It's been a few days since Adelfa found Severino in the woods, and the village is on edge. As the sun dips below the horizon, casting shadows over the land, the villagers gather once more for an urgent council meeting. candlelight flickers across worried faces etched with fear over what Narra's wrath may unleash next.

"Another villager has been found dead by the river—his heart torn out!" a villager shouts, slamming his fist on the table. "We can't let this go on. The village was safe when Severino was gone. If he's what Narra wants, then maybe we should just... sacrifice him to save us all!"

Gasps echo around the room, the tension thick and electric. Adelfa stands at the edge of the gathering, clutching Severino's arm, her heart racing. "No! You cannot be serious! You can't just sacrifice him!"

"Adelfa, we understand, but one life to save the village..." says another villager, her voice stern yet sympathetic. "Severino is the only one who can calm her. He's all she wants."

Severino's brow furrows, the weight of their words pressing on him. He feels Adelfa's grip tighten, her fear and protectiveness surrounding him. "They're right, Adelfa," he says softly. "Thanks to the Babaylan's aid, I remember Narra now—I've faced her before. I have to go to her. This has to end."

"No!" she protests, her voice rising with desperation. "You can't just hand yourself over! There must be another way!"

A villager shakes his head. "Fighting her is pointless. We've already lost too many. Severino, you understand the sacrifice. You need to go. For the sake of us all."

Severino looks at Adelfa, seeing fear etched in her eyes, and steels himself. "Fine... I'll go. But I'll find a way to stop her and come back."

Tears form in Adelfa's eyes. "Then let me come with you!"

Before Severino can respond, another villager interrupts. "Adelfa, you're the Alcalde's daughter—we cannot risk you too. The council has spoken. Severino alone must go."

The weight of the decision hangs in the air. Severino draws a deep breath, fighting the turmoil inside him. "I'll find a way to end her reign once and for all," he promises. "and I will come back."

"But Severino," Adelfa pleads, "I can't let you go. I've already lost you once for years, and I can't bear to lose you again. I trust your strength, but I don't trust that goddess. For all we know, she's planning something even more sinister! She's already taken the lives of innocents, ripping out their hearts as if mocking us—what makes you think she'll leave you unharmed?"

He faces her, heart heavy. "Adelfa, don't be selfish. I promise, I will find a way to defeat her and come back to you. If you trust me, you'll let me handle this."

"I trust you, but I fear what she'll do to you," she says, her voice breaking. "You're not just a sacrifice; you're my love. Let me go with you! I may not have a third eye, but I know how to fight. You taught me, didn't you?"

The villagers exchange glances, conflicted. "We can't afford more losses," one finally says. "Severino, if you wish to confront her, then do it. But we must prepare for the worst. The village cannot be left unguarded."

"I understand," Severino replies, a sense of finality in his tone. "But I'll face Narra on my own terms."

Adelfa reaches for him, her determination blazing. "Then I'll find a way to help you. I won't let you walk into that darkness alone!"

"Adelfa..." he begins, but she stops him.

"Severino... I don't want us to be separated again. What if she ensnares you once more? Please, don't go alone!" Her voice trembles. "Let me come with you—if we die, then we die together!"

"Listen, Adelfa," he says, brushing a tear from her cheek. "I won't let her take me. But I need you to trust me and stay here. Protect the village. Use what I taught you to guard the innocent. I can't risk losing you, too..."

As the council meeting dissolves into murmurs of uncertainty, Severino feels the weight of his choice settle over him. He glances at Adelfa, heart aching to see her crying, but he knows he has to do this—for the village, for her.

When the villagers finally disperse, he leans close, their foreheads touching. "No matter what happens, I will find my way back to you," he whispers, his voice thick with emotion. "I love you, Adelfa... more than anything."

"Severino..." she whispers, her breath mingling with his.

"I promise, I'll guard my heart from her," he vows, feeling the weight of it. "And I will return."

In the days that follow, Severino secretly meets with the Babaylans, completing a dagger he began crafting during his captivity. Adelfa remains vigilant, unwilling to let him out of her sight, but he finds moments to work when she sleeps. Tonight, though, the dagger is finally complete—and Severino is ready to return to the forest.

The night is still as Severino stands in the doorway of his small home. He leans down and places a tender kiss on Adelfa's forehead.

"I'll be back," he promises, though the weight of the dagger beneath his cloak makes that vow feel fragile. He steps out into the night, leaving the warmth of his home behind. The moon hangs high, casting pale light over the village, and his footsteps are silent as he makes his way to the edge of the forest.

When he reaches the clearing—the place where he first encountered the mysterious goddess—Severino stops. The air feels charged, as though something ancient and powerful is watching. His pulse quickens. This is where the goddess had first warned him about Narra.

As he waits, anticipating her arrival, a figure—more shadow than substance—emerges from the darkness. It's not the goddess he expected, nor the bird; this presence is something else entirely. The figure is tall, looming over Severino with an imposing, almost suffocating aura. It bears no distinct features except for a pair of eyes that gleam with a dangerous, knowing light. Its very stance radiates a power that sends a chill down Severino's spine, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

Without a word, Severino knows this being has been waiting for him.

"Where...where is she?" Severino asks, his voice firm, yet edged with desperation. "The goddess—the diwata I met before...the bird..."

The entity tilts his head, chuckling softly. A dangerous glint in his eyes sends a chill down Severino's spine. "I wouldn't know," he says, his voice deep and resonant, echoing like distant thunder. With a careless shrug, he adds, "Her fate is no longer your concern." The hint of something darker lingers beneath his words.

Severino's fists clench at his sides, but he swallows the anger rising within him. He doesn't have time to dwell on the goddess's fate—not now, not when everything hangs in the balance.

"Then I'll get straight to the point," Severino says, pushing the words out before his fear can seize him. "You're a god too, aren't you? I need power—enough to defeat Narra. You know her, don't you? Enough to protect my village. I need lasting protection for our land against calamities and disaster."

The god's smirk deepens, his eyes glinting with amusement. He circles Severino slowly, his presence oppressive. "Ah, so you're the mortal man Narra fancies. Interesting. You come here seeking favors, and yet, you ask so much."

Severino holds his ground, his heart racing as the god's gaze pierces him. "I'm asking for strength—and enduring protection for my village."

The god chuckles darkly, stopping in front of him. "And what will you offer in return, Severino? One wish...one offering. Tell me, mortal. What are you willing to sacrifice for these wishes of yours?"

Severino meets the god's eyes, the weight of the question sinking into his bones. What would he offer? His soul? His life? He doesn't know if he can give up something that precious, but with so many lives on the line, does he even have a choice?

The god chuckles, sensing his hesitation. "You're a greedy human, aren't you? You want power, protection, everything." He leans down slightly, his eyes narrowing. "I like it."

Severino's jaw tightens. "Well... what do you want from me?"

The god straightens, his smile returning. "I'll give you strength—enough to face Narra. But as for your other wish...that will only be granted if you succeed in ending her. Until then, the deal remains incomplete."

The god leans in, his voice a low murmur as he reveals the terms—what he demands in exchange for granting Severino's wishes.

Severino hesitates. The god's gaze is sharp, penetrating, and it's clear this being knows far more than he lets on. But what choice does Severino have? He's desperate. His village is on the verge of destruction, Narra's wrath is growing, and time is running out.

"I agree," Severino says, his voice low but resolute.

The god's smile widens, satisfied. He reaches out, placing a hand on Severino's shoulder. For a moment, Severino feels a surge of energy course through his veins—strength like he has never felt before. His limbs feel lighter, his mind sharper. Power fills him completely, and for the first time in a long while, he feels a flicker of hope.

The god steps back, watching him. "Take advantage of her feelings for you. While I've enhanced your strength, you are still mortal, without immunity to her spells. I can't let you die on me; you still have your end of the bargain to fulfill. Go, Severino. Prove yourself worthy of your desires. If you fail...well, we'll discuss the consequences later."

Without another word, the god fades back into the shadows, leaving Severino standing alone in the clearing, his heart pounding. He doesn't waste another moment. Clutching the dagger beneath his cloak, he turns and continues his journey, heading deeper into the forest.

The heart of the forest—Narra's domain—awaits him, and with it, the battle that will decide the fate of everything he holds dear.