Eumythymn Hunter

A Glimpse of Somber

She didn't say anything except for the fact that she suddenly lifted my uniform up.

"H-hey! What the heck!" I jumped away, obviously embarrassed.

Then Phantom whispered something to herself.

"Bakit mo ba ako hinuhubaran?!" tanong ko habang nagdadasal na hindi niya sana halata ang pagkataranta sa boses ko.

"Let's get going. Baka ma-late pa tayo sa meeting." bigla nitong sabi bago nagsimula maglakad papalayo.

Virdjana's POV

[East Wing: Enchanted Elite Office]

There was no designated seat for the members of Enchanted Elites, and that there was no rank among us. At least that's what I read from one of Zeky's messages through my inbox in the chatting option in the E.H.P system.

In my surprise, the one leading the meeting was Professor Jelina.
She was holding a compiler of what I guess might be the summary details for each of the Enchanted Elites or perhaps a mission for us? I honestly have no idea.

"Magandang araw sa inyong lahat. Para sa mga hindi nakakaalam, pag-uusapan natin ang gagawing paghahanda para sa event na gaganapin sa susunod na buwan - ang Chronicle Play." nakangiting saad ni Professor Jelina.

"Andito na ba ang lahat?" tanong nito bago hagurin ng tingin ang buong silid, "mukhang hindi. Nasaan si Zeky? Genesis? Si Ryoline? Si Soriz at si Arcedes?" pag-i-isa-isa ng guro sa mga pangalan ng mga Enchanted Elite na hindi nakarating o wala pa sa nagaganap na pagpupulong ay naramdaman ko ang sarili ko na naguguluhan.

"How many are the Enchanted Elites though?" I asked ma'am Jelina while raising my right arm in the process.

"There are 10 Enchanted Elites." answered the teacher.

"Uhmm, like... 10-... 10 per year level? 10 per section?" I further questioned.

Ma'am Jelina raised an unsure brow at me, which made me also ask why internally. Then she looked at Kadaski meaningfully.

"Bakit ako ang papag-paliwanagan ninyo ma'am? Katamad naman ehhh." pagrereklamo ni Kadaski.

"Kasi mister Nueva, maaga naman kayong nakarating. Why not make use of it productively? Habang naghihintay kayo para sa iba ay ibahagi mo ang tungkulin ninyo. Isipin mo na lang activity ito para magkakikilala kayo." nakangiting pahayag ni Professor Jelina.

'Is that necessary?' I thought inwardly. 'and why is Professor Jelina acting less of a bitch today?'

"Ma'am, ma'am si Ertune na lang. Kaasar." bulong ni Kadaski bago niya pa-ungusin ang bibig niya.

"Mister Ertune, why don't you assist me set up some stuff from the auditorium to the other areas. It's training." stated Professor Jelina, winking at Ertune Merdinia.

"Ay, sige ma'am. Let's go!" agad namang pag-talima ni Ertune sa utos ng guro.

I looked at Kadaski, but he was already staring at me, glaring even.

"And what do I need to kno-," but he cuts me off by scoffing at me.

'Well, I tried initiating and I failed. Let's not waste time.'

Nang makumpirma kong tuluyan nang nakalayo sina Professor Jelina at ang kaklase naming si Ertune, tumayo ako mula sa aking upuan para tunguhin ang bintana ng silid.

Binuksan ko ito kaya pumasok ang malamig na simoy ng hangin. Nahanap ko ang sariling pinagmamasdan ang malawak na field ng paaralan.Matatanaw mula sa gusali ang iba't ibang estatwa, trimmed hedges, at mga lamp posts na halatang pinagka-gastusan.

'Am I in the right place? Or am I just fooling myself?'

"Phantom."

Agad kong naipihit ang ulo upang bumaling sa pinanggalingan ng boses, walang iba kung hindi galing kay Kadaski Nueva. Nonetheless, I kept quiet, and I didn't break the eye contact between us.

Nauna itong mag-iwas tingin bago ginulo ang kaniyang buhok at nagpakawala ng isang buntong-hininga. "Ayoko sa'yo, pero kung mag-mumukmok ka dahil lang sa ayaw kong ipaliwanag ang tungkol sa responsibilidad ng mga Enchanted Elites-"

I cut him off.

"I believed you said we'll pretend not to know each other if the curse was lifted?" I remarked before pulling away from the window.

"What?" gulat niyang reaksiyon sa sinabi ko.

"Don't tell me that the loud and proud Kadaski Nueva of S-Class forgot?" I added, pulling a chair from the pile, and causing a disarray in the process.

Silence followed.

"Okay, una sa lahat. I didn't forget! Ikalawa, technically it won't apply because we did not make that deal official." Nueva reasons with matching hand gestures. "Could you shut up for a second, so I can explain?!"

"No." I held back my laughter. 

In a mixed stuttering and irritated tone Nueva responds, "Then I say no, to that no! I was just curious how you learned about the nightmares I'm having! Why do you care?!" 

He looked like his veins would pop any moment now.

This is all your fault Reggie. You were talking about a strange aura enveloping Kadaski Nueva, why did you demand for me to check it out?

"Well, Vi. It's a familiar aura." reasoned Reggie in my head before chuckling apologetically.

"I have a similar answer. I was just curious why you look sick." I replied to him as I initiate another direct eye contact. "Bold of you to assume that I care about you."

He looked at me, as if he was studying my face, "And here I thought, you did it to me. I heard your name Phantom translates to 'those who have risen from the ash' Witches of evil intentions." he spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.

'Fantastic.'

"You're not going to defend yourself?" he asked in confusion.

The door of the room opened just before I could say something, and entered the people wearing blazers of green, yellow, red and blue.

Professor Jelina was the last one to enter, thus she closed the door afterwards.

"Alright! Let's begin discussing the Chronicle Book Safeguarding Operation!"

Drago's POV

[An Hour Earlier]

Maaga akong gumising, nasa bandang alas-cinco pa lamang noon. Nakatanggap kasi ako ng tawag mula sa Faculty Office, specifically mula sa Master of Flames - Zarrah Yoto.

Kung magiging tapat lang ako sa sarili ko, aaminin kong na-i-intimidate pa rin ako sa height ni Master, hindi ako makapaniwalang isa siyang napakatangkad na babae!

I heard from the teachers that most of the students spent their time doing whatever they want and sometimes even breaking the rules inside the dormitory just to fight off the boredom of not being able to leave the building for safety precautions.

"Ano kayang gustong sabihin sa akin ni Master Yoto?" tanong ko sa sarili habang nag-bubutones ng aking uniporme.

Nang makarating ako sa Faculty Office, kumatok ako ng tatlong beses bago bumukas ang pinto. At hindi ko inaasahang ang magbubukas ng pinto ay si JP na kagaya ko ay nakasuot rin ng kumpletong uniporme.

"JP! Good morning." I greeted.

"To you too, come in. Master Yoto sent me to send you to her." he responded.

"Ah thanks." then I smiled at him.

Mahigit isang oras ang nangyaring pag-uusap sa pagitan ko at ni Master Yoto.

Ang masasabi ko lang ay ikinatuwa ko na pinagkakatiwalaan niya ako na malaman ang impormasyong ito, at ikalawang dahilan ay dahil sa na-i-assign na naman ako sa panibagong misyon.

[East Wing: Enchanted Elite Office]

On my way to the East Wing, nadaanan ko pa ang ibang miyembro na papunta na rin doon kaya nagkasabay-sabay na kami.

Nang papasok naman kami sa building ay nakita naming magkasama ang magkapatid na sina Ertune at Professor Jelina Merdinia. Binati namin sila, nagkumustahan rin bago pormal na magtipon-tipon sa opisina.

Nakangiti akong nagbukas ng pinto, dahil narinig kong makakasama namin si Virdjana sa meeting na ito.

Iyon nga lang, hindi ko inaasahang ang madadatnan kong magkasama sa kuwarto ay ang bestfriend ko at si Virdjana.

"Alright! Let's begin discussing the Chronicle Book Safeguarding Operation!" anunsyo ni Professor Jelina.

"Drago! Pre!" bati sa akin ni Aski saka nakipag-apiran.

"Kayo lang magkasama dito? Kanina pa?" tanong ko naman sa kaniya.

"Oo. May pinuntahan kasi si Prof at iyang gangster kanina. Napag-utusan tuloy akong ipaliwanag kay Phantom iyong tungkol sa Enchanted Elite." pagpapaliwanag niya.

"Spoilers. He didn't." Phantom whisper-shouted from behind us.

Umupo na kami sa mga bakante. Nang liningon ko si Virdjana ay nakita ko itong nakikipag-usap kay Ryoline - isang Beast Tamer Enchant, nahanap ko itong nakakapanibago pero hinayaan ko na lamang, at least hindi si Aski ang kausap nito.

'Teka, bakit ganito ako mag-isip?' puna na kalahati ng utak ko.

"Drago-" kakausapin sana ako ni Aski nang biglang ihampas ni Professor Jelina ang hawak nitong stick sa mesa.

"Attention! Ito ang mga dapat ninyong isa-isip sa araw ng Chronicle Play!" saad ni Ma'am sabay pindot sa touch screen monitor. Tahimik naman kaming nanood ng presentation.

"This will be fun." I smiled to myself.