-chapter one-hundred-ten-
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SOLACE

"I... have to kill the king."

I SWUNG my blade straight into the man's throat. Isang asul na shield ang bumuo sa pagitan ng leeg niya at espada ko. He doesn't dodge away but steps closer to me, holding my face close to his.

Natigilan ako. Anong ginagawa niya?

"Solace."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Is he calling my name?

I tried to struggle but his grip is tight. Pinilit ko siyang sipain at hampasin. I raised my sword to slash him again, but the blue shield began to appear and it only minorly damaged his right hand. What the hell is he doing? Bakit niya ako hinahawakan? Shouldn't he try and kill me?

"He's trying to weaken you." bulong ng gubat. "Kill him right now!"

The blade's flame glows again. Ngunit, imbes na lumayo sa'kin ay mas lalo niyang hinigpitan ang paghawak sa pisngi ko. It's not enough to hurt, just enough to make me a bit distracted.

"Elf." may tigas sa boses niya.

Tumigil ako sa paggalaw at tinitigan ang mata niya. His charcoal eyes looks so unfamiliarly familiar. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman. It's troubling.

"Snap out of it. Someone or something is controlling you. I'm not the king, I'm Hiraeth."

"Hi... raeth?" I whispered.

The man- Hiraeth smiles. "Yes. Hiraeth. I'm Hiraeth, elf."

Mabilis ko siyang itinulak palayo. The flames dies down at ibinalik ko ang espada sa scabbard. My face is ridiculously hot. Was the weather really this bad?

Napatingin ako sa paligid. Ang higanteng puno ay nahati na sa dalawa. Gano'n din ang ibang puno at tanim sa paligid namin. Either they were burned or cut in half.

My eyes finally landed on Hiraeth who's busy treating his right hand. Medyo dumudugo na ito.

"Anong nangyari dito?" tanong ko.

"You went to kill Hiraeth."

Napabaling ako sa kakaibang boses na sumagot. Hiraeth is still standing there at kami lang namang dalawa dito. Although, his eyes are not their usual black anymore, there are hints of gold in his orbs.

"Arthur?"

Pumalakpak siya. "Good job, slayer. Anyway, you went rogue and decided to kill Hiraeth. I thought it'll be entertaining, you know? But it ended so fast." ngumuso siya. "Ito lang ang natamo niya sa'yo."

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makitang itinaas niya ang sugatang kamay nito. Ako ang gumawa niyan? I tried to kill Hiraeth? Why- Why would I?

"Elf." nabalik ako sa katinuan nang bumalik ang boses ni Hiraeth. "It's not your fault. The forest feeds on a player's desires. That's why you need a clear heart to accomplish this."

"Paano mo nalaman ang tungkol diyan? Bumalik na ba ang ala-ala mo?"

Hiraeth tilts his head. "What do you mean? I've never lost them in the first place."

Napa-awang ang labi ko. Kung gano'n ba, alam niya rin na magkababata kami noon? Like what River said that I usually stay at theirs to play with him?

"Pero 'di ba hindi mo natandaan na hindi ito ang mundo mo?" tanong ko.

"Yes. My memories were buried, elf, not lost."

Umupo siya sa damuhan. Keiko comes out to help him heal his wound. I offered him an HP potion dahil player din naman siya dito. I sat beside him and watched my hands.

"Hiraeth, I'm sorry." mahinang tugon ko. Naramdaman ko ang pagtitig niya sa'kin. "I was about to kill you. Tapos, sabi ko pa tutulungan kitang maka-alis dito. I'm sorry."

All I can remember is the hunger and desire for killing Alas. I was so blinded by anger and desperation that it troubled my heart. I can briefly recall hearing voices in my head, ordering me to attack and kill Hiraeth. Back then, I couldn't recognize his face at all. Napakahazy lang nito. I can make out and identify facial features but can place who they belong to.

Pero, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ako nito idinala kay Hiraeth. If my desire was to kill Alas, why did Hiraeth appear before me? Why did the forest tell me to attack a person I don't want to kill?

"They can control the game without going anywhere."

Nagulat ako nang bumalik si Arthur. His golden eyes narrows as he plays with the grass. Nakaka-kaba talaga ang page-exchange nila. Ang weird din na makitang hindi ako pinapatay ni Arthur.

"They?"

"The creators. Nakikita nila ang lahat sa isang posisyon lamang. They can make a dragon chase after you, if they wish. They can summon any weapons towards a player, if they wish. They have full control of the game."

Hindi ko maintindihan ang punto niya. Ano naman kung gano'n?

Arthur must have noticed the confusion in my voice because he rolls his eyes. "The forest gave you what you desire. To find Hiraeth. To see Hiraeth. But the person up there," he made a circular motion to the sky. "probably tried to take advantage and ordered you to kill him. I hope you haven't forgot our goals."

Alas... Is Arthur saying Alas was that voice who keeps on ordering me to kill his son?

"I want to steal the sword away from you and stay in Hiraeth's body. That way, I can live. Alas wants to get me and the sword, so that he can live eternally. Inside the game, forever. You're in the way, trying to save Hiraeth and taking the sword. You're the hero." itinuro niya ang katawan. "Hiraeth is only a sleeping person being held by a beast."

Natigilan ako. Why- Why does his explanation sounded familiar? May something sa sinabi niya na nagpapa-alala sa'kin ng kabataan ko. It reminds me of that specific show that Rae and I watched. A show that portrays a brave girl saving the sleeping prince being held by the greedy witch.

"Pero...kahit anong mangyari, the game will still be destroyed."

Arthur chuckles. "The game will never be destroyed as long as one of the creator lives. It will be inaccessible to the outer world, sure, but it will never be lost. That is the beauty of this game. It has a soul. It lives."

"So, killing Alas is futile?"

Nagtitigan kami ni Arthur. "Alas wants to imprison all of you, but does the other want the same? The game can vanish, Solace. Killing Alas will grant you revenge, satisfaction and escape from a terrible fate. Destroy his world and build another one."

Nawala siya at bumalik si Hiraeth. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya at napaisip. Kill Alas to save Hiraeth and destroy the game imprisoning him. That's my promise. Pero, ang sabi ni Arthur ay hindi masisira ang laro, dahil hangga't buhay ang isa sa mga gumawa nito, it lives.

Kaya mas mabuting mawala ito. Iwala at hindi isira. Take it off the shelf and store it somewhere, rather than destroy it. Kill Alas to stop his plan of killing Hiraeth. Once Hiraeth wakes up-

Rebuild the game.

Napatayo ako kaya kuryosong napatingin si Hiraeth sa'kin. That's right. If I kill Alas, the game will be destroyed for a while. Because one of the creators is gone. If Papa comes back alive, the game will resurface. I can contact the company and help them in rebuilding and revising the game.

Kung gano'n, I can still preserve the game we all enjoy. Papa will still be with us, kahit na dito lang. Arthur can live again as the king of Arth.

"Elf, is everything alright?"

"Hiraeth," masaya akong lumingon sa kaniya. "I've decided!"

"... What is it?"

Sumilay ang ngiti sa labi ko. I watched the plain fields and green mountains. I watched the leaves and dusts danced to the tune of the wind. The heat that stays in our skin and the very life that makes Arth real.

"I'm going to recreate this game. A perfect world that can make anyone happy."

Hiraeth tilts his head and slightly smiles. "When you say it, it's believable." yumuko siya. "Well then, my dear elf, may I be a part of your quest?"

"Always, Hiraeth. Always."

As the wind hums and the flower sways, as the sun shines and the clouds scatters, as the river flows and the rocks clashes, above a cliff is a forest that holds and gives a player's desires. And now, a promise is created.

A reform. A tale. A quest. It starts-

"So, ano pala muna ang gagawin natin?" tanong ko. "Paano tayo makakalabas dito? At hindi ka ba makikita ni Alas dito kung alam niya ang lokasyon ng lahat ng players?"

"No. My desire is to stay hidden from everyone. So, I was surprised when you arrived."

Napangiwi ako. "Tapos pinilit pa kitang patayin."

"If it comforts you, I also did try to kill you." tugon ni Hiraeth. "When we were in that pirate ship, I tried to stab you."

Oo nga pala. Noong nasa Western Continent kami. In the pirate ship that we tried to ambush in, I found Hiraeth and he stabbed me. Doon din ako nalunod. Nang magising ako noon, Arthur is already in conscious of Hiraeth's body.

"Si Arthur naman 'yong nagtangka."

"It is also Alas who tried to kill me. So we're even."

Ngumuso ako. Naghahanap lang 'to ng paraan para hindi ko sisihin ang sarili, eh.

"Fine. What are we supposed to do now?"

"You are the leader of this quest, elf. If I remember correctly, I only said I will be participating-" tumawa si Hiraeth nang hampasin ko. "I'm sorry. However, shouldn't we follow your grand quest first? You are looking for the last key, correct?"

Oo nga. "I need to find the Crowned Lion of the Heart. Nasa Hadea Cliffs lang daw ito pero hindi ko alam kung nasaan."

"Hadea Cliffs."

"Yes," binuksan ko ang friend list. "I need to contact the Oddcredibles. Kailangan ko ang tulong nila. The quest might be dangerous. Kailangan ko ding tanungin kung nakita na nila ang Hadea Cliffs-"

"Elf, you're standing in the very ground of the Hadea Cliffs."

"-kasi ang hirap no'n hanapin. It took us almost five days to gather a-" natigilan ako sa pagsasalita. "Anong sinabi mo?"

"This is the Hadea Cliffs."

"What?!"

Tumango si Hiraeth. "The Heart's Tree that you cut down is the mark of the place. I hang out here to avoid being seen. Dahil mahirap itong mahanap."

Napatingin ako sa paligid. Aside from the large tree, that is gone now, tanging mga puno at kung ano-ano lang ang sa paligid. Am I supposed to hunt lions here now?

"So... Saan ba dito ang cave or dungeon or something? Paano ko makikita ang Crowned Lion?"

Lumapit si Hiraeth sa may edge ng cliff. He looks down at parang ako pa ang kinabahan dahil doon. Para kasing mahuhulog na siya bigla-bigla.

"If we're talking about lions and cages, the opening is here." itinuro niya ang ilalim. "We have to climb down."

Parang mahihimatay ako sa sinabi niya. I am very brave, but I am slightly afraid of heights. 'Yong pagtalon ko noon sa Game of Governors ay dala ng adrenaline.

Inilahad ni Hiraeth ang kamay sa'kin. "Don't worry, elf. Just stay close to me and don't let go."

Kapag namatay ako dito at kung saan naman ako magresurrect, sinisisi ko lahat sa'yo, Hiraeth. Huhu.

Nauna siya sa'ming bumaba. Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa kamay niya dahil parang ang dulas ng mga batong tinatapakan namin sa pakiramdam ko. Not to mention the unseen ground.

Hindi din nagtagal ay nakarating kami sa cave. A waterfall starts just above the opening, at hindi ko makita kung saan ito nahuhulog. Hiraeth steps down into solid ground. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang makatapak ako dito.

Behind the rush of water lies a wide cave. Pumasok kami dito. The place is a bit dim, being illuminated by the golden lamps in the wall. Nang makarating kami sa mismong kwarto ay namangha ako sa lagay nito.

Treasures scattered around the room, from the brightest of gold to the largest of diamonds. Scrolls of different languages and paintings of different eras are pasted on the wall. Sa sentro ng lahat ay isang napakalaking leon.

The lion slowly opens its eyes when it felt our presence. Napalunok ako nang tumama ang tingin niya sa'kin. The animal stands up and stretches before letting a loud roar.

Napaatras ako dahil dito at napahawak sa braso ni Hiraeth. I held a hand in my chest. Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko.

"I think I just lost ten years of my life." sabi ko sa kaniya.

Nagulat ako nang biglang lumabas si Aslan. The lion notices him and calms down, jumping off its large chair and circling Aslan.

"Will my Aslan be okay?" I whispered to Hiraeth.

He nods and walks to the back of the room. Susunod na sana ako sa kaniya nang biglang sumugod sa'kin ang leon. I immediately reached for my sword but Hiraeth stops me.

"He won't hurt you. He only guards this place."

"Kaya nga niya siguro ako ihu-hurt 'di ba dahil pumasok ako ng walang permiso?"

But the lion, true to Hiraeth's words, did not hurt me. Sa halip ay lumapit lang ito sa'kin at umupo. The lion nuzzles its snout on my knees and looks at me with adorable eyes. He looks like Aslan!

I cooed and sat down. I played with his fur and Aslan joined in, jumping happily. The lion purrs at the other's joy.

Lumapit si Hiraeth at ipinakita ang nakuha niyang susi. "We should go now."

Nanlaki ang mata ko. "Saan mo kinuha 'yan?"

He points to the corner of the room he went to. Napatingin ako sa leon na komportable lang sa tabi ko.

"Hindi ba siya magagalit?"

"If I remember correctly, Arthur told me the hard part about this quest is locating the cliff. The forest will lead you to what you desire but it might be something else. If you do reach the cliff, mahihirapan ka ding hanapin kung saan gaganapin ang quest dahil wala itong description."

Umawang labi ko. That's probably the longest time I've heard him talk to me. Medyo nakakashock.

So that's why this cave must be down here. A hard destination. The guardian also looks friendly and harmless.

A screen pops up in front of me.

▪▪▪

Player, you have finished collecting the keys required to enter the palace! Your completion of the Grand Quest is nearing. Will you defeat the king and reestablish the peace in the kingdom? Or will another hero rise?

Enter the Kingdom of Arth?
Yes | No

▪▪▪

Napahawak ako sa kamay ni Hiraeth nang biglang umiba ang paligid namin. The next thing I know, we're already standing outside a humungous gate. At mula dito ay kitang-kita ang napakagandang palasyo.

For some reason, this place feels familiar to me.

"Tangina mo, Astro!"

Napadaing ako nang may malakas na tumama sa ulo ko. Lumingon ako para makita sina Astro at Halcyon sa likod namin, and behind them is Feyre running. Napahinto siya nang makita ako.

"Si Hex 'yon." sabay turo sa fox priest naming sumusunod sa kaniya.

"What happened?" tanong ko nang mapansin ang magulo niyang buhok. Even Hex's robe looks crumpled. "Inatake ba kayo?"

"Ah-haha, eh-" medyo namula si Feyre. "Anong nangyari sa inyo? Nahanap mo na pala si Hiraeth?"

"Yes. I actually tried to kill him at first. What happened to you? Why are you changing the subject?"

Voldmir laughs and walks to me. Nandito na pala silang lahat.

"Feyre also tried to kill someone, Sol. Sa ibang paraan nga lang."

Sabay na binatukan ni Hex at Feyre ang lalaki.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "What do you mean they tried to kill someone? Could it be Feyre's desire was to finally kill Hex? Dahil ba lagi kayong nag-aaway?"

Natahimik ang lahat at walang sumagot sa'kin. I looked at Hiraeth for answers but he's busy with the staring contest he, Astro and Halcyon have commenced. Hindi ko na maintindihan kung anong nangyayari.

Feyre pulls me to her side. "So, paano mo nakita si Hiraeth?"

"I don't know. I guess my desire was to find him?"

"Hm. Paano pala sila Astro at Halcyon, nakita mo din?" I tilted my head at her question. "Kasi ang desire daw nila ay makita ka at nangyari nga daw, pero hindi mo sila nakita?"

Umiling ako. "I was with Hiraeth."

Nagtitigan kami ng ilang segundo. Feyre  glances at the three and nods. "Ah, kaya pala."

Kaya pala ano?

"Sandali, Feyre, ano ba kasi nangyari sa'yo? Bakit ang gulo ng buhok mo at hindi mo inayos-"

"Mamaya na! Tapusin muna natin 'tong quest!"

Natigilan ako. Napatingin ako sa malaking palasyo. That's right. The true quest starts now.

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-chapter end-

"Welcome to the Royal Palace, players."

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siete.