Priamos in game! Sa ilalim ng malaking na armor na iyan ay isang cutie kid na blonde ang buhok. Hindi niyo siya madalas makikitang nagsasalita dahil busy siya sa pagkain!
-chapter thirty-four-
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"Well, well, care to tell me what's happening?"
MAY REUNION bang magaganap? Ako lang ba ang hindi nakatanggap ng memo. I want to lie down and roll on the sand already. Bakit ba nandidito ang mga taong hindi ko gustong makita?!
"Your sister just defeated the King Serpent," wika ni Astro. "I'm sure you're very proud of her."
Napatingin sa'kin si River. "Really?"
Tumango ako.
"Woah, maybe I should make you those dinner often so that you can dominate this game and finally throw this piece of trash to the river?" tugon niya at itinuro si Astro.
The guy glared at him. "Did you come here to fucking fight?"
"I came here because I got the feeling my sister's here. That's how sweet of a sibling I am..."
Tumingin ako sa mga teammates ko. And we all that the same look on our face. Ang mukha na pinapalayas na ang mga bagong dating dahil napakaperwisyo nila sa buhay.
"Wala bang mosquito swatter dito?" mahinang tanong ko sa kanila.
"Unfortunately, wala. Let's suggest it in the next update so getting rid of them won't be a problem." sagot ni Hex.
Suminghal si Feyre. "Bakit kasi hindi na lang tayo umalis? Iwan na lang natin sila dito."
"Oh but you need us!" tawag ni Astro mula sa likuran kaya napalingon kami. They were done talking and are now staring at us.
River glared at him. "Why would they need you?"
"Lunaria. The city of the moon," sagot niya. "They said that the quest is a really dangerous one. It's a Level SS+ quest and completing it is necessary to own the city."
Tumango ako. "So, you mean... you need us?"
Tumawa silang lahat maliban kay Astro na sinamaan lang ako ng tingin. I shrugged at him.
"We don't really care who owns the city or no-"
"We care," lumitaw si Feyre mula sa likod. "We do care. Ahem, greatest adventure, remember?"
"We can have an adventure without collecting cities like pokemons!" bulong ko sa kaniya.
"That won't be a great adventure then! It's just a goalless journey!" bulong niya pabalik.
"Listen to your teammate, slayer. She's right. Conquering the city of Lunari-"
"Kinakausap ka? Kinakausap? Parte ka ng usapan? Ha?" singhal ni Feyre kay Astro na naestatwa bigla. "Hindi naman kasali, sasabat pa... sige na kasi, Sol. I bet- ano tinitingin niyo?"
Astro froze up with an awkward body posture. Kitang-kita sa itsura niya ang pagkagulat at pagtataka. Even his members looks taken aback. Maging si River at Irusu. Lalong-lalo na kami na mga kasama ni Feyre. Grabe, woah. I can't believe she has the guts to talk back to Astro like that. Ang isang lalaking kahit guild members ay hindi siya masagot-sagot.
But Feyre is Feyre. She remained unmoving and clueless. Nagtataka kung bakit naging iba ang paningin sa kaniya ng mga nandidito.
Tumikhim ako. "Well... You mean, we're going to team up for the quest but fight for the city ownership? I don't think you'll just let us have it."
Astro smirked. "That's right."
"That's just weird," komento ni River.
"Their guild is the complete example of weirdo," itinuro kami ni Astro.
Irusu raised his hand. "How dangerous is it that you, the named strongest man of Central, along with your lackeys, needs our help?"
"Dangerous enough to ask help from a slayer I can't stand..."
"Oh. Umuupo ka pala ngayon? Hindi halata." malakas na tugon ni Feyre mula sa likod.
Inignora iyon ni Astro. "So? What's your decision?"
I turned to face my members. I don't think I should be the only one to make a decision. Not because we're a team and we have to agree in every decision. I mean, tama naman iyon. Pero alam ko kasi kung ano ang sagot nila. And well, I don't like it...
I gulped hard as I tried to get the words out. Napakahirap dahil ayokong sumali sa quest na iyon dahil napakahassle at mas gusto kong maglaro ng wala nang ibang gagawin!
"What do you think? Should we join them and try that quest?" matigas kong tanong.
Their faces lighted up while my heart fell to the gutter.
"Yes!" sabay nilang sagot at sa sobrang saya nila ay parang maiiyak ako.
Nakangiti akong lumingon kina Astro. "Okay, then. Let's team up for that quest."
I hate this decision.
But come to think of it I've been doing some really extravagant things lately. Getting the slayer title. Making a fight in the city. Becoming a guild leader. Winning second place in the Game of Governors. And now I'm taking a quest with persons I'm not really sure what to feel about.
Seriously, kasalanan itong lahat ni River. Kung hindi niya ipinagpalit ang game gears, sana nabubuhay na lang ako sa movie marathon ngayon.
"What kind of quest is it? At okay lang sa quest na 'yon na marami tayo?" tanong ng kambal ko.
Tumango si Astro. "Hindi pa ako nakakapasok sa Lunaria so hindi ko alam. But there were players who stayed up all day to arrive at the city. They quickly tried the city quest but there was a player number requirement. There must be 20-30 player that will join."
"It's a dungeon quest," dagdag ni Filter. "It's a common requirement for quest this category. Especially that it's a Level SS+ quest. Wala pang nakaka-alam kung ano ang makikita natin dahil wala pang nakakapasok. Players that are currently in Lunaria are waiting for others to arrive and recruit them into their team."
"What about level requirements? Walang gano'n?" tanong ni Hex.
"Players should be above Level 30. Iyon lang."
"So, you're recruiting the two of us?" inimuwestra ni River ang sarili niya at ako.
Tumango si Astro. "Together we make twenty-one. But can we stop talking about this in the middle of the desert? Let's all go back to my city and discuss this."
The three of them mounted in their horses. Ngumiwi ako. Well, sana naman lahat may sariling kabayo, ano? Paano naman kami na maglalakad gamit ang paa?
"Mahuhuli siguro kami ng dating..." wika ko.
Tiningnan nila kaming pito. Para tuloy kaming mga palaboy dito sa gitna ng desyerto. Hinihingal pa dahil sa laban sa King Serpent kanina at maglalakad lang hanggang sa syudad ni Astro.
"Don't you have mounts?"
"Mounts?" ano iyon?
"They're a special function here in the game, Sol." sagot ni Hex. "You can get animals or creatures who you can use for travelling purposes. Hence, mounts. Like horses or wolves or... elephants."
Naalala ko si... "even Aslan?"
Ngumiwi siya. "Well, when he gets older and larger, maybe?"
Voldmir chuckled. "What about Poro then? Imagine Feyre riding a large snake!" malakas itong tumawa at hinawakan pa ang tiyan. Minerva and Priamos laughed with him, while Vesta stared at them like idiots.
Mabilis na tumakbo si Feyre papunta kay Voldmir para hampasin ito ng upuan na hindi ko alam kung saan niya nakuha. Doon nagsimula ang paghabulan nila sa gitna ng desyerto.
"It's unbelievable for a slayer to not know what a mount is," tugon ni Astro.
"I don't play games. I hate them," sagot ko at tumingin kay River. "Mount rin ba iyong ginamit mo? Ang portal something?"
Umiling siya. "That was Nirvana."
"Nirvana? Ang monster mo?"
"Technically, he's my pet. Nakuha ko siya dahil sa first purchaser ako," aniya. "And he can be used as transportation if you use his portal skills."
Kumunot ang noo ko. "So where's mine? Sabay mo lang binili ito."
Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. He made an 'oohh' sound and averted his gaze. Umawang ang labi ko at tumakbo sa kaniya para sakalin siya. Ang lalaking ito! Nagpapakahirap ako sa paglalakad habang siya may pa teleport-teleport pa!
"Wait! Wait!" he stopped me from shaking him. "Say the code. It's 1A2050..."
"Sasabihin ko lang? Dito?"
"Oo," tumango siya. "Iyon din ang ginawa ko para makuha si Nirvana eh..."
"Talaga..." tumingin ako sa kalangitan. "Do I just have to- to tell the sky the code?
"Oo."
This sounds weird and is totally embarrassing. Tumikhim ako. Pinagpatuloy ko ang pagtitig sa kalangitan bago sumigaw,
"CODE 1A2050!"
"Ev," tatawa-tawa pa si River. "Ev... I told you to just say it not shout it. Hahaha!"
"Ya! Sol!" bumunghalit ng tawa si Feyre. Tinapik-tapik niya pa ang likod ko. "May tinatawag ka ba mula sa kalangitan?! Are you trying to summon some legendary creature?!"
Voldmir was also on the ground, laughing. "P-Parang- HAHAHA- parang sinigaw niya ang skill niya! Alam niyo iyong sa anime?! Iyong sumisigaw sila tapos aatake?!"
Parang maiiyak na ang tatlo sa katatawa. At bago ko pa maipakain sa kanila ang buhangin ay may isang tunog na nanggaling mula sa kalangitan. A high-pitched shriekd was heard and then there was some disturbance with the winds. A giant, golden eagle appeared before us. Napakalaki noon at parang mas mataas pa kaysa kay Nirvana. It landed in front of me and stared at me with it's full-black eyes.
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For being our first purchaser, player, we reward you with this legendary golden eagle as mount. He is called Periphas and was once a friend of the God of Olympus, Zeus. Now, he will fight by your side.
May you enjoy our gift to you. We appreciate your purchases at Life Company!
Safe adventures, player.
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"Periphas..." wika ko at pinalandas ang kamay sa feathers nito. The eagle responded by nuzzling his face on my hand.
"Woah," papuri ni River sa tabi ko. "I thought he'll look like Nirvana or something. Like twins."
"Buti nga at hindi," sagot ko sa kaniya na ikinasimangot niya.
"See you at the city, then?" tanong ni Astro. Nandito pa pala ito.
"Pero, Ate Sol." Priamos decided to use his voice. "Kaya bo tayong ma-accomodate ni Periphas? Tayong pito?"
"I think he can only carry two-three persons," nagsalita na din ang ikatatlong kasama ni Astro. Mukhang bata ito.
"Bakit hindi na lang kayo sumama sa'kin? We can all use the portal to travel faster." suhestiyon ni River. "You can even come, Astro. Baka mamatay ang alaga niyong kabayo sa disyerto."
"Don't worry. His endurance is higher than yours." sagot sa kaniya ng lalaki.
"Ohhh!" hiyaw ni Voldmir. "Burned. Toasted and..."
"Grilled!" pagtapos ni Feyre. Nag-apir ang dalawa na parang hindi lang naghabulan kanina.
"Gusto niyong dalawa ng away?! Kaya ayoko na kasama kayo ni Solace, eh!" reklamo ni River at binelatan lang siya ng dalawa kaya nagsimula na siyang pumula sa galit. Nakisali din si Minerva at Astro sa pag-away. Ewan ko ba sa isang iyan at wirdo din.
Sa gilid ng mata ko ay nakita ko si Irusu na lumapit sa tahimik at nag-oobserbang si Vesta.
"Minsan ba napapaisip ka na hindi mo naiintindihan kung ano ang ginagawa ng mga kasama mo?" seryosong tanong nito.
Tumango si Vesta. "Always..."
Sa isang banda naman ay pinapagalitan ni Hex si Priamos dahil panay ang kain nito. Si Filter naman ay pinagsasabihan din ang batang kasama nila dahil gusto nitong matulog. I sighed at the chaos around me. Ito ba talaga ang magiging grupo ko para sa quest na iyon? At dungeon pa? Parang hindi ko kayang maisip ang isa sa'min na buhay pa pagkatapos nito.
Ngunit ang akala kong ito na ang pinakamalala ay hindi pa pala. Isang sigaw ang nagpatigil sa kanilang lahat. And I could almost curse when I saw Halcyon together with his gang coming our way.
"Walanghiya ka, River! Sa Hadea Cliff kami dinala ng walang-silbing portal mo! At napatay kami ng mga pesteng monsters doon!" sigaw niya nang makadating.
"What is he talking about?" tanong ni Astro.
Nagkibit-balikat lang ang kambal ko kaya si Irusu ang sumagot. "River suggested that they try his portal to travel quickly pero iniba niya ang destinasiyon nito dahil galit siya kay Halcyon kasi gusto nito si Sol."
Ano daw?
"Ah..." tumango-tango si Astro.
Mabilis na nahagip ng mata niya si Astro at mas lalong sumama ang itsura niya. "I can't believe this! Hindi ko akalain na ganitong klaseng tao ka pala, River! Nakikipagkuntsabahan ka sa kaaway ng kapatid mo! Ganito pala ang ginagawa mo kapag nakatalikod si So-"
"Anong pinagsasabi mo diyan, Hal?" asik ng kambal ko at itinuro ako. "Andiyan 'yong kapatid ko, oh. At kung akala mo ay makukuha mo kami sa padrama-drama mong 'yan ay nagkakama-"
Ngunit hindi siya pinakinggan ni Halcyob. Umawang ang labi nito nang magtama ang paningin namin. Pagkatapos ay naglakad siya papunta sa'kin, ang mga mata ay nagniningning. Nagniningning?
"Solace..." mahinang tawag niya at pilit na kinuha ang kamay ko.
"Uh... hi?" sagot ko at pilit din na binabawi ang kamay.
Mabuti na lang at sumingit si Feyre sa gitna. "Hoy, dude! Wait lang. Let's make a deal here. One look, one gold. One touch, ten gold."
Nasamid ako sa sariling laway nang marinig ang sinabi ng pusa. Akala ko naman ay ipagtatanggol ako nito pero pineperahan lang pala ako.
"I'll give you a hundred gold."
"Sandali-" umawat ako.
"Sure!"
"Anong pinag-sasa-"
"Pusa, talaga bang ibebenta mo si Sol? Ipapahawak mo siya para lang magkapera ka?"
"Oo nga. Akala ko ba-"
I give up.
"Duh, hindi no! Joke lang 'yon! Ingudngud mo ang one-hundred gold sa mukha mo!"
Mabuti naman. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Akala ko ibebenta niya talaga ako. Natatakot tuloy akong mawalan ito ng pera at baka maisipan na lang ako biglang ibenta.
Kumunot ang mukha ko nang makita ang itsura ni Feyre. "Bakit parang nalugi ka?"
"One hundred gold din iyon eh," bumuntong-hininga siya. "Isang King Serpent na 'yon."
I didn't answer her because she might be tempted to try the offer again. Instead, I looked at the tree foreign groups. River glared at Halcyon who was still staring at me. And behind the two was Astro with a smirk that means danger.
I have a bad feeling about this.
"I just had an idea," wika niya na nagpakuha sa atensiyon namin. "Why don't we..." inimuwestra niya kaming lahat. "Do it together?"
Oh please, no.
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-chapter end-
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[UPDATE!]:
1. Make a legacy with the Oddcredibles.
2. Arrive at Takara! (But first survive from these crackheads)
3. Hiraeth...
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