I was listening to this Japanese song while writing this chapter. The lyrics in this chapter are inspired by this song. 

Chapter 72: Outside

"Strip this lotus. Astrid and I have to go."

I gulped, and held my head high, despite the loud hammering of my chest. I might have the confidence to surge these gigantic plants alone to find her, but now that she was behind my back, fragile and needed to be protected, I couldn't help but worry.

"You can do it, Kezalli," I said, convincing myself.

Hindi na ako mag-isa at nakasalalay sa akin ang kapakanan ni Astrid. And I had to face everything with confidence, far way better than how I faced these challenges alone.

The green rain showers started to attack the lotus, stripping every petal around us.

"Here we go."

I jumped a little, adjusting Astrid's body to comfort, her cold cheek pressed closer to my neck. I closed my eyes, wishing the heat of my body would transfer to her. I looked over my shoulder, my cheek brushing Astrid's head, and then I whispered. "Hang in there, Astrid."

When I faced forward as the lotus was burning into green strips of light, it suddenly felt like I was back in that performance cage, surrounded by green strips of metal bars, but now they were green rain showers. With the blinking strips around us, a green light crept slowly around my skin to Astrid, guiding us.

I might have had doubts about my green spells, and I knew how they could exhaust my strength as someone who was not used to controlling them without intense emotions, but rather out of desperation. Still, I used the spell again, surrounding Astrid and me as we descended from the lotus.

One of my legs was folded, my eyes ablaze with determination. As we landed, first with one of my feet, I looked around, confused. The attacks had ceased, and everything seemed so foreign as if the moment the lotus had shattered, we were whisked into a different realm.

Instead of the swamp, the vastness of this place was no longer filled with brown water but an infinite dryness, as if it had been experiencing years of drought. "What happened here?"

I heard a thud as I completely landed on the ground. I couldn't help but be confused as if in the blink of an eye, the realm showed me a different image of itself. The thin, tall, and wild plants and flowers that had tried to stop me suddenly looked like ghosts—withered and clinging to their dear life—as if I could see agony, life, and death.

I was waiting for them to attack me at once, but as they swayed slowly in a place with no air, heads bowing as if in a daze, some turning into ashes, I didn't notice how I took a few steps back, horrified by the state of the mirror.

I shook my head. "You should move forward, Kezalli." I told myself.

I took a deep breath and pulled Astrid closer to me. I couldn't help but look down, avoiding these gigantic plants as if they had a gaze that I couldn't answer—couldn't fathom to stare at.

I couldn't understand why I suddenly felt sadness around me, the droplets of tears on my cheeks, and the pain in my chest as I witnessed these plants, which had tried to harm me, now making an aisle as I walked slowly with Astrid behind me. Bowing and swaying slowly with their withered life.

Suddenly, I felt goosebumps all over my body as my crisp footsteps against the dry land overwhelmed the whole place.

It felt so heavy in this place that the only one alive who could smile was me.

Walang hangin, walang mga kulay, nagliliparang mga ibon, at maging ang sikat ng araw. Wala akong marinig na kahit anong buhay sa lugar na ito.

It was like I had snatched the heart of this place . . .

"I'm sorry . . . I am sorry . . ." bulong ko habang patuloy akong lumuluha, nakayuko at humahakbang.

I looked around but I couldn't find the exit. At ang tanging nakikita ko lang ay ang mahabang daan kung saan nakahilera ang matataas na halaman na tila anumang oras ay babagsak na at maagnas.

Ang tindi na ng kaba sa dibdib ko at nag-iisang pangalan lang ang pumasok sa isip ko. "Tobias . . ."

"Tobias . . . show me the exit."

"Tobias . . ."

Ilang beses kong tinatawag ang pangalan niya ngunit ang tangi ko lang naramdaman ay ang biglang pagyanig ng lupa. Nang tumungo ako ay pansin ko na nagsisimula na itong mabitak.

Nakagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko. Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad habang buhat si Astrid ngunit dahil sa paggamit ko ng kapangyarihan ko ay alam kong nagsisimula na naman akong manghina.

I almost dropped Astrid. I shook my head multiple times before I adjusted her position again.

Inihilig ko saglit ang ulo ko kay Astrid at umaasa na maramdaman niya ang init ng katawan ko. "Hang in there. I can do it. I can do this." I kept chanting and forcing a smile as my arms began to tremble.

Nang mas lumakas na ang pagyanig at muli akong yumuko sa lupa, mas naramdaman ko na ang higit na takot, hindi lang para kay Astrid kundi para na rin sa akin at sa lahat ng mga nilalang na umaasa sa akin sa labas ng salamin na ito.

"No. Not yet . . . lalabas pa kami ni Astrid. This place can no longer hold her. We have to escape this place," I kept convincing myself. Hindi ako maaaring panghinaan ng loob, malapit na kami ni Astrid.

Makalalabas kami.

"Tobias . . ."

I bit my lower lip. Pilit kong pinipigilan ang sarili kong lumuha sa sitwasyon naming ito. I'd shed too much tears the moment I entered this mirror, and these emotions building up right now wouldn't help me— fear, desperation, and losing hope.

Narito na ako, malapit na ako sa dulo, at ang tanging gagawin ko na lang ay hanapin ang lagusan. "You shouldn't give up, Kezalli," bulong ko sa sarili ko.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad ngunit ramdam ko na higit na humihina ang tibok ng puso ni Astrid, ang bagal ng mga hakbang ko at ang higit na pangangatal ng mga braso ko.

But despite everything, I gathered the remaining strength that I have— maybe drew into my limitations. I didn't stop. Mas dumiin ang mga braso ko kay Astrid at mas binilisan ko ang paglalakad.

"No . . . dadalhin pa kita kay Rosh. I promise him," bulong ko.

Nagsimula nang manlabo ang mga mata ko dahil sa luha. Natatakot ako sa mga nakikita ko.

I choked when I felt that the plants behind us were starting to fall apart.

As I took more steps, more lives in this realm were falling. I gulped, breathed, and opened my mouth. And before I knew it, just to cover the harsh sound of the mirror's declining life, I found myself singing.

My lips were trembling, but I whispered every lyric with my heart and soul.

I ran crazily until I reached the waterfalls

But the boat left already, and so it hinders our love

When I uttered those words, my mind suddenly had a flashback as I looked at Tobias's back, his hands behind his back as he sauntered on a wooden boat under the bright moonlight reflecting its beauty on the waters, and the way he offered his hand to guide me.

What if he never looked back? What if he gave up?

I continued singing with my every footstep.

Our memories glow with the sparkling oceans

The season ends and goes; as I closed my eyes with every touch of our lips

I could never look again the same way I looked at the seas and ocean without thinking about how those green eyes lovingly stared at me and how his lips caressed every part of me.

Those little flowers sway in the garden while it cannot say its goodbyes

Feeling the pain even with my sudden disappearance

Rain showers that disappeared, it reminisces when my tears fall

When he tried to save me from death— from Freya. I saw the desperation in Tobias' eyes— a different shade from the way he looked at me before. The way he summoned his own power; the water that burns me, the way his extended hands stopped, and how he tried to kill himself in fear of losing me before his life.

I will remember it surely

And I will let you know

That I am here, coming back for you

As I continued with the song, this time, I did not hold my tears. Instead, I let them flow like a river as it made my heart feel lighter. With every word and lyric, I didn't expect that I'd notice something that didn't even cross my mind the moment I entered this world.

I looked down and saw the emerald pendant on my chest lifting in the air, glowing in front of me. A small circular green light came out until it exploded creating a thin green string from it. My mouth hung open and I stared at it for a moment, realizing that the green string from the necklace was giving me a way toward Tobias— to the exit.

I bit my lower lip looking at the emerald necklace— Tobias gave me a necklace not just an accessory but something that would always lead me to him.

"Tobias . . ."

Mas lalong bumuhos ang luha ko at mas hinigpitan ko ang mga braso kay Astrid. "We're going home, Astrid."

As the world inside the mirror crumbled, my eyes turned blurry with my every tear, I took my every step, the illuminating green strings pulling us and yet even with my trembling voice.

I tried my best to sing— like a known Le'Vamueivos and a songbird that everyone longed to hear again.

I will remember it surely

And I will let you know

That I am here, coming back for you

When the grumbling of the mirror's world continued to be harsher, my desperate walk turned into running. I tripped multiple times with Astrid's body on my back, but I kept standing up as the ground warned me—whispering its tremor in pain.

My feet were sore, my body was aching, my throat was dry, and my voice was hoarse, but I didn't stop running and singing.

I closed my eyes; more tears streamed down my cheeks as I moved closer to the illuminating exit. I took a deep breath, looked over my shoulder, and smiled at Astrid, gently caressing my cheek against her hair. "We're here."

Before I could finally step outside the glowing portal, my whole body collapsed and reached its limit. My eyes were in a blur, but I crept into a satisfied smile, as Astrid and I managed to cross half of our bodies into the portal.

Astrid and I fell together. I gently extended my hand and caressed the back of my hand against her cheek. "We're home."

Before I could finally close my eyes, I witnessed two regal shadows towering over us—two shadows who knelt in unison, and two sets of trembling arms gently lifting my body and Astrid's together.

Warm hands cupping my cheeks, I trembled yet I felt so happy even though my heart felt like it was about to explode. His familiar scent of fresh ocean and a blend of pine enveloped me, giving me a sense of comfort— home. This time I allowed myself to cry, loudly, in his arms.

My lips trembled and then I choked with tears in my eyes, and I chose to whisper in his mind. "I m-made it, L-Love, I've brought h-her outside . . ."

I felt hot tears on my cheeks as Tobias pressed a kiss on my forehead. "Rest now, it's now our turn."

Before I finally closed my eyes, I saw a shadow of a white werewolf's back, howling echoing in the whole kingdom, accompanied by an unfamiliar form of shadows with unison roars that I heard for the first time.

When I looked up, I saw four dragons swarming above us

"T-Tobias . . ."

His arms around me tightened with eyes now in front of him.

With my last straw of strength, I finally witnessed how this world welcomed us back.

Atlas, two witches, and Mitchelle.

The familiar backs of the princes of the prophecy, Zen, Blair, and Seth.

Pryor and Marah.

Claret and a gray-haired vampire.

Lastly, two Le'Vamuievos with a magical mirror behind them, sitting with women of the prophecy in their arms, with dragons floating above, and a huge white werewolf in front of them.