The Lost Orb [PFS #1, The Bearer]

18 "A Siren Call (Hear My Story)"

SASKIA'S POV

THE SUN SEEMS not in the good state to grace us with their presence. Clouds were covered with distress, it cried out the violent wind shrouding the open area. The howling air, heavy and strong, was hugging the trees tightly to their embrace, tainting the whole surroundings with agony.

We pulled off the reins of our horses when we arrived at the opening of the forest. The Safarra Forest.

It's been a while.

Muling umihip ang malamig na hangin nang huminto kami.

"The air is haunting." Eunice softly uttered.

"Mukhang uulan din yata." Wika naman ni Saphire.

This air, it's telling something. I don't like this feeling.

"Parang hindi naman ganito ang panahon kanina." May pangamba pang sambit ni Amy.

But the atmosphere has been like this since earlier. Pagkatapos sabihin ni Allisa sa 'kin iyon, natahimik nalang ako. Lalo na't noong gabi ko pa 'yon nakumpirma.

Why did they hide it from me? I still have a lot of questions, but I can't possibly deal with them all at once. Also, that strange silhouette who's been following me, wala pa kaming clue kung sino iyon.

Marami pang katanungan sa isip ko, ngunit hindi ko pwedeng hayaang guluhin ako nito ngayon, lalo na't nasa kalagitnaan kami ng isang misyon. Isang mahirap na misyon.

The gazes of others stayed like that, a questioning one. If only they could stop staring at me like that. Even though I, was questioning myself, they don't need to add to my burden.

Madalas ding dumadapo sa 'kin ang masamang tingin ni Linzy. Ano'ng problema ng babaeng 'to? Is it because of the previous session? I can still feel her sharp gazes, she's been like this since earlier. Hindi ko nalang siya pinapansin dahil wala akong oras para mag-abala pa sa mga titig niya. Even if I want to, I can't explain my case to her or even to the other members of A-Class, as if they would understand it.

"Stay near me."

May halong gulat akong tumingin kay Tristan. He stayed in his usual expression. Sitting on his horse, he removed his cloak and then gazed at me. Ah . . . this is regarding my mysterious artistry, isn't it?

He was assigned to look after me because of that duty. That's why I had seen him so often before. Now I get it . . . he seemed to be the only one capable of stopping me in that state, and they knew it from the very beginning. I knew it.

We started exploring the forest.

"How long have we been traveling?"

"It's been an hour since we departed from the institution," he answered.

An hour? Halos hindi ko napansin na gano'n na pala katagal ang nilalakbay namin. Siguro ay dahil na rin sa iba't-ibang bagay na tumatakbo sa isipan ko kanina pa.