-chapter one-hundred-sixteen-
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SOLACE

SHIT!

Mabilis akong umiwas nang akmang ihahampas ng dragon ang buntot nito. I rolled to the side and scrambled up to run away. Hiraeth takes my hand and leads me out of the room.

Tinapakan ng dragon ang castle tower na nasa tabi namin. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita itong nadurog ng walang hirap. Its eyes trails us and fire begins to form once again on his mouth.

Periphas came flying in to claw the dragon's eyes out, pero mabilis na bumaling ang halimaw sa kaniya ay pinakawalan ang apoy.

"Periphas!" I shouted.

Tumigil ako sa pagtakbo. Naramdaman ko ang paghatak ni Hiraeth pero hindi ko iyon pinansin. I stared horrified at my pet being burned to ashes.

"Sis! Don't worry, he's okay."

Maluwag akong napahinga nang makitang pinoprotektahan ni Nirvana si Periphas. Cerberus blows a ball of fire towards the dragon pero parang pitik lang ito sa kaniya.

The dragon's roar of laughter then booms and quakes the whole place. It's eyes lands and centers on me.

"What will you do now, slayer?"

Nanghina ako nang marinig ang nakakatakot na boses nito. Alas! How come Alas is inside that monster's body?!

"Arthur says it could possibly be his creator privileges-" kumunot ang noo ni Hiraeth. "He can manifest into any character or creature."

Naiinis kong pinadyak ang paa. This is such a cheat! I can't even scratch this dragon so much when it was still normal. Paano pa kung nandoon pa si Alas?

Is fate treating me like a joke?

Napatalon ako nang umatake muli ang dragon. Itinaas ko ang espada at dinepensa mula doon. The tail and my sword clashes.

"Run!" sigaw ko kay Hiraeth.

"I can't just leave you here."

"You can. Just," napamura ako nang lumakas ang pwersa nito. "go. You can't fight against him."

Bago pa siya muling makasagot ay hinatak na siya ni Feyre paalis. Hindi ko alam na nakasunod na din pala 'yon sa'min.

Umakyat ako sa buntot ng dragon and held into his scales. Alas spots me and tries to throw me off guard by swaying his tail to every direction. Napasigaw ako dahil doon at napakapit ng mahigpit. Natatakot ako dahil sa sobrang taas ng kinaroroonan ko. Ni hindi ko na nga makita ang lupa!

It only stopped when the dragon roared in pain. Sunod-sunod na atake ang natamo nito sa pakpak at katawan. Arrows pierced through his thick skin and bullets passed through. Bombs exploded at the contact with the dragon's body, kaya napaatras ito at dahil doon ay nahulog ko.

I screamed as I landed on soft furs. Natigilan ako. Wait, anong nangyari? Bakit hindi na masakit ang lupa ngayon?

"Sol? Buksan mo na nga 'yang mata mo."

I immediately opened my eyes upon hearing Feyre's voice. Nakapikit pala 'to at 'di ko man lang napansin.

Tumayo ako. I smiled at Aslan who cushioned my fall. How did my pets became so loyal?

"So, what's the plan... po?" kumakantang tanong ni Minerva.

"Kill the dragon." I sighed.

"Yes. But I doubt you can do it alone." Hex points out.

Muli akong bumuntong-hininga. Ano nga ba ang laban ko diyan?

"It's simple. We just have to corner him."

Napabaling kami sa bagong nagsalita. Nanlaki ang mata ko at isag malaking ngiti ang namutawi sa labi nang makitang si Cord 'yon. Meanwhile, binatukan naman ni Feyre ang lalaki.

"Saan ka ba galing ha?!"

"Before we talk about that, we have this matter to attend." tukoy ni Cord sa kay Alas. "We have to distract and corner him at first, so that Solace can land a clean hit."

"Pero hindi po nagwowork ang weapons namin sa kaniya?" tanong ni Priamos.

Cord points at Feyre. "She can be the distraction-"

"Seriously?!"

"It's for Solace."

"Nagreact lang naman ako."

Nawala ang balanse namin nang biglang tumakbo papunta sa gawi namin ang dragon. It's every stomp shakes the ground. The dragon growls and crashes towards us.

Tumalon ako at lumapag sa may ulo niya. Feyre lands beside me and gives me a quick smile before jumping down and connecting her chains to the trees at an insane speed. Dahil sa pawala-wala niya ay naco-confuse si Alas.

I inhaled deeply and is about to pierce my sword on the dragon's neck when it's tail throws me to the ground. The dragon then catches Feyre and hurls the cat rogue to the nearest tree. Other players then began to surround the dragon, attacking it, even though wala naman masyadong damage. 

Two sharp-razor claws appears on my shoulder. Nakita ko na lamang ang sarili ko na nililipad pataas.

"Shit! Solace!"

I hurriedly took my knife and pierced it through the dragon's skin. It stoped and I turned around to make a slash. Hinampas ako ng pakpak nito kaya bumagsak ako sa lupa. Mabilis akong tumayo at sumugod, slashing my sword against the dragon's side. Then when I passed him, umikot ako at muli siyang inatake sa likuran. Then I landed a roundabout kick on the creature, making it crash to the ground.

Alas growls and flap his wings, glaring at me. I pointed my sword at him.

Feyre gets up and tosses her dagger towards the dragon's wings. Emerald fire bursts out of the chains and gets absorbed within the dragon's body. Humiyaw ito nang maramdaman ang pagkalat ng lason sa buong pakpak. Feyre heaves a deep breathe and pulls the chain with insane strength. Dahil dito ay nawala ang isang pakpak ng dragon. A pained howl surrounds the place.

Hindi na ako nag-isip pa. Bumaba ako at sunod-sunod na bumitaw ng malalakas na atake kay Alas. The difference between him and a creature is that, when pained the creature is unable to do things anymore. Aside from summon a large breathe of fire and aim it toward me.

Cerberus and Nirvana pounces on the creature. Both monsters bite the flesh off the dragon. Itinaas ko ang espada at tumingin kay Cord. He gives a solemn nod and averts his eyes.

I brought my sword down. I slayed the dragon.

Nagyanig ang katahimikan sa paligid. Isang makapigil-hiningang tanawin ang paghati ng katawan ng dragon sa dalawa. Everyone watched in silence as the body vanished. As it all vanished.

"OH MY GOSH! WE WON!"

Everyone loudly exhaled after hearing Feyre's shout. Cheers resounded and smiles appeared. Napabaling ako kay Cord na tumango.

"Everyone has to log out no-"

Chaska steps out and gives everyone a bitchy face. "If this is really the end, then why are those monsters still alive and kicking?" sabay turo niya sa lumilipad na mga ibon.

Kumunot ang noo ko. There's also no sign of the game being destroyed at the moment. Sandali kong sinulyapan ang direksiyon ni Hiraeth. My eyes widened when I found no one in his spot.

"Where did Hiraeth go?" nagmamadali kong tanong.

Cord looks surprised. "I-I don't know. Nandito lang siya kani-"

Naputol muli ang sasabihin niya ng isang pamilyar na halakhak ang marinig namin. Bumaling ako sa sirang kastilyo at muntik nang tumalon palabas ang puso ko nang makita si Hiraeth na hawak-hawak ng kaniyang ama. A knife is aimed at his heart.

"Hiraeth... No..." nanghihina kong usal.

T-This can't happen. How did he get there?

"Father!" Cord's voice sound pained and tired. Tears streaked his face as he looked at his brother weak in his father's grasp. "Let go of him already! Spare him! He's your son!"

Isang blankong titig ang isinagot ni Alas. He looks lost. "Who are you?"

Suminghap si Cord. He steps back like he's been shot. 

"I'm your son..."

Kumunot ang noo ni Alas. "My son is this boy. I have to free him of his pain. I have to kill him."

"Desisyon ka, Alas?!" sigaw ni Feyre. "Tangina. 'Di mo nga maalala 'tong panganay mo, papatayin mo pa ang bunso mong animal ka!"

Alas ignored her.

"Let go of him already." I begged. "You're cornered. You lost your right hand. You lost your dragon. You already lost, so please. Please. Just accept your defeat."

Nagtitigan kaming dalawa. My eyes briefly flickers to Hiraeth who is staring at me. They're so far away! Nasa kastilyo sila habang nandito kami sa ilalim! 

"Please-"

Naputol ang sasabihin ko nang makita ang salitang binubuka ni Hiraeth.

"Ri-" huminga siya ng malalim. "-e."

Humagulgol ako. "Please. I beg you."

Alas closes his eyes and looks up. 

"Never." he whispers.

My eyes widened as a shocking situation happens. Alas brings down the knife towards Hiraeth's chest, but before that could happen, Hiraeth vanishes and is replaced by-

"PAPA!" sabay na sigaw namin ni River at napatakbo malapit sa kanila.

Napatakip ako ng bibig nang makitang si Papa na ang nasa posisyon ni Hiraeth. The knife is struck to his chest and blood flows from it. Alas coughs. Papa is holding a sword and it is also impaled in Alas' chest. 

Bumagsak ako sa lupa nang magsimulang mawala ang dalawa. Malakas akong napasigaw nang isang nakakasakal na sakit sa puso ang naramdaman ko. Bumuhos ang luha mula sa mukha ko na parang mga ulan. Mas lalo akong napahagulgol nang maramdaman ang yakap ni River.

Papa smiles at us.

The ground starts to crack. Stones starts to fly and trees are cut uprooted. The birds that are flying started to lose their grip and fell. The sky changes and transform to different colors. Ang kastilyo ay nagsimula na ring mawala. Following the vanishing of their creators.

Isang kamay ang humatak sa'kin patayo pero hindi ako gumalaw.

"Reverie, snap out of it!" Cord shouts to my ear. "We have to get out of here soon if we don't want to be stuck. The game will fall along it's creators!"

"But-" I heaved a deep breath. "Papa..."

"Sis." hinawakan ni River ang mukha ko at iginiya sa kaniya. His face is also devoured by grief, eyes wet with tears. "Remember your goal. Why did you do this in the first place? Remember it. Then, move forward."

River staggers as he stands up. Mabuti lang at nandoon si Irusu para alalayan siya. Irusu stares at me.

"I must see you outside, 'lil Riri."

Tumango ako. I gulped as I stood up, still staring at where my Papa stands. When I averted my gaze, it fell to the Oddcredibles who are looking at me, worried. Ngumiti ako sa kanila.

"See you outside." I mouthed.

Hex nods and instructs them something. Nawala sila sa kinatatayuan. They've logged out.

Inilibot ko ang tingin sa paligid. Rocks fly with the trees and different creatures. Lava appears from beneath the cracked surface. Iniwasan ko ito habang hinahanap si Hiraeth.

Aslan appears beside me and Periphas flies above me. Muli namang tumulo ang luha ko nang maalalang iiwan ko na nga pala sila. They won't exist anymore. I cried as I hugged both of them.

Then when I turned around, I found Hiraeth standing by the cliff, looking at the destruction of the game.

"Anong iniisip mo?" umupo ako sa tabi niya.

"Arthur is disappearing." mahinang niyang sagot. "Oddly, he's quiet. He said he's already expected this when he met you. And that he shouldn't be feeling sad since he's just a chunk of data."

I couldn't respond to him.

"Is this really happening? Is there really a life waiting for me as this one is destroyed?" he chuckles. "You know, I have those brief moments. Where I wake up in this room filled with white walls and curtains. I'm sleeping or... something? I remembered hearing sounds. Beeping. Sometimes, talking?"

Tumawa siya.

"One time, I heard your voice. I panicked. I wanted to run away. But... I couldn't move. I couldn't feel anything." itinaas niya ang kamay. "I did remember moving my pinky, though."

Nanlaki ang mata ko. Nagising ba siya noong binisita siya namin?

Hiraeth turns to face me. "Is that what's waiting for me, elf? What is life outside of this? What is the difference and what ugliness did it posses to make my father think that way? I can barely remember my childhood. But I know there was someone there who became my anchor. Until now, she is."

Umawang ang labi ko nang hawakan ni Hiraeth ang kamay ko. A rare smile appears in his face. "She's my best friend. She fixes every game I destroy and joins me in my adventures. She steals ice cream from the kitchen para ibigay sa'kin when I cry. She hugs me when I'm lonely because my family is always busy. Every time na nakikita kong pumasok ang kotse nila sa mansion, sumasaya ang puso ko. Every time I see her smile, it becomes my personal mission."

Umangat ang kamay niya para punasan ang luha sa mata ko. "And every time I see her cry, I wanna fight the world. I like it. When my heart beats this fast. When I think about the girl who offered her hand to play with me. When I think about the girl who bumped into me. When I think of the girl who continually saves me."

"Hiraeth..."

The cracking nears the cliff and from our position the far-away lands starts to disappear, but we're lost. Even beside each other, we're lost. 

"She gives me love." mahina siyang tumawa. "Rie gives me love, and love I answer back. Rie makes me lost in her love, and love is where she found me."

I chuckled and bumped my forehead in his. "Rae tells me love, and I tell Rae that..." pinagsalikop ko ang aming kamay. "I want to see him soon."

Umatras ako at hinawakan ang mukha niya. "So, please, return to us. Please wake up, Rae."

When I logged out, River and Irusu are already standing in my bed. Mabilis nila akong pinaligo at pinabihis. Halos mag fast-and-furious na kami sa bilis nang pagpaharurot ni River sa kotse. I couldn't count the red lights we've passed and the hundreds of car who honked at us.

Lumabas ako sa kotse nang mapark ito ni River. Irusu scolds his boyfriend for parking it so uncleanly that it bumped on the sidelines, pero sininghalan lang siya ng kambal ko na hindi daw ito ang oras para diyan. The Oddcredibles joins me in the lobby at nagkasya-kasya kami sa elevator ng Life Company, Hiraeth is moved here.

"Okay." basag ni Feyre sa tensiyon. "Bakit parang tatalon na ang puso ko?"

"Baka nervous ka po." Minerva answers.

"I know! Pero hindi ko naman emotionally kilala o kaclose ang lalaking 'yan para magkaganito!"

"Because we all want our leader to have a happy ending." Vesta says. "And so, we're all nervous."

Proud na ngumisi si Voldmir na kala mo siya ang nagsabi no'n.

"If you think it will happen po, it will. Our mind attracts things we think of deeply." ani Priamos na parang singkwenta anyos na. "Kaya po magiging maayos lang ang lahat."

"That's my bro~" Hex ruffles Priamos' hair.

"And then after that, we're going to eat together, okay?" ngumiti si Feyre. "Kahit ang pesteng kakambal ni Sol at si Subaru ay pwedeng sumama. It's a celebration."

Irusu sighs. "It's Irusu, not Subaru."

"Alam ko."

The elevator door opens and I hurriedly walked out. Sinalubong ako ni Aisling at pumasok kami sa kwarto ni Hiraeth. Nadatnan ko doon si Cord sa tabi ng kaniyang kapatid, ang Papa ni Aisling na presidente na ngayon ng kompanya, and three doctors plus five nurses attending. One of the doctors even nodded at Hex who studied the data. Lumapit naman si Feyre sa mga nurse dahil kilala niya rin ito.

Cord glances at me. He's biting his lip worriedly. "He should be responding any time soon."

Napatitig ako kay Hiraeth na payapang natutulog.

Then, the machines started to beep loudly. Naging balisa ang mga doktor at lumapit sila sa pasyente. I looked around, confused. Lalo na nang sabihin nilang they're starting to lose Rae.

Tumulo ang luha ko. Mahigpit kong kinapitan ang malamig na kamay ng lalaking nakahiga sa kama.

"Rae..." I quietly whispers. "Please wake up."

Humina ang pagpintig ng puso niya.

"Please... wake up."

The machine sounds. Avraeth's hand moves.

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-chapter end-

uno. 

hehe