[3RD POV]

Has a victory smile on her face, with a light expression. Sumasabay sa paggalaw ng katawan niya ang mahaba at kapansin-pansin niyang buhok.

Xilah just got back at Solar Academy, with good news. 

After a day of the Deities' mission, she received the good news. Parang isang patalim sa sikmura ang nawala nang malaman niya ang tagumpay na nagawa ng mga estudyante niya. Sa kabila ng hindi magandang kalagayan nila, masaya siya nang malamang... hindi sila nabawasan.

They needed treatment immediately. And the day after tomorrow, they will go to Solar Academy where the phoenix is, to treat their wounds completely.

Today, she will give the good news. Pero kabaliktaran ng pakiramdam niya, ibang-iba ang bumungad sa kaniya sa paaralan.

It's dull... quiet. The fact that it's a fortress made it more eerie. 

Which made her uneasy. Because today... is the day that the Solar and Lunar will undergo with their mission too.

Patuloy na naglakad si Xilah, hanggang sa marating ang pamilyar na opisina. Nandito siya noong nakaraang araw lang, pero hindi katulad no'n, dalawang tao lang ang sumalubong sa kaniya. Parehong nakaupo sa harap ng mahabang lamesa.

The principal, Bora Portugal.

And his grandson, the academy's number 1, Yadiel Portugal.

Xilah was slightly surprised to see them both in a one room, alone together. She chuckled.

"What's with the long faces," she scoffed.

The tension became heavier, the atmosphere became more suffocating. Three big names in a room, is really a breathtaking sight— literally.

"We managed to steal the ring," panimula ni Bora.

Nakuha nito ang atensyon ni Xilah na paupo sa isa sa mga bakanteng upuan.

"Oh, then that's great-"

"But one of the students..."

Hindi niya naituloy ang sasabihin niya nang may sunod na sinabi ang principal. Kahit hindi pa nito natutuloy ang sasabihin niya, alam na ni Xilah ang kasunod. Her expression changed, but her strong appearance didn't falter. 

"Then... are you going to hold a funeral or something like that," sarkastiko niyang sagot. 

Umangat ang malalamig na tingin sa kaniya ng dalawang kausap niya.

Hindi sa pagiging manhid, o pagiging walang respeto. Pero ganito na siya lumaki. Xilah knows, when and where to show and hide her feelings. Right now, she won't show weakness... like she always do.

Malalim na huminga si Yadiel. "If we had time," sarkastikong balik niya.

"But our hands are full." His expression darkened, became colder.

"Joker and the other student... didn't came back too."

Mabilis nitong naagaw ang tingin at atensyon ni Xilah. Sinundan ito ng pagkunot ng noo niya. "Joker? And a student?" she said, confused.

"Yeah, it's the kid Zeke, you met him during the conference" sagot ni Bora. 

Napaangat ang dalawang kilay ni Xilah. "Oh.... Are they still alive?"

"Most probably, " ani Yadiel. "It's still Joker after all."

"Then, how can we find them?" muling tanong ni Xilah. "Could they still be at the UA's HQ?"

Prenteng sumandal si Bora sa upuan. "No," malalim ang boses niyang sumagot. "The kid Zeke... he's a Coder."

Once again, without further explanation, Xilah already knows what he meant by that.

One of the Coders... which means, his guild master is her.

Her appearance appeared on Xilah's mind. A student who became a guild's master, as soon as she became a senior. Someone who could've been one of the GOP, if she took the test as well.

Eslin.

With her gift and her as a guild's master, finding Zeke and Joker... was no big deal.

"Huh." Xilah smirked. "Then that's that, we should go for them now."

Despite having a solution, there's still something bothering Xilah. It's the fact that the two's expression didn't changed at all.

"Ano pang problema?" muling aniya.

Bora took a deep sigh. "My students can't fight right now..."

"Principal Helena's at her mansion too, she also can't fight now after all. Me as well..."

"Her students just came from the mission, so as yours."

"We can't just let an ordinary student handle the mission, it's too risky. That's why-"

"That's why, I'm coming," pagputol ni Yadiel.

Napaismid si Bora sa sagot nito. Doon napagtanto ni Xilah na ito ang hindi nila mapagkasunduan.

"I told you, you can't go there alone. We still don't know who we're facing right now. It's too risky, don't get cocky."

Nagkrus ang braso ni Yadiel, nanatiling walang buhay ang mga mata. "I'm more than enough to handle the mission."

"Tsk, you can't-"

"Hayst." Natigil ang pagtalo ng maglolo nang walang ganang sumingit si Xilah. Napasalumbaba siya sa lamesa nang mapunta sa kaniya ang tingin ng dalawa. She then showed a grin.

"What a protective grandpa you are, Principal Bora." There's a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Which gave Bora a little ache in his heart. Xilah's words has double meaning.

It might be the truth, that Bora is being kind of protective right now. Well, he just lost his granddaughter in a snap.

"Then... I'll come too."

Nagbago ang mga ekspresyon ng dalawa sa sunod na sinabi ni Xilah. Pasimpleng tumalim ang tingin ni Yadiel.

"What can a teacher, and retired fighter like you, do in a battle, Xilah?" malamig niyang sambit.

Xilah clicked her tongue, before pointing at Yadiel.

"First of all, I'm a veteran, kid." She raised a second finger. "Second, it's 'ate' Xilah. Where's your respect, you brat."

Pasimpleng napaismid si Yadiel at napaiwas ng tingin, na parang batang napagalitan. Dahilan kung bakit napangisi muli ang babaeng kausap niya bago mapatingin ulit sa principal.

"Will that lessen your worries, Principal Bora?" There's still a hint of sarcasm. That expression of hers really reminded Bora of him too.

They really are siblings.

Regardless of being his granddaughter too, Bora can't deny that the fret he has a second ago... disappeared in a snap.

For what reason?

It's because, she's Xilah.

Xilah Portugal.

Even though she's retired, even though Yadiel is one of the Generations of Prodigies, even though she's one of his grandchildren.

Xilah going to the mission, is enough for his concern to disappear.

Because Xilah... never lost in a battle once.

He heaved a sigh, a sigh that shows his answer.

"Very well."

Mabilis na kumunot ang noo ni Yadiel.

"But-"

"But what?" Xilah frowned. "Are you looking for a fight, punk?" She sounded like herself again. She continued teasing her cousin.

Napasimangot na lamang si Yadiel habang mapang-asar siyang tinignan ni Xilah.

Bora just watched them, suddenly remembering what happened from the past. A vision of them as kids flashed in his mind.

How Xilah used to tease her younger relatives. It must be a good sight to see them again like that...

But it won't happened again... after that incident. An incident that still haunts their family again and again... specially Xilah and her brother.

As their grandfather, he didn't do anything. Xilah's cries are still stuck in his head, the sight of her, begging for help.

After that incident. He never saw Xilah showed her true feelings again. Specially to her family.

Bora knows that she and her brother will never forgive them.

He can't forgive himself too.

His guilt will continue to consume him... forever.

CHAPTER 36
She, who never lost once