Tale 35
The Life of an Assassin is Never Easy
“Why do you have to tag along?” tanong ni Aurio kina Nova at Natalia
“I’m bored.” Natalia
A Class S Assassin can accept Class S, Class A and Class B jobs.
“You need four members according to the job requirements.” Tugon ni Nova
“Desmond is in the middle of an infiltration job so we need these two to make up for the number.” Amara
“Okay.” Aurio
“This is just an escort mission. Why is it categorized as a Class B Mission.?” Tanong ni Aurio
“The person that we will escort is from the Hurricane Family. A rich merchant family with many enemies.” Nova
“Classes in Aurum University of Aureus is about to start next week. Our employer’s son, Dior Hurricane, is a sophomore in the Alchemy Class.” Amara
“We’re here..” saad ni Natalia, she’s driving the car.
Yes, cars exist in Aralon. It uses a different source of power. Carriage is an old mode of transportation but it’s still widely use today.
Nasa harap sila ng isang mansion sa isang munting bayan ng Udarra.
Maraming mga guards ang nakapalibot sa mansion.
Matapos makumpirma ang kanilang intensyon ay agad silang pinatuloy sa loob ng mansion. Dalawang guards ang nakabantay sa kanila for safety purposes.
“Thank you for accepting this job. I already notified my son about your arrival. He’s just preparing for travel.. Please have a seat.” Nakangiting bati ni Mrs. Hurricane.
“I noticed that everyone is in mourning clothes. Did an accident happened? An assassination?” tanong ni Nova
“No.. It’s nothing like that.. My father passed away just a week ago, he have a chronic illness. Please don’t worry.” Paliwanag ni Mrs. Hurricane
Tumango lamang sila.. Ipinaghanda sila ng pagkain ng pamilya. Lumipas ang kalahating oras at naghihintay pa rin sila.
Tahimik ang mansion. Nagtungo si Mrs. Hurricane sa kusina. Wala namang imik ang dalawang guards.
Hindi nagtagal, nakarinig sila ng paghikbi.. Mahina lamang ito..
“N-naririnig nyo ba yun?” kinakabahang tanong ni Aurio
“Yes.” Amara
“M-multo??” Aurio
“Maybe.” Amara
“Wag kang manakot..” Kinakabahang saad ni Aurio
“Chicken.” Natalia
“Im not!” Aurio
“There’s a kid.” Turo ni Nova sa may hagdanan
Tama sya.. May isang munting batang babae na tahimik na umiiyak sa hagdanan.
“Who’s that??” Aurio
“Lady Diane.” Tugon ng isang guard
“Dior’s younger sister.” Saad ni Natalia
They have the family’s background information.
“Kid, why are you crying??” tanong ni Aurio sa bata
Nag-angat ito ng tingin.. “W-who are you??”
“Young Miss, they are the Young Master’s hired escorts.” Sabat ng isa sa dalawang guard
She’s four years old, she don’t fully understand, but they look trustworthy so she just nod.
“Why are you crying??” tanong muli ni Aurio
“My brother will go to school.. He will not come back waaaahhh!” iyak ng bata
“That’s not true.. Although he is leaving to study, he will surely comeback.” Pagpapakalma ni Aurio dito
“No one will play with me anymore!! Wuwuwu..”
“I’m sure you will have lots of friends when you start to attend school too.” Aurio
“Everyone is leaving.. Even grandpa… Uwaaahhh.” Iyak pa ng bata
“He didn’t leave.. He died.” Natalia
“Shhhhh.” Agad tinakpan ni Aurio ang bibig nito
Agad tinapik palayo ni Natalia ang kamay ni Aurio.. “Don’t touch me.”
Umiiyak ang munting bata… “W-why does he have to die?? Mommy wont let us see him.. Mommy said that he’s not here anymore.. Is it because Grandpa already went to heaven??”
Parang binibiak ang pusong mamon ni Aurio.
Si Natalia ang sumagot sa inosenteng tanong ng bata.. “People don’t really go to heaven. Their bodies were burned and their ashes were scattered in the wind or the sea..”
“Natalia.” Saway ni Amara
Natigilan sa pag-iyak ang munting bata. Pinagmasdan nya si Natalia at unti-unting nabalot ng takot ang mga mata nya.. Lalong lumakas ang paghagulhol ng bata sabay takbo papalayo.
Nagtatakang nilingon ni Natalia si Amara.. “What did I do??”
“You scare the little girl.” Nova
“Aurio have low IQ.. You have a very low EQ.” saad ni Amara saka tinapik sa balikat si Natalia
Hindi nagtagal ay nagpakita na sa kanila si Dior na may dalang malaking maleta.
“You will travel along with four other guards of our family..” paliwanag ni Mrs. Hurricane… Walang problema sina Amara sa arragement na ito.
“I’m Dior… N-nice to meet you..” magalang na pagbati ni Dior
“You can call me Orion!” Aurio
“Natalia.”
“Im Nova”
“Magician.”
“Please take care of my son… I will send the payment in your accounts after the mission is completed.” Saad ni Mrs. Hurricane
“Okay.”
“Safe travels!” paalam sa kanila ng pamilya
***
Ginamit nila ang sasakyan ni Natalia. Kasama nila si Dior at dalawa pang guards. Kung paano sila nagkasaya, it’s an SUV. Habang ang dalawa pa ay sakay sa mga kabayo.
“If we maintain our current speed, we will arrive in our destination in eight hours.” Nova
“It’s not safe to travel at night..” paalala ni Amara
“Assassins works best at night.” Natalia
“Darkness is the best cover. But we don’t know if the guards can keep up with us.” Amara
“Magician is right. We should do a four hour rest between 11pm to 3am..” Nova
“Agree. If we face an ambush while on the road, it wont be good.” Aurio
“Fine.” Tugon ni Natalia na nasa driver’s seat.
Hindi sila nagkamali ng hinala.
“What a spectacle. They sent twenty assassins just to kill this kid.” Saad ni Natalia habang ngumunguya ng chewing gum.
“Stop pretending to be surprise. We both know that politics is a dangerous game.” Amara
Tumawa lang si Natalia.
“Arent we going to fight??” tanong ni Nova
“Im too lazy to do that.” Natalia
“Just use your car to run them over.” Amara
“Fine, lets fight them. They don’t deserve to be hit by my car.” Natalia
Bumaba silang apat sa kotse na nakapark sa gilid ng kalsada. Naiwan sa loob si Dior na mahimbing na natutulog sa back seat. May hawak namang armas ang kanyang mga guard para protektahan sya.
Tahimik na ang munting syudad. Walang ibang tao na makikitang naglalakad sa kalye. Nagpapatay-sindi ang ilang poste ng ilaw. Tanging ang kambal na buwan sa kalangitan ang nabibigay ng sapat na liwanag upang mapansin ang ilang pagkilos sa likod ng mga anino.
“Don’t meddle with our fight.” Paalala ni Nova sa dalawang guard na originally ay naglalakbay sakay sa kabayo. Tumango sila. Pero ganun pa man, makikita na handa silang lumaban kung kinakailangan.
“Come out people.” Malakas na announce ni Natalia
Isang palaso ang iniwasan ni Natalia.
“Natalia of Dark Hands.” Bati ng isang lalaki na lumitaw mula sa likod ng isang poste
“They sent a lot of people because you’re an S Class.” Saad ni Amara
“Should I be honored?” Natalia
“You should be.” Tugon ng mga kalaban
“Do you know them??” tanong ni Aurio
“Members of Anarchy. An assassination guild with members that are mostly wanted criminals. They are the nastiests guild I know of.” Natalia
“They’re not actual assassins but a bunch of actual criminals.” Nova
Killing and reaping lives is a crime. But Assassination is an actual job. The Association of Assassins issues permit for guilds to operate.
If you kill someone, then you are a criminal. But if you assassinnate someone legally then the government couldnt touch you.
It’s a messed up logic. But the politicians who opposed the Assassination Guilds ends up dead. So….
Anyway, the twenty plus assassins in front of them are members of an illegal guild.
Naglabas ng mga flask ng explosives si Aurio.
Naglabas ng mga patalim si Natalia.
Isang dambuhalang axe naman ang lumitaw sa kamay ni Nova.
“Isnt that Cosmos?” puna ni Amara sa axe ni Nova
“You know this??” tanong ni Nova
“Of course.. That is Roma’s divine weapon. Cosmos.” Amara
“A divine weapon??” tanong ni Natalia
“Yes. A weapon that could slay demons and gods.” Amara
“What an interesting weapon.” Natalia
“Yes.. It’s a pity that there’s no magic. Nova could have studied Enhancing Magic to strengthen herself. Cosmos is a divine weapon that could grow gargantuan. It’s a fantastic weapon developed by Roma from a fragment of a divine relic.” Amara
Nova blinked her eyes. Hindi nya alam na mayroong ganoong history ang kanyang armas. Ang akala nya ay isa lamang itong dambuhalang axe na ipinapasa sa kanilang pamilya.
Lumitaw ang Lightning Controling Sword ni Amara. “Let’s fight.”
Nabalot ng mga pagsabog ang lugar. Nabulabog nito ang mga natutulog na mamamayan na agad nabalot ng takot sa mga nangyayari. Umuulan ng kidlat sa lugar!!
Noong una ay akala ng mga assassin ay hindi magiging mahirap ang misyon na ito dahil sa malaking bilang nila kumpara sa kanilang mga kalaban. Akala nila ay si Natalia lamang ang magiging balakid sa kanilang misyon. Sinong mag-aakala na sakit din sa ulo si Nova na isang Class B Assassin lamang? Pati na rin si Orion na eksperto sa mga explosives? Lalong higit si Magician na nakokontrol ang kidlat!
“Wag kayong matakot!” sigaw ni Myles na pinuno ng team ng mga assassin. Duguan na sya at makikita na tila nasunog ang kanyang balat matapos matamaan ng kidlat ang kanyang kaliwang braso.
Lumingon si Myles sa kanyang likuran dahil wala syang natanggap na tugon. Nakita nya na sya na lamang ang nananatiling nakatayo.
Isa syang Class S assassin na namumuno sa isang team na binubuo ng dalawampung C class at B class assassins. Paano sila nalipol ng apat na assassins lamang?
Hindi nya ito matatanggap!
Agad nyang sinalakay si Nova na nakaluhod na sa lupa matapos mapatumba ang huling kalaban na kaharap nya. Naubusan na sya ng lakas.
“Nova!!” sigaw ni Aurio
“Yaaaaaaahhhh!” sigaw ni Myles saka iwinasiwas ang hawak na espada
Huli na para umiwas pa si Nova..
Umalingawngaw ang tunog ng pagkapunit ng laman.
Kasunod nito ang malakas na kidlat na tumama kay Myles. Bumagsak sya sa lupa. Walang malay.
Binuksan ni Nova ang kanyang mga mata at nakita si Natalia na nakatayo sa kanyang harapan.
“ARE YOU OK??” nag-aalalang tanong ni Aurio
Natalia glared at him.. “Yeah.. Im just bleeding for fun.”
“Unbelievable.. You’re hurt but still sarcastic.” Aurio
“Thank you for saving me.” Nova… Hindi sya makapaniwalang iniligtas sya ni Natalia.
“Drink this.” Saad ni Amara saka iniabot ang isang healing potion
Natalia recovered instantly.
“I thought you’re broke.” Komento ni Natalia habang pinagmamasdan ang bote ng high quality potion. It’s worth a few thousand golds.
“Orion is an alchemist.” Kibit balikat ni Amara
Nilingon ni Natalia ang binata. “You’re a chicken. But at least you’re not worthless.”
“What should we do with this one??” tanong ni Nova sabay turo sa assassin
“I will break his neck.” Natalia
Isang sampal mula kay Natalia ang nagpabalik ng ulirat kay Myles.
“Natalia don’t kill him!” Aurio
“Come on, no one will miss this idiot..” Natalia
“We still need to know who sent him.” Amara
“He will not spill anything, he’s an assassin afterall.” Natalia
“Leave him to me.” Amara
“You cant make me!” sigaw ni Myles
Ngumiti si Amara.. Danger is dancing within hes eyes.. “Let’s play, shall we?”
Agad kinilabutan ang assassin.. He have no idea that he’s facing the goddess of alchemy with so many poison in her possession.
Tumagal ng limang minuto ang mga sigaw.
“What should I do with him??” tanong ni Amara sa sarili matapos makuha ang kailangang impormasyon.
In the end, she decided to just wipe out his memories so he can start anew.
Bago pa man maisakatuparan ni Amara ang kanyang plano, narinig nya ang tunog ng pagkabali ng mga buto ng kawawang assassin. Binali ni Natalia ang leeg nito. He’s dead.
“Why did you kill him?!” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Aurio
“To silence him.” Natalia
“Killing is not the answer.” Amara
“What? I thought the whole point of being an assassin was that KILLING is the answer to everything?” Natalia
“Not at all times.” Amara
“An assassin’s instinct is to kill.” Saad ni Nova
Wala nang nasabi si Aurio. Dahil tama si Nova. An alchemist is craving for knowledge. An assassin is craving for blood. Sino sya para husgahan sila? Amara once said, people are not Black or White, but shades of gray.
Killing is part of their lives now.
The life of an assassin is never easy.
Matapos ang pangyayaring ito ay naging mapayapa na ang kanilang paglalakbay.
Matiwasay nilang naihatid sa paaralan si Dior.
“What’s your plan now?” tanong ni Nova pagbalik nila sa guild
“Im going to sleep.. Next week na lang ulit ako magtratrabaho.” Natalia
“Im going to accept a new job tomorrow. Im bored.” Amara
“Im not sure yet.” Aurio
“Anyway, do you have any leads regarding my request??” tanong ni Amara kay Nova
“Not yet.” Tugon ni Nova
Tumango lamang si Amara..
“Whoa! You’re back!!” bati ni Desmond
“Yow!” Aurio
“Nakaabot na ba sa inyo ang balita??” tanong ni Desmond
“Anong balita??” tanong nila
“Phantom Emperor announce an explosive news to every corner of Aralon.” Desmond
“What news? Is he getting married?” sarkastikong tanong ni Natalia
“No… He declared that no one could touch Magician.” Desmond
Agad silang napalingon kay Amara.
“He warned the world that no one can touch you. Except for him.” Desmond
“Is that a threat?” Natalia
“No.. Protection.” Usal ni Aurio
Now the whole world knows the name Magician.
~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Hi everyone! You must be wondering why I'm not as active as I used to be just a few weeks ago. If not, I dont really care, I will still state my reasons and no one can stop me.. Lols~
You see, I got a new job, moved to a new place and as of now Im not as free as I used to before. I will try to update on weekends, so please continue to join Eclipse on her adventures. Until the next update. See yah :)
xoxo
RiAnn