Eris Sinclair Alderhaide's PoV

"Everything will end," narinig ko mula sa isip ni Lucifuge who is now in Lucifer's body.

Lucifer then turned to me, who was now in the form of Lucifuge. He held my hand down, and the barrier around him faded. Nawala na rin sa paningin ko si Lucifuge. Wala sa sarili akong napakagat sa sariling labi dahil sa kaba.

Georgia... Lucifuge... am I the next one?

Napasinghap ako nang isang malakas na dagundong ang umalingawngaw sa paligid. Tumaas ang paningin ko't nakita ang dragon, nakikipaglaban sa Phoenix. At sa ilalim nilang dalawa ay si Phoenicia at Red. They seem to not run out of energy. The dragon and the phoenix.

Ah, this was the dragon na tumawag sa'kin noon, at ngayon kontrolado na siya ni Red. I guess he summoned him. He has grown a lot since the last time I saw him. And sa tingin ko, more powerful.

I got goosebumps when I felt the dragon smiling at me. His scales shimmered, at his teeth showed while looking at me. Weird but ok.

Nagulat naman ako nang makaramdam ng madilim na presensiya sa likod ko, Lucifer. His aura was even more dangerous than Lucifuge. He walked towards me. "I'm taking what's mine, Sinclair," he said as he got the sword from me, sligtly brushing our hands together.

Nilagpasan naman niya ako at pinuntahan sina Red. He immediately showed off his power. But then Phoenicia suddenly spoke, "My slaves are now here. Hindi niyo pa ba ilalabas si Leon?"

Napatingin naman ako sa kalayuan, at naningkit ang mata ng sunog... no, it was torches. A thousand of torched that made it look like as if there's a wave of fire coming to destroy our land.

A man with light blue hair and black eyes went to my side, and groaned. "Damn, dami pala nila," aniya habang tumatawa. Pinanlakhan ko siya ng mata, paano pa siya nakakatawa sa sitwasyong 'to. Nilingon niya ako't nang mapansin ang ekspresyon ko, kinindatan niya ako.

"Don't worry, Sinclair. The Alpha's here," masaya niyang bigkas bago tumakbo papunta sa paparating na mga kalaban. He, then, slowly turned to a wolf. He howled loudly that it could even be on par with the dragon's roar. The dragon had travelled towards the army, and blew fire off its mouth.

Bagaman ganoon, hindi pa rin nauubos ang bilang nila.

Umakyat ang kapangyarihan sa'king mga kamay, at lumipad na naman akong muli. I made a bow and arrow, at sunod-sunod kong pinana ang mga nilalang. Ilan lang kami laban sa... How many are they? Thousands?!

I groaned a little nang mas gamitin ko pa ang aking kapangyarihan. With my hands trembling, I let go of the bow and arrow and fell to the ground. I summoned the power of death from the land that they're standing on, kung kaya't mabilis namatay ang ilan.

Binato naman nila ako ng mga kapangyarihan nila. I dodged, and then created a shield force around me. But soon enough, my eyes fell and my breath became heavy. Hindi ako mamamatay dito, pero patuloy akong mawawalan ng enerhiya. I can't call help from them, they are too busy defeating Phoenicia, who's harder to defeat than this army.

My heart seemed to stop, but now it sped up, racing as panic poured into me, forcing my eyes open. The Alpha's now going against the army, and he commanded the Phoenixes on our side. I can just gather energy from the dead, right?

Sinubukan kong gawin 'yon, at bagaman mapait sa mahika ko, tinanggap ko ang enerhiyang 'yon upang magpatuloy. Wala pa sa kalahati ang napapaslang ko at tila parami sila nang parami! Where the hell did Phoenicia get these slaves?

Nagulat ako nang biglang masira ang shield ko kaya't nagkaroon ako ng daplis. I winced at the pain at inhaled sharply. My knuckles began to ache as I forced myself to pick up my bow. I tried my best to infuse magic power in it, but I couldn't... I'm far too out of energy.

Not until the arrow head had lit itself with golden light. It also multiplied, but I didn't do anything! Nagulat ako nang may babaeng tumawa sa gilid ko. I looked at her and she looked someone from my past self.

"Summer Knight?" Tanong ko at mas lalo lang siyang ngumiti. "I'm glad you still know me, sweetie!"

Bumuo siya ng shield para sa'kin, at bumuo rin siya ng light wings for me. "Use those wings para hindi ka mawalan ng enerhiya," she continued and blew me a kiss. Nagulat din ako nang makitang gumaling na ang sugat ko.

Napatingin ako sa battlefield, and now saw countless of Phoenicians fighting the slaves of Phoenicia.

There was Highness Althea, the one who taught me true wisdom.
Zeus, who had his own world to protect is now protecting us too.
Master Sven, the one who welcomed me here in the academy.

I remembered them. I remembered what Phoenix Academy was for... the serenity of the universe, as it unlocks the ardent fire within Phoenicians.

Mas lalo akong nagulat nang biglang tumalipon mula sa binatana si... "Leo!" I immediately screamed his name because of panic. Tumakbo ako papunta sa kaniya ngunit pinigilan ako ng isang kamay, causing me to turn and bump to him. Rain Evan Delvar.

"Don't, hayaan mo sila," sabi ni Red pero napansin kong duguan siya. "Mahina ngayon si Phoenicia dahil duguan ako. We are fylgjas, kaya kung ano mang nararamdaman ko physically, maaring maramdaman niya rin. Except the fact that she less feels it because of her strong build."

My eyes softened when I saw his hands, that now resembled the dragon's scale, bleed. He stepped backwards, a few feet from me, his chest rising and falling fast. Red blood smeared his lips. Wala sa sarili akong napalapit sa kanya't pinunasan ang dugo mula sa kanyang labi.

He turned away, his cheeks red. "I also recover when Phoenicia recovers. Don't worry, Sinclair," mabilis niyang saad.

Tumingin siya kay Phoencia, at nagbuntong-hininga, "And I guess... it's time to tell you that I will also die when she's killed by Leonidas."

Na-estatwa ako sa kinatatayuan ko. He'll die because Phoenicia's body, which used to be mine, is his fylgja? Hindi ko siya agad nasagot, at saka niya ako binalik ang tingin niya sa'kin. Shock crawled across his face when he saw mine. I kept staring at him, unable to process what will happen.

He will die, and I have to die too. How is it far from our past? Isn't this just a repitition of what had happened?

"Sinclair!" sigaw sa'kin ni Lucifer, at nagulat ako nang itulak niya kami ni Red, dahilan kung bakit napahiga kami malapit sa pwesto ni Phoenicia. May nahulog na tower doon sa pwesto namin.

With the light wings that Summer gave me, bumangon ako mula sa pagkakahiga. Phoenicia looked at me, and in her single snap, nawala ang light wings ko at bumaba ako sa lupa.

"You won't live, Sinclair," sabi ni Phoenicia sa'kin at unti-unti akong sinakal kung kaya't muli akong napahiwalay sa lupa. "Ayan ganiyan ka dapat lumilipad, Sinclair."

"Remember that you are the cause of this—" naputol ang sasabihin niya nang sigawan siya ni Leonidas, "Phoenicia!"

Nawala ang pagkakasakal sa'kin ni Phoenicia and a strong energy force was emitted from him. Yumanig ang buong academy, and even the skies thundered. The aura of Leonidas was no match even against the dragon.

So this is the Human Phoenix.

Naglaban ang dalawa, at kami nama'y nilabanan ng mga dumarating na alagad ni Phoencia. I would glance at Leon frequently to check him, at ganoon din naman sina Lucifer. Leo used his powers wisely... pero bakit parang hindi parin niya mapantayan si Phoenicia?

"Masyado pang mahina si Leonidas. We will not make it until the eclipse," nagulat ako nang sabihin iyon ni Lucifer, at mukhang hindi siya nagbibiro. Maaari nga kaming manalo, pero hindi pa ngayon dahil hindi pa pantay ang kapangyarihan ni Leonidas at Phoenicia. But the longer time we stall, the more lives are taken.

Napatingin naman ako kay Red nang bigla siyang magsalita habang tinatapos na ang natirang kalaban sa kinalalagyan namin. "I have a plan."

Hindi siya tumingin sa'kin, at mula nang sabihin 'yon sa'kin ni Red kanina... hindi na ako makapagsalita. Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng gagawin, o sasabihin man lang. Whatever his plan was, I just knew... I won't like it. I wouldn't be able to accept it.

"I think I am the third sacrifice," he stated, slowly. As he slowly looked at me, I turned away and more enemies flashed in front of me.

But I still wanted to hear him, so I didn't mind them. Hinayaan ko na muna silang atakihin ako, hanggang sa 'di ko namalayang ginawan ako ng barrier ni Red. He's now in front of me, blocking the enemies in my view.

"Don't worry. Medyo matagal ko nang napaghandaan ang pagkakataong ito," natatawa niyang saad. He blew out a long breath, trying to get a hold of himself.

"If I sacrifice myself, Phoenicia will weaken. Madali na siyang mapapatay ni Leon. I'm the third sacrifice."

Umiling ako. "Huwag," gusto kong sabihin, pero hindi ako makaimik. I had the courage to look at his fiery eyes directly, and realized that he was not a fire— he was a candle lit by fire. He shines to light the world while killing himself, and now is the time that the wax is melted.

Kailangan nang patayin ang apoy sa kandila upang magkaroon na ng tunay na liwanag.

My heart clenched in anguish, and I almost cupped his face on my hands. But one of his hands met with mine, and he intertwined it together. He pressed a kiss at the back of my palm tenderly, and it caught me off guard. Tears dropped on it too, it dropped more as Red shut his eyes.

"Remember my promise," narinig kong wika niya sa utak ko, at saka niya dinilat ang mga mata niya't ngumiti sa'kin nang mapait. The promise that has been kept in all my lifetimes, that he'd always find me and protect me.

Hindi ko magawang tumango, at nanatili lang nakatingin sa kanya. Sinubukan kong magsalita, ngunti napasinok lang ako kaya't mabilis kong tinakpan ang bibig ko. Lumapit siya lalo sa'kin na halos wala nang espasyo sa gitna naming dalawa.

He crouched to level with my eyes. He let go of my hand, and caressed my head carefully. Hindi ko na napigilan ang luha kong kanina pang pumapatak magmula nang sabihin niyang mawawala rin siya 'pag nawala si Phoenicia.

"You will always be my light, Red."

Napasinok akong muli, ngunit nagulat ako nang ipikit niya ang mata niya at hinalikan ang likod ng dalawang daliri kong nakatakip sa aking bibig. Our forehead and tip of the nose met together. Nagtagal 'yon ng ilang segundo, kaya't napapikit na rin ako.

My hand slowly went down, but he had already pulled away. Tinawanan niya ako bigla kaya't bigla akong namula kaya't sinuntok suntok ko ang dibdib niya. Hinawakan niya naman parehas ang kamay ko.

"Close your eyes, Sinclair," he said quietly. Hinawakan niya ang mga kamay ko gamit ang isang kamay, at ang isa nama'y ginamit niyang pangtaklob sa mata ko. "Close your eyes until you can't feel my presence anymore."

Hinila niya ako bigla sa kanyang mga bisig, at bumaon ang mukha ko sa kanyang dibdib. Narinig ko ang malakas na tunog ng puso niya, at sumabay ang paghinga ko sa kanya. Nanatiling lumuluha ang mga mata ko, tila nabingi ako sa mga nasa paligid ko. Nawala sa isip ko si Phoenicia, at ang laban. All that mattered was that I was with Red... in his last moment.

Until the hands that gently held me faded, until the heartbeat was no longer there, until my breaths became heavy alone.

I opened my eyes to see no one in front of me anymore. The sky has started to dim without the sun here. Nadaplisan ako. Inaatake na naman ako ng mga alagad ni Phoenicia. It means that Red's barrier is gone. He's truly gone. Even the dragon had vanished.

I heard Phoenicia scream in pain. Naramdaman niya siguro ang pagkawala ni Red. It means she will weaken. She cursed latin words, at nag-alab ang kaniyang mga mata. But then, her phoenix was losing fire. She was after all gathering energy from Red... from the sun, like what I had noticed earlier.

Hindi ko hahayaang mabalewala ang tatlong sakripisyo.

I made swords of darkness and killed the slaves ruthlessly. Nawalan na ako ng pakialam kung tumalsik man sa'kin ang dugo.

"Sinclair, h'wag!" Saway sa'kin ni Lucifer nang mapansing papalapit ako sa dalawang Phoenix. "Isang maling galaw ni Leonidas, mamamatay ka!"

Binalewala ko iyon. I did not care if I died. Everyone has been dying for me, since then. Ako naman talaga ang dahilan ng pagkagalit ni Phoenicia, at dinamay niya lang ang lahat.

"Leo," I called out to him. "Turn into a Phoenix," utos ko. My gaze met his, and then, he understood the surge of my darkness. Nag-aalinlangan pa siya, ngunit mabilis niya rin akong sinunod.

Fury boiled my blood as I stare at Phoenicia's flames. She continued attacking us, but Lucifer and Alpha helped me defect them all while Leonidas was transforming to a Phoenix. A scream tore from her lungs as Phoenicia got wounded by one of my shots.

Taking advantage of her situation, I took the chance to attack and get near her, but I jumped away when I saw a burst of energy from her. Tiningnan ko si Leo, at nakitang matagumpay siyang naging isang full Phoenix. Ang mga pakpak niya ay tila tubig na apoy. It was color blue like the falls in the night sky. His phoenix form was heavenly and celestial.

Lumingon siya sa'kin na tila hinihintay ako. I nodded, and then I sprinted and jumped towards his back.

Nagsimula kaming lumipad paakyat, at sumunod naman si Phoenicia na muling nag-transform din sa kaniyang full Phoenix form. Bumuga si Leonidas ng asul na apoy. Umiwas naman si Phoenicia, pero natamaan parin siya nang kaonti. Narinig ko ang impit niyang sigaw, at bigla namang lumakas ang hangin kaya't kumapit ako nang mabuti sa mga balahibo ng phoenix ni Leo.

They clashed so much that I almost fell of him. Bumuga rin ng apoy si Phoenicia, kaya't napatungo ako at ginamit naman ni Leon ang pakpak niya bilang sangga.

Unti-unti akong bumuo ng malaking espada mula sa'king enerhiya at mahika. Go near her, Leo.

Sumunod naman si Leon, at mabilis na lumipad sa tabi ni Phoenicia. Muntik na akong makalmot ni Phoenicia pero mabilis ding nakaiwas si Leon.

"You will attack her with all your power when I say go," ssbi ko muli kay Leon. "What do you mean, Sinclair?" Tanong niya pero hindi ko sinagot. He just needs to follow me.

"Lumapit ka lang," utos ko sa kanya.

Lumapit nga siya, at inihanda ko naman ang sarili ko at unti-unting tumayo. I held my sword tightly. This sword is all for the sacrifices. Halos lahat ng mahika at enerhiya ko ay nasa espada na. Matalim akong tiningnan ni Phoencia, they clashed once again at ginamit ko naman ang pagkakataong iyon upang tumalon papunta kay Phoenicia.

Phoenicia tried wriggling me off her, pero hinawakan ko nang mahigpit ang balahibo niya. Ngumiti ako nang masama, at kinausap siya. "Phoenicia, this sword is the destroyer." A rumbling growl and cry had shook me. Phoenicia went higher, but it was of no point. Halos bugahan niya ng apoy ang buong academy, pero hindi rin magtatagal, mauubos na rin siya.

Ready.

"This sword will grant you eternal death."

Set.

"Feel the wrath of the demon, Phoenicia. Feel Sinclair's wrath. Wala nang susunod pang buhay sa'yo. Huling minuto mo na 'to." Huling minuto na natin 'to.

"Go!"

Tinarak ko ang espada sa kaniyang batok, at naramdaman ko ang kapangyarihan ni Leonidas sa amin. A burst of fire had lanced my neck. The burn travelled all the way through my body, but it wasn't agonizing. Rather, it lift my spirits up when I heard Phoenicia's cry.

Finally, everything has come to its end.

This is for you, Phoenix Academy.

Phoenix Academy
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Epilogue will be the next one! This has been the last chapter of Phoenix Academy!

Thank you for reading!