"Please, please have mercy! I don't even know what I did to you!" screamed Ryoline.
Kadaski's POV
Naku! Nakabaril ba ako nang isang inosenteng sibilyan?
Agad kong itinapon sa isang malapit na basurahan ang baril, at ipinunas ang mga kamay ko sa cloak na suot-suot ko. Masyado yata akong nadala ng kalokohan na suhestiyon ni Phantom, at nag-enjoy naman ako. Paano nga ulit i-cancel ang concealment magic na ito?
"Aski. Alam kong ikaw iyan." pahayag ni Drago na nagsimula nang maglakad papalapit sa akin.
Weird. Nakikilala niya ba talaga ako o sinusunod niya lang ang instincts niya? Pinag-aralan ko ang galaw niya, bagaman tinawag niya ako sa palayaw ko, mahigpit pa rin ang pagkakahawak nito sa elemental weapon niya. Mukhang mga 50% lang yata ang kasiguraduhan niya.
Right. The mission comes first, I should remind myself of that too. This is my first mission after all, and I can't afford to create a bad impression as an Enchanted Elite. If I do ever make a bad one, I think it would still be worth since this is still an experience. I clenched my fists and pointed it towards Drago.
"Let's go after Phantom, buddy." I smirked.
Sa gulat ko ay biglang ngumiti si Drago at nakipag-fist-pump sa akin. Binigyan niya ako ng tinging kabisadong-kabisado ko, tingin na nangangahulugang magseseryoso na kaming dalawa sa misyon na ito.
Mukhang naglaho na rin ang concealment magic dahil sa nangyari, pero hindi ako sigurado kung ano ang dahilan kaya napag-pasiyahan kong tanungin si Phantom mamaya.
Wala sa aming dalawa ni Drago ang may kakayahang gumamit ng long distance aura sensing spell, ngunit kapag nakalapit naman kami sa hinahanap namin ay mararamdaman namin ang aurang aming hinahabol.
Lahat ng estudyante sa Prestigious Acacemy of Arcacia ay tinuruan ng learned skill na ito, tinatawag namin itong Aura Radius. Ang Aura Radius ay isang short-distance sensing low tier spell.
"Dito Aski," tawag-pansin sa akin ni Drago, "slither trails."
Kumanan kami at dinaanan ang ilang weapon stores, habang nananatiling alerto kung sakali mang maging target kami ng mga Hazbin sa paligid.
"Kailangan nating mag-ingat na hindi nila malaman ang affliation natin. Kadaski, si Virdjana ang taong tinawag mong Alby kanina diba?" tanong sa akin ng best friend ko.
Natigilan ako sa pagtakbo sapagkat bumalik sa akin ang pakiramdam nang pagka-ilang dahil sa ginawa at sinabi ko, "forget about the nickname Drago. But yes, it was Phantom."
"Awesome. I think we can use your identity disguises sa pinaka-importanteng bahagi ng ating mission." pahayag ni Drago.
"I mean, I'm not against the idea ,but why?" tanong ko naman nang makarating kami sa isang tulay na gawa sa kawayan.
"You'll attend the Cauldron Auction and buy that book back." stated Drago with a serious expression.
"Narinig ko na rin ang pangalang Cauldron Auction habang tinatahak namin ni Phantom ang daan patungo sa Garuda Statue. Ang sinasabi mo ba ay doon ibinenta ni Ryoline ang Chronicle Book?" paglilinaw ko.
"Hindi niya raw ibenenta sa Auction, bagkus ay ibinigay niya sa isang pinagkakatiwalaang tao ng kaniyang Leader. Isang taong may pinamumunuang teritoryo dito sa Retromalus. The person goes by the name Intruder." saad ni Drago.
"Heh, Intruder? I bet he goes around intruding at everything." I chuckled afterwards.
"Let's hope not." seryosong baling sa akin ni Drago.
Ilang segundo lamang pagkatapos naming tawirin ang tulay ay naramdaman na namin ang aura ni Phantom. Nagmumula ito sa isang madilim na alleyway. Nakapatong sa kaniyang balikat ang walang malay na si Ryoline. Kapansin-pansin rin ang dugo sa maskarang suot-suot ni Phantom.
"Phantom, what did you do? Did you kill Ryoline? Where's that other guy? Why is there blood all over you...again?" I asked in agitation.
"Shut up Nueva, she's fine. She passed out after our short fight. The other guy, however he ran away while Ryoline and I were fighting." she explained, before carrying Ryoline like a bride this time.
"That's all? What kind of battle did you two have for that much bloodstain on your ma-?" I continued my interrogation, and ignores the fact that she was talking in a cold manner again.
"Look. I'm tired, you're tired. Everyone is. Enough with the small talk and let's head to the location of the Cauldron Auction." remarked Phantom as she interrupts me in mid-sentence. "Address me as Albus Feles from now on." she added.
I gave Drago a glance so as to wait what he would say about Phantom's attitude.
"She's right. Albus Feles is right, and you'll be Albus Canis just as we planned." said Drago, causing me to open my mouth in exasperation.
I ruffled my hair as I follow the both of them. I really cannot with Phantom's moodiness and Drago's obsession when it comes to missions. Wait, does Phantom even know the plan?
At long last, we arrived at the place of illegal buying and selling. We hid behind a thicket of bushes. We plan to get to one of the moving carts so that we could enter the doorway. There are armed guards by the gates too.
To make things more challenging, we were not the only 'Hazbins' that are planning to sneak into the auction for free. With the use of Aura Radius, I was able to feel the familiar energies coming from the Hazbins that Phantom and I met earlier. They are nearby.
"Hey, what should we do with Ryoline? She's still not waking up." I asked both Drago and Phantom.
"Put her in a sack, throw her away, never to be seen again." Phantom quickly answered.
"No." I sternly replied as I look at the Drago this time.
"Ikaw ba Kadaski? Ano bang naiisip mo?" tanong sa akin ni Drago.
That's rare. Madalas na ako ang naghihintay ng mga idea at hindi si Drago. Pero sa katunayan, ay wala rin akong maisip na plano. Alam kong kailangan naming makapasok at bilhin ang Chronicle Book, dahil ayon na rin kay Drago siya na raw ang bahala sa perang magagastos. Sa kabilang banda naman ay tuluyan ng naging pabigat si Ryoline dahil wala itong malay at nawawala rin ang Mythical Beast nito.
Minasahe ko ang noo ko at pinilit ang sariling mag-isip ng matinong plano.
"Let's auction her."
Pareho kaming natigilan ni Drago sa narinig namin mula kay Virdjana. At sa puntong ito, napuno na ako at agad kong pinagliyab ang aking kamao para malasahan niya ang kabadtripan ko sa kaniya.
"Aski, kumalma ka nga. Hoy, tigil." awat naman ni Drago.
"Virdjana, tell me that you're kidding." Drago nervously whispered.
"I am." there was a five-second of silence that passed by before Phantom answered.
"What's with the few seconds of delay?" I asked out of irritation.
Kung magpapatuloy ang walang katinuang usapan na ito ay malaki ang posibilidad na hindi namin ma-saktohan kapag na-auction na ang Chronicle Book.
Virdjana's POV
Entering a cart and sneaking our way inside the main halls of the auction is a good plan, however if we end up getting caught, death would surely await us or them. I shoved a part of the bush open to get a better of view of the lighted dome where the Cauldron Auction would be held.
My memories are rushing back to me again, this is not good. I should definitely get a hold of myself so I could avoid blacking out like what happened during the siege at Arcacia Academy. If I stay in this place any longer I am sure that Reggie and I would argue about killing again.
I clenched my fists underneath my cloak, and waited for Drago and Kadaski to finish planning a strategy. Yet I felt like they have been talking for so long, that I decided to butt into their conversation.
"There's a retractable window pane at the top of the dome. I'll bring us there." I told them.
"What?" Kadaski was confused.
I closed my eyes, exhaling to lengthen the remaining patience I have in my body. After all, I regret coming back to Retromalus.
"I meant to say, I've been in the dome before where this Cauldron Auction is being held, so I also know the map of the building... in my head. The glass top of the dome can be opened, and we can use that to enter and sneak in." I explained with matching hand gestures, "don't even ask me why I never told you guys before. That's a waste of time. So are you in or not?"
"Of course. I'm glad that you're actually cooperating Virdjana." smiled Drago, "we'll make sure this mission would be a success."
"As for Ryoline, I'll cloak her with a concealment spell so that no one would recognize her." I added, beginning to draw a magic circle on the ground using a pointed twig. "There, and done. It's great that she's lightweight too."
"I'll carry her." Kadaski volunteered. "just in case, you actually decided to auction this young girl." he added with a mocking grin.
"Aski." saway ni Drago.
Ignoring their little banter, the sudden plan and suggestion I told them was now in motion. First, we quietly moved around the dome avoiding all sorts of Hazbins, because we would be needing to move to a higher ground to make the next thing easier - using wind magic to levitate all of us up on the rooftop of a building.
The rooftop is made of flat cement so creating a magic circle with a twig is impossible, but that was where Drago and Kadaski comes in by using the tips of their finger like a lighter to make a circle by heating the cement with their flames.
"I've never tried doing magic circles in this manner, will this work?" Drago asked me.
With hardcore practice you can even cast magic circles without needing to draw them in the first place, it's difficult to explain and easier to show, however I have no plans to reveal that to the both of them. They will definitely have more questions, if they find out.
"It will, trust me when it comes to magic circles." I responded as I position myself opposite to the two.
I cannot believe that I will be resorting to this. Losing that much mana during Reggie's separation from the necklace made it hard to pull energy to use the other skills within it.
"As both of you are already aware of, I'm a Wind Enchant, in other words a member of the Eumythymn clan."
Raising my pointer and middle fingers, I fired wind magic onto the caricature and the energy began to flow from the outer to the inner symbols.
"I have been avoiding to use my magic in public, and this will probably be one of those rare occassions you'll see me use it. Might be the last if you die here." I added before firing two more shots.
"Let's not attract negativity please." commented Drago.
"As if I'd die here." scoffed Kadaski.
After my casting, three stable whirlwind emerged from the magic circle, enveloping the four of us, I also made sure that Ryoline will be counted with the balance of weight despite being carried by Kadaski.
Turning off my Aura Sensos which has been slightly irking me because of how long I was using it as an active skill, I started maneuvering the whirlwind in a stable speed and we made it safely on the dome. Thankfully, eventide already came and the surrounding was dark enough to hide us from the eyes of plausible enemies.
I dispersed the whirlwinds after a five-second-concentration. Afterwards Drago used his blue flames to melt the locks, thus allowing us to enter secretly. Below the windows were the auction's storage room, so it was actually a lucky thing. We looked around the place, and it was bedazzling to me to see such expensive items ready for grabs.
I saw a particular charming green bracelet, and I wasted no time to try it out. Then I saw a pair of gold earrings shaped like strawberries and tested them out too. Despite how light they feel, I am aware they cost thousands of Psyver.
"Phantom, what in the nine rings of hell are you doing?" Kadaski's voice rung clearly on my left ear, and I immediately froze in silence.
"Searching for the book." I quickly answered in a composed manner.
"Righttt. Let's get moving, leave that be." Kadaski pulled the bracelet out of my left wrist, and was quick enough to remove the earrings without hurting me. "Drago was already a few meters ahead of us while carrying Ryoline.
"We switched because I got tired. He said that these items are all A Grades and the Chronicle Book are probably listed as a Lost Artifact or an S Grade." he explained while pulling my wrist, and leading the way.
We silently advanced to the storage room.
"I guess old habits really die hard huh? A thief being a thief. Don't be a disappointment to us Enchanted Elites." Kadaski scolds with a click of his tongue.
"You need to stop counting me as an 'Enchanted Elite'", I began as I raised my free hand to quote in the air, "Do not force your responsibilities onto me. I'm sure you're not expecting a thief to help you return something that was stolen."
He lets go of my wrist, then faces me. "If I remember correctly you are the one who proposed this idea, this mission."
"I also remember clarifying that it would just be me and Reggie." I leaned towards him, and it was amusing to see him leaning backwards. I also caught the stutter in his words.
"Virdjana, Aski, I can't find the Chronicle Book anywhere. Our next hope is to find that guy named Intruder. I've snoop behind the guards and luckily they were talking about him. They mentioned that the guy have a white arrow tattoo on his neck- ...am I interrupting something?" Drago look confused when he spotted both Kadaski and me.
"You're not interrupting anything. In fact, you came at the perfect timing. I was getting bored around this brat." I remarked.
"Yeah right. I guess weirdos would remain weird." scoffed Kadaski as he goes besides Drago to tap his shoulder, "come on. Let's look for this Intruder guy."
Drago's POV
I definitely interrupted something, the audacity of these two to flirt around while in the middle of the mission. But I guess, if that could ease the stress from this mission, it would not be so bad to let them be. In fact, it is a good thing for Virdjana and Kadaski to interact like that, because as far as I can remember my best friend hates Virdjana's guts. I wonder what could be the reason behind the subtle changes?
"Did Ryoline tell you anything about his clan origins?" Virdjana asked me.
"Unfortunately, she said that she never seen this guy before. The only clue we have is a white arrow tattoo on this man's neck." I said while gently placing Ryoline on a nearby wooden box.
"White arrow tattoo?" mumbled Virdjana as she wears her cat mask again.
I noticed the change in her aura, so maybe she was stressed again. I placed a hand on her shoulder to take her attention, "You alright?"
She flinched before facing Kadaski and I, "Only when I fight." she said followed by a bitter laughter.
"We'll talk about it after the Chronicle Book is retrieved. Is that alright?" I told her.
Virdjana did not respond, but instead she joined her hands in a praying position except that her palms are not touching one another. "Reggie, can you hear me?"
What followed were one-sided statements from what I assume are telepathic conversations between Virdjana and the spirit from her Guardian Relic.
"He said that he found the book." she informs us.
Kadaski's expression brightened up, "and here I thought you weren't trying to help find it at all."
"You're right. I lost my interest after I got to test Ryoline in a fight. I'm after entertainment, don't forget about that." Virdjana remarks as she lifts her shoulders in a half-shrug, "but I realized that this would all be worth if that Intruder individual is the kind of person I think he is."
'Here she goes again with her for-entertainment excuse.' I thought as I am not convinced.
Kadaski and I exchange glances after that statement.
"I doubt that you actually find your life boring. You're probably lying about solely looking for entertainment and fights." commented Kadaski as he gives the girl a meaningful glance.
A drop of sweat appeared on my forehead when Kadaski literally said what I was just thinking, but out loud. Does he have the ability to read minds too?! I am quite confident that he can not do that.
"Nagmumukha ka ng matalino Nueva, ipagpapatuloy mo lang iyan." saad ng pamilyar na boses sa aming likuran.
"M-Multo." gulat na pahayag ni Kadaski. "Wait, tch. It's just that rude guardian of Phantom."
"Hah! Vi was right. What a scaredy-cat!" grinned Reggie before hovering besides Virdjana.
"You've been gone for too long Reggie. I hope you didn't get lost." sighed Virdjana, sounding disappointed.
"Time is being wasted. Lead the way sir guardian." I told Reggie.
Reggie raised a brow at me first, before shrugging and floating away. Virdjana nods at me and follows her guardian. Kadaski carries Ryoline this time, and we made our way to the official location of the Chronicle Book., but what is this? Who would have known that somewhere within the dome lies a circus tent?
"The Cauldron Auction would begin right now! Ladies and gentlemen we present to you the King of Merchants! Intruder the Jester of Retromalus!" yelled the announcer.
"Crap, it's starting." I cursed under my breath.