'Crazy'

"Do you now understand the consequences of your actions, Mr. Celestial?"

"I told you, Sir! I didn't do anything wrong."

The principal bowed his head out of disappointment. He sighed and said,

"Just how many times should I repeat it to you, Mr Celestial? It's inappropriate to say those things inside a classroom!"

"What I said was true!"

The door of the Principal's Room banged open and out came a worried sister.

"Triggs!? What happened!?"

"Oh, Ms. Celestial! Good thing you came!"

Fidgety and tensely, Triggs' sister rushed in front of the Principal and apologized. 

"Mr. Chan! Whatever my brother did, I am deeply sorry!"

"Sit down, Ms. Celestial, and we'll talk about it."

With her heart still racing, the sister followed the principal, "O-okay"

…

…

…

Later that day, at Triggs' house,

"What!? I just told them the truth!"

"Seriously, Triggs!? In front of the class?"

"Yes! And what's the problem with that!?"

"You can't just do that! People will think you're…"

"Like what!?"

Triggs' Sister stopped for a while, thinking if she should say the word,

"...crazy"

"Oh, here we go again," Triggs blabbered. 

The sister sighed, "Where did you get the audacity to do it, anyway?"

"I have been telling this topic to you for quite a long time now. Then I met these people who validated what I knew"

"And who are these 'people' you're referring to? Are they the same 'magical people' you told me yesterday?"

"Yes!" Triggs answered with conviction. 

"You can't be serious."

Triggs tried to think of a way to convince his sister. He lifted his shirt and,

"Here! Look at this!"

"Your wound is now mended - and what about that?"

"Do you think a normal person can heal a wound that perfectly!?"

"Yes! If that person is a medical professional!"

"What!? I didn't even have the time to go to the clinic! I went straight to school this morning."

"Really!? Then, what did you do with the money in the emergency jar!?"

Triggs was baffled. "What do you mean?"

"It's empty! I thought you used it to get your wound cleaned."

In disbelief, Triggs barged inside his sister's room and went straight to the drawer.

"I can't believe this. It really is empty," Triggs uttered. "Are you sure you really put money in here?"

"I did! Why would I lie?" His sister replied.

Triggs didn't stop. "Maybe you just misplaced it," he uttered as he dug every corner of the drawer.

Triggs' sister couldn't contain her emotions as she watched her brother being so desperate.

"Triggs, please stop this…"

But Triggs was unbothered.

Abruptly, his sister hugged him, trying to stop him from what he was doing. 

"Triggs, please stop this. You're scaring me," the sister whispered as tears rolled from her eyes.

Triggs finally came back to his senses.

"I - I am sorry… I didn't mean to…"

"Are you stressed lately, Triggs? You just have to tell me if you need someone to talk to."

"Thanks, Ate. But…"

Before Triggs could finish his words, the sister followed,

"Or do you need professional help again?"

"No, no, Ate! I don't need to! I told you, I'm fine!"

"Are you sure you don't need to go to the Psychiatrist again? I'm just worried."

"No! I don't need to! I'm also completely sober with my meds."

"What if you're relapsing?"

"You don't need to worry about me, Ate. I told you, this has nothing to do with that."

Triggs' sister started weeping. "I'm sorry… I'm just worried it might happen again. You're the only one I have."

Triggs felt guilty. He hugged his sister to console her. "Don't worry, Ate. I already promised that I wouldn't do that again."

Finally, his sister stopped crying. She wiped her tears with her hands.

"Okay, okay," she whispered after a deep cathartic breath. "But we still need to talk about what you did in school."

"Uhh… of course…" Triggs mumbled as he bowed his head in embarrassment.

"I hope you realize what you did, Triggs. We're lucky Mr. Chan cut your suspension from 1 month to only 2 weeks."

"Tch! He didn't have to suspend me for that in the first place," Triggs muttered.

"Triiiigs… Could you please stop being stubborn this time? You're also at fault here."

"Okaaaay… I'm sorry…" Triggs replied half-heartedly.

"Welp… I hope you use the time of suspension for much more meaningful things."

"I'll try to."

Her sister sighed, "Just when I thought I would have a peaceful vacation with James."

"Hey… You don't need to compromise it for me," Triggs consoled.

"But still! I will be out of the country for 2 whole weeks. I won't be able to look for you."

"Ate… I won't do anything that will make you worry. I'll be fine by myself. You go enjoy your vacation."

"You promise me?"

"Of course!"

"Okay! But you'll need to update me now and then. A video call would do."

"Uhm… okay? Sure…"

His sister sighed again, "Well… I trust you, Triggs."

"Thanks, Ate," Triggs answered with a warm smile. "When is your flight again?"

"Wednesday afternoon. But I'll be leaving the house early in the morning."

"Got it, Ate."

"Thanks, Triggs... So… Are we good now?"

"I think so…"

"Better get some rest now, Triggs. It's been a stressful day. I'll also start packing my things for the vacation. I just need my beauty rest first."

"Sure-sure…"

After the conversation, Triggs went to his room.

He contemplated the things that happened earlier that day. He felt the deep concern that his sister had for him.

However, there was still one thought lingering in his mind,

"The money… How is it possible?" he mumbled.

Until that time, the disappearance of the money inside the emergency bar was still a mystery to him.

He couldn't feel at peace until he could find some answers. Then, something came to his mind.

"Wait! Could it be them!?" he thought.

He was referring to the people he met last night. For him, it was the most plausible answer he could think of.

Triggs quickly went to his drawer and brought out the notebook with the Incantation.

He locked the door of his room as he flipped to the page where the words were written.

"Here it is…"

For a while, Triggs tried to internalize the words he was about to read. Then,

"UNO MODO!" 

Instantaneously, a Portal opened inside the room.

"Heh - It really worked," he murmured in relief.

After a while of preparation, Triggs stepped into the Portal.

He was transported to the same spot where he first set foot in the Base - in the middle of the garden in the Plaza, beside the Hanziel Tree.

In a not-so-far-away distance, he saw Lae tilling the soil.

It was not long after Lae noticed the arrival of Triggs.

Lae waved her hand with a smile. "Welcome back!"

Triggs waved back with a smile.

He heard rustling of the grass as footsteps came rushing to him.

"I knew you would come back!" the cheerful words he heard, accompanied by a tender hug.

"Hi, Calla! Hehe…" Triggs greeted with a blush.

"Halloooo~" Calla greeted with a charming smile.

"So… you really did come back, huh?"

"Who's that!?"

Triggs looked around and saw Zaine beside him, sitting like a peaceful mushroom on a grassy ground.

"I didn't notice you there."

"You're just blind," Zaine's ever-monotonous reply.

Excited, Calla asked Triggs, "So! Did you make up your mind? Are you going to join us now!?"

"I'll answer that after you answer my question."

The mood changed significantly after Triggs said those words.

"Why? Is there a problem, Triggs?" Calla asked like a concerned mother.

"The money," Triggs uttered.

"Why? What about it?" Zaine replied in a way that it seemed like he knew what Triggs was talking about.

"So… You really are the ones who removed it from the jar?"

"Yes."

"But why?"

"Divine Timing," Lae answered as he walked into the conversation. She explained further,

"It's not her time to be exposed to this kind of knowledge. Lola Vega ordered us to do that."

Triggs was still averse to the idea. "Tch! I should've let her witness how I opened the Portal. That might have convinced her better…"

He felt disappointed in himself, "Ugh! Why didn't I think of that!?" he muttered.

"Still… It won't work," Lae stated.

"Huh!?"

"The Giyas won't allow that to happen. Kuya Vistar won't let the Incantation work if you would use it that way."

"Tch! What a killjoy," Triggs mumbled.

"Hey. Watch your words," Zaine uttered.

"Calm down, Zaine. Let it pass, he still doesn't understand it yet," Lae said.

Realizing the seriousness of what he said, Triggs apologized, 

"Okay! I'm sorry… But still, I don't understand why. Is it better if more people would know about you - about this movement?"

Lae tried to explain the best she could,

"Again, it's about the Timing. They're still not ready to hear it - it's like forcing a baby to eat solid food. They still don't have the capacity to digest what would be given to them." 

She continued,

"As a natural response, their ego will instantly reject the idea because they still don't understand it. And if you force them to hear it, they'll think you are…"

"'Crazy'," Triggs responded to complete the statement. " I think I understand it now."

Lae was impressed.

"I think that's the reason why They wanted to recruit you; you're fast to understand things," she complimented Triggs.

"Thanks."

"Don't worry, Triggs. They may still be asleep now, surely there will come a time that they will be 'awakened', and it's imminent."

"I understand."

Calla got excited again, "So… Now that you got the answer to your question… Are you going to give us your answer now?"