The Lost Orb [PFS #1, The Bearer]

05 "First Mission"

Matamis siyang ngumiti sa 'min. She placed her bundled fist under her chin. "Actually tapos na ako. Do not hesitate guys, magpakabusog kayo, lalo kana Ate Saskia."

My eyes wandered on her. "Hindi maganda ang kutob ko sa ngiti mo na 'yan." I remarked.

May mabigat bang task na dapat gawin ngayon? Kung tutuusin, kahit 'di na ako kumain ngayon. When a mage is hungry and they don't fulfill what their stomach wants, by default, their body system will consume mana as an alternative source of energy. It will automatically supplement what the body needs. Just make sure you don't run out of it.

She giggled. "Huh? Bakit naman?"

Allisa reached for the table napkin to wipe her mouth for a bit. Her eyes were softly shut when she asked the same question to Saphire. "Can you now spill the tea?"

She lazily glances at her, with a hint of jest in her voice.

Saphire defeatedly exhaled. "You're really impatient, Ate Allisa!" She jested back.

"Am I? Kanina pa kaya kami naghihintay dito." Sabay tingin niya sa 'kin. I nodded in response. Well, that's the truth. For me.

Saphire cleared her throat, "So heto na nga, interesado ba kayong lumabas ng Aro-"

"Energy consuming. No! I don't want to," Allisa drawled at the word 'consuming' as she protested.

I laughed a bit. "Hindi ka ba naboboring dito, Allisa?"

"Teka lang naman!" Saphire pouted. May nilabas siyang sobre ng letra at iwinagayway iyon sa harapan namin. Pagkatapos ay binuksan niya iyon upang basahin ang nilalaman. Bigla siyang napahinto. "Wait! hindi ka pala kasama Ate Allisa."

Biglang kinuha ni Allisa ang letra. "What the! letra ito galing sa Head's Department! It's an order letter!"

"How do you know?" I curiously asked.

Her expression grew serious. "Ganitong papel ang natatanggap ko sa tuwing may order ang nakatataas."

Order.

"Ibig sabihin ay nakatanggap din kayo ng ganito kagabi?"

"Kung nagtataka ka kung bakit parehas kami ni Tristan ipinatawag kahapon. Kami ang nakaatas sa case mo last month, ngunit kahit tapos na 'yon, we still have a duty to be executed, especially on you."

I blinked a few times, "Nanggaling din ba sa overseers ang order na 'yan?"

She nodded.

Natahimik ako. Strange. I felt like I was being eyed on. Simula noong nangyari 'yong kahapon, pakiramdam ko ay binabantayan nila ang bawat galaw ko. Bakit? Bukod sa pagliyab ng libro na 'yon sa kamay ko, meron ba akong nagawang mali na hindi ko alam?

"Oh no, alam ko 'yang iniisip mo," suway niya sa 'kin. "They simply want to assure your safety."

"Safety from what?"

"From the things we still don't know."

It didn't help me to be at ease. This is getting more confusing for me. From the day I had known the case behind me, walang gabi na naging madali iyon para sa 'kin.

Nagulat ako nang ipatong ni Allisa ang kaliwang palad niya sa balikat ko, I looked at her, confused, as she caressed my shoulder. "Can you free your mind for a while? Don't worry, whatever happened to you back then, we will not let it happen again. You're safe here," She assured.