"As expected from the top 1 and top 2!"

"They are really amazing..."

"I wish I can be like them."

"Ang lakas talaga nila. Halos kasing lakas na nila ang Alpha."

Marami pa akong narinig na pagpupuri sa kanila but suddenly a loud bang was heard na galing sa pinaghulugan ng demon.

I knew it, it's jaw was dislocated pero ang nakakagulat ay nakakagalaw pa rin ito. Kinakalaban siya ng Alpha pero mukhang hindi sapat ang kapangyarihan nila. Ganon ba kalakas ang demon na 'to?

"We really need that demon slayer," sabi ng isang babaeng nakadungaw din sa sira-sirang building tulad ko.

They were bullying me and now they need me? Tsk.

Should I get down there and help them? Pero paano kung malaman nila that I existed? Hindi lang ako ang puwedeng mapahamak. Maging sila rin ay malalagay sa panganib. Matatakot sila sa 'kin at isa pa, what if he'll find me?

Nanatili pa rin akong nakatingin sa ilalim, watching as the Alpha fight that demon.

"Who are you?" nagulat ako nang nagsalita si Paxton sa gilid ko. He's looking at me like I'm someone dangerous.

"I'm a student here," sagot ko.

He looked at me sharply. With a stern and deep voice, he said, "Hindi ako naniniwala sa 'yo. Kung dito ka nag-aaral, dapat noon pa kita napansin. Aside from your beauty, you have the same aura as her."

Napakunot ang noo ko. "What do you mean?"

Sino ba talaga 'tong si Paxton? Why is he always following me? I mean the nerd me.

Napatingin siya sa ilalim. Gayon din ako and saw the Alpha's struggle as they fight that demon. Akala ko ba sila ang pinakamalakas dito sa academy? Is the demon really that strong o mahina lang talaga sila?

I'm still waiting for his answer pero hindi na siya nagsalita. Cein jumped from the fourth floor towards the field where the demon is and helped the Alpha. This academy never fails to surprise me. Lalo na ang mga estudyante.

The rest of the students ran outside led by an instructor. Pinasunod niya kami but Paxton insisted na huwag na.

Naramdaman ko na lang na may matalim na bagay na nakatutok sa leeg ko. It was his nails. Long, sharp nails that are enough to rip a flesh. It's not a nail of a human but rather a nail of a beast. Maybe a wolf or a fox.

"Did the demon clan sent you?" he whispered through my ear. Nanayo ang balahibo ko.

"Wala akong alam sa sinasabi mo," I answered coldly.

"One more lie and I'll kill you," he said in a stern and deep voice.

Napatingin ako sa kanya. His ears were above his head like a fox. A tail grew from his back and his nails were even sharper. So he's not human? Nakakagulat 'to. I never thought such creatures really exist.

I smirked. "Try me."

There's no need to use a cover. Hindi ko naman suot ang disguise ko kaya walang nakakakilala sa akin.

Nanggalaiti siya as he removed his claws from my throat.

"Tss..."

Isa na namang nakakabinging sigaw ang nanggaling sa ilalim. I looked down at sakto namang tumalon si Paxton papunta dun. The demon was agonizing in pain habang may light circle ang nakapalibot sa kanya. It was the Pro Alpha's doing na kararating lang. Wearing his usual emotionless face.

The demon is slowly turning into ashes as it disappears in the wind. Nanatili lang akong nakatingin, not doing anything.

Nagulat ako nang napatingin din sa 'kin ang demon with his red eyes. Parang may gusto siyang sabihin, para siyang humihingi ng tulong.

"Please come back, my lady," those were his last words bago siya tuluyang nawala. And I'm certain of it na yun talaga ang sinabi niya.

Napatingin ang Alpha sa direksyon kung saan nakatingin ang demon kanina bago siya nawala. Naalerto naman ako at tumakbo nang mabilis. I need to get out of here.

What was that? Ako ba talaga ang tinutukoy ng nilalang na yun? No way. No freakin' way. I am not who you think I am. I am not a demon, I'm a demon slayer.

But that power came from Kiyan, nakakapanghina kahit malayo ako sa kinatatayuan niya kanina. Nanghihina ako na parang nae-excite. Hindi ko alam. Hindi ko na maintindihan ang nangyayari sa 'kin.

"Sh*t," I cussed nang maramdaman kong may sumusunod sa 'kin. Nasundan niya ako. Sinasabi ko na nga bang mapapahamak talaga ako pag di ko suot yung disguise ko.

The energy is getting stronger. I ran as fast as I could. Lumiko ako, dumiretso, lumiko ulit, bumaba ng hagdan, tumakbo ulit. But—

"Too slow," I uttered as I immediately summoned my weapon accessory and blocked the attack that came from the person who is following me. I can feel that my eyes turned deep blue once again.

"Nice sword," he said as I face him.

The first thing that I've noticed are his eyes. Singkit pero nakakaintimidate. His hair is a complete opposite of his power. His physical features were really attractive lalo na ang kanyang mga mata. Attractive pero walang emosyon. Kaya pala maraming humahanga sa kanya.

"What do you want?" I glared at him.

"Hindi ko inaasahang dito ka rin pala nag-aaral. Ikaw ba ang dahilan kung bakit nakapasok yung alagad mo?" he said mockingly.

Nakuyom ko ang kamao ko and looked at him sharply. "Wala akong kinalaman sa nangyari kanina. I'm just an ordinary student here."

"Oh really?" he grinned.

Masama 'to. My theory was right. He is the master of the opposite side.

Nagtitigan pa rin kami. Nagpapakiramdaman.

"Alam mo, may kapareha ka. Same aura, same energy. I wonder where she is," he said.

Ganito yung naramdaman ko nang una ko siyang nakita kasama ang Alpha. Umiinit ang dibdib ko at ang bilis ng tibok nito. It's not what you think romantically. Basta umiinit na naman pero ang pinagkaiba noon, I don't feel any pain. My body feels extreme and excited. Ganito pala talaga ang nararamdaman ko kapag matagal kong tinago ang kapangyarihan ko.

"What do you want from her?" I asked.

"Nothing. I just want to know her. Bakit? Kilala mo ba siya?"

"Just leave her alone."

"Really? Why?" mapanghamon niyang tanong.

I paused for a second and grin. "She'll kill you."

A sly smile formed from his lips. His emotionless face shifted to amusement. He looks scary but nah, I am scarier.

"Alam mo, I can kill you anytime by just looking you in the eyes. Matagal-tagal ko na kasing di nagagamit 'tong kapangyarihan ko, eh," I said while grinning. I looked at my sword, a sword that could slice up anything, a sword that can destroy everything, a sword that only a mistress can hold.

"I've been waiting for too long. The festival will arrive soon. See you there, my fellow disciple," he said and disappeared.

Nakuyom ko ang kamao ko. D*mn it! He found me.

I turned back and transformed myself into the Shea they used to know. Kailangan kong makabalik sa locker to get my disguise at doon ayusin sa dorm. Wala naman sina Eloiny at Cein doon fo sure. My disguise ability can hold for only an hour or two. Kailangan kong magmadali.

I have met the Master of Light and Creation. I am not safe here anymore.

**

Nandito ako sa dorm ko at nakahilata lang sa aking kama. I'm already wearing my disguise. Suspended na rin naman kasi ang klase at parating na rin sina Cein at Eloiny.

Gusto ko na sanang umalis dito but my parents won't let me. I told them the situation pero ayaw pa rin nila. I am not safe here anymore but they insisted that I'll stay here. Sabi nila, kaya ko na rin naman ang sarili ko and there is someone who is protecting me. I don't know who that someone is. And I don't care.

I heard Eloiny and Cein talking downstairs kaya nagkunwari akong tulog. Ayoko munang makipag-usap dahil alam ko yung nangyari kanina ang pag-uusapan na naman nila.

"Shea?" Eloiny called as they entered our room.

"Akalain mo yun, nangyari na't lahat, nandito lang pala siya sa dorm at natutulog? How to be like you po?" sabi ni Eloiny.

"Shh... lower down your voice, nee-chan."

Naramdaman kong naupo sila sa kani-kanilang mga kama pero patuloy pa rin silang nag-uusap.

"I heard that the demon who entered the academy was an S-class. Yung pinakamalakas na class sa buong demon clan." Naging seryoso ang boses ni Cein.

"No wonder nahirapan ang Alpha. Paano kaya niya napasok ang academy despite sa strong barrier nito?" tanong ni Eloiny.

"I heard some of the faculties talking kanina, it's strong will could be the reason kung paano niya nasira ang barrier. Parang may hinahanap daw siya?"

"Hinahanap? Like what? Demons can't live long in our world. Malulusaw sila kapag nagtagal sila kahit isang araw lang. Kapag kapwa demon ang hinahanap niya, it's impossible na mabubuhay siya dito."

"Exactly. But what if the strongest among them ang hinahanap niya? Like their queen?"

Napukaw ang atensyon ko sa pinag-uusapan nila. Marami pala talaga silang alam tungkol sa mga ganyan. Buti nalang nagkunwari akong tulog.

"You mean, the Mistress?" dagdag ni Cein.

"Yeah... You know, sabi nga ni daddy, both disciples are immortal. They won't die unless they kill each other."

"Pero may nabasa ako noon sa library ni Dad. Ang Underworld ay nahahati sa dalawang group or tribe or kingdom whatever, basta yun. Yung isa ay ang Demon clan which is obviously full of demons at ang isa ay ang kingdom ng Mistress which is built millions of years ago. Dark creatures ang naninirahan dun and some demons na hindi umanib sa demon clan. Those two were enemies. Ang demon clan daw ang source of evil and the Kingdom is only there to bring balance to the world. You know, boring ang life kapag puro happy happy lang 'di ba? Walang thrill," mahabang paliwanag ni Eloiny.

Ganoon pala yun, ito palagi yung paulit-ulit na sinasabi sa 'kin ng previous mistress pero hindi ako nakikinig. I don't even care. Pero nag iba ang tingin ko dahil sa nangyari ngayon.

"Kung totoo man yan. Well, evil will always be evil. Kahit nga sa mundo nila, nag-aaway pa rin sila, 'di ba? Darkness is evil, 'di yan magbabago," Cein stated.

Naramdaman kong kumirot ang puso ko. Yeah, darkness is evil. Darkness is sorrow. Darkness is death. So you must stay away from me to keep you safe.

--