Akala ni Jill Morie ay tapos na ang laban, matapos nilang matalo ang Memoire ay payapa na silang namumuhay ngayon sa Isla Ingrata.
Subalit biglang magbabago muli ang takbo ng kanyang buhay nang dahil sa isang pantatraydor ng kaibigan.
Kailangang lum...
"Welcome to the first level of Akasha's Game!" bumalik yung atensyon namin sa kasalukuyang laro nang marinig namin ang boses ni Rama Melchiori, who wears again his favorite all white attire, but this time nakasuot siya ng White coat na may fur, hindi ko pa rin maintindihan yung fashion sense niya. Nasa kabila ko si Cairo at nasa likuran niya yung mga alipores niya. "I want you all to listen well; there are no strict rules but just to listen carefully to every instruction. The first level of this game is called the Muladhara level." Maya-maya'y dumating ang isang staff, "I want to show you something." Ipinakita sa'min ng staff ang dalang poster na naglalaman ng drawing ng Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs.
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"I know that all of you are familiar with the Eastern Astrology. This is the Sheng Xiao or the famous Chinese Zodiac Signs." I never intend to bother about Astrology but I know my sign.
'My sign is Rooster? What's yours?' narinig ko si Cloud, as usual nakikipagcommunicate gamit ang Telepathy.
I tried to remember.
'Ox?'
'What?! We're compatible! Sabi ko na nga ba soulmates tayo.'
'Really.'
'Kaya pala ang lakas ng sparks natin.'
'Tumigil ka nga,' hindi ko matagong matawa sa pinagsasabi nito. 'Hindi ko alam na avid fan ka ng astrology.'
'Ngayon lang.' natawa ko lalo pero tinakpan ko yung bibig ko. Napatingin sa'min si Cairo pero kaagad din niyang binalik sa harapan ang tingin.
'Year of the Tiger ako,' parehas kaming napatingin sa kanya ni Cloud nang sumabat siya sa usapan namin sa isip. 'Year of the Rabbit si Karen.'
'Kaya pala. Incompatible.' Nakangisi ako habang iniisip ko 'yon, pang-asar lang.
'Pano mo nalaman? Akala ko ba di ka fan ng Zodiac?' nakakainis tong si Cloud hindi marunong sumakay.
Muntik na kaming hindi makasabay sa mga sinasabi ni Rama Melchiore, namalayan na lang namin na nagkukwento na siya tungkol sa legend ng Chinese Zodiac.
"Long ago, the Jade Emperor, ruler of the heavens, wanted to devise how to measure time, and so he arranged a great race. The first twelve animals to make it would earn a spot on the Zodiac calendar in order they arrived. So that's the origin of the Sheng Xiao or Chinese Zodiac," may mga dumating na naman na staff at dala-dalang malalaking kahon. "The first level's game will be a race based on the Sheng Xiao's origin. Starting here, from Gubeiko Village, you will hike the Gubeiko's Great Wall section and should make it to the Jinshalling's Great Wall section. The hike won't be easy because these sections are not renovated. It might take nine to twelve hours, that's why we'll give you these." He ordered the staff to distribute what's inside the box. It's hiking bags!
