Brewing Trouble

Both of my hands reached up to cup his face, there were lines of scratches from his forehead down to his neck, there were burn marks on the side of his cheek, and his eyes...there weren't anything in there but blackness, as though his eyeballs were carved out of him.

I let him go, dropping the mask; letting it make a silent thud on the wooden floor as I my fingers pressed my forehead. I couldn't take it. Something kept telling me that I needed to let this anger out...but I didn't know how. I squeezed my palm, returning my gaze to him but I ended up looking away...for there were no longer any eyes for me to meet. And I hated the sight of it. I despise the fact that I couldn't do anything about it.

"I'm asking you, Jarvis." I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself down. "Who...did that you?"

"Why?" He questioned as though it was the most puzzling thing he had ever heard. "Why are you so angry, Ke'ala?" He raised his hand, trying to get me into his reach, and he did. He caught me perfectly in his arms once again.

"Because I couldn't be there when you needed me to." I buried my head against his chest, wishing for more familiar warmth.

"I didn't want you to be there."

"I remember you wearing a mask when we last met."

"That time when Silverrium descended." He recalled, feeling me nod. "I healed your eye around that time."

"Why were you with the Black Clan?"

"I had no choice. I needed aurhority."

"By being one of the blacks?"

"Yes." He answered. I stepped back, my eyes still fixated on his blank stares. "I can't always be on your side forever, Ke'ala."

"I don't need you to be."

His hand graze just below my temple, as though trying to reminisce what I look like. There were a few strands of my hair that met his fingers, but he snuck passed by them as soon as his thumb brushed my lower lip. He let out a sigh, I knew it was dismay.

"Nararamdaman kong malaki ang pinagbago mo."

"All of us did."

"Hindi ko kailangan ng mga mata para malaman kung ano ang mukhang pinapakita mo ngayon." Ngumiti siya, pero pilit lamang ito. "Huwag kang malungkot, Ke'ala. Dahil nalulungkot din ako sa sitwasyon ko."

"Ano ang ginagawa mo dito?"

"Enchansia is known for its Black Market, the Black Clan owns thirty percent of businesses in here." Lumapit siya sa may lamesa at kinapa-kapa ito hanggang naabot niya ang drawer. May hinugot siya mula dito, isa itong scroll, katulad na lamang ng sa akin na ngayon ay hawak ni Celeztie. "The Clan needs money, and so do power. May mga tauhan din kami sa iba't ibang bansa. Malaki ang sakop ng Black Clan, at mas lumaganap pa ito nitong mga nakaraang taon."

"What do you need power and forces for?"

Nilapag niya ang nakabukas na scroll sa ibabaw ng mesa, medyo malayo man ako pero nakikita ko ito. Maraming mga itim na marka dito, nay mga pangalan din ang nakasulat pero mabilis din itong nawawala. They represent candidates who already died, and blacks dots reprsent those who will be soon. There are also red dots across the whole map terrain, they represent the places where the relics can be found.

"I think you know the answer to that." Mahina niyang sagot. "We're going to a war, Ke'ala."

"Is Exodus involve in this?"

"They have long been involved in this. The West Mages Association is on our side, and Exodus strengthening their own forces. The World's Organization...all races will come join the war, every living thing in this world is involved." He showed me a grin, and it made my skin crawl. "And once that organization is eliminated, that's where the real battle begins. The New World Order."

"So you're all joining forces to defeat a single enemy." It wasn't a question, but he nodded. "Which side will the Clan be?"

"There are two versions of the New World Order. The first one is where irregulars should dominate, they call it Irregularity Order. The second one is where there should be no more irregulars to save the world from crumbling down because of too much energy, the Regularity Order." He leaned over the edge of the table, crossing his arms. "I may be an irregular, but the Clan has decided to join the Irregularity Order. That's why we joined forces in the first place."

"I thought both factions are against each other?"

"We are. But we're currently in a truce. I need to save our own kind, Ke'ala. Normal humans will never understand the discrimation we've been though. The world isn't fair, and we're only playing by its rules."

"Does Father knew of this?"

"Cursed Bloods are prepared to join the war against the Regularity Order, but they chose to sit back against the World's Organization. Your father is will not take a risk fighting an enemy who might just ruin our kind when found out That's why we are hidden in the first place."

"No matter which side will win, the world will still be saved. Millions will die in that war, Jarvis."

"Everybody knows, that's why this war must happen. Ito lang ang pinakamabisang paraan para hindi tuluyang masira ang mundo." Humarap siya sa akin. "What about you? What are you planning to do?"

"I am a candidate. The organization will always keep their eyes on me. I can't make a move now." I smiled lightly. "You know, don't you?"

"Na pinalitan mo din ang emosyon ko noong una pa lamang sa isla?"

"Na mahal parin kita bilang matalik na kaibigan."

He paused before crouching lower to the floor, sensing where the mask had fallen off. He got it seconds later as he turned around, finally wearing the mask against his face. I smiled bitterly at myself as I wait for his reply.

"I do." He summoned his own weapon, it was a long pole with pointed blades on each ends, and sides were edgy, as though a razor. "And you do know as well, don't you?"

"That the Clan and Exodus are responsible for the most candidate deaths?" I chuckled. "I figured much after seeing that scroll."

"Lumalakas ang World's Organization dahil sa malaking bilang ng mga candidates nila. Hindi din biro ang mga kandidato na ito. They are strong, some are regulars, some are not. The organization deceives them into believing that they will get some kind of wish when they win that World's Battle."

"Humans will do anything for their desires."

"And that's what makes them strong, also weak." Tinutok niya ang weapon niya sa akin, kasabay nito ay ang pagliwanag nito. "That's why I'm killing you before that organization make you act like a dog just like what they did to the rest and use you against us."

"You're lying." Ramdam ko ang pagkagulat niya sa sinabi ko.

Tinaas ko ang kamay ko para gumawa ng barrier sa paligid ko matapos kong maramdaman ang isang palapit na lance. Nabasag ang barrier sa lakas ng enerhiya na nakabalot sa weapon, pero hindi ito sapat para masaktan ako dahil bago pa man ito tumama sa mukha ko ay sinalo ko na ang lance.

"Sabi ko na ngaba, alam mong may iba pang tao dito." Wika ng isang pamilyar na tinig.

Nakasuot siya ng mahabang itim na cloak, kasama ang anim na taong nakasuot din ng itim na cloak. May simbolo ng Black Clan ang likuran nang cloak nila nang bahagyang tumalikod ang isa para lumapit kay Jarvis. It's a black flag with a skull on the middle designed with BC.

"Jass Ji." I referred to her name, throwing her back the lance. Of course, it disappeared through thin air before it could come in contact with her.

"It has been a long time, Ke'ala Feyree." Another familiar voice called our as they all one by one took off their hoods. "I've been longing for another battle with you. The last has been...well, unfortunate."

"Philip Yanderson. Seems like your whole gang is here." I looked around, studying their faces. I recognize some, but I can't remember the names. "I remember capturing the two." I added, referring to the girl and the boy on the corner.

"Ash Yanderson." Said the girl with a smile. "And this is Charles." The guy nodded, but said nothing as Ash held his arm rather possessively.

"Surely you haven't forgotten the woman who almost got you." Said another, crossing her arms, a smirk visible upon her face. "Francia, nice to officially meet you, Ke'ala Feyree."

"Klint." Wika nung isang lalaki sabay tango.

Napunta ang tingin ko sa isa pang lalaki na ngayon ay nasa tabi ni Jarvis. Pamilyar ang mukha niya na parang nakita ko na noon, pero hindi ko alam kung saan. Lumapit siya sa akin at tumigil halos isang metro sa unahan ko. Nagkatinginan lang kami hanggang sa tinaas niya ang kamay niya, offering a hand shake.

"Ke'ala Feyree." He greeted with a smile. "I've always wanted to meet you." And somehow, I didn't take him as somebody who would do anything harmful at the moment so before I knew it, my hand was already clasped with his. He smiled, and it felt nostalgic.

"I can tell."

"My name is Demsel." He let go of my hand, slightly bowing his head. "Demsel Erevera."

I sighed, stripping a sudden wave of nostalgia away before it would come engulfing all my other senses. There was silence that followed as all of our eyes went to observe each other. Their gazes were penetrating, the whole room was filled with such huge amount of their energies blended in together—as well as that murderous aura.

But perhaps it's because I'm so used feeling people's hostility against me that I only smiled, taking their desires of my death lightly. I know I'm outnumbered, and I'm also obviously aware that they are no—in any manner—light opponents that could easily be taken down.

Not to mention they have Jarvis on their side. But it's not like I'm afraid of facing them all at once, it's just that in this moment, I'm in no mood for any fight. But that doesn't mean I can't defeat them all at once though.

I lifted my hand and as I did, Klint already had his magnum gun pointed at me, Francia with her arrow ready to let go, and they all had their attentions alarmed all of the sudden which made me chuckle. Perhaps that startled them, but I moved up my hand behind me, hearing the lock clicked.

"You're all too restless." I said. "You don't trust me, do you?" That question was mostly intended for my best friend, or we even still?

"Bakit naman namin gagawin 'yun?" Jass replied. "I knew something was up with you when we first battled, pero hindi ko inaasahan na—"

"Jass." Philip warned.

"Oo na, oo na." Napabuntong-hininga ito. "I'll let the boss do the talking."

"Why don't you finish off that sentence?" I frowned.

"She doesn't have to." Jarvis immediately said. "There's no need for any further flashbacks nor do we need to discuss something."

"So you plan to kill me without even telling me the reason why?"

"I told you, we don't want that evil organization to use you katulad nang ginawa nila sa ilang candidates—"

"You know I won't buy that lie. Tell me what's happening, Jarvis, otherwise—"

"Otherwise, what? Papalitan mo ang mga emosyon namin? A real threat, indeed."

I clenched my fists, but then I let my irritation loose knowing they won't tell me anything no matter how far I push. I wasn't the only one who changed, he did too. Along with that expressionless look he kept throwing me were emotions that made him hesitate, care, affection, and there was that sadness and remorse too. He hid them all so well through the pretence of that blank face.

"Do you..." I smiled bitterly and I was so sure he's aware of it. "Do you really think I'm all that bad? Immoral?"

"I know you as Ke'ala who would do anything she believes is beneficial for her. You have changed, but that part of you never did." He rounded up his sharp-edged pole through his fingers. "You were never a good person, Ke'ala. You push people away because you didn't want to sympathize with them, because you didn't want to burden yourself with their emotions."

"At sinasabi mo na mali 'yun." Sabi ko sabay sangga ng paparating na hangin na ginawa niya mula sa pagpaikot ng weapon niya gamit ng isang barrier, pero madali lang ito sirain para sa kaniya. Enough the sharp cuts of the wind made a pass through the side of my shoulder, causing a small bleed. "Parang sinasabi mo narin na dapat ko nalang pahirapan ang sarili ko."

"What I'm trying to say is that you only ever thought of yourself. I tried to set you straight, thinking it was due to to your childhood, but you ended up erasing the concept of hate within me. You made me care about you to the point that I'm regretting doing this to you."

He didn't need any eyes to see me as he launched himself forward toward my direction, his weapon beaming in light shade of blue, waves of energy layering up over his body. He was right though, he didn't need to say anything for I could understand his feelings completely.

He loves me as his precious best friend, he had always treated me like I was the most fragile being there is. He was the light at the end of a dark tunnel whenever I found myself thinking about things that should have been, things that I didn't want to think even now. He had always made sure to make me happy everyday, to experience things that I could never find myself enjoying with just myself.

But he's starting to think that those memories of us happy together were fake, thinking I was controling him, leading his emotions on which would benefit me greatly. He's thinking that, that love he has for me is actually hate...and that he had already long despised me.

But still, whatever grudge, anger, and however he deems of me as evil, twisted, immoral, selfish...I could never find myself hating him, getting angry at him. I could never—even if he ends up killing me at this same exact moment.

"Why do you suddenly feel so sad, Jarvis?" I asked, barely whispering enough for him to hear when he suddenly stopped in front of me, his weapon just a few inches away from my chest. "Why do you suddenly feel like crying?"

He was reading my mind, knowing the thoughts that have long been running through my head. He was always good at using his ability on me, where I didn't even need to use words directly to tell him everything.

Sa isang iglap ay may nabuong magic circle sa ilalim namin. Kulay itim ito, hanggang sa may lumabas na usok mula dito. Ang enerhiya na nagmumula dito ay nanggagaling sa kaniya, hindi ko alam kung kailan siya natutong gumamit ng mahika pero, hindi na ako nagulat. Sa umpisa pa lang ay alam ko nang marami pa ang magagawa ng lalaking ito.

Wala akong sinabi nang maramdaman kong bigla na lamang nagbago ang paligid namin. Wala akong maramdaman sa lugar na ito kundi malakas na enerhiya na nakabalot sa buong lugar. Wala din akong makita dahil nappaligiran ako ng kadiliman. Malamig din dito kahit walang hangin, at higit sa lahat ay hindi ko maramdaman ang sarili kong enerhiya.

"Your brother, sister...me..." his voice trailed off, echoing through the surrounding darkness but I couldn't pinpoint his location. "We've all realized what you've done long before, but we couldn't get angry at you for some reason. Kaya hinayaan lang namin ito, iniisip namin na wala kang ginawang mali."

"Because it never felt wrong, Jarvis." I stated.

"I started feeling so angry when you left, Ke'ala. I thought you trusted me, but you changed me, ruined my ability to hate you."

It's because of that exact reason I did that, because I don't trust anyone. I lived in a household where people despise my existence, always telling me that I shouldn't have been born, that I was always compared with people around me—especially how responsible my older sister and great my eldest brother is, and in that household where they always thrived to hurt me.

He swung his weapon from above, slashing me with intense force that could have broken my bones through a single contact. Pero madali ko lang itong inilagan nang humakbang ako patalikod at ramdam ko kaagad ang impact na nagawa nito sa sahig.
Mabilis niyang iniba ang puwesto niya at sinubukang tamaan ako mula pailalim.

Sinangga ko naman ito ng braso ko at dahil sa lakas ay napaatras ako ng ilang metro mula sa kaniya. May lumabas na dugo mula sa kanan kong braso dahil sa wasak na buto sa loob. Masakit ito, pero tila wala akong pakealam at nakatutok lang ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

People come to me with ulterior motives, and I felt that way the first time my sibblings came and get me out of that household. I couldn't trust them even though I wanted to, even though I know I should—but something inside me kept telling me that I mustn't, that they'd only try to betray that trust. So in the end, I erased their emotion to feel hate towards me, that whatever I'd do, they wouldn't mind it, they wouldn't despise me like others did.

Jarvis was the like a light at the end of every dark tunnels I've been through. He would always be there when I needed him, when I wanted his company, he knew everything about me without even using the words to directly tell him something. I even thought we were inseparable for he had always treated me like I was the most fragile there is.

I took another step backwards, letting his weapon pass by me as he immediately went behind, he was too fast that the sharp edge of his pole finally found its way through my back; the end of it protruding to my stomach. I fought the urge to scream in pain, biting my lower lip as blood rushed out of my mouth.

Hinawakan ko ang weapon niya mula sa unahan at binali ito kaya biglang nawala. Nakita ko ang paparating na sipa mula sa kaliwa pero hinayaan ko lamang itong tumama sa gilid ng tiyan ko. Nakaramdam kaagad ako ng sakit na parang tumunog ang mga buto sa dibdib ko nang tumama ako sa sahig.

My thoughts drifted back to earlier, that despise that, I couldn't trust him as well, I feared trusting people, and thus I altered his emotions. Everything felt perfect then, we were all happy, there were difficult times, but we all managed to see it through the end. Nobody could ruin that. We were a perfect family, we had a perfect friendship...and I didn't need anything else.

So when I found out I was adopted, I felt betrayed, I felt miserable—worse, I felt so guilty that I altered the emotions of people who aren't my real family, who don't consider me as one of their own. I hated feeling that way, and perhaps that was the reason I left. Turns out, everything was a lie. But because of that lie, I managed to find out truths about myself.

That I'm a coward, twisted, immoral, evil, a monster, soulless, and surely there'd be more to those titles. But am I really that evil for doing that? Was it that wrong to make something I had only desired possible? Why does nobody understand me? Why do they all look at me with hostility? With that intense drive to kill me? To end me?

And most of all, why am I alright with them feeling that way towards me? Why am I alright with the fact that I'm always being misunderstood? I get tired of it—of course I do, I'm a human too after all, I'm also capable of feeling pain. I'm exhausted about of all of this that I wanted to just die and leave everything behind. But I couldn't.

"What are you thinking?" His question snapped me back to reality. I managed to block out my mind before he could bring us to this place.

"Who knows?" I answered indifferently.

I sighed, pulling myself up as I watch him take his stance on a distance. A small magic circle appeared surrounding his left hand, its glow illuminating the surrounding darkness. The energy around me became doubled, its intensity almost burning me—suffocating me even.

His black cape attached to his long coat easily flittered behind him due to the forcedul wind generating from his energy. Rocks broke down underneath, the surroundings quickly changing its terrain as I found myself standing in a middle of nowhere, the feeble darkness creeping through the earth surface.

"I'm sorry, Ke'ala." He threw his weapon upward, multiplying into several dozens, twirling through the air as he flicker his hand forward. On cue, his sharp-edged poles launching at me with speed almost on par with that of light.

I closed my eyes, sensing the dozens of accurate levels of energy raining to my direction; carefully avoiding his attacks. May mga ilan din ang tumama sa akin pero galos lang ang mga iyon. Inaamin ko na mabilis nga ang mga atake niya, pati narin ang bawat galaw niya kanina, pero kung ipagpapatuloy niya pa ito, ay baka sa huli siya lang ang masaktan. At ayaw kong mas lumala ang nararamdaman niyang galit sa akin.

I do realize I'm inside his own magic though, something associated with the mind where only he can decide the rules within the whole space. That itself is preventing me from using my ability, nor I can even channel my own energy at the moment. I let out another exasperated sigh, the pain shooting my body eventually becoming numb.

I didn't even have to use my ability for it to feel so. Perhaps because I got used to it, or perhaps I just don't mind the pain that much. Because more than anything worse I'm feeling right now, it's that severe exhaustion dawning unto me. Everything felt suffocating and tiresome, and I just wanted to end it all.

I wonder if it would be wrong to think of that. Dahil pakiramdam ko lahat na lamang ng desisyon at ginagawa ko ay mali para sa ibang tao. 'Yung pakiramdam na kahit ilang ulit ko man sabihan ang sarili ko na wala akong pakealam sa mga iniisip nila tungkol sa akin, ay hindi naman ganoon lang kadali 'yun.

"Are you just going to keep dodging?" He taunted. "Alam kong marami pa ang kayang mong gawin, o kinakaawaan mo ba ako, Ke'ala?"

I chuckled lightly, finally opening my eyes. The poles were struck on the ground everywhere around me, leaving a tiny circular space from where I stood. I took a step forward, the hard, subtle earth below cracking as the surrounding weapons began to shake along with it; disappearing as I walk passed by them.

"I pity myself, Jarvis, not you." I halted, leaving a gap of a few inches between us. "Minsan ding pumasok sa isip ko kung bakit hindi ko nalang tapusin ang lahat? Honestly, I don't know what to do without these burdens I've been tasked with."

In one blink, the edge of the bladed pole was already aimed beside his neck, my hand clasping tightly around its cold and slender handle. Habang tinititigan ko siya ay mas nanghihinayang ako sa mga mata niya. Wala akong makita kundi itim, na parang may kumuha mismo nito mula sa kaniya.

Pero kahit galit man siya sa akin, na kahit kamuhian niya man ako, hinding-hindi ko magagawang talikuran na lamang siya ng ganoon. That's why I'll make sure whoever did that to him will pay, even if he doesn't want me to do so.

"I don't know what you're thinking right now for me to trust you on that."

"I'm not telling you to trust me, nor am I asking you to. It's probably better if you don't."

"I may not be capable of hating you, but I know somewhere deep inside that I do and you hate me just as much—"

"I don't." I replied firmly, the weapon grazing slightly through his skin, causing a small cut. "Why does everyone refuse to understand me, Jarvis? Why do you all seem to know me more than I know myself?"

"Because we know a future you don't."

I frowned. "Enough that I can't even live a life without everyone out there trying to hunt me down?"

"Enough that you don't deserve to even live the present."

I scoffed, letting the weapon fell to the ground with a ringing sound. "And everyone just happened to know this future that I don't?"

"Not everybody knows, but most can feel it. You've always been the kind that draws people in, and no one is an exception to that." Magic circles layered in blue started appearing above me. "But do you really think there's no reason why?"

Umatras ako para hindi matamaan nang mga umuulan niyang weapons, mas mabilis pa ang mga ito kumpara kanina. Along with those were bursts of spiritual energy, splitting into several fragments as though deliberately scattering through the entire area; making the ground tremble as I feel a surging heat coming from a tremor from underneath.

"You draw people in because of your energy, Ke'ala." He continued. "But they could also feel something worse hiding through that abundant layers of energy. Those intrigued would always dig deeper, and end up building a connection with you. But when they find out what that is, they tend to make it their goal to kill you."

"So my whole existent is basically just a goal where people like you could just go ahead and test their powers to." Suddenly, the air around shifted into a complete stop. My hand was raised beside me with his attacks remaining motionless above. "Do not take me for a fool, Jarvis. Tell me what is that future you're so aware that I don't."

But he didn't say anything as my sight almost missed him when he started attacking me firsthand with his weapon in different directions, and that itself is already an answer. That he would rather kill me right here and now than letting me ever know the truth. And this time, I no longer cared, the truth didn't matter anymore.

"Why aren't you fighting back?"

I blocked an incoming attack, letting it slipped passed by my hand to the back as I took my chance grabbing his coat's collar; slamming him down behind me. It wasn't all that hard to avoid his attacks nor block them since this whole place basically has his energy to the point where me sensing an attack is more accurate than usual.

I may can't use my ability nor channel my energy easily, but I won't just let him kill me off here. Although I wouldn't have had blamed him if he somehow managed to. Well, he might have a severe advantage if he actually use all of his capabilities. But from the way I see it...I smiled, letting him lay on the cold ground.

"You're still holding back, Jarvis." Bulong ko sa kaniya sabay tingin sa itaas kung saan parang may nakapaligid dito na itim na mga ulap. "It's as though you're hesitating."

"Huwag mo akong maliitin—"

"Do you really want to kill me?" I questioned abruptly.

He closed his eyes for a few moments before sitting up. "I do."

"You could have stabbed me earlier in a way that your weapon could have penetrated through the chest, piercing my heart." I stated. "Or is it that affection you have for me preventing you to?" I crouched lower, levelling his sitting height.

"This guilt is killing me, Ke'ala." For a moment there, he sounded so vulnerable when he looked away. "Why can't I hate you? I want to despise you, so much that even thinking of that makes me feel the worst." He suddenly grabbed my neck, his big hand surrounding it with force, but I didn't flinch.

"If you have any morality left inside, then I'm asking you...make me hate you, give me that emotion that could drive me in killing you, Ke'ala." He pleaded, loosening his grip; unable to choke me like he wanted to.

I leaned myself closer, my head resting just above his right shoulder; sighing, exhausted. "What did I do that even my best friend is so fixated on my death?"

"It's not about what you did..." he trailed off, I could sense the hesitation radiating from him before he ended up caressing the back of my head like he had always did so. "It's about what you'll do."

"That I'm not even allowed to change it? To experience it?"

"I...I'm sorry." His voice was breaking. "No matter how much I tried changing everything..."

"So that was why you joined the Clan...why you needed authority."

He sighed, it was an answer enough. "And no matter how hard I'll still try—nobody can change your fate. It was fixed, like a natural law, like a life and death cycle, where no matter how one will try changing the chains of events that would happen, it would always—always, lead to that kind of outcome."

"I see." I closed my eyes, inhaling his familiar scent which reminded me of a wave slapping down the seashore.

"But I tried, Ke'ala. I did everything I could—so much that I lost my eyes on the process." He let out a bitter chuckle. "Alam mo ba? May mga oras at panahon kung saan iniisip ko kung totoong kamumuhian ngaba talaga kita kung sakaling ibalik mo nga ang karapatan kong makaramdam ng ganoon sa'yo."

"...I know."

"That maybe I'm just convincing myself that I hate you so that way, it would be much easier to turn my back against those memories, to kill you, my best friend. I need to know what I really feel, so do me a favour and return me my ability to feel hatred. That way, I can finally say to myself that I am ready to end you."

They only ever think of themselves...including Jarvis—all of them think of me like I'm not a human, that I'm sort of a being where they can just say whatever they feel like, without even considering whether it would hurt me or not. But then again, perhaps they see me as somebody isn't capable of those kinds of human emotions just because I have the ability to manipulate them.

Hindi ako ganoon kasamang tao para gawin ulit ang ginawa kong mali noon. Kinuha ko ang mga emosyon nilang kamuhian ako dahil sa takot, at hanggang ngayon ay takot parin akong gawin muli ito. Kung ganoon nga ako kasamang tao, sana noon pa lamang ay iniba ko na ang mag emosyon ng tao sa paligid ko.

Kung sarili ko lang nga ang iniisip ko ay dapat noon pa lamang ay kinuha ko na ang bawat emosyon ng mga kalaban ko. Na sana noon pa lamang ay inuna ko na ang sarili ko. But Jarvis is asking me to give him an emotion called hatred, he's telling me to do something completely immoral all over again. To do something which would cause me so much from myself.

"You're asking to stop being a human, Jarvis." I moved away, something suddenly threatening to let loose inside of me.

"You've already stopped being one the day you altered everything that not even the gods are allowed to: manipulating emotions."

I slid a palm over my head, strands of my hair falling in front of my eyes. What I'm feeling wasn't anger, nor was it that irritation, annoyance...it was simply...severe exhaustion, like a wave or a motion sweeping all over my senses, my body, and I was slowly being consumed by it—as though depleting every logical reason I still have. Making me want to end everything.

"I should even be used to it right now." I mumbled, standing up on my feet; looking down at him. "The fact that everyone is selfish."

"What?"

"Of course, you don't understand. You wouldn't understand. Nobody ever does." I gritted my teeth, seemingly unable to keep up with my thoughts running like a broken dam.

And among those river of thoughts, there was one that would always surface like a program presenting a simple solution. Kill him. Kill them. Those words would pause in my mind, disappearing after a moment then suddenly appearing once again.

It was similar to a switch being turned on and off continuously without ever stopping. I don't know how to stop it. And I doubt I'll be able to have much of a control when I see his face giving that kind of emotions that scream all at once; my death.

"Ke'ala—"

"I had enough of this. Our little conversation didn't end well, but I won't hate you for everything that happened." I lifted my hand, forcing myself to generate an energy that would be able to destroy this whole magic trance.

"Listen to me!" He yanked my arm away, his sheer strength damaged the bones messed up inside even more.

"I said I had enough." My voice was calm, but there was that intensity behind it, and he knew it was a warning.

"I don't fear you."

"You will." I directed my energy towards him, my own eyes glowing in deep, pale blue through this dark abyss.

Words seemed to have left him then when his knees were already on the ground, his mask falling over; blood gushing out from tight-sealed lips before his whole body came in contact with the ground, loosing consciousness in an instant.

I knew I couldn't use my energy—but my dark one was an exception. My pure and dark energues usually collide reason why I somehow tend to avoid using the latter, but this whole place is like a filter where I am left with no choice but to use the dark energy.

I hated making him feel like I should be feared, I hated the thought of hurting him. But at this point on, I would no longer care. Listening to people who only think about their own desires like he does—shatters every little sanity I have, and I would rather spend my life accepting their judgements of me than actually be the person they all think I am. In other words, I'm saying that I'm alright with being misunderstood.

My wounds were already healed when the trance easily broke down, our surroundings blurring until I realize that we're back on where we were before, inside a room where the rest of the blacks were patiently waiting. Upon seeing their leader, they quickly went over to his unconscious state as they all drew their weapon at the same time.

But it slipped my mind how the dark energy was still leaking throughout my body, as though possessively protecting me with its thick layers. Before their weapons could even get near at least a meter from me, the intensity of the energy swallowed up all their attacks at once.

I accepted their glares with a taunting smile. It was a fake one though, I know I couldn't afford a real one at the moment. But I refuse to let them see a shade of my vulnerability, even if I end up being hated for it more than they already do.

"Aren't you his best friend?" Jass suddenly yelled out, her anger flaring through me. "How can you just—"

"I snapped. I do admit it was my fault though." I admitted lightly. "I'll apologize to him the next time we see each other."

I turned around, walking towards the door when a figure rushed beside me, a long dagger immediately creeping out quickly heading to the side of my face. But her dagger split in half when the dark energy layered against my skin intensified, sending the girl to the wall with that obvious sound of her ribs breaking.

"Ash!" That guy—Charles, called out in worry as he darted across the room, the latter screaming in pain.

Philip came up right then, almost as quickly, with his spear equipped with double-edged blades on each ends. He swung the weapon directly with ease, then another, hanggang sa natigilan siya at napaubo ng dugo, kasabay nito ay ang pagluhod niya sa sahig dahil nakapasok ang masamang enerhiya sa katawan nito, at hindi niya ito kinaya kaya parang nasusunog ngayon ang katawan niya.

Nakita ko din ang pagtira ng mga arrows si Francie mula sa gilid at mula sa naalala ko noon, may epekto ang mga arrows niya. Her targets are laid either unconscious or immobile in a single hit. Pero sa tatlong tira niya ay hindi niya ako magawang matamaan dahil palaging umiiba ang direksyon nito kung makalapit sa akin.

Kasama ng mga tira ni Francia ay ang mga balang dumadating mula sa direksyon ni Klint. Malaki ang magnum nito at hawak niya pa ang mga baril sa magkabilang kamay. Mabilis siyang magpaputok at parang nakikita niya ang mga posibleng galaw ko. Kaya hindi na ako gumalaw pa at gumawa na lamang ng barrier sa paligid ko. Aatake na sana si Charles kasama si Jass nang sumigaw si Demsel na ikinatigil nilang lahat.

"Jarvis is hurt, now is not the time for us all to get killed!" Tapos ay napunta sa akin ang masamang titig nito. "Leave."

"Don't make it sound like I'm the cause of this, Demsel Erevera." I stated, once again turning my back to the door. "Surely this won't be the last your Clan and I meet, but here's a little advice."

"We won't need it." Charles hissed angrily.

"Is that so?" I twisted the doorknob after clicking the lock for it open. "But well, just don't try to break my calmness next time. After all, you'd never know the what's underneath the tip of an iceberg unless you break it into pieces for its parts to come floating up the surface."

"Mark my words, Ke'ala Feyree. The Black Clan will find you and when we do, we're going to stop you." Philip warned, still hurting even though I had already long withdrew my leaking dark spiritual energy.

"Stop me from what exactly?" I muttered to myself. "But I'll look forward to it." I answered truthfully without looking back.

I shut the door behind me, lifting an eyebrow when I saw Finé standing on the middle of room with unconscious guards laying on the floor and Astoria was sitting on the couch while eating candies, I could tell from the wrappers on the table and the half-emptied jar of different sets of branded candies.

"That took you longer." Finé smirked. "Did you have trouble?"

I smiled, shaking my head. "Who knows?"

Lumabas na kaming tatlo ng building. Madali lang sa amin ang makipaghalo sa paligid dahil sa dami ng tao. Iba't iba din ang enerhiya ang nararamdaman ko, but none of them seem special enough to gain my attention. Hawak ko si Astoria sa kabilang kamay para hindi siya mawala habang sinusundan ko lang si Finé sa unahan. Marami siyang alam na lugar na makakatulong sa hinahanap ko kaya hinayaan ko nang siya ang mauna.

Lumiko kami sa isang mas masikip pang lugar, pero kumpara sa main road ay mas maliit kang ang bilang ng mga tao dito. May nakikita akong mga nag-aaway sa tabi at meron din namang nag-uusap ng patago. Halos kalahating oras din ang nilakad namin at nakakagulat na walang tanong ang lumalabas ngayon kay Astoria. She seemed to know this isn't place where she can openly point or ask something out.

Tumigil kami sa isang maliit na bahay. Iisa lang ang bintana nito at may nakatakip pang kurtina. Hindi din sa gitna ang pintuan kundi sa pinakagilid kung saan may nararamdaman akong nakabalot na mahika. Lumapit si Finé dito at parang may ginagalaw na formation sa pinto.

"I can handle that myself." I suggested, already standing here for more than five minutes.

"The law formation on this magic circle is very delicate that with a little pour of your energy, this thing would explode and boom, our door to our today's goal would disappear." She stated as a matter of fact.

I even caught her rolling her eyes like it was the most obvious thing in the world but I chose to ignore, used to her hard attitude by now. Out of curiosity though, Astoria stepped forward, observing the formation imprinted onto the door, something that can't be seen by any othe people.

"You haven't seen different types of magic, do you?" I asked the kid. She nodded, her eyes still fixed on what Finé is doing. She's having trouble by it, I can tell. "Look Finé, the set is—"

"Shhh! I'll figure it out myself."

"Which would take an hour or so." She didn't answer and chose to focus.

I looked down, Astoria tugging my cloak while pointing at the magic circle. "Astoria asks how that works."

I smiled, placing my hand on her head. "That's a magic circle for a locking spell. You see those sets of shapes filled with different combination of numbers?" She frowned a little before nodding. "You have to apply the rules of permutation."

"Permutation?"

"Basically, you have to rearrange those numbers in a right set or orders which could either take a while in figuring out or not if you're familiar with every locking magic out there."

"Finding the right patterns?"

"Exactly." The child beamed in wonder. "Now Astoria, give me the permutation of A, B, and C."

She tapped her foot as she thinks, before looking up at me. "ABC, ACB, BAC, BCA, BAC, CAB, CBA—"

"Alright, that's enough. You're a fast learner." She smiled at the compliment. "Now why don't you go help Finé find the right patterns?"

I crossed my arms and waited as the two started telling each other off. Hinayaan ko na lamang ang dalawa. Napansin ko din naman na mahirap nga an law formation ng magic circle dahil sa dami ng mga numero nito. Hanggang ngayon ay wala parin akong ideya kung sino ang pinunta namin dito—

"Finally! " Finé threw his fist up as she opened the door slowly. "Thanks for the help, Astoria. Who knew you could do fast mathematics like that?" The latter only shrugged.

The inside immediately led us to a basement, perhaps it was the effect of the magic, that finding the right pattern would lead us to a different place. The ambiance surrounding the place was quiet, but also creeping with mixed of secrecy and mystery.

There were shelves lined up on each walls, each shelved were filled with vials, some were empty, some were filled with colours. I also noticed stacks of books left on the floor as well as crumbled papers scattering almosg everywhere. But there, on the middle of the room was what caught my attention the most.

There was a metallic framed bed with something definitely laying atop it, covered in white cloth, it was made obvious from the lampshade shining just above it. The tables were planted with sets of unfamiliar equipments, and the room was radiating an eerie atmosphere.

"Doctor! Are you here!" Finé's voice echoed, until I heard a small chattering just behind another wall.

Finé went over there while I just stood beside the bed. I don't feel any emotions so what lies underneath this cloth is either dead or an on-going structured machine. I could guess by the metal parts laying on the other side of the bed as well as that blueprint on the wall.

"Fascinating, don't you think so?" A voice came so suddenly behind me, making me look back to see a man offering down his hand while wearing a stern face. "Pleasure to meet you, Caelesti of the Unknown."

I looked up, our gazes meeting silently and from those eyes, I could already feel trouble brewing.

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AN: I apologize for the delay of the update lols. I had to delete this chapter every now and then for something that just feels somehow right. And I hope it does, so happy reading!