3rd Person's POV
Arcamy guards opened the back gate of Arcacia academy that was an intended path for secret missions, in which the escort car Virdjana Phantom Assassin, Kadaski Nueva and Drago Arcedes are riding passed through. They do have someone to drive for them but that was only until the opening pathway before reaching Cleopardia, from there they have to walk towards the forest of illusions.
Habang nasa loob ng kotse ay nagpatuloy ang pag-u-usap-usap ng tatlong magkakaklase.
"Have any of you ever been to Cleopardia?" asked Virdjana, she was curious about this so-called forest of illusions after all. In fact, she was already predicting that it would be a forest that plays with the mind of anyone who enters it, Virdjana just wanted to confirm if she was right.
"I'll answer your question, but first do not laugh at whatever I would say," began Kadaski Nueva, as he folds his arms in front of his chest, "I technically did not, but when I was on an emergency mission to save Drago from a nymph that kidnapped him on a particular night, we passed by Cleopardia. It was eerie as hell."
Drago and Virdjana felt a bit of uneasiness when the kidnapping of Drago was mentioned, and even though both were surprisingly able to hide their true expressions, both felt pretty nervous.
"Drago was kidnapped?" asked Virdjana as she pretends to have no idea about it.
"Totoo iyon Virdjana, hindi naman iyon kailangang i-anunsyo sa buong paaralan kaya ang may alam lang ay si Kadaski at ikaw." sagot ni Drago habang nakangiti.
Virdjana immediately gave Drago a what-the-fuck-look because he literally just stated that the wind enchant does know about the kidnapping that occurred. Fortunately, Kadaski was a little slow on the uptake so Virdjana was able to distract him with the next question.
"What's a nymph?" asked Virdjana as she tilts her head to the right.
"Oh right. Home-schooled ka nga pala kaya hindi mo alam ang mga kuwento-kuwento sa Arcacia Academy." komento ni Drago na may patango-tango pang nalalaman. "According to an epic, nymphs are enchanting beautiful creatures that comes out from their trees during the full moon. They are impatient beings that does not like getting disturbed, and in fact they kill too."
'Isn't that the very same thing you blabbed about that night on the garden? You nymph fanatic.' thought Kadaski as he judges his best friend dramatically on the corner.
Drago felt the staring and meaningful look that his black-haired best friend was giving him, so he immediately squinted his eyes at Kadaski as if telling the lad not to tell Virdjana anything about his love of nymphs.
"Kuha ko na. Does the nymph that kidnapped you exactly did what was written on their lore?" asked Virdjana as she felt the urge to tease Drago, knowing that he did mistaken her as a nymph in the past.
"Yes." mabilis na sagot ni Kadaski.
Sa kabilang banda naman ay natahimik si Drago, dalawa ang rason nito, una ay katotohanang sinubukan nga silang patayin ni Virdjana ng gabing iyon, at ikalawa ay dahil tandang-tanda nito kung paano siya umakto sa harapan ng nymph na si Virdjana pala. Namula ang buong pagmumukha ng binatang Arcedes dahil sa naradamang hiya.
Virdjana did not stop the teasing there and proceeded to pretend that the subject of nymphs really interested her.
"Tell me, is this nymph attractive?" continued Virdjana while moving her hand in a rotating gesture to urge Kadaski and Drago to continue answering her questions.
"Hmm, hindi ko gaanong nakita iyong mukha niya kasi umatake na ito nang liningon ko, so I can't say. On the other hand, mukhang natitigan pa ito ni Drago." sagot ni Kadaski sa naboboring na tono.
Virdjana raised a brow at Drago, and so does Kadaski as they both wait for the boy's response. A few seconds have passed before the young Arcedes answered with a nod.
"I knew it! Hah!" laughed Kadaski.
'Goddammit.' complained Drago in his head.
'He thinks I'm attractive huh?' was the female's reaction before smirking.
'Don't get any fancy idea Vivi.' Reggie's voice suddenly chimed in the Eumythymn Hunter's head.
'You should be the one to not get any fancy idea Reggie!' sneered Virdjana internally as both continues to argue mentally.
Twenty-five minutes had approximately passed and the tension between the three finally returned. Virdjana remained shackled with Kadaski's mid-tier shackling spell, and Drago was left to analyze how could Ryoline be the plausible suspect of thievery. There are moments where Drago opens his mouth in attempt to ask Virdjana a question, but he hesitates thinking that the girl would probably just lie about it, or that she would simply make another smart excuse.
"Elites, ma'am and sir. We have arrived at the mouth of Cleopardia." announced the driver.
Meanwhile back at Arcacia Academy, the remaining Enchanted Elites were informed that the trio has already made their way into a mission to run after the thief that headed to the forest of Cleopardia. There were various reactions, some confused, some relieved.
"Would they be alright?" tanong ni Lizbeth, na kararating lamang sa kuwarto kung saan nagtipon-tipon ang mga Elites kasama sina Master Shin at Master Shien. Ang rason kaya wala sa unang pagpupulong si Lizbeth Torres ay dahil kinailangan nitong i-finalize ang mga kagamitan at safety spells para sa fireworks display na magaganap sa closing ng event. "I feel a little bad about not being able to be /there/, there during the meeting." she said in a melodramatic tone.
Lizbeth's tone may have had sounded rude to anyone who are not used to her, but she has been working as an Enchanted Elite for almost four years now so people around her knew that she was genuinely worried.
"Master, I have a report to make. Nang maghiwa-hiwalay tayo upang hanapin ang salarin, tinungo ko ang auditorium upang maghanap ng mga naiwang marka ng salarin." panimula ni Soriz, "mukhang hindi tao ang nagnakaw ng Chronicle Book."
Nagkatinginan ang bawat isa, at lumalim ang kaniya-kaniyang katanungan ayon sa ulat ni Soriz.
"Huwag kayong mag-a-alala at ipapaliwanag ko. Black Light Magic: Dawn Shade." Soriz enchanted. The spell activated when Soriz place two pointer fingers on her forehead in order to project a floating screen on the floor. It showed several paw prints, slither trails and even a pair of webbed feet. Soriz was proud of her contribution to the investigation.
Soriz is an Enchanted Elite with the light element called Black Light that allows her to see leftover prints within her perimeters, her heritage is a mix of Restovakia and Karthalia, The fourth-year A-class student is usually sent to missions that does not require engaging in combats, after all her power is non-combatant. She is particularly famous in assisting missions outside of school such as the Police Department of the City of Arcacia.
"I- what?" si Ertune na ang bumasag ng katahimikan, na sa kabutihang-palad ay nagbalik ng katanggap=tanggap na atmospera sa lugar ng pagpupulong. "Hindi tao-...pero siguradong tao ang kumokontral sa kanila"
"Mismo." tugon ni Soriz at saka pinag-walang bisa ang kaniyang mahika.
"Ang salarin ay may kakayahang utusan ang mga hayop." komento ni Lizbeth, "and as much as I wanted to avoid being bias... a person able to control multiple animals could only be someone gifted and talented. So all animal-whisperer students that are recorded to command one specific animal is out of the list."
"Are we all thinking about the same person?" tanong ni Soriz.
"You're talking about the rookie. Nanami Ryoline." remarked the Librarian Shien, "to think that she'd be someone to do such a thing. Her act of timidness and innocence is convincing."
"What should we do now, Masters?" tanong ni Lizbeth.
"We...will wait and put our fate on the three." saad ni Recruiter Shin.
Nagkatinginan sina Lizbeth, Soriz at Ertune. Sa ngayon, wala silang magagawa kung hindi maniwala sa desisyon ng mga Masters nila.
Samantala, kasalukuyang naglalakad na papasok ng kagubatan ng Cleopardia ang tatlong Enchanted Elite na nakatanggap ng pahintulot na dakpin si Ryoline Nanami at maibalik sa Arcacia Academy ang Chronicle Book. Nangnguguna sa tatlo si Drago Arcedes, ang tinaguriang Blue Flame ng Madoka Dragon at sa likod nito si Kadaski, ang Orange Flame ng Madoka Dragon. Naka-konekta pa rin ang mid-tier shackling spell ni Kadaski kay Virdjana kaya hindi nagkakalayo ang dalawa ng may isang metro.
"Drago, aren't you going to tell Nueva to let me go? It's not like I could run away when were inside the so-called forest of illusions." basag-katahimikan ni Virdjana habang naka-ngisi.
The Blue Flame of Madoka stopped on his tracks and faced Virdjana Phantom Assassin with the usual friendly expression he wears, "don't you think you're asking the wrong guy for that?" chuckled Drago.
Dahil sa komentong ito ay napabaling si Virdjana sa nakasimangot na si Kadaski Nueva na tumigil rin sa paglalakad, "you know that I won't free you." saad ni Kadaski.
"Tch. I won't be able to properly fight when I'm shackled to a burden." reasoned Virdjana as she bats a cold glance directed to Kadaski.
"Anong sabi mo?!" iritadong baling ni Nueva kay Assassin.
"Guys, huwag kayong mag-away. Mas makatutulong kung iintindihin natin ang bawat isa." pahayag ni Drago sa dalawa.
"That's what I'm doing. I'm doing my very best not to throw a punch on her face!" gritted Kadaski as he points at Virdjana who was continuously giving Kadaski a mocking facial expression.
"Virdjana. You said that you'd cooperate with the mission. Ikaw na rin nga ang nakiusap kay Master Shin na tutuntunin nating magkakasama ang salarin at ang Chronicle Book." patuloy na pahayag ni Drago.
The smirk on Virdjana's lips faded when Drago talked about how she requested to deploy them on a mission together, and she immediately clarified Drago's misinterpretation, "When I said 'we' I'm talking about myself and my guardian. Did you really think I'd like to be in a mission with a weakling again?"
Both boys flinched after hearing Virdjana's cold statement. While Drago felt hurt and embarrassed, Kadaski had already lost the last string of his patience and went on to deliver a punch towards the Wind Enchant. Virdjana was not anticipating the attack that she actually fell down to the ground, with the fire shackle slightly chiming due to the vibrations.
"Aski!" na-alarmang sigaw ni Drago at agad tumakbo patungo kay Virdjana upang tingnan kung may pasa itong natamo.
"Aski, hindi mo naman kailangang saktan si Virdjana." may pag-a-alalang sabi ni Drago tungo sa kaniyang matalik na kaibigan.
"I'm fed up with her pompous attitude Drago. Sure, I can let her small insults and sarcastic remarks fly out of her mouth, but you know how much I hate it when people talk bad about you." Kadaski seriously remarks, commanding the shackles to force Virdjana to stand on both of her feet with the shackled arm raised above her head.
Although Drago was touched by the words of Kadaski, he still found his best friend's actions unjustifiable, and he could only gasp under his breath when Aski ordered the chains to force Virdjana to stand up on her feet. "Aski, tumigil ka na."
Iminulat ni Virdjana ang kaniyang mga mata, pagkatapos ng ilang minuto at ginamit ang isa niyang kamay upang punasan ang kaunting dugong nagmula sa kaniyang labi. Hindi niya inaasahan ang dumapong suntok sa kaniyang pisngi, ngunit saglit itong napangiti sapagkat alam nitong walang pag-a-alinlangan ang binitawang suntok sa kaniya ni Kadaski.
'Pfft, you kinda deserve that Vivi.' commented Reggie.
'Shut up.' responded Virdjana to her guardian.
"Finally found an excuse to unleash your inner rage against me?" grinned Virdjana, as she puts her shackled arm down causing Aski to stagger forward for a bit.
'She's alright.' Drago thought as relief washes over him.
'She could still talk and mock after that punch?' thought Kadaski knowing that he did not hold back when he hit Virdjana.
"You bet I did, and there's more where that came from." Kadaski honestly answers.
Virdjana cranks her neck as she begins from returning dagger glares to Kadaski into looking at the northern direction after hearing faint rustling sounds. "Up ahead."
Drago and Kadaski nodded at each other, before moving closer to one another. Within the eerie silence of the forest they both lit different colored flames in both hands before firing those flames north where a thick fog obscures further vision. The bluish-orange flames provided them what they needed to see, what or who exactly made movements nearby them.
First was a pair of golden eyes, then four more emerged, then six, but finally it was revealed that there more than 20 pairs of eyeballs watching the trio.
'Reggie what are those?' asked Virdjana.
Reggie appears besides Virdjana as he uses his own abilities to figure out what kind of creature had they encountered. In a few seconds, he was able to share the information to his Enchant. "Starblaze Wolves. They usually hunt in packs of 30, and had very keen sense of smell and sight, I could assure you that they can very well see your movements. Their element is earth."
Virdjana shared this information with Kadaski and Drago. Drago knew that they have to decide whether to flee from the scene or fight the creatures.
"Let's just toast them into ashes." declared Kadaski.
"They could be illusions." stated Drago.
On the other hand, Virdjana remained quiet and was observing the movements of the creatures.
The wolves started closing in, and were also wary that their preys might run away from them. They began surrounding the Arcacia students, while bearing their fangs towards them as if it was a waiting game.
"Awoooo." howled the leader of the pack, and in pairs the wolves started rushing in to attack the three.
One tri-colored wolf got near to Kadaski, so the boy dodged before sending the wolf flying with fire-engulfed kick. "They felt real enough." commented the black-haired Fire Enchant.
"Nice one Aski." remarked Drago as he catches two wolves that attempted to pounced him on their necks, spinning and throwing them back to a group to his right.
Virdjana stands on the background, completely leaving the battle to her classmates. Kadaski and Drago did not seem to notice that Virdjana was not participating since the wolves got their full attention, but given that Kadaski was moving around too much Virdjana was forced to leap and synchronize with his movements to avoid getting drag around.
'Vivi, when are you going to break free from those shackles?' asked Reggie.
A simple reminder, through the Guardian Relic, Reggie and Virdjana could talk to each other telephatically.
'I can't, or should I say... I wouldn't for now.' responded Virdjana in a bored tone.
'We both know the plan right? Escape from these two and follow Ryoline's tracks on our own. Then we defeat her, disappear from Arcacia, then prioritize our investigation on Hurricania.' stated Reggie.
'Easier said than done. Be fucking patient, I'll do it later.' Virdjana remarks out of irritation.
'Alright. I trust you.' and that was Reggie's last statement before leaving the Wind Enchant in peace.
"Virdjana to your right!" informed Drago as a medium-sized Starblaze wolf managed to be able to sneak behind the Wind Enchant.
There was in no way that Virdjana would not notice the wolf since she set her ability Aura Sensos into an active skill, so she managed to dodge the bite by arching backwards. Then using the flame shackle attached to her arm, she trips the wolf to the ground, afterwards summoning an air blade to slice the throat of the animal.
"What the heck Virdjana, watch what you're pulling!" complained Kadaski.
Virdjana Phantom Assassin sighed, "I already told you to get rid of the damn chains."
"No way! Tch. I don't trust you." retorted the Orange Flame of Madoka before returning his attention the next wave of wolves that has the ability to turn the ground into quick sand.
"There seemed to be no end to this." sabi naman ni Drago na nagsisimula ng hingalin.
"If you want, I could blow them away with a High-Tier Spell." suhestiyon ni Virdjana habang nakangisi. "Of course, I would need both of my hands for that." she adds.
Biglang naalala ni Drago Arcedes ang spell na ginamit sa kaniya ni Virdjana noon sa Hurricania at napa-isip kung ito rin ang High-Tier Spell na tinutukoy ng babae sa kasalukuyan.
"No need, Virdjana." nakangiting saad ni Drago na sa loob-loob ay nagdadasal na mali ang kaniyang hinala.
"Drago, isn't the forest of Cleopardia supposedly a low-rank danger zone?" tanong ni Kadaski kay Drago.
Tuluyan ng napalibutan ng mga lobo ang tatlo, dahilan para magkakadikit ang kanilang mga likod. "Tama. This is abnormal, it was as if these wolves received power upgrades."
"Funny assumption. Have you two ever fought these wolves before?" questioned Virdjana.
"I did. I remember now, when I was just a first-year student at Arcacia. I'm sent to a mission to save a lost child in the woods. I fought these wolves before, they were weak." pagkukuwento ni Drago.
"Uhuh, and what scale did you use to measure that?" chuckled Virdjana after, obviously the Wind Enchant was being sarcastic again.
"I'll punch you again if you don't shut up." warned Kadaski.
"You got lucky with that. I was too busy admiring your friend earlier." smirked Virdjana.
Drago Arcedes immediately blushed that his ears had turned red in the process, fortunately for him, they were standing back to back so no one was able to see one another's expression clearly.
"Guys. This is not the time for jokes." said Drago who had a hard time forming his words.
Kadaski noticed the fluke in his best friend's tone but decided to ignore it. "Alright, let's take this seriously. Did we buy you enough time Phantom?" smirked Kadaski Nueva.
"More than enough." Virdjana said simpering.
Using her free hand, she reveals the Wind Shuriken she created and throws the weapon to a particular canopy where a surprised yell was heard after.
"There you are... Nanami Ryoline." uttered Virdjana.