"My daughter!" the woman exclaimed as she appeared in front of Ava, immediately hugging her. Without saying another word, Ava and the woman disappeared from where they were standing.
The next time they appeared, they were already at the south pole. The woman then pulled her into her arms, hugging her tightly.
"We are finally together," the woman said.
"You didn’t have to do that," Ava uttered.
"Do what?"
"Kill them," Ava pursed her lips.
"Why not? Those are mere humans."
"They have lives..."
"Their lives do not matter. Eventually, they die. What’s wrong with killing them ahead of their time?" the woman smiled. Now that Ava is close to her, she could clearly see her resemblance to the woman. However, there was something about her that seems... off.
She frowned and let the woman hug her longer.
Something is definitely off.
For some reason, she could feel some sort of darkness surrounding the woman. She can’t help but wonder what it was. Was it death?
"Shall we?" the woman led her inside. However, just as Ava wanted to say something, her gaze immediately turned dark.
Ava felt like she fell into an endless abyss. But she wasn’t planning to give up just yet.
Her father already warned her about this. She knew that the woman wanted her body. So, she had plans in order. She wasn’t planning to let someone just take her body. That would be absurd.
Ava soon came around. Before she could open her eyes, she spread her awareness, making sure to understand her surroundings.
She knew that the woman wanted to do some sort of ritual. All she needed to do is stop it. Ava knew it wouldn’t be that easy. But she is going to try anyway.
"I already gave her to you..."
Ava heard a familiar voice. Wasn’t that— the voice of her father!?
"I know..." it was the woman’s voice.
"Give her back to me."
Ava couldn’t believe her ears. Did her father really just... say that?
She wanted to open her eyes but she didn’t want to risk it. So, she acted like she was still asleep.
"Did you really want to get her back that bad?" the woman said. "I mean... Ava is still your daughter."
"She isn’t as important as her," Ava’s father said.
"Unfortunate isn’t it?" the woman said. "Ava must have been happy to see you. After all, she hasn’t seen you for a long time."
"She wouldn’t feel any of that very soon," her father said. "Are you going to give me her body back?"
"Calm down Adriel, I am going to give her back once I move my consciousness to Ava’s body. Though, I cannot promise if she would survive."
"I don’t care. All I wanted was her. I wanted her back."
"You really— " the woman snorted. "What a terrible father."
"I have never been a father to her. I did my obligations because of my promise. I left because of my promise. It was nothing noteworthy."
Ava’s felt a sudden heaviness in her heart. For some reason, everyone around her had been amplified right now. Her father’s voice was a bit louder. The room was a bit colder. And the emotions... were clearer.
She tried to hide the disappointment but she knew she wouldn’t be able to do it for so long. Something about her father saying those things was more hurtful than her assumptions.
She knew the man didn’t care for her. She knew he only cared about her mother. But— hearing it is a bit different. Why does it hurt so much?
"What of the Shaman?" he asked.
"I do not know. His spirit vanished into oblivion. My guess is... he is currently in the spirit realm."
"I see..."
Ava chose to direct her attention to her magick instead. She cannot just listen to them and break her heart. This would ruin her concentration.
She had more important things to do than listen to the conversation of the people that don’t really care about her. She slowly used her magick to locate all the experimental specimens. Since she had been here once, it was easier for her to navigate the area with her magick alone.
By doing this, Ava discovered a few things.
First, Aliah is still alive— barely. It seems that the woman was making Aliah suffer. Second, most of the scientists or Aliah’s people died. And third... the woman didn’t touch the specimens. This means that Samuel should be alive somewhere.
"Hm?" Ava lifted an eyebrow when she noticed something at the bottommost part of this underground facility.
The source of all energy.
Was this a relic?
Ava frowned.
She couldn’t see it. But she can feel its humongous energy that felt hot— scorching hot. Was that a relic?
Ava didn’t notice this relic in the past. She didn’t even feel it.
But this time, it was very clear. No. It felt like the relic was the one beckoning her magick to approach it. However, for some weird reason, she felt like it was dangerous to approach it.
Ava could only frown inwardly as she tried to ascertain what it was.
"I am about to start the ritual," the woman said. Hearing this, Ava braced for some pressure but... nothing happened.
"Are you going to pretend that you are still asleep?"
Ava frowned. She didn’t hesitate as she opened her eyes and got up from the table that was clearly made of gold.
"You— You are awake?" Ava’s father asked. Despite his tone, his face looked calm and collected. Then he looked at the woman. "What are you doing?" he asked.
"Showing her what kind of man you are."
Ava’s father narrowed at her.
"You— staged this?" he asked.
"No. I didn’t ask you what to say, Adriel." The woman said.
"Ah..." Adriel snorted. "I get it— "
"Tableu Golle," Ava’s mother suddenly said in a cold voice.
"What are you—"
**BANG**
A spark blinded Ava. She closed her eyes on instinct while creating layers of magick to shield herself.
"You wanted her to become like you!" the woman said. "You knew what I was when we met. You knew about my blood and you wanted a child— a special child that would become the next deity of the guardians!"
**BANG**
**BANG**
Sparks flew and the surroundings shook. Debris fell from the ceiling.
"Did you really think I am going to give my body to you so you could use it to make the perfect one?"
"What are you— "
"Please Adriel, I know!" Ava’s mother hissed as she threw another bolt of lightning toward Ava’s father, something that he easily avoided by using his own magick.
Seeing this, Ava’s father suddenly snorted.
"Did you really think you can kill me? I am the guardian of this planet! How could an ant like you kill a guardian!?"
Again, Ava’s mother sent a barrage of magick.
"What is happening here!?" Ava couldn’t help but ask. At first, she thought that her father sold her out to her mother, who wanted her body. But now, it seems that she was wrong.
"What is going on here!?" Ava asked as the two continued to fight in front of her. The debris continued to fall while her mother continued shouting.
"I always wonder why you approached me... I wonder why someone like you would get involved with someone like me!" Ava’s father screamed.
Ava’s father snorted.
"You have been sleeping for years? How did you figure it out?"
"So you didn’t meet in a dream?" Ava couldn’t help but ask.
"Is that what you told her?" Ava’s mother asked. "What a pathetic excuse, Adriel. Did you really think they would believe someone like you?"
"She wouldn’t be here if she didn’t," Ava’s father suddenly said.
"It was you..." Ava pursed her lips, realization hit her. "You have been manipulating me all this time."
Since she became a witch, this man had been manipulating her behind the scenes! And she wasn’t even aware of it!
First, this man awakened her witch’s abilities. Then, he told Gabriella not to teach her magick. Then—
"You— You were controlling Gabriella," Ava uttered in horror. "You were the one who made me become a part of Trillium. You knew that I would eventually come across the experimentations. You— You killed Gabriella to trigger me and make me work for Trillium."
At first, her father looked at her in confusion. Then he suddenly smiled.
"My— I never thought that you would even realize it. I am not saying you were dumb. I’m just saying you were a little too slow, don’t you think so?"
Ava felt her body shake from anger.
"The one who made them experiment on Phil was you. You wanted to make sure that I dig more into the experimentations. No matter where I go, you always wanted me to circle back to the experimentation. It was because you wanted me to be here. You wanted me to— be with her." Ava looked at her mother, who in return also stared at her.
She watched as her mother’s face reddened.
"You— You vile creature!" her mother’s voice boomed.
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