As mysteries unfold, goodbyes mark the start of a deeper journey toward truth and destiny.

The setting was situated at the balcony of Don Montenegro's mansion. The mansion's balcony was wide and elegantly crafted, with wrought iron railings and marble flooring. Adorned with potted plants and cozy seating, it offered a perfect spot for relaxation - overlooking a scenic landscape with a view that stretched for miles.

It was already evening, and the sky had turned a deep shade of indigo, dotted with the first stars of the night. The soft glow of lanterns lit the balcony, casting warm, golden light over the marble floor and swaying plants. A gentle breeze carried the scent of jasmine from the garden below, adding to the calmness of the hour. A hush had settled over the mansion, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze.

The Montenegro brothers - Gabriel, Tristan, and Rainier - were each immersed in their own tasks. Rainier was hunched over a puzzle, focused and analytical. Gabriel, holding a paintbrush, was lost in the soft strokes of color on canvas. Tristan, meanwhile, stood still, his gaze distant, clearly deep in thought.

The atmosphere was quiet, almost serene - until Dominic's sudden entrance broke the silence. Gabriel immediately sensed his presence. "Oh, how's the day?" he asked with a calm tone, twirling a paintbrush between his fingers. "Hey bro, are you done with dinner?" Rainier inquired, concern etched in his voice.

Dominic didn't respond. Instead, he walked over to one of the lounge chairs, sat down heavily, and massaged his forehead, his expression unreadable - stern and weighed down by something unspoken.

Tristan, who had been lost in thought, immediately recognized Dominic the moment he entered. Snapping out of his focus, he turned to his brothers and locked his gaze on Dominic. "Are you okay?" Tristan asked seriously.

Dominic slowly stood up, as if finally ready to reveal what he had been holding in. A faint bruise marked his right cheek. His eyes were dark and intense, and though he stood tall, his energy was low - he didn't seem well.

Tristan could sense the heaviness surrounding him. Concerned, he stepped closer. "What happened to you?" he asked, his tone more urgent now, tilting his head slightly as he examined Dominic's face.

Dominic lowered his gaze as he began to speak slowly, each word heavy with emotion. "I can't go through with Father's arrangement with Mr. Villanueva? I can't marry his daughter. I hate the pressure."

"You have your choice, bro," Rainier said gently. "We understand you - and we're here for you."

The Montenegro and Villanueva families had long-standing ties, built on years of close friendship and mutual business ventures. Their companies were among the largest and most influential in the island of Negros, and with some businesses established in Manila; and their partnership had only grown stronger over time. To secure their alliance and ensure the continued success of their empire, both patriarchs had agreed to an arranged marriage between their children. Mr. Villanueva, confident in the bond between their families, had entrusted his daughter, Ingrid, to be with the eldest Montenegro heir - Dominic. But for Dominic, the weight of legacy, obligation, and love dictated by business was more than he could bear.

"Dominic, how dare you embarrass me in front of Mr. Villanueva?" Don Montenegro's voice thundered with fury. "We already agreed - you and his daughter would be the successors of our business!"

With clenched fists and eyes blazing, Don Montenegro struck his eldest son across the right cheek. Dominic staggered, nearly losing his balance. "But? I can't marry his daughter, Dad," Dominic protested, steadying himself and rubbing the sting on his face. "I have no intentions of building a future with her. I'm sorry, but maybe one of my younger brothers - or someone else - could take my place. Forcing two people together without love isn't just unhealthy, it's dangerous? for them, and for the business. I have a different mission in life, Dad."

Later, Dominic shared the entire confrontation with his brothers, making them fully aware of what had transpired.

There was silence after Dominic finished his story. The weight of his words hung in the air, pressing heavily on everyone in the room.

Dominic exhaled deeply, breaking the stillness. "Don't worry, I can handle this," he said, trying to reassure them. "Dad can't do anything if I won't go along with it. And if standing my ground means severing our ties? then I'm prepared for that."

"Oh dear," Rainier exclaimed, shaking his head. "Father gets so ecstatic when it comes to his business. We're still young, and yet it's like he wants to marry you off right away!"

He paused, then gave a teasing grin. "But wait - didn't you just say you'd let one of us take your place with Brigette? That's a definite no." Rainier chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

"My mind is clouded with thoughts far heavier than this," Dominic said gravely, his voice steady and serious. "Let's set aside Father's business for now."

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on the floor as if searching for answers there. "Have you ever felt? an unexplainable kind of exhaustion? Moments of forgetfulness? And sometimes, like something whispers to us - guiding us, or worse, controlling us. We follow without question? and afterward, everything is vague. Like a blank space in our memory. I can't even remember what really happened."

He paused, then added, "And what about Brigette? How did she transform into Verdantia? Why do we have powers - just like Ingrid and her friends?"

Dominic looked at each of his brothers, his expression earnest. "I always believed these abilities were just a secret gift - meant to help us serve the world in silence. But now? I'm starting to think there's something more. Something deeper."

His brothers exchanged uncertain glances but didn't interrupt. They felt it too. Dominic's questions weren't just his alone anymore. Once again, silence settled between them - this time heavier, filled with thoughts they weren't sure they were ready to face.

"Compatibility," Gabriel said softly, almost as if he were thinking aloud. "Maybe our powers are similar to theirs because we're... compatible. There could be a deeper connection - something more powerful waiting to be revealed."

"It's strange, though," Rainier added thoughtfully. "We only discovered them after returning to Father's homeland, here in Bais. That can't be just coincidence."

Tristan, who had been silent until then, spoke up. "By the way, our stones? they're no longer with us. Remember?" He looked around at his brothers for confirmation. "And yet, our powers remain. I can't stop thinking about how those girls ended up with them. It's almost like the stones were never really ours to begin with."

He paused, the weight of the thought settling in. "If those stones were meant for them? then how did we end up with them in the first place?"

We've all gone through the same experiences, right?" Dominic continued, his tone more reflective now. "I've only brought this up because of the strange events happening one after another. It made me realize - things aren't normal anymore."

He leaned back, trying to make sense of it all. "What's even stranger is that those feelings - the forgetfulness, the unexplained exhaustion - I haven't felt them lately. Have you?" he asked, looking at his brothers one by one.

"Hmmm? I agree with you, Dominic," Gabriel said, nodding thoughtfully. "But maybe it's nothing to worry about. After all, we're not exactly in serious danger? at least, not yet."

"W-wait," Rainier interjected, his eyes lighting up as something clicked in his memory. "Now that I think of it - ever since the stones left us, I haven't felt like? like a puppet. Controlled. It's like my mind is finally my own again!"

"Let me share something with you all," Tristan said, settling down slowly, his expression pensive. "I've had recurring dreams - always the same. There's a beautiful maiden, a warrior? her name is Thalara. I don't know why, but she keeps appearing. And in those dreams, she calls me Tharion."

He paused, glancing at his brothers. "The strange part is? I don't look like myself. I look like a monster. I've been wondering if these dreams are more than just fantasy. Maybe they're a glimpse into something real - something about my existence, our purpose."

"Your dream sounds? really interesting!" Rainier burst out, wide-eyed. "Maybe that's - maybe that's your past! What if it's not just a dream? What if it's a memory? Who are we, really?"

"Guys, let's end this conversation for now," Dominic said, his voice calm but firm. "I'll take some rest - and you should, too. We'll work through all of this, one step at a time, together with Ingrid, Teresa, and the others."

The night had been filled with serious, weighty discussion among the four brothers. But in their hearts, a shared determination was taking root - to uncover the truth behind the mysteries that surrounded them.

The following day - Sunday.

It was a bright, sunny morning. Golden rays of sunlight streamed through the glass windows of Dominic's bedroom. Both his phone and alarm clock rang in unison, startling him awake.

He rubbed his eyes and glanced toward the window. The sun had already risen high. As he reached for his phone, he noticed it was an unknown number - one that had already called four times. Sensing urgency, he answered. "Hello, good morning. May I know who this is?"

"Good morning... Dominic," came a soft, gentle voice on the other end. It was Brigette. "Brigette?" Dominic's expression shifted instantly, his eyes narrowing with concern.

"Can we meet later?" Brigette asked. Her voice trembled, revealing a clear trace of nervousness. Dominic fell silent, unease creeping into his chest. He couldn't find the words to respond. "Don't worry," Brigette said, sensing his hesitation. "This won't take long. I just? want to see you for the last time."

A beat of silence. "Please? meet me at Rizal Park."

Dominic hadn't asked what time they would meet, so he took things slowly. He figured Brigette wasn't in a rush - what mattered most was that he would come. At least, that's what he hoped she believed.

Meanwhile, Brigette sat quietly on a bench at Rizal Park, surrounded by tall bushes that muffled the noise of passing footsteps. She had been waiting for nearly an hour. The hands of her wristwatch pointed past one in the afternoon. Thankfully, the sky was overcast, and the clouds shaded her from the harsh sun. Still, the longer she sat, the heavier the silence grew around her.

Dominic hadn't shown up. Brigette hand hovered over her phone. She thought about calling him again - but held back. She didn't want to seem desperate? or worse, annoying. She sighed and lowered her head, eyes scanning the path ahead.

Please come, she silently prayed. Just this once? for the last time.

Then, she noticed a pair of brown leather shoes stop right in front of her.

Startled at first, Brigette's eyes lifted - and a wave of relief softened her expression. Her lips curved into a gentle smile. "You're here," she said quietly, standing up as she smoothed out her skirt. She took a breath, lifting her head with purpose.

"Dominic? I'm leaving," she said, her voice steady but laced with sadness. "I mean, my father and I - we're going back to Manila. Don't worry, it's mostly because of family matters... business and marriage."

She paused, as if trying to gather the right words. "It's better this way," she continued. "Better to move away than to stay and risk deeper conflict. I understand my father's sentiments. Business has always been his life - his passion, and in many ways, his identity. He's not a man of grudges, you know. He's just? hurt. Especially because your father was like a brother to him. That made it worse."

Her eyes flicked to the side, as if unsure whether she was saying too much. "Anyway? I hope they're both okay. Maybe time will heal it all." "Never mind my feelings for you," Brigette said anxiously. "But? honestly, you were my first love." Her voice trembled slightly. "I'm sorry for everything I've done - the chaos I brought to the school? to Ingrid. I hope she can forgive me someday. And that awful transformation I went through? that Ver? Verdantia? It was terrifying. I wasn't in control. I just hope I didn't truly hurt anyone. I'm thankful I'm still alive."

"I'm sorry for not reciprocating your feelings," Dominic replied, his voice calm but laced with guilt. Hearing her mention Verdantia sent a tingle down his spine. He leaned in slightly, eyes narrowing. "You weren't fully conscious during the transformation?"

"Oh, Verdantia was a nightmare," Brigette said, her eyes clouding at the memory. "I still don't understand how it happened. It was like? someone was whispering inside me, taking control. I felt hypnotized, like I was watching myself from afar." Dominic's eyes widened, unease creeping in. "I remember bits and pieces," she went on, "but when I try to focus on it, it just gives me a pounding headache. Still? I'm okay now. I'll be leaving soon." She added a small chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. "You're curious about it, right?" she asked, watching him closely.

"No - no, not that much," Dominic answered quickly, looking away as if to hide the curiosity burning in his eyes.

"Oh? so that's it," Brigette concluded with a sigh of acceptance. "I'll never forget you. You'll always have a place in my heart."

She extended her hand to Dominic - a silent gesture of apology and goodbye. Dominic reached out and took her hand, gently shaking it.

"Farewell," Brigette said softly.

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