THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO

Exiting his Icy Palace, which was so beautifully shining in the light of the day, even if a „blind” sun was seen at that moment on the sky’s vault, Island looked up, at that blue and clear celestial vault, and smiled. „Ah!” He said. „It’s so beautiful when the world smiles.” Then he allowed himself to fully enjoy nature’s beauty and especially the calmness of the places where they lived.

Yet, something still bothered him. It was like a worm that was squirming him inside, making him feel pain in his chest from time to time as if his chest was a kind of big tunnel inside of which a huge worm was living and continuously moving through it. That’s why when he felt pain in his chest again, the Titan touched it with his palm and made a wry face, mumbling: „this is already something I dislike!” Then he turned his back to the place he looked at till that moment and intended to enter the palace again to rest a little bit on his throne as he was doing all the time, especially when he wanted to regain some power.

But… an eagle’s shout, heard from above, made him stop and look at the sky. Thus he could see a huge flock of birds, with black feathers, hunting a white small bird.

„What’s this?” Wondered Island. Then, to see better, he narrowed his eyes and looked into the distance. And he did this because, from the place where he was, he could see the height of the sky only this way… by narrowing his eyes. Yet, even so, that white bird was seen only as a small point and nothing more. However, Island’s stubbornness helped him eventually to see that it was a magic white bird, of unseen beauty. Yet, the white of her feathers was painted with red beads, a hint that the hooked beaks of the enemies tasted from her flesh already.

Seeing this, Island gnash his teeth. „Cronus!” He snarled. „You’re always looking for prey!” And, after taking off, Island has run for a few meters. Then he jerked in the air, taking his icy dragon shape.

Up in the sky, the dragon flew toward the birds. Getting next to them, he started to fly between the flock and the white bird. And… the light, that was shining even more powerfully reflected on the dragon’s scales, made those black birds scream and savagely flutter while struggling to keep flying.

„What? Seeing something bigger and more powerful than you it’s something you dislike?” Hissed the dragon through his teeth. Yet, his question was more to provoke the black birds and not to manifest his discontent. But, in the end, he received an answer - not from the birds, but from the sky when a big thunderlight cracked the celestial vault… it was Cronus’s answer to the young Island’s boldness. „Yeah, yeah, I know!” Said Island in mockery. „Seeing me here is something you dislike. But… ups, what to do?! I also don’t like when someone innocent is attacked on my territory.”

„And what I dislike is to see busybodies pocking their noses in my businesses,” Island heard Cronus’s voice from above. And, looking to his left, the dragon could see Cronus coming toward him on Argol’s back.

„And you, as usual, are hiding behind your birds and not facing the enemy as you should do: stately,” the dragon kept teasing Cronus. Then, Island faced Cronus, showing the beauty of his icy body on which the sunny light was reflected. That position, facing Cronus, allowed the dragon to finally see the magic white bird that was flying not that far from them and which seemed to wait for something while being there. What she was waiting for or who she really was, Island couldn’t understand at the beginning. That's why he preferred to look into Cronus’s eyes again. Thus he saw them sparkling because of the Titan’s anger. Later Island heard Cronus hissing through his teeth „damn you, fate!” Only then the dragon understood that it was Parca’s magic shape, of whom he had only heard, but never seen.

„Bear off!” Cronus yelled eventually at the dragon when he saw him turning left and flying a few dozen meters from him, between Argol and Parca, intending to defend her. „I said stay away from this! Didn’t you hear me?” Cronus screamed again. And, with a sudden movement of his hand, he formed the famous Turuppu sword in his hand, the one used to bring the thunders and the thunderlights into the sky.

Island, however, wasn’t stupid. He knew well that if he fights with Cronus in his dragon form, while this one had the Turuppu sword with him, it meant being defeated for sure. That’s why he suddenly took his Titan body back, but he kept floating in the air, at the same height the dragon has flown not long ago. Then, sweetly yawning while slowly moving the hands in small circles to chase the numbness away from his wrists, Island formed two long spears in his hands, very sharp actually. And those spears were made from a material similar to the ice, something that the People of Makkaḷ knew as Ūturva (unbreakable). „Now you can try again!” Island told Cronus. And, in his voice, Cronus could feel the mockery.

„What exactly?” Asked Cronus, hissing the words. Then, he slowly tapped on Argol’s back, letting him know to keep only the balance, but not move from that place.

„To make me stay away from this!” Island calmly said.

„Then… you know very well what can happen to you if you don't move away,” Cronus snarled the words. He was outraged in fact. That’s why, when he squeezed the sword’s handle, he made the sky crack again, for three times. „And if you keep fooling around, as you generally do, then not even your Saint mother will recognize you, Island, after this fight.”

„If you insist!” Island kept teasing him. Then the Titan looked at the magic bird, which kept flying in the same place, and told her: „and you, don’t stay frozen and help me! This old fool needs someone to teach him some manners. Thus… he won’t ever dare to attack others!” Then he threw one of the spears toward her, forcing Parca to take her Titanide body back to can grab it on the fly.

„As you wish!” Growled Cronus. He was more than furious and this because Island had called him „old fool,” something that filled the glace of his patience to the brim. That’s why he spurred Argol as if that one was a horse. And, tightly squeezing the handle of the sword, he attacked.

But… when only a few dozen meters were left between him and Island, a thunder, thrown from above, that moved toward him like a big rock of energy, threw Cronus off Argol’s back. That’s why the Titan started to vertiginously fall because Cronus was the only Titan who hadn’t the ability to fly, and this was because when he has been born, Uranus, his father, being afraid that his son could dethrone him, took this power from his son.

Seeing his master falling and about to be transformed into dust if he touches the ground, Argol let a deafening scream be heard around. Then, throwing himself after the Titan, with the wings stuck to his body, the eagle allowed himself to fall like a „rock” only to catch up with Cronus eventually.

Island, still surprised by the help from above, looked at the sky first. But when he understood that the sky won’t tell him who helped him, he only comically shrugged and, smiling, looked at Parca, who was still staring at her enemies.

Looking over there too, Island have seen how Argol managed to get under Cronus, and this one fell on the eagle’s back, which was with the wings widely stretched to the sides this time. Then, after normally sitting on Argol’s back, Cronus looked at Parca and hissed through his teeth: „don’t think it’s over, Fate! We’ll see each other on another occasion!” Then, he demanded his eagle to fly westerly.

Left alone, when Cronus was already far away from them and couldn’t hear them anymore, Island looked at Parca again and asked: „Why does he hunt you?”

„Because he has a problem with my existence,” replied Parca. Then she gnashed her teeth and threw the spear toward Island. Later, she threw herself toward the ground.

Seeing this, Island only shrugged and made the spears vanish, just as they appeared. Then, feeling the pain in his chest again, he cooked his nose and followed Parca, who was already touching the ground with her soles, waiting for him.

Yet, when the Titan also touched the ground with his soles, Parca didn’t approach him. She only turned her back to him and headed toward Kiago forest.

Island looked behind her for a few moments. After this, he decided to follow her. Why? He wasn’t so sure of that, but something told him that it could be something to chase his boredom away. Yet, if Island had known what was waiting for him by following Parca that time, he wouldn’t have gone after her that day, for sure.

Feeling him following her, Parca said: „yet, I’m not the only one who's always attacked by Cronus.”

„What do you mean?” Asked Island. Yet, he was confused because he couldn’t totally understand her words and intentions.

„I mean your brothers: Ahi and Mannar. I know already that you are their prey each time they are spurred by that dog, King Coal is his name, if I’m not mistaken. Ups, no offense: I forgot that’s your father!” And, smiling, Parca stopped, waiting for Island to get next to her.

Island instead made a wry face, hearing her mentioning those who he got to hate. „Let’s say only that I also get sometimes to forget that we are a family,” he said eventually.

„Why?” Asked Parca. Then she started to walk again, side by side with Island, this time.

„Because… let’s say that’s just a long story. One I don’t intend to tell others. Any way: you didn’t tell me what you have to share with Cronus.”

„The power of Kyllini Mountain!”

Island stared at her, confused. „Is this also something worthy to fight with others for?”

His remark made Parca sketch a smile. „You should tell this to Cronus. He’s the only one who thinks that the power of that mountain isn’t enough for all of us. Anyway: let’s turn to our business. What about helping me?”

„To help you? With what?” Island asked, even more confused than before.

„Bringing your brothers to their knees. Thus, you’ll show your father that you are also worthy to be taken into account.”

„Aaa, you’re talking about this. Anyway: I don’t think there’s something it can be done about this.”

„What if there is something that can be done about this?” Parca said, cunningly. Then, stopping again, she looked deeply into Island’s eyes, who also stopped, staring at her, confused. „It has been told to me that Ahi’s after someone now,” the Titanide said, convinced that she can make him accept her deal only by not allowing him to think by himself. „Her name is Curse!”

„A Titanide?”

„A mortal! But not one like many others!”

„She has magic power then!”

„No. Anyway, not the kind of magic power we are used to. But… as far as I could find out, she has a huge power flowing through her veins… the power of Themis.”

Island winced: „The Supreme Balance?”

„That’s right!”

„But… how is this possible? I thought that Themis split into many more, millions of years ago, hiding somewhere in Cosmos, and not on earth.”

„Well… this with Themis hiding… is a total mystery and not only for me. Actually, not even Yggdrasil or Chaos know where Themis is in fact or how to restore it. Yet, according to the ancient prophecies, those told by humans, the Supreme Power of Themis chose namely the Mortals to control it, those who’ll help her to be reborn with a human body in the end.”

„Maybe it’s as you say. But… I don’t get the point!”

„Ahi is looking to join his blood with Curse’s. If this happens and their bodily union will take place, then he’ll have the chance to restore Themis. And if this happens…”

„…Themis and the Supreme Power will be by evil’s side,” murmured Island, confused.

„Yes, you’re right. That’s why you must be the first to do this.”

„You know that’s against nature’s rules, Parca. If I do this, then I must give up on something important for me.”

„Any victory requires a sacrifice, Titan Island. You should do the same if you want Good to triumph against evil eventually,” added Parca confidently. Then she looked again into the Titan’s eyes and said: „if you decide to do this, look for me in 7 days from now on. On the Mountain of Fear, on the highest of its ridges. Only then I’ll tell you the secret of how to kneel Evil and have the Supreme Power, here, on Earth.” After this, Parca suddenly vanished, as if she has never been in front of Island.

The Titan instead stood in that place for a long time. He only looked at a blind spot in front, but his mind seemed empty, even if a lot of thoughts were spinning in his head. And it was already sunset, with a reddish horizon while the sun was rushing to bed when Island finally decided to return to his Palace. Yet, he felt that he needs to think a lot about Parca’s offer because it was tempting in the end. And… he really needed to make a decision about this…

***

7 days have passed since Parca and Island met when the Titan finally left the Palace and headed toward the Mount of Fear. He was wearing only his Veppam cloak when he left his home, early in the morning, when the sun wasn’t yet up. And Island went so early because he was convinced to climb that mountain and accept Parca’s offer, but he didn’t want someone to stop him if finds out about his decision.

But… even if he thought that his mother was asleep and nobody else saw him leaving, Island was wrong. Up, on the defense wall of their kingdom, was standing Inlan Diar. She was wearing a white long dress and a black shawl on her shoulders only while looking at her son leaving.

Thus, worriedly looking behind her son, Inlan Diar said these words in her mind: „I hope that you won’t regret your decision, son. I hope that’s for our sake and also for the sake of that innocent soul too. Anyway: no matter your decision, I’ll support you because… in front of you… there’s a path like a coin with two faces. And, on each of those faces is seen something that will bring sorrow and joy alike. The important here will be to choose the smallest evil, Island, and not the one that will bring our death closer to us!”

Then, Inlan Diar stood for a long time on that wall, with the cold wind blowing over her face and playing with her long hair and her vestment. Her eyes instead were still focused on that small black point that was climbing the mountain… her son, who was slowly advancing because of the mud and the wet soil because it had been heavy rain the night before as if nature itself was against Island’s decision. Only Island wasn’t seeing this as if he had had a thick cloth over his eyes. And… in his ears, he heard only one woman's voice and nothing more: „you must do it, Island! Only this way, you’ll impede bad luck to be king in your own home.”

***

„To be sure of our success, it’s absolutely necessary to have Ūḻal by our side,” said Parca when she met Island that day on the mountain. And… they were alone on that ridge that morning when they decided this… because only the playful wind witnessed their secret talk… yet, that wind was a good friend and it wouldn’t have told anybody about their secret, and this was well known by both Titans.

„Why exactly Ūḻal?” Island asked her then. „What does she have that special to make her part of our plan?”

„Fate! Hidden into a lie!”

„And… what do you mean with this?”

„You’ll see! As soon as you do this, Island! Don’t rush things or we can get the contrary of what we want.”

With such words in mind, Island entered the Forest of Shadows, Niḻal, that day, there, where the Titanide of Lie was living at that moment. And to be sure of their success, Island used a trick learned from Parca - he took another face. Thus, in the form of a handsome young man, with dark olive skin, green eyes, and long black hair up to the shoulders, he moved toward the depths of that forest. But… what really made Island seem attractive was his athletic body, well-made, which was so tempting to be touched by women, more by a Titanide like Ūḻal, who was more than eager to feel a man’s love. And… it was actually well known that Ūḻal had a „big heart,” one inside of which could fit the entire love of a man eager to share it with her.

Yet, as Parca told him, Island didn’t look for Ūḻal. He „allowed” her to find him. And this happened as soon as he took the harmonica from his girdle and started to sing a beautiful love song.

Thus, singing that song with his heart, for he was also eager to feel love, he wandered that forest high and low. Eventually, the music got to a small stream where Ūḻal was kneeling, next to the water, washing her body. And, as soon as she heard the first musical notes, she turned her head and carefully looked around. Actually, she even transformed her ear into a kind of cone to catch the signals that she thought were for her.

Then, when she finally understood where that divine sound comes from, Ūḻal stood up, slowly bit her lower lip, and grinned with pleaser… and this because a tempting thought came to her mind. That’s why she rushed toward the center of the forest, where Island was. And she found him sitting on a big log, that was lying on the ground, and which was half eaten by the worm holes.

And… Ūḻal appeared next to Island not like any normal woman… walking. But she suddenly appeared behind him, gently touching his naked chest with her palms while her body was completely stuck by his.

Island smiled, feeling her hardened breasts touching his back. But… his heart didn’t feel the same as she felt, and not the same thoughts as Ūḻal he had in his mind. Yet, he decided to play her game. That’s why he stopped his song. And, slowly turning toward her, he said: „who are you?”

„Me?” Replied Ūḻal with another question. Yet, she used all the sweetness her tricky being was capable of. „Let’s say I’m just someone eager enough to share beautiful things with you. What about you? Who are you?”

„My name is Soal. I’m the Spirit of the Underground waters of Power,” he replied by using cunningness.

His answer made Ūḻal attentive. And this happened just as each time she heard the word „power,” because she was more than eager to see, at least once, that Underground Stream of Power. But… something was telling her to be attentive. Yet… as it was her nature, tricky like her meaning on this earth, Ūḻal chose to ignore her survival instinct. And, eventually, she sat on Island’s lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and whispered into his ear: „I can give an eternity to also see that splendor.” After that, she kissed him on his lips. A hot kiss.

This was what Island was waiting for. And… also kissing her, Island tightly held her into his arms. Seconds later only… they vanished.

But, unlike what Ūḻal expected to see, Island didn’t show her that Magic Stream. Neither he offered her some moments of pleasure in two. He only left her next to the Stream of Power, and then vanished.

When Ūḻal came to her senses, she understood that she was actually staring at that black-like pitch water. And this confused her because she heard that the water of Caktiyiṉ Ātāram was transparent and not black.

„Why… why this water is…?” The Titanide mumbled eventually. Yet, not hearing an answer from Island, amazed her a lot. But when she intended to turn her head and look for him, she understood that she couldn’t use her power to move. She could only stare at the black water and nothing more as if an invisible power was controlling her as if that power tried to show her something by forcing her to look at the water.

Yet, after minutes of staring at the water, but seeing nothing, Ūḻal finally heard Parca’s voice. It has been at first with the right ear. Later she heard Parca’s voice from the left: „nothing in this world is like we want or we expect it to be. Life is unpredictable. Just as the lie you always say… it has short legs. And… just as destiny reveals its form someday, the same happens with the lie… everyone discovers it… sooner or later.”

„But… why do you say this to me?” Asked Ūḻal in half a voice.

„Because it’s absolutely necessary for you to know what’s waiting for you, sister Ūḻal. It’s about your real destiny. And this isn’t about lying to the mortals or teaching them to lie. Your destiny is another one.”

„Another one? Which one?”

„Look… at that water. Thus you’ll find out the answer… if you want to find it out, of course,” Ūḻal heard Parca’s voice farther and farther that time. And when the sound of Parca’s voice finally vanished, Ūḻal could see a sad image on that water… a vast territory scorched by the fire and covered by ashes; black guardians all around, like ghosts… the trees of a mystic forest; the skeletons of the animals that died because of that big fire, called a monster because nobody could face it or survive in the end, a monster whose red hair was dancing around his body.

Yet… what made Ūḻal attentive was another image seen in the water. At first, it was unclear and she hasn’t been able to see the face of that person. She even thought that the image was unclear because that strange had his face covered with something. But… as closer that stranger came, as clearer Ūḻal saw that it was an alive being. And, recognizing the movements of that person, Ūḻal murmured: „that alive being is me! But… why do I get closer to that scorched place and I’m not running away from there?”

„Because there won’t be a single place left on this earth to hide from evil, Ūḻal,” the stream talked to her. „What you are seeing right now is real and not just a product of your mind that it’s only used to invent lies. Yes, it’s real because the earth is meant to die because of fire while you are meant to have later another face.” And, finally, the young lady seen in the water uncovered her face. Thus… Ūḻal saw herself there. But she had not the face she knew… it was full of scars, burnt in fire, a victim of that monster called flames. „And… if you don’t want the world to look like this, you should join Life eventually and fight for freedom and justice. If not… you are useless in this world, and, like any useless thing, you must die eventually. So, keep this in mind, Ūḻal: to live forever, you must sacrifice yourself.”

After that, the Stream kept silent. But the images seen in the water continued to change. Thus Ūḻal saw herself having many faces; then she saw herself involved in many fierce battles, especially fighting by the sides of the Rophions; and… in the end, she saw Samaya’s head falling off her shoulders.

This made Ūḻal touch her chest and gasp because of the pain. Later, she crawled from next to the water, intending to leave that place as soon as she could. But… doing this, she saw Island lying next to that stream, unconscious while, from his left temple, a streak of blood was seen… he lost consciousness after being hit in the head from behind.

„Fate is more tricky than any other lie in this world,” murmured Ūḻal barely heard. Then she looked again at the water and she saw another fight… the one between the Barefaceds and the monsters brought into that cave by a young man that had Island’s face. And… soon, Ūḻal saw that the face of the one lying next to the stream started to change. Then… it was completely erased as if Island’s face was just a simple white sheet of paper.

***

Standing in the center, surrounded by monsters with dog faces and dragon wings, Parca was looking with hatred at the entrance of Celvam Grotto. From the inside of the grotto, it was heard drums sound and music, a hint that the Barefaceds were celebrating something that night.

„Instead of bowing in front of Fate, whose day of glory is today, these sinners decided to celebrate their triumph,” Parca snarled the words. Then… her face started to slowly change. And, soon, she looked like Island.

But she entered that grotto only after she has been convinced that she looked exactly like the prince of Ice. Actually, she not only took his face, but also his power because when she hit his head and left him unconscious next to the Stream of Power, Parca „swallowed” his energy, and this was possible for the Titanide of Fate only next to that water. Thus she could use it for her mean purposes.

Yet, Parca was aware that that exchange of power was possible only for a few hours. Six to be more precise. Thus she decided to rush and take advantage of the power of the People of Ice. And when she felt that she could finally control Island’s power, she shouted to her monsters Nāy Piṭc or Pitch dogs: „let’s in, my children!” And they, like any faithful dogs, headed toward the grotto while, from their mouths, poison saliva was dripping on the ground. Thus, the place where the drops of their saliva fell looked like completely scorched by fire.

Actually, those monsters weren’t just a few: they were hundreds there. Or maybe thousands and this was because Parca created them in 666 years, using, without Tetapas being aware of this, the souls closed inside of Koṭi. Thus, each time the Titan Tetapas closed a soul in that cauldron, it was sent to Parca’s hide-out. After this, she was able to create another Nāy Piṭc monster.

And, even if Parca didn’t want to recognize this, those monsters have been created by using magic. They have been formed from black smoke or from pouring water into a big cauldron that was hanging above a big pyre. Thus the monsters appeared in this world. And this was a complex process of giving birth to someone in fact.

At first, to be sure of her success, Parca looked for a hidden place. Thus she got to the Forest of the Dead Ones or Iṟanta Varkaḷiṉ. And, in the depths of that forest, she found a strange glade, right in the center of the forest, surrounded from everywhere by thick dried trees. Also, she saw big hollows on each trunk and that their branches, which were completely lacking leaves, were entangled above her, forming a kind of vault thus. And that vault was so thick that it didn’t allow even the sunlight to enter that place.

„It’s perfect!” She said, rubbing her palms. Then she started to dig a big hole right in the center of that glade. But she needed hundreds of days to finish it because she was digging it with empty hands, grubbing the soil with her long, black nails, just as she has seen in her dreams when she was wandering the world like the Evil Parca. Also, it took her so much time because she could get to that forest only being evil. And, as she couldn’t control her power all the time, she had to wait while her body was possessed by the good Parca.

But… she finished digging that hole eventually. After this, by using her power, she formed a huge cauldron, which she placed right above that hole. Also, under that cauldron, there were seen a lot of small tunnels which Parca intended to use to put wood and feed the flames. Then when the cauldron was in its place and the flames were dancing around it, Parca started to dance while all around her strange music was heard. It was a wordless song, like a kind of thick growl made by a man. And namely that strange ritual made the vault of branches „cry” with red tears as if they were blood drops. But those drops didn’t touch the soil eventually. They stopped about a meter above the ground and were „jumping” up and down as if they had been on the cloth of an invisible drum continuously hit by someone. After this, those drops have been „swallowed” by the cauldron until they filled it 3 quarters. And… only then it stopped raining from above with red drops, and the red water, from the inside of the cauldron, started to boil, throwing hot drops all around.

„Now it’s better!” Murmured the Evil Parca, who finished her mad dance. Then… she took a small bag from her girdle, took some magic dust from it, and threw it over the water to see what Tetapas was doing.

At that moment, the Titan killed the 66th victim, to whom he broke his neck. Then he took the soul out of the body and threw it inside Koṭi. This made Parca smile and rub her palms again. Thus, her movement managed to form, above the cauldron, a kind of cocoon, like those the silk-worms make.

But Parca’s cocoons didn’t transform later into white butterflies of innocence. They brought monsters into this world. The Nāy Piṭc… those who were always thirsty for blood and looking for victims, right from the first second they were seeing the light of day. But… before killing, they were kept inside of those hollows, seen on the trunks, hanging upside down like bats. That’s why the evil Parca used to slowly move around that glade, carefully analyzing the process of making her monsters. And, those who she considered not perfect, were meant to die. She, at first, was taking off their eyes, then she was breaking their necks, and… later, she threw them into that cauldron again… just to perfect those formed later.

And… with such images in his mind, Parca entered into Celvam Grotto that day, having Island’s face. Inside the grotto, nobody greet her, just as nobody asked her if she was healthy or fine. Yet… when she got to the place where it was the kingdom of the Barefaceds, she ordered her monsters to kill them all while they were still celebrating and didn’t pay attention to the unwelcome guests.

But Parca didn’t enter that battle. She just watched it from farther and enjoy the slaughter. And it was really impressive for her to see how the Barefaceds were trying to survive, fighting with the monsters with swords, axes, and any other object that could be used as a weapon. Yet, they have been slaughtered in the end. And died in those positions seen by the Titans while advancing through that grotto centuries later.

However, even though that triumph could have been considered hers, Parca wasn’t satisfied. She wanted more. That’s why, after she has seen that no Barefaced was anymore alive, she sent her children back to the forest of the Dead Ones. Then, using Island’s power, she blocked the way to that kingdom with big rocks or by breaking walls around. And namely those rocks Laṟṟa hit later while he tried to turn back to his brothers and take revenge, still thinking that he was alive, when he was dead in fact, stabbed to death by his brothers.

And… Laṟṟa’s memories of that only he and three of his brothers have lived in that kingdom were a product of Ūḻal’s influence, who, once escaped from that place, where the Stream of Power was, looked for the Barefaceds, intending to take revenge of the Titanide of Fate by telling them about her plans. But she had to witness their death in the end. And this has been Ūḻal’s bad luck for sure because, instead of Parca’s failure, she saw her triumph and the one of her dogs.

Even so, even if she was outraged, Ūḻal waited. It’s how she heard a moan. And, when she looked over there, she saw someone at the bottom of that gulf. It was Laṟṟa, who was lying in a pool of blood. And, as if hearing a strange inner call, she approached him, carefully descending that steep wall.

The Titanide arrived next to the Barefaced when his soul was about to leave his body. Thus she saw that soul extremely scared, looking around and not understanding anything of what happened to him. That’s why Ūḻal felt sorrow for him and touched the multicolored bubble that was surrounding the soul. But, as it was her nature, the Titanide sent some fake memories to him. And… when he woke up later, controlled by Parca’s power, he saw himself hanging while grabbing the edge of that gulf. That’s why he accepted Parca’s help. And… at that moment, Ūḻal understood that she failed while trying to take revenge on Parca.

Even so, she wasn’t ready to give up. That’s why she followed Parca and Island later. Thus she found out about their plan. That’s why Ūḻal used her power and made Arvam hear whispers, the night Island and Curse spent together. Yet, she didn’t win too much because Parca and Island were more powerful than she was. Thus, Arvam fell asleep eventually. That’s why Ūḻal went and told Ahi about his brother’s betrayal. Also, she helped him later to create the Ahilar. This was her manner of taking revenge on the two, even if she knew that that revenge helped others more than her.

***

PRESENT.

„Did you remember now your old sins, Titan Island? Or should I help you remember them?” Said Ūḻal while grinning, satisfied.

Yet… while she was waiting for an answer from the Titan, who only stared like an idiot in front, feeling guilty in front of his son, who has seen the truth in Ūḻal’s eyes, Boor acted. Thus, grabbing her arm, Boor forced Ūḻal to follow him out of that room. And… while moving away, he told her: „that’s enough to lie us, old cunning fox! And… to be sure that you won’t play any more pranks on us, you’ll follow us… everywhere. And you won’t escape from us until you’ll fulfill the damn role you have on this earth.”

But, even if Boor was sure that Ūḻal will die having Samaya’s face, the Titanide knew one more hidden secret. Yet, she decided not to tell anyone about this. And… she decided this being aware that only the fools reveal their secret weapons to their enemies. That’s why she decided to listen to Boor, for the moment. Yet, she was convinced to make him pay as soon as she’ll have that chance because she hated so much when someone was rude to her.

Gaea followed them right away. And she did this seeing that what Ūḻal said about Island was the truth. Yet, she also knew that telling the truth could be another trick of Ūḻal. That’s why she followed her and Boor, convinced not to let her act up and also because she didn’t want to rub more salt on Island’s wounds. She only smiled while looking at him and then went away along with Lodur.

Dike and Island, however, stood in the same place for a long time. Yet, each of them was looking at his target: Dike at Island’s sad face, Island at that golden and silver mount of jewels that were shining around.

Later, after many minutes of total silence, Island asked without looking at Dike: „do you also want to scold me for what I’ve done?”

„Did I say something?” Asked the wolf, calm. Then he approached Island.

„It is not necessary to say it in words. I see it in your eyes.”

„Then… it seems to me that the radar of your wisdom needs some repairs,” the wolf made a joke, „because this isn’t what my eyes try to tell you.”

„And… what are your eyes trying to tell me?” Asked Island. And he finally looked at the wolf, who put his head on Island’s lap and sweetly yawned.

„Try to figure it out by yourself. Of course, if you dare,” Island heard the wolf’s telepathic voice, who closed his eyes and waited.

But Island kept silent. Then, after minutes of staring at the wolf that seemed so tired, he touched the wolf’s head. Thus he felt what Dike felt at that moment… concern… for his children and also for the world. He was afraid of that war because he didn’t know how to win it. And, more than this, Island felt that Dike respected him so much, even if he disagreed with many of the choices Island made in his life.

Eventually, sticking his forehead off the wolf’s, Island made Dike open his eyes and stare at him, amazed. Island instead closed his eyes and murmured: „let’s stay like this at least for a few moments, my friend! In silent. Just let our souls talk instead of us!”

After that, Dike closed his eyes too. Thus they allowed magic to control them. Especially he tried to fully enjoy those moments spent with his dear friend, something that filled them with power inside. More… they remembered at that moment that a true friendship makes wonders sometimes, just like pure love, which is the one that never betrays anybody.