Lunch break na at kakatapos ko lang kumain. Patungo ako ngayon sa training grounds kung nasaan si Nyla at Taryn upang panoorin sila.

Pag dating ko, nakaupo lang silang dalawa sa benches at nagpapahinga. Lumapit ako sa kanila at binigay yung mga softdrinks na pinabili nila sa 'kin.

"Waaaaa! Lex!" bungad ni Nyla at hinila agad ako upang umupo.

Isang lagok lang nila ang softdrinks na dala ko. They look so worn out and tired from their nonstop training.

Nakita ko rin si Aoi sa kabilang bench at pawis na pawis. Naka plain, brown, muscle tee sando lang siya at jersey shorts habang umiinom ng tubig. I can see how firm his muscles are from here.

"Laway mo," tawa ni Nyla. Napailing nalang rin si Taryn.

Di ko namalayang matagal na pala akong nakatitig kay Aoi kaya agad kong iniwas ang tingin ko.

"Himala, 'di ka nagpapapansin sa kanya, ah," pang-aasar nila.

"Break na kami," pabiro kong sagot.

"Move on ka nalang. Balita ko may girlfriend na siya, eh. Si Eleanor," sabi ni Nyla.

Napatingin naman ako sa kanya. "Eleanor? The Vice President?"

"Yep. Speaking of..."

Napatingin kami sa babaeng bagong dating. Her long, blonde hair flawlessly moves along her back while she walks. Even just her presence is enough to make all the guys stare at her. Maganda naman kasi talaga siya. Siya 'yong nakita kong kasama ni Aoi before umatake si Kargarus.

Inabutan niya ng pagkain at tubig si Aoi at umupo sa tabi niya. As usual, wala pa rin siyang emosyon at nakatingin lang sa malayo.

"Ano, Lex? Papatalo ka ba?" mapang hamon na saad ni Nyla habang tumatawa.

"Wag ka maingay, baka marinig tayo," sita ko.

"Wow. Since kelan ka pa nahiya?" Malakas siyang tumawa na pati si Taryn na hindi halos tumatawa ay nahawaan niya.

Napansin kong namumula ang mga braso, paa, at leeg nila.

"Ano nangyari dyan sa braso niyo? Ba't namumula?"

Bigla silang tumahimik at nagtinginan. "Wala 'to. Sa training lang," sagot ni Nyla.

Napataas ang kilay ko. "Nagsasampalan ba kayo habang nag t-training para mamula ng ganyan?"

Walang sumagot sa kanilang dalawa. Napatingin ako sa mga kasamahan nilang representative and there are bruises and redness on their body as well. Except Aoi.

"What exactly happened?"

Taryn sighed at hinawakan ang leeg niya. "We don't exactly know what happened. We had a dream, where a giant man in a mask shows up. Dinampot niya kami at mahigpit kaming hinawakan habang may nakatali sa leeg, braso, at paa namin. We tried to fight him but he was too strong. Pag gising namin, may mga pasa at pamumula na kami," paliwanag ni Taryn.

"All of you had the same dream?" tanong ko.

"Yes," sagot nila.

"May sinabi ba ang lalaki sa panaginip niyo?"

Muli silang nagtinginan. "He warned us. If ever one of us wins a match in the inter-academy, he will visit us again and this time, kill us."

Napakunot ang noo ko. Ang dami nang nangyayari ngayon sa paligid. It has been peaceful for a long time pero mukhang matatapos na.

Is this connected to the Order? Or maybe, he's just a pathetic loser who's threatened by the representative of our academy?

"My lady." One of the dogs who's patrolling the secluded areas in the capital called. Criminals often establish their base in a secluded or abandoned area kaya may nilagay rin akong mga aso doon. I can share their senses and sight.

"There are suspicious people around here so I followed them."

"And?"

I can see an image in my head. They're deep in the Myriad forest—a forest inside the capital at lahat sila nakacloak at nakatakip ang mukha. They're a group of 12 people at nakapaikot sila na parang may ginagawang ritwal.

"How was it?" tanong ng isang lalaki.

"It's a failure. We can't unseal the magic," sagot naman ng isa ring lalaki na kakarating lang kung saan nakasunod ang aso ko.

Napakunot ang noo ko. What are they talking about?

"Tsk! We need more souls," ani ng boses babae.

"Malapit na ang inter-academy. It's a good opportunity."

"We'll wait."

Mabilis silang nagsialisan as they were very cautious with their movement. They even saw my dog at tinataboy lang nila ito. When I made sure that they all left, pinalapit ko ang aso sa kung saan sila nakapalibot kanina.

"My lady, it's a summoning circle."

A summoning circle is a ritualistic design used to summon demons or malevolent monsters. I need to find out who they are and who's behind all of this. Sa tagal ko na dito sa Merania, ngayon ko lang nalaman na may mga ganitong kulto.

Nagkagulo ang lahat nang biglang may nahimatay na representative sa gitna ng field. We rushed towards her.

"Dianne!"

A girl has collapsed and she's pale as a  ghost. Parang naubos lahat ng dugo niya sa katawan.

"Call a healer!"

Nagmadali silang tumawag ng healer pero hindi na 'to aabot pa kapag hihintayin pa nila. Taryn who's also a healer, has also become pale. Hindi niya kayang gamitin ang kapangyarihan niya at this state.

Mana exhaustion.

"Let me through." Lahat kami napatingin sa magandang babae na kasama ni Aoi. Si Eleanor Lovewell. Ang Vice President ng Higher Student Council and an A-rank healer. She's the strongest healer sa buong academy and she will be promoted to S-rank once she graduates.

"This is mana exhaustion. She overworks herself by using too much mana during training," sambit ni Eleanor as her hands glow in yellow.

It's not working.

"But Dianne is a weapon master. And weapon masters don't rely too much on mana unlike mages."

Ilang segundo pa, a strong force came out from the body of Dianne at halos tumilapon si Eleanor sa sobrang lakas nito. Inalalayan naman siya ni Aoi. Tinitingnan ko lang sila.

Ouch.

"What happened?!"

"Dianne! Hey, wake up!"

"It's not working! Her pulse is weakening!"

"Pero imposible 'yon! Isang A-rank healer ang Vice President!"

There's something in her body that prevents her from recovering by rejecting healing magic. By the looks of it, the stronger the healing magic, the stronger the feedback. Kung si Taryn kaya na B-class healer, ganon rin kaya ang mangyayari?

Muli akong napatingin sa kanila ni Nyla. Magkatabi lang kaming tatlo and I've also noticed that they're becoming paler.

"Nauuhaw pa rin ako," sambit ni Nyla.

It looks like a disease.

But there's no time for an experiment, mamamatay na ang babaeng 'to any moment from now.

"Avion," tawag ko through my thoughts.

"Yes, my lady," sagot nito.

"Can you heal them?"

"A curse was inflicted to a selected students near you, my lady. But I can easily cleanse it."

A curse?

"Then do it. But don't make it obvious."

"Anything for you, my lady."

I felt Avion's magic traveled from the ground towards Dianne, as well as to Naryn and Tyla. Tama nga ang kutob kong isa rin sila sa naapektuhan. Avion's magic went inside them as a dark smoke arises from their body. It's the curse that has inflicted them.

Bumalik sa normal ang kulay ng babaeng nahimatay at maya-maya pa ay nagising na siya. Hindi na rin maputla si Naryn at Tyla.

"She's awake!"

"Thank goodness, Dianne! Akala ko mawawala ka na!"

"Anong nangyari?" naguguluhang tanong ni Dianne.

"Bigla ka nalang nahimatay at sobrang putla mo. Akala ko mawawala ka na," naiiyak na sambit ng kaibigan niya.

"It's the Vice President's healing, right?"

Lahat sila napatingin kay Eleanor at maging siya ay naguguluhan sa nangyari.

"She healed Dianne! No wonder she's our Vice President! A soon to be 13th S-Class warrior of the Merania Kingdom."

"Anghel talaga siya 'tol."

"Oo tol, literal."

"Kung ganyan kaganda at kalakas ang mapapangasawa ko, kahit maghugas pa ako ng pinggan buong buhay ko, hindi ako rereklamo."

"Kahit 'di mo siya mapangasawa, 'tol taga hugas ka pa rin ng pinggan."

"Ul*l!"

Nagkakagulo na sila as I roam my eyes around. With the vision given by the Goddess of sight, Theia, I can easily spot anyone suspicious.

"Master," one of my summons called who's patrolling the academy.

"Anything suspicious?" I asked.

"It's a summoning circle."

I can see the circle from my dog's point of view at kapareho nga nito ang nakita ko sa kagubatan ng Myriad. The circle is located at the back kung saan malapit sa mga benches ng training ground.

Whoever was behind this, I have to stop him before the inter-academy. Malakas ang kutob ko na may hindi magandang mangyayari during the tournament.

"We need more souls." Ayan ang mga katagang binitawan nila bago sila nagsialisan.

If they need a soul to unseal something or someone, then I guess a massacre is about to occur.

"My lady," tawag ni Avion. "Why are they praising that lowley human instead of you?"

Napatingin ako kay Eleanor at pinapaligiran na siya ng mga estudyante like she's some kind of hero.

Pero hindi ko naman siya masisisi at wala naman siyang kaalam-alam sa nangyari.

"Let them be. It's better this way. An assassin never reveal how strong she is right before she kills her victim," sambit ko as I walk away from the crowd.

Now, it's time for me to take their souls instead.

  
--

  
"Kompleto na ba tayo?"

"Oo."

"Kayong dalawa dyan sa likod, make sure not to wander around. Mga low ranked pa naman kayo," sabi ng babae sa harapan na umaastang leader namin.

"Ano nga pangalan ng E-rank nating kasama?" she asked, pointing at me.

"Uh... Alexandra Dust," sambit ng babaeng nakasalamin habang nakatingin sa listahan.

"Alexandra! Ingatan mo 'yang mga gamit namin. Pag may nasira dyan, humanda ka sa 'kin," pagbabanta ng babaeng umaastang leader sa harapan.

"Okay ka lang ba, Ate?" pabulong na tanong ni Charm.

Dala-dala ko ang mga bag at ibang gamit ng mga kasama namin as we will be venturing outside the capital. A cave filled with monsters was recently discovered east outside of the capital. Sinasabi nilang may mga mamahaling orbs at magic stones ang matatagpuan doon and they can be sold at a high price. Especially ang mga stones na nakukuha mula sa mga pinatay na monsters.

Kasama namin ang mga professional warriors na nasa C at B rank. There are groups of professional warriors na pwdeng kumuha ng mga student sa Silverleaf to participate in their mission if ever kailangan nila ng mas maraming members at manpower. Sa amin namang mga estudyante, magiging exempted kami sa klase at may additional points pa. Other than that, we can also learn a lot from professional warriors just by observing them how to fight. Mga low ranked na kagaya namin ang priority ng school na isend out para mag improve ang skills namin. I volunteered at sumama lang rin si Charm kasi sumama daw ako.

Maliban sa experience, 10% ng profit na mabebenta nila mula sa mga magic stones ay mapupunta sa 'min. Magic stones are rare at umaabot ng milyon ang presyo nito base sa rarity. It can also be used to make stronger and quality weapons and armors.

"Ate, mabigat ba? Hati nalang tayo?" pag uulit ni Charm.

I'm carrying the extra weapons of the team as well as their mining equipment to gather magic stones and orbs. Siguro mga nasa 15-20kg rin 'to lahat. But this isn't really heavy for me.

Looking at Charm's small and frail body, she'll definitely be crushed.

"No, I'm fine."

"Sure ka, ate? Wag kang mag-alala. I'll protect you."

Charm's a D-rank mage warrior. She relies on her mana for attack and defense. She can summon any kind of flowers according to her will. Kahit D-rank lang siya, she came from a wealthy family at only child lang. Nakasuot siya ngayon ng mamahaling navy blue robe that can enhance her magic attributes and lowering mana consumption when using her skills.

Samantalang ako ay taga buhat lamang ng mga gamit nila as I observe them in the back. Wala akong suot na kahit anong equipment for attack and defense na alam nila.

It took us about an hour when we reached the cave. We are in the woods and there are no villages nearby.

"It's huge!" Charm exclaimed.

"I can sense a massive amount of mana from inside," sambit ng isang lalaki na kasama namin.

"May nakikita na akong magic stones sa entrance pa lang."

"We'll be rich!"

"Emissary lang naman ang pinakamalakas dito 'di ba?" tanong rin ng isa.

"Yes. We can easily clear the cave and harvest all the magic stones we can find," sabi naman ng babaeng leader. I forgot her name.

The entrance of the cave is huge and I can sense the mana coming from monsters na mukhang nasa common to special class lang. Two of the lowest ranked monsters.

"Let's head inside."

The cave is dark yet filled with magic stones. Ang nagsisilbing ilaw namin ay ang light magic ng mage na kasama namin.

I sensed a horde of goblins approaching pero mukhang hindi pa nila ito nararamdaman. Goblins are attracted to shiny things kaya normal lang na marami sila dito gawa ng mga magic stones. Nagpapatuloy pa rin kami sa paglalakad.

"That's strange," bulong ni Charm. Napatingin naman ako sa kanya.

"I thought I heard something pero mukhang wala naman."

Napatingin ako sa itaas. It's dark. But I can see them clearly.

Isang maliit na tipak ng bato ang nalaglag mula sa itaas. Napatigil kaming lahat. Parang tumahimik bigla ang buong paligid.

Gosh, their senses are really dull.

"Above us!" sigaw nila as colony of bats attacked us with their soundwaves. It can cause confusion and temporary hearing impairment.

Because of the blessings of the gods, my body automatically nullified it. Nakita kong nagpapanic si Charm kaya hinawakan ko siya and secretly used my magic to nullify the attack as well.

"Goblins!"

The team was still in shock at halatang natataranta pa. Hindi rin sila halos magkarinigan. Our tank managed to sustain the front line habang wala pa sa composure ang team.

Tanks were made to sustain high damage from enemies and they also has high tolerance or immunity against attack such as this. That's how he was able to protect us even in such state.

Nasa likod lang nila ako at pinapanood sila. Of course they had to protect me dahil nasa 'kin ang mga gamit nila.

The mage uses fire magic with a large area of effect, eliminating the goblins and bats in one swoop. They're just special class monsters, the 2nd weakest monster class.

The weapon masters, or the warriors that rely more on weapons and close combat, eliminates the remaining monster survivors.

"Ang galing nita, ate!" manghang sambit ni Charm.

"Let's start gathering magic stones here. You there, E-rank. Start mining here," utos ng babaeng leader sa 'kin. She herself is also a weapon master of sphere.

"Uhmm... lady Ruby," tawag ni Charm. Napatingin naman sa kanya yung babae.

"Hindi po ba kailangan muna nating masigurado na eliminated na po ang lahat ng monsters dito sa cave bago mag mina? Kasi maingay po ang pag mimina at kapag may natutulog pa pong malakas na halimaw dito, baka magising at atakihin kami."

"And? Do you think we're incapable of fighting and protecting you, weaklings?" mataray na sagot nito.

Tumahimik nalang si Charm at yumuko.

"She means that it's basic protocol to clear the cave first before mining for the safety of everyone," pagsingit ko.

Napatingin silang lahat sa 'kin lalo na 'tong si Annie na abot noo ang pag taas ng kilay.

"Protocol? Alam mo bata, when we're on a mission, there are no protocols, no rules, no anything. There's only one rule here," lumapit siya sa 'kin at bumulong. "...to survive."

Malademonyo siyang ngumiti as her team lined up behind her, giving the same grin.

There are rumors na matagal ko nang narinig. There's a team of warriors who recruits students from different academy to accompany them on a mission far from the capital. And after the mission, it's either those students went missing or found dead in a monster territory.

Well, I guess the rumors are true. And I found them.

"O-Okay na po 'yon. No need to argue. Magsisimula na po kaming mag mina ng magic stone. P-Pasensya na po kanina," Charm stuttered.

"D-rank siya, ano? That's a nice robe," the mage who used fire magic a while ago said.

"M-My father gave it to me."

"That's a pity."

One of the fighters attacked us dahilan upang tumilapon kaming dalawa ni Charm sa matigas na bato ng kweba. She almost lost her consciousness sa sobrang lakas ng pagkakatilapon namin.

"Just go easy on them, Beast General. E at D rank lang sila. Baka mapatay mo agad," nakangising saad ng babaeng tinawag ni Charm kanina na Ruby.

Beast General?

"Master... Let me punish them," rinig kong sambit ni Belzathar. The prince of the Underworld.

Pinahid ko ang dugo sa labi ko. "No. They're mine."

  
~*~

Author's note:

Thank you for reading! Update will also be this week. ♥️