Chapter 43: Flashpoint

SUPER CAREER OPPORTUNITIES!!!

2012-02-11T07:47:00.003+08:00

C3/CustomerContactChannels needs YOU!

I.) Jobs
***JOB OPENINGS FOR U.S. TELCO ACCOUNT***
- CSRs - with TWENTYFIVE THOUSAND PESOS [Php25,000] signing bonus if you start on February 13, 2012
- 5 Operations Managers
- 20 Team Leaders
- 10 Workforce Analysts
- 20 Quality Assurance Representatives
- 20 Product Specific Trainers
- 10 Talent Acquisition Coordinators
- 1 Recruiter [minimum of 5 yrs recruitment experience]
- OJTs [BS Psych]

***Other accounts
- 2 Healthcare Accounts
- 1 Travel/Car Rental
- 1 Local Outbound Financial [10 slots only]

II.) Schedule of Activities [February]
- February 13 and 14 - Recruitment Caravan
- February 15 and 16 - Job Fairs at Trinoma Activity Center and TGIF Galleria [one-day process]
***Those who will go to TGIF Galleria are entitled to free snacks!!!
- February 17 - Job fair at Our Lady of Fatima University Q.C. and Antipolo
- February 17 - Recruitment Caravan
- February 27-29 - Job Fair at Polytechnic University of the Philippines
- February 29 - Job Fair at University of Perpetual Help Las Piñas

For inquiries please take note of the ff numbers, email addresses and contact persons:
- 4797400 - Roxanne.Campos@C3Connect.com [Roxy]
- 4797414 - ManuelJoseph.Ponce@C3connect.com [Jake]
- 4797430 - Gerald.Gamban@C3connect.com [Gerald]
- 4797410 - PatrickJames.Son@C3connect.com [PJ]
- 4797433 - Patrick.Laluces@C3connect.com [Pat]

You can also send an SMS to the company mobiles!
GLOBE: 0917-579-1003
SMART: 0908-879-3333

Recruitment: Open Monday-Saturday, 9am-6pm

Office Address: 11th Floor Bonifacio One Technology Tower, 3030 Rizal Drive corner 31st Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

#1505: I Miss You

2011-11-12T22:43:00.000+08:00

***I'll never change the way I see you even if I don't matter to you anymore.

I miss you like no other person
Yet you no longer seem to know that I exist
I'm saving my heart for you alone
And it's confused by what it has abandoned before

Do my feelings mean anything to you at all?
Am I wasting time anew?

I miss you like the day longs for night
Yet you don't seem to care that my thoughts
Are real enough to make my words exist
I wonder why it's only you that I see.

Why does your response mean everything to me?
Am I wasting your time, dear?

I miss you like I do my soul
Yet I don't know if you even know
I'm saving myself for you.
Will you let someone steal this tune?

Do my thoughts mean anything at all?
Am I waiting on something that will never come along?

I miss you. I just do.
I don't need to explain why.
I've confessed almost everything away.
I know this will all soon fade away.

#1504: Lens

2011-11-12T22:41:00.002+08:00

***Don't put your glasses on. Some ugly truths aren't worth seeing in full detail.

Can you hear the voices of the trees?
Can you feel their dying breaths
Brushing against your inhuman will
Can you feel him reaching out to your soul?

Why do you worry about things you can't do?
Fear not the absence of a commanding force.
Focus on what can be done and can be done right.
Regrets only come if you let them come alive.
Do you even know why you're alive?
"Well, why are we alive?”

Can you feel the Earth resist
The temptations adrift the whispers of the Wind
Rush of blood to your disproportion
Destroy them with raging impulse

Why do you fear what cannot be undone?
Worry not about the intrusion of change.
Focus on what can still be done.
Regrets only come if you invite them into your life.
"Do you even know why you're alive?"
Well, have you been living your own life?

Can you smell the ocean breeze?
Can you tell if our world has met its end?
Trusting that there is retribution somewhere
Make his soul reach out for nothing.

#1503: Pencil Play

2011-11-12T22:40:00.002+08:00

***Pencil. Eraser. Paper.

One creates a mistake & hurts the other.

One tries to fix it all & ends up burning itself while helping the other.

Repeated mistakes and correction finally destroys two of them.

The pencil seeks out another sheet and the cycle is repeated.

Which of the 3 are you?

The pencil's tip slowly tells your story
And wounds a blank page with your will
Can you hear the sound it's making
As it glides across the emptiness
Like a comet with words diffusing from its tail

Like any mistake
It burns to have one completely erased
First, the violation of solace
And thoughts that slip unwanted
Force a force to make the cause forget

The pencil carves into the blank sheet
A story that you know so well
How many times has the very same tip
Been able to retell that which is already known
To countless other pages

Like any mistake
It spreads like a forest fire.
The wind blows and the leaves touch
The sharpness of that which bears your words
They are then tainted into being unwanted.

The pencil reverses and shows change.
It burns to have a single mistake corrected.
Will you rather leave it unnoticed
Or force a surface to forever bear a hole?
Will it remind you of your attempt to save what's left?

#1502: The Sermon

2011-11-12T22:39:00.000+08:00

***For those who've lived a lifetime of disappointments.

Strip pride of its honor
Make it as irrelevant as the emptiness
That it has recently afflicted you with
There will be time to confess.

Jealousy causes lives to decompose.
Decline having something to do with your downfall
You have control over what you want to sense.
Give him what he really deserves.

You know I’d rather observe and infer
Rather than be restless and incessantly ask
There are lines I’ll never cross
For the sake of preserving solitude

Through a phantom’s eyes, yes
I’ve been constantly watching.
Things I could have told you sooner
Were made to wait in slumber

Strip pride of its power
Make it as irrelevant as the pain
You’ve yet to unleash on those you love
Will there be time to confess?

Jealousy has caused you to crumble.
Don’t let yourself be the catalyst of your ruin.
Since you know better, understand
And become someone, not everyone

#1501: Listen

2011-11-12T22:37:00.002+08:00

***Here's another one for Christler.

Listen to the cry of the shades.
Do you hear it in the absence of closure?
There’s no turning back once hope glances away
From all the complexities that may have been
Overruled by a border where they can all deviously wait

Listen to the hiss of the nocturne
Head back past the apparition of closure.
Do away with what’s keeping you distant
And learn to prioritize before attempting
To raze the vapid wounding

I heard everything from the pilfering of chance
To the aches interwoven with the cold of his world
And Christler made certain that I’d be able to listen
As I am kept warm by his spoken Sun that blazes
At the center of a pitch black sky

Listen to the echoes within the gloom.
I’m flipping through pictures of he who once were you.
Did we undeniably wear masks that day
To obscure intentions and prevent our minds
From swaying futilely like the outline of an alibi

#1500: Love

2011-10-08T08:34:00.000+08:00

***Inspired by those who've lost and found love. :) ♥

Love held my hand for the first time
Since the day she left me with an empty decade
"All the feelings you think you no longer feel
Are just suppressed and not gone.

Stop yourself from looking back
At that time when I pretended not to listen
I did and it's about time that I told you
About how things have been changing

I haven't forgotten all about you.
I heard all the secrets you told the stars.
Your soul desires nothing more than true love.
I shall grant you that and forever.

Loss comes without Laws.
We're standing inside the cathedral of psalms.
Those who have existed before you
Are singing the verses of the awaited blessing

Your ways never worked well
But you still believed that someone would see
And trust in what you know reflects the truth
By following your own voice

Know that I am again here for you.
I remember every prayer you sent the stars.
Your soul will be granted true love.
Soon you shall have it and it will be forever."

#1499: His Voice

2011-10-08T08:33:00.000+08:00

***For those who have received a surprise call from their favorite people

I held on to his voice for quite a few tomorrows.
I know you must keep your distance
From me who is still a mere stranger
Crossing the perils of your seven seas

I held on to his voice when he told me it's okay
To be but I'm never alone
Days will come when I'll be with you
As you guide me through your shifting waves

Let me hear your voice again.
The whisper that has kept me from danger
Even if at times I tend to wander
Away from the heart that's keeping me safe

My staircase of ice blades
Has turned into a pillar of curse and pain
I'll melt them so you can pass smoothly
And ascend to where my soul sleeps

Let's play each other a song
Do our worlds cancel each other
To a point where neither faith nor hope
Can help recover what we've lost

I held on to your voice.
It is what's keeping me warm.
I know I'm still but a mere stranger.
I'll face what tomorrow will bring to us.

#1498: Night

2011-10-08T08:27:00.001+08:00

***For my super cool new friend and brother of the pen, Christler!

Seriousness emanated from his visage.
It's another one of those fateful nights.
An exchange of messages ensued.
Trace all the subjects with a compass.

Curiosity rattled my sleeping mind.
Why does he have an aura like mine?
Locate every pulse and feel them
Wanting to beat with the ancient hymns

Is there a time when no one had questions?
Take me to the abandoned carnival.
Our souls know we once belonged to one being
That never fought back against they who are now gone

Hunger causes you to bare your fangs.
Take of this blood like a stream of fire.
I followed your voice into the light.
Was it all just a dream? I'm listening...

His seriousness is a constant reminder that
I must maintain my composure before each blame
Take caution as you enter the lair
Of those who've been laid to temporary rest

Meet my symbolic companions.
They burn with the same flames as us.
The silence is convinced that there is more to it
Than being just a sanctuary for deeds done at night

A brotherhood lost and found.
Faithful knights and the gears of time
Locate every pulse and tell me
Whether you've been bitten or not

We recalled what we weren't supposed to unearth.
Dreams haunt us outside the dominion of sleep.
An exchange of messages ensued.
Follow the compass and find me listening.

#1497: Phases

2011-10-08T08:20:00.000+08:00

***Just like the phases of the Moon, Love is sometimes full, sometimes not, sometimes invisible but it doesn't mean it's gone.

Evening came and asked how I'm doing.
Pretending everything's okay is not easy.
"I know you've been through much
But remember that you're still allowed to feel."

I stood up and parted the blinds with the finger
That very much knows how to identify and accuse
But rarely turns around to turn its master
Against the crimes it has thrown

"I will admit to this sin.
Just don't end up in the arms of someone else.
I fought the tide when it attempted
Rising above the level of trust I used to have
For the kind of love I never thought would be mine

The earth sees the Moon as she waxes and wanes
From a different perspective
It's the Earth that's sometimes whole
Sometimes not, sometimes invisible
But it doesn't mean it's gone

Like how they see each other while in orbit
Let's find each other when another cycle begins
It will still be us at the end of the curve
I do admit that I too have sinned
Just don't find me in the guise of someone else

#1496: Thorn

2011-10-08T08:18:00.000+08:00

***I write better when pissed. ;)

I'm mad at my flu, not with anyone. :* \m/

There’s not a trace of what we’ve agreed upon.
A wineglass half full begs to be dismissive and sore.
It’s how you direct the temptation’s surge.
Will you dare to trespass the mirror case
That’s being guarded by profound rage

Then a thorn vine constricts your ego
And forcefully reels you into its crux of venom
Every lie that was made to exist for no apparent reason
Can only be purged by beheading its origin
Take your hands away from my eyes.

There’s not a trace of what we’ve agreed upon.
A wineglass now empty begs to differ.
“Do you have it in you to smash the mirror
Revealing who’s behind the poisoning?”
It’s how we let temptation surge.

Take your hands away from your eyes.
Witness the revival of the things
You thought were completely sealed off in tar
They could not have tracked you down where the line
Blurred into a mist that has copiously intensified

#1495: Harm

2011-10-08T08:16:00.000+08:00

***Presenting the vicious cycle of:

1.) Meeting someone that you have a lot of chemistry with
2.) You're both very happy and, at last, you meet
3.) Afterwards, the other keeps quiet and won't speak to you EVER again
4.) You'll be saddened by getting a clue that you've already been replaced by someone else

FIGHT THE SINKING FEELING!

What did you sense when we touched?
Tell me before this romance is gone.
Was it something I've said or done?
Did I cause you harm?

What will I feel when it's all over?
Tell me while my emotions are gone.
Was it something you've said or done?
Will any of this do me harm?

A soul cornered by denial
"You're being paranoid, brother." he said
Here's a toast for us hoping
That I really just am

What can you say about me now?
Tell me now that I no longer give a damn.
Was it something you've heard or seen?
Do you think it has caused you harm?

What can I say about the way it strikes me?
"Tell me now that it's evident."
Was it something I've heard or seen?
Will this bring further harm?

A soul cornered by doubts
You're being paranoid, brother.
We've given up on finding whoever it is
That can love me for who or what I really am

#1494: Inverse

2011-10-06T21:57:00.005+08:00

***Kevin helped me think of warring forces.

Let's say man never knew which is which.

Let's say everyone knew how to look at things from different angles.

Earth's inhabitants will be smarter and even its darkest alleys will be safe

To move about in the dark and overlook the glare
To see in monochrome and avoid the shades
To hover and confront gravity
To outrun light and sound
To unravel the nameless within customary clauses
To observe and not be the victim
To sneak a smile even while in pain
To attain infinity through finality
To arrive North on the way South
To head left and say it isn’t right
To get smoldered by ice
To take notice of silence despite the screams
To obtain respite after every torment
To taste the sweetness of a bitter outcome
To reach out with nothing
To extend beyond set limits
To discover refuge at the brink of defeat
To stumble upon a book of forged pages
To ascend by first heading down
To discover the strength of every weakness
To know sovereignty in captivity
To coerce rules to abide by deceit
To know not the difference between good and evil
To decide on the need to possess everything

#1493: Portent

2011-10-06T21:56:00.001+08:00

I've grown to like you even more
Though we talk less and less with each fleeting day
Moments of serene pondering
Moments of utter peace

Time presses on, as we get colder.
I'll pretend that this doesn't make me weaker.
Moments of endless questioning
Moments of giving up on deciding

My pulse whispered, "Come what may."
It all happened so fast.
Why can't anything last?
I know I've no control over the frequency
Of how our lines converge and break
It all happened so fast.
It has all become a policy that cannot be undone.
Why can't anything last?

Will I like you less and less
Though you cross my mind more than the omitted glare
Moments of ruthless intensity
Moments of absolute nothingness

The rift becomes unassailably vaster.
I'll pretend that this doesn't make me wonder.
Moments of endless thinking
Moments of giving up on believing

#1492: Musings

2011-10-06T21:52:00.003+08:00

***Don't expect. Period.

I've lost the will to move and persist on
Changing the way our symphony is arranged
Give me a few minutes to let it all sink in.
What can our differences say?

"I guess we're not meant for this."
I'm beginning to see that I must have you.
Let's find love without imposing demands
On our already fractured frames

It's been so long. I can't remember how it all feels.
I've been so numb. I can't recall how long it has been.

I've lost the will to trust and persist on
Chasing after ends that can and will eventually meet
Give me a few minutes to let it all sink in.
Who did my inferences betray?

I guess we're not meant to be together.
I'm beginning to lose you.
I found love without expecting it to come.
Why did it have to come?

#1491: Words

2011-10-06T21:49:00.002+08:00

***One memorable Friday [09/23/2011] night

Your eyes are resting on mine.
There are things that we have yet to state.
Fearlessness and a chill so vague
A rousing night with the living dream

Do our words mean more to the stillness?
What did our confessions create to tame my woes?
Are we in a galaxy that's spiraling inward
And building up like emotions wanting to be heard

My eyes are piercing yours.
There are things I'd rather not say.
Breaths hushed as we strode down the walkway
The smell of wet grass and your words that bring light

It will all be okay. It's all going to be okay.
Wipe the tears from your eyes.
One's silence means more than any response
Just like the way you mean more to me than anyone else

What kinds of words involve accurate confessions?
I have your thoughts resting on my shoulder.
I'm missing you like the absence of the wind.
Does my heart think of you as a rare gift?

#1490: Dusk

2011-10-06T21:47:00.003+08:00

***Inspired by Erik Satie's - Gymnopédie No.1

Dusk carefully enfolds the horizon in its palm.
Did I have a chance to say what I desired?
I'm alone and it's a moonless night.
What can console strife and our bloodstained edges?

I remember how you were the day we first met.
I chose to go by muted.
Assumptions and beliefs as shattered glass
And a mind in need of calming

I stalked the passersby.
Shadow wanting to have its body bended by the streetlights
You're always on my mind.
You're always on my mind like a bittersweet memory.
You're always on my mind.

Dusk unfolds as I muster the courage
To say what it is that I truly desire
I'm alone with your scent.
It's getting too dark to see the stains on my blade.

This pain is nothing compared to how it felt when you left.
I went by as a shadow wanting to be disarmed by the light.
A mind in need of calming and hands
That can no longer hold on to the edge of his star

#1489: Those Stars

2011-10-06T21:46:00.006+08:00

***For those who can't move on, are still trying to move on and have moved on.

I'm still up to pen and chronicle what transpired tonight. Thoughts exchanged with a glance of how it is to see movement from a distance.

I may not be able to speak after the fated meeting. The Sun is easily lost in the sea of stars. Will I lose myself in the same manner as I'm put before the searing glare of your watchful eye?

I'll break this statement if I stutter. Don't blame me if I get a bit restless. A grid of embarrassment scatters me into a mist of uneven passages. You've seen me turn red countless times. How is it that it is only now we've truly met? Touch my soul and I'll paint you using words.

I'm still up reflecting on what transpired tonight. Affection was relayed through glances that carried hints about what the other end feels. I can't bring myself to move as I'm gazing at your image. Were you equally lost in mine?

I'll rest my mind while thinking of you. Today will become yesterday and all the negativity will be sealed away as ghosts.

#1488: Waltz of the Moons

2011-10-06T21:46:00.005+08:00

***Inspired by the thought that each planet is a person who has his own special someones.

Carnage and the language of lust, join the waltz of the moons around their respective castles. Stay awake and say how much you know how love begins and ends. It's a cycle of violations and forgiveness.

Can they all be seen behind a telescope? Decide where you'd like to spend the night. "At the top of the observatory where all we need is our eyes." I tend to listen to the whispers of an aching heart.

Mercury. Venus. Left alone to circle each other around the campfire. Earth and the mirror of Luna reflecting what she can see unto the only surface that knows life. Phobos and Deimos. Shadows cast against the Crimson desert. Do they see how they can break the ice and rest in each other's arms?

Sphere of storms, Io and the surveillance of Ganymede, bring Callisto's map of ordeals and have yours imprinted with the same gravity. Palace of rings, Hyperion commands the fleet. Aside from lies what can possibly tear you away from me?

Titania and Oberon, they have the citadel of glass. Why do they turn to his side whenever he seeks variance and speaks of bribery? Neptune and the lore of Triton and Nereid. Conclude the search and let them remain lost beneath the waters

Pluto and Charon's sacred dinner, can anything be more private than two souls in the dark? It is one's motives that bring about what happens. A secret without any hint of malice remains pure until such time when the recipient is deemed worthy to hear its all.

Carnage between lust and love, have you danced the waltz of the moons? Stay awake and tell me the story of how our love has begun to end

#1487: Vanish

2011-10-06T21:45:00.000+08:00

Some thoughts just won't leave me be

#1486: Outcomes

2011-09-18T09:50:00.000+08:00

***I've been asking God to P-L-E-A-S-E give me someone decent to talk to. Well, as what's expected of His sense of humor, He sent someone overqualified.

Out come the outcomes.
You made me feel closer to you.
You made it easier for me
To want to smile with you as the reason

Out comes my secret
Held prisoner by an intimate wariness
I made my trials more insufferable
By distancing myself from your view

It’s the sharper end of what can cut this chase.
Is a single word all it takes?
Let’s find time and make our differences
Settle the odd possibility of being even

Out come the outcomes
Circling the axis of what we both want to suggest
And why it has taken us long enough to be convinced
That we’re not strangers to each other’s flame

Out comes my secret
Set free by an unpredicted outcome
I entrusted my manners to my trials.
Show me what will become of us.

Interlude 1: Night of Hunters Review

2011-09-17T09:32:00.009+08:00

This is the 4th time I've listened to Tori Amos' new album, Night of Hunters from start to finish. I just want to share my thoughts. Click on the titles of some of the songs if you want to listen to them.

"Shattering Sea" - this is easily one of her sharpest opening tracks. The "Every line, every curve, every twist, every turn of every brutal word" part has a really amazing tune. It also sounds as if she's gonna go into "Sugar" any second. Maybe it's just my ears.

"Battle of Trees" - The intro sounds like a Japanese play, the signature riff is creepy and all I can think of are the Ents from The Lord of the Rings. The lyrics remind me of "Datura" and "Another Girl's Paradise" because of their Botanical features. LOL

"Fearlessness" - Perfection! I love the moment when she sort of growls

"Star Whisperer" - 1st part into piano break - into "other side of the mountain - into an extensive instrumental part - into "other side of the mountain" - into a very brooding 2nd part. Wow. The instrumental part made me think of vampires during a midnight gathering

"Job's Coffin" - I really love Tash's vocals in this particular track. She also sings every line with confidence.

"Nautical Twilight" - There's something odd about this track. Is it "Velvet Revolution" I can hear? The "She is boundless" part is probably my favorite but it sounds like it doesn't belong. Oh well. Still good.

"Your Ghost" - This one's a grower! *speechless

"Edge of the Moon" - The contrast between the quiet and meditative 1st part and the soaring 2nd part is awesome!

"Night of Hunters" - Kelsey's vocals are okay. She kind of hurts my ears at times. Is it just me? This track is still awesome, though. This and "Fearlessness" show that girl can still make great lyrics. The "watching over, keeping watch" part feels like something is watching you when you wake up in the middle of the night.

"Seven Sisters" - It takes me back to "Over It" Awesome piano-playing! I can imagine her losing herself while recording this. The clarinet [thanks, guys for correcting me!] is also uplifting.

"Carry" - Another grower. I hated it at first listen. I love it now.

The other tracks are okay. They have their moments. Even the weakest track is better than 90% of AATS. Hahahahaha. It easily stands out as her best work post-SW. Tori NEEDS to keep going in this direction.

Just for fun: I tossed "Winter's Carol" in between "Job's Coffin" and "Nautical Twilight" and it blended in perfectly.

#1485: Compound

2011-09-17T07:55:00.002+08:00

I'm not friends with Chemistry so I merged it with what I love doing most~ :))

Our elements slip through our hands.
I then inquire why we can't ever be one.
Rejection to fuse, refusal to waltz in twos
Purge the need to be of use to someone
Who does not see your worth

Reluctance dissolves chances.
How many have passed you by?
Rules are diffused by ignorance.
How many have you blended for a price?
Whose equations have we defiled?

Calm our valence into a bond of binary limits
And silence the crash after the breakdown
The conversion makes it possible
For neutralizations to be equivalent
And errors kept at minimal

Ions combined by the pull of interests
We're curiously deranged to a certain degree
That many have effectively miscalculated
As a measly solution to funnel-down
The impurity of this scheme

Our elements slip through our hands
Like dispersed beads of Mercury
I then see the refusal of our likenesses
To meet as one observable unit
I then wonder what I'm really worth.

#1484: Balmy Day

2011-09-17T07:54:00.000+08:00

I was on my way home this afternoon and I received a text message from someone. It was what inspired me to write this. :))

Lotsa positive things happened this balmy day.

***Love found a way when we both were drifting away.

Balmy day, baptism by sunlight
It rained for a bit and it stopped.
He woke up and managed to say hi.
Let's both go back into dreaming about us.
Why do we slumber in midday?
Just close your eyes and say a prayer.
You'll soon drift away. You'll soon drift away.

Balmy day, a dream about the Sun
Its rays tamed the frantic roads.
I ran to the nearest shade to pick up my phone.
An answer, I want to be with you in the cold.
Let's sleep and make time dissipate.
Just close your eyes and show your feelings.
We'll soon drift away. We'll soon drift away.

Balmy day, wake up to the new moon
Just in time, force of habit
Will you spare a minute to say hi?
We're both back to our conscious state.
Where were our minds the entire day?
Don't close your eyes but do say a prayer.
Love found a way when we both were drifting away.

#1483: Roses

2011-09-17T07:52:00.000+08:00

So many bad things are going on in the world.

Even kids are being used to accomplish evil deeds.

When will all this suffering end?

Who is telling the truth?

What is the truth?

May those lost in their nightmares wake up and see the light.

Roses. Lips as red as blood and garnet.
I found love in our secret.
Scarlet rain depicts our union.

Roses. The night may be the twin of danger.
I found myself trying to escape temptation.
Is it a sin to give in to the call of longing?

A pack of silver wolves against the current
Are we of the dark force that will spoil this gathering?
I'm afraid I can no longer distinguish
The murderer from the victim
I cannot illustrate how the truth can lie
Or how you want the dead to rise

Adorn the sky with the dimmest stars
I found love through distressing means
Your thorns ravaged my flesh.
Is it a sin to give in to the call of change
As you explode into crimson dust

Forgive the unforgiving.
There's no reason to remain muted behind the pain
Empower your spirit. Feed your soul.
Discover how you can see love
Through eyes that aren't clouded by misuse

Morning comes and a fog greets you as you rise.
Have you tried escaping from a dream
That drags you deeper no matter how much you resist
Heavy breathing and unsettling images
Scarlet rain begins to pour

Roses. Hearts beating with intense fervor
I found love in our flaming souls
And I've chosen to walk with change
As I see things in a clearer view

#1482: Twentyfour

2011-09-13T19:43:00.000+08:00

Twentyfour cigarettes.

I'm wondering what a smoker's "topic" is for each stick.

I wonder who or what is running in your mind.

I can only imagine. :)

Too timid to say a word
Too mindful to move before your eyes
Too fearful to express what might be misinterpreted
Too unconvinced of the feelings I've chosen to neglect
Too lethargic to continue thinking of you
Too happy to notice you leave
Too sensitive to feel genuine pain
Too believing to sense any limits
Too sweet to dispel my bitterness
Too late to notice that you care
Too focused on the mistakes and not on the recovery
Too scared of losing your light
Too drained to aim for progress
Too malicious to know his real motives
Too intuitive to meet peril
Too careful not to wake him up
Too obsessed to know that you yourself are
Too in love to stop smiling
Too inattentive to feel his soul
Too blind to see his ghost
Too contented to blink and look elsewhere
Too cautious not to disappoint
Too moved to not write you a song
Too blessed to have you as no mere friend

#1481: Blue

2011-09-13T19:41:00.002+08:00

Happy birthday, Ian! This is for you, little brother!

Guilt imprisoned within the dew.
Watch over me as I sleep.
Love, take me to the other side
Of the dream curving me into a line

A ray hacked the illusion
And you followed right where it left
Wishes infused with a bargain being sewn
As you push for it to be granted minus the test

Thoughts whispering into thoughts
That we were forbidden to think
Confused by the way we touch
The heat of the hindrance has frozen us shut.

Your words condensed in my mind.
Will they break into a soothing drizzle?
Dream storm, cloudscape
Is that you behind its wingspan?

Block the rays of the moon
And cast a shadow on our fissure
Will the light behind that veil mean something
To the dimness that has slowly devoured our hearts

#1480: Volatile

2011-09-05T21:40:00.000+08:00

Mood swings?

Yeah, I understand. I'm observing you and you don't know you're my topic for today. :))

Turn around and face the lesson of being the alternative after the mistake.

Hang in there and enjoy the moment.
The night is now longer than the day.
In your seat you can feel the chill.
You want to hug someone
But you can't decide who it is going to be

Turn around and face the lesson
Of being the alternative after the mistake
In his mind he knows how you function.
It's just a matter of time before he finds out
That you have already left

Stay seated and put your mobile on silent.
Days with him are colder than my gaze.
You can feel the strain as you're working
And he passes by as a damaging distraction
Without even saying a word

Turn around and face the felon.
Is he an alternative or a mistake?
In your mind you know how he has malfunctioned.
It's just a matter of time before you discover
That it's better to leave him dead under his desk

#1479: Boundless

2011-09-05T21:35:00.004+08:00

I've been working on this piece inspired by "Anima Christi". I promised AP I'd tag him once it's [finally] done. I had trouble putting the lyrics together.

So, to make it kind of dedicated to Mr. AP I've decided to include his twitter hashtag [#LightandLove].

Also, I know I'm not VERY vocal about my kind of faith but WTH! Praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ to whom I owe everything!

Pray to Him as if He is just before your eyes.
Don't ever think that He doesn't know.

Boundless inspiration, patience, light and love
That is what He is all about.
Faith does not make you weary.
It's a must to remain true.

Question not your neighbor's beliefs.
Focus on what you both can achieve.
Living a life guided by a positive force
Doesn't mean getting ahead of anyone

Speak and do not afraid to say His name.
Someone is certainly doing just the same

Boundless mercy, peace, light and love
Look forward to tomorrow
As eager as He is to greet you at dawn
And walk with you as you become a better person

#1478: Terminal

2011-09-04T00:49:00.001+08:00

You can't save anyone who ignores your helping hand.

You won't accomplish anything if you won't even lift a finger.

You can't help a person who refuses to help him/herself.

If something is confusing and/or hard to achieve, then ask for help.

If something is broken, have it repaired or just throw it away if the effort of putting it back together isn't worth it.

Some relationships mend. Some don't and just won't. Don't force it.

More interesting people will come your way & you're better off partying with a bunch of keepers than sulking in a corner with a numb loser.

Being happy is a choice. Only you can make yourself genuinely happy. :)

Determination.
I was taken aback by your violent liking.
An old greeting card
Its message smudged by a taste of water.

Stranger events are taking place.
It's not the excuse that made me think it over.
One at a time, experience them occupying
Your limitations as you persist on being grim

Comprehension.
You were made to put my patience
To a rigorous series of experiments
Is this meeting a mere swerve of fate?

Paper servant
I heard you scream on the other side of this fold.
Concentrate in between the creases
And let not your stand get crumpled

Turn and see what's written on the opposite page.
"A stain is making it impossible to read."
The ink was made to bleed out of the message
By an unwelcome tear from the accuser's eye

Stranger events took place.
Do you have another excuse that can make me quiver?
One at a time, we'll escort them out
Of the limitations we placed upon ourselves

Determination.
I was taken aback by this violent liking.
You have a ton of things to say.
Spill them all as I force you to breathe underwater.

#1477: Odium

2011-09-03T10:41:00.000+08:00

I'm VERY possessive when it comes to friends.

Also, RT @KYXXX People who are your friends when it's a convenience for them are not your friends. Never were. Never will be. Real talk.

Friends, take my hand.
Let's all go to where only us know.
I don't want any strangers
In my rear view

Try staging that alibi on my temper.
We've known each other since the day we learned how to sin.
Reject not the temptation of having to give in.
Shed a tear but not in the name of defeat.

Fight the desire to desire the fight.
Peace and freedom have lost their meaning
And are now being auctioned
By those fueled by greed

Gunshots were heard from inside the room
Of a lad who mistrusted tomorrow's brim
Days pass without sparing any lives.
Break someone's fall without a price.

Friends, take my hand.
Let's all hum and disable our focus.
I don't want any strangers
Distorting our points of view

#1476: Soul Carnival

2011-09-03T10:39:00.000+08:00

I used to have trouble sleeping. I was able to capture this while I was lying in bed; lost in thought

Nostalgia causes the playground
To fade into a soul carnival
I heard faint voices of children
Playing in the blur of this musing

The night forgot to send you off
Into your recurring dreams
You lie awake thinking
How it's better to have him near

He was left defenseless.
Unify what he said he couldn't save.

Were you forced to forget that you were
Required to channel your able id
As you ride the impressive spin
Of the grand carousel

Have you figured out a way
To reconcile the outcomes with his counsel
Break away from the walls
That divide you from those you love

The fire was left defenseless.
Unify the bones I had to break.

#1475: He Smokes

2011-09-03T10:36:00.002+08:00

For someone

Hi, Mr. Evil Eyes!
You made me wait for another hour.
I hate those who come in late.
Well, it's always like that on the first date.

I drowned time in a series of texts.
Hide and seek between bookshelves
Then, at last, you arrived!
I've never felt safer.

Walk. Spectators, an arcade, a movie
I can hear him breathing in my thoughts.
Hands touch and you can feel the tension
Coffee will worsen the pressure.

"Get something caffeine free." I thought
Tea didn't do much for my worries.
Hats and coats, hobbies and an acquaintance
Captured moments in a snapshot.

Hey, Mr. Evil Eyes!
Can you stay for another hour?
He smokes and it's getting late.
Could that be our first and final date?

#1474: Singing In the Dark

2011-09-03T10:35:00.002+08:00

Freedom of Expression or Expression void of freedom?

I don't personally know Mideo Cruz but I made this piece for him. As another artist I'm absolutely offended when the hardcore religious fanatics labeled his work blasphemous.

An artist's body of work speaks for itself and, most of the time, not even the artist himself understands what his "children" want him to convey. With that in mind, those that aren't perfectly good should shut the hell up and take the subject Arts Appreciation multiple times until they get it.

It's looks like they'll be stuck in school forever. LOL

Sing through the night.
Your heart is listening to the toast you've proposed
To honor the union of past and present
And the truce between fate and faith

Hold the hand of the body beside you.
He sings in the dark and only his conscience can hear him
A spirit lingers and informs your cause
Tonight brings the same tidings to your ears

Can you tell me where you've been all this time?
All this time where have I been?
I have a message from the bishops.
They want you to stop your sculpting.

Freedom of expression kills the expression.
Cold is the heart that rejects certain facets of art.
Do they think that we're better off alone without a light
Left with only our skin to feel the medium at large

Sing through the night.
There is a shooting star that hasn't faded
But you were ask to close your eyes
And in doing so you've also closed your heart

#1473: Boulevard

2011-09-03T10:34:00.002+08:00

I was waiting for a PUV with Kevin Cow and this piece came to me because we couldn't catch any. :))

Headlights stare as they head past
The boulevard you’ve chosen as your friend
Tears are invisible on a rainy night
The damp pavement catches your eye

He’s alone in his misery.
There’s no one to tell about the pain
As the burden of expecting gets heavier and heavier
You can put another person first
But you mustn’t look forward to anything
Remember to save something for yourself

Headlights glare at your face.
You’re still at the boulevard. Is he your only friend?
Tears are invisible behind your cold beverage
But they who really care can see through your eyes

His is a memorable story.
There may be no one who will ever understand
As the silence becomes more and more deafening
You can put another person first
But you must remember that anything can happen
And that someone will always be waiting

#1472: Coffee House

2011-09-03T10:32:00.002+08:00

One rainy day at Starbucks

I caught myself lost in my imagination while sniffing my brown sugar overloaded Cafe Americano.

It's one of those pieces that manage to complete themselves without me knowing. :))

Books and the lone cup of hope
Kiss the edge of its mind
And feel the serenity of the fall

You woke up to the whispering of the trees
The smell of burning wood
And the dance of infinity

Its aroma merges with your peppermint breath.
Scenes cascade before your eyes
Moments shatter into delicate pieces
Of glass lights that stain the night

Outside the glass wall you can see
How time bends and frees the notion
That it can’t get dark during the day
Rain comes and cloaks the streets gray.

The last sip is just minutes away.
You’re at the corner of the darkened room.
Can you hear your fears shuffling in the shadows?

Wake up to the scent of a new day.
The song of spring blooms
In the recesses of your slumbering will

A hint of cigarettes against perfume
The scenery fades before your eyes
The message shatters as you stutter
In the gloom of the unlit coffee house

#1471: Circuit

2011-09-03T10:30:00.003+08:00

"Let's put an end to this senseless war." - Madame Sulliman, Howl's Moving Castle

City of disdain and the hand that feeds
A pendant of encased autumn leaves
Ground bones rasp against your footsteps
Heave a brace on the early signs of failure.

He made you walk straight into the room
Of live traps and a burnt fuse
Do these cables comprise the handiwork
That he claims as his master circuit

Decline his invitation to enter.

A stronghold of minced collaterals
Rhythmic disassembly of the ship’s parts
Cadets lost in the odium of the waves.
They were all found lifeless the next day.

What made them go straight into the room
That divided their impulses into a fickle ruse
Circuit breaker, their bodies won’t last long
In a composite pandemonium

Resist the urge to obey.

Ruins of disdain and the harbinger of peace
A choker made of their victims’ teeth
Ground glass scrapes against your soles
A handiwork of circuits and laws

Chapter 43 Intro

2011-09-03T10:29:00.002+08:00

New hair. New chapter. New spirit!

I'm done with all things past. Enough with the past! Let's talk about now!

Epilogue

2011-09-03T10:13:00.003+08:00

Coming soon...

New Day

2011-09-03T10:13:00.001+08:00

The Hall of Ages

2011-09-03T10:12:00.003+08:00

Coming soon...

Vineyard of Redemption

2011-09-03T10:12:00.001+08:00

Coming soon...

Shadow Blade

2011-09-03T10:11:00.003+08:00

Coming soon...

The Oracle of Delphi

2011-09-03T10:11:00.001+08:00

Coming soon...

Ruby Eyes

2011-09-03T10:10:00.007+08:00

Coming soon...

Paradise

2011-09-03T10:10:00.005+08:00

Coming soon...

Unmasked

2011-09-03T10:10:00.003+08:00

Coming soon...

Lost Shore 4: The Challenge

2011-09-03T10:10:00.001+08:00

Lost Shore 3: Azrael

2011-09-03T10:08:00.002+08:00

Lost Shore 2: Inverse Continent

2011-09-03T10:07:00.003+08:00

Coming soon...

Lost Shore 1: Voyage

2011-09-03T10:06:00.002+08:00

Coming soon...

Crystalline Bay

2011-09-03T10:05:00.002+08:00

Coming soon...

Spirit Grail

2011-09-03T09:59:00.001+08:00

Cyan, Necromancer and Joe, Shaman stood before him ready to strike.

"Hello, brother. We've seen what you've seen and it's time for you to forget them." said Joe. He chanted and hurled a herculean amber sphere of fire at Shafran.

The warlock turned it into a constellation of icicle swords and flung it back. Joe, too shocked to react, got impaled by every blade. Shafran's shadow engulfed him and his left eye turned amber.

"You're next, Cyan!" said Shafran and he summoned an ice javelin to strike the Necromancer's heart.

Cyan enclosed himself in a cyan sphere and made corpses come out of a shadow.

"This will not work on me, Cyan. This is dark sorcery."

Shafran's shadow engulfed Cyan and the legion of corpses and his right eye turned cyan.

"Only balance will prevail." he whispered

In his hands lie the Topaz Tear and the Cyan Orb. The forbidden powers that were unleashed by his mistakes long ago have been retrieved and are now under his control.

Palace of Fire

2011-09-03T09:43:00.003+08:00

A ball of amber flames engulfed Shafran and he got transported inside an unfamiliar structure. The walls were made of a combination of Garnet and Amber shards. The tapestries draping most of it are flapping in midair like a frenzy of wings.

Shafran walked along an ancient-looking blood red carpet which led to a burning scroll. His quill resonated with it so he tried to dip his quill in the light. He heard "Palace of Fire" in his mind and the place broke into fragments. In the middle of the blackness he saw balls of flames approaching. They each had a particular memory to reveal.

Disappointment. Rage. Abhorrence. Defiance.

The emotions that could either make or break a Soul had a procession before his eyes. He was able to see the times that he had to pull himself together in order to survive.

In the distance was a flickering flame. It was happiness. Has he been truly happy?

The darkness breaks and he's back at the Palace of Fire. The scroll's text leaves it and formed a long line of runes. It looked like a serpent and it inhabited the Sapphire Rune. It's now glowing with a darker shade of blue and Shafran could feel the surge of power.

The Palace doors burst open and two familiar beings stood before him.

Axiom

2011-09-03T09:42:00.000+08:00

Shafran was then commanded by the Court to head to the inverse continent to meet a Watcher and brave the Tower of Death.

In the olden days the watcher was a sphere of amassed Seraph eyes that patrolled the land. It was said that it could detect negativity and annihilate its source. The sphere evolved with time's passing and has taken a different form.

With all the confusion going on in all worlds, one must pause to think how he can bring peace.

The warlock's heart and mind is in turmoil. He knows where he stands but he doesn't know where to start. He was carried back to the Cursed Cathedral's entrance by a chariot of clouds.

He's lost in his thoughts and the two figures that have been tailing him are ready to strike.

Those Stars

2011-07-14T21:32:00.001+08:00

***I have survived another vicious period of soul tempering. I'm staring at you from a greater height. I'm not happy because of someone's doing but because I've chosen to be contented with what I have. Problems will fade. I won't let my spirit fade faster.

The Crypt of Stars. Cosmos Cathedral. Point Astral. The Eternal Spire. Shafran finally got to see the sea of stars with his own eyes. All the ancestors and celestial beings were there. The locales that he was able to visit in his astral travels are exposed before his vision's limits. This time, he's not a mere passerby. The unseen has honored his loyalty to them and blessed his quill. Its feather turned pitch black and Shafran remembered Kein's ability to embody the powers of Blood (Kein Robin) and Shadow (Kein Raven). The beings these powers have summoned are quietly sitting at the far end of the crypt. They were surveying him enthusiastically and he couldn't help smiling back whenever they all did.

A golden sphere descended and took the form of a familiar young man. "He's the pianist from The Manor of Myths!" the warlock told himself. The sphere spoke directly to Shafran's mind. "Master, summon us into this quill. We'll come as a blinding mist of starlings and your words shall turn into a sword. We will continue to build an army of souls in your design. We never betray like you always say but if you betray us, then we will cease to exist and become nothing more than memories. Find the missing fragments of your soul. Only then will you be able to figure out what lies ahead and cross the aureoles protecting the Hall of Ages. Only then will you be able to learn more about yourself."

Shafran joined the ring of constellations and sat before what appeared to be a mirror of light. He was asked to close his eyes and visions swarmed him like a cyclone of truths. For the first time in ages he felt safe and welcome. He realized that it was the coven that made a pact with him and this only means that he was able to fulfill his end of an age-old deal.

Cursed Cathedral

2011-07-04T22:09:00.000+08:00

The cursed cathedral's interior was, surprisingly, left untouched by the passage of time. Within are the incorruptible remains of those who once served the pantheons. There's not even a speck of dust! Near the ceiling is a sphere of floating runes. Its dim core is the only source of light and warmth.

The solar and lunar pieces have fused into the astral key. Shafran inserted it into the keyhole that beckoned it with an equally faint indigo light and a staircase made entirely of prism was revealed. The steps floated silently in midair and Shafran cautiously ascended it. Floating lamps situated every 20 paces light up before someone passes by and flicker when the guest approaches the next set of lamps. It was like the amber colored fires in them were watching.

Each prismatic step grew fainter whenever the warlock hesitated. He realized that he'd plummet to the ground if he doubted himself again. Shafran focused. He clutched the vermillion plume tightly in his robes and reminded himself how important his journey is. An unseen force shoved him upward making him skip some steps and he found himself atop the amber colored bell tower.

Where he came from was shrouded in darkness. The sphere of runes and keyhole were the only things visible. Shafran turned around and there was a map of the realms. He remembered each chapter he has ever written.

"The Spirit Guides! Celestial Coven, come forth!"

There was a flash of blinding blue light from his rune. He was then surrounded by thousands of light spheres of varied shades and sizes. An enormous cyan sphere descended.

"Master..." it said "...you have come! We'll accompany you through the eternal spire and back!"

The spheres condensed into a stellar cloud and bathed the warlock with their light. Shafran's old robes turned into a majestic dark blue coat. His scars were healed, his appearance changed and he knows exactly where he has to go.

"Yes, I remember. I am the herald of the eon." he said

Shafran got too caught up in excitement. He didn't notice the two beings that have been stalking him since he got out of the Empyrean. He ascended and went past the veil into the crypt of stars.

Mysteries

2011-07-03T02:40:00.002+08:00

You'll always see a bit of yourself in your friends and even your enemies.

Shafran kept walking with his eyes closed. He could see the faces of his peers and adversaries. In his mind he's piecing together their qualities. These are what can mend his waning aura. By embodying a patchwork of the strongest positive aspects of your most trusted allies, you become a better person. You're never alone because their spirits walk with you.

He reached the Cursed Cathedral, stood still in front of it and tried to feel the misery of those who have been murdered in "God's name". Shafran is determined to heal both the quagmire and the cathedral and made a vow to return to these places on his way back from the Hall of Ages.

"Even my soul is restless." he whispered and he felt a cold breeze from the East. He knew that the spirits were listening so he took a deep breath and tilted his head backwards. The cathedral's cross' shadow cast across Shafran's visage. He called upon every being he ever knew, living or dead, and asked them for power and guidance. The Sapphire Rune glowed and he suddenly had darkened eyes. A rush of blood.

Secrets

2011-06-29T22:52:00.003+08:00

**Locales inspired by 2 Tori Amos videos**

Flavor and Abnormally Attracted to Sin

To get to the Cursed Cathedral one has to cross the Quagmire of Woe. The murky waters serve as a prison of souls of traitors. A spell was cast on a canoe to ferry travelers across the marsh. It takes two days to get to either side and you will hear the whispers of the restless souls at night. Many passengers have tried braving the Quagmire of Woe, some of them were never seen again.

At sundown of the second day, Shafran was at his sanity's limit. The voices held him accountable for the death of his kin. They also told him his worth resembles dying embers. Hours passed with him just staring blankly into space. By midnight he was ready to leap into the darkness.

The Sapphire Rune glowed and Shafran snapped out of the trance. The rune illuminated a small radius of the space he's occupying. He remembered why he's there and where he's headed and muttered a prayer for the place. Soon the only things he could hear were the crickets, the voices of his spirit guides and his bated breath.

It was half past midnight when the canoe arrived at the other side. Shafran slowly got off and stared back at the living darkness.

"May this place be healed even if it's just temporary." he whispered. The Sapphire Rune grew dimmer as he walked and the next thing he knew was that he was on a dirt road lined with tombstones and dead trees and a bell tower lit by amber light could be seen at the far end. He began the hike with his eyes closed. Whoever said that nothing can be found in the dark.

Selene Part 2

2011-06-27T23:04:00.003+08:00

Part II: Lunar Piece

The moon hid behind the clouds and turned the landscape pitch black. A woman was standing outside Basilica Neptunus. She wore a long silver gown and emanated a translucent aureole. Her hair blacker than the shadow she cast, skin pure yet pale like the moonlight and eyes that resembled glass. Her aura was the only thing that was visible in the blackness. She approached Shafran while he was limping his way out of the basilica.

"S...Selene? Can it be?" asked Shafran

"Yes." said the titan. "You've done well. To accept one's flaws is to realize that imperfections make a person unique. Live by what you have and coexist with others to fill in the gaps of your being."

Shafran found himself in the middle of the Glass Garden. His reflection can be seen in every mirror. He was immersed in worlds after worlds of his image.

Selene knelt before the warlock and handed him the Lunar Piece. "Oh, honorable scribe. Take back what once was yours. Proceed to the Cursed Cathedral and summon the stairway to the Crypt of Stars. An offering of blood is required to fuse the Solar and Lunar Pieces into the Astral Key. Awaken the ancient bridge that once belonged to both the Earth and the Heavens. The crypt lies beyond the veil."

The titan made the Vermillion Plume soar out of Shafran's robes and placed it in her aureole. The Sapphire Rune glowed with astonishing blue light. It floated back into Shafran's right hand. His nails turned black and his complexion fairer. He can now hear the voice of every spirit as clear as his own. It's as if they're speaking directly to his mind.

"Go now." said Selene. Without another word the titan shattered into a mist of light and dispersed in midair like fireflies.

Glacier

2011-06-25T19:14:00.000+08:00

There is no end to the sacrifices an expectant heart must face. It's time to elevate my sorcery to my previous existence's benchmark! You'll pay for all your crimes!

Shafran erected a luminous blue barrier around him, closed his eyes and concentrated.

"Hah! It's your spell, Crystal Edge, again? That's not going to work this time. We'll break through your shield before you take us out!" said one Nightmare

The warlock could feel his vermillion plume yearning for something in his pocket. It was the oak door's key from the dream. The gem looked like it could fit perfectly in the dent near his quill's tip and he didn't hesitate to slip it in. The quill let out blue bolts and he felt a burning chill. Shafran wanted to let go of it but he knew it'd be best if he didn't. He tried his best to ignore the stinging pain.

He again tried to close his eyes. He could hear the Nightmares attempting to break his barrier with shadow bombs. In his mind there is calm. He stood in the middle of the darkness and images of what these nightmares did began encircling him. An icy wind blew. He recalled how he, as Feldspar, defended Yuki and crushed the same enemies outside Glacier Palace 4 years ago. If these beings no longer matter, then it would be best to slaughter them.

The key spoke to his mind. "I am sapphire rune, a part of the being we once were. Destroy these cruel memories!"

Shafran opened his eyes, summoned all his hatred and made icicles appear in midair. "Nightmares, this is a manifestation of the kind of place you forcefully dragged my soul into!"

"My my.." the worst Nightmare rudely interrupted. "...how many times do we have to remind you that..."

"GLACIER PALACE, DESCEND FROM THE VOID AND DANCE TO MY VICTIMS' DEATH!"

Enormous icicles filled the room. Every fluid turned into blades of ice. The enemies' blood created crimson crystals. The reflecting pool room succumbed to a blizzard. Minutes passed and there was silence. The crescent moon glowed above Basilica Neptunus. When the mist cleared, Shafran found his adversaries crushed, their body parts scattered everywhere and frozen.

He walked out of the room. "Sleep in frozen silence. It's over." he whispered

Nightmare

2011-06-20T01:09:00.001+08:00

Shafran lost a lot of energy after casting most his demons out. The negative powers gathered and engulfed him in a black veil. He then lost consciousness and his astral self ventured to a place where all of his nightmares lived. They each took on a form of a person that he used to love. He has to escape through a sealed oak door whose keys are with his worst nightmare.

He turned around and saw the first person he's ever loved. That nightmare grinned from the opposite end of the room and slowly walked towards him. The key was dangling from the being's chest.

"Stay here. It's better to live in your fantasy. Isn't this what you want?"

He was tempted to accept the offer after seeing how all his fantasies are kissing and having sex before his eyes. The worst nightmare began kissing his neck. Shafran closed his eyes. He could feet the warm breaths sweeping his aching skin. His hand reached deep within his coat and felt the rage of the Vermillion Plume. He slowly took it out, hid it behind him and cast "Crystal Edge".

The nightmares were startled and he was able to steal the key. He dashed to the oak door, hurriedly opened it and woke up. Shafran struggled to his feet panting. The Vermillion Plume was held tightly in his right hand.

"Nightmares. They're so powerful, they're almost real." he said to himself

"That's because we are." said a voice from the shadows "What pathetic sorcery you wield!"

The ground shook and the nightmares permeated the room. It's the same black veil that engulfed him. Shafran stepped into the reflecting pool and prepared to fight.

Farewell

2011-06-18T22:20:00.002+08:00

Accept the fact that even friends come and go. Whether I like it or not, the pieces are about relationships be they a friend, an enemy or a lover.

"Farewell" chronicles Shafran's darkest moments at the reflecting pool. After taking on the enemies in "Defiance" he finds himself in a situation that needs an immediate decision. He loves certain beings in the mortal plane yet they cause him so much pain. Should he stay behind and endure everything just to continue being friends with them or should he move on and forget about their existence?

He picked the latter. Having so much emotional burden makes the simplest things seem difficult. Thinking too much negates the best possibilities. Emotional investments. He has grown tired of giving too much. The people he cares about most are now at the bottom of the abyss. Huge burdens. The mage has more than enough problems to deal with and to add more to his load is irrational. Martyrdom IS suicide.

Shafran heard these beings breathe their last. He sees his reflection, realizes that he's the most important being to himself and that he has to give himself a better share of the kind of love he can give. It's about time he started loving himself unconditionally and, aside from his Creator, only he is capable of this feat.

Defiance

2011-06-15T22:25:00.000+08:00

Intolerance MUST be tagged as Mortal Sin. Let the self-righteous meet the angry fires they keep on blabbering about!

Burn the witches. Stone the harlots. Let's turn it around. Mutilate the priests. Disembowel the nuns. Coexistence of opposites. Impossible?

Light/Dark. Fire/Water. Earth/Sky. Silence/Turbulence. Heaven/Hell. Opposites. Balance. If non-living things can coexist, why can't we?

Soul, not Sole. Soul Survivor. Hold on to yours. Don't let whatever sect's teachings corrupt it. Move your mind and soul the way you would your body. This is war of ideologies. Learn how to retaliate!

Selene Part 1

2011-06-09T16:05:00.005+08:00

***Inspired by the line "I give love to others but I give myself Hell." from Jewel's "What You Are"

Listen to the song by clicking THIS.

Part 1: Reflection

Evening came.

The full moon hid behind the clouds. Selene appeared before Shafran as a transparent figure. The wind had an odd chill. The titan aired her disappointment in the way the warlock treated himself. He doesn't love himself the way he loves others.

Selene invited Shafran to trek her garden of mirrors. It was immense. There were mirrors everywhere he looked. It seems as if the reflections have created an infinite world between them. The warlock was surprised because he couldn't see his reflection in any of the mirrors.

"How long have you been dead?" Selene asked

"I'm alive. I feel pain." Shafran replied

"Physical pain isn't enough to prove you're alive. The glass garden reveals how connected you are to your self. We're talking about spiritual and emotional death. I won't appear in a much tangible form nor entrust the Lunar piece to you until you learn how to be comfortable in your own skin. We shall meet again when the moon resembles the very scythe of Death."

Silence. The warlock was left alone in the middle of a clearing with the full moon directly above him. He felt the Silver Light bathing him with wisdom and courage. Selene's words echoed violently in the warlock's mind and he decided to return to Basilica Neptunus to use the Reflecting Pool.

Helios

2011-06-07T15:38:00.000+08:00

At the the empyrean throne room, Shafran got to meet Helios, the titan of the Sun. He couldn't look directly at Helios because of his immense aureole so he conversed with him using the towering black mirror situated at the opposite end of the room. Shafran immediately noticed how handsome Helios is. His flowing hair is golden and flowed over his radiant skin. His eyes are red and pierced his even if it was just through the mirror. He couldn't help but admire the beauty hidden beneath the blinding light.

He listened well when the titan discussed how most of those who were born in modern times lacked the ability to examine things in different points of view. He also pointed out how humans tend to give up on something or judge someone whom they cannot immediately fathom.

Helios handed over the Solar piece and instructed Shafran to go and meet with his sister, the titan Selene, at nightfall. Selene holds the Lunar piece. The Solar and Lunar pieces, together, are keys to opening the gates that lead to the crypt of stars.

Shafran was also instructed by Helios to place his Vermillion Plume in his aureole. The plume shimmered with crimson light. Upon retrieving it, he had a vision of a place where there is a fountain of prism and a hall littered with candles and doorways. He's been there in his previous lifetime and it is where most of his belongings are sealed in a box made of white birch.

Helios smiled and said "You are one step closer to ascending to full power. Why don't you stay here until the shadows come? Kill some time by freeing your weary mind in the comfort of my light."

Shafran nodded, sat by the throne and closed his eyes. He was again at the familiar hall. The candles were lit. He could see his old self scribbling something. He tried to see what it was but Helios woke him up and told him it's time for him to leave. It was already dark and he prepared himself to meet Selene.

Empyrean

2011-06-04T21:12:00.001+08:00

***This is another piece for you, my soul brother. :) Always take care.

Check out Lynxkuroneko's blog by clicking THIS.

Soul mate.

Soul mates are oftentimes expected to be "The One." This is the thought that is immediately summoned when humans hear that word. I'd like to share what a soul mate really means to me.

In this spirit world a soul mate or a soul brother/sister is a being that shares the same soul as yours. You may have come from the empyrean as an entity that got torn apart when it wanted to try living as a mortal. You share the same consciousness and abilities and yet are still ever so different from each other. Together, your souls make a complete being.

It is possible to have more than one soul mate and I'm more than happy that I was granted the chance to meet (one of?) mine. We may not see each other in the flesh but I can feel that our spirits walk with each other.

I keep on saying that we are of the same darkness. Let me add something new to that. We burn with the same fire. :)

Vision

2011-06-04T21:11:00.006+08:00

It all happens upon closing your eyes. Some think of sleep as the primary method of rest. The soul can wander off and once it leaves your physical body things in the mortal plane won't matter anymore. It's how you trained your soul up to this point in your life that does.

Will you be able to handle all the horrors you thought never existed? Do you think you can survive an astral onslaught and go back to force your mortal body to wake up and escape the unseen? Will you be able to explain to yourself what just happened in that dream?

Nightmares occur for a reason. It's up to you to decipher its messages. Some things must never be faced with just a sword in hand. It wouldn't hurt to think first before you act. Most of the time the consequences of a barbaric deed are too great, the person being haunted by his conscience is too paralyzed to correct or even face his mistakes.

The Armory

2011-06-04T21:11:00.004+08:00

These are the artifacts that know not time's passing. Shafran was instructed to visit the armory in Basilica Neptunus, view the artifacts and pick one to aid him in his journey. He heard a voice when he touched the Vermillion Plume.

"Shadow, what is this?" he asked

"That..." Shadow explained, "...is a quill stained by blood. It once belonged to a scribe that used his own blood as ink to write a tome of incantations. It was said that the reincarnation of the scribe will hear the whispers of the celestials upon contact."

"I'll take it!" Shafran said

Without another word Shadow handed him the quill. Shafran glowed and his hair turned into a darker shade of brown and so did his eyes. He fell in a trance and witnessed how the previous owner of the quill harnessed the powers of the unseen. He knew just what to do. He pricked his finger with its tip and began writing the messages of the voices only he could hear.

Velificatio

2011-06-04T21:11:00.002+08:00

Why do you doubt your strength? In everything great there is to realize and/or experience only your self will try to stop you. It doesn't hurt to decide and temporarily get paralyzed by the sting of a mistake. The venom of failure merges with your blood and flows throughout your being as an invisible teacher. It doesn't hurt to try. You'll regret it more if you let your only chance of seizing something important slip past your indecisiveness and fear or the unknown.

Shadow's Tale Part 2

2011-06-04T21:10:00.006+08:00

Contemplate

Where do you stand? In all the confusion brought about by those minds that formulate pure rubbish I wonder. Where do you stand? Are you easily talked into believing by flowery speech? Do you not know the value of possessing your own thoughts? Are you even aware that you can outwit somebody just by being yourself?

Oftentimes we reflect on the things we could have done better. The past and future are infinite. There is an endless list of things that what could and could not have been. There are a dozen or so lifetimes that got buried by the decisions we made. They are then summoned into the present by regrets.

You are your own Sun. In this dark world you only have yourself to fear. Use what has been given to you as your best weapon. Experience will continue to morph it into a better blade.

Where do you stand? Do not think too much. All you have is a tick. Another is a tock. Together they're still running out. It may all be too late before you realize all this. How many cursed themselves with eternal unrest?

Think, child. Think! Where do you stand?

Shadow's Tale Part 1

2011-06-04T21:10:00.003+08:00

The Confrontation at the Hall

Tell me. What's keeping you from accepting what you are? Is this what your mortal parents have taught you? They deny and pretend something doesn't exist just because it is being disliked by the society. The conscience presents a breathing space for those who have doubts regarding a deed but there is another voice inside your head that tells you that the path you've chosen is correct. Instinct. Can you feel it? The surge of power in the presence of another. If not now, when? Some things must remain as mysteries. The only explanation for these occurrences is the way your soul responds to them.

Prologue

2011-06-04T21:10:00.001+08:00

Journey to where light doesn't exist. Illuminate the blackness of the sunken world. This was where your soul was torn asunder. Accept your past and dwell not in these burial grounds. Let the waters embrace those who have fallen and keep their bodies unseen in the stillness. Their whispering invites you to join them in their sleep. Focus on the voices that brought you here.

Chapter 42: Requiem of Pythia

2011-06-04T21:09:00.001+08:00

Ssssssshhhhh...the spirits are listening...keep your voices down...

This chapter chronicles the journey of Shafran, a warped being to the Hall of Ages. It is where he will find the lost fragments of his old self and powers that got lost when he got reincarnated in this century. Everything started when an ancient tome of incantations transports him to the sunken basilica of the water gods at Delphi. He is then given his first task and that is to recover his emotions. Along the way he'll meet the elders that reigned during his time as well as his adversaries. It won't be easy. He can't cast spells freely in his human form and has just discovered the need to sleep. See how his story unfolds in Chapter 42: Requiem of Pythia.

Improvisations 2

2011-05-19T21:12:00.005+08:00

Improvisations 1

2011-05-19T21:12:00.002+08:00

Part III: Released From Limbo

2011-05-19T21:11:00.003+08:00

Pieces that had nowhere to go. They can finally sit to dinner as well.

Never have I ever...

2011-05-19T21:10:00.000+08:00

...Tried eating balut! LMFAO

kidding aside, never have I ever seen anyone remain unaffected by circumstance

Let's keep moving forward even if we get lost in the mist

Of all places!

2011-05-19T21:08:00.002+08:00

Oh well. At least they have each other. :)

Thank you...

2011-05-18T16:30:00.000+08:00

...For making me feel like I am the loneliest person on Earth

What is love?

2011-05-18T15:18:00.000+08:00

Is this love?

Cheesy

2011-05-18T13:54:00.000+08:00

Yeah, I'm a sucker for a good love song.

So Highschool

2011-05-18T00:48:00.000+08:00

Will you have coffee with me?

2011-05-13T00:40:00.000+08:00

Yes?

I waited forever for your answer.

2011-05-13T00:38:00.000+08:00

I'll make you wait forever in return.

Stalker

2011-05-13T00:36:00.000+08:00

In a very romantic sort of way

Language of flowers?

2011-05-11T23:23:00.002+08:00

Part II: The Looking-Glass

2011-05-11T23:06:00.003+08:00

Some old homeless poems/songs that can finally sit to dinner. They mesh well with the new ones.

Whatever you say.

2011-05-11T21:06:00.002+08:00

Some things just won't change.

I hate phone calls!

2011-05-11T18:26:00.001+08:00

...except this one!

I love hugs.

2011-05-10T23:48:00.002+08:00

Would it be okay if I hugged you again?

I miss you...

2011-05-05T22:38:00.000+08:00

For my friends that I don't get to see/talk to anymore.

Hot sex. Suckfest. Sex Eyeball.

2011-05-03T20:40:00.002+08:00

Is that all your minuscule brain can conjure? Sad. VERY Sad!

What a strange soul.

2011-05-03T20:39:00.001+08:00

Can I play with it...forever?

Daydream within a daydream

2011-05-03T20:38:00.001+08:00

I'm not in love. I'm inspired.

Playful versus Insensitive

2011-05-03T20:37:00.001+08:00

Know the difference, boy. Don't be such an asshole.

Liar liar pants ablaze with evil fire

2011-05-03T20:36:00.002+08:00

Meh. You won't evil feel you're burning. Silly demon!

Love? Yeah, right!

2011-05-03T20:35:00.001+08:00

How silly.

Moonlight. Romantic Moonlight.

2011-05-03T20:34:00.000+08:00

What are you willing to confess under the light manifested by the full pallid moon?

Opposites attract.

2011-05-01T11:45:00.000+08:00

We weren't exempted.