How Grasping Death Could Be So Intriguing

Hostility.

The whole island screams with it. The sight of the breaking sands, the sound of the rushing waves, and the soothing sensation brought by the cool breeze, everything was familiar yet at the same time, it isn't. The scorching sun above continued to rise, giving off that intense heat, yet the sweat the tickles down my forehead was cold.

My heart that was pounding with anticipation earlier, it stopped, halted as though without a sound. The emotions laid by dozens in front were telling me one thing, and that was a simple, dangerous, hostility. How amazing, isn't it? The expressions on their faces were something else, and I don't know why I feel rather amuse.

The moment my foot set inside the island, the moment the sands rocked underneath the soles of my shoes, and the moment my hair swayed along with the wind, they were all waiting there, shooting me their obvious oppositions. Spears and swords were raised in the air, all directed to one; me.

However, I can't just 'not' fight back. I know more than anyone else how useless it would be if I were to just surrender. They knew I was coming back, that great father of mine might have seen this coming. But really, it has been so long since I last felt the fresh air coming from the island, the usual scent brought by nature, it felt like everything was in place. The only difference was, I didn't feel like I've always belonged.

"What—" I raised a hand to stop my Alvar'ius, it would be bad if he were to go on a rampage.

"It's fine, Brother." I stepped forward and when I did, an arrow flew right beside my cheek, but that didn't stop me from continuing my pace.

"Halt! Ke'ala Feyree, halt!" This time, a spear was coming my way.

It had energy embeded into it which makes it faster and almost impossible to stop. As expected of Cursed Bloods, they are far more superior than any Knights. The only problem is that the target was me, and that already goes without saying that such a simple attack wouldn't stop me.

"Halt?" I said, catching the spear, and within a single touch, the whole weapon burned in an instant, its ashes mixing through the white particles beneath. I smiled, amused by the surprise expressions on their faces.

"Ke'ala, watch out." My Brother promptly reminded as dozens of arrows rain down my way from above.

"Don't worry, Alvar'ius," I lifted my hand through the air, clenching my fist and before the arrows could come in contact with my whole body, their motions stopped. "I'm not like before." I whispered.

Slowly, I opened my palm and motioned my hand in circles, upon doing so, the arrows all turned around, then they all went raining back to the Sentinels who just dared to hurt me. Though just like I did, before the arrows could hit them one by one, I stopped them all in their tracks as I heard footsteps coming from behind them. The Sentinels made a way for a single man, still looking the same as ever.

"Tell me you didn't just to try to murder them, Ke'ala." I smiled and decided to burn the arrows.

"I was contemplating whether to do so or not, but in the end, I decided against it. I don't want to start reducing my race now, do I?"

"Now I wonder where that kind, innocent, cliché, and naive Ke'ala went. She was thoroughly replaced by someone pretentious." Chief Lawrence Graymond said with a sigh, finally summoning a bow, his famous weapon that could pierce even the toughest wall.

"I am known as a monster outside, apparently." He just frowned at that reply, pulling back the string of his bow, creating a transparent arrow. "I was hoping you wouldn't point it at me." I added, referring to his weapon now preparing to be launched. The arrow isn't like any ordinary ones, it's big and embeded with large amounts of energy.

"You didn't forget what you did, did you? Helping an outsider, leaving the Arizole, disrupting securities..." he was starting to aim carefully.

"Somehow, I quite did." It was the truth, I remember but the memory is hazy, blurred.

But upon saying that, his arrow flew right beside my right eye, deliberately hitting behind me, causing a small explosion. Glancing back, small fires was spreading along the crater where the arrow just landed. If it did hit me, it would have blew off my head. I was far from the group behind me, so they weren't affected.

"I was told to test our candidate. If you couldn't even handle that, then you are no more than a criminal who committed treason." He pulled another one, creating another arrow.

"Candidate, huh?" I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment.

"Chief Graymond, I am warning you. Don't shoot her." I heard my brother warned.

"Don't interfere, Alvar'ius. Otherwise I would have to shoot your whole company."

"Are you threatening me, Lawrence?"

"I am aware you and Lady Angela can stop me, but I doubt the others can." Just by that, I could feel the Exodus' annoyance. Andrea, together with Annelyn and Alaric.

Well, the Chief was underestmatung them too much. People here in the island always think they are superior in terms of power and spiritual energy compared to outsiders. They aren't wrong in that part, but these people aren't normal, they were far from it.

"Shoot her." Nagulat ang lahat sa sinabi ni Andrea na kahit ako ay napabukas ng mga mata. "Shoot her already para matapos na 'to."

"That if you can." Dagdag pa ni Iyana, I could even feel her yawn.

"Influential friends eh, Ke'ala?" He said letting go of the arrow, now it was finally headed towards my face.

"True." I moved my hand to the side a few inches just before the huge arrow came rushing in, causing it to hit the ground beside me, creating another crater.

"You make me want to go all out." Patuloy lang siya sa pagtira at ako naman ay ginagalaw ko lang ang kamay ko para ibahin ang direksyon ng mga atake niya kaya kahit ni isa ay wala pa siyang natatamaan.

"Oh please do." His attacks multiplied by using his ability to multiply any objects, the huge arrows started splitting in two whenever I try to motion them to a different direction, ending up always almost hitting me.

Malakas si Chief Graymond, kahit sino naman ay makakapagsabi nito. Ibang klase ang enerhiya ang pinapalabas niya sa bawat atake na kaniyang binibigay. Kung ikukumpara nga siguro, ay kasing-lakas niya ang mga Elites doon sa Magnus, perhaps even stronger so. If it were a different person, they would surely have died on the third or fourth arrow.

Pity that it's just that, ako ang kinakalaban niya. If it were the 'me' in the past, I wouldn't survive just on the first shot of arrow. That's how weak I was before. But now I feel like I've somehow cheated, like in an instance...I became this strong. But of course, that wasn't the case at all.

I became strong—never in an instant, simply because I had to undergo several events that have almost taken my life. All those things—I dislike calling them sufferings even though they were—everything has taken both something physical and mental from me. For some people, they might say I was born strong.

True that I was born with abundance of spiritual energy, but that doesn't indicate that I was strong—I was actually far from it. Looking back, on the first chapters of my life...I was frustratingly naive. I thought everything simply revolved around me, that I could handle everything, acting like I was on a superior level than the rest. I knew that wasn't the case though, I finally realized how weak and immature I was.

I did change, didn't I? Realizations always make people grow, it's just up to them if they choose to grow weaker or stronger. In my part, I chose both. I'm strong but deep inside, my emotions all told me I'm still weak. That I still need more power, more energy, more emotions to swallow, and more conquests to conquer. And just by thinking about what could happen about me being a candidate, it boils my blood.

Angela did explain together with Alvar'ius. World's Battle. Twelve different races across the whole world, battling to death and the winner will get to have a wish. Everybody has a wish, a desire for something they could never grasp just by their own, and thus, the battle will grant it for them.

The World's Battle always happens once in every hundred of years, it's another way of nature's dealing with the world's abundant energy productions. It's a battle of the most powerful people in this world, after all. The winner takes it all, the seat of the most powerful person will be theirs. A crown befitting for a proper ruler of this world.

"Is that all, Chief Graymond?" I provoked.

Smoke started clearing up, gasps from Sentinels were seen when I appeared unscathed and their Chief panting due to the continuous flow of large amounts of energy. But the attacks did not end there, even the Sentinels started to activate their own abilities. Mixed weapons thrown at me as the amount of energy was getting heavier in the air.

Looking back when I was just living in this island peacefully, I've never really thought if myself being in this situation. I don't feel the sense of belonging in this place like I once had. Home, huh? Perhaps I don't really have anything to call 'home' now.

"This isn't even nearly enough for entertainment." I whispered, feeling disappointed.

The moment I do, all of their attacks disappeared into thin air. Elements were condensed as their energy flows were halted. True, they are stronger than any normal people outside, but it doesn't make my heart pound in excitement. That familiar rush of blood didn't occur. I was bored.

Yet behind me, somebody was silently releasing intimidating energy, replacing mine like a wave wiping out others' energies. Intimidation, excitement, anticipation, and a small drop of something heavy, dark...anger. He has it all. The worse is that, all of it were directed to me, as though I was a prey.

"Is that a threat," I turned my head around, locking him with my gazes. "Brother?" All their eyes were now darting back and fort from Alvar'ius to mine.

"Of course not, Ke'ala." Then just as suddenly as it appeared, he withdrew all his energy like they weren't there.

"That's what I thought. After all," I smiled. "There's no way my brother would want to hurt his beloved sister, wouldn't he?" He averted his eyes from mine, as though running away from something.

"Where did you get the idea?" He answered after a short silence, walking towards me. When he was just beside, he placed his hand atop my shoulder, tightening his grip which made me frown. And with a whisper, he said, "...there's no way I could."

And he smiled, the usual smile that reminded me of 'perfection', a smile that haunts down my deepest soul, pulling out the guilt I've been trying to hide. That smile was accompanied by something heavy though, like a small darkness creeping trying to get out, threatening to engulf his whole senses.

I could see it. I could feel it. It was similar to what Andrea in the past was trying to hide, and what I had been trying to ignore. But here it was again, that tiny ounce of something black, spreading. And I don't want to dig deeper into it. Perhaps I'm trying to ignore it again, then regret it later on.

But then again, perhaps the real me inside wanted me for him to regain that darkness. After all, there's this rush of blood blending in with that exhilarating feel of excitement flowing out me whenever his energy appears. The smell of his energy is different—far more different than others. And I wanted it.

"Welcome home, Lord Alvar'ius, Lady Ke'ala." Napunta ang tingin naming lahat kay Chief Graymond na ngayon ay nakababa na ang ulo kasama ang ibang Sentinels. My eyebrow lifted at the sight.

"I want an explanation." I demanded as they all made a way for us with the Chief leading, his weapon disappearing.

"Pasensya na kayo sa nangyari. It was your father's order." Paliwanag nito, at sa simpleng nga salitang iyon ay naiintindihan ko na ang nangyayari.

"So he told you to try to kill me." I wasn't asking a question, but his silence told me a confirmation anyway.

"Why would you father even try to kill you?" Bulong sa akin ni Andrea.

"He always did." Wala nang nagbago.

I was a thorn in my family. The Feyree household was filled with powerful people, even more so than any pther Cursed Bloods for they are the Main Family, the main descendants of the first ever Cursed Blood ages ago. There were even rumours that Feyrees are one of the first irregulars in this world, though I couldn't see why not.

Due to their immense power, Feyrees are highly respected and feared, and because of that sole reason; the island continued to thrive in peace. I don't know if I was the first person who escaped from this place, but I've got a feeling I'm not, and definitely not the last one.

What I meant that I was thorn is that, my ability, despite being a Feyree, is normal—as they used to say. My hair only grows longer but it doesn't allow me to become as powerful as the rest of my family. My father, the Head of this island, has the ability to use other people's abilities, he can even own it. He got the ability from my grandfather.

My mother, she had the ability to manipulate weathers, and that simply means she has control of every elements there is. And of course, my grandmother who was said to be the most powerful among all Feyrees, the ability to control death. She was the Head before she passed it unto Father.

What I meant that I was a thorn is that, unlike everybody else, I had no desire to be powerful, I had no desire for domination, and most of all, I had no desire to kill. Feyrees are feared and respected because of those reasons, but ever since I was a small child, they feel no such things towards me and thus, I was deemed 'weak'.

The Feyree Household wasn't exactly a 'home', it was a place filled with monsters, may it be my aunties, uncles, and cousins...they were all monsters. It was a little before I was seven that some started to actually try to 'accidentally' hurt me that would lead to death. So I prioritized only my own survival, I refused to care about other people, I refused to die in that place. Before I knew it, I began to hate death.

But then again, what's there to hate knowing there's nothing behind it? Rather, the idea itself is intriguing, as though pulling me towards it. But I knew I can't grasp it, I would, but I couldn't. Especially now knowing what awaits life could be more intriguing.

The forest that was surrounding us glowed brightly in green, the fresh air continued to cycle around, and as we walked passed by two giant rocks, I could feel the sudden halt in the air. A barrier, a wave of energy penetrating inside us the moment we stepped inside. When we did, the surroundings changed.

Sa unagan ay may malaking dalawang haligi na nagsisilbing entrance papasok ng compound. Pinapalibutan ito ng nagsilalakihang punongkahoy at mga nakalapigid na statues. Hindi na sumama ang mga Sentinels nang pumasok kami dito, at may isa na namang barrier, pero walang kahirap-hirap lang kami ditong lumagpas.

Isang parang bayan ang bumungad sa amin matapos ang ilan pang minutong lakad sa mga kakahuyan. But it isn't actually a village, it's like a huge village kung saan naninirahan lamang ay ang bawat kasapi ng pamilyang Feyree. A clan.

As we walked towards the middle gate, gazes continued to follow us. Some stopped on their tracks to look while bowing, they sense we were from the Main Family. Anyone could sense if one's a Feyree, it shows in the way we conduct ourselves. Funny though, I once walked in this path when I was a kid, and never had I actually earned their respects.

Then there it was, the Feyree Household, standing atop of a mountain, surrounded by condensing clouds, covering the sunlights, and it still has its eerie ambiance. The staircase leading above took us more than three hundred steps. Napailing ako nang makita ko si Iyana na ginamit ang space niya para hindi na mapagod, kaya mas nauna pa siyang dumating kaysa sa amin.

"You're one lazy fellow." My brother said, referring to Iyana when we arrived.

"I know." She replied with a yawn, earning a small chuckle from my brother.

"Pero iba talaga ang lugar na 'to." Wika ni Annelyn habang sinusuri ang paligid.

"Like a Royalty." Dagdag pa ni Alaric.

"Sa labas siguro ang tawag sa Main Family ay Royalty." Maikling paliwanag ni Angela habang nauna sa aming lumakad papasok sa may entrance gate.

"Then does that mean you're actually a princess, Princess?" Andrea asked with her familiar smirk.

"Stop calling me that." I replied, nudging at her side.

"Princess."

"You're more or less a Princess as well, Andrea. Being the daughter of a Saint." Her smirk was quickly erased and this time, I grinned.

"But for you leave such a peaceful-looking island, must be a big reason." Wika ni Iyana na nasa tabi ko na. Nakapatong ang dalawa niyang braso sa likod ng ulo niya, mahahalata ko narin na pagod na siya.

"Oo nga. Ang ganda kaya ng lugar!" Annelyn beamed.

"It is beautiful, I give you that. But it's suffocating and uncomfortable." Napatingin ako kay Alaric sa sinabi niya. He shrugged. "I just know."

"Not that I'm denying it."

Tumigil kami sa isang napakalaking courtyatd kung saan may mga Sentinels na nakapalibot sa bawat gilid. Sa ikalawang palapag naman ay may mga Feyrees na nakamasid. Sa unahan ay may malaking entablado kung saan may nakalagay na isang trono. The seat was coated with sophisticated fabrics, and the surrounding stages were embeded with magic na ang tanging makakaupo lang ay ang taong nakatingin sa akin ngayon.

"Father." Alvar'ius greeted, bowing his head slightly, and everyone did. Even my companions followed suit, but I didn't.

"Alvar'ius, you are at the age where you should be thinking about your responsibilities as my heir. Why did you leave without my permission?" His voice was cold, deep, and filled with so much intimidation na ramdam ko ang takot ng bawat tao sa lugar na ito.

"To find Ke'ala, Father."

"Ke'ala, huh?" Sa akin naman ngayon napunta ang tingin niya.

Nakasandal ang ulo nito sa palad na nakapatong sa inuupuan niya. Nakasuot siya ng mahabang puti na robe na nakatakip sa itim nitong damit na umaabot hanggang sa ibaba. Matapos ang ilang segundong palitan namin ng tingin ay tumayo ito.

My father have always looked so young despite having already three children, he has dark blue eyes just like my sibblings, in which made him even more fearsome and intimidating. Among all the Feyrees, only I held the palest blue eyes, another sign of 'weakness', they say. Perhaps that was the reason why Father had always ignored me.

"The precious daughter of mine who has been tainted by the evils of the outside world. What a pity." He even let out a deep sigh as he walked down the marbled stairs. "If only you had stayed under my wings...you could have grown powerful and now you're weak."

"As I have always been told. A pity that my precious father thinks I could have grown stronger under his commands." I heard gasps from my surroundings that earned myself a satisfaction.

"You couldn't even look at me directly in the eyes before. What makes you think you're different now?"

"I'm looking at you now, aren't I?"

"Do you not know respect and fear, Ke'ala?"

"That, I know, Father." I replied promptly. "I only refuse to respect you nor do I have to pretend to fear you when I just don't."

Then the surroundings exploded into chatterings about me being disrespectful. I could only scoff. Now they talk about respect when they never gave me one? Now they talk about fear when they always gave me the reason why I shouldn't.

I don't look into my father's eyes when I was young not because I couldn't, it's because I wouldn't. It's because I fear he might see the hatred burried deep into my soul and might just kill me for it. Like I said, I used to fear death and prioritized my own survival. But after everything, I guess it doesn't matter now if he kills me or not.

"Since when have you learned to play with words, Ke'ala?" My father was already in front of me then, his eyes searching mine; looking for hints of my weakness in which he found none.

"Since I've began playing with them myself."

"And I wonder what made you agree to come back here."

"Who knows." His eyes then shifted to somebody behind me. I watch as his lips formed a gruesome smile.

"Your daughter, isn't that right?" My whole nerves shivered when he disappeared for a second and after another, he was holding Celeztie on her cloak's collar, lifting her up. I clenched my fists at the sight of it.

"Bitawan mo siya." My voice was almost cracking, deeper, and colder.

Dahil sa biglaan kong galit ay lumabas ang nakatagong masamang enerhiya sa katawan ko. Ramdam ko ang ibant ibang gulat ng lahat, pati sina Kuya at Angela ay napatingin din sa akin. Agad na umiba ang ihip ng hangin, mas lumamig ito at dumilim ang kalangitan.

Napapaatras sila mula sa akin at binibigyan din nila ako ng kakaibang tingin. Pero sa oras na ito, ay nakapako lang ang mga tingin ko sa taong sinasabi nilang ama ko. Seryoso ang mukhang hinaharap niya sa akin, blanko ito, at wala akong alam kung ano ang iniisip niya. Hindi ko manlang nga mabasa o maradaman ang emosyon nito.

"Make me—" I didn't even let him finish, sa isang iglap ay hawak ko na si Celeztie at tsaka siya binaba.

Kanina ko pa napapansin, simula kasi nang nakarating kami dito sa Arizole ay walang imik si Celeztie, hindi siya nagsasalita at tahimik lang. I could even feel anxiousness radiating from her body. I could only wonder why though, I'll deal with it later.

"You infuriate me, Father." I said glaring at him.

"Ke'ala." Alvar'ius warned but I ignored him. I was about to walk towards their Lord when Celeztie grabbed me from behind, shaking her head.

"Just see this through." She said.

"A Feyree using dark spiritual energy!" Sigaw ng isang nagmamasid mula sa ibabaw na palapag.

"Hindi ito maaari!"

"Lalo pa at nanggagaling siya sa Main Family!"

"Lord, ano ang gagawin natin?"

"Delikado siya!"

"Dapat siyang patayin—"

"Really?" I snapped at the advisor running behind my father. "Is death the best option you got?"

Tinaas ko ang kamay ko at hinila siya palapit sa akin gamit ang masamang enerhiya na lumalabas sa akin. Tsaka ko sinakal ang matandang lalaki na hindi ko manlang hinahawakan, wala itong magawa at may lumalabas na bula mula sa bibig nito.

How dare they talk about death so easily. Kill me? If I was that easy to kill then I wouldn't be alive until now! If death was that easy to grasp on to, I could have done so a long time ago! They got thrilled just because I showed a tiny ounce of dark energy?

"Ke'ala!" Angela snapped me out of my thoughts, her hand tightly gripped over my wrist.

In a mere second, my dark energy traces disappeared at nahulog ang matandang lalaki pabalik sa lupa, naghahabol ng hininga. Binigyan ko si Angela ng masamang tingin at ibinalik niya ito sa akin na walang kahirap-hirap.

"He deserved it—"

"He did not."

I chose to just silence myself rather than talking back. She doesn't understand. They don't understand. So it's fine if they hurt me, so it's okay if they try to kill, and so it's okay if they give me pain like it's nothing?!

Bakit ba hindi nila maintindihan? Bakit ba mga sarili lamang nila ang iniisip nila? Bumalik ako dito hindi para maghigante sa mga ginawa nila noon, pero sa mga nangyayari...they make me want to murder them.

"Let's just skip to the part why you want me back here, Lord Zi'enval (Ziyenovel) Feyree." I said mentioning his whole name. It's a sign of being disrepectful but who cares?

"You're growing arrogant, Ke'ala. I didn't know the outside world taught you that." Lumakad siya pabalik sa upuan niya sa ibabaw.

"Arrogance is when you think you're better than the rest when you know you're not, Father."

"And you aren't?"

"While confidence is being better than the rest and you know it."

"Intriguing, indeed. However, do you think being confident enough would win you through the World's Battle?" He sat back on his throne, crossing his arms. "You have no army. You are nothing but a Cursed Blood who is deemed as a traitor by her own kind, who committed treason, and now does not belong here."

"I believe you didn't call me back here just to slap me that insult."

"True." He sighed and raised his hand, when he did, one man appeared from the side. "Take our treasured guests to the prepared courtyard. Alvar'ius and Angela, I expect you to guide them well."

"As you wish, my Lord." Both answered at the same time.

"As for you, Ke'ala, stay." He smiled. "Let's do some exercises."

"Father she's—"

"Do as you are told, Alvar. Go."

My brother gave me a meaningful look before leaving with the others. They didn't say anything, but I'm aware they already knew what these 'exercises' meant. Lumipas ang ilang segundong katahimikan ay malayo na ang naririnig kong mga hakbang hanggang sa nawala na sila.

Pati ang mga nagmamasid kanina sa ibabaw na palapag ay tumalon na pailalim, lahat sila ay nakapaligid sa akin na para bang sinisigurado na hindi ako makakatakas. Kontrolado ang mga hininga at galaw nila, may ibang kahulugan di ang mga titig nila sa akin. Habang ang magaling kong ama ay wala paring sinasabi hanggang ngayon.

But when he nodded, I just knew whatever it is they're planning, it would happen soon. And it did. I jumped back after a huge hammer just tried to crush me down, resulting a sudden earthquake upon the ground, creating a small crater. Without even giving me time to process my surroundings, I immediately lowered my head after a sword just passed by above me.

I haven't even recovered yet when this time, something heavy hit my back, slamming my body down. I realized it was a damn flail, it was a metal handle with a chained iron ball surrounded by spikes. I hissed in pain noticing my back was dripping in blood as another slash of thorned whip hit my skin.

They were all so fast in their movements that I couldn't even barely keep up, they even all moved at the same time which makes their gestures and breathings undetectable. Their energies are all blended with each other, it was harder than usual to pinpoint where is which and who is doing what.

Finally able to regain my feet, I dodged an incoming axe thrown towards me at a quick speed, only to be replaced by dozens of daggers from my side. I carefully avoided each weapons as they began using their own abilities then. Explosions were heard ringing across the courtyard, deafening my ears with the loudness. Fires started spreading as well, but their attacks did not stop.

There were a hundred of them, simultaneously attacking, may it be combat or with weapons, with abilities or with none, they were non-stop. Smokes began to engulf the whole area, making it even difficult to spot them. My bodies were covered in bruises and wounds, making my body heavier to move with.

A powerful wind swept my way as I was pushed back unto the wall, the bricks cracking behind me as I pant. I ducked my body lower seeing a kick landing on me, turning around, I pushed the man away. I didn't even know what was happening anymore, there were too many of them.

"As expected of Cursed Bloods," I sighed, feeling my impatience resurfacing. "You never fail to meet my expectations."

I summoned my dual swords, and all of the sudden, their attacks seemed to have become useless. Whenever they attack, I block, that's all I've been doing. But then I had enough. Another shot me series of fire waves but with a single sweep of my sword, the fire vanished.

Stepping my foot forward, I suddenly gained momentum as I slashed both of my swords in different directions, moving my body in series of motions. And after a few minutes, I stepped my foot back, circling the handles of my weapons around my fingers as the smokes cleared. Opening my eyes, everybody was on the ground, unconscious, as though all of their energies were sucked.

"How were my Main Sentinels, Ke'ala?" My father asked, amused.

"They were entertaining, but not enough." Pinawala ko ang mga espada ko at hinarap siya ulit.

"I wonder if they were weak. You didn't break a sweat when you started attacking. They haven't even managed to take you down before you could use your swords."

"They were fine. They just took on the wrong opponent."

"And I didn't see you use your energy and ability."

"If I had used my energy, it would have ended in an instant, Father. Ano pa kaya kung gamitin ko na ang ability ko?"

"Arrogance and confidence. You both have it." He stood up, taking his robe off. "Seems you need a little help." He said, referring to the bruises on my body. My cloak was even ripped.

"I doubt it." I ran my energy throughout my body, immediately replacing the small broken bones, cleaning the skin, and fixing every bruises and wounds.

"You're still far from your siblings' reach, Ke'ala."

I frowned. "I know." I noticed him carefully putting his robe on his throne. "Are you going to fight me?"

"I have no intention to." He dismissed. "Perhaps I would if you've already managed to beat your siblings, then mark my words. I will give you my seat. Though I doubt it. Alvar and Ka'ela...they're just too different."

I scoffed and turned my head away and with a sigh, I muttered, "of course they are. They always were. But even if I did defeat them, I wouldn't want your position."

"Ka'ela has disappeared." My gazes were immediately locked to him when he said that. As though he knew I was asking further, he continued. "A few months after you left, Alvar'ius followed without any of us knowing. Then before we knew it, Ka'ela did too. Only the people in the Feyree Household knows, but it had already caused panic."

"What do you mean?"

"Alam mo bang may plano si Ka'ela na kunin ang posisyon mula sa kuya mo?"

"May ideya ako." Pag-aamin ko.

My sister would always force my brother to take om his responsibilities as the heir already, but when he doesn't want to, Ka'ela would often burst in anger and would tell him she would. Who wouldn't ignore the fact that she wants the position for herself? In the first place, that was always the reason why they used to often fight.

"Hindi lang ikaw ang umaalis sa isla, Ke'ala. I've been giving missions to track the outside world, sending my men to various parts of the world. Angela, included."

"I thought you were hiding your people?"

"I am hiding Cursed Bloods from the world, but at the same time I'm also making sure we last forever. Our race can't be wiped out. The only way to do that is to build an information web where I know what's happening to every countries, then we attack silently if I deem something wrong is going to happen."

"I'm not even surprise."

"We eliminate abnormalities for the sake of our survival. And that included you. Ka'ela figured out the best way to take the position is to kill you for treason and make it look like Alvar was the cause of it."

"We're talking about Ka'ela here, Father. I know her, hinding-hindi niya magagawa ang sinasabi mo."

"Do you really?"

"I do—"

"And that what makes you far from a real Feyree, Ke'ala. You trust this so-called 'family' of yours so easily. You trust that nothing has changed in them when you forcibly altered their emotions. You went against nature's law. And in every action, there is always an opposite consequence."

I swallowed a saliva, gulping. For some odd reason, I shouldn't even be surprised why in the world my father knows about that, but I am. And I'm nervous. What did I do? Where did Ka'ela go—no, she wouldn't do it.

Even if she did, I'd never allows myself to get killed so easily. I could still change her. I could still change them. Then everything will turn back to normal, I just need to find her before she does something worse.

"Nasaan na siya?"

"Who knows." He shrugged. "And I have no intention in knowing. You see, the island has long been divided. Some believe Alvar should take my position while some secretly supports the idea that Ka'ela should be the next ruler."

This reminded me of Zyrendel's heir problem, only this time, things are more complicated. But knowing Father, naturally he would choose Alvar as he is the rightful heir as the eldest, however, gusto niya din na si Ka'ela ang magmana nito. Kaya gusto niyang makita kung ano ang mangyayari. Dahil kung ayaw niya ng gulo, matagal niya na sanang pinasa kay Alvar'ius ang posisyon niya.

"You didn't give Ka'ela that idea, did you?" I was angry, but I managed to ask calmly.

"I didn't. I just told her eliminating the thorn always makes things easier."

"How dare you!" Galit kong sigaw sa kaniya. "Mas gugustuhin mo pang magkalabanan ang mga anak mo para lang sa posisyon?!"

"I only placed the thorns, Ke'ala. It's up to the three of you on how to deal with it." Nakangiti nitong saad. "Alvar can be a proper leader, he has desire for power, but he lacks the other two. He has no desire for domination and no desire to kill. But Ka'ela has it all. Power, domination, and the will to eliminate anything that stands on her way."

"And why don't you just give the position to her?!"

"I told you, the island is divided. If they knew that I chose Ka'ela and ignored the tradition of making the eldest sit for the position, there's a possibility it would ruin our peace."

"Magpapatayan ang dalawa mong anak para lang makita mo kung sino ang karapat-dapat sa posisyon? Nababaliw ka na ba?!"

"That's another of your weakness. You're too obsessed with 'family', Ke'ala. You shouldn't be. Feyrees never really cared about their family members, they all treat each other as a rival, as a goal to surpass." He waved his hand.

"In this Household, it's either you become powerful or you're dead. But you brother took you and Ka'ela away, he tried to change that. He tried to build a family. But he's already failing in that part. And that's his weakness, your brother is just too caring." He continued.

"You're twisted."

"Feyrees are." He disappeared, and before I knew it, he was already behind me. "But don't think I don't even know how worse you are, Ke'ala."

"I'm not like you—"

"Oh you're a lot like a true Feyree should be, Ke'ala. But strange how at the same time, you just don't." He pointed my chest. "You're ignoring something. And that's what makes you lacking."

"Ano ba ang sinasabi mo—"

"You ignore your heart's desire of surpassing your sibblings. You ignore your excitement, your anticipation, you ignore the way your blood rushes at the thought of killing your own blood. You're scared it might make you more of a monster than you already thought you are."

"You don't know anything about me."

"Oh I know everything about you, my precious daughter. It took you this long to become this powerful—it took me this long to make you like that but it's still not enough! Alam mong hindi pa ito sapat."

I shook my head, ignoring his words that washed over me like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Tumalikod ako at nagsimula nang maglakad palayo. Palayo sa kaniya, palayo sa lugar na ito. Kung alam ko lang na ganito ang mangyayari, sana ay hindi na ako bumalik pa.

"You're a lunatic, Father." I said without turning around.

"You could be even worse than me."

"I won't!" With that sudden scream, the whole area was immediately surrounded by the blend of pure and dark energy.

Withering the plants away but at the same time, making them grow. It was as though they have a life but they were already dead. Hindi lang ang mga tanim sa paligid, pati ang mga taong nakahandusay sa lupa ay nagsisigawan dahil sa matinding sakit na umaatake sa buong sistema nila. I clenched my fists at the sight and closed my eyes.

"See? You can't turn away from what you are, Ke'ala. You're a harbinger of both life and death. You're the harbinger of a true world. The two versions of New World Order?" He laughed. "Both won't matter if you reach the top!"

"What do you want me to do?" I opened my eyes and found him carefully trapping me with his intense dark blue eyes that seem to be glowing, brightening the surrounding darkness.

"I want you to win the World's Battle, dominate as the world's ruler, start a new era..."

"You don't want me to take your position at all."

"I'll leave that for your siblings to handle."

"You want me take everything. To rule the world. To be a monster worse than anyone could."

"Cursed Bloods will all vanish if you don't, Ke'ala."

"I think in this generation, your race will be wiped out, Feyree."

Denaricus' words explored my mind.

"And someone will claim your death."

In the end, it all leads to that. It always does. No matter how much I try to run from it, convincing myself I'm not ready yet, that I shouldn't fear it, that there's still a lot more I should be doing. But it has always, always, been about my death. Even from the sole beginning.

I wanted to ask why and how. I wanted to ask why should I sacrifce myself for the sake of my own race which I don't even feel belonged to anymore. I wanted to ask how they will be wiped out if I don't act, how my actions could affect such a big event. I wanted to ask why and how should it be me.

But my voice didn't allow me to ask those questions. Because as I stared deep into his eyes, mine were reflected. Mine were showing something dark, something heavy, yet at the same time it's intriguing, full of mystery. My glowing pale eyes were showing me how to grasp it no matter how I've been trying myself not to.

"You're asking me to die."

He sighed, cupping my cheek with his palm as that unfamiliar warmth spread across it. And with a gentle smile on his face, my father mumbled,

"Everybody does."

And indeed, he knew everything about me.

For it was the truth.

AN: Please do stay safe, and as always, happy reading!