The Mysteries of Agent Scythe

Kabanata 18: A Thousand Mysteries

[Zin's POV]

"Ah!" Malakas na sigaw ni Rud habang pinipilit na dinidiin ang kanyang AL-X kay Agent Scythe pero parang estatwa lang ito at hindi gumagalaw na ikinataka namin.

Parang nalaglag ang panga ko nung biglang bitawan ni Rud ang kanyang sandata. Lahat kami ay nagulat nung nanatili ang kanyang AL-X sa ere.

Rud step back, he was also confused of what happened. We looked at Agent Scythe and she looks bored. Slowly, she raised her hand and held the sword.

"H-how is that even possible? It's my AL-X. I-i'm the only one who can control it." Nauutal at hindi makapaniwalang ani Rud. The rest of us couldn't say anything. We were to stunned to even think of a word.

We watched her as she swiftly and smoothly play with the sword. The way she controls the sword tells a lot about her experiences. As if she had already won thousands of battles.

"C-can't we kill an assassin?" Callon asked, terrified.

"Of course you can." Sagot niya habang pinapasadahan ang blade ng espada gamit ang kanyang daliri. Tumingin siya sa entrance at lahat kami ay napatuon din doon ang atensyon.

"Agent Scythe, I would like to–"

As Cadets, we always have our guards up. Hindi kami mabilis magulat dahil sa talas ng instincts namin pero pagdating kay Agent Scythe... everything just seems so unpredictable.

Napatalon kami sa gulat sa kanyang ginawa. One of her assassins went inside the room and we were caught off-guard when Agent Scythe just suddenly threw the sword at her with full force. The hit looks so strong that it pierced the assassin's body on the wall.

"Why did you do that?!" Galit na bulalas ko. My voice echoed in rage.

"For demonstration, for proof."

"She's innocent, damn it!"

"What is she? A toddler?" She chuckled. Hindi niya ba alam na siya lang ang natuwa sa kanyang ginawa? Nakangisi niyang nilapitan ang duguang katawan ng assassin at walang pag-aalinlangang binunot ang espadang nakasaksak sa tiyan nito.

"You killed someone just for a fucking demonstration?!" Galit ako. Kaya nga pumasok ako sa AEA dahil gusto kong iligtas ang mga tao tas tapos siya, kung makapatay parang wala lang.

"Collateral damage," kumibit-balikat siya bago pinunasan ang AL-X ni Rud na puno ng dugo gamit ang cape nung assassin.

Tumalon kaming lahat para makailag nung bigla niyang hinagis ang espada papunta sa gawi namin. Si Rud lang ang hindi gumalaw. Tumigil ang AL-X sa harapan ni Rud at unti-unti ay bumaba ito at lumapit sa kamay niya.

"T-this is not possible." Natatawang iling ni Rud na hindi maipinta ang mukha.

"Then you are dumb if you still refuse to believe. Our combat training is done. Use the remaining time to rest before we proceed to our next schedule." Malamig niyang sabi at akmang tatalikod na pero tinanong muli siya ni Esthis. Does she really think we would just let her go with a lot of unanswered questions in our mind?

"How is this even possible? It's Rud's DNA that is printed in the AL-X. How were you able to use it?"

"The AL-X is loyal to its master and a slave to its true master."

We have half an hour to rest and that entire time, we were in silence. Nakaupo kami sa may bench sa field at nakatulala lang. Paulit-ulit naming iniisip ang nangyari kanina. The thing we witnessed was peculiar... she was able to control Rud's AL-X.

"True Master? What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Narinig naming bulalas ni Lindir pero wala sa amin ang nakasagot... wala sa amin ang may alam ng sagot.

"What was she implying? That she's my AL-X's true master? What kind of fucking joke is that?" Naiiritang singhal ni Rud habang pinaglalaruan ang kanyang AL-X sa harapan namin.

"Then does it mean that only Rud's AL-X is the only one she can control?"

"Yeah, maybe I can blow her off with my shotgun." Puno ng excitement na suhestiyon ni Esthis.

"Do you really think you can blow her off that easily?" All of our attention shifted to Callon when he spoke.

"What do you think, Zin?" Tanong ni Khort sa akin.

Are they really asking me to strategize a plan on killing a First Class Assassin?

.

"The sword is commonly known for its versatility. During your training in the camp, the three of you were trained to master different styles in sword fighting. The three of you need speed. A sword is quite advantageous in close-combat. You can do both defense and offense since a sword is the most easiest weapon to handle."

We had our weapon orientation first. Nagpapaliwanag siya habang naglalakad kami papunta sa kabilang training hall.

Nung makarating na kami sa harap ng training room ay grinupo niya kami according sa weapon na gamit namin. Kakausapin niya kami isa-isa at ako ang nasa pinakadulo. Hindi ko masyadong marinig ang boses niya kahit nung kinausap niya si Vyre na katabi ko lang.

I slowly glanced at her direction
when she started pacing towards me. She stopped in front of me and she was staring intently into my eyes. Napatulala ako sa hindi malamang dahilan at hindi ko maiwas-iwas ang tingin ko mula sa kanya.

Nagtagal ang pagtitigan naming dalawa hanggang siya na mismo ang umiwas ng tingin.

Ano 'yun? Ba't wala siyang sinabi?

Nauna na siyang pumasok sa loob habang ako ay napatingin sa iba kong mga kasamahan na ngayon ay kuryusong nakatingin din sa akin.

"Why didn't she gave you any advice or technique?" Nakakunot ang noong tanong ni Vyre.

"I don't know."

"Maybe she doesn't have any idea on how to give you an advice. You're the first sickle user."

"Yeah, I think she doesn't even know how to use one."

By weapon din 'yung training namin. May mga Rank 2 Elvesmiths na ni-release si Agent Scythe at una ay sina Khort, Callon, at Rud. Habang kami ay nasa safe room lang kung saan tanaw na tanaw namin ang buong training room.

Nung magsimula na sila ay hindi ko maiwasang tumingin sa direksyon ni Agent Scythe at nagulat ako nung mahuli siyang nakatingin din sa akin. Mabilis niyang iniwas at binaba ang tingin.

She looks distracted. Parang madami ang tumatakbo sa isip niya lalo na nung makita ko ang taranta sa kanyang mga mata na ipinagtaka ko.

The entire room is quite dim and I bet the others didn't notice Agent Scythe's expression. An expression that tell thousands of mysteries.