DANGER

Katulad nalang ng kalandian mo, dalawang linggo na agad ang nakalipas. Ang pinagkaiba lang, ghinost ka niya, pero ako narito pa rin sa Orphic Dimension.

I've learned to adapt myself around the Academy. Somehow, I learned to control the orb, but never have I used my abilities. Hindi ko pa rin sila lahat kilala, pero pamilyar na ako sa mga mukha nila. Lalo na sa mga Neoterics.

Pero temporary student lang naman ako, 'di ba? Kaya hindi naman ako siguro required kilalanin ang lahat. I actually busied myself watching for Kaiden. Syempre, takot ko nalang na baka mamaya s'ya na pala talaga ang next target ni Zero!

Naalimpungatan ako nang biglang magsalita 'yong robot sa utak ko. "Miss Bellisima, the President has asked for your presence in his office."

Napatayo ako agad. This must be about my brother! I immediately put on a jacket- na hiram ko lang din sa dorm mates ko kasi wala pa akong pambili! Buti nalang mababait at mayayaman sila!

My two dorm mates are Iris and one girl that I haven't seen. Ano nga ulit pangalan n'on? Ruelle? Almost all of the clothes I wore were from her. Minsan lang daw kasi siya bumalik sa Academy, at hindi ko alam kung bakit.

Well, sabi nila she works for the Orphic Government. Part-time, but I don't know! Wala naman akong alam sa Orphic Dimension bukod sa Academy.

In a span of ten minutes, nakarating ako sa President's office. I usually go to places with the help of the watch and the map application in it. To be honest, kahit nakapikit ako basta sundin ko lang ang directions na sinasabi ng watch, makakarating ako sa gusto kong puntahan!

Pero sino ba namang tanga ang maglalakad nang nakapikit, ano?

I knocked by the President's door. Kaagad namang may tumapat na camera drone sa'kin. It's probably checking and verifying who I am. Then, the door automatically opened again.

"Exiquel Four," bati agad ni President Ephraim. I smiled. He motioned me to sit on the chair across him. Tiningnan ko muna ang paligid, at wala akong napansing ibang tao. So, this must be solely about me.

Umupo ako nang hindi tinatanggal ang maliit na ngiti sa labi ko. Umiko siya patungo sa computer desk niya. Hindi ko naman makita kung anong tinitipa niya.

"How are you doing, Four?" tanong n'ya nang hindi ako tinitingnan.

"Uh... okay lang naman po?" sagot ko. He nodded and smiled a little.

"How about your orb? Is it working well for you?" tanong niya.

I nodded, "Yes, but I've only tried traditional weapons. Hindi pa ako kumportable sa mga cyber weapons, at gusto ko sanang hasain muna ang paggamit ng traditional."

"Good. Balak ka naming bigyan ng misyon. It includes your brother. We have found some clues on where he might be, Four," paliwanag ni President.

Nanlaki naman ang mata ko, "Nas'an po siya?" tanong ko.

"There were records of Nicolas Valentine in hospitals and hotels, but then Nico hasn't gone out of the academy for months. We suspect that your brother is using his name. Katulad nga ng sinabi mo, magkamukha sila, hindi ba?" tanong ni Pres.

Napataas-kilay naman ako. So Kuya Nine knows Nicolas? If so, magkapatid nga kaya talaga sila?

"There were also purchases under Nicolas' name. Hindi pa 'to alam ni Nico, dahil sa administration nag-notify ang tungkol sa purchases. Most of the objects are weapons, medicines, and gadgets. Essentials too," dagdag niyang paliwanag.

"We tried accessing the cameras of the whole Orphic Dimension, pero tila hasang-hasa na ang kapatid mo sa mga gan'tong bagay. Nakikita ang mukha n'ya pero bigla nalang s'yang nawawala, at hindi rin namin alam kung s'an siya pumupunta o kung s'an niya dinadala ang mga gamit na binibili niya. Last week, we posted a case for the Orphic Government to cease anyone who'll use the name of Nicolas Valentino. But then, starting from that week too, wala na ngang gumamit ng pangalang Nico. Hindi na rin namin siya natagpuan ulit."

"P-po?" 'Yan nalang ang tanging nasambit ko. "Then ano pong mission ang gagawin ko?"

"Four, please understand that your brother is actually a wanted person. He trespassed and entered the Orphic Dimension without authorization. We need to investigate him. If we find nothing wrong or suspiscious about Nine, we will let him go. But still, there will be a light punishment for his actions."

"But what if he is suspiscious?" tanong ko.

"He'll be sent to jail- depending on his crime, Four."

Oh, bakit ko naman sila tutulungang hulihin ang kuya ko kung mapapabilanggo lang pala siya?

"You need to help us catch your brother," tila nabasa ni Pres. Ephraim ang utak ko. "Your brother might be in danger out there. Wala siyang alam sa mundo na 'to."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"We assume he's in the underground cities. The place where the Orphic Government has no access to. It may be the safest place for criminals, but the most dangerous place for citizens."

"Underground cities?"

President Ephraim nodded. "Gusto ka sana naming ipadala r'on."

Napahawak ako nang mahigpit sa upuan ko, at namilog ang mga mata ko. "A-ano po?"

"I know it's dangerous, but you have to do this if you want to find your brother. Ikaw ang pinaka-safe na pumunta r'on dahil hindi ka pa kilala sa labas ng Academy na 'to. You are new," tugon niya.

That's it! I'm new tapos ako ang isasabak nila sa Underground cities kung s'an maraming mga kriminal? E'di namatay ako?

"If you don't accept this mission, then we will neglect your brother's case. You'll be sent back to the mortal realm, and you are banned to be here in our dimension," paliwanag ni Sir Ephraim.

Wow, he's blackmailing me. Pero sabagay, kami naman nga ang nag-trespass sa mundo nila. Hng! Walang hiya ka, Kuya!

"Only those who are willing to go with you can go with you. Hindi kami mag-aatas ng ibang pupunta sa underground cities bukod sa'yo. That will be danger for our Orpheuses."

Napapikit naman ako nang maalala ang pangako ko kay Kuya na susundan ko siya kapag nawala siya. Hays, walang hiya ka talaga, Ezekiel Nine!

"How will I know if someone is willing to help me?" I asked once I opened my eyes again.

President Ephraim smiled a bit, "Your mission will be announced to the Factions. Tutulungan ka naman namin, but that will be before you go to the underground cities. We will train you, educate you, and make your lessons advanced."

"Kung may magprisinta man na sumama sa'yo, hahayaan namin. They will also be given advance lessons," sagot niya.

"Will you accept this mi-"

"Oo naman, yes. Wala naman akong choice, hindi ba?" sagot ko at tumayo na agad. Natigilan si Sir Ephraim, halatang gulat sa paraan ng pagsagot ko.

Nginitian ko nalang siya, "I promised my brother that I will find him and follow him. So be it."

He nodded. Umalis na rin ako at wala sa sariling pumunta sa cafeteria. Buti nalang may voice na nagsasabi ng directions! I need to eat something to digest all of these! Pupunta ako sa isang dangerous place para hanapin lang ang kuya ko?! Gosh!

Natigilan naman ako sa paglalakad nang biglang may humila ng braso ko. I immediately raised my brow when I saw Kaiden.

His orange hair was slightly disheveled. He looked like he ran to here para lang maabutan ako.

"Bakit, kulit?" tanong ko.

"You are going to the Underground cities?" Tanong niya.

"Huh?" sambit ko. "I mean, paano mo nalaman? Was it already announced?"

Tumango naman siya.

I rolled my eyes, "Nagtanong ka pa. Naanounnce na naman pala."

"May kasama ka na?" tanong ni Kaiden sa'kin.

I scoffed, "As if naman may sasama."

"Ako."

Nanlaki naman ang mata ko nang marinig 'yon mula sa bibig niya. I looked at him and see if he was joking, but his look was serious!

"Sasamahan kita," he sternly said.

"Luh," sambit ko. "Sigurado ka ba?"

He nodded and pursued his lips.

Hindi ko naman napigilan ang magtanong, "Bakit? I mean, bakit mo ako sasamahan?"

"I need to find someone who might be in the underground cities too, Four."

Luh. Parang ayaw kong isama! Hindi naman pala ako tutulungan, at may sariling sadya siya! Bwesit.

The Orphic Secret
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

New mentioned character:
Ruelle Alistair Monrov Ambrose by thiseuphoricfeeling

Thank you for reading!