chapter twelve;
unwavering water

—

THIRD PERSON'S POV

TWO days have passed.

Kallisto sighed while looking at the silver-haired girl that was in his bed. She hadn't wake up in those two days. And his Abyss was holding out in maintaining her Celestia that seemed to be restless and breaking at the same time.

The Celestia was still working for him, because he hadn't feel any pain, even though the Celeste was unconscious. However, he knew that if she died, the burning coldness would once again devour his whole being.

He felt conflicted and overwhelmed. Once you get to feel pain-free, it is addicting. So, he was doing all that he could to save the dying Celeste. Napahilot din siya sa sintido dahil sa dami nang nangyari.

The white fox didn't leave the Celeste's side, and Kallisto only gave it some fruits because the maid of Evienne, Leah, informed him how Evienne treated the white fox. At first, he couldn't believe how ridiculous the situation was.

Who in their right mind would treat a beast like it was a pet?

Soon, it made sense.

Of course, it was only her.

He thought that Evienne maybe lost some screws for her to change this much.

The orange fox still hadn't woken up. It was also Kallisto who treated it so it wouldn't die. It wasn't like he could ask anyone to do it. Who knows what might happen if the news of a beast in the Second Prince Palace spread?

He could already feel incoming headaches.

He made sure that the foxes would stay invisible with Evienne, too.

There was a lot that happened in the span of two days. He became busy, but he didn't leave the Palace, even though he should have. He just couldn't. Because once he left, the hold of the Abyss in Evienne's plate would break. And that was the last thing that he wanted to happen.

So, instead, he did all his works inside his bedroom. He asked his people to set up a small office in one corner of it, and through that, he proceeded in doing all the works that he needed to finish.

Katulong niya si Mildred sa ginagawa. Mildred was the one hands-on in what they were doing. Ito ang pumunta muli sa Mt. Harbridge at nag-imbestiga tungkol sa mga monster at sa pagiging berserk ng fox.

It was unusual. Beasts, when they berserk, weren't that aggressive and massive. What happened to the fox was doubled of what it was usually like. Additionally, he found it peculiar that the eyes of the fox changed.

He was sure that its eyes were red, but when Evienne managed to stop and tame it. He saw it clearly that it became green. Those things never happened, no matter how powerful the beasts were.

Napabuntonghininga na lang siya sa iniisip na problema. Kailangan niyang malaman kung bakit nangyayari 'yon, because he was sure that it had something to do with why the monsters were active during a supposed-to-be peaceful season.

Pinalinis niya rin sa pinagkakatiwalaang mga knight, at mage ang nangyari sa bundok. He also sent a messenger to ensure that the Crown Prince and the Emperor were notified about the sudden attack.

However, he kept what happened to the fox and Evienne a secret.

He still needed to introduce the Celeste to his older brother and father personally, but he didn't know when and how. His brother doesn't even have his Celeste in the Kingdom yet, so he wanted to be careful, especially in the eyes of the other nobles.

But, he did inform them about the Celeste he found. Only them, though, and they both sent their congratulations secretly without alerting anyone in the whole Kingdom.

"Your Highness." Nawala si Kallisto sa iniisip at napatingin kay Mildred na nakatungo sa kanya, mukhang kakapasok lang sa kwarto.

"Please have your meal, you already skipped breakfast... please eat some lunch," magalang na pakiusap ni Mildred sa alaga. The Second Prince shook his head; he didn't have an appetite.

And whenever looking at the food, somehow, he could picture the smiling blue eyes enjoying the food to the fullest. He wondered what was so special about the foods because she was treating it like it was the only thing that mattered to her.

"Your Highness..." mahinang imik muli ni Mildred, pero hindi siya tingnan ni Kallisto at natitili lang ang mga mata nito sa walang malay na dalaga sa kama niya. "Please eat to get some strength."

Wala ring nagawa si Kallisto at kumain dahil alam niyang kailangan niya rin 'yon. He just asked to bring the food in the room, instead of eating in the dining. He also made sure to ask for some fruits for the fox that was looking at him with a tilted head.

Other than dealing with the issue of the monsters in the Kingdom, he was also researching for the cure about Evienne's plate. He had no idea why it was like that. Why was her Celestia so unstable after what happened?

Did she overdo it? Even if she did, it shouldn't cost her her plate. So... why?

His Abyss didn't feel anything off the Celestia either, so it was really a mystery to him.

What if he asked another Celeste about it? That was not even an option. There was no Celeste in this Kingdom right now other than Evienne.

Napailing na lang siya at napabuntonghininga.

Dumating din ang pagkain niya at kinausap niya lang si Mildred para alamin ang nangyayari sa Mt. Harbridge, at mga halimaw. All they could find was nothing. There were no monsters there anymore.

So, Kallisto took precuations and made sure that the other parts near Harbridge should be investigated, as the other monsters might have migrated in there. So far, it was peaceful. It was suddenly like the real peaceful season just started even though it should have been that way a few months ago. Still, he didn't want to let his guard down and asked them to continue the patrol and investigation.

"Did you find anything that might help us with her condition?" Napatungo si Mildred at magalang na sumagot na wala pa rin siyang nahahanap na sagot. Pati ang doktor at priest na bumibisita araw-araw para tingnan ang kalagayan ni Evienne ay wala ring alam tungkol sa kalagayan nito.

Napatango na lang si Kallisto dahil maging siya ay wala rin namang magawa. Sumasakit lang ang ulo niya sa pag-iisip. Why did this kind of situation happen? He really should have help Evienne back then.

He was responsible for it, so he wanted to ensure that he would find her cure.

So, he did what he could. He continued guarding the unconscious Celeste while working about the monsters and researching how to make her stable. Halos wala na siyang pahinga sa ginagawa niya, pero hindi siya tumigil.

Nang dumilim ang paligid at sumapit ang gabi, he brushed his face with his palm, and stared at the lady in his bed.

"Evienne..." he called absentmindedly.

He removed the invisibility of the foxes. The orange remained curled up beside Evienne, and the white fox went to sit on her stomach, as it created snowflakes. Kallisto just quietly watched it.

The white fox just continued creating snowflakes in hopes that the blue-eyed lady would soon smile and play with him again.

"Just what do I do... for you to wake up?" mahinang bulong ni Kallisto at saka marahang umupo sa tabi nitong muli.

***

EVIENNE'S POV

Everything was dark and cold. Gustuhin ko mang buksan ang mga mata ko, hindi ko magawa. Kinilabutan tuloy ako. H'wag mo sabihing pagkamulat ko nasa ibang mundo na naman ako?

Jusko, pakiramdam ko kapag nakakaranas ako ng ganito palagi na lang akong kakabahan. H'wag naman sana, kasi paano 'yon byudo na kaagad si Kallisto? Kawawa naman siya.

Pero mas kawawa ako, ano. Hindi na naman ako makamulat at nasa dilim na naman ako. Jusko! Bakit ba palaging nangyayari sa akin 'to? Pakiramdam ko tuloy ang laki ng kasalanan ko sa mundo, kahit dapat 'yong mundo naman 'yong may utang sa akin.

Kapag talaga nakamulat ulit ako, sisingilin ko na talaga 'yon! Abuso, eh!

Teka—hindi pa naman ako patay 'di ba?

The last thing that I remembered was coughing blood in Kallisto's arms. Gosh! How shocked could he be after witnessing that?

Heh, sana nakonsensya siya. Talagang hinayaan niya akong solo makipaglaban do'n sa fox ha! Akala ko pa naman magiging mala-Prince Charming siya kung saan bigla siyang susulpot para tulungan ako.

Hindi niya naman ako ininform na dapat pala literal na solo flight ako. Masyado naman pala siyang masunurin.

Mumultuhin ko talaga siya kapag namatay ako! Tsk. Lintik lang ang walang ganti, ano.

I tried opening my eyes again and concentrated, but it was still useless. What was the use of being conscious when I couldn't even do anything on my own? Tsk.

I didn't know how long it was that I couldn't open my eyes and was just stuck in the darkness and that coldness; however, I felt like something was wrapping me in a powerful energy. It wasn't cold, but it wasn't warm either.

It just felt like it was sharing its energy and strength with me and with the help of that...

I finally opened my eyes!

Akala ko pagkamulat ko makikita ko si Yule, 'yong orange fox, at si Kallisto, pero muntik na ako malunod nang literal no'ng ma-realized ko na nasa ilalim na naman ako ng tubig! My gosh! Bakit palagi na lang ganito?!

Syempre, wala naman akong nagawa kung hindi umahon. Feeling ko talaga magiging sobrang expert na ako sa pagswi-swimming kasi palagi na lang ganito 'yong nangyayari sa akin.

When I was finally out of the surface, I breathed in and out again, and like in the past; I was in the middle of nowhere again. And the only thing that I was seeing was the endless waters.

Napakunot-noo rin ako kasi nakakalutang talaga ako ro'n sa tubig, kahit kanina naman nakalubog ako ro'n.

Naks! Pwede na yata akong maging si Moses, basta matutunan ko kung paano i-part ang dagat.

Hindi kaya magkamag-anak talaga kami ni Moses?

Is he somehow my great great great great lost grandfather? Oh, my gosh!

Syempre joke lang! Baka mamaya tamaan ako ng kidlat sa pinag-iisip ko, at ang masasabi ko lang karma ko na 'yon.

Pero bakit kasi palagi na lang ganito 'yong nangyayari sa akin? It was getting creepy because when something weird happened, I'd always wake up in here.

Was this my consciousness? Was this my celestia?

The latter sounded better. Especially since my Celestia was in the water element form. But if I think of it... wasn't it so weird? This place was endless... but somehow, my Celestia was so little. So... what was really real?

Napaupo na lang ako sa tubig at napahalumbaba. The white dress that I was wearing was beautiful, smooth, and soft. My long silver hair was touching the water's surface, and I could also clearly see the blue eyes' reflection.

I couldn't help but be in awe... Portia was really beautiful. There was no denying that.

Napahalumbaba na lang ako at pinagmasdan ang repleksyon ko sa tubig.

Nakamulat nga ako, pero hindi ko naman alam kung paano aalis sa lugar na 'to.

Nah, I should really do something instead of just sitting around. So, I concentrated on my Celestia and tried to use it, but suddenly, I felt an unexplainable pain in my whole system. Halos hindi ako makahinga dahil do'n. Kaya naman mabilis kong hinabol ang hininga.

What just happened? Why was it that painful?!

I felt like my skin was tearing apart, and my bones were being shattered!

Was it the side effect of what happened? Because I used it too much to save the orange fox? Still... I would do what I did. I didn't regret saving it. I was more proud that I managed to save it even.

Napabuntonghininga na lang ako at tumingin sa paligid.

"Kallisto! Gisingin mo naman ako. 'Yon na nga lang gagawin mo hindi mo pa magawa. Isa kang pabigat!" I said freely. Sympre, dito ko lang pwede masabi 'yon, mamaya bigla akong ipatapon no'n sa Elysia, eh.

Ano na lang gagawin ko?

Tumayo na lang ako at saka nag-uli sa lugar. Nililibang ko na lang 'yong sarili ko kasi wala namang ibang gagawa no'n. Syempre, dakilang clown din ako, kasi wala namang nakakalibang sa lugar na 'to.

It was empty. There was nothing but water.

"Hmmm, dapat na ba akong mag-construct sa lugar na 'to?" I murmured to myself.

It would be really great if there was a small island in the middle, then in that island would be a huge Sakura tree with its leaves falling slowly. It would be great to have some sun, and clouds in the sky, and stars and the moon when it was nighttime. And it would be perfect too if there was some fresh air and a cool breeze.

It would be such a picturesque place where I could rest.

Pero syempre, asa naman akong mangyayari 'yon. Kaya naman naglakad na lang ako nang marahan sa ibabaw no'ng tubig.

There was really nothing to do here. Gusto ko sanang mag-pratice kung paano mag-part no'ng dagat para official legend na ako, kaso h'wag na lang pala, baka dumiretso ako sa impyerno kasi baka mabansagan akong second-rate, gaya-gaya, wannabe Moses.

If there was only someone in here that I could talk to—Wait! Mas scary 'yon if ever!

"Hi."

Pakiramdam ko bigla akong namutla no'ng may marinig akong boses. I felt shivers all over my skin!

"Joke lang naman 'yon, eh, bakit nagtatakutan na tayo rito!" mahinang reklamo ko at saka napalunok lalo na no'ng makarinig ako ng tawa.

My gosh! Hindi na talaga ako solo sa lugar na 'to, unless ini-imagine ko lang 'yong naririnig ko ngayon. Jusko, kulang na nga ako sa turnilyo, feeling ko nabawasan pa lalo. Kumusta naman 'yon?

"I'm not here to scare you... I'm here for you..."

Grabe mas nakakatakot 'yong huling narinig ko sa isang maganda at magaan na babaeng boses.

Iba 'yong dating nong I'm here for you sa akin, feeling ko kukunin na ako ni Lord.

Grabe ang effort naman no'n, may taga-sundo ako. Feeling ko tuloy sobrang importante ko. May kamag-anak talaga yata akong banal, o kung hindi banal 'yong may malaking kasalanan.

Tanggihan ko ba muna? Magpapa-extend muna ako lalo na hindi pa ako mayaman, at hindi ko pa nalu-loots mga yaman sa Cielo, at hindi ko pa nasasapok si Kallisto ng isa sa ulo niya!

While thinking of nonsense, the soft voice suddenly chuckled.

"I've been waiting for you..." Wow! Grabe naman 'yon, excited sa kamatayan ko?!

"Uh... eh..." Gusto ko sanang magpanggap na wala akong naririnig kaso, baka mamaya hindi siya makipag-negotiate sa akin, e 'di kawawa naman ako.

"What do you want from me?" mahinang bulong ko at tumalikod para sana tingnan kung saan nagmumula 'yong boses, pero muntik na akong matumba sa kinatatayuan ko no'ng wala akong makita ro'n.

"Na saan ka?!" natatarantang imik ko at tumingin-tingin ulit sa paligid.

Another cackle swirled in the air. "Within you..."

"HA?!"

Nag-panic kaagad ako ro'n at kinapa-kapa ang sarili ko.

"Oh my gosh, Portia?!"

Mas lalong natawa 'yong boses. Wow ha, ginawa pa akong clown nito, samantalang kabadong-kabado na ako rito!

"No..." she answered with a laugh.

"Then who?" mahinang bulong ko.

"They just call me the Unwavering Water..." My mouth formed an 'o' as goosebumps spread all over my body. So... the voice that I was hearing was this water that had always submerge me?!

Ito pala salarin ng lahat eh!

"So... you're the reason why I somehow wake up in here when something weird happens?" I asked carefully while looking at the water. I sat down, but I only saw the face of Portia and its reflection.

"No... you wake up in here because of your own will..."

"Huh?" nalilitong imik ko. Asa naman na sariling gusto ko 'yon, eh, gusto ko ngang makatakas dito, eh.

"But... that's not what's important right now." Napakunot-noo ako sa bigla niyang sinabi sa akin. May mas importante pa ba sa kailangan kong malaman bakit ako napupunta rito? It might answer the question of why I suddenly transmigrated inside Fatebound.

"What's more important then?" I asked while putting my palm on my cheek to rest it there.

"Currently, the Unwavering Water is wavering..."

"Luh, fake naman pala 'yang pangalan mo," mabilis na sagot ko sa kanya nang hindi nag-iisip.

Bigla tuloy natahimik 'yong paligid. Pakiramdam ko talaga kulang na lang may tumunog na uwak dahil sa sobrang tahimik at awkward no'n. Pilit tuloy akong tumawa at nag-peace sign. "Joke lang, joke lang."

"It's not only me that's unstable right now..." The voice that was bright and soft earlier became sad and heavy. Bigla naman akong kinabahan do'n. She said that she was within me earlier, so this was about me after all.

"Your body is currently unstable, and your plate is... slowly breaking."

Napanganga ako sa sinabi niya. What do I do? Shit. What I really did was reckless; now, it was causing me this much.

"What do I do...?" I asked after breathing heavily. It wasn't time to panic. I needed to solve this situation. Let's stay composed and cool.

"Complete me..."

"Huh?" nalilitong tanong ko kay Unwavering Water. Jusko, habang pangalan.

"I'm currently incomplete."

"Huh?"

"So... you need to find the rest of me."

"Huh?"

Pakiramdam ko dumami lang 'yong question mark sa ulo ko sa narinig ko sa kanya, imbis na makatulong siya.

What was she saying now? She was incomplete? How? Why?

"Wait... I'm confused... why are you incomplete? How? Why? You are within me right? Meaning, you are my celestia, right?" sunod-sunod na tanong ko sa kanya, para siya naman 'yong malito.

"Yes, I am your celestia..."

Woah... I didn't really want to believe that earlier, so I brushed it off; I couldn't process that I was literally talking to Celestia. They were powers, right? How come they have consciousness?

This didn't happen in Fatebound. Actually, none of what was occurring right now happened in Fatebound. Maybe because it was still early from the timeline of the events from there?

But Juno never talked to her Celestia like this. She never even went inside her consciousness like the place of this endless water.

Well, Juno's Celestia had a name, though. She always called it Inferno of Judgment. That was why I didn't really question why the name of the water Celestia that I have was Unwavering Water.

However, the main point right now was that my Celestia was incomplete.

It was freaking incomplete!

My gosh! Lahat na yata ng kamalasan sa mundo sa akin na! Bakit naman kailangan 'yong mapupuntang celestia sa akin 'yong hindi pa kumpleto! Gusto yata talaga ako pahirapan sa mundong 'to!

"But... why are you incomplete?" I asked with concern.

"I'm not sure either, it was just this way the moment I gained consciousness within you, but I know that I'm incomplete because the bigger part of me, I could feel and hear it calling for me."

Halos mapanganga ako sa narinig, pakiramdam ko sumakit lang ang ulo ko.

"So... you're telling that I'll continue to be on the brink of death if I don't get your other part, right?"

"Exactly."

"But where is that missing part?"

"The place where you used me. That mountain. It was there. I felt it there. I wanted you to take it first before using me entirely, but you didn't listen to me..."

Grabe siya! Nagawa pa akong sisihin! Hindi ko naman siya narinig no'n, 'no. Malay ko ba. Sana nagsalita siya nang mas lakas. Minsan bingi pa naman ako, kapag ayaw ko 'yong naririnig ko.

"So, I just need to go there and retrieve it so you'd be complete? So my unstable body and breaking plate would be fixed?"

"Yes."

Napangiti naman ako ro'n. 'Yon lang pala, eh. E 'di kukunin ko na lang 'yon. Pero teka!

"But... is there something like the fox again? Do I need to fight again?" nag-aalinlangan kong tanong. Aba, nanganib ako dahil sa pakikipaglaban at pag-tame ro'n sa fox, ayoko na maulit.

Dapat alam natin ang mga salitang: Lesson learned.

"Uh... instead of fighting, you'll do some searching, maybe...?" Her voice suddenly hesitated.

Hindi naman ako na-inform na may taguan palang magaganap. Pero sige, expert naman ako ro'n!

Napangiti tuloy ako ng wala sa oras at tumango-tango sa sarili ko.

"Okay..." I said while shrugging my shoulders.

"Is there more that I need to know?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Once you wake up, you'll still be able to talk to me, so you could ask some questions if you want and need." Oh, that was really good! Napatango-tango ako at nag-thumbs kasi mas madali gawin 'yon.

Akala ko need ko pa ulit i-re-enact lahat ng nangyari kanina para makausap ulit siya eh.

"Ah... do you like the abyss that much?" biglang tanong ko. Eh, grabe sila no'ng Abyss maglandian, eh.

Ngayong nakakausap ko na 'yong celestia ko feeling ko tao na sila no'ng abyss. Jusko! Naunahan pa nila kami ni Kallisto lumandi ha! Napaka-unfair, ha! Dapat mga boss muna nila, 'no! Hindi ko pa nga mapaamo 'yong si Kallisto, eh.

Baka naman may tip 'tong si Unwavering Water baka sakaling maging katulad kami nila.

"Huh?" The voice was flustered so I cackled teasingly.

"Ayieee. Parang tanga 'to," natatawang dagdag ko pa.

She gasped and I only laughed more. Well, friends na kami, h'wag siyang ano. Ako na 'to si Evienne, h'wag niya na tanggihan.

"No... The abyss is just something that we needed to have a grasp on." Napakunot-noo ako dahil do'n.

"You mean they aren't like you? They don't have consciousness, and they are only and purely powers?" Even though, I didn't see it, I feel like Unwavering Water nodded at my question.

"Yeah... those powers are like animals... wild ones, and we are the ones who tame them." Oh... that was such a weird combination.

"So more like fairies taking care of the forest?"

"Yes, yes!" masayang sagot niya sa akin.

"Why do you do that though?"

"To prevent things from spiralling down to hell..."

I pressed my lips with how serious she sounded. It looked like there was really more about the Celestia and the Abyss that I wasn't aware of... and it seemed like even the Shrine and the whole of Cielo wasn't even aware of it.

The way I see it, the Abyss was just a cute violet aura from Kallisto, but hearing Unwavering Water say it... that power could be really peaceful, and your alliance, but could also be the cause of hell.

"I don't know much about the Abyss... so I might not be able to answer your questions." Napatango na lang din ako sa kanya, kasi wala naman ako balak alamin mas malalim na dahil do'n.

Basta okay na 'yong masaya sila magka-bonding. Kasi baka kapag may nalaman akong mas malalim tungkol sa mundong 'to, manganib lang ako at mapasali sa mga bagay na hindi ko naman gusto.

I didn't want to be swept away in this world's flow. I just wanted to have a peaceful and wealthy life here.

"Okay..." I said, then stood up from sitting down on the water.

"As much as I wanted to talk to you more and rest in here, I don't think that's really beneficial knowing that my plate could break any minute from now. So... could you let me wake up now?" nakangiting sambit ko sa kanya.

"Yeah... you could... please take care, Evienne..."

"Why do you call me Evienne?" It was always Portia's name first because of this body.

"You've told the Abyss holder that your name is Evienne Soleil... so I used the name that you want..." Napangiti ako nang mas malaki sa narinig ko.

"Thank you... Unwavering Water..."

"But wait, do I really call you that? That was such a long name." I heard her chuckle.

"That's what they call me."

"Then... can I give you a name instead?" There was no reply, so I thought it wasn't really allowed. I was about to give it up, but Unwavering Water spoke softly.

"If it is your will." I beamed brightly and immediately thought of a name. Grabe! Talagang bongga ha.

"How about ocean? Sea? Tubig? Yelo? Ice water? Ice tubig?" I suggested with a knotted forehead. There was no answer from Unwavering Water, and I could imagine her facepalming like Yule's reaction at me.

On the spot naman kasi magpangalan! Hindi ako ready! Mag-prepare muna dapat ako!

Natahimik ako at nag-isip ulit. Water. Water. Water. I thought while thinking of a good name. Kung lalaki lang siya, Moses talaga ipapangalan ko sa kanya.

"Hmm. How about Aqua?" I asked after thinking deeply.

"Then, please call me Aqua, Evienne." I waved my hands happily even though I wasn't sure if she could see me. I was happy that she agreed with that name. Ang hirap kaya no'ng tatawagin ko siya nang tatawagain na Unwavering Water.

"Okay! Ngayon, pwede na talaga akong bumalik at magising!" I wondered what Yule, the orange fox, and Kallisto would do once I woke up!

Basta ako, alam ko ang una kong gagawin, at 'yon ay walang iba kung hindi ang kumain!

I closed my eyes again after my goodbye to Aqua. I felt like myself tipped over, like I laid down on the water as I submerged powerfully. It was such a bizarre feeling. I don't think I'd ever get used to it.

Ilang saglit pa naramdaman kong parang nakaahon ako sa tubig matapos lumubog mula ro'n. I slowly moved my hand first; then, I felt a paralyzing pain all throughout my body.

Shit!

It really hurts!

I frowned as I slowly opened my eyes, and when I did open them. Although it was blurry at first, I couldn't believe that the first thing that I saw was Yule, who was looking excitedly at me, another orange fox curious of me...

And... a person's violet eyes piercing through mine. Those eyes were glistening in worry.

"Hey..." I murmured as I pushed myself to sit up even though it was painful.

"Bakit 'di mo ako tinulungan paamuhin 'yong fox ha? Akala ko Prince Charming ka, Prince Watching ka pala!" reklamo ko kaagad sa kanya.

Akala ko magagalit o kaya bibigyan niya ako ng poker-face kagaya ng nakasanayan pero nagulat ako no'ng bigla na lang siyang napalagay ng kamay sa may bandang noo, parang hinilot ang sintido niya.

Pero nanlaki ang mga mata ko no'ng marinig ko ang mahinang tawa niya.

"Haaa. You are really awake... my biggest headache."

"Hoy! Pinagsasabi mo dyan ha! Marami akong reklamo sa 'yo ha, kaya dapat pakinggan mo 'yon! Aw! Shocks!" I stopped my complaints when I felt pain in my body, and Kallisto just shook his head on me.

"Hey," he suddenly said. "Welcome back... Evienne..."

And with his words, I felt my world stop. Especially when he called me my name.

I couldn't help but smile at him sincerely as I said... "Yeah, I'm back... Kalli..."

—

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