EDNA'S mother said when she was a kid that there are two different people in this world. One is the good and one is the bad. Those good ones were gentle such like a wind and those bad were rough like a brick of wall and she always warned her to stay calm if she met this kind of people.
But she'd think she gonna break her promises right now. Why? Because of this cold-hearted guy infront of her! He's too cruel since he made her his slave!
Sukat ba namang ipagbuhat siya ng kanyang mga bagahe? Ang bigat-bigat kaya ng mga dala niya! She'd think, masisira na ang magic wallet niya sa sobrang bigat nito.
She have never thought that she will be doing this kind of things right now! She was pissed but still she should calm herself and maintain her composure. Siya ang may kasalanan kung bakit humantong sa ganito ang sitwasyon niya!
[ Thirty minutes ago...]
SHE KEEP on entertaining herself from humming as she made a step together with Alaster on their way to the Avalon's Cave—a frozen place where in a pack of snow canis monster lives. Canis monsters is a kind of dog that active during winter and found in a place where in the weather is remains cold for a year.
Nagpunta sila rito dahil isa ang lugar na ito sa mga nakasulat sa mapa ni Alaster. May nadetect daw ditong unusual mana kaya siguro naisip ng mga sorcerers ng hari na may possibility na dito makikita ang sacred stone.
But there is only one problem, the canis monsters. She heard from her mother that those type of dogs were dangerous and hunts human meat as their prey. Inshort, they will been luring them out of their nest and slay them.
And she do think Alaster wants to slay them since it was his goal. Napatingin siya sa kanyang malapad na likod. Hindi niya maimagine na makakasama niya pala siya sa ganitong klaseng paglalakbay. Come to think of it, this is her very first time to be involve in a journey! A real journey! She can't help but to cry in excitement and happiness.
Mostly, she don't have any journey along with her shoulder because she was very busy in doing all of my witchcraft duty plus she always handling different kinds of secret and dangerous missions that the king assigned to me so she misses many chances to come up in an adventure.
The only problem is, she'll starting to lost my interest in this kind of journey. Ang tahimik kasi ni Alaster at never pa silang nagka-interact after nilang umalis sa lugar ni Edna. He just talk in a cold voice and fewer words when he like. Sa isip ng babae, nasa limang salita yung nakokonsumo niya sa buong araw.
I couldn't believe this guy! He was such a cold like his own magic! Nakakasurvive kaya ito sa araw-araw niyang buhay?
Edna made her steps to be in a fast pacing dribbling in a white ashes of ice and race with Alaster's speed in walking. She suddenly felt a chilly aura, sending her a nerve wrecking coldness— pointing out to us that they are near to the Avalon's cave since it's getting stronger as they move and move. Suddenly, an idea comes up in Edna's trickery mind!
"Hey, Alaster!" she called his attention but he didn't managed to budge nor throw a glance at the girl.
Hmph! Ang suplado!
Pero hindi siya huminto. If he was acting like she was not in his side then she will make him pissed and leaving him to lend her his ears.
"Alaster!" Humarang siyq sa dinaraanan niya pero mabilis siyang lumusot sa gilid niya.
Humarang ulit siya. This time ay masyado na siyang cautious. "Alaster!" hindi niya hinayaang makalampas. Kunot-noo siyang tiningnan ng lalaki.
Finally, napatingin na rin siya sa babae kahit pa may bahid ng annoyance sa kanyang mga kulay asul na mata. I knew he will got pissed if I do that! You're really smart, Edna!
"Let's make a deal." Edna said happily. Her eyes twinkle as she stares at his curious yet cold handsome face.
"Sorry but I am not into that kind of crap." In a cold voice he spoke that.
He was about to walk passed by her but she stay still. She even hold his hands and she felt the softness of his gloves on top of his warmth skin.
This time, she turned up her convincing power to the fullest. She held his hands tightly and look at him in pleading eyes. "Please?"
Napatingin si Alaster sa mga mata ng babae na nakikiusap sa kanya. Nakita ni Edna kung paano siya natigilan at napaiwas ng tingin.
'Uy! Nakokonsensiya.' Napahagikhik si Edna sa isip habang hinihintay ang kanyang sagot.
Binaklas ng lalaki ang mga kamay na nakahawak sa kanyang mga kamay at inis na napasinghap.
"Fine." pagsuko niya. She smiled with joy. She knew that he can't resist her charm. I salute you my beauty power!
"Okay! This is our deal." she held a deep breathe. "If one of us had slay many more canis monster then it is the winner and the winner will become the master of the loser. The loser will do anything that what the winner wants. Ano? Deal?" her eyes are twinkling with so much excitement.
"Deal." walang inhibisyong sabi niya at tinanggap ang kamay ng babaeng nakalahad.
She smirked. She can sense that she will be the winner so be prepared for her, Mr. Knight.
"Here they comes!" she announced to Alaster as she saw one of them were coming out from the cave. It was big than the usual it looks and she can sense that it is the boss.
The hairy and fluffy animal howl and sniff in the snowy earth looking for something. Mukhang naaamoy niyang may mga nakapasok sa teritoryo niya.
Alaster jumps out of the grass that weve been hiding. "Hey!" Edna shouted at him with widen eyes, shock from his sudden move.
Pero hindi siya tinapunan ng tingin ng lalaki at nagpatuloy sa pagtakbo papunta sa monster. Napatapik siya sa aking noo. Kahit kailan talaga napakatigas ng ulo niya. Alam ko na ang reason kung bakit lagi siyang napapahamak.
That brute! Masyado siyang padalos-dalos!
Alaster swiftly throw a small knife into the dog's toe leaving it to get his attention at mukhang nasense na rin ng halimaw na nandyan siya. It change it pace and began to attack the knight.
A loud roar coming from the monster envelopes the place as it uses his mana to ran towards Alaster. The monster was angry and it saliva was dripping from it's mouth. Alaster flicked his finger and his hand becomes ice. Nagulat si Edna roon. Mukhang ginagamit ng lalaki ang kapangyarihan nito para matalo ang halimaw sa isang tira lang.
Teka. Diba dapat sumali rin ako? Oo nga pala 'yung deal namin!
Umalis si Edna sa pinagtataguan niya at humarang kay Alaster at nagpakawala siya ng bolang apoy mula sa kamay niya. Nagkaroon ng kaunting paso ang halimaw sa mukha pero hindi pa rin nababawasan ang mana niya. Walang-wala ang kanyang lakas para matalo ito dahil mas lalo lang nadadagdagan ang mana ng halimaw!
She forgot that this monster was active in cold weather and it consumes the energy from the cold temperature to make a mana. Mukhang mahihirapan silang talunin ito lalo na dahil ito ang boss.
Bago pa makapag-isip si Edna ay mabilis na nilapitan ni Alaster ang halimaw. He swiftly touched the monster's skin in a snap then it froze but still the monster was irresistible and it's frozen part was melting.
She knew it! No one's magic can harm the monster! Naalala niyang walang-wala sa canis monster ang magic kapag malamig ang temperatura. There is only one option that they could think about!
They will fight it physically.
"Alaster!" pagtawag ni Edna sa atensyon ng lalaking kasalukuyang nakikipagpalitan ng pag-atake. Hindi siya nito tinapunan ng tingin pero alam niyang nakikinig ito.
"You should use your physical strength in order to defeat it!" she shouted as she began to cast a spell to make Alaster's physical power to boost up. Lihim niyang idinadalangin na sana ay umubra ang kanyang spell kay Alaster at huwag sana itong makawasak.
"Cold breeze gently touching each skin,
I hereby order your hand,
Cling unto this man's land."
Please, make it work!
Mabilis na binalutan ng kanyang mana ang katawan ni Alaster na siyang ikinasaya niya. Walang natamong pinsala ang lalaki mula sa kanyang spell! Thanks, God.
"Use my mana and combine it with your mana to boost up your strength and agility." Edna said to him and Alaster nodded while dodging the monster's claw.
Edna suddenly collapses into the snowy pavement. It seems that her power was drain from using too much mana in order to make Alaster's powerful. She was too weak in terms of fighting using bare hands and bare strength so she will leave them to the knight. She silently wishes that they were no canis monster to come up to save their boss.
She drank one of her elixir from her magic wallet to make her refreshen up. She watched Alaster's physical attacks while inflicting damage to the boss.
The canis monster was powerful but in Alaster's state, if they combine their mana I think it made him overpowered.
Alaster dance through the cold wind waving all over the place. The intense mana from the monster suddenly used up to fight the knight. Alaster swiftly hold his sword and use it as a defense from the monster's attacks. His sword can hold up any powerful attacks and he often uses it as his shield.
The monster growled and rans toward the man's direction. It releases more ice balls as it pointing it to where he stand firm but Alaster dodge it and slide through the frozen and slimy land then rolled until it reaches under the monster's body.
He slice it belly and the monster couldn't even think fast to avoid it because it was too late. Alaster was too fast enough to handle him and looks like the mosnter was slightly defeated by it. He growled in pain and it's mana weakens as it's blood spurted out of where Alaster inflicted a wound.
"Frozen!" Alaster uses his chance to froze the monster and it works well. He thrusted his sword to the monster's frozen statue and breaking it into pieces.
The knight panted heavily as he let himself to feel the cold behind him. He was laying in the snow cotton indulging all of his tiredness.
"You did it." Edna exclaimed as she rans into him. She pulled out Alaster from the snow and gripped his cold hands tightly.
Hindi nagsalita ang lalaki sa tinuran ng babae bagkus ay tumingin ito sa kuweba. Sinundan ng babae ang tingin nito at nakuha agad ang ipinupunto ng lalaki.
She smirked as they looked upon each other. It's payback time!
"You can use my mana again." ani ni Edna at kapagkuwan ay mabilis na nilusob ni Alaster ang kuta ng mga canis monster.
She shooked her head. This man was too obsessed in slaying monsters and didn't think of something dangerous. He acts on his own accord and doesn't give up so easily. He's too stubborn to handle and she couldn't stop herself from smiling.
It is her first time to see a man determined to do something like slaying demons and monsters. Come to think of it, why would Alaster wants to slay every demons that he'll met? She was sure that there is a deep reason behind it.
If there is, what are his reasons to make it this far?
After thirty minutes, Alaster comes out of the cave unharmed. There was a blood from his metal armour probably from the dripping blood of the monsters he already slained. Lumapit siya sa babae at nagulat ito nang biglang ibinato ng lalaki sa babae ang bagahe na bitbit niya.
"What?! Anong gagawin ko dito?" she asked him habang hawak ang baggage niya.
"The deal. Remember?" He spoke. At that time, gusto ng babae na pukpukin ang ulo niya sa sobrang inis dahil nakalimutan niya ang deal nila. Shit! Mahirap pala kapag masyadong makakalimutin.
"Okay. Fine. What is your wish?" She pouted and look at his cold gaze. She wanted to back up away from his serious gaze when she realized that he was staring at her face, memorizing every bit of her facial features.
Napalunok siya. Bakit ganito makatingin ang lalaki sa kanya? Naaalibadbaran tuloy siya.
"W-what?" she asked stammering in a bit.
Mukhang nahalata ng lalaki na natigilan siya kaya napatikhim ito ngunit di iniwas ang kanyang tingin sa babae. "I want you to pay me with you body." he said in a serious tone.
Tila nabulunan at nabingi si Edna sa narinig. Pinamulahan siya. "W-what do you mean? Body?" she took a step away from him kaya napatingin sa kanya si Alaster.
Ngumisi si Alaster nang mapagtanto ang ibig sabihin. He made a step forward to the girl and he pulled her into his body. Edna bite her lips as she felt the warmth coming from his body.
Unti-unting inilapit ng lalaki ang kanyang mukha sa babae. Holy shit!
"H-hindi ba puwedeng pag-isapan na lang ito? Y-you can't do it yet." Edna whispered to him habang napatingin sa papalapit nitong mukha.
Pero walang tugon ang lalaki at ipinagpatuloy ang paglapit ng labi nito sa mga labi niya. Napapikit si Edna. Holy hell! Mukhang ayaw makinig sa kanya ng lalaki! At wala rin siyang magagawa dahil ito ang deal nila!
She can't backed out now! Mukhang ang lalaki ang makakakuha ng first kiss niya!
She was shocked when she felt his smooth lips into her forehead. Napadilat siya roon habang nakatingin sa lalaking nakangisi.
"W-what?" Edna eyed her with her puzzled eyes but Alaster just shrugged.
"Consider that as my payment for what you did earlier." Alaster said as he leaned.
"I never knew you were a pervert, witch. I told you to pay me with your body means you have to serve me as my helper but your mind think of something more sexy." he chuckled a bit then walked away from her.
Naitulos si Edna sa kinatatayuan ng ilang sandali. Naiproseso niya ang sinabi ng lalaki at doon niyang napagtanto ang sinabi nito! Damn her dirty mind! Damn that monkey knight!
"Go to hell, Alaster!" sigaw niya sa papalayong likod ng lalaki pero ang lalaki ay parang wala lang sa kaniya ang inis niya.
But wait, she heard him chuckle a little bit. Does this mean that he already accepted her as his companion? Sumilay ang ngiti sa mga labi ng dalaga nang malamang napasaya niya ang lalaki. She slowly improving to tear away all of his wrinkles!
"Please make it faster!" galit na sigaw ng lalaki at kaagad siyang napabalik sa realidad.
"Okay!" she replied as she put his luggage in her magical wallet then hurriedly walk towards him.
[End of Flashback]
EDNA suddenly bumped into the man's hard back when he suddenly stopped from walking. She was going to hissed him and yelled at him but a raging arrow suddenly appears out of nowhere and Alaster held her hand as they rolled to dodge the arrow swiftly.
"What was that?!" she exclaimed and then a laugh invaded the whole place. She alerted her senses. She felt her spine shivers as she heard the menacing laugh coming from someone they can't see.
"I never knew you will come into my territory so far." pagsasalita pa nito at muling humalakhak.
"Sino ka?!" Edna asked the voice but it didn't bother to give a reply but instead, a dark smoke suddenly gushing up in the sky evading the whole area.
She stilled. This familiar sensation! Hindi maaari! Isa itong—
"A soul collector." Alaster supplied her words. It seems that Alaster was so tensed upon learning what kind of person that they bump into.
A man wearing a smirk appears from the smoke. It has a pair of black wings from his back and white strands of hair in his head. His whole body and his muscular arms were embellished with a dark tattoos and there is a crescent mark into his forehead. He was wearing a violet vest engulfing with golden lining and a black pants. His nails were pointed and from his wrists down to his hands were all covered up in black.
"Yo there, strangers." he greeted while looking down at them.
Edna flinched when she felt his dark mana lurking the whole atmosphere. She can sense danger coming from him. All along her mind was also filled with confusion and running thoughts.
What does a soul collector doing here? Why is it in the continent of Avalon?