Path Of A Fool

"13 seconds." Biglang wika ng Elite sa likuran ko kaya mabilis akong napatingin sa kaniya. I frowned. "It took you exactly 13 seconds to knock her down." I averted my gaze in annoyance at bumalik ang tingin ko sa nakahigang katawan ni Ellise, that girl who claimed to be member of the Rogues.

"Ano ang gagawin natin sa kaniya?" Tanong ko habang pinawala ko ang weapon kong scythe sa magkabilang kamay.

"You defeated her, so you decide." Sagot niya na wala manlang kaisip-isip. As expected of my so-called mentor.

"Well we can't just leave her here." At siguradong alam niya ito. "Can't we take her with us—"

"You must be crazy then."

"Then so be it." She smiled, giving up. Perhaps it was because of this guilt that I can't just leave this girl here.

I tried to reach out for her arm when I stopped midway, I was sensing another batch of emotions coming from the trees. Mabilis silang papunta dito. Are they being sneaky? Agad kong binalik ang tingin ko sa Elite na ngayon ay nakapukos ang mga mata sa kalayuan ng mga kakahuyan.

"It seems we're being surrounded." She stated the obvious, although malayo pa sila kung saan kami.

"We're just running around kung tatakas tayo. Saan ba tayo pupunta?"

Tinaas niya ang isang kamay niya at may madilim na liwanag ang nabuo dito. Then in one snap, something just fell on top of me. Nang kunin ko ito ay nalaman kong isa pala itong itim na cloak, except that energy is embedded so sophisticatedly well from the outside as well on the inside. It was warm when I put it on around me, at ganoon din ang ginawa ko sa nakahigang babae.

"These cloaks will keep us hidden, at least in this darkness." She replied as she covered her head with the hood, kaya ganoon din ang ginawa ko. She must have a massive energy, far than what I expect if she could create like these so easily.

I placed Ellise's arm around my other shoulder at dahil wala siyang malay tiyak na hindi niya ito mararamdaman. It's funny how she's too confident in killing the leader of the Elites when I could knock her down in ten—thirteen seconds. Pero ang bilis niyang gumalaw kanina, hindi lang siguro siya sanay na may mas mabilis pa sa kaniya.

Her movements are too sloppy despite the fact that she has nice figures and was obviously trained. Her strength could at least rival a ranked student back in the Academy but it doesn't seem to me that she had any past experience in fighting. Her decisions on every attacks are too immature. Is she really one of the Rogues? She's very much like me when I was first trained by my sibblings.

I used to believe talent alone can beat even those with experience in fighting, those who put in effort, ito yung kaisipan na may meron nung nakalaban ko si Ulio Argaine, that Exodus underling. I still remember his words as if it was yesterday;

"No matter what kind of inborn talent or power you have, once another person puts in effort, there's no reason for them not to surpass you."

I never expected his words would still live this long inside me, and to be honest, may punto siya sa sinabi niya. He was stronger than most of my past opponents, but it wasn't enough for him to rank up, na kahit anong gawin niya ay hindi makakaya ng pagsisikap ang nakatadhana na sa buhay niya. It was naive of me to think I could do anything with my power alone, when that power couldn't even help stop a friend.

I suddenly stopped walking at tumigil din ang Elite. Napatingin siya sa akin, nagtataka siguro. Pero may kakaiba akong nararamdaman, a mad sense of deja vu engulfed me. The scent of the salt under my nose, the cold breeze roaming the air, and the sound of the waves slapping the sands as if angrily.

"Dagat." I mumbled. "Nasa malapit tayo sa dagat." The Elite smiled as she brushed off the bushes blocking our way. At tama nga ako, dagat nga ang nakikita ko.

"You must be an islander if you managed to sense it under this distance."

Footprints were left when we started walking down these white sands. May mga malalaking bato sa bawat gilid ng dagat, and the waters hitting the rocks so aimlessly. May mga ulap sa kalangitan, pero sa gitna nito ay may maliwanag na half moon, illuminating the night.

It was such a beautiful sight, but for some reason I don't want to be attached to it. It reminds me of where I originally came from, as if pulling me back. At hindi ko inaasahan na malapit lang ang dagat mula sa facility kung nasaan kami kanina. Sa tuwing tumitingin ako sa dagat, may mga bagay akong naaalala, halos hindi ako makapaniwalang mag-iisang taon na simula nang pumunta ako dito.

"May hinihintay ba tayo?" Tanong ko.

"There is."

"Well it doesn't seem they'd be here soon." Sabi ko habang tinatanaw ang tubig.

"Because you're looking at the wrong direction." What she said confused me, but I said nothing in return. "And don't you think it's time for her to stop pretending to sleep?" I stared at the girl still clinging on me. Kanina ko pa alam na gising siya, hanggang kailan niya ba kami balak isahan?

"Tsk and you don't have to go along with it!" She angrily said at tinaboy ako, pero sa huli siya din ang napaupo sa puting buhangin.

She held her leg and glared at me. She has a broken bone dahil diyan ko siya sinipa kanina para hindi na makatayo. I forgot the fact that ninjas or assassins are practically just normal people, kaya wala silang spiritual energy na katulad namin, they only have skills which slightly surpass normal humans. In other words, they can't heal naturally like we do.

Tinaas ko ang kamay ko at tinutok ito sa kaniya, she seemed surprise for a moment pero naghahanda na siya. Medyo lumiwanag ang kamay ko dahil sa pagpasa ko ng enerhiya papunta sa nabaling buto niya sa paa. She can't sense this kind of energy pero alam kong nararamdaman ito ng katawan niya, that's why she isn't reacting with violence.

Thus within a few seconds, binaba ko na ang kamay ko. Kung noon ay napapagod ako pagtapos kung magbigay ng enerhiya ngayon ah halos wala lang ito sa akin. Sobra ang pagtaas ng spiritual capacity ko na halos hindi na ako nahihirapan sa mga bagay na ginawa ko, take healing as an example.

"You're weak." The Elite suddenly said. Though I can't deny it. She's referring to the girl by the way.

"Ano naman ngayon?!" Bigla siyang napatayo at huhugutin na sana ang espada sa may beywang niya nang napansin niyang wala ito dito. "My sword...nasaan ang espada ko?"

"You mean that weak looking sword? I made my darkness eat it away." Horror was seen from the girl's eyes at hindi ko naman maiwasang mapansin kung paano sinusubukan ng Elite na mainis ang babae.

"How could you..? Alam mo bang ilang buwan ako nagtiis para lang mapagawa iyon sa isang sikat na blacksmith?!" She was already clenching her fists before I realised it.

"That sword broke easily the moment it came in contact with my own weapon, sa tingin mo ba talaga malakas ang espadang iyon?" I honestly asked.

"You're underestimating me."

"I am." Her eyes widened dahil sa sinabi ko.

I then averted my gaze and sighed. Hindi mali ang sinabi ko, dahil totoo ito. Para sa akin, ang mga taong natalo ko na ay mahihina, it's only natural to think that way because after all, it is reality. It gives me the feeling of superiority, and the will to keep going.

Siguro sa tingin niya ang sobrang sama ko ng klaseng tao, na mamamatay tao na ako dahil ako ang rason kung bakit ilang-daang buhay ang nawala, kung bakit nasira ang buhay ng karamihan. It might have been a different case if at least murdered the bad ones, pero pati mga inosente ay nadamay. The Western Territory suffered a great loss and shame because of what I did. To be alive after that is such a miracle.

"You're a monster." She whispered, pero naririnig ito namin ng mabuti. I only smiled bitterly.

"Apparently, I seem to be now." I returned her look with mine filled with seriousness. Upon hers, my eyes were reflected, glowing in bright blue, I suddenly sensed the racing of her heart, it was fear. Behind me, my black cloak was swaying, but my hood was never left open. I was completely making myself seem like a villain in front of her.

"Hindi ka ba kinakain ng konsensya mo?! Maraming buhay ang pumanaw at nasira dahil sayo! Nilagay ka lang sa isang facility para ikulong at hinayaang maging isang apprentice, hinayaan ka lang nilang mamuhay ng maayos matapos ang lahat mong ginawa?!" Her hands were trembling, not only fear, but as well as anger.

She's too angry na gusto niya akong mamatay, marami na siguro ang imahinasyon niya ngayon kung paano niya ako kagustong patayin, pero wala siyang magawa dahil alam niyang hindi niya ako kaya. Parang sinasabi niya sa sarili niya na mahina siya at gusto niyang lumakas dahil kinamumuhian niya ang pagkatao ko. That kind of anger na hindi nawawala until I get eliminated by her own hands.

"I wonder." I replied shortly.

I didn't want to admit na nasasaktan ako sa mga sinasabi niya, ayaw kong ipakita na bawat segundong nabubuhay ako gusto kong ibalik ang nakaraan, na sobrang pinagsisisihan ko ang ginawa ko. Tinatanong niya pa kung hindi ba ako kinakain ng konsesya ko? Ano ngaba ang alam niya sa totoong nangyari? Ano ngaba ang alam niya sa buhay at emosyon ko? Well this guilt is killing me! Is that what she wanted me to feel? To say?

Pero ano pa ba ang magagawa ko? If people think I'm a monster, that I'm evil, then so be it. Sometimes it's just so much better to let them think what and who you are than hurt yourself more in making them understand when they don't even want to listen and understand you in the first place.

"Ngayon iniisip ko nalang kung saan mo pa hinuhugot ang motibasyon para mabuhay. Hindi man ako ganoon kalakas para patayin ka, pero dadating din ang araw ng kamatayan mo, at tiyak na tatawa lang ako sa kinahantungan mo."

"Talking about others' death when you barely got out from one yourself." It was a voice I knew so well.

"So you came to join us huh?" Tanong ng Elite staring behind the huge boulder of rock.

"Obviously. I can't just leave her on her own now." Lumabas ang pigura niya mula sa malaking bato at nakatutok lang ang mga tingin sa akin.

"Silverrium." He sighed after I mentioned his name.

"Did you really think I'd rather stay with those blacks? Whether you like it or not, sasama ako kung saan ka man pupunta. If you don't like it, don't worry until I get enough energy to regain ny true form, hindi ko na kailangang—"

"Silv." I called him once again, cutting off his words. What's this? He looked like a kid pouting with his hands crossed. "I know. Whether you like it or not, you're my responsibility, so you aren to stay with me." And that was me saying I'm grateful he'd at least stay with me.

"And that's your decision now?" Tanong sa akin ng Elite. Siya nga pala ang sinusundan ko. Hindi siguro siya sigurado na sasama pa sa amin si Silverrium. After all, that kid is still a powerful monster, the leader of the Elites couldn't even kill him. In other words, he is dangerous.

"You're not actually opposing anyway."

"Wala akong magagawa kung iyan ang gusto mo Ke'ala." She sighed and gazed above the skies once again. "And our ship's here."

Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin nang sinabi niyang tumitingin ako sa maling direksyon kanina, pero ngayon nagagawa ko na. Nagulat ako nang makita ko ang isang malaking barkong lumulutang lang sa ibabaw, tinatakpan ang kalahating parte nito ng mga ulap pero dahil sa liwanag ng buwan ay kahit sino makikita ito.

Unti-unting bumaba ang malaking barko na ito sa may dagat, at pati ako ay napaatras nang bigla na lamang itong bumagsak, sending all the waves across the land. Nang ibalik ko ang tingin ko dito matapos punasan ang tubig na umabot sa mga mata ko, may isang mahabang hagdan ang lumabas mula sa barko. Then there was someone waving above the deck. Hindi ko siya gaano makita dahil sa layo.

"We're boarding." Paalala ng Elite at nauna nang lumakad. Tsaka naman sumunod sa likuran niya si Silv na nagmamadali din for some reason. Maybe he didn't want me the Elite to change her mind?

"What about you? Hindi ka ba sasama?" Tanong ko sa babaeng nangangalang Ellise.

"Huh? Sasama sa'yo? Don't joke with me! I will kill—"

"But I don't see you being able to do so with your current skills. Kahit anong kapangyarihan man ang makukuha mo, hindi ko ako matatalo." That's how confident I am right now. She gritted her teeh in anger as a result of my words. Naiiintindihan ko kung gaano kasakit ang katotohanang iyan, I've once experienced it myself after all. That feeling of powerlessness.

"I'm not like you who suddenly became strong, na alam na ang papel sa buhay simula nang pinanganak ka palang." Suddenly became strong? Alam na ang papel sa buhay? Oh I'm a God now huh?

"Then why not join me?" Her eyes grew wide upon hearing that. "Gusto mong patayin ako hindi ba? What's more better option than keeping a close eye on your target? Wouldn't that be easier than looking for me everywhere?"

"At bakit naman kita pagkakatiwalaan?"

"Hindi ko sinasabing dapat pagkatiwalaan mo ako. So what should it be?" Nararamdaman kong naguguluhan siya kung bakit ko ngaba ito ginagawa. Bakit ngaba? Pati ako ay hindi ko din maintindihan.

Tumalikod na ako at lumakad papunta s amay hagdan. Habang lumalakad ay nararamdaman ko siyang tahimik na sumusunod sa likuran. Of course she'd come, her target's right in front of her, she must be a fool kung hahayaan niya lang akong umalis.

The ladder was lifted up shortly afterwards nang nakatungtong na kami sa barko. Nakita ko sa unahan si Silv na umuupo sa ibabaw na maliit na mesa, and there's the Elite talking with that woman na kumakaway sa amin kanina.

Ngayong mas malapit na ako sa babae, ay nakikita ko ang buong appearance niya. She's wearing a full-set pirate clothing. May mahaba siyang grey na jacket na umaabot hanggang tuhod niya with small golden linings. She has a gun and a sword attached to the belt across her shoulder down surrounding her hips.

Blonde ang buhok niya, at nakatingin lang siya sa akin. Lumakad siya papunta sa direksyon ko at tinaas ang kaliwa niyang kamay, she smiled then. She's beautiful up close, at hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapatingin sa kwintas niyang kulay ginto, it was a double ring.

"I'm Athena, pleasure to meet you, Ke'ala Feyree." How is it possible anyway na ang tinatago kong pangalan ay ngayon marami na ang nakakaalam. It makes me think that there's something I've missed all along from getting all those information about the different factions.

"A pirate?" I asked as I took her hand. Bigla ko namang naramdaman ang paghigpit ng paghawak niya, almost breaking the bones in my left hand. I frowned. Hindi maganda ang mga memoryang mayroon ako sa mga pirata, in fact I still hate them. And it looks like I'll be having a hard time with her.

"No more, no less." I saw a smirk forming ger lips nang hinigpitan ko din ang pagkahawak sa kamah niya. She isn't holding back at all, so I don't see any reason why I should. She flinched a little nang may naramdaman na siyang sakit. Breaking bones isn't exactly my specialty but I won't let her off so easily. "You really are something." She said and sighed as I let go of her hand. So she was testing me?

"I sense massive energy surrounding this ship." She seemed rather surprise about that.

"You can even sense this type of energy huh? Malalaman mo rin." She smiled. "Minerva! Let's get going!" Sigaw niya at sa isang iglap ay bigla nalang gumalaw wng barko, moving along the waters.

"Minerva?"

"Ah Minerva ang pangalan ng barko. Minerva has a will on ita own which follows my order in exchange for my spiritual energy. Minerva is a technology." What she said reminded me of Laire.

"I'm surprise you aren't aware, Ke'ala." Bulong ni Laire sa isipan ko habang lumakad na palayo si Athena. "Sinabi ko na noon na isa akong Guardian. May limang Guardians ang mundong ito. Guardians are made of different ancient technologies at dahil sa sobrang lakas at delikado nila ay walang nakakakayang buhayin ang mga Guardians na ito. Plus, activating one would require large amounts of technology, more than you think."

"So this ship is one of you."

"Ship? No, this ship is not an actual Guardian." Napakunot na naman ang mga kilay ko. Wala akong maintindihan sa mga sinasabi ni Laire. Laire's a Guardian which holds all the information in this world. She said there are five of them, ano ba ang magagawa ng ibang Guardian? Suddenly, I became curious.

I didn't bother asking Laire anymore dahil alam kong magiging magulo na naman ang sasabihin niya. Lumapit ako sa may railing habang tumataas na naman ang barko, at first it wss rather slowly pero sa huli ay naging tuloy tuloy na itong pumaibabaw and just like that, I felt my stomach sank.

Mist started encircling our surroundings, pero may lumabas na liwanag sa bawat poste ng barko, lighting the dark skies. Dahil sa nabubuong mist sa paligid ay mahirap ng matunton kung nasaan ang buwan. It suddenly got windy up here, swaying my hood down.

"I believe I asked this before, pero saan ba talaga tayo patungo?" Tanong ko sa Elite na ngayon ay sa tumatayo lang sa tabi. I had to raise my voice a little dahil sa lakas ng hangin.

"Zyrendel. We're heading to Zyrendel Kingdom." Nagulat ako dito, pero hindi ito tumagal.

"We're running outside the country? At bakit doon?"

"Would you rather stay in Magnus when your death is being demanded? Pumayag man ang Council na maging apprentice kita, pero habol parin ng Western Saint ang buhay mo. You know the dispute between our government factions, righht?" I nodded.

"I get it. A direct battle between the Western Saint and the Council might occur if the Council would prevent the Saint from trying to kill me. Hindi din makagalaw ang ibang Saints dahil tiyak na masisira ang nabuong tiwala nila sa isa't isa. Since you're an Elite, labas ka sa mga restrictions ng isla since you are an independent faction in Magnus. That's why you can get involve and at the same time you can choose not to." She frowned. Bakit? May mali ba sa sinabi ko?

"Sometimes, the way you think can be a little scary. You always have your words right, as if alam mo ang lahat na nangyayari. But do remember I'm not keeping myself involve because I'm an Elite." Bumalik ang tingin ko sa mga nakikita ko sa labas. Although wala ako halos na makita dahil sa makapal na mist.

"Then why are you involving yourself with me? You know they could be after you anf your family too." Before I even noticed, she was already behind me.

"I'm involving myself with you dahil apprentice kita. I won't just go around endangering myself for any strangers." Somehow, that made me feel warm inside. "And my family? I doubt I have any." What she said was too vague to comprehend.

I held unto the railings tightly nang biglang yumanig ang buong barko. It wouldn't bother me kung sa tubig, pero ngayon ay nasa himpapawid kami, so this shakinh could only mean something else. Isa pa, walang mga ulap ngayon sa paligid dahil nga sa nakapaligid na mist. What could have caused that sudden shaking?

Yumanig na naman ang Minerva, but this time it was stronger. May dumaang malakas na hangin which caused the torches to go out of fire, and even the lights from the posts are flickering. Napatingin ako sa Elite na ngayon ay may mga espada na sa magkabilang kamay niya.

"Don't tell me we're under attack."

"You know I'm still going to." Tsk, this woman...her personality can be annoying at times.

Bago ko pa man mapalabas ang mga weapons ko ay may paparating ng malaking bola ng apoy, it was so big that avoiding it will be impossible. Mabilis akong umaksyon at bumuo ng barrier aa paligid naming dalawa. The fireball exploded around us, but it wasn't enough to take down the barrier. Napaubo ako dahil sa usok nang binaba ko na ang barrier.

May lumalakad na pigura palabas ng usok na ito, at kitang-kita ko ang mga nasirang oarte ng barko sa likuran niya dahil sa malaking fireball. It was a woman with a haircut of that of a guy, and she's seriously wearing a tuxedo.

"My, isn't that the infamous butler of the Einz Family." Wika ng Elite, a sarcasm, as she took a few steps in front, as if covering me.

"I would have loves to have another battle with you. However unfortunate it may, could you please step aside, Miss?"

"Was I just rejected? Too bad, but I don't have any plans on letting you go." Tinaas ng Elite ang dalawang espada niya as layers of darkness covered the edges of her swords.

"An order is an order. I am not here for you, but if you wouldn't yield, I may just have to set you aside myself."

I have a feeling they know each other, and yet they don't get along. In the first place, sino ba siya? Why would a butler of some family attack Minerva? Sino ba ang habol niya? I don't remember having to offend any families before, so it's unlikely that it's me...but I can't be so sure. Perhaps she's after Athena?

Mabilis na tumakbo ang butler sa Elite, barehandedly? Tumalon siya ng mataas at susuntukin na sana ang Elite but the latter easily moved backward, and in the end, the boat once again shook dahil sa impact ng suntok niya sa sahig. Such sheer strength.

"Bakit ka nandito Irva?" Tanong ng Elite as both of them exhanged attacks.

Pero hangin lang ang sumasalo sa bawat atake nila. Kahit mabilis man ang mga galaw nila, wala parin silang natatamaan. It's almost as if...they're equal in terms of power. Sa una palang, hindi naman niya kakalabanin ang leader ng Elites kung hindi sa ganoon kalakas.

"You know why I am here. If you just hand her over, we don't need to fight."

"You're talking about my apprentice, I didn't take her in just to be taken away from my grip." So this Irva is indeed after me.

Ah she speaks as if I'm not here. Minamaliit niya ba ako? I'm not angry nor do I feel any sort of those emotions, but I had this sudden urge that I want to face her in a battle. Thinking about it made my blood boil im excitement. Again, this feeling again.
Nararamdaman ko ang enerhiyang pinapalabas niya, she's strong...even probably way stronger than the leader of the Elites, it makes me wonder kung gaano siya kalakas sa harapan ko.

Will she able to kill me? I want to know. I want to. I always feel this way kung alam kung may malakas na tao sa paligid ko. Others may say I'm unconsciously attracted to these strong people because I can suck all their energy as long as I want.

Naabot ni Irva ang balikat ng Elite at mabilis niya itong tinapon palayo na parang wala lang. The crash caused another shaking, but this time sa akin na nakatingin ang babae. I smirked as I step forward. So not even the leader of the Elites can beat this person? Just how strong is she? I want to know. I'm obsess with idea of fighting her. I feel like I'll go crazy kung hindi ko siya makakalaban. Kung hindi ko makukuha ang malakas na emerhiya na ito.

"I have battled hundreds of times since I was a child. Kaya alam ko ang ibig sabihin ng mga titig na iyan, Ke'ala Feyree." With just one step, a moment later, nasa harapan ko na siya. She held my chin up para matitigan ko siya sa mata. I see it, my eyes glowing so much in deep blue, even I am being drawn to the sight of it.

"And those eyes tell me one thing." Nilapit niya ang mukha niya sa tenga ko, and I feel her anxiousness so up close. "You're starving for a real battle that could match yours." I smirked.

"And you think you can?" I heard her small laughter.

"I surpass yours." Agad niyang hinawakan ang leeg ko at mabilis akong tinaas. But there was only a smirk seen in my face.

"Surpass mine?" Hinawakan ko din ang ulo niya at agad siyang binagsak sa sahig, her body collided with the floor which cauased it to break apart. Napaubo siya ng dugo dahil dito habang hawak-hawak ko parin ang ulo niya gamit ang kanan kong kamay sa lupa. Still, as if not feeling any pain, she smirked.

Napatayo ako at napahawak sa bunganga ko, I can't stop coughing blood. At bigla na lamang sunakit ang likuran ko. Did I break another rib? I gritted my teeth in pain nang may dumating na namang sakit.

"My magic allows me to counter my opponent's attacks and return it to them. Naiintindihan mo na ba kung bakit mas malakas ako sayo?" She stood up, and I had to look up again dahil sa taas niya. "Because no matter how strong you are, it's useless if I can counter any of it." As expected of someone who makes me feel this excitement. She is indeed strong, but I've already healed.

"Your countering is useless if I can heal just as soon as I was hurt." I motioned my hand to the side at sabay nito ay ang paggalaw din ng katawan niya aa gilid, hitting the railing of the ship which made her almost fall if she hadn't use her magic to stop her own movements.

"Wind? You are a lot more capable than I thought. You can use everything at your own disposal because of you massive life force. But haven't you realized that the more you crave for a battle that you could go all out, the more you look like a monster?"

"It's just like asking yourself a question, would you rather be pitied or feared?" I paused and shot her my electricity, but as expected, she countered all of it while ming in different directions. It seems she can onmy return my attacks if she directly got hit, and she wouldn't risk her life so instead countering them away.

"Then you choose the second one." This time, it was her turn to attack. Ilag lang ako ng ilag sa bawat sipa at suntok na binibigay niya.

"It's because I choose to be stronger and in order to do that, I need to inflict fear." Natamaan ko siya ng suntok sa sikmura at napatalon siya sa ibabaw.

"That also means isolation." She landed quickly behind me at sinipa ako sa leeg. Natamaan niya ako pero bagi iyon ay nasangga ko ito ng mga braso ko.

"Isolation? Then so be it. A friend of mine chose to walk this kind of path as well." Wika ko habang napaatras. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit niya pinili ang ganiyang daan noon, pero ngayon parang naiintindihan ko na.

"You sure have a mature outlook in life." She said seriously. "Pero iyan ba talaga ang gusto mo?" My eyes quickly fell to her as she stood there without a hint of expression. "You don't want to be pitied therefore you chose to be feared, thus you chose to isolate yourself from the rest dahil ayaw mong maulit ang nangyari noon."

Tumakbo siya papunta sa akin and tried to grab me but I was fast enought to duck and we were stuck in an endless loop of close quarter combat once againx

"What are you even saying?"

"You mentioned a friend who walked that path, did you not? Perhaps you only envied her to the point where you were trying to follow what she did so you could understand her when thought you couldn't." I clenched my fists in annoyance dahil sa mga sinasabi niya. "You pretend to be strong when in fact you're just scared. You pretend to be a villain, a monster, when truth to be told you only seek salvation, redemption."

Dahil sa galit ko ay nagpalabas ako ng malaking fireball sa dalawang kamay ko nang napaatras siya. But she managed to dode underneath my arms and locked both of them behind me sabay ng mabilis niyang galaw sa likuran ko. I was too reckless!

"Sabihin mo sa akin Ke'ala, ano ba talaga ang nararamdaman mo? You're still just what? Sixteen?"

"Ano ba talaga ang punto mo—"

"I'm saying you don't need to endure since you're still just growing. If you're sad, then show it, if you're in pain, then let others know, if you're suffering, don't hide it." I stopped resisting, for some reason, what she's telling me just...they just get through inside me. "Bottling up your emotions and trying to act mature when you're still just a child, you'll only end up hurting yourself more."

"Fools speak from experience, while wise men speak from history. Which one are you?"

"I've taken the fool once, and even now perhaps I am."

"Lecturing my own apprentice?" Napatingin ako sa gilid kung saan nakita kong lumalakad ang Elite habang may hinihilang kung sining tao.

She looked like she had been in another fight herself. Naramdaman ko ang gulat at inis kay Irva. Both women stared at each other and as if they were negotiating, pinakawalan ako ni Irva at tinulak papunta sa Elite habang ang hawak naman niyang lalaki ay tinulak niya sa kaniya. Irva immediately went to the boy's aid at tinignan kung may mga sugat ito. She sighed in relief when she saw none and glared at the Elite.

"Ke'ala Feyree, I'll let you choose kung saan ka sasama."

"Bakit naman ako sasama sayo?"

"Hindi mo ba talaga naiintindihan kung gaano kadelikado ngayon ang buhay mo? Just you living a life alone is dangerous enough—"

"So you're saying na kailangan kong sumama sayo dahil maproprotektahan niyo ako? Or mas mapapatay niyo ako ng mabuti kung may gagawin na naman ako?"

"Both." She doesn't lie at all. "Einz Family has been one of the West Mages Association's circle, and as a part it is one of our job to protect you."

"Why do you even need to protect me?" Her eyes widened for a moment pero bumalik din naman ito sa dati at napatingin sa Elite.

"You didn't bother telling your apprentice anything at all, did you?"

"There's no reason to."

"You..! You're only using her in the first place, and the more she stays with you the more her life will be in danger!" Why do they even seem that desperate to take me? Honestly, wala na akong maintindihan sa mga nangyayari. "Ke'ala, come with us now." The Elite looked at me, waiting for my decision. She isn't even trying to win me over.

"I asked why do you need to protect me."

"You already know that West Mages Association is an organization that protect and preserve the relics since ancient times. The Association knew what you did about Riyadh, part of the reason why you're still alive is because you are the relic."

"Sigillum." I suddenly muttered.

"That's right at nasa loob mo ito. Sigillum is a powerful relic which opens the gate to and from many different worlds to summon monsters. At first we were only observing you, pero dahil sa nangyari sa Riyadh, alam na naming kaya mong magamit ang relic na ito, you can unlock it to its full potential."

"It was perfect na isa kang Cursed Blood and have the ability which allows you to gain unlimited energy source, because of those factors your body was able to fuse with the relic making summoning or creating monsters just a,b,c to you. Not only that, because you can use dufferent types of magic, you can enhance these monsters and make them listen only to you."

"So because if that this Association decided to take me in because I am a find never found in a millennium." I was saying I'm a rare find, to have those factors perfectly. "You say I am being used by this woman," I said referring to the Elite. "Pero hindi din magbabago ang lahat kung sa inyo ako sasama. You're going to fuse other relics inside me, aren't you? What a joke. Coming with you so I could become a test subject?"

"T-the Association have planned that of course, but you are not going to be harmed. Believe us."

"We ran away from Magnus dahil din dito, hindi ba?" Tanong ko sa Elite, and she only nodded while crossing her arms. She seemed like she doesn't care at all, pero alam ko ang mga emosyon niya. "Planning to use me as a weapon?"

"A weapon? Nagkakamali ka. We only want to protect the relics, and it'll be easier to fuse it all into one body."

"In your eyes I'm not even a human anymore. First I was a monster, now I evolved into an object? A relic? You're making me angry."

"And this is why we need to use force to get you, dahil hindi ka papayag." She stood up and sighed, she was back again with that expressionless face of hers. "Final question Ke'ala, saan ka sasama?"

"I'm coming with my mentor, of course." For a moment there, I caught a glimpse of the Elite smiling.

"Why? Anyone has ulterior motives when it comes to you. So what's the difference? None."

"I already know my mentor has ulterior motives, she's just that kind of a person. But the only difference is that," tinaas ko ang isa kong kamay para itulak sila paalis ng barko. Irva managed to catch the boy habang siya naman ay napapahawk nakang sa railing para hindi siya mahulog. We're hundreds of thousands of feets from the ocean below, they'll probabaly die if they fall. Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Irva nang muntik na siyang mahulog, mukhang hindi niya ito inaasahan.

"But the only difference is that I trust her." She tightened her grip around my palm.

"Why? Why do you trust her that much?"

"Because I'm her apprentice." Finally, I let go of her hand and watch her fall. I felt something warm then atop my head, gently brushing it. Is this how she compliments me?

"You've done well Ke'ala!" I remember my sister once said while patting my head. I smiled. Where did such a memory came from anyway? "Sabi ko sayo magagawa mo eh! Halika na sa loob, nagluluto si Kuya nang paborito mo."

"You have done well, Ke'ala." The Elite muttered beside me. It surprised me a little and finally, I looked up to her direction. Nakatingin lang siya sa malayo. Why do I sometimes feel like I know her?

"Can you...can you tell me your name now?" I asked, I slightly hesistated though. Hindi ko alam kung bakit.

"Andrei." She paused for a moment, then returned my gaze with her black green looking eyes. "It's Andrei de la Valliére."

There was nothing that followed afterwards but silence, and perhaps, I'm taking a path of a fool as well.