Fated Souls (Unveiling Dawn)

Unveiling Eleven

"When the moon and the sun become one, the light will embrace the darkness."

"As you aim for your target, you have to aim for a kill. Ang kailangan niyo ay maging sigurado. You have to make sure that your target is your enemy, dahil kapag nagkamali kayo mawawala ang kredibilidad niyo bilang kakampi. As I've told you yesterday, you also have to train your senses." Paliwanag ni Achlys sa mga naka tipon na Sephtis. "You also need to be skilled  even in darkness. If we're talking about the the other clans, they are not a normal human being who can be easily killed. Mahirap din malaman ang mga kakayahan ng bawat isa sa kanila, that is why we have to be ready in different ways. As for the humans, don't worry about them. They can't spread  our tactics to the vampire hunters." Pagtukoy niya kina Sven.

"What do you mean?" Tanong nito sa kanya. "So you think we are one of them? That's disappointing."

"No. You are definitely not one of them. You guys are too weak and unskilled. You are a waste if you're one of them."

"Are you-"

"Wag mong sabihing nasaktan ka sa sinabi ko. In our world, being unskilled is a waste. Hindi pwedeng mahina ka sa mundong 'to, so just be thankful that I let you train with them. You can atleast fight for your life before you get killed." Kibit balikat na sagot ni Achlys kay Sven. She then walked towards the weapons and checked them before looking back at the Sephtis who are watching her. "Now, the hunter will let you know the basics about the woods. Alam kong marunong kayong mangaso but  the thing is, you won't hunt for animals. You will hunt for vampires who will be your opponents. The humans will join you, but remember, they are our kills. As for you, humans, the reminder is still 'no spilling of blood'. You are here to train your senses as well, kaya hindi sapat na dahilan na bampira ang mga kalaban. You have to be strong and skilled as well. Ang pinaka maraming sugatan na ka grupo ang siyang talo. And what will you get if you win? Nothing. Just a simple achievement." Naka ngising pagpapaliwanag niya bago maglakad patungo sa gubat kung saan gagawin ang susunod na pagsasanay nila.

Acheros then told them to follow him upang makapag simula na sila. They started to line up as the their training was about to start. Sinimulan ni Acheros ang kanilang pagsasanay sa pagtuturo ng mga dapat at hindi dapat gawin sa gubat. 

"You were told that you will not hunt for animals but you have to know that other wild animals are territorial, and wolves are one of them." Vampires hunts for animals as their source of blood pero hindi sapat ang kanilang kaalaman tungkol sa ibang hayop. "Wolves also have a border that separates us from them, but for some reasons, Princess Achlys knows how to tame them. But don't be too comfortable because you are not Achlys." The hunter continued to educate them where not to stay long because some animals are wild and can't be tame and some of the places are enchanted and can cause them death. 

"How about the humans, Prince Acheros? They can't beat us. Paano kung mapuruhan namin sila?" Tanong ni Rogue na isa sa pinaka malakas na Sephtis. 

"Ay grabe siya oh." Sagot naman ni Kaiden na siniko naman ni Rainer. 

"Well, we don't underestimate here. As the Princess sad, those humans might have skills that some of you don't posses." Sagot naman ni Acheros. "Now that you know the important things about the woods, you have to remember that this is a training, not a life and death situation. Hindi kayo papatay kaya maging mapagmasid at matuto kayong sumunod sa mga utos. Another thing, Princess Achlys is watching your every move at kapag sumapit na ang dilim, you can't complain about it."

"What about us?" Tanong ni Sven. "We don't have advanced night vision that you vampires have. Hindi kami makakatagal sa gubat kung wala kaming nakikita."

"Good question. Prince Ryder will give you torches that can help you when the darkness came. But be mindful, baka masunong niyo ang gubat."

"Don't you think that's unfair, Prince Acheros? I thought we need to train our senses?" Tanong na naman ni Rogue.

"You have a point. But what I think is unfair, is that we can see even if it's dark. Besides, you are here to learn, not to downgrade anyone, so you don't question my resolution. And I don't remember asking for your opinions." Sagot ni Acheros na nagiing dahilan ng pagtahimik ni Rogue. 

Nang maka bawi at nakapag handa na ang lahat ay sinimulan na ni Acheros ang pag g'grupo sa kanila. Pinagsama-sama na lamang niya ang tatlo dahil hindi nila maaaring saktan ang isa't isa dahil magkakagulo ang lahat. Nahati naman ni Acheros ang lahat sa sampong grupo na may tig dalawampung miyembro. Bawat grupo ay may simbolo na magbibigay ng ideya sa kanila kung sino ang kakampi sa hindi. 

Sa unang gabi na pagsasanay sa dilim ay limang grupo muna ang napagdesisyonang isabak ng mga prinsipe at kasama ang grupo nina Sven at Rogue. The first three groups have the symbols of a Lion, Bear, and a Cheetah. Rogue's group have the symbol of a Hawk and an Eagle for Sven's. 

Inanunsyo na ni Acheros na simula na ng pagsasanay kung kaya't umalis na ang unang limang grupo upang makapag tago at makipaglaban. Nagkalat na ang mga miyembro ng bawat grupo sa gubat at nagsimula na ring kainin ng dilim ang liwanag. Kaiden heard a rustling sound kaya naman sinindihan niya kaagad ang kanyang sulo na inagaw naman ni Raier.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Medyo maliwanag pa naman. Baka mamayang sobrang dilim na hindi na gumana yang sayo." Sagot ni Rainer sa kanya. 

"Oo nga no? Osige na, tara na. Wag kang nagagalit kaagad, tol."

They continued to walk until they reached the falls, but they started to hide when they heard that someone is running close to them. Rainer positioned his bident habang si Sven ay nasa may likuran niya. 

"First."

Hinila ni Rainer si Kaiden na nasa ilalim ng puno at itinapat ang hawak na sandata sa kalaban na tumalon galing sa puno na may hawak na lubid. Umayos naman ng tayo si Kaiden at tinapatan din ito ng kanyang espada nang lumabas ang mga pangil ng kalaban. While the both of them are trying to distract the opponent, Sven positioned his bow and arrow to shoot the vampire. Pero lumipas ang ilang segundo ay hindi pa rin niya binibitawan ang palaso. 

"Shoot her." Someone whispered on his ear na para bang hangin lang nang dumaan. "Shoot her or she will kill the three of you." Pagdaan ulit ng kung sino. Sven then tried to compose himself and pointed his arrow at the vampire when the the voice who just talked to him hit his hand and that made him lose his grip on the arrow. 

Bumalik naman sa realidad si Sven matapos magulat sa bilis ng pangyayari nang makita si Achlys na nasa tuktok ng talon habang tinitignan lang siya nito ng maigi habang naka ngisi. Sven shifted his gaze to Kaiden and Rainer na papalapit na sa bampira kaya inihanda nitong muli ang kanyang mga palaso at pinatamaan ng dalawa pang beses ang bampira na ikinaatras naman ng dalawa. 

"Huy tol, kampi tayo." Kaiden said when he recovered. Nilapitan nila ang babaeng bampira na may isang palaso sa isang braso at dalawa sa isang binti. The vampire tried to reach for them habang inilalagay nila ang tsapa rito na ikina iiwas naman ng tatlo. 

"Para ka namang hindi nabakunahan niyan." 

"Kapag ito binitawan ko, makikita mo hinahanap mo." Sagot ni Rainer kay Kaiden.

"Bitawan mo." Mayabang na sagot naman niya. 

"Ah talaga?"

"Oo. Bitawan mo. Ano na? Bitawan mo." Akma namang bibitawan ni Rainer ang bampira nang sinubukan ulit nitong abutin si Kaiden na naging dahilan ng pagkaripas nito ng takbo palayo. "Itali niyo na nga yan, tol." Kinakabahang sabi pa nito na naka dikit sa may puno. 

Napa iling na lang ang dalawa kay Kaiden na hindi na lumapit pa sa kanila. Rainer then put their eagle insignia on her clothe which conveys that their group is the one who took her down and no other group can touch her. 

Nang matapos nilang mailagay ang tsapa rito ay nagsimula na silang mag lakad ulit ng hindi nagsasalita dahil malakas ang pandinig ng mga bampira. Kasabay ng paglalakad nila ay ang pagdilim lalo ng kalangitan. Rainer heard an owl that made him step backwards and hit his back on something else. Dahan dahan niya itong nilingon ngutin wala na siyang makita dahil tuluyan nang nilamon ng dilim ang paligid. 

He then tried to open his torch, and when the fire gave light on his vision, inikot niya ito upang makita ang paligid ngunit wala na ang dalawa. He can't call for them because that would lead the other vampires to know where he is.

"Look who I found." Someone behind him said. "This won't take long. Tutal madali lang naman kayong saktan." 

Rainer stabbed him with his dirk hidden on his waist and stepped away from him, but the vampire just pulled it and let himself heal. Sinubukang kuhanin ni Rainer ang kanyang palaso na naka sabit sa kanyang likod ngunit mas mabilis ang bampira na ngayon ay nakatutok na ang hawak na sibat sa kanya. He even tried to move but the vampire was suddenly behind him, ready to stab him. But before Rainer could feel the vampire's weapon, the vampire groan like his in pain, kaya nilingon niya ito at nakitang naka luhod na at medyo hirap dahil nasa likod ang mga kamay. 

''Stab him."