AN; Another adventure and a new arc is about to begin!

Involvement and Engagement

The sun craved higher as every seconds passed, while sunlights slowly touch the ground. The shadows were forming into several figures, as the sight came into a bright enlightenment. The birds were starting to sing their usual early melodies, the trees swaying so randomly as the breeze pass by carelessly.

Since the Council finally gave orders, naghahanda na kaming lahat ngayon pabalik sa capital, which is the Magnus Town. We're right through the borders should it so at least take us a week to return. Ang mga Knights na ang bahala dito, at nakapasok narin sa wakas ang mga Eastern Knights sa bayan na sinakop ng blacks just after they heard the news. Ngayon ay nakikipagtulongan na siguro ang bawat Knights to build rehabilitations for those people na nawalan ng tirahan, dahil wala na talaga silang babalikan dun.

Since dalawa ang bayan sa borders ang nasakop ng mga blacks, hindi ko alam kung maayos din ba ang nangyari sa kabilang parte, balita ko nandun ang mga Southern students at tumulong din ang ang West.

Ngayon ay nandito ako sa isang tent. I spent the whole two hours making a report as what Headmistress had instructed, na ipapasa sa Council. I don't even know why it had to be me in the first place. But looking at the others' states earlier, siguro ako lang nga ngayon ang may libreng oras gumawa nito.

Andrea and Iyana were someone far, talking to each other about the Council stuffs, habang sina Thane naman at President ay tumutulong sa pag su-supervise sa mga Knights. While the rest of the leaders and ranked students are helping the people out. Marami parin ang nasugatan pero mabuti nalang at walang namatay. Given that battle, I didn't expect the plan to go so well. Well if Silverrium hadn't come in the first place, everything would go perfectly well.

Sa una palang kung iisipin kasalanan ko naman kung bakit nandun si Silverrium. Me and my spirits went inside the relic, we were hoping to get the whole relic itself that we came into a decision na patayin ang lahat ng halimaw, no, it was I who came into that decision at pumayag lang ang mga spirits ko. I should have listened to them in the first place.

Dahil sa nangyari, ay lumabas si Silverrium mula sa Siggilum that he himself carried it along when he escaped through Iyana's space. It only happened because I let my spirits break the seal that's been locking them inside for hundreds, probably thousands of years. At ngayon ang tanong ay, nasaan ang relic? Silverrium is dead, and although he has the relic, it didn't release too much energy na makapapasabog sana ng kalahati ng isla. That's only because the Elites were there to suppress his own energy from the interlocking with the relic.

At dahil diyan nawawala ang relic. Gods. Once Headmistress gets wind up of this news, she'll only scold me for being reckless, and I admit I did become reckless. And my stupidness caused my own spirits to disappear as well. Now as what the Headmistress said, siya na ang bahala sa paghahanap sa kanila.

Hindi ko alam kung paano pero ibibigay ko na sa babaeng iyon ang tiwala ko sa bagay na ito. But what if my spiritts disappeared along with the relic? And what if Silverrium didn't have the relic with him in the first place? No. Kung wala sa kaniya ang relic, paano niya naman napalabas ang mga halimaw na yun? Then if my spirits did disappear, how can I still use Ziandra's electricity? That only means that they are still partly connected with me. Ugh! This is a huge mess. Why do I always get involve with these things?

I sighed letting out my frustrations. Napunta ang tingin ko sa labas mg tent ng may naramdaman akong emosyon na paparating. Like I mentioned before, my range has improved to ten meters, at hindi ko alam kung temporary lang ba ito o normal na. Honestly, dumagdag lang ang ability na 'to sa problema ko. I don't have time to deal with people's emotions around me! Although even if it hurts my mind to feel those emotions, may nadadala naman itong mga enerhiya. But the fact that my head throbs every single damn time I feel different emotions is just too much!

"Umm ate may problema ba?" Napansin ko na boses ito ni Sandra.

She's carrying a cup filled with of what seemed to be...vanilla tea! I feel like it's been years mula nung araw na nalanghap ko ang bango nito. She placed the cup on the table at agad ko naman itong kinuha at dahan-dahang ininom. Ahh, teas like this is the only thing capable of clearing my thoughts.

"It's nothing really." Wala pang alam ang iba tungkol sa nabubuong tensyon sa mga awtoridad sa islang ito vut the three of them eere present when we told them about the relics. She smiled and slowly walked away.

"Sandra." Tawag ko sa kaniya bago siya umalis. She turned her head around, waiting. "I'm sorry you three had to partake in all of these." She showed yet another smile of reassurance.

"Inaamin ko na sa una ay natatakot kami, pero ginusto naming sumali because we want to witness the real world, that the three of us have to improve together and with each other." She paused and sighed. "But we didn't really do anything much. Hindi nga namin kayo natulungan nung kaaway niyo si Silverrium."

"You will only hold everyone back kung nandun man kayo kaya huwag mo nang isipin ang mga bagay na hindi niyo nagawa." She seemed hurt of what I said, pero totoo naman. I admit they're plenty strong for mere middle schoolers, but that monster is on a whole different scale. We were only lucky that the Elites came. "Rather, you should think of the things you can do." Dagdag ko which made her look back at me.

"Thank you. Thank you for the oppurtunity you gave us to be a part of this experience. We learned many things, at naging posible lang ang lahat ng iyon dahil sa'yo." I feel flattered because of what she said.

"I feel like you three can still grow more and become the best team out there." I replied back. "Cassie's a worrywart but she's smart. Reina's really stubborn and reckless but she's tough, and you care so much for the both of them to the point that you sometimes feel that you can't do anything without them. But, among the three you're mature and the most dependable one. You can straighten them out. And with the three of you with your characteristics, there's no doubt you're the best team out there." She was so happy hearing those words from me that she looked away in embarrassment. But it's useless to hide it dahil sa ability ko. When have I become so good at flattering people?

"You say we're the best team, but if we're talking about being the best team, we're still far from the ideal team we want to be, and that ideal team is apparently the best out there." Ngayon ako na ang medyo nagulat sa sinabi niya. She said that so happily smiling at me full of gratitude tapos tumakbo palayo.

"Ideal team huh? I think I got an idea who's she talking about." Hindi na ako nagulat nang pumasok si President na kasama niya si Thane.

"Ha obvious naman kung sino eh." Sabi naman ni Thane with his usual smirk. I only rolled my eyes in annoyance.

"Ano ba ang pinunta niyo dito?" Tanong ko at bigla nlaang silang sumeryoso as they both looked at each other then back at me.

"About the report, did you include about that suspicion against the Zyrendel Kingdom?" President asked, concerned.

"Of course I didn't. I know this it's a confidential matter na hindi dapat malaman ng Council." It's about that suspicion na may isang traidor sa Council who's making contacts with the blacks, and Zyrendel is unfortunately involve dahil sa kanila pinapadala ang mga magical resources na ito which is highly valued by Magnus country.

"Pres and I inspected those wooden boxes na puno ng mga magical orbs, iba-iba ang laki nito and they are top-class magical items." Sabi ni Thane. "Dahil sa sinira na ang ibang supplies, mga sampung malalaking boxes nalang ang natitira. Once we head back to the capital, ipapaimbestiga namin kung sino ang gumawa nito and we'll track things from there."

"Nakita niyo naman siguro ang mga Knights sa paligid diba? Unfortunately I don't trust them. If they're so ready to follow the Council, I'm afraid they'll report back as soon as they see something suspicious. Hindi niyo naman siguro pinakita ang mga boxes sa kanila diba?"

"So you already know about the dispute between the Saints and the Council." President said, clearly amazed. Although this is not the time to be amaze. Lately, the President's been lowering his guard against me kaya paminsan-minsan nararamdaman ko nag mga emosyon niya when I thought he didn't have any. He's just another person with mysteries.

"It isn't hard to notice."

"Tinago namin at ng iba ang mga boxes." Sagot ni Thane agad, keeping us back on track. "And we were just discussing about how we bring them with us back to the capital without notice." Since magiging kasama namin ang ibang Knights pabalik to keep us company, mahirap nga ito.

"Can't you just ask those Elites for help? Sigurado akong mapapalabas nila ang mga boxes na walang kahirap-hirap. Saan na ba sila?"

"They are outside, strolling. But they don't know about any of these." Sagot ni President. "So we can't involve them. Plus they will leave soon, and disappear once again like they never appeared."

"Strolling huh?" Somehow I doubt that. Rather than strolling, they must be investigating. "I have a hunch na may alam ang mga Elites nito, ayaw lang talaga nilang mapasabak sa gulo ng Council at ng mga Saints."

"Makes sense. Pero kung ganoon ay bakit sila nandito?"

"True. Given the fact that the Council gave an order not to interfere at that moment, pero nandun sila. It only makes me think that they are an independent government, that they serve as a line between the Saints and the Council."

"Are you possibly indicating that the Elites serve neither both parties?" I nodded at President's question.

"But with how things are getting messy, I have a feeling that they will choose a side sooner or later." Sabi ko at uminom ng vanilla tea. The aroma was refreshing my thoughts.

"Your hunches are usually right, kaya hindi na ako magugulat kung mangyayari nga yun. Pero kung pipili sila kung kay saan sa dalawa sila susunod, won't this literally and officially split the governments in two? And if that happens, everything will fall into total chaos."

"Obviously." I sighed. "And they're going to use the students to exert orders."

"Students?"

"Tulad ng nangyaring away laban sa blacks, how they use students for the Council won't move at hindi din naman papayag ang mga Saints na wala manlang magagawa." Seriously what is wrong with this island? The Black Clan, Exodus, and now even the Council or possibly the Saints, are our enemies.

"Hindi magagawa yun ni Headmistress. She loves her people, she won't let them be harmed!" He exclaimed . I was expecting his reaction.

"Thane, alam kong pinagkakatiwalaan mo siya. But I'm just saying the possibility, at kung mangyari nga yun, Saints or even the Council, will use students against each other."

"Keila sumusubra ka na sa mga iniisip—" President suddenly stepped in front of Thane, stopping him on what he was about to say. He looked back at Thane, eyeing him. The latter looked away at lumakad palabas ng tent na galit.

"Thane is too loyal, whatever you do, don't trust him." Wika niya, and it made me frown.

"Aren't you friends? Are you sure you should be saying things like that?"

"I'm saying it because I'm his friend." He sighed. "So tell me what can we do to avoid that situation. Unlike Thane, I care for the Academy, not the Saints nor the Council." No wonder he's the Student Council President.

"I suggest each leaders to solidify their group standings. Like drawing an obvious line between the governments at ng mga Academy students."

"You mean...build an organization ourselves involving the groups?" I didn't even say that. He's building that kind of an idea on his own.

"I'm not saying you build an organization itself. Pero kayo na ang bahala kung ano ang gagawin niyo. I'm just suggesting a countermeasure if things get out of hand."

"A secret student organization against both the Saints and the Council huh? Won't this complicate the dispute between the governments more?"

"That's why I'm suggesting another idea. Students either choose a side or they sit this issue out, at huwag nang sumali sa munting away nila. But if you don't really want students to be harmed, then you should just not involve yourselves. Pero kung mangyari ngang gagamitin ng Council o ng mga Saints ang mga studyante, then I'll leave it you guys to decide the future of your Academy—or the island."

"And those wooden boxes filled with magical items? There's only about an hour left until the students finish their preperations to leave. If only Thane could use his teleportation." But he can't.

Dahil marami ang Knights ngayon sa paligid, if they notice Thane's disappearance or the slightest change, walang makakaalam kung ano ang mangyayari. It's only been a theory, but for me, those Knights indeed follow th Council. Hindi naman ganito kalala ang sitwasyon na ito noon, pero simula nang bumalik na sa pwesto ang kapatid ni Robert, nag-umpisa nang magbago ang mga bagay.

Howard Callyan huh? That guy's the current leader of the Council, and I haven't met him yet. But I don't think I'll like him. Mahirap din kung mapasok ako sa gulo ng isla na ito, I'll be stuck here if that were to happen. So I need to make sure I won't involve myself in the future.

"Ako na ang bahala sa mga boxes na yun. Even if Thane were to use teleportation, one hour won't ve enough. At the meantime, kayo na ang bahala sa mga paparating na problema ng Academy niyo."

"You always talk as if you aren't involve."

"Because I try my best not to, and yet I still do." I do wonder myself why.

But for the first time, I saw him smile down at my direction, tapos lumakad na siya palayo. Pero bago pa man siya makalabas sa tent ay tumigil siga bigla.

"You know, you really are strange." He said which made me frown. Ano naman ang ibig niyang sabihin sa sinabi niya? Bago ko pa man matanong ay umalis na siya.

Pero kung susundin nga ni Preisident ang suggestion ko na bumuo ng secret organizations, although that was not my intention, that would throughly go against either two factions, saan kaya ako kakampi? And if the Academy is to build a secret organization, at kung malaman ito ng Council, a possibility of a war might exist, a civil war. Then there's the Elites. Kay sino sila kakampi?

But thinking things clearly, I can't really blame or accuse the Council of anything, dahil hindi ko pa alam kung ano ang pinaglalaban nila, same with the Saints. I only know that the Council feel threatened by the Saints' power politically and their connections. They value their high positions so damn much that they are willing to abandon a small town by the boundary of the East.

Alam ba nila na tumataas lamang ang bilang ng mga tao na ayaw sa kanila? And then there's the Saints. What if they really are planning on overruling the Council? Hindi ko alam. But it's probably—no, it is better not for an outsider like me to get involve. Pero paano kung nakapasok na ako sa gulo? Kung ganoon nga, paano ako makakapabas dito?

If things get worse, seems I have no choice but to break all contact with this island—including the Saints. That way the Council won't see me even the slightest pest in whatever plans they have, at ganoon din ang mga Saints.

Now let's get back to our current problem, paano ko malalabas ang mga boxes na ito—of course! Ugh why haven't I thought of it first?

Inubos ko na ang vanilla tea at nilagay pabalik ang cup sa lamesa tapos ay kinuha ko ang itim na folder. Tsaka ko ito nilagay sa may medyo malaking inside pockets sa loob ng cloak ko. They were distributimg new cloaks earlier dahil medyo malamig kaninang umaga lalo na sa mga tao, and I happen to steal, I mean, borrow one from a Knight. Not that they'll notice one's missing.

Tinabi ko ang takip na nagsisilbing pintuan sa malaking pulang tent na ito. Tumataas na ang araw, at mas maraming tents na ngayon ang nakatayo sa paligid na tinutuluyan ng mga mamamayan. It seems the Council decided to let them stay here at the borders until the town is in a better state.

Lumakad ako papunta sa may mga karwahe kung saan nakaupo na ang nga studyante habang ang iba naman ay tumutulong sa pagbuhat ng mga gamit. Maraming karwahe ngayon ang naka linyada, may mga kabayo din. But just like how I travelled from the capital to reach this place, sasakay nalang ako sa kabayo.

Habang hinahanap ko si Iyana, I can't help but notice most students that got injured. Generally, the battle went well with no deaths, pero marami parin ang nasugatan that even our healers can't afford to waste most of their energy to heal dahil babalik din naman kami sa Magnus Town. Pero hindi ko inaasahan na ganito karami ang mga nasugatan. If I'm going to rate it, about six over ten, it might not be a huge number but it is considered many.

Nakarating ako sa unahan ng mga karwahe at nakita si Iyana kasama si Andrea na naglalagay ng mga saddles sa sarili nilang kabayo. I approached them slowly but they seem to be having a conversation.

"Haays natapos narin ang lahat." Narinig komg wika ni Iyana with a bored yawn. "At akala ko pa naman tatagal pa ito."

"Bakit parang gusto mo pa patagalin 'to?" Tanong ni Andrea. "I thought you want to rest as quickly as possible?"

"It's because I want to rest that I don't want to go back." Iyana replied, almost frowing.

"You always complain, but this time I can see that there's something in your mind." Andrea can always pick things like that easily. So it's almost impossible to hide anything from her. "At hindi kita titigilan kung hindi mo sinasabi kung ano ito." And she's always like that.

"I always complain kaya natural maraming bagay na nagpapagulo sa isipan ko." And there's Iyana trying not to bring the topic up, kung ano man ito. She always hides her thoughts away, at walang makakabasa ng mga iniisip niya because of that poker face. In short, she just doesn't want anyone to meddle. But she chose the wrong person to face for that principle.

"Just tell me what in the world are you complaining about." Naiinis na salita ni Andrea.

"I'm complaining about how humans in this world is so boring. End of the story." Pero bigla nalang na hinawakan ni Andrea ang mga balikat ni Iyana, making the latter look at her.

"Sasabihin mo ba o babaliin ko ang mga buto mong ito?"

"Fine, fine." Agad ni Iyana na tinapik ang mga kamay ni Andrea and annoyingly stared at her. Then after a moment she sighed then returned her gaze to the brown horse in front of her. "It came earlier than expected." Then she looked back at Andrea, this time her face filled with trouble. "My engagement."