~~~ Introduction ~~~
I was just an empty book before you and I met.
Sitting in a wide field watching the orange sunset.
I write everything whatever my eyes see.
It was a sunny day amidst the winter season. Ice is melting as the heat pierces through them. Leaving dew drops to the leaves tainted with pallid snow.
They say, when the sun shines in the middle of coldness, disaster will follow. But at that moment, I'm all prepared.
I felt the cold heavy winds coming from north touching my bare skin. Even when the sun is up, the cold prevails.
I thought it was just an old story that exists a hundred years ago, that demons were rampaging deep beneath the clouds.
In the books, they lurk in the darkness. But in reality, they seek sunlight. Truth be told, none of the following best describes them. Wherever they are, there will be no sunshine. Because they are darkness themselves.
Yes. I'm a goddess. One that creates everything.
But, can a goddess like me create peace?
So I made them through my feathers, forged them with my blood, as many as my wings.
Bring peace at my behest. Thou shalt heed and obey.
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Her eyes are the fire that scorches hope; the frost that shivers bravery and negates valor. In her fingertips lies lament of the Gods, for Gods are nothing before her sovereignty. An entity far more superior than kings and queens, an otherworldly being who singlehandedly shattered worlds after worlds, and devoured realms after realms.
She is the destruction. The redeemer of death. As stars collapse in her wake, truth becomes another fairytale— as if it was a dream.
She. . . is me.
Isang bangungot ang dumalaw sa aking pagtulog isang gabi. Kung saan ay bayolenteng nagliliparan sa hangin ang mga tuyong dahon, at sirang-sira ang lahat ng gusali dulot ng mga pagsabog. Umaalingawngaw sa buong paligid ang sigaw ng mga tao habang nagsisi-takbuhan parito at paroon. Takot, at natataranta. Pakiramdam ko ay parang totoo ang mga nakikita ko. Na parang nangyari na ito dati, kaya lang ay hindi ko matandaan kung kailan. 
Subalit alam ko'y iyon ay isa lamang hamak na masamang panaginip. Walang katotohanan.
"What's wrong?"
Wala sa sarili kong nilunok ang kinakain na kanina ko pa nginunguya at ininom ang nanlalamig na gatas na hinanda ni Quilya para sa akin. "Wala," ani ko rito. I've been having the same nightmares for about a week now. Pero isang beses ko lamang binahagi kay Quilya ang tungkol doon. Baka mamaya sasabihan pa ako nito na praning dahil paulit-ulit nalang yung scenario sa bangungot ko.
"Para kang namatayan ng pusa, Riah. Umayos ka nga!" Ang aga aga, lakas maka singhal. "Oh, tingin tingin mo?" Aba't tinarayan pa ako.
"Hoy, ikaw babae ka. Tigil-tigilan mo yang pagtataray mong 'yan, ah? Tadyakan kita d'yan, eh. Gusto mo palayasin kita dito?" pagbabanta ko habang pinanliitan siya ng mata.
She rolled her eyeballs at me. "Utut mo. Ampon ka lang naman." At tsaka siya mataray na umalis sa harap ko.
Her name is Quilya Neinfraud. She's my servant, and my friend ever since I'm five years old. Parang hindi ko nga katulong 'yon, eh. Mas mataray pa sa 'kin.
I lost my parents when I was young. Fate was so harsh on me that I didn't even get to see their faces before leaving me all alone. And since no one knows about them, I have no idea who they were, what are their names, were they good people or bad people. . . and which one of them do I look like. With that said, I was sent to an orphanage. The same orphanage where I met Quilya five years later.
Fate was so harsh on her, too. She lost her parents at the age of five. But compared to me, she's rather fortunate to have seen them, and grew up with them even for a short time before they died in a car accident. I kinda envy her for that, but we became friends for the same reason. And both lost someone important. She didn't have any relatives to take her in, plus she had to walk her way to the orphanage barefoot all by herself using the map drawn by her father before passing away. Life couldn't be crueler for her, but during our days in the orphanage, she was always happy. Like nothing ever happened. Or at least, that's what she told me.
Minsan, nararamdaman kong nalulungkot pa rin talaga ito kahit hindi niya pa sabihin.
We're about the same age. According to her, her birthday is October 23rd, which is the day after tomorrow. I don't know mine, but I should be turning nineteen this year, too. No one knows, not even the people from that orphanage.
"Bilisan mo na kumain. Pupunta tayo kela Marreanne." 
Tila ba'y nabuhayan ako ng loob sa narinig. "Marreanne?!" I can even feel my ears wiggle in excitement. At sa isang iglap, naubos ko na ang pagkaing kaniyang ihinanda para sa'kin. Mabilis akong umakyat ng ikalawang palapag upang kumuha ng tuwalya sa kuwarto. Pagkatapos ay humarurot ako papuntang banyo. Handa na sana akong bumabad sa bathtub nang maramdaman ko ang tubig na animo'y nagyeyelo sa lamig. Ilang minuto rin ang tinagal ng pakikipag-titigan ko sa tubig bago ko napag-isipang damhin itong muli.
"Hindi ko talaga kaya 'to. Maghihilamos nalang ako." 
Masiglang kaming sinalubong ng mag-asawang Riesseville nang makarating kami sa tapat ng matayog na gate ng kanilang mansyon. Sila na rin mismo ang nagbukas ng gate kahit mayroon naman silang guards na naka standby doon.
Si Marreanne ay ang nag-iisang anak ng mag-asawang Kreziana at Krein Riesseville. Her shoulder-length blonde hair matches her monolid-shaped eyes. Bumagay rin sa maputlang balat nito ang asul niyang mga mata.
"Hi, Quilya! Hi, Aeriah! Oh my god, you guys are so pretty!" masiglang pagsalubong ni Marreanne sa amin nang makapasok kami. "Kumusta na kayo? Are you eating properly, Aeriah? How about you, miss Quilya? Are you getting much sleep?" This girl never runs out of energy.
"Im fine," Quilya retorted awkwardly. She seemed hesitant to talk. "kayo, kumusta?"
"Wala naman masyadong problema dito," she said. "At dahil nga wala ng problema, Quilya, I believe now is the right time."
Right time?
Pabalik-balik ang tingin ni Quilya kay Marreanne at kina Kreziana at Krein na parang nag a-alinlangan, na kanila rin namang tinugunan ng mahinang pagtango.
"Ngayon na ba talaga?" paninigurado niya. Walang sumagot. Nagkatinginan lamang kami ni Quilya habang naguguluhan. What's going on?
"Quilya, anong pinag-uusapan niyo?" pabulong na tanong ko sa kaniya nguni't hindi niya ako pinansin. Bagkus ay bumuga ito ng malalim na hininga at pumihit patalikod sa akin.
"She sent us here to find you, now she's calling all of us back," aniya habang nakayuko.
Huh?
"Who sent who to find who?" I asked in confusion. "Ba't parang ang weird nyo naman 'ata."
May inabot si Krein kay Marreanne na isang aklat at iyon naman ay kaniyang binigay sa 'kin. "Remember that book the one you used to read?"
This is. . . The Rhapsody of Everspring. "How nostalgic," I uttered as I browse each page. "I thought I lost this. Where did you guys find it?" I indeed lost this long ago. Ngayon ay nasa kamay ko nang muli and it's the real thing! I thought I'd lose this forever.
"The same orphanage where we found you." Saglit akong natigilan sa narinig. Tiniklop ko ang libro maya't-maya nang matauhan.
"Are you keeping this book, or will you return it to me?" Tanong ko sa mahinahong boses. I'm worried. Baka hindi na nila to ibalik sa akin kasi sila nakakita nito nang mawala ko ito.
"It's yours, Aeriah. So you can keep it," sagot naman ni Marreanne habang nakangiti. Nabuhayan naman ako ng loob dahil doon.
"Really? Thank you!" ani ko sa masiglang boses.
Krein cleared his throat to get our attention. "Marreanne, remember why are we here." His voice is cold yet full of authority. Pumihit ito patalikod sa amin at naglakad na siya namang sinundan namin. Naririnig ko ang tunog ng gate nang isinara ito ng mga guwardiyang naroon.
"Right. Quilya,"
"What?"
"Our time is almost up. We should go back."
I heard Quilya heave another deep sigh. Ano bang meron? Ba't parang ang lalim ng iniisip niya?
At ano ba ang pinagsasabi nilang time is up na 'yan? Quilya, what's the meaning of this?
"Fine." Tsaka siya bumaling sa kinaroroonan ko. "Aeriah, do you still remember that night when you said you saw something come out from that book you're holding?" Kumunot ang noo ko sa tanong na iyon. Why ask me such a question?
"I... I do," naguguluhan ko na sagot sa kaniya. "I still remember it to this day."
It happened one night at that orphanage, that one spring evening.
Everyone was asleep, and I couldn't. So I decided to go out and amuse myself with nature.
Alone, I sat on a swing with a book in my lap. Not knowing what to do, I gazed above, only to see fireflies twinkling like the stars in the sky. It was so peaceful and silent that the only thing you'll ever hear are the chains as the swing goes back and forth and the sound of the crickets.
Beside me were two large trees that blocks my view of the sky. Inches away from those trees lies a small pond with water lilies floating on it. Not minding the loneliness, I started humming. The silvery moonlight spilled from the hands of the night sky, seeping into the shimmering, calm waters of the pond.
The dreamy scenery would leave you wondering whether or not you are inside a painting. It was a sight to behold, and a perfect moment to read a book.
I began to feel the gentle breeze with my eyes closed, letting my hair dance with the wind. I stopped humming, and within that moment I felt something is coming so I opened my eyes.
It is something otherworldly.
It was this little haven that accompanied me. . . until I opened the very first chapter of the book I am holding.
Legend says that there are thirteen realm guardians in this world. Each of them holds an incredible amount of power, so enormous they could even rival a God. They were given the task to protect the land and its inhabitants and thus saving the lives of millions from evil conquerors of the dark realm.
As a child, I would be fascinated by it, but I wasn't. I did not believe such a tale up to this moment. I guess, fate loves to meddle and people's lives and play with them. How childish.
All of the sudden, the book started emitting a serene light as it slowly floats midair. It's warm and beautiful, matching the ambiance of the surrounding. I can hear the sound of the book flipping itself as if it had life on its own.
"At last, I've finally found you. But perhaps it's not time to bring you back yet."
It was a voice of a woman I'm not familiar with. Seconds later, the light slowly resembles an entity. I couldn't distinguish what form is it taking because it has not shown any color yet except the golden light it spews.
"Alice."
At this point, I don't know whether I'm being played or whatsoever. All I know is that someone came out of that book, other than that, I have no idea. Although I think she mistook me for someone else. Or maybe she's blinded by her light that she can't properly see my face.
"Pardon me, luminous lady. But I am not Alice, my name is Aeriah," I said.
"You weren't startled at all, Alice."
I just told her I'm not Alice. What's she going on about?
"People at your age would probably run in terror when they see something like this happen in front of them. As expected from you," she sound delighted while saying those remarks. Who is she?
"I'm used to seeing weird things in my dream. And you don't seem bad, I'm not threatened at all. I might get laughed at if they see me looking so pathetic."
"The children of this orphanage?" She asked. In response, I gave her a slight nod.
"I'm surprised you know. What are you exactly? Are you human like me?" I asked. And within that moment, the light began to fade away. Revealing a body of a white horse with a long flowing mane and tail. A symbol of a crescent moon is embedded on her forehead like a tattoo. On top of that, she also has a single spiraling horn.
"It seems someone hasn't introduced herself properly," I uttered.
She giggled at me. "You're quite misleading, aren't you. You talk mature for someone at your age. I guess humans in this realm are different."
I remained silent as I don't have anything to say at the moment. Realizing I'm at a loss for words, she cleared her throat and continued.
"I'm ■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■, a realm guardian also known as the beast of singularity."
The only thing I was able to comprehend was her being the beast of singularity. I couldn't understand her name at all. It was as if the language used does not exist. Just who is she exactly?
"I only have one task," she begins speaking again. "That is to bring you back to her when the right time comes. I should bid my farewell for now. We'll meet again,"
"Alice."