THE DISSOLVED FLOWER

AS THE end draw near, Lis had made up his mind. It had been a while since he felt so free and complete. His Dragon Stone was finally united with his body. Perfectly in control, the energy flowing inside him harmonized his every command.

Sinulyapan niya ang ama habang papataas sa himpapawid. Malayo na ito sa kaniya at sa kinaroroonan ng doktor. Tumango siya bago putulin ang mga tingin at tinuon ito sa doktor na nakangisi sa kaniya nang nakakaloko.

"Oh, you—" Hindi niya pinatapos ang sasabihin ni Doctor Lucatha at sinubukan itong paulanan ng kaniyang Rain of Thorns. Kagaya ng inaasahan niya, natunaw lang ang mga ito nang lumapat sa katawan ng doktor.

Flying towards the doctor's direction, he tried to land a blow, but Doctor Lucatha dodged it with ease. Umiwas ito, pumunta sa kaniyang gilid at pinaputukan ang kaniyang braso ng mga bala na nagmumula sa posas.

He hissed when he felt the pain; blood flowed out from his arm. Hindi dapat siya maaapektuhan dahil galing kay Witheria ang enerhiya nito subalit may kaakibat na itong teknolohiya, may iba pang materyales ang nakalakip dahilan para mag-iba ang epekto nito at matablan siya.

The anti-spell was one of the results of its transformation. It was derived from one of his ultimate spells, Shade of the Deathless Tree, an extreme spell used for defense.

Kaagad siyang lumipad palayo nang maglabas ng kakaibang usok ang posas nito. The smoke made him lose his consciousness in his previous timelines.

"Lis!" tawag ng kaniyang ama.

His father shook his head, signaling him to stop, but he just smiled in return. He couldn't be stopped now. Buo na ang desisyon niya at kailangan na niya itong gawin.

Nakasalalay sa kaniya ang kinabukasan ng lahat kaya hindi na siya puwedeng umatras pa.

"Barrier Spell: Cage!" The ground growled in horror, piercing it as the giant roots appeared, following his command. It reached the sky, forming a spiral prison.

Kinulong niya ang sarili pati na si Doctor Lucatha.

"Do you think you can lock me up here?" Humalakhak ito. "I can disperse your spell."

Hindi niya pinansin ang sinabi nito at muling sumugod. The pressure of the wind allowed his hair to dance in a rough manner; his robe creating a sound as he reached the direction of his enemy.

Tinutok ng doktor ang posas nito pero mabilis niya itong hinawakan. Hinigpitan niya ang pagkakahawak nang magpumiglas ito. Ginamit ni Lis ang sariling kamay ng doktor upang isuntok sa pagmumukha nito.

"Fuck!" Daing nito nang tumama ang mga kamao sa ilong.

Muli siya nitong pinaulanan ng bala pero hindi pa rin siya bumitiw. Tiniis niya ang sakit ng kaniyang mga tama.

"You fucking animal!" Doctor Lucatha released once again the smoke.

But Lis held his breath. He channeled his energy into the handcuff, and the life inside it responded fast. The beating inside was calling him as though it was his, and he would take it back.

Concentrating, he closed his eyes. It was only a split second when he opened it again, already holding all the concentrated energy inside him. It was too strong that it created an amount of gushing air between him and the doctor; the color of his eyes turned bright as his heart pounded loud.

His ultimate spell was ready.

"Extreme Reversal!" Lis cast his spell as the blood from his mouth rushed out due to the shot he got earlier. It was one of the strongest spells Witheria had, sipping all the life he ought to take.

Napapikit si Doktor Lucatha dahil sa nakasisilaw na liwanag na nagmumula sa kaniya. Ang enerhiyang nasa posas nito ay mabilis na pumasok sa kaniyang mga palad. While it flowed inside his body with speed, his color-filled hair grew longer. So long that it outgrew his height.

"Fuck! What did you do!"

Doon lang bumitaw si Lis nang tuluyan na niyang makuha ang lahat.

He smirked as he dispersed his ultimate spell. "Now you're useless."

Salubong ang mga kilay na nakatingin ag doktor sa kaniya. Halata sa mukha nito ang inis at pagkalito. Sinubukan nitong putukan ulit siya ng mga bala pero wala nang lumabas mula roon.

Kaagad itong nataranta at ilang beses pa ulit na sinubukan. Marami itong sinasabi pero hindi na niya ito pinakinggan pa dahil wala na siyang oras.

Tinaas niya ang kanang kamay. He gestured his hand in a circular motion, making the cage around them followed his movement. It moved like a tornado until a giant spike, sharp and deadly, formed above the panicking doctor.

"Extreme Attack Spell: Multiple Daggers." Lumabas pa ang ibang higante at matutulis ang dulo ugat. Sa ibabaw, ibaba, at gilid, lahat ay nakatuon sa doktor.

"So long, doctor," he muttered as he released his spell.

The giant Daggers charged fast in the direction of Doctor Lucatha. Sinubukan pa nitong sanggain ang isang ugat na akala mo'y may anti-spell pa siya, pero tumagos lang ito sa kaniyang braso.

"Damn—" Hindi nito natapos ang sasabihin nang tuluyang mawasak ang katawan. Isang sigaw ang umalingawngaw mula sa doktor nang magtalsikan ang dugo mula sa katawan nito.

Pinanood ni Lis na mahulog paibaba ang nagkagutay-gutay na mga parte ng doktor. He died even before realizing it.

He dispersed his barrier spell, allowing him to see the twilight. The setting sun made the sky and the entire place looked like a fiery orange, ready to close the day.

The voices were calling him from below, and as much as he wanted to sigh in relief, he was still not finished.

He still needed to do something.

One last thing.

He touched his chest while uttering the ancient words taught to him by his father. Mabilis na tumagos ang kaniyang kamay sa loob ng kaniyang dibdib. Nang mahawakan niya ang kaniyang Dragon Stone, hinila niya ito palabas.

"Lis!" His father approached him.

Nilingon niya ang ama. "Give it to Aryl, Pa. H-hurry . . ." Kasabay nang pagbigay niya ng Dragon Stone ang pag-ubo rin niya ng dugo.

Bakas sa mukha ng ama ang pag-aalala pero sinunod pa rin nito ang kaniyang kagustuhan.

"Ah!" Napasigaw siya sa sakit ng buo niyang katawan. Muling bumalik ang mga after effect na naramdaman niya kanina. Hindi niya na rin pa napigilan ang likidong lumabas sa kaniyang ilong. Bumibigat na ang talukap ng kanyiang mga mata.

'A little longer. Please.'

Closing his eyes, he felt his dragon inside him. It was signaling him. Even though the energy inside him was in chaos, he didn't bother to concentrate it and just let himself be surrounded by a green light. As he thought of the human imprisoned in the facility and the dying Eteria, it was enough reason for him to do this.

He had defeated the hindrance of their unity. The only thing left to do is to give life to the H-district.

He would make the Eteria live again.

"Witheria, it's time."

Surrendering all the energy he had left, he cast another ultimate spell.

Every S-gene had the ability to end their life by self-destructing. This time, the self-destruction of a Withered Dragon. The only self-destruction spell that could provide life.

A life in exchange for his.

Lis smiled as he understood the purpose of his self-destruction spell. He kept on wondering what his spell would be like not until he knew about Ghequiteo's sacrifice.

All his energy left his body as it formed above him an emerald light having the shape of his dragon, Witheria. The four-winged dragon who had been with him since the very beginning, and the dragon who witnessed all his struggle—his other half and his companion.

A smile formed across his lips as he closed his eyes. "I guess it's goodbye."

"You did great this time, son. Farewell."

He closed his eyes as Witheria flee to the direction of H-district, letting him go and allowing him to return to the home where Ghequiteo first made.

The gravity pulled him down as he lost the ability to fly. He was falling. The air was cold, yet he enjoyed the feeling of it. He wanted to remember for the last time the feeling of being alive.

"Hibi!"

"Master!"

A pair of arms caught Lis. Nilapag siya nito nang marahan sa lupa. Naririnig niya ang mga pamilyar na boses sa paligid niya kaya napamulat siya.

Sumalubong sa kaniya ang mga mukha ng mga mamalalapit sa kaniya. Ang kaniyang ama, ina, his maids, si Yeyi, ang kaniyang butler, si Aryl, at higit sa lahat ang babaeng kaisa-isang minahal niya sa lahat ng buhay na binalikan niya.

It was nice to see their faces. Alive and well.

He did it. He ended it. He changed the future. Finally, he wouldn't need to go back to the past again.

"W-why are you looking at me like that?" He tried to let out a laugh as sobs filled his ear.

Walang isa sa kanila ang nakangiti. Puno ng sakit at pagdurusa ang mga tingin na binibigay nila sa kaniya. Ang mga katulong niyang nakahawak sa dulo ng tela ng kaniyang damit, ang ama niyang nasa kaliwa at mahigpit ang hawak sa kaniyang braso, at ang ina niyang kanina pa humahagulgol.

"Ma, hindi bagay sa 'yo ang umiyak," biro niya. Pilit na pinapagaan ang loob nila.

Napunta ang tingin niya kay Sephtis at Aryl.

'I'm glad to see both of you alive.'

"I have kept my promise, Sephtis," sabi niya pero hindi sumagot si Sephtis, pinipigilan nito ang mga luhang tumulo.

"Come on, don't look at me like that." He chuckled. "Tingnan niyo, oh. Ang ganda." His eyes where gazing at the pink dust of light flowing above them.

It came from his body. He was dissolving.

"Hibi!" Isang malakas na sigaw ang naging dahilan kaya napalingon siya sa kaniyang kanan. Walang tigil ang mga luha nitong umiiyak sa tabi niya.

He let out a smile and reached for her cheek. His hands were slowly turning into dusts of pink lights, but he was still able to dry her tears. "Look at you, you still look so messy when y-you cry . . ."

It was good to see that in this timeline, he was not carrying Violet on his arms and dying.

Niyakap siya ni Violet at siniksik nito ang mukha sa kaniyang leeg. "Huwag mo 'kong iwan, please."

Hinaplos niya ang buhok nito gamit ang isang kamay. Gustuhin niya mang manatili pero wala na siayng magagawa pa.

"Tell me, Violet. Why did you fall for me?"

"Ano bang klaseng t-tanong 'yan? Hindi ito ang tamang oras para d'yan!" ngawa nito pero sinagot pa rin naman ng babae ang kaniyang tanong. "Because you look like a flower. Ang ganda-ganda mo kasi!"

Napatawa naman siya nang mahina. It was almost exactly the same from what she said in the past.

"I guess minahal mo lang ako dahil sa itsura ko," biro niya.

"Huwag 'yan ang pag-usapan natin!" Humiwalay ito at niyugyog ang kaniyang braso. Punong-puno ng takot at pagkataranta ang mga mata nito. "Paano kita ililigtas? Paano 'to? Nawawala ka na, Lis!"

Kalahati sa katawan niya ay tuluyan nang naging alikabok.

"Kayo? Wala ba kayong gagawin?" sigaw ni Violet sa mga kasama pero napaiwas lang sila ng tingin.

Dahil alam ng mga ito na wala nang ibang paraan pa para mailigtas siya.

Hinila niya si Violet kaya muli itong napayakap sa kaniya. He wanted to feel her warmth for the last time. He wanted to feel the peace he felt everytime she was near.

"You have removed my emotion thousand times, and yet, I am still here, in love with you." Kung mas maaga niya pang naalala ang lahat, siguradong um-oo na rin kaagad siya sa unang araw pa lang nilang magkita ni Violet. Hinalikan niya ang buhok nito. "I'm sorry that I have to leave you."

He looked at the people surrounding him, although someone was missing, he knew he was somewhere safe. Or maybe he didn't want to see him laying on the ground and dying.

He fought for his dream until the end, and he had no regrets. He might not witnessed the treaty getting extinguished and the districts being reunited again, but he knew it would happen. Shio would make it happen.

After all he had experienced, he still ended up being complete. His rival, Croissant, was his only regret. He failed to rescue him in all of the timelines.

'I'm sorry. In return, I will accompany you very soon.'

As his eyes were slowly losing its life, he couldn't feel his body anymore. Bago pa siya tuluyang mawala, may binulong siya kay Violet.

"If we were to meet again in a different place and a different timeline, please, ask my hand in marriage again. I will make sure to accept your proposal, my quintessence."

Cries enveloped his ears, but he was happy. His heart was no longer heavy, and a sense of accomplishment filled his whole being as he accepted his death.

Isang pigura ang dali-daling lumapit sa kaniya pero hindi na niya iyon maaninag pa kung sino dahil nandidilim na ang kaniyang paningin. May pinakawalan itong mga kataga subalit tuluyan na siyang kinain ng kadiliman.

The flower that had bloomed for a long time finally withered. It was time for him to sleep forever.