"Ma, can we get some ice cream?" A young boy begged his mother at the park.
"She moved on so fast!" The boy whispered to himself, his eyes swelling with tears.
"Achan? Is that you?" Said the teenage boy, standing next to his peer, watching the mother and son by the bleachers.
"Zorion?" The boy uttered his peer's name as he pull him aside.
"What are you doing here? Your father's been looking for you!" Zorion stated as they stop in a narrow alleyway where nobody often goes.
"I heard you ran away with his Grimoires... Are you really gonna put an end to his cruelty?" Zorion added as he pat his childhood friend's shoulder.
"I don't know, I just can't let him Practice anymore, and if he really can't go on without his books-" The boy named Achan shuddered.
"It means that your father, the Great Babaylan's corrupted!" Zorion murmured as he goes to hug his frightened friend.
"How did you find me?" Achan asked as tears fall from his eyes.
"You're the Scion, tracking Spells works well on your kind!" He smiled as he stares at his friend's current condition.
Messed up hair and worn out clothes, he knew that Achan has been in hiding for days now. And only he could understand his situation, for they are both living under the same situation- a little different but, they know each other's suffering!
"It's been years since we last saw each other, you still haven't change!" Zorion laugh as he waive his hands in front of Achan.
"Thanks for finding me!" Achan smiled while his body began to glow.
"A little Cleaning and you'll be fine, I'm sorry I can't repair your clothes, I'm still weak!" Zorion sighed, unsatisfied with his own power.
"We're the same, I can't even use my power right, I couldn't even Purify my own father!" Achan sobbed after recalling the day he ran away from his home, taking his father's Grimoires with him.
"It's okay, us Vessels of the First Mage must stick together, remember?" Zorion smiled as he tap Achan's chest.
"I was gonna talk to her, but I can't!" Achan said, changing the topic.
"Mrs. Allare?" Zorion asked.
"She's no longer my mother, the Mrs. Allare- never mind that. Why are you here?" Achan sighed and started smiling, hiding the pain away.
"I told you, us Vessels must stick together! Do you need help destroying Mr. Allare's Grimoires?" Zorion shrugged and stood besides him.
"You're too kind to me Zorion, I don't deserve your-"
"Don't you dare say that! You're my only friend who knows about our true identity. It gives me joy to know that we both possess the same destiny, and if you ever push me away, I'll just come right back, stronger and more willful! Your the Scion, the heir of your ancestor's broken Practice while I am the Successor, the heir of my ancestor's broken Magic. The Fallen Healer and the False Witch, our destiny's intertwined for we came from the lineage of the First Mage, I will forever your friend, your confidant, your only trusted people with Gift on the Coven. Remember that, and don't you dare do this to me again, call me if you need me!" Zorion stated, marking his importance to Achan's life.
"Thank you, but I can't let you do this just because we have the same destiny. Zorion, you cannot involve yourself, don't make the Coven hate you too!" Achan said as he starts to walk away.
"Five more years!" Zorion yelled, halting Achan's.
"Let me fully learn Witchcraft from my Grama, you cannot push me away anymore when I become more powerful than you, right?!" Zorion ran for him, holding his hands as he mark his promise.
"You can go ahead and try, I'm the Scion, remember? Just try to live your life Zorion, I am not worthy of your friendship!" Achan pushed his hands away and continued to walk away.
"But, I love you!" Zorion whispers as he watches the person he couldn't confess his love to.
For that person's caught up with too much complication with his life on such early age, they might be living the same time, but it feels as though that boy is already exhausted.
***
Achan's P.O.V
"Thank the heavens for my preparedness!" I said, relieved after wearing my spare uniform that I left on my office.
I went to my office and took a shower there, luckily nobody's here yet. But I'm more thankful for the office's bathroom, the company sure does pamper their employees well!
"Oh Chief? Why are you so early?" Kammil greated me after seeing me on our office's lounge.
"I live here!"
"Oh, I forgot..." We both laugh after realizing that I was joking.
"Anyway, Chief? When Manager Diaz suddenly showed up and whisked you away last night, I thought you'd gotten into some serious trouble! But you seem perfectly fine, aren't you?" She asked after a moment of silence.
"I am..." I plainly said.
"When the Young Master appeared too, we were shock, he even knew that you got into some trouble, he even promised us that he'll help you reasoned with him. So, everything worked out, right?" She giggled, eyes twinkling with relief.
"He did that?" I asked after hearing her.
"Well, yes, but I forgot how he knew that you got into trouble- we're sorry Chief. That all happened because of us!" She bowed in front of me.
"Miss Constantino, it's fine, nothing serious happened!" I smiled at her, assuring that she's nothing to be sorry for.
"Thank you Chief, next time we won't force you do something that reckless!" She smiled and excused herself.
How did the Young Master know though? Was he spying on me?
"How's your office job? Was it more stressful than your past one?" Miss Irene asked after sitting back to our table.
"Thank you for meeting me outside the company, breathing some fresh air would do me good!" I smiled at her as I take the beverage she bought for me.
"I should be the one thanking you, after Manager left for an international assignment, my work has become easier!" She giggled as she took as sip from her coffee.
"It's been weeks huh?"
"How are you? I heard the Young Master's been a little upset about you these past few days?" She opened the conversation regarding a sole topic that I didn't want her to open!
"Miss Irene, I asked you to meet me so that I could wind down, not to talk about the stress I've been having!" I glared at her.
"I'm sorry, my bad!" She placed her palms together to say sorry.
I just laughed and nodded at her, I'm not actually mad, I just don't want to talk about that!
It's been almost a month since that incident, Manager left without a word while the Young Master seems to redirecting all his frustrations at me.
"What do you mean you needed three kilos of pounded Saffron Threads?!" Young Master yelled as I opened up my presentation for my next team project.
"The- The Antioxidant and Mood Booster of the Saffron could completely get rid of all the remaining Witch of the Forest's ste-"
"Are you serious?! Do you think the company could waste almost half a million just for a pounded flower?!" He scoff as he threw my clipboard on the table.
"Please excuse us!" The Chief of Finance excused themselves as the other Chiefs hurriedly exited the meeting hall.
"What's wrong? Why are you so worked up with my proposal? You haven't gave me a chance to consult this to you personally-"
"What are you tryna say? That you needed somebody double checking your work for you? Isn't that your job?!" He stood up, slamming the table.
"I- I'm sorry, le- let me come up with cheaper substitute!" I hesitantly unplugged my laptop from the projector and ran for the exit.
"Achan, are you okay?" Chief Clarence greeted me on the exit as the other Chiefs stared at me.
I tried to hold back my tears but I just couldn't.
After the incident with Manager four days ago, we did not had the chance to have a talk, I even tried going to his floor but I just couldn't find him... And after seeing him this mad about my presentation, it made me feel so disappointed about myself.
"I- I'm fine, I guess I could just settle with chamomile!" I laughed and ran for the elevator.
"Poor Mr. Allare!" The Chief of Medical mumbles as I wait for the elevator to open.
"I guess he's still nothing but an immature Healer- but if he managed to keep up with the Curse, wouldn't it be better if you and the Young Master approved his budget?" The Chief of Hospitality told the Chief of Financial.
"You do have a point, I mean, wasn't it a little cheaper than the last Chief Physician's budget?" I heard Chief Clarence said before I entered the elevator.
"Are you sure you're okay? We could cancel today's Locating Ritual if you want a break?" Miss Irene held my hand after seeing me dozing off for a moment.
"I- It's nothing, I can still push through. Finding our Boss is our priority! It's almost two months now, we can't let Silvia torture him for much longer!" I said as I shook my head to focus up to the present.
"Irene, Achan, what are you guys doing here?" Chief Clarence suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"Chief? What are you doing here?" Miss Irene returned his question.
"Achan, you need to explain!" He tried to grab my hands but Miss Irene blocked him.
"Wait, explain what?!" Miss Irene said as he continues to block Chief's attempts to snatch me.
"Irene?" He faltered.
"Can't you see I'm trying my best to cheer my friend up? Why are you barging into our little date acting all worked up?" Miss Irene barked at him.
"It's Young Master, he put down an order, reassigning all Achan's team to work under Zeworld, effective immediately!" After hearing that from him, I stormed out of the café.
What the fuck did Chief Clarence just say? What did I do to deserve this?!
"What did you do to piss the Young Master this much?!" Chief Clarence caught up to me.
"I was asking the same thing but it doesn't seem like he wants to explain himself to me!" I screamed, frustrated of his sudden change.
Was it because Manager told on me? I guess it was that!
"Tsk!" I sighed as I ran for the company's building.
The three of us got on the elevator, all winded by our sudden cardio.
"Go talk to him, now!" Miss Irene said as she pulls Chief Clarence out of my office's floor to check on my team.
"Young Master?" I rang his doorbell but nothing answered for a minute.
"Shh, you're safe now... I got you!"
"I know you're in there!" I yelled.
"Seems like the effects of the drug has completely vanished from your system, you look lively!"
"Young Master!"
"Get out!"
I remembered it, all the things he did, his sudden change of demeanor- he's hiding something from me, that's why he's being unreasonable!
"Uther Moralez, come out and face me you coward! If I said or did something that might have upset you, tell it to my face, not like this! Don't involve my work!" I screamed as I continuously banged on his door.
The door swung open, revealing a half naked man wearing nothing but his towel. All wet from showering.
"What do you want?!" He sneered.
It took me a second to take away my eyes from the giant scar on the middle of his chest.
"Why did you sent my team away? Are you nuts?!" I yelled, trying my best not to take another peak at his scar.
"What? Didn't you say you needed the budget for your little Purifying Project?!" He scoffed, pissing me off even more.
"You fucking dumb-" I tried to hit him but he just caught my fist.
"Removing unnecessary things on your department surely does made room for what you're requesting!" He smiled as he pull me close to him.
So, he wants to play this game? Fine. I've already dealt the other problem in my life. Now it's time to handle this one!
"Are you really gonna make an enemy out of me?" I whispered as I push myself on him.
"Who said I do? I'm merely trying to help you do YOUR JOB!" He smirked, bragging.
"Oh really? It's on! And listen to this, I do not need your help!" I smiled as I push him into the ground before I left.
Why is he being unreasonable?
"And why did I entertained his immaturity?!" I yelled to myself as I enter my room.
Why did I entertained this? I was supposed to reason with him and bring back my team, now I ruined that chance!
"If this continues, I might have to step down!" I sat on the floor, complimenting my mistakes.
It's okay, as soon as I figure out this Curse and return Boss safely, I will be set free from this nightmare!
"I shouldn't have revealed myself!" I mumbled, regretting all my past decisions that took me here.
But I can't change my choice, I have to own it, it was my choice and I should embrace it!
"Once this is settled, I should quit!" I have to thread carefully or I might also fall...
"I can't let this Purity vanish!" I stare at my hands as flickering bright white light started to come out of my palms.
"I can't be swayed by my emotions alone, or it could lead to my downfall!" I reminded myself as I stare at one ball of light covered with dark smokes.
One more wrong move and I might also fall from grace!