Chapter 13 Sudden Meeting

Hageo jolts awake, his hand instinctively reaching for his bag. He sits up, fumbles with the zipper, and pulls out his phone. With a tap, the screen lights up, revealing a photo of a girl. His eyes linger on the image, and a wave of sadness washes over him. His expression softens, and he whispers, "If only I could..."

As Hageo sits lost in his emotions, a sudden flash of light interrupts the stillness of the room. A portal materializes out of thin air, and through it step Beneto, Tara, Samuel, and Elena. Their eyes widen in shock as they take in the scene before them: Hageo, tears streaming down his face.

"What the heck?" Beneto exclaims, his voice breaking the silence. "Hoy!" Hageo startles, quickly wiping his tears and trying to compose himself. Tara smirks, crossing her arms. "Oh, look at this. Baby boy crying over a lady, huh? Haven't we all been there?"

Shut up! Why are you even here?" Hageo snapped, glaring at everyone in the room. Tara stepped forward, her expression serious. "The Oracle sensed that something catastrophic might happen to this town. We're here to stop it."

Hageo frowned, crossing his arms. "But we already defeated and sealed Ishtar and her servant, Samantha. What else is there to worry about?"

Tara shook her head. "We know that, but this... this is different. Whatever's coming can't be stopped easily, and if we don't act, it'll lead to chaos."

Hageo hesitated, his voice softening. "But Aunt Celine never mentioned anything like this. She didn't foresee it happening."

Beneto stepped in, his tone calm but firm. "You know Aunt Celine and the Oracle have different ways of sensing danger. This threat is not demonic, and the Oracle believes if we don't intervene, it could lead to something far worse."

**What Do You Mean by Worst?** - Hageo "The Dark Sacrament is being activated\," Tara announced\, her voice trembling with urgency. "The what?" Hageo and Samuel exclaimed in unison\, their eyes wide with confusion and concern.

"Yes, you heard it right. It's being activated because it feeds on negative emotions. Look at the world right now—it's completely out of balance. People against people, the cost of war, and the transgressions of humankind have awakened the Dark Sacrament, the Chaos Stone. We've been searching for the person who has suffered the most grievous fate—a person who has been stabbed in the back so many times. Though he remains faithful to his beliefs, his rage and desire for justice have caused the Chaos Stone to start beating," Beneto explained, his tone grave and his eyes shadowed with worry.

"Do we know who this person is?" Elena asked, her voice tinged with both curiosity and fear. "Unfortunately, we don't. The Oracle's visions are vague when it comes to this matter. That's why we're here—to survey the town and find this person before others with ulterior motives do," Tara replied, her gaze scanning the horizon as if the answer lay hidden in the distance. "Hmm, we'll talk more about this tomorrow," Hageo said, his mind already racing with possibilities and strategies.

"By the way, Elena, can the convent still welcome Tara and Beneto as guests for tonight? I can hear Beneto's stomach rumbling," Hageo added, glancing at Beneto with a playful smirk. "Yes, no problem at all. We have plenty of food here at the convent. Come in, follow me," Elena said warmly, her smile reassuring. She turned to Samuel, who had been quietly observing the conversation. "Samuel, you can come too. I know you're also hungry," she added with a gentle smile.

Hageo, Beneto, and Tara exchanged glances, amazed at how Elena treated Samuel with such kindness and familiarity. It was clear that Elena had a special connection with Samuel, one that went beyond mere friendship.

Sister Elena led Tara, Beneto, and Samuel through the quiet halls of the convent, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone walls. The warm glow of lanterns illuminated their path as they made their way to the kitchen, the heart of the convent where nourishment and camaraderie often intertwined. The scent of herbs and spices lingered in the air, a comforting reminder of the meals shared within these walls.

As they approached the kitchen, they were met by two figures descending the stairs from the balcony—Father Cedric and Celine. Celine's eyes widened in surprise as she recognized Beneto and Tara. "Beneto? Tara? What are you doing here?" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of shock and delight. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and embraced them both, her warmth breaking the formality of the moment.

Father Cedric, ever observant, stood quietly, his gaze shifting between Beneto and Samuel. There was something striking about their similar stature and presence, a detail that did not escape his notice. His eyes lingered on Beneto, studying him with a quiet intensity.

Elena, ever the mediator, broke the silence with a gentle smile. "Let's reserve the formalities for later. These two—well, three—are hungry, and we were just heading to the kitchen." Her tone was light but firm, steering the conversation toward practicality.

Beneto, however, couldn't help but remark on Father Cedric's presence. He turned to the priest, his expression one of awe. "You have the same aura as Hageo… back when he wasn't yet called to be the Conduit of Abaddon," he said, his voice tinged with nostalgia. Samuel, standing beside Beneto, chimed in with a smirk. "Actually, that's the new wielder of Symphony," he said, gesturing toward Cedric.

Beneto's eyes widened in surprise, and he turned to Cedric with newfound respect. "You need to train rigorously. Many have failed to wield that Sacrament," he advised, his tone serious. Celine, ever proud of Cedric's accomplishments, interjected with a grin. "No need to worry about that. He already cast Crescendo during our battle with Ishtar—and to think it was his first time using Symphony!" Her voice was filled with admiration, and Cedric modestly waved off the praise.

Elena, sensing the conversation could go on for hours, clapped her hands lightly. "Come on, everyone. Let's continue this in the kitchen. I'm sure we can talk more comfortably over a meal."

The group followed Elena into the kitchen, where the warmth of the hearth and the aroma of simmering pots welcomed them. As Elena began preparing the space for cooking, Beneto rummaged through his bag and pulled out a large, wrapped package. Celine's eyes lit up with recognition. "Woah! Is that Gulon meat?" she asked, her voice brimming with excitement. "Straight from Biringan City," Beneto confirmed with a proud smile.

Celine took the meat from him and handed it to Elena. "You'll love cooking this, Elena. It tastes like pork but richer and more succulent. A stew or Aftritada would be perfect for it." As Elena set to work preparing the dish, Father Cedric turned to Beneto with curiosity. "Biringan? Isn't that the mythical city people talk about?" Beneto nodded. "Yes, it's one of the lost cities." "Lost cities?" Cedric echoed, his interest piqued. Tara joined in, her voice carrying a hint of mystery. "Yes, lost cities like Atlantis, Shangri-La, and the mystic peaks. There are many more, hidden from the world."

Cedric leaned back, absorbing the information. "Well, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised anymore," he said with a chuckle, his tone a mix of wonder and resignation. Before long, Elena announced, "Here we go, everyone—Gulon Aftritada!" She placed the steaming dish on the table, its rich aroma filling the room. The group gathered around, their earlier conversations giving way to the simple pleasure of sharing a meal. The Gulon meat was as delicious as promised, tender and flavorful, and for a moment, the weight of their mission seemed to lift.

As the meal came to an end, the group retired to their rooms. For now, they rested, knowing that the dawn would bring new trials—and the need to face them together.

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