Chapter 25 – Our Mission Starts here

With Shamir's magic, Jasmine slept her worries away. No nightmare or any kind of sleep troubles; she slept like a baby thru the night but come morning, the heat began to be unbearable and the noise outside woke her up. She fixed her bed and readies herself. Jasmine looks around the room and found herself alone; no guardians there to greet her.

She checked the other room of the guardians and only sees Juan sleeping soundly on his bed but the others seem to be somewhere else. Shamir comes out from the stairs and fetches Jasmine for a breakfast below. Jasmine followed thru as she cannot deny her stomach from further delay. She happily shared a table with Shamir. As they wait for their food to be cooked, Jasmine notices the large crowd outside.

"The town seems to be more lively than usual, isn't it Shamir? " Jasmine asked as she drinks her water.

"Yes, the River Town was attacked last night but most of the resident was saved by Kulog, Kislap, and Gil. They are refugees for the moment but with enough help from Vale, they will be back at no time!" Shamir said as she smiles at Jasmine. Reassured with this answer, she asked Shamir where the other guardians are. Shamir was about to answer but Leshin suddenly burst into the room and hastily walked toward the two of them.

"Good morning ladies but I do hate to interrupt your breakfast but I will need you to come with me," Leshin says with such haste that the both of them can't help it and instead comply without a response. As much as Jasmine wants to eat her breakfast, she can't help it too. She senses something is wrong – like the wind or the air is thicker than usual.

"Leshin, do we need to?" Shamir asked with her meek voice. She tries to hide it but Jasmine picks up that they are hiding something from her. Leshin didn't answer but his silence seems to answer Shamir. Whatever they are taking Jasmine, she knows it could be related to what she left a while ago.

They leave the Inn, Jasmine sees the huge crowd of people outside gathering for their ration of food with children on the clinging to their parents. Mayor Nicanor is at the town center with his guardsmen to providing the ration to the refugees. Leshin urges them to move faster before they are spotted but before they can move far the people recognized the White Chronicle dangling on Jasmine's make-shift sling bag. The crowd began to gather and groveling at her feet. Shouting and praising for her protection and thanking her for sending her guardians from their demise last night. Most of them are pleading for help to bring River Town back to justice by finding and make that person pay.

Jasmine taken back from this, she wasn't able to say a word. She tries to comfort every people she sees. Shamir tries to ask the crowd to give space but they are all pushing each other just to reach Jasmine. Leshin shakes his head and comments this is what he was trying to prevent. He slams his spear on the ground and long vines grow from the ground and created a wall to divide the crowd from them.

"People, please the Chronicler is . . . " Leshin was about to plead with the crowd but Jasmine tugs him. She signals the vines to be put down and let her speak. Leshin reluctantly follows her.

Jasmine turns to the crowd and gave a reassuring speech "People of River Town. I do understand how you feel; how to be separated from your home, to be scared, and some of you . . . to be alone. But look around you! You are still alive can rebuild. What is important is you still live here, now."

The crowd calmed down, their faces are now glimmering with hope as a bit of her kindness touches their hearts. The guardians see that her words are getting thru them; right now Leshin and Shamir are awe how Jasmine controls the crowd. Despite her size, Jasmine able to use her status as a Chronicler simply became a leader to them.

"Is she always like this?" Shamir asked.

"This is the first time I see her like this too. Amazing isn't she?" Leshin lowers the summoned vine. Jasmine assuring speech connected with the people and the crowd began to sing praises about her. Jasmine finishes her speech with simple advice "As long as we live, we will prevail". The crowd began to chant her name and felt more connected than ever. Her words manage to sway them. Instilling hope and will in their hearts.

Leshin thinks for a moment. Maybe the reason why Jasmine resonates with the crowd is that she speaks from her experience, how she always tells them that she is not from this world or not the previous Chronicler. But each passing day, Leshin sees Jasmine's potential to become a great Chronicler.

Shamir and Leshin took Jasmine to their destination – a prestige-looking house surrounded by large trees and bushes of different kinds of color and sizes, giving the place like a painting in the middle of a hot day. As they enter the house, Jasmine is greeted by a busy lobby, a kapre caring for the wounded from one room to the other, a lot of diwatas using their magic to heal wounds, duwende are all over the place shouting the results of their examination on the bodies on the floor.

The whole lobby is flooded with blood and sweat. Leshin points the team to move to a room on a corner. Jasmine's heart skips a beat. She knows what this building is and she fears what is behind the door they are about to open. She prays this isn't Kislap, Gil, Kulog, or any of the guardians. She knows this is the role of the guardians and their life is forfeited ever since they take the Ritual of Power but her time spent with them and their bonds are making it harder for her to accept their fate.

Shamir opens the door and reveals Jasmine's worst nightmare, an unconscious Kislap on the bed with bruises and cuts all over his body. Jasmine rushes over his side but was stopped by a duwende standing on Kislap's hips. "Hold on there missy! I'm not yet done examining the patient."

Jasmine holds her tears back and tries to act brave. Kulog and Gil are sitting silently on their bed but unlike Kislap, he is lying. Atlas and Amihan are there as well with a very strained mood written all over their faces. Leshin and Shamir enter the room and asked the duwende how is Kislap but the duwende didn't answer.

The duwende hops on Kislap's chest where a huge scar races across his body. The small doctor scatters white powder across the scar and smiles. He turns to the group. "Well, I got two things for you lot. Good news first: your friend here will live. His wounds do not react to the salt with earth mound blessing – so no curse follows him. The bad news is next; he seems to be in a deep sleep . . . maybe it was the saving you guys did all night." The duwende turns to Gil and Kulog.

Gil nods and Kulog answers back "So how can we help him doc? Just rest? But he is sleeping since last night! We are guardians! We normally get back up!"

"Normally?! Lass, didn't you hear what I said?" the irritated duwende leaps from Kislap to Kulog's forehead. He presses his feet and bounces back to Kislap's chest. The force was enough to send Kulog's head to slam back to the bed.

"Normally you can, but you're exhausted." The duwende proceeds to get leaves from his pocket and began to chew on them. "You might be the Chronicler's guardians but you are not invincible. Give yourself some rest and don't push yourself to the limit. You will never know when your bones can break. . . " the duwende blows air into the wounds of Kulog. Kulog instantly let a sigh of relief.

"Yep, this will do. Gather these yarrow and plantain herbs. Either wet them with water or chew on them; once moist apply them on his body and this should soothe his pain." The duwende then exits the room and leaves them alone. He began to yell and ask the kapre to bring his patient to his room.

"What is happening here?" Jasmine asks the group the other guardians all looked at Gil and Kulog. Kulog and Gil nod and agree to they what happened last night. They didn't want to dwell on the info before without the whole group here. Gil notices Juan is missing but Leshin vouches for Juan and states that he also had his adventure last night and asked the team to let him rest for a while.

Kulog and Gil then proceed to relay what went down. From the big figure they fought. The spear that gave it powers with the Alibata writings on it and how Kislap was wounded. They provided all the details but Kulog and Gil cannot say where the figure did go but they hope whatever it was going, they hope not here at Vale.

All of the guardians' eyes widen when they hear the spear of the figure having the Alibata writings on it. Tala raised a concern "The Ritual of Power didn't forbid us from killing each other. We can do where ever and where ever we wish to go but we can never harm or disobey the wishes of the Chronicler."

"Maybe that figure is a guardian too? Looking for the Chronicler as I have after I heard the call from Leshin." Shamir raised a good point. All of the guardians are exchanging theories on what this figure wants and why the destruction but among them is Atlas, sitting in the room with all of his focus and attention but to himself. Then he springs from his seat and looks into the wounds of Gil and Kulog.

"My goodness . . . Shamir! Look at their bite marks!" Shamir rushes toward them and examines the bite.

"You know these bites, don't you? And the bugs! How they drained their energy. It's similar to the King of the Dessert." Atlas tries his best to get thru Shamir and then Shamir also recognizes these bites.

"YES! I've been on their continent before and found such bugs on . . ." she pauses for a while and looks at the bite marks again ". . . dead kings and queens of their land."

Gil is clueless and asks the two to explain what they know about those bugs. Atlas and Gil inform the group that those are Scarabs from the arid continent of Land of Origins. Those bugs were commonly found on the tombs of the dead. They feast on anything but more importantly, blood and magic. They typically found shelter on dead tombs and if enough of the Scarabs are festering about, they can revive the dead and use the body as their walking home.

"So you are telling me that we fought thousands of bugs on their "house" that can fight, kill and eventually eat the blood of its victims?" Gil's question might sound absurd but none can deny the possibility of this threat.

"But it doesn't explain its intelligence. That thing began to speak and looked for dust… something like that and left us alone" Kulog replies and the whole team tries to make sense of what they are in.

Then a knock on the door disrupts them. Shamir opens it and it's one of Amihan's crew. "Captain! Far Brook was attacked! Refugees from their village just arrived with heave casualties and just like from River Town, they are attacked by a figure with a spear."

Gil slams his hand on the bed and blames himself for not able to defeat this creature. Kulog feels the same way but Atlas reminds them that they did their best. He argues that this figure must be looking for someone or something thus the attack.

"Another town, how many was attacked since last night?" Tala asked the group as she nervously looked at the group.

"Four. Including Rivertown . . . that's what my men told me. Last night, I asked my scouts to check on the other town using my ship. They found three towns burning. We rescued some and bring them back here. The other towns they visit refused to leave and . . . " Amihan was cut short by Kulog. She let out a rumble that vibrates thru the floor.

"Sorry. That was mean and rude of me but I tried to warn them. Kislap even tried to ask them to help us defend Rivertown or at least band together and prepare but no they just closed their doors. The nerves on them to ask for help now!"

"Kulog, I understand you." Tala flies towards Kulog and tries to comfort her "Sometimes I do wish these creatures can grow a spine but we cannot help it. We saved them once and let's just hope they realized we cannot save them forever."

Amihan nods and asks the elf to keep them posted and asks the elf to collect the medicinal leaves for Kislap. As this is happening, Jasmine felt the White Chronicle vibrating as if it wants to tell her something. She tries to ignore it but somehow her head starts to space out and she sees a vision . . . herself in an empty road. She looks up and sees the sun shining upon the grassy plain around her. She follows the road and it leads her into a town where it is filled with Kuwig, half-human half boar. Their quiet life seems to be a pleasant one that even Jasmine would want to have in a short while.

Crash! Their wooden gate flings as the figure with the spear charges in. The Kuwing transform into a more feral state where their fangs grew and bristles on their back harden as steel. But these are no match for the figure as it swings its spears while yelling "DUST! DEATH TO DUST!"

Thou this is vision, Jasmine felt everything there as real. She began to run. The figure slashes and crushes everyone that fought him. The town is easily destroyed by the sheer power this figure possesses. Jasmine runs with the villagers to escape the carnage. She tries to run but panic ensues among them. With panic comes fear and caused stampede on which she is stuck on. She can't breathe, Jasmine tries to crawl her way out but more bodies began to pile more and more till she cannot move.

In desperation, her bookmark shines bright and flies to the air. It manifests itself; its light was so bright that it burns everything away from Jasmine. The vision began to evaporate like a canvas with white paint smudged in the middle of it. She picks Jasmine up and began to speak "Chronicler, the book is trying to show you something but why do you shroud your mind with fear?"

Confused about what is happening. Jasmine stands up and the landscape changed into a city of white and gold. Blue sky with golden shine surrounds them with warm light. Jasmine feels peaceful here compared to the near-death experience she had but then a Daija appears before her with an army of yokai following behind him.

The lady turns to Jasmine "Chronicler, your fear is clouding your mind. What is happening to you?". Jasmine panics for a moment and then she realized that this is just a bad dream. A vision being twisted from her fears is causing this commotion. As soon as she realizes this, the vision disappears once more and everything turns white.

"This role, the burden of guiding people and leading the guardians, it's getting heavier. It is starting to weigh me down. . . I can be their Chronicler but what is a title without having any power to wield against our enemies."

"You manage to grow in the past few days why falter now?" The vision began to blur and the world around them disappears. "Clear your mind Jasmine, the book is warning you about -"

She gasps for air and moans. She cries from the stinging pain she felt across her cheeks. "Chronicler! Wake up!" Shamir grabs a hold of her and prepares another slap to get her back to reality.

"Hey! I'm awake!" Jasmine yells as she tries to stop Shamir from slapping her.

"Thank goodness! You spaced out and then you slumped like a log. The next thing we know you are gasping for air!" Shamir hugs her. Her warm hug helps Jasmine to realize she isn't in vision anymore.

"You had us worried back there!" Tala says as she pulls Jasmine back up. "What happened to you?"

Jasmine grabs the White Chronicle and opens it. Nothing seems to be wrong at the moment but what she experience is surreal. "I've seen a vision of Daija, yokai, and this figure we just talked about attacking me but it was hazy. The bookmark was trying to tell me something but I cannot seem to focus."

"Well, that is the reason why I asked to be returned here so we can get you the Sacred Halls of Gathering – the old base where we. . . I mean where the old Chronicler established her base and lead us against the Aswang Swarm" Leshin reasons to the group he recalls that the previous Chronicler use to meditate there and after her session, she always have a plan to counter their enemies. She is a tactician and with her charms and logic, she became the foundation for every tribe's cause for unity in Antrian.

If Jasmine cannot control her vision maybe meditating on the site can help them. Leshin closes his reasoning by allowing Jasmine to make sense of why the previous Chronicler would leave, why the two Chroniclers look alike and what's with the prophetic vision from the previous Chronicler.

The White Chronicle shakes again and it began to give a white glow. Jasmine's vision began to darken and her knees wobble. Before she falls to the ground, Shamir and Tala catch her.

"Ugh, I can't see anything. The book wants to show me but I can't. . ." Jasmine grueling says. She agrees to go and kept to herself about her insecurity. She hopes that she can grow on her own but is afraid that she will be not enough for them.

"That's our queue, Leshin. Look like we are going to the Sacred Halls" Tala agrees to take Jasmine. Leshin will come with them but turns to the others on what will they do while they are gone.

Atlas volunteers to look out for the people that are coming to the town. He will try to use his magic to move the earth and create more shelters for the refugees.

Amihan will look out for Gil, Kislap, and Kulog while they are in bed. Thou Kulog and Gil don't want to stay but their bodies say otherwise. Shamir volunteers to go with Leshin and Tala, she reason her powers can help Jasmine relax and concentrate with her meditation.

With a sound plan, they all decided to go on with their separate ways.

The Sacred Halls of Gathering will take them an hour or so to reach from Vale. Jasmine, Tala, Leshin, and Shamir waste no time and began to make their way. Along the way, Jasmine tries to confront herself but she is still unsure how can she help her team. She recalls what Leshin said earlier about how the previous Chronicler is much of a strategist, a leader, and a negotiator. Her thoughts run wild as thinks of if she is even a worthy candidate of being a Chronicler.

As they are traveling Tala sometimes scouts ahead to double-check if the road is clear. Leshin and Shamir stay close to Jasmine. Shamir spends her time discussing with the group her theories on who the figure, such theories is a rogue guardian who does not abide the Chronicler. Leshin counters her by reminding them of their fate, if Jasmine dies all guardians will die so it's their priority to defend her but it doesn't make sense why the bloody rampage.

After a long trek, they finally see four black towers on the horizon surrounded by what were walls. The place is also surrounded by trees bearing a lot of fruits, thus the area is so refreshing and smells sweet.

"I see why the last Chronicler would like to be here" Jasmine comments how the area seems peaceful. She began to runs toward the place with excitement in her heart. Shamir follows close to her leaving Tala and Leshin.

"Sometimes, I forget our Chronicler is still a child."Leshin let a sigh. Despite not showing it to the others, he is deeply concerned if Jasmine can still take this role. He wants her to meditate and find the answer in this place.

"Makes you wonder huh? Same here. She got no magic prowess and acts most of the time as a child but she manages to lead us against the yokai." Tala flies beside Leshin.

Tala flies ahead and scouts the area to make sure no monsters are present. Leshin follows and sees Shamir and Jasmine rolling their eyes everywhere and being just amazed at this old ruin. In the middle of these four towers is a pond where Leshin asked Jasmine to go and meditate.

"The last Chronicler would sit in a stone slab middle of that pond. She would sometimes sit there for hours before she gets up."

Jasmine didn't move at first as she was busy imagining the battle that took place in this area. Hard to imagine at this world she got accustomed to was once on the brink of collapse.

"The previous Chronicler did her job. This world was saved but . . ." she spoke to herself loudly and Leshin heard it by an earshot. Leshin notices the sound of Jasmine's voice. That tone says it all, he gets why she was quiet while they were traveling. She doubts herself.

"It is your turn to save it" Leshin smiles and he knelt to Jasmine. "Look, Chronicler . . . I mean Jasmine. What is happening to you? You can level with me." Jasmine hesitates for a bit but she finally opens up.

"I don't feel that I can save you all. I don't have all the power to save those people. I don't have the previous Chronicler's strengths, charm, or wits. I am just a kid with this book and some prophetic vision that I need to stop." Jasmine pauses as she notices that Leshin is not angry or disappointed in her. He just sits there listening to her woes.

This moment of silence gives her time to breathe and catch up. Leshin just kept smiling and replied "Yes, the previous Chronicler better than you at those areas. But don't let it get to you. As one of the guardians that manage to meet the previous Chronicler and you, there are going to be differences and that's good."

"And why is that? Shouldn't I be like a master strategist like her?"

"No, it's because you treat us more than guardians. You know our strengths and weaknesses. I talked with the others on how you lead them during the fight with the yokai."

"I was just doing my job, reading the book and giving you guy's info – an advantage."

Leshin shakes his head and places his hand on Jasmine's shoulder "No. It's because you gave us hope."

The cold breeze swept across the land and Jasmine's worry starts to fade away.

"The previous Chronicler was more of a genius commander in a battlefield. But you are a shining beacon of hope. Maybe you don't realize it but when we are at the lowest point in battles, you hold us together. You hope is infectious you know that?"

Jasmine tries to think of the time she manages to do that but came up empty.

"Earlier today, I was so eager to get you out of the Inn as I know once you are spotted by the crowd they would ask for your help and worst a stampede. But you connected to them; you are more than just a Chronicler that can save and bring balance to this world. You are cause for holding on to hope. You might not see it but your small speech changed the life of a family that just lost their home. "

Leshin stands up and nods to Jasmine. "You are more than a kid who reads a book. Remember that Jasmine."

Jasmine's heart pounds with determination. She didn't know that. She didn't know what she can affect and what her words can do. She wasn't sure of herself but that talk with Leshin restored her confidence.

"Thanks, Leshin!" Jasmine smiles back. Brimming with confidence she runs toward the middle of the pond.

Leshin then calls for Shamir and asked her to stay near the pool but do not disturb Jasmine. They can never too sure if something comes up. Shamir agrees and proceeds to follow near Jasmine. Tala swops down from the sky. She comes back with a serious look.

"What is it Tala?" Leshin grabs his spear.

"Usang Dalo, is under attack. Smoke from their town can be seen from above. Leshin, that village is just an hour away from here and to Vale too."

Leshin grips his spear tighter and he fears that Atlas was right. This figure is looking for something and he thinks that message he sent to all guardians might cause this creature to awake.

"Tala, keep your eyes open. Let's help Jasmine to get this right then we can return to Vale and regroup with them."

"I can reach them less than an hour but that's one less guardian defending the Chronicler."

"No, leave the defenses to Atlas and Amihan. Let's put our faith in them."

Tala agrees and flies back into the sky. "I will keep you posted. Let's hope your theory bringing her here solves your questions."

Jasmine and Shamir are unaware of this as they are far away from Leshin and Tala. Jasmine then enters the pool of water and sits in the middle of it. Shamir then scatters her glittering sand surrounding the pool.

"Go ahead, Chronicler! I got you covered. If anything comes to you they will have to pass me first. Go ahead and meditate!" Shamir waves in the distance.

Jasmine takes a deep breath and looked around the area to get herself accustom. She leans in and sees herself in the pool's reflection. Her gaze looks up and sees the trees surrounding them. The sweet succulent waft surrounds them and the cold breeze caresses her. She looks around as sees the ever stalwart towers the surround her and the broken walls that fell to ruin the surrounds them. She sees Shamir smiling in the distance, Leshin is walking toward one of the towers and Tala flies above them with her pixie wings flapping about. She closes her eyes and places the book on her lap and began to meditate.

"Come on book, let me in" she whispers to herself. And right on queue, the book opened up. It flies up in the sky and glowed in bright light then sucked her in it. She falls indefinitely in a white canvas and then was stopped midair as the lady residing on her bookmark caught her.

"Welcome to the White Chronicle, Jasmine" the lady greeted her.

"Well, I was falling for almost a minute but I am glad that you caught me. I always knew that you got my back!"

An unknown force flipped her upright and placed her on solid ground.

"I was wondering what's inside the White Chronicle. What took so long for me to get here? Was I magically inept to enter this place?"

The lady nods. "Yes, that is correct. Opening and using the White Chronicle requires magically prowess to use its capabilities to its maximum potential. But that is not an issue now as you're in a place of power. This place is magically infused with magic and in a way; your body is absorbing the magic of this place."

Before they can speak further the place began to change and shifts its image into blue scenery.

"The vision has begun Chronicler. Take in what it wants to show you and focus. You are connected to the Chronicle so don't let your fear and emotion get to you."

Jasmine nods. She braces herself for what is to come.

This time Jasmine found herself on a beach and just beyond her a huge balate tree planted in a landmass connecting two large lands - an isthmus. She sees two armies preparing for war from each side. On the right, the armies there are clad in gold and silver armor with spears that are tall as a kapre. Their chariots have horses that can run faster than the wind.

On left, armies here are wearing leather armors with headdresses of the design of animals and creatures. Their weapons consist of axes, swords, and daggers. Compare to the other armies, their rank seems to be less well equipped but are filed in a more organized and strategic formation.

From the left armies, a man marches toward the balete tree while he carries a flag with a blue eagle design on it. On his right, he wields a rod with a skull ended.

The right follows with their leader. This one wields a long golden staff with a snake design on top. And his other hand carries another staff but shorter compared to the other one with a design of hand reaching for an orb at the end.

The two leaders meet and they both looked at each other. Both men won't move an inch. Jasmine realizes that these two armies are on the cusp of war. Then both turn their heads and pointed their weapons at her. "BATHALA WILL SAVE OUR NATION!" both men yelled. Both their armies howl at the sky as their battle cries echo like thunder. The two armies charge! Spears and shields are about to meet but then a flash blinded Jasmine. As she was blinded, she can hear the armies yelling "Bathala will unite us!"

When she regains her vision, she found herself atop a mountain with a different landscape. Here is another balete tree behind her. And below here are a huge quantity of demonic creatures charging towards a city of marble and porcelain. The city's defenses are their best to fend off against the demonic invasion. The sky here is red like the ground below with all the blood from dead soldiers and demons.

The soldiers fought valiantly but the demons made quick work out of them. They scream for anyone to save them. They scream and scream until their plead echoes to the sky. But no one came. The deafening sound of hopelessness pleases the demons' ears. They salivate in excitement; they rush toward the city, demon of all size and shape all raced towards the city gate. Then the city yells once more "Bathala! You doomed us!"

The sky cracks open and the light blinds them all. For the second time, Jasmine is teleported away from this place. The next thing she knew, she is in the middle of a frozen wasteland. Thou only a vision she feels the cold wind to her bone. The land is white as the sky, the land is barren with no sign of life, and all Jasmine hears is the wind infinitely whistling a tune that no one will ever hear. But then a shining light hovers in a distance.

Like a moth to a flame, she followed the source of the light. She reaches her destination and found herself in a middle of a frozen lake. The light was coming from a sword, near it was a woman sitting on a throne made of ice. Sulking and silent with her hands on the side throne while her sword shines bright. Jasmine was about to open her mouth and ask her a question but the woman placed her finger over her lips then put her hand on the air signaling Jasmine to stop moving. Jasmine follows, she stayed silent and didn't move. A faint green glow emanates underneath the ice. The light was enough for Jasmine to see a glimpse of what's underneath the frozen lake; there, dead bodies float everywhere pale snow-white eyes blue as the ocean.

Startled, Jasmine panics and tries to run but her feet are already frozen in place due to the snow. The woman stands up and walks towards her. Her outfit suggests a royal family white silver plate of armor on her but she doesn't seem to be affected by the cold winds of the region.

Jasmine remembers what the lady from her bookmark said; she faces the vision and strengthens her resolved. She looked at the woman and put up a brave face. The woman stands tall and looked in Jasmine's direction. In a very soft voice, the woman asked "You're ready to replace me Hel?"

Jasmine looked up shocked to hear this but right on queue, Hel appears behind her. For a moment, Jasmine thought the figure is talking directly to her. Jasmine returns her attention to Hel; she can identify this as Hel but her face and body show she matured a lot, like 40 years have passed.

"Valkyrie, I have come to honor the bargain!" Hel stands before the woman.

The woman replied smile on her face. "Finally! I thought I would never return to my sisters." The woman grabs her sword and left the throne. She bows before Hel and asks her to take her place.

Hel placed her in the middle of the throne. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She opens her eyes and asked the woman "So this place that grandfather made… the underworld for the departed…"

"Feh! For the fools and coward, you mean." The woman laughs mocking the dead underneath the lake.

"Yes, this world this is yet to have a place in grandfather's plan?"

"Tell you the truth girl; I think Lord Odin will never make use of this place. A proud man like himself will never allow these worms to dine inside the halls of Valhalla." The old woman stares at the frozen lake with the dead bodies floating about.

"Grandfather will soon see its use. I assure you." Hel then signals the Valkyrie to go. She agreed and without sparing a second spread her silver wings and took off leaving Hel alone in her frozen kingdom alone.

"And no name huh? No matter" Hel swept the surface of the lake with her barefoot. "I shall call this Helheim". The frozen lake breaks and Jasmine falls within. Jasmine's fear returns and she tries her best to swim back to the surface. She calls Hel to save her but Hel doesn't seem to notice her.

The dead garb her and began to pull her lower to the lake. The dead call for Jasmine inviting her to give up and end her journey "What a weak Chronicler! Your judgment will leave this world in ruins! You should never come here!"

Jasmine grabs her knife and swipes at the dead. She sliced and torn the limbs grabbing her but there is too much of them for her to handle. The dead continues to drag her to the void. Jasmine won't let up, she stabs and stabs until her blade hits a hard surface. She looks at what she hit and found a hard scale. Then a hiss and slithering are heard. Her body is constricted by multiple snakes and continues to drag to the void.

Snakes stopped dragging her and began to spread and materialized 7 thrones around her. Each throne has a person sitting on it; every one of them is wearing something fabulous and beautiful – signifying their importance like a king. Jasmine's eyes were focused on what they are holding as each one of the thrones is holding on to pieces of bones. Two is holding what looks like a femur with the foot intact; two more hugs the skeletal arms closer to their chest; one holds a skull and the other one latches on the rib cage, and the last one just stares at the other 6 with his hands shaking and his face red with anger. Jasmine turns around and tries to understand what this vision means.

She touches the man's shaking hands; the void behind the throne changed and showed fishes swimming about with a huge kingdom under the sea. Confused but she must see what the other can show.

Jasmine touches the hands of two with the skeleton arm; the void behind them changed showed the two leaders of the armies that are fighting with their armies near the balete tree. Jasmine then took a closer look can see that the two leaders share a striking similarity with these sitting on the throne.

Jasmine does the same to the throne with the skull. This one showed the porcelain city besiege by demons. The very same one she saw earlier. Jasmine is trying to focus on what these 7 kings are trying to tell her.

Jasmine touches one of the holdings the femur and void materialize a man flying over a huge ocean. A man that she curtained saw before. She took a second look and also the face of the one sitting on the throne. She leaps back in shock "DAIJA?! Is this happening right now?!" she cries.

Jasmine touches the other one with the femur and this one shows a man over a misty place. He extends his arms tries to call to a figure just outside his reach. The man pleads but the figure walks away and yells "Death to Dust!" the figure stretches his hand and a spear flies into his side and runs away into the mist. "That was the figure that Kislap, Kulog, and Gil fought!" Jasmine yelled in surprise.

Finally, she touches the last throne with a rib cage and a vision of a white snake being picked up by a walking skeleton with a wolf beside them. The three of them walk side by side into the cold wilderness.

Jasmine realized what the White Chronicle is showing her: these are the seven Dogon, the very same that Leshin told them about. So this skeleton remains is what Daija claimed, the body of Bathala, the god of this realm is dead. Jasmine takes a deep breath and talks to herself "This is too much to take in Jasmine but you need to keep your head cool. Remember what the lady told us – Keep calm and focus on the vision."

She looked at the vision and analyzes what she is seeing. Seeing Daija flying about the ocean concludes one thing, these are the current location of the Dogon. Each of them is connected or has one of the pieces of Bathala. The White Chronicle didn't act strangely before but she recalls back when she saw Daija took a leg from Orochimaru's body – it triggers a strange vision. "Could it be that the White Chronicle is asking me to find the pieces of Bathala?"

Then the vision changes once more the next thing she knew she is back at the beginning. Ecstatic with the news, Jasmine is about to tell the lady about her vision. The lady nods in silence and smiled back at her "This is great news, Jasmine. Looks like you understand your place as a Chronicler"

Jasmine confidently nods and replies "So this is what I called here for To find the body parts of Bathala and prevent the Dogon from getting them. But I wonder, Leshin says that Daija wants to get the body part for his gain and to return the Dogon to old glory. But I didn't see the other Dogon doing anything."

"Well, you did see two armies fighting each other right? If their leaders are Dogon of old, then we clearly can deduce that they have their plans and looks like none want to share."

Jasmine recalls the battle of the two armies and nods in agreement. Jasmine smile and asked the lady if they can return to Leshin. The lady yes and the world around them began to collapse.

"My days of being a Chronicler just got a lot more hectic. My mission starts here."

"No. Our mission starts here." The lady then pulled a new bookmark and placed it on Jasmine's hand. "As long as the area or you are magically charged, you can return to the recess of the White Chronicle and I will here assisting you all the way.

Jasmine grabs the bookmark and placed it near her chest "Yes! Our mission starts here."

When Jasmine opens her eyes, she sees herself flying in the air as Tala catches her and returns her to the middle of the pond. "Hey! Our Chronicler keeps mumbling about a mission starting here. Leshin, do you still think we can keep her here?!"

"Let's keep her here as long as possible. Let her finish meditating!" Leshin motion his spear to let the plants grow but a large spear cuts it instantaneously as it was growing. Shamir sands grab Leshin's waist and drag him back beside Tala and Jasmine before the spear got to him.

Shamir tumbles back to Jasmine as she attempts to dodge the flying spear. Shamir looked at Jasmine and realized she is awake. She yells for Leshin and Tala. "Hey! She is finally awake!"

"DUST!" a huge roar can be heard. A figure jumps to the air, spear in hand, and prepares to make a quick work of the group. Shamir's sand left her pockets and a huge dome to shield them. It worked for the most part as it absorbed the damage but the figure punches his way in.

"Jezz! This guy won't let up!" Shamir yells as she pours more sand to surround the figure. Tala picks up Jasmine and flies out of the pond and away from the figure.

"What is happening?!" Jasmine yelled; visibly confused about the chaos she just woke to.

"The figure found us and then attacks us without hesitation. I need you to get out here before - GAH!" Tala and Jasmine fall. The spear from the figure hurled his spear and hit Tala's shoulder. The spear flies thru her shoulder and returns to the side of the figure.

Leshin sees this from the distance but cannot move as the figure punches manage to get thru the sand and throw series of punches on their way. Luckily in the nick of time, Atlas grabbed Tala before she hits the ground and Amihan snatched Jasmine away from certain death.

"Hey, vlákas! I didn't say you can run away!" Atlas puts Tala to the ground and Amihan flies Jasmine to a safer distance. The figure hears Atlas and roars in his direction. Its attention is fixated on Atlas.

Leshin is relieved that Jasmine and Tala are safe with the reinforcement of Amihan and Atlas. Atlas clasps his knuckles and asked Leshin to take of Tala's wounds. Shamir slides on the side and summons her sand on her side. Atlas' footstep began to crack the ground. Leshin wastes no time and rushes toward Tala.

"Adelfí, let's take this bastard on!" Atlas address Shamir then charges forward. The figure smirks and shows Atlas that its wounds heal from Shamir and Leshin's attacks.

"Come, Adelfós. Let's show what Tymarians can do!" Shamir rides her sand as it flies behind the figure.

Amihan flies over one of the towers and places Jasmine at the top. "Chronicler, we will handle this!" but before Amihan can fly back into the fray Jasmine grabs her hands and ask her to be careful. Amihan says that they always are but Jasmine reiterates. "No! You don't get it. This like Daija. This one is another Dogon!"

Amihan stops and looked at Jasmine. She looked at Jasmine's face and can see her genuine concern. "We defeated one before Chronicler and we can defeat one again." Amihan smiles and lets go of Jasmine's hand. "I can assure you Chronicler that we won't let our guard down."

The day is only beginning and now the second threat of a Dogon has found them. Jasmine grabs the White Chronicle but stops before she opens it. She knows there is no information for this one in the book. All she can do now is watch and have faith.

"Our mission starts here . . . indeed." She mutters to herself and placed the second bookmark on the White Chronicle.