Unveiling

Beginning of Chaos

Watching everything from the lost page, tears rolled down her cheeks. Celestine could not believe how she has been fooled like that. All her life she trusted Cascade and believed in everything he said only to discover he's the reason why her identity becomes a mess. 

While on the side are Abby and Quasi, still lost for words. All of them had been astounded and seem to not still recover from the scenario they have watched. 

 Abby has her own reasons to be shocked too. She didn't expect she could see her gran Adaia in the scene and to see her family, especially her mom to be part of that chaos that Cascade created. All she thought is that Felon is just mean, but as the lost page had shown, she's actually a b***h! 

How could they take advantage of my mom? Now I understand why we have been told that gran is an outcast in Achker and no Achkerian especially my family is allowed to see her. 

The entire room is filled with sighings and blank stares. 

" Guys.." Quasi muttered. 

He's trying to break the coldness in the atmosphere. 

" Cel... it's okay at least now you have a glimpse of what you are", Quasi said trying to console her friends. 

Yet, still, Celestine could not see a word. She doesn't know what to feel. Her thoughts wander on to those days whom Cascade was so good to them when she was still exploring her abilities. He had been his mentor. She remembers how they could escape some punishments whenever Abby was naughty because Cascade would always defend them from Felon. 

He was so good to become a monster. Celestine thinks. 

" Cel are you okay?", Quasi tried to call her attention. 

Celestine gazes at him like she's been awakened from wandering. 

" I don't know", Celestine answered with a sad tone. 

" So what now? I am a mixed soul. How can this help us? How can this help my parents? Where's my gran? " Celestine muttered with a teary-eyed. 

" I'm still filled with questions", she sighed. 

Silence ... 

 "Ok guys, enough" Quasi said hugging his two friends. 

Celestine and Abby were touched by Quasi's gesture. 

 Oh! there... you smiled!, Quasi said with glee. 

And he turns to Abby. 

" I'm missing the naughty, always giggling Abahaya", he said softly with some seriousness in his tone. 

Abby smiled and hits her with a pillow. 

" You! I hate hearing my name in full, it doesn't sound cool!", Abby said smiling.

Quasi picked up a pillow too and throw it at Abby. 

And moments later, the room was filled with laughter. 

" Guys!"

Celestine called their attention, interrupting the fun. 

 "I think the Achkerians have to see what's in the lost page. Let's bring this home", she said.

" Okay!", replied her two friends. 

In the Prophet's Castle

 " You're awake! It's now time for your transformation son"

Vex heard his dad's voice as he open his eyes. He cringes clutching at his aching chest. His entire body feels sick. His eyes move around and he sees familiar interiors. 

This is my room. I am now in Achker. He thinks.

" They now know what is in the lost page", Cascade told his son. Vex sighed. " Sorry dad, I failed", he said lowering his gaze. 

Cascade smile and gently pat his son.

" It's okay. We have greater fall back in our hands... the stone remember? " Cascade said.

" Once we've filled it with their abilities nothing matters anymore", he said with a certain tone. 

" But Dad, how come? it's not the sacred stone?" Vex is somehow puzzled.

Cascade chuckles. " Okay! get up there and let's see the stone at the chamber," Cascade said. His tone was full of excitement. 

As they walk towards the chamber, Vex noticed how the prophet's castle has changed. It's obvious he's not been here for 10 years. The last thing he remembers about Achker was in the glass hall, that area where his dad had asked him to put a barrier. Looking around he can see somehow that his clan has fully risen to influence here in Achker. Everybody here looks up to them and feared them. 

" We're here", Cascade taps his son's shoulder, smiling motioning his hands to the closed dim stone-walled chamber of the stone. 

Vex furrowed his brows. " So if that is not the sacred stone, then what it is?", he asked 

" The Reaper", Cascade answered in an intense tone. 

 " It is named a reaper for it can suck all the abilities of every reincarnated soul or even an angel incarnate" he continued.

" angel incarnate?", Vex mustered with confusion. 

Cascade chuckles. He shakes his head like not wanting to discuss the thing he carelessly uttered. 

" But dad, isn't it dangerous for us too? " 

" No, I am its master, what it will get will be transferred to me," He told his son smiling, and I will share some those who I want to", Cascade said. 

Rrrrnnnggg! 

" It's my mom!" Abby said showing her phone screen to her friends. 

" Abby, when are you going home? There is an urgent assembly in Achker," said the voice on the other line. Abby glanced at her friends and presses the loudspeaker. 

" We're now on the plane mom. What is the assembly for?" she replied. 

" I don't know, Cascade just told us we need to be there. They will be holding a ceremony for the transfer of our abilities to the stone. He said it has to be formal so our sacrifice has to be witnessed by many.", explains her mom. 

Abby glanced worriedly at her friends. 

Oh! My god! Abby mouthed to them. Her eyes rounding wide. 

" Mom, when is this ceremony?" Abby asked.

" Now!", 

" Whaaat?!" 

Abby almost falls to her seat in surprise.

" Yes, we're on our way there. All our clans willingly agreed to Cascade's call for sacrifice. They're here with me now."  

" All?!"

" Yeah... unlike the astrals. They are resisting. It's a bit chaotic here now." Abby's mom said. She sound relax not knowing the danger she's heading to.

" Dear when you arrive just go immediately to the shrine", her mom said.

And she drops the call. 

" Mom wait!", 

" What are we gonna do now?", Abby muttered.

Celestine who's been previously quiet in the back seat clenched her fists. 

I never expected he will go this far! She thinks. 

" Everyone is gonna be there? Good... so they'll all see Cascade's mask wear off, " Celestine said with gritted teeth. 

At the Astral Clan

krassssh!, zzzng! boom!

The people in Astral are shouting and the children are crying. There are commotions everywhere.

The elders in the land battle with the invaders. The children, and women, and the weak are taken away. 

The entire Astral territory is hovered with dark shadows, flying, devouring them. 

" There is one way for you all to stay alive! Stop resisting!", the head army clothed in black screams. His voice reverberates together with blasting fires around. 

" There's no way you can get our powers", the eldest of the Astral yells. He stood courageously, prepared for a fight. 

The head army smirks looking at the elder with underestimation. 

The eldest astral opens his palm, motions it, and the stuck sword at the dead body behind them was pulled out. Then he let it fly towards the army. But the army was quick to escape. 

" I can sense what you are!", the eldest yell.

Even though they're in disguise, the eldest astral know that the invaders are the prophets. The prophets are the only clan that can transform themselves into dark smoke, aside from that, he can sense their souls.

The elder grabs the lead army's hand. They clashed. 

" Gotcha! fall under my influence!" The eldest said in his mind as he look straight into the eyes of the lead army, twisting his arms. 

" Go back to your clan. Forget that there are still Astrals left in here!" the elder said in a firm commanding voice as if hypnotizing the enemy.

The lead army stops fighting as nothing had happened. Then he ordered his men to leave Astral. As soon as the elder heard it, he rushed to the tower, running towards its top. 

I must do something to protect the Astrals left in here. I just hope Celestine is here. He thinks. 

And standing on top of the tower, the eldest motions his hands. 

He knows there is a little chance. The barrier he will be making will be that strong against outsiders, his ability is not enough, but he has to try. 

The elder continued to move his hands, raising them, then moving them to the side, and down, and he closes his eyes. Astral's are more powerful with eyes closed. In this way, their mind can travel to any realm, including that of the spirit. Through this, they can command everything there that might help or affect the condition of the physical world. As astral, their strength lies best in their souls.

After a moment, the elder was swallowed by a great light, then the light crept unto the entire territory of the astral, and in a blasting snap, everything in there disappeared.

At the Prophet's Castle

" Put them in the dungeon!" Cascade commanded the armies who had just arrived from Astral.

" Why are there only a few clan elders?", Cascade mustered with an irate tone.  

" Where is the eldest astral?"

" They're gone", the lead army replied. 

Cascade frowns. He's expecting to capture that old man. He's a threat! 

" Come here", he said to the head army in gritted teeth. 

The army comes near though hesitant. Cascade grasps the army's face, lifted his head and he looks into his eyes. Cascade see what happened in the astral territory. 

" You've been tricked!" he yells and slaps the man. 

" Leave!",  

Cascade clenched his fists as the scenario he saw by looking at the army's eyes played on his mind. 

That old man really can do that kind of thing huh? Astral abilities are amazing....and wait...he's hoping for Celestine to rescue them? Did I understand it right?  

Cascade chortles. 

You like to power play huh? Celestine won't come. He thinks. 

" Keeper, the ceremony will take place in a minute", 

 It's the head servant. 

" Okay, I will go there."