A New Game Was Already Starting

"Engagement with whom?" Nagulat sila nang nakita nila ako dito sa tabi, and with the question, they remained looking at my direction as I walk towards them.

"Are you eavesdropping?" Iyana asked annoyed that I get to hear about it too.

"In a sense, yes."

"Never mind that, so Iyana kay sino ka ipapakasal?"

"Shut it Andrea. Hindi pa ako ipapakasal okay? It's just another stupid engagement."

"At matagal na tayong nagsasama hindi ko alam na may minamahal ka pala Iyana. It came off as a surprise." Seriously, that's so not Iyana at all. Ano ba ang nangyayari? And she just glared at me dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Tss. It's a political marriage stupid." And who is she calling stupid now? But it just shows that she's not pleased by the idea. At political marriage?

"Ano ba ang ibig mong sabihin sa political marriage na sinasabi mo?" Sabay lang nila akong dalawa tinignan.

"Seriously? Saang banda ng mundo ka ba nanggaling na kahit political marriage lang wala kang alam? And here I thought you're actually a genius." Andrea asked in disbelief. And genius? Siya lang ang nag-iisip ng ganoon. "Kahit sinong tao alam na normal lang ang political marriage. It's a way for nobles and other aristocrats to form connections with other family to gain more political power, and also to make the family stronger."

"Ah so it's all about social rankings and reputations." I sighed. Hindi ko alam na may mga ganito palang nangyayari sa mundong ito. So it's normal for noble families? "So it's like an offering of some sort in order to acquire power."

"You really have a twisted mind if you put it that way but you have a point, parang ganoon nga." Sabi ni Iyana.

"You seem rather displeased about the idea though."

"Well of course I am! Naiinis ako. Remember the Captain of the first squadron of Knights?" Ah Captain Aric Verto, there's no way I'd forget that man.

"Wait, you mean he's the man your engaged to?!" Hindi makapaniwalang salita ni Andrea which made Iyana intentionally stepped on her foot. "Argh! Ano ba?!"

"It's annoying how you always jump into conclusions! Hindi siya. He gave me a letter that time back at the tent na galing mismo sa ama ko." So even the Klein has connections with the Captain of the first squadron of Knights. That family is cannot be underestimated.

"The letter says that I absolutely must return safely and immediately to discuss my engagement. There are three candidates for my marriage and I was told to get to know them when I was a child. But due to many things going on I never had any chances of meeting them. Kaya akala ko hindi na matutuloy ang engagement pero dapat ay inasahan ko na hindi ganoon kadali ang iniisip ko."

"Simula bata ka pa? At hindi ba at 16 ka palang?" Tanong ko.

"Engagements for nobles always start at a young age for both persons to get to know each other. And it is expected for both to get married right after finishing the two-year quest." Andrea answered. Ah right, after four years of high school in the Academy, may dalawang taon pa na quest na dapat tapusin ng mga undergraduate students. In other words, around 21 or 22 years old. Isn't that too young?

"It is done so para malaman kung gaano kalaki ang achievements na makukuha ng isang tao pagtapos ng quest that may possibly help the the family's reputation." Dagdag niya. So it is indeed a game of social rankings after all, to make sure the future is set for both families.

"And so who are you going get married to?" Tanong ko kay Iyana.

"Like I said may tatlong candidates sa engagement na ito. Given how powerful my family is, maraming pamilya ang sumusubok na makuha ang atensyon ko, pati narin kina kuya. Hoping their sons and daughters will be chosen for an engagement."

"But the Klein already has many connections within the island, even outside. Why would your father be in a hurry to get you engage as soon as possible?"

"Iyan din ang iniisip ko. Dahil sa malaking reputasyon na ng pamilya ay hindi na dapat namin kailangan ng political marriage, reason why my father didn't force me to meet those three candidates when I was child. Mostly because he probably wanted me to be free while I can. But now that it has come to this I have no choice but to give in and that's the sole reason I don't want to get back immediately."

"You keep mentioning these three candidates. Sino ba sila?" Si Andrea na ang nagtanong.

"One is a prince from a neighboring Kingdom, second is the son of the Prime Minister from that same country, and the third one is the Council's son, naturally here in Magnus." She said with her usual bored expression, but Andrea and I were surprised, no we're amazed.

"You're going to choose from three powerful people at yan lang ang reaksyon mo?!" Sigaw ni Andrea sa kaniya but Iyana just rolled her eyes in annoyance, like expecting her reaction.

"I'm not the one who's choosing, it's my father."

But wait a minute, let me think about it. Those three people's background are too much. A prince, a son of a Prime Minister who's soon going inherit the same title, and the Council's son. Mas malakas pa pala ang kapangyarihan ng Klein kaysa sa inaakala ko, to be able to get an engagement proposal from those three people is unbelievable.

Kung pipiliin niya ang prinsipe ay magiging prinsesa siya gaining more and more political power, kung pipiliin niya ang anak ng Prime Minister, her family's future will be secured and protected, and if she choose the a Council member's son, mas magiging malakas lamang ang kapangyarihan ng Klein sa islang ito, so much that even the Saints would feel threatened.

But there are risks choosing these people. With the prince, the Klein might just gain more political enemies, with the soon-to-be Prime Minister, the Klein might shoulder the burden of being one of the Kingdom's heads, and finally with the son coming from a Council member, the Klein might just get involve between the dispute in the government. No wonder they want Iyana to return immediately and discuss these problems.

My eyes widened, almost realising something. I see. I see! This too great of a coincidence that I didn't expect Iyana's father to be this cunning, and she did mention na ang ama niya mismo ang pipili ng papakasalanan niya. Choosing among the three will bring their family prestige and even greater power. But why and where would they use that power on?

May pakiramdam ako na may malaking plano ang Klein sa kung ano man ang gagawin nila, but I'm feeling this is too big to be just a coincidence. There's a connection that's going on between this dispute in the island's government and how the Klein uses this opportunity to gain more power.

Then I stared back at Iyana na ngayon ay nakikipag-usap kay Andrea tungkol sa kung gaano ka swerte si Iyana sa papakasalanan niya. Andrea's too ignorant to notice, and I doubt Iyana is aware of that possibility too, but if she go down deeper through this ay malalaman niya rin ito agad.

"You should meet them Iyana! You're lucky to be born as Klein!" Masayang wika ni Andrea.

"Lucky? I don't know how you view things in your own perspectives, but I don't see her lucky at all Andrea. Iyana, I hope I'm just overracting but I feel like you're being used as a pawn here and I know I shouldn't involve myself but as a friend I don't want you to be treated that way." Seryoso kong sabi. Both stared at me, and Iyana's eyes widened.

Hindi niya siguro inaasahan na ganoon ang sasabihin ko. Like I said, I never intended to have friends, but when I do, I don't plan on losing them.

"I appreciate your concern, Keila." She said with a smile, but turned so serious after a moment. "But you should never get involved with the Klein's businesses, I've taken your warning and you should take mine too. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang iniisip o nakikita mo sa engagement na ito, but don't pry deeper. You're always correct but I'll figure things out myself, at hindi ko kailangan ng tulong niyong dalawa sa problema kong ito." What she said left me and Andrea speechless. Then she broke the awkward atmosphere with a yawn.

"Mukhang ako lang ang walang alam sa seryosong bagay na ito, but like you said, I won't help you with this Iyana." Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Andrea. Usually kasi palagi siyang nangingialam sa mga bagay bagay, and there's no way she'll let this one pass by with her doing nothing. Then she looked at me. "Ah oo nga pala, bakit ka ngaba pumunta dito?" Ah that reminded me!

"Iyana, I need your ability."

Several minutes later, nawala na ang problema namin sa mga boxes with Iyana simply opening up the space into another, tsaka nilagay namin ang mga boxes doon. Thane can't use his teleportation sa mga lugar na hindi niya pa napuntahan, that's why he couldn't help for the second time. The wooden boxes were put in an empty storage room sa likuran ng bahay ni Jia. No one would volunteer since anyone won't like that kind of trouble, dahil tinatago namin ito pati sa mga Saints.

The President decided it was for the best, and they're going to investigate things on their own. Hindi nga lang sila kampante kay Thane, and I understand where they're coming from. Right now, only the ranked students know about this including the group leaders and some of their subordinates, pati narin ako.

Then after that discussion, we were on the way heading back to the Capital. Nakasakay ako ngayon sa isang itim na kabayo kasama sa tabi ko si Iyana and beside her is Andrea. In front of us ay sina Thane at President kasama ang ibang group leaders. It should at least take us two or three weeks to return. And those Knights went on their own ways as usual.

And we could just use teleportation but for some reason, hindi pumayag si Captain Aric saying it's better to save our energies. It's a bit suspicious how several Knights surround our huge numbers though.

"K-keila m-may pro—problema ba?" Base on the stuttering, it was obvious who's the owner of the voice.

Ang nga karwahe namin ay nakalinyada sa likuran at marami ding nga kabayo sa unahan at sa pinakadulo sa likod kung saan nakasakay ang ibang studyante. The ones leading the front is the Captain, followed by Knights tapos ang mga nakakataas na mga students. Looking at our numbers, it would look like we're a marching caravan. Since ako lang ang nakarinig sa mahinang boses ni George, I matched my horse's speed to his making us move together in pace.

"I somehow have an odd feeling that something is about to happen." Hindi ko ngaba alam kung bakit malakas ang mga pakiramdam ko sa mga bagay na ito, is it what they call sixth sense? Though a sense that could detect dangers ahead is pretty convenient.

"M-mukhang mala—lim k-kasi ang iniisip mo eh.." him trying to hard not to stutter just makes it even annoying. No wonder no one notices his presence, and the fact that no one would talk to him. It's not because he's a bad person, nakakainis lang talaga ang paraan ng pagsasalita niya. He's so different compared to when he's using his ability.

"Never mind that, George why do you always stutter?" I'd feel bad for asking kung sakit niya ito.

Sinubukan niyang buksan ang bibig niya pero agad din naman itong sinara. Mas nahirapan siguro siyang magsalita dahil sa tinanong ko. It was probabaly insensitive of me.

"Is it because you lack confidence?" I asked again. "You're traumatized? O kundisyon mo na talaga yan simula bata ka pa?" I waited for a few moments pero hindi siya sumagot at tumitingin lang sa ibaba ng itim na kabayo na sinasakyan niya. I feel sadness from him all of the sudden and guilt crept over me.

"P-people c-constatantly judge me ev-ever since ba-bata pa lamang ako—ako." Buong akala ko hindi na siya sasagot but he was just simply encouraging his words through his mind bago niya sabihin. "Expectations." Yet he managed to say that word well. "M-mahirap mabu—mabuhay sa mundo n-na puno ng ma-mapanalait na t-tao..."

So it was because of his surroundings. Expectations huh? Naturally, the enemy of almost all people. May mga tao lang talaga sa mundo na ito na nabuhay gamit lamang ang saltang iyan. They live in such an expected way so that they can fulfill their lives as people around them see fit. They are people without much of a freedom, at hindi ito maiintindihan ng mga tao may kalayaang mamili ng mga gusto nilang gawin.

Kahit gusto man nila ito o hindi dahil mas mabuti pa ito kaysa masabihan ng masasakit na salita. And here I thought it was something to do with him being a Cursed Blood. Tinanong ko ito sa kaniya hoping to learn something from where he came from, pero nagkamali ako. Should I have not pried about his life? Because it's annoying.

"K-knowing my p-personality...n-no one would t-trust me in every..thing... k-kaya nagulat ako nung n-napansin mo a-ako and s-someone strong like y-you would act-actually...trust me." He paused, almost out of breath. "So..t-thank you." That came off as a surprise.

"I trusted you because you said you just might be able to do it, so I took my chances of leaving it to you than the others who haven't presented their abilities even though they're chances are even powerful." I sighed. Why am I even explaining this? "And you were able to stand for yourself as to dare suggest an idea that none would take because of the huge risks. George Dwelt, you're stronger than you think you are. Kailangan mo lang talagang magtiwala sa sarili mo."

"Although you suggested the idea because you trust your abilities right?" Dagdag ko, and he surprisingly nodded. We were opposites, noon ay mas pinagkakatiwalaan ko ang sarili ko kahit ng kaonti kumpara sa ability ko. "Well you shouldn't trust your ability too much. It might just be more complicated than you think that would harm others—even you, someday." Lalo na isa siyang Cursed Blood. There's no telling kung hanggang saan ang maaabot niya sa ability niya if he's from that same lineage.

"Ang seryoso naman yata ng atmosphere niyo dito." Jia said from behind as she quickened her pace to match ours. He patted George's shoulder as she shook her head. "Alam mo kasi George, may mga tao lang talaga kasing hindi binigyan ng tinatawag na confidence. So you don't have to push yourself." Why do I feel like she's just insulting him?

"T-talaga?" And George is oblivious to it.

"Halt!" Sigaw ng isang boses na nangagaling kay Capatain Aric, and at his command, everyone stopped. Bakit biglang tumigil? Ni hindi pa nga kami nakadalawang oras sa paglalakbay pabalik.

Dahil mataas si Captain Aric, ay nakikita ko siya mila dito sa likuran. A bird, which is an eagle, screeched through the vast skies then landed on Aric's shoulder. Humarap siya sa direksyon naming mga studyante na dala-dala ang seryosong mukha niya.

"Bandits are up just ahead, waiting for us. Siguro ay napadpad lang sila sa lugar na ito, pero kailangan nating mag-ingat." It's cool how that eagle just warned Captain about it. "Ang mga Knights na ang bahala sa kanila, and for the meantime we go through a different direction, although it'd take us longer for us to reach the Capital. Alam kong may nasugatang mga studyante na kailangan ng mabilis na atensyon ng mga doktor, but I cannot harm most students than you already were."

Now they start to care for us suddenly? Na nung kahapon lang ay kami ang pinasabak nila sa away laban sa mga blacks? Although I understand his point, he's overracting. Mga bandits lamang sila, and there's actually more than a hundred of us here.

Tinignan niya ang isang Knight na nasa tabi niya ay tumango lamang ito, as the latter took ten Knighs with him at mabilis silang tumungo sa unahan with their horses runnidng wild. At sampung Knights lang ang dinala niya, ibig sabihin hindi ganoon ka-seryoso bilang mga kalaban ang mga bandits na ito. Yet we still change our direction to the left path.

With a sigh, wala kaming magawa kundi sumunod sa Captain. All the students riding in carriages behind and most that on horses, didn't seem understand the situation dahil hindi nila narinig ang sinabi ni Captain kanina lamang. As we headed to left path, naririnig namin ang mga pagsabog sa kabilang parte, at wala akong ideya kung ano ang mga nangyayari. But since Captain didn't seem to mind, mukhang kaya na ng mga Knights yun.

We continued traveling through this path for several hours at wala naman kaming nakikitang ikasasama ng paglalakbay na ito. Nang bigla na naman kaming pinatigil ni Captain Aric.

"The Knights will set up a camp here, we shall rest and continue again tomorrow." He said raising his hand for eveyone to look at him.

Some let out groan dahil wala namang magiging problema kung magpapatuloy pa kami because resting will just delay us more especially that we took this longer path, and I was one of those people. Pero dahil pababa na nga talaga ang araw, ay naiintindihan ko ulit ang punto ni Captain. As he said, the Knights set out tents in different areas habang napapalibutan kami ng mga punongkahoy.

"Group leaders and ranked students, please follow me." Sabi ni Captain with a hint of seriousness.

Tapos ay bumaba naman sa mga kabayo nila ang mga tinawag niya and urgently followed him. It must be really important for him to need their presence. But since it doesn't concern me, I paid them no heed after I watched them walked through the woods.

Napaupo ako sa may isang putol na kahoy na nakahiga lamang sa lupa. Agad naman akong napatingin sa kalangitan, it was already pitched-black with the sun setting down in any minute now. Umiiba din ang simoy ng hangin, this ambiance told me it was going to rain eventually, hindi ko nga lang alam kung kailan. Anyone who have lived near the oceans pr the countrysides almost all their life could tell the weather despite the slight differences.

Although the sun hasn't even left the skies yet, I can tell the mist already forming through the areas. Napansin ito ng iba pero hindi din naman nila ito bingyan ng kung anong kahulugan. We must be still in the deep of the forest for the mist to build up here, forming into thick air. Energy. I feel energy through this  mist.

"Ikaw ba ang may gawa nito?" Tanong ko without even turning around, to a figure walking towards me. "Reina Heil."

"Pasenya na kung ginawa ko 'to, but we need to act through drastic methods if we want to avoid something." I frowned as I look straight into her eyes, although she probably couldn't see me with this hair.

"Avoid something?" She nodded. "Ano ang ibig mong sabihin?" Is this something to do with my bad feeling from earlier morning?

"You know Sandra's ability to sense anyone within her 20 meters range. Matapos ang nangyaring pag-iba ng daan kanina dahil sa mga bandits ay pinagdesisyunan niyang mapagmatyag so she activated her ability. When she confirmed a group of unknown people has been following us probably since we left the borders sinabihan niya kami ni Cassie nito." Captain Aric must have noticed it firsthand rason kung bakit umiba bigla ang danana namin.

Then he sent a total of eleven Knights dahil sabi niya mga bandits lamang sila, people who steal anything. Pero bandits lang ba talaga sila? And if the Captain sent out his Knights already at may nakasunod parin sa amin, ibig bang sabihin hindi nagtagumpay ang mga Knights niya? Or is it another different group of people that's after us? Did he call for those high ranked students to discuss this?

"Ginamit ni Cassie ang ability niyang e-zoon ang mga visions niya, then nakita niya ang mga taong ito. A total of ten, they all wore black cloaks and white masks. Pero walang sign ng mga blacks na nakalagay sa likuran ng mga cloaks nila. So I don't think it's the clan." Dagdga pa ni Reina sa impormasyon niya.

For those blacks, their crest is very important, they won't go anywhere without wearing one. At alam ng lahat yun, after all they fought those blacks. Or are they simply trying to confuse us by not thinking they're blacks? No, it's very unlikely. They just suffered a great loss in that battle and even flee just not to get caught up with Silverrium.

Imposible namang agad agad nalang silang magpapadala ng sampung tao para habulin kami even knowing that there are more than a hundred of us including the Knights. Hindi sila ganoon katanga. Unless they aren't blacks but simply just a group of bandits.

"So you changed the density of the air making it thicker resulting this mist. I assume you did that para maligaw ang mag sumsunod sa atin." She nodded once again. Our trails also disappears with this mist along with the traces of our energy. Hindi din nila matutunton kung nasaan ang source ng enerhiyang nakabalot sa mist because it's spreading.

"Malayo ba sila kung nasaan tayo ngayon?" I asked looking back at the skies. It's already darker compared to earlier, plus the mist has become too strong, pero makikita mo parin ang daan. I suddenly sensed another person coming, two of them.

"Medyo malayo-layo sila, pero kung mananatili tayong tumigil dito sa gabi ay baka masabak na naman tayo sa laban." Sabi ni Sandra. "Pero sigurado naman ako na ang Knights na ang bahala nito kung magkaganoon at wala din naman silang nanakawin sa atin, if ever they did, kayang-kaya naman ng mga studyante ang sarili nila kung mga bandits lang nga sila. But.."

"But the problem is that if they aren't just bandits huh? If they managed to defeat those Knights na pinadala para sa kanila, siguro nga mas malakas pa sila, but there's also another factor that our followers are divided into groups."

"A-are we overracting?" Tanong ni Cassie. "May malaking posibilidad na mababit silang tao."

"It's not being overracting, it's called being cautious." I answered.

"Sasabihan ba natin ang iba nito?" Tanong niya ulit.

"We should. Pero may pakiramdam ako na may ginagawa na sila laban dito. For now let's just keep watch and wait for orders." Dahil wala kaming magagawa sa sitwasyong ito kung hindi ay maghintay sa kung ano ang gagawin ng mga sumsusunod na ito sa amin, bago pagdesisyunan ang gagawin.

Umalis na sila pabalik sa karwahe na kung saan sila nakasakay. Habang ako naman ay lumalad pabalik sa kung saan ko iniwan ang kabayo ko. Hindi mahirap matunton ang isnah puting kabayo na nakatali sa may isang puno dhail sa kulay nito. As the moon rises, it illuminates the area although the mist still clouds some of my visions.

Habang naglalakad ako patungo sa kabayo ko para ilipat ito, may naramdaman akong emosyon na nagtatago sa likuran ng puno kung sana ko mismo tinali ang kabayo. The horse's tail was swaying, as her head was lowered searching for a grass to eat.

Hindi ko alam kung kay sinong emosyon ito pero pinatuloy ko lang ang pagtungo sa direksyon niya. Tumigil ako sa uanahan ng kabayo, as I carressed her back with my palm. The person behind this tree must find this amusing.

"What game do you think you're playing?" Tanong ko while my eyes never left the horse. I heard a low chuckle.

"We've underestimated you for so long now. Hindi namin inaasahan na malayo na ang nararating ng taong yun dahil sayo." What is he talking about? At oo, lalaki ang boses pero hindi parin siya nagpapakita. "And this game is fun alright, but it'll be more fun with more players. Follow me." Hindi ko alam kung inuutusan niya ako pero dahil sa curiosity ay sumama ako sa kaniya.

Nakasuot siya ng itim na cloak, at wala nga itong sign ng puting flag with a white skull in the middle with a red lining downward from the upper right. Dahik nakatalikod siya sa akin ay hindi ko nakikita ang mukha niya, but now it should be clear who he is. Isa siya sa mga sumusunod sa amin.

Tumigil siya bigla sa paglalakad nang mas lumayo-layo na kami sa camp. The smoke emiting from the bonfire was seen from here, and the small torches of fire.

"Now you've invited a player, what now?" Tanong ko at humarap siya sa direksyon ko. Just like what Cassie had found out, may suot nga silang puting maskara na natatakpan ang buong mukha niya maliban nalang sa bibig.

"You're misunderstanding something, Keila Willar." Is it safe for me to assume na hindi niya kilala ang totoong pangalan ko? Ibig sabihin this doesn't have anything to do with me. And misunderstanding? "Matagal ka ng kasali sa larong ito, and you will regret joining. So I advice you quit the game before it's too late."

"If so why did you say the game will be more fun with more players?"

"Because we want to add another player, to our side." Add another one to their side huh? Ano ba ang ibig niyang sabihin? Recruiting? And just what is he?

"And just who do you plan to add?" He smirked.

"Someone you know very well." I flinched because of what he said. Someone I know?

"Ano ba talaga ang kailangan mo?"

"Ever since the beginning, you've been a thorn to our side, Keila Willar. But we paid less attention to you dahil inaakala naming wala ka rin namang madudulot sa huli, but our enemy has reached this far because of you, therefore you must be eliminated."

"In other words papatayin mo ako."

"We simply just want you to step aside so you do not get involve, but if you do otherwise then yes."

"You seem confident."

"Because I am."

"Want to try out that confidence?"

"I want to, pero hindi pa ngayon ang oras. We were only here to warn you."

"'We'? Nasaan ang nga kasamahan mo?"

"I decided to go alone, dahil tiyak na maglalaban-laban tayo kung magpapakita kaming lahat sayo. Oh the rest with me are just my men, huwag mo silamg problemahin."

"You're already causing me enough trouble." He laughed.

"Well then I suppose it's time to leave. Dahil tulad ng sinabi ko, we're only here to give you a warning. A warning not to involve yourself too much, or you will regret it."

"Make me."

"Oh you will. Very soon, Keila Willar. Or should I say, Ke'ala Feyree?" He smirked. Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya, obviously wasn't expecting that. Paano niya nalaman ang totoong pangalan ko?! This is bad. Am I actually getting involve in something that I shouldn't?

"You seem surprised, but you will find out soon. Because we are..." As he gradually fades away through the mist, I heard his lips forming a word which shocked me more than them knowing my name.

"Exodus." I said, as I watched him disappear in front of me.