"Then let's proceed."
Si Dapa nodded at Kanlaon and gestured for him to begin the ritual.
Kanlaon let out a heavy sigh and leaned forward, whispering something inaudible to the hourglass in his hand. Without warning, he hurled it against the wall. The hourglass shattered, releasing beams of golden light that swirled and converged, forming a glowing circular portal.
"Mortal."
Elise turned at the voice, her gaze landing on the bookworm she had seen earlier with Pandaki. The young man stood up from his seat, adjusting his glasses with a practiced motion. Calmly, he placed the Percy Jackson book he had been reading back onto the table.
"The feats you achieved have reached my father's ears," Apolaki announced, his tone carrying a mix of gravity and unease. "Therefore, he sent me to deliver a warning."
Pandaki furrowed his brows, his playful demeanor replaced by concern. "What are you talking about, Apolaki? I thought we agreed to keep this mission a secret from Bathala."
Apolaki shook his head solemnly. "No information can escape my father, Pandaki. No matter how well we conceal it, Bangun-Bangun will use her power to foresee the future and reveal everything to him."
Then his gaze shifted to Elise, and his expression softened with worry. "He permits you to turn back time," Apolaki said carefully, "but only on the condition that you stop Sitan's disciples from spreading evil throughout the world."
Elise's heart pounded at his words, and her throat tightened as Apolaki continued. "The reason why Mansisilat killed your husband's parents was to push him to the brink of insanity—to fill his life with despair and misery. Her goal was never random; it was calculated to crush him completely."
The weight of the revelation hit Elise like a tidal wave. Her fists clenched as the determination in her heart burned brighter. "If Bathala allows it," she said, her voice steady, "then I will make sure Mansisilat and the rest of Sitan's disciples pay for what they've done. I'll stop them from ruining anyone else's life."
Apolaki smiled and nodded with satisfaction. "Very well... I shall root for you in this journey, Mrs. Gutierrez."
Elise lowered her head slightly, a gesture of gratitude and respect. "Thank you, Apolaki. Your support means more than I can express."
The god's expression softened further, a rare warmth breaking through his stern demeanor. "Your resolve is admirable. May your determination never waver. Bathala himself sees potential in you—that is no small feat."
"Thank you," she repeated, her voice firm yet humble, meeting his gaze with sincerity. "I won't let you or Bathala down."
Apolaki gave a small bow of acknowledgment. "Then go forth, mortal. The path ahead is treacherous, but I trust you will find the strength to see it through."
Elise walked towards the portal, her heart racing with a mix of anticipation and dread. Just as she was about to step through, Kanlaon raised a hand, stopping her.
"I must tell you beforehand," he said, his voice stern, "that I cannot control the exact time. The portal may transport you to a random day in the year 2010."
Elise nodded, her resolve unwavering. "I will keep that in mind," she replied. Her tone softened as she glanced back at him and the other gods. "I am still grateful to the gods for granting me this chance to go back to the past. Especially to you, Kanlaon."
Kanlaon's golden eyes glinted, his guarded demeanor briefly softening into something akin to approval. "Do not waste it, mortal," he said simply, stepping back as Elise turned toward the swirling light of the portal.
Elise stepped through the portal, the blinding light swallowing her whole. For a moment, there was silence, an all-consuming quiet that seemed to press down on her. Then, she felt herself falling—or floating, perhaps—into an endless, dark void.
She opened her eyes and saw nothing but an infinite expanse of darkness dotted with faint, flickering lights, like dying stars. Her soul felt weightless, untethered from time and space, and yet her heart carried the unbearable heaviness of her regrets.
Her mind drifted to Jasper. She could still picture him back in Si Dapa's manor, bruised and battered but determined to train under Wrath.
Is he safe? she wondered. Will he forgive me for leaving him behind?
She clenched her fists, though she couldn't feel them in this form. I've failed you, Jasper, she thought bitterly. I let you shoulder a burden no child should ever bear. I'll do everything I can to set things right, no matter how painful it is.
The weight of her regrets bore down on her, but there was also a spark of hope. This was her second chance—a rare opportunity to rewrite not just her son's fate, but her own.
The void began to shift, a bright light piercing through the darkness. Elise felt her soul being pulled toward it, faster and faster, until she was consumed entirely.
When her eyes fluttered open, she was lying in a familiar wooden bed. The faint scent of herbal medicine lingered in the air. She blinked several times, the light streaming through the window almost too bright for her disoriented senses.
"Elise?"
She turned her head weakly and saw her mother and father seated beside her bed, their faces lined with worry. Her mother placed a cool hand on her forehead and sighed in relief.
"You're awake, anak," her father said, his voice gentle but tinged with concern. "You scared us. You've been bedridden for two days because of a sudden fever."
Elise stared at them, her heart skipping a beat. Her father's strong yet kind face, her mother's warm and caring eyes—they were alive. She swallowed hard, emotions welling up inside her.
"I…" Her voice cracked, still hoarse from disuse. She cleared her throat, forcing herself to speak. "I'm fine now, I think."
Her mother smiled, brushing her hair back tenderly. "You've always been strong, Elise. Rest for now, okay?"
Elise nodded, her mind racing. She couldn't believe it—she was truly back in her childhood body, back in the year 2010. And while her parents believed it was just a fever, she knew the truth.
This was her second chance.
Elise's gaze lingered on her parents as they fussed over her, their voices filled with warmth and concern. It felt surreal. She wanted to savor every moment, etching their faces into her memory.
Five years from now... they'll both be gone.
Her mother would collapse suddenly during her 17th birthday, a cruel twist of fate that would leave her world shattered. Her father, once her pillar of strength, would fall into the depression because of grief, unable to cope with the loss. She could still remember the numbness, the disbelief when she found him one cold morning, gone by his own hand.
And then there was Tita Maribel. Her aunt had taken her in, but it was far from what she had expected. The constant mistreatment, the harsh words, and the feeling of being utterly unwanted had made every day a struggle to survive.
But now, staring into her mother's kind eyes and hearing her father's reassuring voice, Elise silently vowed that she wouldn't let history repeat itself.
Not this time.
She had many things to do, aside from her mission to save her future husband's family. She must first save her own.
"Anak, is there something wrong?" her mother asked gently, her brows furrowing as she noticed the tears welling up in Elise's eyes.
Elise shook her head and smiled weakly, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Nothing, Mama. I'm just… really glad to see you."
Her father chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Well, get some rest. You've got a lot of catching up to do after being in bed for so long."
As they left the room to let her sleep, Elise stared up at the wooden beams of the ceiling, her mind racing. She couldn't save them outright—Kanlaon's warning was clear. But maybe, just maybe, she could change small things.
If I can't stop what's meant to happen, then I'll make sure the time we have together is filled with love.
And as for Tita Maribel? A bitter smile crossed her lips.
This time, I'll be prepared. Just you wait...