Saglit na umalis ng kwarto si Daryl, leaving me here still at lost. Nilibot ko ang tingin ko sa kwarto. Why is it so dark here? Tatayo sana ako nang biglang bumukas yung pintuan kaya umupo ako ulit.
May pumasok na lalaki na may bitbit na basin at towel. Tinignan ko ng mabuti kung sino itong lalaki.
'This must be Brandon, Daryl's right hand'.
Ibinaba nung lalaki yung basin sa may paanan ko. Ngayon ko lang napansin na mabuti at medyo may dugo-dugo yung paa ko. Kaya ba ayaw niya ako ibaba kanina?
Napabuntong-hininga nalang ako. Ramdam ko ang titig ni Brandon saakin kahit na nakayuko ako. "Brandon, you may go out", biglang dating ni Daryl na may hawak na maliit na box.
Lumabas ng kwarto si Brandon pero andoon pa rin yung titig niya saakin hanggang sa pagsara niya ng pintuan.
Lumuhod sa harapan ko si Daryl, nang akmang hahawakan niya ang paa ko ay iniwas ko ito. "Let me do it", pero hinila niya lang ulit ang paa ko. "Or you can do it".
Daryl started washing my feet. It stings and it tickles at the same time. "Pfft-- ehem", pinipigilan ko ang pagtawa. This is why I insisted to wash my feet on my own. Malakas ang kiliti ko sa paa.
"Endure it, my lady. I need to clean your wounds thoroughly", ani ni Daryl habang nakikipag-agawan sa paa ko. Napahiga nalang ako. Halos mangiyak-ngiyak na ako.
"Brandon, get inside and hold Alexandria", bigla naman pumasok ulit si Brandon tsaka ako hinawakan sa braso. "What? Hahahaha.. No.. Stop.. Hahahaha"
============
After Daryl washed (tortured) my feet, he also cleaned the wound and bandaged it. Inabutan ako ni Brandon ng baso ng tubig na siyang ininom ko naman agad. Feeling ko ang haggard haggard ko ngayon. Yung inayos ni Letty na buhok ko kanina, ngayon sabog sabog na.
Napakamot nalang ako ng ulo. Ngayon, paano ako babalik sa dorm nito? I don't even have my shoes. "Excuse me, but I would like to go back now". Baka nag-aalala na sila Prim at Charlotte tsaka si Letty. Ilang oras na rin ang lumipas.
"Ah!", for the nth time binuhat ulit ako ni Daryl. Naglakad siya papuntang terrace. Napapikit naman ako ng mata dahil sa liwanag. "AAAAHHHHH", biglang talon ni Daryl. For the second time, he started hopping from roof to roof hanggang sa parang naririnig ko mga tawag ni Prim?
"Aaahh--HA!", bumalik kami sa street kung saan unang lumabas yung mga poisonous frogs.
"Alexandria!", sabay takbo nila Prim saamin pero agad din silang napatigil ng makita si Daryl na nakatakip ng robe.
"Who are you? Identify yourself", tanong ni Chadwick kay Daryl na buhat buhat pa rin ako.
Pinalibutan na kami ng mga knights ni Chadwick. "Hand over Lady Alexandria", utos pa niya.
Daryl just chuckled at what Chadwick said. Dahan dahan naglakad si Daryl kay Chadwick tsaka niya ako inabot.
Heh. Para lang akong bagay na inabot.
"If you're the fiancee, you should act like one, Lord Vaillaint", ani ni Daryl kay Chadwick. No! Don't tell that to him and don't have a staring contest while I'm in the middle.
"You're the assassin", ngumiti lang si Daryl sa sinabi ni Chadwick. "See you soon, Alexandria", sabi lang ni Daryl tsaka siya nilamon ng lupa. Napa-what nalang ako. Literal na nilamon siya ng lupa. Is that one of his power?
Bumalik kami ng dorm na buhat-buhat ako ni Chadwick. "How are you and that assassin acquainted?", he asked.
"I don't know. He just came in my room one night", ibinaba ako ni Chadwick sa may higaan ko.
"What?"
"I said, I don't know. He just--"
"I heard you, you don't have to repeat it", sinamaan ko nga ng tingin. Eh ano wina-what niya diyan?
Umupo siya sa may sofa sa tapat ng bed ko, nakade-kwatro pa. "What are you still doing here? Get out".
"How could you treat your fiancee like this. You didn't even thanked me carrying you here. You weigh a ton", binato ko nga ng unan.
Sinapo niyang yung unan na hinagis ko sakaniya tsaka siya lumapit saakin. "That man earlier is dangerous, don't you ever go near him again".
I just nodded my head since I don't want to argue with him and so he can get out of here. Also, I'm tired. I want to sleep early.
"Good. Then, I'll take my leave now".
At sa wakas ay lumabas na ng kwarto ko si Chadwick. Humiga na ako at nag inat inat. Magaling na rin yung paa ko. Charlotte insisted on healing them earlier. Binuhat lang ako ni Chadwick hanggang dito dahil wala akong sapatos.
"Zaggy, where are you?", muntik ko ng makalimutan si Zaggy. Asan na ba yung ahas na yun?
"I'm here", I saw Zaggy having his early dinner (eating raw beef). Habang kumakain si Zaggy ay kinuwento ko lahat mga nangyari kanina sakaniya.
//Kinabukasan//
"Ria, I heard what happen to you yesterday", andito kami ngayon sa summoning room.
Our class is going to try summoning spirit. Well, sila lang naman. I don't have a mana so I don't have to participate but the professor told me to watch it instead. Like I have a choice.
"I also heard about that man...", napatingin ako kay Ash. Feeling ko nandilim yung aura niya eh.
Nandito rin sila Chadwick at Ash. Since they're the only ones who successfully summoned elemental spirits. Chadwick has Phoenix, a high-class fire spirit while the crown prince Ash has Aurai, also a first-class wind spirit.
"Hahaha, don't worry Chadwick already lectured me about that", bago kasi kami nagpunta dito sa summoning room ay may binigay na maraming papel saakin si Chadwick.
"These papers contain details of how dangerous that man is. Read them all", tsaka niya inabot saakin yung sandamakmak na papel.
I'm already aware of how dangerous Daryl is but, to be honest, he's quite different from what I expected though I still need to keep my guards up. Baka mamaya mag-iba ihip ng hangin.
"Come forth, Phoenix" "Come forth, Aurai"
Chadwick and Ash summoned their spirit guardians and all of the people here are in awe. If only I could summon Zaggy's legion freely.
Phoenix and Aurai are flying. "Show off", ani ni Zaggy na nasa leeg ko.
"Do the elemental spirits aware of your existence?", tanong ko kay Zaggy.
"I don't know but one thing for sure, low, mid, and high-class spirits cannot detect or notice our power. Only the spirit kings".
"Hmm...", kumuha ako ng macarons doon sa basket na dala ko. Para lang akong nagpi-picnic dito sa summoning room. Medyo malayo-layo ang pwesto ko sakanila. Atsaka alam ko naman na ang mangyayari eh, pinilit lang ako nung professor na manood.
Charlotte will be able to summon a water spirit, a high-class water spirit.
Half an hour had passed, wala pa rin nakakapag-summon ng spirit. Ilang mga kaklase ko pa ang nabigo at umasang magkakaroon ng spirit guardian nang si Charlotte na ang tinawag. Lumapit ako roon para mapanood kung ano ba talaga itsura ng pagsa-summon. Yung experience ko kasi parang ewan. Summoning should be a magical experience hindi horror story tulad nung akin.
Umupo sa gitna ng summoning circle si Charlotte and she started enchanting the summoning spell.
"Guardians that rests on the blessed land of the Kershian.
I call to me the spirit of water and stream, from oceans above and those not seen, created by the power of Ezili.
Show me my spirit, my protector, my guide. Above and below, I welcome thee".
Pagkatapos sabihin ni Charlotte yung spell ay biglang umilaw yung summoning circle. Now, this is what I'm talking about. Yung ibinuhos na tubig ni Charlotte kanina ay bigla pumalibot sakaniya.
'Ganyan na ganyan din yung nangyari saakin tapos biglang naging itim na usok yung tubig nung akin'
The water that was circling around Charlotte turned into a wolf. It's Alpheus! The high-class water spirit.
All of us congratulated Charlotte. I already expected this but I'm really happy for her. That's the heroine for you. After ni Charlotte, wala ng ibang nakapag-summon ulit. Katabi ko ngayon si Prim na nakikikain na sa dala kong snacks.
"Next is Lady Prim Devenney", tawag nung professor.
Tumayo na si Prim at walang kemeng umupo sa summoning circle. Wala sa mukha niya na kinakabahan or wala lang talaga siyang paki. "Here goes nothing", ani niya. Habang hawak niya ang bato, pumikit na siya at sinabi ang summoning spell.
"Guardians that rests on the blessed land of Kershian.
I call to me the spirit that anchors in winter, spring, summer, and fall, sinking down to the center so rich, created by the power of Gaia.
Show me my spirit, my protector, my guide. Above and below, I welcome thee".
Nagulat kami ng biglang umilaw yung summoning circle and the ground started rumbling. "Whoa", bigla kasing nagcrack yung lupa at may lumabas na maliit na gnome. "What's that thing?"
Kung malapit siguro ako kay Prim ngayon nabatukan ko na siya. "That is your spirit guardian, Prim. Congratulations, you were able to summon a gnomus, a low-level earth spirit.
"For real? I have a spirit guardian?", mukhang ngayon palang nagsi-sink kay Prim na may spirit guardian na siya. "Congratulations, Prim".
"Thanks, Alex. I didn't expect it", me too. Actually, all of us didn't expect it at all.
=========================
After the summoning chu-chu, naglunch na kami nila Prim at Charlotte sa cafeteria at kung anu-ano nanaman pinagkwe-kwento niya tungkol sa mga naririnig niya dito sa academy. Kakaiba talaga itong babaeng ito. Puro mga secret dating among nobles. Minsan ini-stalk pa niya kung totoo yung mga bali-balita. Kaya pala bigla-biglang nawawala ito.
Tawang-tawa tuloy kami Charlotte kasi with facial expressions pa talaga siya kung magkwento. Naalala ko tuloy kapag nagchi-chismisan kami ni Isabelle sa school. After kumain ay nagpunta na kami sa next class namin. Humiwalay saamin si Prim dahil iba ang class niya, kasama ko naman si Charlotte na pumasok sa Literature class namin.
Sakto rin na pumasok na yung prof namin at nagsimulang magturo na kung anuman tungkol doon sa hawak niyang libro.
Binasa ko nalang yung dala kong libro na kaparehas ng dala nung prof. "Charlotte, you're reading the book upside down", sita ko kay Charlotte.
"What? Oh yeah", tsaka niya ibinaliktad yung libro.
"Something on your mind?"
"Well, maybe I was still overwhelmed and also excited to tell it to my brother", ani niya. "You see, my brother's spirit guardian is Ezili, the water spirit king", dagdag niya pa.
Isinara ko yung librong binabasa ko. Come again? "Your brother sounds outstanding, hehe..", then that time Zaggy felt Ezili's power it must have been Carter, Charlotte's older brother.
Itinakip ni Charlotte yung libro sa may bandang bibig niya at nagsimulang magkwento tungkol sa kuya niya. Hindi ko na masyado naintindihan yung iba kahit puro tango lang ang ginagawa ko.
Carter, I need to be wary of him. He will be able to sense Zaggy.
Natapos na ang Literature class namin na wala akong natutunan. Lumipad yung utak ko doon. I need to tell this to Zaggy, lalo na't pagala-gala yung ahas na yun.
Nagpunta na ako ng Archaeology class ko. Dumating na rin yung professor namin na humahangos. "Settle down everyone. Here is the guidebook for our expedition. Read it carefully", may ipinasa na maliit na libro si Sir Howard.
Mamaya ko na ito babasahin. Sir Howard discussed more about the demon we are going to see in Merriole Kingdom, if he/she really exists.
Tinignan ko ng mabuti si Sir. He looks awfully excited about demon things. Is he really that desperate to prove their existence? Eh paano kung wala naman talagang demon doon? He's so gonna be disappointed. Ayaw ko naman ipakilala si Zaggy.
Binuksan ko nalang yung libro na dinistribute niya kanina. It all contains the details, schedules, and activities that we will be going to do during our time in Merriole Kingdom.
"Hmm?", tinignan ko ng mabuti yung isang schedule. "Sir Howard, we were granted an audience from the crown prince?" nagtaas ako ng kamay at tinanong yung nabasa kong mami-meet namin yung crown prince ng Merriole Kingdom. "Yes", sagot naman ni Sir.
"Why?", tanong naman nung isa kong kaklase mukhang nakuha ko din attention nila.
"Since we are still considered as guests to their kingdom, the crown prince will also oversee the expedition", napa-ahh nalang yung iba. So this expedition is a big deal?
What was the name of the prince again? Oh, there it is.
Prince Gabriel Vische de Auguste
Buti nalang nilagay ni Sir yung pangalan, hindi pa naman ako pamilyar doon. Ayoko naman magkalat ng katangahan doon at baka mamaya doon pa ako mategi. All I know about that country is that, they are famous for their unique swordsmanship.
The people of Merriole Kingdom have no magic/mana when they are born, compare to the citizens of Kershian Kingdom who have had magic/mana since birth (except me).
Natapos na magdadadaldal si Sir Howard tungkol sa demons. Tapos na rin yung klase namin pero bago ako umalis ay lumapit muna ako sakaniya para magtanong.
"Sir Howard, I have an out-of-topic question".
"Let's hear it", ani niya habang inaayos yung mga papel papel sa lamesa niya.
"It's about the Areeya stone", nagtaka ako dahil napatigil siya sa ginagawa niya. Mukhang hindi niya inaasahan yung tanong ko.
"What about it?"
"Well, I read it somewhere that you can only use the power of Areeya's stone if you are part of the Kaplan bloodline".
"Yes, that is true. Why do you ask?".
"Is that so? Then, there's no way a non-Kaplan be able to use it, right? I mean, what's the use of it?", mukhang napaisip din si Sir Howard sa tanong ko.
"Hmm, interesting. I cannot give you a valid answer right now since we lack information about the stone and it is strictly kept by the Kaplan family but soon Lady Alexandria, I will let you know if I happen to know new information about it", sagot ni Sir Howard tsaka ako tinapik sa braso. Mukhang wala akong makukuhang sagot ngayon ah.
I just thought of the robbery, I mean, why would they steal it? Money? Who would buy that? It will only be useful if they are part of the Kaplan direct bloodline unless they found out how to use it in another way?
"You have an interesting mind, Lady Alexandria. I'm happy that you are part of my class. I hope that we could talk and share some of my knowledge in the future".
"You flatter me, Sir Howard", pinuri pa ako eh nagtanong lang naman ako.
Umalis na ako doon at uuwi na ako sa dorm ko. Hindi na muna ako pupunta ng book club dahil may ichi-chika ako kay Zaggy.