. Power. Fame. Fortune. Recognition. Humans are that foolish."

"Domination? Basically telling me to become the world's greatest politician. Power? It would only bring me more burdens and I wouldn't like that. If it's fame, I'm already famous enough, aren't I? And I don't need fortune for I wouldn't know how to use it."

"What about the last one?" The female demon said.

"Why would I want something I see no point in?"

"Silverrium." Laire called, her tone making the demon flinch. "Guardians are created centuries after your race declined, so I didn't have the information about your King. But it made curious, compared to Ke'ala," humarap siya sa akin mismo kahit na hindi ako ang tinatanong niya. "Who is more powerful?"

"The answer is easy." Silv scoffed, crossing his arms. "The Demon King."

"That's interesting." I smiled. 

"Indeed." Laire muttered, her fingers holding down her chin. "Relics are made from ancient times, much older than Guardians, and the only ones capable of making such powerful artifacts are people who are far more powerful, and there are twelve of them. Which means there used to be twelve powerful entities walking on this world."

"The Pyramid, capable of opening up realms. The Hernal's Box, can store powerful and archaic spells and magic. Gize, a relic that can store time. Sigillum, one that can store beings as though a seal. Then there's the Paragon, a relic that can manipulate people. One unnamed relic was destroyed in Magnus when they attempted to wipe out the leaking dark energy back in Enchant Woods." Silverrium reminded.

"Another three relics were destroyed over the past two centuries, according to this world's knowledge." Laire added.

"No wonder the West Mages Association seemed desperate to find the remaining ones. There are three more missing relics. Laire, what can these relics do?"

"Now looking for data." She declared, closing her eyes. "Ichor, a relic that can curse one's blood. Made by a powerful demigod who vowed to destroy the gods who abandoned him. The Gods found out about this relic soon after before he got to used it, killed the demigod, and attempted to destroy the relic. But it was so powerful that not even Gods can destroy it, so they threw it away." Binuksan ni Laire ang mga mata niya at nagliliwanag ito, na parang nasa ibang lugar ang isipan niya at hindi dito.

"The other two?" Tanong ni Aeryn.

"Solis. A relic found at the bottom of the Martian Seas. There is no said data on how the relic was made, but there are theories it might have come from a different world far from ours. The relic can hold souls and manipulate consciousness, and the last holder of such relic died so suddenly that no one knew where it is now."

"The last one?" 

"Aether. In ancient Greek, it was created by an alchemist who balanced all the elements such as fire, water, earth, and air. By combining all these elements, he was able to include light, ice, time, tech, magic, dark, light, life, and even death. He combined all named elements and it resulted to Aether. This relic is said to be the most powerful of all lost artifacts as it is capable of creating life, time, magic, and is capable of bringing death. No one can truly dictate how powerful the relic so the rest of the data is absent."

"It would be dangerous if it gets to a wrong hand." Silverrium said, which made the other demon nod in agreement.

"Aether is not an object." Our eyes shot back to Laire at what she said, making me frown; puzzled. "Aether is a relic, but it is not an object. The Alchemist who made the relic itself is the Aether. He made his life a relic."

"A human relic? Like Ke'ala?"

"Wrong. Ke'ala merely became one with Gize and Sigillum, making both relics which are past artifacts, become a part of her being. But Aether is different. It wasn't an object from the start but a mana--or you call these days as spiritual energy. The Alchemist somehow created the relic and was resulted to a unique blend of energy, not an object."

"So the energy was lost when the alchemist, who's an Aether, died?" Silv questioned. 

"It was believed to be the case. Until Aether last appeared on a newborn baby five centuries ago. The child grew up and became an Emperor of Alberich, until he died in an old age and the energy wasn't inherited by any of his bloodline."

"In other words, this Aether combines with a person's energy and that person evolves to being a relic itself. It cannot be shared through bloodline or cannot be absorbed in any means. It only disappears once the holder dies and appears on another random person after many millenniums." I concluded.

"Correct. It only appears after such a long time for the relic needed an immense amount of energy to be gathered before it combines with a person who can use that unique energy however they want." 

"How many Aethers were recognized in this whole world's history?"

"There are only two. I believe whoever has the Aether now must be powerful, judging by the fact that it has been five centuries since then The more the time gap, the more powerful the relic is, after all."

"Can you pinpoint these relics are? Although that may sound impossible, not even organizations who dedicate most of their lifetimes into finding them can--"

"I can." Silv was silenced when he was interrupted by Laire. Lahat kami ay napatigil at napatingin sa Guardian na walang ekspresyon sa mukha. Napatigil din ito at nagtatakang napatingin sa amin. "What?"

"You're saying you can find these relics that are considered lost artifacts that even the World's Organization have trouble looking." Aeryn stated. "Why haven't you said anything sooner?"

"I do not remember you asking so." Tapos ay humarap ito sa akin. "Would you wish for me--I mean, do you want me to find them?" 

I chuckled lightly, amused by the fact she isn't used dropping her formality. Well, she was more or less created to serve someone. "Show me how far you can dig into this world's secrets."

"Is that a challenge?" 

"It is, now hurry up." Silv said, anticipating. 

Pinikit niya ang mga mata niya at matapos ang ilang segundo, bumukas ito at bumalik na naman ang liwanag. Na tila may hinahanap ang mga mata niya sa sarili niyang isipan. Nakapunta na ako mismo sa isipan ni Laire, at isa itong buong library kung saan maaari niyang mahanap ang mga impormasyon na nakasulat sa buong mundo, nakikita ang mga pangyayari na naganap na  o nagaganap pa lamang. Kaya din ni Laire mahulaan ang pwedeng mangyari sa hinaharap gamit ang mga maliliit na detalyeng nakukuha ng mga mata niya at ginagawa itong buong impormasyon. 

"The relic Pyramid is located." Tinaas niya ang dalawang kamay niya at sa isang iglap, may nabuo ditong isang hologram na siyang pinapakita kung ano ang nakikita niya. 

There were series of vague images at first, until Laire settled on one particular scene that was becoming clearer--but as though there was that sudden wave of energy that came pouring in, the sight blurred. Despite that though, I could still make out the high arching ceilings on the back, the unmoving cemented statues elevated through the posts , the red fluttering curtains covering the stone walls, and the huge dome of light coming from the transparent roof above.

Then there was that rounded stone slab standing atop of what seemed to be a travertine platform. There was that portion of dark energy that enveloped the area as though there was a powerful gust of wind, and it was surrounded by a few people wearing black cloaks. There was no way to discern their looks for not only the image was unclear, they were also covered in protective layers of energy. I could sense the dark spiritual energy condensing through the air despite the fact that I wasn't on the location itself. The energy kept gathering around the glowing pyramid-shaped object inside, and more it does so, the more the object glows in bright blue. 

"That's the relic right there." Silverrium, stating the obvious. "And they are channeling their dark energies towards the artifact."

"They are planning to activate it." Aeryn said. 

"The activation of the relic requires a great amount of spiritual energy." Laire started. "In the past, the last holder of the Pyramid had to sacrifice more than fifty mages for the relic to activate. Relics can be used by whoever, although the power it can give is limited, but it would need powerful amount of energy in order for one to claim it as their own and when one has managed to do so, they can wield the relic's power without limit. These people use dark energy as it requires less manpower, but it is also a great risk for they might destroy the artifact with one wrong conduction of spell."

"Pyramid and Hernal's Box are either on the Association or the Black Clan. Both have decided to work together along with Exodus against the regulars and New World Order. So that might explain the dark energy, Exodus has multiple dark energy users after all. The question is how will they use Pyramid in this war." I said.

"Pyramid has the power to open realms, and considering the fact that a war is happening..." Silv trailed off, frowning even deeper.

"They Irregular Order is planning to use the power of relics against the Regular Order. They know the World's Organization--who doesn't really care about the New World Order--is looking for the relics. The irregulars using the relic is like declaring to the Organization that they have the relics and worse, they might just go use this war as a leverage for their World's Battle." Aeryn continued.

"The Irregular Order seem desperate, makes me think they are in a hurry." Silverrium replied as Laire's eyes returned to their usual colour, as well as the scene fading away before us. "What do you think, Ke'ala?"

"Well, I would like for Laire to show me the rest of the relics, but..." 

I looked above, where the azure began to darken, along with the sudden downpour of rain was the appearance of lightnings accompanied by their thunderous sounds which enthroned the skies into a massive whirlwind. The energy I was feeling was enough to envelope the entire city, it was so massive that it made my skin crawl with its intensity. The energy felt different than anything I've felt so far, it was powerful and intimidating that even I acknowledge that this could be something I won't be able to handle. 

Despite the heavy rain, a ray of light appeared above the center of the city. It dug deep like a hallow of abyss upward, the gasses of clouds separated into droplets of vapor as though regressing back to what they were used to be. The Sigillum trembled inside me, along with the relic Gize shaking off my entire core. The energy felt by every living thing before even doubled--tripled, until the energy was so powerful that there was no way of estimating its limit. The wind encircled around that particular area where the skies continued to break apart, and it was becoming a blend of streaking sunlight and dark clouds.

"Ke'ala!" I snapped back when Silverrium called out, and I knew it was already the third time. Aeryn was already gone, and Laire once again has her eyes glowing while staring above. Cold sweat tickled down my forehead, realizing I was panting. "We have too move now! It would take days to fully get away from the Empire, pero sa mga oras na ito ay pabalik na ang iba sa cabin. Kailangan lang ni Lucis mag-set ng transportation spell para makaalis tayo dito sa Leomer--"

"Wait." I breathed out an air I didn't know I was holding. "Why do we have to leave so urgently? What is going on--" hindi ko na natuloy ang itatanong ko nang bigla kaming natapon palayo buhat mg isang malakas na sigaw. 

Sa sobrang lakas ng nangyaring sigaw, kitang-kita ko ang pagputol ng mga nagtataasang punongkahoy, ang tuluyang pagwasak ng mga sirang istraktura sa syudad, ang sigawan ng mga tao, pati narin ang biglang pagyanig ng lupa. Sa lakas ng sigaw ay parang may nabuong isang napakalakas na hangin na siyang tumapon sa amin palayo. Tumama ang likod ko sa isang nakatuyong bato, at sa bigat ng paghampas ko ay nasira ito kaagad. Si Silv naman ay nakita kong natilapon sa ilog na tila's naubusan ng tubig dahil sa sigaw kanina. Si Laire naman ay nakatama sa isang puno. 

Napahawak ako sa likuran ng ulo ko nang maramdamang may dumadaloy na basa at malagkit, huli na nang mapansin kong dugo ito. Ramdam ko din ang pagbali ng mga buto ko, at ang sakit na kumapit sa buo kong katawan nang sinubukan kong tumayo. Ginamit ko ang enerhiya ko pero sa hindi ko alam na kadahilanan ay halos walang lumalabas na enerhiya mula sa katawan ko. Nararamdaman ko ang kaonting enerhiya na dumadaloy sa loob, pero hindi ko ito mapalabas, na parang ang buong kakaibang enerhiya na bumabalot sa buong hangin ay pumipigil dito. 

"Ke'ala." Tawag ni Laire na nakatayo na sa harapan ko. Hawak niya ang kanang braso niya, at mukhang nabali niya ang kamay niya. Pero ganoon parin ang mukha niya, walang halong ekspresyon. "We must get out of--"

Without even having to finish her sentence, another deafening shriek came echoing from the sky, but unlike earlier, Silverrium acted immediately and formed multiple layers of light barriers around the three of us. The shriek did not stop, causing one layer to shatter, then another, the third and the fourth, until the shriek stop; leaving one layer of barrier to protect us which made me sigh in relief. Silverrium set down the barrier, and I notice bloodstains above the protective plate of his armour on his stomach. 

And that was it, the skies completely cleared up as though the surrounding thick dark clouds were wiped away with that last echoing sound, revealing a colossal human-like monster floating above. I couldn't look away, curiosity aroused within me as though a lit candlelight which burned on its own. Along with that curiosity though, there was something deep inside me that I couldn't comprehend why. It was fear, and I didn't know why I feel such. 

Its body reached far down, its tremendous size enough to trample the entire continent just by laying on top of it. Its body entailed a flesh without skin, bare and without any layers of covers. It was far up high that even other countries can certainly see such a sight, and it only looked down without seeing anything in particular. Its head reminded me of an open umbrella that extended upward, with steams of hot smokes escaping from it. The inside of its body must be hot, enough for the surroundings below to burn at an intense heat. Its head was rather small, its mouth was pointed like that of a beak, while its sight was seemingly covered.

My gaze remained fixated on it until Aeryn appeared on the corner from the cut off trees together with Ellise. The latter had her katana drawn out, it was filled with blood that I could tell wasn't obviously hers. Aeryn had a serious but worried expression painted on her face, while Ellise looked clueless as me but still concerned by the sudden situation. She flicked her sword to the air, erasing the stains of blood before sheathing it back in her scabbard. The demons and Laire said nothing as they hurried back to the cabin with us following behind, the path became unfamiliar due to the woods in a brink of destruction.

"First of all, what in the world is that monster?" Ellise asked as I feel a shooting pain rendering her movements slow. 

"That is not a monster nor a demon." Laire explained. 

"What is it then? An alien?" She retorted, snorting due to the growing impatience.

"That, Ellise," Aeryn pointed up, but still keeping our fast pace walking. If we weren't too hurt, we could have even ran in hurry. "...is Daeva, an Endseeker." 

"I've read Endbringers in some fairy tales as a child but never Endseeker."

"The two might not be so different." Laire replied. "In children's fairy tales and other folklore, they use the word Endbringer to describe monsters who bring end to this world. But as I have said, that is not monster nor close to a demon. That itself is another entity, far from anyone's league and the most superior of all--even gods can do nothing against these creatures. Myths call them Endseekers, for such being seek end rather than bring it. The logic is that, Endseeker does not bring end, they find the end itself and they will not stop until they are satisfied."

"The first Endseeker appeared twenty centuries ago, the era in which there are no known power or magic, no wizardry or witchery, just a bunch of clueless beings who know nothing but to hunt using a stick and stone." Silverrium said, kicking down the boulders of rocks that were sent flying down from the city before due to that loud shriek. "In the past, it was believed that mana--or what you call now spiritual energy--came from the tiny bits of leaking energy from Endseekers after they disappeared and thus, the era of magic began."

"There are many Endseekers, and most of them wandered this world for a century, destroying the world which resulted for the continents to be created, oceans to filling up most of the world, mountains protruding from the soil, deserts forming, and other terrains. That is why some very few religions existed in the past that worshiped them. The last Endseeker appeared fifteen centuries ago, which erased three continents off the map in just a few days, wandered off the world for three years until it completely disappeared. These myths were passed down from irregulars to irregulars, eventually down to the regulars, until so very few people know of it now." Aeryn continued. 

"But that will change now that an Endseeker has appeared." Silverrium said. "It shall change the world as we know it."

Narating namin ang cabin at nandito na ang iba, at parang inubusan sila ng hininga dahil sa pagod. Malayo ang mga pinuntahan nila, at hindi ko alam kung paano sila nakabalik dito ng ganoon kabilis na mahirap gumamit ng enerhiya ngayon. Mabilis umaksyon si Silverrium at tinulungan si Lucis mag set-up ng law formation para sa isang transformation spell. Ang mga spirits ko naman ay tinulungan si Ellise and Laire sa mga natamong sugat nila. Si Finé at si Aeryn ay may pinag-uusapan ukol siguro sa mga nalaman niya habang wala siya kasama si Ziandra kanina. 

Lumabas ako ng cabin at tumingin sa itaas kung saan hindi gumagalaw ang Endseeker. Na tila ay nagmamatyag ito mula sa itaas at hindi ako komportable dito. Gusto kong malaman kung gaano ito kalakas, pero sa enerhiya pa lamang na bumabalot sa buong continent ng Leomer, masasabi kong hindi biro ang lakas nito. Hindi ko na maintindihan kung ano ang nangyayari. Kakatapos lang ng pagkasira ng Leomer Empire, kakasimula pa lang ng New World Order, at hindi pa umaaksyon ang World's Organization, dumagdag na kaagad ang Endseeker na ito.

"You are curious." She muttered, which made me smile a little.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Everyone knows you could go off facing it on your own without much discretion if it had activated your bloodline." She meant that rushing of blood, the fast racing of the heart, and that undeniable excitement. 

"So they sent you to check on me." I turned around, seeing Ellise lean over the doorway. "Do you think I would die if I were to fight it?"

"There is no reason for you to. Laire told me that Endseekers don't bother with beings living in this world, it's like they just move without any purpose but to seek end, destroy, and disappear. The cycle will keep on repeating until this world ceases to exist.  Kaya kahit labanan mo ito, hindi ka din naman papansinin ng Endseeker na iyan at mamamatay ka lang sa isang hampas."

Natawa ako ng kaonti sa sinabi niya bago ko ibinalin ang atensyon ko sa itaas. "Why does it not move?"

"Silverrium said something about sleeping. Endseekers always exhaust themselves after appearing and would go on rampage after it awoke, usually after a week or two. So if anyone's willing to attack, now would be a great time. Pero mas pipiliin ko na lamang lumisan palayo kaysa galitin ang natutulog."

"I am always attracted to death, it always makes me feel weak yet I still escape from its grasp in the end because rather than death taking me away, it wanted me to hold on to it myself."

"You tend to speak vaguely when you're trying to get a point across."

I chuckled. "I'm saying that--that Endseeker, does not attract me in a way death does which means I won't get killed even if I fight it."

"Kaya ba palagi kang nananalo sa mga laban mo dahil alam mo nang hindi ka mamamatay sa huli?"

"That might be it, but I don't always win." Energy traveled slowly through my body, the process of healing becoming even slower, and I could only ignore the pain like what I'm good at. "I feel restless and curious, the relics inside me feels like exploding the more I stay near it. But at the same time, I don't want to run away despite the fact that I fear this Endseeker."

"That's new." She remained looking at me, her gaze was questioning.

"And I dislike fears, Ellise. They bring me down to a void, an abyss of nothingness, down to a place where my mind gets clouded with nothing but unmasked terrors. Yet strange as it may sound, I do not hate it. Rather, I am tempted to indulge myself to that feeling of being chained down unto something I dislike, a way of retribution perhaps? But the more time passes, the more powerful I realize I am becoming, the less regrets I feel until I no longer see myself feel a tiny ounce of remorse. So I try to force myself to care."

"Just like how you ended up saving the entire continent from total destruction after causing its destruction in the first place."

"Andrea told me to remorse, it was a plead that I'm not able to do. She said I am a monster under a human skin, and despite that, she couldn't hate me. Tell me, Ellise. Am I slowly changing? Or are people around me changing because I cause them to change? Because of my emotions to manipulate emotions."

"I don't know, Ke'ala. I wanted to kill you at first, but I don't remember having that changed. Minsan ko nang inisip na may ginawa ka, pero habang pinagmamasdan lang kita sa malayo, habang unti-unti kitang nakikilala, hindi ko na alam kung ano ang iisipin kaya hindi ko na lamang ito iniisip." She admitted. "But it's clear to me that you're slowly distancing even yourself from who you are. You're becoming unable to trust yourself the more you grow power within you."

"I have seen this coming, me not being able to completely trust myself. My fears are beginning to uncover themselves, and soon I might stop trusting everyone around me, and I might stop seeing myself as human." I laughed. "Strange, isn't it? That despite what people call me, I still cling to that hope that I am, at the end of the day, still but a mere human." I sighed, knowing that the others were eavesdropping. "Who knows, though? I might even be changing all of your emotions now without me even realizing it."

"Ke'ala--" she flinched when I stared at her, who gave me an unfamiliar concerned look.

"And that is something I will not forgive myself for."

I do not need their concerns, nor do I seek their companies. I am fine with having only myself to look out for me. I accept their trusts but I fear that I might have indeed changed their emotions to stay by my side. After all, who would stay with someone like me whose parents, siblings, and even my best friends, want my death? I smiled bitterly, my eyes drifted to the rest who stood behind her, looking at their puzzled eye; searching for traces of something that isn't there before I landed my gaze above where the Endseeker silently letting humanity know of its presence. I clenched my fist, becoming serious. 

My mother always gave me riddles, ones that I did not answer for I couldn't be bothered to despite knowing what their answers were. But there was that one particular riddle that my mother let out when she was passing by the corridor, her eyes locked on mine but the connection faded away as soon as it was made. It was a riddle that made me doubt my own answer from the past, making it much clearer to understand now that I am being branded as one myself.

"Why do monsters never repent?" She had asked out loud for me to hear, making me continue on my way despite having heard it.

"Because they aren't capable of feeling such." I mumbled then, enough to keep my words only for myself. 

But that seemed wrong. There may be different kinds of monsters, but the worst kinds never repent not because they aren't capable, it's because they do not trust themselves to carry on the responsibility of having to regret their actions. It's because they do not know how to trust their own skin enough to burden themselves with such emotion. Sometimes, they remain ignorant of this fact, something that I can't blame them doing.

But if I were to be asked, "Why do you never repent?"

It's because I'm scared.

And that was an answer I wasn't very much willing to admit.

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AN: The update was early! Why? I leave that for you to wonder. Oh and of course, happy reading!