A few weeks ago, a small change happened in the academy. A small yet significant change that could spark some hope in the students and the citizens' hearts.

"What? You want me to use my excelium to alter that pig's mind?" Fobia rolled her eyes, "Can't you see this device? Did your brain malfunctioned, Sinner?"

Nanatili namang nakatayo sa harapan nito ang lalaki. He then pointed at Alexander with his thumb, "He'll deal with the device. While you use your excelium to modify the headmaster's mind."

Tumaas naman ang isang kilay ng babae at dumako ang kaniyang paningin kay Alexander, "So you're trusting a stranger now?"

Sinner sighed and massaged the gap between his eyes, "Just do it, alright?"

Tinitigan muna sila ng matalim nito bago ito sumang-ayon. In an instant, she suddenly heard a click coming from the device that's on her neck. She smirked at Alexander who has already turned his back, "Now ain't that interesting?"

Sinner continued to speak, "All these devices are being monitored by the headmaster in his office. We need you to sneak in and use your ability to--"

"Oo na, alam ko. Paulit-ulit ka na lang eh," she then smirked, "Just let your big ass relax on that very comfortable chair and wait for me." saad nito at lumabas na ng kanilang dormitoryo.

Sinner sighed, "She's a freaking annoying brat."

Fobia's eyes sharpened as she hide herself on a corner of the hallway. It's already night and that could only mean that the demons are patrolling in every hallway.

Mabilis siyang naglakad ngunit walang ingay ang naririnig kahit siya'y nakasuot ng sapatos na may takong. She turned to a corner at nanlaki na lamang ang kaniyang mga mata noong muntikan na niyang mabunggo ang isang lalaking nagpapatrol. He was about to say something but Fobia immediately landed a kick under his chin then she lowered her body and kicked his legs. Causing for him to land on the floor. Fobia crouched down and the sound of a breaking neck resonated in the hallway. Mabilis naman niyang itinago ang katawan nito sa loob ng isang malaking basurahan at naglakad na parang walang nangyari.

She kept herself hidden until she finally had the headmaster's office in sight. May dalawang nagbabantay sa pinto nito. Fobia clicked her tongue as she remove her stilettos, "You better buy me a new one, Sinner."

Tahimik na nakatayo ang dalawang guwardiya ngunit napadaing na lamang ang isa noong biglang may tumama sa gilid ng kaniyang ulo. When he looked down, he saw a red shoe with high heels. Nanlaki na lamang ang kaniyang mga mata noong may sumipa sa kaniyang mukha at hinawakan ng mahigpit ang kaniyang leeg.

The other one was alerted at akmang bubunutin na ang kaniyang armas ngunit dinampot ng babae ang sapatos na nasa sahig gamit ang kaniyang paa at ibinato ito sa kaniya. It hit his private part causing for him to stop his movements. Fobia held on the first guy's shoulder and lifted her body up, kicking the second guy's face. Habang nasa ere pa ang kaniyang katawan ay mabilis niyang iniikot ang kaniyang katawan at siya'y napunta sa likod ng unang lalaki. She continued spinning on his body until he fell down on the floor because of all her movements. Unang tumama naman ang ulo nito sa sahig, causing for his neck to break.

Akmang susugod na ang pangalawang lalaki ngunit sinipa ni Fobia ang kaniyang binti, dahilan para ito'y mapayuko. The moment he lowered down his upper body, Fobia stabbed his eye with her other shoe. Sisigaw na sana ang lalaki dahil sa sakit ngunit malakas na hinampas ni Fobia ang kaniyang ulo gamit ang kaniyang braso kaya tumumba na lamang ang kaniyang katawan sa sahig.

Fobia breathed out and fixed her hair. Binitawan niya ang kaniyang sapatos at pinunasan ang kamay gamit ang isang malinis na panyo. She looked at the door and opened it. She walked in and the headmaster looked at her direction, "What are you doing here?"

Fobia smirked, "I'm here to ruin your night, you dirty pig." she said as she remove the device on her neck. Pagkatanggal niya nito ay nakita naman niya ang biglang pagpula ng kaniyang litrato sa isang screen.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng lalaki, "How did you--?!"

Ngunit pagtingin niya sa pwesto nito ay wala na roon ang babae. His eyes widen when he felt a pair of hands grabbed the two sides of his head. Fobia smirked, "Pigs should just quiet down."

The headmaster's head lowered as if an electricity just came inside his head. Pagkaraan ng ilang saglit ay nagkaroon ulit ito ng malay ngunit iba na ang tingin sa mga mata nito. Fobia looked around then she looked back at the fat man, "When they ask you for status report, tell them that it's all fine and nothing is suspicious. Understood?"

"Yes."

Fobia grinned, "Good." she said and put the device on her neck again. She began to walk out of the door, "Clean the mess outside."

"As you wish."

Mabilis na dumako ang mga mata nina Sinner at ng mga Kings sa pinto noong ito'y bumukas. Fobia put her hand on her waist, "You owe me some shoes, Sinner. I want a red one."

Sinner sighed in relief when he knew that she succeeded, "Fine. I'll buy you ten of them after all of these are over."

Fobia smiled and waved her hand then she went out. Wein then looked at Sinner, "What's next?"

Si Alexander naman ang sumagot rito, "You wait."

--

"Hmm! Ang sarap! Zai, tikman mo oh!" saad ni Shane habang hawak-hawak nito ang isang platito na may lamang isang hiwa ng cake. Zai just ignored him and let him eat the sweets that Phrim gave them before they went out to sail to Southernia.

Ero stared at Shane who's eating, "'Wag kang masyadong kumain ng matatamis, Shane." tumango-tango lamang dito ang binata.

Kakaalis pa lamang nila sa Easternia at sila'y patungo na sa Southernia, ang huling bansa na kailangan nilang puntahan. It'll take ten days to reach the tropical country but they're already feeling the nervousness. Sa kanilang pagkakarinig ay puno ng mga barbaro ang Southernia. The citizens of that nation are barbarous and they are too carefree. They also heard that their chief is the worst of the worst. In every generation, expect that the chief is the most barbarous of them all.

They don't pick their chiefs base on their bloodline. Pinipili nila ang pinakamalakas, pinakamagaling, at ang pinakamatapang. They are reckless people ngunit ang bumabalanse dito ay ang mga advisors ng chief. Sila ang mga matatalinong tao na gumagawa ng desisyon kasama ang kanilang hepe.

They don't know if they can talk to them in a normal manner.

Ero sighed as he look around. Just like those Southernians, these guys are monstrous and reckless as well. Especially the only Hevrion on board. It won't be a normal interaction.

"Oi Asta! Switch with me!" saad ni Bonzo at muling umilag mula sa sipa ni Trois.

Sumimangot naman ang babae, "Bakit ko gagawin 'yon? Trois was the one who asked you to spar with him and I'm not the idiot one who accepted the challenge. He won't stop until he's satisfied so bear with it."

"Damn it..!"

Ero clenched his jaw when he saw how the floor broke when Trois' punch didn't hit Bonzo who dodged, "Oi! 'Wag niyong sirain ang barko! Tumigil na nga kayo!"

Bonzo sighed in relief when Trois finally stopped. Ero sighed because of how troublesome these kids are. He's already in his 30s and handling a bunch of reckless kids are troublesome.

Lumapit naman si Sinbad kay Trois, "Are you used to it already?" tukoy nito sa kaniyang artificial leg. Trois nodded as answer.

Tumango rin si Sinbad at tinanggal ang benda na nasa kaniyang kamay, "Good. Then spar with me."

"Sinabi ng tumigil eh!"

Sinbad sighed and wrapped the bandage around his hands again. Habang ginagawa iyon ay dumako naman ang kaniyang paningin kay Zai na natutulog habang nakasandal sa mast ng barko. Rui is also sleeping on her lap while Claysen is leaning on her as he read a small book.

Tumingin naman si Asta sa binata habag nakatitig ito sa dalaga. She smirked as she shook her head, "That guy's beyond saving."

Ero looked at her direction, "Wow, makapagsalita parang expert ah. Ilan ba ang dumaan?"

"..."

"Seriously?"

--

"Hoy! Bakit hindi niyo sinabing may alak tayo?!" biglang sigaw ni Asta noong sinipa nito ang pinto at bitbit nito ang isang kahon. Lumabas ito ng nautical bridge at inilapag ang kahon sa sahig.

It's night and dark but they can see the grin on Asta's face. "We'll arrive in Southernia tomorrow anyway kaya uminom muna tayo!"

Bonzo and Ero grinned as they sit down, surrounding the box full of alcohol. Inilabas nila ang lahat ng laman no'n at nagsimulang uminom. Even Trois joined them.

Shane, who was at the back of the nautical bridge, was shocked when he saw them drinking, "Hoy! Bakit kayo umiinom?! Kaya nga tinago ko 'yan eh!"

Ngunit hindi siya pinansin ng mga ito at nag-umpugan lang ng mga bote. May lampara sa gitna ng mga ito na nagsisilbing ilaw. Nagpatuloy naman sa panenermon ang binata.

Sinbad glanced at Zai who is at the very front of the boat. Lumapit naman siya rito. Unlike where the others are, walang lampara sa pwesto ng dalaga at tanging ilaw lamang na nanggagaling sa buwan ang nagsisilbing liwanag.

She is staring at the ocean. Tumayo naman si Sinbad sa tabi nito, "We'll soon arrive in Southernia. What are you planning to do?"

But the girl remained quiet at hinayaan na lamang ito ng binata. Tumingin lamang siya sa kamay nito noong marinig ang isang pagpatak sa sahig. Blood is dripping on her hand. Zai looked at her right hand and saw a wound slowly appearing. As if something is slicing her flesh open from the inside. Sinbad knew who is behind it. May mga sugat pa ang dalaga sa katawan nito na kaniyang nakuha noong mga nagdaang araw.

Muling ibinalik ni Sinbad ang kaniyang paningin sa dagat, "Why didn't you remove him from inside you?"

"He has uses. He's not totally a useless scum," she smirked, "And you don't have to waste your pity on me."

Zai continued to speak, "How about you? What's your worth?" Zai's emotionless eyes didn't waver, "You have the ability to kill an enemy with one strike of lightning and yet you never do it. You pointlessly restrain yourself, pulling your punches for nothing. I know the limits of your power just by seeing it and I could easily notice that you're not even reaching it halfway. You never crossed the mere median of your capability," she squinted he eyes, "Especially that time with Maddox."

Zai gave him a sharp sideways glance, "What's stopping you General Horus?" Zai smirked, "With that tremendous power and abilities, you can even easily kill me. Why are you persistently restraining yourself?"

Ngunit imbis na sagutin ang mga katanungan ng dalaga ay iba ang kaniyang sinabi, "Zai, your purpose of recruiting us, it's not just about helping you with your plan isn't it?" Sinbad glanced at her as he squint his eyes, "Our purpose is to stop things from getting out of hand." he said with full of meaning behind his words as he stare intently at Zai's natural and usual emotionless eyes.

The side of Zai's lips raised, "Who knows?"

Namayani ang katahimikan pagkatapos magsalita ng dalaga. Tumagal iyon ng ilang minuto bago muling nagsalita si Sinbad, "You know, right?" he continued staring at the vast ocean as he strengthen his resolve, "About how I feel."

Sinbad's hands clenched when he felt her smirked and heard her slightly scoff, "Throw it," Zai turned her back and walked away, "It's garbage."