Tale 17
Keeping Promises

"You already mastered the second chapter??" excited na tanong ni Unbearable

"Yes." Isinara ni Amara ang hawak na grimoire.

The second chapter of Resurrection Chapters gave Amara the ability to reassemble or reconnect her body parts. No ordinary weapon can kill her even if it cut her into half.

"Hmm.. It's seems they're back." Saad ni Amara.. Lumabas sya ng kanyang mansion at nakita si Damnable. Bitbit nito ang isang binata habang lumilipad sa himpapawid.

"Uwaaaahhhh!" malayo pa lang ay maririnig na ang malakas na sigaw ni Aurio

"Sissy." Komento ni Damnable pagkalapag nya sa binata

"I almost died! Bakit kailangan mo ko ihagis ng paulit-ulit sa ere? Akala ko mahuhulog na ko huhuhu.." reklamo ni Aurio

"It was amusing." Damnable

Naiiyak na talaga ang binata. "Bully."

"Welcome back." Sabat ni Amara

Agad nagliwanag ang muka ni Aurio. Tila nahanap nya ang liwanag sa gitna ng kadiliman..

"Uwaaahhh! Amara!"

Agad umiwas si Amara mula sa mainit na yakap ng binata.

"I heard what you did! T-thank you..." saad ni Aurio

"Don't mention it. The guild would have one less idiot if you're not around." Amara

"Hehe I know you're just saying that. Namiss mo ko no?" Aurio

"Keep dreaming." Nakangiting tugon ni Amara

"I decided that from now on, we're brothers!" declare ni Aurio

"Idiot. Im not your brother. Im a girl." Amara

"Then sister! Ah basta!" tawa ni Aurio

"You're still an idiot. After all these years you still wont change. Hindi ikaw ang hinahanap ko, pero masaya akong makilala ka ulit, Orion." Saad ni Amara

"Huh?" nagtatakang tanong ni Aurio

"I owe you a lot in that lifetime. It's time to keep my promise." Malungkot na saad ni Amara

"Okay ka lang?" tanong ni Aurio

Ngumiti si Amara.. "Get back to your division. If someone dare to mess with you again, tell me."

"Why would I?" Aurio

"Idiot. That's what brothers do." Amara

"Whahahaha! So you also like the idea of brotherhood! Indenial ka lang!" Aurio

"Hmmp! Idiot." Saad ni Amara, isang ngiti ang gumuhit sa labi nya.

***

Nabalot ng panandaliang katahimikan ang guild.

Makalipas ang isang buwan, isang mainit na balita ang biglang sumabog.

Maging sa mga karatig guild ay tila bagyo ang balitang ito.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" tanong ni Grandmaster Vermillion kay Amara.. Kasalukuyan silang umiinom ng tsaa sa lilim ng isang puno.

"Of course." Tugon ni Amara

"My disciple's disciple built this guild to shield my grimoire from the public's eye." Saad ni Amara.. "But because of that, I totally forgot where I hid it. I really appreciate his good intentions, but I cant help feeling annoyed by his unnecessary interventions."

"........."

"I originally planned to messed up this place. But I changed my mind." Amara

"........." Grandmaster Vermillion

Ipinagpatuloy ni Amara ang paghigop sa tsaa.

"A-are you really Flay's grandchild?" tanong ng grandmaster

Ngumiti si Amara.. "My grandma told me a lot of stories about you. You're her bestfriend and childhood friend. In consideration of your friendship, I will help you strengthen the name of the guild before I leave Grandmaster." Amara

Napabuntong hininga ang grandmaster. Hindi sya makapaniwala na apo ng kanyang kaibigan ang malahalimaw na alchemist sa kanyang harapan. Parang kahapon lamang noong nag-aaral pa sila sa Aurum kasama nya sina Jaden at Francis. Doon nya din nakilala ang maalamat na si Lady Charmaine.

Maraming taon na ang lumipas. Marami na rin sa magkakaibigan ang wala na ngayon. Tila panaginip na lamang ang mga kwento ng kahapon.

***

Isang Grandmaster Alchemist. Isang labing walong taong gulang na Grandmaster Alchemist!

Yan ang mainit na balita sa buong state of Aragon.

Lahat ng mga grandmaster Alchemist sa buong Aragon ay inimbitahan ng Konseho ng Alkemya upang saksihan at husgahan ang naturang babae.

"Akala ko ay wala nang tatalo sa kasikatan ng mysteryosong si Phantom Emperor! Meron pa pala!"

"Sigurado ba silang 18 lang yung babae? Hindi kaya may ininom lang syang pill na nakakapagpabata ng itsura?"

"Kung may ganyang klase ng pill, wala ka nang makikitang matanda sa mundo! Lahat muka nang bata!"

"K-kung sa bagay.."

Gaganapin ang kauna-unahang exam ng isang Level 5 Expert patungo sa titulong Grandmaster Alchemist sa headquarters ng Konseho ng Alkemya sa Aragon. Ngayon lamang nangyari sa buong kasaysayan ang bagay na ito.

May limang Grandmaster Alchemist ang Aragon. Sila ang guildmasters ng limang pinakapapular na alchemy guilds sa buong Aragon. Ang ilan pang maliliit na alchemy guild ay pinamumunuan ng mga Master Alchemist.

"Tsk. Vermillion must have been out of his mind." Naiiling na saad ni Grandmaster Helia

"He's not someone who would do something like this if he's not 100% sure." Grandmaster Rhea

"But it sounds like a pipe dream. An 18 years old Grandmaster." Grandmaster Lala

"You will be surprise." Nakangiting sabat ni Grandmaster Lambert

"Ehh? Do you know the young Grandmaster?" Tanong ni Grandmaster Lala

"You are good friends with Vermillion, is it really true? A young Grandmaster Alchemist appeared on his guild?" Grandmaster Helia

"Patience my friends. You will soon get your answers." Misteryosong tugon nito

Noong marating ng apat ang laboratoryo kung nasaan ang mga myembro ng Konseho, nakita nila si Grandmaster Vermillion na nakikipag-usap sa isang babae. Asul ang mga mata nito at itim ang mahabang buhok.

"Lady Amara, we meet again." Bati ni Grandmaster Lambert

Isang maliit na ngiti ang itinugon ng dalaga.

"Is this the girl? She looks stunning." Papuri ni Grandmaster Rhea

"Hmmp! What's the use of a pretty face? It wont help you refine better pills." Grandmaster Lala

"But she's really a beauty. Lala, are you envious?" pang-aasar dito ni Grandmaster Rhea

"Hmmmp!" Grandmaster Lala

"Shall we begin?" naiinip na tanong ni Grandmaster Helia.. Hindi sya naniniwala na isa nang grandmaster ang dalaga. Kung totoo ito, then this world must have gone crazy!

"The grandmasters shall be the one to judge her refinement techniques as well as her pills. We are just here as mediators." Saad ng isang myembro ng Konseho

Agad sumang-ayon ang mga Grandmasters.

"Before you arrived, Lady Amara took the 800 Items written exam. She finished within thirty minutes." Saad pa ng myembro ng konseho

"Thirty minutes?!" gulat na tanong ni Grandmaster Helia

"Are you sure it was only 30 minutes?" tanong din ni Grandmaster Lala.. It took her one and a half hour to answer that exam years ago.. Bukod sa kailangan ng oras para mag-isip ay kailangan mo din magsulat! Gaano sya kabilis magsulat? Pinag-isipan nya pa ba ang mga sagot nya?!

"She didn't fail right?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Grandmaster Rhea

"She passed." Tugon ng member ng konseho

"She's just lucky." Grandmaster Helia.. Siguro ay pasang-awa lamang ito.

"What's her score?" tanong ni Grandmaster Lambert

"Perfect." Tugon ng member ng Konseho.

"As expected." Tumatangong komento ni Grandmaster Lambert

Napanganga naman ang tatlo pang grandmaster.

Perfect? She scored 800 over 800?! What?

They don't know anyone else aside from this kid who manage to get a perfect score on the 800 Items Written Exam for Grandmaster Alchemists!

"Shall we begin?" tanong ni Amara

Tumango naman ang mga myembro ng Konseho.

"The practical exam is simple. The Grandmasters will give you the task to refine a pill for them." Paliwanag ng myembro ng konseho

"Okay." Kibit balikat ni Amara

"Since you are from Thousand Crows, Grandmaster Vermillion is excepted. The four grandmasters will be your judge."

"Four types of pills. No problem." Amara

"Then, shall I go first?" tanong ni Grandmaster Lambert

"Hmmp.. Don't go easy on her just because she's from Thousand Crows." Paalala ni Grandmaster Helia kay Grandmaster Lambert

Ngumiti si Grandmaster Lambert.. "No worries."

"What type of pill do you want me to refine?" Amara

"Have you heard about the Fake Death Pill?" Grandmaster Lambert

Napasinghap ang lahat.. Fake Death Pill! Isa ito sa pinakamahirap na malikha! Isa itong uri ng pill na kayang patigilin ang pagtibok ng puso ng isang tao sa loob ng kalahating oras, some with higher effectiveness can sometimes extend this to one to two hours.. It will also make that person's body temperature drop. It's a special pill that will protect the brain, but makes the body dead. Even Grandmaster Alchemists like them experience difficulties when they try refining this pill.

Hindi sila makapaniwala na ito ang ibibigay na task ni Grandmaster Lambert sa babae. Magkaibigan ba talaga sila ni Grandmaster Vermillion?!

"Childs play." Komento ni Amara

Nagsalubong ang kilay ng mga nakarinig.

"How arrogant!" Grandmaster Helia

"Hmmp! She will just embarrass herself." Grandmaster Lala

"How about the other grandmasters?" tanong ni Amara

"Just refine a Soul Cleansing Pill for me." nakangiting saad ni Grandmaster Rhea..

"No problem." Amara

"Hmmp! Then refine a Chaos Nightmare Potion for me!" Grandmaster Lala..

"Easy." Amara

Nagsalubong ang kilay nila.. This kid!

"How about you refine a Stygian Purifying Pill?" Grandmaster Helia

Napasinghap silang muli..

"Stygian Purifying Pill? Isnt that an ancient pill? Do you even know how to refine it??" galit na tanong ni Grandmaster Vermillion

"Of course!" confident na tugon ni Grandmaster Helia.. 'Easy pala ha! Tingnan na lang natin kung makapagrefine sya ng Stygian Purifying Pill!'

"That's a decent choice. But still not a challenge." Amara

Lalong nagusot ang muka ni Grandmaster Helia.

Pinanood nila na humanap ng ingredients si Amara. Hindi ito nagtagal. Muli itong bumalik sa refinement table.

Hinihintay nilang magkamali ng procedure ang babae. Alam ng lahat na may tamang pagkakasunod-sunod ang paglalagay ng ingredients.

To their surprise, she casually threw all the ingredients inside the cauldron.

The fire started to dance under her control. Soon, the sound of vegetables being fried started to resonate inside the room.

"What the f*ck!" hindi napigilan magmura ni Grandmaster Helia. What kind of refinement technique is this?!

Maging si Grandmaster Lambert ay nagugulat pa din kahit pa nakita nya na ito noon.

"Fake Death Pill." Saad ni Amara.. Five bottles containing yellowish pills each was presented to them.

"I-it's done? Y-you already refined it?" gulantang na tanong nila

Kahit si Grandmaster Vermillion ay nakanganga.

"Aha. Why do you all look so surprise? Isnt this just a Fake Death Pill? It's just a simple pill to make." Nagtatakang tugon ni Amara

Simple? Pill? To? Make?

Where did this little monster jump out from?

"Oh my gods!" bulalas ni Grandmaster Rhea

"Mahabaging mga diyos!" Grandmaster Lala

"It's.... It's effectivenes..... It's 97%!" sigaw ni Grandmaster Rhea.. Muntik nya nang mabitiwan ang hawak na bote.

Nanlalaki ang mga mata na pinanood nila ang babae na nagsisimula na ulit magrefine ng ikalawang pill.

"Is she even human? Where did you get such a monster?" tanong ni Grandmaster Lala kay Grandmaster Vermillion

"Done!" announce ni Amara

"WHAT???!" react nila

"Soul Cleansing Pill." Iniabot ni Amara ang limang bote sa mga grandmasters

Napalunok ang limang matanda. Natatakot silang buksan ang bote.

Nakangiting bumalik sa refinement table si Amara. Hindi nya na hinintay ang resulta.

"I-It's really a Soul Cleansing Pill.. With 98% effectiveness." Grandmaster Rhea

"Hindi naman ito isang panaginip diba?" Grandmaster Lala

"She's even more terrifying than expected." Grandmaster Lambert

"Lalalala~" himig ni Amara habang isinasalin ang isang asul na likido mula sa cauldron patungo sa isang flask.

"S-she's done.." kinakabahang saad ni Grandmaster Lala

"Chaos Nightmare Potion." Amara presented the potion to the five Grandmasters.

"Pwede ba kong himatayin?" tanong ni Grandmaster Rhea

"This is definitely a dream." Grandmaster Lala

"A Chaos Nightmare Potion with 99% effectiveness." Grandmaster Lambert

"Can any of you refine a pill or a potion with at least 95% effectiveness?" tanong ni Rhea

Umiling ang apat na grandmaster.

"Fudge! She's even better than us!" naiiyak na saad ni Grandmaster Lala

"Wait! My Stygian Purifying Pill is an ancient pill.. She will at least struggle to---"

"Done!" announce ni Amara bago pa matapos ni Grandmaster Helia ang mga salita nya. F*ck! When did she start her refinement? Why so fast?!

"It's effectivity is at least below 90% right? No one can refine this pill above 87%.. F*ck! Why does it have a 99% effectiveness!" gusto na din maiyak ni Grandmaster Helia

"So did I pass?" inosenteng tanong ni Amara

"Are you kidding me? You should be the the guild master! I will kill Vermillion right here, right now! How could he be this lucky!" Grandmaster Helia

"Congratulations Lady Amara!" Grandmaster Lambert

"Say, do you accept disciples??" tanong ni Grandmaster Helia

"I don't." Amara

"Come on.. I'm a fast learner. You wont be disappointed." Grandmaster Helia

"You're too old to be my disciple. Arent you ashamed to call a little girl your Master?" Amara

"Hmmp! Who cares! I'am a pursuer of knowledge. Who cares about shame?" tugon ng matanda... "So what do you say? Come on, take me in as a disciple.." pangungulit pa nito

"........." Grandmaster Vermillion

"........" Grandmaster Lambert

"........." Grandmaster Rhea

"........." Grandmaster Lala

"........." members ng Konseho

~~~~~~~~~~