You cannot change the destiny that belongs to you.
The weight of their newfound responsibility weighed heavily on both Teresa and Maria. Neither of them had asked for this, and the timing seemed entirely wrong for their young lives, still filled with dreams of education, careers, and a future free of extraordinary burdens.
-Teresa's Home-
Teresa tossed and turned in bed, unable to shake the unease that clung to her. Sitting up abruptly, she glanced at the stone glowing faintly on her bedside table.
"Arrrghhhh!" she groaned, rubbing her temples in frustration. Her eyes lingered on the stone as if it could somehow offer answers. "This is untimely… Sigh… I still need to go to college, pursue Fine Arts, and help my parents someday. What kind of destiny is this? Is it forever? I'm not the right person for this. You have to find someone else," she muttered.
Her frustration boiled over, and in a moment of impulse, she snatched the stone and threw it out the window. As it disappeared into the night, she collapsed back onto her bed, feeling conflicted relief and uncertainty.
-Maria's Home-
Maria lay on her bed, the stone resting beside her, glowing faintly in the dim light of her room. She stared at it, lost in thought, wondering what Teresa might be thinking right now.
"I want a normal life," Maria whispered to herself. "To finish my studies, to pursue my dreams, to have a family and become a happy bride someday. I'm sure Teresa feels the same." She sighed deeply, the weight of the decision pressing down on her heart. "I'm sorry, but I can't carry this burden. You're free to leave, go find someone else."
As if in response to her words, the stone lifted from her hand and floated silently out the window, vanishing into the night. Maria watched it go, a part of her relieved but another part unsure if they had made the right choice.
Saturday morning was peaceful as Teresa pedaled her bicycle through the quiet streets, the cool breeze brushing against her face. She soon arrived at Maria's house, feeling the warmth of the morning sun on her back. After knocking at the door, she greeted Maria's mother, who welcomed her with a smile.
"Good morning! This is Teresa Salvador. Is Maria there?" Teresa asked politely. Maria's mother nodded and replied, "Oh, come in, dear Teresa! I'll call her down."
A few moments later, Maria appeared, surprised but pleased to see her friend. "Oh! Teresa, you're here! What's up?" she asked with a playful grin.
"You must be forgetting something - our project about collecting different rocks!" Teresa reminded her, raising an eyebrow.
Maria's eyes widened in realization. "Oh yeah! Sorry… hehehe. Memory gap," she said sheepishly, and both girls chuckled. "No worries!" Teresa reassured her. "Good thing I've already finished breakfast. Just wait here, I'll go change real quick," Maria said before hurrying upstairs.
Once Maria returned, dressed and ready, the two friends set off on Teresa's bicycle, with Maria sitting at the back. They headed toward Hayahay Resort, a scenic spot just a few kilometers from their school. They were on a mission to gather rocks for their school project, but Teresa had another reason for choosing the resort. Nearby was a cave known for its beautiful rock formations, which Teresa believed would be perfect for their assignment.
As they cycled down the road, the fresh air and gentle sun lifted their spirits. "Do you think we'll find something unique in the cave?" Maria asked, her excitement evident. "I've heard the formations there are amazing!"
"That's exactly why I picked this spot," Teresa replied with a smile. "If we're lucky, we'll find something perfect for our project!"
Despite their lighthearted conversation, both girls couldn't entirely shake off the recent events - the mysterious stones they had cast away. Little did they know, their trip to the resort would soon bring them closer to the strange and magical world they thought they had left behind.
At the resort, the two friends marveled at the beautiful surroundings, taking in the fresh air and the sight of the cave looming in the distance. "Hmmm, you really had a bright idea, Teresa!" Maria exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "This spot is perfect for our project!" Teresa grinned. "I knew it. Now, come on! Let's go inside the cave and start collecting some rocks."
As they made their way toward the cave entrance, Maria hesitated for a moment, the weight of their previous encounter with Michael lingering in her mind. "Speaking about rocks… it reminds me of the stone," Maria said quietly. "I mean, the obligation entrusted to us by Michael."
Teresa rolled her eyes, her tone dismissive. "That's a waste of time, Mary. Even if I look boyish, I'm not meant to be some kind of warrior. I threw the stone away already. Just forget it." "So… it's a no?" Maria asked, her voice uncertain. "Yes, definitely. And you shouldn't accept it either," Teresa added firmly. "We're not men. We're too young for all that responsibility. Let's just focus on our lives. Now, let's go!"
Once inside the cave, Maria couldn't hide her nervousness. "Teresa, it's so dark… I-I'm scared," she whispered, clutching Teresa's arm. Teresa, always the practical one, pulled out a flashlight and handed it to her. "I came prepared," she said with a reassuring smile. "I also brought helmets and some plastic bags for the rock samples."
The two girls began exploring the cave, their initial fear giving way to excitement as they ventured deeper. The sounds of small creatures, particularly the faint rustling of bats, echoed in the distance.
"Oh my! Please don't hurt us," Maria murmured, her eyes darting around nervously. Teresa chuckled and squeezed her arm. "Don't worry, Mary. We're not causing them any harm, so they won't bother us either."
They continued their journey, but as they ventured deeper into the cave, the atmosphere grew colder, and the ground became slippery with moisture. The darkness seemed to press in on them, their footsteps echoing off the damp cave walls.
Maria, distracted by her nervousness, misstepped and slipped. With a gasp, she lost her balance and tumbled down to the bottom part of the cave, about a meter below where they had been walking.
"Maria!" Teresa called out in alarm, rushing to the edge. Maria had landed in a wide, open area, but the fall had startled her. She shouted up, her voice trembled slightly. The cave was even darker and colder in this part, and the eerie quiet began to settle over them again.
Maria screamed, "AHHHHHH! Teresa! Help... Ouch!" She struggled to get back on her feet, her voice filled with panic. "Mary!" Teresa called out, rushing to the edge. In her haste, she too lost her footing and slipped, tumbling down beside Maria. "Ouch... Urgh. Are you okay?" she asked, wincing as she rubbed her sore arm.
"I don't think so..." Maria replied, her voice shaky. She clutched her leg, clearly in pain. Teresa quickly assessed their surroundings, shining her flashlight around the eerie cave. "I didn't know this cave had a structure like this," she murmured, her curiosity taking over for a moment despite the tension. "This is... interesting."
But before they could gather their thoughts, a deep, sadistic laugh echoed through the cavern: "HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!" The sinister sound bounced off the walls, amplifying the horror that filled the air.
Maria's eyes widened in terror. "H-Hello???" she stammered, shaking uncontrollably. "Is someone there?" Her voice trembled, desperate for any answer but dreading what might respond. Teresa, her heart pounding, tried to stand her ground. "Will you please show up? Who are you?" she demanded, her voice firmer than she felt inside.
Suddenly, out of the darkness, four dark, menacing figures emerged. Their silhouettes were human-like, but something about them was deeply unnatural. The only distinguishable feature was their glowing red eyes, piercing through the shadows. Teresa's breath caught in her throat as she struggled to maintain control over her fear, while Maria whimpered and trembled, shaking with terror.
The creatures stood there, unmoving, watching them with those chilling red eyes. Teresa, despite the overwhelming fear creeping up her spine, tried to stay calm. "What... what do you want?" she whispered, though she already felt the answer would be nothing good. Meanwhile, Maria couldn't contain her fear any longer and screamed, her voice echoing in the vast, ominous cave.
The four creatures continued their menacing laughter, their chilling voices growing louder as they circled Teresa and Maria. Then, in unison, they all demanded, "Where are the Onyx and Aquamarine Jewels? Give those back to us!"
Maria, trembling and confused, stammered, "J-Jewels? We don't know about any jewels!" Her voice was shaking, her fear palpable. One of the creatures growled, its red eyes narrowing as it spoke, "Grrrr... Liar!" Without warning, it raised its clawed hand, and thick plant vines shot out, wrapping tightly around Maria's body. She screamed, "Aaahhhh! Help me!"
The creature's voice dripped with malice. "Now give me the jewel, or else you will face your end."
"Mary!!! No! Stop it!" Teresa shouted, her heart racing as she watched her friend struggle. Without hesitation, Teresa ran toward Maria, trying desperately to fight the vines and rescue her, but another creature whipped out more vines, entangling Teresa as well. The two girls were now helplessly wrapped in the thick, constricting vines, their bodies lifted off the ground, dangling like hostages.
"Give the Onyx Jewel," the creature snarled, tightening its grip. Teresa and Maria gasped for air, fear tightening their chests as they realized the creatures weren't going to let them go without getting what they came for.
"We don't have any jewels!" Teresa yelled, struggling against the vines. But her mind raced - could they be talking about the stones Michael had mentioned? Were those the jewels these creatures sought? As the vines squeezed tighter, a faint glow began to emanate from Teresa and Maria, both of their stones responding to the growing danger.
Teresa struggled to catch her breath, her voice trembling as she replied, "I-I d-don't know... Urrgghhh…" Maria's voice was filled with terror, "H-help!!!"
As they hung helplessly in the vines, Teresa's mind raced. Why were they being asked for jewels? They weren't ordinary girls, and somehow, these creatures knew it. Then, it clicked - those stones Michael had given them must be the "jewels" these creatures sought. They weren't just stones; they were something far more powerful, far more dangerous.
"Don't procrastinate, ladies… Give us the jewels," the creatures demanded again, their eyes glowing brighter.
Teresa, now realizing the truth, attempted to reason with them. "I'm sorry, but to tell you honestly, even if both of us handled the jewels, we are not meant to be the keepers of them. So... we threw them away." Her voice wavered, but in her mind, she thought, So they are jewels - precious ones!
One of the creatures let out a menacing laugh, its voice dripping with mockery. "Hahahahaha... What a self-defense!" It sneered, tightening its grip on the vines. "Do you really think we'll believe such nonsense? You threw away the very things that could save you? How pathetic!"
Teresa and Maria exchanged fearful glances. The pressure from the vines was growing unbearable, but now, they understood the gravity of their situation. Those stones weren't just symbols - they were keys to something much greater, and the creatures wouldn't stop until they got them back.
Teresa, despite her pain, spat out with defiance, "Idiot! Did you not understand? A simple answer is hard for a supernatural like you?"
One of the creatures snarled in fury, "What did you just say? Idiot?? Grrrr." The vines constricted around her even tighter.
Teresa screamed in agony, "Aahhhhh!"
"Teresa!" Maria cried, only to be silenced by the same creature, "Shut up!" as the vine harshly slapped her across the face.
Bored with their attempts, the creature decided to release them, and both Teresa and Maria fell hard to the ground. Gasping for air, they barely had time to react when another creature prepared its final attack. With a menacing grin, it hurled balls of flame towards them, ready to end their lives.
Just as the flames hurtled through the air, the two girls braced for impact. But instead of the searing heat, they felt a sudden surge of power. In a flash, the stones - the Onyx and Aquamarine - suddenly appeared before them, shimmering brightly. The jewels had returned, responding to the danger.
In an instant, the small yet powerful jewels formed a protective barrier, countering the fiery onslaught. The flames collided with the barrier and shattered, exploding like fireworks across the cave walls, leaving Teresa and Maria unharmed.
The creatures roared in fury, their plans thwarted. Teresa and Maria, still in shock, gazed at the glowing jewels, realizing their true power. The stones weren't just tokens - they were their only hope for survival.
Teresa gasped, "Ohhh. I thought…"
Maria, with wide eyes, exclaimed, "Yeah. They are back?"
The creatures snarled in unison, "Onyx, Aquamarine… There you are. Come to us!"
Maria, finding her courage, stood firm. "If we cannot assure ourselves of being the keepers of these jewels, they must not be in the hands of demons like you. We will not give them to you! They don't deserve you, anyway!"
Teresa nodded, determination flickering in her eyes. "Come on, Mary! Let's fight them. Let's try to unleash the powers of the jewels!"
Without hesitation, driven by instinct and faith, the two girls focused on the jewels. The Onyx jewel pulsed with energy, manipulating the ground beneath them, causing powerful earthquakes that swirled rocks and dust into the air. At the same time, the Aquamarine jewel summoned immense waves of water, cascading through the cave like a torrent from the sea. The two forces combined - earth and water - forming a massive elemental attack.
The demons, caught off guard by the immense power of the jewels, were helpless as the swirling rocks and crashing waves overwhelmed them. The ground shook violently, and the demons were engulfed in the storm of energy, crumbling into nothingness, disappearing as quickly as they had appeared.
Breathing heavily, Teresa and Maria stood victorious. The once-peaceful project had turned into an unexpected combat, but they had won. The jewels, now dimming slightly, returned to their passive state.
Exhausted, the two girls left the cave and found refuge under a nearby cottage, resting in silence. They glanced at one another, processing everything that had happened. The responsibility of the jewels was no longer something they could ignore.
Maria, still in awe, spoke softly, "Teresa, the stones... I mean the jewels came back to us. They wanted us. I don't think they will let go even if we throw them again. They are undeniably powerful."
Teresa, with a sigh, looked out at the horizon. "Why us? I guess this is what we call destiny. Sigh... Whether we like it or not, we must now accept this wholeheartedly."
Suddenly filled with resolve, Teresa ran toward the shore, calling out. "Sir Michael! Sir Michael!!!"
Maria joined in, shouting, "Michael!!!"
A voice behind them interrupted. "Hey, ladies! What are you doing, being so noisy?"
They turned to see a garbage collector eyeing them. Teresa, confused, asked, "Huh?"
The collector grinned. "Looking for me?" He revealed his true form, transforming into the holy figure of Michael.
Maria chuckled nervously, bowing her head. "Oh! What a disguise. Hehehe. Good noon!"
Michael, now standing tall and radiant, addressed them, "I agree, whether you like it or not, you must accept the responsibility. These jewels chose you for a reason - they need you as much as you need them for protection. Imagine what would happen if they weren't in your hands? You wouldn't even be here now. Trust the jewels, and more importantly, trust yourselves. What you faced today was just the beginning. A line of enemies awaits. So, are you ready?"
Teresa and Maria exchanged a glance, their hesitancy fading. With a shared sigh and a determined smile, they both exclaimed in unison, "YES!"
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