The Spirit Martial

Spirit 39

“This inn is fine,” Kali said at tinititigan ang maliit niyang kwarto. It’s way smaller than the room he provided for me at nakakahiya iyon personally. Ang kama ay gawa lang sa kahoy at isang upuan at mesa lang ang meron. Kandila nga lang ang liwanag dito tuwing gabi eh kaya mas nahiya pa ako. “But this vibe is kinda romantic though, do you mind if you’ll stay with me Nieve?” he asked and Nieve smiled.

“I politely decline, Your Highness,” he replied and Kali frowned. “The bed is good for one person only,” Nieve added with a smile.

“Calm down Kali, we’re here for a mission.” sabi ko. “Anyway, I’ll go talk to my mom first, babalikan ko kayo dito and I’ll tour you guys. It’s still early so maybe we can scout for now,” I added and Kali nodded.

“Sure, take your time then,” Kali responded.

“I’ll wait here,” Kailani said pointing at my room. “Babalik muna ako sa pagtulog,” he added.

“It’s my room, you know,” sabi ko and he nodded at pumasok siya. Baliw.

Hindi na ako nagtagal pa doon at bumaba nako. Actually, doon talaga ako sa bahay dapat matutulog pero ayaw ni Kali at kailangan ko siyang sundin. We appointed him as our captain of our team after all. As Kali explained kanina, dapat kompleto kaming lahat sa iisang lugar incase something happens kaya tumango ako. I’ll just visit my mom everyday but for now, we really have to talk. I need answers. I can’t bear to find them all or it’ll make me upset.

Lumabas ako sa inn at binati ako ng mga kapit-bahay namin at iba pa. Nagbihis rin naman ako ngayon ng normal na suot ko talaga because I don’t wanna stand out too much. The inn is quite far from our house kaya hindi na ako nag-aksiya ng oras. I did returned their greetings pero hindi talaga ako nagtagal. Nagpatuloy ako sa paglakad at nadaanan ko ang school namin dati.

Our school is quite small and it’s made of wood crawled by plants. Bullies? Yes, hindi mawawala iyon. The bullies here are actually the son or relatives of the mayor. Hindi rin ako sure kung nasaan na sila ngayon though.

“Look who’s here,” a man from behind me said at napalingon ako. Speaking of the devil. 

“Aaron,” I mumbled at kumunot ang noo ko.

“I thought I made it clear, Cygnus. I told you that a son of some peasant can’t attend advance school here,” he said. Advance school- it’s like advance lessons thrice a month guided by a someone from mainland. In our island, those who can attend this are lucky because there might be a chance that they can work and migrate in mainland. But as for me? I’m lucky enough to attend school in mainland and I guess he didn’t know.

“I’m not here to attend school, Aaron. Pauwi lang ako sa bahay,” sabi ko. Ah, I should’ve worn our uniform kung alam ko lang na nandito siya.

“You kept staring though, umalis ka na,” reklamo niya while giving me a smirk.

“Yeah, yeah,” sabi ko and I raised my hands para tigilan na niya ako. Kahit kailan talaga, pabibo talaga tong taong ito.

Paalis na sana ako kaso may narinig akong sigaw mula sa school namin. It’s not really a shout like someone needs help, it was more like he was calling someone. Napalingon ako and I froze when I saw Gin.

“Aaron, you’re late!” he shouted.

“Oops, he called me,” he said proudly. “Yes, sir!” Aaron shouted at napatigil ako. Small world.

Gin lectured Aaron from a far at hindi ko narinig kaso bigla siyang napatigil nang makita ako. He signaled me to come and I had no choice. Sino bang mag-aakala na siya ang magtuturo ngayon dito? Lumapit ako sa kanya and Aaron was smirking the whole time. And he thought he’s really something huh. I wonder how would he react if he knew we went on a mission together.

“I didn’t expect you to see you here, Cygnus,” Gin said and Aaron’s smirk vanished.

“Oh I thought you knew I lived here,” sagot ko naman and he chuckled.

“I do but you know that this week is mission week,” he said and he tilted his head maybe because he realized something. “You’re here for a mission?” he asked and I nodded. I glanced at Aaron and he seemed confused of what’s happening and that was incredible to see.

“Is Tempest here also?” I asked at tumango siya. “Do you wanna come and see the class?” he asked and I hesitated. I’m about to talk to my mom now kasi. Aayaw na sana ako but then I realized that she was still at the central, inuubos ang paninda niya. She promised to talk to me right after so I guess giving small of my time here is fine. Isa pa, I wanna see Aaron and his squad’s reaction seeing me with the royalties.

“Well, I don’t mind. Sure, dito ako nag-aaral dati so I guess it’s great to visit my alma mater as an instructor,” I said and I smiled specifically to Aaron and he was surprised.

“S-Sir, d-do you know him by any chance?” Aaron asked.

“Cygnus? Yes, of course. We both go to the same school and went on a mission before. We closed two Pandora boxes actually.” Gin explained at ngumiti lang ako. “Tara na,” Gin added at nauna siyang naglakad at naiwan kaming dalawa ni Aaron doon.

“Y-Y-Y-You attend Oak Hills Casters Institute?!” he exclaimed. “A-A-A-Are you one of the royalties who came here?!!” he exclaimed again.

“Yes, Aaron,” I responded and he went pale. “Pasok na tayo, late ka na,” I added at nauna akong maglakad kesa sa kanya. Damn, this feels good. Taking revenge on your bullies is something else. Strive silently and let th success make the noise at its finest indeed.

Pumasok ako sa assigned room ng advance class at kkitang-kita ko ang gulat ng mga studyante. They were one of the bullies, sons and daughters of politician here in our island. They were furious to see me and was about to mock me but then tumabi ako nina Gin at napatigil sila.

“Cygnus,” Tempest called. “It’s good to have you here,” he said at ngumiti lang ako.

Aaron went in at napatingin kaming lahat sa kanya. He was pale and he looked lost. Umupo siya sa tabi ng babaeng nililigawan ko dati. Even her, she was staring at me with disbelief.

“I’m sure you know him but allow me to give a brief introduction. He’ll be with us now, Cygnus, one of the strongest spirit caster in our school,” Gin said at kahit isang ngiti wala akong nakita.

“It’s good to see you again,” I said with a smile at walang nagsalita talaga. “Shall we proceed?” I asked.

“Okay, let’s start the class,” Gin said.

The class was led by Gin but they kept on glancing at me while the class was going on. Normally, I will feel discomfort from it but now? Hell no. It’s comfortable as hell. Gin started explaining ranks and other things na nalaman ko mula sa mainland. Gin even had this small ball that will determine their ranks kagaya lang nang sa entrance exam dati. Most of them are in B Class and C Class and they were happy about it.

“S-Sir, may I ask what’s your ranks?” the girl I courted asked and he glanced at me. I just gave her a smile and she looked away with a blush. And she thinks I’m hitting on her again? Hell no.

“I and my brother is S Class and Cygnus is A Class but he’s few points away from S Class so personally, I consider him as S Class,” Gin explained and they were stunned. “It’s not that important, let’s go outside and check your magic,” Gin added at nauna siyang lumabas.

Tumayo na kami ni Tempest at naunang lumabas si Tempest. Palabas na sana ako kaso hindi gumalaw ang mga studyante. Konti lang naman sila, around twelve I guess. I glanced at them at hindi pa rin sila gumagalaw.

“Hindi ba kayo tatayo?” I asked.

“A-Are you really … one of them?” the girl I courted asked at tumayo siya.

“Yeah.” sagot ko and I knocked the door thrice at tumayo silang lahat. “Labas na,” I said coldly at nauna akong maglakas. Ah, ang sarap sa feeling nito.

Nakarating na ako sa labas at napatigil ako nang makita ko si Kailani. He saw me and he was actually surprised. Lumapit ako sa kanila and he pouted.

“Akala ko ba sa bahay niyo?” he asked at napatawa ko.

“Nakita lang kasi ako ni Gin kaya pumunta na rin lang ako dito. This is my previous school, you know.” sagot ko. “Eh ikaw akala ko ba matutulog ka?” tanong ko.

“I was about to go to your house kaso nakita ako ni Tempest,” sagot naman niya.

“So we have the same reason but different situation,” sabi ko.

Napatigil kami nang pinaupo kami ni Gin sa gilid kasi si Tempest naman ang maghahandle ng class. Tempest has poison so he checks their poison if okay ba or ano. The healers, which are two only ay nakaupo lang kabilang na doon ang babaeng nililigawan ko dati. Unfortunately, Tempest can;t check them because he doesn’t have healing magic.

“Cygnus!” Tempest called kaya tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya. The two healers moved forward papunta sa amin at napatingin ako sa kanya. “Kindly check their healing magic,” he instructed.

“W-Well, okay, sure,” sabi ko.

They did some of their healing magic and to be honest, I don’t know how I knew that they need more training but I just did. Maybe because I went through multiple types of training and hell kaya na-enhance ang kakayahan ko.

“Good but both of you needs more training. A little bit of calmness will do. Pwede kayong bumisita sa healing facilities dito and observe them. I can give you passes to be one of the trainees,” sabi ko at napatingin ako kay Tempest. “I can, right?” I asked.

“Of course,” Tempest replied kaya napatango ako.

Tempest’s class lasted longer than Gin at umabot nga kami halos hanggang mag gabi na. Doon ko ang narealize na hindi pa ako nakauwi. Gin and Tempest ended their class already at nagsialisan na rin ang mga studyante para kunin ang mga gamit nila sa loob.

“We’ll go back to the mainland tomorrow morning,” Gin said with a sigh- a sign of tiredness. “How about we’ll grab dinner at our ship tonight. Tempest will cook everything,” he suggested at agad kaming napangiti ni Kailani.

“Sure, I’ll go talk to my mom first,” sabi ko.

“I’ll go get my brother and his partner,” Kailani said at tumango si Gin. His intimidation is nowhere to be found already. Is it because we got used to each other already?

Nanatili pa rin sila doon habang ako ay naglakad na paalis because I’m sure that my mom is home by now. She might actually be preparing something to eat, of course kakain pa rin ako. I missed her home cooked food. Iba pa rin ang lasa ng pagkain na galing sa magulang.

Habang palabas ako at papunta sa bahay, I noticed that there was a girl on the road and she was smiling when she saw me. Again, it her, the girl I courted before. What the hell is she doing there? Hindi ko na pinansin iyon at nagpatuloy sa paglakad. She suddenly grabbed my arm kaya napatigil ako.

“C-Can we talk?” she asked with a shy voice.

“Talk about what exactly?” I asked at kinuha ko ang kamayko mula sa pagkahawak niya.

“U-Um, I-I’m sorry for rejecting you back then. It’s just, hindi lang talaga tayo compatible but-” hindi niya matapo na sabi kasi pinigilan ko siya.

“It’s fine and I’m fine. I got myself a partner and I’m attending in a prestigious school right now. Everything is going well so it’s fine,” sabi ko.

“I-I see, u-um I just wanna ask if you’re dating someone right now?” she asked and my eyes widened.

“What? No.” sagot ko naman and she suddenly smiled. Does she expect me to court here again?

“W-Well, m-me too,” she replied and I nodded.

“I believe it’s none of my business already,” sagot ko.

Aalis na sana ako kaso biglang sumulpot si Kailani sa tabi ko. He at the girl I was talking too and he frowned. Tumingin siya sa akin as if may ginawa akong mali.

“Are you flirting?” he asked and the girl just smiled. Oh my god no.

“Hell no, what are you talking about?!” reklamo ko.

“Are you sure?” he asked and I nodded.

“Are you dumb? Why would I flirt with her?” I asked.

“Because she’s a girl,” he answered.

“So?! Kailani, you better stop what you’re thinking. I’m innocent,” sagot ko and he nodded.

“Yeah, fine,” he said. “You better be because you don’t wanna see me getting all possessive and jealous, Cygnus. You know that I hate lending what I own to others,” he added and the girl was surprised- I was surprised too. Jealous?! He made it look like we’re couple!!