Lumampas lamang ang espada sa tabi ng leeg niya nang sinubukan ko itong itusok sa kaniya. And as she shifted her head to the opposite side, ginamit niya naman ang isa niyang kamay para isaksak sa akin ang dagger sa tiyan, pero katulad din niya ay inilagan ito ng katawan ko. Napatigil kami nang nagpalitan kami ng sinimulan kanina.

Pero hindi natapos doon ang atake ng mga daggers niya. A dozen of them are flying above, trying to stab me. Ginamit ko nalang ang apoy ko para masunog ang mga daggers na papunta sa akin, and not even one managed to scratch me. Tinaas ko ang kanan kong kamay na napapalibutan ng apoy hanggang braso, the intensity of the fire even vaporized the cold air around us, nagiging mainit na ito. I made a giant fire phoenix with its loud voice shrieking endlessly along the entire woods.

Ramdam ko na naman ang gulat ni Andrea dahil sa mga nakikita niya. She didn't know I had flames, and it makes her wonder what more I can give. Seriously, she's too obvious. Halos nawala na ang dilim sa paligid dahil sa liwanag ng apoy, its flame almost engulfing the ground beneath me. Inatake ng phoenix si Andrea, its large beak broke into an open almost bitting her off.

I'm relieved as a friend that she managed to dodge it by rolling over to the side, pero bilang kalaban niya ngayon ay naiinis ako dito. The phoenix should be fast enough, but her movements became quicker, and more refined. Hinayaan ko na lamang siyang hawakan ang nag-aapoy na phoenix para masara ang malaking bunganga nito. It didn't even take a fee seconds before the phoenix let out another loud scream at nawala. Ang kaninang buong apoy ay nagkahiwalay-hiwalay setting the surrounding areas in fire.

She can destroy anything as long as it has a form, so destroying that phoenix is a child's play for her. Hindi nga siya nahirapan sa ginawa niya pero alam ko namang nasasaktan siya dahil sa apoy. There are burn marks on both of her hands, reaching her wrists. Just having to touch something hot makes anyone flinch, ano pa kaya kung apoy na ang hahawakan niya? In order to use her ability, she has to touch and feel it with her sensation, then her energy is released. Ganoon ang paraan ng destruction ability niya.

Knowing that, our battle might end up being a futile struggle of stopping each other. Paano ko siya tatamaan ng mga atake ko kung kaya niya itong sirain? And how can she attack me if I can counter all of it using my ability? Which means na paunahan nalang kami.

Whoever touches each other first looses. Speed is still much better than strength after all. Ang tanong ay sino sa amin ang mas mabilis? With her hands hurting, it'd be her disadvantage. Unless she does the same damage to me. Magagawa niya ngaba? I was smirking for some reason, but not on my watch.

"Is that all your ability can give you Keila?" She asked, which annoyed me.

Andrea always provokes her opponents, pero iba ito ngayon. Sinusubukan niya kung hanggang saan ba talaga ang makakaya ko. She never underestimates her opponents, malakas man sila o hindi dahil sa isang laban ay ayaw niyang lumalaban na hindi binibigay ang lahat ng makakaya niya. That's why she often provokes her opponents to make them give their all when fighting against her. But now, just from the way she looks at me, she's disappointed. Or rather, she's underestimating me. Is she doing it on purpose?

"I was told you could do much more. Is this it?" Tanong niya ulit, ignoring the pain coming from her hands. And she was told? Who exactly did? Ano pa ba ang mga bagay na alam niya tungkol sa akin? Did she know about the real potential of my ability? Knowing that, she still wants to go against me?

"Do you want to fight me that much Andrea? Simula unang beses palang nating nakita ang isa't isa, you always had that inention to surpass me. All these time did you really think you're weaker than me?" I asked making my weapons disappear.

"I'm not weak, but against you I am." I sighed because of her reply. "I've never once won against you, Keila. At kung magpapatuloy ito hindi ko na alam kung ano pa ang gagawin ko sa nararamdaman kong ito. Yung pakiramdam na gusto kong makuha kung ano ang meron ka? If I can't defeat you now, when will I be able to let go of these odd feelings? It's eating me, it always bothers me, it won't go away. Nababaliw na siguro ako sayo, pero nagsimula lang ito nang dumating ka sa buhay ko."

"And you'll end it by making me disappear from your life?" Dahil kung sino man ang matatalo sa labang ito, ay hindi na pwedeng mangialam sa buhay ng isa. It's that kind of idea we both have right now. And making me disappear from her life?! She's really selfish. Siya ang tumulak sa akin papasok sa buhay niya and now she's kicking me out? If she could only stop being so self-centered for once!

"Iniinsulto mo ba ako Andrea? Never once won against me? Yung binali mo ba ang nga buto ko at binulag ang mata ko, hindi pa ba sapat yun?" She's making me angry. Is she saying what happened is nothing but a mere play for her?

"It's not." She hesitated before looking away.

Before I knew it, I was clenching my fists so hard that the flames in my hands are becoming hotter and hotter that even my skin feels it when I usually don't. It's not huh? Bakit ba siya nagkakaganito? Ni hindi ko naisip na sasali siya sa Exodus. Alam kong nagagalit siya sa mga taong sinasaktan ang mga taong pinagpalit sa kaniya ng ina niya, and Exodus should be one of those she hates! She's being controlled...I need so snap her out of it.

"You know she isn't."

"I didn't remember asking you, Laire."

"Doesn't mean hindi na ako pwedeng magsalita."

"Don't meddle."

"You're running away from reality at pinipilit mo na naman kung ano ang iniisip mong katotohanan bilang realidad. You still haven't learned from fighting with Lunox? Hindi nga ako nakapunta doon, pero nakikita ko naman ang memorya mo. Her words may seem nothing to you, but she's trying to tell you—"

"Shut up Laire! Don't forget I could make you go back to sleep." I'm saying I could shut her down if I wanted.

"She's trying to tell you that you shouldn't lose sight of who you are, even in a fight. Resist the temptations, excitements, anticipations, because in every battle, those who are calm always win. It's because they are able to see everything, including themselves." Matapos ng sinabi niay ay hindi ko na siya narinig pa.

I don't really understand it yet somehow I do. Resist the temptations of a battle? Did she mean ignore this excitement? This anticipation of what's coming next? This thrilling sensation being felt by my whole body? Paano ito magiging laban kung walang halong ganoon? Those who are calm are just bored of their opponents, or possibly by how they fight. It just means hindi pa nila nahanap ang tunay na katapat nila.

And now looking at Andrea, siya na ngaba ang katapat ko? She always did say I was her rival. Rival in many things. Gusto niyang makuha kung ano ang meron ako, at para matigil ang ganiyang pag-iisip ay kailangan niyang matalo ako, to prove that she doesn't need what I have, to prove to herself that she surpasses me in those things she thought she lacks.

Pero kung magawa niya man iyon, paano naman ako? Wouldn't that mean I just accepted the fact that I'm weaker against her? Kung ako pa ang dating ako, siguro nga wala akong pakealam at noon ay palagi kong sinasabi sa sarili kong mahina ako, that Andrea is far more stronger. But what do I feel now? Ah I knew it, I definitely hate the thought of loosing. Rivalry means competing against each other, and right now we're deciding who's the one on top.

"That power I used that time...alam mong hindi sa akin yun." She said, lifting her gaze towards the cloudy skies. "It's not mine and I still haven't learned how to use it well."

"You're seriously thinking of using it well?"

"For those who have lost themselves can only clung to power Keila. Ito nalang ang meron ako, at gagamitin ko ito ng maayos."

"In exhange for that you're siding with Exodus? Andrea, isipin mo ng mabuti ang gagawin mo, o pagsisisihan mo 'to."

"Pagsisisihan? The only thing I will surely ever regret is not being able to battle with your full strength."

Bigla niya nalang tinapon sa akin ang mga nagliliparan niyang daggers, the daggers came too fast, faster than what she used to, at kahit ilagan ko man ito ay bumabalik parin sila para tamaan ako. In the end, dahil natatakasan nila pati ang mga apoy ko, ay napilitan akong gamitin ang ancient barrier sa paligid ko with a built-in system that nothing can pass through. Nagulat na naman siya dito at nainis.

"Hindi mo ako kaya Andrea. I can do more than you think." Mas nagalit siya sa sinabi ko. I can feel it, that anger being held back just to control herself. Kaonti nalang at lalabas na ang galit na ito. I wonder where she got that temper from.

"Ginagalit mo ba ako?!" She leaped towards my direction, pero hindi ako umilag dahil alam kong may nakapalibot namang transparent barrier sa paligid ko.

She turned her body around while on the air to build up momentum at sinipa ng malakas ang barrier na ito. Napaatras ako ng kaonti dahil sa lakas ng sipa niya, and I can feel the barrier shaking because of it. Patuloy lang ang ilang ulit niyang sipa at tsaka din naman ako atras ng atras, because I couldn't help it. Then she changed to rapid punching. Dahil sa ilang ulit niyang pagpapalabas ng lakas ay nanghihina na siya.

But this time, I was the one surprised when her fist landed through my right cheek. I only realised it when I was already looking sideways, I didn't expect it. Hindi niya naman nabasag ang barrier, but her fists are able to go through inside? Andrea has the ability to destroy anything, pero hindi ko inaasahan na kaya niyang makontrol ang ability niya making only a part of the barrier crumble. She focused her attacks on one point.

She suddenly held my neck when she knew my barrier was down due to that attack. Our eyes remained at each other, not blinking, not looking away, as if we're seeing another part of us within our eyes. She was choking me, but there wasn't a hint of expression from my face.

This isn't like her, Andrea doesn't think! Who changed her? Is it really because she wanted more power that she became this strong? Or was it me? I made her strong by making her want to surpass me. Nagagalit ako, naiinis ako, I want her return back to normal. Pero alam ko namang ganito talaga ang gusto niya, ang maging malakas. And she can't improve in the Academy, she can't improve with just us by her side, that's why she's siding with the Exodus. She's the new player, and she's our enemy.

"Keila you don't know the feeling of having nowhere to belong. That no matter how I try nothing goes right! That no matter what I do, it feels like the worls hates me. Oo at alam kong marami ang humahanga sa akin, but it's only because I'm the daughter of the Saint!"

"They only see me as that woman's daughter, and not me! I finally managed to get to the Sleberian Cross after I worked so hard for it, pero Keila, nakapasok lang because of this damn Cursed Mark! Now, not only that they see me as the daughter of the Northern Headmistress, but they also see me as a curse that should be eliminated."

"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."

Don't know the feeling? I clenched my fists and surely she noticed them. As again, why? Ano ba ang alam niya sa akin? Nowhere to belong to? If she only stopped what she's trying to do and go back, she'll see that there's someone out there who cares for her! Siya lang ba talaga ang iniisip niya? Ang nakikita niya? Why don't she actually start thinking of others around her?
Nakakainis siya. She's hurting me deep inside.

Envious? Of what? What do I really have for her to be envious? Attention? Acknowledgement? Power? If I told her all of these are cursed, would she still keep wanting it? If I told her I wasn't what I show her, would she believe me? At kung sasabihin ko ba sa kaniya ang lahat tungkol sa buhay ko, will she finally be able to look at me as a friend and not as a goal she had to surpass?

I immediately summoned my weapon at mabilis itong sinaksak sa toyan niya. Nakita noya ito pero hindi siya gaano kabilis para ilagan ito because she was still choking me. Kaya nabitawan niya ako at napaatras, her hands pressed on the side of her stomach. She gritted her teeth in pain.

Then there was the sight of blood.

But for some reason, napaluhod ako sa lupa. Why? Why is blood dripping so endlessly from my chest? Why is there a sword emerging from my chest? And why...can't I breathe so...easily? It hurts...this pain hurts, but at the same time it's numb. It feels like my chest is being blocked by something which stops my whole body from moving. Blood...when did the sight of blood became this common for me?

"Matthew...what did you do?!" Galit na tanong ni Andrea as she stood there in front of me barely standing. Sa likuran ko...hindi ko naramdaman ang atake niya.

Napaubo ako ng isa pang dugo nang hugutin niya ang espada. I saw his kick coming from the side but I couldn't move my body enough to dodge it. As a result, I was sent flying through the corners, too far from them, at natamaan ko ang mga nagtatayuang bato. I felt my head hitting the rock before it came crumbling down because of my momentum.

"Matthew!" Sigaw ni Andrea sa lalaki, guy returned her gaze as if asking what's the problem. "I told you...d-don't meddle!—" the man threw her arm around her to aid her from falling.

"I'm sorry Miss, but I can't let you die here. I can't let her bring you back either. Like I said, kompleto na sa wakas ang Ends, which took us ages to complete. We are not to kill her but at this point wala na tayong magagawa. You aren't worth sacrificing for her. Kailangan ka namin Miss Andrea, Exodus is the onmy place where the likes of us belong."

Another batch of blood flowed from my head, almost covering my face. My vision became blurry, it feels like there's more than the two of them. Andrea...I can feel all of those anger from earlier replaced to a different kind of anger, all directed to Matthew. It's funny how we fight as if killing each other and now she's getting worried if I actually might die. 

Wala akong naiiintindihan sa mga sinasabi niya. Exodus is the only place where Andrea belongs? Kill him. I want to kill him. The smell of blood continued to linger under my nose, but it's not mine that I wish to have, it's his. They are underestimating me. For Andrea I'm just a goal and nothing more, did she really think of me as a friend all these time? So she's worried that her goal might disappear in front of her?

Blood even swallowed up my sweat. My breathing was ragged, and I couldn't breathe. Even my own energy won't be enough to heal this much damage done to my body. Mamamatay ako kung wala akong gagawin. I have to be at least under ten meters of someone to feel their emotions, in order to generate them into energy. But we're in a middle of the woods, and the two of them are too faraway.

Patuloy lang sa pagdaloy ang dugo mula sa dibdib ko, and there's a hole in it. It's hot but at the same time I feel cold inside my body. My whole body is trembling. Move Ke'ala. Move! If you won't Andrea might indeed disappear in front of you. If you won't move, hindi mo na siya mababalik pa. If you won't, you will regret it. If you won't move you will die!

Is it fear? Am I scared of dying? No. It's different. I'm scared of loosing a friend. For some people loosing a friend or two might be nothing, for them it's just inevitable, a natural event where nothing lasts forever, and honestly I know that. Pero para sa aking lumaking halos hindi lumalapit sa ibang tao, lumaking halos palaging mag-isa, it's too much. I never intended to have friends but when I do I never plan on loosing them. Isn't that it? So why am I giving up now?

Energy. I need energy. Napatingin ako sa kamay ko, specifically on my index finger. The ring has a small crack, which gave my ability an enhancement of ten meters...but what if I were to take it off? I suddenly got shivers. No, I'm too scared to take it off. Feeling millions of emotions from people all over the world...I won't be able to handle it.

Pero hindi ko sila pwedeng hayaang umalis na lamang. My hands are still trembling. I have experienced dying, and this pain is familiar. Would they understand me if I inflict the same pain they did? If I stab them the same on the chest, would they live? Or would they die? I'm angry. I want to know.

I focused all my energy on my palm, I ignored the pain being experienced by my whole bidy as I released the energy from my hand. Dapat nga ginagamit ko ang enerhiyang natitira sa katawan ko para mapagaling ang malalang sugat ko, but I don't care anymore.

I've never been reckless my whole life, I was raised being a burden for my parents, I was born in the same household but I never felt like one of them. They never let me leave because it'd protect me from all those emotions, but I know deep inside they just didn't want me to cause trouble.

Due to my existence the Main Family came crumbling down. My sibbling bith running away from home, my grandparents always arguing with my parents...but even so, they always look like everything's alright. As the leaders if Arizole, my parents were told to be perfect, becsuse they never let personal life get in the way of their business.

"If worse comes to worst, kill her."

Those words never left my mind since I heard my father said that. Kaya naiintindihan ko din ang nararamdaman ni Andrea sa ina niya, pero hindi katulad niya ay wala lang takaga akong pakealam sa kanila. Whether they acknowledge me or not, whether they see me as a daughter or a stranger, whether they cared or don't, wala akong pakealam.

For me the word 'parents' is nothing but a figure of people who were the reason why I was born. Wala akong nararamdaman sa kanila ktulad ng nararamdaman ni Andrea sa ina niya. So since then I have prioritised my own survival than anything else, because I didn't want to die.

Pero ngayon, hindi ko na alam. My mind revolves around bringing her back and the regret from not being able to fight with all I had.

Nang binuksan ko na ang kamay ko, ay may lumabas na malaking magic circle sa ilalim nilang dalawa. They didn't notice because they were arguing. Me losing is unforgivable, so despite my state, I could still do a long-ranged attack—

"Huwag mong susubukan ang pinaplano mo, o mauunahan ka pa ng espada ko." It was a cold voice, and I couldn't sense an emotion from it. Kahit malamig man ang boses na ito ay hindi hindi masyadong malalim. It was coming from behind me, the tip of her sword is pointing at my leg.

"Hu-huwag mo akong...pakeala—" I suddenly stopped talking and held my mouth, I couldn't stop coughing, and thus the blood won't stop coming out. Nararamdaman ko na naman ang sakit sa dibdib, because I released my only remaining energy, my body can't be healed naturally.

"You will die if you release all your energy at once. Give it up." I looked back at Andrea na tinutulungan ni Matthew. May isa pang babae na nakasuot ng kulay pulang cloak ang dumating. There's no doubt it's one of Exodus.

"Aalis na tayo. Knights are surrounding th city." Wika nung babae.

"Hindi ako pwedeng umalis na hindi ko pa natatapos ang—"

"Miss Andrea, please reconsider. Makakaya mo ba talaga siyang matalo sa kalagayan mo ngayon? Plus she can't even stand up. You won't be able to have a real battle."

Tatayo na sana ako nang muli akong pinigilan ng babae sa likuran ko, with her hands both atop my shoulders. She'll even get in my way? An Elite is getting in my way? Yes, she's an Elite. Hindi pwedeng hindi ko maaalala ang boses na meron siya. This girl is strong, she could probabaly even stop all of them at once. But instead she's trying to stop me?!

"Enough Keila. I won't let you die here. Walang labanan ang magaganap kung walang aatake. They will escape and so are we."

"An Elite?...escaping?" I asked, panting. At isa pa, bakit ba siya nandito?

"We are Elites because we don't involve ourselves, we act behind the scenes to make sure those below and above can move efficiently. So it doesn't really matter if we are escaping or not, we only do our tasks."

"Then don't involve....yourself in—my business!" Bigla niya na lamang hinawakan ang dibdib ko, aiding her other hand from my back. Energy. I feel her own energy being transmitted to mine. She's healing me!

"I can't have my own apprentice dying in front if me while I'm just watching." Watching? She's been following me all along? And apprentice? Why would the leader of the Elites choose me as an apprentice? Yes, she's the leader.

Looking at her beside me, her long green-dark hair was swaying. She has long eyelashes, her silver armour was glistening, and on it was my reflection. Blood. Bakit ngaba kapag tinitignan ko ang repleksiyon ko ay palaging may dugo? But still, her energy is so warm and pleasant. Kakaiba ito at parang gusto kong matulog. But I knew I can't.

"Being an Elite apprentice is just a cover-up story para walang magtataka ng pinagmulan ko. Sigurado akong sinabi na sa inyo ito ni Headmistress." I explained, while regaining some of my energy. Masyado naman yatang mabilis ang paggaling nga sugat ko, kabit sobrang lalim nito. No, for her, this level of heing is easy given how almost abundant her spiritual energy is.

"Wala naman akong pakealam nung una. But I knew there's something about you when we first met." She meant when she made an eye-contact with me nung nakalaban namin si Silverrium.

"Being an apprentice is too much trouble, kaya hindi ako interisado."

"I know what you did. If you actually have the courage to go back to the Academy or side with the Clan, then I won't stop you. But I know you have nowhere to go this time. Kaya ano ang pipiliin mo, Ke'ala Feyree."

"You're one of those people who know me huh?" Hindi na ako nagugulat kung may nakakaalam man ng pangalan ko. Have I gained that much attention for them to have to know me? "Sa una palang, bilang isang Elite hahayaan mo nalang ba na kunin nila ang isang Academy student?" Honestly nagagalt ako sa kaniya.

"You don't understand her." And I didn't understand what she had just said.

She is clearly seeing what's happening and yet she's ignoring it. Bakit? Gumagalaw lang ba talaga ang mga Elites kung isa itong misyon? Don't they care for people too? Pero hindi na siya sumagot pa at napatingin nalang sa direksyon nina Andrea na ngayon ay nawawala na sa paningin namin. They were dashing out of the woods while helping Andrea on her feet. Iniisip siguro nila na sumuko na ako given my state. They didn't wven notice there's another one with me.

Tinapik ko na ang kamay niya at tumayo. Hininga ko ang malamig na hangin sa paligid, as I called forth both of my weapons na natilapon sa malayo. They each returned on my hands na parang wala lang ang nangyari. Wala na akong sakit na nararamdaman. I'm still alive, and I have the energy I need. Pero alam kong hindi pa ito sapat kung gusto ko nga talagang ibalik si Andrea, now that there's another Exodus who came. Marami pa ba ang Exodus na nasa paligid ngayon? Nagmamasid?

Laire was right, I shouldn't have let my emotions get the better of me. I hate it when something different is happening than what I usually see in my head or plan. Masyado na akong nasasanay na lahat nalang ng plano at gusto ko ay nangyayari. I need to be calm to be able to see everything, including myself.

"You won't stop me now?" Tanong ko at napatingin sa likuran. But she wasn't there anymore. So much for trying to be my mentor. Now she's leaving all the decision-making to me?

Somehow, I don't fear myself like I used to. Amdrea wanted a real battle, pero hindi ko sa kaniya binigay iyon. Dahil natatakot ako sa mga bagay na kaya kong gawin sa kaniya. I was worried that what if I hurt her so much? What if she won't be able to handle it? What if she hates me for it? Pero masyado ko lang siyang minamaliit.

Malakas si Andrea, at gusto niya pang mas lumakas pa by trying to control her Cursed Mark. She really is strong. I feared my own Cursed Blood, but she...she was trying to find a way to utilize her curse to her advantage. Pero ako? Ano ang ginawa ko simula nung bata pa ako? I was suppressing myself, I was making myself look weak! Enviousness. Ngayon naiiintindihan ko na ng maayos kung ano ang nararamdaman ni Andrea sa tuwing nakikita niya ako. I didn't realise I was hurting her this much.

Tinaas ko ang isang kamay ko na hawak-hawak parin ang espada. The sword began to glow brighter and brighter until it covered my surrounding with glistening red lights. I won't let them escape. Papatayin muna nila ako bago mangyari yun. If Andrea wants a real battle, then I'll give it to her.

Pinalabas ko ang walang tigil na enerhiya mula sa kamay ko, directing it all around me. May lumabas na mga magic circles sa ibabaw ng madilim na kalangitan, iba't iba ang nga kulay nito na tiyak ay kahit sinong tao sa malayo man o malapit ay nakikita ito.

More.

I need more energy.

Kulang pa ito. Kulang na kulang.

Nagpalabas ako ng malaking barrier sa buong gubat, kaya kahit saan man sila ay hindi sila makakalabas ay babalik na babalik sa kung sana man sila nagmula. This was how I set up the barrier. As an ancient barrier, I could set up different kinds of traps inside, in other words, teritoryo ko ang lahat na nasa loob ng barrier na ito. Unless they're powerful enough to break through of course.

Kahit gamitin ko man ang sarili kong emosyon pra maging enerhiya, hindi pa ito sapat. The magic circles remained floating up above, as if waiting for my own energy flow. May pakiramdam akong nandito ang nga Exodus ngayon. They are after Andrea and surely they are making sure nothing goes wrong.

Now what shall you Ke'ala? Maghihintay ka nakang ba dito sa kanila? O hahanapin mo sila? The answer was obvious. I'm luring them out as I find them.

Due to my range of ten meters, mabilis kong naramdaman ang papalapit na weapon mula sa likuran ko. I easily shifed my head to the right letting the knife passed by and hit a tree instead, at pumutok ang punongkahoy na ito. I smirked. Another Exodus member appeared. Tama nga ako. Nandito nga sila. But unfortunately,

Tinapon ko ang espada ko sa direksyon sa kaliwa at may narinig akong sigaw dahil sa sakit sa 'di kalayuan. The sound of his painful cries echoed along the forest. Hanggang sa hindi ko na siya nararamdaman pa.

Now, where's the rest? Andrea wanted to join Exodus so much because she thinks she could be stroner by joining them. Ipapakita ko sa kaniya ngayon kung gaano kamali ang desisyon niya. That Exodus are nothing against me. Seseryosohin ko sila ngayon. They will regret fighting with me. Sisiguraduhin king mararanasan nila ang sakit ng kamatayan.

I may act arrogant now, but that's only because I'm confident with my skills. Strength is being confident with what you have, others will view you as strong that way. But if one shows they are weak, others will view them the same. It's all about impression after all. In my case, I decided to stop being weak and changed myself.

Ah I can feel it. All these energy coming from every living thing inside this barrier to my body, I feel like I could do anything. Nagapalabas ako ng mga kuryente sa dulo ng mga espada ko at pinatamaan ito sa magkabilang gilid ko nang may naramdaman akong may gumalaw mula dito. Even if they're ten meters away from me, it doesn't mean I can't hear them. Tulad ng sinabi ko, teritoryo ko ang lahat na nasa loob ng barrier na tinayo ko. All their energy is mine, ano pa ba ang magagawa nila?

Ganoon ba talaga kalakas ang mga myembro ng Exodus? Why do they look weaker than before? Ito siguro ang myembro na walang Cursed Mark. Well I want to battle one. Inwant to know how strong can a different Cursed-user  be.

Lumakad ako papunta sa dulo ng kakahuyan. Ilang minuto na ang nakalipas at palaging mga myembro lang ng Exodus ang nakikita ko o ang umaatake sa akin. Walang espesyal sa kanila, they're just normal magic and ability users. Nasaan na ba sina Andrea? Even unde rmy own barrier, they are able to hide themselves. Bakit ba sila nagtatago? They are purposely trying to distract me with their weaker members. Is it because Andrea's too hurt to move that they're making sure I won't find her?

"Keila, you're using too much energy! Naaapwktohan na ang mga tao dito sa syudad."

"Too much energy? Theone this is hardly even enough!"

"You're being blinded by power—" I interrupted Ziandra sa kung ano ang balak niyang sabihin.

"I don't want my own spirits telling me what to do." It's not my fault that weaker people are enduring my own extra energy that is being released after excess energy aren't used. Dahil ito sa hindi perpekto ang kontrol ko sa sarili kong enerhiya, even though I'm good controling, it doesn't mean it's perfect. Pero ano pa ba ang magagawa ko? I can't just suddenly deactivate the barrier.

"Um..pero naaapektohan din kami ng enerhiya mo as—" again, I interrupted Millard.

"Bear with me longer." And with that, I heard them sigh.

My spirits have to eat my excess energy para hindi madamay ang nga tao. Once normal people eat up this kind of energy, may mangyayari sa katawan nila. But in exchange for that, my spirits will gradually get weaken. But I have no choice but to do this. So they have to endure it.

Tiyak na nararamdaman din ito ni Andrea, itong enerhiya, and she knows there's a city nearbye. Lalaki na lalaki ang barrier na ito hanggang ako mismo ang titigil dito. But I wonder how lonh Andrea can hold herself back.

Mabilis kong tinaas ang isa kong espada para isangga ang tatlong paparating na magkasabay na dagger sa gilid ko. They were sent flying away by it. And then before I realised it, my lips were already forming a smirk. Ah she's here.

"Ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo Keila?!" Sigaw ni Andrea nang magtama ang hawak hawak niya dagger sa espada ko. Swords are longer but daggers are often accurate, kaya makakaya niya talaang protektahan ang sarili niya ng mga nito, not to mention that when it comes down to experience, mas magaling siya sa akin.

"Luring you in?" Tinulak niya ako, preparing herself another kick but I managed to dodge it at muli na namang nagtama ang mga weapons namin. The sound of metals colliding rang to my ears down to the back of my head.

"You're always like this. Always doing everything for the sake of your goals."

"Aren't you the same? So don't act like I'm the bad one here!"

"I'll do anything but not everything Keila. Hindi ako nandadamay ng ibang tao katulad mo!" Sa inis ko ay kinontrol ko ang mga chains to get wrap around her hands. Umiba bigla ang direksyon ng atake niya at tsaka ko siya siniko sa likod.

"Akala mo ba talaga ganoon ka kabait Andrea Hindi nandadamay?" I asked mockingly as I watch her slap her head on the ground. "Hindi naman tayo nandito sa sitwasyon na ito kung naisip mo lang ang magiging resulta ng desisyon mo!"

"It is my decision kaya sana hindi mo na ako pinakealaman!" She shouted back while rolling backward and landing on her knees habang nakatutok parin sa akin ang mga hawak miyang daggers.

"How can't I? If you actually stop being selfish for once!"

"Hindi mo kasi ako naiintindihan Keila!" Iyan din ang sinabi sa akin ng Elite kanina. Don't understand? Ano ba ang dapat kong intindihin sa ginagawa niya? Seriously joining the Exodus for power?!

"Seryoso ako Andrea, if you won't stop, I won't hold myself back!"

Mula sa isang pulang magic circle sa itaas ay may lumabas ditong mga fireballs at nagsiliparan ito sa iba't ibang parte ng gubat. Tumama din ang ilan nito sa kung saan kami ngayon at isa isa niya naman itong inilagan, if she can't, she'd touch the fire herself making it scatter more.

Dala ng mga fireballs na ito ay bumukas pa ang isang kulay brown na magic circle, this time it didn't rain anything, but it created a huge golem made out of rocks. The golem was so huge that when it landed on the ground, biglang may nabuong crater sa lupa. Pati ako ay medyo napaatras nang nahulog ito mula sa kalangitan dahil sa impact niya. Due to the fire and dusts blending, our surroundings became so hot and blinding at the same time as if we're in a desert.

Wala halos akong makita, but all I know is that the golem keeps attacking Andrea at pilit naman niyang makalapit dito para masira niya. I noticed her body back to the way it was earlier, she was healed like I did so there's a possibility that one of those two Exodus na tumulong sa kaniya kanina ay magkasinglakas ng Elites, although there's no proving that. And in order to make such advance magic at the same time requires most of my energy kaya nawawalan ako ng stamina in exchange, ito ang rason kung bakit hindi ako umaatake sa kaniya.

"Damn it—" I let out a cursed word when something sharp hit my left cheek, may dumaan yatang dagger.

I immediately looked in front of me at nakita si Andrea na lumalakad palabas ng usok. There's scracthes and bruises all over her body but her gaze remained glaring at me. Hindi ko nadin nararamdaman ang golem na ginawa ko kanina, and the fireballs have stopped firing. Humihina na ang enerhiya kong ginagamit just to keep up with this barrier.

And because of that nanghihina nadin ang iba't ibang magic circles sa ibabaw, since they are built under this barrier. Kaya kung mawawala man ang barrier ay mawawala din sila. Because of my weakening barrier, tumitigil narin ang pagdaloy ng enerhiya sa katawan ko. Which means there aren't as many Exodus around like I thought there is.

"I'm sure you could do plently more Keila, mukhang hindi tumalab sa akin ang mga atake mo." She said with a smirk. She says that pero puno ng sugat ang katawan niya, pero hindi ito malala katulad nang kanina. It's true that I could do plenty more and I have large spiritual capacity, but my energy isn't enough para mapalabas ko ang iba ko pang mahika.

And in th first place, before I knew it I could already do magic. Ability users can't do magic, dahil hindi ito kakayanin ng life force nila, but it's a different case for me. I learned how to use magic from Lunox. Hindi lang yun, I could also imitate another form of magic or ability as long as I have twice as big of energy they have. Sa sitwasyon na ito, pareho na kaming nanghihina  sa enerhiya ni Andrea, so it's either that it comes down to a close quarter combat or one of us gives up. But the latter sounds impossible.

"You don't look too good to me Andrea, sigurado ka bang kaya mo pa?"

"Don't make me laugh. It's hardly even enough to bring me down. Show me everything you have Keila, at ipapaintindi ko sayo kung bakit ko ginawa ito." Then I saw it.

Black marks started forming below her left eye, almost surrounding her left cheek, at ang kaliwa niyang mata ay naging pure black na. It's like a blackhole, I see nothing yet it draws me in. It's darkness. When was she able to control this much of her Cursed Mark? Imposibleng nagawa niya ito sa dalawang linggo lamang. She must have been secretly training to use it by herself. Ito ba ang rason kung bakit parang may nagbago sa kaniya?

When did it start? Think Ke'ala. Kailan siya nagsimulang magkaganito? That small dark figure slowly building up inside her...ito ba ang Cursed Mark niya? Did it change her? At hindi ko manlang ito napansin, na may pinagdadaanan pala siya at hindi ko ito alam—mali, alam ko ito, napapansin ko ito, yet I ignored it like I usually do. That small darkness building inside her body, messing with her judgement, messing with her heart. Bakit wala manlang akong ginawa noong hindi pa siya nagkaganito?

Sa pagalabas palang ng Cursed Mark niya ay mas lumaki pa ang enerhiyang pumapalibot sa kaniya, her energy was ten times as bigger than it was before. I feel incredible power coming from her, hindi ko alam kung paano ito nagagawa ng Cursed Mark niya, just to suddenly be able to acquire that massive energy is almost impossible, even I can't have that huge energy.

"My mark is a blend of sun almost covered by a moon, alam mo ba kung ano ang ibig sabihin nito?" I didn't answer, waiting for her next words. "It conveys how brightly I can shine yet the more I shine, the more my darkness seems to grow. Shadow, Keila, my shadow. It represents all the things my brightness couldn't."

"You're saying your mark tells exactly who you are." It wasn't a question, but she smiled as an agreement. "Kasalanan ko bang...nagkaganyan ka?" She seemed surprise dahil sa tanong ko, hindi niya ito inasahan.

"You mean the fact that I turn dark all of the sudden?" She laughed, her usual laughter. It wasn't a laugh of mockery like people may expect, it's a laugh coming from a closest friend of mine, it's the same laughter as she always had. It made me wonder kung magbabago din ba ang tawa niya dahil unti-unti na siyang nagbabago. "My Cursed Mark was born because of all the negative feelings and memories I had since birth. They all generated into dark energy, a mark which represents myself, my life as a curse."

"I have never interacted with anyone else since I was a child, tapos ay may nagbago sa Academy saying all of the sudden that students have to be formed as a three-man team. Hindi ko ito inasahan, at iniisip ko na hindi tayo magkakasundo dahil sa akin. But you and Iyana...I know you have your own problems, but I only thought about myself. I started caring, opening myself up, and I actually made real friends." Dagdag niya pa, closing her eyes as if remembering all those memories.

"It's true that you were one of the causes of this dark energy, one of the reason kung bakit nabuo ang Cursed Mark sa akin, pero kayo din ang rason kung bakit naging masaya at puno ng kulay ang malungkot kong buhay na napansin ko lamang tuwing nakakasama ko kayo." She opened her eyes then, her left eye glowing in the darkness, her Cursed Mark was getting stronger and stronger.

"But Keila, I don't blame you, and will never will. Having this Cursed Mark made me realise how special can I be, how my fate could change, and how my life also will. You don't understand how this emotions feel Keila, and I will make you understand them, even if I have to kill you."

My swords hit her weapons, but she was already behind me then, I avoided her quick attack after trying to stab me by another dagger, but...

Before the moment leaves fell from the branches, before the moment the rain started riding through the air, before the moment the lightning touched the earth...

My hair was already there.

AN; And that's how the cut of hair happened. I had planned to update two chapaters at once kaya ang tagal, but unfortunately hindi yata aabot ang isa so I decided to update this one instead of making anyone wait lols.