NATAPOS ang araw na nanatili lang siya sa tabi ni Imris. Maya't maya niyang hinahawakan ang noo nito upang i-monitor ang temperatura nito. Panay rin ang pangangati nito kung kaya't pulang-pula na ang mga paa at braso.

"What's wrong? Is it because of you?" Pinasadahan niya ng tingin si Elia na mahimbing ding natutulog sa tabi ni Imris. But if it was Elia's fur, Imris would have had it since the beginning.

He tried using his power but he still couldn't get it away. Not even a slight relief of itchiness.

If it was just a normal itch, he would have been able to do it. Now, he couldn't stop thinking that Imris might be suffering from something else. Nakalimutan niya itong sabihin kay Jasia kanina at ito'y umuwi na kasama si Isabella. Mukhang kailangan niya pang maghintay ng bukas para sabihin sa babae.

He just hoped nothing would happen to Imris.

Dumating ang gabi. Hinihintay niya itong magising para maghapunan nang biglang dumating si Stone. A large mound of dark, viscous liquid appeared in front of him until it unveiled his follower.

"My lord, I have come." Stone placed his had on his chest and bowed.

"Why did you return?" Inutusan niya si Stone na manatiling nakabantay sa orphanage kung sakali mang may makuha itong impormasyon.

"My lord, there seems to be someone who is also tailing the orphanage other than me." Nanatili itong nakayuko habang nagsasalita. "It's a young woman, my lord."

Napakunoot naman ang kaniyang noo. What was a young woman trying to achieve in the orphanage? Was she like him too waiting for that orphanage to spit the people who used to live there? Was she trying to get into information as well?

"Describe her."

"She wears a tuxedo and a black pants, my lord. Kulay itim ang mga buhok na nakatali. Palagi rin itong may dalang malaking kahon sa kamay. I don't know what it was but it she usually types on it." Stone sighed in this belief. "Forgive me, my lord. I am also quite lost in this world. I've tried tailing her, and she is also asking the locals about the orphanage."

"I see." Sinulyapan niya muna si Imris bago tumayo. Naglakad siya palabas. Sumunod naman sa kaniya si Stone.

"How's Imris, my lord? She seems to be sleeping well."

"She got sick. And I don't know if there is still a space for me to get worried." Pinuntahan nya si Arator sa kusina. "Arator, I'll leave Imris to you."

"Makakaasa ka, boss lord." Arator nodded.

Kaagad naman niyang nilingon si Stone. "We'll go back tonight."

Raising his right hand, he snapped his fingers. Their bodies then burned into mist as they disappeared inside the house. His magic took them to the west of the city, where the orphanage in the coast was located. The night sky welcomed their view as they were stranded between heavens and earth. The gushing wind became musicians as they created flaps, flowing their clothes.

"That is the orphanage, my lord." Tinuro ni Stone ang isang puti at malaking bahay.

The Earth was cut in half; the water ruled the right side as the sand and many of its properties prospered on the left. But in between them, there was the orphanage.The large stone shouldered the weight of it, elevating it from getting soaked into the water. It was an odd yet fascinating sight.

They flew towards it. He wanted to see how big it was, and it was almost as his mansion's size. Everything was made with stones and bricks.

It was looking strong as if the orphanage had never been closed for a long time.

Imris came from this place.

"We need to find the identity of that woman." He glanced at Stone. "When you see her again, do not hesitate to leave this place and follow her. Find out who she is."

"I will, my lord."

"System, show me the progress bar."

[Character Restoration progress: 30%]

Napakuyom ang kaniyang kamao. They needed to do this quick.

"It looks like the system is functioning again, my lord," komento ni Stone.

Tumango naman siya. Hindi nakikita ng kaniyang mga taga-sunod ang system kahit na isa pa silang karakter. Dahil nasa ilalim sila ng kaniyang kapangyarihan at hindi nila kayang mabuhay nang wala siya. Nakatali ang kanilang karakter sa kaniya kaya hindi nila nakikita ang system. Lahat ng rekognasyon na makukuha nila ay nahuhulog sa kaniya.

"We're going back to Fictosa soon."

"May I ask something, my lord?"

Nilingon niya ito. Ang itim nitong buhok ay umaalon sa hangin. "What is it?'

"What will you do when you find Imris' parents? Will you really give her back?"

Xibel stared the torn Earth as Stone's question resonated in his ears. He had thought about it a lot as well.

Imris had terrible memories because of her good-for-nothing parents leaving her outside an orphanage. If ever they succeed in finding them, he couldn't fathom to just take Imris away from him.

"I will give her to them only if they have already suffered in my hands."

He wouldn't make it easy for them.

MAAGANG nagising si Xibel dulot ng 'di pamilyar na aura na nararamdaman niya sa labas ng kaniyang bahay. Dahan-dahan siyang bumangon upang 'di magising ang natutulog na si Imris at Elia. Lumabas siya upang tingnan sa baba ang kausap ni Arator.

"Hindi tumatanggap si boss ng isang bisitang tao bukod kay Jasia at Isabella kaya kung pupuwede ay umalis ka na."

Bahagya namang tumawa ang lalaki na kausap nito. Ginto ang mga buhok nito at matangkad ang lalaki. Isang pormal na itim na tuxedo at pantalon ang suot nito. Mapaglaro nitong tiningnan si Arator. "I just want to see the man my woman is head over heels with. I will not harm him."

"Hindi ko po ito sinasabi para sa kaligtasan ng aking boss lord, kundi para sa kaligtsan mo. My lord hates humans."

Bigla itong tumingin sa taas dahilan para magtama ang kanilang paningin. Isang segundong kumunot ang noo nito na kaagad ding napalitan ng isang mapanuyang tingin.

Hindi niya rin inalis ang mga titig sa lalaki. Pakiramdam niya'y hinahamon siya nito sa isang labanan na hindi niya alam. What was his deal?

"Oh, I think you're the master of this house," buong tamis nitong sabi. Kung umakto ito'y para bang matagal na silang magkakilala. "I'm Nevar. Whoa! You really have a peculiar way of doing your make-up."

"Lowly human. You are not invited in this house."

"Huh? Lowly?" Tumaas ang isang kilay nito ngunit kaagad napalitan ng isang tawa. "Man, between the two of us, you are the lowly man here. I can't believe Jasia fell in love with a gothic make-up artist. Looks like someone's standard went low."

The skin on his forehead jolt. For some reason, he hated his mouth for uttering her name. He coudn't care less of what he thought of him, but why did he know Jasia? Was he an acquaintance?

"Do not spit out the name of my wife from that dirty mouth of yours. You're tarnishing her eloquent name." Pinatong niya ang kanang siko sa railing. "Leave."

"Narinig mo ang boss, umalis ka–"

Hindi nito natapos ang sasabihin nang magsalita ang lalaki. "I've been wondering. Are you and Jasia really in love? Your daughter does resembles Jasia but I can't see any resemblance from you."

His jaw tightened. Xibel thought that the man was an idiot. It seemed that he had took his warning lightly. His mood had finally been ruined.

"Think for yourself. If you have a mind, you won't ask me such foolish questions." He clasped both of his hands and buried a smirk on her face. "And if you have been wiser, you will not ask if we are in love. It is such a pathetic emotion."

"So you're playing with her, huh?" Nakapamulsa nitong tanong.

"Only the weaklings confess their love with mere words. Those who have truly drowned would bow themselves and turn the world under her feet. The moment my wife, Jasia, come to me, I have bowed to never turn my back on her or else I'll kill myself. But even death couldn't separate us, human."He put his chin under his wrist. "Now, allow me to ask you instead. Are we not in love?"

Nawala ang mapaglaro nitong ngiti. Napalitan ito ng galit na tingin. It seemed that he had hit something inside, making him chuckle.

"If you are yearning for my wife, then you're just wasting your time. Jasia only gives attention to those who can give the world as an offering, and you are not qualified. You are a foolish weakling who doesn't know his place." He gestured his hand. "Arator, take him away."

Tumalikod na siya at babalik na sana sa kaniyang kuwarto dahil wala na siyang makita pang dahilan para ipagpatuloy ang pakikipag-usap sa lalaki. He was clear and convincing enough for this man to believe him and Jasia's relationship. Subalit no'ng papasok na siya, nakarinig siya ng kalabog. Napabalik ang kaniyang tingin sa baba.

Namilog ang kaniyang mga mata nang makitang nakahandusay si Arator sa sahig.

Tuluyang naputol ang kaniyang pasensya at walang pagdadalawang-isip na tinawag ang isa niya pang alagad.

"How dare you touch my follower!" Xibel summoned a large mound in front of the guy. He released Xyphyr, the criminal who murdered an entire family of nobles. Isang kunay lang ang dala nito ngunit ilang buhay na ang pumanaw sa maliit na bagay na iyon. Ito ang alagad na pinalabas niya upang takutin si Jasia.

Isang malakas na pagdaing ang namayani sa buong bahay nang saksakin ni Xyphyr ang braso ng lalaki. Kaagad itong napaatras habang namimilog sa gulat ang mga mata nito. Puno ng katanungan ang mukha kung paano lumabas ang isang mamatay na tao sa harapan nito.

"Leave or I'll turn you in as an offering to my wife." He warned one last time.

"W-what are you?" Iyon ang huli nitong sinabi bago tuluyang kumaripas ng takbo palabas sa kaniyang bahay.