Until Death Interferes

"She certainly didn't make it easy for us to escape." Naiinis kong bulong habang tumatakbo kami ngayon palayo ng palasyo.

Kasama ko na ngayon sina Alvin, Accel, ang dalawang magkapatid na sina Iriel at Caina, Silverrium, and of course, my spirits. Also, for some reason ay kasama namin ngayon si Millard. The battle took three hours before I knew it, and while escaping earlier ay nakita ko si Silverrium, already freed the rest by himself. At ngayon ay tumatakbo kami palayo sa mga guards. Since they are palace guards, they are free to use their abilities dahil narin sa mga lacrimas nila.

Lunox fell unconscious when I left her and didn't have time to ask her kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin. I, myself didn't expect this turn of events and right now we don't have a choice to run. Hindi naman pwedeng kalabanin namin ang mga spirits, because they clearly won't stand a chance if all of them let out their abilities. Dahil magkaiba ang enerhiya ng tao at ng spirit, and we didn't want to cause further damage into this world.

"Lumiko kayo dito!" Millard yelled as we ran through these busy streets of the city. Not a single spirit around paid us heed kahit hinahabol na kami ng mga guards.

Sinundan namin si Millard na sa unahan naming lahat at lumiko sa madilim ma alley aa kanan. Ilang segundo ang nakalipas ay bakita naming lumampas ang mga guards sa kung saan kami nakatago. Panting, Accel slid right through the ground habang nakasandal sa may pader. Kahit ako ay nanghihina narin, it's exhausting having to battle then run around the city for several minutes.

Silverrium immediately went ahead to gather enough energy pra makabalik na kami sa orihinal na mundo namin. He wastes no time huh? Kanina ko pa nararamdaman na ayaw niyang tumagal dito. Sumandal akk sa pader medyo malayo-layo sa grupo to sort out my thoughts about what happened.

Napatingin ako sa kamay ko, opening and closing it. That power I felt from earlier, parang hindi ako makapaniwala dito. I wonder what would have happened kung pumayag ako sa gusto niya. Kahit ligtas na kami sa ngayon ay hindi parin ako sigurado na tatahimik lang si Lunox at tatanggapin ang mga nangyari. It won't be long before we meet again...someday.

"Just what were you thinking?!" Galit na wika ni Theone sa tabi ko. I turned my head to his direction to face his glares. Galit na galit talaga siya, at hindi ko alam kung bakit.

"I came here to get you two, ano ba sa tingin mo ang iniisip ko?" At niligtas ko na sila, kaya bakit pa ba siya nagagalit? "If you're angry about me coming here which causes spirits to disappear dahil sa enerhiya ko, then I'm sorry. Pero wala na akong magagawa dun, I made up my mind to get the two of you back, at wala akong planong pabayaan kayo dito."

"Wala kaming pakealam sa ibang spirits! I'm angry on how you carelessly rush ahead like that!" I frowned, basically mad now.

Theone never gets mad like this, he's always cool at palaging sangayon sa mga ginagawa ko. Hindi ko naiintindihan kung bakit siya galit, normally he would be totally calm right now na parang wala lang nangyari. Bago pa man ako makapagsalita ay lumakad na siya palayo sa akin while rubbing his hair in anger. Tsk, I still can't understand my spirits after all.

Tinignan ako ni Alvin, shaking his head at tapos ay pumunta kay Theone. Bakit ba parang lahat sila medyo nagagalit sa akin? Why are they disappointed? I saved them! I just fought a Spirit Keeper which had high chances of me being killed at ganito ang mga reaksyon nila?!

"Calm down Keila...ah should we call you Ke'ala now?" Tanong ni Ziandra habang lumapit siya sa tabi ko. Kanina ko pa siya napapansin na tahimik lang, na para bang may malalim na iniisip. Ziandra's mostly the talkative type between my spirits, but I feel something disturbing her emotions. What is it?

"Sinabi siguro sa inyo ni Lunox." She nodded although it wasn't question. Nakatingin lang ako sa kaniya habang siya ay sa lupa nakaton ang paningin.

"We've had doubts about you being a Cursed Blood pero...hindi namin inaasahan na totoo pala ito. Bakit hindi mo sinabi? If we had known from the start...sana kami na mismo ang nag cut off sa link natin." My eyes widened. Bakit niya sinasabi sa akin ito? Why does it matter if I'm a Cursed Blood or not?

"Ah I get it. Because I'm a Cursed Blood...nadadala din kayo sa mga gulo ko. I may attract more attention from now on at mas manganganib pa ang buhay niyo. Because its me...you may not feel secure." I sighed as I notice her clenched her fists...anger.

"You two might be thinking that maybe it's better to let you go at baka may mahanap pa kayong ibang master mas aalagaan ang buhay niyo. I know that spirits value their lives more than anything..kaya naiintindihan ko." I added, looking up the starry night skies.

I might have said that, pero nagagalit ako. I don't want to let them go at all. Let's stop that benefit thing and yes I admit it...I need them...I want them to stay with me, not because they'll be able to aid me in the future, dahil ayaw ko lang talaga silang mawala. Kung papakawalan ko lang naman pala sila sa una palang ay sana hindi ko na pinahamak ang buhay ko at ng buhay ng iba para lang makuha silang dalawa. Pero wala akong magagawa kung iyon ang gusto—

"Don't you dare say that!" Biglang bumalik ang tingin ko dahil sa sigaw niya.

Dahil malayo kami sa iba ay hindi nila naririnig ang usapan namin. But even if she hides it...nararamdaman ko parin ang kalungkutan niya. She's crying, I could see her teardrops falling down the ground. Hindi ako magaling sa nga bagay na ito, I only know what people feel but I was never better at talking, I only speak what's in mg mind. Perhaps Iyana could have said more kung nandito siya, her words often hit straight at heart.

"Don't you dare say that you understand...wala kang naiintindihan Keila. Nagagalit si Theone sayo dahil sobrang nag-alala siya sa kalagayan mo, after he found out you were battling with the Spirit Keeper, tumakbo siya mismo papunta sa kung saan ka." Then she looked up, her eyes were red at pinipigilan ang pagtulo ng isa pang luha.

"At nalulungkot ako...paano mo masasabi ang mga bagay na yun? That we want to cut our link off dahil ayaw naming mapahamak ang buhay namin? Argh seriously Keila! You're smart, pero tanga ka pagdating sa pagintindi ng mga ganitong bagay. We care about you more than you think. Pagdating sayo ay wala kaming pakealam sa buhay namin. As long as your alive...everything's worth it."

"Worth it huh? I'm not so sure about that." Because when it comes to me...my life is all messed up that everything about me isn't wroth it! Hindi ko alam kung ano na ang gagawin ko pagtapos ng lahat ng ito.

"It is! You gave us life Keila, freedom to live like humans...pero hindi dahil dito na pinili ka naming protektahan, its because you're too vulnerable that you won't know what to do dahil ayaw mong umasa sa iba kahit ito naman ang palagi mong ginagawa. You're lying even to yourself and you will continue to do so kaya kailangan nandito kami to constantly remind who you are."

"Siguro sa una ay napilitan lang kaming tulungan ka, but after all these time, we realise you're so weak that it makes you even stronger. Everyday you're different from who you are yesterday. And before we are even aware of it, we were drawn to that side of you. Ito ang tinatawag ng mga tao na curiosity, that we can't leave you alone. That's why, kung sinabi mo sa una palang kung sino ka talaga, sana ay hindi na kami nagamit ni Lunox para mapahamak ang buhag mo."

"You're right." I admitted. "Perhaps we could have reached a different ending if we did that. Pero hindi niyo rin ako naiintindihan Ziandra. I don't want both of you to disappear, I don't like it. Kaya kahit saan man kayo sa mundo, expect that I'll come find you no matter what." After all, I never intended to have friends, but when I do, I don't plan on loosing them.

"Then expect we'll do the same Keila. Na kahit saan ka man sa mundo, kahit kailan, hanggang sa buhay pa kami, ay hahanapin at ililigtas ka namin, until death interferes with us, that oath will never change." Theone suddenly said, interrupting our conversation. Mukhang kumalma na siya kaya mabuti naman.

"Thank you...for the second time, I mean it."

I was actually relieved na hindi nila gustong lumayo sa akin. I'm always meeting with trouble so it's understandable that they don't want to take part in it, but I still don't really understand how they could risk anything for me. I guess I just don't know my spirits that much as I thought.

"It's ready." We all gathered around Silverrium after he said that.

Lights started glowing from both of his hands, because of his light attribute, napuno ng liwanag ang madilim na lugar which attracted attention. Mula dito ay may nararamdaman akong mahigit sa limang spirits na papunta dito. They might have been the soldiers chasing after us.

"Wala pa ba?" Nagpa-panic na tanong ni Accel as the guards' footsteps gradually came closer.

"Tsk! Anytime now?!" Isa pang wika ni Caina.

Well I can feel all of their restlessness, but gathering such a large amount of energy especially sa isang lugar kung saan halos walang enerhiya na ang natitira, is pretty much harder than it is from our original world. Kung sa orihinal lang sanang katawan si Silverrium ay walang problema ito sa kaniya, but in an appearance of an eight-year-old kid, other people might think we're being cruel to a child for letting him do all the work.

Although at this point, sigurado akong nakuha na niya ang enerhiyang kinakailangan niya. After all these time since we got here, he's been gathering this world's mana while following me. But his eyes only remained close and both of his palm lifted in front of him, the glow was brighter than it was before. Given the fact yhat he's still a dangerous monster in a child form, perhaps he's taking his time to gather this world's mana because he doesn't have any time to do so in the Human World?

"Nandito sila!" Narinig naming sigaw ng isang guard, a few meters behind us. Millard sighed.

"Hayss...sayang. Gusto ko pa naman sanang sumama sa inyo sa Human World. Pero ako na ang bahala sa kanila, tiyak na matatapos narin ang bata sa kung ano man ang ginagawa niya." And thus, he ran off subduing the guards before him. At ano nga ulit ang sinabi niya? Gusto niyang sumama sa amin sa Human World? Was he serious? Going there without a master, hindi din magtatagal ay mawawala din siya.

He didn't exactly summon his weapon, pero may kinuha siyang isang dagger mula sa ilalim ng damit niya. Isa lang itong norma na dagger, ano naman ang laban nito sa mga weapons ng mga gwardiya na may mga lacrimas mismo? They can freely use their abilities and capture him without even breaking a sweat, how does he even wish to fight them?

For a moment there, I was actually about to go and help him pero nagulat ako na napatumba niya na ang dalawa sa walong gwardiya using nothing but martial arts. One even let out a fireball from his staff pero simple lang niya itong tinapik ng kamay niya. May lumabas din na iba pang mahika katulad ng waterball at wind blades o mga matutulis na hangin in a form of invisible blades but it only took him one hand to make all of those attacks disappear. Hindi ito katulad ng ability kung saan pwede niyang ibahin ang direksyon ng kalaban, he just made their attacks literally vanish!

Ginagamit niya ba ang ability niya? Pero hindi ko siya naramdamang magpalabas ng enerhiya. Something is weird with this spirit, in the first place, I don't feel much of that aura like spirits emit around him, although there is no doubt he is a spirit. Parang iba lang talaga siya.

May tatlong gwardiya na tumakbo papunta sa kaniya, but he's not using his strength to fight katulad ng natural na ginagamit ng karamihan, instead, he's using his enemies' strengths against themselves.

He shifted his body to the left side then stuck out a foot at dahil sa hindi ito inaasahan ng isang gwardiya ay natumba ito but before he fell, Millard hit him with his palm at the neck at nawalan ng malay ang kalaban. The same thing happened to the other two, and everything happened so swiftly that it looked so much easier dealing with their numbers especially for someone who can't even use his ability or magic.

"Found it!" I was startled when Silverrium suddenly announced that kaya napatingin ulit kaming lahat sa kaniya. Found what? Amd as if answering my question, he added, "I had to build energy layers to other side as to prepare for our landing pero wala akong makitang lugar kung saan may maayos na concentration ng enerhiya sa loob ng base kung saan tayo nanggaling. If I hadn't done it, all of your bodies would have been in pain when we arrive." Well I was wrong for doubting this guy.

Hindi katulad ng mundo namin, mahirap makakuha ng enerhiya dito at derechahang e-transfer dun kumpara sa unang beses na trinansfer kaming lahat ni Silverrium dito. Our world's just abundant in mana and this one lacks it. And so, Silverrium is actually being considerate of us 'lowly' humans huh? Pero bago pa man tuluyang mawala ang mga katawan namin sa mundong ito ay tinawag ko kaagad si Theone.

"I'm taking him." Wika ko sabay turo kay Millard who successfully defeated eight guards but another batch of guards arrived just as soon as he did. There's a hint of surprise expression from the rest inclusing my spirits, but I'm not going to leave such a talent behind.

Napabuntong-hininga si Theone at tinaas ang kamay niya sa direksyon ni Millard na nakikipaglaban, tapos ay may lumabas na chains na gawa sa apoy mula sa kamay niya. I could do it myself, but I'm too exhausted na ayaw kong magsayang ng enerhiya kung magagawa naman pala ito ng mga spirits ko. After all, they are my spirits.

The chains got wrapped around Millard's waist at nagukat yata siya dito, pero agad din namang hinila ni Theone ang chain pabalik sa kaniya. Tapos ay mabilis niyang hinawakan si Millard sa likuran ng damit nito. Before the guards could reach us, we disappeared, completely off their sights.

Nang mabuksan ko ulit ang mata ko sa loob lamang ng ilang segundo, ay napapalibutan na naman ulit kami ng mga punongkahoy. Malaki ba talaga ang concentration ng mana sa mga gubat? I just always end up being in such a place for some reason. The sun wasn't that high up on the sky, kaya ibig sabihin ay umaga palang na sa Spirit World ay gabing-gabi na.

Nagpalabas si Ziandra ng isang kamay niya sa unahan ko para tulungan akong makatayo, at tinanggap ko naman ito. As I stood up, I saw Millard laying still on the with a huge grin on his face. Tapos ay tumalon siya pataas para makatayo, and then he looked around. Nakalimutan ko na unang beses niya nga pala sa mundong ito. Pero wala din namang halos pinagkaiba ang mundong ito sa kaniya, just the huge difference in energy and technology.

"Now what do you plan on doing with him?" Tanong sa akin ni Theone as I noticed others walking ahead to figure out our location.

Sa sitwasyon ng nga spirits ko nung una ko silang nakita, they didn't have a visible body, in other words, energy to sustain their vessels, they were only able to barely appear dahil sa enerhiya na nakakalat sa paligid, and I learned later on that it was because of that Mountain Guardian sa Lethun Mountain. And at those times, spirits are desperate to live or to avoid disappearance thus they resorted to possessions of humans sa sino mang pumunta dito.

Pero si Millard ay may tinatawag na visible body na sa una palang, dahil kahit kulang ang mana sa mundo nila, it doesn't mean it's completely empty, just enough for them to have their forms. Even though energy is generally the same, iba parin talaga ito sa bawat mundo.

In other words, he can't survive here just by our world's energy alone. He needs a master where he can have a share of energy to himself. Because spirits don't have the ability to gather energy for themselves from around them hindi katulad ng mga tao, that's why they rely on lacrimas.

"Y-you don't plan on being this spirit's master, are you Keila?" Nag-aalangang tanong ni Ziandra. I smiled in satisfaction after I realised this spirit's potential once he unlocks his ability.

"But of course I am." Dahil sayang namang may makakuha sa kaniya na iba bago pa man ako, at mas sayang din na doon lang siya sa Spirit World without unlocking his full potential.

I was the reason why Ziandra and Theone seemed humans and unlocked their full potential, when at first no one could even see them, but as their energies gradually increase, they become clearly like humans. But once I cut my link off, they'll revert back to what they were originally are and disappear. At ganito din mangyayari sa spirit na ito kung hindi siya papayag sa gusto ko. Well naturally, I don't want to force him but I do want him at my side.

Na realise ko na hindi naman pala masama kung dumepende ako sa ibang tao, and I realise that it's not that I'm useless. I'm just always downgrading myself like I'm inferior to everyone else. I realised all of these when I felt that immense power from earlier, that excitement and anticipation, that rush of exhilarating moments in my veins and the way my heart would race so fast as well as my mind thinking several things as my body able to execute them with plain perfectly.

I didn't want that moment to end, pero alam ko namang hindi din magtatagal ang pangyayaring iyon at matatapos din ito agad. Buong akala ko ay mawawala din ang lahat ng pakiramdam na iyon matapos ang laban tulad ng sa mga nangyayari noon like I literally force myself to forget those emotions dahil alam kong delikado ito. Pero ngayon nandito parin sila, nararamdaman ko parin ang kapangyarihang ito, and I still crave for even more of it until now.

So why do I need to someone to depend on? Dahil matapos ang mga sinabi sa akin ni Lunox at ang nga realizations ko sa islang ito, like when I was living in Arizole, I was also living a lie here. Everyone here don't trust me, and I don't want people I trust to betray me in return. That's why I needed someone I can trust perfectly, in other words, my own spirits. Since they use my energy, they won't do anything like to betray me.

Ah well, hindi naman sa nawalan na talaga ako ng tiwala sa mga tao, there's still people I trust in this world especially like Iyana and Andrea, then these blacks here and Silverrium. Kahit mga kalaban sila, mas mapagkakatiwalaan ko parin sila kesa sa mga tao dun sa Academy, they are more honest and expressive especially they don't suspect comrades at all. And the one they call monster?

Was now an eight-year-old kid who even helped me get my spirits back kahit alam ko namang ginagamit niya rin ang enerhiya ko, pero hindi ko din naman nararamdaman ang paggamit niya ng enerhiya ko unlike my spirits. Is it possible that he isn't taking anything at all? But wouldn't that be too...dangerous for him?

"Keila, what's with the serious face? Ano na naman ba ang iniisip mo?" Seryosong tanong ni Theone. They do know if I'm being serious or not.

"Ah it's nothing." Thus I shifted my sights on Millard na ngayon ay masayang nililibot ang paningin niya na parang bata, and unexpectedly, Ziandra went to chat with him about this world's wonder. But with his clothing, nagmumukha siyang anak ng mayamang tao but then we kidnapped him to where he is now.

"Theone, how do I compact with a spirit that already has a name?" Since isang paraan ng pagbuo ng kontrata sa isang spirit ay ang pagbibigay ng pangalan sa spirit and as long as the latter accepts the name, then everything's completed. He placed his fingers under his chin, he seemed to be thinking while closing his eyes.

"Hmm usually kasi hindi bumubuo ng contract ang mga tao sa mga spirits na may pangalan na, because they are already under the Spirit Keepers' protection. Alam mo na siguro ngayon na ayaw na ayaw ng mga Keepers na maging alalay ng mga tao ang mga spirits nila dahil gusto mismo nilang maging parang tunay na tao ang mga ito." I nodded.

But spirits being able to become humans huh? There's a possibility pero imposible parin itong mangyari kahit ilang mana pa ang itapon sa Etherion na iyon, ay hindi ito mapupuno. That world is eating up mana perhaps to keep its beautiful surroundings and sceneries in place, napansin ko ito nang unang beses na napunta ako sa mundong iyon. That's why that world is terribly lacking in energy.

But that's better than this world kung saan puros laban at away lang ang nabubuo dahil sa walang tigil na enerhiya. And because of countless wars and deaths, this world's beauty has faded a long time ago. Although there are many beautiful things left, they are only tainted and remains of what seemed to be of the pasts.

"But there must be a way." I insisted.

"Oh there is, for a normal people siguro wala na kaya mahirap talagang makakuha ng isang spirit, especially even two, at ngayon ay gagawin mong tatlo." He sighed. "But for someone who fought and even defeated a Spirit Keeper, I can clearly tell you're not just a normal human with a Cursed Blood running through her body." Defeated huh?

Tsk. Thinking back, mas naiinis lang ako dahil hindi ko siya tuluyang natalo. She held back that final attack which led to her downfall. Now I understand Andrea when she says she wants people to fight her equally, because it's clearly unfair when you're giving your best and they aren't.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero bigla nalang pinitik ni Theone ang noo ko, I looked up to his tall figure in surprise as I held my forehead.

"What gives?!" Gulat kong wika.

"May iniisip ka na naman. I want your mind to stay here with us. And if I don't do that, you're going overthink things again. Seriously Keila, noon pa namin ito napapansin pero...you have a serious mental problem here." My eyebrows furrowed with what he just said.

"Huh?!"

"Ang ibig kong sabihin anh bilis mong ibaba ang sarili mo, kahit sinasabi mo man na may confidence ka, but we don't see that at all. You aren't being honest. So expect us to intervene from now on with you life, dahil noon ay ayaw naming pakealaman ang buhag mo kaya hindi kami nangingealam. But that was our greatest regret. So rely on us more from now on, got it?"

He placed his big hand on top of my head which made me look down kaya hindi ko nakita ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya habang sinasabi niya iyon. Bu I feel something warm inside him, or was it mine? Or was it from us both? I've always been depending on someone, bit I've never heard anyone said to rely on them so sincerly and truthfully like he did.

Somehow, I was grateful when he made me look down...so he doesn't see my smiling face either. Because I don't usually show an honest smile to everyone else ever since I got in this island, I wasn't used to it. Although some have seen it, nakakahiya parin ito lalo nang hindi ako sanay. I didn't know simple words from my spirits would make me smile like this, he and Zianra have been doing thos since earlier. Why would they want to protect me more now? But I guess it wasn't so bad protecting their master.

"A-and as for that other way to compact with spirits, Ziandra may not look like it pero may utak din ang batang iyan. She's knowledgable about these things, but technically useless in many ways. It's just that sometimes she has a bird brain." He looked away to hide his red cheeks, as if changing my thoights of him. I smiled.

"Hoy! Narinig ko yun! Sino sa tingin mo ang tinatawag mong useless?! Wasn't I the one who destroyed that cage of lacrimas?! Ibig sabihin kang ay mas malakas pa ang electricity ko sa fire attribute mo!" Ziandra replied back pointing her finger at Theone habang nasa beywang niya ang isang kamay niya.

I chuckled. No, I think that time...I laughed with all of my heart. I usually don't laugh, but I was able to be with people who makes me feel so special like this. As I thought, it's indeed reassuring to have my own spirits here with me.

Nagulat yata sila sa pagtawa ko and was frozen for a few moments and I do wonder why they're always acting like that everytime I laugh. But still, I continued laughing as if the scene before me is unusual and funny. I've always avoided happiness dahil sa tuwing masaya ako, palaging may masamang nangyayari pagkatapos nito, and perhaps that was the reason why I was so stiff and calculating, the reason why I'm downgrading myself.

"Beautiful, isn't she? We've met many people who say she was a ghost but...they just don't see her real beauty at all. It's maybe because they aren't deserving to see this part of beauty of hers." Narinig kong wika ni Ziandra kay Millard na ngayon ay nakatingin sa akin, but I'm not looking at them. Is she deliberately making me hear this?!

"She doesn't need any special tranformation to be beautiful, she's fine the way she is. People who've seen her beauty might realise how weak yet strong she is at the same time and say how beautiful this girl is." Pati ako ay nagulat sa mga pinagsasabi ni Ziandra.

It's a bit embarrassing in a lot of sense hearing people compliment me, pero gusto ko din naman talagang marinig kung ano ang akala sa akin ng  iba. But at the same time, if it'd be this embarrassing then I'd rather not hear it.

"The way she laughs is mesmerizing...yung pakiramdam na nagiging okay ka na dahil lang sa simpleng tawa at ngite niya? It makes me want to protect her." Millard suddenly replied back which made me look at the two looking at each other gossiping like two children.

"Diba?! Diba?! Ahh may nakakaintindi narin sa wakas! But do be careful, she's really actually a twisted woman in the head." My eyebrow arched upward when I heard her say that. I do hear people say that but...it's still annoying.

"Pero," she showed her sweetest smile on Millard as the latter blushed, she was filled with warmth as if really grateful. "Pero sa totoo lang mabait talaga siyang tao!"

Even I was more surprise of her remarks. Given Ziandra, she won't be embarrass saying things like this pero para sa taong sinasabihan niya ay nakakahiya parin. So it's better if she refrains from speaking something like this in the near future. Wait, now that I think of it, is she gaining Millard's favour para mas mapadali ang pag compact namin? Ah looking back at her again, with that mentality of hers like a child, it's impossible. Ahh I kind of hate to interrupt them now.

"Ahem!" Theone didn't really cough, or more like he said that out loud. He did the dirty work of interrupting two people for me, as expected of Theone. "So Ziandra, may iba pang paraan sa pakikipag-compact sa spirits hindi ba?" Napaisip nag isa bago tumango.

"Malamang meron." She made it sound like Theone's too stupid to realise it, especially with her grinning na parang nanalo siya. "There's two other ways except making names, ang isa ay labanan ng contractor ang Keeper ng spirit na ito, if the human even survives for at least ten minutes, then a spirit will have no choice but to be contracted. Ito ang isa sa rule na pinatupad ng mga Keepers." Wow, what a tyranny. Isn't those Spirit Keepers just want to punish humans who's interested in enslaving their spirits? Well kung ako naman ang sa posisyon nila parang ganoon din naman ang gagawin ko, or probabaly even worse.

"Pero dahil sa kaso mo ay natalo mo na nga ang isa sa Spirit Keeper, that would make you very much eligible to be a master. O ang isang paraan, kung hindi talaga papayag ang spirit, then that said spirt will have to fight the contrator. If the spirit stays conscious for the same ten minutes, then the contractor will have no choice but to give up." She continued with her finger pointing up.

"Siyempre malamang, ang labang ito ay dapat makita ng isa sa mga Keepers o mahigit isang spirit otherwise the contract will not be completed and is a sign of violation sa peace treaty sa gitna ng mga tao at mga spirits na naganap nung unang panahon matapos ang mahabang labanan." Ah ang ibig niya sigurong sabihin ay ang laban na pinigilan ni Denaricus sa tulong ng mga Cursed Bloods. Napatingin ako kay Millard na ngayon ay hindi makapaniwala sa narinig niya.

"Millard, dahil sa may dalawa namang spirits dito, fighting you wouldn't be a violation." I don't want to know what happens if I break that rule.

At isa pa, kahit pagod ako ngayon ay unti-unti naring bumabalik ang lakas ko kanina pa dahil sa mga emosyon sa paligid ko. Fighting a spirit of his calibre won't take me that long no matter how strong he is without his ability. Unfortunately, that kind of combat style is generally used and enhanced by the Graymond clan, in other words, sa pamilya ni Jarvis, that best friend of mine back in the island.

That's the reason why I was interested in him in the first place. Simula bata palang ay palagi na akong tine-train ng mga kapatid ko and Jarvis oftentimes come to join too so it's more like alam na namin ang atake at sekreto ng isa't isa.

I frowned for some reason thinking about him. Its been so long simula nang huli ko siyang nakita, how could I confidently say we still know each other like we did before?

"H-huh? Labanan ang taong iyan?! Ang taong pati ang Spirit Keeper hindi nakayanang pigilan?! Seryoso ba kayo?! Malamang ayaw ko no! Ako mismo ang may gusto sumama sa inyo kaya handa ako maging isang master ang taong iyan." He said pointing his finger at me without even looking at my direction. Did Ziandra scared him on purpose? Theone said this girl has a bird brain, I didn't know bird brains are smart.

I sighed. But something tells me he's actually a coward? Will I be alright taking him in? For the first time I'm defying my instincts, the last time I did nothing good happened out of it. Pero sayang naman takaga kung pababayaan ko siya dito, kaya wala din naman akong magagawa.

Isa pa, ako ang nagdala sa kaniya dito, at kung hindi ko tun ginawa ay siguro ngayon nakakulong na siya sa isang lacrima at ginagamit ang enerhiya niya as a source for Etherion. That Lunox Spirit Keeper can actually be really sadistic about punishments. May posibilidad din na siya mismo ang nag suggest ng mga rules na ito. I can imagine that kind of personality under her soft facade of an innocent woman.

"Then it's decided! Ang kailangan niyo nalang gawin ay—"

"Blood compact?" Tanong ko agad. Somehow ito ang pumasok sa isipan ko.

"No! Hindi wild beasts ang mga spirits na kailangan ng blood compact para makontrol sila at ma recognize ng mga spirits ang master nila no! That would be cruel! Ah as expected Keila, you really do have a twisted mind." She said shaking her head in dismay. I gritted my teeth in annoyance. Malay ko ba?! I've never done something this complicated before and it seems pretty much normal for everyone to have blood compacts.

"M-magiging okay lang ba ako kung ganito ang master ko?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Millard. Then he's free to disappear here if he doesn't like this.

"Ngayon ang kailangan niyo nalang gawin is to seal an oath." Si Theone na ang nagsalita which annoyed Ziandra of him taking her line. "In other words Millard, what can you promise to do for your master in exchange for her power while paying with your life until death interferes?" Ah so it's an oath after all.

Pero hindi pa ako ganoon kakilala ni Millard para pangakuan ako ng kung ano-ano. It's not that I'm forcing him to be my spirit, sa pagkakataong ito ay wala lang talaga siyang magagwa. An oath is still not an oath if one doesn't recognize it as one, so even if made something up I could easily detect it or an oath will not work at all. Then Millard shifted his head to mine, staring at me.

"Then...I will promise to aid you and be with you as long you give me the freedom that does not cost too much of you. I will protect what you wish to and I shall become a blade to conquer every of your desires. This is an oath until death interferes." He couldn't have said it better.

"It looks like he made an oath better than both of you did." I smiled as I walked towards him.

"What?" Tanong ni Theone asking again to confirm what I had just said.

I chuckled once again. I already know that spirits will share the same oath no matter who or what said them, even if they say it differently each. It will become an automatic function for them in their minds, like a strong goal for them to achieve their oaths to the fullest.

"So Millard, nice to meet you. I'm Ke'ala Feyree," I reached out my hand with a smile for a shake as he gradually took it, surprised. "You can call me Keila. I'm looking forward on working with you." He finally shook it.

"Your eyes are beautiful as well...I feel like I'll be engulfed in your warmth. But I'm also looking forward on...working with all of you."

Bigla kaming lahat naalerto nang may marinig kmaing isang malakas na pagsabog hindi malayo sa kung saan kami. Smoke came rushing out in the of those huge trees pero hindi namin makikita mula dito ang nangyari. Pero alam naming lahat na nasusunog ang parte ng gubat na ito. What exactly just happened?

"We need to head back to the town! Now!" Narinig kong sigaw ni Alvin running from inside the trees. Kasama niya sa likuran niya si Accel na ngayon ay may seryosong mukha. I frowned realising this is more serious than an ordinary forest fire. At the same time I narrowed my eyes around me. I feel many presence currently surrounding us so fast.

"Anong nangyari?" Si Theone na ang nagtanong while I was busy with detection. Sigurado akong napapansin din ito nina Ziandra at Theone, since they're used to this.

"Remember that carriage I told you that will get you out of here?" Tanong ni Alvin habang nakatingin sa akin. "Well it's been found out and now Knights are heading to our base. Tatlong linggo na tayo nawawala sa mundong ito Adrianna sa loob lamang ng isang araw natin doon sa Spirit World." Ah right, for him my name is still Adrianna Claies.

"At habang wala tayo may nakapasok na mga Knights sa base which helped in finding us all out. Ngayon ay isa-isang umaalis ang mga myembro ng squadron papunta aa rendezvous point. Fortunately we have another base just on the next town. Pero kailangan na nating magmadali." His cousin, Accel continued.

"Sabi ko na ngaba." May isang boses na lumabas sa gubat. Alvin stared at him in surprise, pati narin si Accel. "So you two were the reason why we were infiltrated. You brought an Academy student, planning everything, and giving information, while you were gone for three weeks."

"Sam..." hindi makapaniwalang wika ni Alvin.

Right, he's the second in command, so it's unthinkable that he'll have anything to do with me as an enemy, but he has. And this Sam, who has slightly blue and brown hair eith the same black cloak, as I remember clearly, the leader of this whole squadron. Kung wala siyang masasabi baka mamamatay sila dito mismo dahil sa pagtra-traidor nila sa clan nila. At alam kong nandito ang magkapatid kasama si Silverrium, but they're hiding right now not to be detected. Dahil kung pati sila ay makita then it'll be the doom of the four of them.

Now think Ke'ala, what will you do? Currently, there's a total of twelve blacks surrounding us hiding each im every trees. Mukhang hindi nila ako kilala kung hindi nila alam ang ability ko, because I got this idea that enemies who pose real threats to me knows me very well.

"Mukhang wala akong iba pang magagawa kung hindi sabihin ang lalaking iyon sa nangyari ngayon. As someone from the Government, he might be able to do something about this." Bulong ni Sam, but I didn't think he meant for us to hear that.

Someone from the Government huh? Ibig sabihin may isanv traydor talaga sa Council, only those people have the mind of authority where they can order people around. I'm very much curious who this person is. I won't say anymore na wala akong pakealam, because even if I don't, my current wellbeing still lies in this country.

"Arrest—" bago pa man ng Sam na ito ipagpatuloy ang sinabi niya, ay mabilis kong kinuha ang dager na ipinasa sa akin ni Ziandra mula kay Millard, after sensing what I'm about to do.

Just after a blink of an eye, nasa unahan na ako ni Alvin, as I quickly scathed his right cheek with a blade. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero mas bumilis ako kumpara sa dati, I feel as light as a feather that I can go wherever and whenever I want. But right now my gaze stared coldy at Alvin who had confused looks. Nilapit ko ang sarili ko sa tenga niya that I had to reach it for him to hear.

"Endure it." Bulong ko sa kaniya.

At hindi ko alam kung naiintindihan niya pero agad ko siyang sinipa gamit ng tuhod ko sa sikmura. Sa lakas nito ay natilapon siya sa may puno meters away from where we are. He let out a little scream as he dripped blood from his mouth dahil sa impact. Because of the strength of how he hit the tree, the tree behind him broke into half with him laying on the middle. It all happened in a few seconds dahil sa bilis ko that no one could take any countermeasures.

"K-kuya!" Nag-aalalang sigaw ni Accel as he ran to his older cousin, at ngayon, napatingin ako kay Sam na hindi makapaniwala sa nakita niya. I rotate the dagger in each of my fingers as I walked to his direction. Pero nakatayo lang siya sa posisyon niya without feeling any threat, just surprise.

"I have no need of useless people, so I kill them the second I see fit." Seryoso kong wika sa lalaking ito. I feel fear from the people around me, is it because of the aura I'm emitting? Ah I've learned a lot from Lunox.

Nagpalabas ako ng apoy sa kaliwa kong kamay, the flame wasn't that big, but it wasn't that small either. It was enough to engulf my entire left arm, pero ang init na nararamdaman ng iba ay nakakasunog.

"Slicing up meat happened to be my specialty, so anyone who wants to experience that firsthand, then please, step right up."