NAKAPALIBOT kaming lahat sa isang malaking bato na kapantay lang halos ng bewang namin, nasa ibabaw nito ang isang bagay na kailangan naming makuha upang magtagumpay sa sixth level. Nagkatinginan muna kami bago sabay-sabay na humawak sa kulay kalawang na kopa o ang tinatawag nilang 'Holy Grail'.

Lumipas ang ilang segundo at walang nangyayari, pero napansin namin ang kakaibang liwanag na nanggagaling sa loob ng kopa, hanggang sa naging mabilis ang mga pangyayari, lumaki ang liwanag at nilamon kami nitong lahat.

...

...

...

It was still blank when I heard slow claps. Nawala ang liwanag at nagbago ang buong paligid, on a single blink we're all transported in another place as if the Holy Grail we touched is the key. What's more superb is that the pain in my physical bodies are gone, nakita ko 'yung mga kasama ko at mukhang katulad ko ay wala na rin silang nararamdamang sakit o pagod. Nag-iba rin 'yung mga damit namin... yung mga damit na suot namin noong unang level pa lang.

Walang umusal ng kahit na ano, lahat kami ay nilibot ang tingin sa buong paligid, wondering where we are and what will happen next. I first noticed that we're under the galaxy, the night sky above is beaming with colors and stars, it is magnificent. Sunod kong napansin ang tinatanglawan ng liwanag na bundok... then I remember... this is familiar... this is the...

"Welcome to Machu Picchu. In case you're wondering where we are, this is the Central Plaza and we're being surrounded by roofless ruins and steep terraces." Sabay-sabay kaming napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses, oh, finally, here he is, it feels like a century since the last time I saw him, he's not playing a pharaoh anymore, he's back to his usual all-white-suit attire. "I admit that I'm hoping that you won't make it." Naglalakad siya palapit sa'min atsaka siya muling huminto, "But then, here you are," he snapped his finger and all the torches lighted up, mas nakita ko yung mga ruins at terraces na nakapaligid sa'min "The seventh level of Akasha's game, Sahasrara, which is fortunately for you is the final round."

I stepped forward and I saw he grinned, "We made a deal, I guess you have no choice but to honor that."

"I know, my dear." He tilted his head and he looked directly at my eyes. Tumalikod siya at nagtaka kaming lahat kung saan siya papunta, maya-maya'y muli siyang humarap sa amin, "We've been looking for the key for years, and now we finally found you." Itinuro niya ako, "You are indeed a Rosencruz."

I didn't answer.

I still don't understand what it meant, but it says that the theory of my comrades is correct. I am a Rosencruz, and somehow it is part of who really I am.

"Katulad ng ipinangako ko sa usapan natin, lahat kayo ay makakalabas." Gusto kong itanong sa kanya na paano ang mga namatay naming kasama sa mundong 'to, can they still get out? Or are they really dead? I know he's reading my mind but he didn't answer the question.

"What are we going to do now?" finally, Cairo asked.

"You don't need to do anything." Sagot sa kanya ni Rama Melchiore, "All of you suffered too much in the sixth level, and you already passed the test by clearing the illusion."

"Don't you mean by turning upside down the map." Sabat ni Jing, halata sa tinig ang panggigigil, I remembered her telling that she'll kill him because of that.

Medyo pinagtawanan lang siya ni Rama Melchiore, as if it was really amusing to fool us na baligtad ang mapa na binigay niya sa'min at inabot kami ng maraming araw bago matuklasan 'yon.

"So, are you letting us go now?" tanong naman ni Cloud.

"Yes." Naramdaman ko na nakahinga sila ng maluwag nang marinig 'yon, pero alam kong may kasunod 'yon na, "But before that, we need to do some inauguration."

"Inauguration?"

"Don't worry, parang awarding ceremony lang." he guaranteed but we're all cautious to his words, we don't trust this man.

He snapped again at mula sa kung saan ay sumulpot ang staff ng Kahval, they arranged us in a formation, ako ang nasa unahan, nasa likuran ko sila Cloud at Cairo, nasa likuran nila sila Finnix at Vince, nasa likuran at pagitan nilang dalawa si Jing at nasa likuran ni Jing si Otis.

Nakatayo ngayon si Rama Melchiore isa ikalawang hagdan ng terraces, he's looking down at us while his hands are at the back, two officers are behind him, namukhaan ko 'yon at sila 'yung mga nasa panel noong interview.

"Today we are going to make a history, finally after decades of searching and searching of the rightful winner and owner of the Chintamani, though it is not expected that there will be seven champions. To honor the winners, I hereby will name you, according to your positions." Nilingon ko sila at nakita kong nakatingin lang sila kay Rama Melchiore at hinihintay ang susunod nitong sasabihin, "Otis, with your ominous strength you managed to protect the whole team alone, I give you the title of The Outer Guardian." Kinumpas niya ang kamay niya at kung may anong nangyari, lumingon ako ulit at nakita na nagkaroon ng bilog na liwanag sa inaapakang posisyon ni Otis, tumingin ako ulit kay Rama Melchiore, "Jing Rosca, with your incredible ability to move things and as a nurturer to the key," ako ba ang tinutukoy niya? "I give you the title of The Mother." He waved his hand again and the same thing happen to Jing, "Finnix, your wielded your fire with passion despite pessimism, I give you the title of The Inner Guardian. Vicente Macaraig, your flexibility, and loyalty are remarkable; I give you the title of The Reliever. Cairo Hideo, you used your mind to see things that others can't, I give you the title of The Mastermind. Cloud Enriquez, I honor your strength of protecting the key at all cost; I give you the title of The Knight."

Ako na ang huli...

"And lastly, to the key and the chosen... Atria Rosencruz-Morales..." W-what the... "You shall receive the highest title, The Keeper."

Lumitaw din ang bilog na liwanag sa lupang tinatayuan ko matapos niyang ikumpas ang kamay, maya-maya'y naramdaman ko ang kakaibang paggaan ng buo kong katawan atsaka ko namalayan na unti-unti akong umaangat sa lupa, lumingon ako at nakita kong ganon din ang nangyayari sa mga kasama ko.

"The seven victors of Akasha's game, this the end of your quest in this Astral Universe, your souls are now going to ascend back to where you truly belong-the real world. Ad Astra per aspera"

*****

*BLINK

"Can you hear me?" mga boses.

"She's back, you check again her vitals."

*BEEPS

"Player number seven is conscious."

Noong una ay malabo ang paligid hanggang sa unti-unti itong luminaw at nakita ko ang huling lugar na natatandaan ko bago kami magsimula noon sa first level, hindi ko lang sigurado kung nasaan kami exactly, kung sa airship or isang lab facility. I'm lying down, and I feel the pain in my nape, may nakatusok na parang karayom.

I can't think that much, so as the time passes I remained passive. Nang matanggal lahat ng nakakabit na aparato sa katawan ko ay inalalayan nila kong tumayo at dinala sa kung saan. I remembered The Beehive of Memoire, parang ganito 'yung set up kaya feeling ko dejavu lang ang lahat.

They took care of me, but I asked nothing and they also said nothing. When my body is gradually regaining its strength, hindi ko kasi alam kung gaano katagal nakahiga 'yung physical body ko habang nakikipagsapalaran ang kaluluwa ko sa kabilang daigdig, it felt so real, the pain of suffering and I still clearly remembered everything.

I was expecting of a much grand comeback since I was declared as the Keeper of Chintamani. And I'm expecting something else... Jing told me that she is waiting for me.

*****

[MEANWHILE...]

"AHH! Sawakas totoong pagkain na 'tong kinakain ko!" wika ni Vince habang masayang nilalantakan ang pagkaing kinuha sa Buffet.

"Dahan-dahan lang baka mabulunan ka, oy." Paalala ni Finnix pero huli na nang maubo si Vince. "Ayan na nga ba!" inabutan naman siya nito ng isang baso ng tubig.

Nandito silang lahat ngayon sa Cafeteria ng isang facility... na hindi nila alam kung ano, they are quite not sure where they are and they already asked the staff but it's no good, sabi sa kanila ay may hinihintay silang order mula sa nakakataas bago sabihin sa kanila kung nasaan at kung ano nang mangyayari sa kanila ngayon matapos ang laro. Pagkatapos nilang magising mula sa isang lab room at i-conduct ang iba't ibang test ay binigyan sila ng kanya-kanyang kwarto at binihisan and they all thought of the same that it reminds them of Memoire's old facility, the Mnemosyne Institute.

Tahimik lang na kumakain si Otis, habang si Jing na katabi nito ay nakatulala lang at katapat si Cairo na nakahalukipkip lang at hindi ginagalaw ang pagkain. At si Cloud na nakatayo di kalayuan at kanina pa pinagmamasdan ang galaw ng iba pang mga tao, may hinahanap at walang iba kundi si Jill.

"Iniisip ko pa rin kung para saan ba 'yung binigay sa'ting title ni Rama Melchiore, I'm The Reliever but what does it does?" tanong ni Vince pero walang pumansin sa kanya.

"Guys." Maya-maya'y lumapit sa mesa nila si Cloud, nagtaka sila nang makita nila itong balisa.

"Oh, Cloud?" si Jing. Tumingin si Cloud kay Cairo, at nagtitigan lang silang dalawa, "Ano? Magsalita ka dyan."

Tumingin ulit sa kanila si Cloud at sa pagkakataong 'to ay hindi na naalis ang takot sa mga mata, natigilan sa pagsubo ng pagkain si Vince.

"I..." hindi masabi ni Cloud ang dapat niyang sabihin, "I can't use my powers." Tumingin ulit siya kay Cairo na sa tingin niya ay ganoon din ang nararamdaman.

"What..." Jing can't believe so she tried to move the spoon but she can't much to her surprise. Finnix also tried to make a fire from his fist but he failed too. They all freezed with terror. Anong nangyayari sa isip-isip nila atsaka naalala ni Jing... Tama si Jill, the Kahvals, the organizer of this game, are not to be trusted.

Iisa ulit sila ngayon ng naiisip, something's not right...as expected.

Nilabanan ni Cloud ang takot at sinabing,

"We need to find Jill and we're going to get out here."