"Liwayway! Over here!" someone shouted from behind.
I turned around.
"Hurry up! We're gonna miss the ascension," he said, waving his hand.
"Don't worry, it's not until later," I replied, running toward him.
"I know, but we have to save the best spot," he said, grabbing my arm.
We both ran to the sacred temple where the ascension was happening. The place was buzzing with people—and it seemed like the best spots were already taken.
"Guys! Over here!" a girl's voice called out.
I scanned the room and saw Rosa waving at us from the front. We quickly hurried over.
"Lucky you were here," said Takipsilim.
"Of course. I wouldn't miss this," Rosa said, crossing her arms.
Suddenly, the room went silent. Whispers began to spread.
We turned to look at the back—and there he was. The soon-to-be god, dressed in ceremonial armor, walked gracefully down the aisle with priestesses at his side.
Everyone's eyes followed his every step. As he stood before the temple, rays of light began to pour down from the heavens. A goddess descended from the sky and landed in front of him. He kneeled and bowed his head.
"You, child of flame and ash… you have arrived at last," the goddess said softly.
"I offer no glory for myself. I only seek to protect what remains," he replied.
"In the shadow of the abyss, you did not surrender. Against the beast of darkness, you did not flee. I know your heart," she said, placing her hand gently on his head.
"Now, you are called to a path beyond flesh. Do you accept the burden of eternity?"
"If it means I can still protect them… I accept," he said.
"In the name of the stars, in the song of the first light—rise. From earth, to the heavens. From blood, to light," she chanted.
He was lifted into the beam of light. His body began to glow. His old armor shattered like glass. Threads of light and gold wrapped around him, forging his ascended form.
"You, who are now Guardian of the Celestial Realms… beware, for even the light is tested by darkness," the goddess warned.
He vanished into the sky, leaving behind silence… and a single burning sigil on the temple floor, glowing with divine fire.
The goddess ascended and left the room silent once more.
"That was beautiful," Rosa whispered through her tears.
"That was cool," Takipsilim added.
I looked around and saw people crying, others stunned with awe in their eyes.
"I wanna be a god too," Takipsilim exclaimed.
"Pfft, you? A god?" Rosa teased.
"I am worthy," he said, puffing out his chest.
"Yeah, yeah," she continued to tease.
"Liwayway, back me up!" he said.
"Well, if you want to be a god, you need to do something worthy of ascension," I said.
"Then I'm gonna do that worthy deed!" he declared.
A loud sound suddenly woke me.
I sat up and looked outside the window. The sun hadn't risen yet...
Scanning the room, I saw Zyler and Mayumi still asleep—but the boy was missing.
I checked the temple. No sign of him. Then, I spotted him outside, cooking?
"What are you cooking?" I asked, walking over.
"Oh—sorry. Did I wake you up?" he said, quickly covering the pot.
"No, I just happened to wake up," I said, yawning.
"I see... My name is Luntianhimig," he said, turning around.
"Oh... Then what are you cooking, Luntianhimig?" I asked.
"A dish my mama taught me," he replied.
"Can I help?" I offered.
He nodded.
"What should I do?"
"Um... you can chop the carrots," he said, pointing to the table.
"Alright then," I said, walking over.
It went quiet for a while.
"So, where are you from?" I asked, breaking the silence.
"My family travels a lot, so I don't really know," he said.
"Hmm... Where are they now?" I asked, handing him the chopped carrots.
He went quiet.
"I can't talk about it," he said, eyes watering.
"Oh... okay. If that's what you want," I said gently, ruffling his hair.
"What do I do next?"
We finished the meal and called Zyler and Mayumi to eat. They connected with Luntianhimig fast—as if they'd been friends forever.
After eating, I asked if he wanted to join our journey. He happily accepted.
Over time, we learned more about Luntianhimig. He was good at cooking and art. The three became a close trio. They reminded me of the good old days...
While crossing a river, we found wrecked carts.
"What happened here?" Zyler asked.
"Looks like an attack," I replied, inspecting the debris.
There was no blood... maybe the owner was taken.
Suddenly, a scream echoed from the woods.
We bolted toward the sound and found a crystal-blue lake.
"Where did that come from?" Zyler said.
I stepped to the edge and stared at my reflection—but... it wasn't there.
Wait—!
"Everyone! Get back to where we came from!" I shouted.
Too late. I turned and was in another part of the forest. We'd been separated.
I tried weaving a spell, but each thread I pulled snapped in half.
I've spent half the day walking around this forest. But I kept ending up back at the lake.
Could this be a demon? Or is it illusion magic?
That's when I sensed a dark aura and quickly hid behind a bush.
"Brother, I can't seem to sense the hybrids aura," a female voice said.
I peeked out and saw them. A girl in a kimono patterned with koi fish… and a guy who looked like a wrestler.
"How come you can make this kind of illusion but can't locate the creature you trapped in here?" the man asked, arms crossed.
"Well, FYI, I'm still perfecting my spell," she snapped.
"How many did you trap?"
"Only two."
"Then we need to hurry. The boss won't be happy if we take too long," he muttered as they passed by me.
Boss? Who is this boss? Why are they after Zyler?
If she only trapped two, then it's likely Zyler's the other target. I need to find him—fast.
Hours passed. Still no sign of Zyler. I was starting to lose hope. I rested on a branch.
Then, I heard a familiar voice below me—it was the pair again.
But this time... they were carrying someone.
No.
That's not Zyler. It's—
"Luntianhimig!"
I leapt from the tree and landed in front of them.
"Let him go!" I shouted, trying to weave.
"Who's this?" the girl asked, smug behind her fan.
I pulled a thread, but again—it snapped.
"Were you trying to cast a spell?" she said with a laugh. "That won't work here."
"Why are you after the hybrid?" I demanded.
"Why should we tell you?" she said, pointing her fan at me.
"Because the one you're holding isn't him."
She narrowed her eyes. "Why should we believe that?"
"Do you really think a hybrid born of demon and man would have fox ears and a tail?"
She turned to her brother. "Do you believe this guy?"
He dropped Luntianhimig and examined him.
Suddenly, Luntianhimig's eyes flew open. He sprang up and ran toward me. I grabbed his arm, and we bolted into the trees.
"Brother! They're getting away!" the girl shrieked.
We ducked into a hollow tree, panting.
"Are you hurt?" I asked, checking him over.
"No, I'm fine."
"You were conscious that whole time?"
"Yeah… I couldn't find a chance to escape, so I pretended to be unconscious."
"I'm glad you're okay," I said, hugging him tightly.
He hesitated, then wrapped his arms around me.
I pulled back. "We need to get out of here."
"I think the lake is the key," he said.
"Right… it's illusion magic. So the thing anchoring the spell must be near the lake."
"So, what do we do?"
"We go back and find the object anchoring the illusion."
"Alright!"
"Wait… how do you know so much about illusion magic?" I asked as we snuck through the trees.
He looked flustered. "My big sister taught me a little when I was a kid."
"I see... Well, let's not waste time."
We returned to the lake and searched for hours. No sign of the object.
"What does it look like?" Luntianhimig asked.
"It could be anything," I said, lifting a rock. "Stones, twigs, even the water itself."
Wait...
When this all began, I looked at my reflection and—
"Luntianhimig! Come here!" I shouted, running to the water.
"You fou—"
A sickening thwack cut him off.
I turned.
My heart stopped.
Luntianhimig stood there, a spear impaled through his chest.
I ran to him, panic rising. Threads snapped again and again as I tried to weave a healing spell.
"Luntianhimig! Stay with me!" I cried, cradling him.
"Looks like I hit a fish," a male voice sneered behind me.
"Finally found you," the girl said.
I turned and saw them standing there.
Then—stone chains shot up from the ground, wrapping around my limbs and locking me in place.
"Tell us where the hybrid is," the man growled.
"Why should I?" I spat.
"Don't be so stubborn," the girl said sweetly, stepping closer. "Or we'll kill the mutt."
"No! Don't touch him!"
"Then talk."
"I won't!"
"Fine. Brother, kill the mutt."
"Actually... I have an idea that'll be more fun," he said with a twisted grin.
"Oh? You want that?" She said covering her face with her fan.
The girl summoned a golem that pinned me to the ground. She walked over and forced my eyes open.
"You're gonna love this," she whispered.
The man tied Luntianhimig to a stone wall. Then he raised his spear.
"Wait!" I screamed as the spear pierced Luntianhimig's thigh.
"Don't!" I cried again, as another spear struck his calf.
Over and over—until both legs were mangled.
I screamed and thrashed, but the golem held tight. Luntianhimig whimpered with every hit.
"Stop it! Please!" I shouted.
"Then tell us where the hybrid is," the woman demanded, yanking my head up.
The man raised his spear again.
No… not again…
Everytime I looked at Luntianhimigs face, I see flashes of Takipsilims face.
My vision blurred. My body burned. Something inside me broke loose.
Black flames exploded around me.
The chains and golem shattered.
"How are you casting spells?!" the girl shrieked, leaping away.
I rose slowly and faced the man. He swung a fist—I caught it and twisted.
Snap.
He screamed as his arm broke, blisters erupting on his skin.
"Brother!" the girl screamed, summoning more golems.
I grabbed his head, pulled it up close.
"Your turn," I whispered.
I broke his other arm, the bone tearing through his skin. His screams were music. And his flesh melted off like it was butter.
"Too easy"
I tore his head from his body—spine and all.
"BROTHER!!!" the girl cried. "You'll pay for this!"
She summoned dozens of golems.
I dropped the head and walked toward her. Each golem melted away as I passed.
"W-Wait—please," she begged, stumbling back.
I crouched beside her and grabbed I her neck.
"Who sent you?"
"It was the boss," she gasped, choking.
"Who's the boss?"
"I-I don't know... just that he's from Lupain ng Salamangka..."
"Hmm..."
"Please, don't—"
I crushed her throat and let her fall.
I felt my powers faded. My body returned to normal. My breath came in gasps.
I ran to Luntianhimig and finally—my threads responded. I began healing him frantically.
"Dad?" he whispered.
"No... it's me, Diwaon," I said, holding his cheek.
"Oh... everything hurts."
"Please hang on." Tears filled my eyes.
"I can't keep my eyes open."
"Just a little longer..."
"You know, I imagined us making dinner. The one my mama taught me," he said, raising a trembling hand.
"Is that so?"
"I think I see her... and my sister too..."
"No—stay with me, please."
He didn't answer.
His chest rose slowly... then stopped.
He was gone.
"Master!!" Zyler shouted.
I turned to see him, Mayumi, and Pisces rushing over.
I carried Luntianhimig in my arms.
"Master, what happened?" Zyler asked.
"He didn't make it," I said quietly.
They stared in disbelief.
"What do you mean? He can't—" Zyler stammered.
Mayumi broke down, clutching Luntianhimig's hand.
"Who did this!? I'll kill them!" Zyler shouted, trembling with rage.
"I already did," I said.
"Why would they—" he choked up.
"Let's send him on his way," I said, barely holding my voice steady. "Pisces… would you?"
"Of course," she nodded solemnly.
We found a peaceful clearing and laid him on a bed of poppies.
I wrapped my arms around Zyler and Mayumi.
Pisces marked Luntianhimig with purple oil, chanting softly. His body glowed violet. When she recited the final verse, he gently floated into the air, shining brightly.
"Close you eyes" Pisces ordered.
We closed our eyes—and flashes of memories flooded in. His laughter. His kindness. His silence.
"You may open your eyes now," Pisces said.
There he was.
Smiling.
Hugging us.
"Thank you... for everything," he said.
We embraced him, one last time.
"It's time," Pisces said, offering him her hand.
He took it.
They stepped into the light—and then, there was silence.
When I find that boss from Lupain ng Salamangka...
He will pay.