"Nangyari talaga 'yon?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Asta habang nanlalaki ang mga matang nakatingin kay Shane.

"Oo nga! Paulit-ulit?" sagot ng binata habang inaasikaso nito ang mga dala-dala niyang herbs and other medicinal plants.

"Sayang! Bakit kasi ang tagal kong magising?!" saad ng dalaga at bumuntong hininga.

Naging seryoso naman ang ekspresyon ni Shane at inilagay niya ang isang garapon sa kaniyang bag. "Pero nagsisinungaling lang ang taong 'yon," nagtataka namang tumingin si Asta sa likod ng binata. Shane continued putting all the jars in his bag, "Sa katotohanan ay galit ang taong 'yon kay Zai."

Asta's expression became serious when she heard what Shane is saying. How come he knew something like that? As far as she knows, Frēo is a very skilled warrior and hiding his presence and aura is part of his repertoire. Only Zai can feel something like that. "How do you say so?"

Shane shrugged his shoulders, "Ewan ko. I just know."

Asta's eyes squinted at the young boy's back.

"Those three, they're utterly useless right now but after 8 or 9 years.. you'll be thankful to me that I let them lived."

Asta removed herself from leaning against the wall, "Yayayain ko muna si Bonzo makipag-sparring. You're fine here?"

"Mm-hm. Kailangan kong tumulong rin kay Ero-tanda," tumango naman si Asta at lumabas na ng silid. Ngunit hindi pa siya nakakalayo ay sumilip ang binata sa pinto, "Lagot kayo kay tanda kapag nagkaroon na naman kayo ng mga malalalang sugat! Iba ang sparring sa patayan, okay?! Hoy! Nakikinig ka ba?!"

Asta's eyes remained looking forward as her mind wanders off. Specifically to what the girl said before. Alam ni Asta na may galing ang dalaga sa pagtingin sa mga kakayahan ng mga tao but the way she said those words, she's beginning to have doubts. This is the first time she became suspicious of what she said back then. Hindi niya ito masyadong binigyang pansin noon dahil sa kaniyang pag-aakala ay mga simpleng salita lamang ang mga ito. But now, those words are beginning to bug her.

"No," mabilis na tutol ni Claysen habang kaniyang iniiling ang kaniyang ulo sa dalaga. While Zai is just staring at him with her usual emotionless gaze. "You want me to release my power here? No way."

"It's fine. I'll handle it if things gets out of hand."

Claysen frowned, "Handle? How?"

Zai tilted her head to the side as she pull out her sword from its sheath, "I'll kill you."

Lahat ay natahimik dahil sa kaniyang sinabi. Sinbad sighed as he watch from the side. Maski ang ibang mga nanonood ay halos hindi nakahinga dahil sa katapatan nito sa kaniyang mga salita.

Zai, Claysen, and Rui are standing in the middle of the vacant lot where they were last night. Bigla na lamang silang pinasama dito ng dalaga at inayang makipaglaban sa kaniya gamit ang kanilang mga abilidad. They could understand if she's just going to teach them how to enhance their control but the girl just invited them because she was bored. It's written all over her face.

Rui looked at Claysen, katabi niya lamang ang kaedad na lalaki. "You're scared?"

Nagsalubong naman ang mga kilay ng lalaki sa pang-uuyam ni Rui sa kaniya. He frowned at the silver eyed boy, "I'm not scared. I'm concerned."

"Isn't that the same?"

Hinarap naman na ni Claysen si Rui, "You're really persistently getting onto my nerves, spiderboy." he said as he sarcastically smirk. Showing his irritation.

Rui tilted his head and showed a sarcastic kind smile, "I am? That's great."

Claysen glared at him, "You--"

Ngunit mabilis na umiwas ang dalawa noong bigla na lamang nilang makita ang pagwasiwas ni Zai ng kaniyang espada sa kanila. Claysen watched as the blade almost touched the tip of his nose. Rui immediately jumped away and Claysen did a backflip to create a distance.

Their hearts are thumping so loudly as they stare at the girl as she stands majestically between them. She is laxly holding her sword at her side and Claysen could clearly remember that Zai just used the sharp part of the blade at them. Not the dull one. She's not holding back.

Rui immediately prepared his strings and took his stance. His eyes widen when Zai instantly vanished from her place. It was too late for him to realize that she's behind him. Malapit na ang espada nito sa kaniyang leeg but instinctively, he was able to block it with ten layers of his strong interlacing threads. Ngunit madali lamang naputol ang mga ito kahit na kasing tibay ng mga ito ang bakal. It was too quick for him to dodge.

Pero nanlaki na lamang ang kaniyang mga mata noong makitang tumalon si Claysen at inikot ang sariling katawan upang kumuha ng momentum sa pagsipa sa dalaga. Zai dodged by backing away a bit but Claysen turned his body in midair again and kicked the side of her head.

Zai blocked his kick with her arm and she single handedly grabbed his leg and slammed his body at Rui. Bahagyang tumalsik naman ang dalawa dahil sa lakas no'n.

Claysen is clenching his teeth and his one eye is close as he remove himself from leaning on Rui's side as the silver hair lay his chest on the ground. "Don't just freeze up, spiderboy! You have a death wish? Be thankful that I saved you." he struggled to say.

Rui groaned, "Just get up already. Ang bigat mo."

Nanlaki na lamang ang kanilang mga mata noong makitang patungo na ang espada ng dalaga sa kanilang pwesto. They immediately rolled over and stood up. Tumarak naman ang espada sa lupang kinaroroonan nila kanina. Isang segundo pa lamang ang lumilipas ay mabilis na lumitaw ang babae sa tabi ng espada at hinawakan na ng dalaga ang kaniyang sandata. She lowered her body and swung her sword fast.

Rui and Claysen clicked their tongue when their clothes got ripped even though they dodged. Rui immediately directed his threads at her direction but they were cut in a second. Zai charged towards him as she cut the threads that are continuously coming at her direction.

Konti na lamang ang distansya ng dalaga sa kaniya and Rui could see that her blade is already on its way on cutting his flesh. Rui promptly made layers and layers of threads and used that to block her sword. The corner of Zai's lips raised. Rui clenched his teeth and he slightly squinted his eyes when both his strings and her sword made contact powerfully. His hands became numb because of the force.

Ngunit hindi tumigil si Zai at nagpatuloy lamang ito sa pagwasiwas ng kaniyang espada. Patuloy naman itong hinaharang ni Rui gamit ang kaniyang mga sinulid. Ganoon ang eksenang nadatnan nina Bonzo at Asta na dapat ay gagamitin ang lote para sa kanilang laban. Bonzo chuckled, "Wow, she's really not holding back," Bonzo put his hand beside his lips, "Zai, they're just kids! Won't you hold back--"

Ngunit natahimik siya noong kaniyang sinalo ang kutsilyong nanggaling mula sa pwesto ng dalaga. He grimaced as he remove his hand and the dagger in front of his face, "She just told me to shut up, didn't she?"

Rui is already struggling for breaths at nanghihina na rin ang kaniyang mga braso. Unlike Claysen, he doesn't know how to use hand-to-hand combat and that is his disadvantage that he already knew since then. He's putting all his hopes on the average control skills he has.

Zai's foot landed on his side at mabilis namang tumalsik ang batang lalaki. Mabilis na umiwas ang mga tao at tumama naman ang batang lalaki sa isang puno. His body landed on the ground, laying on his chest. Mukhang hindi na nito kayang gumalaw.

Napasinghap naman si Asta dahil sa lakas ng sipa ng dalaga sa katawan ng batang lalaki. "I don't want to meet Ero later after he finds out."

Zai then looked at Claysen. Claysen clenched his jaw and his fists. He slightly parted his lips to breathe out. Zai smirked when she felt the atmosphere finally changed. Lahat ay tumahimik habang kanilang pinakikiramdaman ang hangin.

All of a sudden, blue flames bursted out from his place. The fire is reaching almost 8 meters above ground. Causing for the crowd to look up in awe.

Claysen looked at his hand. It's more controllable than before. Tumingin ang batang lalaki kay Zai at kaniyang idinerekta ang kaniyang apoy sa kaniyang direksyon. Zai charged forward as she dodge the blazing fire. Tumakbo rin patungo rito ang batang lalaki at nagbato ng isang apoy sa mukha ng dalaga. But Zai just shoved it away with her sword and the moment the fire was gone, sumalubong naman sa kaniya ang paa ng lalaki na tatama na ng direkta sa taas ng kaniyang ulo. But Zai blocked it with the bottom of her hilt kaya tumama lamang ang sakong ng batang lalaki na natatakpan ng sapatos sa hawakan ng espada ng babae.

Claysen clenched his teeth and put all his weight on his foot. Dahil sa pagdiin nito ay tumarak ang espada ng babae sa lupa. Claysen lowered his upper body to rotate himself and using his other foot, he landed a blow on Zai's shoulder ngunit parang wala lamang ito sa dalaga. Claysen used her shoulder as a foothold and kicked the side of her head na mabilis namang naharangan ng kamay ng dalaga.

Claysen jumped away. Slightly thumbling because of his lack of equilibrium when his feet landed on the firm ground. He stood on the spot where he was earlier.

The side of Sinbad's lips raised as his arms are crossing on his chest, "His combat skills as a child is truly terrifying."

Asta laughed, "Prodigies are really scary."

Zai chuckled as she grab the hilt of her sword. Binunot niya ito mula sa lupa at akmang susugod na muli sa batang lalaki ngunit tumigil siya noong makita ang pagkinang ng isang bagay sa kaniyang harapan. It was a thread. She glanced sideways and saw that she's already surrounded by sharp strings.

Rui stood beside Claysen as he wear his usual expression. Ang kamay nito ay nakahawak sa kaniyang tagiliran. Rui's eyes squinted when he felt one of his strings got cut. He immediately knew what's coming next. He jumped and his feet landed on a string. Bago pa nito mahiwa ang suot niyang tsinelas ay tumalon na siya agad ng mataas. Claysen did the same. The moment they jumped, all the strings surrounding Zai, snapped at the same time.

Sinbad looked up at the two boys that are in midair as he smirk, "Rui's intelligence is truly magnificent. I can't believe he's just a 9-year old boy."

Bonzo's eyes widened when he saw something glisten under the sun. There's already a dome made out of threads that are surrounding their battle ground, "Woah! When did he..?!"

Asta smirked, "Since the very beginning," she grinned, "Claysen created a hole by letting his fire burst out on purpose so there's a space where they can get out."

Rui closed his open hand and the dome instantly shrank. The place was covered with dust ngunit nanatiling nakatingin ang kanilang mga mata sa mga batang nasa ere.

Asta's eyes darted to Zai's sword that seems like floating in midair. But it's clearly just being held by Rui's threads. Asta let out an interesting laugh, "He even predicted that Zai would throw her sword..!"

Bonzo could remember the sudden snap of one of Rui's strings that is surrounding Zai. That's the time when Zai threw her sword.

Umapak si Rui sa hawakan ng espada at siya'y tumingin sa baba na natatakpan ng alikabok. He squinted his eyes. He can't see her nor feel her presence.

Sinbad and the other two smirked. Sinbad spoke, "There's one rule they forgot though." Rui's eyes widen when realization hit him. He immediately looked above him. He was shock to see Zai that is already prepared to land a blow. Sinbad continued as the two continue to smirk, "Never take your eyes off your opponent."

Rui groaned when Zai kicked him on his abdomen. Dahil doon ay bumulusok siya pababa. His body hit Claysen that is hanging on one of the huge tree's branch. Both of them landed on the ground with force and they both groaned because of the pain that is spreading all over their bodies.

Nawala ang mga alikabok and all of the citizens suddenly roared and cheered. Frēo, who's watching at the top of a tree, smiled. "Now that was entertainment."

Asta stared at the two kids. Claysen has unbelievable hand-to-hand combat as a kid and he'll clearly improve as he grows older. Add up to that is his unique flames that has no normal temperature.

While on the other hand, Rui has his intelligence. He's covering his weak spots with his wits and observation skills. He can plan ahead of time even in a pressuring situation. He also learned to speak the language of Patricians just by listening and distinguishing every word with their actions. It's hard to learn that language without a teacher to guide you.

Then there's Shane. He's still unknown. She hasn't seen his skills yet and it seems that only Zai has seen his potential for something.

Zai didn't just adopted these three without thinking. It's not completely in a whim. Then why? Why did she bring them along? Asta can't help her mind from thinking suspiciously. Everything about her is a.. mystery.

Zai's feet landed on the ground and she sheathed her sword. She chuckled as she watch the two groan. She turned her back and walked away.

Ero squeezed himself out of the crowd and he sighed in frustration when he saw the situation. He clenched his fists and shouted the name of the culprit who's already nowhere to be found, "Zai! You stubborn little brat!"