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"Well… thanks again for everything," Niel Justine said to the receptionist of Camiguin General Hospital.
"Mhm hm," the nurse said, finishing the discharge papers before finally looking at him. "Are you not going to wait for the boy who always comes to see you?"
"He's supposed to be at school today." Justine scratched the back of his head, his handsome face forming a smile. "So I thought I'd leave before he shows up and gets on everyone's nerves."
The nurse laughed. "I appreciate it, but if you leave without him, he's going to be angry."
Justine smiled and slung his bag over his back. "Heh, Ralph does tend to get angry, but I'll take my chances."
Justine then left, but stopped when the nurse spoke again.
"Oh, and Mr. Durango, I wanted to say I'm sorry about what happened with Mr. Simbahon."
Justine turned his head and replied with a smile. "You don't need to be sorry. He's responsible for all the stupid choices he makes."
Justine walked out of the hospital as cars passed by while he listened to music.
An hour passed as he quietly walked through the streets, looking at the shops, with Gaisano Camiguin towering ahead.
People walked around doing their daily routines, buying things, eating street food, kids crying after not getting a toy, and some students from Mambajao High lounging while talking to their friends. Rela drivers called out to people for rides.
Justine listened to his music, deep in thought. He exhaled softly, slightly vibing to the calm tune.
'And here we are again.' Niel closed his eyes for a brief moment, feeling the breeze of the December morning before opening them. "It's Christmas. What was I doing at this time last year?"
Justine shook his head and rode back to Agoho. "Ready or not, time keeps moving forward like music."
Then he realized what he had said and covered his face in embarrassment as the other passengers looked at him strangely. "Of course that's how time works, stupid."
The rela drove from Mambajao to Agoho, stopping near the chapel.
Right as he exited the rela and walked over to pay the driver, a voice pierced through the area.
"JUSTTTTTTIIIIINNNNEEEEEE!!!"
Justine jolted, turned around, and ran as fast as he could as the voice of a boy could be heard chasing after him.
"JUSTINE, DON'T YOU DARE RUN AWAY!!!"
Justine took a turn.
"I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME, JUSTINE!!!"
Justine turned again and ran down the highway.
"OH, DON'T YOU DARE IGNORE ME!!!"
The boy running behind him was his friend, Ralph Sebastian, a young man in his teenage years with a very, very short temper.
It all came to a halt when they finally arrived at a certain location, Yumbing National High School, a prestigious school known as the home of champions.
Justine slowed down for a moment, only to suddenly bump straight into Dex, who was standing in the middle of the hallway completely absorbed in typing on his phone while writing a very particular book.
Dex hummed quietly to himself as his thumbs moved across the screen with absolute focus, completely unaware of the incoming human projectile.
"Sorry, Dex! Ralph's chasing me!" Justine blurted out the moment he realized who he had collided with. In a panic, he quickly straightened Dex's wrinkled shirt as if that somehow fixed the entire situation.
Before Dex could even process what had just happened, Justine jolted away again and sprinted down the hallway like his life depended on it.
Dex blinked once.
Then twice.
He slowly looked up from his phone, watching Justine disappear into the distance.
He shrugged.
And immediately got knocked flat on the ground as Ralph came charging through like a runaway truck.
"HOY!"
Dex groaned from the pavement, staring up at the sky as if questioning every decision that had led him to stand in that exact spot.
"SORRY, DEX!" Ralph shouted over his shoulder while sprinting past, fully committed to catching Justine no matter the cost.
Dex remained on the ground for a few seconds before sighing.
"… Maypa nag puyo nalang ko."
Meanwhile…
"Walter, what the hell are you doing!?" Margharette yelled as Walter lounged on the armchair like he owned the place. "Didn't our sir already tell us that students shouldn't sit on the armchairs!? That's 5 pesos!"
"What!? I barely even sat!" Walter protested, looking shocked and clutching his bag.
"Don't care! Five is five!" Margharette shot back, wagging her finger.
Just as Walter opened his mouth to argue, a blur of movement shot past.
Justine ran between them inside the classroom, knocking over a couple of chairs. Margharette didn't flinch. This kind of chaos was normal for them by now.
"Ralph chasing you again?" Margharette asked casually, glancing at the flying sneakers.
"YEP! GOTTA GO!!" Justine yelled, not stopping for even a second as he sprinted past.
Another blur followed. Ralph thundered past, tossing two 5-peso coins into the air with perfect aim, one landing in Margharette's hand for Justine and one for himself.
Margharette caught both coins without missing a step, then turned to Walter. He tried to sneak away, hoping she wouldn't notice him, but of course, she did.
"AHA! MAN KA PADULONG!? PAG BAYAD!" she shouted, pointing at him like a hawk locking onto prey.
Walter froze, realizing his mischief had turned into a full problem in her eyes. His eyes widened, and he reluctantly reached into his pocket to pay, muttering, "Fine, fine, 5 pesos…"
Meanwhile, Justine and Ralph were already halfway out the door, leaving trouble in their path. Chairs were scattered, coins jingled on the floor, and Margharette shook her head, a mix of frustration and amusement on her face.
"This is going to be another long day," she muttered under her breath, counting the coins she had collected like a boss.
After a while, Ralph finally caught up to Justine and tackled him to the ground. Both boys burst out laughing like little kids as they rolled slightly on the floor. Ralph lightly punched Justine on the face.
"Why did you leave me there waiting!? I thought you were still in your room!" Ralph complained.
"Wala man pud ka nag chat na mag hulat? Hahaha," Justine chuckled, rubbing his left cheek where Ralph had punched him.
Ralph stood up and offered his hand to Niel, helping him back to his feet. Just as they steadied themselves, the school bell rang loudly across the campus, reminding everyone that class time was in session.
"Shoot! We're late!" Justine jolted upright and immediately grabbed Ralph's arm, dragging him along as he started running again.
The poor young man barely had time to react as he was pulled forward.
"Hoy! Hinay-hinay lang ba!" Ralph protested while being dragged down the hallway.
Soon, Section Orchid was filled with students, thirty-nine of them to be exact. Justine sat in the second row near the front, while Ralph took the seat behind him in the third row.
The teacher soon began his lesson on mythology. However, Dex had other plans. He leaned slightly toward Shierley as the two quietly discussed the recent murders happening around Yumbing.
"Dex," the teacher suddenly called out, catching the boy's attention. "If you are willing to share some information, how does one achieve godhood?"
The classroom fell silent as several students turned to look at Dex.
"Well, it depends on the myth you follow," Dex said calmly, meeting the teacher's gaze. "But there's one I'd be proud to share. To become a god… is to impose the principle you live by, or the goal you pursue in life."
The teacher raised an eyebrow. "How does a goal change reality?"
Dex crossed his arms. "Because godhood isn't about power alone. It's about turning a yearning, something you truly desire, into a force that shapes the world." He glanced at Justine, eyes briefly locking with his, a look of something passing between them. "For instance, Justine's goal is to become a great musician."
"The universe can interpret that as his Law, his Desire, his Principle, even his Nature," Dex explained, a faint smile on his lips. "It becomes… the Dualistic Orchestra of Chaos and Order."
The teacher frowned slightly. "That… might explain all of this."
Dex continued. "There are four gods who have ever sat upon the Throne of Heaven. In history, their laws were tied to the very nature each one longed for, every desire they carried."
Everyone in the classroom leaned in, curious. Kriscah glanced at Justine, then at Ralph, then back to the others. A low murmur ran through the students.
"As far as I know," Dex said, "there is Ahura Mazda, Apophis or Apep, Yuhuang, and the last one… it is better not to say."
He paused, letting his eyes settle on Tayco. No one noticed except Justine, who frowned and studied Dex closely.
Dex's voice dropped slightly. "But I will say this. The last one is seated among us, right here in our high school, even now."
A few students gasped quietly. Tayco looked down at his desk, expression unreadable, while a faint shadow of tension seemed to ripple through the room. Justine shifted in his seat, narrowing his eyes, trying to catch any hint in Dex's words.
The teacher cleared his throat nervously. "Dex… that is enough mythology for now. Let's continue with the lesson."
But the room felt colder. Some laughed it off, some joked, and some continued writing their lessons. The faces of Tayco and Walter were different at first, but they quickly reverted to their unserious, jokester personalities.
After school, Dex was walking around the campus when he was suddenly confronted by Justine.
"Dex, I saw how you looked at Tayco. Tell me, is he related to this whole godhood stuff and the mysterious murders?"
"What kind of silly question is that? Of course not! Besides, no one believes in this mythological stuff. I made it all up. It's for my story. But if it were real, then we would be the weakest race in the world!" Dex joked and laughed before walking away.
Justine looked at Dex, knowing something was up. He shook his head, turned away, and walked around the campus, putting his EarPods in and turning the volume up.
The sun was setting on the horizon. Day was ending, and night was quietly taking over….
Suddenly, the scenery changed. A golden ascent appeared, a rainbow kaleidoscope surrounding a throne at the center. There stood the Chrysanthemum Throne, also known as the Japanese Imperial Throne, floating between the stars.
A man stood nearby. He possessed a regal yet imposing presence, marked by long golden-blonde hair that framed a sharp, melancholic face. He wore a layered military ensemble consisting of a pristine white, floor-length tunic beneath a heavy dark gray greatcoat with structured epaulettes.
The most distinct features were the long, gold-embroidered stoles draped over his shoulders, covered in intricate runic script that gave his commander-like silhouette a ritualistic presence.
"How interesting. This 'Dex Bernard' knows of our existence. Wouldn't you agree, █████?" the man said, glancing behind him toward the throne.
Another man sat upon it, looking down at Earth through what appeared to be a flat platform that displayed not only the planet, but the entirety of the universe.
"I suggest you shut your mouth, Tayco," the figure on the throne replied calmly. "After all, our plan is to find one suitable for the next era. If we fail, then we shall simply reset this world and to stop the next era from being born."
The young man seated upon the throne had a tall, slender silhouette and exceptionally long, flowing white hair that framed a sharp, pale face. His attire was a high-collared, double-breasted military tunic in deep obsidian, cinched with a rugged leather shoulder strap and belt that gave him a disciplined yet elegant appearance.
Pristine white tactical gloves and polished high-heeled boots completed the outfit, blending the grace of an aristocrat with the imposing aura of a high-ranking commander.
Beyond the throne, the endless stars shimmered like distant embers scattered across an infinite sea of darkness. The golden ascent beneath them glowed softly, its radiant steps stretching outward into the void while fragments of rainbow light drifted slowly through the cosmic space surrounding the Chrysanthemum Throne.
The throne itself floated in silent authority, its presence vast and ancient, as if the universe had arranged itself around it.
Tayco stood several steps away from it, his long golden-blonde hair shifting slightly as faint cosmic winds passed through the empty heavens. The runic stoles resting over his shoulders glimmered faintly under the light of the surrounding kaleidoscope. His posture was relaxed, almost casual, despite the overwhelming scale of the place they stood in.
Behind him, the throne remained occupied.
The white-haired figure rested calmly upon the Chrysanthemum Throne, one leg slightly crossed as he observed the projection of existence before him. The flat platform floating in front of the throne shimmered like a mirror of reality itself. Galaxies rotated slowly within its surface. Stars ignited and faded. Entire civilizations flickered like brief sparks in an endless cosmic current.
His pale face remained composed as he watched the distant blue world far below.
Tayco's gaze drifted briefly toward the projection of Earth before returning to the figure seated above him.
"Oh? Is someone already afraid of the possibility of being overthrown?" The blond teased the other.
The one seated on the throne did not immediately respond. His sharp eyes slowly lifted from the projection of the universe and settled on Tayco with quiet indifference.
█████ looked at Tayco and immediately answered. "No, it is simply because to truly Manipulate the world I must orchestrate it, my yearning is that I truly believe all of existence must be manipulated'
The silence that followed lingered briefly in the endless cosmic space, broken only by the slow turning of galaxies across the floating platform before the throne.
Back on Earth…
"Laaahh~ lah~ lah~ laaaahhh~~"
The sound drifted in the distance, soft and ethereal, like wind passing through chimes. The horizon stretched endlessly, golden-orange hues blending into a sky painted with light. Clouds moved slowly, almost deliberately, carrying the warmth of a late morning sun.
Justine awoke in the middle of it all, his body lying on soft, dew-kissed grass. In front of him, a golden sea shimmered, washing gently over snow-white sand. The water glowed as if it contained its own light. The air smelled faintly of blossoms, a perfume that made his chest tighten.
"Flowers bloom in grace, all the world shall spread with life, no space shall wilt in despair," a soft voice whispered, carried on the wind.
Justine's eyes widened. A young girl appeared, walking toward a column of light that seemed to pierce the horizon. Her hair glowed faintly, and each step left a trace of petals in the air. Justine held his breath, mesmerized.
But before he could approach, the dream shifted abruptly. The golden light was replaced by a crimson garden. Flowers bloomed in drops of blood, their petals trembling as if alive. The scent of iron and earth filled the air, there a vision of him and the girl hanged, dead.
A chill ran down Justine's spine. His heart thumped, caught I fear. And then…
He jolted awake, gasping. Sweat clung to his forehead, and his room felt suddenly too small, too ordinary compared to the worlds he had just seen.
The door opened suddenly. Kurt peeked inside, concern etched across his face.
"What's wrong, Justine?"
"I… I…" Justine struggled to find the words, his voice barely a whisper.
"Just a bad dream," he finally said, shaking his head. The remnants of the dream lingered in his chest, both beautiful and terrifying.
Kurt let out a soft sigh and shook his head. "Okay… see you in the morning."
"Yeah… see ya," Justine replied, his voice distant. He lay back on his pillow, staring at the ceiling as the sunlight spilled across the room.
The memories of petals, the golden sea, and crimson flowers stucked with him, whispering of things he couldn't yet understand. Somewhere, he knew, the dream was not just a dream. It was…
A call…
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O Flower, bloom beyond the skies,
Awake all life where shadow lies.
Your light shall bend both time and space,
And weave the world with gentle grace.