𝐓𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑

The sharpest object in the world is actually soft and formless water. When pressurized to over 100 gigapascal and forced, it transforms into the world's sharpest blade. It is no other than water. Of course, not everyone knows about this.

Water is a powerful element for it can move around any obstacle in its path without losing its essential nature. It is colorless. Water is also transparent, and odorless liquid that forms the bodies of sea, lake, and even river.

Water is the basis of the fluids of any living organism. Our body uses water in every cell, tissue, and even organ. Water regulates our body's temperature and maintains functions and energy.

"Thirty-eight." Huminga ako nang malalim habang panay ang patak ng butil ng pawis mula sa aking mukha.

Two more and I'll be done for today. I know Blaze is waiting for me at home. He will probably berserk again if he can't find me.

Sa palad ko'y unti-unting namuo ang isang maliit na bagay. It's a ball of small water, and seconds by seconds, it started to expand. Pinakiramdaman ko ang aking paghinga. The moment my breathing's rhythm changed, I will start to zero again. The wind started to sway wildly. Nakapikit lang ako habang damang-dama ang pagbigat ng palad ko.

"Hoy, kidlat!" The ball in my hand popped. Dumilat ako't tumingin mula sa aking likod. Brio waves his right hand while his palm is full of bread. My face went blank as I stared at the dripping water on my hand.

"Oh? Napano ka? Ano 'yang nasa kamay mo?" Nagtataka niyang tanong. Pinagpag niya ang pangibabang damit niya na puno ng buhangin. He secured the bread on his another hand. Sunod niyang inabot sa akin ang tinapay.

"Training," I simply said. Bumuntong-hininga ako. Now, I'm really back to zero. It's been two weeks since I started doing this training. Sa durasyon ng dalawang linggo ay hindi ko nagawa kung ano ba ang dapat kong gawin.

"Ano ba 'yan? Ba't parang may tumutulo?" Ngumiwi pa siya at parang nandidiri. When I closed my palm, my hand became dry again. Tinitigan ko na lang siya habang panay ang salita niya't nakaupo sa damuhan.

During weekends, I always find myself fascinated by this forest's beauty. The gloomy dark trees, the dried tall grasses, and the strange occurrence of dandelions in the middle of this odd forest attract me. Hindi na siguro ako magtataka kung bakit isa akong weirdo sa paningin ng nag-iisa kong kasama na si Brio.

"Nandito ka nanaman." Panimula niyang sabi at kinagat ang tinapay na akala ko'y aabot niya sa akin. Lumihis ang tingin ko't pinagmasdan ang mga naglalakihang puno.

"Ano ba kasing inaatupag mo rito?" Naiinip niyang sabi.

"Training," I answered. Tumalikod ako upang umulit mula sa umpisa.

''Wala ka na ginawa buong buhay mo. Take a rest. Hindi ba'y magaling ka naman na sa lahat ng elemento?'' While sitting on the ground, I noticed a cockroach climbing onto his shoulder. Instead of shouting and stepping on the insect, he even pets its head.

''I'm not great with everything. I'm not perfect like how everyone thinks.'' Hingal kong sabi't pinunasan ang butil na tumutulo sa aking noo. It is the truth. There are things that I wanted to improve, however, most people won't understand me.

Sinubukan ko na ring kausapin ang mga maestro sa akademya. I told them that I wanted to improve my capabilities in elemental magic. Sa huli ay aaminin kong nadismaya ako dahil tinawanan lang ako't sinabing magaling naman daw ako sa lahat. For people, it's the best but for me it wasn't. Para sa ibang tao'y ako ang pinakamagaling sa lahat ngunit para sa akin ay hindi. I can do anything but not everything. Tao rin ako't hindi perpekto.

''Kamusta ka, Antonio?'' Masiglang bati ni Brio sa kausap niyang ipis. 

Nilihis ko na lang ang paningin ko sa ibang direksyon dahil alam kong si Brio lang naman ang makakaintindi kung ano man ang sinasabi ng kausap niyang ipis. I concentrated from making water balls again. Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata habang pinapakiramdaman ang paligid. However, It felt strange to hear someone's voice when I'm standing in this forest. Madalang lang kasi ang bisita ni Brio kaya ngayo'y naninibago ako.

Muli akong dumilat nang marinig kong merong humagalpak. Napako ang paningin ko kay Brio. Nahawak na siya sa kaniyang tiyan na animo'y tuwang-tuwa sa ano mang bagay ang sinabi sa kaniya ng hawak niyang ipis na tinatawag niya sa pangalang Antonio. I don't know why I felt curious. A random thought suddenly pops into my mind. Gusto kong laman kung ano ang boses ng isang ipis, kung matinis ba ito o malalim.

''Ano'ng nakakatawa?'' I asked. Panay pa rin ang halakhak ni Brio sa gilid na parang hindi ako narinig. Kung titingnan ko siya ay parang nakakatawa kung ano man ang narinig niya.

Sometimes, I wonder if people around him think that he's crazy while he's talking to an animal in public. Only two percent of this world's people are silver tongue. They are precious and rare. Only a few people knew about their existence too. Brio is the evidence that there are people better than me. I might be good in everything just as people claim but I wasn't born as a silver tongue. I'm not like Brio. I can't talk or communicate with animals.

As for me, I'm only good at studying. What I have is only academic intelligence and nothing else.

''Sorry, kidlat. Hindi ko napansin kung ano'ng topic mo. Ano nga uli 'yon? Si Antonio kasi, ang kulit! Sabi niya dinikit daw siya sa papel at pinagtripan!'' Natatawa niyang sabi. Umiwas na lang ako ng tingin at tinitigan ang puno sa aking harap.

''Wala,'' maiksi kung tugon. I concentrated on what I was doing. Huminga ako nang malalim at unti-unting namuo ang isang maliit na butil ng bolang tubig sa palad ko.

''Tsk! Ano nga!'' Ramdam na ramdam ko ang reklamo niya. ''Alam kong may sinabi ka! Sasabihin mo nanamang wala, narinig na nga kitang nagsalita kanina! Kapag may gusto kang sabihin, sabihin mo kasi!'' Napakamot siya sa batok habang nakatingin sa akin.

''I'm busy.'' The water ball grew bigger on top of my palm. On the count of three, I released and shoots the tree in front of me. Tumagos ang bola sa puno't nag-iwan ng isang malaking butas.

''Galing! Turuan mo naman ako niyan!'' Pumalakpak si Brio na animo'y bata.

''Is there no magical item that can make you create an elemental energy ball?'' I asked. That's what we call these. You release a huge amount of energy from your body. And after that, you need to concentrate on what type of element to release.

''Meron pero maliit na bola lang. Mas maganda kung natural. Halata kasi kapag peke lang ang energy ball mo.'' Brio started rubbing the cockroach's head. Kulang na lang ay halikan niya ito't yakapin.

As for me, I've already studied different types of elements. Now, I'm looking forward to enhancing my ability to control water and air elements. If your body has a dominant fire energy, you'll probably release a ball of fire.  This reminds me of that girl who approached me to teach her to enhance her abilities on ice. But it's not that easy because according to the law of Magic, you need to have a good foundation of air before creating ice.

As for that girl, it looks like her body has a dominance of fire. I've noticed that whenever she tried to release air, a small fire follows.

''What's her name?'' I asked.

''Sino?'' Tumaas ang isang kilay niya. Umiwas ako ng tingin para pagisipan kung ano ang mga susunod kong sasabihin. I'm not good in describing people. Mahirap na at baka may masabi akong hindi magustuhan ng ibang tao.

"The fire girl." I don't know how to describe her. Napakamot naman uli sa batok si Brio na para bang problemado kung sino ba ang tinutukoy ko.

"Banggitin mo kasi kung ano'ng itsura! Ang hirap mo ring kausap!" Sikmat niya.

"The girl with unusual hair and eyes. The girl who loves talking with snakes." Walang tigil kong sabi at hindi ko alam kung bakit siya nakanganga.

"That's how you describe people?" He shakes his head. Hindi ko mawari kung pang-iinsulto ba ang tugon niya. Hindi ko na lang pinansin kung ano man ang iniisip niya.

"What's her name?" I asked again.

"Bakit? Interesado ka sa kaniya?" Nakataas ang kilay ni Brio. Muli kong binuklat ang palad ko. Now, I'm going to practice creating an energy ball of air.

"I am just asking," I responded. Nakataas pa rin ang kilay niya kaya naman tinitigan ko siya dahil mukhang naghihintay lang siya kung ano ang susunod kong sasabihin.

"It looks like she's really interested in learning ice." I added.

"E 'di turuan mo." Pinitas niya ang kulay pulang bulaklak na kasingliit ng kaniyang hinliliit. At sunod niya itong nilagay sa ulo ni Antonio.

"I hope I can teach her," I made a pause as the wind around me starts getting wild. "I think I need to train more to teach someone. Besides, it looks like her body possesses more fire mana."

Elemental users like me create magical energy in our hearts which runs through the veins and throughout the body. The most common magical energy is fire and the rarest is ice. Elemental magic is inherent and acquired to birth but there are some that can develop it through deliberate training.

"Fire mana? If she is dominant in fire, it will be hard for her to learn ice." Brio commented. Hindi ako agad nagsalita sa sinabi niya. He was right. That's the truth about the law of magic.

However, I didn't know why it felt unusual for me to look forward to teaching someone. Maybe this is the first time that someone approached me boldly. And I felt like she is really motivated to learn how to produce ice.

"It doesn't matter because she uses magical items too, right?" I've noticed that Brio became pale. Bigla siyang lumitaw sa tabi ko't hinawakan ang aking braso.

"May nagsabi sa iyo?" Nilapit niya ang mukha niya sa akin. Napatalon na lang ako dahil muntik niya pang ipahalik sa akin si Antonio.

''Wala.''

''Sino'ng nagsabi sa iyo?'' Nakasalubong ang mga kilay niyang sabi na para bang takot na takot siya malaman kung sino'ng nagsabi sa akin.

''Walang nagsabi sa akin. Nalaman ko lang dahil sa mga suot niya,'' mahaba na ang paliwanag ko pero mukhang mahirap pa rin siyang ikumbinsi. Tinitigan ko na lang siya dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang kinakatakutan niya. Ano naman ngayon kung may magsabi man sa akin?

''Impossible,'' he paused and crossed his arms. ''Impossibleng malaman mo kung gumagamit ng isang magic item ang isang tao.''

''I know something just by looking at it.'' I cut our conversation. Umiling-iling siya't diretsong umupo sa may damuhan. Nagpatuloy naman ako sa kung ano man ang ginagawa ko.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto ngunit hindi na siya nagsalita muli pa. I continued with my traning too. Naging maayos ang pagpapalabas ko ng mga bola sa aking palad. I checked why he's quite, that's when I realized that he's sleeping.

Pagkalaan ng ilang minuto'y nakita kong lumipad si Antonio kaya nama'y tumalon-talon ako para lang iwasan siya. Sa kakatalon ko ay nakaabot ako sa puwesto niya. I'm shaking his shoulder nervously. Natatakot ako na baka dapuan ako ni Antonio.

"Hey, wake up! Wake up!" I gently taps his cheek. Kahit ano'ng sigaw ko ay walang epekto. Tumalon-talon ako paikot nang habulin ako ni Antonio.

I hoped once again. Tila ba meron akong napatid na kung ano dahilan kung bakit muntik nang masubsob ang mukha ko sa damo. When I looked down, I saw an invisible long piece of cloth. I opened my palm and summoned a ball of water. After couple of minutes, I started seeing a green tent.

"Hey!" I shouted. "Wake up," I added. No matter how many times I shout, he won't wake up. I sighed heavily. Sa gitna ng madilim na kagubatan ay nakatagpo ako ng isang kakaibang bagay. Muli akong tumayo't naglakad palapit.

The tent was solely made of different old pieces of clothing. Pinagtapi-taping mga damit at ang iba'y butas-butas pa. There's even jars full of water at the bottom of the tent to make it stand. Hindi ko alam kung bakit may ganitong bagay sa loob ng gubat pero hindi ko alam kung bakit may kutob ako.

I was right. Because the moment I peeked inside, I saw a whole different room filled with vines and trees. It's like entering the tent would lead you to a portal. Ginala ko ang aking paningin sa paligid. It looks like I entered a room, it even has low wooden table full of chocolates and syrups. I stopped when I saw a child laying on the thick cloth.

She looks like a five-year old girl. What is she doing in a forest like this?

"Hey..." I tried approaching the child but she was sleeping. I stared at her to see if she has something that could lead me on telling which family she belongs. But I saw none. Ang tanging napansin ko ay ang kakaibang buhok ng bata. It was so red and curly. I think I saw this hair before.

The child has chubby cheeks and rosy cheeks. Her eyelashes were to thick, her nose where so pointy and her lips were thick. If not for the old clothing that she's wearing, I could misinterpret her as a wealthy child. Mahimbing lang itong natutulog. Nagtaka ako dahil pansin kong basa ang buhok at damit nito.

Suddenly, I heard a sound. Lumingon ako sa likod dahil pakiramdam ko'y may nanonood sa amin. Maingat kong binuhat ang bata sa aking bisig at lumitaw sa tabi ni Brio. Sinulyapan ko siya't iniisip kung kaya ko ba siyang buhatin.

"I sense an unknown magic energy," I said to myself. Hinanda ko ang aking sarili.

I finally discovered what were watching us. It was a deer. Nanlaki na lang ang mga mata ko nang makita ang itsura nito. It wasn't ordinary because it has huge horns that consist two colors. It right horn has red color while the left has blue color.

I held the child tightly to my arm. Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang laylayan ng damit ni Brio. The moment the deer approached me, I rushed running for our lives. Napahiyaw na lang si Brio dahil halos kaladkarin ko na siya. I looked back and even saw Antonio flying with us.

"Aray ko! Nadaplisan itlog ko!" Brio shouted.

Hindi ako umimik kahit ang totoo'y masakit na sa tenga ang kaniyang boses. My eyes grew wider when the deer vanished from my sight. Agad akong naalarma at huminto sa gitna ng mga matatayog na puno.

"Oh? Sino 'yang hawak mo?!" Naiinis na ginulo ni Brio ang kaniyang buhok. "Ano ba 'yang tinatakbuhan mo! Natutulog 'yong tao!"

I ignored him. Tinuon ko ang aking atensyon sa buong paligid. I looked right and saw the deer staring at us. The deer lifted its legs and as a ball of fire started forming on top of its right horn. I immediately started chanting and forming water balls too.

Naging alisto ako't tinapon ito sa direksyon nito. However I was curious too know what its other horn can do because it has a blue color, that's why I created another ball of water and shoots it to the deer's direction. I'm not aiming for the deer because I won't hurt animals but my intention was to stop its attack.

Before my water balls could hit it, my energy balls froze in the mid air. Nanatili akong alerto. So that's it. The deer's horn are in red and blue color. It pertains fire and ice.

"Hoy! Ano ba!" Brio shouted once again. Hinila ko muli siya. He looked back to see what am I fighting. "Ano 'yon?! Bakit iba 'yong mga sungay?!"

"You didn't know?" I responded without looking at him. "I thought a silver tongue knows every animal?"

"Malay ko ba? Gusto mo bang kausapin ko rin?!" He panicked. Umiling ako't hinawakan ang kaniyang kamay.

"Don't," I paused and stared at him to give a warning. "We don't know what we are dealing right now. It may become aggressive when it hears a voice inside its head. Stay beside me."
Nagtago kami sa likod ng malalaking damo. Hindi na muli siya nagsalita't nilagay si Antonio sa tuktok ng kaniyang ulo.

I thought we were safe. Unfortunately, the deer went looking for us. Nakatuon lamang ang katawan nito sa direksyon namin. Upon observing the deer, I've noticed that it has different color of eyes too, blue and red. Hindi ko alam ano'ng klaseng usa ang humahabol sa amin.

"In count of three, we will run and find the exit of this place," halos pabulong kong sabi't napalunok naman siya na animo'y kabado. I counted one to three and started running with him. While running, I held the child tightly into my arms. Napasinghap ako dahil ramdam ko ang animo'y maliliit na tinik na tumutusok sa aking katawan.

"Aray! Ang hapdi ng mga damo! Ang sakit!'' He started screaming. Hindi ako umimik at tiniis ang hapdi't sakit. I chanted a spell and covered the child with a watery-barrier to protect her flesh.

From afar, I can see a dead end. Lumundag ako't umikot sa ere. I prepared myself to release water needles. I chose to attack the deer using water needles than energy balls. Water needles will be painless but it will make a target's body paralyzed for minutes.

Before throwing it to the deer, I made a water barrier to protect Brio from any attack. Humiyaw siya't nagtaka kung bakti hindi niya magawang makaalis sa kaniyang puwesto. I supposed to throw the ball but the deer immediately ran towards my direction. Muntik kong 'di mabalanse ang sarili ko sa pagtapak ko sa lupa.

''Hoy! Pakawalan mo ako! Tutulong kami ni Antonio!'' Brio shouted. Hindi ko siya pinansin at nag-isip kung ano'ng susunod kong gagawin. Releasing water needles would take me five minutes, its time consuming, what should I do next?

''Hoy!''

Muli akong naalarma dahil hindi ko namalayan ang paglapit muli ng usa sa amin. However, I noticed to the deer's body language that it wasn't ready to attack. A deer that is ready to attack will turn his head and body about thirty degrees. From looking at the deer, in front of us, it looks calm. I felt like we have something it wanted to see, to confirm this claim, I remained standing.

Binaba ko ang natutulog na bata sa makapal na tela. I created a ball of water energy shield to protect both Brio and the child. Habang palakas nang palakas at padami ang sinisigaw ni Brio ay nanatili akong nakatayo sa harap nila.

However, my hands started shaking. Kinuyom ko ang mga palad ko habang panay ang pagtulo ng butil ng pawis mula sa aking mukha. Huminga ako nang malalim at hindi tinapunan ng tingin si Brio kahit halos masira na ang aking panrinig sa pagsigaw niya.

Don't be nervous, think calmly. Think rationally.

Nakatayo lamang ako sa harap habang hindi kumukurap. The deer started running towards our direction. Tinitigan ko lang ito't hinanda ang aking sarili sa mga susunod na mangyayari. I wanted to confirm if my theory is real and if it means sacrificing my life, I would willingly do it.

However, I was right because the deer completely ignored me. And we were shocked to witness how it bowed in front of the sleeping child.