Oh, my. This is a first.

A man taller than me, enough for me to look up on him. His ruby earrings caught my attention first. It looks expensive.

He's probably 6'7 up. Eyes, dark red. His slicked-back long hair—almost long as mine, with some strands in front is dark purple, almost black, in a low ponytail as well. Underneath his long black coat is a black turtle neck, seeing his arms, and hands with black gloves, it's probably sleeveless.

May sumisilip na itim na tinta sa turtle neck niya. I can't stare at it for too long, but it's definitely a symbol I don't know. Another symbol on his forehead that I don't know as well, it's in red ink. But at least, the red birthmark under his eyes is something I know.

That symbol . . . means . . .

This guy . . . I didn't feel his presence, maybe because he wasn't a threat?

"My, what happened to hello?" I scoffed, still looking at him. He still has his fake mask on.

"Oh, should I wave my hand as well?" sagot niya sa 'kin.

Binalikan ko siya ng ngiti. "That's nice, but I prefer introductions."

He paused for a moment, there was a slight delay in his voice when he opened his mouth. "Izel."

Not a familiar name.

"Son of?"

"Son of a farmer in the east."

I smirked. Oh, he's that kind of guy.

"I see, you don't like introductions very much," natatawang sagot ko. Inilahad ko ang kamay ko. "Yes, Quetzalli. Daughter of a farmer as well. I'll be your captain for this mission."

He just looked at my hand, before looking back again at me. He smiled again, with his eyes. "Didn't you hear what I said? I want you to step down."

"Hey, boy!" biglang ani ng babaeng nasa likod ko. Sinulyapan ko si Laonya na nanlilisik ang mga mata sa lalaking kaharap namin. Tuminis ang boses niya, pero dumiin, parang ilang tao ang nagsasalita. Her iris split. "Quetzalli is still your senior, know your place!"

Hinarang ko ang kamay ko. "cálmate, muchacha. (calm down.)"

Umangat muli ang mata ko kay Izel. "Now, now. Even though I would like to step down as a captain, there are rules we should follow, you know?"

Humakbang ako papalapit sa kaniya. "You need to be qualified as a captain. Hawak ko ang buhay niyo, kaya malaki ang responsibilidad ko."

I met his eyes, and his smile disappeared. "But I can step down . . . if you think you're more qualified."

Let's see . . . I don't think he's just cocky, maybe he just really thinks that he's stronger than me.

It took seconds before he showed his smile again. In the most nonchalant and casual way, he answered me.

"I'll kill you."

I smiled back. "I would love to see you try, chico."

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An open field, like a desert, but we're still on Mythos. With enough distance, at least 20 ft. I'm in front of Izel, the chico who wanted to fight me for the position of captain.

I couldn't care less.

But I'm intrigued with his background as well, like what Laonya said. Gusto kong malaman kung kaninong anak siya, at ano ang rason kung bakit niya 'to tinatago.

If he used his ability, I would know.

Now without a coat, my hunch was right that he's wearing a sleeveless turtle neck. Paired with black patiala pants, black gloves, and boots. Now, under the sun, I can see how pale his skin is. Is he really an offspring of an Aztec god?

"Take a look at that, you're alive! I thought you were just a ghost earlier." Nilahad ko pa ang kamay ko. Hindi kaagad siya kumibo.

"Oh, you won't bring your axe with you?" he said with a very jolly tone. Still has a smile on his face. Except that his expression is bland, trying to hide it with his tone won't cover his fake self. "I'm willing to give you some time, I don't want you to make excuses when you lose later."

Napamulsa ako, humampas ang hangin dahilan ng pagsabay rito ng mahaba kong buhok na nakatali. I'm just carelessly standing.

"Come on, it's our first meeting. I don't want to accidentally kill you, chico."

He answered me with a smile. There's no use in trying to piss me off. Because it will never happen.

"I'm ready when you're ready," ani ko. Sinenyasan pa siya.

"Then . . . I will start."

"Go ahead-"

Hindi ko pa natatapos ang sasabihin ko nang maramdaman ko ang paggalaw ng hangin. Kusa akong napaatras dahil sa biglaang pwersa sa harapan ko.

Izel is suddenly in front of me, fist in the position I was, seconds ago. I got a glance of the ground, it cracked.

Oh, he's fast. With physical strength as well.

Mabilis ulit siyang nawala, at muli ko na lang ulit naramdaman ang paghampas ng hangin mula sa likuran ko. Agad akong umiwas at tumalikod para harapin siya, pero agad din niya 'kong sinundan para atakihin ulit sa likod.

I can still dodge it, but I chose to take his attack. I crossed my arms to take his punch that pushed me back. Ginawa kong pangpigil ang mga paa ko para hindi ako makalayo masyado.

Napatingin ako sa dalawang kamay kong nakatanggap ng atake. Parehong nangitim . . .

"Oh, are you just going to keep avoiding my attacks, senior?" sarkastikong aniya, nakangiti pa rin.

Napangisi ako. "Then why don't you use your abilities, chico? That way, I might consider fighting back."

He still didn't show any reaction to my comments, he still smiled.

With that, he continued attacking with his fist.

Izel didn't use any ability except for his strength. I, as well, didn't attack. Patuloy lang ako sa pag-iwas.

Wala akong nakikitang kakaiba, walang palatandaan kung kaninong anak siya. This is going no where.

"Say, Izel." Unang pagbanggit ko sa pangalan niya habang nasa ere ako, iniiwasan siya. "Why do you want to be a captain? Who knows, I might consider giving the position to you despite losing."

Hindi natinag ang ekspresyon niya, kalmado pa rin at nakangiti. Kahit halatang-halata na peke, at malamig ang pinapakita niyang emosyon.

"Is that also a part of the introduction?" sagot niya.

I chuckled. "You can say it like that." Malapit na muntik tumama ang kamao niya sa mukha ko kung hindi kaagad ako nakaiwas. Ni isang beses, wala pang dumidikit sa 'kin na atake niya maliban na lang kung sinasalo ko. At pinili ko ring hindi patamain ang kahit hintuturo ko sa kaniya.

"Are you worried that I won't do my job well? 'Wag kang mag-alala, wala pang namamatay sa pangangalaga ko. Lahat ng misyon na pinagkatiwala sa 'kin ay matagumpay."

He tried going to my legs now. "Oh, it isn't a surprise. You're the great Quetzalli after all. I don't doubt your abilities."

Huminto ako sa pag-iwas na kinabigla niya at hindi inaasahan. Sa muling pagkakataon, sinalo ko ang kamao niya, pero ngayon ay gamit ang palad ko. Malakas na pwersa ng hangin ang lumabas dahil sa lakas at bilis ng pangyayari.

For a second, and for the first time, his expression faltered. He couldn't hide his reaction with his fake smile.

"You knew that . . . and you still chose to fight me?" nakangising tanong ko.

He glanced at me for a moment, before showing a smile again and retreating his fist.

"Yes," sagot niya bago umatras palayo sa 'kin. "But I haven't seen you in action. So I thought that I should test it if you're the real deal."

"Now you've seen it, do you think I'm the real deal?"

Ilang segundo bago siya sumagot. "Not yet."

Napabuntong-hininga ako at natatawang napailing. "I can't give you the position of the captain. No matter how long this fight lasts, even if you use your ability . . ." Masinsin ko siyang tinignan, walang pananakot o kahit anong tagong emosyon. "I will win."

Nagkibit-balikat ako. "No hard feelings, chico. I can give you the vice-captain position. I know you're strong as well. But not strong-"

I stopped midway when I felt that he started moving again, planning to attack. Muli na lang akong napahinga nang malalim. Hindi talaga siya nakikinig.

Handa na 'ko pigilan ulit ang atake niya, at ngayon, balak ko na rin umatake pabalik. Pero bago pa man 'yon mangyari, nakaramdam na 'ko ng pamilyar na presensya.

Pinili ko na lang na hindi kumilos mula sa posisyon ko. At kagaya ng inaasahan, bago pa tuluyang makalapit si Izel sa 'kin, isang malakas na pagbagsak ang nangyari sa pagitan namin.

Napalibutan kami ng usok, ilang segundo pa ang tinagal bago pa namin tuluyang nakita ang bumagsak.

Masama kaagad ang tingin niya sa 'kin nang makita niya 'ko. Bumuka ang bibig niya dahilan para makita ko ang matutulis niyang mga ngipin.

"Oi, what the fuck? That's my position!" Garagal at sabog ang boses niya.

Magkasalubong ang kilay niya nang matama ang mga mata namin. Kumurba ang labi ko sa isang ngisi.

"Hola! You're here, Hummingbird!"

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