"What have you done to her?" Jasper gritted his teeth and wanted to get up, but he began coughing blood.
"I just fulfilled the end of our deal," the death god shrugged and slowly walked towards him.
"But this is strange, a normal mortal should not be able to see me," he murmured. "Perhaps, your spiritual essence is also strong like your mother. But it's a shame that you're about to die."
The boy's form changed and he turned into a grown-up man, he now wears a golden crown adorned with ten small horns and a loose white gown. But then his face sent shivers down Jasper's spine when he recognized him.
"F-father." he stuttered. Just then, rage filled his entire system, and spat blood on the god's face. "Change your face, I can't bear to see the face of that bastard who made our life a living hell."
Si Dapa's mouth twitched and wiped away the blood on his face. "Hmm... you've got spunk kid," he chuckled and leaned forward to match his eyes. "It seems that you harbor a deep hatred for your father. But what your mother feels is quite the opposite, she yearns to meet him again. That's why she wanted to turn back time."
"What?!" Jasper yelled and he coughed more blood.
He wheezed before he spoke, but his condition is getting worse so he is having a difficult time speaking.
"Is she... going to suffer... again?" Jasper's voice is becoming more hoarse as time passed.
Si Dapa's mouth curled upwards and leaned back. "She chose her destiny, to correct all of her mistakes and give you a better life and relationship with your father, James Gutierrez."
"Please... let me meet her... I beg you." Jasper pleaded and grabbed a piece of fabric from the death god's gown.
"I was going to, but considering the rude behavior you showed earlier. I'm having doubts—."
"Please... I'll do everything to ease your anger. J- Just let me meet her." Tears started dripping from his eyes, his resolve weakening.
Si Dapa heaved out a sigh. "Fine, then let's make a deal. Your spiritual essence can be used to become one of my reapers, but your body is deteriorating... which is a shame—but you can still become her familiar."
"F-Familiar?"
"Yes, a weapon that strikes the enemies and forever serves your mother for the rest of your life. Are you going to accept such a cruel fate?"
Jasper fell silent before nodding weakly.
As long as he can be of use... He'll show his Fatherin the afterlife that he is no longer the helpless boy he onceaknew.
"Fine, turn me into a familiar. Like I said, I'll do anything just to see her again," he muttered weakly before his consciousness slowly faded. "I am willing... to become... her tool."
"Very well," Si Dapa stared at the two dead bodies with sympathy and he began the ritual.
'O, these poor souls.
May they be given a second chance.
For their sins have taken their toll,
May they be given mercy upon the god of repentance.'
A soft blue glow shimmered in every corner of the room, casting ethereal shadows against the walls. Jasper's body hung suspended in mid-air, encased in a radiant white light that pulsed faintly, as though alive with its rhythm. Across from him, Elise stood, her form slowly dissolving into the air. Specks of snow-like light drifted away from her body, vanishing into the dimly lit space.
"I wish you good luck in convincing them, Elise."
----
'Where am I?'
Elise opened her eyes and she saw herself floating in a white void.
She examined her surroundings, but she failed to see any forms of life around her. It's as if she is the only person present in that nothingness.
She tried to speak, but no voice could be heard.
'No way.'
'Am I dead? But Si Dapa said that he'll turn back time.'
Then realization hits her, Si Dapa is the god of life and death. Therefore, he cannot turn back time. Then that means that the gods and goddesses who can do it are either Bangun-bangun or—
"It seems like you've researched about us before becoming his servant," a voice suddenly echoed throughout the void. "The mortal he took in this time is quite interesting indeed. So much energy, I believe you are also a sinner who also wants redemption, yes?"
'I want to turn back time, go back in my childhood, and correct all my mistakes. to change our future.'
"I'm afraid that time cannot be turned back easily, Mortal." another voice intervened and Elise felt a pressurizing stare aiming at her. "Such selfishness could pose danger among the other people living in that timeline!"
"Stop it, Kanlaon! I'll do the talking." the first voice reprimanded the other.
"I'm sorry for his rude behavior, please excuse him."
'It's okay. I understand the disruption of certain events could cause a more major event, also known as the Butterfly effect."
"If you already knew the consequences, why are you still pursuing to turn back time? You even gave away your freedom to Si Dapa by becoming one of his reapers."
'I want to meet someone,' Elise's eyes turned bitter as she began remembering the cruelty her husband treated her. 'And reconcile with him. Hoping it could change our future, even just a little.'
"Ahh... love." the voice chuckled. "Okay. For me, Pandaki, the god of redemption shall agree to your wish. I'll give you a second chance to live."
"What?!" Kanlaon's booming voice echoed again through the void.
Elise covered her ears and trembled at the presence of the god who slowly augmented into his human form.
Kanlaon's golden crown reflected the light coming from the void and a giant hourglass was floating from his left hand. His lower half is covered with sinamay fabric adorned with various beads and golden jewelry with his golden shawl that drapes down to his thighs. His abaca sandals are adorned with vines and plants gifted to him by Diwata Laon, the supreme deity of the Visayans.
"Well, I am different from Pandaki," Kanlaon mumbled, his eyes meeting Elise's. "I would never break the balance of time just for the pointless reason called 'love'." He glared at her, making her feel intense fear toward the god before him.
But Elise kept her composure and did not make it obvious and she glared back at the god.
'The Butterfly effect can't happen if I'll only alter some minor events. I just wanted to change my life and avoid the miserable fate that I've suffered before.'
"Then prove it," The god commanded. " Prove to me that you are worthy of becoming Sidapa's Reaper."
"Head to my territory and fight my precious partner. If you successfully defeat Diwata Laon, till then I will accept you as his Reaper capable of guiding the dead and protecting the souls against evil spirits. If you fail, your soul will burn with Sitan in the underworld." He continued and then vanished into the nothingness.