Virdjana's POV
Naputol lamang ang malalim kong pag-iisip-isip nang tapikin ako ni Ruby sa kanang balikat, mabuti na lang sa pagkakataong ito ay hindi gaanong halata na ikinagulat ko iyon.
"Hey, don't worry. The teachers, masters and Enchanted Elites could handle this." Ruby stated in a reassuring tone.
But it's not like I needed any reassuring, and to be honest I could not care less about what was going to happen in this academy. As crazy as it may sound, my mind is still preoccupied with thoughts of Drago remaining in Hurricania.
"Uhuh..." was what I told her in a nonchalant manner, before grabbing her hand to put it down.
"Hey, hey! Excuse me. Coming through, out of the way." says a familiar female voice coming towards us.
"You. Virdjana Phantom Assassin right?" she asked, her voice was a little raspy and she was also panting out of exhaustion.
"President Zeky!" exclaimed Ruby butting in first before I could even respond to the person called Zeky.
'Come to think of it, she was our classmate and that Shadow Enchant that sparred with Kadaski Nueva during the Combats. And did Ruby say president?' I thought to myself.
"This is an emergency, kailangan pa namin ng tulong, come with me." Zeky stated. pulling me away from Ruby without even having to hear whether I wanted to help or not.
I suppose I don't have much of an option either and I bet it would be weird if I decline her request.
"Ay ganoon? Ignored?" narinig ko pang reklamo ni Ruby.
Nang makarating na kami sa pintuan ng Arcacian Shelter ay hinarang kami ni Professor Luke at Professor Merca. Mabilis at tahimik namang tumugon si President Zeky sa pamamagitan nang pagpapakita ng isang maliit ngunit kulay gintong badge sa dalawang guro.
"She's with me." sabi ni Zeky.
"I would like to express my felicitations but this is an emergency, so go!" said Sir Luke with a smile o fapproval.
Tumakbo kami pabalik sa open field habang umiilag sa mga pagtira ng kalaban at maging sa mga nagliliparan mga atake at nagbabagsakang mga debris. Nagdalawang-isip akong muling isuot ang aking kuwintas, pero alam ko ring kakailanganin ko ito sa ganitong sitwasyon.
"What was the badge about?" I asked this brown-haired class president of the S-Class Fourth Years.
"Enchanted Elites." she simply answered, throwing a punch imbued with black smoking energy to a particular S.G.N's face.
"Never heard of it." I responded throwing my dagger to an enemy coming from my left, hitting her or him on the chest.
"Understandable. Lalong-lalo na at hindi ka pa tumatagal ng isang buwan sa akademya." Zeky retorted with a light chortle, as she summons a shadow tentacle to constrict more enemies heading our way.
"We are the academy's top students in terms of power scales. Unlike the Student Council who focuses in providing assistance, opportunities and leading the student body, Enchanted Elites are chosen students that has the potential in reaching the Master Level." she explains while defending the academy alongside me.
"Master Level?" I asked while pulling the dagger from the unconscious SGN's chest. I checked his neck and he was still alive, maybe just in shock?
"We have Masters right? They are advisors that excels in their line of magic, the best of the best, basically we're like their apprentices although unofficial." she answers without wasting a second the moment.
"Sounds like a lot of work." I commented.
Surprisingly, I earned a laughter from Zeky, causing me to raise a brow out of confusion. Unfortunately, then and there she stopped talking, continuing to lead the way to the direction where Ruby and I last saw Professor Jelina.
Drago's POV
Kasalukuyan akong nagbabantay sa isang lokasyon na hindi kalayuan sa Arcacian Shelter, hawak-hawak ko pa rin ang armas ko, nananatiling alerto sa kung ano man ang darating na panganib.
"Drago Arcedes!"
Liningon ko ang boses na nagmumula kay President Zeky na nang makalapit ay agad nagbigay sa akin nang isang matunog na high-five.
"Are you on duty now?"
I was sure Zeky asked me something, but seeing Virdjana who was already beginning to slow her running phase given that she was with President made me lose my concentration, specifically my hearing.
Her eyes were not giving off those cold-piercing glares, but instead it was a relieved expression that flashed on her face, although she was quick enough to mask it away.
"Hello? Hello? Drago, I'm asking if you're on duty?" frowns Zeky flicking my forehead despite her height.
'Ow, jeez Zeky. Always with the violent flicking.' I complained in my mind.
"Drago Arcedessss? Pay attention." groans the President in an eerie tone, a large shadow tentacle emerging from behind her then grabbed me and slowly began constricting me.
'Oh no, dammit... my bones... nghhh..'
"Zeky? What do you mean by duty though?" tanong ni Virdjana.
Laking pasasalamat ko nang mawala na ang Shadow Tentacle at walang problema akong nakalapag sa lupa habang hinihimas ang nananakit kong mga braso. 'Mabuti na lang at nagsalita si Virdjana,' sa isip-isip ko lang.
"Duty of Enchanted Elites, and just to make it clear to you. I, Drago, Kadaski, Genesis, and you are all part of it." remarked this glasses girl while adjusting the rim of her eyeglasses.
"And me?" echoed Virdjana looking puzzled.
"By the way, are you hurt?" baling sa akin ni Virdjana.
"Siyempre masakit, ikaw kayang puluputan ng galamay nang walang kalaban-laban?" sabi ko bago ngumiwi.
She frowned after hearing my answer. Did I say something wrong?
"Please, let us not waste time," said Zeky, walking in between me and Virdjana, separating us, "onwards everyone."
Nagkatinginan na lang kaming dalawa ni Virdjana dahil mukhang pareho kami nang iniisip. "Ikaw kaya itong nagsayang ng ilang segundo." pahabol kong sagot kay Zeky.
"I agree." whispered Virdjana.
I simply glanced at her when she agreed with me.
Mula sa hindi kalayuan ay unti-unti ko nang natatanaw sina Kadaski, JP at Master Hegara, pero alam kong dapat ay mag-ingat pa rin kami habang tinutungo ang direksiyon nila. Sa kabutihang-palad ay nakapag-regroup kami nang hindi napupuruhan ng mga kalaban.
"Master Hegara." sabay naming saad ni Zeky saka yumuko bilang tanda nang paggalang.
Muntik na akong mapa-igtad nang mapagtanto kong hindi bumati si Virdjana at hanggang ngayon ay kaswal lamang na nakatayo, pagsasabihan ko na sana siya pero nauna nang mangaral si Kadaski.
"Hoy ikaw! Bastos ka talaga ano? Nasa harapan mo si Master Hegara, matuto kang magbigay-galang." sabi ni Kadaski habang dinuduro si Virdjana.
'Not another argument,' hiling ko sa isipan.
"My bad. Greetings, apologies for my rudeness," pagbati ni Virdjana na ginaya na lamang ang uri nang pagbating ginawa namin ni President Zeky kani-kanina lang.
Pareho kami ni Kadaski na nagpakita ng gulat na ekpresyon dahil sa tingin ko ay inaasahan naming sasagot-sagutin na naman ni Virdjana si Kadaski kahit sa harap pa ni Master Hegara.
"Ah... Masyado ka namang pormal hija. Nabalitaan na kita ayon sa kuwento ni Master Shin. Isa pa, hindi mahalaga ang pormalidad sa sitwasyong kinakaharap natin ngayon." saad ni Master Hegara bago magpakawala nang mahina pagtawa.
"Uhmm, alright." sagot naman ni Virdjana saka tumango.
"Teka, teka... sino ka ba ha?" biglang bulalas ni Kadaski na hindi pa rin makapaniwala sa nasaksihan niya.
"Guys, we really should start moving." sabi ni JP na pumagitna na sa usapan habang nagkakamot ng batok niya.
"I second that." remarked Zeky as she prepares a stance.
"Bago kayo magpatuloy sa pakikipaglaban, tandaan ninyong kahit anong mangyari ay huwag na huwag kayong maghihiwa-hiwalay. Mas madali ninyo silang matatalo kung magkakasama kayo." payo ni Master Hegara.
"Master Hegara, ibigsabihin ba nito ay hindi kayo sasama sa amin?" tanong ko naman.
At bago pa makasagot si Master Hegara ay bigla na lamang sumabog ang lupang kinatatayuan naming lima.
"What's this?!" Virdjana reacted immediately and jumped away.
"Twin Fire Shield." Kadaski and I shouted.
"Shadow Barrier!" says President Kadaski casting her defensive shield.
"Aray ko!" sigaw naman sa sakit ni JP.
Sa kinamalas-malasan naman ay nagkahiwa-hiwalay kaming lima, magkasama kami ni Kadaski samantalang hindi ko na naaninag pa kung saang direksiyon lumapag ang iba dahil napalilibutan na kami nitong mga ninja.
"Masama ito." bulong ko kay Kadaski.
"Sinabi mo pa, pero hindi naman tayo magpapatalo diba Drago?" nakangising saad ni Kadaski kasabay ng pagpapaliyab niya nang dalawa niyang kamao.
"Heh~ Siyempre naman. Naka-ilang mission completion na kaya itong bestfriend mong ito." sagot ko naman saka nag-summon ng isa pang Fire Whip sa isa ko pang kamay.
JP's POV
'Sabi na nga ba at masamang mag-usap-usap sa gitna ng kaguluhan eh! Eto tuloy ako at kasalukuyang nasa ere pa rin handang-handa nang bumagsak sa lupa, pero sino bang niloloko ko?!' pag-momonologue ko sa isipan.
"Hanggang kailan mo ba planong magpakarga sa akin, ha?" sabi nang isang inis na boses ng babae sa akin.
Doon ko lang napagtantong sinalo pa ako ni President Zeky mula sa pagkakatalsik ko. 'Maraming salamat President!' sa isip-isip ko lang.
"Mukhang wala nga." buntong-hininga ni Zeky bago ako bitawan nang walang-pasabi.
"Grabe ka naman sa akinnn." reklamo ko nang makalapag ako ng maayos at mabuting hindi tuluyang bumagsak sa maalikabok na damuhan.
Hindi na yata kakayanin ng utak ko na kalkulahin kung magkano na ang total na pinsala na nakamit ng akademya dahil sa mga masasamang-loob na ito na nagpasiyang sugurin ang mapayapa at mapagkumbabang paaralan naming ito.
'Although kung real talk ang usapan, hindi ko rin maipagkakailang may kayabangan din ang mga estudyante sa prestihiyosong paaralang ito, wala naman masyadong magawa ang mga guro dahil totoo namang may ipagmamayabang ang karamihan.'
"Streamwave, stay alert will you? Napaliligiran na tayo." stated Zeky in a matter-of-fact tone na nakapag-pabalik sa akin sa realidad.
"Alerto naman ako, pero hindi kita matutulungan lalong-lalo na at nasa damuhan tayo, malakas ang sikat ng araw... at teka maliwanag na pala..." bulong ko kay Zeky nang mapansin kong may kahapdian na sa balat ang sikat ng araw.
"I can still use my magic, the only recoil is that my stamina would diminish much faster." Zeky explained summoning Shadow Tentacles from her own shadow and from the enemies surrounding us.
"Ano ito?!" gulat na bulalas ng isa sa mga kalaban pero bago pa siya makapag-react ay pinuluputan na siya at ibinato ni Zeky papunta sa malayo.
"Napakalagkit! Hindi ako makagalaw!" reklamo naman ng dalawa hindi kalayuan sa kaliwa ni Zeky na siya namang nakatikim na pabaliktad na ibaon sa damuhan.
"Zeky, hindi kaya mapatay mo na sila sa ginagawa mo?" tanong ko sa kaniya.
"JP, sa harapan mo!" babala niya sa akin.
'Ah muntik na naman...' buntong-hininga ko bago yumuko upang mailagan ang isang papalapit na suntok.
"Up!" I exclaimed giving the enemy in front of me a strong diagonal kick to the jaw, sending him or her flying away.
Of course, my attacks did not end with that single diagonal kick, I launch myself to the enemies letting them taste a barrage of my moves.
"Down!" I did an axe kick in which one kicks downward with a straight leg.
"To your chest!" A knee strike attack that I directed towards an enemy's chest after rushing towards him and jumping.
"Paano ba iyan? Mag-isa ka na lang." sabi ko sa natitirang kalaban nang mapabagsak na namin ni Zeky ang lima niyang kasamahan.
Unfortunately, tinawanan niya lang kami kaya nagkatinginan kami ni President Zeky. Pumalakpak itong kalaban ng isang beses at laking-gulat namin nang mga sampu pa ang lumabas sa tabi niya pagkatapos ng isang smoke bomb effect, pero ang talagang ikinagulat namin ay ang katotohanang may nahuli silang mga estudyante na ngayon ay ginagamit nilang hostage laban sa amin.
"Lalaban pa ba kayo mga bata?" tanong ng kalaban sabay sabunot sa isang estudyante saka tinutukan ito ng kutsilyo malapit sa leeg.
Wala sana akong pakialam sa threats nitong lalakeng ito, alam kong kaya naming pabagsakin ang labing-isa ninja weirdos sa harapin namin. Hindi naman sila lahat lalaban dahil binabantayan nila iyong mga hostages.
"Zeky, huwag kang paloloko sa mokong na iyan." sabi ko kay President.
"JP. We need to stand down." sagot ni Zeky sa nag-uutos na tono.
"Wait...what?" tanong ko nang nakataas ang isang kilay.
Virdjana's POV
'So the energy that I sensed building up underneath was actually a kind of explosive spell huh?' I thought to myself.
'Funny to think how we suddenly and ironically got separated when Master Hegara just advised us to stay close to one other.' I continued pondering while waiting for the smoke to dissipate so that I could get a clearer view from where I currently am.
"The enemies are smart. They should not be underestimated." I told no one before sneaking behind a tree.
Ilang minuto din ako nanatili sa puwestong iyon habang pinag-iisipan kung magpapakita ba ako o hindi. Kung iisipin, iyong spell kanina ay hindi naman kalakasan, maikukumpara ko ang physical damage sa isang suntok lamang. Isa pang bagay na kapansin-pansin ay mukhang sinadya nang kalabang paghiwalayin kaming anim.
"Perhaps, one of them or some of them have the ability to hear a conversation from afar." I pondered while as I cup my chin.
'But then again, the possibility of an enemy that can also read minds is not zero. Moreover, someone who possesses the ability of clairvoyance, or other tracking abilities could be out there. People coming from the Village of Physicia.'
I just spent a good 15 or 20 minutes in that spot due to over analyzing the situation.
'I suppose, hindi nga masamang nakinig ako kay Professor Luke kahit boring ang history...' dagdag ko pa sa sandamakmak kong pag-i-isip-isip.
"Yahahaha! Found yah!"
Agad akong napatalon paatras nang marinig ko ang boses na halatang pagmamay-ari ng masamang-loob. Nang mawala ang usok na nagmula sa kung anumang klaseng atake ang ginawa niya kanina, noon ko lang nakitang natunaw na nang tuluyan iyong punongkahoy.
'Crap, this S.G.N is going for the kill.'
"Ohoho~ Mukhang marunong kang lumaban o baka masyado pang maagang sabihin iyon gayong umilag ka lang naman." nakangisi nitong pahayag bago magsimulang pakuluin ang dalawa niyang kamay.
'Pakuluin? Lava ? Are you kidding me?'
"Mukhang pinagpapawisan ka agad ah." komento niya saka nagsimula akong batuhin ng mga bola ng kumukulong putik.
Todo-ilag naman ako. Sa kasamaang-palad iyong mga nailagan kong lava ay nagiging dahilan nang pagkasunog ng damuhan at pagkatunaw ng sementong daanan sa paligid ko.
'Pero bakit ba ako nag-aalala sa mga damo dito?! Damn it, concentrate.
Ilang beses pa kaming patuloy na naghabulan at dire-diretso lang naman akong umaatras, mukhang marami pa siyang natitirang stamina dahil sunod-sunod pa rin ang pagtira niya ng mga bola of lava.
Nakarating kami sa labas ng Cafeteria.
"Tingin lang sa kalaban bata!" sigaw sa akin ng SGN. "Lava Magic: Raging Lahar!"
This is the first time that I'm going to be fighting such a strong Karthalia magic type. I won't be able to dodge in time. It's either I use my wind magic or run.
"Noooo!"
"Ha! Ha! Ha! Napakahina naman ng mga mag-aaral dito. Palibhasa mga anak-mayaman walang alam sa totoong labanan!" pag-halakhak ng lalake.
"Psyche." I teleported behind the man, and with my knife I slice his pants' belt. "You have a bad taste for your underwear."
"Paanong? Teka, ang pantalon ko!"
Nang yumuko ito upang i-angat ang kaniyang pantalon ay mabilis kong tinuhod ang kaniyang pagmumukha.
"Ugh! You brat!" galit na pahayag nito, "natanggal ang ngipin ko!"
Muli itong tumira ng mga bolang lava na patuloy ko lamang inilagan gamit ang teleportation.
I read his thoughts, he was thinking that he would play with me more as a distraction. Distraction for what?
"You're good," I commented, "for a warm-up."
The SGN frowned and we continued dancing around the cafeteria for a few more minutes, panting he raised his arm and pointed at me, "why are you with them? You're a Restovakian!"
Huh, he must have assumed that I'm from Physicia because I showed him that I can teleport. Thinking back, Professor Luke did cover one lesson about different teleporting abilities within that clan.
"I've no idea what you're talking about. I just happened to be here." I told him.
"What nonsense! You're a Restovakian. It must have been hard for you, they call your clan rats of the society, but don't worry we are here to change that." he stated.
"By burning the academy down? Yeah, society would suddenly respect all Restovakians when that happens." I responded.
He fumed and raised both arms up in the air, "you'll eat your words kid. Lava Creation: Red Bull! I suggest for you to back down, trust me I don't want to hurt you to the point of paralysis."
From a blob of reddish goop rose the animal he summoned, three times bigger than the average human.
That's fine, I'll just strike him from behind, I prepared to teleport but the bull suddenly charged forward. I thought that it would wait for its master's orders so my reaction was delayed. I ran to the right, around the man, but the bull was catching up. Whenever I would teleport behind the SGN, the summoned beast would be inches away to stabbing me.
There has to be away to defeat him. I tried to attack him by side-stepping, but I was forced to face the bull head on when the Karthalian threw a bunch of lava balls on my right. I was forced to use my injured shoulder to grab my other knife, so I could block the horns of the summoned beast.
"Urgh! Curses." I was thrown away, continuously cursing under my breath because of the pain I felt.
"Give up, kiddo. You're too young to even understand the things we had to go through just to survive this unjust society. Bringing this school down is one step closer to our dream. These nobles that believes that they are superior than us will pay." he remarked seriously.
I sighed. I haven't been this injured badly since that day.
However, it was not all in vain. I was finally able to figure out how to defeat this man. The bull that guards him only reacts and attacks when it senses hostility against its summoner.
I chuckled. All this time, I thought I was the one provoking him, but it was actually the other way around. It took a few seconds to get my senses back together when I felt something disconnecting.
I peered down to my necklace, and realizing what caused the disturbance I felt. I gripped the hilt of my blade tighter. "Not again." I took a step back, my head slightly spinning as I start to see red.
"Equal rights!" the man continued to shout.
A moment of silence.
"You're right. I don't agree with them either." I began, my comment caught him off guard, "I believe that there should be change. Someone needed to show them that we deserve the respect as much as the other clans do."
"See? You got it. Why don't you join us kid?"
Tumayo ako nang maayos at dahan-dahang naglakad papalapit sa naguguluhang SGN. I got rid of my hostile thoughts, and allowed the breeze to soothe and relax me. It was almost impossible, but in a few seconds my head went blank.
The next thing I know was the Karthalian's body is now lying on the ground. A slash to his chest damaged him enough.
"H-how? My bull can sense hostili..ty against me." he struggled to speak, and was obviously in his dying breath.
"Except it's not against you." I responded.