Chanel was again reading some books in Night's library. Nang sila'y nagpunta rito sa Rivetia ay dumiretso agad ang tatlo sa bahay ni Night. Again, Chanel didn't ask why Night had a house in this city. Chersh already explained that he was from a rich family. She didn't bother to know more dahil klarong-klaro sa usapan nila ni Night na hindi siya mangingialam o magtatanong tungkol sa binata. He made a clear line and that was not to be crossed. Chanel valued her life so she didn't dare.

She was reading about the next relic that they would steal. She thought it would be difficult this time. Because it was a trident that they needed to steal.

According to the book that she was reading, the trident was a weapon of the God of the Sea before. The God of the Sea and the God of the Underworld had a bet. Whoever loses, one shall give up his favorite weapon. The God of the Sea bet his trident and the God of the Underworld bet his whip. Unfortunately, the God of the Sea lost. Thus, he gave up his trident. Since then, the God of the Underworld knew that even the God of the Sea gave his trident to him, it was nothing but a weapon and the true power still lies within them. He could only be the commander of the sea if he killed the God of the Sea. That was too much work so he dismissed the plan.

Demons were dying to get the holy weapon for it held too much power. The God of the Underworld was having fun seeing those demons attempting to get the trident from him. So, he thought of an idea where he would put the trident in an open place where demons could get it whenever they wanted to, but only those with a pure heart and good intention could get it.

He stabbed the trident in a big rock. He announced that whoever could pull the trident from the rock shall be the new owner. He was so sure that no one would be able to get it. After all, they were all in hell and no one has a pure soul that could pull the sword from the rock.

"Hmm, interesting..." Chanel whispered.

"What's interesting?"

Muntik nang mahagis ni Chanel ang librong kanyang hawak-hawak sa biglaang pagsulpot ni Night sa kanyang tabi. Tiningnan nang masama ni Chanel ang binata.

"I told you to knock 'di ba?"

Ngumiti lamang si Night sa dalaga at tiningnan ang binabasa nito. He gave the book to Chanel yesterday night and here he still caught the lady reading the book up until now.

"Natulog ka ba?" tanong nito saka nito tiningnan ang ibang librong nakakalat sa sahig.

Tumango si Chanel. "Apat na oras?"

"You really love reading," wika ni Night.

"If it's interesting... I will read it."

"If not?"

Umiling ang dalaga. "Then hindi."

"And all of these books are interesting for you?"

Tumango ang dalaga. "Surprisingly, yes."

Umupo ang binata sa harapan ni Chanel.

"Continue reading. Don't mind me."

Tiningnan ng mariin ni Chanel ang binata. Ang huling pangyayari nang magkasama sila sa library ay binantaan siya nito. Ano naman kayang gustong mangyari nito ni Night? Nagdududa man siya sa binata ay muli siyang nagpatuloy sa pagbabasa. No'ng una ay mataas pa ang guwardiya niya kay Night, ngunit habang patagal ng patagal ang pagbabasa niya ay unti-unti na niyang hindi pinansin ang binata.

Night sat there silently watching Chanel as she read the book. He saw her frowning then her expression would change. Her eyes would suddenly grow big then she would seriously read again. He would catch her smiling then she would frown again.

Night smiled as she watched her.

Sumilip ng tingin si Chanel sa binata at nakitang nakangiti ito.

"What?"

Umiling lamang ito, "Read."

"I read about the trident. Do you have any plans kung paano natin makukuha 'yon?" tanong ni Chanel sa binata.

Tumango ito. "Of course."

"Pero—" Muling tumingin si Chanel sa librong kanyang binabasa at tinitigan ang illustration ng trident sa libro.

"Paano natin makukuha ang trident sa bato?"

"We have the perfect candidate for that."

Kumunot-noo ang dalaga. "Sino?"

"Before that, would you like to come with me?"

"Where?"

"We'll buy some stuffs and we can tour around the city if you want."

"Really?" Agad na ibinaba ni Chanel ang libro.

"Tara!" Excited na tumayo ang dalaga. "Lead the way!"

Night could only smile.

***

The two went outside and toured around the city. The moment she stepped her foot outside, there was only one thing that she found unusual. Why was everyone so busy? What was going on? She looked perplexed as they walked through the streets of Rivetia. May mga taong busy sa pagkakabit ng banderetas sa poles. Not only that, they were also decorating the streets with shells, flowers, and shining rocks. There were flags of the kingdom everywhere she went.

They stopped at a shop where they sell props and decorations. Mas lalong kumunot-noo si Chanel. She looked around the shop while Night was busy talking to the owner. Nakakabilib ang ibinebenta nila rito. To think that they sell props and decoration in hell, mas lalong namamangha si Chanel sa kasalukuyang hari ng Hellas.

Why did he think of this? Why did he make the underworld look like Earth?

"This," rinig niyang usapan ng dalawa sa kanyang likod. Lumingon siya at tiningnan ang inabot ng may-ari kay Night. Nanlaki ang mata niya sa gulat.

"Perfect," wika ni Night.

"Ito ang gagamitin ng mga mamamayan sa darating na piyesta," wika ng may-ari.

"Gayang-gaya," komento ni Chanel.

It was the trident that was in the book.

"What's that for?" tanong ni Chanel sa binata ngunit ngumiti lamang ito.

"Para sa piyesta!" sagot naman ng may-ari.

Kumunot-noo si Chanel at muling nagtanong, "Para saan nga po pala ang piyesta?"

"Taon-taon nagdiriwang ang mga mamamayan ng Rivetia upang maalala ang nangyari noong Dark War."

Tumingin si Chanel kay Night dahil hindi niya ito maintindihan. Ano ang Dark War? At ano ang mga nangyari nang panahong iyon?

Ngumiti lamang si Night sa may-ari at nagpaalam. "Maraming salamat po ulit sa tulong ninyo."

"Walang anuman."

Ngumiti na lamang din si Chanel sa may-ari at sumunod kay Night. Sabay na naglakad ang dalawa. Naghihintay lamang ang dalaga na ipaliwanag ni Night ang tinutukoy ng may-ari ng shop kanina.

"This place..." pag-uuumpisa ni Night.

"Was the last place that stood against the demons."

Kumunot-noo si Chanel. "Hindi ko maintindihan."

"There was a big war that happened between demons. The race was divided into two factions, Kaos and Pax. One that wanted to turn the Earth upside down and destroy the Gods, the other one wanted to rule the underworld peacefully that agrees with the terms and conditions of the Gods. Both couldn't agree for they have different aims. Thus, it was named the Dark War, the biggest war between demons."

Chanel looked around her. She couldn't imagine what war would look like, especially here in this beautiful place of Rivetia.

"There are only two exits here in the Underworld. First is through the entrance and the second one is through the gates."

"And the gates?"

"The Gods cast a barrier in each gate. You can only open it using the keys."

At dito na alam ni Chanel ang sagot.

"These relics are the keys to those gates. Am I right?"

"Exactly. You can only open it using all the relics. These relics, that time, were scattered and heavily guarded with the Gods' powerful creatures. No one could get it. Some even were guarded by the Gods themselves, like the Trident of Rivetia."

"So Kaos' armies couldn't search for it and eyed for the entrance."

Tumango si Night. "And if you want to reach the entrance, you need to go through the rings first."

"And among the rings, this is the only place that was able to hold those forces?"

Muling tumango si Night. Chanel couldn't imagine what happened to other rings.

"Who led them?"

"The previous King of Rivetia, the brother of the current King of the Hellas."

"Where's the previous King now?"

"Gone," simpleng sagot ni Night. Chanel looked at him and she saw a glint of sadness in his eyes. Namamalikmata lamang ba siya? Huminga ng malalim si Chanel. Ang kabuuan ng mundong 'to, ang history nito, at ang mga namumuno rito ay sobrang gulo.

"Where's the God of the Underworld right now?"

Night simply answered, "That no one knows where he might be... or if he is still alive..."

"He should take what's rightfully his. He should be here."

"That I agree."

Mas lalong napakunot-noo si Chanel sa sagot ng binata. Pero bumalik sa isip niya ang sinabi ni Night kanina, na mayroon lamang dalawang paraan upang makaalis sa mundong 'to.

"If there are two exits, why can't we just use the entrance?"

Hindi napansin ni Chanel ang isang malaking karwahe na padaan dahil nakatingin ito sa binata. Agad na hinawakan ni Night sa balikat ang dalaga at hinigit ito papalapit sa kanya upang hindi ito matamaan. Bumaba ang tingin ni Night sa dalaga upang tingnan kung ayos lamang ba ito ngunit ang gulat na gulat na Chanel ang sumalubong sa kanya.

Hinatak ni Night si Chanel patungo sa kanyang gilid upang makapagpalit sila ng puwesto. Nang sa gano'n ay malayo ang dalaga sa kapahamakan lalo na't sunod-sunod na karwahe ang dumadaan.

"No one can get through the entrance now. It's heavily guarded and the security is tight."

"Hindi ba mas madaling dumaan roon? Kaysa kolektahin ang walong relics?"

"If it's easy, we're not doing any of this right now, Chanel."

Doon na tumahimik ang dalaga. The two looked around the place all day. Chanel looked at the shops, monuments, and historical places in the city. Night patiently explained every question she would ask. Ni pati pagbili niya ng kung ano-ano ay hindi kinikuwestiyon ng binata. He bought all the things she asked. The two sat on a stone bench under a big tree. Dito nagpahinga ang dalawa pagkatapos ng walang katapusan nilang paglalakad at pag-iikot sa siyudad.

Chanel was staring at the leaves above her and asked Night a question.

"Bakit bigla mo na lang akong inaya mag-ikot ngayong araw? Binili mo pa lahat ng mga gusto ko." Chanel then looked at the accessories, dresses, and other stuff they bought. This was all a waste of money but Night didn't complain about it. Wala rin namang hinto si Chanel sa pagpibili. She was that excited.

"You couldn't enjoy Para, so I thought you might at least enjoy and have fun here in Rivetia."

Tumaas ang kanang kilay ng dalaga at tumingin kay Night. She was surprised that the guy actually thought about that and considered her feelings.

"That's surprising," komento ni Chanel. Napangisi na lamang ang binata at umiling.

"Consider this as a gift for helping me," sagot ni Night.

"Gift huh..."

"What do you think right now? What do you feel?"

Napahinto saglit si Chanel at tumingin sa paligid niya. The cities of Paradise and Rivetia were the different side of Hellas. An image she didn't expect, especially for hell. The first time she went here, she was in pain. She was hurt and betrayed by her loved ones. She was living in lies. The pain would never leave her, but thanks to her distractions, which were Night and Chersh, she was able to finally feel alive and free.

Ngumiti si Chanel.

"The funny thing is I never thought I would have this adventure in hell. I mean, who would've?"

Tumingin siya kay Night. "What do I look like now? Do I still look like the old me?"

Night stared at her for a moment. She was smiling from ear to ear. She looked happy. He lifted his hand and touched the tip of her red long hair. Her amber eyes shine under the rays of the sun peeking through the tree leaves. He smiled lightly as he thought about how could she enjoy and be happy right now when in fact no one would feel happy in her current situation. She was trapped in hell, left with no choice but to agree with a stranger, a demon in addition, and help him collect the relics. It was a dangerous mission.

"What makes you smile right now, Chanel?" He asked her softly.

"I don't know. Is it weird to feel happy and enjoy every moment right now?"

"Will you still smile like this even if we go to the next rings?"

Chanel laughed. "Of course not. But there's one thing I learned again. You just have to enjoy everything in the present. You will not go forward if you still live in the past. So even if this is all ridiculous and a mission impossible, I chose to enjoy it."

"Carpe diem," He whispered.

"Carpe diem." Chanel agreed.

"Are you not worried about the future?"

"I am worried. But I might as well do all the things I want to do while I'm still alive. So, while I'm here in Hellas, I will do my best to help you. Babalik din naman ako rito kapag namatay ako pero I don't think I will have another journey like this. Kaya sasagarin ko na."

Night chuckled and continued playing her hair.

"If you continue being like this, Chanel, I don't know what I will do next."

He then moved closely to her and kissed her hair. Binitawan niya ang buhok ng dalaga at tumayo. Bitbit bitbit ang ibang pinamili nila, nagsimulang maglakad palayo si Night. Chanel was left there, staring at his back, speechless.

"What the heck was that?"

Kinuha niya ang mga pinamili nila at agad na sumunod sa binata.

"Hinatayin mo ako! Hoy!"