"Good job, Ryoline."
Virdjana's POV
"The book you found under my bed is a fake replica, it's just the book cover that I copied." I told them right after Ryoline was completely out of our sight.
"Bakit may replica ka ng cover ng Chronicle Book?" pagtataka ni Drago habang nakahalukipkip ang mga braso sa harap ng kaniyang dibdib.
Sapagkat plano ko sanang i-switch ang replica na iyon sa totoong libro kapag nakahanap ako ng tyansa habang may natitira pang free time kaninang tanghali.
Sa kasamaang palad ay mabilis akong natunton ni Ruby kaya hindi ko na nagawa ang planong iyon. Ang babaeng gangster na iyon ay isa sa mga indirect na naka-apekto sa plano ko para sa araw na ito.
With that said, the second reason why I cancelled my plan was when I felt a dark aura similar to the S.G.Ns after using Aura Sensos during the conversation I had with Kadaski about our Enchanted Elite duties.
Something or someone carrying this dark energy passed behind this hotheaded Fire enchant, and I attempted to catch it with my hands- I know, it sounds stupid but I had the feeling that I should not let it get away. I guess Kadaski misinterpreted it as an assault towards him.
Honestly, if I was in his position, my reflexes would get the better of me and I would fight off the person immediately.
Due to those reasons, I cancelled my plan to steal the Chronicle Book today, and decided to investigate where that familiar dark aura was coming from.
"I'm a fan of historical books." I lied with a straight face.
"That doesn't make sense. You never mentioned that you have seen the book before, so the only possible reason is that you've seen it personally in order to create a copy of its cover." retorted Drago, obviously not buying what I told him.
"I don't see the reason why I'm oblige to inform you that I've seen it already." I answered before closing the window and locking it.
"You may not be oblige to tell anyone about it, but if you're hiding a replica of the book because you're planning to steal it," Drago paused in mid-sentence before scratching his nape, "Look, this isn't just about your likes, it's about an important artifact. If the book was stolen for inherently evil purposes then many lives could be placed in danger. It's about being a responsible member of the Enchanted Elite." Drago points out, walking towards me and saying it to my face.
I failed to say something about that and I gave it a few seconds to sink inside my head. Drago may have doubted the answer I gave him about the replica, and could choose to continue condemning me of thievery. But instead, he chose to look at the bigger picture, why does it make me feel a little ashamed?
"Virdjana, I hate to accuse you as much as Kadaski wants to." he added as he crouches down with both hands covering his face.
"Hey!" reacted Kadaski to his best friend's statement.
'This side of him is surprising.' I thought to myself.
Geez, if Drago continues to act this way I might fail wanting to stay out of the matter. I guess, I am partly responsible since we were ordered to keep an eye out for any suspicious individual in the vicinity.
"I may, or may have not also sense an individual covered with dark aura before we were informed of the theft of the book." I stated, looking away.
Drago immediately raised his head, as the rays of hope sparkles in his eyes. I have no idea what he is thinking right now, and I don't even want to take a peek in his head.
"Now, that you mention it, I think I did too." said Drago.
"When was it?" asked Kadaski this time.
"During our free time, I felt it pass behind me." sagot ni Drago.
"Anyway, remember when I caught you and that gemstone stealthily observing me from behind a building?" I began, "That was the day where Master Shien showed me the book. She learned that I'm a Eumythymn, it was in relation to 'that.'"
The look on their faces right now were pure confusion, a slight surprised reaction from Drago's dilating eyes, and Kadaski just simply looked lost in the conversation. I waited if they have something to say before thinking of continuing, but then I found myself hesitating, "I can't say it right now."
"Alright. Share it when you're ready. We need to move out and help the Masters track the real thief." nakangiting sabi ni Drago.
"You're not letting her off the hook just because she have those excuses right?" seryosong sabi ni Kadaski, "and when did you learn that Phantom is a Eumythymn too? You meant to say you believed Professor Edric back at the Gymnasium?"
"Don't worry Aski, Virdjana is still a suspect." he assures the black-haired Fire enchant, he paused to let Kadaski finished his questions, "I've also learned that she's a Eumythymn before we went on our Burial Forest mission, how about you? It sounds to me that you also know about it."
Kadaski looked to his right before dodging the question. "We should really focus on the problem first."
"You're still in room arrest Virdjana. We can always use our E.H.Ps to send an electronic message to the faculty." sabi ni Drago saka nagsimulang kapain ang kaniyang mga bulsa, ngunit pagkaraan ng ilang segundo ay ngumuso ito.
"Ang malas talaga. Nasira nga pala iyong EHP ko!" exclaimed Drago before ruffling his hair out of frustration.
"Ako na lang ang tatawag," pagboboluntaryo ni Kadaski sabay summon ng kaniyang EHP, "by the way Phantom, ngayong may ebidensiya na laban sa iyo, hindi na kita dedepensahan." baling sa akin ni Kadaski.
"That's fine. I'm surprised you still defended me even though you know about 'that'." I responded, raising both of my eyebrows at the same time, referring to the fact that Kadaski knows about my being the Silent Thief.
Nang sabihin ko iyon ay si Drago naman ngayon ang nagbigay ng nagtatanong na tingin patungo kay Kadaski.
What's this? Could Kadaski never told Drago that I'm Silent Thief? Aside from Kadaski Nueva, the other people who knew about that story are Master Shin, Ruby Xerxedes, and Laylah Schnider. I can tell that I would need to control the number of people who knows about my secrets, when I don't know nothing about theirs.
"About time you realize how much of a mistake having more people around you was." stated a cool voice to my right.
"Reggie!" I exclaimed through telepathy, "what took you so long to report back to me?"
Habang naghihintay kaming may sumagot sa tawag ni Kadaski, ay nagkunwari akong magsimula ayusin ang tambak ng comic book sa kama para hindi mapansin ng dalawa na may sarili kaming mundo ni Reggie sa isip ko.
"I did what you ask me to do, I followed Ryoline and you'll never guess what I found out." pahayag nito na parang na-e-excite pa sa kaniyang ibabalita.
"What is it?" I asked.
"She didn't report to the Masters. The young girl headed straight to Cleopardia Forest after knocking out the Arcamy's nearby the backgate. Her magic surely packs a punch. I continued following her trail but then she disappeared out of nowhere." Reggie mused.
"Alright. Thanks for that."
Nang muli na akong makiramdam sa paligid, doon ko lang napagtanto na malinis ko nang naitabi ang mga babasahin sa ilalim ng kama ko. Humarap na ako sa dalawa at nakita ko silang nakakunot ang mga noo. Iyon pala ay dahil walang pumi-pick-up ng tawag sa Faculty.
It was such a pain in the ass to keep beating around the bush with these boys. Drago is smart and has a quick perception of what is happening around him. On the other hand, Kadaski can be really slow on the uptake so one should be careful around him or else he misinterprets things right off the bat. I technically gave them my word that I'll help in this case, and hopefully bearing the responsibility of being an Enchanted Elite would not backfire at me.
"Boys, how about a little reunion?" I began.
"Anong reunion sinasabi mo diyan?" tanong ni Kadaski.
"Reggie." tawag ko sa aking guardian.
Kadaski's POV
Nang bigkasin ni Phantom ang pangalang Reggie ay agad nag-flashback sa utak ang una naming pagkikita. Agad kumunot ang noo ko, pero mabilis akong pinakalma ni Drago sa pamamagitan ng pagharang ng kaniyang braso sa harapan ko.
"You can see him too?" tanong ko kay Drago.
"I can, thanks to my brother." sagot niya, at nakuha ko naman kung anong sinasabi niya.
"I ordered my guardian to follow Ryoline, I've been suspicious of her ever since the meeting. According to my guardian, she already left the academy with the Chronicle Book replica easily knocking out the Arcamys at the back gate." saad ni Phantom.
"Ano?" gulat kong bulalas.
"Virdjana, how can we tell that you're not lying?" tanong ni Drago na nagsususpetya na rin sa babaeng ito.
"You can't. You have to trust me." seryosong pahayag ni Phantom.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Drago. Alam kong mahirap ng magtiwala sa sinasabi ni Virdjana, maging si Drago nga ay nasa malalim na pag-iisip na sa mga oras na ito. Ngunit ang talagang bumabagabag sa akin ay ang katotohanang nagsasayang kami ng laway rito samantalang malaya ng nakagagalaw ang isa sa salarin sa kasong ito.
"Drago, if she's telling the truth, No need to overanalyze the situation. I'll make sure na hindi siya makakatakas." saad ko dahil naka-isip ako ng paraan upang mapanatili sa paligid namin si Phantom.
"Ano naman iyon?" tanong ni Drago.
"Flamma Compedes!" I enchanted.
Originating from my palms were chains of fire with ends like handcuffs, I directed the first end on Phantom's left wrist and the other to my right wrist. A small clanking sound followed with the locking of the spell.
"What's this?" nalilitong tanong ni Phantom.
"Mid-tier shackling spell, just so you won't disappear from my sight." I told her.
"That will do. Halika na!" nakangiting pahayag ni Drago bago buksan ang bintana ng kuwarto at tumalon palabas rito.
"Hindi kami kasya diyan, ulol ka!" pagrereklamo ko.
"I know. Sumunod na lang kayo." sabi ni Drago at tinungo na nga nito ang direksiyon patungo sa backgate ng Arcacia Academy.
"Nueva, don't get too attached alright?" smirked Phantom to me.
"Like hell I would." I glared at her.
Pagkaraan ng ilang minuto ay nakarating na rin kami sa backgate ni Phantom kung saan naabutan namin si Drago na ginigising ang mga nakatulog na guwardiya.
"Hindi namin nakita kung sino umatake samin." nahihirapang sabi ng isa sa mga injured na Arcamy.
"Huwag kayong mag-a-alala kami na bahala." determinadong sabi ni Drago sa guwardiya upang mabawasan ang pangamba nito.
"Enchanted Elites!" called a voice from behind us.
Shit, si Master Shin. Siguradong mapagagalitan kami dahil binali namin ang utos ng room arrest kay Phantom. Kailangan ko na yatang ng mga sampung dasalan rito. Pagkatapos naming magbigay-galang ay hindi namin inaasahan ang sumunod na pahayag ng Recruiter.
"I see, so hindi kayo sumunod sa pag-uutos ko." panimula nito, "mabuti naman!"
"Po??" sabay-sabay naming gulat na bulalas na tatlo.
"Mabuti naman at hindi na ako mahihirapang ipatawag kayo. Ang ibang Enchanted Elites ay hindi namin ma-contact kaya malamang ay may interference na ginawa ang salarin upang hindi magka-usap-usap ang mga Enchanted Elites at Master. Alam ng salarin na plano nating ipagpatuloy ang Chronicle Book Play upang hindi magdulot ng takot sa mga mag-aaral." paliwanag ni Master Shin.
Hinarap ni Phantom si Master Shin at ikinuwento ang natuklasan ng guardian nitong si Reggie. Hindi ko inaasahang agad na naniwala si Master Shin.
Napansin yata ng Master na nagulat kami kaya ipinaliwanag nito na walang kakayahang magsinungaling ng isang guardian sa kaniyang amo lalo na kapag isang direktang utos ang ibinigay nito at hindi isang pakiusap.
"Cleopardia huh? Mukhang matalino ang makakaharap ninyo sa misyong ito." pahayag ni Master Shin.
"Anong ibig mong sabihin Master Shin?" tanong ni Phantom.
"Cleopardia is also known as the forest of illusions, so it would be quite tricky to enter that place. People who aren't gullible are thankfully immune to its effects." explained Master Shin.
"Master Shin," panimula ni Phantom, "grant us permission to go on a mission after the enemy."
"Hoy Virdjana, anong pinagsasabi mo diyan?" pagrereklamo ng guardian nitong si Reggie, ngunit hindi siya pinansin ng wind enchant na ito.
Napahimas ng bigote si Master Shin saka nagsabing, "pinapayagan ko kayong habulin, at dakpin ang salarin. Bilang karagdagan, inuutusan ko rin kayong i-retrieve ang Chronicle Book." seryosong saad nito.
"Tch, you just wanted to-," hindi na naipagtuloy ni Reggie ang sasabihin nito ng lumingon si Phantom at tiningnan ito ng masama," alright, we'll discuss it later." at naglaho na ito.
"He's grumpy huh?" nakangiting komento ni Master Shin patungkol sa guardian ni Virdjana. "Nasaan na nga ba tayo? Ah, tama... Ito ang dapat ninyong mga tandaan kapag nakarating na kayo sa kagubatan ng Cleopardia."