Chapter 5 – An excuse for power

Jasmine realized if the stories of her grandparents are real, then this humongous winged snake is a threat that can swallow this world whole. She cannot noises of Juan and Hel; her ears won't accept any voices, rather it only accepts the voices from her head. Can she just go home and leave this behind? She ponders and thinks that maybe this is the reason why she was pulled to this world: to stop a giant serpent from eating the moon, the Bakunawa.

"Hel and Juan please stop; our Chronicler is pale white and shaking. I think she knows this image I conjure" Masiken tells the two as he stops casting his magic and rush toward to Jasmine. He took a knee and gets something from his pockets. Flowers, same that Leshin used to calm Jasmine. Masiken then scatters the flowers in the air.

She smells the air and takes in the fragrance. She calms down and Masiken sits down on the ground with her. Juan and Hel stood beside Masiken.

"I believe you know this figure? Is this a new threat that the guardians will face? Please Chronicler; tell us so we can help you ease your mind." Masiken asked calmly.

"No. You don't get it. I was pulled from my home. Teleported into this world and met strange creatures that I thought was only stories that my grandparents told me before I go to sleep. I was to enjoy my summer vacation and not thrown into a world with monsters to be its savior." Jasmine says with such frustrated she is turning red.

"I am nuisance here. I can only read this stupid book and be a guide but not a hero. I just wanted to go home." then Jasmine began to shed a tear as she is getting more and more frustrated.

Juan and Hel looks toward Jasmine, worried that a small child like her might break but they are also confused from this outburst: the Chronicler saved this world before, is she crying now?

Masiken gets a bunch of leaves from his satchel and chews it. He starts to whistle a soothing tune, smooth like a harp gentle weaving sound serenading the area. Juan holds his daughter's hand tightly as Hel lean on his father. They felt like they are sitting on their old house. The sound puts them in a trance and Juan is understandably calm about this.

This is what Masiken is, a doctor that will always prioritize people in suffering at all times. Even at the realm of the dead, he gives attention the needy and will never give up until their aliments are gone.

Jasmine also feels a harmonious vibe and remembers when she woke up to start this vacation. She can hear the crackling of bacon and the smell of it. She hears her grandpa laughing from her weight. If she realized if she wants to go home, she needs to stop crying and start finding a way out.

She slowly stops crying as she feels better and better as the sound continuously soothe her. Then when the tune stops, Masiken spat out the leaves look at Jasmine.

"No, Chronicler. You are no hero. That is true but do not carry the world in your shoulder. That is what we guardians do."

Masiken then reduce his staff into a stick and showed it to Jasmine. "You can read this yes?"

Jasmine wipes her tears as she tries to read the golden alibata from the stick. She can't read it in a first glace but she concentrates hard enough. Hard enough for the words began to form in her mind and she reads it to Masiken "To whom life and death seeks guidance".

"As a guardian and a doctor, I carry the will of you, the Chronicler, and to see this world heal back to its natural state. If the world is sick, then it is my job to heal it. That is the reason why I turned myself to a guardian; to allow myself to escape the underworld from time to time and return to the surface to help the living and the dead." Masiken then help Jasmine on her feet.

"I too joined the guardian with selfish reasons." Juan stops as he looks at his daughter.

"I guess all guardians have their selfish reason to join the Chronicler. We have horrible selfish reasons why. As for me, I just wanted to see the surface from time to time and help again as I was a doctor when I was alive and even in death" Masiken then turned his stick to a staff again.

"If you are afraid sharing this anito image I conjured . . . please do tell us when you are ready. For now, we should be going and ask Mebuyan about the unusual number of spirits dying".

Masiken then informs Juan and Jasmine that even he is part of the underworld, Mebuyan never dwelled information to him. Mebuyan keeps things to herself and would only speak to him about Hel's training.

Hel then agrees, she mentioned Mebuyan time with her only revolves training and when there are times she is busy, she would ask Masiken to train Hel.

Juan bats an eye about this "training". He suspects the two are just dating and spending less on training. Juan wants to buttheads again but he doesn't want to upset the Chronicler further.

Jasmine then calms down. She realized she is being selfish for a moment. Yes, going home is her most outmost importance objective but these guardians have a role to play on this world.

"Being bound to the Chronicler is not that bad. I'm just a kid who wanders this world. Once I'm gone, you can resume your normal life" Jasmine then replies.

Juan and Masiken then look at her with heavy eyes. Hel keeps her mouth shut as she tries to avoid making any noise. Jasmine then realized the mood became heavy.

"Is there something that I said?" Jasmine asks as she is confused about the way they look at her.

Juan turns around and walks ahead and says that they should be on their way Mebuyan. "She is the queen of the underworld here. We should hurry and ask her guidance."

Hel starts walking in front of the group and leads toward Mebuyan. "She spends most of her time in the pool with the children. We should head there."

Jasmine realizes Hel and Juan are not answering her question. Not you arouse any issues, Jasmine follows behind.

Ask they walk to their destination Masiken talks in a low voice so Juan and Hel will not hear them.

"It's not about who we are serving my dear Chronicler, it's about where will we go after we finished serving you. If you did forgot about the ritual . . . well I can remind you"

"Please do Masiken. I am currently at loss of the situation."

Masiken then explains to Jasmine about the ritual. "We part took in your ritual so we can escape our problems and begin anew. We were given great power and bound in servitude to you but in doing so, we gave up freedom once we die."

Freedom? What does dying and freedom have to do with anything? Jasmine thinks to herself as she nods to Masiken; a fast way to defuse the situation and get a move on.

As they walk further, they see spirits of the dead walking around and living their afterlife in solitude. They see spirit of tibalang, kapre and other beings she saw from the Vale are having a picnic as they walk pass them. The spirits here seems to be enjoying their selves.

Jasmine further contemplates the morality or mortality on this world. If a creature creates pain and suffering toward others they should it be suffering in the afterlife, why there are beings enjoying a life of peace without punishment?

Jasmine asks Masiken if there is separation between people who do good and bad here and he replies "It depends on the rulers of the underworld. Each ruler has their respective realms to tend. Your soul can only access a predetermined realm on which the Book of Fates determines and every ruler of the underworld has a copy of this book. Some like to separate the bad from the good souls. Some like to blend them in together. It all depends on the ruler".

"How many rulers of the underworld are there?"

"As many as Bathala wishes to make"

As they walk further, a thick mist began to surround them and dark clouds take over the sky. The ground exhumes a smell of a sweet perfume and yet a sense of dread lingers with it. The grasses in the area are filled fireflies and beetles flying everywhere as if they are dancing in unison.

"I bet we are near Mebuyan. When weird stuff happens, it happens for a reason." Jasmine deduces.

Masiken nods and told Jasmine to always be polite. Mebuyan, most of the time, is calm and collected but her temper sometimes gets in her way when a naughty child doesn't listen to her.

"Oh and do not touch Mebuyan. Any part of her body might extract your soul accidentally. So do not touch her or death will come early than expected for you" Hel adds. Jasmine shudders with the thought of dying by touching. Juan giggles and replied "Unless the Chronicler wanna stay here."

"Hey! Not funny." Jasmine yells the others start to giggle as well.

A few more steps and the group see a pond illuminated by the crystal from above. The pond sounded by toddlers playing with each other. Some of the kids are splashing and swimming by the pond while others are lying beside each other as if they are sun bathing. Others are enjoying playing atop of a hill near the pond.

There are no mists here, as if the mists were trying to hide this place from other spirits wandering into it. Jasmine thinks about what Juan told her earlier, about how their hearts connect to one another. So they were able to enter this pond because Hel and Mebuyan are connected to each other, as student and master.

The group walks toward the pond and now they can see the details around it. The bugs illuminate the grasses near the pond and they dance to entertain the children. The trees in the distance swayed but no gust of wind are felt in the vicinity.

The rustling leaves give a peaceful lullaby. The cold wind gives a cool relaxing sensation. With the crystal lights over their head shining on this place, you can lose yourself and wanting to stay her forever.

���Wow, is it weird I want to stay here? The place is so relaxing." Jasmine asked the others. Hel looks as at Jasmine and replied "I see, I was like that too when I first arrived here. I felt that I want to stay on this pond forever. Mebuyan loves children so much that she made this pond so she can nurture the children who died. She made this place so the children who died in such an innocent state will feel a motherly love the longed for."

"So who old are you by then?"

"I grew by 10 cycles since I was here. So I was just a kid when I arrived and I left this pond as a woman. Now I'm old, this place won't enchant me anymore."

Jasmine felt a bit embarrassed. She don't want to admit it but she is still kid. The way she acts in front of the guardian is a confirmation that she is a baby, a cry baby. Now this place takes a hold on her.

She shifts her thoughts. No. I am not a baby. I am a lady. Just like grandpa says! I won't be enchanted by this place. She tries her hardest to think she is a grown woman and it worked. She felt agitated about this to the point she forget that she wanted to stay on this place.

"So where is the lady of the pond? Is she resting? She shouldn't be hard to miss. She is a giant in this realm" Juan asked the group.

Masiken look upon the horizon. "Maybe she is on a meeting with other rulers of the underworld?"

Hel checks the pond and sees nothing out of the ordinary. She points out that Mebuyan only leaves the children if something urgent comes up. Like an attack to the underworld or a meeting of the other rulers of the underworld.

"HELLO! Lady Mebuyan, we require an audience please!" Juan shots at the top of his lungs surprising the others with his action.

Masiken slam his palm to his face. "Not this again Juan. Mebuyan left you off easy last time. This rudeness will make her angry."

Juan keeps shouting to get the attention of Mebuyan.

"Daddy, please don't. Let's just wait for her to return here." Hel asks Juan as she tries to look around the pool for any clues on Mebuyan whereabouts.

Jasmine helps Hel to look for clues. She then looks at the pond. She sees the kid splashing and playing about. She smiles as it reminds her playing at the river with her family. She wanted this thing to be over and get her summer vacation going.

She looked around and found nothing but as when she looked at the center at the pond. She sees figures below the water. They are standing and sitting there. She leaps into the pond and tries to take a peak.

"Chronicler, don't go there! Only the children and Mebuyan is allowed to bathe in the waters of the pond! Get out or Mebuyan will be angry!" Masiken yells.

Before any of them can react, the water on the pond formed around Jasmine. It bubbles and a sudden burst of geyser erupts under her. She was thrown out of the pool and was flung in the air.

Masiken and Juan were quick on their feet. Juan threw is frog at the air and used his magic expanded the frog. The frog manages to match Jasmine on her back. Masiken threw cottons in the air and multiple rapidly. The cotton manages to soften then land of Jasmine and frog.

The two helped Jasmine on her feet. Hel rushed to her aside and asking if she is okay. Jasmine is soaked in water but she is fine. The pond continues to bubble up, and now massive bubbles gather at the center. From the bubble, water shaped as tentacles take form and they lifted the children out of the pond and placed them on solid ground.

After all of children was out of the pond, a massive geyser erupts. Water is flowing out of the pond and a massive downpour came after.

The group then sees a figure emerged from the geyser, a tall figure in robes. The figure got bumps underneath the robes. She is standing and easily towering the hill and trees around her. Shadow masks her face but they can see a jaw beneath it . . . a skeletal jaw. Her hands are long and slender. Her wavy long black hair is flowing around her. And the sense of dread intensifies tenfold.

Jasmine and the group realized this is Mebuyan. Hel and the others bow. Jasmine felt scared for a moment but she finds herself at somewhat familiar with Mebuyan. As if she is meeting an old friend.

"So, I left my pond for a mere moment and trespassers have come to desecrate it. Is this the kind of spirits that Magwayen that let enter my realm? I should really raise these kids and promote them to a guide for the new spirits here." Mebuyan then looks at the group.

Jasmine can feel the anger on her voice. Mebuyan didn't like what she did to her pond. She feels guilty about it. "Hello Mebuyan. I apologized for entering your pond. We were looking for you". Jasmine realized she is the only one who didn't bow and she immediate bow as well.

"Such insolence! What makes you think your worthy of entering my pond?" Mebuyan asked with more anger on her tone.

Jasmine thinks of a reasonable way to answer her question. The other three kept their head low and not answering. Mebuyan looks at her with rage. She feels the other three won't help her here and she needs an answer that can satisfy the ruler of the underworld.

Then, she got her answer "Well, I am a 10 year old girl. So I am still a kid and worthy to enter your pond."

The three then looked up in terror of what Jasmine answered. They know they are in for it.

Mebuyan looked at Jasmine, shocked from what she heard from the mouth of the kid of violated her pond. Then Mebuyan grew silent, and then she laughs. She laughs and laughs until her laughing caused her to cough.

"Oh Bathala, what kind of child you sent me this time. A future philosopher? I sometimes question your decision."

"Alright girl, tell me your name and how did you get here" Mebuyan asked but then Juan interrupts her and said "My Lady, pardon my intrusions but . . . "

"I am not talking to you trickster, I am to talking to the girl. Stay you tongue or I shall cut our deal." Mebuyan tone shifted when she talked to Juan; a tone full of grudge.

"My name is Jasmine and I am not from this world. I was to spend my summer vacation with my family but then I was transported to this world and suddenly I was called the Chronicler and the current owner of the White Chronicle."

Mebuyan stand there in silence. She rubs her bone chin with her hands, thinking of something.

"This is indeed confusing, let me check the book. Stand you three, Juan, Hel and Masiken. Tell me what you four were doing here." Mebuyan asked them as she conjures a large book in front of her – the Book of Life and Death. The book's left cover is designed with white and yellow linings with wings of birds and plants all over it, it is elegant and beautiful. The other cover is black and violet designed with skulls, dead trees and other macabre stuff. That other cover is filled with dread.

Juan and the other then explained to Mebuyan all what transpire the moment Jasmine took a fall from her house up to this point.

As they were speaking, Jasmine felt the White Chronicle breathing. She was curious why a book would breathe. As she gets the book, she inspects it and nothing was out of the ordinary. She sees there is nothing wrong with the book physically but she knows and feels the book is breathing as weird it might sound.

"Hold on. . . Another batch of souls . . . was rewritten. They were supposed to die in their twilight years and yet they died 40 cycles earlier." Mebuyan says as one of the pages glowed. The pages in her book consist of the living and dead. They have a predetermined path on how and when will they die but when someone dies unexpectedly, the book will rewrite its contents to match the death.

She flips until she sees a page about Jasmine. "Upon checking the record, I see that you are not lying, Jasmine is the new holder of the White Chronicle."

The word new rung over the ears of Juan, Hel and Masiken, they looked at her as if she is a different person now.

"What? I told you I am not the Chronicler." Jasmine exclaims.

"Hold on. I brought her here so we can find out the reason why there are a lot of creatures are dying across the world. And now you are telling me she isn't the Chronicler." Juan asked Mebuyan.

"My Lady, the book changes their record from time to time, maybe a mistake was made by the book?" Masiken sheepish ask as Hel stood beside him and his father.

"Nay, the book is absolute as it was and ever will be. The only thing you made a mistake is not listening to this girl. You guardians insisted that she was the Chronicler but you were mistaken, she is now the Chronicler – a new one."

"Woah. Then maybe Leshin made a mistake? The book said that she will return. And she was there on the spot under the Great Balate Tree. She can read these weird writings in our stick she gave us and can use the book." Juan asked again; taken back by this revelation he started to sound delusional.

"Dad and Masiken, didn't you hear it correctly. She is a new Chronicler. Again I didn't know about the old one before so I cannot verify it. Maybe this is the reason why she didn't know about the terms of the ritual on making a guardian." Hel asks as she is trying to calm down the two.

"Well, when I was falling down the hole there was another girl who was with me at the time." Jasmine reminds the group about her story.

Mebuyan then flips her book, her hollowed eyes was stuck on a page and laughs.

"I see it now. That's why you didn't spot the difference. Her magic level and the previous Chronicler is the same. Her face almost looked exactly the same as the previous Chronicler."

Mebuyan then closed her book and grab water from her pond. She pours the water onto the ground. She softens it until the mud turned into clay. She then proceeds to mold the clay. Her hands expertly gave this clay a face and body. After sculpting the clay she leaned on it and breathes onto the clay. "Give it a few second to harden" she asked the group.

The clay opened its eyes and started to walk. They clay then stood beside Jasmine and the similarity is uncanny. "This is the face of the previous Chronicler" Mebuyan said.

"Oh my! They looked exactly the same. Except for the nose; the sculpted one got a flat nose and Jasmine got a bigger one" Hel exclaimed.

"Their magic levels are the same. Yes I noticed that but I didn't take account about her face. This is embarrassing as a guardian of the Chronicler" Masiken lowers his head in shame.

"Not only that. . . Look, their ears are different. The ears of the new Chronicler is lobbed the old one didn't have that." Juan says as he inspects the clay figure closely.

"Well, if you are the undead ruler of this world, can you just locate her? So we can ask her directly about the fated disaster and give her back the White Chronicler" Jasmine asked.

Mebuyan paused, contemplating her next words. "No, Chronicler I can't'. The book states she was alive but I didn't tell me if she is dead. It can mean two things: she is dead but located on other realm of the underworld or maybe she might not be from this world, like you Jasmine"

Jasmine and the other are lost from this answer.

"Well, we came this far. Say that I am the new Chronicler how I am to get home?"

Mebuyan shrugged. "Who knows? The last one defeated the Aswang Swarm ravaging the Antrian continent. Only the Chronicler and her guardians was the last hope this continent got back then. Maybe if this disaster is repelled, you might be able to go home"

Jasmine felt a renew energy surging inside her. Determination fills her head. That's it! I can go home. I will stop this disaster as fast as I can like a superhero and leave this all behind. I will defeat every villain in this world till I get home.

"So she is still the Chronicler. This is revelation gives me a head ache." Juan says as he tries to massage his temple of his head.

"Like the head ache you gave me when you begged to train your daughter?" Mebuyan asked Juan.

Hel steps in between her father and Mebuyan. "Okay. Let's not get into any more fights. I gave my life willingly too, I ask not to get angry at my father for I share the same blame here. If not for my…"

"Halt! Speak of this no more, my daughter. I not wish to dwell about this."

Mebuyan raised her hands. Masiken then removed Hel in front of her and Juan. Juan looks at the eyes of the Mebuyan.

"I apologize for acting this way. I was just taken back from all this happening; first Orochimaru wants me dead, my daughter dating my friend, then this?"

Mebuyan looks at the two, Masiken and Hel. The two in turn looked at Juan. "I can't believe you Juan. That is so low. Even for you. . ."

"Silence! I will not accept any bickering here." Mebuyan temper starts to rise again.

"Can we discuss about your lover bird issue later? For now. . . I believe we all want to know why a lot of people and creatures dying.�� Jasmine cuts in.

Mebuyan opens her book again and flips rapidly between pages.

"These people died suddenly and the book even required changing their record. Not only had me, but also the other rulers of the underworld noticed this too. Before the Chronicler jumped into to my pond, I was in a meeting with the other rulers."

She used her magic and project images of the other rulers of the underworld. "Hades from the continent of Tymar reported people are being killed by a large dark purple snake. He suspects either a titan or monster killed their people" .

As she said the name Hades, Jasmine head rang a bell. She read about this god is from one of the many books of his father on his study – Hades the Greek god of the undead and earth. Jasmine noticed how Atlas and Hades wore similar clothing, maybe they are related?

Mebuyan waves her hand, the image changes to a black dog faced creature with a golden necklace and a staff. "Here is Anubis, from the Land of Origins. Anubis' people were killed by a cult that worships the enemy of his father, Apep."

Jasmine doesn't know this god but she notices the design of the staff and his necklace. Egyptian design, so this is a god of the dead on Egypt.

Mebuyan waves her hand and showed other rulers and their information have one thing in common; all of their subjects died for or by serpent figure.

"You see the pattern here Chronicler? Creatures around the world are dying from a serpentine attacks or a cult worshiping them. I wish we don't have that here at my realm."

Masiken remembers their early conversation with Jasmine. hethen conjure the image that she showed earlier: the image of an anito snake with wings. "My Lady, the dead also told me about this. They were taken by a cult like organization and killed be sacrificed to this object."

Mebuyan looked at the statue and said "This is a new creature to me. Is there a new faction or cult from Antrian?"

"None as I know of. This is the first time I saw this creature too." Juan said.

"I do. The White Chronicle does not have a record of this being but I know this from the story from my grandfather. Its name is Bakunawa. It is a serpent that can fly and will eat the moon. Its weakness is loud noises. It is easily distracted and can be defeated by loud noises."

"I'm impressed. You might not be the old Chronicler but you are just doing just fine." Juan says as he looked at her. Jasmine and Juan locked their eyes. At that moment, Jasmine understood what Juan wants to say to her. "I'm with you"

"Nice! So where we you find this creature and stop it?" Hel asked as she claps her hand for Jasmine.

"Well, it should be underneath the sea." Jasmine answers with confidence.

"We will ask the help of the merman when we get back at Vale" Juan replies as he nods toward Jasmine.

Masiken look at Mebuyan. "Can I join them my Lady? This is a threat that might end Antrian."

"No. You we were asked by Juan to train her daughter to become a ruler. So she can return to the arms of their family and be accepted like a true noble. I won't compromise our deal with the trickster."

Juan then looks surprised. "Surely, we can work this out? This is an emergency. Masiken can train Hel when we come back."

"No, you begged me back then to take your daughter. And I did. I won't go back on my word training her. If you want to Masiken join you, then Hel should finish her training and take Niflheim as her place as the new ruler of the place.

Juan and Masiken were speechless. They need all the manpower they can get. Guardians and other creatures should band together to defeat a giant serpent from killing them all.

"Perhaps we can trade something in return? Banter for his time?" Jasmine asked Mebuyan.

Mebuyan will not hear it. She began to be irritated by the advancement of their request.

"I said I will allow him once Hel is the ruler of Niflheim. Queen of the old and crippled while the warriors will be sent to Valkyrie. Both of you will work together to manage the undead of Ginn Hus. We don't want your father to be waiting any longer, don't we trickster?"

"Fine. We will leave Masiken to train Hel. But he better show up or I will drag him out of the underworld."

"Don't worry father. I will do my best to finish my training with Masiken and Mebuyan. After that maybe I can bend the rules at Niflheim and help you with your investigation" Hel says as she hugs Juan tightly.

The group agrees with two things, firstly, Jasmine is not the first Chronicler; she is new but the White Chronicle chosen her as her bearer thus the guardians must upheld their duty on helping and protecting the Chronicler.

Second, all over the world, creatures are dying from serpents' attacks or indirectly with some kind of cult carrying out their attacks. The Chronicler and guardians must stop this before it goes out of control.

"With that, my services with you are done. Be on your way. I don't want to be bothered while I am performing my duties. Do what you must, Chronicler." Mebuyan then walks toward the pond and removes her robes.

As suspected her upper body if full of teat. She then gathers all of the children in her arms and she dives into the pond. A huge splash generates big waves from the pond and another down pour came right after.

The area is quite again. Hel and Masiken decided to walk Jasmine and Juan back to the entrance and see them off.

As they were walking back, Jasmine was curious why Mebuyan dived to the water with the children. Jasmine pulls out the White Chronicle and she read that the children are put into the water with her so they can be nurtured. Mebuyan can make the children grow into adulthood, it depends on Mebuyan wishes. The children she groomed can grow and be part of the underworld work force as a guide, soldier, etc.

Jasmine then searched for another thing that made her curious: Niflheim. As she scans her book, she sees a page with incomplete pages about it. It says stuff about a world tree and how Niflheim was one of its realms. Niflheim is currently manage by the Valkyrie and will give up the position to the next queen. Jasmine smiles knowing that if Hel becomes and undead ruler of Niflheim, she can help them further with their mission, appease her father's wishes and hopefully reunite her family with her actions.

Finally, she search the book's content for any answers why she felt the breathing. After searching the table of contents of the book, no record shows that can remedy her curiosity. She asked the group if they have any idea why the White Chronicle acted up that way.

"Maybe it's because the White Chronicle acknowledges the presence of a ruler of the underworld. It might have a mind of its own since it records any information you hear." Hel tries to answer with her theory.

Unsatisfied, Jasmine drops questioning it. She is sure that the answer will soon come up once she unlocks more information about this world.

As they near the entrance of the underworld, Juan then kisses his daughter goodbye, the two shares some loving words before leaving and Juan asked Masiken to stop fooling around and train Hel seriously.

Masiken nods and shake the hands of Juan. "I'm looking forward to it future father-in-law" Masiken jokingly said but Juan's grip then hardens and squeeze the hand of Masiken.

Hel laughs it off and she gave Jasmine a hug as well. "Take care out there. Don't worry; my father is a good warrior and you guys will make it!"

Jasmine feels Hel's cold arms embracing her but with even with the short time they spent together, she felt connected with her. "Thanks Hel. I will find and defeat those serpents."

Masiken then kneels in front of Jasmine and pulled out a white egg with green triangle spots all over it and no bigger than chicken's egg. "Take this Chronicler. I might not be with you but this will help you. Once it hatches, take great care of it."

"What is it? A bird for me to fly on perhaps?" Jasmine jokingly ask.

"No. That is a Void Egg. An egg made from the ashes of different monsters and beasts. It will form a new life depending which ashes wins inside it. I found that egg here at the underworld but it can only be hatch at the world at the living. I wanted to try it for myself I was busy with Hel but I think this will be helpful for your travels now."

"Thank you Masiken." Jasmien hugs the guardian one last time before leaving the underworld.

As they said their good bye, the gate to the underworld opens and Jasmine and Juan walks towards it. As they exit the door, they see a large line of spirits compare to the first time they walk in. Juan looks at Magwayen.

"Busy day?" Juan asked Magwayen. The diwata just rolls her eyes and resume her work.

Juan laughs it off and they resumed walking upward back to the hollow tree. As they near the ground beneath the tree Juan stops on his tracks and asked Jasmine to wait. Juan then grabs his satchel and got a protea flower from it. He whispers on the flower, prayed on it then put the flower on the ground.

Juan then asked Jasmine to listen carefully "Chronicler, I will be honest with you. I sense something outside of the tree. Something dreadful and I don't know why that bastard is here. I will undo the time stop now and always listen to me. Understood?"

Jasmine does not know what is happening but she nods in silent. Juan then taps the hour glass and the green magic dissipate forms it. Jasmine and Juan then hears the grass and leaves rustling outside the hallowed tree. Time resumes.

As they reach the surface, Jasmine and Juan smelled piss of cats and rotting eggs everywhere. Jasmine holds Juan's hand tightly. Juan then uses his magic and his suit transform into a black garb, like a ninja. "Chronicler, I will be relying on you again. What will be fighting outside is something that scares me but I won't lose to a person like him"

"Who is outside?" Jasmine heart beat fast as she felt this threat is a whole new level that she ever faced. She holds his hand even tighter than before. Juan then gets his frog from his shoulder and placed it on Jasmine's shoulder.

"Jasmine is your name right? Be calm Jasmine. Our buddy here will protect you from him."

"Who is outside the tree Juan? Tell me"

"The devil"

As they walked outside the tree, the area seems normal at first. Night sky and the moon are there as it should be. The tree stump where Juan and Jasmine rode to race toward the tree is still here.

Juan released Jasmine's hand and suddenly vanishes without a trace. Jasmine try's her best to stay calm but the more she tries to act tough the more the smell becomes unbearable.

"Juan? Where are you?"

She noticed the shadow from the tree grows as it envelops the surrounding area. The clouds in the sky blocked the moon. All of the shadows in the vicinity grew more and more as less moonlight shines upon her feet.

In the darkness, she sees a pair of red eyes and devious teeth a grinning at her. "Hello there" the voice from the darkness says. Jasmine hears a dark raspy voice from it. The devil is here.

The grin comes closer and from the little moon light Jasmine can see this smile from the darkness. A dark tall figure in a suit, black shinny shoes, white matching gloves, a walking cane and monocle on its left eye emerged from the shadow. With it its distinguishable factor, its tail.

"Uh, hi there? Hello can you hear me at all? Wow, you are really back, Chronicler. I am your number one customer here!" The devil smiles as if he is a businessman talking to Jasmine.

"You are weird. I though the devil is scary and imposing and did you just called yourself my customer?" Jasmine replied as she is trying to stay her ground.

Large tentacle of dark mass surrounds the devil and each tentacle carries a contract. "Of course here are the deals from the rituals made by your guardian. Here is from Atlas the newest member."

The devil grabs the contract from his tentacle. "This client just wants to leave his prison. Oh the poor thing carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Atleast no he can walk the earth he carries."

"Oh how about this" as the devil reaches for another contract "Juan, the trickster also known as. . ." then before he finished reading the contract, a knife cuts the tentacle holding it. The tentacle wiggles into nothingness and the contract was not harmed.

"I see you from the shadows Juan. Please come out and talk like . . . civilized people." The devil intimidates Juan to come out. Jasmine is still look for Juan in the darkness. Where is he? From the tree tops? From the ground again? Come on Juan. . .

Two tentacles from the left side of the devil then reached within the bushes and grabbed Juan and threw him on the ground. It then slams him again and again and then flings him across the woods and landing near Jasmine.

The body of Juan dissipates in thin air and just like the last time, frogs leaped from his body. "Ah yes, the trickster. This is what you want right? To leave your home and to find your children. Leave your body as your wife take care of your body. But what I can do, this is what you want and thanks to the Chronicler we had a good deal."

Juan then reemerges from the shadow just behind Jasmine. "Tsk, I can't get to him. Any shadow is his eyes and ears. My powers here are useless."

"For sure my dear Loki, you gave me your soul for power and freedom. Your excuse for power is selfish just like the rest of the guardians." The devil spoke softly as he wiggles the contract.

Jasmine hears another name that seems familiar. Loki… where did I hear that name? Was it in a book from father? Or story from my grandparents? She says his name again and again she remembers it. Loki, the trickster god from the comics!

"Loki! That's why your name is familiar. The brother of Thor! I read comics about you from my schoolmate. I thought its all gods from different mythology and you're from a comic! You were a super villain there!" Jasmine yells.

The devil just looks at Jasmine with confusion, especially Juan. "Comics? Is that another power of your White Chronicle?" asked the devil to Jasmine as he smiles.

"Yes, that's me. Leave it at that okay? I don't wanna drag my family around here. Let's leave it at that." Juan seems to be unpleasant talking about his family. "Hey Chronicler, to be honest I don't think I can win this one. My powers dwells the shadow and secrecy but the devil stumps me at every move. I don't think we will make this one alive."