Ixartxist materialized in the room where Tassa was, her gloomy presence immediately catching his attention. As he approached her, calling out her name and expressing concern, she remained silent, her eyes filled with despair. When Ixartxist held her close, an unsettling emptiness washed over him, as if he were embracing a lifeless body without a soul. Suddenly, Calguas intervened, demanding that Ixartxist release her. Reluctantly, Ixartxist carefully handed Tassa over to Calguas, remarking, "That explains her despondency."
Calguas, too, felt a profound absence when he caught Tassa. "No soul, but why?" he questioned.
Ixartxist's anger flared as he gazed out the window. "Apparently, Quart lost control. She succumbed, allowing the Shavot demon to claim her soul."
"No, that's even worse than marrying you," Calguas retorted.
Ixartxist calmly met Calguas' gaze. "Provoking me won't help."
"I'm not provoking you; I'm stating the truth. Shavot demons are mindless creatures, but they possess invulnerability," Calguas explained.
"I am aware of that, but I will not let it take her away from me forever," Ixartxist declared with unwavering determination.
"Don't act tough or smart, Ixartxist! You cannot defeat that creature," Calguas warned.
"I know. That's why, Calguas, I want you to take care of her for me," Ixartxist requested.
"You are not the one giving orders here!" Calguas snapped.
Ixartxist cast one last glance at Quart's face before reluctantly leaving her in Calguas' care.
Meanwhile, Sasiumasa returned to the scene, only to find that Ixartxist and Calguas were gone. Smirking to himself, he mused, "Ixartxist sought help from Calguas. A wise choice." He was about to follow them when Yellaine, witnessing the chaos and the ruined walls, confronted Sasiumasa, demanding an explanation for the destruction of her master's mansion. Sasiumasa turned to face her, towering over her small stature. "I, Sasiumasa, am not to be spoken to in such a manner."
Yellaine attempted to voice her concerns further, but before she could finish, Sasiumasa abruptly teleported her to Palawan, Philippines. Yellaine was taken aback by the sudden change of scenery, feeling lost and uncertain. She expressed her worries to Sasiumasa, stating that she couldn't stay somewhere unfamiliar and feared getting lost without anyone understanding her.
"Suman wanted to save you, although I'm not entirely sure why. I can sense his feelings towards you. There must be some connection between you and that woman, I can sense it. But saving you seems futile," Sasiumasa explained.
"Talk about split personality. Listen, if anything happens to me here, you will pay," Yellaine warned.
"I, Sasiumasa, care for no one," he coldly replied.
With that, Sasiumasa left Yellaine behind and proceeded to find Ixartxist and Calguas.
Ixartxist teleported to where Tassa's soul was locked inside the belly of the Shavot demon, with Calguas following closely behind, both determined to save her. Shavot demons were mindless creatures that fed on human souls, taking advantage of their deep sadness and despair. Those who had lost hope in life were particularly vulnerable to these demons, as they allowed the loneliness to consume them, unknowingly surrendering their souls. The Shavot demon would devour the soul, leaving the body behind, which would then succumb to self-destruction as the person could no longer think rationally. Once a soul was trapped inside a Shavot, it could only be freed by finding the light within oneself.
Tassa, instead of seeking the light, blamed herself and allowed the Shavot demon to take her soul. Ixartxist immediately pursued the demon before it vanished, but Sasiumasa intercepted him.
"You cannot go any further, Ixartxist. She has made her choice, let her go," Sasiumasa advised.
"You don't understand what will happen. If she becomes one with that demon, she will never face judgment, and all the good she has done will be erased," Ixartxist argued.
"But that is precisely it. If one has been good for a long time and suddenly turns bad, all the good deeds are forgotten. But if one has been bad for a long time and then turns good, all past sins are forgiven. You know this, Ixartxist," Sasiumasa explained.
"No, I will not let that happen," Ixartxist declared, his determination unwavering.
"One more step, Ixartxist, and you will meet your end. Look around us," Sasiumasa warned.
Ixartxist surveyed his surroundings and noticed violet rays of light emanating from every corner, creating a barrier. Sasiumasa touched one of the rays, cutting his finger, which did not regenerate. "This is akin to the Sword of Death. Once you are cut, it is the end. But fear not, you may see her again in the afterlife," Sasiumasa revealed.
In a fit of frustration, Ixartxist punched Sasiumasa, nearly causing him to cut himself with his own trap. However, Sasiumasa skillfully dodged every violet ray, maintaining a safe distance from Ixartxist. Sasiumasa stood there for a moment, observing Ixartxist, who was perplexed by the memory he saw within Sasiumasa the moment he punched him.
"Sasiumasa saved a woman and brought her to the Philippines because of Suman. So, Suman is still inside you," Ixartxist deduced.
Sasiumasa chuckled at Ixartxist's thoughts and replied, "Indeed. Suman resides within me, as I am composed of his complete power. However, I am not him, and he is not me. I, Sasiumasa, am not like you with memories and emotions. I am a fusion of Suman and Flute'agon's power, impervious to harm or death. Do you understand, Ixartxist?"
Reluctantly, Ixartxist admitted, "I hate to say it, but yes, you explain it well."
Suddenly, Calguas appeared and tapped his staff on the ground, causing both Ixartxist and Sasiumasa to bow. Sasiumasa, unable to resist the power of the staff, complied, acknowledging its authority.
"Both of you, where is Quart?" Calguas demanded.
"The bow maker, how I admire such magnificent power," Sasiumasa remarked.
"Calguas, listen. Go and follow Tassa, and let me handle Sasiumasa. Nothing can be achieved here. Once you leave, he can go back in time and undo the spell you cast," Ixartxist instructed.
"The spell will not be broken unless I say so," Calguas replied firmly.
"Undo it. Do not worry, both of us will retain our memories. I need to take action, and once you undo the spell, he will go back a few minutes before you arrived. And when he does, he will be defeated," Ixartxist explained.
"I, Sasiumasa, cannot be defeated so easily, Ixartxist. Whatever your plan may be, it is destined to fail," Sasiumasa taunted.
"Ixartxist, what are you planning?" Calguas asked.
"Who knows," Ixartxist replied cryptically.
"That's not a very helpful hint at all," Calguas interjected.
Ixartxist smirked at Sasiumasa and responded, "You see, Sasiumasa, while you were explaining everything about your life, I remembered every detail. Calguas may understand, but I remember everything. I will never forget what transpired here."
Calguas trusted Ixartxist, sensing that he had a solid plan, even though he had no idea what it entailed. Calguas tapped his staff on the ground, freeing them from the bowing position. However, Sasiumasa did not go back in time. Instead, he stood up, his gaze fixed on Ixartxist. In a swift motion, Ixartxist transformed himself into energy and voluntarily entered Sasiumasa's body. The absorption happened so quickly that Calguas could only watch in astonishment. Calguas attempted to tap his staff, but Ixartxist, inside Sasiumasa, pulled him close, causing Calguas to transform into energy as well and become absorbed by Sasiumasa, making Sasiumasa feel as if he had won. With Ixartxist and Calguas devoured, Sasiumasa's task was complete, leaving only Tassa to be dealt with.
Tassa's soul was freed from the clutches of the Shavot demon as Sasiumasa effortlessly evaporated it with a snap of his fingers. Startled, Tassa awoke to find herself surrounded by devastation. Sasiumasa appeared behind her, remarking, "It seems you are not pleased with what you see, Quart."
Ignoring his presence, Tassa clasped her hands and asked, "Where are Ixartxist and Suman? What have you done to them?"
Sasiumasa, taken aback by her regained memory, realized what Ixartxist had been planning. He kept his distance, creating a barrier to separate himself from Tassa. Tassa laughed, slowly turning to face him, her eyes fixed on his nonchalant expression. "A barrier? I thought you wanted to take me with you, and now you create a barrier. Listen, this catastrophe happened because of me. Now, take me and undo this, Suman."
"I am Sasiumasa, and—" Sasiumasa began.
"I am not talking to you. I am talking to Suman," Tassa interrupted.
Tassa approached Sasiumasa, causing him to step backward in fear of her getting too close.
"Ixartxist sacrificed himself to regain control of Suman's memory and also to restore your memory the moment I touched you. He couldn't fight me because I had no memory. That's why he used his own power to regain Suman, and he also used me against the Shavot because he knew he couldn't save you from it. But do you think you are a threat?" Tassa asked.
Sasiumasa scoffed.
"Am I not?" Tassa challenged.
Sasiumasa laughed, but his laughter masked his unease as Tassa continued to approach. "You know, your actions speak louder than your words. You are weak, the weakest creature ever created. Do you agree?"
"I, Sasiumasa, have never felt threatened by anyone, not even you, Tassa."
Tassa smiled slightly, hearing him call her Tassa instead of Quart, knowing it was a sign that she was gaining control. Sasiumasa attempted to blast her with an energy power called Radien, but Tassa caught it, absorbing the energy and using it to her advantage. Sasiumasa was shocked, realizing he had been tricked, but Tassa denied it, making it clear that "they" had tricked him, not just her.
It all went back to the beginning. Before Quart became human, both Suman and Quart were aware of the impending catastrophe, but their memories were erased to prevent interference. When Suman was imprisoned by Flute'agon, he struggled to remember, but it was only when Sasiumasa encountered Yellaine, who resembled Tassa, that Suman regained his consciousness. He remembered Quart but couldn't escape his confinement within Sasiumasa. When Ixartxist punched Sasiumasa, Suman sensed his consciousness awakening, prompting Ixartxist to sacrifice himself in their fight and be devoured by Sasiumasa, bringing back Tassa's memory. However, Sasiumasa discovered the plan and distanced himself from Tassa, unaware that she had her own plan. Tassa provoked Sasiumasa and used his energy against him, gaining enough control to manipulate him as planned. Ixartxist had brought back Tassa's memory so that when she and Sasiumasa got close, their memories would connect, allowing Ixartxist to withstand Sasiumasa by taking over his body. But Tassa didn't want that to happen; she trusted Ixartxist but remembered everything, including how the catastrophe ended. Using her power, she took control of Sasiumasa as originally intended. Placing her hand in front of his face, she commanded, "Sasiumasa, free Suman."
Sasiumasa knew that complying with her command would result in his disappearance, leaving him to exist only as energy, but he had no choice against Tassa's power, who could command anyone with just a word. He followed her command, smiling happily as he replied, "Indeed, I am nothing more than energy, and I will vanish as energy. Just as humans come from the earth and return to it. Quart, you cannot continue living in your dreams, crying and hoping for a chance."
"What is your point?" Tassa asked.
"My point is that only through death can a being truly be saved. If you want to save someone you truly love, ensure their eventual demise," Sasiumasa explained.
"I promise you, no matter what happens, I will never forget that," Tassa assured him.
"Farewell then, Quart," Sasiumasa tenderly kissed Quart's hand, a radiant smile gracing his face as he prepared to depart. This moment held immense significance for him, as he had never experienced such deep emotions before. The moment Tassa freed Suman and allowed him to take over his body, Suman's memories flooded back, leaving him in a state of shock as he looked at Quart. Abruptly, he released her hand and distanced himself, his expression filled with confusion and a myriad of emotions. He questioned why he had treated her like a princess, seeking answers from Quart.
Tassa gazed up at the sky, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. "I truly want to tell him that I'll never forget him, but I fear that I will," she replied softly.
Suman glanced at her, a sense of understanding washing over him. He knew that Tassa had been the one to try and prevent him, but he also felt a profound remorse at the consequences of her actions. Determined to bring closure to their journey, Quart spoke with unwavering resolve.
"Suman, let's finish this timeline," Quart said, her voice filled with determination.
"Alright," Suman replied, his tone reflecting his commitment to their cause.
Quart and Suman returned to the Qiasjolque, ready to embark on their journey back to the past. Suman instructed Quart to close her eyes and refrain from peeking, reminding her that only an Aginer was permitted to witness the past, present, and future. With closed eyes, Quart followed Suman's guidance as he asked her where she wanted to be taken. Tassa's response was simple yet profound: she wished to go somewhere where Flute'agon still existed.
"And after that, what?" Suman inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"After that, all you need to do is erase your memory and resume your role as you did before," Quart explained.
"That wouldn't be necessary anymore," Suman responded, his voice filled with a newfound certainty.
"What do you mean?" Quart asked, her curiosity growing.
"In every timeline, there exists another version of you and me. In other words, if we both travel back to the past and prevent this from happening, it signifies that we will ultimately disappear," Suman revealed.
"I see. I truly hope that in the other timeline, the other version of me is as sweet and kind as I truly am," Quart teased, a playful smile dancing on her lips.
"I feel a sense of pity for you in every timeline, knowing that you and Ixartxist will never be together in the end," Suman replied, a hint of sadness in his voice.
"That's quite mean, you know!" Quart exclaimed, playfully nudging him.
"But it's a fact!" Suman retorted, their banter filled with a mix of affection and frustration.
"Who asked you, anyway?" Quart huffed, a playful glint in her eyes.
Suman and Tassa both traveled back to the time when Flute'agon still existed, appearing before him unexpectedly. Flute'agon was taken aback by their sudden presence, particularly Suman's transformed appearance. Quart and Suman proceeded to explain everything to Flute'agon, urging him to retrieve Nia'le and lock Tassa's memories of Céline and him. Flute'agon, understanding the gravity of the situation, immediately went to retrieve Nia'le and fulfill Quart's request. With a solemn promise, he assured Tassa, "I'll do this favor for her and for you."
After completing his task, Suman briefly left Quart and Flute'agon, venturing to another timeline where Quart still existed. He appeared in her dream, formally introducing himself just as Sasiumasa had done when they parted ways. Suman bowed respectfully and kissed her hand, conveying his message, "I want you to remember this, Quart. If one cannot die, then they cannot be saved."
Quart looked at him, her curiosity piqued. "And what is your point?" she questioned, eager to understand.
"My point is that only through death can a being truly find salvation. If you wish to save someone you truly love, ensure their eventual demise. Will you promise to remember this for me, Quart, just as you promised me before?" Suman explained, his voice filled with a sense of urgency.
"I promised you before? What do you mean? I don't even know you. How can I make a promise to someone I don't even know?" Quart asked, her confusion evident.
"I am Sasiumasa. Do not forget this word, Quart. It is a promise," Suman replied, his words carrying a weight of significance.
Following this encounter, Tassa awoke in her dark room, her eyes adjusting to the dim surroundings. She saw Ayamani by her side, diligently healing her wounds. On the other side, Suman returned to the Qiasjolque, and he and Tassa gradually began to dissolve, their essences fading away. Before their final moments, Suman assured Tassa that he had saved her from committing a grave sin. Intrigued, Tassa questioned him about the nature of this sin. Suman replied, "You promised Sasiumasa that you would never forget the words he spoke. That is why I conveyed them to the other version of you. I introduced myself in the same manner as Sasiumasa, and with Ixartxist's power, I easily etched those words into her mind and heart, ensuring she will never forget."
"Suman, you—" Tassa began, her voice filled with a mix of emotions.
"A promise is a promise. Instead of making a promise you cannot keep, you should have simply said 'yes' or 'okay,' shouldn't you, Flute'agon?" Suman interjected, a touch of sadness in his voice.
Flute'agon embraced them both, tears streaming down his face as he struggled to recognize the changed Suman. Not only had Suman altered his appearance, but he had also transformed his personality, now carrying himself with a newfound formality. Flute'agon couldn't help but shed a tear for his beloved junior as they both evaporated in his arms, their essences dissipating into the air. A brand new start for a new timeline was about to begin.