The Fragile Thread of Eternity

Chapter 1: The Beginning

Sera's POV

Love is destructive. 

That is what I taught to myself. Loving or caring for someone was never a good idea. It will only bring you pain and heartbreak. 

Kasalukuyan akong naghahanda para sa isa na namang araw ng pag-iisa. I became an orphan when I was 10. I don't clearly remember what happened that day—nagising nalang akong mag-isa, without any memory of what came before. Wala akong maalala, not even my parents. I was left alone in a simple house.

Eight years have passed, and somehow, I've managed to survive alone. Now, here I am, living in a small hut at the edge of the forest, far from civilization. In this remote corner of Velorisca, the only sight is my little home. Velorisca is a town in Mystara where enchanters and enchantresses—those with the power to wield magic in various forms—live.

And I am one of them. At ang dahilan kung bakit ako napunta sa lugar na ito.My ability struck fear in the town; they're dangerous enough to harm or even kill the people I care for most.

---Flashback ---

I was sixteen when I started working at a flower shop near my house, and that's where I met Aria. She was the daughter of Mr. Vesper, the shop owner, so she was always around to help her father.

Over time, Aria and I grew close, constantly working together. We became best friends. Siya ang dahilan kung bakit nakaya kung kong bumangon araw-araw at magpatuloy sa buhay. She was my light in the twilight of my life.

But then, something happened.

It was Aria's 16th birthday, and her family held a celebration at their house. I was invited, along with her relatives and other friends. Masaya ang naging araw na iyon para sa kaibigan ko, hindi dahil sa maraming regalo na natanggap niya pero dahil sa mga taong pumunta para sa espesyal na araw niya. 

When everyone else had left, I stayed behind to give her my gift.

"Happy birthday, Aria!" I smiled as I handed her the bracelet I'd made, its pendant a tulip, her favorite flower.

"OMG! Thank you so much sa bracelet Sera. You really are the best." She beamed as I slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, and we hugged.

Pero ang masayang nadarama ng kaibigan ko ay kabaliktaran sa nadarama ko. 

"Ano yang nasa leeg mo Aria? Nagpa tattoo ka ba?" I asked, noticing a strange black rose marking on her carotid artery.

 "What tattoo? Di naman ako nagpa tattoo Sera. Alam mo namang bawal kay papa yan." Natatawang pahayag nito sakin habang nililigpit ang mga regalo niya. 

"May tattoo ka sa leeg mo. A black rose. Tignan mo." I handed her a mirror para makita niya. 

"Wala naman Sera ah. Pinagti-tripan mo na naman siguro ako." She pouted but di ko yun pinansin. Nakatuon ako sa salamin na walang reflection ng bulaklak pero kitang-kita ko sa personal. What's going on? 

Akmang hahawakan ko ito ng bigla itong nagliwanag but not enough to blind a person. Parang ako nga lang yung nakapansin dahil busy pa rin si Aria sa mga gamit niya. After it glow, nawala na ang bulaklak sa leeg nito. 

I wanted to believe it was my imagination, but that day marked the start of something I could never have expected.

From then on, people in our town fell mysteriously ill, and some even died. The cause remained unknown, but one detail was always the same: each victim bore a black rose petal on their neck—the exact spot where I'd seen the mark on Aria. The difference was, for them, it was just a petal, not a full-bloomed rose.