Warning: This chapter contains brutal scene that may not be recommended for sensitive readers. If you are one, please read at your own risk or better yet not read this at all. I don't want to cause any triggers. Thank you.

ANOTHER SON BORN FROM THE SUN

THE air around them became colder when the guy came. Lis' eyebrow twitched. How ironic. The man had the energy of the sun, yet there was a hint of a cold breeze surrounding him.

"Where's Cortez?" bulong niya kay Aryl na nasa kaniyang tabi.

"Natutulog."

Hindi niya alam kung matutuwa ba siya sa sagot nito o hindi. Well, guess it might be better this way. He didn't want more people to be involved.

"Why do you want to kill us?" Lis asked the man. It was obvious that he came on purpose. The bloodlust stinging his nose was enough proof that the man intended to kill them.

Naglakad palapit si Lis sa barindilya at sinilip ang baba. The ground had been damaged because of the root earlier. His spells were too destructive that it might ruin the building, so it might be better to fight down there.

But wait—

If he could recall it correctly, the Shadows were called to be fast and quite secretive that until now not one of them had been caught yet. He wondered about their fighting style. How would they make it silent?

"Ah." Bumaba ito sa barindilya. "I've been ordered. Lisianthus Hibius Crimson and Aster Alpas Orison, and there's one other S-gene. You three trespassed the treaty and now have become criminals. By the order of the council, you are to die by my hands."

"Is that it?" Naglakad siya papalapit sa direksyon nito. "That's quite questionable. As far as I can remember, the punishment in breaking the treaty is not death, but only imprisonment."

Lis felt suspicious on some parts of his word as well. Croissant had been in Faegika for two years, so why did they just decided to capture him now?

He flinched when the man chuckled. "It's an order. It's really nothing personal. If you just stayed out of this and didn't involve yourself on the traitor, things might have been different with you."

"Traitor?"

Tumango ito habang pinaglalaruan sa kamay ang dagger na lumipad kanina. "You know Pahima. She turned their back on us after an S-gene came here. And since you two are quite close with the Phoenix, you are now involved."

That didn't make sense.

"We have eyes and ears around, you see? You should've put your nose out instead of squeezing Pahima any information about us. Now, you're going to die." Matapos nitong bitiwan ang mga salita, mabilis nitong ibinato ang dagger sa direksyon niya.

Sinangga niya iyon gamit ang mga ugat na natira kanina. "I wonder how you'll kill us without others noticing."

"Oh? About that?" Tinuro nito ang tainga. "Were muted. They can't hear us. Though they can still see us and if they do, they'll meet death as well. Including you too, miss black magician."

Tinaas nito ang daliri at tinuro sa direksyon nila. Lis prepared himself for an attack when a streak of light shone on the tip of his finger. A sound like of an eagle vibrated on his ear as the man released a bullet light.

'A laser beam?' And he didn't even cast a spell.

Handa na si Lis na sanggain ito ngunit hindi pala ito papunta sa kaniya kundi sa kaniyang likuran.

"Aster!" isang sigaw mula kay Aryl ang kaniyang narinig.

Nilingon niya ang situwasyon ng kaniyang butler at saktong tumama ang laser beam sa noo nito. Muling napasigaw ang babae habang nasaksihan ang pagbagsak ng katawan ng kaibigan. Mabilis na kumalat ang dugo mula sa noo nito papunta sa sahig.

"A-Aster . . ." Aryl was shaking his unmoving shoulder, but Aster didn't even flinch. Hindi kumurap at nakabukas lang ang dalawang mata nito.

Napakuyom ang kaniyang kamao.

His butler just died.

"One down. Whoa! That was fast."

He glared at the man who shot Aster. This man was, no doubt, a killer. He didn't hesitate to shoot Aster. He was even clapping, as if he did a good job.

"You think that was funny?" He tilted his head. If that would be the case, there was no point in hesitating to kill the man then. But he would not be the one to do that. "Boy, do you know what you just did? Or have you even encountered an S-gene before?"

The Shadow shrugged. "Nope. It's my first time. Quite fascinating, actually."

"It sure is." A smile crept on his face as he foreshadowed the future of the Shadow in front of them. He was already feeling sorry.

"Aryl," tinawag niya ang babae na ngayon ay humahagulgol habang hawak-hawak ang kamay ng kaniyang butler. Nilapitan niya ito at hinila patayo. "Let's go."

"Bitiwan mo 'ko!" Pilit nitong inaalis ang kamay na nakahawak sa braso niya. "Anong 'let's go'? Iiwan mo si Aster dito?"

Bumuntonghininga naman siya. "Do you think I'm that heartless? Come on, move. Hurry!"

"Huh? Are you trying to run away?" said the Shadow while preparing for another attack.

Lis put out his sweetest smile. "No. We're just distancing ourselves."

"Ano ba bitiwan mo sabi ako—" Hindi nito natuloy ang sasabihin nang hilahin niya ito palapit sa kaniya at niyakap. Bumulong siya, "Your beloved just died for a while."

"A-ano?" Hinapit niya ang baywang nito at lumutang sa ere, palayo sa gusali. Liningon ni Aryl kung saan nakaratay ang katawan ni Aster ngunit wala siyang nakitang pagbabago.

He let out a chuckle and flicked his finger in front of her worried face. "Did you forget? Aster is loved by the sun. He is the Sun Dragon."

"Who do you think you're running to?" Itinuon ng Shadow ang kamao nito sa kanilang direksiyon. Wala pang isang segundo, mabilis na nabuo ang enerhiya ng liwanag mula sa palad nito.

"He's aiming at us!" tarantang sigaw ni Aryl ngunit ngumisi lang siya bilang sagot.

"Where do you think you're looking at?"

Napamulagat ang mata ng Shadow sa boses na nagsalita.

Ang katawan na nakaratay kanina ay unt-unting bumabangon. Nandoon pa rin ang sugat sa noo nito, patuloy pa ring umaagos at napapaliguan ang buo nitong mukha ng sariling dugo ngunit para bang wala lang ito sa lalaki at nagawa pang ngumisi. The grin that someone would not want to see.

But Lis does. It had been years since he last saw this Aster.

Habang natigilan ang kalaban, kinuha niya ang oportunidad na ito upang ipulupot sa katawan nito ang mga baging na kanina niya pa pinatubo. Hinila niya ito paalis sa gusali. Kasabay niyon ang pagliwanag ng paligid, ngunit hindi niya pinansin ang ilaw na nagmumula sa kalangitan at pinokus lang sa nahuhulog ng Shadow.

"Shit!" Halos lumuwa ang mga mata nito na nakatingin sa bagay nasa kalangitan. It was a villainous purple sword made from the fiery light—Aster's Scorching Blade. But it wasn't big like last time. The shape was thin and long, enough to hit the target and enough not to cause too much destruction.

"Die."

The Shadow's reaction was fast that he was able to release a ball of ice before the sword could pierce him. It was his second energy. No wonder, he felt cold earlier. But too bad, it just melted before the sword could even touch the ice. As swift as the light, it went past through the chest of the man.

Napatakip si Lis dahil sa nakasisilaw na dala ng liwanag. Rinig niya rin ang pagsinghap ni Aryl.

Napangiti siya. "Isn't your man impressive?"

"My what?"

Hindi siya sumagot at muling tiningnan ang situwasyon ng Shadow. Nakahandusay ito sa lupa habang sila naman ay nakatingin mula sa baba. Napaiwas ng tingin si Aryl ngunit siya ay hindi maalis ang tingin sa Shadow.

Wala na ang kalahati nitong katawan at nalulunod ito ngayon sa sariling dugo. Siguro dahil dumadaloy sa kaniya ang enerhiya ng Sun dragon at dahil hindi natatablan ng light spell ang isang Sun dragon, kaya ang kalahati nitong katawan ay hindi natunaw. Pero kahit na ganoon, nagawa pa rin nitong gumalaw, kumukurap pa ang natitira nitong isang mata at nakatingin ito sa kanila. Ang isang kamay nito ay nakakuyom. Galit ba ito sa kanila o takot?

Lis scoffed. Pitiful. Ni hindi man lang ito makapagsalita.

"I asked where you are looking at? I am here." Nakababa na pala si Aster. Nang makalapit sa Shadow, hindi ito nagdalawang-isip na mariing tapakan ang kalahati nitong ulo.

"Can't you hear me? I am here!" A small devious chuckle let out from Aster's mouth while still wearing his deadly grin. "I am here. Look at me." He was smiling, but his eyes were not. Muli niya itong tinapakan. At isa pa. At isa pa ulit. Hindi pa ito nakuntento at ang katawan naman nito ang pinuntirya. Ginaya nito ang tinira na Laser Beam at pinagwawasak ang katawan ng kalaban. Hindi nito binigyan ng pagkakataon na gumaling ang mga sugat at tinadyakan ang katawan ng lalaki.

Nagtalsikan ang dugo sa lupa pati na sa damit nito. Wala nang buhay ang Shadow ngunit mukhang walang planong tumigil si Aster hanggang sa may nakikita pa itong balat ng kalaban.

"L-lis . . ." Napahigpit ang kapit ni Aryl sa kaniyang braso. "Nasusuka ako."

Bumaba naman sila. Kaagad na humiwalay si Aryl sa kaniya, napaluhod sa lupa at doon na sumuka.

"Is this your first time? I thought you're used to seeing something like this."

"Mukha ba akong mamatay-tao—ack!" Muli itong sumuka.

"Really? But your malice is really strong when we first meet. I thought you're going to kill me back then," nagtatakang sagot niya.

So, all of that were just threats? Nagkibit-balikat na lang siya at binaling ang tingin kay Aster na hindi pa rin tumitigil. Lumikha na ito ng butas sa kalsada dahil sa paulit-ulit nitong pagpapaputok ng Laser Beam. Rinig niya pa ang mahina at maliliit nitong mga tawa na kung ito ang unang beses niyang nakita si Aster, siguradong napatakbo na siya.

It was totally a wrong move to shoot Aster.

"Quite fascinating, isn't it?" he whispered at the pond of blood from where Aster's standing.

"H-hindi mo ba siya pipigilan?" tanong ni Aryl sa kaniya. Tumayo na ito sa pagkakaluhod.

"Why don't you do it? I'm scared, you know." Ngumuso siya at umaktong nanginginig. Nagpunta siya sa likuran nito at tinulak ang babae palapit kay Aster. "You comfort your man."

"Teka, ano bang—"

"Call his name."

Inis siya nitong tiningnan pero agad din naman nitong binaling ang tingin kay Aster na nakatalikod sa kanila. Halata sa mukha ng babae ang pag-aalala at kahit na nanginginig, nagawa pa rin nitong abutin ang braso ng kaniyang butler.

"Aster?"

Napatigil si Aster sa ginagawa. Ilang segundo pa ay lumingon ito sa kanila. Puno ng dugo ang mukha nito ngunit wala na ang nakakikilabot na ngisi na naglalaro sa labi kanina. Bumalik na ang ekspresyon nito sa dati. Ang boryo at walang emosyon nitong ekspresyon.

"A-ayos ka lang bba?"

Tumango si Aster. "Sorry. Did I frighten you?"

Nako naman! Mukhang magkaka-moment pa yata itong dalawa.

"Iyong sugat mo." Inabot ni Aryl ang noo nito at gamit ang palad, pinahid niya ang dugo. Napasinghap pa ito dahil wala na ang sugat sa noo ni Aster.

"I'm fine. I'm immune to any light spells." Hinawakan ni Aster ang kamay ng babae.

Tumikhim naman siya dahilan para mapatingin ang dalawa sa kaniyang direksyon.

"It's not that I'm disturbing you two, but we need to clean your mess now." Turo niya sa wasak-wasak na katawan ng Shadow. "Can I leave this to you? I have a bad feeling about Cross. I need to check on him."

"Understood, master."

"There might be more Shadows hunting us right now so be on guard." Bago pa siya makaalis ay nagsalita ulit siya. "Make sure to wash your face. You're really scary right now."

Nagsimula na siyang lumipad papunta sa direksyon kung saan naroroon ang Cell ni Cross. Sana walang nangyaring masama rito.

Binilisan niya pa ang paglipad nang may mahagip siyang pagsabog. Wala siyang narinig na tunog ngunit kitang-kita niya ang liwanag ng nagliliyab na apoy.

It was Croissant's flame.