The Spirit Martial

Spirit 56

Hindi namin alam kung anong pumasok sa utak ni Gin at ganon siya umasta. Noong una, he was happy to have us in his team pero bigla na lang kami sinabihan na hindi kami isasama. Sa ngayon, sila lang nag-uusap sa loob kasama ang principal. Narinig rin namin na dapat talaga kaming isama pero syempre naghihintay lang kami dito kung isasama ba kami or hindi. Honsetly speaking, okay lang talaga na hindi kami isasama kasi masyado pang maaga sa amin para humarap sa malakas na kalaban. We might have the experience and magic but it’s not enough. It doesn’t change the fact na estudyante lang kami at A Class pa, not to mention na ang kasama namin ay mga estudyante rin kahit S Class na. Iba pa rin kapag may kasama kaming professor or bakit naman hindi pupuntahan ni principal ang lugar na iyon eh di hamak mas malakas talaga siya sa min. HIndi ko alam kung anong plano niya. He’s too unpredictable-or should I say he’s insane.

“Hindi ko maiintindihan kung bakit hindi tayo isasama,” sabi ni Kailani and he really looked disappointed.

“Isn’t it for the best?” tanong ko at tumingin ako kay Kali na nakatitig lang sa pinto ng office. “Kali, what’s wrong?” I asked and he glanced at me.

“Alam ko kung bakit hindi niya tayo isasama,” he said with a sigh at tumingin sa office ulit. “That incident must brought him too much trauma,” he added at kumunot ang noo ko.

“Incident? What incident?” I asked. Narinig ko iyon na pinag-usapan sa loob. Someone said to Gin na gusto niya bang mangyayari ulit iyon- pero hindi ko alam kung ano nga ang tinutukoy nila.

Sasagot na sana si Kali kaso biglang bumukas ang pinto. Lumabas silang lahat at halatang-halata na galit si Gin at may pasa siya sa mukha. Did something happen? Tumingin siya sa amin and he looked really upset and sad at the same time.

“Dammit!!” he shouted and he walked away. Sumunod si Tempest, Hex at Hugo habang may sinasabi sila kay Gin. Napatingin kami nina Argo na nakatingin pa rin sa amin.

“Tell them,” Argo ordered at umalis siya. Lor took a deep sigh at he signalled us to follow him.

We had no choice but to follow him. Napunta kami sa garden ng school kung saan may tables at chairs- hindi ko alam na may dessert cafeteria pala dito sa loob ng maze garden. I thought it was for design purposes only. Namili si Lor ng malaking mesa at umupo kami sa upoan. Wala kaming inorder pero may lumapit sa amin na butler at binigyan kami ng tig-iisang piraso ng cake na may kasamang tea. Hindi lang iyan, may nilagay pa silang tatlong buong cake sa harapan namin na may kasamang strawberries, blueberries, at cherries. So these kind of fruits existed here huh?

“What is it that you want to tell us?” I asked.

Lor took a deep breath and sipped the tea.

“Before anything else, allow me to explain Gin’s behavior last time. Gusto kong malaman niyo at gusto kong maintindihan niyo ang lahat bago tayo sasabak sa delikadong mission,” he replied.

“Bago tayo sasabak? Does that mean we’re really included?” Nieve asked and Lor nodded.

“I wanna hear everything,” singit ko. Gusto kong maintindihan kung anong nangyayari- we’re in one time so this is very important to achieve the most fundamental factor of being in one team- unity.

“Gin, Tempest, Beathan- they were the best S Class Trio in the whole batch,” he started at una pa lang, kumurot na ang puso ko. Beathan, I heard about him- their dead brother. “They were the strongest, the smartest, the hardest to compete , lahat nandoon na sa kanila. At an early age, they have closed almost 7 Pandora Boxes kahit hindi pa sila nag-aaral dito. Beathan has this partner na fiance niya and Gin liked her pero hindi niya sinabi ito kay Beathan. Just like what I told you they are the smartest so of course, Beathan knew about it pero hindi ito naging hadlang ng pagiging best Trio nila- Beathan’s partner was just their tail because she specializes in healing.” he added at sumandal sa upoan.

“When they started going to school here, lahat ng mission na pinupuntahan nila, wala silang palya. Every single time they achieve, the school would celebrate. Umabot rin sa punto na nakasara sila ng S Class Pandora Box. It was their greatest achievement. Pati mga professors hinahangaan sila. They did not only brought glory to our school’s name but they also brought the Mahika Tournament Trophy and they were planing to get the All Star Trophy too,” Lor said as he cut the slice from his plate and ate the piece he got. “Unfortunately, everything was too smooth lately at hindi sila nag-aakala na may mangyayaring hindi maganda,” he added at napatingin sa itaas. “A week before the All Star Mahika Tournament- they were given a mission. The same place we got,” he added again at parang nanigas ang buo kong katawan.

“The Lake of Devils?” I asked and he nodded.

“The school spotted flares from a dead town and Gin and his team were sent to find the possible survivors. Hindi ko alam kung ano talaga ang nangyari but according to witnesses, everything was doing fine. When they arrived at the dead town, it is where they met Hex and Hugo,” he explained. “Hex and Hugo were not from the same town but they were able to met and their bond made their survival possible. According to my sources, the flares were actually from a dead spirit caster na malapit lang sa pinagtatagoan nila.” he added at uminom ulit siya ng tea.

“The flare,” singit ni Kali. “It did not only alert the school but it alerted the demon also,” he added. Parang alam ko na kung anong mangyayari dito.

“Exactly.” Lor added. “Nailabas at nailayo naman nila ni Gin sina Hugo at Hex kaso nga lang, naabotan sila ng mga lower rank demons- remember, we are talking about an S Class boss so basically, the lower ranks are B and A rank,” he added. I can’t even defeat one A rank on my own, let alone hundreds of them. May plano ba talaga si Principal na patayin kami?

“But that’s not the reason why an unfortunate accident happened,” singit ulit ni Kali at tumango si Lor.

“ Beathan’s partner, she betrayed them,” Lor added at kumunot ang noo ko. “The seal between him and Beathan were fake because thet girl is actually contracted to the demon and she lured them to a place where demons can attack and where the spirit casters cannot track,” he added and I clenched my fist.

“They tried their best to hold off pero mahirap na may prionprotektahan. Hex and Hugo at that time were weak because for a couple of months, they only ate grasses and fruits na makikita nila. They even ate raw meat from dead spirit casters just to survive.” Lor said at huminga siya ng malalim. “They were outnumbered so they had no chance of living at all but Beathan found a way- he activated all of his magic molecules to open a portal exclusive for his brothers and survivors only. He came from the Celestia Family so opening portals is possible for him.” he added at tumingin siya kay Kali.

“Isa-isa niyang pinasok ang mga survivors at pinasunod niya si Gin at Tempest but the demons were fast so he had to sacrifice himself for the safety of his brothers. He pushed Gin away and the last thing that Gin saw was multiple of spears pierced into his brother’s body. According to Hex, Beathan’s last word affected them, to the point na kaya nilang ibubuhos ang buhay nila sa dawalang iyon kaya hindi nila basta-bastang isusuko ang pagiging participant sa Mahika Tournament- gusto nilang bumawi.” Lor added again.

“Live- the only word that Beathan gave before he closed the portal.” singit ni Kali at napahawak ako sa dibdib ko. Nasasaktan ako para sa kanila. “Their youngest died just like that,” he added.

I thought Dominant Swest are bad people? They’re not- they’re just misunderstood by many.

“What happened next?” Nieve asked.

“Well, they were praised but the whole school mourned. It was two years ago but the pain was fresh as a freshly picked apple. They did not win the All Star Mahika Tournament and placed last. They stopped attending school and stopped participating missions. The next thing we knew, after six months, bumalik silang dalawa sa dating gawi- but in different manner. Usually, they kill demons calmly kasi naniniwala sila na ang mga demons ay tulad ng tao but after that incident, they turned cold. Not only they hated demons, but they hated women.” Lor replied.

“Tapos ngayon babalik ulit sila doon? I can’t even imagine how heavy must it felt like,” Kali said at umiling siya.

“Yeah, unfortunately isasama rin kayo. Hindi naman sa wala silang tiwala sa inyo, natatakot lang talaga sila.” Lor added.

Natatakot? Parang alam ko na kung bakit ipapadala ulit silang apat sa loob at kasama pa kami. This is a test- a test to overcome their fears and sadness. They cannot win unless they will do this. This is a suicide mission but this is needed to bring back their senses.

“They don’t wanna see the same thing,” Kali said and took a sip from the cup of tea he was holding. “They were tired of seeing death a couple of times,” he added.

“Kali, we’re alive,” sagot ko. “And we will live no matter what,” I added at ngumiti si Kali.

“No one is dying Cygnus. Not unless I stand before all of you. I’m the Captain- walang mamamatay hanggang buhay pa ako,” he replied. Wise words but it felt comforting somehow.

“Nandito lang pala kayo,” biglang sabi ni Gin mula sa likoran namin kaya napalingon kami. Nawala na rin ang pasa sa mukha niya pero malungkot pa rin siya. I glanced at Hugo and Hex- I can tell, they’re really upset. “I bet you already know that we’re leaving right now,” he added and my eyes widened.

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that,” Lor said with a smile at napatingin ako kay Kali. He looked surprised too kaya napailing siya.

“Teka, kagagaling lang natin sa isang mission,” reklamo niya.

“It will take 2 days to go there so we need to go now,” Tempest replied at napalunok ako.

“Prepare your things now,” Gin ordered at tumayo kaagad kami.

Isa-isa kaming lumabas sa maze pero napatigil ako nang nakalabas na silang lahat maliban kay Gin at Tempest. I glanced at them and they were just staring at the ground as they clenched their fist. It must be so hard for them- I cannot handle that if I’m in their shoes. Lumapit ako sa kanilang dalawa at naptingin sila sa akin.

“I told you to prepare your things,” he said.

“I’m sorry,” I said directly and his eyes widened.

“What?” Gin asked at napatingin kay Tempest na nagugulohan rin.

“I knew this started when my father vanished. Kung hindi lang sana nangyari iyon then maybe things would’ve been better.” I said and the clench of their fist started loosening. “If only I could heal your hearts, I will gladly do it, Gin, Tempest.” I added at napahawak si Gin sa kamay ni Tempest.

“What the hell are you talking about?” he asked with a shaky voice.

“ Beathan,” I said and both of their eyes widened. “Do you know what Beathan means?” I asked at umiling sila.

I know Gin usually do this to me- to us, because maybe he thought us as his brother but I wanted to let him feel this too. I wanted to let them feel this too. Lumapit pa ako sa kanila and I tapped both of their heads.

“It means life,”  I added and this time- their tears started falling.