The Land In Between

C H A P T E R 2 6

"Manisilat had the power to read minds as long as she could touch a part of someone's body. She can also project her thoughts back." Hiwaga tells them. "It is why she was so effective as the Divinity of Infidelity. And apparently, that ability is passed on to Likha. Albeit weakened to some extent, and can only work here in the Underworld." She looks at the child as she says, "You said your mother told you you had this ability?" Likha looks up at her guardians, who both nod to her to tell the truth. Likha wordlessly nods as well.

Hiwaga gives a small smile, inwardly amused at how the three interacted together. She wipes it off immediately as she turns to Banawag this time. "Mangkukulam said you stole your clan's souls?" Banawag gives a roll of the eyes, "How I would do that, I don't know. But apparently, he thinks so."

"And Mangagauay laid claim on Adhika's soul. Since a part of Adhika's soul is half-Divinity, due to the anonymity of our dark energy, no one would've detected if it was either Mangagauay who killed her or if she killed herself. But then Banawag interfered and it gave both Mangagauay and Manisilat a reason to come after him." Hiwaga sighs, "So, now we can at least conclude as to why this whole...mess happened." She gestures weakly with her hands. "A...farce." She says lamely, and isn't that an understatement. A misunderstanding that cost so much pain and bloodshed. It makes Amihan laugh bitterly, "How fitting. All the power in the world and yet they always seem to miss the mark when it mattered the most."

Amihan doesn't even know who he's referring to, the Alliance or the Divinities. Both seemed fitting, as they all prefer to choose the easy way out instead of actually looking deeper into the situation. Then again, he can't blame them too much; he too was once prejudiced against someone simply because he was blinded by emotions and this joke of a thing they called 'righteousness.' It is past them now, but Amihan can never, ever forgive himself for doing the same things to Banawag.

He reaches for his darling's hand before asking, "And what should we do now?" Makisig gestures to the large pile of texts he retrieved, "I skimmed through any sections for anything concerning the Soul Star." He puts down his arm, "Until recently, it has only been theoretical. Even fantastical at some point in time, so I'm not sure how many of these are reliable enough." There is a tiredness in Amihan's tone but he tries his best to wipe it out. "Nevertheless, thank you for your efforts." He then tugs at Banawag's hand. "Help me?" He asks.

Banawag looks at where Likha stays standing, clutching his pants and he gives her a small smile, patting her head. Banawag then looks back at Amihan, "Always." He promises.

***

Even with four people of intelligence working through all the texts, there was not a single one that proved to be true when it came to the Soul Star. The closest thing they've had was a passage written by a former High King.

"There is a possibility of light within the dark, and why Life rules above all creatures of the night. That possibility is but a single small splinter in the souls of many. Only when harnessed and pieced together, it could even bring the dead back to life, or let a lowly creature ascend into a deity. Such power, though amazing, is dangerous. Its continued existence will deteriorate whatever balance there is between light and dark. For the betterment of all, it is best to destroy such an object.

This idea does not come from I, but from a flight of fancy I once heard as a child. At first, I believed it to simply be a figment of the imagination. However, I can feel the tiniest glimmers of life coming from the souls of my Quietus Keep. And after further observation, there is truth in the concept. But for the safety of every being involved, whether human, monster, or more, let it be known to never come into fruition."

"The Quietus Keep was originally the High King's?" Banawag asks, a little astonished at the fact. Makisig nods, "Yes. However since my wife's aspect is Death, I gave it to her instead." He makes it sound like a piece of land, rather than the final resting place of dead souls who no longer wish to associate with the world above.