An Unfamiliar Gaze In An Unknown World

"Because this is the Mortal World." He opened his eyes, stepping forward. "In other words, you have crossed dimensions."

It was as though words have left me the moment he told me that fact—or is he possibly lying para lamang makuha ako? Mahina ang katawan ko ngayon kaya may pagkakataong pwede nga nila ako matalo, and I refuse to be the one in the loosing side. Crossed dimensions? It's not something anyone could just do! Imposible ito kung iisipin because one moment ago I was in a carriage and now I'm standing here in front of these strangers for my life na kanina lang ay nakahiga ako sa ilalim ng ulan.

"You should be grateful my ability's not working well this time otherwise I would have known if you're lying just to get me."

"Itigil mo na nga ang pagiging arogante mo. Where did you get the confidence that you're stronger than this guy anyway?" Tanong ng itim na buhok na lalaki habang tinuturo ang naka brown na coat.

True, the energy may be scarce around here, but I could sense a great deal of energy from him. And currently, my total energy is halved. Hindi ko aakalaing mapupunta ako sa lugar na halos walang enerhiya, this place is worse than Spirit Land. Any spirit that go here will surely disappear in an intance. Nakakainis, makakapagpalabas nga ako ng enerhiya pero kaonti lang ito, probabaly just enough to protect myself and run.

"You don't know me, kaya huwag mo akong maliitin."

"Hindi ka namin minamaliit. We're only asking you to cooperate with us."

"You call this 'asking'? Seems like we each have different definitions of that word."

"At the meantime, I'm sorry for my partner's...um immaturity upon dealing with these matters. Pero mapagkakatiwalaan mo kami and do rest assured na hindi ka namin sasaktan. Maliban nalang kung ikaw ang may planong gawin iyon."

"How can I be so sure that you could be trusted?"

"We have seen countless of people coming from another dimension who cannot survive here because of the lackness of spiritual energy. Alam mo naman na hindi kakayanin ng katawan niyo ang mundo namin and will undoubtly do anything to get back." Kaya ako nanghihina ngayon, at sa tuwing gumagamit ako ng enerhiya ay mas nanghihina pa ako.

"Kaya wala kadin namang magagawa kung hindi pagkatiwalaan kami." Wika ng itim na lalaki. "There are some like you who chose to hurt innocent people so we have no choice but to capture those who do so. Pero may pagkakataon ka pa, let us help you." He's telling me to rely on them? I sighed and made my blade disappear into nothingness, at parang bulang umalis nadin ang enerhiya sa katawan ko.

"What do you want from me then?" The black guy smirked.

"You're smart, I like that!" He chuckled. "Like we said, this is a cooperation kaya kailangan din namin ng tulong ng mga kagaya niyong mula sa ibang dimensyon. By the way, ako nga pala si Aljen," he stated with his fist bumped unto his chest, while wearing a big smile.

"I'm glad we can talk things out, you are reasonable unlike the rest that we have met before. Which is the result of my partner's rudeness earlier." Wika naman ng lalaking may puting buhok. "I am Ivan, you are?"

"Keila. Call me Keila." Why would I tell them my name again? Hindi ko alam, pakiramdam ko lan kasi kailangan kong sabihin ang totoo. This is a different world, and I'm still actually confused. Kung hindi sila dumating ewan ko nalang kung nasaan na ako ngayon.

"What a splendid name." Ivan mumbled. "It suits you." He smiled and offered his hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Enlighten me. I have no need for such formatlities." He smiled and took back his hand.

"That's fine too. Tulad ng sinabi ko kanina, nasa lower dimension ka ng Mortal World, a world without spiritual energy or some call mana, one without magic, alchemy and special abilities. Nakikita at nararamdaman mo naman hindi ba? Minsan ay may nangyayaring disturbance kung saan ang nagu-umapaw na enerhiya ng dimensyon niyo ay umaapekto dito sa amin. At dahil dito—"

"A hole is being opened up accidentally from there towards here and it just so happened that I fell to that hole, is that what you're saying?" Nakikita ko ang gulat na ekspresyon sa mukha nila.

"You pick things easily, it spared us the trouble of explaining. Pero sa hindi lahat na pagkakaton may nahuhulog, may mga tao talagang mula sa mundo niyo ang gustong pumunta dito. Not by accident at all." Ivan stated glancing at Aljen.

"So I'm still under your doubtful gazes huh?" I sighed.

Naiintindihan ko na. I can't blame them for doubting mg existence that could ruin their peace here, siguro nasasanay na ako dito. Back in my real world, I am an existence feared to bring destruction, but I am also sought because of this power. Hindi ko inaakala na parang ganito din ang siywasyon ko dito, yet it's also different.

In here they feel threatened because I came from another world, pero minamaliit din nila ako dahil sa mga mata nila ang mga taong katulad ko dito ay nakukulangan sa enerhiya. I'm not even sure if I should be happy for the fact that they don't think anything of me or be annoyed instead because they are underestimating me.

"You doubt us either anyway." Wika ni Aljen with his arrogant look. "At hindi pa sinabi sa amin kung sino ka ngaba talaga at kung ano ang magagawa mo. How were you even able to summon a sword in the first place? Nahahalata namin ang pagod at ang hina ng katawan mo, so it's surprising someone like you was able to summon her weapon."

"Someone like me? Why? Sino ba ako sa paningin mo?" He fell in silence. "You don't know me, so take an advice not to say thoughtless commentaries that could end your life in an instance." Nakita ko kung paano kumunot ang mga kilay niya.

"Baka ikaw ang unahin ko—"

"Aljen. Enough." The other guy reprimanded him. "For once, why not try acting like you're supposed to be?"

"Tss. Bahala kayo." He cluthed his gun beside his hip and walked away, nagaglit yata siya. Napatingin sa akin si Ivan at nagpalabas ng malalim na hininga.

"My brother is a bit...of a handful." My eyebrow lifted.

"Brother? You sure don't look alike." Nagsimula na siyang maglakad kaya sumunod ako hindi malayo sa tabi niya, pero medyo napatawa siya sa sinabi ko.

"We know. But as to why, it is an annoying topic." Annoying huh? I wonder why, pero wala din naman akong pakealam.

"I'm sure it's something I don't need to know." I heard him sigh in relief. "Kung walang spiritual energy sa mundong ito, bakit kayo nakakagamit ng enerhiya?"

"So you can sense energy. Not only that, makikita mo din ito. Siguro sa mundo niyo normal lang makagawa ng ganoong bagay, but not here. Hindi ito isang spiritual energy, it's the power of science, Keila."

"Science? So it's alchemy." Alchemists do not need actual energy to unlock different forms of magic, pero kailangan parin nila ng lacrima which stores limited amount of energy para magawa nila ang mahika nila. But it still doesn't make any sense. Walang enerhiya ang mundong ito—ah artificial.

"I don't know about your alchemy. But scientists have found a way for us to acquire necessary energy, and science does the trick of us having this."

Habang naglalakad kami ay tinaas niya ang kamay niya sa unahan, nakita ko ang pag-ilaw ng itim na bracelet niya. White linings appeared on his bracelet, hanggang sa may tatlong sunod-sunod na puting magic circle ang lumabas. Suddenly, a small white ball of light appeared on his palm, at hinawakan niya ito na parang bato, but it's trasparent and obviously it cannot be touched. It's a pure white energy.

"That bracelet...artificial energy."

"That's right. I guess pwede mo ngang tawaging ganoon ang bagay na ito. Pero nanggaling din naman ang artificial energy sa maliit na bilang ng enerhiya na umaawas dito mula sa mundo niyo. We just enhance it using science, at hindi kami makakagamit nito kung wala ang tinatawag naming magic items like this bracelet."

"So what do tou get from me for this cooperation?"

"Wala kaming planong saktan ka maliban nalang kung may dinadamay ka ng inosente. We really just want to investigate these strange disturbances happening in our own dimension. At kailangan namin ng taong katulad mo na nagmula sa ibang mundo para tulungan kami."

"You plan to stop it?"

"Twenty years ago, our organization was built for the sole purpose of stopping this phenomenon, dahil habang nagtatagal ay mas lalong napapahamak ang mundong ito. Those leaked energy from your dimension ismixing with ours cuasing some...serious damages."

"Serious damages?"

"The existence of monsters. May mga taong aksidenteng nakukuha ng katawan nila ang enerhiyang ito, and because of the reason that these spiritual energies already traveled through the thin border of spaces between dimensions, they turn into strange forces of energy. Kung sino man ang natatama nito ay nagiging halimaw."

"Dark energy. I don't know for sure kung masamang enerhiya nga ito unless I sense it myself, pero batay sa sinabi mo ay mukhang isang form ito ng dark energy."

"Dark energy? It's the first I've heard of it." Mukhang kailangan ko pang idetalye sa kaniya kung ano ang ibig sabihin nito.

"Dark energies are dangerous type of energy. Delikado ito because people who have it oftentimes loose control due to the fact that they are mentally and emotionally unstable. Pero kumpara sa normal na enerhiya, dark energies are normally much more stronger."

"You mentioned people having it because they are unstable, malakas ba ito dahil ang nagdadala ay emosyon nila?"

"You can put it that way."

"Is there a way of controlling it?" I hesitated for a while because of his question.

Naalala ko si Andrea. Napuno na ng masamang enerhiya ang life force niya, people like her are doomed, wala na silang pag-asa pang bumalik sa normal. Their unstableness are which drives themselves, to the point where they would no longer know what's right from wrong.

They are preoccupied with their certain goals and ideals, at hindi ito titigil hanggang sa hindi nila nakukuha ang gusto nila. But even if they did manage to get what they want in the end as well as become stable once again, it's impossible for them to regain their former selves. Dahil mamamatay namana sila the moment dark energy left their bodies.

"Sure it can be controlled, but the payment for acquiring that power is death. I'm saying that no matter what they do, even if they control it or not, they will die."

"I conclude dark energies are forbidden in your dimension, is that right?" I nodded. "Then there are no saving those villains."

"Don't you see how envious I am of you? It would have been better if I was the outsider, if I was the one being acknowledge by my mother, that I was gaining all the attention there is without even doing anything, that I am special like you."

"You're all of those things that I'm not. You always used to say you're just the extra of the story, but for me you're like the protagonist. And if I have to gain acknowledgement and attention, gain everything that you did, then being the villain is worth it. Kaya hindi ko ito pagsisisihan."

Bigla kong naalala ang mga sinabi ni Andrea sa akin noong oras na naglalaban kami, before I actually failed to bring her back. I stopped at my tracks realising what I have been saying. Doomed? They will die? Paano ko nakakalimutan ang bagay na iyan pagdating kay Andrea? She will die. Even if had managed to bring her back before, she would still die—

No. If I had brought her back, wala sana ako sa sitwasyong ito. Hindi sana ako nabansagang kriminal because she would have had managed to stop me then as well as I would have managed to stop her. We could have been there for each other kahit hanggang ngayon. Higit sa lahat, hindi pa sana kumalat ang masamang enerhiya sa buong katawan niya. I could have saved her! I could have redeemed her from all those pain...I could have helped her.

But why wasn't I able to do all those things? Why am I stuck on what-ifs? Why couldn't I moved on? Nagagalit ako sa sarili ko sa tuwing iniisip ko ang bagay na ito, nakakainis, nakakairita, gusto kong magpahinga nalang muna sa lahat na nangyayari, pero hindi ko magawa dahil hindi ko kayang pilitin ang sarili kong hindi magpakain sa konsensya ko matapos ang lahat kong nagawa.

"Is something wrong?" Tanong ni Ivan na nakatingin sa akin, his hands each on his coat's pockets.

"Nothi—" I immediately stopped my sentence midway anng may bigla akong naramdamang masamang enerhiya na nakabalot sa hangin. Its scent is slowly fading away, but I could still sense where it's coming from.

"What is it?" Tinaas ko ang daliri ko sa bibig ko, urging him to stop talking for a while.

May naririnig ako, hindi ko alam kung ano ito. But the air has become more dense, and it's making me feel sick. Is it because hindi pa ako sanay sa dimensyon na ito? O may iba pang nangyayari? But this ominous energy is penetrating inside me. Usually I cannot absorb energy unless it's a form of emotion, pero iba ito ngayon. May nararamdaman akong emosyon sa enerhiyang ito, galit.

"Ivan, how do your people know a monster has appeared?" He frowned at my question, thinking.

"Our magic items would alarm after sensing what you call dark energy."

"And I suspect your items don't sense that quickly." Hindi ito isang tanong pero tumango siya.

"No matter how we enhance our items, its processing mechanics are slower than how an actual person like you could sense energy. Why do you ask?"

"Well a monster has appeared and it seems your items haven't noticed." I said as a matter of fact. Lumaki ang mga mata niya dahil sa mga narinig niya at bigla na lamang akong hinawakan sa kamay while dragging me with him.

Tinaas niya ang bracelet niya at habang ginawa niya ay naging seryoso ang mukha niya. I don't even understand kung ano naman ngayon ang gagawin niya. I heard him cursed under his breath when there was no response from th item.

"Aljen! Nasaan ka?!" He almost shouted which made people look our way as we blended ourselves under the crowd of busy people walking the streets.

"Ivan—" Narinig ko ang tawag ni Aljen sa kabilang linya but the other cut him short. I didn't know their items could do communication.

"May isang halimaw na lumabas, hindi ko alam kung nasaan. You need to hurry up and meet me..." his voice trailed off nang kahit ako ay may naririnig nang malalakas na tunog. There were the sound of screaming people and loud crashing objects. There's no mistaking what's happening on the other side.

"I am facing them! Kaya bilisan mo!" Gunshots followed his words.

"Them?" Tumigil narin siya sa wakas sa pagtakbo and I found myself panting. Ganito ba kahina ang stamina ko? Hindi, nanghihina lang talaga ang katawan ko sa dimensyon ito at hindi ko gusto kung ano ang nagiging resulta nito sa akin.

"It means there's more than one." I explained kahit na alam niya na ito.

"Ito ang unang beses na may umatakeng hindi lang isa."

"I need to contact the agency. Hindi ko matukoy kung saan sila." Halatang-halata ang pagtataranta niya sa boses niya. He appeara to be panicking at hindi alam kung ano ang uunahin.

"At hayaang mag-isa dun ang kasama mo? I don't really care about it since it's none of my business, but I hope you don't discard me just like that."

"That's right! You can sense energy!" So nakalimutan niya, minamaliit niya nga ako. Though I can't blame him, I am indeed weak in my current state.

Hindi ko na hinintay pang makaabot siya sa akin at tumakbo na papunta sa direksyon kung saan nanggagaling ang masamang enerhiya. While pushing through the crowd, may mga taong nakikitang tumatakbo mula sa isang maliit na building, it appears to be a shop with a cake design on its sign.

Dito nagmumula ang isang enerhiya, but the energy is divided into three, at unti-unti nang nawawala ito, perhaps these monsters are getting away and away from where I am. Pero alam kong may isa sa lugar na ito. Anyone could tell dahil sa mga nakakalat na gamit sa paligid. There were also the sight of boulders of rocks, nakikita ko din ang mga sirang sasakyan na tumilapon sa gilid at ang humahating lupa. The shop up front was roughly damaged that the sign was even barely hanging.

Kaonti lang pero may mga walang malay na katawan ang nakahiga sa iba't ibang parte ng lugar, plus the smoke emitting inside the shop is fogging our views. It seems other people have successfully evacuated the area dahil wala na akong nakikitang iba pa dito. Otherwise it'd be annoying if we were to actually meet an enemy here.

"I sent the coordinates." Ivan said referring to his bracelet. "Kailangan niyo nang bilisan dito. May mga nadamay na inosenteng tao, and we still haven't located the monsters—and yes, that includes Aljen."

As they talk, I continued walking my way inside the shop. Nandito nga ang enerhiya nagmumula, but the energy I feel is anger. So much anger that it's hard not to get carried away by it. Dahil habang nakakaramdman ako ng emosyon ay may malaking posibilidad na maangkin ko din ang emosyon, it's simply complicated just like that.

"Hindi ka pwedeng pumasok. You stay here, and don't run away." I then gave him a look of disappointment.

"You're just going to leave me here after I even helped you?"

"You can't possibly fight that monster. Kaya dito ka lang at hintayin mo ang pagbabalik ko. Backups will be here soon anyway."

"At sino ka naman para sabihan akong hindi ko kayang kalabanin ang isang halimaw?"

"Mahina ka sa dimensyon namin. You're just going to be a burden—" his words were cut short due to a small explosion, but its sound rang through the back of my mind.

Hindi na niya kinailangan pang pumasok sa loob o siguraduhing dito lang ako. Dahil sa hindi kalayuan kung nasaan kami, lumabas ang itim ma pigura ng halimaw. Emerging from the smoke behind it, the monster let out a firce hiss, and rather than feeling chilly nor intimidated, mas naganahan pa akong makipaglaban.

Wala itong mukha, it's face was made out of visible and transparent fire kung saan na siguradong kahit tamaan ito ay lulusot lamang sa kabila. Mahaba ang damit niya, or to put it specifically, it's whole body was covered in a long black cloth with ripped areas on each side. Nakikita ko din ang katawan niya kahit na natatakpan, and I could clearly say na gawa sa apoy ang buong katawan nito. The monster had two horn on top of its head, kung saan ang ulo niya ay may nakalagay na hood.

"This is turning out of hand." Ivan muttered, his bracelet once again glowing in white and before he knew it, may pumorma ng parnag isang puting daggers sa magkabila niyang kamay, they were made out of white energy, tulad ng bolang puti niya kanina.

"It seems wala nga dito ang kasama mo. Off to another monster perhaps." Hindi siya napatingin sa akin sa sinabi ko and was solely focused on the monster.

"You should run away."

"Hindi ba't ikaw din ang nagsabi sa aking huwag tumakas?"

"Iba ito ngayon. Hindi ko inaasahan na magiging ganito kalakas ang kalaban. I don't care if you never show yourself again, you at least, have to survive. You can't die here." I at least? Bakit? Lahat bang katulad kong napunta dito ay namatay na? O siya ang mamamatay? Well I admit I am weaker than normal, but it doesn't mean I can't handle that damn monster.

"Are you sure about that?" I asked stepping forward, lifting both of my hands each beside me. "Please don't talk about my own death so earnestly," my energy manifestations are slower, kaya ngayon ko lang muli nahawakan ang dalawang espada ko. "Because if I was that weak, I should have already died a long time ago."

"Stop! Anong ginawa mo?! You could die you kmow!" Sigaw niya sa likuran ko, pero hindi ko pinansin ang mga salita niya.

I know myself more than anyone, yet there were times I don't recognize myself. Sinasabi ng isipan kong dapat tumigil ako dahil hindi ko problema ito, but there's somethinh about the monster's energy which draws me in. Ano ito? Sobra ang galit na nararamdaman ko sa kaniya, but for some reason I do not pity this existence before me. Rather, I want to free it from whatever it's suffering from. Who knows, that might just be an excuse for me to fight.

I crave for battle, I crave for bloodshed, I crave for that thrill and excitement that surrounds each and every nerves in my body. Yung pakiramdam na gusto kong ipakita sa iba na malakas ako, na hindi ako katulad ng iba, that I am special. I used deny myself, I used to say I wasn't that special as anyone thought. Hindi ko alam kung kailan nagbago ang paniniwalang iyon.

Wala akong sapat na enerhiya ngayon, alam ko ito. Perhaps I'm just being stupidly reckless, kahit na hindi ako ganito. But as the monster gaze at me, I couldn't help but oush myself forward. I couldn't help but to answer his beg for help. It's like it was telling me he was in so mcuh pain, anguish, nakakasakal ito. Kahit ako ay nararamdaman ko ito, it's so suffocating to the point he just ended up destroying everything.

Naiiintindihan ko. Ito din ang naramdaman ko, or probabaly worse than this, nung isang beses na naputol ang buhok ko at natanggal ang sinsin sa daliri ko. That feeling like I couldn't breathe underwater, begging for air, swimming up but something keeps pushing me down, drowning my entire existence. Iyon din siguro ang rason kung bakit nagawa ko ang mga bagay na alam kong hindi ko dapat ginawa.

Just thinking about it fills me wih so much guolt and hatred directed at myself. Patuloy lang ang pagsigaw sa akin ni Ivan, but f he really wnated to stop me, he would ran to my durection and forced me to stop. Pero hindi niya ito ginawa and instead, just stood there meters away behind me, trying to figure out what I'll do. As I got near to the monster, it lifted its long and slender arm papunta sa kung saan ako. It roared, opening its mouth in anger.

"Watch out!" Babala ni Ivan, and I appreciate his concerns but it was unnecessary.

I made no effort in dodging his attack, and cut through his arm with both of my sword after turning my body to match its speed. Naputol ang kamay nito, the other one thrown away beside me habang napaatras ito dahil sa sakit. The monster isn't that strong, nagpapalabas lang talaga ito ng kakaibang aura making anyone fly away in fear.

After few seconds though, his cut arm regenerated back in form of flames, since his whole body is made out of it. Nagapalabas siya ng apoy, and this time I evaded them while running to wherever he keeps on moving. Habang tinitira niya sa akin ang mga fireballs niya ay gumagalaw din siya para makasiguradong hindi ko siya maabutan. Before I even realised it, napapalibutan na ako ng malalaking apoy, all surrounding my escape routes.

"Keila!" This time, Ivan called my name heading to where I am, mukhang naisipan niya naring umaksyon.

I sighed letting the flames engulf me, surrounding everything with black smokes. Napaubo ako dito ng kaonti, pero habang nasusunog ang lahat ay wala akong nararamdamang sakit. The fire danced around my skin, it feels ticklish rather anything else. And as much as I enjoy fooling the enemy that I'm devoured by his simple attack, kailangan ko naring tapusin ang paghihirap niya.

With one swift of my hand, nawala kaagad ang apoy sa paigid ko, sending some away, scattering on near objects. Kaya parang nasa entablado ako ngayon with fire lightings eveywhere. Nagulat din si Ivan nang makitang hindi ako namatay sa atakeng iyon, kahit sino naman ay mahahalata ang nakanganga niyang bungnga sa gulat.

"Y-you're...we'll talk about that later but," mabilis niyang tinanggal ang brown niyang coat at nilagay ito sa likuran ko. "Use that at the meantime." He said averting hiz gaze.

It made me confused for a moment until I realised that some parts of mg clothes were ripped in that fire. It was a blunt mistake on my part dahil nakalimutan kong kahit hindi ako naaapektohan ng apoy since it's mg ability to create and manipulate it, hindi ibig sabihin na hindi masusunog ang suot ko.

The monster roared once again, at mas lalong lumakad ang masamang enerhiya na bumabalot sa kaniya. Ivan was startled nang siya naman ngayon ang intake ng apoy. I expected him to avoid it since he's quite fast, pero pinigilan niya ang atake gamit ang dalawang daggers sa kamay niya. He was pushed back by the force, but it surprised me to see the fire slowly diminish. His daggers are absorbing the energy.

I immediately pushed him out of the way as my hand touch the flame, vanishing like bubbles. Agad namang binigyan ako ni Ivan ng tingin as if he was demanding an explanation. Wala ba talaga silang alam sa mga bagay na ito? Or are they that ignorant of reality?

"I was completely fine and could handle that situation—"

"By absorbing it?"

"Obviously—"

"Then you are indeed ignorant. I just told you earlier about these dark energies affecting one's mental fortitude and weakness in emotions." His eyes widened realising what I just said. If he absorbed all those dark energy, tiyak na pati siya ay hindi makakatakas sa kadilimang babalot sa pagkatao niya.

"I guess I was. No wonder over these past years, marami na sa amin ang nagiging halimaw." He said in sad tone. "But how come you're fine surrounded by those flames?"

"I manipulate the fire element myself, kaya hindi ito nakakaapekto sa akin." Even though usually it should. Kahit may kapareho ka mang ability sa ability ng kalaban, ganoon parin na dapat makakaapekto ito sa iyo because in the first place, it wasn't your energy. But since before, fire doesn't work on me.

"That's a relief then. But we need to minimize the damage and end this."

The monster lounged itself to us, tumakbo ako papunta sa kaniya preparing to cut him in haf with my dual swords, but to my surprise, lumiko siya lampas sa kain, heading for Ivan instead. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, monsters shouldn't have a mind of their own. They act base on pure instincts. But just now, did ut just avoid me dahil nalaman niyang hindi gumagawa sa akin ang apoy niya?

I stopped and turned around, my eyes growing wide. Nakita ko si Ivan natamaan ng mahahabang kuko nito sa tiyan, its nails penetrating deep into his body. Ivan couldn't believe it himself, at napaubo siya ng dugo, looking at my direction...muttering something.

"E-end...it." His other eye was already closed, pinipilit niya nalang ang sarili niyang mahawakan ang halimaw, his skin is burning due to the contact with the monster's body.

"Tulong...please...maawa kayo...ang sakit—argh! Ang init, hindi ko kaya." There was a voice carried by the daro energy in the air.

I'm not sure where it's coming from pero may pakiramdam akong nagmumula ito sa galit na galit na halimaw who can't get away from Ivan dahil hinahawakan ito ng isa. Ivan's daggers were stabbed deep into the monster's chest as well. Pinawala ko ang espada ko at lumakad papunta sa likuran ng halimaw. Ivan seems to be puzzled by my actions, pero hindi niya naiintindihan.

"A-anong...gin—ginawa..." he could no longer continue his sentence and continued coughing blood instead. Alam niyang habang tumatagal ay nauubusan na siya mismo ng hininga. That's why he's telling me to hurry it up.

Hinawakan ko ang halimaw, it flinched because of touch. I closed my eyes then, searching through its dark energy. Nang binuksan ko ang mga mata ko ay wala akong makita kundi kadiliman. I roamed my eyes around hanggang sa may nakikita akong kaonting liwanag.

And at the corner, there was a shadow, crying in pain and anguish...I looked down. I kept referring it as 'he' but it was a girl all along. Sa likuran niya ay may nakabalot sa kaniyang puting enerhiya made out of veins and leaves, flowers...but for someone who's in the darkness, this light only brings sorrow for they cannot reach it not can they feel how it feels to be in the light itself.

Tumigil sa paghikbi ang batang babae at napatingin sa akin, nagulat yata siya pero napaatras siya ng kaonti. Nanginginig ito sa takot, but still, I do not feel pity. I could only sympathise. I reached out a hand, at tinignan niya lamang ito.

"It must be painful...it seems this world is twisted as well." She continued shaking in fear, nararamdaman ko ang mga emosyon niya. Hindi niya ako pinagkakatiwalaan. I can't blame her. Reckless trusting must have led her to be this way.

Children should grow up well, learn, and live a fulfilling life. But what is there to live in a world full of pain and suffering? Happiness is fleeting, only those with power could acquire that word without a problem. It's because they have different options and can do whatever they want. However that's not the case with these kind of people. They are instead left with no such options, no one to trust, and would cling to anything in order to have a little but of that joy.

Pero sa huli ganoon parin ang resulta. Nahihirapan parin sila. Bakit? Kahit ako ay hindi alam ang rason kung bakit kailangan maghirap ng bawat tao para lang maging masaya. Kaya naiintindihan ko kung bakit naging ganito ang sitwasyon niya.

I smiled bitterly as I reached for her hand, my palm touhed her dark and skinny figure, and it immediately burned. Nasasaktan na ako sa punto na ito, pero hindi parin ako bumitaw. Why? Because such a pure soul doesn't deserve these negative emotions. O siguro nagi-guilty lang talaga ako sa mga masasamang bagay na nagaw ako noom that I want to make things right this time.

"Tell me, do you want to be saved?" The child nodded, there were tears in her eyes. "Then sleep, when you wake up you'll be fine."

Tinanggap ng katawan ko ang masamang enerhiya na bumabalot sa kaniya ngayon, absorbing anything and giving her my remaining energy. Habang tumatagal ay pumipilit ang mga mata niya, hanggang aa nabalot ulit ng kadiliman ang paligid nang natulog na nga siya.

When I blinked, I was here standing to where I was before. Nakahiga sa lupa ang walang malay na katawan ni Ivan, and in front of me a child fell, pero agad ko naman itong nasalo. She's naked at wala siyang damit, but she's sleeping soundly now as if hindi siya naging halimaw kanina lang. Nawala narin ang masamang enerhiya sa kaniya, replaced by normal emotions, replaced by happiness.

Is it wrong to alter emotions? Even if I do it to save someone? Well I don't care if it's wrong, one deserves a little but of happiness kahit na hindi ito totoo, kahit na hindi niya ito nakuha at binigay lamang.

"Who are you?" Hindi na ako nagulat sa boses, dahil bumalik na ang normal kong ability which is to be able to sense emotions. "Who are you?!" He demanded, his voice echoing in this silence.

I turned my head around, seeing a hooded figure on top of a ruined building na gawa sa bato. At kung kanina lang ay tumigil na ang ulan ay ngayon nagsimula na naman ito. But I couldn't see the man's face because of the darkness and his hood.

Nakatingin lang ito ng derecho sa akin, so I wouldn't be able to know kung kalaban ba siya o hindi. But his emotions told me he was deeply curious and at the same time, puzzled. Dumaan ang isang malakas na hangin, sending dusts over my eyes kaya napapikit ako ng kaonti.

Looking back at the hooded man, natanggal narin sa wakas ang hood niya, but instead of feeling relief and satifaction from knowing his face, nagulat ako. My hearts started racing nervously, my lips started to quiver, and with my eyes searching for his familiarity, I opened my mouth to say something...but I couldn't.

Words have left me as I lifted my hand to him, he returned my gaze with nothing but unfamiliarity. May dumaan na namang mlakas na hangin and this time when I opened my eyes, he was no longer there.

What is he doing here?