Tale 37
The Wicked in the Throne

Isang pangkaraniwang araw lamang ito para sa mga mag-aaral ng Aurum University. Makikita ang karamihan na abala sa kanilang mga klase. Makikita naman ang pagkamangha sa mga mata ng mga bagong mag-aaral. Kakasimula pa lamang ng mga klase ngayong taon.

Si Stephany na isang Apprentice Alchemist sa Aurum University ay nakangiting umupo sa table kung nasaan ang kanyang mga kaibigan sa cafeteria ng unibersidad.

"Look what I got!" pagmamayabang nya sa mga kaibigan

"A book. What's up with that smug smile? It's annoying Steph." Monotone na tugon ni Lhey sa kaibigan

"A book?? Cant you see that this is 'The Wicked in the Throne'???!" Stephany

"The Wicked what??" tanong naman ni Zoe, isa nya pang kaibigan

"You don't know this book?!" hysterical na tanong ni Stephany

"No.." Lhey

"How could you?!" galit na tanong ni Stephany

"Calm down.. It's just a book, why are you so mad??" Zoe

"THIS IS NOT JUST A BOOK! THIS IS THE WICKED IN THE THRONE!! BOOK TWO OF THE BEST SELLING NOVEL, THE HERO IN THE RUG!" Stephany

"It's just a book.. Why are you so hype??" Lhey

Gusto nang magwala ni Stephany.. As a book enthusiast, hindi sya makapaniwalang hindi alam ng mga ito ang highly acclaimed na librong The Hero in the Rug! Isa itong libro na napapabilang na ngayon sa mga classics! Stephany don't know it, but if she was born on Gaia, she's probably a wattpader.

"What is it about??" curious na tanong ni Zoe

Agad nagningning ang mga mata ni Stephany. Finally! This is her time to shine!!

She excitedly and vividly narrated the story, leaving Zoe regretful that she even asked.

The book is about a young man who went against all odds to rise and fight the oppression of the wicked empress who caused the death of his entire family. The plot is very simple, but the events and his adventure was so unique and epic, it garnered a lot of fans after it's released two years ago. Now, the second book was released after the success of book one. The Wicked on the Throne focuses on the point of view of the Evil Empress from the first book. It narrates fragments of her dark past that influence her to become evil. Just like the first book, it's gaining a lot of fans for it's dark but meaningful story.

"It was written by Lily Cross! Her great grandmother is Lana Cross! Author of the classic tales; The Witch in the Castle, The Traveller in the Sea, The Sea of Stars and a lot more!" Stephany

"No wonder she's a good novelist. It runs in her blood." Komento ni Zoe

"And what's fascinating is the fact that it's based on a true story.." pagmamalaki pa ni Stephany

"How??" maging si Lhey ay nacucurious

"During Ms. Lily Cross' recent press conference, she revealed the inspiration behind her book. It turns out that she used to work as a researcher at the History and Time Research Council in Aragon. She shared that she once encountered an article about the first empire before the rise of the five kingdoms of Aralon." Stephany

"There's an empire before the rise of the five kingdoms??" Zoe

Tumango-tungo si Stephany.. "When I heard about it, I got curious. I look it up at the books published by History and Time Research Council." Stephany

"What did you found out??" Lhey

"This." Ipinakita nya ang isang papel na nakaipit sa hawak nyang libro.

-----------

"I remember it clearly. It was a memory impossible to bury.

It felt as though it was only yesterday.

When darkness shrouded the world.

Lands littered with dead soldiers.

The soil painted red by blood.

Millions of birds feed on dead bodies.

The air stink of rotten flesh.

People flee for their lives.

Rivers of blood flow throughout the land.

The ground is dry, and people starved to death.

The never ending war brought death everywhere.

She rode her horse with her army behind her. She would bring chaos wherever she goes.

I only saw her once, I was merely a little boy back then. My father was beside me, pleading, begging, for my life to be spared.

She ignored us. She ignored my father's desperate pleas. She ignored all the cries of the people. She ignored all the heads that rolled as she rode passed us. She ignored my wailings as I watched how her army beheaded my father. She ignored us.

It was the darkest days of my life. Until now, her detached cold eyes haunt me in my sleep.

There was a time when the world was shrouded by darkness. And that darkness had an empress."

-A Journal Excavated From The Ruins Of An Ancient Empire

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Nagkatinginan sina Lhey at Zoe.

"Is this true??" Zoe

"Of course! The History and Time Research Council is conducting a lot of studies about the past.. Im now a fan of them.." Stephany

"It seems interesting. What happened to the evil empress in the end??" Lhey

"In Ms. Lily's book, the evil queen was killed by Jude, the hero from the first book. But in real life, no one knows.. According to the books I read, before the rise of her empire, Aralon only have small human tribes. She was from one these tribes, but she's a wicked human being. She caused the death of the people who adopted and raised her. She practiced evil arts and caused a lot of death. She used force to conquer all the tribes, and her empire rise from the ashes." Narrate ni Stephany

"What is the name of this evil empress." Zoe

Naging seryoso ang mga mata ni Stephany.

"Amara."

***

"Amara!"

Agad napalingon si Aurio matapos marinig ang pangalan ng kanyang kaibigan.

"Yun ang ngalan ng pinakabatang Grandmaster Alchemist ng Aralon!"

"Balita ko ay naglalakbay sya upang mas palawakin pa ang kanyang mga kaalaman."

"Nabalitaan ko rin yan. Subalit walang nakakaaalam kung nasaan sya ngayon."

Agad nakahinga ng maluwag si Aurio. Nagtsitsismisan lmang pala ang mga ito tungkol kay Amara. Akala nya ay mayroon nang nakadiskubre sa totoong pagkatao nito.

"Aurio! Anong tinutunganga mo dyan? Tara na!" tawag ni Desmond sa kaibigan

Patungo sina Amara, Aurio at Desmond sa isang mission.

Isang mayamang businessman ang naghire ng mga assassins hindi upang kumitil ng buhay, ngunit bilang proteksyon sa sarili nyang buhay.

Nakatanggap ng threat ang mayamang businessman na si Mr. Thompson. May nagbabala sa kanya na itigil na ang kanyang mga lihim na operasyon sa underground world, or else, he will die. Isinawalangbahala nya ito noong una, subalit dalawang gabi na ang nakakaraan, sinalakay ng mga assassins ang kanyang mansion. Kinailangan nyang isakripisyo ang kanyang mga guards para makasurvive. Sa ikalawang gabi, naghire sya ng mga rangers subalit hindi sya nagawang protektahan ng mga ito. They either died in battle or ran for their lives. Mr. Thompson was fatally wounded. With the help of a Master Alchemist, he managed to survive.

Ngayon ang ikatatlong gabi. Mr. Thompson decided to run and hide in a different State. He hired assassins to help him escape.

Mayroong labing siyam na assassin na narito ngayong gabi. Tinipon sila para sa iisang mission. Protect Mr. Thompson.

Ramdam ni Aurio ang matatalim na mga mata ng mga assassin sa paligid nila.

Binati sila ni Mr. Thompson pagpasok nila sa opisina nito.

The eyebags beneath his eyes indicate how stressed he was during the last two nights. The bandages in his body indicates how bad the situation is.

Ipinaliwanag sa kanila ng lalaki ang mission.

They have to protect him tonight and escort him to the dock to escape at dawn. A simple and direct explanation.

Hindi na sila nag-aksaya ng oras, agad silang pumunta sa pwestong ini-assign sa kanila.

Dahil isang Class S Assassin si Amara, itinalaga sya sa pinaka-strategic na lokasyon, ang balkonahe sa tuktok ng mansion. Nakikita nya dito ang malawak na bayan. Madali nyang malalaman kung may mga kalaban sa paligid.

Sa kabilang bahagi ng mansion, isang lalaki na nababalot ng bandage ang buong muka ang naglalaro sa mga hawak nyang patalim. Nararamdaman ni Amara ang matatalim nitong mga mata na tila pinag-aaralan sya. Si SonicKnife.

Isa itong Class S Assassin mula sa guild na SoaringFalcon. Sya ang tinaguriang pinakamabilis na assassin. He's from the Sinnah Empire of the Dark Continent. He's born with the gift of speed. According to study, the people of Sinnah Empire possessed Auras. And since the Empire was never reliant to magic, they are currently the most prosperous land after the end of the era of mages. But since Sinnah Empire lacks alchemists, the empire is in a give and take partnership with the four states.

Dahil kilala si Magician dahil sa reputasyon nito sa pagkitil ng hindi man lamang ikinukubli ang kanyang muka, maraming assassins ang nayayabangan sa kanya. Isa si SonicKnife sa mga ito.

"What an arrogant little bastard." Komento nya at tumango-tango naman ang mga assassins na tila mga linta na gustong sumispsip sa kanya.

Sampung taon nang Class S assassin si SonicKnife. Kumpara kay Magician na isa lamang bagong salta sa mundo ng mga assassin, mas pinapanigan ng lahat si SonicKnife. Hindi nila makita kung ano ang espesyal sa binatilyo. Bukod sa maganda nitong muka, wala nang espesyal dito. Muka itong lampa at mahina.

Pero dahil isang class S assassin si Magician, tanging si SonicKnife lamang ang may lakas ng kalooban na maliitin ito ng harapan.

"Iba na talaga ang panahon. Having a pretty face can give you many benefits." Naiiling na komento ni SonicKnife

"Even a weakling can easily become a Class S assassin these days." Dagdag pa nito

"You're smart. If you have a pretty face like that, you can use it to seduce your target then stab him in his heart. No wonder you don't hide it. Magician? Nonsense! Why not call yourself Incubus instead! Arrogant pretty boy!" patuloy na saad ni SonicKnife.. Nagtawanan naman ang mga assassins na kasama nya.

Amuse na pinanood ni Amara si SonicKnife. Tila isa syang clown sa mga mata ni Amara.

Mula sa itaas ng puno ay naririnig nina Desmond at Aurio ang malakas na boses ni SonicKnife, kahit isa itong Class S Assassin ay gusto nila itong upakan! Pero sinenyasan sila ni Amara na kumalma at manatili sa kanilang pwesto.

Patuloy ang pangmamaliit ni SonicKnife kay Magician. Pero hindi sya pinag-ukulang pansin nito.

Hindi nagtagal ay nagsawa na rin ito sa pagsasalita. Pero lalong lumalim ang iritasyon nya sa binatilyo.

Sa paglalim ng gabi, nabalot ng katahimikan ang buong mansion.

Tila naglaho sa likod ng mga anino ang labing siyam na assassins. Lahat sila ay mga professionals. Mga espadang naghihintay lamang na sila ay bunutin.

Nagkaroon ng pagkilos sa labas ng bakod na nakapalibot sa mansion.

Mga tao. Mga anino. Mga armas.

Nagsimula ang pag-atake.

Mga tao. Mga anino. Mga armas.

Nagsimula ang pagdepensa.

Amuse na pinanood ni Amara ang naggaganap na laban.

Agaw atensyon si Aurio na nagagawang kontrolin ang hangin. Pati na din ang paggamit nya ng mga explosives ay hindi nakalampas sa mga mata ng mga assassins. They were bewildered. An alchemist? Why the fudge is he switching careers? How about us normal people who cant manipulate the elements of nature? You should be a Class S already!

Proud namang nakangiti si Desmond habang iwinawasiwas ang kanyang espada. Ha! Kaibigan ko yan!

Amara watched Desmond's swordsmanship. It looks refine and dashing. Completely ironic to his personality.

"Why is Magician simply standing there?" reklamo ng isang assassin na may malaking sugat sa kanyang balikat.

"Is he afraid?" tanong ng isa

"Weakling." Komento ni SonicKnife

"Magician! Help us!"

"Its too early for me to make a move. I don't want to end the battle prematurely." Amara said nonchalantly

Lahat sila napanganga matapos makita na naglabas ito ng isang plato ng ubas. She's watching the battle leisurely, as if it doesn't concern her at all.

If you're not going to help us, why are you even here? Huhu

"Useless little weakling." Komento ni SonicKnife na abala sa pagdepensa. Dahil isa syang Class S assassin, mas pinag-uukulang pansin sya ng mga kalaban. Sya ang sumasalo sa mga malaalakas na pag-atake.

Makikita na lamang ang kanilang panig.

Subalit hindi ito nagtagal.

"Zodiac." Nagtatakang usal ni SonicKnife matapos makita ang isang pamilyar na muka na lumitaw mula sa likod ng mga anino. Isang Class S assassin..

"Even the two of you? DeathGlare? LionHeart?" gulat na saad ni SonicKnife matapos makita ang dalawa pang Class S assassins.

"Don't take it personaly, SonicKnife." Nakangiting saad ni Zodiac saka mabilis na umatake

The table turned just like that!

Everyone felt the immense pressure of facing three powerful Class S assassins!

"Magician help us!" sigaw ng isa

Noong nilingon nila ito, nasaksihan nila na abala itong kumakain ng popcorn, tila nanonood lamang ito ng action movie mula sa balkonahe ng mansion.

Gusto na nilang maiyak. Bakit sila may teammate na tulad nya?

"If not for SonicKnife, we're already goners."

"Magician is sooo useless!!!"

"SonicKnofe is our only hope."

Kahit abala sa pakikipaglaban, naririnig ni SonicKnife ang mga papuri sa kanya na ikinagalak nya. Huh! He's the best!

"Arrrgg." Daing ni Aurio matapos matamaan ng isang palaso. Hindi sya nakaiwas dahil abala sya sa pagdepensa mula sa isang assassin na gumagamit ng isang chain and sickle na armas.

"You okay?" tanong ni Desmond dito

"Yeah." Tugon ni Aurio saka uminom ng potion at mabilis na bumalik sa laban.

Amara wants him to grow in actual battle. This mission is actually for Aurio. So Amara don't plan to meddle unless needed.

The pressure from the three Class S Assassins is too immense.

SonicKnife decided to use his signature moves. His ultimate technique!

Everything slowed down.

SonicKnife smiled smugly.

Ants!

He felt like a god.

He can crash these losers before they could even react.

Nilingon nya si Magician.

Sa simula pa lamang ay hindi nya na ito gusto. He can feel the air of a god from this teenager. It pisses him off.

Gusto nyang burahin ang existence nito. Isang Class S Assassin??? So what? He's just like everyone else. He cant keep up with his speed. He's nothing!

Subalit agad natigilan si SonicKnife.

Eye contact.

He made eye contact with Magician.

N-no.. Impossible.

Time is flowing slowly.. How could this kid follow his eyes??

Maybe he's just imagining it...?

Subalit, isang ngiti ang ibinigay sa kanya ng binatilyo.

Fear struck his heart.

Nakita nyang humakbang si Magician.

Then everything stopped.

SonicKnife blink, and pools of blood is already scattered everywhere.

"Weak." Komento ni Magician

Ipinagmamalaki ni SonicKnife ang taglay nyang bilis. Tila bumabagal ang takbo ng oras sa tuwing iwinawasiwas nya ang kanyang patalim. Subalit kahit sya, hindi nagawang sundan ang naging pagkilos ni Magician.

Nakanganga ang lahat.

Kumurap lamang sila, tapos na agad ang laban!

Ngayon lang nila naunawaan kung bakit mukang bored na bored si Magician. Ngayon lang nila naunawaan kung bakit hindi ito nagmamadaling kumilos para makipaglaban.

Once Magician moves, the battle easily concluded.

Like magic!

Napapaisip sila kung totoo ba ang mga nakita nila.. Class S?? Is Magician really just a class S?

Walang pagbabago sa ekspresyon ni Amara. Kalmado nyang in-escort si Mr. Thompson patungo sa daungan kung saan naghihintay ang yatch na magtatakas sa kanya sa lugar.

Tagumpay ang misyon.

Hanggang sa pagbalik sa kanya-kanya nilang guild, hindi maalis sa isipan ng lahat ang mga nasaksihan nila.

The grace.

The coolness.

The beauty.

"I think Im inlove." Usal ng isang assassin na ipinagtaka ng mga kasamahan nya.

Hindi ba galing ito sa misyon? Anong pinagsasasabi nitong inlove inlove?

"Hey have you heard? A new Class SSS Assassin appeared in our generation." Excited na pag-iiba ng kasamahan nya sa topic

"Yeah! It's an honor to be in the same generation! The last class SSS assassin was from seventy years ago."

"A new SSS class?"

"Huh? You don't know?"

"I just got back from a mission."

"The Association of Assassins issued a promotion yesterday. An assassin from the Dark Hands Guild was promoted to an SSS class."

"Who?"

"The infamous, Magician."

***

"Thank you for the effort." Saad ni Amara saka tinanggap ang isang box mula kay Nova

"No problem." Nova

"Are you sure you're leaving? The guild master is not happy about your decision." Nixon

"I'll come back to visit." Amara

"Why do you have to leave now? You're already a class SSS!" Desmond

"I have more important things to take care of." Amara

"You're taking this chicken with you?" Natalia sabay turo kay Aurio

"Yes." Amara

"Stop calling me Chicken!" Aurio

"Why do you have to leave and take him?! He's already a Class A!" reklamo pa ni Desmond

"Aurio is an alchemist with tons of potential. This is not his path." Amara

"Aurio my friend, are you fine with this??" Desmond

"Of course. I'll go wherever she go." Aurio

“Who says we’re going together?” sabat ni Amara

Agad natigilan si Aurio.

“Im throwing you back to the guild. You should take the Alchemic Trial of Fire once more.” Amara

They said goodbye. Desmond cried his eyes out, completely agaisnt their decision until the end. Aurio cried as well, he’s against the idea more than Desmond is.

“Where are you going?” tanong ni Aurio

Ngumiti si Amara.

“Aurum University.”

Somewhere in Aurum University, the new headmaster felt chills run down his spine.

He suddenly had an ominous feeling.

He have no idea that a monstrous being is coming.

~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Yow! Sorry for not updating weekly. Im kinda busy huhu
Anyways, since I uploaded this chappy now, dont expect anything this coming weekend. Peace.. :P