Chapter 72: The Truth of the Crystal
The silence after Pedro’s statement felt like the cave was going to swallow them all.
Lirian blinked at him, one time...two times...three times...
"Your father?" she finally managed to say.
Pedro nodded, placing a hand against the crystal.
It pulsed faintly under his touch, as if responding to his presence.
"Yes," he said softly. "The crystal isn’t just some object. It’s alive. It’s... sentient. And it’s the source of mana in this entire world. I was created by it to protect it. To be its guardian."
Lirian staggered back, her hands pressed to her temples.
"This is insane. You were created by... a glowing rock?"
Pedro turned, to meet her eyes.
"It’s more than that, Lirian. This crystal is the heart of the world. It sustains everything—the land, the people, the magic. Without it, nothing would survive."
Kael stepped forward, raising his left eyebrow.
"If you’re some kind of guardian, what happened? Why were you a parrot, flapping around cracking jokes instead of protecting this thing?"
Pedro’s eyes dropped to the ground. His voice was quieter when he spoke again. "I failed."
The pressure of those words kept suffocating the air, and for the first time, Pedro’s usual humor was completely absent.
"What do you mean?" Lirian asked cautiously.
Pedro sighed, his hand trailed down the crystal’s surface.
"A long time ago, there was a group of people—powerful sorcerers—who wanted to control the crystal’s mana for themselves. Their leader was a man named Baron Meylo’s father-Rainer... He believed that if he harnessed the crystal’s power, he could reshape the world to his liking."
Kael’s jaw tightened. "And let me guess, you tried to stop him?"
Pedro nodded.
"I did. The crystal formed me to protect it, and for a while, I managed to hold them off. But Meylo and his followers were relentless. They used dark magic—magic that twisted and corrupted everything it touched. They were stronger than I anticipated."
Lirian crossed her arms.
"What does this have to do with me? Or Gabriel?"
Pedro hesitated, glancing back at the crystal as if seeking its approval.
Then he turned to her, dropping his eyebrows.
"When Rainer attacked the crystal, he didn’t just harm me. He weakened the crystal itself. Its energy became unstable, and it began to fracture. Around the same time, Gabriel’s mother—Queen Elira—came to the crystal seeking help. She was dying, and she wanted to ensure her children would be safe."
Lirian’s heart clenched. "Gabriel’s mother..."
Pedro nodded.
"She was a powerful sorceress in her own right, but even she couldn’t stand against the forces closing in on her family. As a last resort, she asked the crystal to protect her son. But the crystal’s power was too unstable to do what she asked. Instead, she and her daughter sacrificed themselves, transforming into the butterflies that now protect Gabriel."
Lirian gasped. "The butterflies... they’re his family?"
"Yes," Pedro said. "And the crystal knew that even that wouldn’t be enough. So it sent me to find you."
"Me?" Lirian’s voice was full of disbelief and anger.
"Why me? I don’t even belong in this world!"
Pedro’s golden eyes softened.
"You do, Lirian. You always have. You were part of this long before you even knew it. The crystal didn’t just send me to you randomly. It sent me because you were chosen by Queen Elira herself."
"What are you talking about?" Lirian demanded, bubbling over.
Pedro stepped closer.
"When Elira saw the future, she knew she couldn’t escape the flames, so she made her sacrifice. The crystal gave her a gift—a mana of its own. That spark was passed down to you. You carry her power, Lirian. You’re the only one who can save Gabriel and protect the crystal."
Lirian stared at him, her breath coming in shallow gasps.
She was trying to piece together the implications of his words.
"So, let me get this straight," she said finally. "I died while trying to protect myself in my past life because I was... destined to save him? Against my will?"
Nothing made sense to Lirian. Everything was more confusing...
Pedro winced. "Uh... yes. Kind of."
Kael folded his arms. "Sounds like a pretty raw deal to me."
Lirian glared at Pedro.
"And what about now? Am I just supposed to accept this? That my whole life is some grand prophecy? That I was dragged into this mess because some glowing rock decided I was useful?"
Pedro held up his hands defensively. "Hey, I didn’t plan this, okay? I didn’t make the rules. I’m just following orders. And it’s not just a glowing rock!"
He hugged it, trying to protect from Lirian’s harsh words.
"Orders?" Lirian repeated. "You mean to tell me you’ve been playing along this whole time, pushing me into this, just because the crystal told you to?"
Pedro grinned. "Uh... yeah. And also because it’s kind of funny to see you get mad."
Kael snorted, unable to hide his amusement. "At least he’s honest."
Lirian threw up her hands.
"This is unbelievable! So you’re saying everything—everything—was part of some grand scheme? The whispers, the cursed lands, Gabriel’s imprisonment—it’s all tied to me?"
Pedro’s expression grew serious again.
"Yes. Because without you, Gabriel won’t survive. And without him, Meylo’s forces will destroy what’s left of the crystal’s power. The balance of this world depends on you, Lirian."
She let out a shaky breath, her anger started giving way to a crushing sense of responsibility.
"How am I supposed to protect Gabriel when he’s locked up, ready to die?"
Pedro hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck.
"That’s... something we’ll have to figure out. But the crystal believes in you, and so do I."
Lirian shook her head, trembling.
"This is too much. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask to be some chosen savior."
"I know it’s a lot, Lirian. But you’re stronger than you think. You’ve already come this far. You can do this."
Kael placed a hand on her shoulder.
"He’s right. You’ve got fire in you, Lirian. And if anyone can stand up to whatever’s coming, it’s you."
She looked between them, her chest felt tight with bricks. "I don’t know if I can do this..."
"Also, Gabriel’s mother knew she was going to die by the flames caused by the kids?"
"Yes..." Pedro nodded.
"Then why didn’t she ask the princess Callista not to play in the dungeon?"
"Lirian, I will tell you this one and last time..." Pedro let out a long sigh. "When the crystal shares your future, you cannot escape your destiny."
"That’s sounds so selfish...The queen, she could’ve-"
"She died, Lirian. She was killed by the fate that was sent to her. No one can prevent it."
"Even me?"
"G-guys, I think you might want to have a look at this."
They turned around, jaws dropped to the ground.
"What the heck?!!!"