Prologue

AGATHA and her father were in the yard having a hand-to-hand combat battle while her mother cooked dinner in their kitchen.

She was only ten years old when she was taught by her father in the field of combat. Her parents let her do what she wants to do but in return, she has to learn to defend herself. Agatha's parents want to give her a normal life but it is very difficult to give if they are hiding in the dark and preparing for the coming danger.

Agatha was defeated for the third time and could never surpass her father's fighting prowess. "I'm tired Dad, We've been fighting for two hours but it's hard to beat you " she complained.

"You shouldn't howl, you can't say that when your opponent tries to kill you Agatha" her father exclaimed.

Agatha did nothing but frown "But Dad, no one wants to kill us, right?. Fighting is just your hobby, that's why you just want to teach me right?" she asked her father, convincing herself that no harm awaited them. She is afraid to think that if something bad happens to them, what is important to her is safety and good life with her family "Please Dad let's rest first—"

She stopped at what she was about to say when suddenly a small explosion came from inside their home. She was about to run inside the house when her father stopped her "M-mom—"

Her father grabbed her arm and took her to a secret passage to the basement to hide. Agatha didn't know what was going on, she was very worried because her mother was still inside the house.

"Just stay here, I'll just find your Mom" her father pleaded to stay inside and not come out until he says so.

She nodded and tried to hide her fear. "Go ahead Dad, I'll be fine."

She was left inside the basement and waiting for her parents to return. She is restless and feels doubly anxious because her Father has not yet returned. "Mom, Dad Please be safe" she murmured.

Agatha didn't want to disobey her father but after almost five minutes had passed, they still hadn't come back with her Mom. "I s-hould defend my family" Agatha took a deep breath and dared to go out of the basement to look for her parents. Though her knees were trembling with fear, she tried to muster up her courage.

Agatha heard two loud gunshots that caused her to fall in fear to the floor. "D-dad" she stammered. She saw her father falling to the floor with her mother who was already covered with blood.

"R-run" she heard her father say.

She did not want to leave them so instead of running she slowly approached her parents who were lying on the floor.

"I said go—" her father's low growl.

The armed men who shot and harassed their home suddenly disappeared. She didn't even see the shameless man commit this folly "D-dad" she stammered and looked tearfully at her father as well as her lifeless mother.

Her hands trembled as she caressed her father's face "D-dad, I'll call an ambulance and police... Please hold on" she pleaded. She looked at her mother again and her sobs grew louder "M-mom! Wake up!."

"A-gatha, R-run— and d-don't come back to this place. P-romise me you will live normally... Promise me that you will never hold a knife."

"Dad! Please don't leave me!."

Kahit nanghihina ang ama ni Agatha ay sinubukan niyang abutin ang pisngi ng kanyang anak "Run Agatha before they come back to clean up his mess."

"No Dad!, I can't leave you like this" she uttered.

"They will also kill you— so save yourself while there is still time" her father pleaded.

Agatha wept as her father suddenly gasped for breath and gradually closed his eyes "Dad!!, Dad! wake up!! Dad!Please wake up!" she screamed and cried hysterically. Her body trembles and anger builds up in her heart, "I-m sorry Dad, b-ut I won't promise anything" she cries as she holds her parents hand tightly.

Agatha knew that they had been hiding something for a long time. Reasons why they have to hide and move to another place over and over again.

"They are monsters!" she screamed and panting in tears. "Mom! Dad! I can't handle this" she whispered.

Agatha kissed her parent's forehead for one last time and apologized for what she intended to do. She staggered as she stood up and bowed to give them her farewell. She took a deep breath and wiped her wet cheek. "I'll be back soon" she promised.

Agatha decided to burn the whole household along with her parents' bodies. "Sorry Mom and Dad, This is the only thing I can do to save my life. Forgive me, I promise I will avenge your death."

She was in front of their house and watched the blazing fire. She hugs herself and pours out all the pain and anger through tears "So this is hell" she uttered.

It was raining hard and the road was very dark. Agatha was walking on tiptoe, weak and near fainting. She was on her way to Bella's house, her only friend and steward of their property.

Agatha was too close to the door of the house but she no longer reached to knock. She had lost a lot of blood so she lost consciousness.

"Agatha?!" Bella shouted and quickly approached the unconscious Agatha.

When Agatha woke up, she was looking for her parents but she remembered the nightmare that had happened. She almost broke all the furniture in the room. Fortunately, Bella came right away to stop her.

Bella hugged her tightly as she cried hysterically and gasped for breath. "Stop it, your wound may bleed" Bella pleads with the friend.

Agatha doesn't know what to do, it drives her crazy every time she remembers what happened to her parents. She didn't know what to do because no one could help her but herself.

Her friend tried to calm her down when Bella's mother, entered the room. "Anak—nandito lang ako para sayo. Hindi ko man alam ang mga nangyayari pero handa akong damayan."

Hindi makapagsalita si Agatha. Sa bawat tanong ni Aling Cecil ay puro pagtangis ang kanyang sagot. Gumuho ang mundo niya ng tuluyan... bawat segundo ng buhay niya— unti-unti siyang dinudurog ng kanyang konsensya. Hindi niya alam kung paano bumangon mag-isa ngayong walang natitira sa kaniya kundi ang galit at puot na lulan ng kanyang puso.

"Hindi kita pipilitin na mag kwento anak—"

"I have been dead since I knocked on your door," Agatha said suddenly then looked at Bella.

"I died in the fire and my body was burned along with my parents— remember that. You don't know me and we have never met. Leave this house and don't come back—" utos niya sa mag-ina.

"A-ano bang pinagsasabi mo?" Bella asked confused and worried about Agatha.

"I'm dead!— my parents are dead too. Yan ang paniniwalaan ninyo— dahil lahat ng buhay natin ay malalagay sa panganib kapag nalaman nilang buhay pa ako" Agatha said firmly "L-eave and forget about me."

Bella no longer asked and nodded "Mag Ingat ka" . They need to trust Agatha, that's all they can do to help her.

"Saan ka na ngayon pupunta?" Aling Cecil asked.

"I don't know, it's up to where destiny will take me," Agatha said then tried to stand up.

"Saan ka pupunta?" Aling Cecil asked contrary to what Agatha would do "Nanghihina ka pa."

"I'm not leaving, You two are the ones who have to leave right now... Trust me."

"Pero Paano ka?" Bella asked.

"I will look for him... the person who killed my parents... Dad mentioned 'his', so I'm sure he was a man " Agatha replied then forcibly drove the two to leave the place "Make sure you don't show up anymore— we're not connected.... You'd better forget about me."

She was left alone and locked up herself for a few days and wondered what steps to take. She doesn't have anything to hold on to, it's as if she's groping in the dark to find information. She was traumatized by what had happened and the only flesh of her dream was the death of her parents. She felt that there was no morning to come and no light to shine for her.

Every day she blames herself for doing nothing to save her parents. She became weak, cowardly and defenseless... She regretted it every second of her life. She would have helped her father deal with those monsters. May posibilidad na buhay pa ang kanyang mga magulang sa ngayon "I'm such a coward and worthless daughter!" she said and struck herself repeatedly.

Ilang araw na rin siyang hindi kumakain at naliligo, aalis na sana siya sa bahay na iyon ngunit hindi niya alam ang susunod na gagawin.... Mas delikado kung kikilos siya agad.

Agatha leaned over as she stared at the door and wondered if she would be able to get out of her hiding place. She saw a piece of paper tucked under the door... even though she was scared and nervous, she picked up the envelope and read it.

There is an implied knight logo with a crossed sword on the back of the envelope and at the bottom is written a word "Triad" she murmured.