Debris of Memories

Chapter 18: His Return

OUTER ASTREA
SAMAEL, MATCHITEHEW, ALBERT

Samael and Machi are startled as the sky started to become alternatingly dark and bright again. 

"Yung ilong ni Albert!" Nagulantang si Samael nang muling bumulwak ng maitim-itim na dugo ang ilong ni Albert dahil sa malakas na pressure. They can't do anything about it. Wala silang tela na pantigil sa dugo at wala rin si Thalia na maraming alam sa ganitong gawain. 

"Albert, hang on." Minasahe ni Samael ang katawan ni Albert na ngayo'y nanginginig na. Namumutla na rin ang kanyang labi. The teenagers know that Albert surviving will be a miracle. He's already in his worst state, and as much as it tears their hearts apart, they need to accept their young friend's fate. 

Albert is youthful. He has so much dreams and promises he still needs to accomplish. He always talks about his parents, how he misses them and how much he longs to return to his school. Samael is a witness on how this child outgrew his fear through good conduction of skills. Albert is also a wise dagger user and can escape multiple enemies. 

It's a shame that this may be the end of his journey.

Gumapang si Machi papunta kay Albert na hindi na gumagalaw.  Nakasandal pa rin ito kay Samael. Ibinaling ni Machi ang tingin niya kay Samael.

"Is he still... alive?" 

Sinuri ni Samael ang pulso nito at tsaka muling tumingin kay Machi. Umiling ito. Ipinikit ni Samael ang mga mata ni Albert, senyales na ipinagpapahinga na ang kaibigan. 

Napakahirap tanggapin. Pagkatapos ng kanilang pinagsamahan, ganito lamang ang kahahantungan. Napakabata niya pa para maranasan ang lahat ng ito. He died in a painful way, at kung maaari lang, inako na ni Samael ang naramdaman ng bata.

Their promise to each other is now broken. Day by day, he loses a friend.

"We can't just leave him here." Sabi ni Machi habang nakatitig sa walang buhay na si Albert. Narinig niyang humihikbi ang kasama kaya nilapitan niya pa ito. "We'll survive. For Albert." 

Tumayo ang dalawa at balak nilang sundan ang daang tinahanak nina Thalia at Devyn. Binuhat ni Samael si Albert at tsaka nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

Hindi pa nakakalayo ang dalawa nang bigla silang makarinig ng static na tunog. Hindi nila alam kung saan ito nanggagaling, basta ang alam lang nila, para itong nagmumula sa isang radyo. 

"Seekers, we've met again."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng dalawang binata dahil sa narinig. It's the speaker.

"But how? It's not even the 15th day." Tumingin si Machi sa kasama nang may halong kaba sa mata. "The time drastically forwarded."

Tila binuhusan ng malamig na tubig si Samael dahil sa napagtanto. "It's not just light, darkness, and gravity." Tumingala siya upang tignan ang kalangitan. "The alternating black and white lights serve as the day and night. We're being teleported into the future. Time in Astrea... it's advancing!" 

Umuga nang kakaunti ang lupa kaya kumapit sila sa pinakamalapit na mahahawakan.

"You approximately have 15 days to complete the given task. Failure to accomplish means your survival is terminated. Safety ticket towards the end will be burned into ashes. 

I am here to remind you that do whatever it takes to get the gems on time. See you again on the 25th day.  Good luck, seekers."

Muling nagkatinginan sina Samael at Machi. They have only spent a half-day in the outer portion of Astrea, yet the time ran fast more than what they have expected. 

"This is not good. The group inside the portal should be able to bring the gem here right now. If we spend another 12 hours in this place, we'll only have exactly 10 days left. We still don't know where Luna's Monument and the Pantheon of the Devil are. We need to act fast." Kabadong saad ni Machi. Rinig na sa kanyang boses ang pagkataranta, which is not a his thing. He used to be calm and critical.

"We need to find Thalia and Devyn first." Saad ni Samael, ngunit mukhang hindi na sang-ayon si Machi sa plano. 

"Samael, this is a matter of survival. Let's leave them and enter the portal. Let's complete the gems together." Suhestiyon nito. 

Umiling-iling si Samael. He knows very well that Machi is willing to sacrifice anything just to win. He barely accepts any opinions, especially in this time where they are in a dilemma. Dahan-dahang umatras si Samael habang bitbit si Albert.

"Samael...?" Unti-unti namang lumalapit si Machi papunta sa kaibigan. Kinuha nito ang kanyang bow, tila naghahanda sa isang laban. 

"Machi, let's talk this through. We can't leave our friends here in Astrea. We are going to survive. Together." Madiin nitong sabi at inilabas ang kanyang dagger. 

Namuo ang luha sa mga mata ni Machi. Hindi niya kailanma'y intensyon na kalabanin si Samael. Tinuring niya na itong isang malapit na kaibigan. Yes, he seeks for victory, but he's also only being logical. It is now or never. 

Patuloy na umaatras si Samael hanggang siya'y matumba. Nalaglag din ang bitbit niyang walang buhay na katawan ni Albert. Biglan lumakas ang hangin kaya napapikit siya dahil sa buhangin na pumasok sa kanyang mga mata. 

"Argh!" Samael groaned as he scrubbed his eyes. 

Pagmulat niya ng kanyang mga mata, nagulat siya sa kanyang nakita. Wala na siya sa lugar kung saan may makapal na hamog. Agad niyang hinanap si Machi ngunit hindi niya na rin ito mahagilap. 

Sa gilid niya ay ang katawan ni Albert. Agresibo siyang tumayo at muling binuhat ang patay na kaibigan. 

Habang naglalakad ay napansin niyang medyo maliwanag na, at sa bandang dulo ay may umiilaw na kulay blue-green. Madamo ang kapaligiran at may makikitang kagubatan sa dulo. May random na mga puno rin sa kanyang gilid.

Sa isang banda, nakakita siya ng dalawang metal na drum. Para itong bangka, and then he suddenly remembered what Evander told him the day the Devil's Keeper attacked them. Ang isang drum ay medyo may kaliitan, kasya lamang ang isang tao. Ang isa nama'y medyo malaki. Kasya ang hanggang dalawang tao. 

Nilibot niya pa ang kanyang paningin at may nakita pa siyang isa. Maliit lamang ito ngunit may butas na. And then it hit him. 

He's in Erida's River.

lalapitan niya na sana ang mga drums nang biglang may tumawag sa kanyang pangalan. 

"Samael!" 

Paglingon niya ay hindi maipaliwanag ang tuwa sa kanyang puso. Si Thalia, winawagayway ang kanyang kamay habang si Devyn ay nasa kanyang tabi. 

Samael's plan dispersed. He was confused, yet excited. It's Erida's River afterall. 

If he can convince his remaining friends at the moment to go beyond the river, then the truth may come out. They need to figure out what's behind the dark forest and where will be the edge of this so called Seekers Battle Ground. The chance is in his hands, now that's no one will stop him. 

He approached Thalia and Devyn with a smile on his face. They will break the rules, and they'll do it now. 

For survival, for the truth. 

END OF CHAPTER 18
6-15-21