The Spirit Martial

Spirit 69

"Thank you so much for your service, students of Oakhills Casters Institute," a man said with a huge armor having 10 professional Spirit Casters with him. Five at his right side and five at his left side. His aura is strong so I guess, he is in S-Class like Gin and Tempest pero mas malakas pa siya. He has two scratch scar in his right eye and multiple scars on his neck. I wonder what kind of hell he saw when he got those. "We gave you a mission to find the lair but instead, you provided us peace. On behalf of my army, my Spirit Caster Team- alive or dead, and everyone here in this town- I will give you this emblem as a sign of camaraderie and courage." he added and my eyes widened when he suddenly bowed and the next thing we knew, everyone else followed.

"Thank you so much!!" the whole crowd shouted and I even saw some armys crying. I wonder what kind of tears they have shown. Is it a tears of happiness that we were able to claim this land again and was able to avenge their comrade's deaths or is it because they're wishing that this should've ended a long time ago where nobody died?

"It's our pleasure to help, Sir," Gin said with a faint smile.

Ten soldiers went out from a tent holding a golden emblem with a royal symbol. They pinned it to us and for the first time in this life, I got my first emblem of achievement. I always receive this kind of achievement in academics before but for some reason, this achievement is comforting. I smiled when they were done pinning it to our uniforms at napahawak ako nito. I'm glad I reincarnated here.

Napatingin ako kay Kailani and he was more surprised than I am maybe because he never got the attention he deserve. I'm happy for him as well. I saw Kali peeked and glanced at Kailani. He was surprised to see Kailani's geniuine smile. I saw it before but this is the first time he saw it. Kailani's smile without pain and regrets- just a smile of bliss. His eye widened and he clenched his fist before he gave a faint smile. He's such a softie towards his brother, tinatago niya lang.

After that little celebration, we got to talk to people pero hindi ganon katagal since we have to go back to school because the Mahika Tournament is almost up. Although hindi naman kami ang representative, kasali pa rin kami sa training kasi kami ang susunod na sasabak next year. Wala rin naman kaming problema doon kasi first years pa rin naman kami kaya okay lang- we still have two years to go before we graduate. Also, the most unexpected thing that ever happened is that we have befriended the Dominan Swest which they call as the strongest second years. We even had this secret mission na bantayan sila but it turns out that they are just broken people who came together as a team- totally like us.

A couple of hours have passed at dumating na ang train na sasakyan dapat namin so pumasok kaagad kami. The train was for us only kaya pagpasok pa alang namin, sinalubong na kami nang mga mgagarang mga gamit. May bed na, kitchen at CR. Kompleto lahat, para nang bahay. May butlers at maid na rin na nakaabang. We bid our farewell to everyone and just like that umalis na kami.

Obviously nakapagpahinga kami doon pero pagod pa rin kami kaya isa-isa kaming humiga sa mga higaan namin. Ni-isa sa amin, walang nagsasalita- lahat kami ay himga at yung iba nga nakatulog kaagad. Napatingin ako sa gilid ko at nakasalubong ko ang tingin ni Hugo sa akin.

"What?" I asked because he seemed like he wanted to say something.

"Parang ..." he said at bumangon siya. "Parang gusto kong umuwi sa bahay namin dato kesa sa sumali sa Mahika Tournament," bigla niyang sabi kaya napabangon kaming lahat- kabilang na si Gin na halatang nakatulog na kanina.

"Anong sabi mo?" Lor exclaimed.

"Gusto ko umuwi after out report. I've always wanted to go back, kahit alam kong wala na akong babalikan. I just ... I just wann visit my family," Hugo replied at napatingin kaming lahat kay Hex.

"Wherever Hugo goes, I'll go," he responded at humiga ulit. "Isa pa, I wanna visit my hometown too." he said at umiwas siya sa amin.

"So that means," Tempest said at napatingin sila sa aming apat.

"With all due respect Your Highnesses," a butler interrupted at binigyan si Gin ng isang envelope. "I believe this is the Mahika Tournament's new rules and mechanics, the principal wanted me to deliver this to you," he added at agad itong kinuha ni Gin. My eyes widened when he ripped the envelope at magrereklamo na sana ako pero nagulat na lang ako nang may lumitaw na mga sulat sa itaas. Now, this is what I call high-tech. Since Gin was in fornt of us, baliktad ang mga letra sa amin kaya tumayo kaming anim na nasa parehong side at pumunta sa higaan ni Gin. Para kaming mga sardinas na angsisiksikan sa isang lata.

We all read silently at nahagip sa aking paningin ang isang rule na nagsasabing 8 mmembers na pala ang dapat and all must be A-S Class only. Without Hex and Hugo, walo na kami so basically ...

"Dapat manalo kayo ah," Hex said with a grin and he suddenly tapped our eads- me, Kailani, Kali and Nieve. "You have scary members right here," he added at yumuko ako at napangiti. I really belong in this world.

"Of course, ayaw naming makagraduate na walang award kaya ipapanalo namin ito at dadalhin namin ang school sa All Star Mahika Tournament. We will be the strongest team in Agartha," Gin said and he shrugged. "I mean, the strongest team in the whole world," he added with a smirk. That's more I like it, Captain.

After that little talk, the members have been decided. Surprisingly, dahil nag back-out sina Hugo at Hex- kami ang pumalit. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat kong maramdaman kasi masyadong mabilis ang mga nangyayari- not to mention that I even confirmed that I like Kailani and I even did my first move to him. Humiga ulit sa higaan ko at napaisip if we're dating or not. Wala naman kaming sinabi sa isa't isa talaga. Maybe I should ask him about that. I glanced at him and I saw him sleeping. Napangiti ako at pinikit ko na rin ang mga mata ko. This train ia a little faster so I bet we'll arrive back at school sooner.

Nagising ako when the butler tapped my shoulder. He told me we're close and we have to eat kaya bumangon ako. The others were awake also pero itong si Hex ayaw talaga bumangon kahit anong gagawin ng butlers at nina Gin. I heard Hugo sighed at sumingit siya sa mga taong nakapalibot sa kanya.

"Gising, Hex," iyon lang ang sinabi ni Hugo at agad siyang bumangon. Gin and the butler's reaction was priceless. "Don't make it hard for everyone," Hugo added at umalis na kaagad si Hex sa kama. I chuckled a little at napatingin kay Kailani na kagigising lang. Our eyes met and he gave me a smile. Umiwas agad ako ng tingin bago pa niya makita ang mukha kong pumupula na.

Tumayo ako at ang iba pa apara magpunta sa hapagkainan.

"Do you want to raise the curtains while eating, Your Highnesses?" a butler asked.

"Sure," Gin replied.

The butler took a small remote control and pressed a button, The curtains started raising on their own at dahan-dahan kaming sinalubong ng sinag ng araw. I took my first bite at napatingin sa mga bintana nang tumaas na ng tuloyan ang curtains. Muntik nang malaglag ang hawak ko nang makita ang nasa labas. Napakaganda. I'm seeing mountain ranges at may patag na puro bulaklak. Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa kutsara when a flock of birds started flying beside our train which made the view better. I smiled at bumalik ang tingin ko sa pagkain kaso napatigil ako when I noticed that Kailani was looking at me at napatingin ako sa kanya. He was smiling while looking at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing really," he replied at bumalik sa pagkain. "Your smile is kind of refreshing," he added at agad namang sumunod and pag-ubo ni Kali kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Can you please stop flirting in front of the dining table?" reklamo niya and I heard Hugo laughed. Ramdam ko ang pag-init ng mukha ko at napayuko ako. Gagong Kali at Kailani- pinapahiya niyo ako.

The couple of minutes were long- long enough para makarating na kami sa school ulit. We actually had to take on carrieges bago pa nakarating sa school kasi wala namang train tracks ang school namin pero malapit lang ang train station. For now, naglalakad kami papasok and the students were all looking at us, lalo na sa amin. We're first years pero nakipagsabayan na kami sa kanila.

"Siguro hindi magkasundo ang Dominant Swest at ang Indestructible Square. Pareho silang malalakas eh tapos yung iba malalaki ang ulo," I heard a girl said.

"Oo nga, sana hindi sila magkagulo dito," her frient replied.

Hindi ko ito pinansin at later on, mas marami pa akong naririnig. Bakit daw napasali kami ni Nieve, siguro nadala lang kami sa group at hindi talaga kami kasali. Nakikisama lang kasi hindi nga kami royalties. May iba ring nagsasabi na walang silbi si Kailani, nakarating lang daw siya sa pinaroroonan niya dahil anak siya ng Hari. All the bad gossips were about us, no less. The good gossips were at the others lalo na kay Kali. A strong and independent prince nga daw which is true naman. Biglang napatigil sina Hex at Hugo na naglalakad sa harapan namin kaya naaptigil rin kami. Gin and the others stopped too at lumingon sila pabalik.

"What's wrong?' Kali asked.

"Ah- I'm so tired hearing some gossips," Hugo said at tinakpan niya ang tenga niya. I can see that his fingers were trembeling- a social anxiety attack perhaps. "Why are they badmouthing our team members?" he whispered at lumapit si Hex at hinawakan ang kamay ni Hugo and he looked really worried. I've been in this situation before, where in I hate people and their presence. I hate seeing them. I hate hearing them. I hate watching them breathing the same air with me. Nakakasakal.

"Hugo," I called and I touched his shoulder at napatingin siya sa akin.

"It's fine," sabi ko and I smiled. His eyes widened at tumingin siya sa palibot. The students were surprised . Is it because we're getting along?

"Cover them," Gin instructed and just like that Hex stayed beside HUgo and we all encircled them both and we started walking.

"Cygnus," Hex called at napatingin ako sa kanya. "Thanks," he said softly.

"My pleasure," sagot ko at tumingin ulit ako sa harap.

I know how hard it is Hex. It's like your underwater and sometimes, we just really need a little push to breath and that little push are called a good circle of friends.