Zuriel turned away, his boots dragging slightly on the wood. His shoulders looked stiff, not angry, just heavy.
He stopped beside a dark wooden beam and crossed his arms, staring out the window at the moonlight.
For a moment, he said nothing.I had already stood up and started walking toward the hallway when his voice stopped me.
Wait...
I paused.
Zuriel still didn't look at me.
Look… I wasn't trying to be mean. I just--
He let out a slow breath.
What if something happened to you again???..
His voice sounded soft and shaky. It felt personal.
I frowned a little and looked at him. Why would you care!?.
He flinched, just a bit, then shrugged his shoulders.
Because I'm not in the mood to pull a passed-out person out of a cursed ruin. Again.
A small, bitter smile touched his lips. I could see in his eyes that he cared, but I wondered why ??,he was always so mean and then so caring....
Then he said, Besides. You're Nathaniel's problem now...
He turned before I could answer, acting cool like he always does. But I noticed his shoulders were stiff as he walked away.
I stood there for a moment, watching him go. My heart beat fast in my chest, and it wasn't because I was scared this time.
It was something else--something I didn't have a name for. It didn't feel like comfort, but it didn't feel mean either. That made it even harder to stop thinking about.
It almost felt like we had met before...
Around the tavern, the others had scattered. Some rested. Some quietly cleaned wounds. Low voices drifted through the room now and then.
No one had left me behind.
I slowly sat back down in the corner, pulling my knees closer to my chest.
My puffy long sleeves hung loosely around my shoulders.
The old handkerchief Nikolai gave me rested in my lap.
Beside me, the Book sat silently.
I glanced at the others.
Then I looked down at the Book again, my fingers brushing lightly across its cover.
A quiet thought slipped out before I could stop it.
If I'm not a monster… then why do I still feel like one?
The Book didn't answer.
But it pulsed softly under my fingers.
Slow.
Steady.
Almost like a heartbeat.
Morning came slowly, like even the sun was unsure about rising after everything that had happened.
The tavern was quiet now.
Too quiet.
Smoke still clung to the scorched beams, and broken glass crunched under Nathaniel's boots as he moved across the floor.
He was drawing symbols in blessed chalk, carefully cleaning up whatever was left of the aswang attack..
Eris stood at the doorway with her arms crossed.
Her clothes were still spotless, which made the rest of us look even worse.
She had been waiting here the whole time while we were trapped in the dungeon's illusion.
Her expression looked tense.
Master Nathaniel, she said. We need to report to the Council. They'll want to hear everything. About the town. The disguised victims. And whatever spell that dungeon or illusion used...
Her voice tightened slightly.
I couldn't reach you at all. None of us could.
Nathaniel nodded slowly.
You're right. We leave soon.
Near the counter, Nikolai was already packing his weapons into a worn leather bag.
I watched him quietly until he noticed.
He walked over.
I won't be coming with you this time, he said. There's something I need to look into.
His golden eyes softened slightly.
But we'll see each other again.
He placed a hand briefly on my shoulder.
You're stronger than you think. Trust that.
I nodded.
Thank you… for saving me.
Anytime, he replied with a faint smile.
Then he turned and walked out without waiting for anything else.
After he left, Lucien approached me, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
Hey… I know I haven't said much. And I'm not really good at talking about my past.
I tilted my head slightly.
That's okay.
I know what it's like, he continued quietly. When people look at you like you're dangerous.
My eyes widened a little.
Lucien gave a small tired smile.
Maybe that's why I understand you. I hope we'll be good friends.
Before I could respond, Zuriel appeared beside us.
He didn't interrupt.
He just stood there quietly.
His earlier suspicion was gone.
Now there was something else in his expression.
Maybe guilt.
Maybe just the desire to fix things.
When I finally stepped outside the tavern with my small satchel in my hands sir Nathaniel has given to me, Zuriel spoke first.
We'll meet in town later, he said. Don't be late. I already have enough things to worry about.
His tone sounded casual, but his teal eyes lingered on me for a second longer than usual.
Like he was checking something.
Then he quickly looked away.
I still don't remember everything, I told Nathaniel quietly as he fastened a protective amulet around my neck.
But I know I can't just go back and pretend nothing changed.
Nathaniel's voice stayed calm.
That's your choice to make. But if you want to understand what's happening to you… your visions, the voice, the Book… you'll need guidance.
I hesitated.
My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag.
Then I need to go home first.
Properly.
I need to say goodbye.
I still didn't understand the voice in my head.
Or why the Nephilim Book chose me...
But I knew I couldn't keep acting like I was just a normal girl. I can't live without knowing why my memories are gone or why I went missing in the first place.
Nathaniel nodded.
We'll wait for you in town.
The streets were still damp with morning dew.
The sound of distant tricycles echoed through the quiet roads.
I walked slowly, breathing carefully so the morning heat wouldn't trigger my asthma.
When I reached our house, I stopped at the gate.
It was a small two story duplex with painted cement walls and barred windows. The aircon unit hummed softly from inside.
The tricycle that brought me here had already disappeared around the corner.
I knocked twice.
The door opened almost immediately.
My mom stood there, her eyes widening in shock.
Gehan??!!?
I nodded, suddenly unsure what to say.
She pulled me into a hug before I could even answer.
Inside, the house looked exactly the same.
Clean tile floors.
A wood coffee table.
The smell of brewed coffee floating through the air.
A small electric fan hummed quietly in the corner.
The television played softly in the background.
I stayed near the doorway.
I'm not staying. I just came to say goodbye.
Her shoulders stiffened.
You just came back.
I need to understand what happened to me, Ma. Why I lost my memories. Why I've always been… different.
She stayed silent for a long moment.
Are you sure about this?
No, I admitted.
But I don't want to live scared of myself anymore.
She stepped closer and gently brushed a strand of hair behind my ear.
Call when you can.
I nodded.
I promise.
Part of me wanted to stay.
To crawl back into a normal life that didn't ask questions.
But the questions were already burning inside my chest. I have to find out who is behind the voice I keep hearing in my mind.
When I arrived at the plaza, the tricycle driver barely looked back as I stepped down.
Dust still clung to the air.
In the distance, the old chapel.
Zuriel was the first person I saw.
He leaned against a crumbling archway with his arms crossed, his wand clipped to his belt.
His expression looked as unimpressed as always.
Took you long enough, he said. Was the sari sari store line too long or something???
I rolled my eyes.
I had to actually say goodbye to someone. Unlike you. Your closest relationship is probably with your hair gel.
Zuriel raised an eyebrow and let out a low chuckle.
Wow. You're back five minutes and already annoying.
Must mean you're feeling better.
Lucien snorted from a nearby bench.
They're at it again.
I missed this, Zuriel muttered quietly.
Barely loud enough to hear.
But I caught it.
The corners of his mouth twitched like he was trying very hard not to smile.
Nathaniel stood nearby with one hand resting over a chalk circle on the ground.
You said your goodbye?
Yeah, I replied, adjusting my satchel.
Zuriel pushed himself off the wall and walked past me.
About time. Try not to pass out from emotions. We still need you semi alive.
I'll try, I said dryly as I followed him.
But no promises if I have to listen to your voice all day.
I'll take that as a yes.
This time he didn't hide the smile.
Nathaniel said nothing.
But as we gathered around the circle, his eyes lingered on us for a moment.
Like he noticed something changing.
We weren't just strangers caught in the same disaster anymore.
We were starting to move like a team.